Work Text:
The climb wasn’t the worst part of Spamton’s journey. No, it was. But it was made worse by his condition. Being pregnant AND hiking up to find an opening that is only a rumor, but he needed the hope that it existed. He didn’t want to live without his partner or raise a baby alone. Especially a half human half monster hybrid that would constantly be in danger.
When the pain in his body got too difficult to handle, he would close his eyes, take a deep breath, and remember what it’s all for.
The last time he saw Ant it was early in the morning. They had spent the night wrapped in each other’s embrace. He had his face buried into his fluffy chest, he smelled like vanilla and something sweet.
Ant woke up first, he knew he had to meet up with the other monsters to discuss what to do next. The humans were getting more hostile and there was talk of war approaching.
Ant looks down at his lover and smiles, he kisses his head and when Spamton starts to stir Ant kisses his face all over.
“Good morning, lovebug,” he says, smiling as the human yawns and tries to curl back into him.
“Mm morning,” Spamton rubs his eyes, “go back to sleep.” He can barely see the time but he knows it’s probably dark outside still and he doesn’t want to move out of Ant’s arms.
“I’ll only be away for a little while, I promise I’ll be back as quickly as possible.” Ant cradles his face, his hands are huge compared to Spamton’s face. Sometimes Ant plays with Spamton’s hands and can’t help but feel giddy over their size difference. Spamton is shorter compared to other humans but otherwise normal, but when next to Ant he’s tiny. Spamton never has an issue keeping up with the tall monster. In fact, sometimes he teases his partner about it.
Spamton groans tiredly and nuzzles into his hands, “Stay with me, it’s one meeting.” He looks at him with wide and sleepy eyes. He hates being left alone.
Ant sighs, “I have to go, don’t worry, lovebug.” He leans down and kisses him. Spamton leans up and deepens the kiss, he feels Ant slip a hand around his waist. A perk of being with an ant monster is all his limbs, being held in several different places at once makes Spamton feel secure.
Spamton breaks the kiss for air and smiles sheepishly, “You know, if you stay we can pick up where we left off last night.” The suggestion makes the fur like hair stick up around Ant’s neck, making him look fluffier. Spamton smirks and presses his hand into Ant’s chest. He doesn’t have a heartbeat like Spamton does, but he knows it would be speeding fast.
“Oh Spammy I-I can’t miss this,” Ant stutters, he gives Spamton another kiss, “I’ll make it up to you.” He slips out of bed and gets dressed. Spamton shivers under the blankets and lies in Ant’s spot where it’s still warm.
“I’m holding you to that.” Spamton mumbles as he slowly falls back asleep. He could hear Ant walking around, before he heard, “I love you, Spammy.” And he was gone.
There are so many things he would’ve said if he had only known that would be the last time they were together. He’d played it over in his mind a hundred times.
Spamton feels a rock slip out from underneath his feet and he stumbles forward. He catches himself with his hands before he hits the ground. He winced as he felt his palms get scraped up, and he pushed himself up and kept going. He’s almost there. He can feel it. It’s like a magnetic pull pulsing outwards, it gets stronger as he gets higher up.
The air is either getting thinner or Spamton is getting weaker. His vision blurs and he stops for a moment to catch his breath. He sits on his knees and looks down. His stomach is uncomfortably big and round. He wonders if it’s supposed to be this way or if the baby is abnormally large from being half monster. Either way, Spamton puts a hand over his stomach and pats it gently. He can feel them, something strong and vibrant growing inside of him.
He closes his eyes and tries to steady his breathing.
When Spamton had learned of the humans trying to push monsters underground, he had left to find his partner. None of their friends knew where he went and most of them gave Spamton the warning to leave while he could. Anyone associating with the monsters or aiding them was being locked up as traitors. But he wasn’t leaving him behind, he couldn’t.
