"Oh, here she comes."
Goatdad broadcasted from the fireside seat of the living room couch as a lively Frisk jogged down the stairs with gusto, taking them two by two. Each step was heavy and thunderous beneath the weight of her hiking boots, like the hooves of a galloping thoroughbred. Or a groggy Asgore racing for his morning tea.
"Slow down, Frisk. You'll trip."
"I'm fine, Mom!"
Toriel warned as she followed closely behind, worried that her buoyant little cherub would end up taking a tumble in her haste. Frisk paid no heed though as she sprung off that last step with renewed pep, reinvigorated for the evening ahead.
"Took you long enough, sis."
Goatbro was waiting by the fireplace, leaning against the mantle with his arms crossed like the bouncer of a popular nightclub.
"It's your fault you fluffy dingus! Because of the mess that you made, I had to waste half an hour fixing my...hair..."
Frisks found her words choked off mid-sentence as her clamped almond peepers finally reported their findings to her tired brain.
"Azzy..."
While Frisk was up in her room preoccupied with damage control, recovering from the carnage precipitated by Hurricane Azzy (and a much needed therapy session with Goatmom), Asriel himself found the time to get a clean change of clothes, and the similarities were total and blatant. Trading out the festive wooly pullover from earlier, Asriel chose something a bit more traditional, now sporting a long-sleeve with interchanging stripes of clover and bumblebee, atop a pair of cuffed black jeans. His cute white tootsies clashed with the inky denim covering his supple legs, because as usual, he went without shoes. Not that it was easy to find shoes in their size, but how the Dreemurrs could tolerate walking barefoot through the snow, or hot asphault or even just rough terrain, without the aid of protective footwear, still eluded Frisk to this day.
Over his trademark sweatshirt was a tight-fitting hoody almost identical to the one Frisk was wearing, right down to the Delta Rune emblazoned on its backside, the only difference being that hers was bubble-gum pink and his was a bright shade of blooming lavender. His scruffy ivory fur, what little of it was visible under his flashy attire, was tinted a hazy orange by the roaring blaze of a newly kindled den fire, crackling and popping in happy acceptance of a fresh birchwood sacrifice offered only minutes earlier.
It was textbook dejavu.
"Heh, Mom was right. We really haven't changed, Azzy."
"Nope, all these years and we still have the same terrible taste in fashion."
Amused by this, the two dorks broke out into full-blown giggles, like a pair of giddy chipmunks. When they finally got themselves under control again, Asriel had another riddle to propose.
"By the way Frisk, aren't you forgetting something?"
"Huh?"
Folding his arms again, Asriel subtly swerved his head towards the christmas tree beside them, a healthy nine-foot blue spruce rooted inside a thick ceramic pot, waiting to be seeded into Asgores ever-expanding garden when the holiday season had concluded. Its jolly assortment of shiny, colorful decor gleamed like fine gemstones in the rich firelight.
Two ornaments in particular caught Frisks attention immediately.
"Oh, right!"
There in the center hung the other two Wayfinders, star-shaped charms in lovely tones of crimson and bright dandelion, crafted of stained glass and silver lining, each attached to a matching chain of tiny seashells. The red one had a golden C anchored to its tail, the yellow one a golden A. Signifying their proximity to each other, they gave off pulsing waves of silver starlight, like beacons guiding a ship into port. Only their sister was absent, and though the tree was already overcongested with light strands and baubles and doodads of all sorts, there was just enough room to squeeze in one more.
"How did I forget?"
With scorched cheeks, Frisk set her knapsack on the nearby loveseat and plunged into its depths, wading through old moose bottles and half-opened rolls of cinnamints, until at long last she emerged with the missing Wayfinger in hand. Hers was a sunny shade of blue, the blue of the clearest sky, and like the others, there was a gilded letter affixed to its nautical tail, this one an F. Trinket in hand, Frisk looped the chain around a vacant branch above the other two, allowing the star itself to sit atop its cousins like a trio of trapeze acrobats, completing the BFF trinity.
"That's better. Now we're all together again."
Asriel mused as they both lost themselves in their reverie, hypnotized by the cluster of enchanted talismans and the luminant quicksilver aura they gave off, like sunlit diamonds against a glittery emerald canvas.
"I'm actually glad I didn't have it with me earlier, it would've spoiled your surprise."
"Heh, yeah."
But ever the crafty fuzzball, Asriel had another bombshell to drop as Frisk turned back to him.
"Huh!?"
