Disclaimer: I own nothing. The only Ironhide I know is an action figure. He lives on my windowsill. We don't talk much.
After watching the first Transformers movie again last night, I felt compelled to venture into the land of Ironhide/Annabelle, and my brain refused to sleep until I wrote this. So here you go. My first fanfiction.
Tears fell at a rapid pace from the eyes of Annabelle Lennox. With a ragged sigh, she used the sleeve of her black sweatwer to wipe at her wet cheeks. Wrapping her arms tightly around her legs, she snuggled against the seat of the massive GMC Topkick she was sitting in. With red rimmed eyes, she peered out the tinted window at the rain gathering on the ground outside. With a sniffle, she pushed her curly blond hair behind her ears and asked quietly, "When did Dad say we were leaving?"
A deep rumble from inside the truck replied, "In about fifteen minutes."
Annabelle sighed. "Ugh. I really don't want to drive all the way to Oregon." She glanced at her reflection in the rear view mirror, then added, "And I look terrible."
"You look fine." Ironhide could never understand the constant obsession human females had for their looks. " Just a little, uh, wet." He told her honestly.
She rolled her eyes but smiled wryly.. "Mom said I had to look presentable,"
"I do not understand.." Came the hesitant reply. "Why would your looks matter while grieving the loss of your grandfather?"
"I don't know.." Annabelle whispered, a fresh flow of tears streaming down her red cheeks.
Ironhide felt vaguely uncomfortable, but searched inside himself to find a way to console the teenager.
"Have you ever lost a family member?" Asked Anna, interrupting his comtemplation.
The mech thought for a moment, then answered carefully. "My species.. we don't have family in the sense that you do here on Earth. But a very long time ago, I lost someone very close to me."
"Who was that?"
"She was my sparkmate. Her name was Chromia." Ironhide paused. "I loved her very much."
Hearing the pain in his voice, Annabelle felt deep remorse for her best friend, the one who had helped her through thirteen years of problems. Nevertheless, she somehow felt now that she didn't know him as much as she thought she did.
"I'm so sorry, 'Hide."
"Its fine," Ironhide replied gruffly. "Although I miss her immensely, I have no reason to wallow. I have many duties as a soldier, which includes taking care of you and your parents. Living with your family has made the pain much easier to cope with."
A quiet sob shook the blond girl's body, new tears forming from sympathy for Ironhide.
Hearing Annabelle's dispair, he continued. " Do not be upset. Although co-existing with humans has helped me come to terms with my loss, I have also realized that no matter what sort of tragedy or chaos may occur, life goes on, and we must continue living."
For a minute, a comfortable silence settled over the two. Annabelle leaned her head on the steering wheel of the big truck.
Suddenly, the passenger's door opened and Will Lennox peered in. "Anna? Can you come help your mother pack up this casserole?"
With a quiet sigh, Annabelle got out of the truck. Passing the front of the large vehicle, she leaned and gently kissed the hood.
"I love you, Ironhide.
As she walked away, Ironhide sighed shakily, then quietly replied, "I love you too."