Henry smiled as he looked up from where he was working in his drawing studio. He could hear Bendy's laughter through the window as the toon played with the neighborhood kids in their yard. He briefly wondered if Alice and Boris were joining them today. He admits when Bendy had come to him asking if he could play with the kids in front of the window he had been really worried. But it seemed that his worries were unnecessary as the kids had kept Bendy a secret and playing with the kids seemed to be really helping his little Ink Demon. Bendy was smiling more often and seemed a lot more cheerful. He was learning to embrace his toon side little by little without fearing his dark traits. Bendy and the toons were literally born to entail kids, it should have been obvious that playing with kids would help them so much.

Henry was pulled from his thoughts when he heard the front door suddenly slam followed by someone running up the stairs. The footsteps seemed to get heavier and more frantic as their source went up the stairs before finally slamming another door upstairs. Henry frowned and looked up towards where the final door slam came from. From the noises, it sounded like Bendy had been transforming back into his Ink Demon state, something that happened occasionally when Bendy got really upset. Worried about his toon, Henry got up to see what was wrong. Before he could start up the stairs he heard a knock on the front door. Opening he found all the kids standing there looking worried.

"Hey kids, did something happen to Bendy?" Henry asked.

"We were just playing when he suddenly stopped," Kevin explained. "It looked like he was starting to melt and he just ran inside."

"Is he alright?" Emily asked.

"I don't know," Henry's said softly, glancing up at the stairs before looking back at the kids. Why don't you wait in the living room with Boris and Alice while I check on Bendy."

The kids agreed and filed inside. Henry made sure Alice and Boris were with them before he headed upstairs.

"Bendy?" Henry asked, knocking on the door softly. He didn't get an answer besides a distressed whine so Henry opened the door. The room was dark and filled with inky shadows and in the corner, Henry could see the large permanent grin of the Ink Demon. Suddenly Henry was back in the studio, his heart beating faster as he stared at the biggest threat there was. He was about to run when the Ink Demon started sobbing, bringing him back to the present. He was out of the studio and the Ink Demon wasn't a threat. Henry swallowed down his guilt and went over to Bendy's side.

"Hey it's alright," Henry assured softly, wrapping his arms around the Ink Demon. The Ink Demon stiffened and flinched away at first, but soon relaxed into Henry's embrace. "I'm sorry for how I reacted, but I was just startled is all. You're still just Bendy, my little toon. And I'm always going to be here for you."

The Ink Demon eventually stopped sobbing and gave Henry a nuzzle, though he did not return to his toon form like Henry was expecting.

"What's the matter, Bendy? Did the kids do something to upset?" Henrys asked but the Ink Demon just shook his head. "Then what happened? Obviously, something's bothering you for you to still be like this rather than your toon form."

"… (hiss)… I … can't (growl) change… back…yet…" the Ink Demon replied, forcing the words out. "I… have… to be… like this… for a while…"

"You have to..?" Henry wondered, thinking over what Bendy was trying to tell him. "Does it take a lot of effort for you to be in your toon form?"

"Yes…" the Ink Demon nodded. "Being able… to create things… has helped… but I still have to… return to… this form…"

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Henry asked, hurt a little by Bendy's lack of trust.

"Because of… how you reacted…" the Ink Demon replied quietly. "I knew… that was… what would happen… You… that look… the fear… I… I can't…"

"It's alright… It's alright…" Henry comforted, rubbing the Ink Demon's back and feeling guilty. "I know it must hurt to see me still scared of you, but you know I don't truly mean it. I want to get better and I want to help you no matter what. I can't help you if you keep hiding what you're going through from me. Please, Bendy… you aren't a burden and you don't need to protect me… I'm here to help you through it… we all are… Remember what we said in the studio? We're in this together… no matter what."

The Ink Demon didn't respond, but he did clutch Henry closer. After staying like that for a few minutes, Henry could tell the Ink Demon was calmer.

"Now why don't you come downstairs with me," Henry finally suggested, rising to his feet. "Your friends are worried about you and you should show them you're alright."

"They… can't… see… me… like… this!" the Ink Demon whined, his panic making it even harder for him to talk. "I'll… just… scare… them..! I… don't… want… them… to… be… scared!"

"They might be a little surprised, but they won't be scared," Henry assured, helping the Ink Demon to his feet. "And do you want to know why? Because they will know what I know. That no matter what you look like, you are still the same toon. My little Devil Darling that would never purposely hurt someone, especially a child."

The Ink Demon still whined in worry but followed after Henry. As they came to the living room entrance, the Ink Demon did his best to hide behind Henry, though he had very little success because of how big he was. The kids looked up as soon as they came in scrambling to there feet.

"Is that Bendy?"

"Is he alright?"

"What happened?"

"Is that why he ran?"

"Calm down…" Henry said, speaking over the worried children. "Bendy can't always look like the little toon you know and he was scared of how that you wouldn't like him how he looks now, which is why he ran. But I know managed to convince him there was nothing to worry about."

Henry stepped aside so the kids could fully see the Ink Demon. He was hunched over himself as if he was bracing himself for rejection.

"You look awesome!" Beth praised, coming right up to him, "You should definitely look like this on Halloween! It's the best costume ever!"

"So that's what my brother saw," Kevin smirked. "No wonder he was so scared."

"Come on Bendy," Emily grinned, easily grabbing his hand. "We were in the middle of our game."

Henry chuckled at how surprised and overwhelmed the Ink Demon seemed by the kid's acceptance as they dragged him over to join their game. It hurt Henry to know just how much rejection and hatred Bendy suffered in his life which is why Bendy had such a hard time confiding in Henry now. He probably was both worried about driving Henry away and being hurt again. But Henry never going to leave Bendy again because he truly cared for the toon. And as he watched those kids play and laugh with the Ink Demon, he knew they felt the same way.