Sans let out a sigh, glancing over at Riley who lay sleeping. She was recovering quickly, much to his relief, but he was terrified to leave her. It was nearly midnight now, and he couldn't stop thinking about the machine. He watches as minutes tick by. If it's the only way I can stop the resets… shouldn't I take a risk and do it? I can't just sit around and wait for it to happen. Not anymore. Not with Riley and Frankie in my life.
Carefully, he gets out of bed, making sure to not disturb his sleeping girlfriend. Sleep well, Ri… I'll be back soon… The short skeleton picks his coat up, which he had haphazardly thrown on the floor upon entering the bedroom earlier that night, and slips it on. He checks on Frankie and Papyrus before silently teleporting underground, in front of his old house.
Never thought I'd willingly be here anytime soon… He chuckles bitterly, walking past the familiar mailboxes. He smiles as he remembers Papyrus always yelling at him to check his mail, though he never did. Before Riley and Frankie, he had never been truly driven to do anything- and now, the short skeleton was going to finish something he'd put off for many resets. It was almost crazy to think that Sans the skeleton would be accomplishing something- or would at least be attempting to accomplish something.
Sans steps around the house, finding the familiar old door. It sent shivers through him, just looking at it, knowing what lie beneath the house. He pulls a small silver key out of his pocket, and unlocks the door. It opens with a rather ominous creak, and Sans descends the stairs that lead down to the room he'd spent so many sleepless nights in. He feels for a lightswitch, and thankfully, since the Core never stopped running, the lights turned on.
The room was just as he left it. He hadn't been down here in nearly a year, and everything was coated in a thick layer of dust. He walks over to the machine.
"Hello again…" He murmurs out loud, shaking his head in disbelief, What am I doin' down here…? He pulls the faded sheet off of the large metal object, revealing what it concealed. The machine was about six feet tall, and was box-like in appearance. There were side panels missing, the now gaping holes showed wires and various other electronic circuits that not even Sans knew every function of.
Sans had built the machine, yes, but it wasn't his idea. All he knows- all he hopes- is that this machine will stop the resets. How? He didn't know. But it was worth it, even if he fails, or the machine does- he would at least be doing something. Something to prevent the resets.
A small whirring begins from deep within the machine. He's still here, isn't he? Sans sighs,
"And hello again to you too, Gaster." A cracking energy fills the air, along with a static noise.
"H-H-HE-Hello, Sans. I-I-IT has been awhile." A broken voice speaks, channeling through the machine.
"Yeah. Guess it has." the short skeleton crosses his arms, "Now are you actually gonna help me figure this out? I can't read your handwriting."
"I-I-I WoULD have hoped that my son REmem-membered HIS FatHer's H-Ha-handwriting. Do-Don't YOU remember, S-Sans?" Gaster's voice crackles.
"Look, I can't remember much. You weren't always there for me an' Paps you know?" Sans glares, though he knows Gaster can't see him.
"I-I-I h-had more important things to attend to. And i would have hoped your mind was at least a little stronger than that, Sans. So FOr-GETful." The crackling voice lets out a dry laugh, Sans scoffs,
"More important things. Nothing should have been more important than your family… and as for 'forgetful'. Heh. You realize you were erased from time and space, right? It's a miracle you found your way back to this timeline at all. No one remembers you but me." The voice is silent for a moment as Sans turns to look at the odd blueprints he had left on his workbench. Somehow, these documents remained, despite their creator having never existed.
"Wh-WHAt brought you back…? To WO-WORK on the machine? Fame… ? F-FOrtune?" Gaster laughs and then pauses, "Wait… D-DOn't tell me… you met some-SOME-someone you care about…? Someone perhaps… you love?"
Sans doesn't say anything for a long while, since he heard humor crackling in his father's voice. Was that funny to him? That he fell in love and now he can't live without them?
"I have a son now. And a girlfriend." Sans glosses over the blueprints- they still made little to no sense. He could piece together some of the things he remembered, but the symbols were confusing and gave him a headache. He remembered from the last reset that he could think more clearly after he stared for awhile, the symbols slowly translated in his mind. His concentration is broken by a demented laugh,
"SO I-i Am a GR-GRANdFather? A-are you teACHING the boy what I taught you? JUST as my father had taught me?" Sans laughs,
"You're funny if you think I'm gonna tell that kid what to be when he grows up. He deserves to have a choice, Gaster. I'm not teaching him how to be a scientist, if that's what you mean."
