A/N: I watched the Five Nights at Freddy's movie last weekend. While I won't claim that it was the greatest movie I've ever seen (it certainly wasn't), I could tell it was made with genuine love and I had a fun time watching it regardless. It's a movie that was clearly tailored towards kids, and whether that's a positive or negative for you depends entirely on the individual person.

With that being said, I have the motivation to write chapters for this fic…but not the time. This month has been what can be generously described as a "massive pain in the ass," and I'm fully aware that once I start the Security Breach arc, it's something that I'm going to have to full-send up until the arc is completed. Something that I'm very hesitant to do right now given my limited time.

So until I find the time that I need (which for all I know might not even be until January), I'm gonna keep going with filler chapters so that I'm not leaving you all hanging until I can finally get Security Breach going. It's really the best way for me to go about this since I'm sure nobody here wants me to half-ass what may very well be the last major arc of this story, which we can all agree would be super lame. This particular filler chapter is one that I'm going to take from a guest who reviewed on the last chapter.

Chapter 197 – Last Respects Part 1

The call had come on a Thursday that on the surface hadn't seemingly been any different from any other.

"I see," Mike answered the phone solemnly. "Thank you for informing me about this. I'll be sure to come soon." He disconnected the call, and looked up to see his ghost kids glancing curiously at him. They had already sensed that something was off based on his uncharacteristically grim expression, although they didn't have enough information to display anything other than general concern.

"Is something wrong, Dad?" Liz wondered.

Mike sighed. "Yes…but not in a way that hurts the family or even the public or anything like that. I do need to speak to Charlie though. Alone. In fact, let's go up to my private study."

His tone made it abundantly clear that he didn't want anybody else besides Charlie around at the moment, and the ghosts understood that immediately. Mike climbed up the stairs with Charlie following him into his study, and the teen ghost "sat" down on the spare armchair in the room once Mike had shut the study door behind him.

"You're acting kinda off, Dad…" Charlie murmured, worry clear in her voice. "What's wrong?"

"You know Nelson MacGregor, right?" Mike returned his question with one of his own. "The family friend of your father's who took care of your old family's phone and has been helping us with Fazbear Entertainment from behind the scenes?"

"I remember," the former Marionette answered, knowing that Mike wouldn't have asked about Mr. MacGregor unless he was relevant to their conversation somehow. "Did something happen with him?"

Mike sighed. "I just got a call from his son," he explained grimly. "Mr. MacGregor was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. By the time they found it, it had already advanced and spread to his liver. His doctors don't think he has much time left to live."

Charlie shuddered. Although she wasn't familiar with medical conditions and medicine in general, as the topic was of little use to someone who was already dead to begin with, even she knew that cancer was a nasty disease that was one of the greatest causes of pain, suffering, and death in the world. "But…how did things get that bad?" she wondered, already feeling a deep sadness within her at the fact that Nelson had suffered such a grim fate. "Isn't the pancreas not as important as a heart, lung, or brain?" she asked. "Wouldn't cancer in one of those places be so much worse?"

Mike shrugged helplessly. "There's no such thing as getting a good cancer anywhere, Charlie," he answered with a grimace, "but for some reason pancreatic cancers are among the worst of the bunch. I have no clue how he ended up with a disease this bad, but there's not much he can do about it now."

"Is he going to try to get it cured?" Charlie wondered.

Mike shook his head. "Maybe if it had been an early-stage cancer he would've gone for it," he replied with a defeated sigh. "But where he is right now? Mr. MacGregor chose to go for comfort care and hospice instead of trying aggressive chemotherapy treatments that can make your life miserable. And while I'm not sure how much I agree with him, I can definitely understand where he's coming from. His son called me just now and told me that Mr. MacGregor requested to see me one final time. He also wanted me to bring you along before he passed on."

Charlie nodded, a look of firm determination in her eyes. "I'll go see him. It's the least I can do, after everything he's done for us," she declared.

"Good," Mike nodded. "It's still early, and I don't know how much time we have left, so I was going to leave to visit him right now. You got anything you need to do before we head out?"

"No," his daughter shook her head, "and even if I did, it wouldn't matter compared to seeing Mr. MacGregor as soon as possible."

"Glad we agree," was all Mike had to say in response as he made his way over to his bedroom to properly change his clothes. By the time he got out, Charlie was already waiting for him at the front door. "I'm gonna be heading out with Charlie for a few hours," he called out to the rest of his children. "Something important came up just now that Charlie and I need to deal with as soon as possible."

"Okay, Dad!" Susie called back, speaking for the rest of them. "See you in a couple of hours then!"

