Chapter 14

Jeremy had a bit of trouble finding the pizzeria due to the lack of light and the fact that nothing looked familiar. Yet everytime he felt that he was surely lost he saw a golden figure lurking one way or another. "For once your useful." Jeremy huffed as he made his way to the pizzeria.

As Jeremy took his final steps towards the pizzeria he wondered what he'd do. Convincing the toys that he was still a dependent little kid was easy, but keeping up that act and some how magically being able to find his way home? That was going to be harder to explain. Though Jeremy wasn't all that worried, really he could lie his way out of most situations on the spot and he was sure that this one would be no different. There had been a reason that Jeremy had kept the helpless little boy act, it was easier to get away with things when people thought you didn't know any better.

The door the the dinear hadn't opened as easily as Jeremy had hoped, instead of just sliding open like the ones at his pizzeria this one had a word on it. So far Jeremy hadn't really remembered how to read yet, so the pull sign did little to help him. It wasn't until Jeremy was nearly ready to give up that just out of luck he opened the door, and once he did a terrifying scream met his ears.

*(*

After what seemed like hours the puppet had gotten nowhere with Mike. He had scarred him, made some typical threats, and after everything had failed he had forced Mike to listen to the Fazbear's gangs songs on repeat.

"Stop this!" Mike pleaded, after hearing the Freddy's welcome song for the fourth time in a row." He tried to shake the head phones from his ears but with Mangle holding him in a tight grip Mike found himself unable to move.

"Tell me where Jeremy is and you can stop listening to this."

"I told you! I- I don't know where he is-" He was cut off as the puppet turned up the volume. Mike let out a scream, mainly because the sudden loud sound had really hurt his ears, but he was also hoping that his screams would bring in the other animatronics. Even if he hadn't seen them all night Mike knew that they had to be around somewhere.

Quickly the puppet lowered the volume, but no sooner had he done so that he was shocked to hear a familiar voice.

"Stop!"

Marionette seemed to freeze for several seconds before launching himself at Jeremy, wrapping his arms around the teen. "Where were you? We were so worried about you, and when did you learn to talk?"

Jeremy wiggled himself out of the puppet's hug and ran over to Mike, "Hey you okay?"

Mike nodded gently "You should have stayed home, I mean listening to those songs over and over again was getting to me but I could have handled it."

"Songs?" Jeremy asked as he looked at Mike and then Mangle who had since let go of Mike. "But Goldie said they were going to shove you into a suit."

"What!" The puppet and Mike both gasped, with Mike moving a bit further from both Mangle and the puppet.

Marionette shook his head and waved his hands. "Scare him a bit yes but I would never kill Michael." The puppet pulled Mike, who was trying to leave the office, into an awkward hug. "Why, he's practically family." The puppet let go of Mike as the shock of Jeremy speaking in full sentences began to fade away. "Young man how long have you been able to speak?"

At this Jeremy gave a weak smile, "Um, since this morning." He lied.

Marionette crossed his arms and began tapping his wrist, a clear sign that not only was he not buying Jeremy's lie. "Really, you've master speaking the english language since this morning."

"Y-yes," Jeremy uttered nervously "I uh, remembered it. Speaking I mean."

"Right" The puppet said as he uncrossed his arms and pulled Jeremy's ear. "We're going home, and you just wait till we get there." Marionette's attention went to Mike and the puppet let go of Jeremy's ear. "What was your part in all this."

"Eh, I um was asked -"

"It was Mike's idea!" Jeremy bursted out. "He said it be fun, and it was but I'm sorry." The teen rubbed his ear before begging forgiveness from Mike with his eyes.

"You little traitor!" Mike hissed as he jumped up, seemingly ready to tackle Jeremy before Mangle could grab him. "You asked me to take you home."

The puppet looked at both boys before clothing both doors and turning to Mangle. "Bring me my pattle."

*(*

The older animatronics and the toys waited on the stage for the puppet to come out. The toys and the older models swopped stories and techniques to entertain the children as they usually did whenever they all got together. The tranquil quiet was only interpreted as the pleas of two boys rang through the pizzeria that was soon followed by howls of pain.

Immediately the animatronics were up on their feet but as they reached the two hallway they were greeted by the puppet and Mangle who were both leading one of the night guards out.

"Before any of you asked I talk to both boys, they both misbehaved and were punished accordingly." The puppet said coolly.

It didn't take the animatronics long to guess how they had been punished by the way Jeremy rubbed his bottom.

The puppet grabbed Jeremy's ear before addressing the others. "I'm taking Jeremy home, do what you wish with Michael." He ignored the toys reactions allowing Jeremy's pleas speak for his actions. "He talks now." The puppet said casually.

In a flash the puppet and the rest of the toys vanished along with Jeremy. Once they were gone Chica rushed to hug the wide Mike.

"Sweetie are you okay?" She asked as she gently brushed his face with her feathery fingers.

"H-he spanked us. Like little kids." Mike began saying in a shaky voice.

Freddy patted the boy's back. "It's alright Michael, I'm sure you've learned you lesson-"

"Learned my lesson? What did I even do, and even if I did something wrong I'm not a little kid that needs to be taught right from wrong. I'm 17 years old, I'll be 18 next month for crying out loud!"

Freddy shot the others a look before any of them could show their excitement of finally knowing when Mike's birthday would be. It had been something they had all wanted to know desperately, but Freddy knew that now was not the time to show their excitement.

With his hand still on Mike's shoulder Freddy continued to pat his back. "Yes your nearly an adult, and Marionette probably shouldn't have spanked you.-"

"Probably shouldn't have? Are you saying that Marionette had a good reason!" Mike said in disbelief.

