Death's Destructive Family: DestructiveDeath Sequel

Chapter 21: Activated Plans

Weeks later, Error's POV

Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and logs are chopping, what a wonderful day. I sit on the porch swing as Farmer walks across his crop fields and Horror is slicing logs of wood in half with his axe. It's another peaceful visit to see him.

"So, LoVesp0oN iS a yEaR oLdEr n0w, huH? TiMe m0v3s fAsTeR h3rE i guEsS."I say

He nods.

"It's like I'm helping you watch Goth again. She's a sneaky, speedy crawler. She has also been growing and I have plenty of photos that I can show ya. She even started walking or trying to walk earlier than expected. She tries to follow either me or Farm everywhere however she can. We can't really keep her inside so we bond by letting her help farm or garden, even if it's just letting her pat the dirt and think that she's helping. At least, that's what we planned."He says with a chuckle as he grabs a new log to slice

I chuckle, only able to imagine what that must've been like. He smiles proudly as he thinks and chops the wood.

"YoU sEeM t0 b3 eNjoYiNg pArEnTh0oD qu1t3 n1ceLY."I say

He nods.

"It's amazing. But you know what makes me feel great? That I'm able to provide for her and keep her secure in ways that I wasn't. She has a growing appetite that I'd have to fight to satisfy in my AU, but isn't a problem for her. To be able to satisfy her hunger and keep her healthy and happy....from turning out like me...is one of the best feelings ever. To know that she won't struggle or starve in miserable conditions makes me very happy. And I'm grateful that I have the resources to provide for her too..."He says thoughtfully with a heartfelt smile

I smile at him and then his smile fades.

"Wait a minute...It's too quiet...Where is she?"He mutters

"Horror! She's crawling through the pumpkin patch again!"Farmer shouts

"Lovespoon! Pumpkin! Come here! Come say hi to Grandpa!"He shouts

Within seconds I see her crawling across the ground and Horror is right about her being a speed crawler. Within minutes she is climbing into the porch swing beside me.

"G-Pa! G-Pa! Hewwo!~"She cheers with some giggles

I smile fondly at her. She is always so happy to see me. I pat her gently on the head and she leans against me, tucking herself under my arm.

"We recently learned that she might have gained a skill from Farmer so now he can't complain about how she took more from me than him. She can't summon blasters or bone attacks, but it's certainly special."He chuckles

"WhAt dO yOu mEaN?"I ask

"Ya know how people have green thumbs? She has green HANDS."He says

I get greeted by an abnormally large sunflower in my face after he says that. I glance down its step to see green magic around the dirt that it is sprouting from, the stem carefully bending over the back of the swim to curl into my face. I see her swaying her hands and crossing her fingers surrounded in green magic as it seems to grow according to her motions.

Ahh, I see....

"See?"He asks as she giggles

I smile, amazed at her new power but happy that they're happy and doing well.

"It'S vErY nICe."I say

"I was actually thinking of asking you to help mentor and train her like you did with me. When she's older of course. I honestly don't know where to start with her power. You know I'm more capable of physical combat than magic anyway...."He says as she crawls into my lap

I nod. His magic has never gotten strong enough for him to use magic on a regular basis or in battles, so it's more hand-to-hand combat.

"And you'll definitely be very reasonable. Nightmare won't stop pestering me about getting to train her NOW. She's hardly able to run and he's looking to teach her battle or defense tactics. You know how intense his training is and I know exactly where it leads. It's like he's trying to recruit her now and can't grasp why I reject it. I don't want that kind of life for her. She's fine here where she's safe and happy. I'm reluctant to go back to the gang unless it's an emergency or a casual hangout. I have to look for what's best for her and avoid putting targets on her and our home. She's a lover, not a fighter after all."He tells me

I nod, smiling at him.

"I'd bE hApPy tO gUiDe hEr."I say

He smiles at me happily.

"So how are things going for you lately? How are the kids?"He asks

"PrEtTy oKaY. ThE kIds hAvE kEpT ReApEr uNdEr cLoSe wAtCh EvEr sInCe hE lOsT hIs iMmOrTaLiTy. He hAs baSiCaLlY bEeN oN hOuSe aRrEsT aNd ShIno hAs a cReaTiVe sOlUtiOn. Ya kNoW tHosE cHilD lEaSheS anD hArNesS tHaT yOu see OnliNe? She mAdE oNe fOr hIm t0 maKe sUrE hE dOesN't sNeAk oFf. He'S reAlLy lEaRniNg hIs lEsSoN."I say

Horror shakes his head at that, chuckling.

"My c0d3 iS rUnNiNg t0 f1nD a s0luTi0n bUt n0tHiNg yEt."I say

Horror nods, smiling at him.

I gently brush her head and start to knit as she watches curiously, keeping her distracted while Horror works on chopping wood. Then I get a ding on my phone, checking only to see more summaries of Shattered's streams that I'm tracking. It's basically full of rants and threats that I should watch my back. Now, I doubt that Shattered could actually manage to harm me directly, but I'm not willing to risk it even if it is indirectly. And given the summaries that I get about the threats, I have a clear idea of what Shattered wants to do.

I open a new code screen to start preparing a contingency plan to activate in the situation that Shattered is ever successful. The ultimate goal is to protect my loved ones from becoming Shattered's next targets. I quickly tuck it away as my phone dings again. This time it alerts me that Reaper's birthday is coming up in a day or two. I grin, knowing that I've hidden some preparations for it.

"What was that?"Horror asks

"ReApEr'S biRtHdAy iS c0mInG uP. It's juSt a cAlEnDaR r3m1nd3r."I say

"Oh! What does he usually do to celebrate it?"He asks

"NoT rEaLlY. HiS liStS aLwAyS k3pT hIm bUsY bUt i hAnDlEd tHaT f0r h1m."I say

Surely keeping Gaster tied up will keep him from causing Reaper trouble. Surely he won't make another list or be able to...

Then my phone rings with a call from Reaper.

"Glitchy...Do I really have to have this vest on? They won't even let me go into the kitchen alone."He says once I answer

"PfFt, wHeRe aRe y0u caLliNg fr0m?"

"The bathroom...It's the only room that I get privacy or they let me go in alone."

"WeLl tHiS iS tHe c0nsequ3nCeS t0 br3aKiNg tHe 0n3 ruLe wE gAvE y0u. If y0u diDn'T sn3aK oFf aNd aLaRm tHeM, tHen thEy w0uLdn'T b3 d0iNg tHiS. Esp3ciALlY s1nc3 y0u loSt y0ur iMmorTaLiTy."I say

"....Can you come home?"He asks

I chuckle, sighing.

"SuRe."I say

"Thank you...I want cuddles..."He sighs with relief

I hang up and smile.

"Lo0kS liKe iT's t1m3 t0 g0 h0m3. I'Ll cYa aGaIn s0on."I say

He nods and I hug Lovespoon gently before returning home. I see Goth reading, Raven scrolling on his phone, and Shino coloring pages with one hand and holding the leash with the other.

"Hi, Papa. Dad hasn't gotten into trouble here."She says as I see him peek around a corner.

I smile at her, nodding. Reaper walks closer to me, pulling me into a hug. He just walks over, pulling me onto the couch to cuddle without a word. Shino lifts a paper to silently ask a question and I nod. She releases the leash and whistles, leading her brothers away. Now they have a scheme that will be started soon and it's my turn to distract Reaper. Which is quite easy when all he wants to do is cuddle.

TBC