A/n - Nope! Don't ask! Sshsh!

Just take it.

-o-

… but I'll be there for you.

As the world falls down…

…

…we're falling…

It makes no sense at all.

…

We're falling…

…in love…

As the World Falls Down – David Bowie, cover by Cat

-o-

Chapter 25: The Joining

Despite the low laughter that rumbled from Sans, he was keenly aware of the tension that was bubbling amongst their guests. He shifted slightly, subtly putting himself in front of Ami should there be a sudden change of heart from anyone.

Ami's comment had done the trick for Toriel though and her laughter had echoed out, breaking the silence and the thick tension. Most of the monsters began to relax at this.

"Oh, Ami, that was good," said Toriel once her laughter subsided to appreciative giggles. When her gaze met Ami's, they shared a smile, before the former queen turned her attention her former husband. "Dreemur, this is a wedding I am officiating between two of my dearest friends. Please, don't ruin this."

The dark look on Asgore's face immediately disappeared and he glanced at Toriel. "Tori, that's a human-"

"Don't you 'Tori' me," Toriel said, her smile disappearing under a disapproving frown, "and yes, Ami is a human, who is also stuck down here with the rest of us. If you hadn't noticed, she is not an innocent child like the others. In fact, it's because of you that-"

"Tori, it's OK," Ami spoke up, looking upset at where the topic of conversation was going.

Toriel looked at Ami, "But-"

"I know," said Ami, her smile growing sad before she looked at Sans.

He was looking up at her with concern, knowing the reason for the sudden pained look in her eyes.

She reached out to run a thumb against his cheekbone before she turned her full attention to the King of the Underground. "King Asgore, I understand your laws regarding any humans that fall down here to the Underground." She didn't flinch under his piercing gaze and instead straightened her shoulders, tilting her head high. "It is because of those laws that my son was stolen from me."

At this there was an instant shift in Asgore, his gaze going from piercing to confused. A heartbeat passed and then understanding swept over him followed by sheer panic at the implication of Ami's words.

Seeing the emotions flickering across his face and the understanding finally hitting home for the King, Ami's smile had gone from sad to cold. "That's right. My son had fallen down here. I came searching for him. Toriel had found me when I, too, fell here. She took of care of me and she had warned me."

Ami paused, looking around at the friends she had made and the monsters she had grown to care for. "I met the monsters here. I got to know them, and they got to know me. They are good, hard working, wonderful people who are stuck in a terrible situation. I couldn't blame them for grasping at the one hope you had promised them." Her voice shook slightly at this as she studied the monster who had possibly been the last to see her son alive. "I couldn't blame them, just as I can't truly blame you. You did what you thought best for the greater good of your people. But… I never got to tell my son that I love him… I never got to say goodbye." Her breath hitched at this as the tears began to flow. "I didn't think it would be possible to find happiness again, not after losing my son and then falling down here. Yet, I did with this incredible monster beside me and with the friends I made here…"

Her breathing calmed as determination hardened her uncertainty. "You owe me this much… your Majesty," she said this as an afterthought, as if suddenly remembering who she was speaking to.

Silence followed this heartfelt declaration, the gazes of the monsters shifting between the human they had grown fond of and back to their king. It was a situation they had all been dreading up until this point – the choice between their chance at freedom and the happiness of one of their own. Their very own doubts had been growing from the moment they had gotten to know the human. The culmination of those doubts faced them now and it was up to them to sway the moment in one direction or the other.

"YOUR MAJESTY," Papyrus was the first so speak up, his tone of voice bright and effervescent as it always tended to be. "AMI IS GOING TO BE MY NEW SISTER! AS MY NEW SISTER, THAT MAKES HER AN HONORARY MONSTER. SHE IS FAMILY AND AS MY FAMILY, I ASK THAT YOU DO NOT CAPTURE HER. IT WILL MAKE MY BROTHER SAD. I DON'T WANT TO SEE HIM SAD AGAIN."

"Paps…" Sans sighed, the look on his skeletal features revealing the deep affection he held for his younger brother.

