Chapter 4 – Much Ado About Baby

"SO LET'S SEE IF I GOT THIS, TWO MONSTERS SHARE A PIECE OF THEIR SOUL WHICH THEY COMBINE TOGETHER TO MAKE A NEW ONE AND THAT GROWS AND BECOMES A BABY?" Papyrus asked.

"Right and because they are made this way, either the mom or the dad can carry it until it is ready to survive on its own," Toriel responded to his query.

"WOWIE, I DIDN'T KNOW WE COULD DO THAT!"

Frisk nodded in agreement, still trying to soak in the details.

Sans lounged on the couch in the living room as his listened in on the conversation. He had excused himself a moment earlier while his brother, Frisk and Toriel stayed in the dining room. His girlfriend was the more ideal person to explain such a delicate topic to the two than he was so the skeleton let her go over of the details on how baby monsters were made on her own.

Surprisingly, Sans felt pretty good after revealing that he was expecting to his family. Because it was out in the open now, he no longer had to worry about trying to hide the growing soul and the symptoms that came with it. As he stretched out, finally at ease, the expectant skeleton started to wonder why he felt the need to try and hide it at all. Probably just a force of habit from all of the things he had hidden from his brother over the years.

While Toriel went over "the Tsuderplanes and the Whimsums," as some monsters called it, to Frisk and Papyrus, Sans pulled out his cell phone from a jacket pocket, selecting Undyne from his contacts list. He began to send the fish monster a text message:

* welp, I did it, I told them about the kid

* Great! How did they take the news?

* toriel was thrilled, or course

* frisk and papyrus were… a bit confused, to say the least

* toriel is giving them "the talk" right now

* lol that's gonna be interesting…

* Mind if I tell Alphys the news now that you've let them know?

* not at all

* Thanks

* btw, expect to get a lot of messages soon

* You know how she is

* i wouldn't be surprised, lol

*Knew it, she's freaking out!

*in a good way, right?

*Definitely

*Oop, she's posting, Better clean out your inbox!

* on it. ttyl

* Bye "mom"!

* lol, bye

Just like Undyne sent, a moment after he had ended the conversation, a small notification appeared on his phone's screen about him being mentioned in a post on a social media site.

OMG Sansational87 is preggers! Congrats to the future mom and his girlfriend Goatmama #skelemom #MsDadGal #UnclePapyrus #BigSibFrisk

It only took another minute after seeing that post for his inbox to start flooding up with messages from various monsters (and a few humans, remarkably) sending their well-wishes to the "mother."

"wow, and I though news spread fast when we were still in the underground!" he chuckled to himself before turning his attention to the womb-like barrier and the young soul that dwelled within it. "looks like you've already got a lot of people that can't wait for you to get here."

"So, you two have any questions?" Toriel asked as they came to the end of their conversation.

"Not right now," Frisk responded, getting the gist of what their mother had told them.

"All right but if you do don't be afraid to ask."

"ME TOO?" the lean skeleton added.

"You too, Papyrus."

"So, can we go now?" Frisk asked.

"Yes, you can leave, my child."

The child got up from their seat and made a beeline back to their room to finish their homework.

"And Papyrus, before you leave, if you even need to know, um, the more mature version, just let me know."

The younger skeleton was a bit confused by what she meant by "more mature version." "THERE'S ANOTHER VERSION OF 'THE TALK'?" he responded after a moment of silence.

"Well, yes. I couldn't use it though because Frisk was in the room but you're an adult. However, you don't need to know right this moment if you don't want to."

"OKAY, TORIEL." Papyrus was kind of glad she wasn't going to tell him now. He wasn't sure he could handle it after just learning where little monsters came from and on top of that that his brother was carrying one of his own. "I'LL… LET YOU KNOW."

The boss monster softly smiled at him as he got up from his seat at the table. She was glad that she wouldn't have to go through that version at the moment as well. Right now she'd rather spend some time with her boyfriend and their future child.

Sans was starting to feel like himself again thanks to Toriel sharing her magic to make sure he had enough for both him and the child. However, thanks to her little conversation with Frisk and Papyrus the other night, they wouldn't stop bothering the two with so many questions. Half of the time they were about how he was feeling, if he needed anything or he had been doing what he was supposed to in order to make sure the baby would come into this world strong and healthy. The rest were just queries they had about the future member of their family.

"HEY, SANS," Papyrus said, trying to get his brothers attention while he was straightening up the living room.

"what now, papyrus?" Sans groaned, dreading another long conversation with him about the baby.

"ARE YOU SURE YOU SHOULD BE DOING THAT IN YOUR CONDITION?"

"i told you it's fine. i'm pregnant, not dying! besides, it's not like i'm trying to do construction or anything like that."

