Chapter five:
Papyrus is the one to open the door. "Ah hello your majesty." He greets her with his usual happy expression. "It is nice to see you."
"You too. I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Toriel greets back kindly.
"We were just about to get ready for our bedtime routine." Papyrus explains.
"Hey bro. I got the book." Sans's voice comes from inside the house.
"Oh. A story?" Toriel smiles upon hearing this. "Do you mind if I read it to you two? I haven't done something like that in awhile. Frisk is too old for it."
"That is a great idea. I think we can do that tonight." Papyrus allows Toriel inside closing the door behind her. "Sans! Lady Toriel shall read today!"
"Sure." Sans shrugs. "If you don't mind Paps."
"It's okay brother. Cause you'll still be there with us when it is read." Papyrus confirms to his brother.
"Okay. Give me the book and you two get ready for bed." Toriel tells them. "And we can all settle on the couch for a bedtime story."
Sans hands Toriel the book while Papyrus heads upstairs and he heads up as well.
Toriel looks to the book and smiles to herself. "Peek a boo with Fluffy bunny huh? A classic." She whispers to herself before heading to the couch.
It takes a few moments but Sans then Papyrus come down to join her on the couch.
Sans only took off his sweater and put on black pyjama pants.
Papyrus completely changed his clothes. He is now wearing an orange long sleeved button up shirt with white bones printed on them and matching pyjama bottoms. He is holding two white pillows with one under each arm.
"Hold on a moment brother." He tells Sans as he climbs onto the couch next to Toriel holding on pillow in front of him. He puts the other pillow against him then pats it in invitation. He watches as Sans climbs onto the couch only to lean against the pillow Papyrus had set up. He turns to Toriel once they both are comfortable. "Okay. You may begin when ready."
Toriel nods and turns to the book opening it to begin as she has the book turned in their direction. She has it this way so she can read it using her experience with reading like so, and the two can see the pictures. "Fluffy bunny and his brother are playing a game. Where is Fluffy bunny?" She reads as the brothers listen slightly watching her slash the book. She doesn't really mind though. "Fluffy bunny is hiding. Fluffy bunny's brother looks for him. Fluffy bunny can't be found. Can you see Fluffy bunny?" She pauses for a moment to let the two respond.
"There he is by the tree!" Papyrus points at the page excitedly.
"Yup. You found him Paps." Sans praises the other.
"Oh look. Fluffy bunny is by the tree." Toriel reads then she turns her gaze to the other two for a moment.
"Peek a boo!" Sans and Papyrus say in unison and Papyrus covers his eyes then moves his hands to reveal his eyes.
Toriel smiles more and keeps reading turning her gaze back to the story. "Fluffy bunny hides again. Fluffy bunny's brother looks for Fluffy bunny. Where is Fluffy bunny? Can you see Fluffy bunny?" She asks giving the two a moment to respond.
"Oh! I see him!" Papyrus points again in the same excitement. "Behind that rock!"
"Yup." Sans confirms that it is where he sees the pink rabbit.
"Oh look. Fluffy bunny is by the rock." Toriel confirms and pauses to let the brothers do their little thing.
"Peek a boo!" The two once again repeat the first time this part came up in the story.
Toriel feels her heart warm as this keeps going. "Fluffy bunny hides again. Fluffy bunny's brother must find Fluffy bunny. Where is Fluffy bunny? Can you see Fluffy bunny?" She pauses again to let the brothers respond to the books questions.
"Under that bush!" Papyrus responds beaming in excitement and pride.
"Mhm." Sans nods in confirmation as his eyes start to drift closed a little but he seems to wake himself up as Toriel continues.
"Oh look. Fluffy bunny is by the bush."
"Peek a boo!" All three of them match each other in time as Papyrus does the usual movement once again. They share a little laugh from it for a moment before letting it die down to continue with the story.
"Fluffy bunny hides again. Fluffy bunny's brother looks for Fluffy bunny." Toriels heart feels light and warm giving off a rather pleasant feeling. "Where is Fluffy bunny? Can you see Fluffy bunny?"
