The past couple of months passed by like a blur. Grillby's opening was amazing, everyone was there, Asgore and Toriel (who have moved further past their issues and now seem to get along as close friends at least), Frisk (of course), Undyne and Alphys, Papyrus and Sans were there for you as well. A lot of monsters showed up, the diner really seemed to be very popular underground, the whole of the old dog guard was present and even a few humans turned up too. After that, word got around and a surprisingly steady flow of customers started going there regularly and you couldn't be happier to do your part in maintaining the warm and inviting atmosphere.
You've kind of become a hit with the regulars. They greet you like an old friend each time they come in, treat you like one of their own. You don't even have to try to return the favour, it comes so naturally to you. You even wondered if you were born into the wrong species sometimes. Monsters are all so kind, so friendly. It made you sick to your stomach that some people hated them just for being different. But then, that's always been human nature…
Papyrus has become a quite proficient cook, even landing himself a new job doing just that at a tiny café that also serves lunches. Seems their business hasn't been this good in years. He also finally worked on getting that driver's license he wanted. Sans even gave it a go as well, saying he'd fancy himself a motorbike to have some fun. You don't know why but the image was somewhat right for him. Of course they'd both have to work for a while to get those vehicles, and you certainly were more than willing to help out.
You and Sans did spend more time with Frisk like you intended. Toriel got her teaching license and was now a teacher at their school which they were thrilled about. Some days she stayed later to do some things around the school and prepare classes, grade works and other such things which meant Sans would pick them up and more often than not stop by Grillby's. They had their fair share of sleepovers with Papyrus too, which was always a pleasure for you. You loved the kid to death.
Their birthday was also an event. You finally met Muffet who made Frisk's cake. Now that, was something you'd never forget. You spent the first half of the party cowering in a corner before your soulmate finally managed to half drag you over to her so you'd actually meet her. She was really nice and a great baker for sure, if not a little greedy… But try as you might you'd probably never get over the fact that she was a giant spider and that terrified you. The sheer thought sent shivers down your spine but you were always respectful. From a slight distance…
But that wasn't even the strangest thing you saw. Mettaton… He sure was… Something… Flashy outbursts of overly expressive enthusiasm and a lot of… Fabulousness would probably be the best word. He had been some sort of celebrity in the underground (of which Papyrus was apparently really fond of, who knew) and as soon as he found himself on the surface, he used all of his resources to become one there as well. He travelled a lot, mostly to places such as Japan where his grandeur seemed to be most appreciated. Go figure.
Sans didn't seem to like him much though, you could kind of see why. When the day was supposed to be all about Frisk he kind of managed to draw a lot of the attention to himself. The now 10 year old ambassador didn't seem to mind though, so neither did you. Mettaton could actually be fun, you know, when he wasn't trying to make everything into a game show he could use (most of which included bombs for whatever reason), or pestering you with countless questions about your relationship with Sans. You couldn't be sure but you thought you even spied a tiny camera following him around. You sure hoped you wouldn't see yourself in any videos floating around the web, which until today hadn't happen, thank goodness. He did, however, persuade (not to use the word force) you into singing karaoke with him. That actually bought him some points with Sans.
Right now you were bent over the bed trying to get one of Sans' stray socks from behind it but you just couldn't quite reach. Meanwhile said skeleton was lazing around at the end of that same bed watching you struggle.
You grunt in mild annoyance and turn to him. "Can't you help me out here?" He hums before dragging himself over and just lying on top of your back and pretending to reach.
"Can't get to it." He mumbled against your hair before going completely limp. "Why don't you just use your magic, you've been there for like five minutes." Your body shakes slightly with his laughter.
"Aren't soulmates supposed to help each other in times of need?" You ask in a huff to which you feel him shrug on top of you. "I'm trying not to rely on magic so much." You explain succinctly continuing to stretch your arm as far as it goes, determined to do this without moving the sock with your magic.
"So you rely on me instead? Darling I hate to say this but that's a terrible idea, heh." You groan into the mattress. He really should be doing this himself, it's his sock after all.
"You're exhausting…" You say in a monotone, but you can't really stop the smile dancing on your lips and you're positive he can feel that little warmth that surrounds your soul with happiness from being close to him.
"Good, all the more reason for us to nap together." The small skeleton nuzzles his face into your neck and you shake him off to the side.
"Someone has to clean up after you around here." You scold him with a less than stern tone.
"Why are you trying not to use magic anyways? You would've been done with that ages ago." He asks genuinely curious, propping himself up on one elbow.
