The Failure of a Father
Ch 23: Welcome Home, Son!
William and Olivia were preparing the party for Michael, everything was ready, and they waited for the van.
Later, the sound of the van's horn was heard in the background as it backed up onto the driveway of the Afton household.
Henry and Valerie quickly prepared the confetti, as William and Olivia stood in front of the door.
Lynn Sr. turned off the van, and Rita opened the door to Michael, Elizabeth, and C.C. as they came out one by one.
"Do you miss living here with your family, Michael dear?" Rita said, putting a hand on Michael's shoulder.
Indeed, he had missed living in here. He looked at the porch, it was still the same, the roof was black and scattered with knick-knacks everywhere, resembling the Loud residence. It was still painted in purple, and the windows gleamed brightly.
He walked up to the porch with Elizabeth and C.C., as Lynn Sr. and Rita got into the van with Lori and Lincoln and moved the van to the Loud residence's driveway.
Michael opened the door, and confetti scattered everywhere in the living room as he and his siblings came in.
"Welcome home, Michael!" William and Olivia said as they ran up to their eldest child and wrapped him in their embrace.
"Hello, Mother and Father." Michael said, hugging his parents. "Miss me?"
"I was going to say that to you, but, I'll let your father do the talking." Olivia smiled as she let go of her favorite child.
"Oh, Michael…" William said as he hugged Michael tight. "I missed you so much, so much. I'm so glad you're back here again, I thought I would never see you again." He hugged the teen even tighter.
"I already forgave you at the park, Father." Michael said, his voice muffled due to being pushed into his father's chest. "Some space please?"
"Sorry, son." William chuckled as he released his hug on Michael.
Olivia hugged Michael while letting tears of joy gush from her closed eyes, she began to cry while hugging her eldest child; the Afton mother feared that her son might go away again, so she wanted to say sorry for all the terrible things she did to him. "Oh, Michael, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…please don't leave me…"
Michael chuckled as he hugged his mother back. "I won't leave you, Mother, I promise, I'll stay here with you and Father."
Henry and Valerie giggled to each other. "Looks like you missed your son, don't you, Liv?" Valerie said to her friend.
Olivia sniffled and hugged Michael tighter in response. "I do…I don't want him to leave me all alone, not after what happened recently…I've learned a lesson from it, and that is, to express your love and affection to your children until it's too late…"
"That's nice, Olivia, you're now a good mother to all of your children." Henry said, smiling.
William and Olivia hugged all three of their children and told them. "We love you, kids, remember that."
Michael, Elizabeth, and C.C. hugged their parents back. "Yes, Mother, Father, we love you too."
The Afton family shared a big group hug, much to Henry and Valerie tearing up.
"So sweet…" Henry and Valerie said to each other.
Later, Lynn Sr., Rita, Lori, and Lincoln came into the door.
Lynn Sr. and Rita smiled at each other heartfelt, as they continued to witness the heartwarming moment. Lori and Lincoln's heart were warmed at the sight, as they smiled and looked at each other.
"Moments like these…" Lincoln sniffled, as his eyes begin to tear up. "…are so wholesome." He cried to himself.
Later, the Afton family released their hug. The family now stood tall and strong, together reunited as one big happy family. Michael saw Lincoln crying, and he chuckled. "Guess Lincoln's gotten a little emotional, ain't it, Lori?"
"I guess I can agree." Lori said, patting her younger brother's head.
Lynn Sr. and Rita then turned to Michael, and they smiled brightly at him.
"Lynn, Rita…" William said to the two. "…thank you for supporting Michael, I really appreciate it."
"No problem, friend." Lynn Sr. patted the technician's shoulder. "Let's cut the cake, who'll want a slice?"
"We do!" Elizabeth and C.C. raised their hands.
Rita giggled as she led the two children into the kitchen. "Come on, children, let's go cut the cake."
Lynn Sr. patted Michael's shoulder. "Come on, lad, let's get you a slice of cake." He said as he and Michael go into the kitchen.
"Cake?" Lincoln said, wiping his tears. "Oh, give me some!" He said following his father into the kitchen.
Lori followed suit, and soon, everyone was cutting the cake and eating their slices. Michael, Elizabeth, and C.C. were talking to each other, and Lynn Sr. and Rita were eating the cake they got for themselves.
Lori and Lincoln were eating their cake while talking to each other.
Henry and Valerie were talking to William and Olivia in the other room.
"But still, I can't believe that you would neglect your own son for no reason." Henry said to his business companion.
"I know, and I'm sorry if I did." William said to his long-term friend. "I-I didn't know what I was doing at that time…"
"It's fine, William." Said the manager of Fazbear Entertainment. "You didn't know what you were doing anyways."
Valerie told her friend, "Olivia, it's alright. It's all in the past, it's time we start a new chapter."
Olivia nodded. "I think you're right, Valerie, it's time to start over again."
So, the four went into the dining room and cut their cakes. They ate it and talked to each other while doing so.
As the party winded down, Michael went upstairs to rest for a bit. He opened the door to his room, he had really missed this place. Laying down on the soft fabrics of his bed, he drifted off to sleep.
Later, the visitors went home, but Lynn Sr. and Rita decided to stay for a bit while two of their 11 children decided to head home.
Lynn Sr. and Rita went upstairs to check on Michael, and they smiled heartfelt when they saw him sprawl out on his bed while sleeping.
William and Olivia followed suit. "Guess Michael's tired from that trip, ain't it?" The Afton father said, chuckling.
Lynn Sr. and Rita now depart towards their house for dinner time with the kids, they bid their friends farewell.
He kissed his son's forehead and tucked him in his bed. "I love you, son…"
Michael smiled and pulled the sheets over him while sleeping. William and Olivia take one last look at their child, before departing to the ground floor.
To be continued in the Final Chapter…
A/N: I know it's rushed, but I think it's worth my time writing this story. Now that Michael is finally back with his family, the times of pain, turmoil, suffering, and heartbreak are finally over. But, FYI, the epilogue is the starting point towards my NSL story, Deceit. FNAFLHFaN2006 out, and I'll see you in the final chapter.