Chapter 5
Scott made the lazy drive home late into the night, relieved by the lack of traffic to deal with as he came to a stop and waited for the last light to turn green before he would reach the edge of town. Sitting there Scott went over his day in his head. The light turned green and Scott continued on his way as he mentally checked off his end of the month rituals.
'Insurance bill: check, electric bill: check, Paychecks…..
"Crap!" Scott blurted out as he hopped on the brake pedal.
"Every damn time." Scott mumbled to himself. Though he was already halfway home, Scott pulled an only half way legal U-turn back towards Freddys. Even if it was for a small handful of employees, Scott had to take care of the paperwork tonight less tell his workers their checks would be a day late.
Scott shook his head in disapproval, he had to go back.
-Back at the pizzeria-
Mike watched the storage room door swing open. Even though he just heard what he assumed was Bonnies voice, Mike couldn't imagine Scott putting any of the successful trio in some back room. Though Mike took a step back not sure what he expected to come out of the room, it didn't take long before Bonnie burst out of the darkness with a huge smile on his face. Mike almost screamed before nearly being tackled.
"Mike! I can't believe it! You're here!" Bonnie cheered as he picked Mike up off the ground in a bear hug as Mike started laughing before he put him back on the ground.
"Holy cow Bonnie! You scared the life outta' me! You better know payback's comin'!" Mike exclaimed laughing as he tried to pick Bonnie up in a bear hug like he just did, only managing maybe an inch before putting him back down. "Damn Bon, you gain some weight? Too many of Chicas pizzas?" Mike said as he laughed a bit harder.
"Oh you think you're a funny guy huh?" Bonnie asked with a sly smile as he pulled Mike in for a light noogie. As the two got finished rough housing Mike drew in a deep breath.
"It's good to see you old friend." Mike said sincerely as he sighed.
"Better late than never." Freddy called out.
Mike saw Freddy come out from the dark room and let go of Bonnie to step towards the Bear animatronic. Freddy lifted his arm up to shake hands with him as Mike gave a crooked smile and took Freddy's hand.
"Its been a while." Freddy said with a flat expression.
"Yea, it has been. Longer than I would have preferred." Mike replied as his smile faded.
"It's good to see you again Mike." Freddy said as a smile snuck its way to the corners of his face as he brought his other hand up to Mikes shoulder.
Mike gave a weakened smiled, but before he could reply Chica came busting out of the room.
"Mike! Oh my gosh where have you been! It's been so long! I've been worried sick!" Chica cried out as she picked up Mike and shook him back and forth squeezing him tight.
"I've missed you t-too Chica, but *heave* I can't *heave* breath!" Mike said straining to fill his lungs with air.
"Oops! Sorry!" Chica said quickly letting go allowing Mike to get a full breath.
"Don't worry about it Chica *cough*, if anything I deserved that." Mike chuckled as he finally caught his breath.
"Boy wait till Foxy hears you're here." Bonnie chimed, though Freddy got a slightly concerned look on his face.
"Well I can't wait to see him again, where is he? And why were all of you in there anyway?" Mike asked looking back to the room behind them.
"Things have been better Mike; business isn't what it use to be and Scott is. . . Well he's been better too. Scott said we, uh, need a little fixing before going back on stage." Freddy said as he shook his head a bit.
"But everyone's still here?" Mike asked without much hesitation as he walked back over and pulled Chicas head cover back into its proper position causing her to jump but quickly relax as Mike snugged up some bolts with his pocket screwdriver.
"Yea, for the most part at least." Freddy replied watching Mike work like some sort of robot chiropractor.
"Uh huh, and how's Foxy been doing?" Mike asked, now moving to Bonnie as he sat him down and popped parts of his face into their proper positions.
"Better since that kid has been around."
"Really!? That's my boy, chip off the old block!" Mike laughed finishing up with Bonnie and finally walking to Freddy, stepping close to adjust Freddy's slightly lazy eye.
