Bright and early Thursday morning, William got out of bed. He went to the bathroom and looked at his hair. He tossled it around. "Eh, good enough." He walked to his daughter's room and peeked in. He saw her chest rise and fall as she breathed steadily, asleep. He went up to her and admired her beauty- her long eyelashes, her red hair in pigtails, her rosy cheeks, her perfect little pink lips. She was absolutely stunning. She was her father's girl. He smiled at her and bent down to kiss her cheek softly. He quietly turned to leave. He went down the hall to the room that his two sons shared. The older of the two was fast asleep on the top bunk with the covers tossed about. The younger one, a year younger than the little girl, was asleep on the bottom bunk, his hair in disarray. William looked at his younger son, noticing his rosy cheeks similar to that of his daughter. He knelt down and kissed the boy on cheek. The boy fidgeted a little, then calmed down, still asleep. William looked up at his older son who was asleep with a magazine in his arms. He looked closer at the magazine- is that a naked woman?! He fluttered his eyes and turned away. He certainly is growing up and it looks like I have some grounding and ass beating to do later. He walked out and back to his room where he put on his uniform- a purple button down shirt with a small Fredbear's logo on the breast pocket. He slipped some khakis on and headed off to Fredbear's Family Diner.

He arrived at the diner and rushed inside. The place was empty this early in the morning. The only other person that could be there that early is his co-owner of the facility, Henry. He went to the office and flipped the lights on. He started going through the desk drawers until he found his planning and sketch book.

"Voila!"

He plopped it on the desk and and flipped it to a page with a new animatronic design. The animatronic was humanoid female with a poofy skirt and red pigtails. It was a rough sketch. The face had big eyes, long eyelashes, blushing red cheeks with a mouth stretching between them, a round nose, and what appeared to be lines across the face- not lines for sketching proportions but lines that were intentional and purposeful. He admired the animatronic girl when he heard the front door opening. He quickly put his book back in the drawer. He waited a moment, then Henry came in the room with a huge smile across his face.

"Morning, Will." Henry sat his large bag down.

William looked up and smiled. "Morning, Henry." He noticed the bag. "Uhhh, what's in the bag?" William began to lean forward as if to get a better look at the bag.

Henry looked at the bag, then back at William. His grin widened. "You mean that bag?"

William laughed. "What other bag is there?"

Henry laughed and dove his hands into the bag and pulled out a sketchbook.

William looked at it. "Let me guess… New robot designs?"

Henry beamed. "Yes!" He flipped it open to a page with what appeared to be a brown bear with a black top hat and bow tie.

William studied the design. "Hmmm, it looks awfully similar to Fredbear, don't you think?"

Henry looked slightly hurt. "But this is not Fredbear," he pointed at the drawing, "this is Freddy Fazbear."

William gave the bear a look. "Fazbear… Wonderful."

Henry's smile returned. He flipped to a second drawing, which was a purple bunny with a red bow tie. "This is Bonnie."

William looked the rabbit and nodded.

Henry turned the page to reveal a yellow chicken with a bib that read "Let's Eat!" The chicken held what appeared to be a small cupcake. "This is Chica the Chicken and Carl the Cupcake."

William smiled slightly.

Henry flipped the page a final time to show a reddish orange fox with an eyepatch and a hook for a hand. "And this is Foxy the Pirate."

William jumped forward. "I love it! That one is definitely my favorite. Well done, Henry!"

Henry smiled and bowed slightly. He laughed and shut his sketchbook. "I'm glad you like them." He put the book back in the bag. "Hey, I'm gonna go wake this place up, get the animals going."

William looked up at Henry. "All right, Henry. I'll be in here."

Henry left William. William heard slow cranking sounds of robotic limbs moving after a night of sleep. I really do love those animals. He listened as the movements sounded more coordinated, then he heard the music start to play. He threw himself back in his chair. Man, this is great. He sat there a moment and pulled out his sketchbook. He opened to the girl animatronic and began to think of his daughter. "Hmmmm, what should I call you?" He was talking to the drawing as if it could answer. He tapped his pencil on the desk. "What would be a good name for a little girl animatronic?" He thought of his daughter again, he thought of her sweet little laugh. He chuckled. "Ahh, yes. My baby." He lit up with an idea. "That's it, you'll be called Baby!" He looked at the drawing and nodded. He shut the sketchbook and placed it back in the drawer. He stood up and walked to wear the stage was. He watched as the robots made their programmed movements- Fredbear turning from one side to the other, microphone at hand, waving to the children; and Spring Bonnie turning from side to side as well, strumming his guitar. William smiled, admiring the wonders he and Henry had designed.

