Me and Chara are squished up against the wall of the house. Chara is squatting down next to the porch swing, trying to keep still and not make it move. That swing looks really fun! I wanna try it out. But right now, both of us are trying to be quiet, and Frisk is waiting for us to get settled before he knocks on the door. It's a little hard to keep still and Chara's elbow is in my ribs, but it'll be OK for a couple of minutes.

I can't believe how much space I take up now! I've got arms and legs! One of the weirdest things about being a flower was how thin and bendy and slithery I was. I guess having vines made it easier to poke things, but it was weird. All those vines and roots made me feel like my body was made out of wiggly snakes or something. And I had a weird floppy head that could bend up and go into the ground. I got used to it after a while, but it never felt right. Fur and claws and a normal face is way better! I try to pat my tummy, but my elbow is stuck under Chara's armpit.

Frisk looks like he's about to explode. That smile looks like it must hurt! He's trying to hide it, but it's not working – it just makes his face look weird. He's peeking through the window next to the door and making hand motions to shush me and Chara so he can knock. Chara whispers "shhhhhhhhhhhh" really loud right in my ear. I bonk my head into her sideways.

This house looks really cool! I mean, everything on the surface looks cool, frankly, but this place looks awesome. Frisk told us about it on the way down the mountain. He said the backyard is pretty big and there's a park on the other side of the woods with a lake and boats and stuff. And it's not raining or snowing or burning hot all the time! And you can see real stars at night! I think I'm gonna love it here. To be honest, it's a little scary being out in the open like this. The underground had some pretty big caverns, but you could at least see the ceiling in most places. There's no ceiling anywhere out in the open! I started feeling a little dizzy staring up at the sky on the way here. Frisk told me to just put my head down and stare at the ground when that happens. Uncle Gerson just laughed and told me it'll get better.

Chara's elbow digs into my ribs some more. It's so weird that she's been here all this time and Mom and Dad didn't know! She said she's got her own room and everything. I asked her why she didn't come with Frisk when he came to visit me, and she got all red and looked sad, so I told her it was OK. But she said she was sorry, and she didn't know I'd be able to see her since nobody else could, and also she didn't really think that Flowey was me. I guess that makes sens e. I, uh… I did some pretty weird stuff as a flower. Stuff that was… wow, it was really awful. I can't really blame her for not thinking it was me. I don't even know… I can't imagine ever wanting to do that kind of stuff now! I guess I'm just glad Frisk saved me in this timeline. He didn't even get mad about all those times I attacked him. Ugh. I am soooo glad I'm not Flowey anymore!

Chara looks really nervous. I hope her new soul is OK! Doctor Gaster said she should try to take it easy for a few days. This probably wasn't what he had in mind. I wonder if it'd be OK if I just check her soul? Mom said that was kind of rude to do without asking, but I don't know if Chara knows about soul checking, and I just wanna make sure she's OK.

Oops, she jumped a little. I think she noticed. I hope she doesn't figure out what I'm doing.

Hee hee! Chara only has 19 HP, and I have 22. She's going to love it when I tell her how strong I am and how I'll always protect her. Oh… wow, that's a big ATK. I wonder why she…? Oh! Oh, her soul says I'm her best friend! Awww, Chara, that's so sweet! Awww, she's squeezing my hand, too! Um… ow. She's squeezing it really hard. Ow! I… I think she figured out what I was doing. Owwwwww.

Oh! Frisk is knocking! I try to scrunch down more, and accidentally bang the swing. Chara stops it and pushes me into the wall more. I'll bet I could use my other hand to tickle her if I tried, but we're supposed to be being quiet. Frisk is bouncing on his toes. His face still looks weird. I hope the porch light isn't too bright – I think we're in the dark enough. The door opens, and more light comes out, but we're still far enough in the shadows that-

Mommy!

It's Mommy! It's Mommy! Oh no, I feel myself starting to cry! I scrunch up my face as hard as I can so I don't make any sounds. Chara's eyes are really big.

Mom looks just like she always does! She's wearing that purple dress she really likes. She's even holding a spatula! She must be cooking the snail pie! She's looking at Frisk and she's smiling and I can hear her voice and-

Mommy!

