#i know i know changing tenses amirite? it felt right just roll with it xD

[nachosncheezies]

The Bet

Chapter 2 - Interrupted/Awake (chapter 1 is here)

Post-The Sixth Extinction II, also available on AO3!

Thank you so so so much to everyone who liked, reblogged, or tagged nice things on my original "pilot wedding" story. 💕💕💕 It turns out that what was meant to be a one-shot (which I hadn't even intended to write in the first place) would not leave me alone, so here we are in what I'm now calling my "married on a dare" AU. xD This is the first addition I wrote, almost immediately after posting chapter one. After this the chronology will go out the window, but I'll put a note with each chapter of roughly where it falls against canon. Hope you enjoy it. :)

~~~~~

Years later, after her abduction, after cancer, after Emily and even after Antarctica, he is lying in a stupor, drugged up, each breath feeling like a conscious choice. Someone opened his skull, this he knows; someone rearranged his brain a little, this he was told and believes. Beyond those facts, the only thing he knows for sure is Scully. 

He has seen her mind, did not even have to reach for it; her thoughts came in clear shapes and colors that overflowed from her and surrounded him like cool water, effortless. She has loved him for so long. He now understands 'unconditional', that it is something that could - does - apply to him, too, and he is ashamed. He has been so unkind to her. Of course it was personal. It was always going to be personal between them, from the moment they first gleaned that perhaps their madness matched; eyes locked across the thin fluorescent buzz of some small county office, each as surprised by the other as they were by themselves for having seen their game of matrimonial chicken through to its conclusion.

He recalls the note he had left for her in case of an event just a little bit worse than this one. Don't lose that laugh, it said, and for a long time those four words encapsulated everything that he wished for her. After seven years, they are as woefully inadequate as his silence. He is going to make it right.

After his release from hospital he goes again to his lawyer. He changes his will, makes everything hers, as he himself should have been for at least this past year. He hopes she will never have to find out, but just in case, he leaves a new note.

I have loved you and I hope you will forgive me if I never told you. If there is something beyond this, be it your Heaven or starlight or some heretofore unimagined quantum state, know that I love you still.

P.S. - Please don't give up on laughter.

He signs it with an M.

[reptilerach]

“Rejection”; Chapter Twenty-Four

NOTES: I wanted to find a gif for this chapter, but Tumblr isn’t cooperating with me and not a single search is loading fast enough for the little amount of patience I have currently. XD

Also, please forgive me if an “Inktober” isn’t up tonight; I have had no time to do it today, and just not really feeling up to it as the one I posted last night went really unrecognized I guess that downed me a bit. *nervous chuckle*

If you’d like to see that funny lil’ thing, click here. Thanks for encouraging so much everyone to post another chapter somewhat quickly, but still remanding me to take my time. It means so much that y’all got patience!! <3

Oh yeah: For the degrees mentioned later on in the chapter. These are in FAHRENHEIT. Not CELSIUS. So, if you really need to convert, then you can; I don’t think you guys will, as y’all are human beings with common sense and can figure out if Snowdin is cold and Hotland is hot. XD

ANYWAYS HERE WE GO WOOOOOO!!!

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Alphys jumped up from her spot, whipping her head around trying to find the two. A hum sounded from outside; like distant yelling.

With a slam, the front door opened wide. It was Sans, brushing off his hands like he was done building something. “i took care of undyne. let’s just say she needs to… chill.” He gave you a wink, but frowned when he saw how you were still cowering in the fetal position by the TV. Papyrus and Alphys ran outside, shouting frantically when they saw how Undyne was caged by blue bones to prevent her from going anywhere.

While Papyrus demanded Sans to take down the trap he set up from afar, Sans walked over to you and crouched by your side. He laid a skeletal hand on your back, rubbing it gently. “i am very sorry you had to hear that. undyne is a real asshole sometimes.” You tensed at his touch, still blushing about the very idea of Sans and you in his room together, let alone doing it.

He continued to rub your back soothingly, until you eventually got up. His smile greet you like a truck hitting a pedestrian; thus, you hid your face with your hands. He flushed slightly at that, cocking his head to the side as if you both were playing peek-a-boo. You grinned to yourself, recalling how your favorite teacher in the real world did that all the time to students who had their heads down on their desks during class.

