A/N: Hi everyone! I wanted to post this earlier in honor of Christmas but I was busy all day. Anyway, I really hope you all like this chapter! I hope it isn't too cheesy. But, nonetheless, enjoy! Merry Christmas, everyone!

My eyes stirred open as darkness greeted me. I sat up as looked around, realizing where I was. I was in Optimus's cab because he had picked me up from my apartment to spend Christmas at the base the day before.
Wait. It's Christmas! I thought. I bolted upright, eyes and mind now fully awake.
"It's Christmas!" I whispered. I looked out the cab's window and saw none of the other bots were awake. So, I quietly slipped out of the semi and tiptoed to the rec room. I didn't want to wake anyone from their sleep. Once I made it to the rec room, the room seemed to be illuminated with lights. I rounded the corner and stared in awe at the Christmas tree that stood in the center. I still had no idea what time it was. I sat in front of the tree and my mind started wandering off.
Line Break! 3rd POV
Jazz onlined, his bipedal form transforming swiftly. He scanned the room and noticed Optimus was still in recharge. Ratchet and Ironhide were in their respective rooms and Gadget had told him he was arriving a little later in the morning. Jazz suddenly did a double take, now noticing the absence of his human friend in the Prime's cab. The reason why she was here made Jazz even more protective towards her. Deanna needed love from her family and to be noticed by her dad. But from the way he had been treating her, it might never happen. That's why she asked to come to spend Christmas here, to avoid her father. But it was still obvious to the bots that something needed to be done about her relationship with her family. Nonetheless, Jazz began his search for Dee. His giant footsteps attempted to make very little noise as he searched the control room, the medbay and various bedrooms on base but he didn't find the girl anywhere. However, Jazz remembered one last place he didn't check and went there. Once he got to the rec room, he was relieved to see Dee sitting by the tree silently. Cautious not to disturb or scare the teen, he softly called out to her.
"Dee?"
Said girl slowly turned to his voice and her eyes met his optics, her mouth twitching into a smile at the sight of him. She waved him over and Jazz sat doing next to her. There was a moment of silence before Deanna spoke up.

"Hey! Merry Christmas, Jazz." she whispered. Even though they were the only ones in the room, they were the only ones awake.

"Merry Christmas, lil' lady. Whatcha doin' up so early?" he asked. He thought a lot of kids would sleep in and open their presents later. But it perplexed him why Deanna was up so early. The brown haired teen stared at the tree once more before looking up at the bot.

"Just thinking. I'm kinda used to getting up this early. My younger brother would come into my room Christmas morning and wake me up at like 6am. Then he would drag me downstairs to sort the gifts." she recalled with a small smile. It had been awhile since that had happened. Now, she rarely saw either sibling due to custody and visitation rights. But there was a reason why Deanna wanted to come to base rather going to her dad's or staying home alone. yet, she was afraid to face the truth and admit it to anyone, including herself. The truth? She wanted to run away from life's problems and despairs. She wanted to never look upon the past and face her demons. She was afraid of being hurt. Her mind was reeling with these thoughts that she didn't even hear Jazz's voice try and bring her back to reality.

"Dee? Hey girlie, what's wrong?" her friend's clawed servo reached down and gently brushed it against her side. She suddenly snapped out of her gaze and looked toward her friend.

"I-uh want to say something but I would like to also tell Optimus." she stuttered.

Jazz looked at his human friend and could immediately tell what she wanted to tell them. Finally, he thought, Dee's healing. He grinned and nodded in response, internally proud of his friend and how far she had come from when he had first met her. Anyways, as they continued talking for a while until the later hours of the morning, more people began to arriving into the rec room. Finally, some of the Autobots started making their way in. Sideswipe, Ratchet, Ironhide and Bumblebee all came in and saw that Deanna was there. Bumblebee practically zoomed over and swept the teen up in his servo, chirping and buzzing with excitement. The sight of the quiet teen giggling at the young Autobot brought smiles to the others. It was a great scene to see her smile. Jazz walked over to Ratchet and Ironhide as Bumblebee and Sideswipe chat with Deanna happily.

"Is Optimus out of recharge?" Jazz asked the two older mechs.

"Yeah, he should be comin' in a few minutes. Why? Is she looking to tell him something?" he weapons specialist asked, nodding to the 18-year-old. He had a feeling but he wasn't sure about it, so he said nothing. The three bots looked over and saw Deanna opening her gifts from Santa and the bots. Her face filled with wonder and awe made each of their sparks swell with happiness. What they didn't realize, however, was that Optimus and Gadget had entered the room. Jazz, upon seeing their arrival, made his way over to the girl and motioned to the Prime and her guardian. Deanna's eyes perked up at the sight of her surrogate father and her protector. She ran over to Optimus and quickly hugged his pede. The Prime looked down at the teen and smiled gently, kneeling down to speak with her.

My POV

As Optimus knelt down to direct his attention to me, I nervously glanced between him, Jazz Gadget.

"Is there something you wish to tell me, Deanna?" Optimus asked me. I bit my lip anxiously. How was I going to tell him? I know I can tell him anything, but saying this to him would-I mean, I don't know how he would react! But, if I wanted to start healing and making myself better, I have to start here. I slowly inhaled, trying to bring my ever beating heartrate down a smidge. My thoughts were racing in my mind but I ignored them as I opened my mouth to start.

"You're right. There is something I want to tell you, all of you." I paused, struggling to find the right words to say. My fingers fumbled around the hem of my nightshirt.

"The reason why I didn't want to be with my dad or talk to him is because I was running away from my fears and problems. I didn't want to face my demons. My past was ruined because of him and I let my fear control who I had become, who I am today. I was scared for the future and the present. I've learned that it was never my fault for what happened but it was his own fault." I quietly told them and stopped, observing their faces for their reactions. Optimus was the first to respond.

"After everything you have endured, you have started to heal yourself. You do not bear physical scars. Rather, you bear mental and emotional scars you wish to extinguish. But, they do not simply disappear, Deanna. It takes time to heal that kind of scar." Optimus looks at me with concerned eyes.

"However, you do not have to go through with it alone. When all you got to keep is strong, move along because I know you will. And even when your hope is gone, move along." He continued as he lifted my chin up with a metal digit, forcing me to stare into his blue optics. My eyes to started to water and I chuckled at Optimus use of musical lyrics in his statement. Suddenly, I felt myself being lifted up into the air. Optimus had placed me in his servo and brought me to his face.

"Nonetheless, I am proud of you and who you have become today." He finished. Out of pure happiness and emotion, I swiftly hugged Optimus's face the best I could and planted a quick kiss of his cheek.

"Thank you, Dad." I said as I wiped my eyes. I felt nothing but relief after having told Optimus. It felt like the weight had been lifted off of my shoulders and I was happy.

"I'm glad you told us, Dee." Gadget told me and Jazz nodded in agreement. I turned to them and replied

"Well, I thought that because its Christmas, it would be an opportunity for me to start my journey to, you know…" Optimus smiled at my response. There was no doubt he was proud.

"Merry Christmas, kiddo." Gadget said to me as he patted my head lightly. I beamed.

"Merry Christmas and God bless us everyone."