Papyrus had built a rather impressive- and very solid- mound of wet sand when they returned. Frisk grinned and ran across the hot sand for a closer look- although they flopped down on the blanket when they reached him, regretting their decision to run after eating so much.
"Eurgh, I'm so full," Frisk groaned, before laughing. "But you've been busy! It looks good!"
"Yes! It is great!" Papyrus beamed; wearing a short t-shirt and shorts, covered in clumps of wet sand and kneeling down by his slightly misshapen masterpiece, he made quite the sight.

Frisk heard Undyne shout a greeting to Papyrus as they knelt up and picked up the spade. "Say... You could use this to carefully carve bits off." They moved towards the castle, looking to him for permission; they barely got it before the others were upon them, Undyne loudly telling Papyrus about the dessert he missed. Frisk turned them out as they carefully carved a straight wall out along one edge, then carved out crenellations, each the width of the spade. Papyrus was turning his attention back to them when they were just about finished.
"Wow! That looks good, human! Of course, it would turn out that my super-cool friend is the second best on the beach at sand building! Nyeh heh heh!"
"'Second best', he says to the artist," snorted Undyne. Frisk handed the spade to Papyrus.

"Here- I, um, promised to take some pictures for my mum. I'm sure you can make it a fantastic sand castle without me!"
"Yes, of course I can! I can't be beaten at sand castles!" He eagerly snatched up the spade and eyed up the sodden pile of sand.
"Man, Papyrus, I think you need a hand with all that." Grinning, Undyne knelt down at the far side and rummaged through the various and unused implements that Frisk and Sans had bought earlier. Alphys joined her.
Frisk took a step back and turned the camera on. The three of them were oblivious to them taking a couple of photos of them gathered around the sand "castle", with the beginnings of some definition on show. Content to review them later, they turned to Sans; who wordlessly turned, looking back at them to see if they were ready.

They were. They walked back along the beach at a much more comfortable pace; passing Asgore returning from the bus as they did so. He smiled and waved at them as they passed- as did many of the other monsters on the beach- but everyone was too busy to do more than call their greetings to the pair, and they reached the bottom of the cliff together. Frisk's eyes widened as they tilted their head back, following the path up with their eyes. They gulped and adjusted the camera strap so it wouldn't bounce too much, putting one arm through it so it was snug across their chest and shoulder.
"You sure you're up for this, kid?"
"That... is steeper than I thought," Frisk admitted. "But we can do it!" They grinned at him before bounding up the rough, naturally formed "steps" of rock, their bare feet searching out purchase.

The first few feet weren't too bad; Frisk had to lean forwards, but there was plenty of purchase and the rocks were comfortable underfoot. Then it was a rough path worn through short, battered grass; dried mud and sand. This was both easier, because they didn't have to search for places to put their feet, and harder because of how steep it was. They were quickly panting, and found themself leaning forwards to use their hands to pull themself upwards.
That was the point they stopped and looked up. From here, it looked even steeper going upwards; and it looked impossibly high, stretching into the sky. Frisk took a deep breath and turned around.
Sans was behind them, looking unruffled; but beyond and below him the beach curled around, following the coastline. They had gone further upwards than they had realised and the monsters already looked small; Frisk could pick out Asgore and Toriel, walking along together, and they managed to find Papyrus, Undyne and Alphys, working on the sandcastle together.
And beyond the beach, the ocean was vast; blue and shimmering in the bright sunlight, it stretched away into the horizon, where it and the sky became the same shade and it was impossible to tell where one ended and the other began.

