"Thanks, for meeting with me, Rebecca." Mike stated as his former flame sat across from him in the coffee shop. It reminded him of old times, thirty years ago. Just the two of them in a quaint location, neither of them ever liked overly fancy dates, sitting and enjoying each other's company. In fact, coffee shops had been one of their favorite locations. They both enjoyed the rich aroma. Of course, she'd long since moved on. Something he readily accepted and was happy for. He'd never want her to be stuck in the past like he had been.

"I'm still surprised to be sitting here with you." Rebecca laughed with a slight awkwardness. It felt like their first-time meeting all over again. She glanced him over, trying her best not to make it obvious, but he still looked "rough", and he knew it. He could see it in her brown eyes. "You look...different. If you hadn't waved me over, I wouldn't have known that it was you."

Mike uttered a laugh before he took a sip of coffee. No kidding. He shifted in the booth, being careful not to knock his arm, still in a sling and cast. The one that "Springtrap" (as Isaac had referred to it as) had stomped. Multiple fractures the doctor had said. They'd had to put metal splints inside him to get it straightened out. Harriette and the teens had been kind enough to donate money to help him get that dealt with, money wise. Least most of it. The rest had been paid off by another benefactor.

"Yeah, I know. Why I did it." Mike answered with a level of amusement and wistfulness. After a moment of hesitant pause, he asked, "How've you been? I mean, I saw from your page that you've been doing good, but, as of recently."

"Good." Rebecca answered, taking his stammering patiently to which, he was grateful. She steadied herself, brushing a reddish-brown strand of hair out of her face. "I work as a dog trainer, two kids, husband runs the electronics store. Nothing eventful really."

"Happy to hear it." Mike answered earnestly. He waited to get to the meat of why he'd contacted her. Though he'd felt very strange about looking her up on social media, he felt that he'd owed her a long overdue explanation. He was lucky that it seemed she was active online, but he'd felt she'd be the type. Apparently, he still recalled her correctly. He exhaled, "So, about why I contacted you. To explain why I acted so...strange before I broke it off. Firstly, I apologize, for how sudden it'd been and how I acted."

"Mike, you knew I was concerned. I just wished; you'd have let me help you." Mike winced at the still evident pain in her voice. "You'd wake up screaming."

Still did in the years in-between, Mike noted to himself. The only difference being, then he'd wake up with no comfort at all. He shoved his self-deprecation down, "I know. I-I just didn't think you, or anyone, would've believed me."

"Freddy's." Rebecca guessed. Suddenly unsure she explained her reasoning, "I mean, it all started happening once you started working there. And the...rumors."

"Yeah." Mike uttered faintly. Even since things had been "settled", his nightmares had ended. Man, he'd slept hard in the hospital. The drugs to ease his pain helping that along even more. He spelt so hard that the nurses had wondered if he' been given too high a dose. Sleep had made him feel like a whole new person. His mind was clearer, and he'd noticed his train of thoughts weren't as dark. Even still, talking or thinking about Freddy's would dampen his mood just by way of how tragic it was. It'd never be a casual subject, that was for certain.

He glanced about, noticing a few eyes stray towards their booth, him specifically. Since the fire, he'd been something of a local talking point. He shifted in his seat, trying to keep a casual appearance. "Once we finish eating, you want to move somewhere else? Anywhere you wanna go?"

Rebecca must've seen the looks as well, or his discomfort because she didn't protest and suggested a small park near her home. Mike readily agreed and, once they were done eating, she rode with him in her car to the place. When they got out, he was met with a cool breeze. Fall was coming soon. It could be smelt in the air and the greenery beginning to change color. It's odd how the decay could smell so refreshing, compared to the decay he was far too familiar with.

They walked along the path, heading to a more private spot Rebecca was familiar with. As they walked along, they kept up idle chatter. Mike asked about how his dog, Markus, had been in her care. She assured him he lived a good life and passed peacefully. Mike believed her and thanked her for looking after him.

"Hardly a chore." She laughed, "He was such a doofus."

Mike laughed, recalling the dog's silly antics. Such as losing a treat right under his nose or stealing shoes just to get them to chase him. "Yeah, he was."

Seeing the bench, he'd been told about, an older tree rooted behind it and sheltering it beneath healthy branches, he swallowed, motioning for her to sit. She did so then looked at him, waiting. With a hardy exhale Mike sat beside her, hands on his lap. Eyes closed, he readied himself for the numerous possible reactions.

"Mike?" Rebecca questioned, worried.

"I'm fine, just," He shook his head. No delaying, he told himself. "Please, keep an open mind, the rumors in mind."

"Mike," She said with gentle reassurance, "Whatever happened. It clearly affected you. Whatever it was, it was real enough to affect you. For years. I trust that. Give me some faith, okay?"

"Ok." Mike answered, once he soothed his own nerves. And so, he divulged everything. The animatronics attacking him, the vengeful children possessing them. His nearly dying on the last night and it's resulting scar. The guilt he felt after leaving the pleading spirits behind. He detailed the horrid nightmares that followed him into his dreams, how they got worse over the years, more real. How it built on his guilt and drove him to hate himself. He didn't directly say what he attempted to do himself but alluded. That was behind him, he'd tell her later. If he chose. He didn't want to dump everything on her right now.

Eventually he came into detail about the recent Freddy's. The one that ended up with him in the hospital with a broken arm. The partner he'd lost and just who he'd lost them to. The ghost girl, Alice, who he'd reconciled with and aided in keeping him alive. All the other people who'd came together to help him on that last night.

"And, here I am, now." Mike wrapped up. He looked at her out of the corner of his eyes, "Pretty crazy, right?"

"That's..." She started hesitantly, "Putting it- very lightly."

He frowned, "You don't believe me?"