"Foxy wasn't so good when you didn't come back Mike. You're going to have some explaining to do when you two see each other, he's certainly has some questions for you. . ." Freddy said quietly so Chica nor Bonnie wouldn't hear.
"I understand. I'll sort it out when the time comes. Thanks Freddy." Mike replied as he straightened out Freddy's eye.
"Mikey! Elliot's yours!?" Chica squealed when Mike stepped back from Freddy as she brought up her hands to her beak.
"Yep, he's my little guy." Mike said smiling at Chica as he and locked Freddy's eye into its final adjustment. Chica was about to ask another question before Mike spoke up.
"There we go, much better, now how 'bout we hunt down that trouble maker of mine?" Mike asked looking around at the three of them before they all turned towards the Game room.
"Wait, so you're some sort of dad now?" Bonnie asked mockingly as they all walked in a group through the hallway.
"Yep, and you're finally a creepy uncle, Bon." Mike laughed.
"Har har." Bonnie chuckled back.
"I'd assume you've been taking good care of that boy?" Freddy asked.
"Of course, there's nothing I wouldn't do for him Fred." Mike said smiling as he nudged Freddy's arm.
Chica smiled patiently as she waited for everyone to quiet down before asking the question that had been nagging at her.
"So who's the lucky girl?" Chica asked sweetly.
Bonnie and Freddy quickly shot a glance at each other, realizing Chica was never told about Elliot's mother (Mikes wife). Mike almost stumbled as he started to slow down.
"Mikey?" Chica asked again noticing a sudden change in Mike composure.
Freddy stepped over and whispered to Chica as Mike remaining silent and slowed to a stop falling behind all the animatronics. Bonnie stepped back and put an arm around Mike.
"We're all really sorry Mike. . . Chica was in her sleep mode when we found out and we forgot to tell her. . . We don't know what happened, none of us are going to ask you tell Mike, we just want you to know we're here for ya pal." Bonnie said drooping his ears.
"N-no, I'm okay Bonnie, it's alright. I j-just, uh, need a moment okay?" Mike said as his eyes began to mist up.
"Oh Mike!" Chica exclaimed as she rushed over from Freddy, Bonnie just narrowly moving out of the way before Chica hugged him gently.
"I-it's alright Chica, you didn't know." Mike said whipping a tear away.
"I'm so so s-sorry Mike!" Chica almost bawled.
"It's okay C-Chica, you're alright." Mike said rubbing his watery eyes.
All of them stood there for a short while before Mike spoke up again.
"You should all go ahead *sniffle*, I'll catch up. " Mike said looking at Freddy and Bonnie.
Freddy and Bonnie nodded as Bonnie patted Chica's back and grabbed her hand while she let go of Mike.
"Hey Freddy?" Mike said before they all turned around.
"Yes Mike?"
"Could you Send Foxy back here when you see him?" Mike asked as he pulled himself back together and stood up straight.
"Absolutely Mike. Do you want me to come back with him?" Freddy asked.
"No, I want to talk to him on my own." Mike replied looking Freddy in the eyes as he did.
Freddy stared for a moment before nodding as he motioned for the other two animatronics to follow. They all looked back at the teary eyed man waving at them as the three continued to the game room. Just as they all left line of sight Mike lost his posture and frowned, a few more tears rolled down his face as he leaned against the wall.
-In Kid's Cove-
Dawn was about as close to heaven as she'd ever been. Her and Foxy finally had a connection that was lost years ago, the boy that inspired her to pull herself out of this hole she was buried in was in her arms and she was happy. Happier then she had ever been in fact, to her this was the best moment of her life.
It was interrupted though as Elliot began to slip back out from between the two. Both Foxy and Dawn pulled back to allow Elliot to move, the boy stepping back to as Dawn noticed his eyes were watering.
"I- I'm glad y-you're not on the ground anymore." Elliot said whipping his nose.
"I'm glad I'm not either sweetie, thank you." Dawn replied.
