Decided to make this go on a little more. The lack or normalcy has to apply to all characters, of course, and this time, it ventures in to Mikaela's mind.

"Hey beautiful, how about a ride?"

Mikaela grit her teeth as an annoying customer hit on her. Sure, to other weaker girls, he may seem like a catch; tall, bright blue eyes, blond hair, perfect (almost too perfect) smile. But Mikaela could detect a stupid frat boy anywhere. Plus, she had a perfect, dorky, world-saving, and girly screaming boyfriend. Currently she was working on frat boy's ruby red 68' Mustang in the shop. He had brought it in two days ago, and she was still trying to figure out why the engine would run so violently.

Now he stood behind her making these stupid comments that only wore her patience wear thin while she worked on the Mustang's engine. This wasn't the first time she had been hit on while in the shop. Who would have known that a girl working on some dudes engine was a turn on?

"Come on, I will show you some serious horse power…" He said while he reached for her shoulder. Before he could even make contact, Mikaela spun around and smacked him in the chest, causing him to stumble back.

Clearly not deterred, he simply walked forward, "So, rough eh?"

Whatever he was about to do again, it was promptly ended by him falling on his face. Tripping on a little RC monster truck, the frat boy got up embarrassed. About to open his mouth again, the RC monster truck backed up, and hit his shin, causing him once again to fall on the ground. Landing on his ass this time, his embarrassment level reached an all time high.

"I'm warning you buddy. Touch me or hit on me again, and I will take this wrench," reaching over she picked up an industrial wrench, "and shove it so far up your ass, you will…" she didn't even have to finish, he had already scampered off to the waiting room, away from the demonic RC monster truck and crazy wrench wielding babe.

Sighing, she went back to working on the car that the frat boy's parents had bought for him. The RC monster truck hopped on to the hood of the Mustang and transformed into the small Alien known as Wheelie.

Making a voice that one might make to a baby or a dog, she spoke, "Why thank you, Wheelie. You're such a good guardian." She also gave him a pat on the head, before looking back at the engine and pursing her lips. "Do you think you could do me a small favor and tell me what's wrong with the engine" She asked, batting her eyes for effect.

Ever eager to fulfill his duties as guardian and helper, Wheelie frantically nodded his head then looked at the engine block with both, and recently repaired, blue eyes (a little change that he got from Ratchet due to his recent side change). After a quick scan, he pointed to the farthest cylinder on the left side, "There is a crack in that piston. It isn't working right anymore, and causing backfires."

She smiled, and patted him on the head, "Thank you, Wheelie. You always are loyal and helpful." With that, Wheelie smiled, hopped off of the hood, transformed back into his RC monster truck mode, and drove off.

Mikaela remembered when she had told Sam that Wheelie was going to stick around with her.

"You are keeping that crazy, humping, perverted, creepy… thing… with you?!" Sam exclaimed.

She looked over at him from the opposite of the Camaro. "What, do I detect a little bit of jealousy, Sam?" Her intentions were just to push his buttons a little bit. Sam just looked her down. Laughing, she looked forward and slapped his chest, "Relax. Optimus said Wheelie checks out. And it would be nice to have a guardian that can contact you or any other Autobot if need be."

Sam twisted uncomfortably, before deciding to side on reason, "Fine," he said, "but I swear, if that thing starts humping you…"

With a laugh, Mikaela calmed him down, "Don't worry… I'm keeping a torch nearby at all times."

Mikaela's life was, much like Sam's, at an all time high. She had a good paying job, a place to live, a father on the west coast who was living a clean life, and going to college part time at Philadelphia Technical Academy. Her boyfriend was off at prestigious Prince University in Pennsylvania getting a degree in astronomy, which she considered cheating as he had 'friends from out of country' to help him with papers. Sometimes, she worried that she wasn't quite good enough for him. There he was, a secret national hero, ambassador between the government and the Autobots, and a straight A student at the top school in the northeast. And here she was, working in a shop fixing motorcycles and hot rods, going to school part time, and wiring the occasional hundred to her father to ensure he stayed out of debt.

