Gaster

You had finally fallen asleep after an hour of crying in Gaster's arm. His ability to sooth you had proven a great asset. As soon as you had fallen into a slumber Gaster had began to run test on you, checking vitals and trying to locate the area of damage.

He had located it easily. That however was not the problem. The problem was that as he suspected his rogue magic was stopping your body from healing from the damage you took internally. He had however found a way to slow the bleeding, however this was not a long term solution.

Gaster dug his phalanges into his hands as frustration overtook him.

Nothing is working!

Grinding his teeth Gaster sent the piles of documents and research he had on human anatomy spiraling to the ground in his anger. The difference between Humans and Monsters were so vast in terms of magic. Humans were made of multiple organisms and each played a separate roll, meaning that healing the soul would not heal the body. Whereas monsters were beings of magic and their souls were the very core of their being. If a monster was injured simply healing the soul would fix the problem.

"D-daddy?"

Gaster looked over his shoulder at the small skeletal children who had entered the lab.

Sans. Papyrus.

He turned around and strode towards the two boys, hoping to block remove them from the room before they could notice your slumbering frame.

He was too late however as Papyrus's eyes lit up in recognition as they landed on the operation bed in the center of the room.

"_-_______?"

Gaster took his son's hands gently into his own and led them from the room towards the quarters he had told them to stay within at the start of the day... before everything had turned sour.

"D-daddy is __________ okay?" Papyrus asked, his eyes watching the door to the operation room slowly grow smaller and smaller."

Gaster did not answer. He did not know how to.

Sans however did, "_______'s just sleeping, Paps."

Papyrus accepted that as a reasonable answer, however he still seemed worried as he was led by Gaster to the room.

Sitting them upon the bed Gaster kneeled down in front of his sons.

"I need to return to ________. I want you two to remain here until I come for you," Gaster told his sons.

Papyrus nodded but Sans just quietly watched as his father rose and began to walk away.

As Gaster turned out of the room he felt a tug on his coat, turning he saw Sans staring up at him solemnly.

"I saw it, Dad. I saw the blood. Is _______ really alright?"

Gaster swallowed.

Sans... you are too observant for your own good sometimes.

"I-I don't know."

Sans's eyes turned downcast as he processed those words, "Y-your not going to give up on her though... are you." It wasn't a question, more a demand.

Gaster shook his head, "Never."

"Good... cause Papyrus would never let you live it down," Sans stated before turning and walking into the room where his younger brother was.

________ you seem to have not only capture my heart and Papyrus's but also Sans...

Then he turned and marched back towards the room where you lay motionless, determination to prevent you from slipping away from his hands filled his soul.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Reader

When you awoke the next time your head felt heavy however the pain that had forced you into unconsciousness the first time was evidently gone. You shifted slightly and glanced around the room, your eyes falling on the tall skeleton with his back to you.

Said skeleton was hunched over a desk, his hands holding his head up as he scanned through pages of work.

"Gaster." You spoke, your throat still raw from the coughing, as you sat upwards from you seat.

The scientist spun around immediately, his face filled with relief as his eyes locked onto your face. With three quick strides he was by your side as his arms wrapped around you. His breathing was shaky, as though he was holding back sobs. Your own arms wrapped around him as you breathed in his scent.

"I'm so sorry, _________. I'm so sorry," Gaster mumbled into your hair.

You held him tighter, "Gaster, it's fine. I'm awake. I'm alive."

Gaster didn't speak, instead his grip tightened.

"I-I am alright, aren't I Gaster?" You asked suddenly feeling very unsure.

"I-I'm going to fix this," Gaster whispered in a broken voice.

You tried to hold back tears at the sound of the remorse in his voice and sudden verge of understanding that something was very wrong, "Gaster. What is wrong with me?"

Gaster pulled away gently pulled away, "You have sustained internal damage from... from my magic. However I can not heal you as normal. I did manage to slow the spread of the damage..."

"But?"

"The damage continues to spread and can not be stopped. This strength you feel will eventually fade... and when it does...," Gaster spoke, his eyes downcast.

I'm... I'm going to die...

You sat in silence as the truth processed itself.

"H-how long?" You breathed.

Gaster was silent before muttering the answer, "One month."

One month...

Those words echoed through your mind as you body became numb of any emotion. You felt empty. Gaster still would not meet your eyes, however you could see he was shaking.

One month before I die. One month and it'll all be over. One month...

You gingerly reached for Gaster's hand, taking it into your own for comfort. You weren't sure whose comfort it was for.

Gaster turned his gaze to your entwined hands then up to your eyes.

You smiled faintly, "Gaster, I-it'll be fine."