He was holding a flower crown, a dainty little tiara made of delicately woven goldenrods, buttercups, chrysanthemums, jaspers and lilacs, with a blue rose fixed as the frontpiece. Their stems were intertwined with one another like a jazzy little wreath.
"Ta-dah! I picked some flowers from Dads garden and made this for you while you were getting ready."
And just like before, Asriel could see the impact of his deeds right away.
"Azzy...I..."
Leave it to Goatbro of all people to spread some holiday cheer when it was needed most. Frisk stammered her words as fresh tears began to pool at the corners of her ragged eyes, and she could think of no sufficient reply to requite how she felt in that moment. Her heart melted like chocolate in a microwave, and Asriels thoughtful gesture only served to reinforce Toriels earlier affirmation of just how dearly her adoptive family adored her.
"...gosh bro, you really know how to make a girl feel special."
With a toasty smile, Asriel took the floral halo and delicately fastened it atop Frisks pretty head, being careful this time not to upset the sensitive chemistry of her bobbed chestnut hair. The blue rose was set squarely in the center of Frisks forehead like a brilliant sapphire, and the colors complimented her features and her outfit perfectly. It was a prize fit for a Princess, the irony being that Frisk technically was a Princess by definition, seeing as she was a King's child, a child of royalty. She would never admit to such a thing though, just as Asriel would never own up to being a Prince. They were happy just being themselves.
"I'm gonna wear it all night, to bed even."
Knobbing away the tears with her bony knuckles, Frisk returned the smile air-mail and gave him a sugary kiss on the cheek, taking care this time to respect the consecrated territory that was his silky snootle. He had no objections to this one.
"Thanks, Azzy. You're the best."
Toriel and Asgore could only gawk in amazement as this cushy showcase of affectionate kinship played itself out in all of its heartfelt splendor, as it was one of the few achievements in life they could both hold their heads high for. They had both made a rather substantial number of...mistakes, throughout their protracted existence - some far bigger than others - and they both had their share of woes and regrets to contend with to this day, but their parental efforts over the years were not one of them. Seeing their children together like this, how happy and healthy they were, how close they had grown, left no doubts whatsoever; they raised their kids right.
And like any good mother, Toriel could not resist the urge to prod and poke her babies in the spirit of the moment.
"I'll be right back, you two. Don't go anywhere."
Toriel muttered as she scurried up the stairs, nearly tripping over herself in the process. Asriel and Frisk gave each other strange glares, unsure of what to think of Goatmoms impromptu conduct.
Until she came back down with an all-too familiar object in paw.
"Camera!"
The old polaroid that Frisk had given to Asriel long ago as a Christmas present, a bulky copper and steel beast, mounted with a snap-flash bulb and a time dial, tarnished by wear and age. Though it had certainly seen some heavy use in its lifetime, it was quite clean and well maintained, with all of its parts in working order, and it still had half a pack of film in the cartridge, plenty to fill out another years worth of memories.
"Okay you two, you know the drill."
Well rehearsed for moments like this, the two dorks scrambled into action and took position in front of the fireplace, its rocky mantle embellished with family photos and a myriad of awards that both Asriel and Frisk had garnered in their youth, ranging from a harlequin assortment of soccer medals, minted and encased to protect them from dust, to the enormous gold-cup trophy they had won from the Nose Nuzzling competition of 2X29, an event organized to christen the grand opening of the New Grillby's, in which they took first place.
One object, however, stood out from all the others. A monochrome portrait of a young child in a striped sweater, wearing a shiny scarlet pendant in the shape of a heart.
A girl.
A girl with short, bobbed hair and rosy cheeks, their deep tint evident even with the lack of color in the shot.
Her.
Asriel took Charas portrait off the mantle, careful not to scratch the frame with his sooty claws, and clutched it tightly to his chest, like a bookworm with an anthology from their favorite author. Chara was long dead, and no amount of witchcraft or sorcery could change that, but the Dreemurrs love for their daughter and the bond that she and Asriel shared did not die with her. She was a part of Asriel now, two SOULs inhabiting one body, sharing in his experiences, his adventures, seeing what he saw, feeling what he felt, every minute of every day. Her conscience and her influence lived on, despite the relatively scarce opportunities that the Dreemurrs had to "visit" with her, and she was still included in every activity wherever and whenever possible. Family photos were no exception.
