Zane sat at his desk working on calculations for the artificial soul he was trying to make. He'd been at this all night and Alphys was either up in her room sleeping or watching Anime. He had borrowed some music from Naptsablook and had it playing while he worked. He came across an encrypted lab entry.

"Huh, I was wondering where 17 was, " said Zane as he looked at the file name.

After decrypting the file he noticed it was written in the same language as Sans's blueprints.

"Next experiment?" asked Zane aloud. He looked through to see if there were other encrypted files.

He decided he'd talk to Sans in the morning. He opened the books on souls that he got from the library and the essays from the kids that he'd asked them to write on what made them keep living. The results were interesting. Lizzie had the best explanation.

Partly it's fear. Fear of being forgotten, fear of nothing to go to. But the thought of there being something worse than what you are already experiencing makes you want to continue on. You don't want something worse so you do everything you can to hold onto what you have. We are all scared of what comes next, we don't want to go somewhere worse and the Underground isn't that bad compared to what so many beliefs say happen to bad people, you worry if you weren't good enough and want more time to be good, not wanting to die lets you live until the universe decides you've lived too long.

Zane had known for a while what happened to monsters when they died. It wasn't something most monsters were scared of, they knew there was nothing after for them so there was no use worrying about it. Zane had never been scared of death because he had always known that the departed realm was where everyone went, until he died.

The thought of never seeing Mettaton again scared him more than dying again did.

But he knew monsters lived a long time, and robots with a ghost soul lived even longer. He sighed, he shouldn't worry, for once he didn't have to fear outliving those he loved.

He heard the office door open.

"Darling it's three in the morning, why are you still here?" asked Mettaton

"Trying to find a way to free everyone," said Zane

"My room in the resort is closer than the castle and you need to sleep," said Mettaton

"I have to get this research done, I'm so close," said Zane

Mettaton pulled Zane close to him.

"You don't have to solve all problems yourself, you've done so much already, for me especially. Before I met you I was a fame hungry jerk and never cared about anyone after getting my fame, you weren't interested in the star of the underground, you wanted to know the real me, you gave me a new goal, being worthy of your love and affection. You listened, you were there. Take a break from trying to save the world, you deserve to be just as happy as you make everyone else," said Mettaton

"Ok," sighed Zane

"Take the next few days off from all your duties, you and I are going to spend some quality time together. For now, you are coming to my place and sleeping in my arms," said Mettaton

Zane just nodded and leaned against Mettaton.

Mettaton carried Zane bridal style to the elevator, glad that Alphys had made the elevator go all over hotland and through the resort. When they got inside Mettaton's room they both lay in the bed, Zane falling right to sleep but Mettaton stayed awake, running his hand through Zane's hair.

"I love you," said Mettaton, kissing Zane's forehead.

Zane smiled in his sleep and snuggled closer to Mettaton.

The next morning Zane woke up wrapped in Mettaton's arms with a blanket pulled over both of them.

"Good morning Darling," said Mettaton

"Morning," said Zane

"Last night I called Alphys and Asgore, you have the week off, which means I get you all to myself and Alphys said she'll let Undyne know that cooking lessons are canceled this week," said Mettaton

"I just hope I don't get yelled at by Papyrus, he doesn't believe in taking breaks, he thinks it's lazy so his lectures just grate on my ears," said Zane

"Let Undyne deal with him, if there's one thing she's good at it's getting him to understand things, for now, you and I are spending today watching an Anime that Alphys insisted we watch," said Mettaton

"Please tell me it isn't her favorite cat one? I have to listen to her rant about plot points in the lab all day, it's like she never did anything but watch Anime before I became her assistant," said Zane

"One of my sources say that's exactly what happened, after the disaster with the Amalgamates she just shut down and stayed holed up in her lab just watching Anime," said Mettaton

"What source was this?" asked Zane raising an eyebrow

"The tall skeleton, Papyrus I think is his name, told me that Undyne told him, which reminds me, you hang out with both Undyne and Alphys, it's obvious to everyone but them that they are head over heels for each other, you have to get them together," said Mettaton

"I'll try but you need to help me, so what Anime is she having us watch this time?" asked Zane

"Something involving a lightning mouse, she just pushed it into my hands and told me she'd take away my hair gel if we didn't watch it," said Mettaton

"Sounds, odd," said Zane

"Well, this is Alphys we're talking about, she's not exactly a traditional scientist," said Mettaton

Mettaton put in the first tape.

