The King turned to Toriel muttering something and Paps couldn’t help but noticing the audible gasp that had escaped Frisks mouth and she then turned her attention to Papyrus. “It...seems the Humans have finally noticed our absence. And they’re not too fond of us leaving dear.” Toriel informed him, “The King is sending Doggo, Dogamy and Dogaressa over to them with a treaty that we just want peace and that we’re going elsewhere to attain it since its obvious those humans refuse to leave us all alone… Hopefully it’ll work, since those three are the least threatening looking amongst our race…”

“Oh.” Was all Papyrus could say, holding his brother even more protectively, but he looked ready to fight and defend if need be, knowing that’s probably what Undyne was thinking as well.

“Should we wait? Especially since Doggos sight isn’t exactly the greatest.” Toriel asked, unable to hide the worry in her voice as she hugs Frisk closer remembering that man that threatened to take Frisk away. Especially since they’d just gotten reunited not even 36 hours ago.

Frisk hugged her mother, looking from her, to Papyrus to off in the distance where she could see some torches off in the horizon and then 3 smaller ones heading to the huge mass of them, as daylight was starting to go and get darker. 

“Yes, we’ll make camp here for tonight. That way those three will be able to return to us. Hopefully the humans will accept our Mercy.” King Asgore agreed, sending some Whimsalots to go and tell the others that here was where they’d make camp and to reset up the tents again.

Papyrus agreed as he gently laid Sans gingerly on the ground, wanting to help out with the tents and starting to get antsy. Frisk released Toriel's side, kneeling down beside Sans unconscious sleeping body and putting her bag down. “I can watch him Papyrus. I’ll make sure your brother won’t be trampled on.” Frisk offered, as Paps got his bag back from the Queen and laid it below Sans’s skull to act as a pillow.

“Thank You Human Frisk! Please Let Me or Toriel Know If Anything Happens While I am Away!” Papyrus replied, grateful. He hesitated a moment not wanting to get too far from his injured brother, and decided to still stay somewhat close by and look for Undyne to get Sans’s things too. ”I’ll Be Back.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on him.” Frisk said, as she removed Flowey from the little pocket on the side of her backpack setting him down on the ground, next to the fallen skeleton as Papyrus ran off.

“Are you sure it’s safe for Sans to even see me? I’m the cause of those injuries ya know.” Flowey frowned, staring at Sans unconscious form, watching as his chest slowly rose up and down in a gentle emotion.

“Yes Flowey, besides he’s sleeping. It’ll be fine.” Frisk told him firmly, watching over him. She saw Politics Bear backing up a bit to set up his tent and Frisk spoke up seeing he was close to tripping over Sans legs. “Hey! M-Mr. Bear, please be careful!! Sans is behind you!!”

“What?” Politics bear asked, turning around and seeing the injured skeleton. “OH! My apologies! I didn’t see you there.” He spoke up, stepping around Sans before putting the other end of the tent into the corner.

Hours passed as Frisk warned the monsters of where Sans was laying so as to prevent him from getting trampled and soon nearly all the tents had been put up as Sans began to wake up groggily. “...nn..?”  Sans groaned, his vision hazy.

“Oh dear. Hello Sans.” greeted Toriel, who happened to be close by, blocking Sans vision from seeing Flowey. “How are you dear?”

“nn, h-hiya tori. f-feel lous-sy…” Sans said, giving her a lopsided smile. Then he glanced around, “w-where’s th’ bro…?”

“Still helping put up the camps with Undyne. He should be back in a minute or so, there’s not that much to put up now.” Toriel told him, “We finished a bit ago, so I thought I’d help Frisk keep an eye on you.”

“h-heh...ya… s-sounds like him a’right.” Sans slurred, placing a hand to his chest over the spot where his SOUL was, protective. Rubbing at the spot a moment.

“...Still bothering you?” Toriel asked, and Sans hesitated a moment then nodded. “I’m sorry… Your...your SOUL. There’s not much we can do about it…” Toriel said wringing her hands together. 

“i...i know… ‘m s-sure...you all did th’ best you could though….” Sans slurred, still keeping his hand over his SOUL.

For a moment she watched as the Monsters started to settle down and even bring up places for a fire and help bring the beds out. Asgore sat a ways away, speaking to Undyne, Papyrus, Dogamy, Dogaressa and Doggo, possibly about the humans. Then she watched as Frisk was playing with Monster Kid and all the other monsters. 

“Thank you...Sans, for protecting my child… I just wish, you hadn’t been so badly wounded as a result of it. But...thank you, my friend.” Toriel told him finally, and she meant it. Sans simply stared at her for a moment, Flowey watching as well, just outside his hazy, blurry vision. And Sans made a slight shrugging motion. 

“h..heh...tori..it-it w-was bound to h-happen..anyways. w-with only 1hp and-and all. jus’ glad i could be u-useful...finally” Sans deadpanned.