Frisk stood beside Asriel now, one sleeved arm around his limber waist, the other beneath Charas portrait, holding it from the bottom of its brass encasing, prompting Asriel to do the same. One lissome arm around his sisters shoulder, one beneath the portraits metal frame, held by both in such a way as to encapsulate the full detail of Charas immortal essence, undiluted even through the lenses of an antiquated pictobox.
All three lockets hung proudly from their necks, two around Asriels (Charas and his own), one around Frisks. Polished ceramic hearts anchored to snazzy chains of finely threaded gold, Charas strawberry red, Asriels honey yellow, and Frisks turquoise blue, all with matching photos and engravings.
Best Friends Forever: A + C + F
Now and always.
"Perfect! Smile, you three!"
With barely any warning, the two dorks had less than a second to show off their pearly choppers before their eyes were stabbed by the blinding flash of ancient magnesium filaments. Their reflexes were up to the task though, and Toriel couldn't have asked for better than what she got, three beaming goofballs huddled up in front of a warm fire, beside a Christmas tree that was oversaturated with lustrous tinsel and shiny baubles and chalky turtle doves and every other known breed of yuletide ornamentation. Out slid the photo, and just like that a new memory was born, ready to join the mighty ranks of its brethren in the Dreemurr Family Album.
"Wonderful! I'll have it enlarged and framed when I'm in town tomorrow."
Hearing this, Asgore was suddenly reminded of an important matter that had slipped his mind in the chaos of this fluff-ridden circus.
"Oh, I almost forgot! I have your allowance, Frisk."
Feeling his puffy muzzle broil and redden like Alphys at a social gathering, Asgore sheepishly chided himself as he fished around in the pockets of his midnight sweats, pants which, much like the cuffed charcoal jeans that Asriel was sporting, melded quite unharmoniously with his milky fur and the lively pink of his wooly sweater. When he finally pulled his hand free, nestled in the palm of his giant, meaty paw was a small pouch, roughly the size of a ripe peach. It was made of brown linen, imprinted with lush floral decor in vivid hues of jade and amber, and it was bound with a petite, glittery ribbon the color of summer lilacs.
With a delicate pinch of his thumb and foreclaw, Asgore tugged the ribbon free of its knot and dumped the contents of the tiny purse into his hand for a count. Asriels peridot eyes went wide as Glamburgers, and Frisk, though her stony pokerface showed little in the way of discernable change, had a similar reaction internally.
"Wow, Frisk! There must be at least 100g there! I guess you're buying tonight."
A sizeable chunk of change indeed. When Monsters first began to assimilate into Human society, to no ones surprise, the staple Underground currency was discovered to be of far greater worth than the paper tender used on the Surface. Because of this disparity, and the fact that precious metals were not subject to the same sort of inflation or long-term depreciation as cash, as more and more of it went into circulation, the old system was slowly done away with, and a new one was inaugurated, using Underground gold as a base. To compensate for the high value of gold in such a complex and developed society, silver and copper were incorporated as well, and three tiers of coin were instituted and printed, the copper Circlets, the silver Coronets, and the gold Crowns. The exchange rate was established at a firm hundred to one, with a single gold Crown being the equivalent of ten thousand copper Circlets, and there were plans to implement a fourth tier as well, using Platinum as the medium.
The policy was still local and not yet effectuated widespread, but it was steadily gaining popularity and regions further and further out were beginning to adopt the new arrangement. But in counties where the old structure was still in practice, those with even a small sum of gold in their possession were very well off financially, so poverty was virtually non-existant among the Monster population as a whole.
"120g, to be exact. And she deserves every last coin, Asriel. Not only has she been of tremendous assistance to me as Royal Ambassador, but she has done so much around here and for the school as well. You've both accomplished so much, and we're so proud of you. Both of you."
Goatpapa gleefully proclaimed as he funneled the bounteous stipend back into its ritzy purse, much to the delight of his target audience. He wasn't kidding either. All of his children, Chara included, were exceptional in every sense of the word, even besides their fate-altering exploits in years past which forever changed the lives of so many, and anybody who knew them would concur. Both Asriel and Frisk were recognized as pillars of the Ebott community, and their scholastic achievements spoke for themselves. Asriel graduated from Ebott Garden with honors, boasting an astonishing 3.95 GPA, and not even a week after applying was accepted into a prodigious university two counties over. His freshman semester, though the workload was harsh even by Toriels standards, had a sensational turnout, and already Asriel was well on his way to that six-year degree in Astrology. And as it was something that both he and Chara shared a mutual interest in, he was also pursuing a minor in Botany on the side. In no part due to their fathers obsession with the boundless flora of the world, they were sure.
