When monster kind first came to the surface, humanity didn't exactly greet them like the prodigal sons. The monsters had been exiled to the underground such a long time ago that they had faded into myth and legend. The first few humans to see the monsters thought that they had gone insane, especially since the monsters at the front of the crowd were a pair of skeletons, one tall and one short. It was especially confusing that the first thing these humans ever heard from this new collection of species was the shorter of the skeletons saying "Hey Frisk, those must be the humans, right? They look just like us, only a bit skin-nier," followed by the tall skeleton screaming NYEHHHHHH and proceeding to actually take off and throw both of his own boots at him.

Almost 17 years later, humans had grown much more used to the monsters, and a lot had changed. However, one thing hadn't. "I guess this is good-pie," said the same short skeleton to the taller, gesturing to the mostly eaten cinnamon-butterscotch pie that sat on a side table, brought yesterday by one of his dearest friends. Papyrus snorted softly, not in the mood to chastise his brother about his awful puns. The two skeletons stood facing each other just inside the open doorway, their copies standing out on the front step, Constantia already in the car. Goodbyes had been exchanged, promises made, tears shed. The past two days had been spent with the five of them almost never leaving the others presence ('almost' only because Sans put his foot down about Papyrus sitting outside the bathroom door and carrying on a conversation while he was...busy). It felt as though everything that needed to be said had already been voiced, and all of them knew it was time to say goodbye for good, but nome of them knew how to take that final step away from each other. They all stood silently for a moment before Papyrus finally turned and took a few steps, although he seemed to be having trouble getting himself to actually go through the doorway. Sans smiled sadly, then opened his mouth and said "Hey paps, I know you think I'm a-door-able, but you actually have to go through before we can shut that thing." He heard Fell snort and Papyrus turned back and actually smiled. "That was an awful last pun," he said. Now it was Red's turn to snort as he said, "You're the funny one of you think that was his last pun." Sans grinned at him and then turned back to his brother. Suddenly, he felt himself lifted into a bone-crushing (heh) hug. "I'm going to miss you so much, Sans" Papyrus whispered. Sans could see Red getting much the same treatment, and then, before they knew it, their brothers were gone, taking their daughter with them.

Sans, slowly closing the door, turned around to look at Red. Red was looking back at him with sadness and something else in his eyes, and when they made eye contact, he held out his arms for the other. Sans stepped into them immediately, fitting perfectly into the embrace. Red held him like that for just a moment, then he put his fingers under Sans' chin, lifting it and pressing their teeth together in a skeleton kiss. Sans wrapped his arms around the other's neck, tangling his phalanges into the back of the other's jacket, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss. He summoned his tongue and used it to explore the inside of the other's mouth. He felt Red pushing him backwards until the backs of his knees hit the couch and he fell into it, taking Red with him. As they kissed, Sans tugged Red's jacket from his shoulders, tossing it across the room to be found sometime later. He felt Red's magic surround them both, and when he next opened his eyes, he was looking at the ceiling of their bedroom. He smiled as Red moved to his neck, letting himself completely relax into the person he loved most in the world.

X-X-X-X

Red woke up slowly, not wanting to open his eyes. He could feel Sans' breath on his cheek, and he had his arms wrapped around him. Red rolled slightly, pulling Sans into his chest and planting a sleepy skelekiss on the top of his head. He felt Sans shift against him, arms tightening for a moment as he woke up. "Sorry to wake you, love," Red murmured, eyes still closed. Sans just pulled himself closer to his husband, burying his face in his collarbone. Red could feel Sans smiling against him, and he smiled too, basking in the glow for a moment. "I love you, Sans," he said softly, kissing the top of his head again. "I love you too, Edgy McMyChemicalRomance," he heard Sans say, laughter in his voice.

Red opened his eyes and pulled away slightly so that he could look at him with disapproval. Sans snickered as he opened his eyes and looked up at Red, still blinking away sleep. He looked so beautiful like this. His perfect white bones were gleaming in the soft light, and the love in his eyes still made Red's mouth go dry, even after all these years. He still couldn't believe someone like this had ever decided they wanted to be with someone like him. Red found himself smiling softly despite himself. "You are such a little shit," he said affectionately. "Yeah, but, I mean, you're the one who married me," came the reply. Red growled slightly, though he was still grinning. "Oh, so that's how it is, huh, Blue-Boy?" He pushed Sans down into the bed slightly, looming over him in a somewhat predatory manner. Sans just grinned up at him unabashedly before looping his arms around Red's neck and pulling him into a much softer kiss than Red was expecting. When they broke apart, Sans' smile was much sadder. "How much time do we have left?" he asked. Red leaned over him to the nightstand and picked up his watch, his fingers tracing gentle circles on his love's shoulder as he settle him back into his arms. "About 2 hours," he said, checking the timer, "let's make the most of it, yeah?". Sans groaned in response to Red's grin, putting his arms back around his neck. "I am waaaayyyyyy too tired to have sex again". Red snorted, smiling, and said, "That's not actually what I meant, Blue-Boy, although I am definitely all for that if you decide you wanna bone," He winked at Sans, who groaned again, trying to hide a smile. "Sometimes I forget we're the same person" he heard Sans mumble as he extricated himself from his arms and climbed out of bed, shivering a little as the cold air hit his bare bones.

