Chapter 13: Warm And Gentle

Julie squealed happily as she fell back into the soft snow to make a snow angel while David and Frisk had cleared out a small space in the snow to uncover the ice underneath and pretend it was a skating rink. Sarah and Carmen were behind a snow fort on one side while Nathan and Thomas were behind another snow fort on the other side and both sides were engaged in a snowball fight.

Carmen shot up and threw a snowball at Thomas, ducking down to avoid a snowball aimed at her by Nathan. Both snowballs missed their target, but that didn't deter them. Sarah quickly shot up and threw a snowball and ducked again. A cry of surprise came a moment later and Carmen peeked out from behind the snowy wall to see that Sarah's snowball had gotten Thomas right in the shoulder and when the snowball burst, a bit of snow landed on the boy's neck, making him cry out in surprise. She giggled. "You got Thomas," she said to her sister, who giggled.

"One point for us," the younger girl said.

"Tag team!" Nathan called out as he and Thomas both threw two snowballs in unison. Carmen and Sarah peeked out a little, ducking when the snowballs hit their fort before throwing two snowballs in unison. The snowballs went high and hit the tree branches above both forts and as a result, fresh powdery snow rained down on the four kids, making them squeal in surprise as the unexpected snow shower caught them off guard.

Julie giggled as she saw that, as did David and Frisk, who both laughed so hard they fell back into the soft snow. "Who won?" David asked after they had calmed down a bit.

"I think it's a tie," Carmen said with a giggle.

"Ah-choo!" Nathan sneezed, shivering a little. "Is anyone else cold?"

"Now that you mention it, yes," Frisk said, feeling a bit cold.

Julie glanced around, not recognizing their surroundings. "Where are we?" She asked.

"We're still in Snowdin," Thomas said. "But which way is back home?"

Nathan sneezed again and Carmen shook her head. "We need to get someplace warm to warm up before Nathan gets sick," she said.

"She's right," David said. "It's a long walk back home and we could catch colds if we stay out here much longer."

Sarah looked around and noticed there were some buildings nearby and one had a neon sign. "What about there?" She asked. "I think that's a store."

They looked up to see the sign read 'Grillby's' and there was an 'Open' sign on the door. "Let's get inside," Thomas said. "If it's a store, it'll be warm inside, right?"

"Let's hope so," Nathan said, shivering a bit more.

"Be careful, though," Frisk said, sticking close to Nathan. "Mom said there's a lot of monsters here in the Underground and we might be walking into a place where there's a lot of them."

"And Sans and Papyrus aren't here," David said worriedly.

Carmen took a deep breath. "Let's worry about that if it happens," she said. "Right now, we need to get warm and it looks like 'Grillby's' is our best bet."

All seven children headed for the door and Carmen opened it, letting her younger siblings enter first before she did. Instantly, warm air greeted them and they glanced around to see it was a restaurant and it was currently empty. "Looks like we lucked out," Sarah said, taking off her damp coat and hanging it up on a coat rack. The others quickly did the same, the warm air warming them up as they stomped the snow off their boots and checked to make sure their feet were dry, which they thankfully were.

"Okay," David said, looking around and noticing a vent in the ceiling. He went over and felt warm air coming from it. "If we sit here, we'll be under the vent and it's blowing warm air."

"Good idea," Frisk said as they gathered at the large booth that was under the vent.

The warm air helped immensely and the kids began to feel warmer and a lot better, but they failed to realize that their entry hadn't gone unnoticed.


Grillby, the fire monster who owned the restaurant the kids were currently taking refuge in, watched from the closed doors that led to the dining area from the kitchen. He had been surprised to see the humans, but then heard about how they were seeking warmth, no doubt from being outside in the cold if the damp jackets handing on the coat rack were anything to go by.

Curious now, the fire monster went out the back and went around the building, entering the front doors quietly and locking them. The key made a loud 'click' in the lock that seemed to echo in the quiet dining room.

The seven children jumped at hearing the unexpected sound and looked up to see a fire monster coming towards them. He wore a suit that suggested he either worked there or owned the place and his yellow eyes behind his glasses were focused on the children. Carmen stood up slowly and motioned her younger siblings to get behind her. Quickly, they did so, fear filling them as the monster came closer.

"What do you want?" Carmen asked, her voice shaking a little.

The fire monster stopped just two feet from her. "Who are you children?" He asked, his voice deep.

