AN: 

i do not ship frisk and sans romantically. just as good ol moirails :^)))

this chapter contains broken writing and  anxiety/panic attacks that made me a lil bit uncomfy too tbh. be careful if thats not for you!! ll explain the ending later, ya lil cuties. thank you as always for supporting my story! <333 loVE YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD TIME CRYING

also please i repeat this is NOT A ROMANTIC FRISK x SANS CHAPTER. they have both been through so much and they just. get eachother. ykno. theyre just good friends and they understand what everythings like. 

***

Frisk laid in their bed, eyes still behind their eyelids.  The thick blankets were pulled up to Frisk's bruised chin. They appeared to be asleep. Their body twitched ever so slightly as they slept, as if having a nightmare. They didn't deserve this. They deserved none of the things happening to them. Was that just how it was supposed to be? That, no matter how hard anyone tries, humans and monsters just don't mix? Sans' (nonexistent) stomach lurched at the thought.

He shook his head. It was him that didn't mix. Toriel was doing her job as a mother, as Papyrus and Undyne were doing theirs as royal guardsmen and guardsmen to be. Mettaton wished to protect humanity, selfish reason or no; It'd just been Sans hurting Frisk for a reason as simple as he was "nervous." Which... was wrong. It was wrong, and even now he still didn't really trust Frisk. And he didn't feel nearly as bad as he should. He gazed back at the child once more, before they suddenly lurched upwards.

They immediately grasped their head, grimacing.
"Be careful! Please, lie back down," Toriel urged, smoothing out Frisk's bangs. The child was nuzzled between the blankets and fluffed pillows placed around them. Still, Frisk was awake. They seemed determined (as always,) yet hazy - they seemed to be trying to grasp thought that was escaping their fretful mind. 

Their eyes flicked to the bedside table by them. Generous helpings of food were placed - and, upon further inspection, Frisk noticed it all seemed chilled (to the bone.) Still, Frisk, not being the picky type, picked up a crumbling cold pie slice and graciously popped it in their mouth. They swallowed, grinned, and turned to their family. [ HP FULLY RESTORED. ] Said family, practically waiting with baited breath as Frisk nonchalantly ate, gasped and pulled Frisk into a hug. 

"Oh, I was so scared you might not come back to us." Toriel whispered, squeezing the child tight. Frisk giggled a bit and shook their head. Smiling brightly at everyone, they turned to Sans specifically. 

'It's okay,' Frisk signed. Silence flooded over the room. 

"Not really. You trying to get yourself killed, or?" He tried to seem as lighthearted as Frisk was but his voice came out as rough sarcasm. Still, Frisk understood, as they always did, and beckoned Sans over. Smiling even brighter, Frisk pulled the skeleton in for a hug ad buried their still bruised face into his jacket. Hesitantly, he hugged back.

"I'm sorry."
'It's okay'
"It's not. I'm sorry, Frisk."
'It's okay, really I'm fine' They signed, though tears began to run down their flushed cheeks. Hugging tighter, Frisk their fingers about a tad more secretly, to make sure only Sans could see what they were to say next. 

 'You can't keep me dead for too long.' 

Sans stiffened for a moment - then grinned. The chuckled a bit, then laughed so fully he felt like he was going to cry - which he also began to do. Laughing, crying, and squeezing Frisk tighter, Sans began to think; he was here, sitting next to his best friend, bloody because of him, joking of their determined gift/curse that had ruled over both of their lives for years. Frisk laughed too, shoulders trembling from fear and crying and pain, and signed a shaky "i love you" and Sans just nodded, smiling as tears ran down his face. 

"Love you too, kid. More than you can ever, ever know." He whispered, still clutching the child in his arms - no, Frisk wasn't a child. Not mentally, anyway. Becase of the resets and their experiences of timeline after timeline after death after timeline, Frisk had seen and been through so much. They could have any reason to be cold and murderous, to seek revenge on those who hurt them. Then did it again. And again.

And yet here they were, in his arms, his best friend, heart golden and determined as ever to make everyone happy. In fact, they'd have died for Sans' happiness.

They... they did die for Sans' happiness. 

And he had hurt them again.

He suddenly pulled back, still smiling, still crying, but unable to meet Frisk's eyes. He pat Frisk on the head and backed up, wrapping his arms around himself. 
"It's pretty late. We should let Frisk sleep." Sans turned to Toriel for her choice - despite her soft spoken voice and kindness, she held absolute authority over this house.

"I agree. Frisk, it's been a long day. Goodnight, my child." Frisk seemed ready to protest, their fingers raising to sign their point of view - but Toriel swooped in instead, planting a small kiss on Frisk's forehead and hugging them a final time. As Toriel shut off the light, she quietly spoke.

"I love you, Frisk. Goodnight."
"Goodnight!" Papyrus whispered as quietly as he could.
"Night! Get well soon," Undyne borderline threatened. 
"Yes, Goodnight, Fr-" 
"G-Goodnight!" Alphys smiled, talking over Asgore. 
Sans just stared, his expression unreadable in the dark room. 

Goodnight, Frisk signed, distracted and trying to peer at Sans' expression. 

"No fussing, Frisk. You need your rest. Sweet dreams," Toriel shut the door with a small creak. Thumps of the monsters heading down the hall could be heard. 

Frisk clutched their pajamas, feverish and fighting back tears forming in their aching eyes.
Sans felt as awful and to blame as he had when Frisk found him.
And it was their fault.

They found themselves breathing faster, hands sweating and beginning to pull at their hair. 

Ju s tlike how ev eryth i ng i s  th eir fault, , ri ght/?? ?   they can t do anythin  g right they cant do anything right they  CANT