Chapter 2

Chara laid in bed, the taste of chocolate cake still on their tongue as they played with the locket Asriel had given them.

So much has changed in the last few years...since everything with Meredith and Paul.

They shuddered, recalling the horror of realizing that their stepmother had, in fact, been alive and out of jail, and remembering the feeling of being killed by Paul. They shook it off.

But that was years ago. It's over, they won't ever bug anyone again. They sighed, clutching the locket.

Now, all I have to worry about are the Dusters... They hated working as a monster/human ambassador sometimes, and the reason for that was the Dusters.

"Chara?" They were brought from their thoughts by Alice's soft voice. "How was y-your birthday?"

"It was amazing." Chara shifted on their bed to make room for their sister. "I really appreciate you guys for putting it all together."

"Of course! You're m-my sibling." Alice smiled. "Whatcha thinking about?"

"The Dusters." As Chara said that, Alice's smile dropped.

"Ah. Still having issues?"

"You could say that again." Chara closed their eyes and sighed. "Why would anyone hate monsters that much? That much to want them dead?" They snapped open their eyes and put their hand roughly on the bed. "Monsters have done nothing to hurt the humans. They're better than that."

"I know." Alice looked away. "Much b-better than humans…"

Chara knew exactly what Alice was thinking of.

"Alice, he's gone. He has been for 6 years. You're safe."

"I know that." Alice looked back at Chara and closed her eyes. "B-but sometimes I can just…I can imagine w-waking up back to being an 11 year old, scared to d-death of her father and fearing that she may not be alive the next day…" Chara hugged the girl.

"I know. I understand," Chara reassured the girl, patting her back. "But you're safe. You're here, you're alive."

"No, I'm Alice," Alice joked, holding her hand over her mouth as she giggled. Chara smiled as well, and lightly shoved Alice.

"Very funny."

Later that night, Chara laid in their bed.

It was entirely dark, with the exception of the green light coming from their alarm clock, which, when Chara rolled over to squint at, made out that it was 1:34 AM. Sighing quietly, they sat up and looked across the room to their sleeping siblings and Alex, who had slept over.

The years had all changed them drastically. Frisk had grown quite a bit, towering several inches over Chara when they were together. They had recently dyed their hip length hair to be a dusty purple along with their natural brown hair, creating a pretty ombre that Alice seemed to love braiding during one of her non-verbal times to calm down. Speaking of, Chara focused on their adopted sibling, with her messy, short, pink, blue, and purple hair, fully laying out over her own bed, cuddling a stuffed bunny Chara had gotten her for her 12th birthday as tightly as she could. On the spare bed was Alex, her long, curly brown and blonde hair pulled up into a messy bun, facing away from Chara. And then on the bed next to them, was Asriel. He had grown a lot as well, being close to Frisk's height. He also looked much older, having lost some of the baby fat that Chara recalled him having pre-Flowey.

Suddenly nostalgic, Chara grabbed a hoodie off of the side of their bed and teleported themselves outside.

They were going on a quick walk to the town's fountain.

How did everything change so fast? One day I was reincarnated from Frisk, now all of a sudden its been years. Chara picked up a stick and poked at a loose stone near the fountain.

So much responsibility has been put on our shoulders...As soon as Frisk felt comfortable talking around other people, Mom let us join ambassador meetings. I think we were 14? That was three years ago.

The ambassador meetings…

They had always reminded Chara of the PTA meetings back when they had first split off from Frisk. It had amused them at first, then they realized exactly how bigoted the other ambassadors were.

It's like talking to a child. A bigoted, bigoted, child. They shook their head. They never learn, and even worse, they teach their kids to be the same way. They felt horrible for the young girl that often joined her parents, the ambassadors.

I believe her name was...Willow? I'm not sure. She's probably 8 or 9.

They threw the stick down and started walking again.

In other news, Alex successfully came out at school. Even the more bigoted kids seem to be perfectly ok, although I think that's more Jimmy than Alex. They knew that Jimmy was very protective of his sister.

Especially when it came to their mother.

I'll admit, Linda's not as bad as she was before. Still, I don't think it's wise to come out to her until Alex can be safe.

Chara sat down on the fountain's edge, hearing the small splashes of the water. They looked at their locket, seeing the picture of their family. TO their surprise, they noticed there was a second part.

No wonder the locket is so thick. They flipped it and gasped at the next picture.

It was clearly old. Several decades old. But they recognized it all the same.

It was a father and his child. The father looked young, his dark brown hair showing no signs of age, and he was looking proudly at a little girl with long, curly locks. She was giggling as well.

"Azzy...how did you get this?" Chara touched the little girl's face, suddenly serene.

I haven't seen this picture since before I fell underground. It's the last picture of my father and I. I think I was 3.

Chara decided they'd thank Asriel tomorrow. Speaking of, they checked the time- 3:31.

Didn't realize I was out for so long. Should probably head back.

But still, they sat for another half hour before teleporting back to the comfort of their own bed, ripping off the hoodie and passing out.

Little did Chara realize, Alice was awake, thinking about her own issues.

I had that nightmare again…

They turned, seeing their sibling's back rise and fall with their breaths.

If I could teleport, I'd be walking around too. That, and if I didn't have a fear of strangers from when I was little. Alice sat up, looking down at her lap. Paul, why did you abandon me? I was so young. I was too young…

*A/N Hey guys! Thank you for your patience in waiting for this chapter.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed for all of your support!

I'll see you guys next chapter!

~Skater