Chapter Text
A Girl Like Me
Chapter One
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Noelle
There was magic in the air. This time of year, there always was. It had not snowed yet in the unseasonably warm December, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a magical time all the same.
Outside, people were walking by the apartment on their way to get their last minute shopping done, or to see family and friends that they might not be able to see on the holiday itself. Everyone was bustling, and there was cheer on every face.
But inside? Inside, Noelle felt hollow. She was sitting at the window, watching the townsfolk going to and fro and imagining they were having a better holiday. They would be spending it with their loved ones, laughing and telling stories. The people down below weren’t so alone, not at Christmas time.
That wasn’t fair. Noelle knew better. She was spending Christmas with the Dreemurr’s, which meant she was spending it with Susie. What more could she ask for?
Well, she could ask for her dad to be with them…
It wasn’t fair. It was the best time of the year, and once again Noelle and her dad were separated. He was at Amberbreach, because once again the hospital in Hometown wasn’t equipped to handle his care. Noelle had wanted to go, but her dad had been insistent that she shouldn’t miss spending Christmas with her girlfriend.
Noelle sighed, fogging up the cold glass with her breath. “But that means I can’t spend it with you…”
It wasn’t like it was an easy choice. Noelle had been excited about sharing her favorite holiday with Susie, and she didn’t want to give that up. In a lot of ways, it was easier to abide by her dad’s wishes this time. Better to not have to choose between her girlfriend and her dad, just let the decision be made for her.
Noelle took a deep breath and stretched. She had to stop sulking. It was Christmas! So it was her first Christmas without either parent around. She would still be with Susie’s family, and that was part of her family as well. She was spending time with people she cherished for the holidays, and that was the most important thing.
Okay, that was enough people watching. Noelle practically had to force herself to leave the window, but she did so anyway. She made her way to the stove, where she had a mostly empty pot of hot spiced cider on ‘keep warm’. She turned the stove off, then got herself a mug and filled it. The warm spiced drink put a genuine smile on her face as she took a sip.
Another deep breath, but this one more content than the last. She looked around the apartment. Since Asgore had gone to Amberbreach to be with Rudy, she was home alone. She couldn’t help but be a little jealous, but she knew understood why Asgore didn’t want to intrude on the holiday with his ex-wife, even if she was sure he’d miss Kris.
If Asgore can spend the day away from family, so can I, Noelle reminded herself. She sipped the cider, using the warmth to chase away the frown that threatened to escape.
She looked at a clock. It was mid-afternoon, two days before Christmas. Her dad and Asgore would be in the hospital now, but they probably weren’t doing anything. Noelle decided to give her dad a call.
She went to her room and sat on her bed. It was a big bed, too big for the room, but she had downsized from a larger room when she’d left Holiday Manor. At that point, it was just easier to keep the bed she already had.
Her phone was on the table next to the bed, and she unlocked it. Her background was a picture of herself with Susie on one side and Rudy on the other. Noelle didn’t think there was any other picture of herself where she looked quite so happy.
Even now, it made her smile. She tapped the phone button, then tapped her dad’s picture from her favorite contact list.
It only rang once before he answered, and he did so in song. “The first Noel…”
“The angel did say,” Noelle continued, but she cut herself off with laughing. “Hi, Dad.”
“Hi, sweetie. What, miss me already? I’ve only been gone a few hours!”
“Yeah, but then you’ll be gone a few days! So don’t give me that, not this time of the year.”
Rudy gave a deep laugh. “Aww, fair enough. So, what’s my little angel up to?”
“Made some spiced cider, just finishing it off.”
“Mmm, didn’t save any for me?”
“I sent Asgore with a thermos before he left!”
“You did?” Rudy moved the phone away from his mouth, but Noelle could hear clearly. “Hey, you holding out on me, big guy? Noelle says you’ve got cider.”
Noelle could hear Asgore saying something, but his soft and low voice didn’t travel through the phone. It didn’t matter, because a moment later she heard her dad laugh and say, “Oh, sure, you forgot, huh? I see how it is around here.”
“Come on, Dad,” Noelle said, stifling a laugh of her own. “You know Asgore forgets everything.”
Rudy laughed again. “She’s got your number!”
Noelle felt a little bad for being involved in turning her dad on Asgore, but she laughed anyway, knowing he would take it with good humor. She decided to change the subject to spare him. “So, uhm, anything else going on?
“Heh, you mean do I know anything yet? Nah, but I’m sure they’ll get to the bottom of things.”
Although Rudy wouldn’t be able to see it, Noelle nodded. Then out loud, she added, “Yeah, of course.”
“Hey, don’t sound so down,” Rudy said softly. Noelle hadn’t even realized she did sound down. “I’ll get outta this joint and back home to my sweet girl.”
“But not in time for Christmas…” Now there was no denying what Noelle’s voice held.
“It ain’t like it’s your first Christmas without me home, you know.”