"OKAY, I'M JUST MAKING SURE THAT…"

"…i'm taking care of myself and the baby. i know, i know. you sound like a broken record right now."

"WELL FORGIVE ME FOR BEING A CONCERNED UNCLE! SOMEONE'S GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON YOU WHILE TORIEL IS AT WORK!"

"well you're doing a great job, helicopter parent," there was a tone of sarcasm in Sans' voice.

"AND WHAT'S THAT SUPPPOSE TO MEAN?" his brother placed his hands on his hips as he started back at him.

"ever since i told you that i was having a baby, you haven't stopped treating me like a child and it's getting on my nerves!"

"WELL SORRY!" Papyrus then left the room, fuming.

The expectant brother groaned in exasperation as he went back to cleaning up.

Meanwhile, Toriel was at work grading some tests when a familiar voice greeted her from the classroom door. It was her ex-husband and the school's groundskeeper. Even though they were unable to totally repair their relationship, they managed to stay on good terms as friends.

The teacher looked up from her desk. "Hello there, Asgore," she greeted as she took off her reading glasses. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard that you and Sans are expecting and I wanted to congratulate you two."

"Oh, thank you."

"So… does it feel odd?"

"If by 'odd' you mean that I'm not the one carrying the child, then yes and before you say anything, we are not going to name it Soriel or Torans." Toriel said matter-of-factly. "You knew you were always bad at naming things."

"Uh, yeah. Well, I also wanted to stop by and give you these." Asgore pulled out a bouquet of golden flowers and a wrapped package from behind his back. "It's my way of wishing the both of you good luck with your growing family. The flowers are for you and the gift is for Sans."

"Thank you very much," the teacher smiled as she took the items. "Now, I better get back to work if I want to get home on time tonight."

"Same here. I just wanted to stop by. Anyway, congrats again."

"Thank you." Toriel placed the gifts on her desk and put her glasses back on. "Hmm, Torans could work though," she said to herself before shaking her head. "No, we can be more creative than that."

Later that night, Sans sat in the living room flipping through various TV channels, waiting for his girlfriend to return. He was right on the edge of exploding and he hoped he could find something to watch to distract him from Papyrus.

"SANS?" his brother called.

Ugh, not again, the short skeleton thought. "what is it this time, bro?"

"WELL, FRISK AND I WERE TALKING AND WE BOTH WANT TO KNOW HOW LONG UNTIL THE BABY GETS HERE."

"listen, this my first so i wouldn't know. probably a few months at least. why don't you ask tori when she gets home? she would know more about his than i would."

"OKAY…"

"I'm home," Toriel said, closing the front door behind her a moment later.

"oh, thank god!" Sans responded as she came into the house, flinging himself against the back of the couch.

"Something wrong, dear?" the boss monster asked as she entered the room.

"oh, it's just papyrus. he's been driving me up the wall today with all of his questions and concerns. i don't think i could've taken anymore!" He was so infuriated that he didn't even notice the items Toriel was carrying.

"Don't be too hard on your brother, Sans. This is all new for him as well so there's bound to be some things he's going to ask you about."

"yeah but I wasn't expecting it to be all at once."

"Well you can relax now. I'll take over from here tonight."

"thanks, i owe ya."

"You already have," Toriel kissed the top of Sans' skull. "By the way, this is for you." She took the box from her arm and handed it to her boyfriend. "It's from Asgore. Just his way of saying congratulations."

"oh, that was nice of him." The expectant skeleton placed the gift onto his lap. "so, should I open it now or…?"

"No, go right ahead. You probably need something to help lift your spirits."

Sans untied the ribbon and ripped open the paper, revealing the box beneath it. Out of the box he pulled out a shirt that said "Mr. Mom Guy" on it.

Toriel chuckled a bit, comparing the shirt to the sweater her ex had gotten years ago as a present from her and their late son. "Boy, that takes me back."

"looks more like something papyrus would have in his closet. if i didn't know that asgore gave it to me, i would have thought it was from my brother." Sans attempted to correct himself, feeling like he just made a faux paus. "not that it's a bad thing, though. i mean, it's the thought that counts."

His girlfriend tried not to laugh as she nodded.

The next several days drove the two expectant parents up the wall, especially during the weekend. Frisk and Papyrus kept on asking all of their questions and each parent kept passing off the two to each other as if they were the ball in a tennis match. Eventually it drove Sans and Toriel so crazy that both parents snapped at them to stop. They were so relieved when Monday arrived, which meant Toriel had work, Frisk had school and Papyrus went over to Alphys and Undyne's for their weekly cooking session.

The younger skeleton had really improved in his cooking skills the last few months thanks to Toriel's help that now he was the one teaching Undyne. Lately he had been trying some healthier recipes to make for Sans and the unborn baby. They were pretty good but he always left such a big mess in the kitchen afterwards, much to the boss monster's dismay.