I want to run over there right now. I want to run so bad! How… how did I ever forget about Mommy? No, wait… that's not right. It wasn't that I forgot her. I saw her when I was Flowey lots of times. I saw… I saw her just before the barrier broke. I… I even took her soul. I just… didn't care. I didn't care about her. At all. How is that possible? How is that even possible?

I'm sorry! Mommy, I'm sorry! I want Mommy so bad right now.

Chara's holding onto my arm now like she knows I want to run over there, but I know she wants to, too. At least I think she does. She looks kinda scared, actually, but she's also wiggling like she wants to stand up. But we have to wait. Frisk said to wait until Mom closed her eyes.

He's telling her that he brought back a surprise from the underground. Hee hee! This is gonna be so great!

Ok! Ok! Mom's closed her eyes and Frisk is waving at us. Ow, my legs are bent all funny. Chara's trying to get up without making any noise. I'll wait till she's up, then it'll be easier to get myself unbent. Ok! Now we've gotta sneak over there. It's pretty easy for me with soft feet. Chara's trying to tiptoe so her shoes won't make any noise. Oops! This porch has some creaky boards. Which side do I go on? Oh, Chara's going over there, so I guess I'll stand next to Frisk here. Whoops, I forgot about my hood. I get it pushed back and my ears out. That feels better. I have ears! I love having ears.

Frisk reaches out to grab my hand. I look up, and there's Mommy! She's smiling and her eyes are still closed. I think my heart's going to explode!

"Ok, Mom – open your eyes!" Frisk says.

She's looking at him now. I'd forgotten her eyes were purp-

She's looking at me!


Oh, this pie smells good! It has been quite a while since I made this, and I had forgotten how wonderfully delicious snails are! Frisk does not care for the dish, I am certain. Asgore eats it willingly enough, but I am fairly sure it is not at the top of his list of favorites. Really, the only ones who really like it are me and… well, I suppose I am the only one now. Frisk asked to have it tonight, but I know he was not requesting it for his benefit. He is crafty that way, finding ways to make others happy without letting on what he is doing! But a mother always knows. I am certain he asked so that I would be able to enjoy it. Which is why I hope he will be surprised when it comes with chocolate brownies for dessert! Hee hee!

I hum to myself as I finish mixing up the batter. I am looking forward to seeing Frisk's face light up when he gets home. He has quite the sweet tooth, and although I remind myself (and him!) that he needs balanced meals, it is fun to see how happy such simple things make him. My mind drifts back to our conversation this morning. Frisk had told us he hoped to bring us a surprise. Really, it is hard to imagine what surprises there could be in the underground for us! I spent far too long locked away in my corner of the kingdom, but I cannot imagine there is anything in the underground I have not seen.

I could not help but be curious, though, thinking about it in the idle moments of the day. Frisk's eyes were positively shining when he said it. He said it would be for both of us. If I had to guess, I would think he has probably found some family memento that he rediscovered in Asgore's palace. A picture seems like the most likely thing.

That… makes me a little sad, to be honest. Of course, by all means we will express our happiness with whatever he finds. And indeed, a picture of Asgore and I from… from the old days might be more welcome than I think. Even just a few months ago, the rawness of my emotions could not have handled anything that reminded me of… those days. But by grace, Asgore and I have made much progress in these months. I think… I think seeing a picture of him and me from long ago might be good.

But most of our family pictures were not just of the two of us. It would be much more painful if-

Goodness, Toriel, enough of that! What a flight of fancy you are on. Frisk could have found any one of a thousand trinkets left underground! And he is not so insensitive as to think that a photo of the four of-

Enough, Toriel! Just be appreciative, whatever it may be.

Asgore comes into the kitchen and begins pulling down plates and glasses from the cupboard. "Did Frisk say what time he would be back?" I ask.

"He texted me earlier. I would think he'll be back probably in the next fifteen or twenty minutes," he tells me.

I nod and begin slicing the pie. The crisp golden slices with their shining gray contents make my mouth water.

I have not failed to notice that Frisk asks for the smallest piece of snail pie when I serve them out. I carefully make sure that one of the three slices is distinctly smaller, and fish out one or two of the chunkier snail bits overflowing the edge of his slice.

"Could you put the pan of brownies in?" I ask Asgore as I pop the extra snail bites into my mouth. "The oven should already be at 350."

