AN: Fun fact: I originally uploaded this on archive on thanksgiving XD
Sans had a good quality talk with the parents, however, only so much could be done. Some students still gave Frisk mean looks. It didn't help that some adults did the same, they just tried to hide it better. At some point, he needed to have a chat with Undyne about the possibility of her paying the school a visit. However, his thoughts were interrupted by Alphys calling him.
" 'sup al, howsit goin?"
"H-Hi Sans, um...good, d-do you have a moment to swing by the lab, t-there's something kinda neat that I think you should hear about."
Sans agreed and popped over to the lab, where Alphys showed him a waterlogged magazine with something called 'Thanksgiving' written on it. She had said that it had peaked her curiosity and so she took it to the lab to restore what she could. From what she could gather, it was a holiday celebrated in the country that they were in, and it came from Frisk's world. It was a holiday where families gathered for large meals, and give thanks for what they have. There were several traditions listed, such as different kinds of food that were typically eaten, with the primary focus being turkey.
"A-And I think that w-we should give this holiday thing a try, that way if….when we get out of here Frisk won't be as separated from the world she came from." Sans smiled
" that sounds like a great idea. So all of us, undyne, asgore, you, and paps and i , she'll get a kick out of it."
"O-Oh and you could get that lady you and Frisk visit to come too, and maybe introduce us t-to your new friend? U-Unless she really wants her privacy, I mean i know how that is…." Alphys started to sweat. However she noticed something else, as he started to speak, a few small flecks of blue appeared on his cheekbones…...no way.
" well she does kinda prefer her privacy, but i can see if i can't get her to swing by." Sans said with a wink.
Of course, it would take time and planning to get their schedules lined up right, but during this time, Sans made sure to speak with Toriel. He knew that she had no desire to speak to or even see Asgore, and yet Frisk would love having the both of them there. However, her business was very much her own. He decided just to bring it up gently, and if she ultimately said no, it would be the end of it. While Frisk was at school, Sans met with Toriel inside the Ruins.
Toriel beamed when Sans described their plan to re-create a holiday for Frisk.
"Oh my that is simply wonderful!" Sans shrugged.
"well, i mean, everyone's gonna be there of course, undyne, alphys and uh….asgore. so i mean if you don't want to come i get it. we could either call you over when he heads out or hang out here a little bit after the whole thing."
Toriel thought on this. She had little desire to see Asgore. All her begging and pleading for him to see reason, only to see him and so many others turn to willingly harming children. This was the reason she stayed in the Ruins, for she could not bear to see what the people had become. However, this no longer seemed to be the case. This child was clearly loved by many people and deserved a time to be surrounded by all of them. All that sealing herself away had accomplished was to delay the inevitable, and let her own bitterness fester. How could she not, should she have instead watched as the man she married slowly faded away and become replaced with the very thing humans were afraid of? But at the same time, how long has she been cooped up in the ruins, and what good has it done her? Seeing the child happy surrounded by people who love her…..that may be worth braving the world once more.
"I….I think I will. Though I would ask that you inform Asgore, as to avoid shock when I arrive." Sans nodded and went to begin the prep, and boy was it a doozy.
When Toriel came to Sans' home and he let her in, she saw Frisk being chased by Papyrus and Undyne, with the child giggling wildly. The trio stopped when they saw her, Undyne muttering
"No way…." under her breath.
"AH HELLO YOUR MAJESTY….WAIT DID YOU SHAVE?" Toriel laughed
"Oh no, I am-"
"Miss Tori! You're here!" Frisk cried as she ran to give Toriel a hug.
"Ah, greetings my child, it appears you are having quite the ball." Frisk nodded and Toriel turned her attention back to Papyrus and Undyne.
"I am Toriel, and You must be Papyrus! Your brother has told me much about you!"
"OH REALLY? WELL, THERE IS MUCH FOR HIM TO TELL! HE HAS ONLY TOLD ME YOU WERE A GOOD FRIEND WHO WANTED TO MAINTAIN SOME PRIVACY."
"Yes, for a time that was true, but i hear we are doing something special and thought that I would like to help if that is okay."
"OF COURSE! THE MORE THE MERRIER! RIGHT UNDYNE?" Papyrus said, turning to her. Undyne looked at the former queen, rage beginning to bubble up. How dare she leave everyone when they were hurting the most? How dare she leave Asgore to pick up all the pieces…..and yet she looked at Frisk and that rage faded. She did not need to see her aunt tearing into someone she saw as a friend. That conversation will have to happen later. So instead she put on a smile
"Yeah! So can you cook?"
"Oh yes, but Sans told me you two are excellent chefs!" at this Frisk eyed Sans and had to stop herself from laughing. She knew that miss Tori was gonna come out of that kitchen covered in pasta sauce in a matter of minutes.
"Darn right we are!"
"NONE CAN MATCH THE CULINARY PROWESS OF THE GREAT PAPYRUS!"
An hour later Toriel watched as somehow Papyrus and Undyne set a pot of water ablaze.
"Oh my…"
The group decided to wait a few days so they could get things together for the feast. During this time, Toriel was preparing in the Ruins when she heard a loud knock on the door. She went to open it to find Undyne on the other side.
"Ah hello Undyne, do come in."
"Yeah….thanks." Something seemed off about Undyne, but Toriel couldn't quite place what. The fish woman was shaking.
"Look, I came here because boy do I have words for you, but I didn't need the punk to see that. You know Asgore told me a lot about you? He raised me for the most part, trained me, and I became head of the royal guard. In that time I learned a lot of things. So I have a few questions." Anger filled her voice, and from what she had said, Toriel had a feeling what those questions would be.