Noelle had to swallow to keep tears from coming. “But it’s the first time I can’t visit you…”
“Yeah, well, there is that…”
They were both quiet for a moment, so Noelle took a deep breath and once again sought a new subject. “I’ll be at Susie’s for Christmas, so that’ll be nice.”
“Yeah, of course. And just a little heads up, Toriel always puts a little mistletoe over the kitchen doorway.”
Noelle giggled, thankful no one could see her blush. “Dad…”
Rudy let out another hardy laugh. “Hey now, it ain’t like it’ll be the first time you two have snuck off to lock lips, I’m sure.”
Noelle’s blush only grew. “I don’t know how much sneaking off we’re doing.”
“Maybe, but the locking lips…”
“Dad!”
Rudy laughed again, while Noelle felt like she might disintegrate on the spot. She forced a laugh anyway. “We, uhm…”
“Oh yeah, bet she’s hiding real quiet while you call me, huh?”
“What?” Noelle furrowed her brow. “No, Susie’s not here.”
“You really gonna tell me you haven’t snuck her over while we’re out?”
“Of course I haven’t!”
“Heh, you really are different than your father.”
“Yeah?”
“Well, you know…” Although she couldn’t see, Noelle knew her dad was the one blushing now. “Your dear old dad just wasn’t as well behaved when Mom and Dad were away.”
It was nice to be the one doing the teasing for a change, so Noelle dug in. “So you were popular with girls before Mom, huh?”
“Aww, you don’t want to hear about all that. But maybe a little.”
Noelle giggled. “Well, promise I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“You always are.”
As much as it would be fun to have Susie over, she’d never dream of sneaking her when she wasn’t supposed to be there. Besides, she wasn’t really sure what would happen if she did do that…
“Noelle?”
Noelle realized she had been quiet for a moment. “Oh, it’s nothing.”
“That sure sounds like something.”
“Well…” Noelle winced. “I guess…”
“Yeah?”
“What if Susie doesn’t, uhm…”
Rudy waited a moment. “Is this, well… that conversation?”
“What? Oh! No!” Noelle blushed even worse than she had earlier. “Not like that, just, uhm…” She took a deep breath. “We don’t… kiss. Much.”
“Really?” Rudy sounded relieved it wasn’t what he thought, but it did still seem to throw him off. “Well… why not?”
“I don’t know. I… I’m worried, maybe… It’s me.”
“How in the world could it be you?” Rudy asked.
“Well, you know… I’m…”
“A wonderful girl that she’s lucky to have. Don’t you go getting worried about anything else.”
There was something else, though. There was, and they both knew it. But she wasn’t sure how to talk about it, even after all these years, so she just said, “Yeah, I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“Definitely. And hey, if you can’t break the ice, there’s always that mistletoe!”
That brought about a small smile, but it wasn’t that simple. “You know her family is going to be there.”
“What, Toriel and Krismas? Aww, they’re practically family for you too, you know. Can’t go getting embarrassed around them!”
“Yeah, I know, but well…”
It took a moment, but when Rudy spoke he had a strange tone to his voice. “You know… you are home alone.”
“I know?”
“And, well, we won’t be there for a few days.”
Noelle hesitated, starting to get the idea of what her dad meant. “Well… yeah, I know that.”
“If you two wanted some privacy…”
“Dad.”
“I’m just saying, you two could talk about whatever you needed. And hey, no need to be alone the whole time I’m gone, right?”
Noelle tried to swallow but her mouth was too dry. “But… I can’t do… Uhm, we were just saying…”
“It ain’t sneaking if I’m okay with it, right?”
There was a beat of silence, then Rudy took a deep breath. “Look, Noelle. You aren’t a kid anymore. And anyway, I trust you to do what’s right for you. I, well, you know…”
“I… I do.” Noelle’s head was spinning. She didn’t know how to process what was going on. “Thanks, Dad. For trusting me.”
“Yeah, of course. I love you, Noelle.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
“Anyway, it’s up to you. If you don’t want to then—oh, hold on.”
Noelle heard a voice but couldn’t make it out. Her dad answered, “That’s me,” then the voice continued.
After a moment, Rudy returned to Noelle. “I have to go, they’re ready for me. But hey, just think about what you want, you know?”
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you too. Talk to you later, sweetie.”
“Okay.” Noelle nodded and finally found a smile. “I’ll call Christmas Eve if I don’t talk to you before then.”
“Sounds good. Talk to you then. Bye, Angel.”
“Bye, Dad.”
Noelle hung up the phone and took a deep breath. What was that? How did this all happen?
She looked down at her phone. She studied the background picture with her in between Susie and her dad, all of them smiling back at her. She rarely recalled being so happy.
Thinking of what her dad said, Noelle drained the rest of the cider she had forgotten about during the call. Then without letting herself think too much more, she opened her contacts and tapped the call button next to Susie’s name.