Geno's POV

I chuckle, noticing how he hid his face in my chest once asking the question.

"Well...I don't want to lose you, Reaper..."I say

"And I don't want to lose you either..."He says, hugging me tighter.

"Though we never discussed it..I guess we have a chance now. I don't want to lose you and would love spending my life with you...So, yes, if you'd desire that to be the case, we're engaged."I tell him

His face couldn't have turned a brighter blue than it was now.

"I love you, Reaps."I coo

He wraps his legs around my waist, nuzzling into my chest in a nodding motion. He lifts his head.

"This is one of the best days of my life."He says

"One?"I ask

"There's the day we started dating, when we moved in together, and our dates at the top of the list. But everyday with you is wonderful!"He says

I kiss him on the head, loving how cute he looked and sounded as he spoke. His eyes seem to twinkle.

"Aww, that is very sweet. I should've known that you'd get excited like this based on how you acted in the kitchen."I giggle

"Did you remember anything when I did that?"He asks

"Yeah, your dizzy self falling out of the shower when I called the house our home."I say

He chuckles.

"So, you have a highly active imagination. What are you imagining for our future?"I ask

His grip tightens on me and he hides his face from me again.

I smile, but then hear a big booming sound.

"What is that?"He asks

"It's the sound announcing The Collector's arrival...We gotta hide..."I say, spotting a house up ahead

I run over quickly, tossing him inside the doors.

"Geno!"He shouts to me

I run inside and shut the door, then the windows. I press against a wall, preparing for something to happen.

"Geno? What happens now?"He asks quietly, clinging to me again

"We stay quiet so he doesn't find us. Cause as soon as he finds out that his collection was messed with, he will be pissed."I say

"He can't take you from me, Geno."He says, narrowing his eyes

I pat his head, running my fingers through his hair. This seems to calm him and soon we are sitting together with his head in my lap. Then a thought hit me.

"Wait, Reaper..Isn't this that sensitive time for you?"I ask

"A mortal can't get a god's illness."He chuckles

The black vial...

"Reaper!"I snap

"What? I tried to make a deal to ensure your safe return. And I didn't give it all up, I still have my wings and scythe. Besides, being with you right now would cure me regardless."He says, snuggling against me

"You're a dork."I say

"Your dork.~"He coos

I smile at him. Then his smile fades.

"Geno?"He says with concern filling his voice

"Yea?"I say quietly

"Why is your gem glowing a dark color? It was twinkling before...Are you okay?"He asks worriedly, getting off of me

I grip his hand firmly, knowing the answer.

"One of his tricks. Just stay safe, Reaper."I say, kissing him on the head

"Wha-?"He begins

Then I got teleported away. I blink a few times, finding myself back inside the house made for me in the gated community. The Collector stood in front of me, arms crossed and his head nearly hitting the ceiling.

"Now how did a piece of my collection manage to get out and so far away? I couldn't find you anywhere."He says

"I grew curious of what exists beyond the golden fence. I climbed over it using a tree and was simply exploring. I was going to return back. Besides, the others say you created this world so no matter where I go, you wouldn't lose your collection."I lie, shrugging it off

If Reaper's smart, he will listen and stay in hiding.

"Is this the one we've discussed?"A darker voice asks

I turn around to see a tall figure in dark green looming behind me. I back up in surprise.

"Yes, and where's the payment for this trade? My collection isn't cheap. Or the bonus you requested to take."He replies

What?!

The stranger picks me up and tosses a bag to The Collector. He gives this stranger the black vial.

"You better keep it in mint condition. Wasn't easy to get it in that temple."He says, glancing at me

"Okay, no guarantees though. Who knows, I may be able to return the favor with a rare item as a replacement."The stranger chuckles

"Rarer than this one?"He asks, sounding intrigued

"We'll see. Pleasure doing business with you, Collector."The stranger says, walking away

They tuck the vial away in a pocket and put me in a strange spherical orb. I pound on it but it was too hard to break through. One pound even electrocuted me. I slip to the bottom of it, hearing them laugh as I fade out of consciousness.

"I'll have my fun with you."They say

???? Time later....

I slowly wake up with a groan, feeling every part of me hurt.

