" So you're coming because you're.... worried?" Frisk snorted, taking her skating needs.

Sans was baffled lightly.

"of whom? you?"

"So you do care." She grinned, giving him a mischievous glance.

Mere tints of blue has risen from his cheekbones ever so slightly, and he scoffed.

"even if I did, I'll still prove you wrong."

"Hahaha yeah, by me teaching you how to do it right." With that, she pulled him out into the snow, startling him as he stumbled from his first step.

She giggled happily while he started whining and muttering complaints of annoyance to her sudden change of actions.

*
*
*
*

»*****«

The sweltering heat didn't help much with Frisk's winter attire. She could've sworn that she was sweating buckets by now. Sans, on the other hand, was casually walking up ahead the red ashen path, leaving Frisk a few meters away.

"So, Alphys lives here?" She asked, puffing breathlessly.

"yup, she has a lab here." Sans coolly said, his pace slower for her to catch up.

"Not to be rude but, why here?" Frisk was debating whether or not to ask that question ever since they set foot on the place but she did anyways.

"she works for the king as the royal scientist, and its pretty near the castle." He huffed, stopping for a moment to look afar.

"'makes her work easier"

She thought of distracting herself for a moment by asking him a bit about Hotland since she had never crossed far the borders of Waterfall before.

Looking around the place made her feel nervous and feel amazed at the same time. She felt amazed just to how the whole underground got separate biomes. Asking questions about the underground wanted to escape out of her nagging curiosity but she knew asking Sans, there wouldn't be much of an answer.

Sure he may have disclosed a few things about his past and his old man, but he's still a mysterious guy in her perspective. She doesn't want to go overboard about crossing his circle and make him feel uncomfortable at all. She just wanted to know more about him. It's been forever since she had been this close to someone-to her current knowledge- and she felt a bit happy about it. Only for her, it seems far beyond reach.

Frisk threw an exasperated sigh. They are wasting time and the heat was becoming unbearable for her.

"You know...teleporting would be neat right about now."

Sans only shrugged and paused for a moment.

"if you didn't pull that stunt earlier, I would've already done so." this earned a small huff of annoyance from Frisk, berating herself why did she even bother ask.

He followed his gaze, but there wasn't anything much to look at ahead. The scorching heat from the abysses below wavered her vision to a blur of reds.

She sighed inwardly, seeing the distance that they covered so far seemed to barely take them any nearer to their destination.

"being snowed in everyday doesn't count in her daily quota so yea." Sans chuckled, beckoning her to catch up to him again.

"I'd rather plow the snow everyday than be burned alive." She frowned.

"Awww don't get so heated up about it." He grinned, and did it irk her a tad bit more.

The heat grew worse after a few minutes they've been walking. Not only that, but also the clanking noises of what Frisk presumed to be the core itself.

The massive structure of metal made her feel very little by the looks of it. It was full of complicated jams of wires dangled from above that resembled gigantic spiderwebs. The glowing chamber of lava below the contraption were bubbling hot as it sizzles over the surface.

Frisk held back a gulp, mentally reminding herself to keep on track or she might end up plummeting down into that hissing lake of red. Her steps slowed down from big steps to small paces after that fearsome thought. It took her back to get a glimpse when she almost fell to her death by the hanging bridge in Snowdin.

She had second thoughts to what if Sans didn't heard her pleads of help. What if he never showed up? She would definitely not be walking here right now. She wanted to still thank him after that, really, but she still had a bit of grudge on the small skeleton for creeping up behind her back.

"afraid of heights?" Sans raised a browbone, fixing her a curious gaze.

Frisk curtly nodded, as her gaze traveled upfront the narrowing path ahead to where Sans was.

Like a deer caught in headlights, she stopped and froze. If she were to compare the feeling of being impaled by thin and sturdy stalagmites to being burnt to ashes on that scorching lake, neither of them would suffice a rewarding way to die.

"G-go ahead, I'll catch up." Her hands were shaking from nervousness. She dismissed the idea and bit her lip as they both continued onward.

"whatever burns your toast." He shrugged. Either way, he's not fully convinced of the stunt. Frisk's eyes were narrowing with fear, and the steps she took were uncalculated by the looks of it.