"YOU weRE always the fault in the FAMILY line… IF M-M-My life hadnt been cut short, I WOULD h-have taught Papyrus as well… HO-HOW is my other son? More SUCCESSFUL than you, i would hope." Sans rolls his eyes, the remarks his father made, however, stung. He tried not to let that show.
"He wants to be a chef." Sans replies simply, cracking a small smile.
"A...Chef…" Gaster scoffs, "WASTE. Waste OF fa-fa-family blood. YOU two were destined-destined for GREatness."
"Look, i didn't come down here to hear your complaining, Gaster. I came down here to fix this machine and get the hell outta the underground for good, understood?" It's silent before a short reply is spoken,
"UNderstood."
Riley maneuvered around the couch, and slowly lowered herself to take a seat, her awful bruises had finally gone away, leaving her with broken fingers, and a couple compound fractures, including the one in her leg. She had been able to graduate from the wheelchair and move onto crutches- thank god.
"Here, mom!" Frankie smiled, "Let me take those!" He gently took her crutches and leaned them against the wall by the window. "Do you need anything? I could get you a snack! Or some milk, or… water… or…."
"I'm alright, Frankie." She laughed, patting the sofa next to her. "Why don't you sit down?" The little skeleton happily complied, hugging her tightly. "Ow…" She murmured, "Careful with the rib, kiddo."
"Sorry!" He sighed. "So what do you think Alphys and Undyne's baby is going to be like?!"
"I'm sure he's adorable!" Riley grinned. She couldn't wait to meet the little boy that her friends had adopted. It was Spaghetti night and she and Sans were hosting. Alphys and Undyne had called to tell them that they would be bringing their son home that week and they would all finally get to meet him.
"I wonder what his name is…" At that moment the door opened and Sans stepped in.
"Found it." He grinned, holding up Riley's cell phone.
"Aww, baby, thank you!" She sighed with relief. He came up behind the sofa to hug her gently, passing her the phone.
"'Course, Sunshine." He said, kissing her cheek.
"Dad, when is everyone else gonna get here?" Frankie said, impatiently tapping his foot on the floor.
"Soon." Sans shrugged, standing up straight and looking over to the kitchen. "How's the spaghetti coming, Paps?" He shouted.
"AMAZING, AS USUAL! JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU ALL TRY THIS BATCH!" And just at that moment, the door was kicked in.
"WHAT'S UP, PUNKS!"
"Undyne…" Sans groaned.
"Undyne!" Riley gasped. The tall fish woman was standing proudly, by herself, in the doorway, carrying an enormous bag full of baby stuff.
"Where's the baby?!" Frankie grinned. "I want to meet him!"
"Alphys is getting him out of the car." Undyne smiled brightly, "He's great! Just wait until you meet him. I can see it already, he's gonna be the toughest kid on the block!" Undyne threw the bag down on the floor by the door and it landed with a ridiculous THUD. They're hauling around a lot of stuff. Riley grinned.
"H-hello, everyone!" Alphys stood in the doorway now, and in her arms was her son. He was the cutest thing Riley had ever seen. A little fish boy, blue like Undyne, but with green markings and a tuft of vibrant green hair.
"Oh. My. God." Riley breathed
"Everyone!" Undyne grinned. "This is Mizuko!"
"Oh my godddd!" Riley grinned, "AWWWww he's so cute!" The little boy couldn't even be one yet. He babbled happily in Alphys' arms, drooling a little.
"Mizuko?" Frankie stood up quickly to meet Alphys in the doorway, "Hi, Mizuko!" He took the baby's hand with a laugh. "Aww! Mom, he's so cute!"
"He is!" Riley grinned.
"Do you want to hold him?" Undyne offered Frankie.
"Really?!" Frankie gasped.
"Come sit over here." Riley patted the sofa again. "He's gonna be squirmy. We don't want you to drop him."
"Oh!" Frankie nodded, coming to sit next to his mom. Undyne followed him and gently set Mizuko in his lap. The little skele wrapped his arms around the baby. Mizuko looked back and forth between his mother and Frankie for a moment and then patted Frankie's chin.