Mike nodded and left the house, making sure to keep it locked, with Charlie following closely behind. The two of them got into Mike's car and the man started driving away from his house. They spent most of the drive-in complete silence, both of them lost in their own thoughts. Charlie couldn't really remember what Nelson was like back when she was a child and still alive, but she certainly appreciated the kindly and helpful elderly gentleman who had done his best to help her and her family out in whatever way he could. After all, if it wasn't for him, they would never have discovered the secrets of Remnant, gotten their hands on the Rockstars, or put enough pressure on Fazbear Entertainment to actually change their policies for the better even if it was for self-serving reasons.

"Charlie…" Mike's voice broke the silence. He didn't break his eyes from the main road, but she could see a rather grim look in her eyes. "Before we see Mr. MacGregor, you should be aware that he might look a lot more sick-looking than the last time you saw him. Cancer tends to do that to people."

"I don't care," Charlie answered stubbornly. "I'm going to see him personally, because he deserves nothing less."

"I'm completely with you," Mike agreed without hesitation. "Just be aware that you might not like what you see when we get there."

"I know," Charlie acknowledged, before giving her father a thin smile. "Thanks for the warning, Dad. I do appreciate it."

"Just get ready," Mike warned, "because we're gonna be arriving soon."

His words were proven true a few minutes later, as he turned his car down the street leading to Mr. MacGregor's house…the same house that had once been Henry's and Charlie's so many years ago. There was only one other car there, which Mike could only presume belonged to either a family member or a caretaker of some kind. By the time Mike and Charlie had parked in the driveway and gotten out of the car, the front door had already opened and a younger man was stepping out to greet them.

"Hello Mr. Schmidt," the man offered a handshake, which Mike gladly accepted. "I'm Brian, Nelson's son. Thank you for coming. I must say, I'm pleasantly surprised by how quickly you responded to my invitation."

"I had a clear schedule today, fortunately," Mike replied cordially. "With how things have been lately, that's been less and less certain."

"Yes, I can understand how busy you must've been cleaning up Fazbear Entertainment's messes," Brian remarked. "Let me bring you inside the house."

Mike (and Charlie) both followed him into the house, and Brian shut the door behind them. "I had no idea that Mr. MacGregor was suffering from pancreatic cancer," Mike said solemnly once they were properly inside. "I'm very sorry to hear that. He's helped me out in a big way more than once, and I truly am grateful to him for everything he's done for me. And my family," he added mentally, although he didn't say that last aloud since he had to assume Brian knew nothing about Charlie or the other ghost kids.

"I don't know if he ever told you this," Brian commented with a frown, "but my dad's been dealing with a lot of guilt over his life. He never went into a lot of detail, but he hated how much he let Fazbear Entertainment get away with their bullshit back then and didn't really do anything to stop it."

Mike nodded in understanding. "I guess he was thinking along the lines of good people letting evil win by doing nothing?" he surmised.

Brian smiled humorlessly. "Something like that. He tried to hide it, but I could tell that it was really gnawing at him for some time." The smile suddenly turned more genuine. "I don't know what you said to him all the way back when you first met…but the next time I saw him after that, he looked more at peace with himself than before."

"I knew he didn't like what Fazbear Entertainment had been doing," Mike replied, being completely truthful while at the same time giving nothing away, "but I had no idea his guilt was eating away at him that badly."

Brian shook his head. "He didn't reveal that to his family," he acknowledged. "I'm not really surprised he didn't tell a complete stranger about it. But whatever you did for him, or he did for you…it did my father some good. And so did finally exposing Fazbear Entertainment these past few months."

"I do remember reading his statement in the newspaper," Mike commented. "His statement made his contempt towards Fazbear Entertainment's corrupt business practices very clear. Especially what he said about lowering the animatronics' AI to 0 effectively removing the threat that they posed to night guards, something that Fazbear Entertainment could've done but didn't." He shook his head. "It still blows my mind to think that even if those animatronics were dangerous, all the death they caused could've been entirely preventable."

Brian chuckled. "What you don't know is that after that article came out, my father had the biggest smile on his face. The kind that you have after accomplishing something big. It was the happiest I'd seen him in a long time. I think writing that article really gave him his biggest chance to make up for whatever he did back when he was wrapped up with Fazbear Entertainment, and I think he has you to thank for that."

Mike shook his head. "I merely told him what my plans were back when Fazbear Entertainment popped up its ugly head again," he remarked. "It was your father's choice whether or not he wanted to be on board with them or not."

Brian nodded. "True. All the same…thank you for giving him those opportunities to begin with. I don't think it would've changed how long my dad would've lived, that cancer was always going to get to him one way or another. But thanks to you, he'll be able to pass on in peace and with less regrets."

