Party of One

The Pizzaplex was buzzing with activity, there were a number of birthdays being held that day. Freddy Found himself delivering cake and entertaining the birthday people for the majority of the day. Huge crowds of people, adults and children alike. If he had been human, he would have been exhausted. Even for a robot he found himself rather tired by the time he delivered the last cake to the last table on his registry. After entertaining the table a bit, he started to make his way back toward the stage so he could take the lift down to parts and service. That is until he got a ping that a new birthday had been registered in the Pizzaplex system. Though this party confused him. It wasn't a party at all. It was only one person. He couldn't quite figure out who wouldn't have at least two or three guests with them for their birthday. Regardless, he changed course and headed toward the bakery. Stepping inside he spotted Chica hovering around the oven, hunger in her eyes.

"Chica, step away from the oven." He warned, setting an order for an appropriately sized cake.

"EEP! Oh, Freddy!" The chicken flinched wandering over to him. "Thought you were done with the cakes."

"A new birthday was just registered. But it's odd. There is only one guest for it."

"A party of one? That IS weird. Maybe they have guests coming later?"

"Maybe but you'd think they would have mentioned if others were coming." A S.T.A.F.F bot returned with a simple red velvet cupcake, making Freddy tilt his head. "Or not...?"

"Such a small cake!" Chica commented as the bot packaged the cupcake in a box and handed it to Freddy. "Maybe they are alone, after all."

"Alone on their birthday...?" The bear spoke in a saddened tone. He opened his stomach hatch and placed the tiny box in its' massive space, closing up once more. "I should be off. And Chica, please don't eat the pizzas."

"Freddy!" Chica placed a hand on her chest and feint insult. "I would never... I might steal one..." A stern glare from Freddy broke her down. "Fine, fine! I'll head to Parts and Service."

With that, Freddy left the bakery kitchen and walked back out to the atrium. He waited a moment as the birthday person found a table before charting a course there. They had taken up a table near Bonnie Bowl. Freddy made his way up and walked by all the other guests, waving and smiling at the excited children he passed. When he spotted the lone guest, he paused in his tracks. It was a young woman. She had turned her chair so she was angled toward the railing overlooking the dance floor and stage. She seemed to be staring down at the people below. Freddy could tell something was wrong. Normally when he delivered cake, he was chipper and energetic but this wasn't the typical birthday celebration. Opening his stomach hatch and pulling out the cupcake box, he slowly approached her table and cleared his throat to get her attention. When she didn't react, he placed the box on the table and sat across from her. This drew her attention, her eyes meeting his. He didn't need a scan to see that her eyes had long since lost their spark, their life, their twinkle. Some of her hair shadowed her face, her glasses being the barrier that made her eyes visible.

"It's your birthday. Shouldn't you be happy?" He spoke softly.

"I haven't been happy for my birthday in years. Why should this one be the exception?" She stated.

"Well, you're celebrating it here at the Pizzaplex."

"Only because I didn't want to be around family, and I could afford the birthday deal."

"I see. Is it... anything serious?" He asked, concerned for her safety at home.

"No. Nothing serious. It's just... it's always the same thing. A quick 'happy birthday' in the morning, then a small cake of whatever flavour my mom picks for dessert after dinner. I'd be lucky to get a present."

Freddy listened to her closely. "Well, you get a lot of hugs at least, right?" She was silent, looking away from the bear entirely. "I see..." A ping appeared in Freddy's HUD. "I must go now, but please, feel free to spend all the time you want here. And do enjoy your cake." He stood from the chair and walked away. He felt terrible for leaving her like that but he needed to get to Parts and Service so he was ready for the Photo Op sessions in his green room.

Freddy stood with a young boy in one arm, the pair posing as the child's mother snapped a picture. Once the picture was taken, Freddy high-fived the boy and set him down, waving as he and his mother left the bear's green room.

"Last one, big guy." An employee called in before allowing the last guest to enter the room. It was the woman from before.

"Oh! You came to visit me." He said, dropping the volume of his voice to be softer. She simply nodded. "Suppose you'd be wanting a picture, right?" Surprise struck him as she shook her head 'no' before approaching his and pressing her forehead to his stomach.

"I know I can ask my parents and brother for a hug but... I never want to disturb them." She started. "And when I do hug them, it's always from their side or back..." He noted her subtle trembling, placing a hand on her back. She brought her hands up and balled them on his stomach. In a quivering, quiet voice she spoke again. "Always the hugger, never the hugged..."

With that, Freddy knelt down, making the woman pull her head back to watch him. He then guided her down and pulled her into his lap as he sat back onto the floor. He wrapped his arms around her, his embrace warm and comforting. So much so that she couldn't stop herself from burying her face in his chest and allowing tears to race down her cheeks. He held her until her tears stopped, sitting there for several minutes.

"I'm always here if you need a hug." He spoke softly.

"But, my party pass in only valid for today."

Freddy glanced up at the door before whispering softly. "If you can get a hold of a magnet, you can hack the pass machine and get a VIP Pass."

"But..." She started before correcting her volume to whisper. "But isn't that illegal?"

"If it means giving you all the hugs you could ever need, I can say that you upgraded your pass status."

With more tears in her eyes she pressed her forehead to Freddy's chest and curled up tighter in his hold. He gently caressed her back and rested his cheek on the top of her head. In a gentle, warm voice, he spoke once more.

"Happy Birthday, Superstar."