:):

Thank you everyone for your continued support of my story!

...

I'm sure you've all noticed that I've been updating at a snail's pace for over a month now. The thing is, I actually had a pretty bad case of Covid this summer and it put me out of commission for a few weeks. I'm feeling much better now, but I can't seem to focus too well, so writing has become a bit more of a challenge for me than it used to. Don't worry, I'm still very motivated and inspired about writing this story, but it just might take me a little longer to get back to my normal updating schedule.

Please, bare with me. :)

xxx

A Return to Normalcy

xxx

"Pappy?" Fearia tried again as she held the damaged cell phone with both hands. "Are you there? Hello?"

Barely able to contain himself, Sans watched in humor as the little girl pulled the phone away from her ear and frowned down at the cracked screen. It clearly read "Call Ended" but it wasn't like she could read it.

He could be wrong, but it had sounded suspiciously like Papyrus had actually broken his own cell phone by accident. Wouldn't be the first time. Still, he probably should have just left his brother a text like normal, but he wanted to let him know about the kid as soon as possible, and for some reason, a call seemed like the perfect way to do so.

"Sans, I think your cell phone is broken." Fearia said as she handed the small device back to her friend.

"yea. i, uh, dropped it... a few times." Sans admitted as he took back his phone. "looks like i'll be needing a new one."

"Can I have one too?" Fearia asked hopefully.

"eh, nice try, kiddo." Sans grinned. "but if i remember correctly, you already have a phone."

"Yea, but... Mine's broken..." The little girl argued. "Plus, I don't even know where it is!"

"i'm pretty sure i saw it down in the kitchen." The unhelpful skeleton informed as his eye lights drifted off in good humor. "seems to me, someone tried hiding it in the drawer with their crayons."

Flushing slightly, Fearia frowned as she looked away as well. "That... That's not even mine." she blatantly lied. "And, even if it was, it's still broken!"

Rolling his eye lights slightly at her immature reasoning, the skeleton gave a lazy shrug as he brought up his busted phone. Tapping something out in an empty memo, he grinned sneakily as he presented the kid with a challenge. "how about we make a deal." he began as he showed her the small screen. "if you can figure out what this says all by yourself, then i'll personally get you your very own phone."

Squinting at the foreign symbols, a frown slowly formed on Fearia's face. "All I have to do is find out what it says?"

"yep."

"How...?"

"if i were you, i'd start by trying to learn the language." Sans advised as his smile softened a little. "y'know, i bet paps would love to help you with that. it's something he's really good at. heh, who knows? you might get the hang of it sooner than you think."

"Really?" Fearia's expression seemed to brighten a bit at his words. "So, if I learn how to read these symbols, then you promise you'll get me my very own cell phone?"

"that was the deal, kid." Sans reminded, though he already knew where this was going.

"Promise?"

yep, there it was.

Rolling his eye lights once more, the humored skeleton gave a slight chuckle at the normalcy of it all. "yeh, i promise." he relented easily as a lazy smile appeared on his skull. "so, do we have a deal?"

"Deal!" Fearia chirped as she readily accepted his challenge. "Do cell phones come in pink? Because I want a pink one. Or a red one!"

"pfft! you're gettin' a bit ahead of yourself there, buddy." Sans grinned as he tucked his broken phone away inside of his jacket pocket. "instead of thinking about the color, i think you should really be focusing on your a b c's."

"My what?" The little girl asked as she cocked her head curiously.

"exactly."

More than a little confused by this, Fearia was all the more startled when a loud bang sounded from below.

"FEARIA?!"

Releasing a happy gasp, the little girl perked back up when she recognized her friend's voice. "Pappy's home!"

Barking in excitement, Poff quickly followed after the lazy skeleton as he headed for his bedroom door. Once the door was open, the furry dog monster squeezed past him and dashed out into the hallway. Peering down through the wooden rungs of the upstairs balcony, he easily spotted the taller skeleton in the living room below. Giving another happy bark, he effectively drew his attention.

"she's up here, bro." Sans informed, his usual smile in place as he gave his brother a subtle nod to his room.

Whatever doubts Papyrus might have still been holding on to seemed to evaporate in an instant at his older brother's words. That really had been Fearia on the phone. She really was awake! "Thank Goodness..."

Failing to hold back tears of relief, Papyrus hastily made his way up the stairs. After one more encouraging nod from his brother, the taller skeleton stepped past him and peeked into the messy room. There, sliding down from the rumpled bedsheets, was the same, very recognizable tiny human he'd been worrying about for nearly a week. "Miss Fearia!" he cried with joy.

"Hey, Pappy!" Fearia smiled in greeting as she attempted to make her way over to him. After only a few wobbly steps, however, her weakened legs seemed to turn to jelly from underneath her. Stumbling, the little girl was quickly caught by two large gloved hands.

