Chapter 4.
"Bikini Bottom, huh?" Spongebob asked as he looked over a spreadsheet provided by his colleague Phil.
"Yes Sir, with a population of at least 500. I understand that there are rumors that you may have originated from this location, so I understand if you wish to back out." Phil said.
"Well a population of 500 isn't a lot. With construction and the price of goods, will a location in such a small run down town be in our best interest?" Another man on the bench asked the group.
Spongebob nodded his head, while he wasn't totally in it for the money he still had a business to run and to keep afloat.
"Well Ruckas, you make an excellent point. However, with my restaurant, a new location would bring new jobs and new folks." Spongebob pointed out before another man named Koi stood up.
"Besides, it's not like we have to build a completely new building. I have recently visited the City Of Bikini Bottom, and there is a nice cozy building we can set up. The only thing is that this place is preoccupied but with the right price we can convince them to sell." koi said as he gestured to a powerpoint presentation.
"I have also collected data from this location for the last ten years." Koi handed Spongebob a manila folder.
A few days later.
"This is it." Squidward said as they approached the Krusty Krab where a few other boats were parked.
"Man, this place hasn't seen this many people here in a while, I bet the old man is inside. Won't he be happy to see you." Squidward said as they parked in an empty space.
As they got out, Spongebob stood in front of the building, looking at the broken sign which he recognized.
"What's wrong, darling? Don't you want to go inside?" Linda asked as she tugged on his arm. Spongebob looked back towards the restaurant as Squidward waited by the door.
"This is the place." Spongebob said as he approached the building, he began to observe the structure.
"What place? Are you starting to remember?" Linda asked. Spongebob shook his head, "No, this is the place Koi showed me." Spongebob said as he finally began to enter the building.
As soon as he went past the doors he was attacked! He screamed at the pink menace that held him tight.
"Spongebob! Buddy!" Patrick squealed as he nearly squeezed the life out of Spongebob.
"Patrick! Let Him Go!" Squidward shouted at him before someone else jumped onto the sponge, taking the sponge and starfish to the ground.
"Spongebob! It's Really you!" Sandy cried as she hugged her old friend tight.
Spongebob struggled to free himself, "Both of you, Get off of him, he is Spongebob, but he doesn't remember any of us. You're basically strangers and you are terrifying him." Squidward announced where he proceeded to tell them of Spongebob's condition.
Patrick and Sandy lifted up their heads towards Squidward before looking down at Spongebob who would normally be overjoyed to see them.
"Pft, Spongebob is my best friend, he has to remember me." Patrick defended, refusing to get off the poor sponge.
"Well y'all have to at least remember me, right?" Sandy asked as she got off Spongebob and pulled Patrick with her.
"You're the chick from the broadcast, right?" Spongebob asked as he dusted himself off.
"Yes, but do you know my name? Do you know who I am?" Sandy asked, but Spongebob shook his head, "Not a clue, but it would seem that a lot of you know who I was." Spongebob responded when another person emerged from the crowd.
"Spongebob me boy? Is that really you?" Mr. Krabs asked as he approached the sponge and hugged him. Confused, Spongebob accepted the hug while exchanging looks with his wife.
"Where have ya been boy! You had us worried sick! I thought that Davy Jones Locker had claimed ye." Mr. Krabs said, "Wherever ye were, it doesn't matter yer here, and now ye can make me some more Money- I mean Patties!" Mr. Krabs said as he tried to lead Spongebob back to the kitchen but the sponge didn't budge.
"Pattie? Sir, whoever you are, I'm sorry but I am not here to cook Patties." Spongebob said as he stepped back and took his wife's hand in hers.
"Spongebob? Who is that?" Sandy pointed to the woman, Spongebob smiled as he looked at his wife, "Hi, I'm Linda Squarepants. Mrs. Squarepants." She introduced herself to the squirrel with a hand shake.
"Mrs?" the room gasped.
"Lad, yer married?" Mr. Krabs asked as he reapproached the couple.
"You're not married, that's impossible. You can't get married to your best man." Patrick crossed his arms.
"Believe it guys, he's all grown up now." Squidward injected.
"Well what else is new? Next yer gonna tell us that she's pregnant!" Mr. Krabs exclaimed when he heard Squidward clear his throat.
As Mr. Krabs looked at Squidward, Squidward made a gesture with his eyes towards Linda's pudgy stomach. It was at that moment that everyone realized that things were never going to resume the way they did before.
"Wow, it's almost like ya didn't need us anymore." Sandy said, sadness in her voice.
"We messed up, and this is the price, we missed yer wedding and now… Spongebob, we're sorry fer how we treated you the last time we saw each other. I know you didn't mean to break my robot, and it was a stupid petty thing to get mad over. If I had known that would be the last time I-"
"Don't Apologize, whatever happened. It doesn't matter anymore. I am happy now, I have a wonderful life. I got a job at a fancy Italian restaurant which I now own, I met and married my wife. I am Now the owner of a multi Millionaire company for my restaurant. I own a mansion in New Kelp City with a lake and Two other vacation homes, three if we count the Pineapple." Spongebob exclaimed.
