All Good Things...

Looking up from your sketchpad, you impatiently drum your fingers on the counter top. Despite your earnest urging, the clock stubbornly advances at a snail's pace. Trying to find something to help pass the time, you scan around the empty pizzeria, mentally skimming your closing checklist. You've turned off the ovens, cleaned the kitchen, counted the cash register, swept the floor, the whole place is spotless. Nobody has placed an order for over an hour, and per your manager's instructions you can close early at ten pm. If only that time would just get here already. Technically, you're not supposed to start your closing duties until then, but you want to save as much time as you can tonight.

Picking up your pencil, you try to return to your sketches. Unfortunately, you just can't bring yourself to focus. The page is mostly just aimless scribbles at this point, none of your ideas are really condensing into anything worthwhile. Tapping your foot in frustration, you glare at the phone, hoping the damn thing doesn't ring. It probably won't, this place hardly gets any customers even at the best of times. Frankly, you're surprised it hasn't gone out of business years ago. Burgerpants set you up with this job as a farewell gift when he finally moved out of town, although you weren't exactly thrilled to accept. You agreed because you need some cash on hand. Last spring you learned the hard way the importance of having some money in reserve. Better to save up some now before you have to start paying rent. Graduation is coming up soon, and you intend to move out as soon as you have the means. Between you and Susie, you should be able to make ends meet before long.

As the clock strikes 09:55, you figure that's close enough to just call it. Switching off the lights in the kitchen, you swipe the extra-large pizza you had stashed away in the warming tray. Flipping off the last of the lights in the lobby, you head out the front door, locking it closed behind you.  You unchain your old rusty bike from the nearby lamppost, strapping the pizza box onto the frame behind the seat. You bought the old contraption from Catti's father with an advance on your first paycheck, since you needed some kind of transportation for your deliveries. A car would make things a lot easier, but you'll need to save up quite a bit before that becomes a possibility. Besides, you would also need to learn how to drive first.

Following the streetlights along the sidewalk, you coast around the corner and start pedaling uphill. Rather than turning left at the next intersection and heading home, you cross the street and head further into town. Toriel expects you to head home straight after work, but she doesn't know you routinely get off early. The opportunity to sneak out for a couple hours is probably the best perk your job offers. It's the perfect excuse to break out of your mother's ridiculously strict curfew. It's not like she can criticize you for going out and finding a job, and as far as she knows you've finally grown a sense of responsibility. She may be half right, at least.
Off in the distance, you can see pale flashes of orange light just above the horizon. The storm is too distant for any thunder to reach you, but the rapid flashes of lightning can still be seen. You've stopped counting how many thunderstorms have already rolled through town this year, and summer has yet to officially start. Alphys tried to explain something about sun-spots and global weather patterns in class, but you didn't pay much attention at the time. If things keep up though, it's going to be an exciting summer for sure.

A couple minutes later you bike up Susie's driveway and lean your bike up against the garage wall. The lights inside the house are off, but you can see the flickering glow of the TV as you walk up to the front door. Rapping your knuckles against the wood, you step back and hold the pizza box up on one hand. Susie audibly shuffles to the door, unlocking the latch and swinging it open. She smiles as she sees you, leaning up against the door-frame with a toothy grin.

"Hey there stud." she greets you, putting a comically sultry tone in her voice, "Got an extra large with sausage for me? Sorry, but I'm a little short on cash, I'll have to find some other way to pay for it."

You reply that you accept hot-chocolate as payment and slip inside under Susie's arm. Susie follows behind you, snagging the pizza box out of your hand and flipping open the lid. She's already halfway through her first slice as you drop wearily onto the couch, Susie taking her seat beside you.

"Fine," Susie replies through a mouthful of cheese, "Have it your way, don't say I didn't offer." Tossing your ridiculous work hat onto the table, you manage to get a slice away from the ravenous dragon for yourself. The tension finally drops from your shoulders as you relax, watching the monster truck rally on TV. Despite your weariness, you wouldn't miss this for anything. The show isn't particularly engaging, but nearly a month of crushing loneliness last spring taught you to cherish your time together with Susie. You sink down into the couch, leaning your head against Susie's side. Susie scoots closer, draping her arm around your shoulders and sighing in contentment. Things between you two took a bit of a hit last spring, but you've patched everything back together now. It was embarrassingly sappy and gut-wrenching, but by the end the two of you were even closer than before. However, the cause of the gulf is still something neither of you ever talk about. Personally, you would prefer to just keep it in the past and move on.

Unfortunately, it seems the universe has other plans. During the next commercial break, an ad for a local charity airs. Footage plays of fragile, sickly infants, accompanied by the most melancholy music the director could probably find. Between the chorus, an announcer asks for donations in the moist guilt inducing way possible. You can feel Susie tense up as the ad plays, her relaxed demeanor gone in an instant. You keep your eyes locked on the VCR, watching the pale green 12:00 flash over and over. Even as the rally resumes with all it's bombastic fervor, the mood in the room remains tense and uncomfortable. You can tell Susie isn't really watching the TV either. She's clearly lost in her own thoughts, biting her bottom lip slightly.

"Hey Kris?" she finally asks, her voice more quiet than usual, "Do you...think we did the right thing?" You don't need to ask what she's referring to, it's a question you've asked yourself many times. The answer never changes, but that doesn't stop you from coming back to it.

"I mean, I know neither of us were ready," Susie continues, "and it would have totally ruined the rest of our lives, but..." You take Susie hand, intertwining your fingers with hers. You're not sure what to say, but you know exactly how she feels. You both made the only real decision available to you, and yet there's always that lingering doubt in the back of your mind. A nagging thought of what could have been, forcing you to rationalize your decision again and again. You have no advice to offer Susie, only the comfort of reminding her she's not alone. Snuggling into her side, Susie pulls you in closer with her arm.

Both of you keep your attention on the show, and it's not long before you're back to your usual heckling and trash-talking. That doesn't stop your thoughts from drifting toward what the future might have in store for you. Besides the vague plan to move in somewhere with Susie, you don't have anything specific set yet. Mostly you're both just looking forward to the freedom of no longer having to hide your relationship. Without any overbearing parents or school reputations to uphold, you can finally stop skirting around public spaces or holding late-night rendezvous. Although, now that you think about it, there might already be no need for secrecy. Rumors about you and Susie had been flying through the school for years, and it's not like your mother could get even more angry with you. You would be free of both before long anyway, so why even bother with the charade anymore? Seized by a bout of determination, you turn to Susie and abruptly ask if she would go to prom with you. Susie's head snaps toward you, her eyes bulging in surprise. She laughs at first and smiles nervously, before realizing that you're not kidding.

