Chapter 1

Dream woke up in his bed, rubbing his eyes to clear the sleep from them. He looked around at the familiar surroundings of his room. The soft light from the window illuminated the room, casting a comforting glow on the familiar furniture. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat up, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep.

His bedroom was simple and cozy. It was filled with his personal belongings: books, sketches, and a small record player that Piko had gifted him. He was especially fond of that record player. It was the first thing he saw when he woke up and the last thing he saw before going to sleep.

He paused for a moment, letting the quiet peace of the morning settle over him. He could hear the distant sounds of Snowdin Town starting to wake up. The sound of the townfolk beginning their day, the distant chatter, and the occasional laughter. He smiled to himself. He loved this town, its people, and the sense of community that it had.

He got up from his bed and walked over to the window. Snowdin town was beautiful, especially in the morning. The snow-covered roofs of the houses glistened in the early morning sun, and the tall trees that surrounded the town swayed gently in the breeze.

He could see Piko's house from his window. It was a small, cozy house, just like his own. He saw the light in her window and knew she was awake. He smiled to himself. Piko was his best friend. They had been through so much together. They had shared their joys and sorrows, their dreams and fears. And through it all, they had remained the best of friends.

As he stood there, watching the morning sunlight dance on the snow, he thought of Piko. Of her kind heart, her infectious laughter, and her unwavering determination. He loved her. More than a friend. More than a sister. But he couldn't find the courage to tell her.

He sighed, a soft, wistful sound. He was a dreamer, always lost in his thoughts and dreams. He was afraid of shattering the delicate balance of their friendship. He was afraid of losing her.

But he also knew that he couldn't keep his feelings hidden forever. He had to tell her, sooner or later. He had to take that leap of faith, no matter how scary it seemed.

Piko had been living in Dream and Ava's guest bedroom, mainly because as a teenager, she couldn't afford to pay bills, but Dream and Ava didn't complain. It was nice having Piko around. She related to them in a good way. In fact, Dream could hear her downstairs, strumming her Ukulele, working on her Snowdin town song.

The soft, melodic strumming of Piko's ukulele echoed through the house. The sound was soothing, and it filled Dream with a sense of calm and reassurance. Piko was always making music, pouring her soul into every note and chord. Her music was like a window into her heart, expressing her emotions and thoughts in a way words never could.

Dream quietly made his way downstairs, following the sound of the music. He found Piko sitting in the living room, her ukulele cradled in her arms, her fingers dancing over the strings. Her eyes were closed, and she was lost in the music, completely oblivious to the world around her.

Dream stood in the doorway, watching her. He loved these moments, when she was so absorbed in her music that she forgot everything else. He loved the way her face lit up when she played, the way her fingers moved with such grace and precision, the way she swayed gently to the rhythm of the music.

He loved her.

Piko finished playing and opened her eyes, looking up to see Dream standing in the doorway. She smiled at him, the warm, genuine smile that he loved so much. "Morning, Dream," she greeted him, "Did you sleep well?"

Dream nodded, returning her smile. "Yeah, I did. You sound really good, Piko. The song is coming along nicely."

Piko's smile widened, and she looked down at her ukulele, her fingers gently strumming the strings. "Thanks, Dream. I'm really happy with how it's turning out."

There was a moment of silence between them, a comfortable silence filled with unspoken words and hidden emotions. Dream took a deep breath, gathering his courage. "Piko, there's something I need to tell you..."

"Hey Dream, want some breakfast?" Ava asked before he could finish. And out the window all that courage went. He could tell piko later today. Or this week. Or this year.

Dream could hear Piko singing along to her song, with her own lyrics.

Dream listened, captivated by the sound of Piko's voice. He had heard her sing countless times before, but every time felt like the first. Her voice was soft and sweet, yet filled with such emotion and passion that it made his heart ache.

The lyrics of her song echoed in his mind, filling him with a sense of warmth and joy. The words were so fitting, so perfect. They spoke of hope and new beginnings, of love and dreams, of magic and wonder. They spoke of everything that Dream felt for Piko, and everything that he wished for their future together.

He closed his eyes, allowing the music to wash over him. The beautiful melody, the heartfelt lyrics, and Piko's enchanting voice combined to create a song that touched his soul. He felt a lump form in his throat, and he realized that he was holding back tears.

He was in love with Piko, and her song was a beautiful testament to the feelings that he was struggling to express. He wished he could tell her how he felt, to share his feelings with her as openly and honestly as she shared hers through her music.

But for now, he would keep his feelings to himself. He would cherish these moments, these beautiful instances where he could lose himself in her music and dream of a future where they could be together.

For now, he would be content with being her friend, her confidant, her sounding board. He would be there for her, supporting her and cheering her on, while silently hoping that one day, she would return his feelings.

Piko's song came to an end, and Dream opened his eyes, finding her looking at him with a questioning look. He smiled at her, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "That was beautiful, Piko," he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I loved it."

And he meant every word.

"Thanks. Although I can't figure out this next verse. I mean, what rhymes with orange, am I right?" Piko said, erasing something in her notebook, before writing something else. "Rhyming is kinda hard."

