For months, William worked with Henry to develop these suits. Now, during this time, the suits were his obsession. He spent all day and all night at the diner working on these suits. Because of this, he set up cameras inside his house to keep track of his children.
"William, it's 2:00 in the morning," Henry said. He stood at the door to the storage room where William worked tirelessly to develop the springlock suits. William was hunched over the workbench with his back turned to Henry, working tirelessly to construct these new suits. So far, he had built the head and torso of the springlock version of Bonnie, which he took the liberty of calling "Spring Bonnie." Now, he was building its arms and legs.
"I'm almost finished with its left arm," William said. "Let me finish, then I'll leave."
"William, take a break. Go home. I can take over."
William rolled his eyes with his back still turned to Henry. "I appreciate the sentiment, but I can finish this on my own."
Henry sighed. "Will, you're like a brother to me, and I love your kids. But, you can be one of the most stubborn men that I've ever met."
"I just want these suits completed and built," William said, finally looking up from his work.
"Will, I'm worried about you," Henry said. "You're distant from your kids, you barely talk to your wife. You barely talk to me and we work together."
"No need to be concerned, Henry," William said, continuing his work. "I'm alright. My family is alright. Now, I'm almost finished with the arm. Once I am, I will leave."
Henry sighed once more, then said, "Okay. I'm going home, then."
Without another word, Henry left for the night and William continued working.
William went home after another hour but did not make it to his bed. Instead, he landed on the sofa and fell fast asleep. When Clara awoke, and she saw William asleep on the couch, she sighed and kissed him, to which he awoke.
"Good morning, workaholic," she jokingly said.
"Good morning, my dear," William mumbled. "How are the kids?"
Clara walked to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. "Well, Evan misses you, Liz does too, and Mike is...well, Mike."
William softly chuckled and rubbed his face and eyes. "Well, I'm glad to know I'm missed by two at least."
"Michael misses you too," Clara said. "He just doesn't show it much."
"Of course." William stood and stretched as he heard movement from Evan and Michael's room. Evan, when he saw William, ran to him and embraced him. "It's good to see you too, Evan."
William picked him up, and Evan asked, "Where were you?"
"I was at work," answered William. "I had a lot to finish before I came home."
"Why?"
"Because we're working on some new things and I need to finish them soon so I can focus more on you guys."
"Why?"
"Because I love you all."
"Why?"
"Just because." William laughed as he moved Evan to the dining room table and sat him down in a chair beside Michael. He ruffled his hair as he turned to the hallway again to see his little girl, Elizabeth, walk up to him.
He hugged her and moved her over to the lone highchair in the kitchen. He knelt beside her.
"How are you doing this morning, Sweetheart?" he asked.
She had learned how to talk that year, but only some. Still, she chose not to speak if she did not have to. So, she only smiled at him.
"I suppose you're doing okay? Is Mike behaving?" William laughed when Michael protested.
He stood and sat down in the chair nearest Michael. "How's school?"
Without looking, Michael said, "Fine."
"You like your classes? Are your teachers nice?"
"They are."
"Listen, Mike," William said as he leaned in. "I know I haven't been here for you like I should. I'm sorry."
"Okay."
"I hope when you are older, you will understand." William stood and ruffled his hair before taking a shower and heading out to work.
"Good morning, Will," Henry said. He was in the storage room finishing up the Fredbear springlock suit.
William groggily entered the room. "Good morning."
"You've looked better," Henry said.
"I've felt better. Michael is angry with me. I can't blame him, honestly.
"Will, you're doing the best you can, I'm sure. You can only do so much."
A moment of silence filled the room before William made his way over to the workbench. "You've finished Fredbear already?"
"Almost," Henry answered. "I see you worked on more than just the arm last night."
In the corner lie the completed Spring Bonnie suit. William had worked endlessly to complete his before Henry, and he succeeded. However, completing it before Henry did not feel great, as he thought it would. He had sacrificed time with his wife and children in an attempt to surpass his partner and former rival.
"It looks good. You did a good job."
"I shouldn't have spent so much time on it," William grumbled. "Before I know it, Mike, Evan, and Liz will all be out on their own and away from here."
"Don't be so hard on yourself," Henry comforted his friend. "You're trying to provide for your family. They'll understand. If not now, they will."
"I hope so." William appreciated Henry's kind words, which infuriated him further. They were rivals! In what world could rivals ever become friends?
He knew that Henry was a Christian, and treated others fairly, no matter how they treated him. He wondered what in this world or the next could make someone kind to their enemies. Nevertheless, there was something inside him that kept him calm and loving to not only his family and friends, but also to strangers and, ultimately, his enemies.
A/N: Another chapter down. The next chapter will most likely switch perspectives from William to Evan and then back to William. Something to note here; Henry's being a Christian. Why? Well, Scott himself is a devout Christian. The entire franchise (when he alone was over it) was a redemption story for Michael Afton. He was relieved of his guilt and shame in the end and reunited with Evan. Henry talked to William in his final monologue and said, "The darkest pit of Hell has opened to swallow you whole. So, don't keep the Devil waiting, old friend." This seems to imply that he, like Scott, believes in Heaven and Hell at the very least. Regardless of the building burning down, during that final scene, he was calm and cool-headed. He was not afraid to die, which seemed to indicate that he was prepared to die and finally meet with his daughter again. Plus, it takes a saint to deal with William for so long anyway. Thank you for reading, saving the story, and following! God loves you!