"Why did you up and leave? You didn't just move out on him, you VANISHED. After…..all that happened he loses you too? And do you have any idea what that did to the moral of all the people you left behind?! Do you even care?" Toriel's face went stern.
"I shall answer them with this. You know what happened to Asriel and Chara…..do you honestly think i wanted to see MORE dead children? All the begging and pleading I did with that man to stop and think because that isn't what Asriel would have wanted him to become at all! Do you think i enjoyed seeing my once husband looming over the broken corpse of a CHILD?" Undyne winced.
"That may be a good reason, but that doesn't mean what you did didn't have negative consequences. You didn't have to seal yourself away. I won't say you should have stayed because hell I can't imagine what you two were going through, but….you didn't have to outright abandon everyone. Did you know that once you left, more monsters started to fall down, even though we had a human soul?" Toriel looked shocked
"I'll take that as a no. When that happened, Asgore was fully trapped in his choice. If he had quit when he wanted to, he was afraid that would dash away what hopes the people had left. He hates himself for it, but he feels like he has no choice in the matter, and the last thing he needs is you dragging him in the dirt even more. If you decide to talk to him, you should know that like you, he's been through hell." Toriel took a moment to allow the words to sink in. Undyne did have a point, what she did was not the best way to handle things, and she stayed hidden out of repulsion for those who had looked up to her.
"You are correct. The way I handled things was not the best choice… it is clear that neither Asgore nor myself were capable of making a better one. However what is done, is done. Four of the children he killed were ones that I had cared for, ones that I sought to protect, only for them to leave and be taken from this world by the man I once thought would never be capable of such horrific acts. That….I do not think I can so easily forgive." Undyne sighed
"Look, when you put it like that, I get it. If someone had tried to kill Frisk, I'd be furious. She ain't even my kid and i'd protect her with my life, just as much as any other monster down here. I won't say you have to forgive him, because honestly no you don't. He did something bad that hurt you and you left. That, I do actually understand." Toriel nodded
"Thank you, though I will take what you said to heart." Undyne held out her hand for a handshake and grinned. Toriel accepted and between them, an underlying respect for one another formed. Toriel may not have wanted to hear her own faults…..but she needed to. Sans, being as kind as he is, never would have pressed that far, nor would Asgore.
While Toriel dealt with Undyne, Sans made sure to forewarn Asgore that Toriel would, in fact, be coming. He seems happy, but in reality he knew full well that she would still be angry with him.
Thank god Toriel had agreed to help with the cooking. Undyne tried to make a turkey via deep fryer, burning down her house for the thousandth time. Aside from flames, the walls were also adorned with various sauces and splotches of flour. The skeleton brother's only fared somewhat better, with Frisk and Papyrus cooking. As Frisk stirred things and mixed, she began humming bonetrousle which made Papyrus' day. A knock was heard at the door, and when Sans opened the door with his magic, Toriel stood there.
"Greetings Sans! Where are Frisk and Papyrus?" but just as she said it a huge CLANG rang in the kitchen. Toriel and sans looked and began to laugh. Frisk was covered in pasta noodles, flour, and sauce, giggling hysterically.
"Ngaaaaah!"
"FRISK THAT WAS A GOOD UNDYNE IMPRESSION! BUT WE SHOULD GET YOU CLEANED UP, OH HELLO THERE!" Papyrus said as he noticed Toriel. Frisk hopped down from her stool and an up to her.
"Miss Tori! I'm getting to help Pappy cook!" Toriel smiled
"Well, I can see that! Though it appears most of the meal is all over you!" Frisk laughed as Sans took the child up to get washed.
Eventually, everyone gathered bringing various food items such as ramen, Spaghetti, Turkey made by Toriel, and several sides provided by Asgore. When Frisk was brought inside she gasped, seeing all of her friends and family in one spot. Papyrus, however, was noticing something else. Throughout the whole thing, Sans could hardly take his eyes off of Toriel. Their puns were insufferable, but…..Toriel was doing the exact same thing with Sans. it was strange, almost as if…..could his brother be falling in love?
"Wow, so that's what all the cooking was for? What's going on?" Alphys walked over
"W-Well we learned about this thing that some humans too around t-this time of year. They like to gather with their family and friends for huge meals for some quality family time! We thought that we would t-try the holiday out." Frisk was beaming
"Really? That's so cool!" Toriel came out of the kitchen, announcing that everything was set up. As they ate Undyne would talk about her day, Papyrus would talk of various puzzles he made and Sans cracked several puns. Toriel found herself constantly laughing. Whether it was Sans' puns or Undyne and Papyrus' antics, and especially if those antics involved them playing with Frisk. She watched as everyone began to become overtaken by a food coma. Undyne and Alphys fell asleep on the floor side by side, with the T.V still on. Asgore fell asleep in a rocking chair the brothers had gotten. The skeleton brothers happened to be passed out next to her on the couch. Frisk was propped up on Sans' sternum, her head rising and falling with Sans' breaths. She seemed to snuggle into the fluff of Sans jacket as the two slept. Sans, of course, was propped up against a sleeping Papyrus. As Toriel looked around her she realized something.
She missed having moments like these. Back before everything went to hell in a handbasket. She, the children, and Asgore would do similar things often…..she would never have thought before now that she could ever feel that level of happiness and joy again. But looking around the room, after all she witnessed, Frisk was surrounded by everything a child needs to live a good life, and she was honored to be a part of that. As she pondered these feelings, She too began to nod off, leaving not a single soul awake in the house.
