Author's Note: Ahh! *flexes brain muscles* It's been a long time since I wrote something and seeing how hectic my schedule is until vacation, I'm writing a oneshot. Please review, rate and critique.
BTW: Ironhide for the win!
Ironhide rested his back on big and tall tree. The sun was setting, the same way the year before, with a glorious red-orange hue. The Lennox family sat on a picnic mat in exactly the same spot where Will first hugged his daughter. Annabelle was a toddler now, standing and plopping down on the picnic mat. Will and Sara gazed protectively over their chubby little treasure, clapping when Annabelle succeeds in her efforts to stand using her delicate little feet. The afternoon wind blew softly, making the leaves rustle and sway gently.
He got annoyed at the prospect of guarding the Lennoxes, at first. He panicked at the sound of a jet fighter, thinking it was Starscream, scared out a policeman who was driving a police car similar to Barricade, and shot at meteors which he thought were Decepticon protoforms arriving on Earth en masse.
Now, a year has gone by. The war mech has changed. Now, he is the caretaker of a family, one that enjoyed his presence. Will had someone to ask for help, to chat and to confide on. Sara had gotten two extra pairs of giant hands to help her in household duties. And Annabelle got a protector, who was always ready to protect her.
Ironhide also enjoyed their company. He thought Will is a better person to chat with than very diplomatic and formal Optimus, the noisy Bumblebee and Ratchet, the local gossip. He learned some combat tactics from Will, and he learned how to cook barbeque. Of course, he had to be in holoform mode, but it was worth it. All the humans enjoyed his cooking. Sam even joked that Ironhide should have been named as Ironchef. Much to his dismay, everyone agreed.
Sara often had Ironhide around her when she did all the heavy tasks, like maintaining her vegetable garden and her flowers, which she cherished dearly. Ironhide learned more about human society from the intelligent Sara Lennox, with history lessons included. Annabelle got a playmate, who reluctantly but happily played with her. Ironhide enjoyed Annabelle's company, treating her with more care than his cannons.
"Ironhide?"
He turned to see Will Lennox behind him. Sara was cleaning up the mess from the picnic. Little Annabelle was sitting on a cushion, quietly falling asleep.
"I'm sorry."
Ironhide wondered why Will was apologizing. Had he accidentally let loose a rodent while he was asleep? Or had he spilled coffee all over his upholstery?
"Why, Captain Lennox? Why are you apologizing to me?"
Will took a deep breath, and said, "I feel we've been abusing you. I never let you shoot your cannons anywhere, even though they get slower and rustier. I keep whacking the dashboard. And I never cleaned you. Even though you were assigned to guard us, it ain't fair."
Ironhide felt his Spark grow more intense. His processors tell him he should ask for a target range. Or maybe he should request Will to put an end to the Ironchef title. However, his spark prevailed.
"It's OK, Captain. Your family's presence is already enough reparation for everything."
"So, Ironhide", Will said, "You're part of the family. You can always call me Will. One year has passed, and we still aren't calling each other by name. I promise, I'll wash you this Saturday. And thank you, Ironhide. You're a great friend."
"Thank you, Will. You are a great person to talk and be friends with. Now, shall we return?" Ironhide transformed to his robot mode and drove off with Will to the garage, where Sara and little Annabelle were waiting.
"So," Ironhide thought to himself, "Ironhide Lennox sounds attractive. Now, I have to recharge for tomorrow."