I do not own Transformers

Chapter 11

"I can't find my shoes!" Annabelle hollered.

Her feet thumped upon the stairs and, by the sound of it, tripped over the last step. It did nothing to slow her as she hastened for her bedroom.

It was a typical morning in the Lennox household.

I wasn't one to talk. My train was in a couple of hours and I had only just started packing.

"Anna, the bus is going to be here any minute!" Sarah cried.

There was a crash, like a million lego blocks had just laid their position on the battlefield, followed by, "I found them!"

I dropped a handful of bolts into a container, sealed it and placed it inside the tool box sitting on my desk. I was beginning to regret my academic negligence. The last thing I needed right now was another bout of ridicule.

I had already gotten an earful from Jessy.

Some best friend I was. Illness was no excuse for poor judgment. I should have called.

The years of secrecy had jaded my sensibilities. There had never been a reason to contact her after an attack before. In fact, it had always been taboo. I'd long grown accustomed to that fact, yet this wasn't something that had occurred in a distant city. It had taken place near my home, in an area Jessy knew I frequented.

I was such a jerk. I hated lying to her, to all of my friends.

I detested the sense of detachment it caused my civilian life.

My once close knit group of friends had dispersed because of the lies and secrets. I suppose it was inevitable. Age always brought change, but it hurt knowing the Autobots had set it in motion. They were such an integral part of my life, yet I wasn't allowed to discuss their existence with outsiders even if I cherished them as much as I did my family.

I sighed and dropped another container into the tool box. Jess would never know how much I appreciated her valiant, if not aggressive, attempts to keep in contact. I would make it up to her somehow. I had to.

She was all I had left in the outer world.

"One minute, mama." Annabelle bounced into my room moments later, a joyful smile etched upon her face. She was missing so many teeth I could not help but respond in turn.

She practically levitated into my arms.

"Bye May-May. I'll miss you."

"And I you. Be good while I'm gone, okay?"

"I will."

Her squeeze brought discomfort. I was feeling better than last night, but I still had a ways to go. I was not about to inform her, however. She didn't need fret over my wellbeing and, truthfully, the warmth of her embrace was soothing for my mind.

"Anna, the bus is coming."

A sense of gloom rushed in like a rogue wave when we parted. I didn't want to lose her.

Not again.

"Hey, Anna." She stopped at the door. "What do you say I drive you to school?"

Her smile stretched from ear to ear.

xXxXxXxXx

"I get to ride in Ironhide, Ironhide, Ironhide. I get to ride in Ironhide, all the way to school," Anna sang from the back seat.

It was a good thing Ironhide knew where he was going because I certainly didn't. None of the roads were familiar and I had a sneaking suspicion he was taking the long route. It was rather commendable. Anna was as sprightly as ever. She hadn't stopped singing since we'd left the house ten minute ago.

"Hey, Anna. When's the best time to ride Ironhide?"

"All the time!"

Ironhide snorted and I swatted the steering wheel in warning.

"What's wrong?" She asked with concern.

"Nothing, honey. Ironhide just wants to race."

"Race! Race! Race!" She chanted.

"Not on these streets."

He still revved his engine before leaving the next stop sign, much to her delight. For someone who had a slight phobia of children, Ironhide was doing pretty well. Vehicle mode had always been more manageable for him, though. The trepidation of causing harm in his natural state was simply too great for him to be comfortable in, no matter how many times he had been forced into it by my uncle.

We were working on it.

"I want to race." Anna pretended to be in control of her own vehicle. The sound effects were nearly as brilliant as the look of concentration upon her face.

It was this beautiful innocence he feared harming above all else. The abuse he had endured during his youth had left deep psychological scars. He didn't want her to suffer as he had. He didn't want to disappoint her or make her feel unloved. All he wanted was for her to grow as child should, in merriment and play, but he had a hard time grasping that her life required him now and that mistakes were okay. He'd never been given that chance as child. Missteps had only ever made things worse. That was why I tried to stir more joyful memories from his youth in our conversations, and Will occasionally forced him into babysitting.

"Get out my way, stupid head!" Anna yelled out of nowhere.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Where the heck did you learn that?"

"From mama," she said easily. "She gets mad when we drive into the city."

