Chapter Text
Sunlit windows scattered golden rays across the Mega Pizzaplex. Birds outside sang cheerily to a morning tune. The Pizzaplex's lights flashed their neon lights happily, ready to welcome in the first guests of the day. How does everything manage to be so joyful and peaceful every morning?
That's the question Gregory's been asking for the past six months. No matter what mood is currently running in his home, the mornings always arise with nothing but happiness. And right now and in the past six months, it's happiness is disowning.
He'd just woken up abruptly half an hour ago. The source? Something no one would've ever expected in a gazillion years.
"I'm not thinking about our children?!", Callista's muffled voice shouted from her room. "Oh ho, excuse me mister, but I've been giving nothing but love and care to this family!"
"And are you saying I am not either?!", Freddy's muffled shouting snapped back. "I am their father! It is my duty to care for them as well!"
"Our daughter yes, but our son is fifteen years old now! You can't care for him forever you know!"
"I do know! I just do not want him to be pursuing a dangerous future!"
"So what if I want him take bigger risks?! Aren't we all supposed to at some point of our lives?!"
"Yes but not in a way you are suggesting!"
"For the love of Zeus! You're still not listening!"
"I am listening!"
It continued to go like this for the next many minutes. All the while, Gregory is doing his best to keep his little sister, Ranz, distracted, to little, if any, avail. Ever since he turned fifteen, his parents have now since been fighting over what future should he chase after. Usually, any other happily married couple like them would resolve things in a peaceful and healthy manner. But due to their different views on what's to come, things have to be this way instead. Even during the early hours of the morning. Not helped by how seemingly "loving" they act during open hours. Then there's something else. Gregory has expected them to argue at least one point in their marriage. Every couple does after all. But he didn't wish for it to be like this.
As his parents' yells shake Rockstar Row, Gregory gently brushes Esperanza's hair while she reads a copy of The Velveteen Rabbit.
Just a second afterwards, one of the doors open up. Gregory and Esperanza turned their heads to see a certain blue ballerina entering in. Ballora glanced at Callista's door with a concerned look.
"They're still fighting?", she softly asked.
Gregory only gave her a somber nod. She walked towards him and Esperanza, cupping her hand in his cheek.
"I'm so sorry about this you two", she apologized.
"It's fine", Gregory muttered. "It's the norm since the past six months so what's to expect?"
Ballora took her hand away. Her eyes then gave a far-off look, as if staring at something. In this case, it's her screen.
"It's 5:08", she said. "I'll go tell your parents to get ready for the day. You two. . . just do whatever you usually do." Her expression was a solemn one before she went to Callista's room.
Gregory can hear the shouting from his mother's room come to a halt. Silence is heard after, except for the very faint sound of chatting. So faint you have to strain your ears just to hear. Eventually, Ballora exited Callista's room, followed by Freddy. The bear has his face shrouded with a mixture of sadness and anger. Ballora quickly left while Freddy came over to Gregory and Esperanza.
"I am deeply sorry for earlier", Freddy apologized. "Things are. . . still not easy."
No kidding, Gregory thought. "It's the norm now so, why isn't it easy?"
An apologetic expression crossed Freddy's face. He kneeled down in front of them and opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. Moments passed before Freddy finally said, "Why don't you two go through your usual morning? Your mother and I will. . . try. . . again."
With no other option to consider, Gregory nodded. Freddy's somber face never changed. Instead, he gently brushed his finger against Gregory chin and kissed Esperanza on the head before getting up and entering his room.
"Greggy?", Esperanza spoke up. He looked down on his little sister. Being three years old, she still doesn't know how to pronounce his name correctly.
"Yeah Ranz?"
"Are Mommy and Daddy gonna be okay?", she asked with a sad look in her eyes.
Gregory didn't answer. He doesn't want to say "No" to her, especially at such a young age. But he can't say "Yes" to her either. "I don't know" isn't a valid answer. Although, maybe he could say. . .
"I still don't know Ranz, but I'm hoping for the best."
Fortunately, this seems to be all to tell her as she continued to her reading of The Velveteen Rabbit. However, she did pause for a moment on him.
Deciding to visit one of the other animatronics, Gregory got off from his bed and walked over to the room that houses his dad's best friend. He opened the door to find the purple rabbit pacing around anxiously. When he entered in, Bonnie stopped pacing and gave Gregory a concerned expression.
"Hey Gregory, you doing okay?"
"Am I?", he responded.
Bonnie nodded sadly. "Yeah I thought so too." He looked at Gregory again. "Do you. . . wanna sit down?"
Gregory only nodded back without saying another word. He walked over and sat on the the sofa, keeping his arms wrapped around himself. Bonnie went over and sat in front of him. The purple rabbit reached out and gently rubbed Gregory's back, thinking of something comforting to say.
In the end, the best Bonnie can come up with is, "We'll figure something out. For your parents I mean."
"That's what you said to me a month ago", Gregory pointed out. "And the month before that. Things still aren't any better now are they?" Tears began to sting his eyes. "Nothing's changed so far. They're still-" Soon, those tears started to trickled down his face. "After everything we- I can't belie-" He let the rivers flow.
"Hey now it's okay", soothed Bonnie. He pulled Gregory in and hugged him tight. "We'll find a way this time. I'm sure of it."
"How can you be so sure?", Gregory asked.
"We'll be creative. Find another way. Somehow."
Bonnie stared at his mirror, particularly at the multiple photos taken with his friends. Many of them are with Freddy, his best friend since the beginning. Bonnie can still remember how he used to have a crush on Freddy for a bit of time before it faded away, with the bear helping him through many things.
Now, it's time for him to return the favor with both Freddy and his wife.