Chapter 6

The next morning, Frisk giggled as she felt something tickling her stomach and she turned to find Sans behind her and he was grinning as he stood by the bed and continued tickling her. "Good morning, kiddo," he said, letting her up.

She saw up. "Morning, Sans," she said before hearing giggles and looked to see that Gaster was tickling Chara awake and Grillby was tickling Amelia, who giggled and tried to slip away, but River Person, who was there too, caught the young girl, holding her as Grillby continued tickling the child, making her laugh again.

After a bit, they let the kids up. "Come," Gaster said, smiling. "Breakfast is ready for everyone."

"Can we have hugs first?" Chara asked hopefully.

The request surprised the monsters, but they smiled and nodded. "Of course," said River Person. "You children never have to ask for hugs. We'll gladly give them to you."

Frisk grinned and glomped Sans, who chuckled and caught her while Gaster picked up Chara, who giggled and hugged him. Amelia was a bit shy as she slowly raised her arms up in a gesture of wanting to be picked up. Smiling, Grillby picked her up and hugged her, rocking her gently. "Did you sleep well, little one?" He asked.

She nodded, sighing contently as she lay her head down trustingly on his shoulder. River Person smiled at this, seeing the child trusted the fire elemental. Papyrus then came in and he smiled. "Good morning!" He said cheerfully. "Ava helped me make eggs and bacon for breakfast. Come down while it's still hot."

Perking up at the mention of food, not to mention the delicious smell reaching them from the kitchen, the kids held on as the three monsters carried them downstairs to the dining room. Frisk looked around, but didn't see Ava. "Where's Ava?" She asked.

"She headed out to take care of something," River Person said.

"But...is she going to eat with us?" Chara asked.

"She already ate," Papyrus said gently. "Don't worry, she'll be home soon."

"That's right," Sans said, remembering. "Today is our day off."

Gaster smiled. "Why don't we take the kids on a trip to the Underground?" He suggested. "So they can see what it's like."

"Not a bad idea," said Grillby. "That way, they'll be familiar with it in case we do have to go underground."

Amelia looked worried. "Why would we do that?" She asked.

The monsters were quiet before Sans decided to speak. "Amelia," he said gently. "Your birth father hired a man to try and find you, but Ava and I stopped him."

She looked afraid and clung to Grillby, who rubbed her back and held her protectively. "No one's going to take you away," he said soothingly.

Frisk was worried. "Has...Has our birth dad tried anything?" She asked.

"Not yet," he said. "But we're staying alert."

Chara was curious. "What's the Underground like?" She asked.

Gaster smiled. "Let's sit down to eat and we'll tell you," he said.

Meanwhile, in town...

Ava moved down the sidewalk, looking like a woman on a mission as she approached the police station, her sharp ears picking up a conversation that almost made her stop dead in her tracks, but she paused to listen.

"We can find Chara or Frisk anywhere," said one policeman. "The father claims monsters took the girls."

"I don't know," said another. "His story sounds fishy."

"The boss is declaring the kids dead," said a policewoman.

"But why?" Asked another. "We have no proof."

"No, but it might get us the truth," the policewoman said. "Our guts tell us the man claiming to be the girls' birth father is lying, right?"

"She's right," said the first policeman. "Okay. Let's go with the boss' plan and hopefully our bluff will pay off."

Ava was surprised, but smiled at seeing what they had in mind. She then spotted the sheriff's office and smiled, knowing the man in there was one the monsters could trust. She went up and knocked on the door.

A man with graying hair looked up at his open door to see Ava there and he smiled. "Come in," he said. "And lock the door."

Nodding, she did so and smiled at him before going up to him and hugging him. "How are you doing, Michael?" She asked.

"Good," he said. "And you and the others?"

"We're good," she said. "I want to talk to you about the two kids being declared dead."

He sat up straighter, knowing what this meant. "Do you know where they are?" He asked.

She nodded. "They ran into the forest by Mt. Ebbot," she said. "Sans and I rescued them and they are safe with us and our family, as is a young girl named Amelia."

The sheriff knew of the mountain and the true secret of the forest as Ava and Sans had helped catch wanted criminals who had sought refuge in the forest before. "Are they okay?" He asked in concern.

"They were skittish and afraid of us, which was understandable after their birth fathers abused them," Ava said. "But they've calmed down and seem to be at ease with us. Myself, Father, Sans, and Grillby have put them under our protection."

Michael nodded. "Keep them safe, Ava," he said. "You might want to have someone adopt the kids so that no one can take them away."

Reminded of the conversation she had had with Sans about Grillby being a parent, she looked at him. "But...who will verify it?" She asked. "I haven't told Asgore yet and even if he verfiies it, no human court will accept it."

"My judge buddy will," the sheriff said with a smile. "You remember him, right? You and Sans saved his pregnant daughter when she was on the run from her boyfriend."

Ava remembered that. The girl had entered the forest, begging them for sanctuary for her child. She and Sans had taken the girl to their home and kept her safe until they could get her to her father. The boyfriend had thankfully been caught and sent away and the father was grateful to Ava and Sans, telling them he would help them with anything they needed.

"I remember him," she said. "But are you sure he'd be willing to do so?"

Michael nodded. "He never makes a promise and then breaks it," he said.

She nodded. "Okay," she said. "Let me talk to Asgore and I'll get back with you after I do. It may be a bit though."

He nodded again. "There are no records of living relatives for the three girls," he said.

"That gives a us a little time," she said. "But we want the kids to decide if they want to stay with us. We may have rescued them, but those kids are just learning that they can trust us. We don't want to force them to trust us."

The sheriff smiled. "I'm sure they will," he said before noticing someone was at the door and he pressed a button under his desk, revealing a secret passage under the floor. Smiling, Ava nodded.

"Take care," she said softly before using the passage, which closed up behind her and she quickly moved, running down the tunnel that led to a boarded-up mine, but Ava had no problem going through it and using her magic to teleport away, arriving in the forest and quickly racing for home.

Sans perked up as he felt Ava's magic. "She's here," he said just as the door opened and the young woman walked in. She smiled as she saw them.

"We've got a lot to do," she said.

They nodded, knowing what she meant. "Any more attempts?" Gaster asked.

"None so far," Ava said. "The police are putting out a bluff saying the girls are dead in hopes of getting the truth from the birth fathers."

"Let's hope it works," Sans said before clearing his throat. "In the meantime, what do you say we take the kids to the Underground for a day?"

The half-human looked thoughtful before smiling. "I think that would be a great idea."

Yes, the kids will get to go to the Underground and see what it's like. Who will they meet there? Stay tuned to find out. :)

And please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418