Henry came up beside William and threw an arm around his shoulder enthusiastically. "Wonderful, aren't they?"

"Definitely."

Henry looked at the time. "It's 8:00. The kitchen staff and the cashier should be here in the next half hour, and the families and children shouldn't be long after." He gave William a pat on the back. He walked back to the kitchen to straighten up a little.

William stood a moment, staring at Spring Bonnie. I wonder if Henry would mind me playing the part today. He went to the kitchen. "Henry, could I possibly wear the Spring Bonnie suit today?"

Henry looked across the room at his companion. "That's a wonderful idea! You can be Spring Bonnie and interact with the kids and I can be Fredbear."

William smiled. "Great."

He walked back to the stage and went to the control panel and shut them down. He went to the Spring Bonnie suit and opened up the suit. He wound the springs back up, locking them up and compressing the robot parts to the edges of the costume's interior. He stepped into the feet and aligned himself in the suit and began fastening the costume carefully. Once he had the body on, he lifted the head in front of his face and looked into the empty eyes of the costume. He slipped the head on, making the transformation complete. He walked to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, admiring this look. I feel like a completely different person in this suit. He bent down over the sink, the rabbit face almost touching the mirror. Yes, I could get used to this. He laughed slightly and stood up. He walked out of the restroom and bumped into Henry.

Henry jumped, startled by the bunny, but then he remembered William was in there. He laughed and looked through the costume's eyes to see William's. "How's it going in there, Will?" He laughed.

William smiled. "This is great! I feel like this suit gives me a sort of new life or sense of being."

Henry gave him a concerned look, then he smiled. "Yeah, being one of the characters and performing can be quite lively."

William didn't respond. He only nodded his head slowly.

Henry stared. "Umm, okay, then. I think I'm gonna go become Fredbear now." He turned around and briskly walked away.

William watched Henry go, then he started for the dining area and proceeded to walk around the tables, pretending to be entertaining the children. He turned around to find Henry, all suited up as the famous golden bear. He turned to the front door when the cashier, Robert, came in. "Hey, Rob."

Rob looked nervously at the daunting bunny, then recognized the voice. "Oh hey, Will." He waved slightly and walked behind the counter to sit on his stool. "What's with the costume?"

William did a little dance. "I've decided to entertain the kids myself today."

Rob gave William an odd glance. "You seem quite happy about this. I would hate to be the one who's the mascot."

William was drawn aback. He put a giant paw to his chest. "What do you mean? There is no greater honor than to wear the costume, to play the part of a fantasy character. You feel like a different person in costume."

Rob chuckled. "Yeah, sure, man. I only feel hot, sticky, and stupid when I'm in a costume."

William put his paws on his hips. "Now, I out to cut your pay for that statement." He laughed.

Rob jumped up and smiled. "I was just kidding, Will. They costume's adorable." He laughed a little nervously.

William laughed. "I'm not gonna pay you any less. Everyone's entitled to their opinions."

Rob sat back down relaxed.

The kitchen staff - Hayley, Chris, and Leslie - came in. Hayley, being the first to notice Spring Bonnie, ran up to him and gave him a hug. "Gosh, I love this rabbit!" The two other teens looked at each other and laughed.

William was allowed the embrace as long as he thought the suit could handle such a stressor. "Ummm, Hayley, this suit has sensitive spring locks."

Hayley let go. "Sorry, Mr. Afton. I forgot about that." She smiled sheepishly.

William smiled. "It's no problem now, just please remember next time to try not to get me killed." He laughed.

"Yes sir." Hayley went into the kitchen to get the ovens warmed up. Leslie and Chris followed her, holding hands.

William noticed their interlocked fingers. "Now, you two know the rules." He put his paws to his hips. "If you're gonna be playing with each other, you have to be willing to play with the kids."

They turned around to look at him, turning loose of each other. They continued into the kitchen silently.

William spun around and looked at the time - 9:00. He looked up to the door to see their first customer's car pull in the lot. "Hey, Henry, we've got company!"

