The day of the mayor's visit was mild; cloud had covered the sky that night, but the sun started to burst through more and more as it crept past the horizon. Frisk spent more time looking out the window than eating their breakfast, despite Toriel's attempts to get them to eat up. She cajoled them into having a little, then accepted their complaints of not being hungry and let them go to shower and dress.
Frisk spent longer than usual getting ready. Their clothes hung in front of the fire, getting nice and warm, and Toriel brought them through along with a warm towel before Frisk needed them. The hot water piping for the houses wove from Hotland through the town, warming the town so winter didn't really feel real here. Some monsters had moved further up the mountain, to be where it was naturally cooler. They wished they could stay with the hot water beating on their face and coursing down their body all day, instead of attending the visit; but eventually they made themself get out.

With the sun peering through, Frisk decided they didn't need a coat. They put on their new clothes, tying their hair back and brushing out the shorter sections that had been their fringe. It had a habit of flopping into their face unless they routinely tucked it behind their ears, but it would have to do. Their clothes were great, though. Frisk tied their purple scarf around their waist; it was almost like a darker version of the colour of their top, and the waistcoat buttons were silver in colour and looked much more interesting. Frisk grinned; it wasn't often they were happy with how they looked, but today, they were.
They ran back into the living room. "How do I look, mum?" They held their arms up and whirled around.
"Very smart, my dear- your outfit looks very nice together! I shall have to thank your friend for it." Mettaton was still very much Frisk's friend, rather than Toriel's; she didn't seem to fully approve of the robot, but accepted that he was Frisk's friend without comment.
"Oh, but come here- let me retie that for you." Frisk stayed still, arms up, while Toriel carefully eased out their clumsy knot. "Would you like a bow?"
"No, thank you."
"Okay." She tied it deftly, her large furred hands not impeding her- although the hug she gave Frisk once she had finished did leave several starkly visible white hairs on their waistcoat and trousers. They didn't mind; their pleasure at their appearance had swiftly fallen away to be replaced once more with nerves.

It was nearly time. More monsters were milling around than Frisk had seen together since building works had slowed; but Asgore still stood above any of them, and his horns made him even more visible. Frisk worked their way through the crowd and noted the anxiety on his face, trying to force their own to one side to avoid making him feel worse. They didn't really succeed- but they hoped it wouldn't show.
"Hey!" They tugged on his cloak, and he looked down and beamed.
"Howdy, Frisk!" He placed his large hands on their head as they hugged him around the waist. "Are you ready for this?"
"No." Frisk buried their face in his stomach and felt him chuckle.
"No, neither am I. But we do need to be jolly good neighbours, yes? After all, we need to show the humans we can all be pals together."
"Yeah." Frisk pulled back.
"Ah- and here comes Undyne." Asgore waved to her- completely unnecessary, as visible as he was, but she headed over, grinning.
"Hey, Asgore, Frisk! You ready for this?!"
"No," Asgore and Frisk replied in unison. Undyne laughed.
"I am! Man, anything happens and I'll get to see if all humans are as durable as this punk!" She nudged Frisk, who didn't smile.
"Please- Undyne, don't, uh, be too quick to get physical?"
"Aww, don't worry Frisk, I've promised to be on my best behaviour." She pulled a face, showing her thoughts on the matter, but Frisk knew she was glad to be given the role of being a bodyguard. She was hiding it well but they knew she had her own worries about the visit. Papyrus was nowhere to be seen- they had asked him, too, to be a "royal guard" for the day, and outlined his duties for him. He had been thrilled.

They mingled for a little while. Alphys came out, looking awkward and anxious, and quietly asked Frisk if they really, really needed her. The moment they said she would probably be okay to go back to her lab she scuttled off, looking immensely relieved.
Sans had set up a "hot dog" stand, looking just like it used to- in fact, it even had snow on the roof. Frisk headed over.
"Hey, Frisk, no stacking dogs on your head today." He winked. "Toriel's orders."
"She did not tell you that." Frisk leaned over to look behind the stand. "So how much are you charging for your bits of plant in buns?"
"On the house for you, kid." He reached up anyway and Frisk rolled their eyes. "Well, no. It's on you."
They started giggling; the stupid and familiar joke, combined with the memories of Sans being there no matter where they went in the Underground suddenly broke their nerves. They grabbed the hot dog off their head and took a huge bite.
"Mmf." They swallowed as best they could, given how dry it was. "Needs... mustard."
"Well, buddy, I- oh, heyyy, Tori!"

Frisk glanced behind them; there she was, arms folded, looking disapproving. "Frisk," she said sternly, "I believed you when you said you didn't have an appetite. And now here you are eating... What are you eating?"
"I didn't have an appetite! But, um, Sans made me feel better, so I'm trying to eat. I would've preferred a hot breakfast, but- try it." Frisk held it out.
Toriel took a small bite. She looked at Frisk, then back at Sans; and, without a word, turned and walked away. They looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Before Frisk could take another bite, Papyrus came pounding up into the village. "Attention! I, Papyrus, have something to announce!" he said, loudly enough to carry over the chatter. Nerves made Frisk's stomach drop.
"Oh... Oh, okay, this is it, isn't it? This is it, I- um. Sans, can you...?" They held the hot dog out and he took it.
"Go get 'em, Frisk." He winked and they forced a faint smile. He leaned back and started eating the hot dog as they rejoined Asgore and headed down the path with him and Undyne.