The next few weeks was spend tracking down any trace of Ant. Spamton went from town to town on foot, just a bag on his back and a photo of him and Ant asking anyone if they’ve seen him. He heard that tensions were rising and fighting was breaking out. He knew the further into the war he got, the more danger he put himself in. But with Ant being apart of Asgore’s party that means he would be closest to the conflict. He’d never met Asgore or most of Ant’s monster friends, but he had hope they would look out for Ant. Keep him safe until Spamton could find his way to him.
Spamton thought the traveling and being apart from Ant for to long was making him fatigue. He stopped in a wayward town out in the middle of nowhere to rest. But as his morning sickness grew worse and his stomach starting protruding, he knew. He looked at himself in the mirror, how had he not noticed the weight gain? He’d been so distracted with his mission he barely noticed the changes to his body. He almost didn’t believe it, after all hybrids were so rare, few and far between. He didn’t think it would be possible for them to conceive.
That started him in a snowball of new worries. If he didn’t find Ant he would have to raise their baby alone. Ant would never know he was a father. Spamton would have to hide away so no one could hurt them. Would it be a boy or a girl? Would it look more like Spamton or Ant?
All these questions filled his head and he itched for his cigarettes. He groaned and sank to the floor. No more smoking for a while. The withdrawals might kill him before the war does.
He puts a hand over his belly and sighs, he rubs it gently, “You decided to arrive at one hell of a time kiddo.”
In a weird way, he feels less alone now. Before he was determined to find his partner if it killed him. But now, he can’t risk being hurt. He’s not giving up, but maybe he should lie low for a while. Just until he figures out what to do. The best outcome is the war subsidies, maybe a truce can be negotiated. After all, that’s what Asgore was trying to do.
For the next few months, Spamton fought the urge to run off and continue his search. The bigger he got, the more he was reminded of the risk. Thankfully most people took one look at his stomach and had pity, offering shelter or food. He stayed close to the outskirts of towns. He didn’t trust the patrols going around capturing any stray monsters.
Spamton found a little village that somehow managed to stay somewhat peaceful in the mists of the war. He found a job as a mailman, and with how small the town was, he didn’t have to go too far between routes. He got a routine and steady income to save up. Everything was okay for a while.
Until the news spread that the humans had won and the monsters had been forced underground. Sealed away forever.
Since Spamton was the only mailman he had gotten the newspapers before everybody else, and when he read the headline he dropped it. It couldn’t be true, he held out hope that Ant hadn’t been killed. He was stronger and more resilient than given credit for. But even if he’s alive, it’s too late.
Spamton left the mail where it lay on the ground and ran. Tears blurred his vision and it was still dark outside but he knew his way back to his little shack of a temporary home. He slammed open the door and fell to his knees.
He wondered if the baby could feel his agony because he felt a sharp pain stab through his core. He looked down at his stomach and wondered if this was all he was going to have left of his partner. The thought of it almost made him want to throw up again.
Spamton stays in bed for days after that. As most people were celebrating, there were a few who were grieving any lost ones in the war. A few folks came by to check on him. He told them he wasn’t feeling well, so someone sent a doctor his way even. It was a nice gesture, but he had a feeling that if they knew the baby he was carrying wasn’t fully human they wouldn’t be so kind.
Rumors started flying a few months later that there was a weak spot at the top of Mount Ebbot where people could get in. But who would want to do that? Especially with no way out.
Spamton had to find it, even if the rumor was false. Because if there is a chance he could get underground then he would try.
He probably would never see another human again, but he didn’t care. Even if he didn’t find Ant he couldn’t raise his baby around humankind. They would take one look and destroy them. If Spamton lost his baby then there wouldn’t be anything else to live for.
At least with other monsters they would both have a chance. They might hate or fear him but maybe he can plead with them, convince them he isn’t anything to worry about. Or at the very least of it all, keep his baby safe.
He made it. There was a static in the air that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. So where exactly was this opening?
