The calm darkness of sleep was interrupted by a heavenly chiming noise filling the air. Bones rattle as his body shifted in sleep, trying to ignore the ringing that wouldn't stop buzzing. With a tiny groan, a hand reached into a coat pocket and pulled out a tiny object that was vibrating. Sight was a bit blurry as the buzzing object flashed, the tiny light slowly come into view as a bony hand was holding what appeared to be a flip phone.
Sans was confused with his surrounding noticing in front of him, the walls and flooring were not like his bedroom purple-blue carpet with brown walls. Maybe it was a patient's room in the Royal Laboratory but weren't the walls green with blue tiles? It was all white and the phone was vintage. His attention went back to the phone as bony finger flipped the phone open as the name "Bel" appeared on the digital display screen. Wherever Sans was it appeared to be another memory that belonged to his father.
"How did it go, Bel?" Gaster spoke into the phone with a weak tired voice as his body slowly sat up. The hand shook a bit holding the phone against his head. Looking beside him was a tiny lumpy object under a blue comforter. "I just woke up…I'm sure everything will be alright. WAIT, you say Queen Toriel is coming too…Then there's nothing to fear, dear." Gaster yawned while lightly shaking the lump.
The tiny thing slightly moved as it curled itself into a ball. Gaster snickered to himself before ripping the blanket off and tossing it somewhere far from the bed. It didn't surprise Sans to discover the lump had been a very drowsy little girl wearing a black nightdress. Guessing by the size of the body and two human arms wrapped around its head trying to block out the brightness of the room. It was the sick little human child that Sans' parents called, Alice. "Come on sweetie, it's time to wake up," Gaster said pulling the sleepy head onto his lap and placed his teeth upon her forehead while making a kissing sound.
Alice unwraps her arms around head as a silent yawn escaped her lips before twisting into smiling. He brushed some hair out of her face, revealing a reflected image of a tired pale Gaster, in her blue eyes. On the right side of her face, the pigment of flesh was completely black as ash. A sign that the virus had spread more from the last vision Sans experience. A cold chill shocked the skeleton's soul as the little girl hunched over covering her mouth from view while blood gushed out between tiny human fingers. Heart pounding fast in the chest, causing silent tears to start streaming down the child's cheek.
"It's…alright child." Trying to ensure Alice, pulling her into a hug while green magic surrounds the tiny human's body. On the outside, it sounds like he had everything under control, but Sans could sense that his father was freaking out. Healing magic was only a temporary fix and was able to repair some damaged cell, but couldn't restore parts of the body that was completely destroyed. Most monsters would have given up by now letting the child die. Gaster couldn't do that when the child was fighting so hard to stay alive. No matter how much pain her body was in, Alice did her best to hide the suffering by smiling. Hanging on to that tiny hope until Gaster finds a cure so she could leave the laboratory forever and live happily ever after with her adopted skeleton family.
"Alice do you want to cancel the visit?" Gaster spoke in a weak, tired voice, carefully pulling his tiny bony hands away from the child's face. Her breathing was returning to a normal pace, but there was no telling if another attack would happen later. If the King were to see this, there would be no way in hell the Royal Family would approve of letting the Skeleton Family adopted her. Wouldn't matter if the virus only affected humans and not monsters. The girl would be seen as a threat to Chara's life, They were the Underground light of hope. Alice and Chara where both human children, but unlike Alice, Chara was part of the Royal Family and loved by many monsters. Gaster was not like most monsters in the Underground, his loyalty was with his family which includes his human daughter regardless if it was official or not.
Blood trickled down the sides of Alice's lip as a soft smile spread across her face. The right hands still covered in blood as she signed number two with her fingers before bringing them to her thumb. Gaster sighs while cuddling the girl in his arms and scooping her up before heading to another part of the laboratory. He was hoping she would say "yes" to cancel the meeting with the King, but they know they couldn't delay it anymore. It had been three months now since she came to live in the Royal Laboratory. There were many times Bel asked to take her to their house in Snowdin. Every time he had to explain that all medical equipment couldn't leave the laboratory and cold weather could be dangerous to a child's weakened state. Staying in the laboratory is a bit dangerous too, with monsters coming and going looking for medical treatment from Dr. Gaster. There were rumors floating in the Underground that Royal Science was harboring a human child. Which was true, but the King had stated that all humans where to be taken to him. Those humans never were seen or heard of again, but for Chara. Maybe the King would overlook this, seeing that the Skeleton Family had serviced the Royal Family for centuries.