A mother stepped out of the car and opened the back door to unbuckle a little boy. She got him out, shut the door, and took him by the hand, leading him to his fantasy land.

As they entered the restaurant, William greeted them. "Well howdy! Welcome to Fredbear's Family Diner where food and play are our priorities."

The boy looked up at the large golden bunny talking and smiled. He turned to his mother and pointed at the rabbit. "Look, Mommy, it's a bunny!" He looked back at the bunny.

William looked at the boy. "Why, yes I am, kiddo." He tousled the boy's hair with his gigantic paws. He admired the child's enthusiasm, reminding him that his own son's birthday party was going to be Saturday. He smiled at the thought of his happy little boy in awe.

The child ran off to go play with Fredbear. The mother looked at William and gave him a warm smile. She then left to follow her son.

William blushed underneath the suit. Wow, these parents seem to really appreciate people making their lives easier by keeping their children happy and entertained. He turned around and noticed the woman back.

She smiled. "Ummm, could I speak to you, Mr….?"

"Afton. William Afton, co-owner of this restaurant."

Her mouth dropped open. She tried to cover her surprised look. "Wow, I had no idea the owners of the business would actually work there." She giggled. "Especially not wearing the costumes."

William laughed. "Well, Henry and I actually love wearing these costumes and interacting with the customers. We try our very best to make Fredbear's a fun family place with a warm and friendly atmosphere. Being a part of it, you know exactly how people are enjoying themselves."

The woman was surprised. She smiled. "I love your attitude about your work, it truly is amazing to find someone who thoroughly enjoys what they do."

William smiled. "I would take the head off and show you how delighted I am right now, but it might ruin it for the kids." He laughed.

The mother laughed. "Yeah, I understand." She looked around to see her son talking to Fredbear across the room. She turned back around and smiled. "He really does enjoy this place. We've been here once before and he just fell in love."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, your place has really made his life a bit easier. It gives him the happiness every child deserves."

William cocked his head. "Why wouldn't he be happy anyway?"

The woman looked around cautiously and turned around. "Well, he's had a lot going on in the past year. His father and I have gotten divorced in the past few months and he's really just going through some things."

"I see." William suddenly gave the woman a hug. "I'm sorry about what you guys are going through, but I'm glad that this place can bring some happiness to the picture."

The woman was surprised by the sudden hug by the large rabbit, but hugged back. "Thank you." They released each other and smiled. She gave him a little wave as she turned to go sit down while her son enjoyed himself.

Before long, many more children and their parents flooded in. The cooks were going crazy trying to get everyone's orders done, the cashier was busy, and William and Henry were busy entertaining the children. They danced and sang for the crowd for hours, occasionally taking short breaks to use the bathroom or snack a little. The did a few comedy bits together on stage, making the crowd roar in laughter. By the time it came to closing most everyone had gone. The place looked well worn by the end of the day. William looked around to see if anyone still remained to see only the mother and kid from earlier. Wow, they really are here to escape reality. He went over to them and sat down.

The boy jumped up excitedly. "Hi, Bonnie!"

William waved. "What's happening, kid?"

The boy leaned across the table, resting his chin in his hands. "Just enjoying this place, Bonnie. I love it here."

William observed as the little boy looked around in awe at the place as if he were in a dream. He suddenly remembered. "Oh my, how could I have forgotten?"

The boy looked up at the bunny. "Forgotten what?"

"We have a new friend that I forgot to introduce to the kids today."

The boy beamed. "A new friend?"

"That's right! And since you're the only child left, you get to be the first to meet him."

"Wow!" The boy's eyes widened in joy.

William stood up and took the boy by the hand. "He's right around here." He led the boy around a corner of the wall and low and behold, there was a huge present box sitting there.

The boy ran up to the box. "Is he inside?"

William came up beside him. "Yes, but you have to let him know you're friendly first before he'll come out."

The boy looked at the bunny, then back to the box. He gently knocked on the lid. "Hello? Is anyone home?" No reply. "I'm your friend, I just want to play. Please come out."

William smiled and flipped a hidden switch. The lid started to open up. A white-masked face with a wide mouth, red lips, bright red cheeks, and purple streaks running from the eyes to the mouth emerged from the box. It it's hands, it held a little gift box.