But to him none of that mattered. She smiled to herself when she thought of all the compliments that he would pay her when he picked her up from work, or the romantic places they would go (it did help having a car that didn't run on fuel). He even pointed out that without her, the world would have been taken over by Decepticons.

Sam was the perfect man.

The piston wasn't an easy fix. The crack had made is expand, so it stuck to the sides of the cylinder, but it came out after a little bit of work. Wiping her hands, Mikaela made her way over to the phone. A new replacement part was needed, and the soon she ordered it, the sooner this 'Stang and its shithead driver left. Making the necessary calls, she found it would take about a three more days before the replacement piston would arrive. Sighing, Mikaela knew she would have to talk to the frat boy. Cleaning up her face, she walked to the waiting room.

He sat in a chair, and turned a little white at the appearance of the wrench handling girl.

Speaking quickly, she outlined the problem.

"The replacement part will be in three days. Till then, there is nothing else I can do. So you'd be best to be on your way." Walking over to the door and holding it open, she waved him out. Moving quickly, he made his exit. She called after him, "And we will call you… don't show up till then."

It was nice working the late shift. The only other person in the entire shop was Drew, the shops owner, and he was out like a light in the office. Truthfully, it was relaxing to Mikaela. It meant she could work in peace, and occasionally have a discussion with her 'new' guardian without any worries. In fact, the more she thought about it, Drew was only up when there was a customer to talk to. Other than that, he would have his feet up on his desk and that ridiculous looking cowboy hat over his eyes.

Blowing some strands of her dark hair out of her eyes, she kneeled to her next project. A large white Escalade sat next to her, missing a rear bumper. Some 5 foot girl got the car because it made her feel safe. But it didn't make people around her feel the same way. Apparently she couldn't even see out the back and rammed a school bus. Mikaela just rolled her eyes at the story 'Seriously, a big yellow school bus?'. But it wasn't her job to question how the automobile was busted, just to ensure that it was fixed.

An hour in, the wall phone started to chirp. Delicately putting down the new rear CAL light, she stood up, wiped her hands, and picked up the receiver.

Tiredly, she asked, "Hello, Philly Phast Phixes, this is Mikaela, how can I help you?"

"Hey, darling." Her father said over the phone. Automatically a smile overcame her face.

"Hi, Daddy. What's making you call so late? Anything wrong?" Hearing from her father was rare now, so it always put a smile on her face when she got to talk to him.

"Nothing, Mikaela. I just had a desire to see how my only daughter is doing. Is the East Coast treating you well? I heard about the… gas leak in the middle of Philadelphia"

She laughed, "Yes it is. The shop here is great… nice and quiet. And college is keeping me occupied on my off time. The gas leak was contained." Mikaela sighed, "I do miss seeing you and Grandpa Pappy, though."

"We miss you to, darling." He coughed loudly, a bad side effect of his smoking when he was younger, before continuing "How is Sam?"

Her heart fluttered a little bit at the mention of her love, "He's doing well. Our… friends… have really been asking a lot of him recently. But he is taking it in stride the entire way. He was injured in the gas explosions though, but he is fine now."

She imagined, if she could see her father right now, he would be doing that short little nod he always did in agreement, "He's a good boy… I'm sorry; he is a good young man. Without him, I would still be in jail, and you would still have that record."

"I know. Sam has always been doing that. Putting others before himself. It's just in his good nature." She sighed, before admitting how she truly felt about him "Daddy, I've really fallen for him."

There was silence for a few moments, before her father spoke, "Darling, when I was taken off to jail, I left you with only Grandpa Pappy. And don't get me wrong, we all love him… but sometimes his World War Two stories get on everyone's nerves, especially after you have heard them 50 times before." Mikaela giggled, "And since your Mom left us so long ago… you never really had someone who truly cares for you." Sighing, he continued, "Sam is proof that there are people who believe in others without even knowing them. Look at me, an old fart who was sent to jail for 15 cases of grand theft auto. Yet he still demanded that I be let go."