Papyrus nods enthusiastically and points at the image on the page almost ready to bounce in his bed. "Fluffy bunny is in the flowers!"
"Correct." Toriel confirms her gaze switching to the brothers before turning back to the book. "Oh look. Fluffy bunny is by the flowers."
"Peek a boo!" They all repeat in unison this time Sans does a similar motion that Papyrus has been doing.
"Fluffy bunny hides one last time." Toriel can't stop as she doesn't stop in her reading. "Fluffy bunny's brother must find Flufy bunny. Where is Fluffy bunny? Can you see Fluffy bunny?" She questions the two as the brothers yawn out of sync.
"There! By the pond!" Papyrus responds after taking that moment to yawn.
"Oh look. Is that Fluffy bunny?" Toriel continues reading with the ending approaching.
"Peek a boo!" The repeat is done one last time still in unison and they all do the action; Toriel only using one hand.
"It's Mama bunny. Mama bunny says it's time for food." Toriel adds a little gasp for effect at the reveal. "Fluffy bunny and Fluffy bunny's brother now go inside to have food. Goodbye Fluffy bunny." She gently closes the book and looked to the two. She brings a hand to the centre of her chest with a silent aww at what she sees.
Both brothers have fallen asleep. Sans is slightly curled up against his brother slash the pillow. Papyrus has his head against the pillow but he's slightly leaning against the goat monster.
She puts the book down on the space of the couch then carefully gets up. She uses her arm to try to keep them from falling over. She worries that if they do then they might wake up. She begins to carefully shift them using her body well mostly her shoulder to support Papyrus.
With a little effort she manages to get both brothers into her arms.
She is holding them with her arm cupped under their butt area while they are leaning against her. "This is okay." She begins walking towards the stairs managing to move well despite really feeling the workout. She makes it up the stairs and heads to Papyrus's room which is closest. She uses her hip to bump the door open heading inside. She lays Papyrus down onto the bed first then does the same with Sans. She now has the brothers laying side by side. She uses one hand to shift them and the other to move the blanket. She finally gets them under the blanket in which she pulls back. She is about to leave when the two shift.
Papyrus is the first to move shifting in his sleep. He keeps his head on the pillow and reaches out until he feels Sans. He pulls the other close and Sans wraps his arms around the other like Pap is doing to him.
Their souls glow softly under their shirts both doing so completely in unison.
Toriel smiles really warmly at the sight in which she leans down kissing their foreheads one at a time. "Goodnight children. Sweet dreams." She turns leaving the room with that and turns off the rooms lights. She leaves the door open just a crack. She heads back to the couch and picks up the book putting it on the small table with the red book. She heads to the couch after also shutting the lights off before sitting on the couch. She had said to not expect her until tomorrow so she settles on the couch to get ready to sleep. She lays on her back moving one arm behind her head like a pillow. She closes her eyes preparing to drift off into sleep.
The next morning when she awakens her nose is introduced to a rather delicious smell tainting the air.
She blinks her eyes open about half way before blinking again going the same amount as before. She notices that the lights are still off but the light in the kitchen is now on. Her stomach growls lightly as the smell of food. She sits up and fully gets up heading towards the kitchen. She peers inside to see Papyrus cooking something. She chuckles softly. "Sans wasn't kidding when he said you get up early." She comments causing Papyrus to glance back to her.
"Good morning Lady Toriel." Papyrus greets before turning back to what he is doing.
Toriel moves more into the kitchen and looks to what he is cooking. "Pancakes this morning?"
"Yeah. Sans showed me how to make them. He used to make it in the morning when I was younger and I have taken over that after he taught how to do it." Papyrus confirms.
Toriel smiles. "That's so sweet."
"You can settle down your majesty. I shall let you know when they are done." Papyrus informs her.
"You sure that you don't need help?" Toriel inquires to the taller skeleton.
"Hm. Well if you want to help you could help with batter." Papyrus informs her and Toriel nods heading over to the other side where the bowl of batter is.
Together they work on the pancakes With Toriel putting some onto the pan while Papyrus cooks them. They continue this until they near the end.