Undyne, Alphys, and Mettaton – who had been standing next to Grillby, and Toriel as honorary members of the wedding party – seemed to shake up after Papyrus' words.

"K-King Asgore," Alphys hesitated but took in a shuddering breath, trying to find her courage. "Ami has been helping with my research. S-she… she believes we can find a way to break the barrier w-w-without anyone… getting hurt…" She nearly folded into herself, a deep blush rising into her cheeks when Asgore's gaze fell on her. Yet, she continued on. She was one of the more fervent supporters of Sans and Ami. She would say what she needed to ensure her friends stayed together. "S-she… she's invaluable to my experiments. I need her here."

Alphys nearly leapt out of her dress as she felt Undyne's heavy hand clasp her on the shoulder. The short yellow monster glanced up at the captain of the Royal Guard, her knees still knocking from her anxiety. "Ami has helped me with training. She has knowledge of how humans fight. I need her around to get the Royal Guard up to your standards."

"Darling Ami has promised me an exclusive interview," Mettaton spoke up, he was still in his EX-form but now donned the fabulous pink dress that Ami had declined to wear. He shifted from side to side, the skirts swishing from around his gorgeous boots. "My fans have been eager to hear her story. You don't want to disappoint the entire Underground, do you?"

As if hole in a dam had been punched through and the slow trickle of water began to grow to a rush, other monsters spoke up in defense of Ami. How kind she was, how helpful, how funny, how sweet she was with the children, how much hopeful they were…

Asgore blinked, taken aback by the sudden outpouring of support the human woman had from his people. He glanced around at all of them, their voices ringing with a hope and happiness that he had not heard in…

Well, not since they first fell down here.

"Enough!" He roared, his deep voice rising above the din, everyone immediately fell silent.

He studied the monsters around him and then turned his attention back to Ami. His studied her, noted how close she was with the short skeleton and how the skeleton had changed his stance to the defensive. It was this that swayed Asgore the most, the doubt he had always felt since his crusade against the humans had first started bubbling up from the recesses of his soul.

This monster was willing to fight him in defense of this human woman.

To fight him for the sake of their love.

"Come on now, King Fluffybuns," an old voice spoke up from the crowd and a few monsters shuffled to the side to reveal an old turtle monster decked out in what could be described as safari gear. His single eye was studying the king, a snaggletoothed smile revealing the pure amusement he found with the entire situation. "Ami's a good sort. Let's have something to celebrate for once."

The tension slowly eased from Asgore's frame and the weight of everything seemed to fall on to his cloaked and armored shoulders. He slumped and bowed his head, his blond locks hiding his gaze. He trembled only once before he straightened once more and lifted it his head, his great horns ever impressive. "Well… it seems you've made quite the impression, human."

Ami didn't reply.

She was still rendered speechless at the amount of outpouring kindness and love she had received from the monsters she cared for in turn.

Asgore didn't need a response.

He focused his gaze on Toriel and gently held out a hand, gesturing for her to continue. "It seems my approval is not needed nor is it wanted… but… considering everyone's very strong arguments… You have my blessing for this union. Do you need help with the rights, Tori – ah – Toriel?"

Toriel, caught off guard by everything that had happened and suddenly faced with her former husband's acquiescence to proceed with the ceremony, was rendered speechless.

"…I know the rights…" Griilby's quiet voice had been an unexpected addition to the already unexpected series of events.

Asgore, who had actually forgotten that Grillby did indeed talk, blinked at the fire monster and gave a nod. "I can only assume you will need help with the joining. The human's soul would be too strong for you alone." He looked at Toriel, a fond but sad smile on his face. "Even for you… Toriel. I can help with this. It's the least I can do…"

Toriel stared at Asgore, looking as if she were seeing him with a new light, before a small smile appeared. "All right. Thank you, Asgore," she said before she turned to the couple who had changed absolutely everything. "Are you two ready?"

Ami still could not find her tongue, her tears had been ever flowing.

