Chapter Text
A perfect world. Or, practically perfect. That’s the world William Afton was living in. He had three young children, a wonderful wife, a good friend, and a company being built from the ground up. And it was worth it.
He regretted not being home more often for his kids. So days like this? They were good days.
He’d gotten up early because Cassidy was crying over was nightmare. So he made him chocolate milk and let him listen to a soft record for a while, and eventually just held him, and rocked him back and forth until he fell asleep again. The record had kept on playing until it ran out, and Will fell asleep on the couch with Cassidy pressed close to his heart.
When he got up, Elizabeth wanted him to braid her hair. So he did, clumsily, and with great difficulty, while Clara laughed and made breakfast. And Michael-..
Well. Michael started it all by wanting to play a game of pirates. Three kids against one dad. He was a goner. Phone calls and work could wait — he had kids to play with; make laugh. So chaos ensued in the Afton Family Household. While Clara watched, William chased the children through the house, making up some game about pirates and sailing on the open seas and having to steal treasure.
Clara opened the door for Henry, sometime around noon, as Michael screamed something about winning the game out back in the yard. Henry offered an inquisitive look.
“… I think that means Captain Bluebelly just walked the plank. Perfect timing. So. He’s out back if you want to talk to him.”
She opened the door with a little laugh so that Henry could step inside. It didn’t take long for Michael to come shooting down the hallway, covered in grass stains, to attach himself to Henry. After all, Henry was his only and most favorite uncle, and Michael seemed quite happy every time Henry was in the general vicinity.
“UNCLE HENRY!”
Henry laughed softly as he got slammed into by his friend’s child, leaning down to ruffle up Michael’s brown hair. He was growing up quickly, Henry noted. So quickly. All of them. And so were Charlie and Sammy.
“Hey, Mikey-“
“Henry?”
William had Elizabeth on his shoulders and Cassidy was hanging onto one arm, and he looked like a positively disheveled mess from romping around outside with the children. Elizabeth had her hands dug into his hair. She tugged on it.
“Lizzy! Don’t pull Daddy’s hair out! Goodness knows, Mummy won’t want him around if he’s bald.”
It earned a very shrill giggle, and the little girl wrapped her arms around his forehead.
“… bad time?”
Henry looked about as amused as he felt. He wasn’t sure why, but he didn’t ever see William as the sort to play with his children like this.. a storyteller, yes. But playing pirates in the back yard? Captain Bluebelly?
.. well. He was surprised.
“Ah-.. uhm-“
William looked around quickly before he awkwardly cleared his throat.
“.. did I miss a few calls?”
“Only a few.”
These were the days William Afton loved the most.