Your vision blurred as tears formed in the corner of your eyes. Gaster brought his other hand to your face, tenderly wiping away the tears before leaning in to place a kiss upon your forehead.

You closed your eyes as he did so.

Gaster finally pulled away, "I won't let you... I'm working on fixing what I've done."

"Gaster, I... I trust you. I have one request though," You began.

"What is it? I'll do anything."

"Then... will for the next month you stay beside me... I-If I'm going to die I don't want to waste this time I have with you," You told him, voice cracking as a tear slid down your cheek.

Gaster closed his eyes, pain washing over his face, "Of course."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gaster had assisted you when you attempted to stand up, sick of being confined to the bed as memories of the last time you had been bedridden arose. You had been stiff at first however you found you were able to walk without much effort. The feeling of Gaster's eyes on your back were a constant as you began to walk by yourself. Though you were grateful for his worry you felt he should relax a little more... but maybe that's because you weren't watching over your loved one who only had a month to live.

No instead I am the one who has a month to live.

You told yourself bitterly. Before mentally sighing.

This isn't the time to start freaking out.

Then when is?

You pushed the last thought from your mind as you walked towards the door and peeked out.

"Where are Sans and Papyrus? Are they alright?" You asked, realizing you had forgotten about the two children ever since you had woken up.

"They are fine... shaken but fine," Gaster told you as he came to your side, a hand on the small of your back.

"Is it okay if we go see them? It might be good for them to see me walking around," You explained.

Gaster agreed and slowly you both made your way to the bedroom.

As soon as you entered the room there was a shout and a small figure was wrapped around your leg.

"_-_____! Y-your okay!" A teary eyed Papyrus looked up at you from your leg.

You smiled and bent down to engulf the child in a hug, "Yeah, I am Paps."

You looked over Papyrus's shoulder to Sans who was watching you with mixed feelings of uncertainty and sadness. You smiled sadly at him and motioned for him to come closer.

The small skeleton approached before releasing a sob and rushing into the hug. Both little skeletons were grasping your shirt as they sobbed into your shoulder. You held back tears as you embraced them.

When you finally released them you spoke, "You boys must be hungry since you missed dinner... Why don't you go upstairs and your Daddy and I will meet you up there. Then I can make you whatever you want for being such good boys."

Both the children smiled and nodded. Sans led Papyrus towards the elevator.

You turned to Gaster, "We can't tell them."

Gaster nodded, "I won't."

You both turned to follow the children to the elevator.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After a relatively normal dinner, the boys had requested spaghetti which you had happily cooked for them, the boys went for a quick bath. Gaster had kept his eyes trained on you, as if scared you would collapse. Whatever magic he had used to slow your... injury and sooth the pain so that you could function properly was doing its job well. You felt normal, well except for a strange tingling in your mid section. It was hardly noticeable, but if you concentrated you could feel it.

It felt... strangely normal.

Except for the fact you know your going to die soon

You grimaced as you ignored that thought. It was strange... you did not feel like you were about to die. You felt so strong... so full of life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As soon as the boys had finished bathing you happily accepted the distraction from life that came in the form of two excitable skeleton children and one book. You sat beside their bed as you read to them until both had fallen into a peaceful sleep. It had not taken long due to the days events having taken their emotional toll on the children.

You rose quietly and kissed both the boys heads before leaving. Outside Gaster stood waiting for you.

"________, I...," He looked pained as he tried to speak. You knew what he wanted to say, you had known since you had woken up in the lab.

"Gaster, It's not your fault. I don't blame you," You told him.

He did not appear to agree with you on that stance as evident through his features morphing into one of guilt.

He turned his head away in shame.

"Gaster," You said, taking his hand into your own. "Please don't blame yourself. I don't."

He exhaled slowly before facing you, "I don't know if I can ever forgive myself... but I will not bother you with these feelings."

You frowned before gently tugging at his arm as you walked towards his room. He followed silently, his hand still entwined in yours, as you opened the door and walked towards the bed. You sat and pulled him softly to your side.

"Gaster, I don't want you to hide those feelings from me. I want you to talk to me... or at least let me be near you."

"H-how can you treat me like this after what I have done to you?"

"Because I love you and its not your fault," You told him.

Gaster closed his eyes as you pulled him into the bed beside you. Lying against the soft sheets of the bed you huddled closely to the scientist.

"Can we just stay like this... for a little bit?"

"As long as you wish," Gaster answered as he pulled you closer. You closed your eyes allowing his warmth and smell to embrace you.

As you began to drift off you heard his words, barely a whisper above you, "I love you too, my dear."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~