Affirmative
Disclaimer: I'm still totally ignoring the third movie but all characters do not belong to me and whatnot.
Chapter 2: Downtime
...
On lazy weekends when the sun is warm, the skies a shade of blue reminiscent of the cornflowers Sara planted alongside their walkway, Will drags out the hammock from the shed and assembles it in the shade of the nearby patch of oak trees. Trying to get on the hammock is precarious at best, even for a seasoned soldier such as himself. It's a one-sided staring contest between the hammock and one Major William Lennox of the US Army Rangers, which he ultimately (by a hair, he mentally insists) loses.
Sara walks by, her laughter ringing through the peaceful air like bells -
-of complete and utter amusement for his situation.
He married such a cruel, cruel woman.
Will does not lose (especially in front of his adoring wife and impressionable child).
It's an unspoken rule with him and the universe at large.
It takes a moment of concentration, his heart rate lowering to a steady pitter-patter, his breath evening, and his gaze sharp like he's glaring down a new upstart recruit before he grabs the edge of the hammock and hauls aft into it like he's being chased by a 'Con.
He holds his breath.
The hammock sways quietly under his sudden weight.
Will victoriously fist pumps the sky, splaying his arms against the smooth material as he grins jubilantly for his ninja-like swiftness.
Sara rolls her eyes as she passes by, an 'I can't believe I married this' grin across her face as she hands him Annabelle.
Now that the adrenaline rush of climbing successfully onto the hammock is over, it's time for Will to settle himself down for a nap with the comforting weight of his daughter on his chest.
Annabelle burbles happily, curling into his arms with a satisfied sigh as settles down for her mid-afternoon nap.
The Lennox house is miles and miles away from any neighbors and a good hour away from the nearby town. It's a slight hassle when Sara forgets to buy an item from the grocery store or Will realizes he's run out of beer and by the time either of them make it to town, everything will be closed for the evening. They may grumble, but really, they both know they wouldn't trade the quiet country life for anything. The tranquility is a godsend in comparison to the alwaysconstantunbearable noise of gunfire and screams. They're even more grateful they bought such a large, out of the way plot of land due to their newest member of the family. It makes it easier for him transform into his bi-pedal form and relax along with them during the daytime. No need for nosy neighbors or noise control.
Hell, the first week Ironhide arrived, he built a shooting range for the three of them.
Will secretly thinks Ironhide is vying for his wife's affection.
The traitor.
The both of them.
Currently, Ironhide's leaning against an oak tree, the biggest out of the bunch. The tree creaks with the weight of the heavy Autobot but it's endured worse and stubbornly holds firm against Ironhide's massive weight.
Between Will and Ironhide is Sara. She's sitting alongside Ironhide underneath the shade of the tree on a large checker print picnic blanket. There's a basket filled with their lunch for later in the afternoon next to her, sitting right next to her pile of magazines. Sara is reading People magazine, catching up on the latest celebrity gossip and fashion tips while her other magazines, Rifle's Weekly and GunnerSpot lay patiently for her to get to.
It's quiet.
The birds are chirping softly, mindful of the large machine and the family that he so carefully watches over.
The wind chimes on the doorway jingle slightly against the breeze.
Will is snoring softly and Annabelle is just like her father and snores –albeit not as loudly- against his chest. Sara is humming under her breath as she turns the page.
Ironhide vents, his optics dull slightly as he-he doesn't necessarily relax (he's a soldier!) despite Ratchet's claims- but for just a human moment, he doesn't want to think of the war looming in the distance, the Earth politicians and their ridiculous amount of paperwork and concealed threats, and just appreciate his new home.
Home.
Ironhide remembers seeing Cyberton, after his ridiculously long and forced stay in the med ward, from video clips recorded by every usable recording device within miles of the transportation beams. The glimpse of a planet that Ironhide fought for –still fights for- being pulled by Sentinel from galaxies, universes away.
Lying on the berth, very much broken and Sentinel's betrayal still ingrained in his processors like a virus, Ironhide was left with nothing to do but feel homesick.
He was homesick for a place could no longer call home.
"Bwa!"
Ironhide's helm shoots up and immediately his scanners are buzzing, scanning everything within a three mile radius.
Instead of reading the glowing red eyes of a Decepticon, he instead finds himself in a brief staring contest with large, curious blue eyes.