Foxy leaned back in his chair watching the two. It'd been a long time since he's seen a child look at any of them like he was at Dawn right now. The old animatronic could tell the boy cared for Dawn like she was family and it brought Foxy hope seeing Elliot make such a fuss about her. Foxy cracked a smile as Elliot walked back to Dawn and hugged her gently this time.
"I can't wait till my dad sees you." Elliot said excitedly.
Foxy's smile instantly disappeared as Dawn looked back to Foxy worried.
"Elliot, your dad's here?" Foxy said calmly.
"Yea, he said he can't wait to meet Dawn!" Elliot replied turning around but noticing Foxy's expression. "Foxy are you alright?" Elliot asked.
"Alright, Dawn I need to go hide. You know what to do if he comes in?" Foxy asked quickly as he got up getting ready to bolt and find a hiding place.
"F-foxy, I don't know wha-" Dawn started but was cut off by Elliot as he stepped up to Foxy and grabbed his arm.
"Foxy, my dad said he already knows you. Why are you going to hide?" He asked curiously.
"I'm sorry lad, but I can't risk getting caught out in the open like this." Foxy replied kneeling down and putting a hand on Elliot's shoulder. "I'll be back, don't worry." Foxy convinced.
"Calm down Foxy, everything's alright." Came a voice from the Game room.
Foxy turned around to quickly to see Freddy walking up with Bonnie holding onto Chica close behind.
"What are you all doing out here!? Elliot's dad is-" Foxy began but was cut off by Freddy.
"We know Foxy, take it easy, there's nothing to worry about." Freddy said calmly as he walked into the room.
"Freddy!" Elliot called out as he ran over and hugged Freddy. The bear animatronic staggered back acting like he almost fell over.
"Whoa, hello Elliot! Wow you almost took me down! You've gotten bigger!" Freddy laughed as he hugged Elliot back.
"You think so!?"
"Without a doubt." Freddy said smiling down at the boy. "Happy birthday Elliot."
"Actually my birthday was last week." Elliot said sounding disappointed as he let go of Freddy.
"Well let's make up for that tonight. Happy birthday champ." Freddy said as he grabbed a balloon hanging from one of the chairs, giving it to the boy.
"Thank you Freddy!" Elliot said brightly seeing the Balloon coming his way.
Foxy stood in the middle of the room watching, desperately trying to understand why the lot of them had come out knowing there was a customer here. Meanwhile Bonnie and Chica came walking in, Chica still with a grasp on Bonnie while Elliot remained oblivious to the new visitors.
"Are you going to be alright?" Bonnie asked turning Chica towards himself.
Chica simply nodded, hugging Bonnie one last time before walking over towards Foxy and Dawn. She stopped and looked to Foxy like she was going to say something, but thought for a moment and decided against it as she walked past Foxy and to Dawn.
"I-it's good to see you darling." Chica said, voice still wavering.
"I'm happy to see you too Chica, but are you alright?" Dawn asked, excited to finally see Chica again but worried by her tone of voice.
Foxy was going to go and listen in on what they were saying until someone laid a hand on Foxy's shoulder. Foxy turned to see Bonnie looking at him with a frown.
"Bon what the hell is going on around here!? What's wrong with Chica, and what in the world are you all doing out with a customer here?" Foxy asked almost desperately with all of the questions but none of the answers.
Bonnie was about to answer until Elliot yelled out again.
"Bonnie and Chica are here too!?" Elliot said amazed as jumped up and ran over.
Foxy stepped out of the way as Elliot ran past him and to Bonnie.
"Well hey there buddy, you must be Elliot." Bonnie said with grin.
"I am, how did you know!?"
"Oh my friends told me all about you. You want to meet Chica too?"
"Yes!" Elliot said, his face almost hurting from how big he was smiling.
As Bonnie walked Elliot over to Dawn and Chica, Foxy turned around to see Freddy walking up to him.
"Freddy I'm losing my mind, what in the world is going on?" Foxy asked.
"Foxy. . . There's, uh, someone here for you that you need to go talk to." Freddy asked trying to pick his words carefully.
