A/N: Happy Christmas to you all! AND HAPPY BUMBLEBEE RELEASE WEEKEND! I just saw it AND IT WAS AWESOME! Hope you all get to enjoy the movie. And hope you find this next installment exciting! It's certainly action packed! This will actually be the second-to-last chapter of I'll Be. Ending it with a bang!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Transformers universe. Only Kate and Maxine are my original creations.
Transmissions are in bold/italic.
Speech + transmissions are in "bold/italic."
Chapter 10: Secret's Out
"That Optimus is a nice guy."
Kate paused in putting a strand of her mom's hair up, her eyebrow cocking. She didn't trust where this conversation was leading.
"Yeah, mom. He is." She smiled.
Her mind wandered: she would see him in a tuxedo in a few minutes. Well, his hologram would be in said tux. As far as she knew, they didn't come in sizes that fit a thirty-foot Cybertronian. Still, he'd probably be wearing a tie that matched his eyes. Be still her heart!
It was the big day, the biggest day of the year: today, Kate would officially become Mikaela's sister, as Maxine Forge became a Barnes. No longer would they be just living together—no. They would be a family. A true, honest to Primus, family. In every shape and form. The dream had come true.
"Have you two thought about the future?"
Kate snapped herself back from her thoughts. Her mother's eyes looked up at her, in that way that moms look when they're trying to look after their kids.
Her eyebrows raised. "I'm still in high school, mom."
Maxine blinked and Kate suddenly felt an enormous amount of pressure descend on her shoulders.
"Soon, sweetie, you'll be in college—," she held up her hand to stop Kate's interruption, "or wherever you decided to go in your life. And it's okay if you don't go to college."
Kate bit her lip, hearing her mom's words. She was right: she hadn't thought that much about a future with Optimus, not outside of wanting one. What exactly would that entail? She didn't know that he would be happy being a holoform, staying in hiding here on Earth, until she died and he moved on.
She shook her head, stopping the anxiety that was building.
Maxine held Kate's hand that was perched on her shoulder, grabbing her attention. "I'm not trying to scare you," she said, warmth flowing from her to Kate, "I just want you to be happy."
Kate smiled at her mom, genuinely touched. "Thanks, mom."
She placed the last strand of hair in place in her mom's messy bun. "There. Finished!"
"It's beautiful, Kate!" Her mother looked in the mirror, touching the bun with reverence.
A knock sounded on the door, both women looking at Mikaela as she entered the room.
"Max? Kate?" She smiled at the duo. "They're ready."
The wedding went smoothly. The church was decorated simply, but beautifully: with flowers hanging on every pew. They framed Kate's mother as she radiantly walked down the aisle, unable to hide her smile as she and Cal held each other's stares.
"You look like a model!" Cal had exclaimed.
Kate, standing right next to her mom, grinned proudly—not only for the compliment of her handiwork, for her mother did look very beautiful—but because she was witnessing one of the happiest days of her mother's life. She was so proud that they had come this far, and that they had such a strong, wonderful, future ahead of them as a family.
Her eyes wandered across the aisle to her own beloved, standing with the groomsmen. He wasn't paying attention to Max or Cal as they recited their vows: he was looking straight at Kate. Her heart leapt at the powerful, loving gaze he held in his eyes.
This was Kate's future. He was her future.
She couldn't help but imagine a day where she and Optimus were standing across from one another, professing their love and dedication. Maybe, even if they had an open enough priest, he could include some Cybertronian customs, whatever they might be. Maybe even Optimus could be in his true form and not a hologram.
Kate had realized, then, that her mother was right: they needed to plan for whatever the future may bring them.
After the ceremony, Kate and Mikaela had dutifully lingered enough to talk with guests and take a few family pictures with their official parents. Kate beamed, hugging Cal as he spun her in the air. Mikaela had folded her hands with Maxine, both looking at the camera, with wide grins.
Kate and Optimus had even gotten a picture together, in his holoform of course. The photographer had asked them to stare lovingly into each other's eyes. They did so, until he had to clear his throat multiple times, snapping them back to the present.
It was the first time Optimus and Kate had been photographed together.
She was going to treasure it always, keeping it as close to her as she possibly could. Strange enough, a sense of pride surged through her as she thought about the wrinkly edges the photo was going to get, from being in her pocket.
When Kate and Mikaela were dismissed, she and her new sister raced to the reception: a decorated banquet hall, with an outdoor dance floor overlooking a golf course and a pond. They met with the person delivering the cake, double checked with the caterers and entertainment, and made sure everything was running smoothly by the time all the guests arrived. Cal and Maxine were announced as "Mr. and Mrs. Barnes" with thunderous applause.
Kate couldn't stop smiling.
Kate. Would you do me the honor of this dance?