Well, at least she had the road rage element down.

"Melry, guess what papa promised me yesterday. He said I could drive Ironhide when I get big. I can't wait!"

"Hey, don't I get a say in this?" Ironhide challenged.

"No," Anna and I replied in unison.

I was jabbed in the butt for that. He'd survived. We had a decade, at least, before he needed to worry. There was no harm in letting her fantasize.

"I'm going to take him to the car wash and the movies and the park."

"Take him off-roading," I told her. "That's where the fun begins."

"What's that?"

"It's where you get him all muddy and gross so he needs the car wash."

"Cool!"

Cool indeed. Ironhide was a bulldozer in the wilds. It made for one heck of an experience.

We made another turn and the school rolled into view. A pang of dismay struck my heart. Had we really reached already?

"Alright, missy," I said when we stopped, "last hug."

Anna didn't hesitate. She climbed over the console and fell into an embrace.

She was heavier than I remembered. "Would you stop growing? Some of us like having a minion at our disposal."

"Never!" she declared.

"Oh?" I tickled her sides. "You better listen or you'll giggle yourself to death."

"No!" She squirmed.

I knew just where to strike and I wasn't about to give up. Her legs went one way and arms another. She was my prisoner for all time!

Ironhide feigned injury when her foot collided with his vent and her laughter only seemed to intensify when he leaned into his front tires in agony. Unfortunately it caused Anna's weight to shift and my chest clenched in pain. I was not well enough for this amount of pressure. Ironhide tried to recover, but it was too late. My hold weakened and Anna fell into the steering wheel.

His horn let loose.

I pulled her back as quickly as I could. She stared up at me in surprise. Ironhide didn't give her time to consider the accident. His alarm went off with deafening fervor.

Anna laughed once more and curled into me.

Thank goodness. I would have cried had I hurt her. This stupid illness took so much away from me. I couldn't wait for Ratchet to find a cure.

I mustered all the strength I could to steady my voice. I had to play this up, "we have a defective Autobot on our hands."

The accusation seemed to confuse her. I was about to tell Ironhide to cease when the most innocent smile spread across her face. She sat up, placed both hands on the wheel and leaned in for a kiss.

His alarm shut off with a one very startled blip.

"Wow." I had not been expecting that.

Our link was aglow with frenzied readings. Ironhide couldn't decide if he was delighted, troubled or confused.

Anna, on the other hand, knew exactly how she felt. "I kissed a prince."

It hurt to laugh. "You sure did."

These were the sort of interactions he needed, even if he claimed otherwise. Still, I had to draw the line somewhere. His nerves were already rattled because of yesterday.

"Alright, I think we've flabbergasted the prince enough for one day. We need to get you inside before class starts."

"Okay, but, Ironhide," her little voice warbled, "are you going to go away now?"

He didn't answer.

"You always go away when Melry's not here. I want you to stay."

Guilt crept in on uneasy tendrils.

So much for not overwhelming him.

It's alright, I thought. This was a work in progress. That's why I had asked him to drive instead of borrowing Sarah's car.

"Your papa was given a very special job last night, by a very important person," I told her. She had a vague idea of what her father did, so it seemed like a good point of distraction. "Ironhide promised to help him after we were both dropped off today."

"But papa said he'd be home all month."

Damn it.

"We'll be around," Ironhide said hesitantly.

"Promise?" Anna asked.

"Uh..."

Her lower lip trembled and my link rumbled.

"I - promise to try."

There you go.

"Pinky promise?" She held out her little finger.

I was about to inquire how she expected him to comply when the seat belt shifted beside me.

"Best I can do," he said.

Whether it was the actual promise or the fact that she pinky sweared with a seat belt buckle I'd never know, but her fears were pacified and she hugged the steering wheel in gratitude. "I love you, Ironhide."

His response wasn't audible, but given her giggle and quick release, I could assume he had toyed with her cheek. I knew what he was feeling though – a sense of nervous elation.

I patted her leg. "Time's a-ticking. Say goodbye."

"Will you walk me in?" she asked.

"Of course."

Our strange little family wasn't always the easiest thing to live with, but it was certainly one of the greatest and most interesting aspects of our lives.

I was going to miss them both.