As Asgore pulls open the oven, there is a knock at the front door. He looks at me. "Are you expecting anyone?" I shake my head.

"I will get it," I tell him. Carrying the pie spatula, I wipe my other hand on a towel and walk over to the front door.

The porch light is already on, and I see a short, brown-haired person through the frosted glass on the door. I open the door. "Hello-"

To my surprise, it is Frisk standing there. He has an unusual expression on his face and is bouncing slightly on his toes.

"Why, Frisk! You are back! Did you have a good time today?" I look at him in confusion. "And why were you knocking? I left the door unlocked for you."

Frisk is trying very hard to swallow a grin, but his eyes are dancing.

"Hi, Mom! I brought back the surprise from the underground I told you about, and I wanted you to come and see it. But you have to close your eyes first!"

I cannot help but smile; whatever Frisk has found seems to have excited him immensely.

"Oh, I am glad your trip went well, dear! I cannot imagine what you found there that would be a surprise, but I am ready for it!"

He is positively vibrating now. "Ok, close your eyes!"

I chuckle softly and obey. Frisk is obviously trying to be quiet, but there is a lot of shuffling going on. It sounds as though someone is with him. I am very curious now! Has he brought friends over?

"Don't look, Mom!" he pleads earnestly.

"I am not looking, my child!" I laugh. His excitement is infectious! I am reevaluating what this could possibly be. Perhaps a surprise party? But it is not my birthday today, nor Asgore's. Or has he found something so large in the underground that he had to get some of his friends to help him bring it?

At last, he and his friends settle down.

"Ok, Mom," he says breathlessly. "Open your eyes!"

I open my eyes, and my gaze lands back on Frisk, who has given up any attempt to hide the excitement which has lit up his face. Instantly I know that I was right – he has brought a couple of friends to help him. My peripheral vision has caught a flash of white just to his right. Too white for a human. A monster, I conclude as my eyes start to move. Young, about Frisk's size. His friend has a furry head with bright

emerald-green eyes that are streaming with tears and although I do not know it yet this is the last time I will ever see him, he is sobbing, asking if he can say goodbye to her alone, he is kneeling beside her bed still holding her hand still holding her hand he is weeping we are all weeping, Asgore's arm is around me, I cannot bear it she is quiet now she is so quiet and so still, we could not save her, she is gone, and I weep for the pain I see in my son's face and then he was gone I never saw you again, you died and were lost to us forever and you are here my soft gentle beautiful boy my son my dear son A-

"A-Asr-?"

-iel, asriel my son my beloved child why did you do it why did you leave us? we came back and you were gone, they said a monster had taken her soul had taken her through the barrier. why why? why did you do it? why did you not tell us? why could I not heal her? why was I not there the moment you came back why was I not there to save you my son, my dear dear child asriel my son asriel! how are you here? you are dust now and memories and weeping and heartache and brokenness it is impossible how are you here? how are you here?


Mommy! I'm trying to talk but I can only get squeaks out. Mommy's eyes have gotten really big. She looks like she's scared. She's not smiling anymore. What's wrong? Is something wrong? Now she's looking at Chara in the same way. Frisk is holding up my hand and Chara's hand and saying something but Mommy's still just staring at everyone. She's not moving at all. What's wrong?

Don't be sad, Mommy! I want to help her! What can I do?

"A-asr!" she says. She's just staring at me like I'm a ghost. She must be so surprised she can't even talk. She tries to talk to Chara but she can't do that either.

I don't know what to do, so I just wave and say "Hi, mom!"

Oh no! Mommy's falling over! She's grabbing the door to hold herself up and starting to slide down it. Aaaah! I don't know what to do! Can I catch her? Mom's probably really heavy! I pull my hand out of Frisk's and reach out. Someone else inside is talking. It sounds like-

Daddy! Daddy!


I cannot move. I cannot breathe. I can only stare and stare.

The living green eyes blink at me and flick to the side uncertainly. My head jerks and follows the gaze to Frisk and over to

no

no no it is not

it is not it is not you it must be another human child another human girl because you are gone you cannot be there looking at me with-

your eyes

your eyes, no-one has eyes like yours dear one, dear precious daughter, those deep beautiful eyes oh dear one oh child of my failure and my shame it cannot be you because I could not save you, I could not save you and you died because I failed you and you are dead and you are dead and you are staring at me my dear one dear-

"C-C-Cha-?"