"Who!?" Foxy asked in a silent yell.
"I can't tell you here Foxy. You just need to go talk to him, it's important." Freddy said quietly.
"Dangit Freddy why not!" Foxy asked beginning to lose his temper.
"I won't ask you again Foxy, go right now." Freddy said sternly stepping up closer to Foxy.
Foxy looked at Freddy with a scowl but started coming to his senses, frowning a bit as he did.
"Sorry Fred, I just want to know what's going on." Foxy said apologetically.
"It's fine Foxy, but you do actually need to go talk to this person, you'll see why." Freddy promised.
Foxy nodded his head and went for the door.
"Foxy where are you going?" Elliot said.
Foxy turned around in the doorway to reply to Elliot, but was met with the animatronics looking at him, all of them looking hurt as Foxy stared back.
"I-I, umm. . . I'm going to get your dad Elliot." Foxy said ripping his eyes away from the other animatronics.
"Oh, okay." Elliot said with a smile as he turned away, leaving Foxy to stare back at all of his friends before they all started either talking to Elliot or with each other.
'Why are they all acting like this? Did something bad happen?' Foxy thought as he slowly turned around and start walking.
Foxy had many thoughts rushing through his head as he walked through the game room, most of which involved the attitude of his fellow animatronics. For starters Chica was upset about something, and while that wasn't an unusual thing for any of them to be right now, it was always hard to see her like this. Next was Bonnie, who was never known for showing those kind of emotions about something, usually letting them get bottled up and left to never be touched again, but the way he looked at him before Elliot ran over sent chills up and down Foxys back.
Finally though there was Freddy. Foxy and Freddy had a very good understanding with each other that long ago had been settled. Foxy felt safe talking to Freddy about close to anything, even if it was out of anger Freddy could always keep calm and talk him down. Tonight though was the first time Foxy saw Freddy raise his voice towards him, even stepping up to him as if saying he was going to leave wither he wanted to or not, and that was the final nail in the coffin for Foxy. Why was it so hard just to get an idea of why everyone was acting so bothered?
Foxy neared the exit of the game room before he heard something, stopping him abruptly.
"Hello?" Foxy said quietly looking the hallway.
"Psst! Foxy! Over here!" Came a familiar voice.
Foxy turned towards the stage to see Toy Bonnie still standing in place with his guitar but with his head turned towards Foxy.
"Oh, hey Bonnie." Foxy said almost a bit disappointed.
"Foxy what in the world are you all doing out!? There are people here still!" Bonnie said half panicked.
"It's alright Bonnie, it was just Elliot. The rest of them already met the guy that brought the kid here, I just got sent out because I need to talk to him I guess." Foxy said shrugging.
Bonnie looked like he was going to say something, but stopped himself as he calmed down a bit.
"Alright, whatever, I can't stop you or anything. I saw the guy in the hallway last before Freddy, Bonnie and Chica left him, Chica was a little upset though." Toy Bonnie said frowning.
"Really!? Did you hear what they were saying?" Foxy asked
"No, they were too far away from me to understand anything, poor guy looked pretty beat up though." Bonnie said drooping his ears.
"Alright, I'll go find him, thanks Bonnie. . . You can probably head off the stage and see Elliot if you want." Foxy suggested.
"I don't think so. At night if I leave the others are soon follow. I'll hang out up here until everyone leaves, I might wave or something." Bonnie said with a half smile.
"Heh, alright, thanks Bonnie." Foxy said smiling up to the animatronic on stage before turning down the hallway.
Foxy continued down the hallway, keeping an ear open for any noises as he walked casually. It wasn't long though till Foxys ears perked up. Walking a bit closer he heard it again, almost a clank sound. Foxy walked a bit further until he noticed movement in the supply room through the open door.
'You really just let yourself in didn't you.' Foxy thought suspiciously as he walked up to the door way with the man inside.
