"Frisk get off that computer." Chara whined,"I'm bored."

     "Can't." Frisk said, not looking away from the screen,"Busy."

     "What even are you doing on there? You've been on it for like three days straight."

     "Researching souls."

"Frisk, c'mon. We've gone over this before. Didn't you tell me that it's pretty much hopeless?"

"I know, but... I don't know. I don't even know what to do. I just feel so useless."

     "I understand. But, Frisk, you need to listen to Asriel. Don't act all 'oh nooo, Asriel is gonna die' or 'he's already dead.' Stay with him. Just be there."

"I want to help him."

"Frisk, we can't. This is going to happen. So, either help him by being there or sit in here all day while his soul breaks. But you have to make up your mind."

     Frisk sighed,"Okay. But give me a minute, I wanna look at this article real quick."

     "Okay."

     "Oh, can you push Cory around in the stroller outside for a bit? I know he's small, but I want him to get some quiet. Maybe then he'll go to sleep."

     "Will do, Frisky."

     Chara picked up Cory, who was laying in his crib and quietly talking to himself, finally taking a break from screaming his lungs out. She opened her mouth to say something to Frisk, who had turned back to the computer, but stopped. She glanced at the bags under Frisk's eyes and sighed, shaking her head.

---

     Chara took a breath of the cool air and shivered, a chill going up her spine. She again felt the strange sensation of being watched. She pushed the stroller farther down the driveway, looking down the street, when a voice called out, making her jump.

     "Howdy, Chara..."

     "Asriel! Why are you..." She looked around for him, finally locating her brother sitting next to a window... on the roof?"Uh, Azzi, what are you doing?"

     He chuckled, stretching his feet,"Getting away from mom."

     "Driving you insane, is she?"

     "Quite. I can't..." He took a breath, blinking slowly,"I won't be stuck in there while I'm, y'know."

     "Yeah, I know. Uh, Asriel, I-"

     Asriel cocked his head, listening to something,"Okay, mom's calling me. So I've gotta go for now. Hey, Chara?"

     "Yes?"

     "Don't worry about me, okay?" His eyes glittered, with something Chara was shocked to understand as raw determination that was sparking in his gaze,"I'll be fine."

     He rolled back through the still open window and crashed onto the floor, causing Chara to unwillingly giggle. She quickly silenced herself, thinking about what he said.

     "Don't worry about me." She muttered, pushing the stroller in circles,"'I'll be fine' he says. The little liar."

     She sighed again, cursing mentally. This was hardly believable, what was happening to him. Pulling Cory out of his stroller she plopped down on the grass, leaning against a tree and propping him against her knees. Humming softly, she tried to push away the dark thoughts.

Minutes went by, and Cory soon fell asleep in her lap. Chara started to feel drowsy, the sun warming her even though the air was still cold. She was on the edge of sleep when when another voice called out to her.

"Hey, Chara? Is that you?"

That voice was strangely familiar, but Chara couldn't place it until she opened her eyes.

"Kahn? What are you doing here?"

"I was just passing through, and I saw you out here and I wanted to say hi."

"Well, hi."

They were silent, awkwardness flowing through them.

Kahn took a breath,"So, you never texted..."

"Um, yeah, I've been kinda busy." She motioned to the baby.

He didn't answer that, just looked at the ground and walked a few steps closer. Chara stood up, cradling Cory against her chest. She could see that his large brown eyes were shining with an emotion she couldn't place. She heard his breathing speed up slightly, and felt confusion spark inside of her.

     "Kahn? Are you okay?"

     He seemed to snap back to reality, shaking his head,"Yeah, I'm okay."

     He glanced around and rubbed the back of his neck. Chara randomly found it really annoying that he was taller than her and that she had to look up to see his eyes. She was startled and rather frightened of his sudden appearance and the strange emotion burning in his gaze.

     "I've got to go inside. To, uh, put him in his bed." She cringed inwardly at the lame excuse, but hoped he would buy it.

He just looked at her, and Chara exploded,"Why are you looking at me like that?! If you have to say something, say it!"

"N-no, I..." He trailed off, and Chara turned away.

She started back to the house, but he caught her by the elbow and turned her back around. Chara felt her breath catch in her throat as he looked intently at her. Then, he did what no one but one person had ever dared to do in the last six years.

He kissed her.

Chara was so shocked that, for a few heartbeats, she couldn't ever resist. Then she came to her senses and pulled away quickly, her eyes wide.

She was startled by the genuine hurt in his eyes,"I-I... K-Kahn, I'm s-sorry-"

"N-no, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have don't that, I don't know what came over me I just..." He sighed, locking eyes with her, and Chara couldn't read his emotions anymore,"You're so beautiful..."

Wide, nervous brown eyes met shocked red ones. His hands shaking, he ran off, disappearing around the corner almost as fast as he had appeared. Chara stared at the spot he had just occupied, still not comprehending what had just happened.

Okay, so on top of the whole Asriel debacle, the baby, and Frisk's sudden antisocial tendencies, I have this. I don't even know what to think about him right now. I have far to much to deal with already, so this is fan-flipping-tastic.

Howdy fellas. While writing this, I listened to a loop of Carry on my Wayward Son. Oh, I hope you're prepared for the next chapter, cause it's a heartbreaker ;)