It was a crisp autumn afternoon as I was laying comfortably against the grass with my head resting on Vanessa's lap, both of us simply chilling in our backyard. At the time, I was just enjoying watching the clouds go by. It wasn't that sunny outside, so the light casted by it was not a harm to me as the clouds passed. I felt Vanessa's hand gently caress the top of my head. I heard her chuckling softly before turning my eyes to her looking back at me.
"W-What? Is there something on my face?"
Vanessa shook her head.
"No. Just... Call it something "new mothers" like to do with their kids." She teased. I started to blush before turning to my side, hoping she wouldn't notice. But it didn't seem to work as she was still laughing.
"Don't be embarrassed. I know... We started off on weird terms. But I meant what I said when I and the Glamrocks told you we wanted to be your new family. You've been through a lot, Gregory. And... I wanted to do whatever I could to ease the pain you endured." She continued, hand still rubbing my head. On the fence around our backyard, I happened to notice a sparrow sitting atop it. By its side was another sparrow and they looked quite chummy with one another. They chirped for a while before taking off at the same time. Right then, I thought again about what my life used to be and all the people that would yell at me or call me things like "thief" or "scoundrel". Those words seemed to fade away as, after the Pizzaplex, those same people started calling me "hero". So, even if I wouldn't admit it right away, I was extremely fortunate to have Vanessa take me in once we were found out to be family. Her hand came to a stop as I lightly looked back, seeing her staring up into the sky as well. I merely smiled and turned back before adjusting my head on her lap.
"T-Thanks, Vaness... I mean, mom..."
I said those words quietly, hoping she wouldn't have heard me. But, alas, I could hear her laughing still at me.
"You're welcome... Gregory." She replied softly. I just sighed.
"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll get used to calling me "mom" soon." She continued while I looked away. Just then, we heard the front doorbell ring. The two of us knew what it was. That was the sound the mailman usually gave when he made his delivery for the day. I sat upright and then turned to Vanessa, betting I could beat her to the front door. She agreed with a smirk and we simultaneously took off. Luckily for me, my smaller body meant I could move quicker and I was able to swerve past the kitchen table with ease. By the time I planted my hand on the doorknob, I looked back and saw Vanessa panting while leaning against the doorway.
"Y-You just got LUCKY.." She panted, trying to sound coy. But I simply stuck my tongue out before opening the door. I then scooped up the mail and brought it over to her, closing the door behind me. There were a bunch of envelopes this time, a lot mostly addressed to Vanessa.
"Oh... Goodie. Looks like the BILLS managed to find their way back to me." She said in an exaggerated tone. I just laughed.
"Just be glad we weren't stuck with paying for the repairs to the Pizzaplex! We probably couldn't afford to live here then."
She simple laughed back.
"Yeah... No kidding." She said while flipping through the envelopes. She came to a stop on a light purple envelope and handed it my way.
"What is it?"
"Looks like someone has some fan mail... Probably from his "not-so secret admirers"." She said. The minute I heard those words, I knew exactly who sent it. It was from Sarah and Cassidy, the princess from the Princess Quest games. But the idea that my real mom was calling them my "secret admirers" made me awkwardly uncomfortable, so much so that I snatched the letter from her and fled upstairs to my room, not trying to make eye contact.
Luckily for me, I managed to reach a hallway with six doors with them being the rooms of the Glamrocks. They all became the family I never had once they've retired from the Pizzaplex and got some replacements to fill in for them. I couldn't wait to see how they're doing.
I stopped and opened the door leading to Freddy's room. It was bigger and flashier than his room at the Pizzaplex, practically seeming like the bedroom of a person rather than that of a machine as it had a recharge pod, a single bed, more storage boxes, couches, a coffee table with children's drawings on them and several posters of him doing things like singing, dancing and posing with the customers and employees. Apparently, after they moved in, the Glamrocks had all moved into six spare rooms for those rooms were now their rooms that looked like their greenrooms at the Pizzaplex but like Freddy's room, except with their themes. That was long enough before I was greeted by the Freddy and all the other Glamrock Animatronics.
