Short chapter. Double post part 1!

"Normal Talk"

"Bee's Talk"

"Bee's Talk Holoform"

"Other Side Over the Phone (Comms)"

'Thoughts'

~Bond communication~

~Telepathic communication~

Memorial

The Next Morning, 6:00 AM, Ratchet's POV

I sit up and look across the room.

"Dada!"

I smile slightly as I stand and activate my holoform. "Good morning, little one."

She frowns at me.

"What's wrong, Mari?"

She points toward the wall, causing me to shake my head. "You used to do that too, you know." I pick her up and change her, then dress her in a black and gray long sleeved shirt with pink ruffle trim on the cuffs and hem with a pink bow at the neck, black pants, and black socks. I then fix her bottle and hand it to her. I shift into my normal form and carry her into the main room. After setting her in the playpen, I turn my attention to the monitors. I hear someone walk up behind me.

"How are you doing, Old Friend?"

I turn to face Optimus. "I'm fine." I sigh softly. "Serenity is in Primus' hands now."

"You can take the day off if you would like."

I sigh softly. "To do what?"

"You could spend the day with Mariposa."

I sigh before nodding. "I guess I'll take her to the park in Jasper." Optimus turns to me, confusion in his optics. "Just because Mari is too young to know what happened doesn't mean she should have to sit around the base and watch me. If I take her to the park, we'll both be too busy to think about it." I turn and pick up Mariposa.

Ratchet's Berth Room, Ratchet's POV

I step into my berth room and activate my holoform, then dress Mariposa in a black short sleeved onesie with bows on the sleeves and "Diva", a black tutu, black tights, and black ballet flats, then slip on her tiara. After I finish, I fix her bottle and pack her a diaper bag with her breakfast, and extra outfit, and diapers. I slip a bottle of apple juice into her bag, then turn to her. "All right, Mari. Let's get you ready to go." I slip a black leather jacket on her, then fasten her into her car seat. I then return to my normal form and head into the main room.

"Where are you taking Mari?"

I glance down at Arcee. "I'm taking her to the park. Optimus took over the monitors and I don't want to sit around base with nothing to do." I sigh. "Especially not today."

"I understand."

"How are you doing?"

She sighs. "A little sore, but I'll be all right. You did warn me." She looks up at me. "Want me to get her settled?"

I glance down at Mariposa. "Thank you, Arcee." I hand the car seat and bag to Arcee and transform, allowing Arcee to get Mariposa's car seat fastened in and load her things.

Park, Ratchet's POV

I park before activating my holoform and taking Mariposa out of the back. I carry her over to a bench.

Mariposa looks up at me questioningly. "Dada?"

I smile slightly as I look down to her. "Why don't we go to the swings?"

Mariposa nods before smiling.

I stand before setting her on her feet and leading her to the swings with two hands.

"She looks a lot better than the last time I saw her."

I turn at the voice to see the nurse that had tended to Mariposa in the Emergency Room. "She is." I straighten up, lifting Mariposa as I do. "Why aren't you at the hospital?"

"It's my day off. I figured I'd bring Jack to the park so he could run off some of his energy."

"I don't have much of a yard. I figured it would be better to just come to the park."

June nods. "I know what you mean. A few months ago Jack jumped out his bedroom window."

"Was he okay?"

June nods slightly. "Thankfully. His trampoline was right under the window."

I sit on the swing and set Mariposa on my lap. "That's good. I'm sure you were worried."

"That's an understatement." June turns to watch her son. "But, boys will be boys." She glances back to Mariposa. "Of course, girls can be just as difficult in their own ways."

I turn to her, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Girls are known to be more sensitive to things that a boy wouldn't even care about. They can be very emotional, too. Trust me, I've got three." June sighs before glancing back at Mariposa. "Bill told me she had been abused and abandoned."

I nod. "I found her out with the family garbage with nothing on except a worn blanket. She was covered in bruises." I sigh. "We were able to find out that she was from a royal bloodline."

"So you're adopting a princess?"

"I'm working on it. Bill said he'd handle most of the paperwork. Between my job and helping my niece with her new son, I've been far too busy to handle the paperwork." I sigh. "Besides, Mari's wellbeing is far more important than this bureaucratic nonsense."

June laughs. "As frustrating as paperwork is, it's necessary—especially when you're adopting a ward of the state."

I nod before sighing. "I just hope we can get this finalized before she's two."

"I'm sure you will. You shouldn't have much further to go if you've had her since she was six months."

I glance at the watch I use in my holoform before sighing. "I need to get back. It's almost time for her breakfast."

"It was nice seeing the two of you again."

11:00 am, Ratchet's POV

I walk over to where Mariposa is playing and pick her up.

"Dada?"

"It's time to get ready, Sweetspark." I lay her down and change her into a black long sleeved dress with white trim on the hem and faux-pinafore ruffles on the shoulders, black tights, black patent leather Mary Jane shoes, and a black headband with a white bow, then slip a clear and black "volume knob" pacifier into her mouth. She looks at the dress curiously before looking back up at me. I sigh softly. "You don't want to know why, Mari. Trust me."

Top of the Base, Ratchet's POV

I hold Mariposa in the palm of one hand with another cupped slightly over her to shield her from the sun. 'There's one downside to anyone trying to raise a human baby in Nevada: there's hardly ever any shade. The child will always get burned.'

"Dada." She pushes at my thumb. "Dada."

"Mari, I can't—"

"Mo'e!"

"I can't, Mari. You'll get burned." I feel her fall back, and I'm positive she's sulking, but knowing she's safe is enough for me right now. At least one of my sparklings is still alive. I glance over to Arcee as Optimus starts to speak, just to see her cupping a hand over Electro's optics so she can keep the sun out of them. It's almost impossible to meet Optimus' optics without crying, so I stare out over the desert.

The others head inside after the memorial, but I stand beside the small marker. Bumblebee took Mariposa inside so she would be shielded from the sun, leaving me to stand as a sentinel over the only memorial of my sparkling.

"Ratchet?" Optimus reaches over and lays a hand on my shoulder. "I know this cannot be easy for you."

I look down and sigh. "I'll be all right, Optimus. I still have Mariposa."

"If you need any help…"

I turn to him. "You'll be the first Autobot I'll turn to." I start for the elevator. "I need to Put Mari down for a nap." I sigh before turning. "Thank you."