Frisk's feet pounded against the floor of the basement corridor. The footfalls echoed ominously in the darkness. They were lucky they didn't smash into any walls. They hadn't thought to bring a flashlight, and Mom would have her fire for light but what if she was hurt, what if the Royal Guard had taken her for hiding a human, what if, what if—

She was standing in front of a giant door. Safe.

"Mom!" Frisk called, barreling into her as she turned to face them. Her warm arms wrapped snugly around them, enfolding them in the smell of butterscotch and cinnamon.

"Frisk? What are you doing down here, my child?"

"Flowey," Frisk gasped for breath, "he said—something about a Guard—and you… were in trouble…"

Told you he was just messing with us, Chara said smugly.

"Oh, my child." She hugged them tighter. "It is nothing you need concern yourself with. Go back upstairs, alright? I will be done here shortly."

Frisk's brow furrowed. "But… if you're not in trouble… what are you doing down here?"

"Erm, well…"

"It's alright, old lady. I promised ya I wouldn't rat out your kid."

Frisk jumped. The voice was coming from behind the door!

"Thank you, my friend." Mom sighed in relief, and Frisk relaxed a little too. "I did not want to place the burden of lying on you."

"Nah, you'd rather hog it all for yourself." The voice sounded like it was grinning. Frisk decided they liked Mom's friend. "Real rude of you, y'know. You know how much I love lying around."

Frisk couldn't help laughing at that. Mom looked like she wanted to, but she forced a serious face instead.

"That may be so, but you are still a sentry. Your superiors will punish you if they find out what we are hiding, will they not?"

Guilt weighed in Frisk's stomach. What they were hiding was them. Flowey was right after all: Frisk might get Mom and her friend into big trouble.

"Hey, you trust me, right?" The voice said. "I could lie my way out of this lying down."

"It seems rather ironic for you to ask for my trust, then." Mom snorted, but she was smiling again. She still hadn't let Frisk go, which was fine by them.

"Fair enough." The voice chuckled. "Hey, kid. Knock knock."

Frisk's eyes widened as they realized he was talking to them. "Um… who's there?"

"Tibia."

"...Tibia who?"

"Tibi-honest, I didn't expect ya to answer."

Frisk bit their lip, hiding a hesitant giggle.

"There ya go. Any kid that'll laugh at one of my jokes can't be that bad."

"They are wonderful." Mom gave them a kiss on the head, and it warmed them all the way down to their toes. "I will not let anything happen to them."

Frisk caught the dangerous edge to her voice there. Chara had been right; Mom could take care of herself. Frisk wouldn't want to be one of those Royal Guards if Mom got her paws on them.

"Not like anyone could get through your door, anyway," Mom's friend said. "I tried plenty of times before I knew you were back there. Thing's not gonna budge."

"The spell I have placed on it only allows it to be opened from my side," Mom explained. "Still, I would not like to see any guards make the attempt. Perhaps… we should say farewell for a while. Until this mess blows over."

"But that's not fair!" Frisk blurted, causing Mom to look down in surprise. "I mean, this is your friend, right? I didn't know you—" had any friends, Frisk had been about to say.

Mom smiled wryly. "It is alright, my child. I am sure he has plenty of other monsters to keep him busy."

"And you have the kid to keep you company." Despite his words, he sounded a little sad. "I'm gonna miss your hilarious jokes, though."

Mom looked away from the door. "Well, one more for the road would not hurt. What do you call a bedsheet with no pattern?"

Frisk already knew the answer to this one. Mom had told it while helping them make the bed this morning.

"I dunno, what?"

"A blanket!"

A wheezing laugh came through the door.

"That was a real comforter, old lady."

Frisk giggled at their antics. It was good to know that Mom had someone else to share her bad jokes with… only she wouldn't anymore. Because of them.

Mom scooped Frisk up into her arms as she and her friend said their goodbyes. Before they left though, he called out to Frisk.

"Hey, kid? Take care of yourself… 'cause your Mom really cares about you."