X-X-X-X

Sans groaned again as Red lifted the blankets and let the cold air in. He pulled the sheets back around him and turned his head to watch Red as he crossed the room to the dresser. Sans snickered as he noticed something, and Red turned to him questioningly, his scarred bones catching the light as he moved.

"You got a little something on your pelvis, there, loverboy," Sans said, propping himself up on his elbows to watch him more easily. Red looked down and grinne, then he licked his finger and used the moisture to rub at the spot of blue still left on him.

Sans watched him unabashedly, drinking in the sight of him. "What?" asked Red when he saw him staring, then a shit-eating grin spread across his face, "Am I giving you a boner?"

Sans snorted. "You already made that joke," "Did I? Sorry, I guess I don't have much of a-" "Funny bone?" Sans said at the same time as Red, his laughter slightly more sarcastic than Red's. Red chuckled at that, turning back to the dresser to finish grabbing a set of clothes each for him and Sans.

Sans chuckled when he saw that Red had chosen a My Chemical Romance shirt for himself, watching as he got dressed and then cane to stand beside Sans. As he was coming, he pulled his elbows in, letting himself fall back into the bed. When Red was above him, he grinned up at his husband and lifted his arms up to him in a clear "pick me up" gesture.

Red complied, throwing back the sheets and scooping him up. Sans gasped from the cold air, then felt Red kiss the side of his head. Sans turned and, hands on either side of Red's face, kissed him again. They broke away and Sans sighed in happiness as Red carried him bridal-style across the room to where he had set his clothes down. Red set him back on his feet and Sans set about getting dressed, hissing slightly as the shirt rubbed against the new bite marks across his collarbone. He turned around when he was done and saw Red standing there, watching him quietly. Sans was about to make a joke when he noticed the tears in his husband's eyes.
Sans stepped forward, wrapping Red up in a hug. "I love you so, so, so much Sans. I don't know what I would do without you" Red said, tears making silent tracks down his face. "I love you too, Red. So much more than I could ever say. I wouldn't have wanted to do this with anyone else by my side. I--I just love you so much, Red, I--" Sans broke down, beginning to sob. He felt the arms around him tighten as Red began to shake with the same sobs. They stayed that way for a while before Sans pulled back slightly and wiped at his cheeks, calming down a bit. He looked at the skeleton in his arms for a moment, then gathered his magic around them and took a shortcut to the kitchen. He kissed Red softly before pulling away and starting to make breakfast.

X-X-X-X

Eat breakfast, double-check the wills, hold each other, try to stop crying, cry anyway, looking at photos, holding each other some more. Those two hours went by far too quickly, and at the end of it all, Red had Sans in his arms and they were sitting together on the couch. "I love you...I love you...I love you..." one of them seemed to say it, whispering against the strain of their failing bodies, with every beat of their slowing souls. Red could feel his magic fading, his stores draining. His bones were starting to feel brittle, his breath started to come shorter. He checked his watch. "3 minutes, Blue-Boy" he whispered, trying to hold Sans even closer.

X

Sans looked up at his husband, red eyelights meeting his white ones, and he smiled. Hundreds of resets, hundreds of deaths, hundreds of versions of the same life, and finally, finally, he had lived a life that mattered. He was finally happy. He would die of old age in the arms of his husband instead of alone, from the slice of a blade across his chest.

X

Those three minutes passed so slowly, and yet so quickly all at once. A flurry of kisses, nuzzling closer, and feeling the matter in his bones shift. Both of their eyes started to seek out the timer on Red's watch, watching the timer count down. 10...9...8...7...6...5... Red pulled Sans into one final kiss, his soul pounding his final message through him. I love you. Sans' soul pulsed back in kind, both of them repeating with their souls what they no longer could with their voices.

X

I love you...I love you...I love you...

4...3...2...

Suddenly, Sans felt an all-too familiar pull at the small of his back, and his eyes flew open just in time to meet Red's, his expression contorted into one of horror, before he felt himself yanked backwards into the anti-void. Red stood a few yards away from him in the blank white expanse, his expression changing into one of horrified understanding. Sans could feel the familiar tingle of his bones being healed as he ran towards his husband, but just before they reached each other, a glass wall slammed down between them. Sans screamed Red's name as Red pounded on the glass. Cracks began to appear, but Sans didn't even have time to hope before he felt himself passing out, sinkingninto the overwhelming blackness that always came before another reset.