"Hi sweetie!" Mikey's Mom exclaimed. "Happy birthday!" She continued, his father remaining silent beside her on the computer screen.

"Hey mom, thanks!" Mikey replied with fake cheeriness.

"Your father and I put some money in your account that should keep you living alright," His mom continued, before waving goodbye. The call ended, and Mikey leaned back in his chair with a sigh. He should've been happy that he got some money to help him with the bills, but he felt empty, just like every other year before. His parents were always busy, always traveling, never the time for their fucked up son. He looked to the calendar and closed his eyes, another sigh escaping him.

He didn't even have the time to say his birthday was tomorrow.


11:00am


Foxy looked up at the ceiling, wondering about the stars. He didn't know why, maybe he was just curious about the little specks of light that lit up the darkness of the night sky. Maybe it was because his mind was loopy and was wandering. Either way, he thought about them, wondering how they could be so bright yet so far away. He'd never actually seen them, since he'd never been out of the restaurant, but he could imagine. They were like little lights in a sea of black, he'd heard. The kids talked about them at night, before they closed. He wondered what it was like outside, how the sun felt against fur and endoskeleton. He sighed, smiling about how it must feel to have the warmth on him, to see natural light instead of the fake light bulbs. Lost in his fantasy, he sat and waited.

He did that a lot now, didn't he?


11:30am


Freddy watched as Mikey's car showed up. Last night had been rough, and as soon as everyone left, Chika went to make the man of the hour a pizza. He didn't know why Mikey hadn't told him about his birthday, but it didn't really matter, since they found out anyway. Foxy knew, but the ol' seafox was lost in his imagination. He did that sometimes, so used to having all the time in the world in his cove, and it was noticeable, since his eyes would glaze over and he'd be completely silent, odd for such a loudmouth. Mikey walked in with a scowl, something that Freddy was pained to see.

"Stupid parents forgetting my birthdate...again!" He heard the boy mumble underneath his breath, making his heart clench in sadness.

So that's why…

Freddy's eyes fell into a glare, and he could practically see Mikey's parents cowering in fear from it. Those bastards! How dare they forget their own son's birthdate! Taking a moment to calm down, he walked to the kitchen, chuckling softly at the way Bonnie was fruitlessly trying to calm down a panicked Chika, who was rushing to finish all her pizzas for Mikey. She was insisting that they all had to be finished by midnight, and Bonnie kept telling her that they had until one. Freddy cleared his throat, silencing them, save for Chika, who was still making pizzas, albeit quietly. When he told them the new information he had gathered on Mikey, Chika nearly dropped a pizza, and Bonnie looked ready to kill someone, probably Mikey's parents. Freddy, of course, had to calm them down, and the three decided to throw Mikey the best party ever.

They went to work.


12:00am


Mikey leaned back in his chair, feet propped up on the desk. The clock had struck twelve, so it was his birthday, not that anyone cared. He sighed, and sang the silly tune to himself. "Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear Mikey," He stopped, unable to finish the song, before glaring and kicking the trashcan, watching as it hit the wall with a clang and the contents spilled everywhere. He got up and put the trash back in the wastebin, looking to the cameras, out of habit.

The animatronics were nowhere to be found.

It was eerily silent, save for the fan as the blades spun. He nearly got up to see what was the matter, but figured they just wanted some space. After all, it wasn't as if they'd left the restaurant, right? The thought made him jump straight up off his chair, and the sound of wood being reduced to splinters caught his attention. He immediately ran to the source of the noise, hoping that it wasn't a repeat from the night before. He found the dining area, the area where he thought he turned the noise, and stopped, panting heavily from the run. The lights burst on, blinding him for a moment, and he saw all the animatronics waiting for him, smiles on their faces, as they yelled in unison.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKEY!"

Mikey froze.


12:30am


Foxy was shaken out of his thoughts by Bonnie, a rare treat, since the rabbit never came to the cove often.