The two men shook his hands, and then Brian led them up the stairs towards the bedroom. "My father's waiting," he gestured towards the closed bedroom. "I don't know why, but he asked me to leave the house completely while he talked to you." He shrugged. "I can't make heads or tails of it, but I'm not gonna disobey his requests now that he's lying on his deathbed."

And with those last words, Brian climbed back down the stairs, and a few seconds later they could hear the front door of the house open and close. "You ready?" Mike asked quietly.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Charlie replied with a sigh.

Mike approached the door and slowly opened it. As Nelson MacGregor and the bed he was resting on came into view, Charlie couldn't help but gasp at the sight.

The last time she had seen Nelson personally, the man had certainly been elderly but had appeared in relatively good health for his age. Now, her old family friend's health had most certainly deteriorated for the worse. He looked much thinner than before almost to the point of emaciation, and his skin was a distinct shade of yellow that Charlie definitely didn't remember being there the last time. The man also looked exhausted, as though he were struggling every day just to stay alive (which was certainly accurate, given the cancer lurking inside his body).

Thankfully, as horrible as the disease was, it didn't appear to have affected his mental faculties. The moment Nelson's eyes fell on Mike, his eyes immediately lit up with recognition and he smiled despite his condition. "Ah…Mr. Schmidt…" he greeted him, his voice a lot weaker than it was before but still clearly coherent. "Is…Charlie…with you?"

"I'm right here, Mr. MacGregor…" Charlie answered for her father, choosing this moment to reveal herself.

Nelson's smile widened. "Oh, Charlie…it's so good…to see you…"

"I wanted to see you too," the ghostly teen replied with a sorrowful tone, "but I didn't want to see you like this."

Nelson coughed and groaned. "I can't say…I'm thrilled about it…either," he replied, somehow managing to maintain some semblance of humor despite his grim situation. "But I've…made peace…with myself. I made…so many mistakes…and let…so many bad things…happen. But meeting you…and your new father…gave me the chance…to make things right…as much as…I can."

Tears were beginning to form in Charlie's eyes while Mike respectfully stood back a few steps away, solemn and completely silent. "You don't deserve this," the former Marionette inhabitant gestured towards Nelson's body in general. "This cancer…it's destroying you from the inside. I don't think I could heal this even with all of my power."

Nelson shook his head. "This isn't something…you can fix…Charlie. And I wouldn't ask you to…even if you could. If I somehow…made a full recovery…from this…people would ask…all sorts of questions…cause all sorts of problems…I'd never have…another moment of peace…ever again. And your secrecy…could be at risk."

"He's right," Mike grimly agreed, speaking for the first time. "I've seen you heal wounds sometimes, Charlie, but a few cuts and bruises or even a broken bone are a lot different from advanced pancreatic cancer. I don't doubt your power, but I don't think you could fix something this big. With how dangerous and advanced his disease is, trying to cure it through magic might end up making things even worse if you screw it up. And even if you somehow managed to completely cure pancreatic cancer with your magic, Nelson would end up being a straight-up medical impossibility. He would constantly be contacted and approached by doctors, scientists, and other government officials wanting to know just how exactly someone with an almost universally lethal disease ended up making a full and complete recovery. Just like he said, he would never know peace ever again." He shook his head. "Sometimes, people prefer a dignified death with the end of their lives focused on comfort and peace rather than trying to extend their lives for as long as possible. It's the same reason why some people with cancer refuse chemotherapy. Nelson's made his choice, and I honestly think I'd do the same if I were in his shoes."

Charlie slumped her head down in defeat. "I know," she murmured. "It just…hurts. It really hurts seeing someone who helped us, someone who we could call a friend, being sick like this. It hurts knowing that he's going to pass on soon, and there's nothing we can do to stop it."

Nelson sighed. "Sometimes…trying to fight…isn't the right call," he breathed out. "Sometimes…accepting what's happening…learning to live with it…and making the most of it…is what we should be doing…in times like this."

"It all depends on what the fight is," Mike added sagely. "Some fights are absolutely worth fighting for…other times, trying to fight what's coming just makes things worse for everyone in the end."

"Exactly," Nelson agreed with a cough. "Your fights…and mine…with Fazbear Entertainment…were well worth the effort we spent. I've lived…with guilt…for so long…I could have…should have…done more. I could have…saved…so many…more lives…and now…I'll never know…how many…I could have saved."

Charlie grasped Nelson's hand comfortingly in her own spectral ones, even though he couldn't feel her directly. She knew full well that she had absolutely no right to condemn Nelson for his inaction…not when her siblings had been the one directly doing the killing of the night guards.

