Auction Swap: COMPLETED

Chapter 17

Another chapter coming at ya! But first please read...

Ok so I am obsessed with all the different AUs out there (if that hasn't been obvious)—they range in the millions if not more—I love them all and I like to pull themes and ideas from each one that I come across. So you might recognize some of the AUs I'm pulling my inspiration from. By no means do I want to steal any of these AU's original creator content I just want to pay them homage in my works, with a nice cameo or nod to the millions of fans and creative AU's out there. To all of you...Keep Creating!

When Ara left the bathroom it seemed she had woken Toriel up.

"Ara are you just getting home?" she asked from her bed.

"Oh—no of course not..." Ara chuckled and shook her head. "Sorry to wake you couldn't sleep so I thought I would get up and take a shower make a pot of coffee."

Toriel didn't press it but the look she gave Ara was enough. The coffee might help—she needed a boost and she smiled weakly at Toriel who had not taken her motherly stare from her. "Come on say it."

"You know my worries Ara—I will not continue to pester you about them. But you need to take into consideration if you run yourself down to the dirt who will be the one to take care of things...you know a monster cannot have a real paying job—were not allowed to raise human children alone..."

Ara flinched. "I—I know that Tori—good god do I know it. I'm trying—I'm trying so hard to make ends meet..."

"I know you are—"

"I got to get ready, you know I appreciate everything you do right. For me and the kids?"

"Your siblings Ara—" Tori smiled reminding her gently. "And yes I know you appreciate everything. We help one another that's what family does."

"I know." She gave a sad smile and walked out of her room. Ugh this was a nightmare. She was so freaking tired—mentally and physically this was going to start effecting her work... she took naps for her lunch break as it was...but it wasn't enough.

She walked to David's room and peeked inside she saw Papyrus sacked out on the floor amid a few blankets and pillows that were spared from David's bed and the ones from the couch. Slipping between the half closed door and the frame she tip toed to the sleeping Papyrus his mouth was hanging open in a snore his eye sockets—closed...how that was physically possible she had no idea. He looked so happy amid David's well-loved action figures, his room in slight disarray from the excitement of a new roommate.

"Papyrus?" she spoke softly unsure if he would startle awake—with what he could do it would be best not to get him overly excited or startle him.

She crept closer and rubbed his upper arm trying to wake him gently her mom used to do it to her because she tended to be an angry riser. Kicking and growling to bury deeper into the warm folds of her bed amid the stuffed animals that now lived with Abagail. Except Mr. Bone-a-part a worn skeleton plush who was won at a Halloween carnival when she was seven. It had been her favorite back then...

"Mom?" Papyrus opened his eyes slowly, groggy looking at Ara in the dim glow of the nightlight David refused to give up.

The simple question sent a jolt through her as Sans took the moment to pass the door hearing the soft exchange.

"P—Papyrus you need to get up so we can head back to work." Her heart felt like it was in a vice grip he had called her mom?

"O—oh Ara...I'm sorry." He spoke loudly as she hushed him.