Error and Dream had finished their movie perfectly in time when dinner was ready. Dream smiled and stood, "Come on, Error, you and your baby need to eat." He giggled. Error gave him a shy smile in return, following him. The table was set with the food already out and ready to be served. Error sat next to Dream, which was near one of the ends of the long oval shaped table. Error felt his stomach grumble, but he was too anxious to ask for food as he just sat there. People around the table were talking as food was taken. Error knew it was a serve yourself thing and that no one would think anything of it if he just took some food, but he was scared he would be in trouble. He didn't know why or who would even get him in trouble, but he felt scared and worried that anything he did could result in punishment. Dream noticed, "Oh Error, it's okay. Here, let me get some food for you." He politely did so.

Error could feel a few people wearily eyeing him and he felt a sudden strong glitch. Error whimpered and lowered himself, "ThAnK YoU, DrEAm." He smiled shyly. "Of course Error. And don't be so nervous, okay? Everyone understands that even if they don't know your reason, you have a reason to be here." Dream assured him. Error smiled a bit more, "Of CoUrSe." He did feel a bit more assured, and he began to eat. He kept catching Ink's eye when he'd look up, and everytime his appetite tried to shrink. He forced himself to keep eating though. He really wanted a healthy baby. He lowered his hand, rubbing his stomach. His baby quickly pressed against his belly to be closer to his hand. He felt tears well in his eyes before he wiped them away, continuing to eat. He was determined now. He had something to live for. His baby needed him as much as he needed them. He was going to keep them alive. He had to.

He continued to eat, anxiously glancing around every once and a while. Eventually he found his hand gripping Dream's tightly, and he was feeling much calmer. Dream had helped him so much. Dream was the only person he felt truly cared about him. He loved Dream too. Dream was beautiful and had the purest soul in the multiverse. He had continuously helped Error even while he was at his very lowest. He was comforting and sweet. He had never hurt him. He was the only person Error trusted. By the time Error zoned back into reality, he realized most of the table was gone, and Dream looked concerned. "Error... are you okay? You just dissociated pretty badly." He felt Dream squeeze his hand softly. Error looked down, realizing how hard he was gripping Dream's hand. He softened his grip, but didn't let go, still needing Dream.

"YeaH... I'm oKaY..." He smiled softly, "But... CaN WE gO BaCk To yOUr RoOm...?" Error rubbed the back of Dream's hand with his thumb. Dream smiled, "Of course Error." He stood and Error immediately followed. Dream had noticed how little Error had ate, but he didn't want to push him tonight, being able to tell how fragile and on edge he was. He didn't want Error to think he was mad at him. They went back to Dream's room, entering. Error stood awkwardly, clearly being too nervous to sit. Error rubbed his arm and looked to the side, "So... hOw LoNg haVe yoU GuYs bEeN... liViNg iN A REaL HOme WiTh ALl THesE PeoPlE...?" Error's eyes were darting around, looking at anything but Dream. "Well, ever since we made a truce with... well, you know who..." Dream walked to the bed, sitting down and licking his legs slightly, "We settled down. We've been collecting people from old ruined universes. Me and my... brother... have decided to... finally work together again to keep balance..." Dream's eyes teared up.

Error noticed and frowned, walking over. He sat down softly next to Dream, "WhAt'S WrONg...?" Dream raised his eyes to meet his, "I-I... please be honest... did Nightmare really hurt you? I know it's s-selfish to be upset, b-but the idea of my brother doing something like that to you a-all while I-I think I finally have him back... I just..." He broke into muted sobs as he covered his mouth. He turned away, shutting his eyes tightly. Error was frozen. What was he supposed to say? Dream was so upset, but Ink would kill him if he told! He had to come up with a new lie, he couldn't let Dream be so upset and lose his brother again. He glitched violently. "No... hE DiDn'T... iT WAs SOmEONe ElSe... iT... DrEAm..." He looked away, pausing for a few minutes.