"I've seen…what people say…about Fazbear Entertainment…now," Nelson commented with a weak chuckle. "I've seen them…buried in their own controversy…so many people…now see them…for what they are. I'd like to think that…my statements…opened up that door…I hope…I helped you…fight against them…in some way…"

"You did," Charlie fervently reassured him. "You were a big help in forcing them to adopt better policies. Dad actually managed to take charge of one of their big projects and make things right because of what you said in that article."

Nelson smiled, clearly relieved by her words. "Then at least…some good…came from me…working there…after all," he sighed. "Several decades late…but at least…I tried…"

"Doing good several years late is better than not doing any good at all," the former Marionette replied firmly.

"You have been a big help," Mike added with a smile. "And we won't let your efforts be in vain. We'll make sure that Fazbear Entertainment doesn't get away with the same horrible practices that they got away with all those years ago. Not this time."

Nelson nodded. "Keep the fight…going on…" he pleaded. "Don't let…the same tragedies…happen again."

"We won't, Mr. MacGregor," Charlie promised. "This is how we're going to make up for the crimes we committed all the way back then. All of us."

"I know…you will…Charlie…" Nelson breathed. He made the motion of stroking the girl's hair, even though he couldn't physically touch it. "Take care of Charlie…take care of all of them…Mr. Schmidt. They've been through…so much…already…"

"I have and will until the day I die," Mike swore. "That is one thing I will never change."

"Good…" Nelson sighed with relief. "Good…I don't know…how long…I have left. I don't think…it's very long… bingut at least…I can be at peace…knowing you and your family…have a good handle on things." He let out another weak chuckle. "I guess…I'll be see Henry…soon enough…"

Despite everything, Charlie managed a tearful smile. "Tell my other father I said hi," she requested.

Nelson chuckled. "I'll make sure…to pass on…my message. You can let…my son…back in…now. I don't…want to be away…from him…for too long…now."

Both Mike and Charlie nodded in acknowledgment, and then Charlie vanished into her invisible and inaudible state as Mike went down to open the front door, where Brian was waiting for him. "We've finished talking," Mike informed me. "He wants to be with you now." He shook his head and frowned. "Something tells me he doesn't have a lot of time left on this Earth."

Brian sighed. "I know the doctors thought he could possibly have a few months left…but I agree with you, as much as I hate to admit it. You seem like a decent enough guy, Mr. Schmidt. Would you care to attend my father's funeral, when the time comes?"

"Absolutely," Mike accepted without hesitation. "Barring an absolute emergency, I'll make sure to be there."

Brian smiled. "That's good to hear. It likely won't be a huge public affair, my dad was never one for those kinds of things, but the family and a few friends will be there at the very least. I hope you don't mind that."

Mike shook his head. "Not at all. I probably won't be talking very much, but I certainly don't mind some company while I pay my respects."

Brian nodded. "Then when the time comes, I'll call you and let you know." He reached out a hand towards Mike again. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Schmidt."

"Pleasure to meet you too," Mike replied, shaking the man's hand as Charlie nodded in the background, unseen to Nelson's son. Mike and his daughter departed from the house, not saying a single word as they drove back home.

It was the first time in recent memory that Charlie had been physically close to someone who was dying, and the ghostly teen could somehow feel in the depths of her soul that Nelson MacGregor didn't have very long left to live. Her father didn't have the supernatural instincts that she did…but the grim, resigned look on his face made it abundantly clear that he felt the same way.

/

A/N: This chapter is based on the idea for a "funeral episode" that a guest in the reviews suggested for a filler chapter. I was originally going to include that in this chapter too, but that would double the length of this chapter and I simply do not have the energy to write one of those super-long, double-digit page length chapters that I've sometimes written in the past. So, the actual funeral will be the next chapter. And then depending on how much time I have, maybe then I'll finally start the Security Breach arc properly.

Since Charlie was the only one who really got to know Nelson MacGregor properly, I wanted this chapter to be a private moment between her, Nelson, and Mike. It wouldn't have really made sense for everyone else to be there since they'd technically never met Nelson before. And having all seven ghost kids there would've only served to make the final dialogue between the two more convoluted and detracted from the overall tone of the chapter.

But don't worry. Next chapter will have all seven ghost kids attend the funeral alongside Mike. Invisible and inaudible to everyone else, of course, but present nevertheless.

That's all I have for now. I hope you guys enjoyed, and please be sure to Kudos the fic on Archive of our Own! I don't expect anyone to comment on that version of the story, especially since you've already put all your inputs here, but even a simple and basic like would be much appreciated!