As for Frisk, though she was not yet bound to a college-level syllabus, her obligations extended well beyond her school life. On top of her burdensome duties as the newfound Royal Ambassador, Frisk had to balance it with a full English curriculum alongside her part-time hours in the school infirmary. In between classes, Frisk spent her free periods as an assistant to the head Nurse, using what little downtime she had to sneak in some studying or knock out a packet of homework for the next class. Her dedication, discipline, and hard-work ethic were an inspiration to everyone around her and made her a shoe-in for this years Valedictorian, and though it didn't leave her with much layaround time at the end of the day, she always found a way to make room in her docket for friends and family, even if she had to sacrifice some sleep along the way.
Unfortunately, it also levied a harsh toll on her health, physically and mentally. The broad plethora of responsibilities that Frisk bore were tenfold what most grown adults had to shoulder in their daily lives, and though miraculously she was able to assume all of these tasks and still maintain solid grades and strong social ties, there was a large growing concern for her well-being, that she may have been overexerting herself, pushing herself beyond her limits, and the consequences of this self-neglect had already been seen first hand in the emotional bout from earlier, despite Frisks efforts to conceal it. It was evident now more than ever that Frisk was on the verge of collapse, and it worried everyone by no small degree.
And this time Goatdad was the one to address it, making no effort whatsoever to hide his concerns.
"But please Frisk, don't forget to take care of yourself, too."
"Huh?"
As Frisk looked on in confusion, Asgore took to one stocky knee and placed a brawny mitt firmly on Frisks shoulder, his jade pupils glinting like glassy mancala stones, accentuated by that bushy merigold beard and a full head of hair to match, all tinged a soft tangerine in the nebulous light of the fire.
"We love you so much, and we don't want to see you get hurt because you're pushing yourself too hard on our behalf. So please, be good to yourself, know your limits, and don't be afraid to come to us when you have a problem or need help or advice, okay? We are always here for you, Frisk."
And just like before, Frisk found herself emotionally taken aback by Goatdads profound sincerity, the serene sense of reassurment in his soothing voice.
"D-Dad, I..."
Both Toriel and Asriel stood beside him and nodded concurrently as Frisk tentatively exchanged glances with them, further reinforcing the crux of Toriels encouraging pep talk from earlier. The Dreemurrs unbounded kindness and charitable goodwill made her heart flutter like the wings of a hummingbird taking its first flight, and once more it made Frisk ponder her good fortunes, how blessed she was to have such wonderful people in her life. People who cared about her, who loved her wholeheartedly and unconditionally, who wanted nothing more than for her to be happy and well, and it meant more to Frisk then she could ever convey through mere words.
Though she still dreaded the thought of being spurned by future Baby Dreemurr, even if the absolute worst came to pass and the newborn did end up pushing her away, she knew now that whatever dark, stormy clouds loomed over the horizon, her family would always be there, with open hearts and welcoming arms, to show her the way forward. To be her light in the darkness.
And she was filled with DETERMINATION.
Uplifted by their words of solace, Frisk softly giggled to herself and dried her coinslot eyes with damp sleeves, sniffling as she did.
"...Okay, everyone! I promise!"
Asgore smiled warmly in return, then held out her hard-fought earnings in his waiting palm. Frisk joyfully took the tiny satchel of coins from the enormous creamy paw that cradled it, and slipped it into the cavernous maw of her knapsack.
Then she threw herself against Goatdads prone frame with breakneck speed, wrapping her little arms around his burly chest as far as they would go.
"Oof!"
The force of Frisks sudden maneuver almost sent Asgore to the floor, as he was already off balance from kneeling, and he had to fight to keep his footing. He had a good four feet and a couple hundred pounds on her, but this girl had some serious punch in the power of her tackles and even more in her hugs, another illustration of the sheer difference in strength between Humans and Monsters. Even so, he was a behemoth in size compared to Frisk, and he was very cautious as he closed his stocky arms around her to return said hug, hesitant to exert more pressure then he felt his frail child could tolerate.
Until Frisk blindsided him with a heartwarming jab of her own.
"I'm...I'm so lucky! I have the best family in the whole world, the best Dad in the whole world!"