After a bit of silence, Error spoke, "It WaS... soMeONe I DoN'T kNoW ThE nAMe Of... I LiEd BecAUsE INk WAs PreSSUriNg Me aNd I WasN't ReAdY tO TeLl tHe TruTh. It's SuCh An UnSaTiSgYInG AnSweR aNd I DiDn'T WaNt hIm MaD At mE..." he hugged himself and turned around to avoid even glancing at him, and so Dream couldn't see the way he sobbed. Another lie. He never wanted to lie to Dream. "I'm jUsT sO ScARed..." He whimpered. Dream stood up and came to his side, but didn't touch him, "Error... I'm so sorry... we never meant to pressure you into lying... I promise, we're going to find that person. I love you, okay? Don't you ever forget how much you mean to me." He smiled so genuinely at Error that he cried even harder. He quickly hugged him, but had to pull away before his body started tensing and getting uncomfortable, the hug only lasting two or three seconds.

Error knew his lie wasn't going to last forever, and he'd probably eventually have to answer many questions and would probably contradict himself, but that time wasn't going to be for a while, he had to keep reminding himself to avoid panicking. Ink was going to be pissed when he found out he went against his story. After a moment, Dream spoke, "Why don't we find you some knitting needles? I remember how much you liked to sew, right? You like making dolls!" Dream smiled. Error looked down at Dream and smiled back, a glitch causing him to slightly scrunch up. Another glitch wracked his body and he smiled wider. He was excited. He hadn't done something he'd enjoyed in so long! He would've hugged Dream so tightly right then if he wasn't sure he'd crash. Dream noticed his excitement and his eyes lit up as well, turning to stars.

Quickly they exited the room, practically running around like children as they searched for the needles. Eventually they did, finding a skeleton there who was happy to gift a pair to Error. Error had never received such kindness from a pure stranger. Let alone someone who's life had probably been destroyed by others. He promised he'd cherish that man's gift for life. Error couldn't stop admiring the gift as he and Dream walked back to Dream's room. They were just a simple, blue pair of knitting needles, and yet they seemed so special to Error. And that was when Error realized, he couldn't remember ever receiving a gift before. He looked down at them. He had never had anyone to give gifts to him or give gifts to. He looked at Dream and had an idea. He should give him a gift. He would make him a gift! He knew blue wasn't Dream's favorite color, but he didn't have much choice at the moment.

Once in Dream's room, they went to his bed again, sitting down, huddled next to each other with a few pillows and blanket between them, so as to not trigger Error's fear and inability to touch others. He got all cozy and began to knit, taking full advantage of his new freedom to pull as much string as he wanted from his eyes. It felt so great to finally be free of that collar. It had been dehumanizing to wear, as if he had been a dog or animal of some sort, owned just to be played with and discarded, and mistreated, when no longer wanted. He felt his chest tighten, and Dream noticed the sudden spike. He turned to him, away from the cartoon they had put on, "Are you okay Error?" Error's eyes met Dream's and Error smiled softly, feeling immediately calmed, "YeAh... alThOuGh MaYbe SoMe WAtEr woUld Be NiCe...?"

Dream grabbed the bottle next to the bed and handed it to Error, "It's not super cold anymore and I have taken a few drinks out of it, but I hope it'll be okay. If not I'll go get a new one." Dream snuggled up to the pillows and blankets between them again. Error shook his head, "ThIs Is PErFEct, DrEam." He paused and looked away before speaking again, "ThAnK YoU..." Dream smiled and nodded. Eventually, Dream ended up passing out next to Error as he knitted, and Error didn't mind. He was tired himself, but he was too dead set on finishing Dream's gift tonight. Dream was cuddled up to him, but wasn't directly touching him, respecting his boundaries even in his sleep. Error had never felt more respected. He smiled softly as he continued to knit. As he neared the end, he filled up the shape he had created with strings until it was full and filled out, then he finished it off and held it out in front of him.