Dream chuckled at Piko's comment. "Orange is a tough one," he agreed, leaning back in his chair and thinking. "How about 'door hinge'? Like, 'I found an orange by the door hinge.' Or 'foreign' if you bend the pronunciation a bit. Like 'An orange taste so foreign'. Or you could use 'sporange,' it's a rare type of fungus and the only word in the English language that perfectly rhymes with orange."

He looked at Piko, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Rhyming can be hard, but it can also be fun," he said, giving her an encouraging smile. "I'm sure you'll figure it out. Your lyrics are always so beautiful and meaningful, Piko."

His compliment made her blush, and she quickly looked down at her notebook, trying to hide her reddening cheeks. Dream's heart fluttered at the sight. He loved it when she blushed, it made her look even more adorable.

"Thanks, Dream," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll try my best."

Dream watched her as she continued to scribble in her notebook, her brow furrowed in concentration. He wanted to tell her how he felt, to tell her that he was in love with her. But he knew now wasn't the right time.

For now, he would continue to be her friend, to support her and encourage her. And maybe, just maybe, one day he would gather enough courage to tell her how he truly felt.

Piko's phone lit up with a notification. She opened it and giggled. She texted back. And that's where Dream had trouble with. Another guy was in love with her, and his name was Sans. He was funny, smart, and laid back. The kind of guy any girl would want to date.

Dream felt a pang of jealousy as Piko's phone lit up and a small giggle escaped her lips. He tried to brush it off, reminding himself that he had no right to feel this way. Piko was his friend, and he wanted her to be happy. But the thought of her being happy with someone else... it was hard to swallow.

Sans was a good guy. Dream knew that. He was funny, smart, and laid back. He had a charm about him that was hard to resist. Piko seemed to enjoy his company, and Dream couldn't blame her.

He watched as Piko continued to text, her smile growing wider with each message. He felt a strange ache in his heart. He wanted to be the one making her smile like that. He wanted to be the one she turned to when she was happy, sad, or just needed someone to talk to.

But right now, that person was Sans.

Dream tried to push the jealousy away. He reminded himself again that he wanted Piko to be happy. And if Sans was the one who could make her truly happy, then he would have to learn to accept it.

But that didn't mean it didn't hurt. It hurt to see her so happy with someone else. It hurt to know that he may never have a chance to tell her how he truly felt.

He forced a smile onto his face, turning his attention back to his breakfast. He didn't want Piko to see his pain. He didn't want her to worry about him. He would keep his feelings to himself, for her sake.

But deep down, he couldn't help but wish that things were different. That he was the one Piko was texting. That he was the one making her smile. That he was the one she was in love with.

Piko's eyes widened when she saw the time. "Holy banana pancakes I've got to go!" She had a job as a sentinel to watch out for humans. Even though she WAS a human.

Startled, Dream looked up from his breakfast just in time to see Piko scrambling to gather her things. Her ukulele was quickly tucked into its case and her notebook was shoved into her bag. She was a whirlwind of energy, and for a moment, Dream was too stunned to move.

"Whoa, slow down, Piko," he finally managed to say, pushing back his chair and standing up. "You're going to forget something at this rate."

He moved to help her, picking up a stray pen that had rolled under the table and a notebook that had fallen out of her bag. As he handed them to her, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. He was going to miss her. He always did when she left for her sentinel duties.

Despite being a human herself, Piko had taken up the role of a sentinel in Snowdin Town. Her job was to keep watch for any other humans who might stumble upon their hidden community. It was a role she took very seriously, often leaving early in the morning and returning late at night.

"It's always so quiet without you here," Dream said, giving her a small smile. "But don't worry, I'll keep the house in one piece until you come back."

Piko grinned at him, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thanks, Dream," she said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "I'll see you later, okay?"

He nodded, watching as she headed towards the door. "Take care, Piko," he said, his voice soft. "We'll be waiting for you."

With one last wave, Piko was gone, leaving Dream alone in the quiet house. He stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door, his heart heavy with unspoken words and hidden feelings.

But he knew he would wait. He would wait for Piko, for as long as it took. Because he loved her, and he was willing to wait for her, even if it meant keeping his feelings a secret. For now, at least.

Dream blinked in surprise as Piko suddenly rushed back into the house, her eyes wide and frantic. She made a beeline for the coat rack by the door, grabbing her suit of armor and tossing it over her shoulder with practiced ease.

"I'll put it on at work," she panted, already heading back towards the door. Her face was flushed from the sudden exertion, and her hair was a wild mess from her mad dash.

Dream couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. Even in her frantic state, Piko was still the most beautiful person he had ever known. He loved her energy, her spirit, and the way she never let anything get in her way.

"Take care, Piko," he called after her, his voice filled with amusement and affection. "Don't forget to breathe!"

With a laugh, Piko waved back at him, her other hand holding onto her suit of armor as she dashed out the door. The house fell silent once again, leaving Dream alone with his thoughts.

He stared at the closed door for a moment, a small smile playing on his lips. As much as he missed Piko when she was gone, he also loved these little moments of chaos she left in her wake. They were a reminder of her spirit, her energy, and her determination. And they were a reminder of why he was so in love with her.

With a sigh, Dream turned away from the door and headed back to the table. He still had his breakfast to finish, and a long day ahead of him. But no matter how long the day, he knew he would always be looking forward to Piko's return. Because she was his light, his joy, and his love. And he was willing to wait for her, no matter how long it took.