"Whoa dude, are you serious?" she asks,  "I mean, I'm not exactly a great dancer, and it's uh... not exactly subtle, you know?" You ask why that's even a problem, and Susie immediately opens her mouth to answer. She stops short though, quickly coming to the same conclusion you have. She smiles wide, her long sharp teeth reflecting the glow of the TV. "Shit, you're right. Who the fuck cares at this point? Might be fun seeing everyone's faces." You take that as a 'yes', your heart swelling in your chest. You never planned on going to prom before, but the thought of taking Susie genuinely excites you. You remind Susie she'll have to pick out a dress, and her embarrassed blush earns you a light jab in the arm. "Yeah, whatever." she retorts, "That also means you'll need a suit, so you better get ready quick, mister fancy-pants."

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The damnable ringing of your alarm clock is silenced by your irritated slap. You almost immediately fall back to sleep, but you just barely manage to catch yourself. Despite the clock's insistence that it's already 07:30, it feels a lot earlier. That's what happens when you barely get five hours of sleep. You'd like nothing better than to sleep in as much as you please, but if you make a habit sleeping until noon your mother might get suspicious. As you reluctantly pull yourself out of bed, you wish at least somebody could appreciate the effort you put into maintaining a good cover.

After you pull on your Sunday morning lounge-wear, you head downstairs for breakfast. As usual, your mother was up well before you. It seems a teacher just can't sleep in, even on the weekends. The aroma of sizzling bacon and scrambled eggs perks you up as you descend the stairs, walking into the kitchen and taking your seat at the table. Your mother has a plate for you already on the table, but something strikes you as odd. It takes a couple minutes, and several mouthfuls of warm food for your sleep deprived mind to realize what it is.

The college pamphlets are missing. Every weekend, your mother would place a stack of college pamphlets next to your plate, as an incredibly unsubtle hint to send applications. Today though, they're missing. In their place is a simple white envelope with your name on it, in your mother's handwriting. Curious, you open the envelope and look inside. The only thing there is a check addressed to you, for-

You nearly drop your fork, stunned by the amount written. You haven't saved anything even  close to this amount of money, not by a long-shot. Even if you saved every penny you earned this coming Summer, you wouldn't even come close to matching this single check. Where did this even come from? Your family isn't poor, but your mother isn't exactly flush with extra cash either. There's no way she could afford to just give this to you out of the blue. Looking up, you see your mother has been watching your reaction. You're not sure what to even say, other than to ask where it even came from.

"I've been saving bit by bit ever since you were adopted." Toriel explains, walking over to you, "That's the same amount I gave Asriel when he went off to college, to help pay for tuition." A sudden pang of guilt comes over you, looking back down at the paper in your hands. You haven't told your mother you don't plan on attending college, but surely she has to know that by now. You've never brought it up because it's such a sore subject for both of you. Part of you still feels like a failure for not getting into a good school, and you know how disappointed your mother would be if you didn't attend some kind of school at least. Quietly, you ask what if you don't end up spending the money on tuition.

"That money is to help you get a head start on life." Toriel answers, looking down at her hands, "That can mean pursuing higher education, or...something else." The slight disappointment in her tone is hard to miss, and you try to avoid getting defensive. "But you're a grown man now Kris," Toriel continues, looking at you with a mixture of pride and sadness, "Soon you'll be on your own, and I need to respect your decisions. Even if I don't agree with them."

Despite then tension between you and your mother, her words still twist you up inside. You can feel an itch in the corner of your eye as you stand up and embrace her. Toriel squeezes you tight, the soft scent of her fur filling you with nostalgic memories. It occurs to you that it's been many years since you held each other like this. "You've grown into such a fine young man Kris." Toriel says, gently stroking the back of your head, "I know I've been hard on you, especially these past few months, but that's only because I want what's best for you. I want you to be happy, and for you to live a successful life. I understand I seem judgmental at times, but I just want you to know I'm so very proud of you, my child."

The implications of her 'respecting your own decisions' start to sink in, and you immediately recall the events of last spring. A familiar guilt starts to build within you. You should tell Toriel about what happened. Keeping this secret is going to eat you alive, you know it. It's already done, what's the worst that could happen? It's not really any of her business, so she has no place to judge, but... you can't. Years of sneaking and lying under threat of unwavering judgement have drilled habits into you that no single morning could break. Although maybe, you can tell her something else at least.

You tell Toriel that you're taking Susie to prom. You can feel her body tense up, and the stroking in your hair stops. Your tone made it clear you weren't asking for permission. Nervously, you wait to see if your mother is true to her words. Toriel pulls back, placing her hands on your shoulders.

"Alright." Toriel reluctantly concedes, clearly disappointing, "Just... promise me to think things through, okay?" You nod, stepping away and returning to the table. Carefully folding the paper check in half, you tuck it into your pocket. You're still stunned by the sheer amount of money you just received, and your mind is racing with the new possibilities this opens up. With this, you could easily move to a new town, or buy a car, or-

"If you're going to take that girl to prom," your mother calls from the other room, "You better order a suit soon. The big night is only two weeks away, after all."

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Later that afternoon, you lean against the convenience store wall and mentally run through your checklist. You've bought your tickets and ordered your rental suit for delivery. Luckily the school provided a couple nearby sources with good deals, although your wallet is already far lighter than you would have liked. Dinner reservations are probably unnecessary, it's not like there's any place in town that's suitable. Besides, Susie isn't really into that sort of stuff anyway. She would be more happy with a sack of burgers and fries than some fancy Italian dinner. There is one more thing you'll need to pick up for her though, a corsage. Unfortunately, you can only think of one place in town where you can get it.

Prom season was always the busiest time of year for your father, since he runs the only florist shop in town. Every year he would get swamped with orders for corsages from every young couple in town, and several from out of town as well. Unfortunately, even with this surge in business your father would barely turn a profit. He just can't keep himself from showering everyone who walks through his store with discounts. He probably gives away more flowers for free than he actually sells. It's just another symptom of what bothers you so much about him, his total irresponsibility. Maybe if he had gotten his act together years ago, he might have at least won weekend custody over you and Asriel. Frankly, it doesn't seem like he tried fighting for the two of you at all. He just let you go without a fuss. Maybe that's why you resent his overly affectionate attitude whenever you visit. It just strikes you as hypocritical, and far too little too late.