It was a star shaped pillow just for Dream. He smiled and looked down at Dream, hoping he'd like it. He was very excited to give it to Dream. He nuzzled up to the pillows, knowing he had stayed up much too late, and would also need to pee in the morning judging by how he had drained that whole bottle. He closed his eyes, and just like that, he was out. Being around Dream awhile he slept felt very nice, as he had learned, Dream's aura prevented him from having horrible nightmares about what Ink had done to him, or what he feared he might do. And it was such a peaceful sleep. He was so warm and comfortable next to Dream in his room. It was hours before he woke, and immediately he sat up and looked around. Dream was nowhere to be seen. He got up shakily, feeling his stomach aching. Quickly, Error ran to the nearby waist basket, dropping to his knees and vomiting in it, tears rolling down his cheeks as he began to sputter and cough.

He laid down on the floor once down throwing up his guts, curling up for a few minutes until he heard the door open. He looked up, expecting to see Dream, but it was Blue who entered the room, walking over to Error. "Hey, you okay? Dream asked me to come get you for breakfast. We've got to leave here soon to go do universe clean up, but he wanted to see you first." Blue's kind and friendly demeanor made Error feel a little better. He had hardly ever talked to the monster, the longest conversation they had was when Error was holding him in the antivoid to annoy Ink. Error cringed at the thought. He had been sure at the time that their relationship was playful... he had never known Ink wanted to destroy him inside and out just for doing what he had to. He looked up at Blue and pulled himself into a sitting position. He was talking to him like he wasn't a dangerous, disgusting creature, he was regarding him like a friend, like he would any other living thing, and it warmed Error just to know such people existed, but that feeling was quickly dulled when he remembered that so did people like Ink...

Blue offered a hand, "Need help?" He smiled kindly. Error hesitated, then shook his hand, "SoRrY, I hAVe A Uh, IrrATiOnAL-" Error jumped as Blue interrupted him, "Oh! Right! Sorry, I totally forgot about your haphephobia! Can I help some other way?" He seemed so genuinely sorry for such a trivial thing, it made Error smile. "It'S AlRiGhT, I'vE GoT iT." He smiled and managed to pull himself up using the bedside table. Blue frowned, "Oof, morning sickness?" He gestured to the vomit. Error nodded softly, placing a hand on his stomach, "YeAh, I'm nOt FEeLiNg gReAt..." He considered adding that he was hungry, but he didn't want to risk angering him by making a request at the moment. "Aw, that's no good. Alrighty, I'll take the bag out, do you know where the dining room is?" Blue asked. Error nodded softly. "Okay, think you can make it?" Error nodded once more.

"Alright, I've got this, you go eat something now." Blue gave him another kind smile before turning and removing the vomit and trash filled bag from the small can. Error nodded and gave a soft smile in return, grabbing Dream's gift and shoving his knitting needles in his pocket before he went. He was still feeling quite sick, but hunger had mostly over taken it, and his stomach growled. He raised a hand up, rubbing the small bump, which had gotten bigger overnight. Ink's baby... this was Ink's baby... a child created from his own mental and physical destruction... he shook off the thought, no, this was his baby. Ink wasn't going to have power over him. He didn't want to let him. This baby wasn't going to be Ink's leverage. He wasn't going to be terrified, he was going to be happy that he was going to have a child. And he was about to go feed said child, and Ink couldn't do anything to stop him. He was going to have this baby, and everyone would find out what Ink did when they were born. And Ink wasn't a stranger Dream didn't know... he knew Ink's name and he would make sure every other poor soul Ink knew would know of his crimes, Ink would have nowhere to go. He was going to ruin Ink right back.

But if he really felt that way, why couldn't he bring himself to just tell Dream...?
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Sorry to make you guys wait so long for... garbage 💀
I've been struggling lately and it took me a full week of considering whether or not to post this chapter or rewrite it so please enjoy—