"What a view," Frisk breathed. Sans had turned to take it in as well, and for a few moments Frisk simply got their breath back, drinking it in. Then they remembered the camera and wiggled it as best they could, trying to get pictures when they couldn't see the screen properly.
"Here." Sans leaned close, taking the camera, his head against their stomach as he lined up the shot and pressed the shutter release a couple of times. "There ya go." He grinned up at them. They frowned.
"You're not out of breath," they remarked. "Are you... cheating?"
"Didn't realise there was a way to cheat." Frisk pouted at him.
"Aw- that's not fair! I thought we were doing this together."
"We are, kiddo- look, we're here, looking at this together."
"I guess. I just... thought you'd be climbing with me, that we'd experience it sort of the same. Climbing up and the relief when we get up there, having beaten the climb..."
There was a pause; it sounded stupid when said aloud. Frisk snorted and turned. "Forget I said anything. I'm glad you're with me."
"Go on, Frisk," Sans said, tapping their back. They nodded and started to head up the path again, feeling awkward now that they knew Sans was just standing there, watching.
But after only a few steps sounds reached them from below. Footsteps scrambling, and Sans' breathing. They grinned and make a point of slowing their pace; glancing back after another few feet to see how he was doing.
There was no question that he wasn't as fit as they were. He wasn't keeping up, and was using both hands and feet, grabbing at tufts of grass for purchase. Frisk let him catch up before continuing.

They paused again when they judged they were about half way up. The path doubled back on itself, and the next section would start easier- although there was a part where it looked almost vertical, just before reaching the top. They waited for Sans again, looking down at the beach as he pulled himself up to their level, panting hard.
"Why- huff- did I let you talk me into this?" He let out a loud, long breath. Frisk pointed.
"Because of that?" He looked. The land fell away from them; the path below looked terrifyingly steep, and beyond that... The beach was so far away and they could see beyond the rise on the far side, see a hint of the coastline beyond far in the distance. A boat could be seen sneaking it's way along through the ocean, far too far for them to guess at it's size or function.
Sans took a couple of deep breaths. "Yeah, maybe. Still-" he panted, " the view from the top better be somethin' else."
Frisk laughed. "Come on, Sans- I'm sure you can do it! I believe in you." They winked at him and he snorted.
"Laugh it up, kiddo- you won't find it funny when you have to carry me the rest of the way."
They just grinned at him in answer. "You ready to continue?"
"Nope." Sans turned to the path anyway, and Frisk did likewise.

The short break gave them a second wind, and they climbed up the slope to the hardest section. They gazed up, trying to work out the best way to do it, as Sans joined them, less short of breath this time.
"You gotta be kiddin' me."
"Nope!"
Sans stared at Frisk. "Really. You expect me to climb that."
"Yup!" They gave him a big grin, before moving. Their workouts with Undyne paid off- they'd figured out decent looking hand and foot holds, and they moved easily from one to the other, reaching the top swiftly, managing to get up the last section where handholds were scarce.
They didn't look at the view, though. They turned straight around, more concerned about their friend. The steep section was only a few feet, but he was having trouble.

They shifted the camera out of the way and dropped to their stomach a little way back from the edge; supporting themself as best they could, they reached down with their other hand. "Sans! Grab hold!"
He looked up and reached; his cool, bony hand slid into theirs and closed, holding tight and pulling himself up. They braced themself, pulling back; there was a heart-stopping moment where they felt themself start to slip, then he was climbing up next to them and flopping onto his back.
"Huff... Eurgh. That... was a bad idea." Sans groaned, closing his eyes. Frisk rolled away from the edge, sitting up.
"Hey, you might want to wait to say that." They looked at him; he covered his face.
"Nope. Not looking. Huff... Hoo. Gimme a minute."
"Maybe you should be training with Undyne," Frisk teased. Sans laughed, a breathless and tired sound.
"Yeah, maybe... Nah, can't say it's my idea of a good time, kiddo. Okay. What've you got for me." He sat up, shifting around to sit next to them.

The sea was behind them, ahead was countryside; rolling hills, until one ahead arced over the view, a path going over it. One side fell away into the ocean; the other, with the road winding around it, gave way to more hills and woodland. The village below was a tiny scatter of buildings.
Frisk shifted to look down at the beach. It was impossible to identify anyone from here; but Frisk could see a few tiny people in the sea. They looked over the other side; there was another beach, a tiny cove with a few people there, although whether human or monster they couldn't say. The cliffs stretched away, in and out of view away into the distance.