Such a thought because not a second after he wondered it, Spamton was falling. He didn’t even remember walking very far, but he was plunged into darkness. Cool air rushed over him and he tried to grab onto anything nearby. But he could only grapple with space. He tried to curl inwards and protect his stomach before they hit the ground. He couldn’t believe this is how he would die, falling and killing not only himself but his poor unborn child. He closed his eyes and tried to brace for impact.
Instead, he fell into something soft with a thump. The air was knocked from his lungs but he was otherwise just fine. He sucks in a deep breath and slowly opens his eyes. He’s in a yellow patch of flowers that smell like butterscotch. The pedals are soft and it feels like they are trying to attach themselves to his skin. He sits up slowly and they fall away. He looks up and around and it’s clear he’s in the underground. He stands up but the flowers grip his ankles. He frowns and tugs his feet, when he yanks forward they detach themselves from him. Weird.
Spamton feels his skin prickle and his heart rate is going a million miles an hour. He starts walking but only makes it a few steps before pain shoots him down to his knees. He gasps at the sudden feeling and grips his stomach. He remembers when he thought he was going into labor a week ago but it turned out to be a false alarm. Sometimes the body tries to prepare itself for the real thing. But this pain was different, and now he feels something warm running down his legs between his crotch, he looks down, his water broke, and he was in labor.
“Shit, shit, shit!” Spamton yells, “please not here, not right now we’re so close!” He feels another sharp pain and collapses on his side. He can’t move, his muscles are spasming and the pressure in his pelvis feels like a bowling ball dropping down. He screams from the pain and grips the ground, digging his nails into the dirt. He’s alone in a world he’s never been to before and about to give birth. He lets out a broken sob as he hears something nearby. Voices and footsteps, they hush as they get closer.
Spamton tries to blink his tears away and he can feel someone behind him. He attempts to sit up but feels something sharp press into his back. A spear.
“Hold it right there.” A deep voice says behind him. He freezes.
Spamton slowly turns his head and sees two goat like monsters standing there, the bigger one is holding the spear while the lady seems to hold herself back. She looks at him with a mix of fear and concern.
He swallows back his tears, “P-Please…I’m not g-going to hurt anyone. I-“ He feels another sharp pulse and shouts in pain. His whole body shakes violently.
The lady kneels down despite the bigger’s protests, she turns Spamton over carefully. When he’s on his back she gasps at the sight of his stomach, and the spear was almost immediately lowered.
Spamton had never felt so helpless in his whole existence.
“It’s okay now, dear,” she slips her arm behind his back to help him on his feet. He leans against her and groans, “I’m Toriel and this is my husband Asgore. We’ll take you back to the castle and get you to the medic.”
Spamton thanked the heavens above that the first monsters he ran into just happened to be kind enough to help him. Then it struck him.
“A-Asgore? Wait, I know-“ he winces, “I know you! I-I have to find-“ he doubles over in pain and he feels larger hands lift him up. Asgore holds him like he’s a child in his arms.
“Please you mustn’t speak. You need a medic right away. Save your strength.” He says as he and Toriel rush him to the castle as quickly as possible.
Spamton barely stayed conscious as Asgore carried him through the halls. Every step sent a bolt of pain up his spine, his body jerking in Asgore’s arms, “P-put me down…please…”
“We’re almost there,” Asgore says, he tries to speak calmly but there’s a small panic in his voice.
Toriel looks at him worryingly, “What’s your name?”
“Spamton,” his voice shook, “I had t-to come here.” He sees confusion cross her face but he doesn’t have time to explain.
They burst into a dim room filled with the smell of earth and bitter herbs. Toriel shouted for a medic. Spamton’s body was slick with sweat, his breath shallow and ragged. When another contraction hit, he screamed, a raw, animal sound that echoed off the stone walls.
“Lay them down, quickly!”
The cot was cold. The sheets scratched his back. He couldn’t focus, couldn’t breathe. His hands clawed at the rough fabric as another wave of agony tore through him.