The sound of hissing steam grew louder from the Core as they hit for the road again. Hisses that sounded much similar to screeches and wails.

It reminded her so much of her dream...

That....

Nightmare....

That....

Girl....

"FRISK!!" Sans' voice caught her back to her senses. Her vision was in a fast blur, as she found herself tripping over the edge.

Her breathing hitched, her eyes widening as she went off the balance and was met face to face with the gushing red magma.

"you scared me there, bucko." Sans sighed, pearls of sweat present on his forehead.

He hoisted her up slowly with a paint of morbid fear marked across his face.

"if ya wanted to go swimming, we could've gone to waterfalls, kiddo." He offered with a forced smile.

Frisk reeled herself back in to reality once more and just gave him a small nod, before standing up to her feet again.

Sans' expression was full of bewilderment and concern, not satisfied from her curt response. He could've sworn that her thoughts were elsewhere.

"somethin eatin ya, ki- Frisk...?" He corrected himself, placing his skeletal hand on her shoulder.

Frisk tensed from his touch, but she didn't give in to hear him out.

"I-i'm fine..." She whispered in a shaky breath, turning away from him. Sans raised a browbone at her and she only gave him a small smile.

However, she knew that she wasn't and Sans was already taking the hint by how aloof she's been acting lately. She might've been getting worn off of all the trekking they have been through, and he can't blame her for it anyway. Despite how much pep talk he's trying to strike up, he noted that she had been slowly going downhill.

"hey, why don'tcha take off that scarf for awhile, yea?" Sans offered, noticing her face full of discomfort.

"Oh yea, right" she chuckled to herself as her cheeks flared up with embarrassment. She thanked the stars it was not obvious because of all the red hue emanating from around them covered it up for her.

Why hadn't she even took off the scarf in the first place? No wonder why she felt so suffocated in the entirety of their journey.

"a quick stop wouldn't hurt" Sans offered.

It would be a bad idea to walk any further when she's drained to the bone.

"No, its fine, really. I don't want Papyrus to fret about us." She only offered a faint smile.

Sans grinned, but he felt guilty mostly for making her walk this far. It could've been easier if they took his shortcuts, but then she might've missed the Hotland scenery if they did. He wanted her to take it on easy and get used to the walking for awhile since his shortcuts doesn't really have the feel good vibe on his companion. Usually for its after effects.

Sooner, the building appeared into view.

Frisk gave a sigh of relief as she looked at him, waiting for his approval. Sans only sauntered from behind and rapped on the metal door.

She tensed up from the echoes that rung and brought her back to her senses to why she was here.

"you sure you're still up for this?" Sans asked, before the shuffling behind the double doors dissapated.

Frisk dug deep down into her soul and pulled on her best smile with full on determination. Even if she had a rough time earlier due to those badgering thoughts about that nightmare, she would never want to miss the time to have fun. More so, with Papyrus and Sans. This time, she'd put them aside

No distractions, just plain fun.

The big scarlet hued building is indeed Alphys' lab. There was nothing much to look at it though, maybe because of its bleak appearance.

Appearances may be quite deceiving perhaps.

It may be more than just what thing's are letting on.

As soon as the doors whooshed open, a booming voice of enthusiasm blared before their eardrums.

"HUMAN! SANS! WHAT TOOK YOU TWO SO LONG ?" Papyrus huffed, flailing his gloved hands in the air. The two flinched slightly from his sudden outburst, stopping them just a few meters apart from him.

"got tired paps"

"THIS IS WHY YOU MOST DEFINITELY NEEDED TO GET SOME EXERCISE."

"with exercise or not, I'm still gonna be a lazy bones."

The two entered the room with satisfaction as soon as the cold air hit them. It was stale as to how hospitals would've been, but its still a place where they can sit and take a quick break so there's no use to complain about it.

"its such a shin u can't skin this habit off of me." Sans chuckled, noticing the annoyance building up in his brother's nerves.

Frisk was trying to suppress any hint to how much she enjoys seeing the two exchange knowing glances, as if it was an inside joke that the three of them knew.

"what can i say? im already bone this way."