There was a pause before he went further, as if he was trying to think of the best way to say what he was going to say next.

"Sam is nothing but good for you. He is always going to be there for you, and he will never leave you." She could hear him smile through the phone, "and even though I might try to scare him when he comes to the shop, I know there is nobody better to take care of you."

Mikaela was speechless. Her father rarely handed out compliments to anyone. She could even remembering visiting him in jail, and he would give her crap about her boyfriends. But this was the first time that he had actually approved of one. Even going as far as to say he would approve them staying together forever.

"Daddy, I don't know what to say." She said breathlessly.

"Then don't. But if I find out I'm going to be a grandparent in the next few years, the Decepti….err, his new enemies will be the least of his problems." Her father finished with a little bit of a macho flair.

Smiling, Mikaela spoke softly, "Thank you, Daddy; you don't know how much this means to me."

"I love you, Darling. Don't ever forget it too… that and stop wiring me money. I'm finally doing well enough all on my own."

"Okay, but promise me you will call if you need anything." She said biting her lip.

"I will keep that in mind, but I have to get back to work. I love you, Darling."

"Love you too, Daddy." She responded.

"I will call you soon, bye Mikaela."

"Bye."

Feeling happier, and a little bit lighter, she hung up the phone and went back to work with a smile on her face. She was working so long, that she didn't notice the yellow Camaro pull up, or the still bandaged teen get out of the car. Sam sat on Bee's hood and watched his warrior girlfriend work. His arm still hurt from the battle two days ago, but he was healing nicely. Looking at his watch, he decided that he should go in and get her.

"Knock knock." He said, walking up to her. Putting down her tools, she looked at her boyfriend and smiled.

"Hey you." She said, standing up and wiping her hands on a rag. "How was class?"

"Pretty good. Of course, the constant Alien attacks and broadcasts are truly cutting into my 'normal' life." He said, shrugging his shoulders. Walking up to her, he pulled Mikaela into a hug, "At least I have my warrior girlfriend… that's one abnormal thing I don't mind."

"So I'm abnormal now?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

He laughed, "Of course, what part do you want me to go over? The warrior part? Or the girlfriend part? Both of which are uncommon things for me to have." His toothy grin was infectious, and soon she found herself smiling as well.

"Have you always been this smooth?" She asked.

"Ever since I convinced you to sit in my lap." He said with a waggle of his eyebrows.

"That just sounds fun. Let's head to the apartment. I'm wiped out." Separating herself from Sam's arms, she walked over to the main office and hollered in that she was leaving, receiving a sleep 'okay' response from Drew.

Walking up to the Camaro, she greeted it, "Hello, Bee. Been keeping my boyfriend out of trouble?"

Bee revved his engine in response and flashed his lights. This was his standard way of saying yes without using his radio.

Whistling behind her and opening up her door, Wheelie came buzzing around the corner in his RC monster truck form and jumped into the back. Sam eyed it, as he always did, but didn't say anything. Both teens slide into the car, and Sam pulled it away from the garage.

"I love going for rides." Wheelie said excitedly in his transformed shape. Sam rolled his eyes, and Mikaela patted him on the head.

"So, anything special happen today?" Sam asked.

"My Daddy called."

Sam nodded, "And what did he want? See how you are doing after the 'natural gas leak' in Philadelphia?"

"Yea, that and he said he doesn't want to be a grandfather yet."

Sam gulped, and tugged at his collar, deciding not to respond, which caused Mikaela to giggle.

"Don't worry, Sam. He really does like you." Sam gave her a cynical look, but she ignored him, "He just picks on you 'cause you are dating his little girl. Trust me, Sam."

Thinking about her recent conversation, she spoke, "Yep, today was definitely not a normal day." She smiled and Sam looked over at her, "not that I mind it one bit."

~AJF