A/N: I'd just like to take a minute and thank you guys for the continuing overwhelming response to this fic. I am so happy to see all the alerts, favorites, and reviews this has already! :)
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CHAPTER 3
First Day
"You want to send Michael to what!?"
"I believe the humans call it preschool." Optimus told Ratchet calmly "It is a form of education before elementary school. Where children learn basic concepts-." He began.
"I thought we were handling his education?"
Optimus stared at his old friend with a sigh. Shaking his head a little bit, he put his hands onto his hips, and looked down. "He knows he's a human now. There's no danger in him asking any unusual questions." Optimus explained "He needs friends of his own age and species. As much as we love him, and can be his "friends" this is a basic human need."
"I understand that!" Ratchet noted "You could have told Red Alert and I about it before the day he goes though!"
Optimus turned his optics towards the outside of the med bay. Indeed it was the first day they would all be away from Michael for a few hours at once. The little boy stood there anxiously, carefully holding the straps of his new backpack. Red Alert stood in front of him, having been just informed about this new fact himself, seemingly talking to the tiny human. "We did not want either of you to scare him." Optimus spoke up "We both know how protective you are of him. And this is a big step for him." He then added "He's going to be nervous enough."
Ratchet through a wrench at Optimus for that one, grumbling under his breath. Yet the medic knew that Optimus was right, he would have fought the idea with every inch of his body. Then again, it was a good thing, as Optimus said, Michael would need the human interaction. "I just hope the children will treat him well." Ratchet admitted "I've heard the term kids can be cruel, what if it's true Optimus?"
"Ratchet." Optimus told him gently "He needs to have this time among his own kind."
Ratchet huffed out a bit of air, but finally nodded in agreement. He knew there was no stopping this from happening, as much as he wished he could have. In truth, the Autobot leader wished he could have kept him away himself. But even though it meant not having his youngest for a few hours, it did not matter. He wanted Michael to make friends, and to learn. And the only way he could manage that was to begin attending somewhere that allowed him to do both. "If they mistreat him in any way, we'll pull him, correct?" Ratchet questioned.
"We'll relocate him." Optimus explained.
"Fine." Ratchet sighed "Get him off then before I change my mind and try to stop you again."
Optimus smirked under his face mask, knowing it was true. After all, he had tried once, this time, and he wasn't sure anything would change that. Carefully taking a step outside, he was quickly filled with the alway paranoid Red Alert's words. "So just one more time Michael. You have your backpack, a snack, pencils, paper...?" Red Alert said quickly "And you do know our comm numbers by heart, right?"
"Red Alert." Optimus warned "Let the boy breathe. He will not be off-base too long." He chuckled, he then turned to Michael who smiled up "You ready for your first day of pre-school, son?" He asked.
"Yeah!" Michael replied "Can we go now?"
"We'll have to if we're going to make it there on time."
Optimus did his best to ignore Red Alert's shouts to remember the numbers "9-1-1" in case of an emergency as they left. The drive into town and to "Happy Hills Preschool" was long, and as they got closer, Optimus himself felt nervous. Anything could go wrong, even he could not deny that. Michael could be found, he could be hurt, children could be mean to him. It worried him, ever so slightly, that maybe any of these things could happen. "Daddy?" Optimus's holoform, currently seated in the driver's seat turned to the boy "You think they'll like me?"
Optimus was silent, but put on a smile. Remembering that Michael may have been a little nervous too, and for his sake, he had to push his own fears aside. "They're going to love you." He carefully pulled into the parking lot "Alright, we're here." He muttered, almost to himself "I'll come and help you down, don't try to climb out without me." He explained.
By the time he got Michael onto the ground, he felt small fingers grasp his holoform's own large ones. Of course, now that they had arrived at the preschool reality had set in for Michael. This would be his first time away from his daddy, uncles, and brother for more than a few minutes. Now he had no choice but to go and face humans, having only recently learned he was one himself. "Daddy, I don't wanna go." Michael whined.
"But you have to." Optimus told him gently "You'll meet lots of other humans your age. And you'll make friends." He stared down at him, and stroked his cheek "It's only a few hours little one. I'm sure you'll have a great time."