"BA!"
"Aww…" Riley grinned. "Isn't he cute, Sans?"
"Have to admit… The kid's adorable." Sans chuckled, leaning against the back of the couch again.
"He likes me!" Frankie gasped. The little fish boy patted Frankie's cheekbone again with a big smile.
"Awww!" Alphys smiled. "H-h-he does!"
"Do you wanna hold him, Mom?"
"Yes!" Riley nodded, gently taking Mizuko from Frankie's arms. The little fish was adorable, and so little. It made Riley happy… maybe… maybe some day me and Sans can… can have a baby…. She had always wanted to be a mom, and Frankie had granted her that wish. But to start at the beginning- to adopt a baby. That was something that she hoped for… maybe some day.
Mizuko happily babbled in her lap, giggling at her silly faces.
"Oh my god. Alphys, Undyne, he's adorable." Riley smiled. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks." Alphys grinned. "W-we really l-love him." She snapped a couple pictures with her phone.
"Sans?" Riley sighed, looking up at her boyfriend. "You wanna hold him?"
"W-what?! Me?! N-no!" He chuckled nervously. "That's… that's okay."
"Come on…!" Riley laughed. "He's super cute! Hold him!"
"Uhh…." Sans frowned, looking over at Undyne. The fish woman laughed.
"Come on, nerd! He doesn't bite. Well… actually… he does… but… he doesn't really have teeth. Yet…."
"Sans, come on! Why not?"
"Okay, alright, fine!" Sans sighed. "I'll hold the kid."
"Yay!" Riley grinned. Is Sans scared of holding babies, oh my god. She laughed a little, passing the small fish over to her boyfriend. Sans' hands were shaking and he looked terrified, but he held Mizuko tightly. The little boy seemed to be enthralled with Sans. He shrieked, patting Sans' ribs.
"H-hey, kid." Sans smiled a little. "How're ya doin'?" Mizuko giggled, and then noticed the fur on Sans' coat. He shrieked, and dropped his head into the fuzz.
"Aww!" Alphys gasped. "He l-loves you, Sans." Riley grinned brightly, unlocking her phone to take a few pictures.
"R-Ri… You wanna take him back?" Sans chuckled.
"You're doing great, baby." Riley nodded. "He loves you."
"Y-yeah, but…"
"You got this, Dad!" Frankie said.
"Okay…. Uh… How're ya doing there, kid?" Sans frowned, looking down at the fish boy in his arms.
"GA!" Mizuko shrieked.
"Heh… yeah, me too." Sans grinned. Riley saw he was becoming more comfortable with the little boy and she sighed. She could imagine… one day… Sans and her having a baby of their own. She hoped that was his dream as well.
"Mom…?" Frankie yawned as Riley gently tucked him in.
"Yeah?" She smiled.
"Do you think you guys will have a baby someday?" Frankie smiled up at his parents. Sans' eyes widened, and Riley looked over at her boyfriend with a frown.
"M-maybe." She shrugged. "I would… I would like to have a baby… someday." Frankie nodded sleepily,
"Yeah…. I would like to have a little brother or sister someday too… I've always wanted to be a big brother."
"Well… Your mom and I can talk about it… uh… soon." Sans chuckled. "Get some sleep, kiddo."
"Okay…" Frankie nodded, closing his eyes. "I love you, Dad… Mom…"
"We love you too, Frankie." Riley gently kissed the top of his skull and Sans tucked Sir Barkley in next to him before the two left his room and Frankie drifted off to sleep.
REVIEWS FOR CHAPTER FORTY-ONE:
DezyBear: THE MACHINE! THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD!
lol... we are slowly reaching our climax. :)
DragonCrescent13: OMG! Sans is fixing the machine ( about time)! Please let Gaster show up! I love him to pieces! He is just so adorable. X)
Well... I suppose this chapter pleased you then. hehe...
Ed's. Curious. Kitten: I'm ready for the fluffy goodness! Keep it up!
How was this?! Some cutes Mizuko! :D
MachUPB: *Gasp* The machine! I've seen so many theories on what it is, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing yours.
About French, I learnt it throughout school. And I went to France once. I agree, it is such an amazing language. I like how it all flows. Cette histoire est très intéressant, je l'aime beaucoup.