"We did it!" Undyne grinned as she marveled at their newest creation. "Alphy will love this one!"

"SHE SHOULD, IT LOOKS ALMOST JUST LIKE THE ONE IN THAT MOVIE YOU SAID SHE WAS WATCHING THIS WEEKEND," her friend responded.

"Yeah and it only took three tries to get it right this time!"

Papyrus glanced up at the clock on the microwave as he started to clean up. "IT'S GETTING LATE. I PROMISED THE HUMAN I WOULD BE BACK EARLY SO WE CAN PLAY THE VIDEO GAME THEY'RE BORROWING TOGETHER."

"You go ahead and head on home; I'll take over from here."

"REALLY? THANKS UNDYNE!"

"No problem. Oh, and take these with you." Undyne went to the coat closet and grabbed a bag and a wrapped box.

"MORE PRESENTS?" Papyrus complained.

"What do you mean 'more presents'?"

"OH, TORIEL BROUGHT HOME A COUPLE OF PRESENTS FOR HER AND SANS FROM ASGORE SEVERAL DAYS AGO AND THE NEXT DAY SOME OF THE TEACHERS GAVE HER A COUPLE OF GIFT BASKETS. JUST THIS MORNING METTATON SENT OVER THIS GIANT STUFFED ANIMAL!" The skeleton flung his hands into the air in annoyance.

"Well, having a baby is a big deal."

"BUT SHE'S NOT EVEN THE ONE HAVING IT! MY BROTHER IS!"

"Sounds like you're getting a bit jealous there, buddy."

"I'M NOT; I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BECOMING AN UNCLE BUT EVERYONE IS MAKING SUCH A BIG DEAL OVER IT."

"But weren't you just saying that you got yelled at the other day for bugging Sans all day about the nibling?"

Her friend paused for a bit and blushed, feeling a bit sheepish. "I GUESS I AM TOO…"

Undyne smirked. "See? Things will calm down after a while. Not a lot of monsters have been born since we all came above ground so there's a lot of excitement whenever a couple announces they're expecting. The same thing happened with Dogamy and Dogaressa when they revealed that they were having puppies. Just hang in there, Papyrus."

"I WILL." he took the gifts Undyne still held in her arms. "THANKS FOR THESE."

"You're welcome and have fun with the kid tonight."

Papyrus nodded and took his leave, presents in tow.

"I'M BACK!" the younger skeleton shouted as soon as he got home.

"we're in here, bro," Sans responded, his voice echoing from the kitchen.

Papyrus made his way into the room where Sans and Toriel were, preparing dinner together. Another item had been added to the mound of gifts on the counter since he had left with this one being a mix CD full of soothing songs and lullabies. From Napstablook, no doubt.

"GOT SOME MORE THINGS FOR YOU TWO." The thin skeleton added to two items to the growing pile.

"Now who are these from?" Toriel asked.

"ALPHYS AND UNDYNE."

"this is starting to get out of hand," Sans stated.

"I'LL SAY BUT UNDYNE TOLD ME THAT IT SHOULD CALM DOWN EVENTUALLY."

"Hopefully," Toriel said to the two brothers. "If this keeps up I don't think we'll have enough room in this house for the baby!"

"SPEAKING OF ROOM FOR THE BABY, WHERE IS IT GOING TO SLEEP?"

"Good point, I haven't even thought of that. I suppose I can always move my office into the master bedroom and the child can have that room."

"I GOT A BETTER IDEA. WHY DON'T YOU MOVE YOUR OFFICE INTO MY ROOM! I DON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME IN THERE ANYWAYS."

"Oh no, I can't ask you to do that!"

"AW, COME ON, PLEASE? LET IT BE MY WAY OF MAKING UP FOR DRIVING YOU TWO CRAZY THE LAST FEW DAYS."

"you sure bro?" the pregnant skeleton asked.

"THE GREAT PAPYRUS IS ALWAYS SURE. ONCE I OFFER SOMETHING, I NEVER TAKE IT BACK!"

"That's so sweet of you. Thank you very much, Papyrus."

"YOU ARE MOST WELCOME, TORIEL. NOW, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN HELP YOU WITH WHILE I AM HERE?"

"No, I believe I have it covered. Why don't you go into the living room and play with Frisk? They've been patiently waiting for you to come home."

"OH YES, I PROMISED I WOULD."

"That was very nice of your brother to do that," the boss monster said to her boyfriend as soon as Papyrus left.

"yeah, he's definitely the coolest," Sans responded. "i sometimes forget how reliable he can be."

"He's definitely done a bit of growing up lately. I'm proud of him."

Sans nodded in agreement. "me too, tori, me too."