“No- wait, wait,” he gasped, “please it c-can’t be time.”
“It is time,” said the medic, a mole like monster said. She takes off his pants and starts checking him, “You’ve been laboring longer than you think. But this child is too big.”
Spamton’s heart dropped, “Wh-what?”
Toriel pressed a damp cloth to his forehead, trying to keep him still, “Breathe, my child. You are safe here. Let us help.”
The medic placed a clawed hand over his swollen stomach, closing her eyes. A golden light pulsed beneath their palm, warm, steady, spreading through Spamton’s trembling body. It eased the pressure for a moment, just enough to let him breathe.
“Strong but you won’t be able to do this alone. I’ll have to use magic to help guide them through.” The medic said.
Spamton nods his head weakly. He doesn’t care what needs to be done as long as his baby is okay.
“Hold him steady,” the medic ordered. Toriel braced Spamton’s shoulders. The air in the room changed, sharp, electric, humming with power.
The medic’s eyes glowed brighter as they began to chant in an old tongue. The golden magic intensified, spreading from their hands into Spamton’s abdomen. It burned, not cruelly, but deep, searing from the inside out. Spamton arched his back and screamed, light flashing under his skin like fire trying to escape.
“Fuck!” he cried, voice cracking. He wished Ant were here. He needs him here to hold his hand and tell him everything will be okay.
“I know,” Toriel said softly, brushing hair from his face, “You must hold on, just a little longer. The magic is helping them move.”
He felt it, a heavy, shifting sensation deep within him, like something being pulled and turned by invisible hands. Every nerve in his body screamed, his legs trembling uncontrollably. “Make it stop- please make it stop!”
“Almost there!” the medic shouted, “Push when I tell you!”
The next wave hit, and instinct took over. Spamton pushed, sobbing, shaking, his nails tearing at the sheets. The air around him shimmered, the glow of the medic’s magic pulsing with his effort. For a moment, it felt like his body might split in two.
Then, all at once, the pressure broke. A cry, high, sharp, and alive, filled the room. Toriel gasps.
Spamton went limp, gasping. His vision swam with gold and shadow. He slowly catches his breath as he blinks hard. He looks down at the crying mess in the medic's arms, and she cleans them up gently.
“Congratulations, you have a girl!” The medic says as she wraps the baby up.
Spamton stared through the haze. The baby was big for a newborn, with soft white fur all over her body and tiny antennas on top of her head.
Spamton’s chest hitched, “Can I hold her?” His throat feels sore from the screaming, his arms were heavy but he lifted them up to reach out.
The medic nods, “Of course, I’ll get you cleaned up in the meantime.” The baby is gently placed in Spamton’s arms and he is in awe. She’s beautiful, she is practically glowing. Either from magic or just Spamton’s eyes playing tricks on him.
The medic cleans him up as he holds his baby close to his chest, he rocks her gently and she starts to calm down.
“Look at you,” he smiles weakly, “nine months just for you to look like your dad.” He doesn’t really care how she looks, because she’s in his arms and she’s alive.
Spamton studies her features and holds her close to his chest. That’s when he feels it. A heartbeat. He looks at her surprised. She has his heartbeat.
Toriel had been quiet until Spamton glanced at her, “Thank you, I, uh, don’t suppose I made the best first impression.”
She smiles, “Don’t worry about that. I thought you came here by accident but now I see you had a very good reason.” She looks at the baby.
Spamton nods slowly, “Yeah, I had to keep her safe. But I’m still looking for my partner.” He spoke a little slower because his throat was dry.
The medic walks over, “We need to move you into a more comfortable place to recover.” She looks to Toriel expectantly.
Toriel places a hand gently on Spamton’s shoulder, “My husband and I have plenty of space for you both.”
Spamton furrows his brow together confused, she just met him, watched him give birth, and now she’s offering him a room.