The mayor was much more practically dressed than Frisk had expected; in what looked like riding boots, with her hair tied back, she actually looked somewhat ready for a walk in the woods. Today she seemed to have steeled herself; she didn't flinch during introductions- despite Undyne's toothy leer. Her own guards walked a little way back from them; Frisk had asked Papyrus to "patrol the perimeter" and keep an eye on things, which he took to with gusto. Asgore took them into the village, proudly showing her what they had built- pointing out the schoolhouse, and Alphys' lab, just visible through the trees. She seemed... more impressed than Frisk had expected; although how much of it was genuine, and how much was for politeness, they couldn't say.
They were just starting to wonder if they could sneak off and talk to the monsters- several of them had waved or otherwise gestured a greeting, and Mettaton had spotted Frisk and given them two thumbs up. Sans was still at his stand and Toriel had joined him, but every time Frisk glanced over, they were watching their group instead of talking. But just as they tried to think up an excuse to slip off, the mayor spoke up.

"I must thank you for your hospitality, your majesty- but before I can join you for tea, I must speak with your ambassador." It was very smoothly said, giving nothing away. Frisk's eyes widened and they looked desperately around at the monsters; both Toriel and Sans noticed, and while his only reaction was to narrow his eyes, hers was to start to head over.
It was no use, though. Asgore was oblivious to Frisk's dislike of the idea. "Yes, of course, I understand." He nodded, placing his hand on their shoulder. They looked up, hiding their concern, determined not to let him down. "I am sure your house would be fine, Frisk?"

They nodded and turned, leading the way. Their legs felt strange and stiff, but they forced themself to raise their head, to look strong, to not show weakness. They knew there were people who would latch onto any weakness you showed. They'd known too many of them.
Toriel made it through the crowd as they neared the house. "Frisk!" she called out. They didn't want to look at her, it was easier to pretend everything was fine if they didn't. But they turned anyway.
"Frisk, is everything okay? What is going on?"
"The mayor just wanted to speak to me," Frisk said. Toriel looked at the mayor; to Undyne, to Asgore- both of whom had followed them over- then back to Frisk.
"Well... We will be right outside, okay, Frisk?" They nodded; hiding their relief, their fear, pushing down their rising panic. They entered the house and led the mayor into the dining room.

"Ah... Thank you, Frisk." The mayor sat herself in the chair Frisk pulled out for her; they sat at the opposite end of the table, trying to bury their fear. Nothing was going to happen. She wasn't in a position of authority over them. It was going to be fine.
"I'm sorry for pulling you away like this, but talking to you was the reason I came here today." She smiled and folded her hands on the table.
Frisk was stunned. "W-what? I... I don't understand."
"I'm going to be frank with you. Having a human child living with monsters... Well, it sets a dangerous precedence. We needed to know where you should have been."
"What?" Frisk felt like they'd been doused in cold water. She wanted to send them back. Take them away from Toriel and Asgore, away from Sans and Papyrus, Undyne and Alphys. From here. From everyone. For a moment, fear tried to take over- then determination set in, and they stood up.
"This is where I should be."

"Well... I did look for records of missing children, who matched your description, and it turns out you were from the Brackfell orphanage, weren't you? There would be paperwork, but yes, you could stay-"
"You're giving me permission?" Frisk spoke coldly. "You think you're giving me permission?"
"Please, calm down." Appearing unruffled, Eastaugh pulled some papers out of her pocket and went through them. "We have your name on records- we may be able to find your family, from this, if you wish-"
"I've found my family. They're here."
"You know what I mean. Your real family. Your real name is Danielle Ch-"
"My name is Frisk Dreemurr!" Their voice was loud; not quite a shout, it reverberated with a hint of the adult they were going to become, full of heat and determination. "I belong here, with my family! You will never make me go back!"

The front door slammed open, and Asgore stepped in. With his usual kindness and patience it was hard to imagine him angry; but he was now, cold fury lining his face and magic flickering about his person. He seemed to take up the entire room.
"I am afraid it is time for you to leave," he said to the mayor; quiet, and calm, but cold and utterly implacable. The mayor rose immediately.
Toriel pushed past Asgore and headed straight over to Frisk; but they didn't move, still standing, still staring at the mayor. She turned before she passed Asgore.
"I'm sorry, Frisk," she said. "Some things were... out of my hands. I never wanted to upset any of you."

As soon as she left, Frisk's mature outer shell crumpled and they started to shake. The fear rose back up, real and vibrant, as they remembered what she had said... What she had called them...
Toriel held them in her arms; and as they wrapped their arms around her neck, they felt one hand be gently taken and held. They opened their eyes to see Asgore looking at them, compassion and caring in his face. He had come for them; before even Toriel, before anyone, he had been there; angry for them, ready to defend them.
They had said they had found their family.

They gripped his hand tightly, feeling Toriel's arms around them.

They had been right.

A little clarification- my version of Frisk is intersex. They were given a female name at birth, because their parents wanted their genitalia to be "corrected" (in their eyes) and such "correction" is typically done to make the genitalia appear to be fully female. However, in this country, cosmetic genital surgery is illegal before an age where the child can fully understand and consent to the procedure (I have decided that age is fourteen). This is the reason Frisk was given up for adoption and eventually found themself in an orphanage.

This almost certainly won't be explored in-story, for various reasons. But I thought it was useful to know.

-Ren