Papyrus was about to lose it when Frisk interrupted.

"What Sans was trying to say, is that he definitely got his thumbs up on this exciting opportunity despite the um....distractions" She smiled up to him, but murmured the last word to herself.

No..

She isn't gonna spoil anything to make them worry.

Even though it was a close call earlier.

She can't have anyone worrying for her.

Papyrus eyes flickered in an instant, processing what she just said to him.

"THIS IS A GREAT START BROTHER. FINALLY PUTTING THOSE BONES TO GOOD USE!" He beamed, beckoning them both to another hallway where a sliding door opened up for them in time.

"THANK ASGORE OUR DEAREST FRISK PERSUADED YOU TO LEAVE YOUR PUNISHABLE ANTICS BEHIND!"

"aww where's the pun in that?"

"Enough jabbering you two!"

A gruff feminine voice roared from behind. Her tall physique figure loomed over, towering over Sans and Frisk.

"More action! Less talking!!" She practically screeched with an outburst of glee, throwing packed punches mid-air.

I swear, she's twice as comical as Papyrus. No wonder they're friends, they clearly have the same booming voice.

Frisk merely chuckled at the thought, as she watched the two carry on with the flow of their conversation.

After a few introductions between the gang. Frisk felt utterly welcomed around each of their presence. She found it easy to get along with them since each of them shared a particular interest with her, although it was hard on her part to strike up a conversation with them.

All of them seemed friendly enough, maybe even friendlier than humans had ever were. Giving away their trust, let alone to a stranger, was something she started to admire from these monsters and she was thankful and hopeful to give everything a new start.

Or not...?

But nonetheless, Frisk shrugged her thoughts away and tuned in to the conversation.

"Um...Nice to meet yall." She replied to them, hesitant for a moment due to her anxiety climbing up the walls.

The moment of silence started to pin bullets of sweat on her forehead and she was more than eager to take a detour out of the room, for all their eyes were glued onto her.

Undyne maintained a cheeky grin and roared with laughter while Alphys seemed to give me a small smile of reassurance.

"Don't take it personal kid, everyone here's delighted to meet a new guest. I hope we're not up on the wrong foot." Undyne toned down her laughter, trying to took less intimidating as possible for the girl as she gave her a pat on the back.

"I-its not everyday you see a human, so w-we apologize for the u-uneasiness." Alphys butted in, taking Frisk's hands to hers.

"A fabulous one like you, dear."

Frisk was taken aback from the comment of the flamboyant robot, her embarrassment flaring up in an instant.

"Thank you, f-for all your kind w-words.." And then it was time for her to stutter and stumble out her words. But she was genuinely touched by the attention.

"FORMALITIES ASIDE, LET'S GET SKATING!" Papyrus boomed, readying his gear from the box of junk and equipments.

Alphys immediately rushed to the scene and helped Papyrus with the equipment, scared that things might go haywire.

It was amusing for Frisk, understanding that Papyrus really does have a reputation to hold.

Soon, everyone helped with the unpacking with some occasional friendly banter between Undyne and Mettaton in the corner. Till it escalated into a heated argument of biases and opinions on fashion sense.

"Is that normal??"

"'seen it a couple of times, don't fret too much about it." Sans whistled, seemingly enjoying the scene, but fell short when he busied his now sweaty hands to fit and strap the skates into himself, only to keep failing miserably.

Frisk snorted, falling on her knees to help.

"Do I have to do this for you?" her slender hands offering a tight fit on his feet.

"eh, I could get used to this." The remark made her snicker as she helped with anything else that needs tending to.

***
They arrived at the skating rink, which was located in the forest near snowdin, Papyrus, Undyne and Mettaton started skating around, while Alphys watched them, as for Frisk and Sans, they sat on the bench nearby.

"I-ive u-upgraded the s-skates w-with t-thrusters." Alphys explained, adjusting her glasses as the trio watched the skaters, marveling at the adjustments each made entirely that suited their personal liking.

"These are awesome Alphys!" Undyne smiled, admiring her skates. "T-thanks" she stuttured.