"Hello, Gregory! How have you been doing?" Freddy asked, "Hey there, champ! Good to see ya again!" Bonnie said, "Welcome back, Sweetie!" Chica said, "Nice to see you again, little guy!" Monty said, "Ahoy, lad! Good ta have ye back!" Foxy said, "Glad you came here, kid." Roxy said. I was very happy to see all of the Glamrock Animatronics together and gave them all hugs. As soon as I broke free, Freddy seemed to notice as his eyes opened up and looked my way.
"What is that, Gregory?" He asked. I glanced his way while heading to my room.
"Just some mail that Vanessa... I mean, mom... Said I got today..." I answered as we headed into my room.
Compared to the Glamrocks' rooms, mine was slightly smaller and had a door adjunct to this bedroom door that led straight to the bathroom. The furniture within my room included a chair and study table with two small drawers just beneath, a tall bookshelf for the fiction and non-fiction books I'd been reading for a while, a double-doored wooden closet for all my clothes and lastly, a drawer for other items who's surface was practically a shrine to Fazbear's because lying upon it were several Fazbear Plushies of the Glamrock Animatronics. Furthermore, decorated on the walls behind the drawer were several posters of the Glamrock Animatronics. Every poster had the animatronics individually while others were of them as a group.
I sat down on my Blue and White bed with the envelope while opening it, staring at the spinning fan on the ceiling which was painted dark blue in contrast with the rest of my sky-blue walls and furthermore, they had Glow-in-the-Dark stars of various sizes that I myself personally fixed there so that my room would look less dull even in the dark.
I set the envelope aside once I opened it, letter in hand, before I could feel Freddy's eyes looking at me.
"Do not worry, Gregory. I know it might be difficult at first... But I am sure you will..." He begun to say. But I quickly held his mouth closed with my fingers as we looked each other in the eyes.
"I already heard that from Vanessa PLENTY of times. I don't need to hear it from you too, Freddy." I said.
I then released his mouth and opened the folded paper to read the letter from two old friends . I sprawled it out and we begun to read it together with the others listening.
Dear Gregory,
How are you? Our mom was able to help us find your address since you moved into your new home. Thank you for all you and your friends did for us. If you'd ever like to, our parents said they wouldn't mind if you came to visit us or we could come see you. Can you ask your mom if she would like to get together for lunch sometime? Our mom left a small note in the envelope with our contact info. Hope to hear back from you soon! Let's be good friends, okay?
- Sarah and Cassidy Brooks
I couldn't help but smile to myself, shifting the letter aside and rested my cheek against my hand prompted off the bed.
"I hope you, Sarah, and Cassidy make many more friends as well, Gregory... It would be good for you to be social with others. You don't have to be scared of strangers as much as you used to." Freddy said. I turned my gaze his way, a bit taken back from what he said. I knew what he meant, but he always had a "father figure" way of speaking that made things sound weirder than they should. We were best friends during our time at the Pizzaplex and yet I couldn't get over his protective nature.
"Y-Yeah... Don't worry. I will, Freddy. But... Ehhh... If I can ask, can you PLEASE not talk to me in your "Papa Bear" setting? It's... Embarrassing when it's just the seven of us." I replied.
"I... I will... Do my best, Gregory. Please... "bear" with me." He said. It took me a few seconds to realize he made a pun, causing me to look at him again baffled while he simply grinned back. I groaned to myself.
"Note to self: Find time to program BETTER JOKES into Freddy's software." I muttered under my breath.
Just then, we all heard Vanessa's voice calling us.
"Hey? Gregory? Can you bring Freddy and the others downstairs? I need help figuring out how I'm paying bills this month." She asked loudly. I quickly responded that I'd be down soon as everyone smiled and laughed together before I spoke up.
"Come on, "Faz Calculator". Time to give you and your friends a work out."
I said this as a means of teasing them and I simply heard Freddy chuckle for a brief moment.
"Gregory? Perhaps... Can you find time to speak with Officer Vanes... I-I mean, your mother, about a possible recharge pod to our rooms?" He asked, "I feel... A bit shameful to admit that... I wished she got some recharge pods for her "calculator"." He said. I couldn't help but laugh before the seven of us headed downstairs and I left my door cracked open slightly.
THE END