“You are always useful, dear. Even with just having only 1HP.” Toriel told him firmly.

“tori.. look at m-me. if...if it w-weren’t for m-my brother and ev-everyone… i might not b-be here. let’s f-face it, i’m w-wrong. ev-everythin’ ab-bout me is wr-wrong. an’ now...heh...g-guess i got a n-new crack on m-my soul to prove it…” Sans shrugged. “i’m f-fallin’ apart… tori. so let’s stop pretending nothing’s wrong with m-me, alright?”

“Sans…” Toriel reached out placing a furry hand over his small, boney one. Sans flinched slightly to her touch, but didn’t pull away. “ Nothing is wrong with you, and nothing will be either, once you’re all healed. And your brother doesn’t think so either.”

“i guess…” He said, not entirely believing her. He winced, his hand tightening over his shirt slightly.

“We better get some food in you soon.” Toriel said standing up, then gently she reached over to lift up Sans from where he lay, not comfortable enough to leave the injured monster unattended to and helped him to sit up slowly.

Sans winced more, once again, dizziness hit him as he reached out suddenly grabbing her hand as his bones rattled. “ngh…!” He breathed, his sockets squeezing closed shut.

“Easy, easy Sans…” Toriel soothed, and waited a moment, letting him catch his breath. Noting how weak he still was, gently she scooped him up in his arms, carrying him in one arm. “Here you are, dear. Let’s go join the others, alright?”

“s...sure t.” Sans replied weakly, starting to fall asleep again slowly. Her fur soft against his bones. Toriel reached down as well, picking up Flowey and headed towards one of the fireplaces.

Sans shivered slightly seeing Flowey was so close to him, once more turning to a neutral expression around him, his hands moving over his SOUL more protective, and his breath hitching slightly.. Flowey frowned a bit at this, “Sans...I’m...sorry, for hurting you. I-I wasn’t me. I’ve changed, and-and I don’t want to hurt anyone again so-so pl-please try and understand, I wasn’t me back then okay?”

Sans didn’t seem to hear as he stared at the flower and his mind wandered back to vines going deep inside his ribcage and the gleaming red eyes and bones breaking and that sinister smile. “LET’S SEE HOW FUNNY YOU ARE, WITH A CRACK DOWN THE CENTER OF YOUR SOUL!!”

“Sans? Sans dear, please! Breath!” Toriel urged, noticing Sans had started to hyperventilate a bit, as she gently jostled the small skeleton in her arms a bit to snap him out of his memories. Sans gave a slight winced as he shut his eyes closed.

“s-s’rry, j-just…! just…” Sans struggled, his bones trembling slightly as he tried to control his breathing. “s-sorry…” Sans whimpered, purposely trying to look elsewhere and not at Flowey.

“Sans…?” Toriel asked, as she placed Flowey on a nearby bench, now closer to the center of their little temporary new campsite and she gently placed a hand over his skull, pumping gentle green magic through her fingers.

“‘m f-fine… t-tori. i’ll be okay. i j-just-just need to focus that’s all and-and breath. th-that’s all.” Sans tried, as he felt her magic starting to calm him down, his chest hurting slightly due to his SOUL acting up again. “‘m f-fine.”

“No, you’re not fine. You’re hurt. And you were traumatized, but you will be fine. Someday..” Toriel soothed, gently catching Sans attention, smiling as his eye sockets locked onto hers though he still looked unfocused, his vision blurry. “You will be.”

“h-heh...g-guess...i’m not all that cracked up as i used to be h-huh?” Sans slurred, apparently having not heard her as he was still lost in his thoughts. “this-this sure is a bum wrap ‘miright?” Sans gave Toriel a wink and a lopsided grin, still looking her in the eyes, and shocked expression.

“Sans…” Toriel uttered as Sans had kept going.

“what? you see it too, right t? hehehe...th-this is so humerus. hehehe…! ahaha… ha… haha…ha…..” Sans laughing slowly began to die down as he blinked a bit, as if just now realizing where he was and who he was with. “uhh… t-tori? i uh.. s-sorry… i think i lost it a b-bit there…”

“Yes dear….I think you did too...are you alright?” Toriel asked, concern in her voice as she continued to look at him a bit freaked out a little.

“uh y-yeah...j-jus’ needed….a little laugh? haha…” Sans stared back looking slightly nervous, as Toriel continued pouring a little more green healing magic into him, helping clear Sans mind more and more. “s-sorry f-for scarin’ you t.”

“Sans…” Toriel started, for a second looking quite cross with him, but her expression then softened, taking in his fragile state.  “it’s fine.” Toriel soothed, deciding perhaps it was still too soon for Sans to see Flowey just yet and then, keeping Sans attention on her, she looked around the camp for her child. “Frisk dear?!”

“Yes mom?” Frisk called, a few feet from her as she ran over to the two of them.

