20 years later...

You sat on a chair, looking at your fingers as you nervously pinched the fabric of your clothes.

Gaster was in front of you, nervously pacing up and down the room as he was deeply engaged into the conversation with Asgore and Toriel. You didn't even listen to what they said as you were too deep in thought.

Your lip quivered slightly. In the corner of your eye you saw Gaster still pacing up and down and you bit your tongue. Thousand thoughts went through your head and your chest ached slightly.

You couldn't take it anymore.

You slammed your fists onto the armrest of the chair you sat on. Everyone abruptly stopped and turned to you.

"I get it! I am weird. An abomination!"

Your tears uncontrollably rolled down your face. Toriel instantly approached you and grabbed your hand, stroking it gently. The soft fur tickled against your skin but you were too focused on the thumping pain in your chest.

"Dear, there is nothing wrong with you. You are not an abomination..."

You were shaking uncontrollably.

The truth was...you were scared.

Scared of the situation.

But mostly of yourself.

You harshly stood up and looked at them.

"[Y/N]...", Asgore started but you interrupted him.

"I AM ALMOST 45 YEARS OLD AND STILL LOOK LIKE 22! NOTHING CHANGED ABOUT ME - NOTHING - I -"

Your legs gave in and you almost broke down. Gaster tried to catch you but since he couldn't keep you up properly he gently sat down onto the floor, guiding you down with him instead so you wouldn't get hurt.

You clawed his coat and buried your face in his chest.

"I am supposed to grow older and get wrinkly at some point but I am still here and still...this..", you sobbed and Gaster gently ran his fingers through your hair to try and calm you down.

It reminded you of the times where your mother held you like this and stroked your hair when you were scared. Your cries slowly calmed into smaller sobs and you slowly let go of Gaster's coat.

His magic hands floated right in front of you so you could see them without having to turn your head.

'You are a blessing. And you are special. So please don't be scared. We will work things out, okay?'

You didn't say anything.

'I am here for you. Like you are for me.'

One of his hands floated to your free hand and held it gently. It was weird to hold onto magic but something about it felt warm and familiar.

Asgore and Toriel knelt down with the both of you and rubbed your back reassuringly.
"This must be very confusing and scary for you, but we will do everything we can to support you and make you feel better.", said Asgore softly. "Since you are our Royal Doctor now, you should be able to figure things out, don't you Gaster?", he continued and looked at Gaster in worry.
He just nodded.

As the most knowledgeable monster in the underground, he recently received the title Dr. W.D. Gaster. He was responsible for a monster's well-being and creating new things and devices. His healing abilities were also rather great - even though monsters rarely get hurt since Home is pretty much safe.

Gaster let go of your hand to sign something to Toriel and Asgore. They gave each other a quick glance, before getting up and leaving the room quietly. You wiped away your tears and Gaster leaned back slightly to get a better look at you. His eye was glowing slightly purple. He was worried.

'Are you okay?', he signed and you nodded, sniffing a little. "Yeah, thank you G."
'G?'
"I am sorry, that slipped out. I just didn't want to say your full name.", you averted your eyes slightly flustered and looked away.

Gaster's arms were still wrapped around you but he slowly let go of you. 'It's okay. I like it.' He got off the floor and offered his hand to help you get up as well.

'I probably can't give you an immediate solution or reason for why this is happening to you but I am here for you. Anytime.'

You smiled at Gaster slightly.

'Just like you were for me.'

Flashback:

"Gaster, calm down, please...everything is okay! It's okay!" You carefully stepped through some of his attacks but some of them hurt you anyway. You didn't know how much damage you took but the bones he had summoned partially tore through your clothes and skin.

You didn't know what triggered it but when you arrived, things already were like that.

Of course, he was startled once more when you showed up. Gaster's eye was glowing brightly, rapidly changing between different colors. He was beyond terrified. His bones rattled and he cowered in the corner of the room, holding his skull.

With a calm voice you spoke soothing words to him as you kept taking slow and careful steps towards him. When you were close enough, you gently brushed his arms with your hands and pulled him into a tight hug.

Gaster was still quivering, his bones slightly rattling but he slowly calmed down. "Everything is okay, you are safe. Nothing can happen to you."

Gaster mumbled a few words to you, which you couldn't understand anyway but your talk helped apparently. The bones he had summoned around him, vanished again and you slowly pulled away from the hug. You stood up slowly and looked at Gaster.

As your eyes met, he instantly looked back down onto the floor. 'I hurt you again...'
You shrugged it off: "Pff, nothing a little healing and magic can't fix." Gaster hesitated but extended his hand. Confused, you took it and he pulled you down to you again, taking your other hand as well.

"Uhm Gaster-?"

'Just come here and let me heal you.', he signed and immediately started healing you. You couldn't help but blush as you sat there and watched him silently.

You kept staring at your hands and felt the pain leave your body. When Gaster was finished, he looked right into your flushed face and he couldn't help but blush a little himself, instantly letting go of your hands and his eye lighting up in pink.

"U-uh thank you", you managed to press out and he just nodded and stood up, straightening his clothes.
'It's the least I can do. I am sorry again, for everything.'

You stood up again as well and stretched your arms and legs a little to try and brush off your embarrassment.

"It's okay. That's what I am here for. I told you I would look out for you."

You both spent a lot of time together the past few years. No matter what, you always somewhat looked out for each other.

In the beginning, it was very hard for Gaster since you were a human and you occasionally triggered some of his panic attacks but you worked things out...together.

It took more than 10 years to get to where you are now but personally, you felt like you had built a rather good relationship with Gaster, considering everything you both had to go through.

Gaster sighed.

"Gaster?", you asked hesitantly, and he turned to you abruptly.

'I promise I won't let anything happen to you. I will be there.'

His sudden movement and talk startled you but at the same time you were moved.

Yes, there were many monsters in the underground who cared about you but with Gaster it just felt different. It felt like you were truly safe and somewhat...home? You didn't know exactly how he made you feel but he surely made you happy.

He would always hold a special place in your heart.

And you had the distinct feeling that he shared these feelings in one way or another.

Present:

'I stay true to my promise. We will find a way to overcome all of this.'

You nodded.

'Honestly...' You looked back at Gaster.

'I am kind of glad that things are the way they are right now...'

You were confused by what he exactly meant. Did he refer to your...condition?

'I mean, that you are not aging for some strange reason. I know this scares you - but, I was honestly afraid of...'

He stopped signing and took a deep breath, his gaze saddened: 'Losing you...I wouldn't know what to do if I wouldn't have you by my side anymore.'

Gaster... You didn't know that this is how he felt about you.

'It's just-you helped me through so much and I am afraid I would fall back into the pit without you.'

You walked up to him and hugged him tightly: "You may not know it but you are incredibly strong. Even without me, you would still do great and create great things. And even if I was gone, I would always be by your side. You just couldn't see me."

Gaster wrapped his arms back around you and took a deep breath. You remained like this for a while before joining Toriel and Asgore again.