They pulled the camera strap over their head and turned it on as Sans stared into the distance. "Hey- Sans, do you like the view?"
He turned to them with a genuine, broad grin on his face- and they hit the button just in time. "Perfect!" They grinned back at him. "Something to remind us of beating that climb."
"Heh. I can do one better, buddy." He extended his hand; Frisk handed the camera to him.
He sat next to them, elevating the camera with magic as he leaned close. They leaned into him and they both beamed at the camera as he focused and took the picture, the beach far below them as a dramatic backdrop.
As soon as he lowered the camera, Frisk lunged and snatched it out of the air.
"I wanna see!" He chuckled, leaning back and watching as they pulled up the pictures. "Oh... Oh wow. That's a great picture!" They looked around at the scenery. "I just wish I'd brought my sketchbook."
"Camera not realistic enough for ya, Frisk?"
"It's not just about taking pictures of what I see." Frisk turned the camera off and laid back. "I like being able to get it onto paper. It's like another way of experiencing it." There was a long pause as they lay in the sun. Frisk made a happy sound as they stretched, savouring the sun and the breeze on their skin, before finally sitting up.

"As much as my legs want me to stay here... We could head that way, look."
"Man, I shoulda known you'd want to leave as soon as you got here." Sans groaned.
"It's not that bad- look, it goes down a bit, and then it's a gentle slope there- and around- and-"
"Alright, fine, kiddo. We can keep goin'. I guess the sooner we get back, the sooner I can get an ice cream and lie down, right?"

They wandered, taking pictures and talking, for longer than Frisk had realised when Sans checked the time on the camera and announced that they had to be getting back. They pouted.
"Aww- really?"
"Sorry, buddy. Past time, actually. Doesn't look like we've got the time to walk all the way back."
Frisk sighed and turned around. They'd ventured up the top of that high hill they had seen- Sans groaning at the idea- taking it slowly and stopping at intervals. It was when they'd stopped near the top to take pictures that Sans had noticed the time.
"I wanted to see what was on the other side..." Frisk sighed. Sans shrugged.
"Next time, kid. Getcha pictures and we'll head out."

Frisk held up the camera and got a shot of him looking back down the hill; he turned back to them.
"Really? You know you can get pictures of me back home."
"I know." Frisk took another one and grinned at him. "But these will remind me of today." They turned to take some pictures of the view.
"Good day, then?" Frisk's grin grew; their face was starting to ache from smiling too much.
"Yes! One of the best I've ever had. How about you?"
"Yeah. You should give me a copy of those pictures." He stepped past them and looked at the horizon, the sea still shining and sparkling in the late afternoon sun. His voice was quiet. "I don't want to forget today."

Frisk wrapped their arms around him from behind, resting their head against his and wrapping their arms around his shoulders and chest. "You won't," they murmured.
They watched the ocean together for a moment, before Sans raised his hand to place it on Frisk's. "Yeah... Old habits die hard, is all. Thanks, Frisk."
There was another long moment before Frisk cleared their throat, awkwardly stepping back.
"Okay! I guess it's time to head back, huh?"
"Hey, give me the camera first." Frisk did so, looking down the hill. He looked to be flicking through the pictures they took.
"Hey- buddy, tell me again how today was."
They suddenly felt shy and awkward; they smiled, head down, but raised their eyes, about to answer, when the shutter snapped. They blinked.
"That's a good one." He grinned at them; they grinned back, their face warm. He took another picture.
"Haha, okay, isn't that enough?"

"Nah- one more." Like he had before, he levitated the camera and leaned into Frisk. They glanced at him, thinking of the day they'd had and smiling- and he took another picture.
"Sans!" They were laughing. "I wasn't ready!"
"Okay- now one more." They looked at the camera, still laughing, and he took the shot. "There ya go."
As he handed the camera back, he gave them a long look.
"What?"
"Think you might have sunburn, kiddo."
"Oh!" They covered their warm face. "No- I don't uh, tend to burn, and I put on lotion this morning, I'm just... warm. From all the walking."
"Uh huh." Sans didn't believe them but he said nothing more on the subject. "Shall we head back?"

