Ch. 21 More than Life

She was having a field day, wandering around looking for books in her father's library. Eden using her animatronic form's speed ability sauntered from bookshelf to bookshelf collecting as many as possible. Eden's newfound strength carrying at least twenty books in each hand. She set the volumes down, deciding, which one should be read first until her blue eyes landed on a miserable sight.

Freddy was positioned on the ground in forlorn. His body curled into a ball, as the large bear's head rested on his front paws. Occasionally, Eden noticed his eyes would turn dark, revealing their white pupils, before returning to normal. He was deep in thought, conflicted in his emotional state, and the girl knew it had to do with her mother.

She knew her parents weren't like her classmates' or friends.' Obviously, none of were related to animatronics; but similar to their parents, Freddy always gave her mother the same gaze every husband had given to their wife.

That regard symbolized devotion and unending love. True her parents weren't married, or else her mother would be treating Freddy differently. Yes, Eden was aware of how her mother treated her father. There were days when Leona would avoid Freddy, or provide the animatronic with unwanted scrutiny, and a lengthy list of rules he had to follow for Eden's safety.

Other times, Leona would be on the roof with a device to spy inside the pizzeria. To Eden the situation was tedious, she disliked Leona's actions. If she was upset with her father, then she should forgive, and maybe, then they could become a family. "Eden, are you ok?" The girl saw her father's eyes on her, and walked over, sitting next to his head. She nuzzled his cheek, before asking him a question.

"Father, do you love mother?" Freddy's eyes went wide, and he quickly sat up, stumbling a bit, while looking down at his cub. "What makes you say that?" Eden lightly scratched behind her ear. "The way you look at her, the say way my friends' mommies and daddies do."

Freddy smiled, gathering Eden into his lap. "You are smart little one," he stated, giving a small sigh, and looking his daughter in the eye. "I care about your mother very much, if I could give my life it would be hers." His chest heaved as his words caused him physical pain. The passionate words from his mouth confirming the true desire that laid dormant in his heart for years.

He lightly placed his paw in the middle of his chest, even though there wasn't a heart, the bear felt a physical ache overwhelming it. Freddy began using his other paw to gently stroked Eden's hair from her face. "Despite what I feel, your mother is upset with me, and I don't blame her for it. My actions in the past have driven me out of her favor. I am afraid it will take a long time for me to atone, and for her to forgive my transgressions."

Eden slowly allowed one of her hands to rest on her father's paw that remained on his chest. "Everyone sins, but no matter what all are worthy of forgiveness, even it seems like they don't deserve it. If you don't forgive, you give that person power over you." The child muttered.

Freddy stood still not knowing how to respond, as emotions welled inside him. Immediately, Eden climbed to his neck and wrapped her small arms around the animatronic. Oil slid down into Freddy's brown fur, as his large arms returned the girl's gesture. "How did a monster like me deserve someone as special as you, my cub." He muttered, before repeatedly kissing Eden's forehead.

The half- animatronic squealed with laughter, and the bear continued with his kisses. "Father! That tickles!"

The Kitchen…

Foxy was quiet, as he watched the chicken animatronic from the doorway. She was seething while cooking tonight's meal. He beheld, Chica violently chopping vegetables, and carelessly tossing the remnants in the silver pot, all while muttering to herself. The pirate held back a laugh, he always found it funny, and somewhat cute, whenever the chicken mumbled incoherently.

He lifted his nose, tail wagging at the fresh scent of beef barley soup. This dish was one of Chica's specialties, true most of the time it was pizza, and cupcakes, but she tended to grow weary of making the same food every night and decided to mix it up. Foxy shook his head in pity, Chica changed things up when Leona left the pizzeria.

She assumed doing this would somehow bring the woman back. It didn't, but Leona returned, regardless. He stared at the chicken, waiting for the moment to let her know the pirate was watching her. Foxy needed to speak with her on a few topics, and feelings she had been repressing for the longest time.

Without hesitating, the pirate lightly knocked on the wall. "You are making dinner lass, not practicing for a wrestling match." Chica huffed, not bothering to look behind her as she added more ingredients to the soup. "How long have you been there?" she asked. "Long enough." Foxy walked inside the kitchen, his metal feet clanking against the tiled floor.

