~Y/n's POV~

Blade and Cross walked towards each other slightly cautiously, took each other's hands, and shook on it. The deal was made.

It was only now that I realized I was still wearing Cross' jacket. I probably shouldn't be wearing this anymore... I'm surprised Blade hasn't even mentioned it yet. I took it off without a word as the two separated from each other. I handed it back to Cross, still not saying anything but looking at him directly. I wanted him to know what I was thinking of him through just my look and actions alone. From his gaze back, he might've understood what I was trying to say: 'Thank you, but we're not friends.'

At least... that's what I wanted him to think. Truth be told I wasn't sure how I felt about Cross. He's done nothing but defend me up to this point. I couldn't say what he's been doing to other people, though. He didn't seem to want to hurt people unless he saw it necessary. Otherwise, I would've been a cut up mess instead of this extensive makeup. I couldn't help but be a little salty that I had to suffer through that process and this outfit all for nothing. I wonder if I could ask him what his plan was... not that I'd get a proper answer.

"So how do I give you access codes?" Blade questioned while looking at 'her' own hands like they would give her the answer.

"It's probably better if you let Ink be back in control of his own body. He knows how to do it." Cross answered as he slipped his jacket back on.

"Fine. But if you so much as step a foot in the wrong direction I'm going to be here in an instant." She glared at the skeleton in front of her before closing 'her' eyes. The broken battered SOUL shone in front of Ink's body for only a few seconds, before it returned to it's host and Ink's eyes opened. They were back to their normal mix-matched shapes as he blinked a few times to readjust himself, then he looked to me.

"Y/n..." He breathed in relief at the sight of me and gave me a crushing hug. I did my best to adjust my body so he wasn't pressing against my stomach and hugged him as tight as I could. We only let go after an irritated clearing of the throat from Cross.

I put a hand to Ink's cheek and whispered, "I have so much to tell you when we get home."

"I can't wait to hear it all, but first I have to do this deal. Stay close to me, okay?" Ink whispered back gently while brushing some hair out of my face. I nodded and wrapped my arms around his midsection as he turned to face an irked Cross.

"Which universes do you want?" Ink kept his face stern, most likely trying to hide how this deal was affecting him. Giving Cross the access codes could lead to something nasty happening, but what choice did we have? He was going to get them anyway... It's better this way... right? But what was that Cross said right before the deal? Ink's codes are the ones he needs?

"Are you really sure you want to do this, Ink? It really wasn't bad being-"

Cross interrupted me quickly, "We already shook on it, Y/n."

"Well I didn't. I still have a say here. I'm not just something you can trade." I was starting to get a bit pissed off at Cross now. I shifted myself so I could face Cross more properly but still keep one arm around Ink.

"Of course you aren't. You aren't the thing being traded. It's your freedom. I'm your kidnapper, remember?" Cross was also starting to get angry himself, but wouldn't make eye contact with me at the last sentence.

Ink put a hand on my chin and turned me to look at him, "It's okay, Y/n, really. It's all going to be alright." The look in his face and his words would've just looked consoling to everybody else. But I knew Ink. That was his expression whenever he had a plan.

I feigned more concern before sighing, "Alright. Everything is going to be alright..." I really hope my acting was convincing there.

Ink and Cross started discussing about the universes Cross wanted and whatever they needed to do to transfer the access codes. I didn't really understand how it worked, them having way more experience and knowledge than I did. What I could pick up was that Cross wanted a strange assortment of AUs: Undersail, Dancetale, Fellswap, Underlust, and more that I didn't recognize the names of. I couldn't see any patterns that linked all those universes together. Undersail and Underlust seemed like two extremely different places, well- unless you wanted to get wet. I doubt that was the connection.

After half an hour, it was done. Ink and Cross shook hands one more time and we turned our backs to each other. I was walking hand in hand with Ink, about to enter the portal he made when I looked behind me. Cross was about to leave too, the other freed skeletons having gone through before him. My heart unexplainedly lurched and I knew I couldn't leave just yet.

"Give me just a moment, Ink." I said before he could stop me. I ran up to Cross who stopped once he heard my footsteps. He turned to face me with a very taken aback look.

"Um, I-I just wanted to say that I- um..." I took a deep breath to collect my nerves, "I just wanted to say thank you again for not... being as bad as you could've been to me. I really hope that most of what you said was sincere because, um, it did mean a lot to me. Hell, without you I might not have realized I was pregnant until way later. So... just... thank you."

Cross was looking like he had never heard the word in his life and I couldn't help but crack a smile at the look on his face. After just staring at me for a few seconds he got his thoughts back together. "Uh. You're... welcome? I really don't understand you, Y/n. I take you from Ink and you're... thanking me."

"Well I'm not thanking you for that. But you still did your best to not make it as unenjoyable, so I'm thanking you for just that part. You helped save my life twice."

"But you wouldn't of even had your life threatened if it weren't for me."

"You said it yourself, Cross. You did what you had to do so nobody else would get hurt. I hope you meant that."

He looked solemnly at the ground, "I did... I really did. I meant everything I said when it was just us in the room."

I smiled at his sincerity and I gently took his hand in my own, much to his surprise. "Goodbye, Cross. I hope... I hope whatever you're doing isn't as shady as it sounds. I don't want to have another confrontation like this one."

He looked dejectedly at my face and took his hand out of mine, "I can't promise you that it isn't. But I have no other options. Any harm done will have been from collateral damage. I hope you'll understand when the time comes. It's been... nice having somebody to talk to. I'll miss those talks. Goodbye for now, Y/n." With that, he walked through his portal and it closed immediately behind him.

I sighed and started to trek my way back towards Ink, who was looking bewildered at our interaction even if he couldn't hear any of it. But before I even made ten steps, I heard the portal open again behind me.

"Before I forget, could you tell Nightmare something for me?" Cross asked after I turned back around in surprise. Only his head was peeking out of the portal.

"Um, yeah, I can do that."

"Tell him that I miss the Malus."

"The what now?"

Cross only smiled with what seemed to be a hint of mischief as he closed the portal again. What the hell was a malus? I shook it off for now, hoping that Nightmare would explain it to me. I just hoped I would remember the word.

I finally linked hands with Ink again. He looked like he was going to ask me a million questions but I just shook my head. Later. For now, I just wanted to get back into bed and tell him the most important news of our lives.

~~~