Kicking away an empty soda can, you can't keep out a creeping sense of guilt within you. You had similar feelings about Asriel before, and things improved once you finally sat down and simply talked to him. This morning's heart to heart with Toriel is also still fresh in your mind, especially her words about wanting what's best for you. You've been unfairly harsh to both of them for years now, the same may be true for Asgore. You'll have to face him eventually, might as well give it your best shot and get it over with.

Reluctantly, you leave your shady spot in the alley and hit the street. It's only a short walk to the florist, but you wish it was a little longer. Steeling yourself, you push open the front door, the small brass bell jingling above your head. The air inside is humid and thick with pollen, the different aromas of numerous flowers mixing together. The linoleum floor is stained with dirt, and a few crumpled leaves are clearly brushed into the corner. Your adoptive father is kneeling by the rows of planters in front of you, humming contently with his back turned.

"Just a moment!" He calls back, "I've almost finished watering these flowers." Crossing your arms, you can't help but judge his attitude. As far as he knows, a potential customer just came through the door. It's not like those flowers are going to die from dehydration in the next ten minutes. Your father straightens up with a grunt, flexing his shoulders and cracking his back. Turning around, his face breaks into a wide grin when he sees it's you. He quickly strides over, and you brace for another of his rib crushing hugs. Asgore easily lifts you up in his arms, squeezing you against his chest and swinging you back and forth. Asgore chuckles as you squirm, vainly  trying to escape. Setting you back on the floor, he sheepishly rubs the back of his head as you gasp for breath.

"I know, I know," He stops you before you can speak up, "You don't like hugs, but I just can't help myself." Brushing yourself off, you bite down on your instinctive retort. You have resolved to keep an open mind today, and to let your father try his best.

"So! What can I do for you Kris?" Your father beams, hands planted on his hips, "It's not like you to visit out of the blue like this." Walking over to the rows of potted plants, you explain you're here to order a corsage.

"Well, well!" Asgore chuckles, slapping your back and nearly knocking you over, "Atta boy Kris, I knew you had it in you! So, who's the lucky girl, and why is this the first I've heard of her?" Instinctively you hesitate to tell your father about Susie, but Toriel already knows. He's bound to find out eventually anyway. You reveal the corsage is for Susie, while pretending to look over the flowers on display.

"Ahhhh..." Asgore replies, already starting to piece things together, "She's the dragon girl from your class, right? Lives over on the east side of town?" You nod, slipping your hands into your pockets while your father moves over to the counter.

"Let me guess," he continues, a conspiratorial tone sliding into his voice, "You two have been dating for a while now, right?" Sheepishly nodding, you follow Asgore over to the cash register, scratching the back of your head.

"Heh, that's what I thought." The massive goat laughs, winking at you, "Don't worry, I understand where you're coming from, believe me. So, how'd your mother take it?" Wincing, you tilt your hand back and forth in a so-so motion. Asgore sighs, propping his elbow up on the counter and leaning onto his hand.

"Yeah, that's about the best you could hope for." He replies, looking wistful, "Well, if you want my take on it, I think you two make a good match." Your father's earnest attitude surprises you a little, as does his sudden blessing. It had never occurred to you to wonder what your father's opinion on Susie would be. His support is a bit of a relief though, at least your mother is outnumbered in her disapproval when it comes to the family.

"So!" Asgore stands up, cracking his back again, "Have you thought of what kind of corsage to get?" You lean against the counter and shrug, since you honestly hadn't given it much thought. This whole prom thing is honestly thrown together at the last possible moment.
"Let's see then..." Asgore muses, walking through the rows of potted flowers, "She's probably going to wear something that compliments her scales, so doing the same is a safe bet. Something violet for the base, maybe accent with a little white... I think I can whip something together for you Kris." Thanking your father and apologizing for the short notice, you pull out your wallet and ask how much you owe him.

"Oh no! I couldn't!" Your father denies your offer, holding up his hands "It's on the house Kris, really." Fishing a couple bills out of your wallet, you insist on paying. You have a job now after all, and you should probably start being more self-reliant. As you hold out some folded bills, Asgore shuffles uncertainly before reluctantly pocketing them.

"You really don't need to Kris. I'm not exactly a poverty case" Asgore reflexively glances to the stairs by the back of the shop, and you skeptically raise an eyebrow. Remembering the pig-sty that passes for your father's bedroom, you don't buy his excuse for a minute. Asgore sees your doubtful expression and chuckles, scratching at his beard.

"All right, you got me." He concedes, "I do need the money. Still, I promise to make it up to you one day." The silence in the shop stretches on after that. Asgore narrows down which flowers to use while you stand there awkwardly, unsure whether to say something more or leave.

"So, prom huh? My, how the time flies." Asgore breaks the silence, still working along the rows of planters. "It seems like only yesterday Asriel went off to college, and now you're about to graduate..." He seems reluctant, as if he's working up the courage to continue.

"You know..." He finally continues, his usually boisterous voice unusually quiet,  "There was something I told Asriel, right before he left town, about your mother and I." He really has your attention now, and you stand up from the counter you were leaning against.
"This may be a bit of a shock, but I don't really 'have my act together'." Asgore admits, looking down at a particular yellow flower, "Your mother would say I'm a 'free spirit'. I just go with the flow of the moment. It's what she loved about me, at least at first." Toriel has never talked to you about why she divorced Asgore, but you had reasoned it probably had to do with his care-free attitude. However, you never would have guessed that was what brought them together in the first place. Maybe there's more to your mother's past than you thought.

"The thing is, that attitude doesn't really cut it when it comes to raising a family." Asgore explains, crouching down to trim the small flower with his fingers, "Especially when it comes to a split family. That's why I didn't contest Toriel for custody over you and Asriel. I knew I couldn't give you everything you both deserve. Does that make sense?" Asgore's confession hits you hard, your throat tightening. Asgore didn't know it, but you understand precisely how he feels. That's the same decision you and Susie came to last spring, which you both painfully revisited only last night. Suddenly, you see the old goat in an entirely new light. He never abandoned you, he tried to spare you from unnecessary grief. You know firsthand just how difficult a decision like that can be.