-Parts/Service Room-
Mike had decided to walk back to the supply room that all the other animatronics came from to wait for Foxy when he showed up, but was disgusted when he walked in. The room had all but been ignored for years; the floors were dirty, there were pieces of trash scattering the floor as well as broken parts and pieces of cut metal. To top it all of there were boxes of random spare parts crowding up the corner, looking like they were just thrown there. Mike sighed as he started picking up the mess.
After only fifteen minutes of cleaning, Mike had gotten all the trash and sharp metal cleaned up and was busy stacking the boxes when he heard footfalls approaching the room, soon followed by the voice he had been waiting for.
"Hey. . . Freddy told me to come find you? I'm Foxy."
Mike stood up and whipped away the rest of the leftover tears from his eyes before turning around.
"It's good to hear you after all these years friend." Mike said softly looking at Foxy, searching for a reaction.
Foxy's expression went unchanged as he looked at Mike. The man that had been the best human Foxy knew before he abandoned all of them was standing right in front of him looking him square in the eye.
"Mi-ike." Foxy said, his voice wavering. Mike frowned further hearing Foxy.
"Foxy I know I left you all, trust me I didn't want to, but I had no choi….." Mike said before getting cut off.
"Shut up Mike." Foxy said bowing his head off to the side and bringing a hand up to his face.
"Foxy I've missed all of you, I'm sorry I didn't come back but you need to understand-" Mike started as he began walking towards Foxy, but stopping abruptly.
"Do NOT lie to me Mike!" Foxy yelled bringing his head up sharply. Mike could see his eyes had turned red.
"Foxy please I'd never lie to-"Mike began again, trying to calm Foxy back down as he began to regret not asking Freddy to be here with him.
"Bullshit! You lied to us all the day you were hired!" Foxy yelled again as he started advancing towards Mike pointing his finger. Foxy's temper began to spiral out of control.
"Foxy I never wanted to leave, I swear on my life I wanted to come back, but Foxy you've got to kno-." Mike was stopped short again as Foxy pushed him back.
"Know what? A fabricated excuse that will suddenly make everything all better!? That maybe I had no reason to try and shut myself down after all because I should have known better? Is that what you're saying Mike!" Foxy screamed as he walked Mike back up against the wall.
Mike flinched hearing Foxy yell as he bumped into the wall behind him. With the animatronic looming over him he could feel the radiant heat of the over clocked electronics.
"Foxy don't do t-this." Mike said with his head down.
"Do what Mike?!what am I going to do!?" Foxy spat.
"D-don't take me away from Elliot too." Mike said as tears ran down his cheeks and began to drip to the floor.
"What?" Foxy asked, pulled from his clouded anger as his eyes changed color back to yellow.
Foxy looked down as he realized he was pining Mike against the wall, but what was worse was that his hook was digging into his side. Foxy quickly pulled himself back, speechless at what he had just done. Looking up Foxy saw Mike began to slip to the ground; Foxy quickly stepped back in to grab Mike and hoist him to one of the boxes on the ground. Foxy found a place to sit while Mike kept his head down, tears still streamed down his face.
". . . Mike I didn't mean any of that." Foxy said quietly, but Mike didn't reply. "I'm so sorry." Foxy said bringing a hand to his face again. The two sat there for a while before the silence was broken by Mike.
"F-foxy, do you r-remember that girl back at the old building that worked the counter?" Mike asked. Foxy pulled his hand from his face as he thought back. It didn't take long for him to remember who he was talking about as the corners of his mouth turned up.
"I do Mike, I remember her staying late with all of us every now and again, she was nice." Foxy replied.
"Well we were dating at the time Foxy, and remember when I took that m-month off?" Mike said quietly holding back.
"That I remember, you left before any of us found out why." Foxy said drooping his ears.
"Well I m-married that beautiful woman Foxy. We spent our honeymoon in Florida." Mike said trying to keep a grip on being coherent. Foxy looked over wide eyed with a smile to congratulate him, but quickly saw Mike had tears running down his face causing Foxy to hold his tongue and keep quiet.
