The first thing Ratchet did upon learning that the Autobots would really be raising a little human girl was start further research into human female biology. He was discrete about it, and within a week, he had decided that he knew the basics of the subject at the very least.

An average human female lived to be seventy-one stellar-cycles of age, but it could be longer if they maintained a healthy and active lifestyle and avoided certain outside sources such as harmful chemicals and drugs. They reached maturity in their late teen-years or early twenties, and she would be in the prime of her life between that time and the end of her fortieth decade. He researched averages for how fast they could run, how strong they could be, and certain records women held in terms of physical and mental feats at a competitive level.

As he researched, Ratchet found himself feeling a tad bit worried about his fellow Autobots. The child's lifespan was nothing in comparison to theirs - it was practically the blink of an optic. They were attached, and all too soon, they would see her wither and die - if no harm were to befall her, first. Then, there was Optimus, who had offered up the name of his sparkmate - Elita-1, who was presumed deceased - as a temporary substitute for her forgotten real name, thinking that they would be relieving themselves of the child in time. Now, she was attached to both them and the name they'd given her, and Ratchet wondered just how fine Optimus really was with allowing a human to bear that name.

… That worry soon dissolved as he realized how fond Optimus had grown of the little human. In fact, he may have been even more fond of her than Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Cliffjumper were.

"Easy, little one." Optimus picked Elita up by the hood of her hoodie and lifted her up, frowning at her. She had been bouncing on one of the couches that had been set up by the previous occupants of the silo, and she had attempted to jump from one couch to the other. "You could have fallen."

"I'm fiiiiiiine!" The little human complained. "Op... Opi-mus!" Ratchet gave a light scoff as he looked back at Optimus.

"You should have let her face the consequences of her actions." The medic commented, and Optimus looked at him. "That will teach her more than any amount of talk will."

"I vowed to never allow any harm to come to any human so long as it was in my power to provide aid." Optimus waved Ratchet off, and the medic watched with a raised optic-brow as Optimus gently set little Elita down on his rotator cup. The girl's eyes widened as she looked down at th floor, clinging onto one of the spokes of his helmet.

"Whoa! You're really, really tall!"

"Am I?"

"Yeah!" Elita looked at him, smiling. "Will I be tall when I grow up?!"

"I am uncertain. I believe that it all comes down to your genetics, and how healthy your lifestyle is. I recommend consuming only what is healthy for you, and remaining active while also staying safe."

"Okay!" Elita nodded, and Optimus flashed Ratchet the closest thing to a smirk that the medic had ever seen on the Prime's face. In response, the medic rolled his optics and went back to work.

"I swear, I am the only completely mature Cybertronian on this rock…"


/\


Elita looked up with wide-eyed admiration as Bulkhead and Cliffjumper sparred, sitting in the servos of a mildly-amused Arcee as they watched together from the sidelines. The femme looked down at the girl with a raised optic-brow, then looked back at the fighting mechs.

"What do you think?"

"They're so cool, Arcee!" Elita insisted, beaming. Arcee's name was the only one that the toddler seemed to be able to pronounce correctly. Optimus was "Opi-mus", Bulkhead was "Buck-head", Ratchet was "Ra-set", Cliffjumper was "Cliffjumpa", and Bumblebee was "Bubble-bee". "Can you fight like that?"

"I'm not one for roughhousing like the guys, but I can fight." Arcee replied, looking down at the girl again. "I'm just more fit for speed and stealth than rushing in with battle-cries." Elita blinked, then nodded in understanding.

"You're a ninja!" She decided, and Arcee blinked. "That means you're supa-cool!" At that, Arcee gave a light smirk of satisfaction as she looked up at the fighting mechs once more.

"That so?"

"Don't get too cocky, 'Cee." Cliffjumper smirked as he and Bulkhead briefly paused their brawl. "Give it a week. I'll be the kid's favorite, for sure."

"I don't know." Bulkhead chuckled lightly. "Optimus and Bumblebee are probably pretty high-up on her list." Elita rolled her eyes at that, seeming genuinely annoyed.

"I don't pick favorites! My mommy said that you should neva have favorites when it comes to people you care about!"

"Well, we're Autobots. That means that it's okay to have favorites." Cliffjumper smiled deviously, and Bulkhead rolled his optics before bringing a fist down on the smaller mech's head, sending him falling to the floor. Cliffjumper groaned, closing his optics, and Arcee gave a small laugh.

"Hey, Elita, tell me - is Cliffjumper your favorite when it comes to seeing one of us knocked on our tailpipes?" She inquired, and Bulkhead laughed. Cliffjumper sat up, deadpanning heavily.

"Not funny, Arcee."

"That was kinda funny…" Elita giggled, then she nodded. "Yeah, Arcee! When you put it like that, Cliffjumpa is my favorite!" Cliffjumper blinked in surprise, then he smirked.

"... One category down." He announced in a jokingly-malicious way, and Bulkhead rolled his optics before lightly kicking him and knocking him to the floor again while Elita laughed. Arcee rolled her optics, smiling.