The words die. If I speak them the illusion will disappear. My vision is not working properly. There is a haze in front of me. Dimly I register the looks of concern on the faces of my dead children. Something drops from my hand.

I was cooking I was supposed to be getting the pie ready I mustn't let the pie get cold Chara I'm cold I'm so cold Asriel I'm shaking I'm shaking I cannot stop shaking

My eyes alight on Frisk again, the one anchor in my blurred vision, the one thing that is not a fantasy from my broken mind. He is still smiling but a look of concern has come into his eyes.

My dead son steps forward. His eyes are worried.

"H-hi, Mom," he begs me.

His soft voice explodes in my ears, causing memories that had lain dormant for endless decades to roar to life and shatter me. Everything around me begins to shrink and grow distant. I am light-headed and off-balance. I barely manage to catch hold of the doorframe as I fall into it. I cannot tear my gaze away from the living eyes of my dead son and dead daughter.

"Mom!"

The voices of a boy and a girl call out to me. One is Frisk's. The other almost makes me weep. I have no strength. I cannot hold myself up. Someone inside the house is calling my name, but there is no-one in the world except these children in front of me. I hear my name again, and suddenly there are strong arms under me. I let myself go and fall backwards into them.


Daddy has caught Mommy and is holding her! Mommy isn't looking at him – she's still just staring at me and Chara. Daddy hasn't seen me yet. I'm trying to talk again but words aren't coming out.

Now he's talking to Frisk. When is he going to-

…he's seen me!

"As-Asriel? Asriel?"

I move a little closer. "Hi, Dad!" I try to say, but my voice is still squeaky. What else should I say? "It's me!"


"Frisk, what has-?" Asgore is asking. He does not finish.

I stare at the emerald eyes. Asgore is very, very quiet. I do not look at him. I do not look away.

"As-Asriel?" He sees him, too? He sees him, too! "Asriel?"

Asriel (Asriel!) steps closer. "Hi, Dad! It's me!"

I could touch him. I could touch him if I reached out but he will disappear if I do. My arms are beginning to move of their own accord but I mustn't I mustn't please no just a few moments more let me see him just a few moments more before he is gone please let me look at you one last time my child let me just look at you

"Asriel!" I cannot say anything else. A movement next to Frisk pulls my eyes again to my dead daughter, trembling and staring with those beautiful eyes. "And… and Chara? How… how can-"

you be there when I carried you across the underground and laid you to rest in the sea of flowers, when you were so cold and so still and unmoving and your body that had twisted in pain was finally at peace and I wept oh how I wept and wailed over you my daughter and my son who fell and died and collapsed and is standing right in front of me but how how it cannot be you were dead and I wept and I wept and I buried you and you were both dead I do not understand Chara Asriel Chara dear children how

"Hello, M-Mom," says a small voice that rips open scars in my heart.

My whole body is shaking. When did my cheeks become so wet?

My arms will not stop stretching themselves out. The vision will dissolve and they will be gone but I want them so badly I cannot stop myself. My arms are opening wide. The eyes of both of my children have grown bright. Asriel is moving-

"Chara! And… and…" I hear Asgore say.

Asriel is moving. I can see nothing else. Time has stopped. I will never blink. The illusion is about to break but I will remember you forever my dear-

Soft arms wrap themselves around my waist. Soft paws come to rest on my back. A warm, furry head presses itself into my chest.

And my arms sweep around him and pull him in. I squeeze him. I squeeze him tightly. He is solid and warm and real. I am weeping. I am weeping and laughing and wailing and rubbing his back and head and ruffling his soft fur under my fingers.

Asriel! Asriel!

I cannot stop crying. I can barely form any words. I just hold him. I rock back and forth and hold him. I will never let go.

It is you! It is you! I will never let you go, Asriel! You are here and soft and warm and alive and I am sorry for my failure dear one and oh how I love you my child my children and God helping me I will never fail either of you again I will hold onto you forever Asriel Asriel! Asriel!


Mommy looks like she's scared of me, and I have an awful thought of people being scared of me before, a long time ago. I'm really sorry! Please don't be scared of me, Mommy! I step forward a little because I really, really want to hug her and tell it's all right, but I'm not sure if I should. She looks like she's about to cry and- oh! Now she's holding out her arms! I run right into her and throw my arms around her.

