A/N This chapter, Frisk and Toriel meet a funny skeleton man.
Toriel was preparing breakfast for herself and Frisk. It had been over three years since that day, and her life had become so much better. She had been living alone for so long, she had forgotten what it was like to have a child around. Though caring for a human infant had been rather hard for her. But she managed.
Once breakfast was prepared, she went to Frisk's room. They were still asleep on their bed. She carried them to the dining room, sitting them in their chair. They were still sleepy, their head flopping forward onto the table. She giggled at the sight as she placed a plate with a small pie slice before them. The smell immediately perked them up.
"Good morning, my child," Toriel said.
"Morning, mommy," Frisk greeted. They ate the pie with vigor while Toriel ate her own portion at a slower pace. "Whaf we doin' today?" Frisk asked, mouth full.
"Do not speak with your mouth full, Frisk," Toriel scolded. "Swallow your food, then speak."
Frisk did as suggested. "What we doing today?" they repeated.
"I have a few more books I want to read to you," Toriel suggested. "I shall show you after breakfast."
"Okie," Frisk agreed, resuming their meal.
Once Toriel finished her portion of the pie, she got up to retrieve two books from her bookcase. They were small because she didn't want to overwhelm Frisk. She picked up Frisk and sat in her chair with them in her lap. She opened the first book and began reading to them, hoping Frisk would follow along and learn the words.
She enjoyed this part of her day more than anything else. She loved reading to Frisk, especially as they seemed eager to want to read. At times, they tried to read some of the words by themself. Though they don't do very well, she never discouraged them and helped them pronounce difficult words.
Once she read those books to them, she let them play with their toys while she read her own books. As they played, she was reminded of her first child's enthusiasm and imagination. Just like him, Frisk came up with all sorts of crazy adventures and stories for their characters to do. She did her best to follow along though their broken speech made it hard, especially when they said a word they didn't know.
Though Frisk would normally spend hours playing with their toys, today they seemed to lose focus rather fast.
"I am bored," they complained.
"Something wrong, my child?" Toriel asked.
"I am tired of toys. Can we go out?" they asked eagerly.
"It is not safe out there, my child," she reminded. Though she indulged them more than what was probably healthy, one thing she did not bend on was leaving the house. She was not going to lose this child like she lost all the others and she did not trust the Monsters to not attack Frisk.
"But I am bored," Frisk moaned. "Can we not go out for a few minutes?"
"I am sorry, my child," Toriel apologized. "But the Monsters out there will try to harm you and you are very young."
Frisk flopped on their back as they pouted.
"It is time for your nap, anyway," Toriel said. "Now come. Off to bed." She closed her book, picking Frisk up and returning them to their room. As she passed the stairs that led to the basement, she thought she heard a faint tap come from it. She ignored it for now, put Frisk in their bed and watched them doze off.
She started to return to her chair, but heard the tapping coming from the basement again. Curious, she decided to investigate. Had a Monster wandered in and got lost down there? She continued down the purple halls, eventually arriving at the exit to the Ruins. There wasn't anyone there, though. Had she imagined it?
Then she heard the tapping again, and this time a voice came with it.
"knock knock," came the voice. Toriel was puzzled by the statement, until the voice continued. "who's there? freddie. freddie who? freddie or not, here i come."
Toriel did her best to suppress the giggles. But the voice wasn't done yet.
"knock knock. who's there? cozy. cozy who? cosy who's knocking, will you?"
Toriel was struggling to suppress her laughs at this point. And it didn't end there. The voice kept going, telling more jokes of the same caliber. She sat down to listen, each joke proceeded by a double tap to the door. Eventually, the jokes stopped. She heard someone stand up and snow crunching. Whoever it was, was leaving.
She sighed before heading upstairs. She was puzzled about that occurrence, but decided to dismiss it for now. After all, she had a child to care for now. She couldn't let herself be distracted for the time being.
The next day was much the same. Frisk's nap time came again and she put them to bed. But once more, Toriel heard a tapping come from the basement. She went downstairs, knowing what it was. She listened to the strange voice continue making jokes.
After listening to a few, she decided to interrupt.
"knock know. w-"
"Who's there?" she interrupted.
For a moment, there was no noise. Eventually, the voice spoke again. "dishes."
"Dishes who?"
"dishes a very bad knock knock joke."
Toriel giggled. The voice continued, telling more jokes with Toriel joining in now. After a few, she decided to respond with one of her own.
"Knock knock."
"who's there?"
"Old lady."
"old lady who?"
"Oh, I did not know you could yodel."
The voice chuckled at her joke.
They kept going for a while, trading jokes through the door. Eventually, she heard the voice stand up.
"welp, gotta go, lady. my bro gets kinda cranky when i don't read him his story."
"I understand. I have a child who will be getting up shortly."
"well, then we better not keep each other," the voice said.
"Can you please come back tomorrow?" Toriel requested.
"sure thing. see ya tomorrow."
Then she heard his footsteps retreating, crunching snow underfoot. She turned to leave as well, wondering what to make for supper.