After a moment, Michael allowed Optimus to lead him inside the preschool. The school looked just like he'd expected, many children running around with toys littering the floor, little desks, and the like. A young woman approached them as Michael hid behind his leg a bit. "Well hello there, you must be Orion." The brunette haired, green eyed lady spoke "My name is Ms. Gardner, I'm going to be Michael's teacher." She added.
"A pleasure to meet you m'am." Optimus held out his hand and shook hers "You'll have to forgive him. He's a little shy around new people. And where we live he has not had a lot of interaction with children his age." He explained.
Ms. Gardner put on a smile and shook her head in response. "Oh that's no trouble at all! Most of our little ones are a little nervous on the first day." She crouched low to Michael "But that's okay. Because I think Michael and I are going to be close friends." She chuckled "Come on, big guy, I'll come introduce you to your new friends." She said warmly as she held out a hand.
For a moment, Michael stared up at his father, who only smiled warmly. Something he was lucky enough to be able to do in holoform, and without his face plate. "Go on, I'll pick you up in a couple of hours, son." Optimus spoke gently "I love you."
Slowly, but surely, Michael took his teacher's hand and was lead off. Even though it was only a few meters away, watching him go was the hardest thing Optimus Prime had ever had to.
...
Several hours later, Optimus returned with a bounding five year old in toe. To say that Michael was being hyperactive might have been an understatement, as he immediately began to rush for the med bay. "Unca Ratchet! Unca Ratchet!" He shouted loudly.
Ratchet chuckled at the sound of the child's shouting. His optics turned to see the five year old rushing in with a piece of paper clutched tightly in his hand. Smiling widely, the mech turned from the berth he had been cleaning off. "Well there's the man of the hour." He turned around, putting his fists on his hips "So, how did it go?" He asked.
"I drew you a picture!"
Ratchet wanted to frown, was that all they'd taught him? How to draw? Yet though he would never actually say that out loud to a five year old, he couldn't help but feel it was at least a little too simple for an education. "Did you now?" Ratchet carefully took hold of the picture "And what, might I ask, is it of?" He asked.
"It's you!"
Coming from anyone but a child, Ratchet might have taken that as an insult. The mishmash of white and red shapes mixed with a splash of blue on the optics, and the frown did not bode well for him. And he was almost certain he was not that big around. Yet, putting on his best smile, he nodded his head. "Of course it is!" Ratchet replied "I love it."
"Ms. Gardner said I had a good imagi-imgi-."
"Imagination?" Ratchet chuckled.
"Yeah, that!"
Ratchet nodded his head a bit, thankful the woman had not apparently suspected anything. Optimus calmly entered the med bay, and given the paper in his own hand, had received his own work of art. "Oh! I got one for everyone!" Michael piped up excitedly "Gotta go find Unca 'Hide!" He added.
With that, the little blond blur was out of the med bay like a bullet. The two mechs laughed quietly at it, having not seen Michael so excited in a while. Ratchet stared at Optimus, and sighed quietly. "So, how did our little blond blur do?" Ratchet questioned "Did the teacher say anything in particular? Or the boy himself?" He asked.
"He made a few friends, and she also commented on the fact that he was very intelligent for his age." Optimus nodded his head slightly "Stated he might even be a bit ahead of the class. Most likely due to what we have already taught him." He explained.
"That's our sparkling." Ratchet noted proudly.
Optimus nodded in agreement, turning his head a little bit. There was no doubt in his mind now that they would have no problem when Michael started real school. He would clearly be more than okay spending the time away from his guardians, nor with the learning part of it. "She did mention, however, that interaction with the children seemed to take a bit longer than others. Despite his making friends." Optimus explained "And that he needs help with many of his "self-help skills" as well."
Ratchet nodded his head a little bit, taking that in for a moment. "Given my online research on different disabilities... Those could be early signs of a learning disability known as Non-Verbal Learning Disorder." Ratchet explained "Or simply symptoms of his ADHD. We won't be able to know for sure until he's older, however. But I will monitor it." He explained "The important thing is he has made friends and had a good time." He explained.
"I concur." Optimus nodded "With that being said, I should go make sure he finds everyone alright."
"You do that, I have some cleaning up to do." Ratchet nodded his head "Be sure to tell him I'm proud of him while you're at it."
Optimus only nodded as he left the med bay, knowing he only needed to follow the excited, loud talking.
