Chapter 10: Sharing A Secret

Toriel woke up that morning and sat up. "I have to tell him," she said. "Today."

She was soon ready for the day and in the kitchen where she saw Carmen was again making breakfast and this time had David and Thomas helping her out. "Oh, morning, Mom," the older girl said. "I hope you don't mind that we wanted to make everyone French Toast this morning."

"Oh, that's alright, dear," she said. "Though, what is 'French Toast'?"

Sarah giggled. "It's really good," she said as she, Julie, Nathan, and Frisk set the table.

When all was ready, they sat down to eat and Toriel had to admit that French Toast was very tasty. "You'll have to teach me how to make this one, Carmen," she said.

"Sure," the older girl said happily.

After they had all eaten, Carmen and David decided to go to the library and read while the other children decided on playing Twister. Smiling at her children, who had grown to be close to each other, Toriel headed down a secret passage that she had never revealed to her children or anyone else. It was the way she had come from when she had first found the Ruins in Snowdin. After making it a home, she had gone back and forth for a bit, but after David had fallen, she made less trips and finally stopped leaving the Ruins after Julie fell. She didn't regret taking time to raise her children, but she did miss the world beyond the Ruins. If it was safer, she'd let the children go explore, but she was still afraid of what others would think about her sheltering the children from them, but she really didn't know if they'd be so open-minded either. Sighing, she continued on her way until she got to the door and sat down, listening carefully. Moments later, she heard footsteps and smiled as they stopped on the other side of the door. "Knock, knock," came a familiar voice.

The goat woman giggled. "Who's there?" She asked.

"Bone."

Curious, she answered. "Bone who?"

"It's bone-ified to hear your voice."

Toriel chuckled at that one. "Knock, knock," she said.

"Who's there?" Her visitor asked.

"You."

There was a pause. "You who?"

"You've got my attention."

A laugh answered her, making her giggle. "Good one, Tori," her visitor said.

"Thank you, Sans," she said with a smile.

Since she had started staying inside the Ruins, she had been at the door wondering what the outside world was doing and had been surprised when a voice had appeared one day. She had responded and while Sans knew that she was the Queen, they had become fast friends as he told her what was going on outside the Ruins and she told him about what she did, except about taking in human children.

But now, she felt the need to tell him. She took a deep breath, feeling nervous and afraid. "Tori, you okay?" Sans asked, sensing something was worrying her.

"Sans? You still hold the role of Judge, right?" She asked.

"Yes, though I haven't used it in 200 years," he said honestly. "Why do you ask?"

She took another deep breath. "Sans, some human children fell," she said. "Just like Chara had."

The skeleton went stock still. "How many?" He asked after a moment.

"Seven of them," she replied. "They've fallen over the course of 50 years."

Sans took a deep breath. "Where are they?" He asked.

"They live here with me in the Ruins," Toriel said. "I couldn't turn them away, Sans. They suffered on the surface."

He felt his heart drop at that. "Abuse?" He asked, recalling how Chara had been so scared when she first arrived because of the abuse she had endured.

"Yes," she said. "Thankfully, they've all been doing better now that they know I won't hurt them or abuse them in any way."

"Of course not," Sans said in agreement before sighing sadly. "Still, it seems the surface world hasn't changed if the kids coming down here are from abusive homes."

"Yes," Toriel agreed sadly before deciding to change the subject. "Sans, I know it's hard for you to talk about, but...could you tell me what Gaster was like?"

Because it was her and she asked gently, he complied. "Gaster was an amazing bro to me and Papyrus," he said. "Sometimes...I think I can still feel him in the house or his lab, even though he's not there." He sighed. "I really miss him."

"I know," she said softly. "I'm sorry for bringing it up, but...some of the children have seen Gaster."

Sans lifted up his head in shock. "What?" He asked.

"My two youngest children saw him in one of their rooms yesterday morning and were a bit frightened. At first I thought it was just the magic of the Underground flaring, but when my green magic caught the traces of purple magic, it felt familiar and friendly. And then later, my oldest daughter saw him and she said he had two skulls with him. She was afraid, but she said the skulls acted like puppies and Gaster tried to talk to her, but she couldn't understand him."

"Two Gaster Blasters acting like puppies?" The skeleton asked. "That's unusual. Mine haven't acting like puppies in a long time."

"There's more," the goat woman said. "He activated a FIGHT sequence with her, but when he saw her green soul, he didn't fight her. She said two words popped up, but she didn't completely understand the message."

"What message was that?" Sans asked.

"It said 'Don't forget'."

The joke-loving skeleton's eyes widened and he collapsed to his knees. "It was him," he said. "Did...Did the magic feel the same?"

"Yes, it did," Toriel said. "Sans, do you think...Gaster may not have perished as we once thought?"

"Then...why hasn't he returned?" Sans asked.

"Maybe he's trapped somewhere and can't escape and has been trying to get a message to us and somehow has done so through my children."

The skeleton nodded. "If the magic felt like Gaster's and your daughter was given that message, then it's him," he said. "That was his favorite saying. It meant not to forget that he loved me and Pap."

He took a deep breath. "Toriel, do you think I can meet the kids?" He asked. "What are they like?"

Toriel took a deep breath herself. "David is 10 years old and is very brave," she said. "Julie is 7 years old and has the main trait of Justice. Thomas is also 10 years old and is very truthful. Nathan is 8 years old and cautious, but unwilling to give up. Sarah is 9 years old and is very patient, one of the most patient people I've met. Carmen is 11 years old and is very kind, and last but not least, Frisk is 10 years old and his strongest trait is determination."

Sans' eyes widened. "Seven kids; seven traits," he said as realization hit him like a typhoon. "Oh, man."

Toriel grew afraid. "Sans...I'm not sure if you meeting the kids is a good idea," she said. "They've...well...," she trailed off.

The skeleton snapped out of his stupor. "Toriel, I need to meet with them," he said. "They might be able to help Gaster, if it is him they saw. Not only that...maybe I can help them like you have. Show them that not all that they've been told about monsters is true."

The goat woman knew Sans was right and she sighed, falling deep into thought. If her children met Sans and saw that he was a good monster like her, it would put her mind at ease if they decided to play outside the Ruins and there was someone watching over them. "Sans...can I trust you to protect my children?" She asked. "And...do you know any of the monsters that would...harm the children?"

He understood what she was asking. "No one would hurt them, Tori," he said. "The Royal Guard isn't as active as it was back when Chara fell, but they still guard us all. Undyne patrols, as does my bro, but if they were shown that the kids aren't like the adults that trapped us down here, they would be willing to meet the kids."

She nodded, though he couldn't see it. "I just...I'm worried," she said. "That's why I wanted to tell you first. I knew you would listen before you judged the children."

Sans nodded. "They sound like good kids and if Gaster was able to appear briefly, even to get a message to one of them, then he must feel they are good too."

"I hope everyone else will feel the same way," Toriel said softly.

"Let's cross that bridge when we come to it," the skeleton said. "So, when's a good time for me to come back?"

"Tomorrow morning," the goat woman said. "I'll tell the children."

"Okay, see you then, Tori. And don't worry, okay?"

"Okay."

She sighed, some of her worry fading that her friend was wanting to meet the kids, but her new worry was that the kids might not be so open to talking to another monster. She stood up. "Well, let's not put this off," she said to herself, heading down the hall to find her children and tell them they would soon have a visitor.


So Sans now knows about the kids, but how will the meeting go? Stay tuned to find out! :)

And please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418