A few weeks later, Error's POV

Come on, come on, there has to be something in this huge library...Aha!

I grin, pulling myself up to the higher shelves with strings, curiously examining the titles of books on the shelves. I finally found the right section.

"Can I help you, Error?"A voice asks grumpily

I glance down, seeing Nightmare crossing his arms.

"YeAh. OrGaNiZe y0uR b0oKs. I f0uNd wAr b0oKs iN tHe c0oKinG sEct1on."I say

"How did you even get in here?"He asks

"I cAn gEt whErEvEr i wAnT t0 gEt."I say

"I had every door locked."He says

"Y0u tHouGht a l0ck w0ulD sToP m3? HaH! Y0u're m0r3 rid1cul0us tHaN y0u l0ok, NiGhtmAre."I say, flipping through a book.

"You're not supposed to be in here. I never said you could use my library."He says

"Do i Lo0k l1k3 i cArE?"I ask sarcastically, opening a code screen to take notes.

"What are you even doing in here?"

"Us1ng y0ur l0velY colLect1on oF res0urcEs. It'S YouR fAulT f0r hAviNg suCh dEsirAblE inFormAt1oN."I say, putting my glasses on and typing notes away.

"And what information might that be?"He asks

"ThaT's clAsSifiEd."I say, putting the book back.

I shut the notes and lowered myself down.

"Do you have any idea where my cook is?"He asks, his tentacles twitching

"He Is d0iNg a FaVoR fOr mE. OnE tHaT hE wAs vErY eAgEr t0 d0 f0r m3."I say with a chuckle

Oh yes, Horror was very eager to look after Goth while I did my research. He pounced at the chance to spend time with him.

"That being?" He asks

I shrug with a grin.

His tentacle pulls my book back out.

"Why are you looking at a book on parenting?"He asks

"I hAvE mY r3aS0ns."I say

He grins, a tentacle reaching out. I step back, unsettled.

"WhAt aRe y0u d0iNg?"I ask

He snaps his fingers, summoning my soul.

"Huh, so you're not having a baby. Yet there are only so many reasons to be reading that book. You have a kid, don't you?"He asks

"YeAh aNd y0u hAve tHrEe, s0 wHaT?"I say

"Since when do I have kids?"He says

"Th0se three cHaoTic b0ys thAt y0u'r3 raiSinG h3r3?"I say

He groans, shaking his head. Then he smirks.

"Then I guess we share custody of Horror. Co-parenting, huh?"He says, stepping closer.

"WhAt?"I say, stepping back

He steps closer, smiling. He offers a hand to me.

"I'm just saying that you won't have to parent alone. Wouldn't you like to have a partner supporting you? Caring for you? It could be nice, don't you think?"He offers

I frown, shocked at what he is saying. We've built a mutual respect for each other, yet this doesn't sound like respect. It sounds like it goes beyond respect. Is he serious?

"NigHtmArE, wHaT d0 y0u-?"

"I'm saying that we help each other for mutual gain. I help you with whoever you parent aside from Horror and you help me keep the boys in my castle under control. What do you say?"He says, offering his hand.

I sigh, smiling. That's better. The last thing I want is another relationship, another partnership with the intimate promises that were being made. The relationship that he promised but didn't give me...isn't the kind that I want to fall into, especially with a walking octopus. Fool me once, but not again. I'm not looking for it or ready for it. I just want Goth with me.

"I tHiNk tHaT iS g0oD."I say, extending a string to shake his hand.

He understands my phobia and has made it clear that the last thing that he wants is for me to crash. Like I said, mutual respect. He smiles wider.

"Sounds good to me."He says

I open a portal, hopping through after waving goodbye to him.

Not long after that, there was another battle in Outertale and it started as I was showing Goth the stars. I strapped Goth to me and quickly got higher up with distant attacks fired at the enemies below. Goth was crying, clinging to me in the sling as blasts and shouts were heard.

Let's just get this over with already!

I kept firing attacks to get rid of them and even Blue was shouting to get the Star Sanses to retreat. They eventually do and Horror quickly runs over with a frown, hearing Goth's cries. I lower myself down and Horror quickly takes out a toy, making goofy faces to make Goth laugh.

"Is that a baby?"Nightmare asks

"Wow, Error! Did you kidnap a baby? I thought there were enough of us in the castle!"Killer says, quickly getting smacked behind the head by Dust

"That's way too out of character for Error. Why would he take a baby?"Dust says

"He took Horror, didn't he?"He says, getting smacked by Dust again

"Hor Hor! Hor Hor! Horror!"Goth cheers

"YeS, hE's a bAbY...HiS nAmE iS GoTh. He iS mY sOn."I say

"Aww, hello Goth!"Killer says, squatting down

Goth reaches out, trying to wipe Killer's tears. Killer grins and then Dust kneels down, a smile visible beneath his hood.

"Paps finally shut up...I can hear myself thinking...Goth is cute..."He says

Nightmare walks over, taking a look at Goth.

"Where's the ma?"Killer asks

Nightmare smacks him with a tentacle.

"Three strikes! You're out!"Dust says

"Papa!"Goth cheers

"I hAve mY s0n. He'S mY sOn. ThAt'S aLl yOu nEeD tO kNoW."I say

"I see...Complicated?"Dust says

I nod.

"We can do complicated. It's nice to meet you, Goth. Wait...does he have your phobia?"Nightmare says, extending his tentacle

"NoT aS fAr aS i Kn0w."I say

Goth reaches out, shaking his tentacle with a giggle.

"He has quite a grip."Nightmare says

"Just wait until you see him crawl."Horror says with a smirk

"What?"Nightmare says

"He has all the space in the antivoid to roll and crawl around so he has certainly found ways to gain speed."He says

I chuckle, nodding and recalling how Goth once commando crawled and rolled around while I was making some gloves for his little hands. I also clearly recall how he quickly crawled his way over to Horror the moment he was spotted, clinging to his leg in the blink of an eye.

"Then why is he strapped to you, Error?"Killer asks

"So Error don't lose him, duh! With a baby as fast as Goth, he can easily roll off into trouble! Especially when Ink is the main intruder!"Horror says

I nod and they each smile at Goth. Then Goth yawns and Nightmare takes his gang home. I smile taking Goth home as well to put him down for a nap.

Looks like things will be ok...Plenty of trustworthy support.

TBC