Solemnly nodding, you stay silent. You don't trust your voice to stay steady if you answered vocally. Asgore turns back to you, noticing your reaction. Something must have slipped through your poker face, because for a moment he looks concerned. There's a moment of silence between the two of you, as Asgore waits for you to say something. His eyes are filled with gentle compassion, clearly sensing something is wrong but unwilling to force you to speak. After a moment, he accepts your silence as the answer to his unsaid question.

"Well, I should have everything ready the morning of the big day." Asgore breaks the silence, clasping his knees and straightening up. He's obviously offering an easy way for you to escape the shop, and you graciously accept the opportunity. Thanking him again you head for the door, but Asgore stops you just before you leave.

"Wait, Kris!" Asgore shouts, "If you have the time, would you mind swinging by tomorrow afternoon?" Confused by his sudden invitation, you ask why. Asgore points his thumb at his old truck through the window, grinning jovially. "Well, so I can teach you to drive of course! You can't pick up your date on that old bike, can you?"

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A few days later, you pull up next to the curb in front of Susie's house. You spent the weekend washing the truck and trying to scrub out all the caked on dirt, but the faint lingering smell of fertilizer is still noticeable. There was nothing you could do about all the rust, and hopefully the seat won't leave a stain on the back of your suit. Wrenching the door open, you step down onto the grass and straighten your jacket. The sun is just starting to set as you walk up to the front door and ring the doorbell. Stepping back, you straighten your hair one more time and wait for Susie to answer.

The door swings open, and you suddenly feel lightheaded at the sight. Susie's wearing a sleeveless violet dress, almost perfectly matching the color of her scales. You've never seen Susie in a dress before, and the result is completely stunning. Her hair is brushed to a shine and pulled up in a bun, clasped in place with the steel barrettes your gifted her last year. She looks down at you, smiling with a strange mix of embarrassed trepidation and cocky confidence.

"Well? What do you think nerd?" She asks, turning left and right to give you a better look, "Are you going to say anything, or are you just going to stand there gaping like a fish?" Composing yourself, you tell Susie she looks absolutely beautiful. Susie looks away, biting her lip in frustration as a traitorous blush creeps onto her face. You think it's cute how easily flustered she gets after a simple compliment, and her clear frustration at the situation just makes it even more adorable.

"Whatever, I guess you look pretty good in a suit too." Susie admits, still pouting. Craning your head to look behind her, you ask if either of Susie's parents are here to see you both off. "Nope." Susie scoffs, slamming the door behind her. "Guess they both had better thing to do." It's hard to miss the annoyance in her tone, and you let the subject drop as you both walk back to Asgore's truck. Wrenching the door open, you let Susie slide in across the bench-seat and climb in after her.

"Nice ride dude." Susie smirks as you force the rusted door closed again, "Since when do you have a license?" You admit that you don't, turning the key and starting the shuddering engine. Susie laughs, rolling down the window and leaning back in the seat. "Look at you, the little rebel." Susie laughs, flicking the small stud attached to your ear. "Your mother was right, I really am a bad influence." You wish Susie could have seen Toriel's reaction when you walked downstairs with your piercing in.

A couple minutes later, you stop in the parking lot in front of the school. Luckily, officer Undyne was nowhere to be seen during the short drive. It seems you're the last ones to arrive, nobody else is walking up to the front door. Grabbing the clear plastic box stashed under the seat, you step out of the truck and stop Susie by the sidewalk. Susie's eye's widen as you reveal the corsage and take Susie's hand, sliding the strap onto her wrist. Asgore really outdid himself with this one. The corsage is a masterfully arrange mixture of purple lavender, white lilies, and several other flowers you don't even recognize. Susie holds out her hand, admiring the tiny bouquet on her wrist.

"Damn, your dad has some skills." Susie admits, adjusting the strap. Bowing dramatically, you declare that only the best will do for the such a fine lady. Susie chuckles, ruffling your hair and pushing you away.

"Alright Casanova, let's go crash this thing." Shaking your head to restore your usual hair style, you jog to catch up with Susie at the front door. Inside you can hear the faint beat of music down the hallway, paper signs on the wall clearly pointing the way to the gymnasium. In front of the metal doors is a spare table made into a basic admissions desk, with Alphys sitting behind in a metal folding chair. She smiles as you approach, clearly putting more professionalism into her job than it deserves.

"Well, good evening Kris! And um- Susie..." Alphys greets the two of you, smiling nervously when Susie looks down on her. "You two have tickets, r-right?" Reaching into your jacket pocket, you fish out your two tickets and hand them to Alphys. She rips the tickets in half as she takes them, dropping the stubs into a locked metal box.

"I can't believe you're already heading to prom together, it seems like just yesterday I sent you two to grab that chalk..." Alphys trails off as she sees Susie glaring at her, and you critically raise en eyebrow.

"N-Not that I was trying to get you two togeth-" Alphys stammers, already sweating nervously, "N-Not to imply that you are! O-or that it's a bad thing if you- I mean-" Susie laughs, which does nothing to calm Alphys down. Baring her teeth, Susie smiles and walks past Alphys with you following close behind. Once inside, Susie sighs and cracks her neck.

"Man, I'm going to miss messing with her." Susie admits, rolling her shoulders.

Looking over the decorations in the gymnasium, you're honestly a little disappointing in how generic they are, although you're not surprised either. Large balloon columns have been erected in each corner, all in your school colors. Paper chains hang in arches from the ceiling, and you suspect Toriel's class crafted them a few days ago. Rows of folding tables have been assembled into a snack-bar, complete with pizza boxes and a large punch bowl. There's a wooden arch adorned with flowers used as a photo booth, manned by an incredibly bored looking Catti. The rest of your classmates aren't hard to pick out in the meager crowd. Even with all the graduating seniors in one place, the room is barely half filled. As you scan over the crowd, you spot Noelle excitedly walking over to you.

"Kris, you made it! I was beginning to think you weren't coming." Noelle cheerfully smiles, a clearly disgruntled Berdley following behind her. Even an event like prom can't force Noelle to break her holiday theme. Small bits of tinsel hang from her tiny antlers, complimenting her bright red dress. The ruffles and folds of expensive gown are a sharp contrast to the much simpler dress Susie is wearing. Berdley however, can't come close to matching Noelle's gentle grace. His suit looks at least a full size to small, the buttons on his shirt visibly stretching over his chest. Between the bow-tie and over-sized cuff links, it's clear he's trying way too hard tonight. Noelle's smile falters a bit as she looks between you and Susie, crossing her hands over her stomach. "Susie, it's great to see you too." she nearly whispers,  "You're uh... I mean, your dress looks great."

