"That was beautiful," Ballora said as she sat up.

"Thanks," you chuckled as you looked over at her.

"Freddy, it was cute at first, but now you're being kind of a creep," Bon-Bon muttered as he leaned back against the duck head.

"Really?" Freddy worried.

"Yeah, you kinda are," Baby said as she put her hands behind her head.

"Ooh," Ballora shuddered as she stepped into the pool.

"Sorry," Freddy mumbled.

"It's okay, Fredbear," you told him as you waddled up to him.

"Jeez," Foxy scoffed.

"What?" you asked him as you stepped next to Freddy.

"You two," he sneered.

You rolled your eyes and looked down at Freddy. He looked up at you from the water and smiled sheepishly. You crossed your arms and looked at him scornfully. His eyebrows stitched together and he slowly stood up. You wrapped your arm around his waist and pulled him to you. He blushed brightly and looked at you with a goofy smile.

~ ~ ~ ~

"Why don't we start working on getting the place ready?" Foxy suggested.

"Ready for what?" you asked as you shook your hair with the towel you had.

"You know, ready for the children, and the parents," Foxy said.

"Wait a minute, you want to work?" you scoffed.

"You're right, why don't you guys start working on the place," Foxy snickered as he leaned against the archway.

"Well, we've already cleaned the place from top to bottom. Now we're gonna have to do some remodeling--with the help of some experts, of course," you noted.

"What do you mean?" Freddy asked.

"Well, I want the kids to be able to go down into the underground to see you guys. I mean, there are already stages down there. Ballora can give dance lessons, Baby can sing songs, and you, Bon-Bon, and Foxy, can do small skits," you said.

"I like how that sounds," Foxy crowed.

"It'd be so cool if we could get giant tube slides to lead into each of the rooms," you exclaimed.

"But, how would they get back up?" Freddy wondered.

"Well, first we can have hallways that connect the stage rooms, and then we can maybe have a staircase that leads back up here," you mused.

"Hey, does anybody hear that rumbling sound?" Baby asked.

You paused and listened closely. There was--in fact--a rumbling sound coming from outside. You looked over at Baby with an eyebrow raised. You walked towards the front doors and looked outside. A truck was parked in front of the building.

"Guys, hide," you whispered.

"What is it?" Freddy asked.

"Someone's here," you replied.

The door opened and someone stepped out of the truck. When they closed it and you got a good look at them, you saw that it was James. You huffed as he put his keys in his pocket with a worried expression on his face. You looked back at the rest, and they all looked at you questioningly.

"You guys stay hidden, I'm gonna talk to him," you said.

"Talk to him? Why would you talk to him?" Freddy worried.

"Chill out. I just want to talk some sense into him. And possibly get a good scare," you snickered.

"Well, we'll be here with you. If anything happens--"

"Nothing's going to happen," you assured him.

Freddy nodded, and you looked back towards James. You crossed your arms as he opened the door. He walked in and sighed as he looked down at his feet. He closed the door behind him and looked around the place. His eyes scanned across you, then quickly went back to you. You had an annoyed expression on your face and he raised an eyebrow.

"Hello, sir, are you lost?" he wondered.

"No. Don't you remember me?" you asked.

"Uhm, I don't believe I do," he mumbled.

"Sure you do. It's me, (Y/N)," you chuckled, and his eyes widened.

"(Y-Y/N), b-but, I thought you were--"

"Dead? I am," you sneered.

"H-how? Wh-y are you here?" he stuttered.

"I want to know why you ratted me out," you hissed as you stalked towards him.

"U-um, look, I didn't want to hurt you," he stammered as he stepped back, and you raised your eyebrow. "Okay, after you told me what Mr. Afton was doing, I thought I would be able to talk with him to get him to stop, because this job paid well, and I didn't want to lose it. I know, I was selfish. But, when I told him what you told me and tried to reason with him, he threatened to fire me and put the blame on me. And I couldn't be arrested, because I needed to be there with my wife when she had our baby. I couldn't have her raise our child without a father and have him--or her--questioning their whole life why I wasn't there."

"But, why didn't you stop him? I had evidence. He wouldn't have been able to put the blame on you, since he designed the animatronics and made them," you told him.

"I was just scared, and I wasn't thinking straight. I'm so sorry, (Y/N)." He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair.

". . . I can't believe I'm saying this, but, I can't blame you," you groaned.

"Really?" he mumbled.

"I mean . . . ugh. Look, I'm not saying I'll overlook it, but, if you help me, I may just partner up with you," you scoffed.

"What do you mean?" he wondered.

"Ugh, a partnership," you groaned.

"But, that's when two or more people run a company?" he said, dumbfounded.

"Yeah, both of us can run the pizzeria, that way you can keep your job. And we both can split the profit," you added.

"But, what about Mr. Afton?" he asked.

"Oh, about him. He's dead," you snickered.

"What? Who killed him- how'd he die?" James babbled.

"Okay, do you remember the animatronics?"

"Yeah, did they kill him?"

"One of them did, but that's not the point. The point is: they're real," you told him.

"Huh?" he wondered.

"They all are conscious and aware," you explained.

"But, they're animatronics."

"Yeah, but- You won't understand unless I show you. Guys, you can show yourselves now."

"Are you sure about this, (Y/N)?" Freddy whispered behind you.

You nodded, and he sighed as he looked at the rest. They all shrugged, and you looked back at James. His eyes widened and he gasped as he took a step back.

"Who are these people? And how the hell did they just appear like that?" James panicked.

"Calm down. This is Circus Baby, Ballora, Funtime Foxy, and Funtime Freddy. They're alive, and they have been the whole time," you replied.

"But- No, that can't be possible," he objected.

"James, you're talking to someone who was murdered. Someone who is supposed to be dead, but is breathing and clearly living," you sneered.

"But, they're animatronics. These people aren't them," he protested in confusion.

"Guys, you can say something, you know," you blurted.

"Hello," Baby said.

"You sound just like Circus Baby," James gasped.

"That's because I am Circus Baby, but I prefer to be called Baby," she added.

"And I am Ballora," Ballora said as she walked up to him and stuck out her hand.

"How?" he mumbled as he took her hand and gently shook it.

"None of us know for sure how exactly this happened. But, I guess I can explain to you what all's gone on. You may want to take a seat, because this is gonna take a while," you said.

~ ~ ~ ~

"So, let me get this straight. You and Funtime Freddy are dating?" James sneered as he sat across from you.

"Yup."

"That's a bit weird, but all of this is weird. And you all can, like, choose whether or not you want someone to see you? And you can fly, while the rest can shapeshift?"

"Yeah, pretty much," you said as you looked at the rest; Baby and Ballora sat in the chairs next to you, Freddy stood behind you, and Foxy sat on the table beside you.

"This is all so confusing," James mumbled.

"Yeah, and you can-not tell anyone about this," you insisted.

"I won't. Even if I were to tell someone, they wouldn't believe me. I still don't even believe it."

"Do you want to partner up with us?"

". . . Yeah, sure." He sighed, and you grinned.

"Good! 'Cause I don't really know how to run a business," you admitted.

"One more thing."

"What's that?"

"Is Bon-Bon alive?" James asked.

"Yes, I am!" Bon-Bon exclaimed as he hopped off Freddy's hand and onto the table.

Bon-Bon crawled across the table and James' eyes widened. He crawled to him and tilted his head up at him. He gulped and mumbled a 'hello.' Freddy put his hand on your shoulder, and you looked up at him, smiling.

Photo is by Julynnx on DeviantArt