"I can finish if you want to go get Sans up." Toriel offers to the other.
"Okay. I shall go and awaken that lazy bones!" Papyrus turns and heads off to go do so after handing Toriel the spatula. He heads upstairs and to his room remembering that he woke up next to Sans. He sees that Sans looks to still be sleeping so he approaches. "Sans." He places a hand on his brothers shoulder. "Hey wake up." He gently shakes him and Sans blinks his eyes open only to halfway.
Sans looks up a little to see his brother. "Pappy?" He questions sleepily.
"Good morning brother." Papyrus greets him and lets Sans sit up.
Sans slightly rubs his right eye tiredly. "How early is it?" He wonders out loud.
"Early enough that you should be up now." Papyrus tells him. "Now come on. Lady Toriel helped make breakfast." He starts to head out of the room and Sans gets up to follow but suddenly falls to the ground. He stops and spins around to his younger brother hearing the thud. "Sans!" He races over to his brother falling to his knees his soul racing slightly. "Sans are you okay!?" He questions reaching towards his dear brother.
Sans shifts to look to Papyrus with a smile. "Whoops. I stood up too fast."
Papyrus frowns slightly and his eyes fall half open. He sighs to himself then he gathers his brother into his arms. "Seriously. Sometimes you are just hopeless Sans." He stands up once he is carrying Sans so he is in position where he can wrap his arms and legs around Papyrus's torso if he wants. "I mean what would you do without someone as cool as me taking care of you!"
"I think my life would be terrible and miserable if I didn't have you." Sans responds making Papyrus pause only to glance to his brother.
"Sans…" Papyrus begins but goes quiet when his brother speaks.
Sans sighs closing his eyes as he lays his head on Papyrus's shoulder. "Why do I have to be like that? Why did I have to have something like… Like…" He closes his eyes tightly and Papyrus's expression changes to sad sympathy.
"It's okay." Papyrus shushes him softly and does his best to nuzzle Sans's skull closing his eyes as he does so. "And don't ever compare yourself to such a thing." His words cause Sans to blink his eyes open in slight surprise. "Don't ever do that again. Don't even think about it." He keeps his tone gentle for now. "You are so much better than that. Do you hear me? You are the best thing to ever happen in my life and I will not have it any other way." He pulls away opening his eyes halfway as he smiles to his brother who looks to him. "Okay Sans?"
Sans blinks before his usual smile returns to his face. "Okay Paps." He agrees.
Papyrus's bright expression returns upon hearing this. "Good. Now let's go downstairs. Lady Toriel is waiting." He heads off towards the door taking them both down to the kitchen where they find that Toriel made sure each of them have a plate and everything is set up. "I have brought my brother." He says as he walks further into the kitchen.
"Yes. Good morning Sans." Toriel greets and Papyrus stops to let Sans stand on his own.
"Morning." Sans greets back while Toriel grabs one plate in each hand.
Toriel hands the two each a plate allowing them to add how much syrup that they want while she grabs her own plate. She waits until they are done with it before she adds her own syrup.
They dig in to the delicious pancakes with that all enjoying the yummy taste.
Once that was all done Toriel decided to do the dishes while the boys were upstairs getting dressed for work. She finishes that putting them away then leaves the kitchen just as Sans is coming down the stairs dressed in his usual outfit. "Well. I must head out. But I shall see you both later."
"Don't get bonely without us." Sans responds jokingly causing Toriel to laugh.
"Oh don't rattle your bones too much." Toriel responds. "I'm not sure you have the guts to handle it."
The two laugh then turn hearing a groan only to see Papyrus walking down the stairs towards them.
"You two and your puns!" Papyrus shakes his head at the two.
"I must be going. But I shall see you two later." Toriel tells them. "Come over to the castle after work."
"Oh? Well if there ends up being a dragon there I would say I'd be boned and unable to rescue the princess." Sans chuckles after that while Papyrus slightly glares at him.
"Oh my god Sans!" Papyrus groans heavily while the other two share a laugh.