Hello hello! A fun chapter here, with plenty of murder! Well, only one. But still!

And a happy birthday to Sadfox729! I hope you have an amazing birthday that does/does not involve murderous clown robots!

Reviews time!

mixsii: blood for the blood god

Sadfox729: ah well, minds do be like that sometimes.

Trigger warning: for abuse. basically William being a wonderful parent.

Onto the chapter!

Chapter 32

Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream

January 13, 2006...

Elizabeth Afton drove her plane around the tiny city, making some plane noises with her lips for effect. The plane was flying down, down, down. Over to the side, a tiny blonde lady with a microphone jammed in her mouth was speaking.

"This is news reporter Sally Jane reporting from Candy Island. It appears that a giant plane was terrorizing the city- oh no! AAAH! BOOM! CRASH!"

Elizabeth smashed the plane into the colourful candy city, giggling to herself gleefully. She loved playing Plane Smashes City. Or the alternative version, Dinosaurs Smash City.

She played games with herself a lot. Her mother used to play with her, but her and Daddy had gotten a Div Horse. Elizabeth loved horses, but the Div Horse was much worse. It meant Mommy had to leave them and Elizabeth and her brothers only got to see her on weekends or holidays.

Sometimes Evan would play with her, but he never wanted to play Smash City. He only wanted to play with his boring stuffies, or play something like Store. Store was pretty fun, they grabbed random items and pretended to be customers buying the items, but Elizabeth always turned it into a robbery, or a dinosaur robbery, and then Evan would not want to play anymore.

Elizabeth smashed a building absent-mindedly. Michael used to play with her a lot. But now he had new friends, and he was 'too old for baby games'.

Elizabeth knew he was just pretending not to like her around his friends. He still played tag or soccer or video games with her sometimes. It was just too bad he wouldn't play Smash City with her. Nobody would.

It didn't make sense! Elizabeth was a wonderful playmate. She had pretty hair, she was funny and smart and adorable and creative. So why did everyone ignore her?

She sighed. She was bored with a capital B. Elizabeth wanted to do something else. She decided exploring the house would be a fun idea.

Elizabeth picked up her stuffed clown girl she'd named Baby and held it tight. She smoothed down her red dress and wandered over to the living room.

It wasn't super exciting. A creepy sun thingy, an ugly yellow lamp, and the TV. Michael spent a lot of time there, playing video games or curled up with popcorn watching his favourite show, The Immortal And The Restless. Elizabeth didn't really understand the show, but it was fun to have some time with her older brother. She knew Michael cared about her, he just didn't like to show it.

And she was pretty sure Michael cared for Evan too. Her teacher, Ms Louise, said that families loved each other, no matter what. Even though Michael flung peas at Evan at the dinner table, or called him a wuss when he cried, or stole his ice cream. Okay, the ice cream was mean. Elizabeth loved ice cream, and it was not something you just stole.

Her favourite kind was vanilla. Her mother called her Strawberry Vanilla, strawberry for her ginger hair.

She wandered down the red-coloured hallway. She examined the pictures. Her and Michael, Daddy and Mommy, Evan as a baby...oh! Daddy and Uncle Henry! She loved Uncle Henry. Even if he wasn't her real uncle. He brought her peppermints and other sweets and even played Smash City with her one time! Plus, he had a daughter who was only two years younger than her, Charlie.

Charlie was amazing! She played Smash City, and soccer, and Store With Robberies, and House, and anything they wanted! Despite being four, she acted like she was at least seven, two years older than Elizabeth. They even had their own secret handshake. Plus, Charlie had a fish named Bobbette. And, Charlie knew her place, which was something Liz could not say about her brothers.

There were, of course, other kids she played with in the pizzeria. She'd played with Cassidy, Evan's friend, or a boy named Kaito, or a girl named Ruby (who only went once. Which was too bad, as they played Smash City together). But none of those kids were as fun as Charlie.

