Chapter 4: New Home
Seven months later
Nina looked around her new home besides the kitchen units, utilities and the bathroom there was no decorations. She was looking forwards to going shopping and spending her money. From outside an air horn sounded and Nina stepped into the sun.
"Is your house acceptable?" The truck asked. Nina smiled at him. She was so happy.
"Optimus it's great! I need to go shopping for stuff to put in there. Want to come with me. How am I going to get my things back?" she blurted out sounding like Bluestreaker.
"I'm willing to pick up your purchases but I'm not going with you. I'm sure someone will come with you." Optimus told her as she scrambled up into his cab.
He drove them back to the Autobot compound and Nina jumped down before he transformed. They both walked towards the new med bay where Ratchet was busy laying things out to his specifications. When they came in Ratchet turned to face them a wrench in his hand.
"No!" he said waving the wrench.
"I haven't even asked yet!" Nina complained watching the waving object carefully.
"I don't care. Last time I drove you anywhere I smelt like a drive-thru for a week. Ask Bumblebee or the twins." He told her. Nina smiled at the memory of Ratchet spending a week getting some poor garage to detail his interior to find where the smell was coming from.
"Fine. I'll go ask. You know it was your own fault that you smelt like that. Next time open a window when I ask Hatchet." Nina stated. She ran through the doors moments before she heard the tell tale smash from a thrown wrench. Nina made her way down to the rec. room which was filled with bots relaxing after the move.
"Yo Sparkie." two voices shouted. A few of the older mechs nodded at her and she nodded back. She spotted Bee watching Sunny and Sides playing a computer game and went over to him, climbing up on to his leg.
"Bee will you take me shopping tomorrow please. Ratchet and Optimus refused but I need stuff for my house." she asked. Blue optics looked at her.
"Ok." He answered. Nina patted his leg as the both sets of twins grinned.
"We're invited right?" Sunny said. All of them were looking at her hopefully.
"Alright I suppose, but only if you behave. No fighting, No stupid stunts got it." she told them waving her fingers at them the exact same way that Ratchet had waved a wrench at her earlier. "I guess this just became a road trip. We start out about 9am ok."
Nina played computer games with the twins till it started to get dark about 8pm and her stomach started to rumble. Saying bye to the guys she trudges back to her empty house. From one of the boxes she pulled out some chicken sandwiches and juice, downing them quickly. Sitting down next to the boxes she reached in and pulled out a book. The lights in the room reflected off the white paint. When she was to tired to read anymore she set her alarm and crawled into her sleeping bag.
Nina woke to her alarm. She groaned when she rolled over glad to be going out to get a decent bed. Getting up she shifted through her bag getting her wash things and clean clothes.
At nine a multitude of horns sounded outside her house. Grabbing her bad she ran from the house slamming the door behind her. Bee was at the front of the convoy his radio playing. Nina patted his bonnet.
"I know Bee." she told him. The door swung open and she got in.
It took an hour for them to get into the closest town. They pulled up into the parking lot of a mall. Optimus had arranges to meet them at 2pm to pick everything up so they had plenty of time to get everything she needed. As they walked across the street to the lot to the shops Nina got a text message. It was from Ratchet asking her to get 10 tubs of WD40 and to pick up and order in a shop called Jackson and Smith.
The first shop the visited was a furniture store. Nina spent her time browsing before picking dark oak for her bedroom, black leather sofa and walnut living room and dinning room sets. She handed over her debit card and told the assistant that she would be picking up all her order later. Her next stop was for soft furnishings and linen. For her bedroom she picked chocolate and red, she also got some new aqua towels for her bathroom and some lovely black and white cushions for the lounge.
By the time this was finished both sets of twins were whining that they were bored so Nina sent them off to do their own thing for a bit while she and Bee went to a café for her to recharge.
When she looked at her watch it was 12.30 so she and Bee went to the Hardware store to get the WD40. The assistant gave them a startled look when they asked for 10 tubs but went out to the supply room to get them Nina also purchased some red paint for her room along with brushes. She was fully loaded so she dumped all the stuff into Bee's trunk before going back to get her crockery and kitchen stuff. She chose everything in black or white.
With her shopping done she went to look for the Jackson and Smith. It was a small shop. The window filled with carved figures and boxes. Nina thought that they were the most beautiful things that she had ever seen. Stepping inside she was hit by the sweet smell of wood. From behind a curtain a middle aged man appeared. He smiled at Nina.
"May I help you?" He asked.
"I'm here to pick something up. I'm not sure what it is." she answered. The man nodded.
"You must be Nina. Mr Ratchet rang earlier to say you would be. Follow me please." He said. Nina followed the man behind the curtain to a small workshop. On the counter stood a small travelling trunk made of dark oak with gold catches. As she neared the counter she saw that the whole thing was carved with Cybertronian markings. Looking at the man he nodded at her. Nina lay her hands on the chest feeling her way over the carvings.
"It's amazing. I've never seen anything this beautiful." Nina breathed. The man moved another box to sit next to the big one. It was made of the same wood and when Nina opened it she gasped when she saw that it was lined red silk and had removable trays.
"Mr Ratchet had one last request but he said it was your decision to make. Would you like an engraved plaque on the chest?" He asked. Nina looked at him stunned. "I take it you didn't know about this."
Nina not trusting her voice shook her head.
"No it's perfect as it is." She said. She thanked the man and told him that she would be back to pick it up at 2pm. She left the shop in search of the twins and Bee. She found them in the video arcade playing some racing game. Telling them that Optimus would be there soon they decided to get going, leaving Nina and Bee. The only thing left to do was get groceries.
Optimus showed up on the stroke of 2 and they soon had everything loaded. On the way home Bee noticed Nina was quiet.
"Are you ok Nina?" he asked. Nina jumped slightly.
"Yeah Bee just thinking. Did you know that Ratchet had ordered a chest made for me?" she answered.
"No. As you know Ratchet is a very privet person. Was it nice?" Bee replied. Nina lowered herself in the chair and sighed.
"It's beautiful. Dark oak, gold catches covered in Cybertronian poetry. Had a matching jewellery box with it." she told him. They finished the journey in peace, soft music playing on the radio.
They pulled up outside Nina's house and had help from the smaller bots getting everything into the house. She thanked them all for their help and would see them later. She closed the door on the world and looked around her now cluttered home.
She put all the food away they her kitchen things. She took the paint can into her room and proceeded to paint two of her walls red. When she was done she washed the brushes in the sink and dragged to flat pack furniture to her room. It took her some time to put everything together but by nightfall everything was in its place. She put all her clothes in the wardrobe and chest of draws, hung the mirror and curtains and placed some pictures on the bedside tables with the lamp and her alarm clock then she made up the bed with her new linen.
Looking around she was happy with her work but there was one thing missing. Going back to the lounge she dragged the chest to the foot of her bed and placed the jewellery box on the dresser. Perfect.
It was late when Nina made herself something to eat and sat down on her still covered sofa. Soon she was drifting of, so she changed into her pyjamas and tucked herself up in her new bed.
A shuddering woke her up. Looking at her clock it read 2.30am.