That sparked Frisk's interest, seeing that Alphys is a keen observer and an amazing scientist. Aside from the fact that she heard that she's an otaku, her contributions for the underground were limitless.

'I wonder if she knew, Sans' dad. Since Sans did mention that his dad was a renowed scientist.' Frisk thought warily.

Deep into thought, Frisk couldn't help herself from straying away from the idea.

'Could she have possibly known what caused his sudden disappearance?"

Alphys knowingly smiled at her from her seat, noticing the tense expression from Frisk's face.

"Is everything alright, F-frisk??" Adjusting and cleaning her glasses from the fog accumulating the lenses,

"Ah, nothing." Her reply tried to sound assuring, and so she made herself wary that she doesn't need to much thinking to ponder about it.

"HUMAN! BROTHER! CHECK OUT MY ASTOUNDING SKATING SKILLS!" Papyrus happily bounced near the skating rink as he did some twirling, skipping gracefully on the ice.

Frisk coached him as sans did too.

"paps, i didn't know your good on snowing off." Sans complimented. Papyrus groaned, ignoring sans' pun, which made Frisk giggle in fits of laughter.

"Papyrus! How about a race?" Undyne challenged, intrigued to test her limits to try and best the tall skeleton.

"NYEHEHE! I WOULD SURELY BEAT YOU." Papyrus snickered, kneeling on the starting mark beside Undyne.

"I got my bet on you, handsome. Don't let me down~" Mettaton flirtatiously blew a kiss to Papyrus and it dusted a light orange tint on his cheekbones.

Sans scoffed and was ready to lunge himself at the dancing microwave, but decided otherwise when realization hit him about his "capabilities" in skating.

"Let's see about that." Undyne grinned wide, as she felt adrenaline rushing past her as soon as she pressed the button to set the speed.

"WOWIE! LET ME TRY!" Papyrus admired the sight, completely forgetting the race he signed up into as he pushed the button on his ice skates.

"NYEH?" leaving him with a dumbfounded expression, he pushed the button for a couple of times.

But it wasn't working.

"T-the o-other b-button papyrus!" Alphys called from the surface of the rink.

"THIS?" when papyrus pushed the button, he was launched out of the skating rink, landing face first on the pile of snow.

Everyone laughed, as Papyrus grunted.

"you just got snowdin," Sans took the opportunity with a smug smile.

"SAAAAANS! I AM SO DONE WITH YOUR PUNS!" Papyrus yelled, his voice muffled from shoving the snow off his body.

"You give up Papyrus?" Undyne sauntered to his side.

"I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS NEVER WILL!"

Papyrus huffed, joining undyne and mettaton once again in the thin sheet of ice.

"Come darlings! Come skate with us!~" Mettaton beckoned, flipping her hair.

"Be there in a short while!" Frisk beamed back.

"Ready?" Frisk asked smiling at sans.

"S-sure." Sans nervously chuckled with regret.

|| Frisk's POV ||

"i think this is a bad idea" sans anxiously said, staring down at his skates with shaky knees.

"Oh stop being such a scaredy cat! Its easier than you think it is!" I grinned with delight, extending a hand onto him for guidance.

Sans reluctantly held my hand.

"Go give it a try!" I said, skating a meter away from him, still keeping an eye on him. Sans wobbled, struggling to stand but he slipped which was followed by a groan.

|| Third person's POV ||

Frisk giggled silently, helping Sans to his feet.

"told ya it was a bad idea."

"Nope! I'll help you like I promised." Frisk winked, dragging him in circle in an instant.

"kid! slow down!" Sans exclaimed as Frisk starts to catch speed. Momentarily, Sans starts to catch up with her, staggering from each turn he toom.

"You're doing it Sans!" Frisk beamed, watching Sans skate around.

|| Sans' POV ||

"kid! slow down!" Frisk just chuckled, as we skated around. I start to get the hang of it in the moment, I let go of her grasp as I started to skate on my own.

"You're doing it Sans!" She cheered and I smiled.

She dashed ahead of me skipping happily next to Papyrus and Undyne. I stood there watching the view as they started racing onto each other laughing and giggling.

"Nghhh! Wait 'till I catch up to you guys!" Undyne yelled, as she was left behind by the two.