"I wouldn't say that." Rebecca quickly responded. She ran her hands through her hair, "It's just a lot to process. All at once."

"Oh." Mike uttered, self-conscious, that was very true.

She sighed, "You've seen the news lately, right?" He nodded; the local station flocked to the incident in no time at all. At the morning they'd swarmed. "So, I know that the deaths there did happen. The head of security was unstable...and the former owner, Jonathan Jones, came out with that confession to being complacent in the pass incidents." She intertwined her hands, thumbs pressed together, "That guy, Davey, did all those horrible things." Exasperated at the horridness of it all, she added, "That chest, full belongings of the victims...it's just all too awful."

Mike could only hum in agreement. He'd been shocked as well when he saw the news coverage. They couldn't relay everything that Jones had given to the officers, for privacy's sake, but the "Missing Children" incident had been officially switched to being a murder incident. Many "missing" people's families had been given closure, but at the price of the tragic reality. Unfortunately, bodies hadn't been found as Jones had no idea of what had been done to the victims at large, but with the culprit's identity now known, police now actually had a lead to follow. At least for now. The trail was still had long gone cold.

"So," Rebecca began with a shaky voice as she worked to recompose herself, "I think I can give what you said, the benefit of the doubt." She offered him a smiled, "I wasn't there, but I don't think you'd make all that up just to make an excuse to talk to me again." She pointed to his arm, "Especially that."

"Thanks." Mike said simply, a genuine smile on his lips. First one that he'd had in ages. "And yeah, you were great, but not bone breaking great."

She shook her head, "I'd hope not!" They shared a laugh, then she went on to ask, "Have you gotten in touch with Joseph?" Her tone was careful, testing the waters.

To her relief, Mike nodded. "Yeah, he doesn't care what I tell him. I don't think he fully believes about the whole undead killer, but he thinks something messed up happened. Because of my "chronic nightmares" he wants me to seek therapy. Told him I already was, so he's happy. We've hung out at my place," He laughed, "Swear he's treating me like a little brother, telling me to get my place fixed up. Can't say I blame him."

Rebecca giggled, "So he's not changed much."

"Apparently not." Mike answered amusedly, "So, yeah, things are shaping up."

"I'm glad to hear that." she said warmly. "Just want you to know Mike, I never thought badly about you. Just, worried."

"Thanks." Mike answered softly. The sound of his phone going off caused him to pull it out of his back pocket, "I gotta go."

"Oh? Okay. What for?"

"My work partner, Kyle's funeral." He answered somberly, "Jessica will kill me if I'm late."

Rebecca stood up with him, "Uh, well, give her my condolences."

"Sure thing."

"And Mike?"

"Hm?" Mike straightened when she hugged him, "Don't be a stranger, okay? I'd love you to meet my family. I promise my husband's laidback."

Carefully, Mike put his arm around her, "I promise."

In the end she ended up driving him to his trailer home, which Mike was rather embarrassed about, but she wouldn't let him walk home telling him he wouldn't want to be sweaty for such an event. He couldn't argue that.

All things considered; the meeting had gone well better than his worries had tried to tell him. Thankfully, he was in a better headspace so that he'd been able to ignore them. Soon, Harriette came to pick him up, she'd been gracious enough to offer to take him to the funeral, considering he wouldn't be able to drive himself with a broken arm.

"How's Isaac?" Mike asked while they drove to the funeral home.

"Grouchy as ever." Harriette mused, "Honestly, think the hospital let him go finally because they were tired of his attitude."

"Sounds about right." Mike shook his head; the guy had gotten several fractured ribs but hated the thought of sitting still in a hospital. He wasn't sure if it was because he disliked them or wanted to be sure that Springtrap's remains were disposed of thoroughly. Probably the latter. He knew that'd been on his mind. The lack of hearing about an unknown animatronic being discovered still uneased him, but with Gregor put away he was more at ease.

"Thanks again." Mike thanked, once she dropped him off. Harriette asked him to deliver condolences, and he obliged.

The air here was the same as it had been in the park, helped by the plentiful foliage planted around the funeral home, but it felt stiller, somber, as if out of respect for the dead. A small bouquet of flowers in hand, he readied himself, emotionally and mentally, then headed on in. Since Jones had turned himself in, he'd revealed where Kyle's body had been kept. As such, Jessica spared Mike and instead reserved her anger for the former franchise owner- as well as the current one.

All during the event, Mike hung back, feeling out of place and not wanting to intrude on those who knew Kyle. The number that'd showed up was moderate, mostly family members and a few friends. It left it feeling intimate, making Mike feel even more out of place.

"Thanks for coming." Jessica said softly to Mike. Her eyes were on the simple tombstone before them, still red from crying.

"It's the least I could do." Mike answered. He bent down and placed the flowers among the collection already laid there. He sat there, crouched, almost unwilling to let go of the gift he brought. Like it was a final good-bye. A last interaction. He swallowed rising grief, "I kept by promise, sort of, didn't really solve anything. Jones, he turned himself in."

"Mike." Jessica soothed, halting his words. "It's okay. We got her back, that's all I wanted."

Mike nodded mutely. The result was all that mattered. Closure had been given. He drew his hand back and stood up, breathing through his nose. The air was still crisp. Looking at Jessica, he said, "If you ever need anything..."

"I'll keep in touch." Jessica replied. Her smile was weak, but she looked genuinely appreciative, "I get the feeling you can be just as stubborn as she was."

"It's how I've lasted this long." Mike admitted with a shrug.

The two of them headed back to the funeral home. Jessica asked Mike about his ride back home, Mike saying he'd be waiting for Harriette. Then turning down an offer from her. Just as they reached the edge of the cemetery, Mike looked back one last time, before stepping beyond the gates.