Paps stormed inside the house, yelling at his brother to release Undyne. You nod at Sans, with the reluctant skeleton retorting back across the room to his brother, “she needs to apologize to (y/n)!” You moved a hand to his kneecap, and he returned his gaze towards you. “No no no, it’s fine! Really, I’m ok! Let’s just continue Game Night, alright?” You told him honestly, and he sighed.

Snapping his fingers, you heard the blue bones crash onto the snow outside, and saw a flash of bright light- only meaning that the cage had disappeared. Undyne stomped furiously when entering the house once more; Papyrus held her back with all he could. She was fuming with anger; Sans stood up, helping you off the ground too, and guide the two of you over to her. She breathed heavily in and out of her clenched teeth, black eye patch twitching about vigorously.

Alphys stood behind her with a concerned expression, and Papyrus continued to hold his best friend back from attacking Sans. Sans kept a hand on your spine, and the other balled into a fist on his hip. “say you’re sorry for embarrassing (y/n).” He asked nicely, and you looked away. “Sans, really! I’m fine-” “hush. i want to hear her say it.” Undyne rolled her eyes, and cursed at Sans. He was unaffected, remaining emotionless.

After a minute or so of silence and a glare from the short skeleton, Undyne said her apologies and Papyrus let her go. She tried to forcefully knock Sans over as she was heading back to the living room, but he stepped out of the way at the last second, causing her to miss. He followed his brother back over to the floor, but you did not. A tug at the hem of your shirt caught your attention, making you peer down in curiosity.

It was Alphys, and she had a claw out pointing towards your phone on the ground by the TV. ���I-if it’s alright, I-I put my n-number into your contacts.” You smiled, and bent down to give her a hug. “I never did thank you before! So, uh, thanks so much! I really appreciate getting those boys off my back about it.”

She returned the embrace, happy to have a new friend. “N-no problem! It was my pleasure.” You stood straight up again, and led her over to where the others were. Monsters are so much kinder than humans. Pretty off from our traditional story books in the real world, huh?

You asked if she wanted anything to drink from the kitchen; “C-can I get a can of soda, please?” She inquired softly, and you laughed. “Of course! Be right back.”

And with that, you hurried off to get her beverage. You were getting a little hungry yourself, so you swiped a small pack of chips off the counter along with Alphys’ soda. You were startled when you turned around to find Sans leaning against the entryway to the kitchen, staring at you. “Uh… do you want anything?” You gulped awkwardly; he shrugged, and kept his arms crossed.

“nah. just wondering whatcha’ were grabbing in here.” You smiled half-heartedly, holding up the bag and can in your hand. “The drink is for Alphys.” You state plainly, and he nodded. “i know. i heard.” You chuckled, but felt no humor in it. A weird silence hung in the air between you both, causing you to bite your lip instinctively. Attempting to walk towards the living room without saying anything, you were sadly stopped when your foot was next to Sans’. “wait.”

You turned to face him, still holding the food in your hands. “What is it?” You tried to ask without sounding nervous, but it was no use. He didn’t look at you, but you could feel the seriousness radiating off him. “you all good?” He questioned, and you tilt your head to side in wonder. “Yeah. Why?” He sighed, and faced you bravely.

“i dunno.” You snickered, and voiced your sarcastic thoughts aloud. “Wow, this was a really intriguing conversation.” Sans looked up at you, and smirked. “heh, i’m sure if it weren’t for that bass-hole undyne, it probably would be. she likes to use others’ embarrassment as her prawns; so shellfish, amirite? cod knows why she does that.” He grabbed the trombone behind the kitchen table, and played a comical rift right afterwards.

You laughed loudly, and caught Papyrus sneak a glare in our direction. Sans seemed a lot better; you wiped a tear away from his puns. “Holy mackerel, Sans. I don’t know when you have the time to think of these jokes. Are you trying to reel me into one of your comedic acts at the MTT resort?” You slapped a knee, and he chuckled with that deep laugh you were getting ever-so-fond of.

Papyrus booed you from the couch, which only caused you to laugh harder. “no, but i have sentry duty with paps tomorrow. i came in here to ask if you’d like to join me, since i figured you had nothing better to do.” You nod happily, and set the food down on the tile. “Which station?” His eye sockets widened, and his smile broadened. “waterfall. a little humid, but not cold at all.” You rolled your eyes, and crossed your arms.

