With this ring on my finger,

I'll show the world that you're mine

Cards on the table, we've got nothing to hide

Listen to me baby, I'll say this once

You make me better

Look who I've become…

The Wedding – Ellen Krauss

-o-

Chapter 24: Together

It was a rare moment to find Grillby closing up the bar for a "mandatory lunch break." He had kicked everyone out save for two of his favorite patrons, though he would not openly say so to them. Instead of wiping down the counter or an already clean glass, he had arms folded neatly across his chest, his gaze focused on the strange couple that sat on the bar stools in front of him.

"…"

He glanced between the two of them, the mismatched pair that had singlehandedly brought a sense of happiness and newness to the Underground. A human that had fallen to the Underground and befriended the lot of them. A human who had fallen in love with one of them and decided to stay. The monster that had fallen for her in turn, one of the more depressed and hopeless out of the lot of them though his ever present smile belied that reality, had shown a spark of happiness that had never been seen in him before. Their love and happiness had become infectious among the population of Snowdin and Waterfall, bringing with it an almost cautious hope. Maybe, just maybe, if a human could find it in themselves to love and care for monsters then other humans might…

Maybe, just maybe, there was another way out of their nightmare then taking a final human soul…

Over the weeks and months since the human woman had fallen into the Underground, and started living amongst them, there were some monsters who were beginning to feel guilty about the previous human souls that had fallen down here…

Grillby was one of them and, at the end of the day, he wanted very much to grant the request of Sans and Ami. It would bring a change, that much was obvious. A new and exciting change that would effect the couple in front of him and the monsters around them in a way no one had ever seen before.

There was just one problem.

"…you're a human Ami…" Grillby's head had turned toward the woman, his opaque glasses not revealing his gaze. "An adult human… Your soul is too strong for me to channel your magic needed for the marriage ceremony between you two."

Ami's smile, a smile that Grillby always enjoyed to see in this dismal place, had dimmed at that statement. "Oh…" was all she said as she seemed to deflate in front of him. The one spark of genuine hope that he had seen in her eyes in all the time he had known her had been snuffed to resigned acceptance. He didn't like it.

Neither, it seemed, did Sans.

The short monster had turned his attention to Grillby, his ever present grin not filled with the typical joy that the fire monster was surprised he had grown accustomed to. "Is there a way to just make it on paper, Grillbz? This isn't a typical situation. Tradition isn't going to really work in this case."

Grillby looked at Sans and tilted his head, a thoughtful hum escaping him. "…you're right… this isn't a typical nor traditional type of marriage ceremony… and I can't do it by myself…" He looked between the two of them. "…King Asgore would be able to help in this but we can't ask for obvious reasons. If there was another monster, a boss monster like Asgore, that could help with the channeling of your magic… we might be able to pull this off."

There it was, a flash of something as an idea seemed to take hold, and the spark of hope was back in Ami's eyes.

Grillby allowed a spark of his own hope to fill him as he saw the look on Ami's face. "…do you know someone, Ami?"

Sans had looked up at her, a question in the pinpricks of his gaze. "Snow angel?"

A laugh escaped her as she pressed her palms against the worn wood of the counter top and slid down from her stool. "Grillbz, we'll be right back. Got an old friend who might be able to help us out." She was zipping up her green hoodie as she said this and she looked at Sans. "Handsome, wanna go for walk?"

Sans, not exactly catching on to what his girlfriend and future wife was going on about but was happy to go along with whatever her plan was, drained the last of his ketchup bottle. He set the bottle back on the counter before swinging his legs around to drop down onto the floor. "Put that on my tab Grillbz, we'll be back," he said as he raised his skeletal hand in a wave, following Ami toward the front door.

"…sure thing… 'handsome'…" Grillby muttered in reply as he reached out to take the empty bottle.

He chuckled as he saw Sans' waving hand flip him the bird.

