Chapter 1

Eight Years Prior - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"I do not have time to do it right now Maddy!"

"Well make the time!" My mom roared like a monster.

"You don't do shit in this house! Why don't you pull a little weight around here?" Daddy stood up from the couch, throwing a bottle of beer across the room. The glass shattered.

Hiding under the kitchen table, I cringed at the exploding sound of glass against the wall. Deep down, I already knew that the shards would remain there for the next several days, joining the already large pile accumulating on the floor.

"Oh ha ha, and that's coming from you!" Mom yelled sarcastically. She paced around the room, picking up the stray blankets on the floor and tossing them carelessly onto the couch. She ran a hand through her hair sighing hopelessly. Over the course of what seemed like only a few days, new age lines ran down her face and a considerable amount of white hair was beginning to peak out of her hairline. "All you do is sit on your ass all day, drink beer, and bringing almost nothing home for the one day you work! You do nothing! You…"

"That's enough bitch!" Daddy roared. He charged at her, slamming her smaller body against the wall. He seemed a little unsteady, slurring a bit as he talked. "I dare you to say more you two timing slut! Stop pretending to give a shit about how much I take care of this god forsaken family, because I do a hell of a lot more than you do!" Mommy's eyes seem to widen in surprise at his words, and in fright at his action.

I let out a whimper. What did "two timing" mean? It was not something I had heard before. And I've noticed that Daddy had never been really nice to Mommy and me, but never had he touched Mommy like this. I crawled meekly from under the table and tugged on Daddy's shirt. He was so tall, I had to tippy toe as high as I could to reach the little tag attached on the side! "Daddy," I said uncertainly. Ever since Mommy and Daddy began fighting, I had never stepped in to stop them. Mommy had once told me it was not my business to but then again, Daddy had never touched Mommy like this. "you're hurting her." I said quietly.

Daddy let out a roar and used his arm to toss me across the room beside the broken glass. I gave out a yelp as I hit the wall. As he was distracted, I heard Mommy rush toward the hallway towards the front door. I stood up. Daddy can't hurt Mommy! He can't hurt her like this. I began to wobble my way toward where my parents were at the front door, rubbing my aching head where it hit the wall. I was feeling a little dizzy. Mommy was thrashing against Daddy. She was screaming.

"Stop!" I cried as loud as I could, but was drowned out by my struggling parents. Daddy continued to hit Mommy as she struggled against him. Mommy didn't deserve this. She never did anything to hurt Daddy. Feeling useless, I did the only thing I could think of doing to help her: I stomped on Daddy's feet. "Stop it!" I cried. "Stop it! Stop it!" I cringed at the pitch of Daddy's yelp at the pain in his feet. "You're hurting her!" Daddy ignored me again and had to lean on the armrest of the couch to cradle his poor feet. I felt a little regretful then. I didn't mean to hurt him that much. I just wanted him to stop hitting Mommy.

Daddy looked up suddenly realising something. I didn't know what at first, until he went out an already open front door. When had that been open? "Hey bitch! Bitch!" he cried down the street. I did not hear a reply. "If you're going to fucking run away like a whore, at least take your little brat with you!"

Was he talking about me? I followed out to the driveway to see Mommy running down the street. She was running fast. "… Mommy?" I said quietly. Where was she going? "M-Mommy?" I said louder. Was she coming back? Was she coming back at all? Neither Daddy nor Mommy gave any reply to my cries. I began to feel the burning of tears welling up in my eyes. "MOMMY!" I yelled down the entire block. It would have been hard for her not to have heard me, but in a matter of seconds she had turned the corner and disappeared. Why had she not replied to me? Or at least turn around to look at me. Shocked, I turned to Daddy, my eyes wide. "D-Daddy?" I asked quietly. "I-is she c-coming back?"

Daddy snorted. "With my luck, hopefully not." He said, turning to go back into the house. I stood there silently. That can't be true. He was lying! Mommy wasn't supposed to leave me! If anything, I was supposed to leave her when I was old enough to be on my own! That's what always happens in the movies! She couldn't be leaving me. Daddy was lying.

With high hopes, I darted my way down the block, aiming to turn the same corner Mommy had. "Mommy!" I yelled for her breathlessly, trying to follow.

"Hey! You brat!" I heard Daddy yell from the door, but I did not listen to him. I couldn't. Not when Mommy wasn't there.

I ran for what seemed like forever. Where was she? I had turned the exact same corner Mommy had, and continued going straight after that. I even continued shouting for her name. The deeper I ran into the city, the more frequent the worried looks I received from various strangers were. But none of them ever came up to me to ask me what was wrong, or to ask me where my 'Mommy' was. It must've been strange for them to see a nine year old running all over downtown, crying for her Mommy.