"It was a golden time for me, I couldn't wait to comeback and surprise you all, and she couldn't either, but do you want to know what she told me she wanted to do before we saw you all again?" Mike asked turning towards Foxy, tears still running down his face as he cracked a smile. Foxy shook his head.
"S-she wanted to have a kid." Mike said chuckling as he looked back forward as he whipped his face off. Foxy chuckled to himself for a moment before something clicked and he swiveled his head looking out the door of the room and back.
"Elliot!?" Foxy whisper yelled as Mike simply nodded his head. Foxy smiled and brought his hand to Mikes back.
"So about 9 months later Elliot was born. It was incredible Foxy, I never knew I could be so happy." Mike said shaking his head, but his smile began to fade.
"And life was great. We always had next to no money, but we were all happy. . ." Mike fell quiet as he looked down at his hands on his knees. Foxy sat quietly with his hand rubbing Mikes back. Mike sat up clearing his throat as he got ready to continue.
"On Elliot's third birthday I had to take her to the hospital. She'd had a migraine for almost a month and that morning she had a seizure. . ."
Foxy watched Mikes eyes well up again as tears began flowing from his eyes once more.
"S-she was diagnosed with brain cancer. T-they didn't know how long she had but s-strongly suggested chemotherapy." Mike brought his face into his hands as he began to cry reliving the traumatic news.
"Mikey. . ." Foxy said almost speechless as he put his arm all the way around Mikes shoulder.
"Everything was okay for a while, t-the chemo helped with her migraines and things went back to normal for a while. . . B-but after two years the migraines came back a-and she had to go back to the hospital. . . T-the w-winter of 2013 we watched her p-pass away. . ." Mike said finally crying openly.
Foxy pulled Mike in and hugged him tight. It all made sense now; Mike leaving and being gone all this time. Foxy felt horrible for what he had done, letting loose the anger he felt towards Mike for 'abandoning' them only to find out it was all completely unjustified. Foxy was as close to crying as an animatronic could get as he held onto Mike.
"S-she wanted t-to come back s-so bad F-foxy and t-they wouldn't let her. . ." Mike said burying his face into Foxy's shoulder. Foxy didn't reply and simply kept hold onto Mike.
Mike held on for a minute before calming down and letting go of Foxy.
"We g-go and visit h-her tombstone every year on her birthday now. . . Elliot a-always likes making her b-birthday cards and signing them." Mike said whipping his face.
Foxy sat still looking down, still trying to deal with all the information that he had just been struck with.
"Do y-you remember her name Foxy?" Mike asked as he cleaned his face with the sleeve of his jacket.
"I-I don't Mikey." Foxy replied quietly.
"Her name was Dawn Schmidt after we wed."
Foxy's eyes went wide again. That was her, that was where the name came from. It felt like all of the planets had aligned and it all came rushing through Foxy's head. He stared at the far wall before shaking his head and came back to his senses then looked back to Mike.
"I take it you already know?" Foxy asked.
"I do. The night Elliot told me about his trip here and meeting 'her', I knew it was time." Mike said as he leaned back against the box behind him with Foxy doing the same.
"You'll like her Mike, she's something else." Foxy reassured. "And Mike, I'm so sorry for what I said and did earlier. . . It's just been eating me up for so long, I'd never hurt you Mike, I swear on it."
"I know Foxy, everything's alright, you're still the best friend I've ever had, you're all family to me. . . I really missed you bud, I've missed all of you. . ." Mike said as he brought an arm up behind his head.
"Mike are you going to come back?" Foxy asked looking up at the ceiling.
"Well I'm certainly not leaving again." Mike said looking over at Foxy with half a smile.
"That's really good to hear Mike." Foxy said closing his eyes.
Big old stinking chapter for you all! lol
I'm really sorry for the down time between this chapter and the last one, this was actually completely typed out the next weekend after posting chapter 4, but my editor ran into some delays for about a week.
Foxy and Mangle's Love did the editing once again. He's also acting in as co-author so even bigger thanks from him, and I hope you all enjoyed the new installment :]