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"NIGHTMARE!" Error banged on the door. "Check your phone right now!"
"My phone's been dead for a few days. Why even should I?" Nightmare asked.
"It's Cross! Just look!"
". . ."
"Nightm-" The door swung open. "Holy fuck-! You look terrible." Error was correct, Nightmare's hair was uneven and messy. He wasn't wearing his eyepatch and his other eye was red and puffy, he obviously cried a lot. He was holding onto the door frame to hold himself up, his other hand was on his chest which rose and fell rapidly.
"D-did you say Cross. . ?" Nightmare's voice broke as he asked the question.
Error was a little more sympathetic now. "Yeah, here." He showed Nightmare the text. One of Nightmare's tendrils began to wag only the slightest bit. He was silent, trying to process this.
"He texted again." Nightmare smiled. Error moved the screen so that they both could see.
'I'm heading to NM's place'
'See you all in...'
'About an hour'
Cross is Offline
"He's coming here!" Nightmare's tendrils were definitely wagging now. "I'll- I'll be right back-!" Nightmare went to his room and closed the door.
Error went downstairs. "How'd it go?" Dream asked.
"He's definitely a lot happier." Error smiled.
"That's great! We should wait for Cross now." Everyone started to chatter about what just happened when a thud was heard at the stairs followed by fast footsteps. Nightmare ran towards the front door and drove away in the car.
...
Nightmare came back a while later. He had a large bouquet of flowers with him. He came inside and stood by the door, waiting. Eventually, he got tired and sat down. However, his eyes never left the door.
"Are you going to sit there like a puppy waiting for Cross to come back?" Error asked.
"Of course."
...
Ding-dong. Nightmare immediately stood up from his position and reached for the doorknob.
What if it isn't Cross?
What if it's his dad?
What if it's a trap?
What if Cross is actually dead?
Nightmare hesitated. No, he'd take any change if it meant seeing Cross again. Nightmare opened the door.
Heterochromic eyes looked at him fondly. "Hey, love. . ." Cross smiled. Nightmare fell to his knees, crying and smiling at the same time. Cross sat down in front of him. "It's so nice to see you again." Nightmare's tendrils yanked Cross to his lap. He kissed Cross like he just found out what kissing was. Neither of them got a chance to breathe as Nightmare kept on linking their lips over and over. Those kisses moved to his cheeks, then his forehead, then his neck. Basically anywhere Nightmare could see.
Nightmare pulled away, breathless. "I-I got these for you." Nightmare presented him with the bouquet.
"You're so sweet." Cross kissed his cheek while taking the flowers. Nightmare tried to pick him up, but failed. "Oh. Oh, no. . . Night, please tell me you didn't hurt yourself after I left. . ."
"I-. . ." Nightmare sighed. "I'm so sorry. . ."
"Let's talk about this later, okay?" Cross asked. Nightmare nodded. Cross looked past Nightmare. "Are the others here?"
"Mhm."
"Let's go then."
"Okay." Nightmare followed as Cross went to the living room
"I'm back~!"
It was a very eventful day.
And to answer your question, Cross lived bc XGaster kept him in the basement