She returned once a day for a week, continuing to trade jokes with the voice on the other side, as well as some casual conversation. She didn't learn his name, but learned he had a younger brother that he was caring for on his own. She also shared a couple details about herself, such as having a child, though she didn't tell him that said child was human.
One day, while talking, she heard footsteps from down the hall, back towards her house.
"somethin' wrong, lady?" the voice asked.
"Pardon me," she said, getting up and walking down the hall. To her surprise, she found Frisk stumbling her way, clutching their blanket to their chest. "Frisk, what is wrong?"
"I had a nightmare," they said, "It was really scary." They looked to the door she had walked from. "Wha's that?"
"Uh…" Toriel tried to come up with a believable lie, not wanting to tell Frisk the truth. But while she was debating, Frisk walked towards the door. She tried to pull them away, but then a voice spoke.
"you still there?"
Frisk jumped at the voice. "Did tha' door talk?"
"heh, you got a mouse with ya'?" the voice joked.
"'M not a mouse," Frisk retorted impudently.
"well, ya sound like one," the voice said.
"My child, please," Toriel gently said, leading them away from the door. "I have told you not to talk to strangers."
"But i's a door," Frisk said.
"i'm not a door," the voice said. "i'm just talkin' through it." He knocked on it twice to prove the point.
"You need to go back to bed, child," Toriel said, trying to guide them back to the stairs, but they fought her.
"I am scared," they said. "Can I stay with you?"
Toriel wasn't sure, as she didn't want whoever this was to harm Frisk. But Frisk clearly wouldn't go back to bed of their own volition unless she went with them.
"i don't mind the kid stayin'," the voice said. "they can listen to us jokin'."
Toriel sighed. "As long as you stay outside, I am okay with this," Toriel agreed. She picked Frisk up, carried them in her arms back to the door and sat down against it.
"so, i take it this is your kid?" the voice asked. "the one you've been talkin' about."
"Yes. They are my child," Toriel confirmed.
"You talk funny," Frisk said.
"i dunno what you're talkin' bout," the voice cheekily said.
"Who are you?" Frisk asked.
"I have requested we not share names," Toriel interjected before the voice could reply.
"Why? You say not doing that is bad," Frisk questioned.
"We have not officially met this person, and we probably will not, either," Toriel explained.
"anyways, kid, you wanna hear a joke?" the voice asked.
"Sure!"
"why is it hard for a ghost to tell a lie?" the voice started.
"Um, I do not know," Frisk said.
"because you can see right through them," the voice finished.
Toriel giggled, though Frisk looked confused.
"did the kid like it?" the voice asked.
"I do not get it," Frisk admitted.
"ouch. tough crowd. okay, i got another for ya. why didn't the skeleton go to the party?"
"Uh…"
"he had no body to dance with."
Toriel giggled again. Though Frisk was still confused.
"did they chuckle?"
"I am afraid not," Toriel said. "Frisk is too young to understand such things."
"oh, how old are ya, kid?"
"I am three!" Frisk said proudly.
"huh. still a baby, then," the voice realized. "well, i don't have many jokes for ya that'd work, then."
"It is alright, my friend," Toriel assured. "I personally enjoy it."
"well then, i've got a few more for ya," the voice said. "how bout we finish up here?"
"Sure."
She and her friend continued to trade jokes, Frisk resting on their mother's belly, listening.
Eventually, they had to stop, as the voice needed to go home.
"welp, i'll be seeing you again, old lady," the voice said.
"Yes, you will," Toriel said. "Same time tomorrow?"
"sure. will the kid be here as well?"
"It will be their nap time, I am afraid," she apologized. "And they need to return to bed if they are to have any energy by supper time."
"kay. welp, see ya around." With that, the voice left.
"Does he really have to go?" Frisk asked.
"He has someone he must care for as well," Toriel explained. "Now, do you think you can go back to bed until I get you for dinner."
Frisk nodded. "You know, even though he sounded weird, he was nice. Can I see him again sometime?"
"Perhaps," Toriel said.
"Where does he live?"
"I do not know. Presumably beyond the doors," Toriel answered.
"Can we go see him someday?" Frisk asked.
"No. It is dangerous out there as well, Frisk."
Frisk yawned, tired. "Please mom. I want to see him someday."
Toriel sighed. "We shall see."
She kept visiting the door in the basement, continuing to joke with whoever it was. Occasionally, Frisk would stumble down and show up in the middle of it, staying with them until the voice left. Every time, Frisk asked if they could meet the Monster on the other side, but Toriel refused every time. Though as she did, Frisk looked more and more disappointed.
She didn't want Frisk walking around outside her house because a Monster would be inclined to kill them if she wasn't there. But she knew she couldn't keep Frisk there forever. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she couldn't keep Frisk locked up in her house forever. But fear of potentially losing this child kept her from giving in at first. But as time went on and Frisk asked with a little more hope in their voice, she knew her resolve was crumbling and guilt threatened to overwhelm her.