"And we are expecting a little one soon. If I had stayed here none of that would have happened." Spongebob finished, leaving everyone in shock.
"A Multi Milli What?" Mr. Krabs and Squidward asked with their jaws dropped before Spongebob handed them his business card.
"SNK Co." Squidward read.
"What?" Mr. Krabs said out loud before he looked at Spongebob, "SNK. Co. You mean to tell me, yer the owner?" Mr. Krabs asked, sounding shocked.
"SNK. Co?" Sandy questioned, Spongebob nodded his head, "Squarepants New Kelp Company. Yes sir, I am." Spongebob said.
"I can't believe it. Yer tellin me ye don't remember who I am, and that it's a coincidence that ye would buy her from me?" Mr. Krabs asked.
"Hold on, what!" Squidward interrupted, "So You're the reason why I'm losing my job? I bet that's why you're really here, to mess with all of us! This was your home, and that old man did alot for you, and this is how you repay him!" Squidward shouted.
"You don't get to talk to me like this, you talk as if I ruined your lives. Instead of obsessing over me, maybe you should have focused on your own life." SpongeBob said as he stood up.
"As far as the deal between me and your former boss, that is between me and him, it has nothing to do with him or the relationship you think we had." SpongeBob crossed his arms.
"You have no shame, you think that running away from your problems will fix them? You abandoned us." Squidward defended.
SpongeBob turned to look at his wife that squeezed his arm, he turned back to Squidward.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Mr. Squidward. I didn't know how much that place meant to you, but you have to understand. How long did you think that place would stay open?" SpongeBob asked, his question earning an audible gasp from the room.
"My team ran a report. I saw the yearly earnings, he was losing more money then he was making. When was the last time you got a full check, or had a full staff? Thanks to me, your boss can retire and live a very comfortable life, Squidward." Spongebob said.
"And as far as your employment." Spongebob smiled, "I can understand your frustration, and me and my wife saw how well you can serve. If you are interested, you are more than welcome to work for me." Spongebob said.
Squidward looked between Mr. Krabs and Spongebob, "Wait, are you offering me a job?" Squidward asked, and Spongebob shrugged, "Well, I'm sure that we're gonna need some help when we open. You seem to know how to work a kitchen." he said as Squidward smiled, a chance at becoming a chef at one of the worlds finest establishments, it almost sounded too good to be true, with Spongebob, as his boss?
It wasn't like he was the same annoying sponge. No this SpongeBob was different in a more mature and professional way, and it was almost pleasant to see.
"Oh, Mr. Squarepants you're already here!" announced Koi as he entered the building before looking around the room, "wow this place is a dump, but nonetheless, we can fix this. You must be Eugene H. Krabs. It's an honor to meet you, sir." Koi said as he tilted his head to greet the crab.
"This is my client whom I take you've already met, mind showing us around?" Koi asked.
"Uh. Sure, I guess." Mr. Krabs said as he gestured for them to follow him.
"First stop, The kitchen." Mr. Krabs said, "something that I hope will jog that poor memory of yers." Mr. Krabs said as they neared the rusty door.
FIVE SECONDS LATER
An Ambulance rushed out from the Krusty Krab building, a parade of boats following after.
It didn't take long for the ambulance to reach its destination. The nurses shooed away any and all unwanted guests.
"Oooh, what happened?" Spongebob groaned as he started to open his eyes, his head hurt. As he reached to touch his head he found that it was wrapped in a gauze.
"Spongebob?" Linda's sweet voice called to him as she took his hand.
"You're in the hospital, you went inside the kitchen and slipped on an ice cube. You Hit your head pretty bad." she said to him.
"Oh, that explains why my head hurts." he said as he turned his head to look at all the flowers that had been delivered to him when he saw the extra people in his room.
"Hiya, Spongebob. How ya feeling?" Sandy asked him as she kept Patrick back from jumping onto him.
"Huh? Oh hey Sandy, I- HEY WAIT! I Said Your name!" Spongebob exclaimed before looking at the rest of the people, tears started to roll down his eyes, "I Remember You guys! It's been so long!" he cried before he felt some pressure on his hand.
He gasped as he looked back at Linda and smiled, "and I remember you too!" he said as he reached for her before looking at her belly, "and I remember you." he said as he rubbed her belly before he pulled her in for a kiss.
One Year Later.
It had been a year since Spongebob had regained his memories, and things have changed. Spongebob, Linda and their Son Lucio, after Spongebob's former boss who had passed shortly before the birth of their son.
The couple had made the tough decision to stay in New Kelp City which they had grown to love, while still visiting Bikini Bottom very often. After all, what kind of CEO would he be if he didn't check in on his locations.
Squidward had been promoted to head waiter and was happier than he ever was serving food that he loved, as well as adding a dish of his own, exclusive to that one location.
Mr. Krabs retired at a happy old age but soon grew bored and applied for a position at Lucia's as the floor manager.
With the new restaurant many new shops followed and Bikini Bottom became alive once again.
Although everything seemed perfect, sometimes Spongebob missed home and living the small life, and other times he wouldn't have been happier, especially now as a new father.
The End.