The boy was ecstatic. "Is this the new friend?" William nodded. The boy reached out his arms and gave the puppet a hug. "Hi, I'm Felix." The boy looked at the puppet, waiting for a response.

Suddenly, a voice came from the marionette. "Hello, I'm Marionette." The voice sounded welcoming.

The boy inched closer. "I like that name." He smiled.

Marionette with his lasting smile held the gift out to the boy. The boy took it and opened it, revealing a small Fredbear plush. The boy shrieked in delight. He squeezed the doll so hard that if it were alive, he would've crushed it. "I love it! Thank you, Marionette."

Marionette continued to smile, then he retreated back inside of his box.

The boy looked at Spring Bonnie. "I love him."

William smiled. "I knew he would be a friend well appreciated." He ushered the little boy back to his mother.

The boy ran to his mother and leapt into her arms. "Look, mommy, it's Fredbear!" He showed her the plush.

His mother smiled. "Yay, now you can talk to Fredbear whenever you want." She tousled his hair. She looked up at William and smiled. "Thank you, Bonnie." She tapped her son. "Tell Bonnie thank you."

The boy turned to Bonnie and gave him a squeeze. "Thank you, Bonnie."

William smiled. "No problem, kid." He pat the boy's head.

The mother took her son by the hand and led him to the car. The parking lot was empty except for his car, their car, and Henry's car. Henry came up behind William. "Hey, Will, you mind closing shop for me today?"

William looked at him and smiled. "Nah, I don't mind."

Henry looked at him gratefully. "Thanks because Melissa is calling me, the twins are sick."

"Go take care of your family, Henry."

Henry thanked him once more and left. As Henry drove off, another vehicle pulled in beside the mother buckling her child in. A large truck, high off the ground, stopped. A lean man with a hat on dropped from the driver's side of the truck. He seemed to be staggering a little. He made his way around the front of his truck and in the space between the two vehicles where the woman was. He got directly behind the woman and put one hand against her car. "Howdy do, Carrie."

She turned around and looked at him in disgust. "What do you want, Joe?"

He shuffled a little, his mind not seeming quite right. "I came for little Felix."

She looked at him for a moment. "No, you don't get Felix till next weekend." She looked at his rough appearance. "And quite possibly never if you keep drinking like that."

The man's face contorted. He chuckled. "Now, Carrie, I don't think you understand. Felix's coming with me." He got closer to the woman, pinning her between himself and the car. "And I think you ought to know that I wouldn't be this way if not for you."

She looked at him disapprovingly. "Excuse me, I did not drive you to drown your sorrows in alcohol. I left you because of this problem."

His face turned red with frustration. "No, Carrie, you left me and took my son because you were bored with me."

The woman began to cry tears of anger. "No, I loved you, Joe! I loved you with all of my heart! I only left you because you started down this path of drinking again. The only difference this time is that you didn't make it out. You are in no position to be around children in this state and I love you still, but I'll be damned if I let you take our son now for him to get injured or killed." She looked back in the car to see her son looking at them with wide eyes. She bent down into the car. She smiled at him. "Everything's fine, baby. Mommy and daddy are just having a talk." She kissed his cheek, then stood up and shut his door.

Joe looked at her with a wicked smile. "Now, I don't know why you're closing that door when he needs to get out to come with me."

Carrie frowned. Her voice got low. "You are not taking him. Can you not see you are just a hazard to everyone right now, including yourself. Now, if you'll excuse me." She began to move towards the driver's side door when a large arm blocked her way. She turned to face him.

He had a devilish look in his eyes. "Why're ya running off so soon?" He pushed her against the car and held onto her. He began to cry. "Carrie, I love you." She tried to move but couldn't. He looked up at her and saw she was horrified. He wiped his tear-streaked face and he became angry. "You aren't going to acknowledge my love?" He pulled a knife out of his pocket and began to play with the sharp end. He chuckled and looked at Carrie. "Ya know, I always thought you'd look real cute with short hair." He slowly moved the knife around the side of her head and grabbed her hair. He pulled her to himself and sent the sharp blade through her hair, the tresses falling down. She started to cry. "Oh, honey, you look cute like that." His face began to approach hers. His lips were about to brush hers when she suddenly pushed back from him, freezing when the shock hit her. Blood began to trickle down her back. Joe realized what had happened and worried. "Carrie, are you okay? I didn't mean to." She was staring in shock at him, the knife still in her back. She began to tremble. "Carrie, I'm sorry." She began to pass out. He caught her. He pulled the knife out and lowered her to the ground. He began to cry profusely. "Carrie?" She was still breathing, but her breath was slowing. "Carrie? Please, don't go." He sobbed.