"NYEHEHEH! YOU NEVER WILL UNDYNE!" Papyrus called, holding Frisk's hand, skating ahead.

Frisk kept on giggling as the wind blew, brushing the bangs, subtly off her face, making way for me to see her features clearly.

Everything went slow as I stared at them. But my eyes usually find their way on Frisk.

Is she really this beautiful?

Or I just haven't noticed..?

Her eyes glimmered on ice...

Her laughs and giggles...

That sends butterflies in my nonexistent stomach...

"What a view to behold, am I right?~" Mettaton whispered under his breath, casually staring at them.

"heh, what can I say...sh-they're amazing " I mumbled, correcting myself.

"Dear, you don't have to bluff it out. I've been on numerous shows and I can certainly tell why~" mettaton teased, extending his robotic arm around my shoulders.

"What holds you back from telling her?~"

"quit it tin can, i know your antics well enough that you only want Papyrus." I dismissed his hand and grumbled. And he backed away in an instant, smiling comically at my direction.

What does hold me back...?

Ever since that day, I knew she needed me.

But...

"Sans! Think fast!"

"wha-" the scene caught me off guard as crumbs of ice and snow flew, covering my face.

She laughed clutching her stomach, "You should've seen your face!" She hollered. I stared at her, dumbfounded.

"kid, get ready to...get.....dunked on!" I shouted, playfully chasing her as I fired snowballs using my magic.

"NOOO! SANS IS ATTACKING THE HUMAN!" paps gasped, putting on a dramatic show.

"UNDYNE! WE MUST HELP HER!" Papyrus yelled.

"WE'RE COMING PUNK!" Undyne suplexed a large snowball, as she aimed towards us. but, she hit Frisk instead of me.

Just a little more time...

Another chance.

Maybe I'll finally get it right.

|| Frisk's POV ||

"WE'RE COMING PUNK!" Undyne suplexed a large snowball, as she aimed towards us. But, it missed and it hit me, tackling me down, losing my balance as I fell backwards.

Sans rushed over and caught me.

"Careful, kid, I wouldn't be there next time to catch you when you fall." Sans smiled, earning another wave of embarrassment as I hid my cheeks underneath the scarf.

Why do I always have to be caught up in situations like this..?

"OH MY SPAGHETTI! HUMAN! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!" papyrus frantically said, approaching me.

"I'm okay paps." I reassured, dusting myself off.

"Sorry about that punk." Undyne said, scratching her head.

"It's okay Undyne, though I gotta admit, you're stronger than I thought."

Undyne's features softened and whisked a grateful smile, though she seemed embarrassed.

So I'm not the only one who ends up being embarrassed.

As if on cue, my stomach suddenly rumbled and growled audibly.

What a pain...

"HUMAN! YOU LOOK FAMISHED, LET'S GET YOU HOME!" Papyrus puffed, popping a few joints to rid off the snow.

"yeah, I'm kinda hungry too." Undyne chimed, gathering all the skating gear in her arms.

"me too" Sans added.

"WELL! WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?" Papyrus blurted, posing heroically.

"Let's go!" Undyne fist bumbed the air.

"W-wait!" Alphys and Mettaton shouted, trailing behind Papyrus and Undyne.

"ya comin kid?" Sans raised a brow, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah, I'll ketchup." I returned a smile, sitting on the bench as I exposed my snowed in soles free.

He grinned and started walking away.

As soon as the crunches dissapated. I was one again caged within my thoughts.

Why do I start feeling all giddy when Sans is around??

True, he's quite charming with the way he laughs and the subtle touches we had.

...

....

No, I shouldn't be thinking of him like this

He's like my best pal or a brother to me.

I huffed, I thought for a moment, thinking about Sans.

The way he smiles....

his puns...

his brotherly nature..

maybe..

Just maybe...

I do like him... I sighed, smiling at this newfound feeling. It was exhilarating and fuzzy, finally realizing something foreign, yet familiar at the same time.

"Thinking of that bag of bones?" A shrill voice said.

I stiffened, following the voice that echoed within.

A few timid steps caught me in a trance within the woods.

and there, I saw....