“Are you sure? I-“
The medic interrupts, “Nonsense, the King and Queen have plenty of room!”
Spamton’s jaw drops, “King? Queen?” He couldn’t believe it. He had been rescued by the rulers of the underground.
Toriel merely shrugs, “It’s no trouble. You will need time to heal.”
“Thank you…” he looks at his baby sleeping soundly, “my partner is Ant Tenna. I need to find him.” He knows he’s asking for a lot. But if this is the Queen then she’s his best chance at finding him. Especially since Ant knows her husband.
A spark of recognition flashes through her eyes and she stands up rather suddenly, “You are Ant’s partner?”
Spamton nods, he was hoping for a promising reaction. He wants to give her the whole story, but he’s tired. His body is sore and he feels sleepy. He doesn’t even know why he trusts her so much. He barely knows her, but maybe it has to do with the fact that she just helped him through the toughest physical pain he’s ever felt when she didn’t have to.
She could’ve left him with the medic and waited until he was finished to boot him out. Monsters may not have souls, but they do have hearts.
“Is he okay?” Spamton asks. That breaks Toriel out of her thoughts. She nods excitedly.
“Oh yes! My apologies, he’s such a delight. Let’s get you settled in and I’ll send someone to fetch him for you.”
For the first time in months, the cold pit in Spamton’s dissolved. Ant is alive. He’s okay and he’s on his way. It’s weird that Spamton had the sudden urge to make himself more presentable. He just realized how grimy he is. He was already sweaty and grimy before, now he has blood and other fluids on him.
He has a lot of cleaning up to do.
After being brought into his room he took the quickest shower of his life. He had to sit down in a chair the whole time but he scrubbed himself raw. He didn’t like being away from his baby. Just being out of his sight made him itching to run back to her side. Not that he’d be doing any running anytime soon.
Toriel helped him into bed after giving him a fresh pair of clothes. He gathered his baby back in his arms. After he and the baby were both fed, the medic came back and did a healing spell.
It helps tremendously.
Although the pain was gone, he was still sore and exhausted. But he didn’t want to sleep, not yet.
Toriel came back after giving him some space, “Ant is on his way. I’m sure you’re very excited to see him again.”
Spamton puts the baby in the crib they provided for him, he rocks it gently, “More than you know. We’ve been apart for months. He doesn’t even know about…her.”
Toriel sits next to him on the bed, something about her presence gave him comfort, “I can’t imagine how hard that was. You’re very brave, Spamton.”
Spamton felt himself blush. He’s been called many things, most of them vulgar, but never brave.
“Asgore sends his apologies for being hostile when you arrived.” She continued.
Spamton shrugs, “It’s fine, I didn’t expect a warm welcome or anything.”
”Well we can start over now I hope, I’ll leave and give you some rest.” She gets up and leaves him
Some time later the door creaked open.
For a second, Spamton thought he was still dreaming. The light from the hall caught in the edges of a familiar figure, tall and lean.
Ant froze in the doorway. His breath hitched like his lungs had forgotten how to work.
Then he moved.
In two long strides he was at Spamton’s bedside, falling to his knees. His hands trembled as they cupped Spamton’s face, tracing his fingers along his features.
“Spammy,” His voice broke entirely, “I thought- thought I lost you!”
Spamton didn’t even try to speak. His arms went around Ant’s shoulders, pulling him in. Their bodies collided in a messy, shaking embrace, sobs muffled against fabric and skin. Both of them were clutching tightly like they were going to be forced apart again.
“I can’t believe you found a way,” Ant choked out between shaky breaths, “You fell-you fell, I heard that the Queen and King found a human before Asgore told me you were here. He said you were with the medic!” Ant pulls away a little to look him over, “are you okay?!” His antennas searched over his body, Spamton smells different. Stronger than usual.
Spamton laughed, he pulled him close, clutching him tighter, “I am more okay than I have been since the last time we were together.”