"Thanks?" Susie awkwardly accepts the compliment, clearly unbalanced by Noelle's nervousness. Berdley rolls his eyes and walks off, muttering something under his breath. Now that the three of you are alone, you remember the last time Noelle and Susie spoke to each other. As the conversation stalls with neither girl knowing what to say, you gently elbow Susie in the side.

"What?" she hisses, looking down at you. Nodding your head toward Noelle, you give Susie a stern knowing look. Susie stares you down for a couple seconds, but eventually relents. "Alright, fine" she growls under her breath, "I was going to anyway..."

"Hey Noelle." Susie speaks up, snapping Noelle out of her own spiraling nervousness. "Listen, I uh..." Susie stalls, scratching the back of head, "Do you remember that field trip? The one we took last spring?" Noelle suddenly looks scared, biting her bottom lip and slowly nodding. "I uh... wanted to apologize, for yelling at you." Susie continues, scuffing her feet on the floor, "I was being an ass."

"Oh! Don't worry about that!" Noelle holds her hands up defensively, "You were probably right anyway. It was rude of me to try and butt in."

"No way!" Susie retorts, regaining her confidence, "Seriously, I was being a total asshole!" Noelle continues to deny Susie's apology, and soon the argument becomes totally circular. Confident that Susie has this handled, you decide to go grab some snacks for the two of you. Working down the table, you're a little disappointing in the selection. Clearly somebody tried their best to make everything look more upscale, but it's obvious it's just cheddar cheese on the ends of those toothpicks. You had secretly been hoping for a chocolate fountain, but it seems like you'll just have to make do. Grabbing a couple paper plates, you start loading up on some crackers and mini-sausages.

"So Kris," Berdley greets you, sliding up beside you at the table. Groaning internally, you pretend to not notice him. The only reason he's talking to you is because he thinks he has something clever to say.

"I have to say, I'm proud of you Kris." Berdley continues, clearly ignoring that you're pretending not to hear him, "I didn't think you would show up today, especially not with a date." Berdley slaps your shoulder hard, and you resist the reflex to react. You don't want to risk getting kicked out already, especially not after all the work Susie clearly put into tonight. You can endure Berdley's smug grin for one more day. After all, soon you probably won't ever have to see him again.

"Although, I would be remiss as your friend if I didn't ask... Are you sure you've thought this through Kris?" Berdley grins, obviously drawing out the point for his own amusement. "This is senior prom after all. Susie might be... 'expecting' things of you afterwards. I just don't want you to get hurt is all." Berdley does his best to feign concern, but he's clearly enjoying this too much. Biting a piece of cheese off a toothpick, you silently chew for a couple seconds. Swallowing, you assure Berdley he doesn't need to worry about you. After all, it wouldn't be anything you haven't done before.

With a flick of your fingers, you bounce the toothpick off the glasses on Berdley's stunned face. Striding off with your food, you leave him standing slack-jawed at the table. Susie might not appreciate you admitting that to Berdley, but it was well worth it to wipe the stupid grin off his face. At least Susie and Noelle seem to be getting along now, the two of them laughing as you approach.

"Jeez, that sucks. Sorry you have to put up with that nerd for the whole night." Susie comforts Noelle, catching your eye as you walk up beside her. Noelle sighs, pinching her nose in exasperation.

"Ugh, I know. I never should have said yes." Noelle groans, looking over to her date still standing at the snack table, "He just asked so many times, and I didn't have a date, and... I just caved, I guess."

"Well, let me know if you need me to deck him in the face." Susie offers, flexing her arm. The image of Susie decking Berdley earns a chuckle from you, and Noelle also seems to find it funny.

"I'll keep that in mind!" Noelle laughs, "I should probably go find Berdley before he does something embarrassing. I'll see you two later!"  Susie waves her off, and you can't help but admire the genuine smile on her face. However, as Noelle walks off Susie's smile starts to fade. You recognize the distant look in her eye as she gets lost in thought, and you wordlessly offer her a plate of snacks. Susie unceremoniously dumps the contents into her maw, the toothpicks audibly snapping between her teeth. You nibble on your own food in silence, letting Susie compose herself.

"Hey Kris?" Susie asks, her voice quiet enough that nobody could overhear, "Do you ever think we missed out on a lot?" You look up at Susie, waiting for her to continue. "I mean, nobody really seems to care that we're dating" Susie gestures to the other students mingling and talking amongst themselves. "So then, maybe they aren't all total jerks? Maybe we could have been friends with a couple of them, but now it's too late. School's over."

Taking Susie's hand, you give her a comforting smile. You can't really argue, because you know exactly how she feels. It's not just your classmates that you missed an opportunity with. The re-connection with your brother last winter and the talk you had with Asgore last week have driven home how much time you've wasted by closing yourself off from the people around you. At least there's still one thing you haven't missed out on yet. Tightening your grip on Susie's hand, you start dragging her to the dance floor.

"Kris! What are you doing?" Susie protests, pulling back against you. Digging in your heels and leaning backward, you slowly drag Susie forward a couple more inches. You can't help but smile as Susie sputters a couple half hearted excuses. She's quite a bit larger than you, and far stronger. She could easily hold her ground if she really wanted to.

Grinning, you force Susie into the crowd of students on the dance floor. Even at the center of the small dance floor, everyone instinctively gives you both plenty of room. Neither of you know exactly what you're doing, so you decide to just mimic what everyone else is doing. Susie stifles a snicker as you being to bounce and weave, so you try taking it up a notch. Your moves become more exaggerated and flamboyant, and Susie can barely hide her laughter. She still stubbornly refuses to join you though. As your last resort, you pirouette on one foot and give Susie the patented Kris finger guns, raising one eyebrow and winking seductively.

"Oh my god, you are such a nerd." Susie snickers, finally caving in and joining you. Susie isn't as coordinated as you are, settling for the same rhythmic jumping many of your classmates are resorting to. You slide in closer and mirror her, smirking at the thought of how ridiculous the size difference makes you look. Your thoughts quickly focus back on Susie as you dance together, watching her hair bounce on her shoulders. She shoots you that big toothy grin only you can pull out of her, and your heart swells at the sight.