-o-

They took the scenic route through Snowdin on toward the high cliffs, bridges and snowy forests of their wintry home. Ami said hello to the resident monsters they passed while Sans walked by her side, his ever present grin never faltering as he took in the warmth her magic radiated whenever they were close. Before long, they were standing in front of a pair tall stone doors that led the Ruins.

Sans stared at the doors before he glanced up at Ami, the surprise was genuine in his tone when he spoke to her. "Our mutual pal?"

Ami's smile was filled with mischievous amusement as she raised her hand to knock on the double doors. "Oh yes… She'll definitely be able to help. It's just a matter of convincing her." She knocked on the stone doors, a burst of green magic surrounding her fist to help give the knock a bit more power. It vibrated against the stone, a long thudding sound emitting from the doors and echoing off into the silence beyond.

About ten minutes passed before Sans leaned over to her. "I don't think the old lady heard that…"

A choking sound escaped her as she reached out to push Sans, a giggle still erupting from her in a helpless manner. "You're terrible."

"Yeah… but you're laughing."

"I am… and I love you for it."

He received a kiss for his efforts and his grin turned a little dopey for a moment, the blue blush in his cheekbones deep.

It was after this that a muffled voice came through the door, a familiar voice that both woman and monster knew well. "Who's there?"

Ami turned her attention to the door and, without missing a beat, answered the call. "Doris."

There was silence from behind the door for just a moment before the feminine voice asked with slight disbelief in her tone, "Doris who?"

"Doris locked, that's why I'm knocking. Mind opening up?"

Sans, who had not heard that one before, let out a howl of laughter as he threw his head back.

The voice was silent after the delivered punchline and Ami actually pouted as she studied the doors. "C'mon Tori, that was a good one."

More silence emerged, even though the sound of Sans' laughter helped to ease the uncomfortable tension that was coming from the door. Finally, the voice responded. "Am-Amienne? Is that really you? You're still alive?"

"Hey Toriel," said Ami. "Still alive and kicking. Bit of a long story, actually… You got any plans? I can tell you what's been going on and why we're here."

Sans' laughter had stopped abruptly at the sound of the name of the old lady who lived behind the closed doors. He knew that name. No one had heard that name spoken in years. Hardly anyone remembered the former queen of the Underground these days.

The silence was a bit more deafening from the door this time before Toriel's voice came through, curiosity taking hold. "We?"

"Uh huh," said Ami, glancing down at Sans with an encouraging smile.

Sans returned her gaze, feeling slightly nervous at finally knowing the name of his door companion. "Uh.. Hey old lady…"

"You!" Toriel's voice was filled with even more surprise at the sound of Ami's companion. "You know Amienne?"

"Oh yes," said Ami, her smile growing amused as she reached out to stroke his skull. "He knows me very well, don't you Sans?"

His blush was deep, not that Toriel could see it, and he reached up to pull his hoodie over his head. He barely managed a muttered reply, incoherent in his embarrassment.

"I… don't understand…" said Toriel. "What's happened out there?"

"Open the door Tori," said Ami in reply. "I'd like to tell you but I want it to be face to face. Afterward, we have a big favor to ask and I don't want this door in the way…"

"I… I don't know…"

"Please Tori. You know I wouldn't be back here if it wasn't for good reason."

Silence came from beyond the door.

It stretched on for a long time, too long…

"Tori?" Ami called, her hope slowly sliding away the longer the minutes stretched.

Sans knew a bad job when he saw one and he reached out to take her hand. "C'mon snow angel, it was a long shot…"

She hesitated a moment before she looked at him and gave a disheartened nod. They both turned to leave and started back up the snowy path way that led toward Snowdin.

The sound of the doors grinding open in loud protest caused them to stop in surprise and turn around. The former queen of the Underground was standing in the open doorway, glancing around uncertainly before her gaze settled on the couple. They studied each other for a moment before Ami let go of Sans' hand and ran over to the goat monster. She didn't hesitate to hug the taller monster around the waist in greeting, who didn't stumble back though the surprise could be seen on her white furred face. It took a moment before Toriel returned the hug, hesitant at first before it tightened with a surprising fierceness.

