A/N:Back from the dead! I swear on Batman's parents' graves, this thing will get finished. I actually started this chapter months ago, but got side-tracked by a different fic. Since that one's basically complete, I may begin to upload it here over the next few weeks. Anyways, sorry for the long wait, faithful readers! This chap's in a bit of a different format, but I hope you enjoy it, and RL and the muses permitting the next chapter should come out by, oh...the end of the year XD

VI.

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. ~ Edith Sitwell

"Hide Hide Hide!"

"Bella, don't run outside in that!"

The little one came shrieking out of the house. Ironhide turned from his tinkering to focus his attention on her, gallivanting down the porch.

"Look!" She twirled around - dolled up in an almost black hooded one-piece. Some pink marred her nose and cheeks, and fine filaments whisked merrily across her face as she turned.

"I'm a mousy! Watch my ballet - like it's s'posed to be." She assumed the familiar dance position, arms curled under her chest, bent over slightly, and tip-toed around his leg.

"Good job. Keep practicing."

##################################

Will walked across the tarmac towards where Ironhide, in silent conversation with Prime, waited for him.

"Ready for some time without bureaucrats breathin' down your necks about 'non-existent' threats?" He asked as Ironhide crouched down to transform, Optimus following suit. The tell-tale sound of transformations started, grinding…

"Fraggit!" growled Ironhide. Ironhide reversed the sequence, metal making a horrible screeching, but he stopped that partway as well. Prime had in this time finished and quickly returned to bi-pedal form.

"Difficulties, old friend?" Mild with quiet humor.

"Old? More like cold and dried out joints." Optimus gave Lennox a wink. "Winter weather…."

##################################

"Alright, let's do this thing." Will had already carted out the necessary supplies under the watchful eye of his wife.

"I wanna help decorate up high this year!" Sarah shifted her weight, gave a pointed look over. "I wanna help with your job, cause what if you wobble like reachin' for the peanut butter?" This time, Will raised his eyebrow in his wife's direction.

"You can decorate up high – Ah! But if I think you're not careful…"

"Eeee!" Annabelle immediately leaped onto Ironhide's waiting hand. "Let's start near the top!" Obliging, his hand swooped her up the old pine.

##################################

"How're the joints?"

"Fine."

"With this weather? I don't believe you." Sometimes Ironhide wondered why he was asked, or why he bothered to answer. Habit, he supposed, as Ratchet inspected and lubricated and generally fussed. Optimus just chuckled.

"You're next, Prime, so don't get cocky." The chuckling stopped.

Later, after what Ratchet finished his 'common sense maintenance', what Ironhide thought of as 'indignity', he'd swiftly declared his day'd been long enough before promptly entering vehicle mode and recharge.

Ironhide gently wobbled the Hummer back and forth, checking he was out.

"We need to get him a sparkling to fuss over."

##################################

Will padded outside with his precious cargo.

"Hey guys, you awake?" A quiet engine rumble answered back.

"Doctor Ratchet, I don't feel good…" Came a muffled little whine. Will shifted the blanket cocoon to let his daughter peek out. Ratchet unfolded and squat down. 'Just play along' Will mouthed.

"What's wrong?"

"Tummy hurts. And I'm hot and shivery." She gave a miserable little frown. Will rubbed her back.

Ratchet contorted, pulled out a tiny bottle. "You eat one of these, hear?" Bella, uncharacteristically, nodded without protest. "I also prescribe juice and sleep."

"Thank you Doctor Ratchet." A quiet mumble.

"Welcome."

##################################

"I'm sorry Mommy."

"It's ok honey, It's not your fault." Annabelle still looked pretty upset. "Why don't you help daddy make lunch, ok? I'd like some crackers with my soup."

"Okay." Annabelle plodded off to the kitchen. Sarah sighed, and tried to get comfortable under the mound of blankets, shivering despite.

"Ratchet, please tell me you can magically cut this misery short." She grumbled, turning her head to the window.

"While having the flu virus at this stage presents risks, I'm not going to overdose you on medication, either." He replied back smoothly, though he was frowning. Sarah just groaned.

##################################

"Grrr." A rock plunked against the side of the barn.

"I don't think the barn appreciates that," Optimus said gently, from the other side. Annabelle walked around and flopped down next to him. As he watched, her frustration morphed into despair.

"Op'imus, I can't think of anything to give the baby for Christmas."

"A serious matter," he said gravely. They sat in silence for some moments. Then,

"What do Cybert'onians give babies?" Somewhere, he heard an engine backfire.

"We care for and protect them."

"Ok. I swear to take care of 'em and protect 'em."

"That is a worthy gift."

##################################

Will exited the house, quickly closing the door, leaning on the porch railing. Ironhide and Ratchet glanced down, before returning to silent conversation. Optimus' gaze remained locked on the sky.

"Look at those stars, huh?" Will said. He cocked his chin up. "Can you see Cybertron from here?"

"Cybertron is a planet, not a star," replied Optimus. "But no." Will shivered in the cold.

"Maybe with a telescope?" Optimus nodded emptily.

"The night is long – you should return inside."

"Solstice, yeah," a puff of breath into the dark, "but I always remember: the night only gets shorter from here."

##################################

Squeals from the house awoke the Autobots. Ratchet was the first to shake out of vehicle mode and peer inside. The quantity of gifts under the tree had increased substantially since the previous evening, and Annabelle kneeled in her nightclothes nearby, eyes wide with delight.

Sarah insisted on breakfast first (chocolate chips, Ratchet tsked). Annabelle smiled throughout, gasping as the final present was revealed.

"A bicycle?"

"Yup. The 'bots got it all set up for you in the garage." Annabelle launched into more shrieks of delight and thanks. Ratchet turned to the adults in confusion. Will smiled – Sarah winked.

##################################

"You were right, this view is excellent," Sarah commented. She pet Bella's hair, the little girl fast asleep across their laps. Ironide briefly flared his engine, then purposefully overheated his seats.

Around them, Bumblebee with Sam and Mikaela, as well as Ratchet and Optimus, also enjoyed the New Years fireworks display over the city of Tranquility.

"Ok, the countdown starts any minute now."

"You guys really oughta count!" Came Sam and Mikaela's voices through the radio.

"Ready, 'Hide?" Ironhide grunted at Will's comment. Sarah grunted at a kick.

"10, 9, 8, 7…"

"Happy New Years!" the humans all crowed together.