He stood behind Chica, his frame towering over hers, as the fox gently removed the knife from her hands. "We need to talk." Chica huffed again. "No, we don't," she stated reaching to grab the knife from his paws, but it was kept too far away from her. "Chica, we all died, and have lived together in this heck hole for thirty years. I know when something is wrong with you. You can't keep secrets from anyone here, especially me." Foxy said keeping his voice serious, and steady.

"Then, tell this to Freddy you, moron!" Chica yelled. "He is the one who kept the secret of raping my best friend! Then, she returns traumatized, having sired his cub!" The chicken held her head, oil streaming down her blushing yellow cheeks. Foxy understood what she meant, and gathered Chica in his arms. "C'mere lass, it's alright. I promise everything will be fine." Foxy whispered holding her close.

"I-I won't c-change my mind about Freddy if that's what you came to do." Chica cried. "That is not the reason, I wanted to ask why you don't go spend time with Leona? She is slowly readjusting, yet ye don't go near her. I know it's not because Leona is traumatized."

Chica turned her head, trying to avoid Foxy's intense yellow gaze. Her beak was shut, but she could not hold the truth for long. "Freddy was mine, happy! I had a crush on Freddy, the same time Bonnie yearned for Leona's love. I confessed my true feelings only for Leona to hear. If you want to know, I am furious with both! I am aware Leona isn't at fault, but if anything, I am the victim here! Now give me back my knife so I can finish dinner, you crazy fox!"

Just as Chica attempted to leap for the silverware, Foxy pinned her against the counter, his arms on either side of her. The knife was tossed, and locked in a cabinet out of reach. "Chica, too far." Foxy lifted her beak to his eyes. "This isn't you, the angry chicken shutting out others, and causing trouble. You are a sweet kind-hearted chicken, who is selfless, curious, motherly, a darn-good cook, and the most beautiful animatronic I have ever laid eyes on."

Chica stared, awestruck at the pirate's words. " There is more to you, than this. I want my Chica back, and the only way is for you to let the past go."

Unrushed oil appeared in Chica's magenta eyes and a look of confliction masked her face, before answering the pirate. "She is gone." Foxy's ears fell, and he turned not looking at the chicken. " Let me know when she returns." Without another word, the pirate fox departed from the scene to his lonely Cove.

Chica fell to her knees, a look of regret and an ache longingly taking its place within her chest.

Flashback….
They held each other tightly as their lips fought for dominance. Leona and Freddy were in the library entwined in a passionate embrace on the carpeted floor. Freddy was on top of Leona, his paws roughly gripping the locks of her blond hair.

Leona was rubbing her fingers through the fur on his head, a hand went up to stroke of his ears. His top hat and bow tie were discarded on an armchair as were her shoes, and shirt only leaving her in a camisole, bra, and pants.

As they kissed, Leona giggled, while Freddy breaking between their session; was quoting his undying love through Shakespeare. " Hear my soul speak: The very instant that I saw you, did. My heart fly to your service." The bear stated, moving to press kisses to her neck, and nibbling her ear.

"Oh, Freddy. What are we doing?" the woman sighed, their eyes meeting. He paused, adding humor to his voice. "You tell me?" Freddy mumbled, slowing sitting up, taking Leona with him. They stared at the fireplace, the flames illuminating a small section of the library.

Leona held her knees to her chest. "What I mean is what are we? Wasn't two months ago, I refused Bonnie, and we have been sneaking around seeking each other's company." Freddy sighed. "We are friends unless you want to be something more, but it is unlikely because of the non-human problem.

Leona moved into Freddy's lap and brought his head down to meet hers. "Bonnie isn't human, and I was close to spending the rest of my life with him."

"Why didn't you?" Freddy asked as Leona kissed his nose. "Bonnie is not you. Tell you what, why don't we take things slow, remain friends, but also more than that."

Freddy pondered her idea. "So, be friends, and in a relationship? Ok, but what about the squatters?"

"Let's keep it secret, they would easily freak out, including Michael. The last thing I want is my cousin knowing an animatronic is kissing me stupid every time I have a lunch break." She gave Freddy a loving look before continuing. "We have a deal, Mr. Fazbear?" Leona said waiting for the bear's answer.

"If music be the food of love, play on." Freddy replied bringing Leona into another kiss.

The words Freddy says are from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and The Tempest.