-o-

The story had been a long one and Ami only revealed the details of her current journey and how she and Sans had met. Both had a silent agreement it would be best not to reveal about the resets yet.

Toriel listened with rapt attention and at the end of their story, which had started with sadness and ended on such a hopeful note, she did not hesitate to agree to help the couple.

"This is… it's nearly unheard of," Toriel had said as she followed them back to Snowdin. "If such a love like yours existed before, it was a long, long time ago. I'm sure the records would have been purged during the war. I don't recall reading anything like it… Oh stars, it doesn't matter! This is such a joyous occasion! Of course I will help!"

The former queen's walk had become filled with a bounce in her step and her happy laughter could be heard all along the snowy fields and forests toward the town. After the surprise of finding her last human was still very much alive, meeting her joking buddy face to face, and finding out her two closest companions were very much in love, she was wrapped up in the very idea of their pending nuptials.

This rising feeling in Toriel's very soul was hope.

She knew - she instinctively knew – the key to everything lay in the love that was shared between this human and monster. She had watched the way their magic reached out to each other without pause, mingling and merging with every touch and gesture shared between them. Magic that blended so well despite their differences…

There was a chance these two would be able to save the Underground…

When the small group had arrived at Grillby's, the proprietor of the small bar had glanced up from where he had been wiping down another clean glass. The regulars were all at various spots at tables, booths and at the bar so there were many witnesses present the moment the door had opened.

"Hey Grillbz," said Sans, his ever present grin was what could only be described as shit eating. "Need a round. Got a wedding to plan."

When his gaze had caught sight of the former Queen standing nervously behind the couple, the glass had slipped from his fingers to smash on the floor…

-o-

The word had spread quickly of the reappearance of the missing queen and the surprising wedding between the human and monster.

The friends of the couple were excited for the coming nuptials and, though Sans and Ami had tried to keep things quiet, word had went beyond Waterfall and on toward Hotland. The word continued to spread until it finally went all the way to the Capital.

It was there on a beautiful day, as the king was making his way through the long hallways of his castle, that he overheard a couple of the Royal Guard members speaking rumors.

Rumors of the lost queen being found after all these centuries…

Of a human who had fallen into the Underground months prior and had been living amongst them…

Of a coming wedding…

King Asgore had paused in surprise and a feeling of wild hope and dread filled the heart of him, mixing with disbelief. Toriel was back? After all this time?

And there was word of a human down here…

How long had they been down here? Why had they not been captured by his sentries?

Asgore felt his hope and dread rising with each step he took back to the throne room. He was going to have to pay a visit to the people…

-o-

"Mettaton, I said I didn't need anything fancy and I especially would not be caught dead in that."

Sans was trying so hard not to laugh as he watched what was currently going on in his living room. Mettaton and Alphys were trying to convince Ami into wearing a pink frilly thing with puffy sleeves and a long skirt adorned in sequins. Ami was dead set against wearing anything that ghastly.

"I've already had one wedding that wasn't planned by me, including what I wore for my dress. I am not going through through that again."

"But darling, you would look absolutely divine in this," said Mettaton, now in his EX form that was a humanoid robot body with a fabulous pair of legs. He was holding up the dress against his own body, playfully twirling the skirt this way and that.

"You would look divine in it," said Ami, her arms folded beneath her breasts as she moved to take a seat beside Sans on the couch. He automatically reached out an arm to her, the usual feeling of warmth building up in his chest as she settled herself comfortably beside him. His arm reached around her waist and his fingertips pulled up the hem of her shirt and jeans before they settled against her hip bone. He caressed the soft skin there, relishing in the gentle shiver she gave in response.

"Ami, y-you can't wear just jeans on your w-wedding day," said Alphys as she twiddled her fingers in her exasperation. The human woman really did pick up Sans' bad habits. "This is the first wedding between a human and monster ever. You have to dress in at least something nice. There'll be pictures and everything! This will go down in monster history!"