Elizabeth saw her room down the hall. It had a painting of a flower on the wall, a pink bedspread, and gray walls. Various toys littered the floor, despite her father urging her to clean up. She loved her room. Even though Evan got the biggest one. She had heard Michael grumbling to his friends that Evan was her father's favourite. Which Ms Louise said wasn't a thing, that mommies and daddies loved their children equally.

Besides, if Evan was Daddy's favourite, then why would Daddy call him names?

When Elizabeth had explained this to him, he'd just said Ms Louise was just saying that to make her feel better. Elizabeth didn't know who to believe, but she figured Michael was right. Michael was twelve, a whole seven years ahead of her. Twelve-year-olds were in middle school. They watched big-kid-movies and rode their bicycles to each other's houses and paid for their food with their own money, sometimes on little plastic cards.

Plus, Michael was strong. One day, when she was three and Michael was ten, a mean boy named Nory had stolen Baby from her. He was making fun of her and calling her names, and she called him a squid-face, when Michael came running out and attacked him. Nory was eleven, but Michael won Baby back for her. He'd hugged her and given her his candy bar and despite having tons of bruises all over his face, said he was alright and they didn't need to go to the doctor.

Elizabeth remembered that day. She'd felt very close to her brother then. And he'd told her that no matter what, he'd always put her life in front of his, and he'd always protect her.

Elizabeth knew that he loved her. He just didn't always want to show it.

"Mike! Liz! Ev! Dinner time!"

That was her father. Elizabeth grinned. She had something she wanted to show him. She turned around and walked down the hall with Evan following behind her.

Michael shoved his brother out of the way.

"Beat it, twerp," He grumbled. Elizabeth glanced at him with wide green eyes. She didn't like it when her brothers fought. Michael's cobalt eyes softened.

"Sorry, Liz, I'm just in a bad mood today. What'd you bet that Father made boxed mac and cheese again today?"

Elizabeth giggled. "He definitely did. Daddy only knows how to cook things out of a box. Remember that time he tried to make a cake for my birthday without a box?"

They said it at the same time: "Unicorn Volcano!"

Elizabeth burst into laughter, hugging the clown doll tightly. Michael laughed along too, then ruffled her ginger-blonde hair. Elizabeth squirmed a little, but let him do it anyway.

"You're special, Lizzy. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

~lll~

"So, it is somebody's birthday tomorrow." Her father took a bite of mac and cheese and smiled.

Evan lifted up his spoon. "Liz!" He cheered. Despite being eight, a whole three years older than Liz, he sometimes acted like he was half her age.

Their father smiled approvingly. "That's right!"

Michael rolled his eyes and flung a spoonful of peas at Elizabeth's older brother. They always had peas with their dinner, which Elizabeth wasn't exactly a fan of. Their meals always consisted of: mac and cheese, or spaghetti, a side of peas, and then ice cream for dessert. It was the opposite at their mother's house: amazing, fancy dinners, but maybe a couple raisins for dessert.

Michael stuck one noodle in his mouth and inhaled through it. "Lookit. I'm smoking a noodle pipe!" He and Elizabeth both laughed at his cleverness.

Evan glared at him.

"Smoking causes lung cancer. You shouldn't do it."

Michael rolled his eyes at his brother. He stuck the bright orange middle in his mouth, chewing it up and swallowing." Jeez, it was just a joke. Lighten up, Evan."

Their father sighed, seemingly exhausted from their banter. But Elizabeth knew her father was always tired whenever he talked to them. He didn't really like people much, which was why he never interacted with others besides occasionally the Emily's and his own family. And when he did, which was rare, it was typically him yelling at something they did wrong. Liz had overheard her mother saying it was something with his head, which was why he ate those pills.

She'd tried those pills once. It made her head spin and her tongue dry. She ended up at the doctor's office, with her mother furious at her father for not looking after Liz well enough. Elizabeth didn't have it in her to correct her mother that she just wanted to be like Daddy.

"So, I was thinking, why don't you ask a couple of your friends, and we can all go to the new restaurant!" Her father suggested.

Elizabeth gasped, her emerald eyes sparkling.