He took them directly to the edge of the beach. The tide was starting to come in; they ran across the sand to where Toriel and Asgore had joined Papyrus, Undyne and Alphys. The sandcastle was looking genuinely pretty good, if unplanned and chaotic and likely to collapse soon. Frisk took a couple more pictures.
They had spread out a cooler of food on Sans' blanket; Frisk's stomach grumbled and they seated themself on the corner, giving everyone a grin as greeting and helping themself to a tub of pasta. Papyrus had been talking about his sandcastle and what he planned to do next time; but he suddenly stopped as Frisk was eating.
"What?! Where is my brother?"
"Mmnf?" Frisk glanced around- Sans was nowhere to be seen. They managed to swallow their mouthful. "He- he was right behind me. I'm... sure he won't be long."
"Did you have a good walk, Frisk?" Asgore asked. Frisk nodded, filling their mouth again before handing the camera back to Toriel. She turned it on and started to look through the pictures, oohing over them, Asgore leaning over to look with her. She occasionally commented on the view or on how cute Frisk looked, seemingly oblivious to the fact that nobody but Asgore knew which picture she was looking at.

She was still looking at the pictures- and Frisk had just finished their pasta- when Sans rejoined them. He wordlessly handed something to Frisk. They looked down- aftersun.
"Sans- I'm fine," they protested.
"Hey, Tori." She looked up from the camera. "Doesn't Frisk look a bit red."
"Now that you have mentioned it, you do, dear one," she said, leaning forwards. "Are you unwell?"
"Sans thinks I have sunburn," they said, wrinkling their nose. "But I put lotion on this morning- and I'm mixed race- I'm not supposed to burn!"
Everyone stared at them, nonplussed. Frisk sighed. "Urgh, fiiiine. I'll put some aftersun on." They muttered as they unscrewed the cap; Toriel placed her large hand on their forehead. Her fur was cool and soft and they leaned into it.
"You do feel very warm, Frisk," she said, concern clear. The camera lay forgotten.
"I said I'd put the aftersun on!"
"Perhaps we should find some shade," Asgore suggested. Toriel nodded, but Frisk wasn't happy about it.

The decision was made regardless, however; they returned to the restaurant, where lots of monsters had gone to have a meal before heading home. Frisk had applied the aftersun to their face and arms while Toriel and Asgore had packed up the cooler; they had no choice but to take it into the restaurant, as the bus driver was in there herself, having her own dinner.
The bustle of the restaurant made it hard for them to get a table; but as soon as the monsters saw what was going on there was a hum of activity and they all shifted around, switching tables and pushing two together. The staff watched, bemused, as in no time there was a square table suitable for eight cleared by the door to the patio.

Once they were seated, Frisk suddenly felt tired. They were "sharing" a side with the cooler; Sans was to their left, seated next to his brother; Undyne and Alphys were across from them, and their parents to their right. They were all chatting about the menu- except Sans, who looked ready to fall asleep at the table, and Frisk, who wished they could do likewise.
Since they had just had a picnic the rest of them ate light; but Sans perked up enough to share another portion of fries with Frisk and down a bottle of ketchup. They were suddenly more tired than hungry- they had another pasta dish; it was only a side but it was slow going, and in the end Papyrus finished it.

They didn't remember returning to the bus; just climbing into their seat, the sun setting outside. Exhaustion had taken over. They didn't remember Sans sitting next to them, or them leaning against each other as they slept- although they had the photograph to discover the next day. They didn't remember getting home. They remembered being in Asgore's arms; they remembered waking up enough to look around and see Sans asleep on Papyrus' back, before their father's presence lulled them back into slumber.

A reluctant shower and change into a pair of fresh pyjama shorts and then there was bed; warm, soft and comforting, sounds of the evening and a cool breeze coming through the open window. Their last thoughts, as sleep finally, truly claimed them, was that their first holiday had been better than they could have hoped. Then they drifted away, into happy dreams of sun and waves, and friends all being together.

Whew, what a day. I hope you enjoyed it as much as Frisk did- it was good to have a few chapters of pure fluff and happiness!
It seems Sans has trouble saying no to Frisk- as we saw waaay back. At least he doesn't have muscles to ache tomorrow...

There may be a brief break before the next chapter- and I do mean brief. (A few days.) I've spent some time actually writing out where I want to go with this, and the future of the story is somewhat planned out- but I want to make sure I've got some written and ready to go, and I want to go back to what I've already published and do some tweaks- correcting errors, basically. I figured this was a sweet, feel-good place to pause if I need the time.

What did you think to this day? Did you check out the places I mentioned in my prior comments? Let me know your thoughts!

-Ren