"Oh heavens forbid," said Ami as she rolled her eyes in her own exasperation.

"Alphys is right, Amienne," said Toriel as she walked in through the front door, Undyne and Papyrus following in behind her. "You may want to try something a little more appropriate for the occasion."

"Oh not you too, Tori…"

Toriel laughed as she came to a stop in front of the couple, her eyes dancing with amusement and happiness as she looked between them. "I need to borrow the bride-to-be for a moment, would you mind giving us some alone time, Sans?"

"YES BROTHER!" Papyrus said as he walked over to stand beside Toriel. "HER MAJESTY IS RIGHT!" Toriel sighed heavily at this but Papyrus ignored her discomfort. He refused to call the former queen by given name. "WE HAVEN'T CALIBRATED YOUR PUZZLES IN DAYS! COME ON!"

Sans didn't get to say a word in response as his younger brother pulled him up by the arm and away from Ami's warmth. He was settled on his feet and he shook his head at the not so subtle way in which his brother and their friends were trying to get him away from Ami. He thrust his hands into the pockets of his hoodie before he turned his gaze to Ami.

"I'll see you in a bit, snow angel," he said with a wink.

As expected, a blush filled her cheeks and she gave him her familiar bright smile. "You too, handsome. Don't have too much fun now."

Sans chuckled at this before his brother grabbed his attention in his usual manner and soon the skeleton brothers were gone to calibrate puzzles.

Ami turned her attention to her friends and sighed. "Ok guys, let's get this over with…"

-o-

Snowdin was filled with an unusual sense of festivity and more monsters than normal

Instead of the forced laughter and smiles, there was genuine excitement lingering amongst the monsters. There were quite a number of them in the small, snowy town from almost as far as the Capital, who walked and talked around the decorated trees and strings of lights that hung amongst the branches. They were all making their way to the center of the small town, where the festivities were culminating, their reason for gathering was beginning.

At the center of town, where the normally decorated large tree held presents, there were more lights strung up. Grillby and Toriel were standing together in front of the tree while Papyrus, as the best skeleton, was standing off to the side. Sans was standing in front of Grillby and Toriel, surprisingly dressed in a white button down shirt and a pair of black slacks. He had no tie or jacket but it was as close to properly dressed as one was going to get from him.

Ami had been convinced to wear a dress, a deep blue long sleeved number with a V neckline – courtesy of Undyne and alterations by Toriel and Mettaton. It kept her surprisingly warm against the cold of the ice and snow that surrounded them and clung ti every shape and curve of her body. The spectators had gathered on either side of the tree, forming an impromptu aisle that Ami now walked, heading toward her future.

Sans' ever present grin trembled only once.

The moment she was beside her favorite skeleton, she had reached out to take his hand. He gave hers a warm squeeze and they turned to face Grillby and Toriel. Toriel opened her mouth, about to speak and begin the rights…

"Tori?"

The deep voice that called from the edge of the crowd of monsters caused a sudden hush to fall about. All various heads turned as one to catch sight of King Asgore standing there, decked out in his full royal regalia. He was a goat monster like Toriel save that he was larger and broader, a male in every proportion. He looked at his people, all gathered here in the small town, before his eyes fell on the sight of the human standing beside one of his own…

The gentle tone in which he called Tori's name was quickly gone as a dark look swept a crossed his bearded features. "What is the meaning of this?"

Silence reigned, the tension thick as all eyes went from the human to the king and then back to the human. It continued for just a heartbeat and Toriel looked like she was about to say something but it was Ami who broke it in her unusual manner.

"It's our wedding," she said, her familiar smile gracing her lips. "You're welcome to come and join us, your Majesty. If not, can't it wait till after the party? I'm afraid any protests are null and void at this point."

Sans had to turn to hide his face against Ami's shoulder, his shoulders shaking as he tried to keep from breaking down in laughter.