Departing

A/N: I'm back! Apparently I'm motivated enough to not really take a break from writing? Oh well better get used to this I am going to school for it. This is the next installation of the Will Series. There will be appearances from certain bots and mentions of them that were featured in Determined Devotion. This is happening after Holidays which I will still continue to update. I only own Leo, the kits, Crackers, and the trio from Larry's that will appear from time to time. Everyone else belongs to Scott Cawthon. Enjoy!

The air around Freddy's was heavy and full of sadness as everyone watched Mike prepare his things to leave. The now young man had gone through with his plan and had enlisted in the military, fresh out of basic he was preparing for his first assignment. He was being sent across the country to California, he was excited, nervous, but mostly worried about Leo. The boy had been avoiding everyone all day, which left everyone troubled.

"Almost ready to go?" Jeremy asked leaning into the doorway.

Mike nodded, "Any sign of Leo? I'm worried about him."

"I think he's spending time with the other mental wreck in the place right now." Jeremy admitted.

Mike's frown deepened, "So he's with Bon? They say misery loves company I guess."

"Well you have to figure, they have a lot in common right now." Jeremy responded and helped Mike with his issued bag, "I can't say that I blame them."

Meanwhile in the receiving room Leo sat next to a rather somber toy rabbit who knew exactly what the boy was going through. Leo wasn't the only one who was having a brother being shipped out. At the urging of Freddy and the others Bonnie was being shipped off to be repaired before the damage done to his body had become worse. Bon could still recall the freak accident that had started all of it. They had closed for the night and somehow the supports that held the lights over the stage collapsed. Bonnie had pushed everyone out of the way, but the damage done to his endoskeleton was more than what they could repair at the building. Since the incident Bonnie had been deactivated and placed in the receiving room before the company came to retrieve him for repairs.

"They haven't come yet?" Leo asked almost devoid of all emotion.

Bon nodded, "Shouldn't you be seeing your brother off?"

"I can't stand to, it's too painful to say goodbye." Leo admitted leaning against Bon, "If anyone understands it's you."

"Probably a little too well" Bon chuckled softly, "Come on though, you not being there is probably hurting your brother more than you realize!"

Leo looked at the rabbit rather confused, and before he could protest Bon was carrying him back into the main part of the building. He knew that saying goodbye was hard, though he had come to learn that saying "see you later" was much more reassuring. To him goodbye sounded like the person was never coming back, something that put his own circuits on edge. While he was lost in his own thoughts Leo took a chance and tried to run from the toy rabbit, but he didn't get far. He felt a wire wrap around his leg, he knew it would be pointless now his "mother" had caught him.

"Leo what has gotten into you?" Mari asked softly once they pulled the boy to the Prize Corner.

Leo couldn't even talk he just started to cry and before long found himself sobbing into the puppets fabric covered body. Almost as if it were instinct by now Mari gently played with the boy's hair and tried to soothe his nerves, they knew that today was hard on both the boy and toy rabbit. While Leo let his emotions show, Bon was rather devoid of them for the time being. Hearing a muffled sniff Mari returned their attention back to Leo and wiped away a few tears, "It's only for a couple of months, it's going to be okay."

"I'm just worried!" Leo tried not to start crying again.

Mari nodded slightly, "I know, ever since that night you've always worried and fretted about him. We all do, but we can't let that stop him from pursuing his own dreams and goals in life."

"How are you guys staying so calm about this?" Leo asked quietly.

Goldy approached the upset boy, "Who said we're calm? Foxy and Mangle have been struggling all day to keep the kits from crying themselves to exhaustion. We're all deeply worried about your brother and Bonnie, this hasn't been easy for us either."

"R-Really?" Leo asked.

Goldy nodded, "Think of the hell Freddy is putting himself through right now because of the state of his best friend. He's going to blame himself for what happened, though there was nothing he could do. We don't have a chance to say goodbye to Bonnie before he leaves, that room is locked. We know you climb through the vents to get in there, and Bon can just phase through the walls."

Leo slightly jumped realizing that the bots knew how he snuck into some places of the building. However, none of them seemed upset nor blamed him for his actions. Instead Goldy decided to pass on a few words to the boy upon seeing Jeremy and Mike head for the car, "Leo, you should go with them. You have a chance to say a few parting words, we don't."

"What if I get upset again?" Leo asked unsure.

Toy Freddy walked by and turned to the boy, "You're allowed to be, Leo. That's your older brother, I'm with the others you should go with them to the airport."

"A-Alright….I…I think I can do it." Leo tried to reassure himself.

Mari patted the child's head, "Good, and in case you start to worry take these."

Leo watched as Mari pulled down the two plushes Leo had created of the puppet and Goldy. Mari placed them in the boys arms and set him on his way to join his father and brother. Goldy didn't fail to notice a small stream of oil slide from one of the holes in their mask. The gold colored bear pulled the puppet to them and started to hum softly as a way to soothe their nerves. Everyone was on edge because of today, two of their own family members would be leaving for quite a bit of time. Before Bon could escape back to the receiving room Toy Freddy quickly cut off his route and pulled his friend to another part of the building. He claimed that he felt like he failed Bon so many times before, but this time he vowed not to.

"You don't have to come if you don't want to" Jeremy gently spoke to Leo while Mike got in the passenger seat.

Leo shook his head, "I don't want to, but I should….T-That's what family does, right?"

"That's right, but we don't want you to be upset either."

