When the bar finally opened, the news spread quickly, as it always had. The line forming out the door had been a breeding ground for rumors, and they all came to Grillby in bits and pieces.

He was known throughout the Underground for raising the human – almost notorious. People were giving him updates about watching them walk through the Hotland after getting off the boat, about going down to the Castle, and seeing them enter. Grillby just wasn't sure if they would come out, too.

He tried to distract himself by cooking and serving, but his usual flair was dampened with worry. Like a cloud, it hung over him, constantly looming and refusing to blow away. People noticed, but nobody wanted to say anything. They hadn't realized his attachment was this strong. Grillby kept going back to what the River Person had said.

"Tra la la. The man who wears his passion on his body might fall victim to it."

It happened later in the day, just before he changed the menu. Sans had not shown up that day, and Papyrus or Undyne never showed up after the usual lunch rush. They had been coming in and demanding spaghetti after failed cooking classes, asking after Frisk's health and how they were holding up.

However, just as he had gone outside to switch the sign for dinner, Grillby noticed a light. It covered the rock face above them; a brilliant shine that made all the crystals glow.

Monsters began to run. Was this the barrier? The few people who might have the answer to that question were not present to explain it…

However, he saw a person walking into town from the east, the light spreading outwards through the Underground with every step they took. In their arms they held a small clay pot with a yellow flower inside, and Asogre ambled behind them, waving high and urging the monsters deeper towards the Castle.

Grillby nearly dropped the signs, kneeling to catch them right before they hit the snow.

Frisk was holding the flower pot. Frisk, bleeding, with a golden locket and an empty sack, was walking with Asgore. Frisk, smiling like the sun had just come out. Frisk, who had come home.

"Frisk!" Grillby cried out. They noticed him instantly and handed the flower to Asgore before breaking out in a sprint towards him. Their arms outstretched and took him into a hug, mouth open like they were laughing aloud. Grillby lifted the child into the air, never more relived to see them in his life. They were safe. Safe as could be, in a hug. And he hoped to himself that there would be many more in the future, on the surface, once they stepped through the barrier. He held them there as the energy died down into a quiet hum, now that the residents of Snowdin had almost all left.

Frisk was the first to squirm. Leaning back, he looked at their face, and saw a hand pointing out behind him. Turning to look, he almost dropped what was in his arms for a second time.

The Queen herself was coming down from the forest path, a slew of Froggits, Whimsuns, Vegetoids, and other monsters following close behind her. Dressed in simple robes and no crown, she seemed just as surprised as he was to see the crystals lit, and the Underground pulsing with a new light.

"My child!" she cried out. Grillby instinctively held Frisk closer, but then remembered something he had said earlier, the first night Frisk arrived.

"And when you left to come here, I assume you gave up another bed?"

She must have been the one protecting all the children. She was the mother that they talked about, who constantly asked them about snails and was the one who always left them with a delicious slice of pie. Grillby had seen two of the six children showing it off to the dogs in the bar, speaking of her highly, but then looking to the ground, muttering something about having to leave because they wanted to get home. He could only assume the same of the other four.

Frisk scrambled down Grillby's legs and ran to Toriel, tightly embracing her legs. Humming softly, she stroked the child's hair before looking up to Grillby.

"Are you the one who that joke teller talks about? The one who has been looking after my child?"

Grillby could only smile and shrug, his flames twisting to change the structure of his face. Sans. He must have been talking to the Queen all this time… clearly, that smiling skeleton knew more than he was ever letting on.

Meanwhile, Frisk was nodding rapidly, gesturing at Grillby and signing, "Love. Grillby, dad." Grillby recognized the motions and felt his soul get a little warmer.

"I don't quite understand what you are saying, my child, but I'll take your word for it," Toriel laughed.

"Come on, Frisk." Grillby extended his hand, and Frisk took it gleefully, swinging it back and forth while they caught up to Asgore. Toriel did not give him a second glance, much to his dismay, but distracted himself by handing the flower pot back to Frisk.

"Are you ready to go now? Sheesh, I thought you'd never stop giving out hugs." The yellow flower began to mutter to itself, and Grillby bit back a sigh. He could feel that if Frisk held onto this talking flower, he would have to resist the urge to torch it.

Hand in hand, they walked the long trek to the Castle, and to the barrier, where Undyne, Papyrus, Alphys, and Sans were directing people.

"Move right this way, follow The Great Papyrus!" "I-If you'd like to follow him that's totally fine… b-but an orderly fashion would be n-nice…" "Don't sweat the details, let's just get outta here!" Grillby noticed the four chittering away at the group of people leaving in groups, and he pointed them out to Frisk, who ran over and hugged them each in turn. The flower's groans were audible even from where Grillby was standing.

"You're the best, Grillbs." Sans came up to him, closing his eyes and shaking his head back and forth. "Do you think you're gonna keep caring for that kid out there?"

"I should think so."

Sans's grin got the slightest bit wider while his eyes shifted to Toriel, who was talking with Shyren and Napstablook, two people relieved at witnessing their Queen once more.

"…You might have some competition."

"It's nothing I can't handle," Grillby replied, his little smile coming back along with Frisk, who signed, "Let's go" before taking his hand. He approached the barrier with the last of the monsters, wondering what could be on the other side.

Without fear, they stepped through together, the light engulfing them both.

…

The sun was setting over the horizon.