Their son watched in horror through the window as his mother lay nearly lifeless on the ground. He was frozen in shock. He sat there quietly, unable to cry or move. Suddenly he heard his father screech horribly and sob. He closed his eyes and squeezed his Fredbear. He wouldn't open his eyes- not when he heard his father get up and put his mother in his truck. He sat and listened as his father drove off, forgetting Felix existed for the moment.

William finished getting his things together and shutting the place up for the night. He opened the door and stepped outside. He noticed the car was still there, but the truck had left. He looked closely through the windows of the car, but the woman he had met earlier was nowhere in sight. He walked to the car and looked in all the windows and saw the little boy sitting there, squeezing Fredbear. He looked around and noticed no one was around. He opened the door and touched the boy's shoulder. "Why are you out here all alone kid?"

The boy looked up at him and began to cry.

William was surprised. He unbuckled the child and picked him up out of the car. The boy rested his head on William's shoulder and cried. William unlocked the restaurant and brought the crying child inside. He took him to Fredbear and Spring Bonnie on their stage.

The boy looked up to see two of his favorite characters. He wiped his cheeks and sniffled.

William smiled. "Do they make you feel better?"

The boy nodded.

William gave the boy a few minutes to calm down. "Why were you upset? Are you hurt? Where are your parents?"

The little boy looked up. "They left. Daddy and Mommy were talking outside the car. Daddy wasn't acting right. He stabbed Mommy in the back and she fell. He picked her up, put her in his truck, and left." Tears were streaming.

William looked horrified at what the boy just told him. He grabbed the little boy and pulled him into a hug. He held his head against his own chest and pet the boy's head. "It's gonna be okay. I'm sure you're mama is okay." The boy struggled to catch his breath. He started crying more, unable to stop. "It's gonna be okay."

William looked up from the crying child to the door leading to the room with the puppet. He picked the child up and brought him in the room. He set him beside the present box. The boy looked up, calming down a little. William pressed a button, and the marionette began to emerge from within the box, holding a plush of himself. The puppet began to talk. "Here you are, friend." It's arms were outstretched, holding the doll for the boy to take. The boy slowly reached up and took the doll. He hugged the puppet as if it were the only other thing on the planet.

William watched this touching scene. The robot is happy and it makes the kid happy. He watched as the boy put his troubling situation aside to focus on his new animatronic friend. He shouldn't have to go back to the real miserable world, he should get to stay here in bliss forever. Suddenly, something snapped in William's mind; he smiled a sort of chaotic smile. He slipped out of the room quietly, leaving the child to his friend.

Felix looked up at the puppet and pet the side of it's face. "You smile, yet you cry. Why are you sad?" He looked intently at the puppet and waited for a response. "You just need a little love." Felix kissed the puppet's forehead and hugged the marionette with a passionate squeeze of genuine love and friendship.

As the child hugged the puppet, William slinked back into the room. A blade of silver glistening in his hand. I'm doing it for him. He crept behind the child, blade ready to make the fatal blow. He wrapped his arms around the child, as if hugging him from behind. Before the child had a chance to respond, he pulled the knife abruptly towards the child's torso. The child's arms fell slowly from the puppet he was hugging and fell limp to his sides. His head hung forward, lifeless. William picked the lifeless child up before any blood could get anywhere. He carried him like infant towards the supply closet near the back door and retrieved a shovel. He carried the child and the shovel out the back door and into the woods. He walked with the child a distance until he couldn't see the building anymore. He stopped, dropped the shovel on the ground, and looked at the child's seemingly restful face. He died happy. He knelt down and sat the child down, propping him against a tree. He picked the shovel up and began to dig. He buried the child, placing the puppet plush and the Fredbear in with him. Rest in peace, dear child. He covered the body and the dolls. He covered the freshly dug area with leaves and twigs and walked back to Fredbear's with the shovel. He washed the shovel and placed it back in the supply closet. He went to his office, retrieved his design book, and left.