Lifting the tiny human off of her feet, Papyrus gently set her back on the bed before kneeling down beside her on his patella's. "Are You Okay?" He asked in worry as he scanned her for visible injuries. "You Aren't Hurt Anywhere, Are You?"

"No, I'm fine." Fearia reassured with a small shake of her head. "My legs are just kinda tired for some reason, dunno why."

"probably because you haven't used them in a while." Sans surmised as he casually walked back into his bedroom. "it might take a few days before you get your strength back."

"A few days?!" Fearia exclaimed in dismay. A few days sounded like forever! Feeling ever so slightly betrayed by her own weakness, the little girl glowered down at her useless legs. "That's too long..." she complained.

"Fearia..." Papyrus began, his expression softening. "You Shouldn't Push Yourself So Hard. After What Happened, I Think That We Can All Agree, A Few Days Of Rest and Relaxation Sounds Entirely Reasonable."

"yeh, kid." Sans agreed as he stuffed his boney hands into his jacket pockets. "take a load off. you can veg out in front of the tv for a day or two if you want. heh, i might join ya."

"Sans," Papyrus shot his older brother a look of displeasure. "Please Don't Try to Impart Your Laziness Onto The Human. There Are Far More Productive Ways To Relax! Also... Why Are You So Filthy?"

"eh, i had a bit of a rough day." Sans answered evasively as he gave a lazy shrug.

"He was fighting with Flowey." Fearia tattled. "That's how he got hurt."

"You Were Hurt? Again?!" Concern flashed across Papyrus' skull as he carefully scrutinized his older brother for new injuries. "Where?"

"His head." Fearia replied as she pointed to her friend's damaged skull. "Flowey hit Sans in the head with one of his seeds. That's how his skull got cracked."

So, that's how it had happened, Papyrus thought privately as his gaze was drawn to the nasty looking fracture. With his brother's hood down for once, he could easily see how badly he'd been hurt. Starting as a thin line, the crack spanned from the top of his left eye socket and progressively got more jagged the further up it went. Enough so, that, at the center of the damage, a small portion of his skull was actually missing. The sight absolutely harrowing.

Feeling more than a little self conscious, Sans' smile faltered slightly as he realized his own mistake. Eye lights drifting away from his younger brother, he quietly raised a hand before pulling his stained hood back up over his cracked skull. He'd spent so long with it down around Frisk, he'd actually forgotten to pull it back up. "don't worry, bro, it's really not as bad as it looks."

"But It Looks Awful!" Papyrus shot back, totally not buying a word of his brother's feeble reassurance. "I'm Taking You To See A Doctor First Thing Tomorrow Morning." he said with finality. "In Fact, I Think You Should Come Too, Miss Fearia."

"What?" Fearia's stomach squirmed at the very suggestion. "Why me? I don't want to visit your village's physician. I refuse!"

Deflating slightly, Papyrus turned his attention back to the nervous child as she fidgeted in obvious agitation. "Fearia, Don't You Think It Would Be Wise To At Least Have Yourself A Small Check Up?"

"No?" The little girl replied rhetorically as she stubbornly shook her head.

"i think you're forgetting about the kid's stars, paps." Sans said, coming to the small child's aid. "she probably won't ever have to see a doctor if she has those things to rely on. besides, i doubt we could find anyone that would even know how to treat a human. don't mean to point out the obvious, but the kid's kinda unique down here."

Sending her lazy friend an appreciative smile, Fearia turned back to Papyrus before giving him a small shrug. "See? I don't need to see a doctor. Sans said so!"

Backing down with obvious reluctance, Papyrus finally released a tired sigh. "Fine." he relented "But You Still Have To Rest. After Everything You've Been Through, You Should Really Take It Easy For A Few Days."

"What do you mean...?" Fearia asked as she started to become slightly suspicious. Looking from one skeleton to the other, a small frown slowly formed on the little girl's face as she easily noticed the look of worry they were both giving her. Why were they looking at her like that? "Did something happened?"

"Don't... You Remember?" Papyrus asked with uncertainty. Giving his older brother a quick side glance, he immediately noticed the pained look on his skull.

"Remember what...?" The little girl replied, her confusion evident.

With a nearly inaudible sigh, Sans knew that he had to be the one to tell her. As much as he hated to be the bearer of unpleasant news, he knew that the responsibility fell onto him. It was his own fault after all.

Making his way over to the bed, he crouched down beside his brother so that he was eye level with the small child. The gesture seemed to make her even more nervous as a look of worry flashed across her face. "listen," he began carefully as he watched as the little girl unconsciously drew a small hand to her chest. "i need to tell you something, and it'll probably be upsetting to hear, but you need to know what happened."

"What...? What happened?" Fearia asked, anxiety clear in her voice.

Feeling his mood sink, Sans forced himself to continue as he met the little girl's worried gaze. "i'm so sorry, fearia." He apologized from the bottom of his nonexistent heart. "i tried. i really did, but flowey still managed to get ahold of your soul."