You shrug and look away slightly embarrassed, going back to uselessly reaching for the stray sock in an attempt to hide your face. You mumble the response but it's muffled by the pillow you've squished your face into, forcing him to ask again.
"I'm just trying to be a normal human…" You say quietly.
"You're already dating a magic skeleton that can teleport, what's more normal than that?"
"Geez, you make a really fair point, how could I not see that?" You say sarcastically, giggling the tiniest bit.
At that, Sans sits up against the wall and pulls you up. You see the glow of his blue magic behind the bed and the most likely used sock floats up to fall on top of your face. You glare at him and he grins lazily.
"Look, I don't really know what your quote on quote 'normal'" It should be noted that he uses air quotes to say that. "Means, but if it counts for anything I love you. And I mean all of you. Your human-ness and your magic. It's all part of you and it makes you who you are. And I will love you no matter what. So if you wanna be 'normal'" Air quotes again. "Go ahead, but to me, you're perfect just the way you are…"
You look down at the bed, the sock falling down to your crossed legs, a pinkish blush rising up to your cheeks. You feel skeletal fingers on your neck and Sans leans down to kiss your lips. You take his face in your hands and return it with just as much passion. He's grinning widely when he pulls back.
"Come on, we don't wanna make Pap wait on dinner." You nod and take his hand as you follow him out of the room and down the hallway.
You stop dead in your tracks when you see the living room filled with the monsters you call your friends and family, along with Frisk too. You blink at the scene a few times, not expecting to see them there. You didn't have the slightest idea that they'd be coming… Actually why are they here?
"W-what's all this?" You ask your soulmate quietly. You feel a hint of nervousness, both your own and his.
"Welp…" He starts, rubbing the back of his skull, shifting from one foot to another. Everyone is looking at you with beaming smiles. Papyrus seems to even be shaking with excitement and Frisk isn't that far behind. "I know that you don't like to think about your past and such so I kind of looked through your papers myself to find out cause I wanted to know so I could do something special…"
Your breath gets caught in your throat. You look at him and see him sporting a light cerulean hue dusting over his cheekbones.
"Sans…" Your voice cracks when you try to say something but you feel a knot forming that won't let you speak. You cover your mouth with your hands.
"I hope you don't mind… H-happy 22nd birthday…" His voice is nothing but a whisper. You want to say something, you really do, but all that leaves you is a tiny sob.
As soon as he hears it Sans' head snaps up to look at your face, a moment of shock and horrified regret flashing through his features.
"THAT'S NOT RIGHT, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPY! WHY ARE YOU LEAKING FROM YOUR EYES?" Papyrus says when the first tears fall down your cheeks.
The shorter brother has already caught on however, the corners of your mouth pulled up in a genuine smile filled with overwhelming joy as you bring your hands up to your watery eyes. A few more sobs cause you to shake and you feel Sans' arms around you lovingly.
"Oh my child, you'll make me cry too…" Toriel says softly stealing you from Sans' embrace to give you the warmest motherly hug you remember ever having.
You return it just as tightly, your body wracking with an odd mix of sobs and tearful chuckles. Words can't even begin to describe what you're feeling. Papyrus still seems awfully confused until Frisk explains it to him.
You pull back from Toriel, wiping the salty tears from your face before crushing Sans in such a tight squeeze you'd drive the air out of his lungs if he had any. Which he actually tells you, causing to cry-laugh yet again.
"T-thank you… No one's ever done anything like this for me…" You manage to choke out. You didn't even know it was your birthday. For years and years, all you ever did was count the days you were still alive. Birthdays were as meaningless as a single grain of sand in a never-ending desert.
"THEN WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME BY OUTDOING OURSELVES EVERY YEAR FROM NOW ON! THE GREAT PAPYRUS SHALL MAKE YOUR BIRTHDAYS THE MOST WONDERFUL OF ALL!"
"Yeah punk, don't think you're gonna grow old without us all making a fuss about it!" Undyne chimes in.
"Not to mention you never pass down an excuse for a party, isn't that right Undyne?" Asgore says with a hearty laugh.
Out of the corner of your eyes you think you actually see her scales stain a bit red.
"U-Undyne really likes to d-dance at parties… E-especially when she's had one too m-many drinks…" Alphys giggles.
"T-t-t-that's not true! I'LL SUE YOU ALL FOR SLANDER! SLANDER I TELL YOU! NGAAAAAHHHH!" When she materialises a spear everyone loses it, you included, despite the few sobs that are still leaving you.
"We sure have interesting friends, huh?" You say leaning your head on Sans' shoulder. He strokes your face tenderly, leaving a kiss on your forehead.