She's hugging me!

She's hugging me tight and saying my name over and over and rubbing my arms and back. I never thought anyone would ever hug me again! Not after everything I did. Frisk tried to sometimes, but you can't really hug a flower. But I'm not a flower anymore! I'm me! And now Mommy is here and Daddy is brushing my head with his big hand, and I'm home, and I've never been so happy in all my life!

Mommy is so warm and squishy, and even though she's squeezing me kinda hard, I don't mind. I'm crying really hard now, but I don't mind that either. I know Chara's not going to make fun of me, because when I look over I can see she's crying just as much as me.

Mommy's rocking me back and forth and making soft little noises, and I rub her back. I am so happy! Mommy keeps saying "I love you" over and over and I'm not sure what to do, so I just say "I love you too, Mommy," a bunch of times. That seems right. My ears tickle when Mommy runs her hands over them, but it still feels really nice. I can't quite get my arms all the way around her, but I hug her as much as I can.

Daddy's right beside Mommy on the ground now, and Chara is hugging him. She's telling him how sorry she is. Wow, I guess that's still really bothering her. Daddy keeps interrupting her and shushing her, though, so I don't think she's going to really get to explain it all. Probably another time would be better anyway, I think. Oh, it looks like Chara's doing OK now – she's just hugging Dad and letting him hug her. I can't believe Chara thought nobody in the family would still love her. I mean, Dad is crying! I don't know if I've ever seen Dad crying!

Frisk! I forgot about Frisk! Where is he? Oh, there he is - he's taking a picture of us and grinning like a goofball. He needs to get over here! I wave at him to come and after a minute he comes over and hugs Mom and Dad as well.

Mom and Dad cry and hug everyone for a long time. Dad gives me a big squeeze and a kiss on my head which I wipe off, and then Mommy takes turns hugging and kissing me and Chara some more. This is all really nice, but it's getting a little chilly out here. Also, the door is open and I can smell the pie! I am super hungry. I hope this isn't rude…

"Mommy?" I ask.

She just stares at me with wide, wet eyes and smiles like she's been doing.

"Would, uh, would it be OK if we went inside?"

Her eyebrows go up and she gives a little gasp. It's like her mom-mode switch turns on.

"Of course, dear one, of course!" She stands up, and so does everyone else, though I'm a little stiff. "I do not want you or Frisk or Chara-" Her voice goes a little funny saying Chara's name. "-to catch a cold. Yes, yes, let us go inside."

"Are we having snail pie tonight?" I ask. Though I don't even really need to ask. Even if Frisk hadn't told me, I've been smelling it for the last five minutes.

"Why, yes!" Mom says, beaming down at me. "Yes, indeed we are, dear one! It is most fortunate that just this morning Frisk requested-"

Huh. Mommy stopped suddenly and her eyes look funny. Is she still looking at me? She looks like she's shocked about something.

"Frisk…" she says. Is Mommy starting to cry again? What's happening?

She's looking at Frisk now. "Frisk-" Her voice sounds like it's cracking. "Frisk… dear child… you knew- this was your- all along…?"

Frisk is grinning again. Dad's mouth has fallen open. Mom is staring and-

Wow. Well, I guess it's another hug party for Frisk. Mom and Dad are crying pretty loud again. I guess they must be happy that he brought Chara and me home? Yeah, that must be it. That makes sense. Frisk deserves all those hugs. I'm really happy for him. It's going to be cool having him as a brother! I wish we could go in and eat, though.


Boy, I'm tired. It's been a really busy day! This morning I was a flower sitting on Chara's grave and feeling sad that she was gone, and now she and I and Frisk are in a blanket fort in Mom and Dad's living room!

We've been talking pretty much nonstop since we got home. Mommy and Daddy had so many questions, and just kept staring and smiling at me and Chara during the entire dinner. That pie was soooooo good! I can't believe Frisk and Chara don't like it. Chara asked if she could have a hot dog instead, and then when Dad said yes, Frisk said he wanted one too. I mean, hot dogs look pretty good, but why would you say no to Mom's snail pie? It oozes perfection! Oh well, more pie leftovers for me.