One day, while talking with the voice, she wondered if she should let Frisk wander outside with her, mentally weighing the pros and cons. It must have shown in her voice, because the Monster noted it.
"somethin' wrong?" he asked.
"My child… they ask almost every day if they can meet you," Toriel explained.
"and i take it you keep sayin' 'no' to them," the voice guessed.
"Yes. I fear what will happen if I let them go beyond this door," she admitted.
"pfft. what's the worse that could happen?"
"They could die," she said seriously.
That made the voice pause for a moment. "is there a reason they're so insistent?"
"…I have not let them venture far beyond my house. I… I have done my best to keep them inside for as long as I can."
"how come?" the voice asked.
"I have cared for many children, and every time they leave, they die," Toriel explained. "And… I am afraid that if I let Frisk go anywhere without me, they will die as well."
She heard some humming from the other side of the door, which she took as the voice thinking on it while letting her know it was still there. "well, kids can't stay cooped up their whole life. they need space to grow and roam. you might be scared they could die, but you'll do them harm if you don't let them wander."
Toriel agreed with that. She needed to give Frisk room to grow and the Ruins were too small for that. "Then, can you promise me something?" she requested. Before he could reply, she continued. "Will you promise to look out for and protect them? Please?"
The voice was silent for a long moment. Eventually, he spoke. "just for you, old lady. i won't let any harm come to the kid."
"Thank you," Toriel sighed, relieved. "I shall see if they are willing to visit tomorrow."
"okay. i'll clear my schedule," the voice said.
The next day, after Frisk had their breakfast, she left them to play with their toys while she looked through the closet. She knew the area beyond was cold so she needed to dress Frisk in something warm. Part of her was scared she was doing this but for her child, she would.
She eventually settled on a coat. It was too big for Frisk but it would protect them from the cold and snow, as well as a pair of boots for their feet.
After lunch, she took Frisk to their room to get them dressed.
"Wha' is this, mommy?" Frisk asked, pointing to the coat.
"It is a coat, my child," she explained. "You will need it for where we are going."
"Going? You mean, not here?!" Frisk asked excitedly.
"Yes. I talked to my friend at the door and he says we can go visit him in person."
Frisk let out a squeal of delight, hugging her around her neck. "Thanks, mommy! This is going to be fun!"
After she got them covered up and their arms in the sleeves, she picked them up and walked to the exit to the Ruins. She had a key in her pocket for the doors so they wouldn't be locked out. Once she got to the doors, she hesitated. She had exiled herself because she didn't want to face her own people. Now she was voluntarily breaking that exile to satisfy her adopted child.
Said child poked her in the side. "Why you stop? I want to go!" they said excitedly.
She silently gulped down her nerves before pushing the door open.
And stepped out into a snow-covered forest.
Frisk looked around in awe at it all. They raised a covered hand out to catch a snowflake. "What is this?"
"It is snow, Frisk," Toriel explained.
"Snow…" They looked at the flake on their sleeve, seeming to debate whether or not to eat it. Before Toriel could say anything, they licked it. "It cold. And taste like… water?"
"That is what snow is, Frisk. Just frozen water."
"heya."
Toriel and Frisk looked down to see a chubby skeleton in a blue hoodie standing there.
"Greetings," Toriel said, recognizing the voice. "It seems we finally meet."
"seems that way, old lady," the skeleton said. "name's Sans. Sans the Skeleton."
"I… am Toriel," she greeted.
"My name Frisk!" Frisk said excitedly, throwing their arms in the air.
"nice ta meet ya," Sans said, extending a bony hand. Toriel took it in her paw and shook.
"Are you a kid, too?" Frisk asked. "You small."
"nope. i'm just short," Sans explained.
"What are those?" Frisk asked, pointing at the trees.
"they're trees," Sans explained. "haven't you ever seen a tree before?"
"Not like that," Frisk answered.
"would you like to play with the snow, frisk?" Toriel asked.
"Play with it?"
Toriel gently set Frisk down so they could stand in the ankle-deep snow. They shoved their hands through the sleeves so they could pick it up. "It cold."
"it's snow, kiddo," Sans said. "can't have it any other way."
Frisk managed to get used to the sensation after a while and started picking it up, quickly finding out they could shape it almost however they wanted. They started by making balls from the stuff, tossing it in the air.
Toriel watched as her child enjoyed themself and played with the new stuff to their heart's content.
Sans came next to her. "so, your kid's human?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," she admitted.
He nodded. "and i think i know who you really are," he stated.
Toriel sighed.
"well, i'm not gonna ask why ya doin' this and i won't tell anyone about this, either," he assured. "and, lookin' at the kid, i see why ya kept them so close."
"They are just a baby, Sans," Toriel said. "I could not stand it if they were murdered."
"well, just don't let the kid go to far and you should both be safe."
"Thank you."
She resumed watching Frisk play with the snow, going on and on. She smiled as she saw them come alive in a way she had never seen before from them. And that alone was worth it.
End of Chapter 1