“Gee, I wonder why?” Sans raised his hands, and told you another joke. “ya know, i tried to catch the fog in there the other day. i mist.” Snorting, you cracked up once more and punched him in the arm. “Do you know how many times I’ve heard that?” He rubbed his bicep, and continued. “well, i am the raining champ of all things punny. no one can top my humerus japes.”

You picked up your things, and swiveled on your heel out of the kitchen. “Totally. They rock.” You called back, and left the short skeleton. You trot over to Alphys, and gave her the soda she requested. She thanked you graciously, and opened the fizzy drink. Papyrus tapped the spot on the couch beside him, to which you accepted happily. “So, what are we playing next?” You asked, and opened the “sour cream and onion” chips in your grasp.

***

Sans watched as (Y/N) strode away from him, leaving him speechless. His cheekbones tinted blue at the magnificence of her final pun, and the fact that she was able to render him silent made him blush a little more. His soul pulsed a little faster, and he placed his hands back into his jacket’s pockets.

Making his way to the living room, Undyne glared at him. But he wasn’t looking at her; he was completely engrossed with the human talking to his brother nonchalantly on the green couch Sans often considered his favorite place to nap. He snickered, and shook his skull. The blue in his face was gone, but the racing of his pulse was not.

He wandered over to the TV, and switched the electronic on. The first thing that popped up was all the current temperatures across the Underground. Just as he was about to change it, he was halted by a female voice. “Hold up! I wanna take a look at that.” (Y/N) set her “Chisps!” between her legs, and focused intently on the television.

Her pupils grew under her glasses, and Sans wondered what was so fascinating about the weather. “It’s 102 degrees in Hotland?!” She shout, and everyone looked at her like she had five heads. “Um...yes? So what?” Undyne asked, brushing a hand through her red, wavy hair. “That’s nuts!” Sans smiled, and replied before Undyne could.

“no, it’s the weather.” Papyrus groaned, but Alphys snort goofily. (Y/N) giggled, and refocused her attention on the other areas’ temperatures as well. “Snowdin is currently 13 degrees?! And the Ruins is 56?! What is up with your system down here?” She laid back down onto the couch, exasperated; empathetically, Papyrus wrapped an arm around her broad frame.

“IT IS CALLED HOTLAND FOR A REASON. THAT GOES FOR SNOWDIN, TOO.” (Y/N) never took her eyes off the screen. “The only normal place here in the Underground is Waterfall; with it being 68 degrees. But the humidity is awful!” Alphys fixed her glasses that were slipping slowly off her snout. “Are you saying that the Surface is around 70 degrees?” Sans switched his gaze back and forth off the TV, Alphys, and the human.

“Yeah, but up there it varies as well.” Sans knew that (Y/N) was actually talking about the “real world”; he figured that if this entire universe were indeed a videogame, then the Surface programmed into it would most likely resemble the outside world of wherever she came too.

“WOWIE! SO IF WE WANTED TO, SANS AND I COULD MOVE FROM WHEREVER THIS MOUNTAIN IS TO A NICE COLD PLACE INSTEAD?” (Y/N) smiled, but it was one of bitter-sweetness. “Uh-huh. You could live in any environment you want Paps; hot or cold.” He cheered at that, and Sans laughed under his breath. He enjoyed seeing (Y/N) get along with his little bro; the sight made him wonder if her relationship with her sibling was as good as his with Papyrus.

She took out her phone, searching for something inside of it. Papyrus’s eye sockets enlarged at seeing the device, remembering something crucial. “OH! HERE, HUMAN. LET ME GIVE YOU MY PHONE NUMBER IN CASE YOU EVER NEED TO CALL OR TEXT ME.” He snatched the phone right from out her hands, and input his number. Before she could take it back, the thing was being passed around like a hot potato.

“Lemme see that, punk! I’ll give you my number too. You have to come train with me and Papyrus sometime. And maybe even join us for our cooking lesson!” Undyne furiously entered her name and digits, and tossed the phone to Sans. He caught it, and typed in his number. It was strange; he felt a little awkward dialing the number inside the contact list. Deciding to do a little prank, he entered the name of his number as “Pun-Master” and changed his brother’s to “CoolSkeleton95”.

she’s gonna have no idea who these people are- He chuckled, but froze when he scrolled too far up the page.

The name listed was “(Ex’s Name)”, and it had two new messages.

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NEXT

Chapter Ten (Where all the chapters before that are)

Chapter Twenty (Links for Chapters 11 --> 19)

Chapter Thirty (Links for Chapters 21 --> 29)