"Is it the one with Baby in it? Oh, I can't wait to see her!"

Her father's expression was stern. He took a bite of a noodle.

"Elizabeth, you cannot see her. But, of course you can play with Ballora! She dances with people, and I know you love to dance."

Elizabeth slumped in her seat. She did not, in fact, love to dance. Her father was always too busy tending to her older brothers, or doing work stuff, or talking to Henry to notice. He was almost never home, leaving Mikey to take care of them.

"But Daddy, you let the other children go see her. Why won't you let me go?" She whined.

Her father shook his head and glared.

"I said you can't go, and that is final. Now, I have to work on some blueprints. You three eat your dinner, and Michael and Evan, work on any homework you have. I do not want to be disturbed."

Evan grinned.

"I got an A on my book report! Mr Roller says I'm the top of my class!"

Her father's face didn't change. "That's good, Evan. You're very smart."

Evan nodded and spooned a scoop of peas into his mouth. Unlike his siblings, he liked peas. He spooned some into the mouth of his prized stuffie, a little Fredbear plushie. Elizabeth scowled. She wasn't allowed to bring Baby to the table. Besides, Evan was too old to be playing with stuffies. Mikey said so.

Elizabeth frowned. She wanted the conversation back on her again, not on Evan. He always stole all the attention, which was why she hated him.

"Daddy, Ms Louise gave me a gold star in math!" She chirped.

Her father didn't even look up.

"Mm. Good for you, Liz."

Elizabeth tilted her head to the side, confused. How come her father didn't praise her like Mikey or Ms Louise did? She was better than both of her brothers combined, yet her father never paid attention to her.

Her father sighed and stood up.

"I'm going to go work on the blueprints."

And he was gone.

"See," Michael whispered to Elizabeth. "Evan is the favourite. He likes peas. Can you believe it?"

Elizabeth ignored him. She wanted her father to notice her. Elizabeth ran into the living room where her, Ev, and Michael had dumped their backpacks. She pulled the sheet out and smiled at it. She'd show her father the paper, and he'd smile and ruffle her hair and tell her that he was so proud. He had to.

She ran to go show her father, her tiny feet pattering on the hard wood floor. She reached his office and looked up at the wide gray door. It was so tall, and intimidating...

Evan came up behind her.

"Ellie, Dad said you shouldn't bother him. I think you should really listen..." He warned her. Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"I think you're wrong. Don't you have to go cry alone or something?" Elizabeth asked.

Evan glared at her. "Fine. I don't care, anyways." He stalked off to his own room, slamming the door. Elizabeth sighed and with all of her courage gathered, pushed open the door.

"Daddy, Daddy, Daddy! Lookit! I got a gold star, see? See?" Elizabeth bounced up and down. Her father sighed, flicking off his desk lamp. He appeared to by working on some dull blue papers. Bo-ring. She was much more interesting.

"Liz, I'm very tired. Please just leave me alone." He sighed.

Elizabeth stamped her foot. He wasn't too tired for her brothers, that was for sure! Besides, she got an A. That meant her father would love her now, he had too. And now they would go to the park and swing just like Charlie and Henry.

"You paid attention to Evan! You're always ignoring me! And look, I got a gold star! Only the smart kids get it! Please just look! See? See? See-"

The paper was knocked out of her hand. Elizabeth watched in horror as the math sheet she'd worked on so hard fell to the floor and was crushed by a polished shoe. She yelped as her father grabbed her tiny wrist and held it tight, too tight.

"I told you. Leave. Me. Alone." He growled through clenched teeth. He raised one hand and slapped her cheek, leaving a red mark on her freckled face. Elizabeth screamed and tried to wiggle away, but couldn't because of the tight grip he had on her wrist.

Elizabeth whimpered, tears running down her face. She wiped them away. Crying was a sign of weakness, at least, that's what Michael always said. She was not a crybaby.

"Daddy, let go please. You're h-hurting me." She winced as the grip on her wrist tightened.