Uuuggggghhh....What happened...?

I see my gem mix resting on the pillow beside me. I jolt up, feeling my soul stop beating for a minute when I saw it out of my body. I quickly regret that when excruciating pain shot up my body as a result. I calmed down once realizing that I'm ok. Then I hear my bones rattle again. I look down, finding that I'm a naked skeleton again.

So much for "mint condition" or whatever.

I find myself in a bed in a room with no doors. I see a stack of books beside the bed. There was a window for me to look out of. I lift the blanket up, hiding my body. Every part of me hurt. I feel so tired as well.

I know I can't stay here though. I see my ring and necklace stayed on. I climb carefully out of bed and instantly clothes flew over to cover me up. I hear something hit the window. I glance over, seeing a familiar scythe piercing it.

Reaper....

I lean into the window, seeing my room was literally floating in the air high above the ground. I glance down, seeing Reaper on the ground looking up. He didn't look happy.

Reaper, you're going to get yourself in trouble...

I grab the scythe and strangely it didn't kill me by its touch. I pull it and hold it close. I see some flowers in a vase and collect them, tying them to the scythe with a note. Then I drop it out the window. I see him catch it and hug it close to him. Then I was overcome by sudden dizziness and fall back onto the bed, getting knocked out.

I woke up hours later when the sky outside was dark. I feel extremely drained like something is draining the life out of me. And there's a chain with a weighted ball connected to my ankle now.

What the hell is going on?

I look up, seeing a ray shooting down from the ceiling. I get out from under it and frown. I lean against the wall, knowing that I have to get out of here. A list of the experiments planned hung on the wall. Reaper needs to be with me. I need to be with him. I swing my leg and the weighted ball broke the window. I get a gem to the face. I caught it, recognizing it as Reaper's.

"Geno, don't we have a future to plan?"Reaper asks

I see him flying in front of me, opening his arms to me. I smile, stepping onto the windowsill. I leap out but his arms didn't grab me. I fell right through him and he fades into thin air.

What the hell did I do? What's going on?

I quickly summon a Gaster Blaster to catch me and I rest on it. My soul is pounding and I take some deep breaths.

"Geno, why are scared? How did you get out?"He asks

I look up, seeing him right there.

"R-Reaper?"I say, reaching out to him

My hand went right through him.

"No, stop! You're not there! Nobody is! Nothing is! I can't fall for this!"I say

"But-!"

"Shut it! Get out of my head!"I snap

I pat my blaster and it took me away. I grip my chest tightly.

I see a portal open ahead of me and two arms reach out to me.

"Brother, calm down. You're safe now."A familiar voice says

Papy...? H-How? He's supposed to be gone....He couldn't have gotten out of the "paradise" alive....Am I dead? When we getting things on track happily too.....What's going on?

I look up at him. He looks different...His genocide eye is engaged and he has glitches over him as well.

"Let's get you home."He says

"B-Brother....P-Papy...."I say softly as he scoops me up

He carries me away and in the blink of an eye, we were in my home with Reaper's pictures everywhere. The Reaperlings were gathering quickly. When they're together, Reaper is usually close. That got my hopeful.

"Reaper...R-R-Reaper? Where is he? Is he okay?"I say, looking around for him

I feel the gems still in my hands and see the door to our bedroom. I smile and have the gems stick to the door, merging even, in a decorative sort of way.

"He's coming, I promise."Papy says

"I only want the real him. Not a fake!"I say, feeling my body shaking

"I know, I know. We will get him."He says

"W-We?"I say as he sets me down in bed

"Hi, Geno!"Gaster says, appearing beside the bed

I look at him and feel my body tense. Gaster looks to my brother.

"That move was very risky and you know it."He says

"Yeah well I didn't see you doing anything, Sir. And it worked. Besides, unlike some people, I don't let my loved ones fall into miserable madness. Now I did my part, you do yours."Papy says

Oh that was totally a dig at Gaster.

Gaster gulps, then nods. He tore the chained ball from my ankle, sliding his hand along me as if checking for something. I pull away from him, watching his every move. I pull the blankets up, hiding from him.

