Chapter 8:

Dad or Uncle?

Sans smiled warmly down at Arial, running a boney finger along her hand. She reflexively grabbed onto his finger and brought it closer to her mouth for inspection, her dislike subsided. The skeleton blushed a light blue and chuckled.

"Your duncle is not a chew toy, kiddo."

I watched on for a moment at the soft exchange between the two of them. It felt right for some reason, to see them this way. My mind drifted, to Sans maybe being a father, when a cough from Alphys broke the moment.

"S-Since she's okay, c-can I h-hold her?"

Sans didn't seem to hear, enraptured by the human infant suckling on his pointer finger. I had to nudge him slightly to get him to look up at me. He stared blankly at me a moment before he came back around.

"O-Oh right, yeah...Papyrus should try again after you though...if that's alright with Mama Frisk here."

For some reason I blushed at the nickname even though I was indeed a 'mama'. I gave him a nod and thought it through a second later.

"Maybe everyone should sit when they hold her...I'd feel better about it and Papyrus would feel more comfortable."

"I-I can do that." Alphys smiled and hurried to take a seat on the couch. She held out her arms to Sans who meticulously rested the child in them.

As she cradled Arial, I sat on the floor and leaned gently on Papyrus, trying to coax him out of his guilty state.

"Pap, it's okay now...I'm not mad. I promise." Sincerity leaked into my words.

He slowly made eye contact then wrapped his arms arm me. "I'M SORRY FRISK! I DIDN'T MEAN TO CAUSE ANY HARM!"

I hugged him back and patted him gently. He squeezed me tighter and I could feel my ribs compressing at his strength.

"P-Pap...h-how about you make it up to m-me by making some of your amazing spaghetti? I haven't had a plate six years..."

He rebounded as the great Papyrus always had, he jumped to his feet, raising a triumphant finger to the air.

"I WILL MAKE YOU THE BEST APOLOGY SPAGHETTI I EVER HAVE MADE!"

I smiled and glanced at Sans who listened in. He gave a thumb up in response then opened his mouth to speak, but Alphys once again broke the moment with her face contorted as she spoke.

"Wh-What's that smell?"

The smell made its way over to me and I recognized it right away. I knew it was now the time for Snowdin's first diaper change.