"Do you promise to leave me alone? And to not come in?" He growled. There was a dangerous glint in his gray eyes. Elizabeth didn't like it one bit. She'd only seen it a couple times before, and she'd hated each time.

"Y-yes. Please let go, Daddy!" She wailed. "I just wanted you to be proud of m-me, please!"

William shook his head. "I'm not proud of you! God, why can't you get that through your thick brain? I. Am. Not. Proud. Of. You. Elizabeth. And I never will be."

Elizabeth shook her head wildly, hair flying into her face. "NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! YOU ARE PROUD OF ME. I GOT A GOLD STAR!" Was that not enough?

Michael poked his head around the corner. "Lizzy? Are you alright?"

Her father let go of her wrist almost instantly, and blinked a couple times as if snapping out of a trance. He took in Liz's terrified face, nodded, and disappeared back into his office.

Michael dashed towards her and knelt to the ground, worry present in his gray eyes.

"Oh, Lizzy..." He reached forward to give her a hug, but she backed away. "I won't hurt you, I swear."

Tentatively, Elizabeth took a step forward. And another. Until she was being embraced by her big brother. Mikey's giving me a hug, she thought. Did that mean she was special too? He never did that.

"Lizzy, no matter what Father says, I'll always love you. And it doesn't matter what he thinks, he's a good-for-nothing bastard. Okay?"

Elizabeth frowned. That was a mean word. And besides, it wasn't true. Her father would be proud of her someday, she knew it. But until then, it was nice to know her favourite brother loved her. Evan was stupid anyways, she didn't care much for him.

Elizabeth went to bed with a warm feeling in her heart. Even better, tomorrow was her sixth birthday!

She snuggled deeper into the covers. This will be the best birthday ever.

~lll~

This was not the best birthday ever.

For starters, Charlie wasn't even there. Apparently she got sick, and she was home with Henry. So that was two of her favourite people, gone.

The presents she got were actually pretty good, she'd give her birthday that. Her father gave her a big red bow to put in her hair, and she'd worn it with her favourite outfit- pink button-up blouse and blue overall dress.

Then her brothers. Neither of them would play with her! Evan was playing with Cassidy, as usual. And then Michael was hanging out with his stupid friends again, talking about how dumb Circus Baby's Pizza World was.

Plus, Evan had been teasing her again. Stupid lame-face. Sometimes, she wished his neck would snap and he'd die and leave her alone with Mikey and Mummy and Daddy.

Or maybe not Mummy. Mummy could be scary sometimes, like when she drank all that juice and started yelling at her. Then Michael took her and Evan outside and they went to the 8-12 and got popsicles. That was a fun day, minus the yelling.

Elizabeth sighed. She also wished her father would let her go see Baby. She was so pretty and shiny! Ballora was okay. Sometimes, she'd talk to Ballora because she looked and talked like her mother, who was sometimes nice. But Circus Baby was by far the best.

Elizabeth decided that maybe her father would change his mind. After all, it was her birthday. And she was the birthday girl. Surely he'd change his mind for the birthday girl?

Her father was standing by the prize counter, sipping a red soda of some kind. Elizabeth wasn't allowed to have pop, it made her too hyper. Her father didn't like when she was hyper. And then Michael would call her a crackhead, whatever that meant.

Her father noticed her and looked down.

"Hello, Elizabeth. Enjoying your party?"

Elizabeth frowned. With her father, she felt she could be honest.

"Not really. Charlie and Henry aren't here, and Evan and Mike aren't playing with me at all. But, there is one thing that would make it more fun!"

Her father's mouth turned up slightly. "And that is?"

Elizabeth grinned.

"Let me go see Circus Baby!"

Her father's face dropped. He ran a hand through his thick black mullet and panned the room as a sort of distraction.

"Elizabeth, we've talked about this. You can't go see her."

Elizabeth crossed her arms and pouted. She'd get her way no matter what.

"Daddy, just once let me go play with her. She's so pretty and shiny! Didn't you make her just for me?" She held up her Baby doll and shook it. She knew her father had made Baby in the image of her and her doll.

