This had to be the worst day of Nightmare's life....or the best. He wasn't sure. It was humiliating to be kneeling down in front of his own twin brother, begging for forgiveness of everything he'd done... But at the same time, Nightmare was able to feel again. Love, happiness, relief... That did feel pretty good, he had to admit.
     But still... with Dream looking down at Nightmare like this, the older twin brother couldn't help but feel a stab of regret, and even fear. Fear that his brother wouldn't accept his apology.
     "Please... Please, I..." Nightmare's voice quivered in regret, "I'm so...sorry... forgive me, brother..." he lowered his head, "I'll do anything..."
     Nightmare hated being so vulnerable. But if it took being vulnerable to get his brother back... then so be it.
     Dream knelt beside his older twin brother and pulled him into a hug.
     Feeling his brother's loving embrace only made Nightmare break down further. Back to his original form in his jacket, pants and boots, he hugged Dream back tightly, sobbing into his shoulder.
     "Thank you..."
     "You're my brother... I'll always forgive you... for anything."
     Nightmare hugged his brother tighter as he continued sobbing.
     "I...love...you....Dream..."
     "I love you too, brother."

--Years later, Nightmare's renewed void--

     Nightmare paced around his old throne restlessly. Dream had been spending most of his time with Ink Sans, leaving Nightmare to do his own thing. Usually 'his own thing' was just this -- pacing around in his void. Thinking. If even that.
     After hours of doing nothing, Nightmare remembered an old enemy of his. Abyss Sans. The feathery mess that had refused to join Nightmare and his army all that time ago.
     Sighing, Nightmare thought it over. With a single snap of his fingers, he teleported to Abysstale. Abyss happened to be right there in front of where Nightmare teleported.
     "W-woah--!?" Abyss tripped in alarm and fell forward. Quickly, Nightmare stepped forward and caught the falling winged Sans, steadying him.
     Once Abyss had found his footing, he did nothing but blink and stare at Nightmare. "...Who are you?" he eventually asked warily.
     "Ahah... If I told you, you wouldn't believe me," Nightmare responded with a wink.
     "...Whether I believe you or not will be my choice. Tell me your name or leave my AU." Abyss's eyes narrowed.
     "Well... If you insist," Nightmare cleared his throat, "My name is Nightmare."
     There was a long silence that stretched out for several heartbeats. Minutes, even.
     "You're lying." Abyss gasped at last, taken aback.
     "Why would someone lie about being THE Nightmare Sans?" Nightmare raised an eyebrow, his voice dissolving into a chuckle at the end of his sentence, "Look, I'M not proud to be me, but I did come back just to apologize. Maybe even just talk for a while."
     Abyss was still looking at Nightmare like he'd sprouted a second head. "I don't believe you," Abyss's voice was quivering, "Prove it."
     "How do I prove that I am who I say I am?"
     "Tell me something about myself that only the real Nightmare Sans would have seen." Abyss looked sure of himself.
     "Are you sure you want me to do that, love?" Calling others 'love' was a habit of Nightmare's and seemed to throw Abyss off.
     "Ex...cuse me?"
     Not seeming to realize what the problem was, Nightmare just looked confused now. "I asked you..." he spoke slowly, "if you were sure that you wanted me to tell you something," another pause, "that only the real Nightmare would know."
     ...Another moment-long silence.
     "....Yes. I am sure. Go on. I'm listening."
     With a sigh, Nightmare nodded. "When you got trapped in these bad boys..." Nightmare summoned the tentacles from his back. They were something that, since Nightmare's reformation, never went away, "You thought it felt GOOD."
     Abyss's face turned blue. "Excuse me??" He repeated, but Nightmare didn't answer.
     With a smirk and another raise of his eyebrow, Nightmare went on. "When you get angry, worked up, or embarrassed, your wings ruffle up. That happened pretty much every time you saw me. I'm guessing it was out of anger most times though."
     Abyss spread his wings to full extent so Nightmare couldn't see that his feathers were already ruffling in frustration and embarrassment.
     "Need I go on?" Nightmare asked innocently.
     "N...o..." Abyss wrapped his wings around himself and backed away. "I believe you." he said with a quieter voice.
     "Alright... So are you going to allow me to stay? I honestly have nothing else to do." Nightmare retracted his tentacles into his back again.
     Hesitantly, Abyss nodded. "Fine... You can stay for a while." Abyss eyeballed Nightmare, "...Just to TALK."
     With a chuckle, Nightmare held up his hands in defense. "Just to talk. I promise, love."

                                                                       --END OF PART 1--