And now Goatdad was the one reeling on his padded heels, awash with intense vibes of sheer and utter joy. Before him was a girl who had done so much for him and his people, who gave him back his very son, who brought the long deceased Prince Asriel Dreemurr back into the world. A girl whom he had, by her own account of past events, battled and even killed in parallel timelines, much to his everlasting shame. Even though there was no animosity between one another at the time, being that it was simply a matter of survival for Frisk and what Asgore felt was best for all of the Underground, for the future of his people, it sickened him, even now, to realize what horror he had almost wrought upon this child, this noble and selfless spirit who had given so freely of herself on his...on their behalf.
The self-reproach that Asgore felt from that incident, much like the searing sting of his past deeds, lingered on long after the fact. And even when Frisk was officially adopted as a Dreemurr, an affair that delighted all of them to no end, Asgore remained somewhat wary of her from the offset and kept his distance, not out of aversion or abhorration, but out of fear. Fear of what he felt Frisk must have thought of him after so much conflict, nevermind the horrible things that he did in ages past.
And yet, in spite of this, dear little Frisk opened her soul to him, and little by little they grew closer as time went on. What began as a cautious, uneasy friendship gradually blossomed and flourished into something much greater.
And now they were father and daughter. Now she called him Dad.
Him, Dad.
"Oh Frisk, my sweet little angel..."
What before was a gentle, apprehensive cuddle with his little girl instantly became a crushing brace of fluffy affection as the bulky arms cradling her tightened like fuzzy vice grips. After all of the turmoil, all of the chaos that had transpired between them, this sweet, benevolent child of his, this lily-white youth whom he had wronged so grievously time and time again, extended an olive branch to him and welcomed him into the folds of her heart, a heart that was already three sizes too large. Tears rapidly cascaded down Asgore white, weathered mug like quicksilver, and both Toriel and Asriel watched silently as father and daughter held each other in this snug embrace for what seemed like minutes on end, neither of them with a care in the world.
When they finally pulled away, Asgore cupped Frisks tiny hands together with his own snowy meathooks and clutched them firm, like a baseball in a catchers mitt. And Frisk immediately knew what was coming.
"Now, one last thing before you go. What's the rule, Frisk?"
A bit of an inside joke, anybody who knew Frisk even remotely was well aware of just what a tease she could be. From her fellow peers at Ebott Garden to the regulars at Grillby's, no one was exempt from Frisks kittenish disposition, her habit of playing the frisky, amorous heartbreaker with just about everybody she came into contact with, sometimes for no apparent reason. It was just in her nature, her namesake, to be this way, and those closest to her always made it a point to remind her on a daily basis to help her stay true to herself. Their way of making fun of her, in other words.
And she relished it.
"I know, I know."
Well ahead of the curve, Frisk smirked sarcastically, put a hand to her hip and struck a coquettish, almost provocative pose, eliciting a concert of jovial giggles from her furry kin as she brought down the house with this hammed-up performance.
"No flirting after midnight."
Asgores gruff, noble face beamed and twinkled, his muzzle contorting into full-blown hysteria, as the bellowing guffaws rolled in. Exactly the answer he expected to hear.
"Hohoho, very good!"
And Goatdad closed the deal with a soft kiss on the forehead, making Frisk blush coyly in the mute living room firelight. Like her other caprine relatives, Asgore knew just how to make his little girl feel special. And that was exactly how she felt in that moment.
All engines were go at this point, and Asriel finally made the call to throw the checkered flag, not wanting to let one more second go to waste on this grand evening.
"Well, I think it's time we got going."
He turned to Frisk and, ever the curt gentleman, leaned towards her with his elbow extended, making his request clear.
"May I?"
Amused, Frisk took up his offer and looped her arm around his like an iron padlock, as if they were about to share a majestic dance in an enchanting castle ballroom.
"Why yes, you certainly may!"
Now coupled together like the links of a steely chain, they turned back to their parents to say their goodbyes.
"We'll be home late, so don't wait up for us."
Both Toriel and Asgore nodded concurrently and proceeded to smother their children with customary hugs, nuzzles and kisses to properly see them off.
"Have fun you two! Say hello to everyone at Grillby's for us."
"Be safe, won't you?"
With a spirited wave, Frisk and the smelly dork turned and braced for the winter chill as Goatdad held the front door open for them - a mahogany portal with brass thumbpush handles, paned with stained glass at eye level - and they crossed over from the warm confines of the Dreemurr household into the frosty outdoors. Asgore softly closed the door behind them, and both parents watched silently from the foggy living room window as their children walked down the icy cobblestone road, side by side, arm in arm, until they disappeared into the cold, starlit night.
