Chapter 8: Encounter

Emma hummed happily as she came out from the office, taking a break from her bookwork. Sans looked up and smiled at seeing that the young woman had a spring in her step and he caught sight of the fire opal necklace around her neck. "Looks like someone's going to tie the knot soon," he said with a chuckle.

She giggled. "Yeah," she said with a grin before sighing softly. "It'll be nice to be married to someone who really cares about me and treats me right."

"You deserve it," he said sincerely. "And Grillbz is happy too. Haven't seen him this happy since we were freed three years ago and he got permission to open his restaurant up here."

Emma smiled. "I hope I make him happy too," she said before looking away, an unsure look on her face.

Two warm arms wrapped around her from behind. "You do, my lovely flame," Grillby said, nuzzling her neck and cheek before hugging her closer. "Do I make you happy?"

She smiled and turned her head to look at him. "Yes, you do," she said, leaning closer and kissing him. He returned the kiss lovingly, holding her close. Sans gently cleared his throat, making them jump apart and he chuckled.

"So when's the big day?" He asked.

"We're hoping for next month," Grillby said.

Emma bit her lip. "I just hope my folks and ex-husband don't show up," she said. "I know the divorce is official, but I'm worried they'll try something."

"If they dare, they'll find out why I was a feared general long ago," the fire elemental said. He had told Emma about his past and she hadn't even flinched at it, but instead had told him that the past was the past and it couldn't be changed, but the future could be made brighter and she was looking forward to their future. He had been relieved that she wasn't afraid of him knowing about his past and he had sworn to protect her fiercely.

Giggles reached them and they looked to see Lilly was running outside in the snow with Frisk beside her as they tried to outrun Undyne and Papyrus. The fish woman laughed as she caught the youngest child, making the little girl squeal excitedly before the tall skeleton caught Frisk, who also squealed in excitement.

Lilly then looked up and gasped as she saw three people that filled her with fear and she clung to Undyne. "Auntie, it's them," she said, fear in her voice. "My mean daddy and grandparents."

The fish woman froze at that. "Where?" She asked, instantly alert.

Frisk saw them too and gasped. "Over there," she said, pointing to them. "They're coming towards us."

Papyrus tightened his hold on his niece. "Undyne, I think we best get inside," he said.

"Like now," she said in agreement as they quickly went inside the restaurant, glad to see the Royal Guard Dogs were there. "Guys, listen up."

The dogs at once stood to attention. "We've got three unfriendlies coming in," the fish woman said. "Emma's ex-husband and parents."

Emma gasped and stepped back into Grillby, who tightened his hold on her. "Where?" The fire monster asked.

The young woman saw them coming to the door. "There," she said, pointing to the door.

As the door opened, Papyrus and Undyne handed the two girls to Sans, who took them and led the kids to a nearby booth. "Scoot inside," he said.

They didn't hesitate to do so as Frisk sat on one side of Lilly and Sans sat on the younger girl's other side, the little girl clinging to Sans while Frisk hugged Lilly from behind protectively.

Undyne, Papyrus, and the dogs stood up as the three people entered. The lady looked at Emma with a disapproving look. "There you are, you ungrateful girl," she said.

"Thought you could run away," one of the men said.

"And trick me into signing divorce papers," the other man said.

Emma took a deep breath and glared at them while holding Grillby's hand in her own. "A judge who is a very good friend of mine made you sign those papers, creep," she said. "He was appaulded to hear that you were abusing me and Lilly."

"Lies," the woman said. "Now, you're coming back home and you're going to make the judge fix those papers."

The young woman, who might have cowered before, stood taller when she felt her husband-to-be hold her closer. "He won't," she said. "And I'm not going anywhere."

The man, who the monsters knew was her father, sneered. "Then Lilly is coming with us," he said. "We've got someone willing to adopt her for a good price."

Grillby's fire flared up at that. "You're not taking my daughter or my wife anywhere," he growled out.

"You stay out of it, monster!" The ex-husband said.

Emma glared at them again. "The only monsters I see are you three," she said. "Now get out before we call the police."

"Are you disobeying us, brat?" Her mother asked.

Lilly didn't like that. "Don't you talk to Mommy that way!" She said, standing on the seat. Sans placed a hand on her back to keep her steady as Frisk stood up too.

Her birth father glared at her. "You keep your mouth shut, stupid," he said.

That was it. Emma was over the bar in a flash and she punched her ex-husband hard enough to knock him off his feet before she did the same to her parents, shocking them as they stared up at her, seeing her angry expression. Grillby was beside his wife-to-be in an instant, his fire flaring up again. "Get out," he said, reinforcing Emma's warning.

Emma's father stood up and he glared at her. "You're going to regret that, brat," he spat out.

"Not as much as I regret calling you my father," she shot back, not backing down.

Her mother stood up. "You forget. We have the law on our side and they are ready to take Lilly away," she said nastily.

Emma glared at her. "Try it and you'll learn just how hot fire can get," she said. "Now I will not repeat myself. Get out and don't ever come back."

Her ex-husband held up an envelope. "Oh, we'll be back," he said.

Sans' left eye lit up blue as his telekinesis grabbed the envelope and he moved his hand so that it came to him. "No, you won't," he said before calling up two Gaster Blasters. "Now. Leave."

The skulls startled the three and they left, but not before throwing nasty looks at the monsters and Emma. When the door closed, Emma felt her legs give out and Grillby caught her, holding her close. "Are you alright, my love?" He asked.

She nodded before looking over at Sans, who was looking at the contents of the envelope. "Sans? What does it say?" She asked.

He sighed and looked at her with an expression of disgust. "It's a petition to take Lilly away from you and have you committed to a mental institution," he said.

"No!" Lilly cried out, reaching for her mother, who came over and lifted her daughter up into her arms. "I don't want to be taken away from you, Mommy."

"You won't be, sweetheart. Mommy and Daddy won't let them," Emma said reassuringly to her daughter.

"Your mother's right, my little candle," Grillby said. "We won't let them take you away."

Undyne gasped in horror before her good eye narrowed. "How dare they," she growled out.

"We must do something," Papyrus said.

"We will," Sans said. "The court date is tomorrow."

Emma took a deep breath. "Who is the judge?" She asked.

"His name is Clark," the short skeleton said.

"He's the one I met about adopting Lilly and the marriage papers," Grillby said. "Emma and I signed those just the other day and I gave them to Gerson."

"Let's hope he'll still grant our wish to be married," Emma said worriedly. "This could change things."

The fire elemental pulled her closer. "It won't change a thing, Emma," he said. "I won't let them take you or Lilly away."

She snuggled into his hug, grateful, but internally, she was worried.

Her and her daughter's fates rested in the hands of a judge who would hopefully be able to help them.

Looks like it's going to be a bad time for Emma and Lilly, but will the judge be able to help them and will Grillby and Emma be able to be married? Stay tuned to find out. :)

And please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418