"Whatever you say, Cliff."


Arcee continued to hold Elita as Bulkhead and Cliffjumper went back to sparring, and she smiled... Then, she noticed that the girl in her servos had stopped moving around and making noise.

"... Bulkhead? Cliff?" The femme asked tensely, and they looked back at her. "Help..." The little girl had fallen asleep, and Arcee looked genuinely startled. "Oh, frag. Oh, frag. Oh, frag. What do I do?"

"Easy, 'Cee." Cliffjumper chuckled, walking over and looking down at the girl. "Little tyke got tired and went into stasis. We just gotta get her to her room without waking her up?"

"Can't we just wake her up and have her go there, herself?"

"You really want to wake her up?" Bulkhead asked, walking over. They all looked down at the girl, seeing how peacefully she was sleeping...

"Yep." Arcee replied, and the mechs sighed, deadpanning lightly. "What? Kid's gotta accept that-" Cliffjumper shook his helm, glaring lightly.

"Arcee, for real?" He asked, annoyed. "Don't you dare. Kid's tired, and if you wake her now, she'll be up all night. And then, we'll have to worry about RATCHET." They all cringed at that. "So... Let's just go and put the kid to bed." Arcee rolled her optics at that.

"Fine..."

The three Autobots left the training-room and went into the hallway, and they carried the girl to her assigned room. Opening the 'Bot-sized door, they entered and Arcee carried the girl over to her bed, getting down on one knee and setting her down.

"I think you're supposed to put that thing over her." Cliffjumper gestured to the blanket. "And her head's supposed to be on that fluffy thing. You put her on the bed upside-down."

"Hey, I'm trying!" Arcee whispered harshly, looking up at her partner, then she picked the girl up again, lifted the blanket, set the girl down with her head on the pillow, and laid the blanket over her. "There. Done... Why is stasis so complicated for humans?"

"I'm pretty sure they call it sleeping." Bulkhead corrected, then he shrugged. "And I don't know. It's kinda weird." The three looked down at the girl as she shifted lightly, smiling in her sleep.

"... Cute little tyke." Cliffjumper smiled fondly. Bulkhead chuckled, and Arcee rolled her optics again.

"Whatever. Let's get out of here."


/\


Elita was using chalk to draw on the floor in the corner of the base. Bumblebee watched this for a time, then looked up at Optimus with a small frown of concern. Before he could speak, Optimus looked down at him.

"I agree, Bumblebee." He told him. "It has been three weeks since young Elita has last left the base. While she is too young to begin attending school, she must be allowed to spend some time outside and get the 'fresh air' the humans require to stay in good health."

"... There's a playground in the town." Bumblebee shrugged lightly. "I could take her out there for an hour or two, let her mess around and get some exercise." Optimus nodded, giving a small smile.

"Very well, Bumblebee. But be sure to maintain your cover."

"You got it, boss!" Bumblebee walked over to where Elita was drawing and looked down at the pictures. They were little more than scribbles, but he believed that she was actually trying to draw the Autobots. He pointed to a black and yellow stick-figure, smiling lightly. "Hey, that ain't half bad." Elita looked up, beaming. "Wanna go and play?"

"We gonna play that game Cliffjumpa showed me?"

"No, Elita. We're going to a playground... And you heard Optimus - that was WAY too dangerous."

"I was fiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!"

"If Optimus hadn't been able to catch you-! Ugh..." Bumblebee shook his helm, picking the girl up in his servos. "Let's just avoid that subject, okay? Angry Optimus is TERRIFYING, and I'd rather not picture him any longer than I have to."

"Opi-mus was really mad..." Elita giggled lightly as Bumblebee walked towards the exit. "And Cliffjumpa is really funny when he's scared!"

"Heh... That, he is."


Bumblebee drove up to a playground in Jasper in his vehicle mode and activated his holoform - a teenager that looked around nineteen with tanned skin, black hair (one yellow stripe on the left side of his head), and blue eyes wearing jeans, a white t-shirt, a yellow and black jacket, and black sneakers. There was also a small, x-shaped scar on the right side of his neck. Looking down at his holoform self and nodding, the young scout exited the car and walked over to his own door and opened it, picking Elita up and smiling.

"Bubble-bee!" She smiled, poking his semi-solid face, and his holoform appeared to give a silent hum of amusement. Then, Bumblebee carried the girl over towards the playground and looked around.

It appeared that there was only one other child playing there, a little boy with black hair and blue eyes wearing a brown t-shirt, jeans, and red sneakers. Elita was wearing a yellow t-shirt, jeans, white sneakers with red laces, and a green hoodie. A woman with black hair and blue eyes, most likely the boy's mother, sat on a bench and watched the boy as he played on the swings, a small smile on her face. She was dressed like a nurse, and she blinked in surprise as she noticed Bumblebee and Elita before standing and giving a friendly smile, waving.