"We're getting ready to make Mikey a party," Bonnie told him, in the same quiet voice as always. His tone betrayed him, and Foxy knew he was mad about something. However, the bunny never liked being forced to share his thoughts, so he didn't ask. Bonnie would tell when he was ready, Foxy was sure of that. He walked to the dining area, seeing Chika rushing back and forth from the kitchen, bringing in a mountain of pizzas.

"Do we really need this much food? Mikey's going to be the only one eating," Foxy whispered to Freddy, who was overseeing the entire thing. He whispered to stay away from Chika's wrath.

"Yeah, but you know Chika. She just doesn't know when to stop," Freddy whispered back. As soon as they finished the set up, Foxy walked up to Chika.

"Hey, lass, do ye know why Bonnie was angry earlier?" He asked. Chika quietly explained the situation.

Foxy saw red.

He was never one to keep his temper under control, so it wasn't surprising, but he was so angry.

Mikey had helped them.

Mikey had forgiven him.

Mikey had fixed him.

So, it really pissed him off to know that his parents didn't give two shits about their kid enough to remember his birthdate.

"Foxy, calm down!" Freddy whisper yelled, trying not to alert Mikey, though everything was ready. Foxy tried desperately to stop himself, but he wasn't thinking straight. He swung down his hook.

And broke a chair.

Bonnie sighed and cleaned up the mess, Foxy apologizing profusely, anger sated. Chika chuckled quietly, seeing it humorous that in his "terrible anger", Foxy managed to only break a chair. They heard footsteps.

"Places, everyone!" Foxy whispered. Mike walked in, confused a look on his face. They turned on the lights.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKEY!"


1:00am


Mikey couldn't believe it.

They remembered.

His parents hadn't remembered, but they did.

It didn't make any sense.

Freddy was holding his hands out wide, eyes slowly filling with concern as Mikey stayed frozen on the spot. Mikey wanted to say something, but couldn't find the words.

They cared.

They cared enough, to make him a pile of pizzas, to make him a party, even though they would have to clean it up later.

Foxy's ears drew back worriedly.

"Err, Mikey?" He asked uncertainly. Mikey still didn't move.

Then, he smiled.

He smiled so wide it looked like it was about to rip his face in half. Tears of joy started to fall down his face, and as he ran to them, finally moving in to wrap them in a hug, he had never felt so happy in his life.

Because despite his flaws, someone cared.

And that was the best birthday gift he could ever receive.


2:00am


They partied for about an hour, Mikey too tired to dance or eat anymore. He had eaten three whole pizzas, much to Freddy and Foxy's surprise, and learned five new dances. It was amazing. Freddy and the others played him some music, often singing songs that weren't allowed during the day, and Foxy, though a little rusty, performed some of his acts, though without Pirate's Cove.

"You know, I could fix the cove up, if you wanted," Mikey told him when he was done, and Foxy graciously accepted. Chika gave him cupcake, her personal companion, and let him play with it for a bit, but Mikey didn't do much with it. It was a toy cupcake. The hell was he supposed to do? Eat it? Freddy nearly broke his metal back doing the boogie. "Wow, I didn't know you were so old," Mikey said with a smirk. He got a slice of pizza to the face in reply. Mikey saw Foxy looking out the door almost...longingly. "You ever been out of the pizzeria?" He asked. Foxy shook his head.

"No, but sometimes, I wonder…" He trailed off. Mikey's now filled with pity as he thought about being stuck behind curtains for twenty years, and stuck in a building for even longer. He took out his keys.

"HEY GUYS!" He yelled, and they stopped, turning to look at him. He swung the keys around his finger, before catching them in his hand with a smile.

"Wanna go outside?"


2:00am.


The shock that Foxy was feeling right now was astounding. His jaw was wide open, as Mikey stood, keys in hand, waiting for a response. The others couldn't believe it either, eyes wide as they froze on Mikey's figure.