I reached the outskirts of town, but continued to run. Why? I didn't know. It was hopeless now. I would definitely not find Mommy now, but all I could think of doing was run. I had to run. Where? Who cares. Just keep running and leave everything behind me. That sounded like a really good idea.

But alas, my hyperactive nine year old energy was all consumed by the time I reached a woodsy area. I could barely make out the tall buildings of downtown in the distance! I sat on a dry log, resting my head in my palms, catching my breath. Admittedly, the first thing I could think of is how far I had run, and how good it felt. I could still feel the wind rushing against my hair as I ran as fast as I could… or that could just be the chill of January wind passing by my spot.

After reminiscing about my run, I then thought of how I would get home. Perhaps Mommy had returned home for me. She could've… though, by the look of her face, it didn't seem like she would come back. She had a harsh look of contempt in her eyes when Daddy had hit her. I'm beginning to doubt that I'll ever see her again. Everything seemed hopeless. I felt a warm tear drop run down my face, as if it was trying to console me with its warmth, but it only made me sob louder. Why is this happening? I was choking in the midst of my sobs that were so loud that I barely heard the small pine tree next to me become squished into smithereens… almost.

"Egh, it's just a human." A deep baritone voice sounded.

I looked up a little in awe as I saw a very tall black and grey robot. I felt my tears beginning to disappear. The robot had dark metal plates for extra shoulder padding and three claws on each hand as fingers. I found myself almost having to step back to look at all of it at once! He was a very big robot.

"A human sparkling." The robot muttered with slight surprise in his voice.

Scratch that. He was a giant robot.

"A leaking human sparkiling." The robot said, bending down to examine me further.

I was slightly puzzled at his choice of words and decided to speak to him. He seemed… nice. "They're called tears." I said sniffling. "And I'm not leaki- I mean crying. And what is a sparkling anyways?"

The robot seemed to register what I was saying and sat down on the dirt, looking mildly interested. "A sparkling is a child." He said. "And do not lie. You have these 'tears' coming out of your optics."

"Optics? You mean eyes?" I asked, confused, rubbing them. "And see? I'm not crying!" I said stubbornly. The robot's eyes seem to narrow, but I did not find him scary. It was then that I noticed that his metal armour seemed to be splattered all over with dirt and mud. Did he just finish playing in the mud or something? Isn't he a little old to be playing in the mud? I'm nine and even I don't play in the mud! "You're all dirty." I pointed out.

The robot's gaze turned away from me as he examined himself. "I am." He stated. "I have just landed onto your planet Earth. I am the first of the Decepticons to be here." He said with a hint of pride in his voice.

"Decepta-hooey?"

"De-cep-ti-cons." He sounded out for me.

My nose crinkled. "It's too big of a word for me."

"As to be expected from a mere human sparkling."

"Hey! I'm turning ten soon!"

"A mere ten year old sparkling." He out right sneered at me.

I glared at him. "Well you're a robot." I said with emphasis. "A dirty robot. Are you some sort of fairy god mother from space or something?"

The robot's eyes narrowed again. "I am no fairy. I am Barricade of the Decepticons from planet Cybertron. You should fear me."

"But god mothers are supposed to be nice!" I protested. "And pretty."

"I am not a god mother." He said again, this time almost growling. "And I may not be pretty, but I am fearful, which is pits better than 'pretty'" He scoffed. I refused to show any fear to this robot..., alien..., Decepta-hooey guy. Barricade, the robot, huffed. "Besides, I do not need to listen to some weak human sparkling. I don't have time for this." He said, beginning to walk away.

"Wait!" I called out for him. "Wait up!" I began to follow his large figure. This robot was interesting! And funny! How can he be fearful? He was nice! Even Daddy isn't this nice. Barricade, the robot, began pushing away taller pine trees towards an empty street. I heard a police siren blare pass, though I could not see it. I was still in the brush! "Barricade sir!" I called for him. The next thing I knew, when I pushed away the annoying foliage, I saw Barricade, the robot, shift his metal parts into a police car! It looked almost futuristic… like it did not belong in this time. It looked like it belonged in the future, but it wasn't. It was right in front of me! "Whoah!" I exclaimed to him. "You're an alien police officer?" I gasped. "That's so cool!" Barricade seemed to be pleased with my reaction as I saw his wind shield wipers wipe away some non-existent scum off his windshield. I smiled at myself. He really was nice! Immediately, I grabbed for the door handle and tossed myself into the passenger seat.

"W-What are you doing human?" Came a voice from the radio.

"Wow! You can talk from the radio?" I exclaimed excitedly again.

"Do not ignore me! Get out now!" Came his radio voice. He surprised me when he reopened the passenger door.