I actually ended up eating three pieces tonight, because dinner went on a lot longer than I thought. Mommy was all happy telling us how she had kept some of our stuff from long ago in some storage containers in the attic. Chara and I were both asking about our old toys, and then Chara said something like "Do you still have that green and gold dress that I wore to your wed-" and then she stopped and got all red. Daddy asked what a "wed" was, and then Chara said "wedding" quietly. Mommy gave her a funny look and said she and Daddy were married before Chara came to the underground, and Chara got even quieter and said she was talking about their second wedding.

Mommy and Daddy just stared at her, with their forks in the air. Chara shrank down in her chair, and her hand came over under the table and started bumping mine. I'd forgotten that she used to do that whenever she was nervous or sad. I grabbed onto it, and she squeezed mine back. It seemed to help her, just like it used to; she straightened back up and relaxed a little.

After that we were pretty much stuck at the table for about forty-five minutes. Chara had to answer so many questions she couldn't finish her hot dog. She told Mom and Dad how she had haunted the house for several months. It sounded really cool to me! I wanted to ask her things like whether she could see while she was inside the walls, or how high she could float, but I could tell it wasn't the best time. Daddy looked sad and Mommy was crying and telling Chara that she was so sorry (I wasn't quite sure for what) and Chara looked really embarrassed and said it was OK. I managed to get another slice of pie without letting go of her hand.

Just when it looked like we were about done and could finally get dessert, Daddy started talking about their second wedding again and said that he was very glad to know Chara had been there after all. But then Frisk said it was sweet that Chara had been standing right beside him, and Daddy looked surprised and asked Frisk how he knew she was there! Chara gave this big sigh and Frisk got all red. And then he started getting tons of questions! I just had more buns from the breadbasket.

It was really late by the time we were done with the brownies. Daddy said we're gonna go to a furniture store and get more beds tomorrow, but Mommy found some sleeping bags in the attic, so all of us kids are sleeping downstairs in the living room tonight! We pulled the dinner table chairs and desk chair around us, and Mom got some blankets we could drape over everything, so now it's a cool fort! We didn't bring any pajamas or anything, but Frisk's clothes fit both of us pretty well, so me and Chara are just using some of his shirts and shorts. I got a blue shirt with a big glow-in-the-dark star on the front, which is pretty awesome.

Mom and Dad went to bed a while ago. Chara and I used to tell each other stories back in our old bedroom when all the lights were out, so I asked Frisk if he knew any. He said he did and ran to get a flashlight. When he came back, he turned it on and shone it underneath his face so he'd look spooky and said he was going to tell us a true ghost story.

He said, "Once upon a time, when I was all alone in my room, a hideous ghost suddenly came in, screeched at me, and tried to make me put on a tie." Chara hit him in the face with a pillow, so I didn't get to hear the end of the story.

It's pretty quiet now. Not as quiet as the underground was, though. Not as dark, either. There's a clock ticking, and I can hear the fridge in the other room. Even under the blankets, there's still some light coming in from the windows at the front of the house. I'm lying in my sleeping bag, waiting for the right moment. I think it's probably safe now, and besides, I have a feeling Mom and Dad won't really mind. Frisk may be asleep. But Chara? It's been a long time since we were together, but I'll bet I still know a few things about her.

"Chara?" I whisper.

"…yeah?"

"You wanna go get another brownie?"

I hear the flap of a sleeping bag being thrown back.

"I thought you'd never ask."

I know exactly where Mommy left the pan, and hopefully Chara knows where the forks and plates are. We both start sneaking out of the fort on all fours.

"Wait for me," we hear.


The sound of clinking silverware, whispering, and muffled giggles down the hall startles me, just as I am drifting off to sleep. I listen in confusion for a moment. Then in a flash it all comes back to me, and a feeling of warmth and tremendous gratitude floods my heart again.

I close my eyes again and pull the blanket up to my neck. Fuzzy thoughts swirl lazily through my mind as I listen and begin to drift away again.

They are alive

They are home

The laughter… oh, that laughter

Thank you

They should brush their teeth again

Thank you

Thank you

In the dark I hear a sleepy yawn. "You were right, dear. The brownies will be gone by morning."

I smile. Of course. A mother always knows.


Thank you for reading!