"Hello." She greeted, walking over. "I haven't seen you around, before. Are you new to town?" Bumblebee nodded, smiling, and the woman held her hand out for him to shake. "My name is June Darby. Over there is my son, Jack." Bumblebee shook her hand, and she raised an eyebrow. "What might your names be?" Bumblebee blinked, then gave an awkward smile.

"He can't talk like you can." Elita explained, and June blinked in surprise. Then, she noticed the scar on Bumblebee's holoform's throat. Her expression fell, and she shook her head.

"I'm so sorry. I'm a nurse, I should have noticed-" She blinked as Bumblebee shook his head, still smiling kindly. "Well…" June looked down at Elita. "Can you tell me your names, sweetheart?"

"He's Bubble-bee." Elita replied, and June raised an eyebrow. She looked up at Bumblebee, and he mouthed nickname, Bumblebee. She blinked, then smiled again and nodded. "I'm Elita!"

"Elita?" June asked, looking back at the girl. "That's a pretty name... Well, why don't I keep Bumblebee company while you go and play? I'm sure that Jack would love to meet you, Elita."

Elita blinked as Bumblebee set her down, smiling kindly as he gestured to where the little boy was playing. The little girl gazed up at him, biting her lower lip nervously, then slowly walked over. Bumblebee let out a silent sigh as he stood up straight, then turned to June.

-Sign language?- He signed, and she blinked before nodding. -Do you think they will get along?-

"I'm not sure." June replied, frowning as she looked back over at her son. "Jack isn't the best people-person." Bumblebee blinked, then got June's attention and signed again.

-Well… You'd be surprised to see what Elita can accomplish when it comes to that sort of thing.-

"Um…" Elita folded her hands behind her back as she approached the swings, looking nervous. "Hey?" The boy, Jack, blinked as she walked over at sat down on the swing next to his. She remained silent for a long moment, then looked up at him with a small grin. "Bet I can swing higher than you."

"... YOU'RE ON!" The boy laughed, and the two began competitively swinging, laughing as they struggled to move higher faster. June and Bumblebee blinked, then June laughed as Bumblebee beamed.

"She awakened his competitive side." The nurse grinned, raising a hand to her mouth and nodding. "He gets it from his father… What's your family like?"

-... Big, heavy, and a bit crazy.- Bumblebee signed, smiling awkwardly. -And a little bit rag-tag, if you know what I mean.-

"Is your family the sort that adopts?" June asked curiously. Bumblebee blinked, making a brief connection to the internet in his mind and looking the word up in human terms, then nodded and signed.

-More or less.- He agreed, looking over at Elita. -She's the newest addition, and we're still a little uncertain as to whether or not we're doing a good job.-

"You can never be certain." June agreed, nodding as she looked over at her son. "But they can. And you always know that, if they're smiling or even a little annoyed, you're doing SOMETHING right." June looked over at Bumblebee, smiling. "I can tell that you're doing good as a big brother."

Bumblebee knew what the term 'brother' meant in human terms. It was a male being that came from the same caregivers (or parents) as another being. He supposed that, in a way, Team Prime functioned like a family unit like those on human television. He supposed Optimus would be the father, Arcee would be a distant older sister, Bulkhead and Cliffjumper would be rowdy uncles, Ratchet would be the grandfather, and Elita would be the baby of the family. The thoughts made an amused smile cross his face, and he looked at June.

-You think so?-

"Yep. I can tell she adores you." June gave a small wink. "Bumblebee." Bumblebee grinned, then looked over at the kids.

-Someday, you'll have to meet the rest of the family. Just watch out for her grandfather, he's really cranky and REALLY wants to retire.- Bumblebee hummed in amusement as June laughed, then he grinned and looked over at Elita. She laughed as she swung higher and higher, then she jumped…


/\/\/\/\


Two feet landed on the ground at an old playground. Long, full, wavy black hair whipped around in a wind, and she looked back with green eyes, smiling as her companion came to a stop and hopped off of his swing.

"Whoa!" Jack Darby, age sixteen, looked up with wide eyes and a grin. He wore dark jeans, brown sneakers, a brown t-shirt, and a white long-sleeved undershirt. He gave a tired grin as he looked at her. "You win. Again."

"Hm." She hummed softly in amusement, resting her hand on her hip. A light smirk crossed her face. "Don't I always, Jackson?" A car-horn beeped, and she sighed, looking back. "That's Uncle Cliff. I've gotta go."

"I know." Jack smiled, standing up. "See you around, Elita." She smiled, then she turned and ran off towards the awaiting red car.

"See ya!"


Well, there it is. We're almost there - at the start of the "Transformers: Prime" series.

I know, some of you may be wondering why I just showed a few instances of bonding before doing the skip. Well, to be honest: I figured you'd eventually get annoyed if I kept up with the toddler-talk and cutesy stuff for three more chapters. So, you're welcome. XD

I only own my OC. Please read, review, check out my other stories, etc. Thanks! :)