The two of you dance for quite some time, relishing in the feeling of finally just letting go. Neither of you really know what you're doing, but neither of you care either. Susie's hair starts to come undone, gradually transitioning back into her usual mane. You can feel the sweat accumulating on your brow, and your dress-shirt becomes untucked. You're both swept up by the moment, only stopping to catch your breath as the music starts to die down.

You quickly realize the music isn't stopping, it's just changing gears. The lights in the gymnasium slowly dim, and a slow romantic melody begins to drift over the crowd. Your classmates start to pair up, some more reluctantly than others. Susie looks down at you with a predatory grin, crossing her arms. "Well?" she asks, turning up her nose, "Are you going to chicken out, freak?"

There was a time when Susie might have fooled you with her bluffs, but that was long ago. Boldly stepping forward, you take Susie's hand and pull her towards you. As you wrap your arm around her waist, Susie bites her lip and turns away, pretending to look at something else across the room. Guiding Susie by her waist into a slow dance, you idly wonder if she really thinks her thin facade might fool you, or if she just enjoys it when you call her out. Susie gradually begins to relax, leaning forward into you. With a weary sigh, she rests her head on top of yours. You can feel her breath rustling through your hair, can smell her shampoo as her hair tickles the front of your nose. Tapping Susie on the shoulder, you reach into your front pocket for the surprise you have prepared. Susie looks down and raises an eyebrow as you pull out a folded white envelope and hand it over. Confused, Susie slices it open with one finger and pulls out the contents. Her eyes widen as she reads the check your mother gave you. You can see her stop, then re-read it several times over.

"Kris, are you serious?" Susie asks, her voice nearly breaking with disbelief and excitement. You simply smile and nod, waiting to see her reaction. Susie looks back down at the check, then immediately hoists you up in a crushing bear hug.

"Dude! This is fucking awesome!" Susie shouts, spinning you around in the air. "We could buy a car, or rent an apartment, or whatever the hell we want!" Susie laughs, squeezing you against her chest.  Laughing along with her, your return her hug as tightly as you can. Susie presses her forehead against yours, nuzzling you tenderly with her snout.

A bright flash and a distinct clicking sound shatters the moment. Susie's head snaps to the left, staring wide eyed at Cattie holding up her phone. "Heh, cute." Cattie smiles, tapping rapidly on the screen. Susie's jaw drops open as the recognizable chime of a sent message merrily pings from Cattie's phone.

"Cattie! Delete that right now!" Susie shouts, dropping you onto the floor. You manage to stay on your feet as Susie takes off after Cattie, who has already managed to slip away into the crowd. Chuckling at Susie's reaction, you turn your attention back to the room. The rest of your classmates are still dancing and mingling, but it's hard to tell everyone apart in the dark. Somebody must have turned on a black-light too, as everyone's clothes are starting to take on a faint neon glow. A faint sense of apprehension starts to grow in the back of your mind. Something is wrong, but you just can't put your finger on it. Pushing your way out of the crowd, you notice you're not the only one on edge.  One by one, the others are starting to notice something is amiss. Once you reach the edge of the gymnasium, you notice something strange. It's as if condensed darkness is slowly pouring in from around the steel doors at the far end of the room. It gently flows and pools around people's feet, like a thick vapor. The last time you saw something like this was three years ago, on that auspicious day when you entered the supply closet with Susie. Your hand reaches up and slowly traces down your chest, fingers brushing against a cold steel breastplate hidden under your dress shirt.

"Kris! Susie!" A panicked voice calls out from the other end of the gymnasium. You instantly recognize the voice, despite only hearing it for one day. You easily spot a distinctive pointed green hat bobbing through the crowd, turning left and right. Pushing a classmate aside, you move to intercept it's movement near the edge of the room.

"Kris!" Ralsei cries, spotting you and breaking into a sprint. He nearly bowls your over as he slams into your chest. You can't help but smile as he tightly wraps his fuzzy arms around you, squeezing tightly. Still, you can't shake the creeping sense of dread growing in the room. Pushing Ralsei away by his shoulders, you ask him how on earth he's even here.

"I came up through a fountain." Ralsei explains, nervously looking left and right, "Not my fountain, another one. I mean, there's so many more now and we thought you would come back after the first one but- Oh thank goodness I found you!" The poor goat is nearly at his wits end, and he sounds desperate. You're about to ask him what he means by 'more fountains', but you're interrupted by Susie barging her way over to the two of you.

"Ralsei?? Is that you?" Susie asks, stunned. You notice Susie looks more vibrant in the strange twilight, and her arms are now adorned with spiked armbands.

"Susie! You're here too and- are you wearing a dress?" Ralsei stops, confused. Susie looks herself up and down, scowling.

"Yeah, so what if I am?" she answers, turning up her snout, "How the hell are you here anyway?"

"I came for help!" Ralsei explains, his voice quavering, "Everything's completely fallen apart in the kingdom. Things were okay for a while, but then the Knight showed up and started opening fountains everywhere! I thought you would come back after the first one, but then so much time passed, so Lancer and I tried to stop him ourselves and-"

"Wait, is Lancer okay?" Susie interrupts, suddenly worried. "Did he get hurt? Who is this 'Knight 'asshole anyway?"

"There's no time!" Ralsei insists, "The path I used to get here is still open, and he'll follow me through any moment! He can't be too far behind me-"

Your attention is drawn away from the conversation as an icy chill creeps up your spine. Something is slowly approaching, an ominous pressure creeping towards you. From behind the steel doors, you can faintly hear the thump of ponderous footsteps in the hallway. Ralsei and Susie stop talking, their attention also turned to whoever is drawing near. You've felt this way before, distant memories of terror and nightmare suddenly refreshing in your mind. Susie wordlessly steps to your side, Ralsei taking up position on your other flank.

Suddenly the steel doors slam open, the metallic clash echoing throughout the silent room. A large white arm grips the underside of the door frame as a giant figure stoops through. Everyone stares in shock as the Chaos King rises to his full height, his teeth shining like knives as he grins maliciously.

"So many Lightners," he sneers, looking over the crowd of students. His baritone voice resonates deep in your gut, "Finally, I may exact my revenge on you who abandoned us."

Something finally snaps in the crowd, and your classmates run screaming for the emergency fire exit. The three of you are left standing alone in the open, and the Chaos King's gaze falls onto you.