The kids all jumped in surprise at hearing his voice and their fear grew. "Run!" David cried out fearfully as they scattered, running for the kitchen. They had just reached the doors to the kitchen when they all froze at hearing Sarah cry out in fear, turning to see that the fire monster had caught the young girl and though she was struggling, he held fast, his hands wrapped around her upper arms. She shivered and looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"Please...don't hurt me," she pleaded, her tears spilling down her cheeks.

Grillby saw how terrified the poor child was and noted the other six children looked just as terrified. He kneeled down to be level with Sarah and pulled her into a hug, picking her up as she began trembling. "Shh," the fire monster said soothingly, one hand gently wiping away her tears. "Don't be afraid."

The other six children stayed rooted to their spots as they watched the fire monster with their sister. He looked at them all and gently smiled. "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you," he said, gesturing them to come closer. "My name is Grillby. Welcome to my restaurant."

They looked a bit unsure, but stepped a bit closer, stopping a little ways from the fire monster, who was stroking Sarah's head soothingly. She looked up at him curiously and he smiled. "I'm sorry to have frightened you, little one, but I noticed that you felt cold," he said, turning to the rest of the children. "How long were you all outside?"

"Awhile," Frisk answered. "We didn't know which way to go back to the Ruins and Nathan was not feeling well, so we decided to find a place to warm up and your place was closest."

Grillby nodded, sensing the boy was telling the truth, though he was curious. "Why would you go back to the Ruins?" He asked gently.

"It's our home," Carmen said.

"Your home?" The fire monster said in surprise. "Surely you all don't live there by yourselves?"

David shook his head. "No, Mom adopted us," he said.

Relief and curiosity filled Grillby. "Who is your mother?" He asked, his tone gentle.

"Toriel," Carmen said.

They saw him freeze in surprise, his eyes wide. "The Queen?" He asked, shock in his voice. "We...We haven't seen her in so long."

"You know Mommy?" Julie asked in surprise.

"Yes, little one. In the human-monster war, I was the head general in the King and Queen's army," he replied. "I haven't seen either one of them in two hundred years."

"Why?" Sarah asked.

"The King hasn't left his castle after a terrible tragedy and the Queen left to find a place to grieve after the tragedy too," Grillby explained. "I've always wondered how they were doing."

"Mom's doing good," Thomas said before looking curious. "What tragedy did she face though?"

The fire monster looked saddened. "One that shook the Underground," he said before giving his head a slight shake. "Oh, where are my manners? You children are still feeling cold and no doubt hungry. Why don't you all sit down and I'll make you some hot chocolate and spaghetti?"

The mention of food made them perk up before Carmen looked concerned. "But...we don't have any money," she said.

Grillby gently shook his head. "It's on the house," he said with a smile. "By the way, what are your names?"

"Carmen, David, Nathan, Frisk, Sarah, and Thomas," Julie spoke up, gesturing to each of her siblings before looking back at Grillby, liking the fire monster. "And I'm Julie. I'm the littlest of the family."

He chuckled in amusement before setting Sarah down in the booth with the others. "I'll be back in a moment," he promised before heading into the kitchen.

The children settled down, enjoying the warmth and liking the kind fire monster. "What did he mean when he said 'on the house'?" Sarah asked.

"It means free of charge," Carmen explained before looking thoughtful. "I wonder what tragedy he was speaking of."

"I've wondered that too," David said. "But I haven't asked Mom because...I didn't want to bring up something bad."

"I've noticed how she sometimes is sad," Thomas said.

"Grillby didn't seem to want to talk about the tragedy," Frisk said thoughtfully.

"But why?" Julie asked.

"Maybe because it affected him too," Nathan said. "He did say it shook up the Underground, meaning everyone."

Carmen nodded. "It must have been something really bad," she said. "Something that is the worst thing that could ever happen."

They all nodded in agreement, perking up moments later when Grillby came out, balancing a tray of mugs filled with hot chocolate on one hand and balancing a tray of plates piled high with spaghetti and meatballs on the other hand. Setting one tray down on a nearby table, the fire monster placed the drinks in front of the kids first and then the food. "Enjoy," he said with a warm smile.

The kids eagerly dug in, the delicious hot chocolate warming them up and the wonderful spaghetti and meatballs filling up their stomachs. Grillby, who was cleaning glasses behind the bar, smiled as he watched the children, hearing them giggle over something one of them said.