"WHOAH! Barricade sir! This is awesome! You can open doors by yourself, and turn into a super cool police car and your robot body is so cool!" Barricade did not reply to me, as I was gawking at his dashboard and all his glowy blue buttons. "Maybe you are pretty after all." I said.

Seeming strongly flattered, Barricade shut the door and began driving. "For a human sparkling, you are not so bad." He said with a slight smirk in his voice. I grinned at him. "I will take you anywhere you want. Just name it." He said. "Actually, it is getting late. Where is your home sparkling femme?"

My features faltered completely at the mention of home. "My name is Julie." I said quietly. "What is a femme?"

"It means 'female' young one. Now where is your home?" He asked again, though, there was an irritated tone evident through his speakers.

"I-I don't want to go home!" I exclaimed. "Daddy will be there. I've never been alone with Daddy before. His breath always smells bad because he always drinks his a-alco-alcocli…" I had trouble pronouncing it.

"Alcohol?" Barricade offered.

"Yeah!" I said. "You're smart."

I heard him sigh through his radio. "I suppose you may stay with me for tonight…. Just tonight." He said firmly. "No more than one night. I have better things to do than watch over a human sparkling." He said bitterly, but deep down, I heard a bit of sincerity in his voice.

"Thank you Barricade sir!" I said excitedly, hugging all that I could… mainly his super cool dashboard.

"Get off me sparkling, you're leaving your fingerprints on me."

I smiled at him. "Are we staying at a hotel?" Barricade seemed to pause for a minute before replying. "You do know what a hotel is right?"

"I'm looking it up…I- Oh… No we are not." There was a thoughtful silence. I guess he was thinking of where else we could go. "I've scanned that there is an empty place up town somewhere. I will be able to fit inside."

"Really? Wow!" I said amazed. This robot could do a lot of things. Amazing things! "Where is it?"

"Like I said, up town, now hold on!"

And I said the only thing I could say: "Wee! Faster!"

I helped Barricade, the robot, break into this barn sort of thing. Well, it didn't look like it was being used… even though there were some clothes and bedding lying around, but it seemed like no one had been here in quite a while. There was lots of space for Barricade, the robot, and then there was a small loft a little bit more inward of the barn, where Barricade deemed safe for me to climb on. I had to say, it look suspiciously weak, but if he said it was okay, I trusted him.

When I saw the random bed sheets and pillow on the random mattress at the loft, I squealed. It was the largest mattress I have ever seen! Not even Mommy and Daddy slept on this size of a mattress, and even in their current one they never let me play or sleep in it. "Barricade, help me build a house!"

"A house? How can you build a house in here? It's puny!" he scoffed.

"No, no, no… well, fine, a fort!" I began arranging the pillows so they would stand up by themselves.

"A fort?"

"You really don't know anything do you Barricade sir? It's called a pillow fort!"

Barricade watched me carefully as I draped a sheet over the pillows. "It would stand up better if the pillow was like this." He said, repositioning said pillow.

"Wow! I thought you didn't know what this was! How did you know?"

Barricade smiled proudly. "I can search the internet any time I want!"

I gaped in amazement. "That's so cool! I don't even own a computer!" I said, diving into my own fort. "Hey Barricade! I bet you can't find me!"

"Childish sparkling." I heard his voice scoff. "You're right here!" I felt him poke the fort, but giggled when he did not poke me!

"Wrong!" I laughed, shifting my position in the fort.

"Here!"

I giggled again. "Wrong!" Irritated, I felt him lift the entire sheet off to expose the pillows. "Hey!" I exclaimed. "You're not playing fair!"

"I'm a Decepticon. I do not play fair."

"That's a load of hooey." I said. "You're supposed to play by the rules!"

That night, I had stayed up the latest I have ever had! Barricade, the robot, let me! I really did like him. He didn't shout or yell like Mommy and Daddy did. He got frustrated sure, but he wasn't particularly angry. It was fun to make him irritated.

The next morning, I found myself waking around noon time because of my stomach gurgling. I punched it softly asking for it to be quiet but that only made it grumble louder. I groaned to find myself absolutely buried within a pile of white pillows and sheets. It was then that I remembered where I was. Where was Barricade the robot? I shot up from my white sanctuary to find a sleeping robot below the loft. He looked very peaceful, as if nothing was troubling him at all. I carefully climbed down the ladder to get a better look at him.

As much as he would like to deny it, he didn't look scary at all! He looked like… well… a robot! He wasn't pretty like I had said, but he wasn't fearful either. I crept closer to him but almost yelped when his red eyes snapped open and circled in on me. "Heh-heh… morning sir." I said.