"Are ye serious?" Foxy finally gathered the courage to speak, and Mikey stared at him quizzically at the question

"Of course! Why wouldn't I be?" He replied. "So, ya comin'?" Freddy and the others still stood frozen, before Chika jumped into the air with a squeal and ran towards the door. Freddy chuckled.

"I guess we are," He said, before following Chika, Bonnie right behind him.

"Foxy?" Mikey asked uncertainly, the fox still frozen in place. Then, before he could blink, a red blur shot past him, Freddy, Bonnie, and Chika. "Hey wait up!" Mikey yelled with a laugh, before jogging towards the door. Foxy was jumping on his feet like a child, making Mikey giggle. He unlocked the door, but before opening it, gave the animatronics a stern look. "Alright, if you see anyone, hide, and no getting out of my sight, k?" They nodded, and he opened the door.

Foxy gasped.

It was really there. The stars! They were just like the kids talked about! Little lights in the sky, shining through the darkness. And the moon was there too! He could see the bunny!

"Hey, Bonnie! I never knew you went to the moon!" He joked, causing the bunny to chuckle. Freddy seemed awestruck, feeling the grass between his fingers, letting the little sense of smell he had suck up the air, filling his nose with the scents around him. Chika ran to a tree, feeling it, touching everything around her. Bonnie was content to stand and have the wind ruffle his fur. Foxy was so grateful. He could finally see the stars. They made the sky look less lonely. Though, they looked lonely themselves, as they were spread far apart. The moon was brighter than any star, glowing radiantly in a blackish-blue sky. There was even a red star! Mikey sighed.

"So, what you guys think?" He asked. They all seemed to come to the same conclusion, and replied in unison.

"It's beautiful."


3:00am


The moon was slowly making its descent, and Mikey sadly had to usher them back inside, saying that they could come back out some other time. They understood, after all, that Mikey didn't want to get fired on his last night. They all sat in a circle in the dining area.

"Sooo, what's up with your parents?" Foxy asked bluntly, earning glares from the others.

"What do you mean?" Mikey replied nervously.

"I mean they forgot your birthdate," Foxy told him, a tinge of anger in his voice. Mikey laughed.

"Oh, they've done that for years. Never the time for their brain-dead son," Mikey's voice was bitter and cold, eyes shining with well hidden hurt. He thought back to the times when they "took care" of him. "They never were the greatest parents…"

Math was so frustrating! Why did he even need to learn this crap anyway! Mikey sighed.

"MOM!" He called.

"Yes Mike?" She replied, walking into the kitchen where he was working. He set his pencil down.

"What's seven times three?" He asked, and his mom sighed angrily.

"Goddammit, you're thirteen! You should know this by now!" She yelled, before slapping him hard across the face and leaving the room. Mikey held his hand to the cheek she had slapped, and cried.


"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE DROPPING OUT!" Mikey's father screamed. Mikey backed away, terrified.

"I just won't be able to make it through! Might as well just try to find a job!" He yelled back, though much softer than his father. He fell to the wall as his father punched him in the face, hitting him everywhere. He was grabbed by his neck and forcefully shoved out the door.

"WELL, GO GET A JOB, AND GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Mikey's father screamed, before slamming the door shut. The neighbors were staring, but he ignored them. The hell did they know? Mikey, with tears in his eyes, limped away.


4:00am


The animatronics were shocked, outraged, and sympathetic all at the same time. How could his parents be so cruel? He'd endured that for years?! They wrapped him in a group hug.

"Ye know, yer parents are assholes," Foxy commented. Mikey sighed, but smiled lightly.

"Yeah, I know," He replied.

"But, I love 'em anyway.


4:10am


"WHAT?!" Chika exclaimed. "After all they did to you?!" Her expression was one of pure confusion and anger, though it wasn't aimed at him. It was aimed at terrible parents, parents that beat their son just because of a disability, who threw him out of the house because he couldn't make it through High School, and who left him by himself, to live his life alone. Mikey ran a hand over his scalp, the other digging into his pocket.