Gaster didn't say another word while carrying the girl down a long hallway and entering a tiny bathroom. He placed the child down on the ground before resting his bony hands on each side of a porcelain pedestal sink. A mirror hanging over the skin reflecting dim light, tiredness glowed in the skeleton's eye sockets. The white lab coat was covered in spots of red blood, some new, and some old.
A worried expression crossed Alice's face as she extends and spread out five fingers on her right hand while tapping thumb few times on the forehead. "Daddy…Are you alright?" the tiny hand gestured to the tall skeleton. Sans laughed releasing that he was able to comprehend sign language now. It was like knowledge of the movement of hands combined with facial expressions and postures of the body sinking into his soul.
"I'm alright dear." Gaster pat Alice on the head before slipping off the lab coat and rest of the clothing.
"We need to clean up before guests come." Leaning over to help the little girl pull her black nightdress off before opening a glass door and entering into the enclosed shower, large enough for the both of them to bathe. It was rare for a skeleton to need a bath seeing that they didn't have sweat glands, but once in a while, the bones did need a scrubbing from grime sticking. All that was needed, was a bar of soap to stay clean, but human, on the other hand, need more. Grabbing the shower hose and bottle of shampoo before sitting cross leg and waving for Alice to take a seat on his lap. After many trials and errors, he learned the correct way in giving a human child, a bath. He was sure Alice had to be at least four and could wash her own self. Children had a talent turning everything into a game even a simple task like washing their hair could lead to hours of making funny bubble beards on the face or use soap to make spiky hair. Learning that experience from Bel, when she give Sans and Alice a bath in a kiddy pool together. He used his hands to protect the human girl's eyes while the water ran down her silky black hair before the shampoo could be lathered in.
Alice quickly pulled away turning her body to face Gaster. A smile spread across her face while taking some foam bubbles off top her head and placed on top of his skull. Soft human hands glide and rub gently against the skull. Relaxing the skeleton a bit as a tingling sensation spread across the skull and down into orange-blue heart temporarily removing all negative emotions in the soul. It was a simple gesture, but warmed his heart and Sans'.
Everything going on was just a scene of the past playing out in front of him, but it felt so real to Sans. The sound of running water as soap dripped down the bones, the touch of the faucet while turning the water off, and soft towel while Gaster dried Alice's hair. He could even feel all emotion and thoughts going on inside his father's body. That moment Gaster was petrified at the sound of his own soulmate calling out his name while frantically tried to pull his limbs through a black sweater.
"There you are…Did something happen?" Bel's voice drifted into the room while the sounds of combat boots tap against the smooth tile flooring. Slim bony fingers slide across the male skeleton's waist, quickly pulling Gaster into a hug.
"Just coughing, nothing to worry about…Where are their Majesties?" Gaster asked in a monotone voice, but inside the orange-blue heart thumping against the rib cage. All emotions Sans was expiring of his father's surprised him. Their father had always appeared as strong, courageous, hardworking monsters that never show any sign of fear. Here he was rattling with fear and speaking with dull and tedious attitude.
"Waiting in the lobby," Bel replied in a muffled voice burying her face in the back of her mate's lab coat. The sound of bone-rattling banged against armored chest plate, the grasp around Gaster's waist became tighter.
"It will be alright Bel…Your Queen Toriel trusted personal bodyguards…We know how much she adores children." Gaster sighed slowly undoing the fingers locking him in a shaky hug. It was heartbreaking to see the female skeleton was breaking under presser. All he could do was kiss her lightly on the forehead and try to ensure her that everything will be alright.
"King one that..." Bel's discourage words where cut off as Gaster cupped her chin and brought her into another skeleton kiss. Bony mouth light grazing each other before an ecto orange tongue was summoned, entering the female's mouth. Didn't take long for a purple tongue to return the favor as more kiss started to turn into a heated passion.
Sans felt sick to the core at the sight and feeling of the sexual kisses expressed through his parent's mouth. It was sweet to watch the comforting hug and light kisses, but this was just too much for him now. It was natural for monsters to have sexual desire especially soulmates. This was a nightmare, feeling and hearing every nasty thought his father was thinking made Sans want to throw up. "Please for the love of god, stop!" Sans groaned, wishing for the power to skip this part of the vision.
Luck for him, the french kissing came to an end as something repeatedly tugged at the bottom of his lab coat. Gaster looked down beside him to find a grossed out Alice sticking out her tongue. Gaster lightly pats the child on the head before looking back up to the red scarf covering Bel's face out of embarrassment and shame. "There's nothing to be scared or shy about…I was once told by a certain female skeleton, behind every great man is a great woman…True soulmates work together as one." Gaster remarked, hoping the kisses would help relax her a bit and wash some of those fears away.