Ant’s arms tightened, like if he let go the world would vanish again. His chest heaved, trembling against Spamton’s smaller frame, “I’m never leaving your side again. Ever!”
“Good, because I need you,” Spamton whispered, “especially since I have a surprise for you.”
Ant paused, confused, “A…surprise?”
Spamton tilted his head toward the crib beside the bed, “Yeah. Over there.”
Ant followed his gaze. The bundle stirred, a faint sound, quiet and soft.
He went still. His expression changed, disbelief flickering into awe. Slowly, he rose and crossed to the basket, peering down.
It was like looking at a smaller version of himself, wrapped in a pink blanket. His antennas inspected her and she’s a part of the new smell on Spamton. She smells sweet.
For a moment, Ant didn’t move. His hands hovered above her, trembling. Then he looked back at Spamton, “Is that?”
Spamton smiled weakly, tears still clinging to his lashes, “Ours,” he said simply, “surprise!”
Ant covered his mouth with one hand, a choked laugh escaping him. Then he sank down beside the crib, tears spilling freely again, “She’s beautiful,” he whispered.
“Yeah,” Spamton gets up and stands beside him, “She takes after her dad.”
Ant laughed through his tears, wiping his face with the back of his hand. Spamton gently scoops her out of her crib, “Do you want to hold her?”
Ant nods and feels him press the bundle into his hands. She’s not very heavy to Ant, barely any more than Spamton's weights. He smiles and brings her closer to his face, “I can’t believe it.”
Ant can feel her magic, it’s making her almost glow. He looked between Spamton and the baby, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe it, “You…you did this all alone?”
“Had some help,” Spamton said with a crooked grin, “But yeah. You’re late to the party.”
Ant reached out, brushing a fingertip across the baby’s cheek, and she grabbed it instantly, tiny hand curling tight. He let out another tearful laugh, utterly undone.
Spamton leans against him, “What do you think?”
Ant turned back to him, his smile full of love and disbelief, “She’s the best thing I’ve ever seen.”
Spamton’s eyes fluttered, exhaustion creeping in, “Then let’s get back to bed, big guy. You look better next to me anyway.”
Ant rose and crawled into the middle of the bed. It was too short for him with his feet hanging off the edge of the bed. But he helped Spamtom crawl into his lap and held him with one hand. His other arm had the baby tucked soundly.
“I’ve missed you so much, lovebug,” Ant nuzzles into his hair, “have you, uh, named her?”
Spamton could lose himself in the warmth of his partner, “Me too, I’ve missed you more than I could say in words.” He looks at their daughter, “No, I wanted you to meet her first.”
Spamton yawned and felt himself relax completely for the first time in forever.
“Well we can discuss it after some sleep,” Ant says as he holds them both closer to his chest. Spamton hums in agreement, “I love you, Ant.”
“I love you too, lovebug. Both of you.” He kisses his head and the baby.
….
A few days of rest and recovery had Spamton feeling like his old self again. Well, almost. Ant was pretty much the same as well. But much happier according to everyone else. The rumors of a human giving birth to a human monster hybrid spread quickly. Most were curious about how a human got in and what the baby looked like. But Spamton wasn’t going to let anyone treat his baby as a circus attraction. He was almost thankful she was more monster appearing than human. That isn’t a hope he would’ve had on the surface.
The very thought of what if he failed to arrive here and had given birth on the surface played in his mind. He shook it from his head quickly.
It’s amazing that in just a few days Ant had bonded with their baby so quickly. But it didn’t really come as a surprise. Ant has always been great with children. Spamton has never wanted any of his own, until now.
Their new routine works well, they switch on and off with getting up to care for her. Ant insisted on doing most of the work so his partner could sleep. Spamton smiles as he watches Ant coddle their daughter.
Maybe this is what heaven was like. His partner by his side and their child in his arms. He’ll have to build a whole new life here, but it’s one worth living.