"Is it just me or does this show have more monsters than the Underground? At least in variety," said Zane

"Yes it seems to, but just look at the chemistry between those two with the talking cat," said Mettaton

"I wish I could put Papyrus in a ball and make him do what I tell him to," said Zane

"He does seem to drive you crazy," said Mettaton

"I'm forcing him to cook something else next time, I'm running out of spaghetti variations to teach him," said Zane

"You do that," said Mettaton

"Asgore's birthday is coming up, what is normally done on that day since he's the king?" asked Zane

"Oh there is always a ball, he doesn't dance at it anymore though, not since his wife left him, but every monster is invited. It's one tradition from when the queen was around that is still in place, it keeps the morale of the monsters up by giving them something to look forward to, a lot like our show," said Mettaton.

"Let's hope we can get a certain captain of the guard with a certain scientist together before then, we have a month, and it's getting to the point where I want to just lock the two of them in a room," said Zane

"Now darling we have to engineer this so it's natural, you handle Undyne and I'll handle the dear doctor.

"Double date where we disappear mid-way through?" asked Zane

"Of course," smiled Mettaton

Zane got out of bed and got into his more casual clothes.

"Darling did Asgore give you that shirt?" asked Mettaton

"Yes, Why?" asked Zane

"It makes you look kind of like him," laughed Mettaton

"I think it's the khakis," said Zane

"And the hair," said Mettaton.

"Common, we have some friends to get together," said Zane

Zane led Undyne through the trash dump, looking for anything cool.

"Why did you want me to come here?" asked Undyne

"Cookbooks, humans make thousands a year and I thought we might find some that got thrown out," said Zane

Suddenly Mettaton came with Alphys, searching for new Animes. Mettaton was back in his rectangle form.

"Oh, hey you two," said Zane

"Hello darling," said Mettaton,hugging Zane tightly.

"You two seem to be doing well," said Undyne

"What can I say, opposites attract," said Zane

"Say, would you two like to come with us to Grillby's? We usually make it a habit to go at least once a week," said Mettaton

Alphys was suspicious, and so was Undyne, but neither could tell what the two bots were up to.

Undyne and Alphys got onto the boat with Zane and Mettaton.

"Zane that outfit makes you look like Asgore, i just realized," laughed Unyde

"I told you," grinned Mettaton

They walked into Grillby's and all sat down at a booth, Undyne and Alphys on the inside and Zane and Mettaton on the outside. Sans came in at that moment.

"SANS!" yelled everyone in excitement.

"I'll go order food," said Zane getting up to go to the bar. He returned a few minutes later.

"So, Alphys, watch any good anime recently?" asked Zane

That got Alphys going on a tangent on a horrible sequel to an already bad Anime. Undyne had apparently seen it with her and was wholeheartedly agreeing and offering her own points.

The two were so engrossed in their conversation, neither one noticed Zane and Mettaton slip out.

Grillby brought over only two plates of burgers and some soda.

Zane and Mettaton ran through Waterfall to a secluded area with a bench, giggling like school children. Mettaton had had someone (likely one of his staff) set up a picnic blanket and some legendary hero sandwiches with some starfait out for the two robots. There was also a quiche in the picnic basket.

Zane smiled and flipped Mettaton's switch, his EX form was so much nicer to cuddle into.

"I'm glad you convinced me to leave the film crew behind, I love being a star but I love being with you even more," said Mettaton.

"The crystals on the ceiling here look just like stars, they even form their own constellations," said Zane gazing up at the ceiling of the cavern as he lay on Mettaton's chest.

"What's a constellation?" asked Mettaton

"A long time ago people used to the stars to navigate their way around the world, they would see patterns and shapes that certain stars made and gave them names and stories, some stars had their own special names based on how they were used to navigate, one star only appeared in the north and was always bright. Some constellations only appeared at certain times of the year. Although they always only vaguely resemble what they were called it was always fun to look for them," said Zane

They lay there for a while, Zane pointing out different crystals and giving them names and drawing shapes with his finger to link different stars into a shape.