"Flowey? He took my Soul?" Creasing her brow ever so slightly, the little girl looked troubled as she lowered her gaze, her palm now flat against her chest. She couldn't remember this ever happening, but for some reason a phantom pain still throbbed beneath her hand. Had her Soul really been stolen? If that was true, than why was it that she could distinctly feel the warm pulse of magic within her body? Obviously, her Soul was right where it should be.

Putting the pieces together, a look of understanding slowly appeared on Fearia's face. Lifting her gaze, she gave both of her friend's a small, hopeful smile. "Did you two get my Soul back for me?"

"Well.." Papyrus started awkwardly as a sheepish grin appeared on his skull. "As Much As I Would Like To Take Some Of The Credit, I Believe My Brother Is The One You Should Really Thank.. I Don't Think Sans Has Taken A Proper Break In Nearly A Week. He's Been Searching Nonstop!"

"aw, paps, don't sell yourself short." Sans said as he looked knowingly up at his younger brother. "you've been out there looking too, and i know how hard you've been trying. you definitely deserve some of the credit."

"But It Was You Who Found Miss Fearia's Soul." Papyrus pointed out before rejecting the sentiment outright. "No, This Time I Think You Deserve All Of The Credit, Brother. You Really Went Above And Beyond For The Sake Of Our Tiny Human, And For That, I'm So Unbelievably Proud Of You!"

Turning to her lazy friend, Fearia's expression seemed to brighten as a swell of gratitude rose up inside of her. She couldn't quite explain it, but the fact that Sans had undertaken such an obviously difficult endeavor purely on her behalf... It just made her feel so happy!

Leaning forward, the little girl wrapped her small arms lovingly around her friend's cervical spine before giving the increasingly mystified skeleton an affectionate hug. "You're the best, Sans!" she declared fondly.

Despite feeling very underserving of such praise, Sans couldn't seem to wipe the dumb smile off of his skull as he gently placed a boney hand to the small child's back. Somehow, he had seen this conversation playing out so much differently inside of his head. But, like always, this tiny human had managed to surprise him with her seemingly infinite capacity for forgiveness. Honestly, this was so much more than he deserved.

Feeling lighter now for some reason, Sans unconsciously pulled the small child a bit closer. "eh, far from it, squirt." he chuckled in humor. "but i'll take the "okayest" any day."

"That's not even a word." Fearia giggled lightheartedly.

"heh, s'all you know, kid." Sans retorted as his grin broadened.

Papyrus' nonexistent heart seemed to swell with joy as he watched the loving display between his older brother and the tiny human. This felt right. After so many days of sadness and uncertainty, it really felt like things were finally starting to get back to normal and he couldn't be happier about that!

"This Calls For A Celebration!" Papyrus announced with glee. "To Commemorate This Special Occasion, I Propose We Throw A Party!"

"a party...?" Sans replied, doubt clear in his lackluster voice. "paps, i dunno-"

"Yes!" Fearia exclaimed, interrupting her skeptical friend. "Oh-my-gosh! Can we really have a party?"

"Of Course!" The taller skeleton confirmed jovially. "I Had Planned On Throwing It A Week Ago. But... It Had To Be Delayed." Smile fading a little at the memory, Papyrus was quick to recover. "Fortunately, Everything Turned Out For The Best! And, Now That You're Finally Feeling Better, Miss Fearia, I Have Every Intention On Making This The Best Party Ever!"

Filled with excitement, Fearia released a happy gasp as she clasped her small hands in front of her chest. This sounded like so much fun! "Can I help too?" she asked hopefully. "I wanna help!"

"Absolutely!" Papyrus grinned. "In Fact, I Have The Perfect Task For You."

Excitement wavering slightly, Fearia had a bad feeling that she knew where this was going. "Not pasta..." she pouted, rejecting the task before it was even handed out to her. "I don't wanna sort pasta again."

"I Was Thinking Streamers." Papyrus replied, not at all bothered by the little girl's lack of passion towards the many wonderous assortments of dried pasta. "Actually, You Could Help Me With The Banner."

"Okay!" Fearia smiled as she quickly agreed. Heck, if it wasn't pasta, she was happy.

"We Can Use Dried Macaroni!"

"Wait, what?"

Chuckling, Sans stood back up before stuffing his boney hands back into his jacket pockets. Maybe a party wasn't such a bad idea after all. They could definitely all use a bit of fun, especially now that the drama was finally dying down. After a weeks' worth of stress, this might actually be a perfect way to unwind.

And, if things worked out, they might have even more to celebrate.

'heh, wonder if frisk likes parties.' Sans privately mused as his mind turned to the sleeping human. He'll have to ask her when she finally wakes up.

xxx

Spoiler: Frisk is in the name chapter! :)

...

Thanks for reading!

If you are enjoying this story, why not take the time to leave me a friendly review?

Sheii Bae~