I agree with iamdaraptor on the Mockingjay thing. I don't have a good enough memory to make my own comparisons, but those ones I strongly agree on. Basically saying here that I think your story is as good as Mockingjay. It provokes emotions just as well and gets the reader very attached to the characters. So good job!
Great chapter and, as always, I look forward to the next chapter. :)
Hmm... it's not so much a theory as... an AU.
Merci beaucoup!
Wow! Thanks so much. You guys are too kind! lol. I hope you liked this chapter as well.
The Real ZadZap: lol, I admit I wanted to scream "Finally" at my laptop when they got together. Hopefully things improve. Loving it so far.
lmao, everyone did. Everyone did. I'm so glad you like it! :)
aduralove: BUM BUM BUM! Omg he's gonna... FIX THE MACHINE?! WHAT DOES IT EVEN DO?! Gonna go make my brain explode with possible explanations. And the letter from Wren was SOOOO cute! I love the little things like that as much as the big things, such as dunkage. AHHH SO GOOOOD 9999999/10 Would read again.
yas! The machine! I guess you'll find out what it does! :)
Awww! Yeah, Frankwren! 3
trvlsize23: *gasp* SECRETS!? okay. (i'll be quiet. for you, friend. ssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh) ;) p.s. why do i find protective sans adorable? it's hilarious.
You're gonna love love love the extended epilogue if you like protective Sans. He is way adorable! I agree!
Harris: Congrats on another fabulous update! I see where the AUis coming in now! This universe is very cool. Keep up the good work!
Aw! Thanks! Yes, the AU is definitely around the machine and all that. I'm glad you like it! :D
Guest: One thing I don't understand is that wouldn't Red X target Papyrus as well? So why was Sans about to let him go with Frankie to Toriel and Frisk's place? Or this could be a fic in which Papyrus has the same powers as Sans, but is too kind to use them on Frisk, even when they are a psycopathic murderer... but Red X are psycopathic murderers, so would'nt he be too forgiving to use his powers on them, too?...
Anyhow, I can't wait for the next chapter!
xox Z xox
Yeah... I don't have an excuse for that. lol. Ah well. Too late. Maybe he feels like Red X would be less likely to attack with an adult near. And also, Paps has a phone.
Hope you liked this one too!
An Random Peepul: Oh. So THAT'S the plot twist, eh? (I mean the part about Frisk not being the one who keeps resetting) Intresting... THIS IS SO INTENSE! WHYYYYYYYYY!
lmao. Noooooppppeeee! We haven't gotten to the plot twist yet. You'll know it 100% when you see it. Yes it is, and it's about to get worse.
JustARandomeGal: Yessss it's so cute how much Sans cares about Rily *Sansly intensifies* :3. one more thing... Tralala beware the man who speaks in hands (I was gunna do it in wing dings but I'm rly bad with wing dings XD) thisssssssss isssssss sooooooo eeepppppiiiicccccccc *jumps out window*
Sansleyyyyy! Yeah, you're gonna love the extended epilogue as well. Protective!Snas! My god, you guys got this whole guessing thing down. Thaaaaaankkkss!
Anonymous; Is Wing Dingus gonna make an appearance ( ͡ ͜ʖ ͡)
lmao- does this chapter answer your question?
iamdaraptor: Yes I'm happy. Cuz:
1.)Fren
2.)Cute stuff with overprotective Sans
3.)Ominous cliffhanger
Also does this pertain to the fact that WE are the ones who reset. WE are the ones who make Frisk Sans Chara and everyone else go through this. WE are DETERMINATION.
Wow. That got dark really fast. *awkwardly shuffles out of the room*
Yash! Fren (or Frankwren!)
Overprotective Snas is the best and you also are going to love the extended epilogue.
More of those to come duh duh DUUHHHHHHH!
Uh no. This is definitely an AU. A very, very fun AU. You're all gonna love it.
MOOO: I HATE RILEY
I'm shocked you've read all the way to 41! She's such an incredibly important part of the story. Ah well. If you hate it, don't read it. That's the way it goes. lol.
THANKS ALL FOR THE AWESOME REVIEWS! I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT THE NEXT CHAPTER! :D
-MH_C