"You three..." The Chaos King's smile drops, his fists clenching at his sides. "How fitting that the first Lightners I cast down are the ones who humiliated me in my own castle."

"You think we can't take you again?" Susie boasts, trying to sound confident. "Don't forget, you're on our turf now, punk." You can tell she's secretly panicking. Last time you faced the Chaos King, you all nearly died. Adrenaline is already pumping through your veins, your muscles tense and ready to spring into action. Your right hand slips into your pocket, grasping the familiar heft of a wooden pommel.

"Well then, if you're so confident." The Chaos King grins, spreading his arms wide. "Then come Lightners, and face your judgement."
Immediately you launch forward off the balls of your feet, wooden sword flying free into your grip. At the same moment, the mouth on the Chaos King's belly bursts open and a long barbed tongue strikes forth like a waiting viper. Your survival instincts kick in, and you deftly pivot out of harms way, shoes squeaking on the laminated floor. The serpentine tongue coils back with unnatural speed, springing forward again and again in rapid succession. Each time you narrowly dodge the lethal barb, darting left and right. Despite forcing your way through the deadly barrage, you're still steadily closing the distance to the Chaos King. You haven't fought like this in years, but the movements are second nature to you. Compared to that laughing clown this is nothing, and you're in far better shape now than you were back then.

As you finally close into arm's reach with the Chaos King, he swings down at you with a mighty closed fist. Ducking under the blow, you let your momentum carry you forward and pivot hard, using your whole body to swing your sword like a club. The wooden blade impacts the King's belly with a satisfying thwack, and he doubles over from the blow. Wasting no time, you jump backward out of his reach as he clumsily counterattacks, his fist swinging through the air where you had been just a moment earlier. Grinning, you steady yourself and plant your feet. While the King is focused on you, he doesn't see Susie charging at him from behind. While you had been distracting the King with your acrobatics, Susie had gone the long way around and come at him from the side. It was the same tactic you used on him the first time, and Susie had known to follow it without any word from you.

With a mighty overhead swing, Susie brings her axe down on the Chaos King's back. At the last moment before impact, he turns and catches the axe with his hand, wrapping his fingers tightly around the wooden shaft. Susie's face flashes with shock for just a moment before the King's fist smashes into her stomach, sending her limp body bouncing across the gymnasium floor. You're too stunned to cry out as she slides to a stop against the wall, slumped over in a heap. The Kings turns back to you with a manic smile, casually discarding Susie's axe over his shoulder. He had tricked you. He had pretended to focus on you. He had even pretended to be hurt by you. Now Susie is down for the count, and you have to keep him at bay on your own.

Panicking, you furiously backpedal as the King resumes his onslaught. He's holding nothing back now, his lance-like tongue striking forth alongside a summoned barrage of spades. Desperate, you cry out for Ralsei to heal Susie as you fight for your life. Unable to dodge everything, you're forced to parry or block projectiles with the flat of your blade. Several times the Chaos King swings his tongue like a whip, each arc threatening to decapitate or eviscerate you. Exhaustion is starting to set in as you pant for breath, feverishly looking for any kind of opening. Ralsei has managed to reach Susie, and he's almost got her back on her feet again, but you'll need to survive for a while longer at least. Unfortunately, you've almost been forced back to where you started at the other end of the room, and it won't be long until you're cornered.

Mercifully, the onslaught finally comes to an end. The Chaos King beings to twirl the head of his tongue above him, quickly building up momentum. For a brief moment, you see his gaze pass over your shoulder, and his grin widens sickeningly. You spare a quick glance behind you and your heart drops. Despite the screaming panic earlier, and the desperate fight for your life, Noelle is somehow still in the room. She's frozen to the spot, eyes wide with terror and legs visibly trembling. You remember Rudy telling you she has no survival instincts, but you never would have believed she could be this suicidally stupid.

Before you even know what you're doing, you're running towards her. Shifting your wooden sword into a shield, you put yourself between Noelle and the Chaos King and plant your feet. Laughing in triumph, the Chaos Kings launches his tongue like a missile, the spear point slamming into the center of your shield. Even with both feet planted and braced for the blow, you never had any chance at stopping it. The barbed point bites deep into the wooden barrier, the impact vibrating painfully up your entire arm. There's a sickening sensation of something bending within your forearm, then a loud audible snap shatters everything. Intense blinding pain obliterates all rational thought, and the world is lost in a nauseating white haze. Everything seems weightless for a moment, then your body strikes something hard and uncompromising. You can't see or hear anything. You can't even tell which way is down anymore. You try to get your feet back under you, but you only manage to fall back over. Through the unbearable waves of pain, you can feel something is horribly wrong with your left arm, but the pain is just too much to think through. Clutching your arm against your chest, you writhe and jerk in absolute agony. You just want the pain to stop. You'll do anything, give anything, just please please please make the pain go away!

Miraculously, the blinding pain suddenly washes away. The aftershocks still linger however, the memory of it still horribly fresh. You delicately uncurl from the tight fetal position you had balled up into, your muscles tense and sore. Finally you gasp down some much needed air, your throat terribly raw and abused. You didn't even know you had been screaming. You can feel a small padded hand holding the back of your head, and a blissfully warm glow soothing your left arm. Blinking open you eyes, you see Ralsei looking down at you, consumed with worry.

"Kris! Thank goodness, I thought you were going to..." He trails off, nervously looking behind him. He hauls you back to your feet, bending down and handing you your sword. The blade has been snapped clean in two, and there's a small red stain on the handle. You don't want to ask how bad you were when Ralsei got to you. Noelle is still nearby, frozen stiff with tears in her eyes. Taking up your sword again, you order Ralsei to get Noelle somewhere safe. He nods and hurriedly runs off, dragging Noelle behind him. Turning back to the fight, you desperately hope Susie has been able to hold out on her own while you were down.

Surprisingly, it seems your fears are unfounded. Susie hasn't just managed to survive, she's even holding her own. Roaring in animalistic fury, she's swinging her axe in wild savage arcs, as if it weighs nothing at all. Iridescent violent flames lick at the corners of her mouth, as she relentlessly advances on the Chaos King. For once, he actually looks worried. His chest burnt and blackened, and he's forced to fight on the defensive for the first time today. His tongue lashes out at Susie, but she catches the length under her arm and pins in against her side. With a quick snap of her jaws she cleanly severs the appendage in her teeth, the barbed end collapsing in a pile of dust on the floor. Immediately she resumes the attack, forcing the King down to his knees under a relentless fury of blows.