"I think this is just what she needs, Asgore. They're always so happy when they're together. They really do bring out the best in each other."
Toriel mused as her babies vanished from sight, reflecting on how they had grown and flourished over the years. There was a lot of truth to that statement as well. Both Asriel and Frisk, despite how outgoing they seemed to be at times, were really quite troubled on the inside, and it wasn't hard to understand why. They had both seen a lot of horrifying sights in their younger years, they had both made some grave decisions of consequence, and the backlash from those events left them both with haunting memories and searing guilt. They never truly recovered from the horrible sights they witnessed, the terrible deeds they committed in their reckless abandon, and even when they were among close friends and family, the scars and the unmended damage from those dark days still showed through to a certain degree. It was only when they were in each others company, shouldering one another through their hardest moments, that they both truly blossomed and came out of their timid little shells, letting the world see them for who they really were.
They were never alone in their tribulations though. Aside from having an extensive network of support, both of them had a very special someone to lean on for solace and reassurance in times of trying. Chara was still a large contributing factor in Asriels recovery because of the deep-rooted bond that they shared, even if she was no longer among them physically. Her consciousness continued to offer guidance and comfort to Asriel, helping him to find peace and serenity even when everything seemed utterly hopeless. Just being able to commune with his long-deceased sibling, though their moments together were short and sparse, gave him a sense of closure that, until this connection of theirs even came to light, only Frisk herself had been able to offer.
But in Frisks case, besides Goatbro himself, only one other person had that kind of effect on her, a charm that could bring out the best in her like no other could. And only Toriel knew about this special somebody in Frisks life.
Or so she thought.
"Yes, just like that other boy she's always with. You know, the one with no arms?"
In an uncharacteristic show of sterling cognizance, Asgore floored his tight-lipped spouse with an observation that came completely out of left field.
"M.K was it?"
He knew. He knew about Frisks scaly suitor all along.
It seemed as though Toriel was not as secretive as she once presumed. Thunderstruck by this discovery, a stupified Toriel unexpectedly reeled back in astonishment, like an expressive Chess Grandmaster who had just blundered a full rook.
"Wha...you were aware of that!?"
Offended by this ill-founded misconception of incognizance, Asgore scoffed at her and mockingly folded his stout arms together, like a supervisor disappointed in the performance of his subordinates.
"Oh come now, you don't think me so oblivious as to not notice who my own daughter spends her time with, do you?"
That was not a point that Toriel could argue. Though Asgore was a little on the moony side, absent minded and even a bit slow to catch on to certain concepts (Frisks initial explanation of Anime, for instance, went completely over his head, much to Alphys's chagrin), he was certainly not stupid, and Toriel could not fault him for being insulted by this fallacious notion.
"Well, no, it's just..."
But was it really all that surprising? As much time as those two spent together at school, as often as he had been over at the Dreemurr residence, was it really so astounding that King Asgore, an individual renowned for his scholarly wisdom and keen insight, would have gone this long without picking up on something like this, especially since it directly concerned his own family? Somehow Frisk managed to keep the secret from her peers, her friends, and even her big brother of all people (though only because he had flown the nest to pursue a college education and was no longer around to witness it for himself), but if her own mother was aware of it, then surely her father would have noticed it too, even if just in passing. He was the school groundskeeper, after all.
"Hehehehehe, hahahahahaha!"
The shock slowly turned to merry mirth, and Toriel soon found herself cackling with glee, much to her husbands chagrin.
"And just what is so funny?"
Asgore sternly inquired, his stocky arms still crossed grumpily like an angry child who had just been put on time out, but she didn't care one bit. This was too much for her.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, it's just..."
It took a good minute or so for Toriel to get herself under control, but finally she composed herself enough to gratify her husbands livid curiosity.
"And she was so worried that you wouldn't approve of the relationship."
Now with full clarity on the situation, a serene look flashed across Asgores bearded muzzle as he cocked his head ever so slightly, his droopy ears lightly swaying with the sudden movement.
And he said, very simply...
"As long as Frisk is happy, that is all that matters to me."
And there it was, undeniable proof of Asgores love for his little girl. Just as she herself had proclaimed only minutes ago, it was of no concern to him who Frisk spent her time with, what she aspired to be, or what path she wanted to follow in life. As long as she was happy, nothing else mattered to him. To them.
And that was all Toriel needed to hear.
"Goodness, Asgore. You always find new ways to surprise me."
It wouldn't be the last time, either.