“Frisk, my child. Could-could you please take.. um…”

Frisk seemed to understand almost immediately, and nods. She walks a bit past them and reaches out to pick up Flowey from his post and quickly heads back over to MK and the other children to continue playing. Sans was too high up, still in Toriel’s arms with her furry hand over his skull to really notice what was going on.

Toriel smiled at her child then continued heading inside the cam, still keeping a furry paw to Sans skull, relaxing him a bit. As she headed further in the camp, then saw Papyrus and Undyne there heading back as well.

“Ah, Brother!!” Papyrus cried, as he quickened his pace and got over to Toriel.

Toriel slowly lifted her hand over Sans' skull, waving back to the taller skeleton. “Greetings Papyrus dear.”

Sans turned his skull towards his brother and reached for him, and Toriel gently handed Sans over to the taller skeleton who hugged him. “h-hey paps…” Sans replied weakly.

“Oh, Brother! I’m Sorry, I Got A Little Carried Away Wishing The Fellow Guards A Safe Trip Over To The Human Encampment And Helping Everyone With Their Tents And Getting Settled In For The Night. Are You Alright?” Papyrus enthused, carefully balancing Sans over his hip.

“He...had a little bit of an episode earlier, when he saw F-the flower. But, Frisk did a good job watching over him. We were just going to get him some food soon to soothe his soul.” Toriel explained. Sans shivered slightly against Papyrus’s bones clinging to him as Paps nodded.

“Me and Paps were just about to do that too!” Undyne had broken in before Papyrus could say much as she also came over looking over Sans. “Hey bud, you doin’ alright there?”

Sans made a half shrugging motion, before wincing again slightly, his hand moving to the spot over his chest, gripping at his shirt. 

“Oh, My Poor Brother. Worry Not, Sans! I Shall Make You My Best Spaghetti!” Papyrus gushed, holding his brother gently.

“Maybe not spaghetti yet. Papyrus dear, he still needs something light for now, not something that’ll take a lot of energy to absorb. At least not yet.” Toriel reminded him in a gentle manner, gently placing a hand to his shoulder. “I know how excited you are to start cooking for your brother, but he needs something more like, broth for example.”

Papyrus seemed to deflate a bit, but agreed. “Right.. I Was Just, Talking Aloud.” Paps blushed a bit, gently smoothing over the back of his brother. 

“I know dear, perhaps I can ask Alphys if she thinks it would be okay to heal him more… I would like Sans to get better sooner as well, dear.” Toriel affirmed, patting Papyrus back as they headed to where the main fireplace was and where Grillby and Muffet were hard at work making enough food for everyone. Toriel headed over to the two, ready to assist with her fire magic.

Sans looked over to his brother, seeing as he also wanted to help cook on his face expression, “b-bro...you...can put me d-down an’-an’ help too. i c-can h-hang with frisk and th’ others…” Sans slurred, not wanting to be babied much in front of the other monsters. 

Papyrus startled at this, he, Tori and Undyne giving him a strange look. “Brother, You Can Barely Keep Your Eyes Open Than Just A Few Minutes At A Time. I’m Not Sure….”

“h-hey, don’ i do that all th’ time an-anyways?” Sans gave a slight shrugging motion, still trying to convince him again. “i’ll b-be fine… an’ s-stay close by wi-with th’ kids.” Sans said, forcing out more strength into his words. “i don’ want to g-get in your way of m-my cool bro.”

Papyrus hesitated, especially so when he saw the concerned looks of Toriel and Undyne. “I- I Don’t Know…”

“Hey, what if I watched the little punk?” Undyne offered. “That way, you can also get in more cooking practice. And your bro can be safe at the same time.” 

“You’d Do That For Me?” Papyrus stammered, and Undyne quickly grabbed Papyrus by hooking an arm right around neck bones, being careful not to knock Sans out of his arms and started rubbing her knuckles into Papyrus’s skull. “NYEEEH!! PLEASE DON’T NOOGIE THE SKELETON!!” Papyrus chided, though he was laughing.

“Haha! Of course I don’t mind you freaking nerd!! I can watch the lazy punk for you, why the hell do you think I offered you big doofus?!” Undyne smirked, then carefully let go of him, letting Papyrus gain his footing again, before gently looking at Sans in the sockets. “You cool with that punk?”

Undyne carefully searched Sans’ expression and then, after receiving silent permission, Undyne carefully leaned forward and pulled Sans into her arms. Balancing him against her hip like she had seen Papyrus do on so many occasions. Sans tried to control his shaking as he seemed uncertain as to how to hold on to her, his hands hovering over her shoulder and chest before he reluctantly shifts his arms loosely around her neck. 

“th-thanks undyne.” 

“No problem punk. You just focus on getting better soon, alright?” Undyne declared, feeling him trembling slightly against her, as she placed a hand to his back to ensure he wouldn’t slip.