Chapter Text
Things are different that day.
That day-turned-night where relationships are mended and secrets revealed, a past embraced and a future changed.
Gregory is tucked away in a heap of blankets and pillows. He goes to sleep – which, Moon realizes now, must be a resting mode – and leaves the rest of the worries to the others. After patting him on the head and ensuring he has enough of drinks and snacks in case he wakes, Moon goes to join the other animatronics talking quietly amongst themselves.
“So,” says Chica, “do we still talk to the main office about tracing the malicious commands?”
“Yes,” says Freddy, with a determined nod. “Indeed. We cannot let such a danger roam unchecked. However, with this new information, I am… hesitant to trust any given employee. Do any of you know of anyone in particular we can rely on?”
Moon raises his hand. “We have a friend amongst the employees. A guard, she works the opening shift most days here in the Daycare – we could tell her, she’ll know who to trust.”
“Excellent,” says Freddy, maw opening in a smile. “If you are sure she can be trusted…”
“She doesn’t have high enough clearance for anything of this sort,” says Moon. “Don’t worry. She’s fine – she’ll be here at half past six to do the first rounds, we can discuss it with her then.”
Sun giggles in their shared mind. She’s gonna be so surprised at all of us here!
Sun is right: when the guard shows up a few hours later, she nearly drops her flashlight at the sight of the whole animatronic crew staring back at her. “O – oh,” she says, “hello? Uhm – you guys shouldn’t be here…”
Freddy makes quick work of explaining what they’ve discovered with their command logs, and after paling significantly, the woman pulls out a phone and makes a phone call Moon-turned-Sun hears nothing of.
The other animatronics are ushered out of the Daycare – the guard counts four, but Sun counts five, folding up the vacant blankets Gregory had used earlier. The day goes on as normal for the Daycare Attendant, systems blissfully functional and children wondrously cheerful; unaware of the dangers they were on the verge of falling into.
It’s about time, Sun thinks to himself, that animatronics go against their purpose. And thank goodness for that!
Gregory comes back that night, explaining that he’s snuck out of the greenrooms through the vents and smiling widely with a chipped tooth. Sun smiles back and asks if he wants a juicebox. “Freddy says hi,” says Gregory, while drinking his juice. “And thanks. Can I have some drawing paper?”
When Gregory leaves half an hour later, it’s with a bunch of papers and crayons in his hands.
The following day is normal, as well – a child gets lost, Sun comforts a homesick boy, lets a toddler use him as a jungle gym. At naptime, when the Daycare is usually closed for new arrivals, a boy slides into the ballpit.
“Gregory!” Moon exclaims, quickly lowering his voice when the girl sleeping next to him mutters something in her sleep. He climbs to his feet and approaches; Gregory is hesitant, clutching at the edge of the ballpit and chewing on his lip. “Is something wrong?”
Gregory shakes his head. “I was just – I was wondering if I could stay here? For a bit? Freddy’s gone into Parts and Service to have his coding looked at, or something.”
“Of course,” says Moon, ushering him into the room. “It’s naptime now, though, so keep it down.”
“Okay.” Gregory bustles off to build with Legos – and when naptime is over twenty minutes later, Moon is witness to something extraordinary.
Gregory is playing with the other children. Laughing.
He stays until closing hours and is kind enough to clean up his own mess. Sun is half-convinced he’s going to help clean more, as well, when Chica pokes her head into the Daycare. “Gregory?” she calls. “My map says you’re in here. Freddy’s looking for you!”
Gregory frowns. “Why didn’t he call me, then?”
Chica laughs, stepping fully into the room to ruffle his hair. “Alright, you got me! I was looking for you myself, you’re just too cute. C’mere, give me a hug.” While Chica scoops Gregory into her arms – much to Gregory’s flustered confusion – she turns to Sun with a more serious expression. “They traced the signals today. They’ve come from Vanessa – the night guard, you know? Apparently she’s been living in the walls as some sort of… rabbit knock-off.”
“Oh, my,” says Sun, raising a hand to his mouth. “What’d they do with her?”
“She was arrested earlier, caused quite the ruckus,” says Chica, letting Gregory down when he starts tugging at her earrings. A bit quieter, she adds, “I overheard an officer say she might be responsible for all the disappearances…”
“Oh, my,” Sun repeats. “That’s horrible! Well, good they caught her, but also horrible! I spoke with her!”
“Yeah,” says Chica. “We all have. But now it’s over, right?” Saying so, she beams at him. “Thanks for having Gregory here, by the way. He’s not easily distracted.”
“Stop talking about me like I’m not here!” Gregory exclaims. “And like I’m your child or something.”
Chica sticks out her tongue at him. “I do whatever I want, you little minx.” She laughs when he makes an offended sound. “Hey, Gregory, you can eat, right? Can you taste, too? Oooh, how exciting! Do you want to try my bakery with me? No one else can give me any opinions on what cupcake frosting is best!”
The days pass. Gregory grows confident; he’ll appear in the Daycare at random times of both day and night, sometimes using the slide and sometimes popping out of vents with a mischievous grin. He’s by himself most of the time, but Chica tends to come pick him up at times of the night – and by how he talks about the others, it sounds like he’s adjusting well into their midst.
Though, when he explains how Monty had taught him to put someone in a headlock, Sun has to admit he becomes a little bit worried.
Gregory is quiet in his affection, leaving behind drawings of Sun and Moon in childish hand and a smiling face in the corner – cleaning up after himself, hugging him briefly about the waist before running into the nearest vent.
Moon fondly calls him the local gremlin boy, and while Sun acts scandalized, he has to agree that the way Gregory scampers around living in the walls and inside their hearts and bodies is very gremlin-like.
It’s Monty who comes to tell the Attendant that they’ve found William Afton’s corpse buried in the old location beneath the Pizzaplex. “Except, he sorta wasn’t dead,” Monty says, like he’s discussing the weather, “so they’re gonna throw him in a ditch or somethin’, I’m not sure.”
“Good,” says Sun, who is tired of all this drama and just wants to care for his children in peace, “let him rot.”
Monty gives him a long look over his sunglasses before he grins, leaning over to give him a friendly push. “You’re a good guy, Sunny.”
Yes, things were different that day – but the Pizzaplex came out on the other side stronger, united, and better.
And if adults who stare too long at innocent children go missing, every now and then, the Daycare Attendant is content with looking away.