Sans took Ami's hand and gave it a squeeze, his forever smile filled with warmth and love when his gaze met hers.

She managed a watery smile in return.

"We're ready," Sans said, his smile trembling only once.

-o-

The ceremony of a joining for two monsters in matrimony was usually a simple process.

It was the intertwining of their magic, which in turn intertwined their very souls.

It made the process much easier should the two monsters decide to have children in the future as both monsters' magic was needed.

The joining of a monster's magic with that of an adult human was a completely different story.

The human's soul was stronger – stronger than even a large group of monsters' souls together.

It was a blessed thing that King Asgore had decided to aid in the process of attempting to join the Ami's magic with Sans.

Sans' soul had responded easily enough, hovering outside of his body – a white heart shape that was upside down, as typical for a monster. A

Ami's was harder to channel.

It took several attempts from Asgore and Toriel to coax it out of her. Since she was not in danger and there was no threat, her soul had remained happily within her body. Finally, after one last final attempt, Ami's green soul emerged from the center of her chest and hovered in front of Sans'.

Asgore's audible gasp was the only one to break the silence, he hadn't seen an adult human's soul – not since the war so long ago – and he had completely forgotten how bright and strong they could be. It almost seemed as if Ami's soul alone would have been enough to break the barrier completely.

However, he already knew that going down such a path would only bring more heartbreak.

He wanted this peace.

He craved this peace that this simple human mother had brought to his people.

And so, he continued to perform the rights along with Toriel and Grillby, gently coaxing the monster soul and the human soul's magics to join. It was tough, the former married couple could admit that, even with Ami's willingness. While her magic so easily recognized Sans', it still held an independent spark that all humans innately had.

With a thump from Sans' soul and a gentle coaxing of his magic, Ami's green heart finally pulsed in return and her magic reached out with the complete trust it had been hesitant to give. It had known shattering pain before and was only trying to protect itself. Yet, Sans had shown over and over, that Ami could always count on him.

With burst of white light that blinded everyone, the two souls completed the joining.

Once the light had faded, and everyone was finally able to open their eyes, they could all see the human and the monster that had joined in matrimony.

Sans stood with his hands clasping Ami's, his body trembling as an unexpected change began to occur.

His soul, which had been a white upside-down heart, was now right side up – one half was white and the other half was a deep blue that signified the integrity he truly held. He felt his body becoming more substantial in the physical sense. He felt a warmth inside his bones, a warmth that pulsed with his magic. The feel of it reminded him of Ami's physical body.

Ami, in turn, was holding just as tightly onto Sans, her trembling body feeling less substantial in turn. There was more magic rushing through her, Sans' magic, and it was replacing the parts of her that she had given to him. Her body was becoming less physical and more magical. Her own soul hovered in front of her, half green and half white…

The joining was completed.

-o-

Ami

The last of the tapes had finally run out.

There was only silence in that basement laboratory of his.

The last tape had been of our wedding.

It had been when we had joined our very souls.

I couldn't believe what I had seen but there was no mistaking it.

I had always known my soul had felt different, my body had felt different.

The hints I had seen during the fights from before.

How could I have forgotten?

I looked at Sans, truly looked at this monster who had come to mean so much to me when I didn't even know myself anymore.

"I don't remember that…" I felt my heart nearly shatter as I looked down at the photo album, the sight of myself – looking so happy with the monster I had chosen to share my soul with. "How could I have forgotten something so important?"

I felt Sans' skeletal hand as it ran over my curls and gently cupped my jaw, forcing me to look up.

"I love you Ami," he said, his ever-present smile trembling. "Even if you don't remember… I do… and I love you…" He reached out to take the album from my hand and gently closed it. "As long as one of us remembers, there will always be the hope we can get out of this nightmare."

My breath hitched and the tears welled up in my eyes. I took a shuddering breath, recognizing the very same words Happier me had said to him when he was the one struggling with the realization. I swallowed my tears and simply moved.

I leaned forward in my chair and earnestly pressed my lips against his grin…