The Broken Resets

Chapter 4: Realizing Neglect

After that first time, I spent a lot more time with Asriel and Chara. Toriel frequently asked me to watch them, especially on days where she didn't have much else for me to do. Sometimes I would even be their teacher for the day, like a substitute, not that they seemed to know what that was.

"Well you see, it's been a long time since the monsters had a proper school. Queen Toriel's always wanted to build one, but never has." Gaster explained to me. It made sense in a way. They were practically refugees, or even hostages. They had one library despite four sections. I decided that if I ever got to return to my own timeline that I would offer to teach at Toriel's school. I could even teach about human things.

But for the time being I settled with Toriel's approved lessons for Asriel and Chara.

When I wasn't teaching them, I cooked for them, played games for them, I even helped Asriel read better. Oh gosh the little goat monster was just too cute. It didn't take him long to warm up to me. Whenever he saw me he would instantly run over and hug me, tell me about his day so far, and generally stick with me until I had to leave. I saw Chara get jealous at times, so I would usually suggest an activity I knew Chara liked, or ask Chara about their day, try to get them to feel better.

Why I was doing this for the demon who tried to erase me, I didn't know. Maybe I just had strong maternal instincts.

I often helped Gaster with his kids too. I played with Papyrus and Sans while the older skeleton worked, prepared food for everyone, since skeletons still needed to eat, despite our lack of digestive systems, and I would tuck the boys into bed and read them a story, when Gaster was up too late to do it.

"I know you're not our mom, Arial, but... You'd make a great one." A sleepy Sans once said to me as I finished reading to the two sweet monsters. His words took me by surprise, but I smiled softly and kissed them both on the head.

"And you make a very good son." I said, "And I know your father is proud of you." I said softly. This earned a smile from the older brother, Papyrus already fast asleep, but the littlest skeleton was smiling all the same.

I exited the boys' bedroom before moving to find Gaster, who was still calculating something in his personal lab. "What are you up to?" I asked him calmly, leaning against the doorframe.

"I'm trying to figure out how I ended up in the void... Perhaps this time I could avoid it... And watch my sons grow up properly." He said, and I sighed, moving over to him. "Gaster, I thought you said everything was to go the way it's supposed to..." I stated, running my boney hand over his smooth skull. His tense shoulders relaxed as he turned to look at me.

"I... I know, but..." He sighed.

"You know I'm right Gaster. Besides, if you don't return to the void, we loose our access to the code, and possibly our only chance to stop the demon." I said. We had started referring to Chara as "The Demon" whenever we were referring to what Chara had done.

"And besides, while you're in here, calculating and testing, you haven't even realized you're missing your sons grow up all over again." I said, watching as his eyes widened at my words, an expression of realization swept over his face. In that moment I knew he knew I was right. I suddenly felt his skeletal arms wrap around me in a surprisingly warm hug, while he remained sitting, his head resting against my rib cage, just below my breasts, which were just created by magic, but it seemed that's how things worked for Skeletons. Sometimes magic fills in where flesh would be.

"You're right... I'm neglecting my sons in my efforts to lengthen my time with them, even though I know I should be spending more time with them..." He said and sighed. "I just got so caught up in the possibility of a do-over... That I forgot what really mattered." He stood up then, standing much, now practically towering over me.

He gently held me again, and I felt a strange comfort in his arms. I had to remind myself not to think too much about this. While in this timeline our ages were similar, back in the one I came from, I was about the same age as Asriel and Chara, not to mention Sans. Meaning those who were my peers for the time being, were old enough to be my parents. Still, I couldn't bare myself to break the hug, not just for him, but for myself.

My arms only tightened as I remembered the devastating reality I was experiencing. A world where I shouldn't exist, a timeline from which I would have been erased had Gaster not saved me. He was the only reason I was alive. He seemed to sense my inner turmoil and began petting my head, soothing away the magical tears that burned my eye sockets. This was not the first time I had cried since arriving.

"And I'm afraid, that my sons aren't the only thing I've neglected since this timeline began..." Gaster said suddenly. "Sometimes I forget you're not just a monster, but you're a lost soul, trapped in our world against your will..." He said as I hid my face in his lab coat. "I need to remember to take care of you, just as much as you take care of everyone." He added, making me blush.

"Tell me, Arial... What did you do do fun on the surface?" He asked with a smile as I looked up at him.

"Sometimes Frisk and I would have picnics in a field by our house. There were trees, and a crystal clear lake we'd swim in..." I explained, peering up at him.

"That reminds me, you've never seen Waterfall..." His smile only grew. "It's settled then, the four of us will go on a picnic in Waterfall tomorrow. The boys have been asking to go for a while anyways." He declared. I chuckled.

"I'm supposed to watch Asriel and Chara tomorrow." I explained, even though I wanted so badly to join him.

"Well, I suppose we could allow those two to tag along...." I knew he was apprehensive about Chara.

"You were in the void, Chara wouldn't be able to know that you changed the code, it'll be okay. I'll watch him." I said with a smile, and Gaster smiled.

The older Skeleton suddenly picked me up and placed me in my room, on top of my bed.
"We'll figure it out tomorrow..." He said, when I suddenly felt something strange on the top of my skull. A... Kiss?

"Good Night... Arial."

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Yay! Despite my stress, got the newest Chapter done. Some cuteness between Gaster and Arial. As always I have some questions on my chapters, so here's today's!

What sort of events should the six encounter at Waterfall?

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, unfortunately I will be a bit slow on posting for a little while due to my school schedule, I've got a lot of work to do. I'll be done school by the afternoon of April 29th... Forever. That's so scary!!! :P

Also thinking of turning this story into a comic, what do you think? I'm in school for animation btw.