"Too late for that" Leo chuckled sadly, "But I should see him off too, t-that is my big brother after all."

Jeremy smiled and pulled Leo into a hug, "They gave you a pep talk didn't they?"

Leo nodded against the man's shoulder, "They did. Did it work?"

"I would say that it did" Jeremy responded softly, "Alright get in the back. Once we see Mike off we'll grab something for dinner and come home."

"Okay." Leo responded and climbed into the back seat.

Jeremy gave a faint sigh, though he hadn't raised the two from birth as far as he was concerned they were his boys through and through. The day had been hard on him too, it would be difficult to adjust to Mike not being around. Since the events that happened with the one rival company he had come to rely on Mike when it came to some things. The boy had no problem with occasionally helping mediate between staff and upset parents, and on occasion he and Foxy would do a small act together where they would sword fight. With Mike gone the place would feel a little emptier, though with Bonnie leaving as well it was going to be much worse. With the long drive ahead he decided to spend the few precious hours remaining with his children, while he hoped somehow the bots could find a way to comfort one another. He was made aware a few days ago that since Bonnie would be out of commission for a while a replacement would be sent.

Great, another thing to add to a long list of insecurities amongst the bots. From what Jeremy had read this replacement had come from a failed franchise that tried to mimic Bonnie and his toy counterpart, but failed miserably. The place didn't even last a month; they were sued for copyright infringement among many other things. The bots had been sold at auction and from the records it seemed like only two from that long lost franchise remained.

"Dad, you okay?" Mike asked looking a little worried.

Jeremy shrugged, "Just worried about how the others will take the replacement bot that we'll have until Bonnie's back."

"You think they're nervous?"

"Wouldn't you be if one of your own was being "replaced" for a short time? It's hard enough on Bon right now, but I can't imagine what's going to happen with a new bot filling in his brother's place."

"True, he's come a long way but he's still pretty fragile in that department." Mike admitted, "Then again he's not the only one."

Jeremy looked through the rearview mirror and noticed that Leo had fallen asleep in the back seat. The boy looked relatively at peace, but kept a death grip on the two stuffed versions of Mari and Goldy. Part of the manger could only hope that somehow the two mysterious bots had given the boy the strength he needed to get through the day. Hitting a bump on the road both older males nearly froze upon hearing the haunting melody that they had known Bonnie to play. Mike turned around and noticed that in one of Leo's coat pockets sat the very music box that Bon held dear to him.

"Dad, he has Bon's music box." Mike spoke quietly.

Jeremy let out a faint sigh, "Leave it to that one, to put everyone else before himself still."

"It is a soothing melody" Mike admitted, "How much longer until we're there?"

"We've got about half an hour still." Jeremy spoke and returned his attention to the road.

Mike gave a faint sigh and despite not wanting to woke Leo up and decided to spend that last half hour with the brother he had gone through so much for. The boy was still groggy, but was still fully aware of what was going on around him.

He had fallen asleep.

They were almost to the airport.

He wouldn't have much more time with his brother.

"M-Mike…you'll come back home, right?" Leo asked quietly.

Mike nodded and pulled his little brother close to him, "Of course I will. Leo I'm not going to be in combat, you don't have to worry about that."

"I know" Leo sniffed, "But I don't like the fact that you're going to be so far away!"

"It'll be okay, whenever I get the chance you know I'll call. When we have leave I'll come right back home." Mike tried to ease his little brother's nerves.

"Promise?" Leo asked.

Mike nodded, "I promise, from one brother to another."

Leo smiled and nodded faintly, he could finally understand why the others had pressed him to go. However, time felt like it moved too fast and before long it was time for the small family to part ways for awhile. Mike grabbed his bags and gave Jeremy a hug and thanked him once more for everything. Next he hugged Leo and rubbed the small boy's back as he tried to calm him down.

"Hey Leo." Mike spoke quietly.

Leo sighed, "Yes?"

"Want to know something?"

"What is it?"

Mike grinned as he got back up, "Master Chief is still better then Doomguy!"

"Is not!" Leo scowled as Mike started to gather with the rest of his unit.

Jeremy smiled faintly and pulled Leo to him, "I agree with you there kid. No one can beat the ORIGINAL space marine."

Mike tried to look offended, "Not you too!"

"What can I say?" Jeremy grinned, "Besides see you in a few months."

The oldest of Jeremy's sons nodded, "See you in a few months. Dad, make sure you tell "mom" and everyone else I'll miss them."

Jeremy nodded and stayed with Leo until Mike and his unit boarded their plane. He was surprised on how well Leo had composed himself, and quite frankly he was proud. Before long the remaining two of the family were on their way home listening to some of the first DOOM's soundtrack. Leo was rather surprised to see this side of his father, perhaps they did have something in common? As they pulled into the driveway that lead to their apartment in the building they noticed that the truck had arrived to pick up Bonnie. It was a little odd for them to be there at 10 P.M., but the sooner Bonnie could be repaired the better.

"They're already leaving." Leo blinked as the truck started to leave.

Jeremy frowned, "Until the replacement shows up I'm not sure if we should keep Bon on stage or let him do what will help him feel comfortable."

Quickly the two hurried into the building and noticed that the Toy Freddy and Bon were missing from the show stage. Springy poked her head through the doorway that lead to the main hall, "If you're looking for Fred and Bon they're in the receiving room. I…I let Fred in so he could help cheer Bon up."

Jeremy nodded, "Thank you Springy."

=End=