"It will be alright, Mommy" Alice gestured with her hands while looking at the both of her monster parents. The child smiled sweetly at Bel taking hold of her hands as their footsteps slowly followed behind Gaster.
The lobby was very quiet except the soft whisper of a female goat monster wearing a purple dress speaking with a taller goat, whose body was covered completely by a purple cape. Gaster took a deep breath before making a coughing sound into his hand to alert his presence.
"Howdy, Dr. Gaster…My good friend…It has been awhile, how is your research going on the barrier?" The taller goat spoke in a welcoming male voice.
"I may have found a few solutions, but it's not the reason I asked you here today, King Asgore" Gaster nod his head before bowing to the rulers of the Underground. "I'm sure you read my report about a human dying in lava about three months ago."
"Yes, I did…Did you ever find the reason why?" Asgore asked raising an eyebrow.
"It was due to the outbreak of Reaper Kiss. Don't worry your Majesties it only affects humans…" Gaster said, hoping that last part was not a mistake to mention.
"How did you come to this information?" Asgore asked in puzzlement, slowly stroking his blonde beard. The warmth in his eyes, disappeared as it narrowed coldly, looking pass Gaster.
"I was able to save one" Gaster answered looking over his shoulder seeing Bel joining them in the lobby while holding Alice's hand. Once the female was beside him, the little girl took hold the side of her black skirt while bending her knees and bowing her head. Smiling sweetly while lifting herself up. "It's nice to meet you, your Majesties ….My name is Alice," Gaster said interpreting the hand gestures the little girl was making.
"WAIT!... Could Chara get this disease?" the female goat cried out covering her mouth from the shock of seeing a human child covered in spots and black sores.
"It's alright Queen Toriel…Bel and I have been using magic to keep the virus at bay… Right now in a petri dish, I'm testing how skeleton monster's blood reacts to the blood infected by the Reaper Kiss…If the test is positive then I should be able to cure her in a week's time." Gaster spoke in a powerful voice placing a hand on Alice's shoulder.
"You poor child…I should have realized sooner, Bel…I just thought you were tired from sleepless nights, taking care of the baby…Where is Sans?" Toriel gasped taking a few steps forward and reached out to hug the two females before her. A large paw grasped her shoulder while Asgore shook his head for his wife not to move another inch.
"Don't worry Queen Toriel, Urd and Axel is looking after him for me," Bel answered messing with the scarf around her neck. The air in the room was becoming dry and unsettling.
"Does that mean the Captain and Lieutenant of the royal guards known about this child?" Asgore spoke with a bit of bitterness trying to keep a friendly smile visible on his fuzzy face.
"No, your Majesty….I told them I need a bit of alone time with Gaster." Bel answered making tiny little fist using all her power not to break down. Gaster quickly took hold of his soulmate's hand and squeezing a few times, letting her known she was not alone. Many monsters in the Underground believed Asgore to be a kind king, but during Wartime, those large white paws had been stained red, countless of times.
Gaster's heart raced as an image of a shadowy horned monster covered in a cloud of gray dust roared in anger as red lights beamed from its eyes. Massive feet stood on top of a mountain of human corpses. The male skeleton shakes his head trying to forget the horror of this dark childhood memory. That was all millennium ago, King Asgore was nothing but a softy that loved his family and citizen now. His train of thought disappeared as he felt something tug on the sleeve of his lab coat. Looking down to see Alice was moving her hands. "You don't look like a scary demon like in my old picture book. You're fluffy." Gaster said a bit surprised that the child was aware of the monster and human war.
"Why are you speaking for the child, Gaster? What is she doing with her hand?" Asgore asked in a nervous voice. Probably thinking that girl was a witch trying to cast a spell on him.
"It's called sign language, your Majesty...The virus and ashes from the volcano damage the child's voice box. I was able to heal the throat so she could comfortably drink and eat…Would you rather she writes on a notepad?" Gaster asked digging into his lab coat and pulling out a tiny notepad.
"She's so young. Can she spell?" Toriel asked before lightly biting her lip. Gaster could see in her eyes that she wanted desperately to hug the human child and comfort her.
"Yes, she's able to read and write in cursive at a second-grade level…My guess is her parents started her education as soon as she was born…It only took a week to teach her how to sign" Gaster boosted in pride at how clever Alice is to have picked up on things easily.
"You sound like a proud parent." Toriel laughed in her hands.
"Ummmm…W...would your M...majesty like some t..tea" Bel nervously asked scooping up Alice into her arms.