"Geno, I am just trying to make sure you are okay."He says

I don't say anything, moving away from him. He sighs, a guilty look in his eyes.

"Geno...I found some things in my records....I don't know who tried to erase it from my records but now it explains why you've been so unsettled whenever I see you. I was...really an asshole, wasn't I? It disappoints me how unrefined and immature I acted. I had no reason and it only made things worse. I'm sorry for everything, Geno. Honest. I won't ever do that to you again."He explains

He found what that god erased? He made it sound so permanent...But I guess don't mess with the God of Balance because he will find it in his records...He looks and sounds sincere...

He lifts my hand, observing the ring.

"Hmm, what's this from?"He asks, starting to slip it off for further examination

I clench my fist, stopping him from getting it.

"Please don't touch it."I say, then get overwhelmed by a sense of exhaustion again

"Gaster, please back off."Papy says

Gaster nods, then looks to the Reaperlings that have gathered around the bed. They had all started asking questions or trying to help. Some of the panthers took turns to nuzzle their head under my hands while the crows and ravens perched on the headboard, chirping to me with Papy's birds. The fox helped the hedgehogs climb up to cuddle up to me.

"Hello? Reaper? You there? Hey, it's me. Don't ask questions about how I got this number and whatnot. Just get over to your home now."Papy says

I watch him in awe, listening. It sank in by now that this is real and that means that he is really here. I tossed my questions of how to the back of my head, amazed at his presence. He has changed in both looks and attitude. He is still sweet and respectful to those he cares about or are older than him, but has more of a commanding presence than before. Yes, he did boss me around before, but it was all in fun and games with things like picking up that one sock or with puns. He'd never act so commanding to others...or speak his mind as much. Yes, he was determined but that was with self-goals or spaghetti, nothing like this. Yet here he is, dressed so much differently and much more formal or authoritative than his battle body, ordering actions to be done by Gaster while taking dogs at him with his comments that hint at his true feelings instead of just optimism. And now he is as sly as a fox, getting information like Reaper's number and who knows what else to get what he wants done. It was amazing to see this change or growth in him from our AU to now. I really missed him and was eager to have him a part of my life again. Then I remember how Reaper and I are taking the next step in the relationship. He's going to be here for that...

I smile even wider.

"What part of get over here, I have my brother do you not get? Do I have to talk with your brother to hunt ya down? Huh? What condition is he in? He's weak, shaking, seeming paranoid and in another reality in his mind. He didn't trust us at first but he may be returning to the truth now. He was looking for you and had obvious experiments done on him...Dunno what...Maybe your father could explai-Yes, he is here and looking over my brother as well as the Reaperlings."Papy says

"I may even take him for further examination."Gaster says

"Okay, you hear that, Reaper? He has some work to do so how about-? Hello?"Papy says

He lowers the phone and glances over.

"He hung up."He says

I look at Gaster, gripping the edge of the bed. I don't want to go anywhere right now with him.

"Don't worry, I'd only take you to Life."Gaster says

The door slams open and Reaper came over to beside the bed, blocking Gaster from me.

"Geno..."He says, softly holding my head

I lean into his touch, feeling his ring brush against my skull.

"Reaper..."I say

"I'm so glad you're okay, Geno! We're home! You're safe! This is the best!"He says, trying to reassure me

I reach out to him as the Reaperlings make room for him.

"I love you...This starts the best chapter of your life. I'll make them the happiest ones."He promises, kissing all over my head

"Noooo...."I whine, shaking my head

"No?"He asks

"Our new chapter. Happy days...Ours..."I say, feeling my face burn

He smiles even wider.

"Right, sorry."He says, kissing my head

"Wait, you two are getting married?"Gaster exclaims

"Wooaaah, who would have guessed?"Papy says sarcastically

I chuckle and Reaper leaps into the bed beside me.

"Wait.."He says, sitting up

I sit up, resting against his chest.

"Um, Pap-"He begins

"You're all good."Paps says

I look up at Reaper.

"Reaper...I'm so tired...."I sigh

He smiles at me.

"Take all the time you need..I'll be here."He says, kissing me on the head.

I smile, laying down as he rests beside me, rubbing gentle circles on me to soothe me.

TBC