"At least we're never bored." You chuckle lightly, he's certainly right on that account. "Now stop those tears and let's have some fun with these weirdos, what do you say?"
You place your lips on his teeth for a moment. "I'd love that."
You feel a tug on your shirt and you look to see Frisk standing there timidly holding something behind their back. They bring it forward and your heart nearly stops in your chest. In a small pot there's a golden flower. You reach for it, the petals are soft like silk. With their hands now free, the child signs for you.
I remember Chara loved these. I hope you like it too.
"It's beautiful Frisk, thank you… " You set the little flower pot on a table and can't help the way you hover your hand over it, trembling ever so slightly.
These golden flowers meant so much. You feel your heart clenching as you think of your little brother playing among them. For a moment when you look at Frisk you can almost see his face, smiling at you sadly… The small child walks up to you and takes your hand that's still drifting near the yellow petals.
They drag you back towards everyone else and you feel so loved and appreciated amongst them. You eat, you talk, you laugh… Grillby stops by later too which is simply amazing. Everything is absolutely perfect and you couldn't possibly ask for anything more. Slowly, as the night goes on, everyone leaves and it's just you and the skeleton brothers.
You hug them both tightly, thanking them for such a wonderful time. You both put Papyrus to bed and you both sit down on the couch for a moment. You feel the tears coming once again, emotion taking over your heart and soul.
"Would it be too bad if I said that's not all?" Sans asks in a whisper, softly rubbing circles on your back as you lean against his chest. You stare up at his face and he excuses himself, disappearing into the bedroom before coming back with a rectangular box. It looks quite bulky. "I'm not gonna lie, I kind of wanted this for myself too…" He grins sheepishly, handing it over to you.
You carefully open it to see what's inside. A small gasp leaves your lips when your eyes fall on a sleek looking telescope. You touch it gently, almost afraid that you might break it.
"This is…" You can't find the words to tell him what you think. You can't help the cheeky smile on your face when you see Sans nearly bouncing with excitement.
"You like it? Can we test it out? Please…" You quickly nod in response and he doesn't waste another second.
One moment you're in the living room, the next you're standing on the side of Mt. Ebott, under a star filled sky, crystal clear, just right. The small skeleton sets up the gift and tests it out, looking over and around, before pulling you over with a big smirk on his face, his pupils outshining some of the tiny yellow dots in the sky.
"Come on, come on. Look through it. What do you think?"
You look through the telescope and the sheer sight takes your breath away. You've never seen the stars like this… So close, so bright… It's like you can almost touch them… If you just reach out… You feel Sans' hands on you, moving you so that you can look in different directions, telling you what's what, how many light years away it is, how big and how bright, what kind…
"And that one right over there is my favourite. Sirius… The brightest star in the night sky. It's like it was made just for you." You feel your soul swelling with love and affection, his arms circling your waist as he holds you close to him.
You pull back slightly, looking him in the eyes. "They're so beautiful… Do you want to look again?"
He shakes his head. "You're the only Star I really want to look at tonight…"
Putting your arms around his neck you pull him in for a kiss, his hands resting on your hips as he nuzzles his face against yours. He steps away slightly, looking into your bright eyes, his own filled with adoration.
"Come here, you said you wanted to learn all the constellations right?"
He motions for you to come closer and you both sit on the ground, Sans holding you against him pointing at the various constellations and telling you everything he knows about them. You listen in pure bliss to what he has to say, staring intently and making the pictures in your mind. Ursa major and minor, Orion, Cassiopeia… So many stars, so many stories. They're everything you've ever thought and more. As he talks about each one you engrave them into your mind, one after another. You lightly joke about how some of them look nothing like what they're supposed to, making him laugh in agreement. After a little while longer, looking at all the bright specks that illuminate the night sky you put the telescope away.
"Could we just stop somewhere before we go home?" You ask quietly biting down on your bottom lip.
"Of course." He doesn't even have to ask you where to.
You sit down on the swing and Sans takes the one next to you. You both look up yet again and you let out a sigh of contentment. This is where it all started… Where everything turned around for you. This is the first place to bring you hope. And it's all because of the small skeleton who sat by your side. You reach out to him with your hand and he takes it without a moment's hesitation. You can feel your souls resonating as one. You've never felt so right.
A falling star slashes across the sky. Neither of you wishes for anything. You've got everything you ever wanted.
But someone else, not so far away sees it too. And they wish for revenge.
NOTE: And the idea I've had for the past months will probably be in the next chapter! I needed some time to go by and this seemed like a good way to do it, hope you enjoyed it!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and please leave any feedback you may have, as always it's greatly appreciated!