After three hours, Alphys noticed that Zane and Mettaton had left and it looked like they had been long gone.

She then realized what the two bots had been up to and blushed hard, it was such an overused trope, how could she have fallen for it,

"What's wrong Al?" asked Undyne

"Those sneaky robots," muttered Alphys

"Oh, yeah, Zane said you two should check under your plates," said Sans, noticing that Alphys and Undyne were starting to figure things out.

They looked and both saw notes.

"Will you two kiss already, it's obvious to everyone, you've had your first date now, don't make us do this again," the notes read in Zane's handwriting. "PS, don't try to get out of this, Sans will tell me if you do or not,"

"THAT SNEAKY LITTLE…." Undyne faltered seeing the blush on Alphys

"Um, oh who am I kidding, he's right, I really do like you Undyne, you're so strong yet smart too and I've been madly in love with you for a while," sighed Alphys

This time it was Undyne's turn to blush.

"Al, I feel the same way, I guess it took two sneaky robots for me to realize just how much I like spending time with you," said Undyne

Alphys smiled. Undyne leaned across the table and gave Alphys a small peck on the lips. Alphys turned as red as a tomato.

How long ago do you think they noticed we left?" asked Zane

"No clue," said Mettaton

"We should probably head home, it's getting late," said Zane

"I told Asgore you would be staying with me all week," said Mettaton

"Well as comfortable as the marsh is, the blanket is soaked," said Zane

"Good point," said Mettaton.

The two got up and headed back across the bridge plants, leaving the quiche behind.

"ZANE NEXT TIME YOU PULL SOMETHING LIKE THAT I'M SICCING PAPYRUS ON YOU!" shouted Undyne a week later when Zane entered for their cooking lesson.

"According to Sans it worked perfectly, and aren't you and Alphys official now?" asked Zane

"Yes well…" stammered Undyne

"So we don't need to do that again," said Zane

"I'M HERE FOR THE SPAGHETTI LESSON!" exclaimed Papyrus bounding into the house.

"Actually Pap, I'm out of spaghetti recipes to teach you, today you are going to learn a dish that has pasta as a side dish but still has sauce and cheese, from now on you are going to learn how to make Chicken Parmesan," said Zane

"But spaghetti is part of it right?" asked a worried Papyrus

"Yes, but it's a side," said Zane

"What am I going to learn?" asked Undyne

"I think you're ready for lasagna," said Zane

The day of the meet and greet came and Zane had engineered it so Napstablook would get extra time.

The shy ghost was brought into the room where the event was happening. Mettaton was once more in rectangle form since thats what his fans were used to.

"Oh, Hi, it's nice to meet you," said Napstablook shyly.

"Napstablook, we wanted you here for a little longer than the others have been getting since there is something Metty here would like to tell you," said Zane kindly

"Blooky, it's me," said Mettaton

"Oh," said Napstablook

"I'm so sorry I left, Blooky, I thought Stars have to give up everything for fame but I was so wrong. Zane and I have talked and we are going to come back to the farm, we still have our duties and the show but you are family and will always have a place at our side, would you consider being our DJ?" said Mettaton

Napstablook seemed to light up.

"If you want to become corporeal at any point, either Zane or Alphys can make you whatever body you want," said Mettaton

Napstablook smiled.

"Security will bring you to the sound room and get you all set up with all the equipment you could want," said Mettaton

The rest of the meet and greet went by swimmingly. At the end they had found out Blooky went home to get all his new stuff set up.

"Well, all our stuff was moved into my old house earlier today, shall we head home?" asked Mettaton

"Yes, let's go home," smiled Zane.

They entered the small pink one-room house, things had been re-arranged so that it looked more like a tiny house than a bedroom.

"The only downside I can see to us living here is it makes it easier for Papyrus to show up at random hours of the night," said Zane

"Don't worry, one of the snails yells if there is an intruder," laughed Mettaton