"Michael you do understand what you did? You took Jeremy, you made us all worry something fierce. We didn't know what had happened to him. Can't you understand that none of us knew if Jeremy was okay."

"Alright, but still I'm not some little kid-"

"That doesn't matter Michael. What you did was wrong, just think what if someone had taken Felix. Even if it they brought him back unharmed how would you feel?"

Mike was quiet for a second before answering. "But I… Jeremy isn't a baby, and he asked me to go."

"Still" Freddy said "We didn't know anything, we were just so worried."

Mike said nothing as he shook Freddy's hand off. Mike knew that Freddy was partly right, but he didn't want to admit that the robots he still saw as murders were in any way right. Instead Mike silently went into the office, and leaned on the desk for the rest of the night.

He didn't see the golden bear who was looking at him through the right window. "Hm, 18 next month, interesting."

*(*

The next night Mike still felt bitter about the whole ordeal but as he went to work he couldn't but help, less angry. What Freddy had told him, his example at least, of how he would have felt if someone had taken Felix had really stuck with him. As far as he knew the puppet had thought that Jeremy was still a brain damaged teen that wasn't able to take care of himself. As much as Mike hated them, or at least wanted to hate them, Mike knew he couldn't deny that at the very least the puppet carried for Jeremy. It was weird, how the puppet had no problem telling him how he had enjoyed killing people, then speak so lovingly about Jeremy.

Still this knowledge hadn't eased his embarrassment about his punishment. Jeremy had been the first one the puppet had grabbed after Mangle handed him a wooden paddle. Three swats later a crying Jeremy stood behind Mangle as the puppet turned his attention to Mike.

"Wait! You can't do this!" Were Mike's last words before the puppet spun him around and bent him over his knee. Three swats later Mike couldn't help but cry out. Not only was his pride crushed but his bottom had stung like never before. Despite his mother's many bad habits, she had never hit any of his siblings. Even with the few memories of his father Mike knew that even he never layed a finger on them.

As Mike entered the restaurant he was almost unprepared as Chica pulled him into a hug. "Your back" She squeaked "I made you some soup"

Mike nodded, ready to ignore her until he swore he saw the dark eyes of the puppet, making a fear raise up in him that he hadn't had since his dreams had started. "T-thanks" He said quickly before heading towards the cove. He really didn't want to be in the office anymore, and if anything he could just tell the animatronics that he wanted to spend some time with Felix if they asked to many questions.

As he left Mike didn't see how a smile spread across Chica's face. "Okay Sweetie."

*(*

The cove had changed dramatically in the last few weeks with the help of the puppet. It went from a small room to one with a tunnel that led to a large house with several rooms. The new house under the restaurant made it easier to care for Felix who was now much more active during the day. Still during the night Foxy prefered to stay above ground with Felix and tonight was no different. As Mike entered the cove he smiled as he caught sight of Felix taking wobbly steps towards Foxy.

Foxy hadn't noticed Mike and instead picked up Felix proudly. "Your walking like a champ, aren't you laddy. Soon your going to be cruising all through the pizzeria, aren't ya."

Felix squealed in delight, grabbing at Foxy's face before he called out "Pa"

"Yes Felix, your Papa is right here."

"Un Bon?" The infant asked making a motion with his hands over his head.

"No your uncle Bonnie isn't here right now, I'm sure he'll come later."

Felix continued to babble making another motion above his head. Felix seemed to put on an invisible hat before removing it. "Un Fre?"

"Uncle Freddy will be here soon, you know how much he loves to visit you."Foxy placed Felix on the ground as he sat next to him. "I'm sure your Auntie Chica will come later and give you some yummy snacks."

Felix opened his mouth at the mention of Chica and made a chewing kind of noise.

"I know Chica makes you the nicest snacks. You love it when she makes you carrot sticks don't you."

Felix nodded but then pointed to his chest making a sound that warmed Mike's chest. "Un Mi?"

"Your Uncle Mike? I think he'll come out tonight, then you can show him how much you can walk now." Foxy patted his son's head still not noticing the night guard who was now grinning at the sight. "So my little potato, do we tell Mike that he's your uncle tonight? I'm sure he'd love to know that your his sister's son, so what do you think laddy, do we tell him?"

"Wait!" Mike said as he felt his heart jump in his throat. "What do you mean Felix is… Beth's son"

Foxy jumped a little as he heard Mike, "Oi" Foxy said softly as he covered his face with his hands. "Mike …" Foxy began "I've been… trying to tell you. I'm sorry-"

"Wait" Mike said in a shaky voice as he looked at Felix and then at Foxy. He felt weak in his knees and thought he would surely fall only to be supported by Bonnie who had seemed to come out of nowhere. "That's… Beth" Mike felt him tear up as he struggled to say his sister's name. He looked at Felix again and he saw what he knew he had tried to explain away so many times before. Sure the red hair and amber eyes didn't look like Beth's blue eyes or dark black hair. But then Mike looked at Felix's full check and slender fingers, so much like her's. Mike tried to speak up but found his words caught in his throat. "H-he has her nose." Mike struggled to say.

Foxy held onto his son, not sure of what to do. He had seen Mike scream, yell, and curse at them, but never had he'd seen Mike cry. In his uncertainty Felix managed to wiggle out of his father's grip and walked over to a sobbing Mike. "Un Mi?" The infant asked with concerned.

The infant was taken by surprised when Mike grabbed him and began sobbing into his tiny shoulders.