Barricade groaned and stretched. "Sparkling." He acknowledged. I liked it when he called me that. It made me feel sort of special, even though it was probably a common word back on his planet. It made me sound… sparkly. "It's time to take you home now."

"W-wait, now? Already?" I said, greatly crestfallen.

"Yes, now. Get up."

"No-no." My eyes began to burn again with water welling up in them. "I don't want to go back!"

He huffed, frustrated. "Why are you leaking again?"

I ignored the lack of correctness of his term. "I'm n-not!" I choked, rubbing my eyes to stop the tears, but only succeeded in making my eyes even more red.

"You are. Why?"

"Because… because…" I began thinking of Mommy and resumed my sobbing again. "Mommy ran away." I said. "And Daddy is scary!"

"Mommy? Daddy?" The robot took a few seconds to reply. "You mean your creators." He said.

I nodded. Mommy, Daddy, creators, whatever this robot wanted to call it. "Daddy says he's hoping Mommy won't ever come back! He hit her!" I sobbed. Barricade was silenced by my words. He did not say anything, but watched me cry. "I don't want to go back sir! Don't make me!"

He paused before replying. "I cannot keep you Julie." He said, using my name for the first time. "You will only be in danger if you are to be with me."

"You'll protect me though! I'll stay out of the way! I promise!" I said desperately. At home, Daddy never really talked to me or anything. He mostly yelled at Mommy and sat on the couch, drinking his yucky tasting drink, and then smashing them against the wall. Now that Mommy is gone, I don't know if I can live there with him any more… not that Mommy really talked to me either.

"I cannot Julie." He said. "I am sorry. You're a good sparkling." He said, patting my head with a claw, and pausing for a moment as I tried to stop crying. "I can hurt him for you? Will that make you feel bet-"

"No, no!" I cried. "Don't hurt him, please no. I don't mean to get anyone hurt. I'm just scared of him. That's all."

"You shouldn't be. He is your creator. He will protect you." He attempted to comfort but I said nothing. There was really nothing Daddy really did to prove that he will hurt me, but deep down inside, I had this feeling of dread building up inside. "I will take you home."

I gave Barricade, my alien robot, yes, my alien robot, a weak smile. Maybe he just didn't want me. But it doesn't matter. No one really wanted me. It had been that way since… since… as long as I can remember.

But it didn't matter, he was Barricade. Alien or not, he is the first being to really become my friend. I'll remember him for that. Barricade… the robot.

Present Day - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Miss Darlington?" A distant voice said. "Miss Darlington?" There it was again. "Miss Darlington!" It snapped.

"Yes sir!" I shot my head straight up, alarmed, earning a few giggles throughout the class.

Ms Higginbottom gave me, and the class, a vicious glare, as if to say 'that is not funny'! "That is ma'am to you Miss Darlington." I blushed. "And I would appreciate it if you would at least give the courtesy to pay attention in my class," her eyes narrowed. "failing or not!"

Another few giggles erupted in the room. I refrained from glaring at the few owners of the giggles. What was wrong with failing Math? It was a hard-ass class that, who are we kidding, we'll never use in our entire lives. It was a stupid class. And I can't help that I keep dreaming about the strange robot I had met back in Kentucky nearly eight years ago. The dreams just wouldn't stop, and have been reappearing over and over again. Over the years, I was beginning to think that I had dreamed up all of it, the robot, everything. But I suppose the dreams confirmed that it did happen… I think. "Sorry ma'am." I said sheepishly. Ms Higginbottom gave me a final 'warning' glare before walking back to the blackboard to continue the lesson.

Sheesh, someone's got her panties in a twist.


Not gonna comment too much here, but this is (I suppose) a little break from my other stories.

I know many may be expecting something else, but her meeting with Barricade will be in play again further into the story (obviously)… if I ever get that far, which I cannot make any promises.

To clear this up, this will hopefully be a Sideswipe fiction. I think he really is my favourite autobot, but sometimes I switch between Ironhide and good ol' Bumblebee! And for all those hardcore trans-fans out there, I will have to admit that my knowledge of Transformers only go as far as the movies, and what I have read here in this fandom. So if there is any problem with the storyline or the characters, let me know with a review and I will see what I can do about it!

I suppose this is a little AU. I really don't know if Barricade was the first one here, which is probably not, but he thinks so... and lets just say for my sake that he is. (: Because it just goes with the story! So yes, a little AU, but just a slight bit. If things turn out that way, then I will definitely be posting this as an AU.

Anyways, not much happening here yet, and I don't know what I will put for the summary, but we'll see. Any ideas? Tell me what you think to find out more of what's going to happen. I think I'll be needing a lot of support with this. Anyways, thanks for reading!

Feedback and reviews are greatly appreciated.