Her father shook his head again. "No. I already told you this, Elizabeth." He drank another sip of his Freddy Fazbrew.

Elizabeth tried again. She was set on this.

"She can make balloons! Have you seen her make balloons? Oh Daddy, let me go to her…"

Her father turned steely gray eyes on her. "I said no, and that is final. I don't want to see you anywhere near that door, do I make myself clear?"

Elizabeth sighed. "Okay, Daddy..."

Suddenly, the doors opened. Elizabeth turned around. Who could it be? Her father had rented this place out for her birthday, and all the guests were already here…

Her father's face lit up.

"Henry! Good to see you! Is Charlie well?"

Henry shook his head.

"Afraid not, Will. But my sister, Jenny, came over to look after her, so I thought I should stop by and wish this little one a happy birthday."

He ruffled Elizabeth's ginger-blonde hair affectionately. Elizabeth giggled.

Henry and her father immediately launched into a conversation about robots and technology and other boring adult stuff. They were probably talking about taxes and mortgages too. Adults loved that stuff.

Elizabeth noticed something. The door to the room where Circus Baby performed, was all the way across the room. Elizabeth also noticed that her father seemed too caught up in his conversation with Henry to notice if she did something against his wishes.

Elizabeth grinned. Daddy wasn't watching.

She walked across the room casually, trying to appear normal. She thought she should whistle, but she could only make weird spitty sounds. She was too preoccupied with trying to whistle to notice the older boy following her.

Evan sighed. He couldn't believe he was stuck watching his little sister. She was so annoying, he'd rather hang out with Cassidy. She was literally a whole year younger than Liz was, and yet she was a thousand times more mature.

Back to Elizabeth..

Yes! There it was! She opened the door and was met with happy, boppy kids music. There was glitter and cake everywhere, and- oh joy- Circus Baby stood at the end of the room on a stage!

The other kids, only about three or four, ran out of the room laughing, but Elizabeth was too preoccupied with the amazing robot in front of her.

Circus Baby was made of shiny metal, her build curvy. She had two scarlet pigtails tied high above her head. She was wearing a red top and matching skirt and something that looked like an orange belt. Baby had sapphire eyes framed by long lashes, and cherry lips with rosy cheeks.

Circus Baby was the most beautiful thing Elizabeth had ever seen.

"Don't tell Daddy that I'm here. I wanted to watch your show too!" Elizabeth informed Baby.

She climbed up onto the stage to get a better look. Nobody was allowed onto the stage, but she was the birthday girl and she could do whatever she wanted.

"I don't know why he wouldn't let me come see you. You're wonderful!" Elizabeth grinned. Was it just her, or did Baby smile a little bit? She must like her, that was it.

Elizabeth took a look around. There was no more music, and no children in the room either, which was odd.

"Where did the other children go?"

Suddenly, there was a loud clanging sound. Elizabeth gasped and jumped back, but then giggled in delight when she saw what it was. Strawberry vanilla ice cream! Her favourite! Baby must really like her after all.

"Thank you!" Elizabeth squealed, and reached to grab the cone.

And then Circus Baby's eyes flipped to black. Elizabeth tilted her head to the side, confused. Why were her eyes black? And why was Baby's stomach slowly opening?

Then the claw yanked her forward.

There was screaming for a moment, but only for a moment.

Children rushed in, and one boy, around the age of seven, screamed and burst into tears at what he had seen. But the other kids just brushed him off, the dumb crybaby.

And when Circus Baby blinked again, her eyes changed from a sapphire blue to an emerald green.

A/N

whenever I write 'mullet' I always burst into laughter, I don't know why.

uh rip Lizzy! I tried to make her kind of a whiny brat, but also kind of sweet at the same time? Because I feel like the fandom makes her the nicest, sweetest girl ever, and they forget that she was kind of a brat. Not really her fault though.

question: what's your favourite kind of ice cream? mine's sea salt caramel and chocolate!

have a nice day/night!

~Ghost