"You know, family's weird like that," He began, staring at them with haunted eyes that ached with sadness and love at the same time. "Everyone can piss each other off, hurt each other, beat each other senseless, but you can't stop love," He smiled at that. "Love is a force that doesn't give a shit about anything bad, and only thinks of the good times, like the hugs and kisses and smiles." The others thought about that. "After all, love is in friendship too, and it didn't seem to care what you guys tried to do the first few nights," Mikey continued, and they flinched, thinking of the bloody suits and dead men. "But, enough about that. Why don't I clean you guys up? You look filthy," He said. They nodded, somewhat annoyed by the change of subject, and watched as Mikey walked to the supply closet to get cleaning supplies.

"You know, Mikey really is something special," Bonnie commented.

They all couldn't help but agree.


4:30am


Mikey worked hard, scrubbing away the pizza handprints on Chika's feathers. He didn't feel like talking, what with all the memories of childhood floating in his head. He stitched a hole in her bib, checking underneath for any dirt. He opened her mouth, hoping to clean it out, when he jumped back in alarm.

"Why the hell do you have two sets of teeth!" He exclaimed, and Chika rubbed the back of her neck nervously.

"Well~, one set is from my beak, and the other from my endoskeleton," She explained. Mikey sighed and took out a toothbrush.


Bonnie was a bit difficult to clean, for the rabbit was very shy when he wanted to be. Mikey could've sworn he saw Bonnie blush when he cleaned his tail, if it was possible. Mikey also had to get a chair for Bonnie to sit on as he cleaned his ears, making sure the joints were well oiled as he did so. Bonnie too had pizza stains on his fur, but his eyelids were rusty as well, so he had to fix them up. Bonnie blinked for a second before thanking him and walking away.


Freddy was kind and patient, though very protective of his hat and bowtie, regardless of the fact that Mikey was just cleaning it. He had the most pizza stains, since he was at the front of the stage, and the were crusty and old; hard to get out. His joints were full of rust, and it took a full fifteen minutes to get them all in good shape.

"Jeez, you really are old," Mikey muttered under his breath. Freddy gave him an irritated glare, but said nothing. He put some shine on his eyes and went over to Foxy.


Foxy.

He was the most uncomfortable with being cleaned while on. If Mikey had to guess why, it was because he was the one cleaning him. Not to mention, he was cleaning inside his mouth, the same place that still had droplets of blood from his skull in it. He tested the joints on Foxy's legs, finding them worn out from the runs he would do to get the old night guards, and fixed them. He then brushed the wild hair that stuck out the sides. Foxy's left ear seemed a bit torn, and Mikey couldn't believe he missed that last night, but nevertheless fixed it up.


5:50am

Everyone was finally clean and in tip-top shape, so Mikey began putting away his supplies, and got ready to leave. Chika watched with a look of… anxiousness? Mikey couldn't tell.

"Umm, Mikey?" She asked.

"Yeah?" He replied, and was confused to why she shuffled her feet nervously. The others were already on stage, Foxy peering out at them in his cove.

"Do you think that you're gonna come back next week?" She questioned, eyes filled with apprehension and fear. He noticed the others tense up, and he realized.

They didn't want him to leave.

The simple notion made him laugh.

"Well, the pay here sucks, the hours are terrible, and the staff is crap," He began, and he could feel them radiate sadness and defeat. He smiled. "But, the characters are awesome, soooooo…" He trailed off, and Chka went back to the stage with the others, four sets of eyes locked on the boy who turned back with wide, sparkling blue eyes and a smile that was missing some teeth, before opening the door, letting his final statement wash over them as he walked out.

"I think I'll stay a few more nights at Freddy's."


6:00am


Yaaaaaaay!