About half-an-hour later, the food and drinks were gone and the kids were feeling a lot better. Grillby cleared away the dishes and smiled at the kids. "I'll get these washed up and then I'll take you kids home," he said, heading into the kitchen.

"I like him," Julie said. "He's nice like Papyrus and Sans."

"Yeah, he is," Nathan said.

"And he's gentle," Sarah said, remembering when Grillby had held her and comforted her. "He was concerned about us."

A blue flash caught their attention and they turned to find Sans standing beside them and he smiled. "There you kids are," he said. "Your mom was wondering where you were."

"We got cold and came in here to warm up," Frisk said. "Grillby even gave us some food and hot chocolate."

The skeleton smiled. "So you met Grillby, huh?" He asked. "What do you think of him?"

"He's awesome," David said. "We were a little scared of him at first, but he didn't hurt us and when he heard we were Toriel's kids, he was surprised."

"The other monsters will be surprised," Sans said gently. "Because it's been so long since there were kids in the Underground."

"Why?" Carmen asked.

The skeleton gently shook his head. "Not my place to say," he said gently. "But I can say this: you kids are special and you really are cheering up those that you meet."

"He's right," Grillby said, coming out from the kitchen. "Hello, Sans."

"Hey, Grillbz," Sans said, grinning. "You've got a big soft spot for kids, my friend."

"As sure as you're ticklish," the fire monster teased, making the skeleton blush blue, which made the kids laugh before they realized what the fire monster had said.

"Wait, Sans is ticklish?" Nathan asked, a grin growing on his face.

The skeleton backed up. "Uh-oh," he said, about to snap his fingers to escape, but Sarah glomped him, making him grunt as he caught her and felt Thomas and Nathan glomp him too.

"Tickle the skeleton!" They cheered.

Their other four siblings joined in, tickling Sans, who shrieked with laughter as they got his ribs, spine, knees, and feet while Grillby watched, laughing in amusement.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! KIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIDS! NOHOHOHOT THE RIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIBS! AHHHHHH! TAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAKE IHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIT EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASY-HEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEE!" Sans pleaded, squirming as the kids laughed and tickled him more.

Grillby felt mischievous and kneeled down, catching Julie and Frisk in his arms and tickling their stomachs, making them squeal and laugh heartily. Giggling, David went to save his brother and sister, but Grillby caught him too, making the boy laugh as he got his stomach too.

Sans managed to snap his fingers and catch Carmen, Thomas, Nathan, and Sarah in his telekinesis and he sat up with a grin. "Well, well, looks like I've got some 'victims' that have just asked for a tickle torture," he said as he tickled them, making them laugh as he tickled their sides and stomachs, making the kids' laughter fill the restaurant.

After a bit, both monsters let the kids up and the children giggled as they hugged the two. "You guys are awesome," David said honestly.

"I wish you guys could be part of our family," Julie said wistfully.

Carmen perked up. "They can be," she said. "As our uncles."

Her siblings perked up at that while Sans and Grillby were stunned at that, but then smiled. "You kids really see us as uncles?" The fire monster said.

"You bet, Uncle Grillby," Frisk said as all seven children hugged the fire monster and then hugged Sans. "You and Uncle Sans are totally the best uncles ever, along with Uncle Papyrus."

Sans smiled. "Pap's going to hit the roof in happiness at hearing you kids see him as an uncle," he said.

The kids giggled at that, hugging the two monsters again, smiles on all their faces.

In the void, Gaster smiled as he saw this and his eyes brightened at seeing the hope in both Grillby and Sans. "The kids are restoring hope," he said. "Their mother, Papyrus, and now Sans and Grillby are feeling hope return."

He felt something warm in his chest and looked to see an upside-down purple heart, his soul, was glowing with a warmth that made him smile. "Sans was right. You kids really are special," he said softly before the picture gently faded away. "I have no doubt they'll help the others, especially Undyne."

The fish monster had taken the deaths of Chara and Asriel hard, but Gaster hoped with Undyne meeting the seven children, they could help the warrior move on from her sadness.


Wow! This chapter really took off on me. :)

For those of you that love Undyne and Muffet, they will show up in the next chapter. :) And for those of you wondering if Chara and Asriel will make an appearance, they will, but not for a little while. Rest assured though, they will. :)

Please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418