A/N: Hi everyone, I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Here's a new chapter for you all.


Kendall sat quietly. She looked up to Toriel whose focus was on the bundle of yarn in her hands. "Is this right?" she asked the boss monster, holding up the scarf she was working on. The teen could see some of the errors she made, but they weren't that noticeable.

Toriel stood up from her arm chair to inspect the work closely. Her clawed paws ran over the stitching slowly. She smiled brightly to the teen. "You have done wonderfully," the boss monster replied giving the girl the green scarf back.

Kendall smiled back, "Thank you." She looked back down to her work. Her fingers were still getting used to the motion of the needles in her hands. It had only been a week, so she supposed that she couldn't complain. She looked back at Toriel who was working on a striped sweater. The green and pink cloth looked preppy and cute. The teen wasn't the best judge of knitting, but it looked nearly done. Kendall looked forward to when the boss monster gave it to her.

Kendall sighed quietly. She had enjoyed staying here with Toriel, but she knew that she couldn't live here for the rest of her life. Everyday spent here was one where her mother and sister worried about her. Her friends probably missed her. She couldn't stay, but she didn't like the thought of just leaving the boss monster alone.

The boss monster clearly was hurting from the loss of her children and Kendall leaving could destroy her. Even with these thoughts, Kendall knew she couldn't stay. Her staying would be like leaving her own mother to feel those feelings of guilt. "Toriel?" the teen began as the other tied off the sweater.

"Yes, my child," Toriel responded lowering the article of clothing she was inspecting.

"I need to go home, back to my family," Kendall clarified, getting to her feet and setting her own work to the side.

The monster flinched as though she was hit. "Perhaps, you should try this sweater on. I am unsure if I have the size correct." She stood up to hold the sweater in front of the girl. Kendall looked down at the perfect stitches.

She couldn't lift her gaze to meet Toriel's. "Please, Toriel, I need to go home. My mom and sister will miss me."

"Try it on, little one," Toriel insisted, ignoring the girl. Kendall took the sweater from her grasp, slipping it over her head. It hugged her perfectly.

"Thank you for the sweater and everything really, but my mom is missing me like how you miss Asriel," Kendall pressed, feeling a little guilt at the hurt expression that Toriel made at her son's name.

"I understand, my child. I can not let you leave. If you leave, King Asgore will kill you."

Kendall put a hand on the monster's arm. "I will be safe. If you have shown me compassion, I know other monsters will as well." Toriel didn't look convinced her brown eyes looking so sad.

The taller boss monster nodded her head slowly. "You will need some food for the trip."

"Is it alright if I take the pie?" Kendall asked thinking about the butterscotch pie waiting for them.

The boss monster laughed lightly. "Yes, pack whatever you need. There is a task that I have to finish."

Kendall thanked the monster again as she hurried to the kitchen. It took moments to put the pie in her inventory and run back to the foyer. Toriel was nowhere to be found. The teen heard shuffling down the stair toward the exit.

The blonde ran down the stairs as fast as she could. "Toriel?" she called out in the dim light. A large shape moved, the sound of shuffling breaking the quiet.

"Go upstairs my child," Toriel pleaded, her eyes barely visible in the low light.

Kendall took confident steps toward the boss monsters who stepped further down the basement. "Toriel," the teen called again to the retreating figure.

"I am doing this to protect you. They will kill you," Toriel continued. Her voice was desperate.

"I will be safe. I promise," Kendall called out as the pair reached the door. "I know you are scared, but my family is too. I can't do that to them."

Toriel looked conflicted. "I can't let you pass."

"I am sorry, Toriel. If I could stay, I would. I would stay here for the rest of my life, but I can't hurt my family like this."

"Then prove to me that you are strong enough to survive," Toriel said her face becoming determined.

Kendall gasped as her chest grew cold and an olive green heart floated in front of her. The teen barely noticed the change in color before fireballs flew toward her. She felt betrayed that the boss monster would attack her. Panic filled her heart. Her breathing quickened as she dodged the bullets. She lifted her hands into fists instinctively.

The teen paused; she couldn't hit the boss monster. What if she dusted her; could she forgive herself. Monsters were so fragile. "Toriel, I won't fight you," Kendall shouted as she jumped left and right to avoid the fiery bullets.

"Fight me or run away," Toriel insisted unshed tears in her eyes.

Kendall lowered herself letting the heat pass over her before launching herself at the boss monster. Toriel gasped as the teen wrapped her arms around her waist. "I won't fight you. I don't know if I am strong enough to survive, but maybe strength isn't the answer."

Toriel lowered her arms wrapping them softly around the teen. "Please stay here with me. I know it is small and empty, but you could be happy here."

"I know I would be happy here, but would you? Would you be okay away from other monsters? Would you be fine knowing that I would miss my family and they would miss me? You can come with me. That way you know I am safe and you won't be alone," Kendall rambled holding onto the monster.

Toriel sighed, "You are right, my child. I would not be fine knowing that I caused heartache. Your offer is kind, but I can't. I…"

Kendall released the other, "I understand. Do you have a phone number? I will call so you won't be lonely. You can check up on me as well."

Toriel nodded pulling a paper and pen from her inventory and writing the number down. She handed the paper to the teen. "Please check in often," the boss monster pleaded.

"I will. I promise," Kendall replied. Toriel reached down to give the teen another hug before padding back to her home. Kendall watched as she disappeared. Her heart was heavy as she turned away. She told herself to call Toriel the first time she got to a phone. With that promise in mind she stepped out of the Ruins and into the rest of the Underground.