"NOBODY. TOUCHES. MY. KRIS!" Susie shouts, savagely smashing her axe against the King's arm as he tries desperately tries to protect himself. Kicking his arm away, she raises her axe high overhead one last time, murderous blood-lust in her eyes. For the briefest moment she hesitates, axe poised high. With a disgusted snarl, Susie rotates her grip and brings the back of the shaft down against the King's temple, knocking him unconscious and down onto the floor. Susie drops her axe to the floor with a clatter as she pants for breath, wiping the sweat from her brow. As you step forward Susie's head snaps toward you, immense relief clearly washing over her. She rushes forward and snatches you up, tucking you in protectively under her chin.

"Kris! You're okay! For a second, I thought you-" Susie whispers softly, before angrily growling and giving you a hard noogie atop your ahead. "You idiot!" she snarls, "What the hell were you thinking, pulling that stunt? If you go and get yourself killed like that, I'll kick your ass! You hear me?"

Laughing, you struggle to worm free of Susie's grasp, but she refuses to let you go. The relief of managing to make it through alive is starting to make you giddy.  You can't help but laugh as you struggle, Susie's grip only tightening as you squirm. Susie's affectionate nuzzling is interrupted by the sound of somebody clearing their throat behind you. She unceremoniously drops you to the ground, quickly taking a large step away. Ralsei quickly trots up, looking awkwardly between the two of you.

"Um... am I interrupting?" He sheepishly asks, a faint blush visible under the shadow of his hat. Susie doesn't feel like answering, clearly finding something more interesting on the ceiling behind her. Straightening your cracked breastplate, you assure Ralsei he isn't interrupting anything. Ralsei nervously looks over to the Chaos King lying slumped against the floor, adjusting the brim of his hat. "If you say so... Are you both sure he isn't going to get back up and come after us?"

"Nah, he's down for the count." Susie scoffs, rolling her shoulder, "I really went to town on him. Shame you missed the end, fluffy."
"But we can't just leave him here." Ralsei continues, looking left and right, "What happens when he wakes up? Isn't there a dungeon or something we can throw him?"

"Undyne will probably just arrest him when she gets here," Susie explains, grinning, "She'll enjoy it too. It would probably be kinder to throw him in a dungeon. Too bad we don't have one."

"Oh, Right! The dungeon! I almost forgot, that's why I came here!" Ralsei exclaims, literally bouncing with impatience, "I came here to warn you the Chaos King escaped from Card Castle!"

"Uh, a little late for that, don't you think?" Susie asks, crossing her arms

Ralsei shakes his head, "No, there's more! I've been trying find you two for... gosh I don't even know how long! We need your help! Somebody called the 'Knight' is going around the Dark Kingdom opening more fountains. We need you two to come close them all or both our worlds are doomed!"

"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Susie slaps you between your shoulders, nearly sending you stumbling, "Lead the way, Kris!" With a purposeful stride, you walk out into the hallway, Susie and Ralsei following behind you. The overheads lights are all turned off by now, the rows of lockers illuminated by the glow of the streetlights outside. In the distance, you can just start to hear the wail of approaching sirens, so you pick up the pace a bit. Nobody has told you where to go, but you already know. The storage closet isn't very far.

"Susie? Can I ask you a question?" Ralsei asks from the back of the group

"Sure, shoot." Susie replies from behind you

"Are you and Kris...dating?"

You dare not answer, biting down on your lip to suppress a chuckle. It's incredibly tempting to look back and see Susie's reaction, but you try to stay nonchalant. You can all to easily imagine her face right now, sweat on her brow as she nervously looks for some kind of escape.

"Uh..." Susie pauses, hesitant. "Yeah, I guess so. Why?"

"Oh, that's great!" Ralsei beams, "I'm happy for you! I think you two make a cute couple."

Ralsei's innocent cheer nearly shatters your composure. Susie sputters incoherently as a wide grin breaks across your face. You had forgotten just how badly you missed Ralsei. Despite the vast differences in personality, he fits into your trio like no one else could. His unwavering support warms your heart as well. You and Susie have been hiding your relationship for so long, having someone's immediate acceptance is incredibly refreshing.

Turning the corner, you come face to face with the storage closet. The door hangs slightly ajar, more of that dark liquid fog pouring out around the frame. The first time you and Susie saw this, it intimidated both of you. Now, you're almost eager. The idea of another adventure in the Dark World hasn't even sunk in yet. Even if there are more dangers this time, you can't help but feel excited. Before you can take your next step forward however, Ralsei tugs on your arm.

"Um, before we go, there's something I should warn both you about." Ralsei admits, looking a bit ashamed. "This 'Knight' has opening up a lot of fountains throughout the Kingdom. I'm not even sure how many there are. This adventure will be a lot longer than the last one. So-"

"Wait," Susie interrupts him, "How long are we talking here? Days? Weeks?"

"Um..." Ralsei whispers, "I think... years? Maybe?"

Years. That stops you in your tracks. Could you really spend years in the Dark World? You finally have a plan for your life, even if it is a little vague. School is finally over, you don't need to hide your relationship with Susie, and you even have some money to get started. You thought you would be looking for a new job tomorrow, or an apartment, or even a car. You had never cared much for your own future up to this point, but now that the opportunity has come to throw it away, you're not sure if you can. Your hand slides down into your pocket, touching the check your mother had gifted you.

"Oh, well shit.." Susie replies, suddenly unsure of herself. She looks to you, clearly sensing that you're hesitant as well. Going into the Dark World now would mean giving up nearly everything. Your family would be distraught, especially your mother. You would have to start from scratch when you eventually return, if you come back at all. However, as you look up as Susie, you see her eyes are filled with absolute dedication and trust. You know that whatever you choose, she would follow you without doubt or regret. Suddenly, the decision becomes perfectly clear. The only real plan you had for your future was to stay by Susie's side. It doesn't matter where the two of you are, or what challenges you both face, as long as you're together. You step forward confidentially, placing your hand on the closet door. The metal is smooth and cool to the touch, filling you with nostalgia.

"You sure about this Kris?" Susie asks, placing her hand on your shoulder, "You're not going to regret this halfway through, are you?"
The question strikes you as absurd. Would you ever regret any of this? Regret all the memories you've made, or any of the adventures to come? Smiling, you give her your answer,

"Never."