"That would be lovely." Asgore agreed taking hold of his wife's hands following behind Bel. Not too far where they had stood minutes go, a roundtable was set for four. Sitting on the table, was an electric teapot, a box of cookies, and four tea cups each containing a tea bag. The skeleton felt a bit embarrassed severing the Royal family low standard common tea, but neither of them really cared for tea or sweets "Now then Bel, what were you really going to say earlier?" the King asked pulling a chair out for Toriel before taking a seat next to her.
"My mate and I would like to become the child's new guardians." Gaster blurted out not letting Bel have a chance to answer the question. Pushing a button on the electrical teapot, turning it on.
"You want to adopt a human child…Don't you already have your handful, with work and a new baby?" Toriel said fiddling with her thumbs.
"Thank you for your concern, your Majesty, like yourself I'm sure I can handle two children," Bel remarked reaching a hand to grab the box of cookies. "The children adore each other…Just yesterday Alice was telling the funniest joke about…" Bel stop speaking, giggles bust out of her while watching Alice stuff her mouth full of cookies.
"Oh…What a sweet tooth you have" Toriel smiled before shaking her head when Bel offered her cookie.
"Gaster…Are you sure you're going to be able to cure the child where humans have failed?" Asgore asked glaring down into his empty teacup. Claws nervously tapping on the table while his mouth slightly opened to speak, but quickly shut.
"I'm sure I can, but I need a little more time," Gaster said walking around the table while pouring boiling water into each of the teacups.
"Gaster, I'm worried all of this is putting a strain on your family's health...I may be a goat monster, but I know a few things about skeleton monster…One of those is that baby skeletons need to consume magic from either of their parents like mother 's milk…With your Sans having low…" Asgore sighed.
"Have you forgot your Majesty, but skeleton monsters are a very powerful race when it comes to magic…Because of that fact during wartime, some of your best soldiers and medics were skeletons. " Gaster remarked taking a seat next to his soulmate. The king had a point, but this was his family. His mind already decided on raising the human girl as his own child.
Asgore slowly rising tea to his lips while looking at Gaster then eyes traveled over o Bel holding the child. Slightly shaking his head before placing the full cup back on the table. "Yes…but…" Asgore paused looking over at his wife for some support in his argument.
"Bel, Gaster, dears…. It doesn't stop us from worrying about your health…We made a promise… to your family…to keep both of you safe." Toriel calmly tries to explain, but her voice cracked a few times. Her eyes lowered in shame staring at the steam rising from the teacup.
"I'm grateful for that, Queen Toriel…If it was not for the kindness and loving care you displayed to the young monster who had lost their family during the war, many of us would have praised…I'm not that little shy Korean girl anymore…I'm the proud member of the Royal Guards and mother of two… if you permit us of course." Bel spoke in a timid voice before taking a sip of her tea then carefully blowing on it before placing it up to Alice's lips. The little girl took a few sips before pushing it away quickly as her tiny hands covered her mouth, from sight. Chilling cracking noises filled the air as the teacup smashed against the floor while Alice started coughing. Bel quickly grabbed her handkerchief as she noticed blood had started to drip through the child's fingers. She placed it over Alice's mouth and her other hand, illuminated in a green healing light as it was placed on the girl's chest.
"I think my wife and I will need some time to discuss this matter…In the meantime keep the human… inside the laboratory." Asgore demanded, placing his hands on the table and standing up quickly causing the table to shake. He had eyes of sadness and bitterness glaring down at the human child as a trail of blood dripped from her lip. "Thank you for the tea," King said half smiling towards Gaster before darting his eyes to the floor. Chewing on the bottom of lips wanting to say something else, but holding his tongue.
"Yes…Thank you." Toriel said standing and bow to the skeletons. Moisture could be seen forming under her eyes lids as she quickly turns her back on them.
"I will escort…," Bel called out, quickly placing Alice on the ground before jumping to her feet. Asgore shook his head, holding out a hand, begging her to stay where she was.
"That is alright Bel… Toriel and I will be fine…Again thank you for the tea." Asgore spoke in a hushed voice as he bowed to the skeleton couple before taking his wife's hand and leading her out of the Royal Laboratory.
Gaster's body felt frozen to his chair watching the Royal Family disappeared from sight and hearing the slamming of laboratory doors. Orange-blue soul scream for him go after them and try to ensure them that Alice was no threat. It was useless; he already told them everything that needed to be said. The only hope now was to finish the cure. He would have to proceed and injected the human child with skeleton blood. The blood samples were not done being tested, but there was no time to waste. It could kil… It was the only choice that was left to try and save their daughter.