"Chill, big guy." Will yawns sleepily, his hand resting on Annabelle's back while Sara looks up and grins.
"Annabelle wants to say hi," she says as she marks the page of her magazine. That rifle will definitely be on her wishlist for the holidays this year. Sara stands up, dusting her hands on her worn, frayed jeans before Will leans up slightly to hand Annabelle to her. Her baby gurgles in her arms happily, babbling animatedly with her mother, her small, pink, did he mention small, hands reaching for Ironhide.
"I have already greeted her this morning," Ironhide states but leans down regardless. Every morning, the sun a bare glimmer against the horizon, after his drive around the perimeter of the compound, he always waits patiently by the backdoor of the house. Will is generally awake at this time too. At that point in time, he's at the half-way mark of his five-mile morning run. He'll greet Ironhide with a wave of his hand as he jogs back to the house. During second day of his stay, Ironhide offered, out of courtesy, to transport Will back to the farm with a veiled grumble of security protocol, but Will just grinned, patted his hip where his weapon was carefully tucked away and breathlessly told Ironhide that his girls would like to say good morning too.
Sara and Annabelle usually see his form driving down the payment. A pleasant 'good morning' on Sara's lips and a hug from Annabelle are always there to greet him after his return.
Ironhide extends a finger toward the two female Lennox's but to his surprise Sara takes a step back.
"She wants to say hi to you, not your finger," Sara replies with a gently exasperated look. She looks at his hand and then back toward his optics before bringing her own hand up. She imitates the way his hand is being held before turning it palm upward.
Ironhide doesn't understand what she really wants but mimics it regardless only to be shocked nearly senseless when Sara easily climbs onto his hand and settles herself directly in the middle of the palm of his hand. She smiles up at him, her green eyes large and guileless: the perfect look of innocence. The twins should never learn of this or they'll probably ask her for lessons.
Ironhide often worries about Annabelle and how her creators' genes will influence the young sparkling.
"Up please," Sara requests politely. Annabelle babbles, attempting to mimic her mother's veiled demand.
Will looks up, his eyebrows shooting in surprise before he grins widely and settles his arms back on his stomach to watch his family's interaction with their favorite Autobot.
He does as she commands, so careful of the two delicate organic beings so trusting in his very being. It shakes Ironhide to his spark as they peer up at him with the utmost faith. War rarely allows unconditional faith, especially when he's only had months to gain their trust when it took him nearly a vorn to trust Optimus.
Then again, their lifespans are so short, barely a speck in comparison to Ironhide's long existence.
Humans are so very interesting.
Annabelle and Sara are literally face to face with Ironhide, just inches away from his helm, and he wonders 'what happens now?'.
Sara turns her head to the side to surveys the surrounding land from nearly ten stories and nonchalantly states, "You have a great view."
Ironhide chuckles, shaking his helm at how casual this human family is taking their situation.
He remembers unofficially meeting Sam's parents and suffice it to say, they were not in the least thrilled, especially Judy when she found out it was Ironhide who ruined her crocuses.
"Bawa!" Annabelle states as she leans away from her mother's embrace and toward Ironhide.
Ironhide stills, his spark stalling, as his faceplate is suddenly gripped with small hands and the press of skin, so very soft, of Annabelle's cheek against his mouthpiece.
Annabelle is clinging to him, or attempting to while Sara still holds onto the rest of her small body. Ironhide quickly scans her; all his readings indicate all normal body functions are at their ideal states and-and she is the picture of comfort as she hugs one of the most weapon-wielding Cybertronians ever sparked.
Sara and Will's laughter break through the quiet hum of this afternoon day. It's even louder when Annabelle refuses to be pulled away from Ironhide's faceplate. She has a surprisingly tight grip for a sparkling that is barely a year old.
And this – the laughter, the smiles, the unconditional trust, this unbelievable warmth that rivals the sun and even his own spark- this is everything that Ironhide thought he once lost.
SS: Just a chill moment at the Lennox house. I'm new to the whole Transformers fandom so hopefully I don't suck too badly when I delve more deeply into the Autobots and their lives/backstories/interactions and whatnot. Anyway, tell me what y'all thought! To those who reviewed the first chapter, you all were SO SWEET. Thanks again if I didn't respond to you before! Special shoutout to Who-wants-to-know because a really thorough review was a ridiculously awesome surprise.