She swallowed the last bit of her third piece of wedding cake, looking startled at Optimus. He smiled gently at her, holding out his hand. For a beat, she felt the urge to fight back an overwhelming fear: a memory of him twirling her around the dance floor in what should have been a romantic moment, only for the bubble to be popped as he screamed 'Ratchet! Hurry!'
She shook her head, snapping herself back to the present.
Kate? Are you all right?
Yes. She responded, blinking. I'm fine.
Optimus looked skeptically at her and Kate knew he was concerned: she could never hide anything from him.
She took his hand and squeezed it, letting him lead her to the dance floor.
I had a flashback of that dream. She explained. When you were dancing with me... and...
"I understand Kate." He smiled, his blue optics pulsing with compassion. It was not a good memory.
How did you even get in my mind like that?
Ratchet has a prototype akin to your abilities.
"Of course he does."
Kate felt like she was floating on air: Optimus held her, his arm around her waist, and left hand holding her right. They twirled to the music, around the dance floor, weaving in between couples. His hair rustled with the wind they kicked up, her dress swirled to the beat of the music. They didn't pay attention to the songs, only each other.
She felt like she was Cinderella with her Prince Charming.
The memory was just a memory. Nothing more than a bad dream.
There would be no chimes at midnight. Not at her mother's wedding. Not in Optimus's arms.
Optimus and Kate were so engrossed in each other, dancing along the floor, that they didn't notice the other dancers had stopped. Well, not until they bumped into one of the other couples. Optimus apologized, but there was no response; that had gotten Kate and Optimus's attention.
They broke apart, still holding hands, as they looked around at the guests. They were all standing with their eyes fixed on the golf course below. Some people turned to others, murmuring amongst themselves. Maxine and Cal clasped hands, standing at the railing and looking over.
Kate couldn't see what was below them, but she had a horrible feeling about this.
"Mom!" she called, "Get away from the rail—"
But it was too late: an explosion erupted over the railing, so big, red, and loud that it flung her mom and Cal across the dance floor and into the doorway of the banquet hall.
"Mom!" Kate screeched.
She raced across the dance floor to try and help her mom, but, instead, was caught in a literal crowd of chaos. Caterers jumped over their counters, bridesmaids held their skirts as they ran, groomsmen yelled, and family and friends screeched. And they were all headed for the banquet hall doors, where Cal and Maxine were, thankfully, gingerly, getting up from the ground. But Kate couldn't get to her mother, try as hard as she could. A stampede stood in her way.
She breathed a sigh of relief when two groomsmen grabbed the married couple, escorting them into the banquet hall.
"Kate!" She heard her mother shout, the doors cutting her off as they slammed shut and locked.
Kate did a head count: all the guests and staff had blessedly made it inside the banquet hall.
Which left her, Optimus, Ratchet, Ironhide, and Bumblebee facing whatever had caused the fireworks. They all turned, facing the silhouettes climbing over the obliterated railing.
Alice stood, glaring at Kate. She pointed a finger and shouted: "It's your turn, Kate! Time to pay for what you did to Lord Megatron!"
Before her Alice shifted, revealing her true form: a spidery Medusa with red eyes hell-bent on taking revenge.
Kate's eyes widened as the long, mechanical finger moved from pointing at her to the humans pressing their faces against the banquet hall windows, watching the fight.
"Get away from the windows!" She shouted, turning her back to Alice.
"Kate!"
She heard Optimus call her name, but it was too late: that single moment she turned her back to Alice had given their opponent the opportunity. As soon as Kate face the Decepticons again, Alice was charging her. She lifted her arms to shield her face, looking away from the inevitable tackle.
But it never came.
Kate opened her eyes, blinking. Before her was Optimus's large Cybertronian hand, shielding her from Alice's wrath. It could have been almost comical: the medusa figure clawing at him, trying to get to her.
That was until she screeched: "Decepticons, attack!"
Kate looked around: the Autobots, in their mech forms, stood in a line, guarding the banquet hall. Battle ready, Ratchet, Ironhide, and Bee ran towards Decepticon counterparts. Optimus stood close to her, shielding her from Alice.
Only one problem: the Decepticon charging Optimus was almost as large as he was.
Kate watched in slow motion as they clashed together. She knew that her Autobot leader would be preoccupied with this foe. So, when Alice began to charge her, she backed away, her heart hammering in a panic.
A light thud sounded on the doors of the banquet hall. Kate could barely hear her mother screaming her name, crying for someone to open to help her.
But she was all alone.
Kate gripped her dress, hefting it so one side of it perched on her hip. She quickly tied the material into a knot, effectively lifting the dress off the ground so she could move more freely.
Crap!
She screamed, winding around Cybertronian legs, dodging Alice's lunges that were only a few feet behind her.
I'm sorry, Kate!
Apologize later!
Optimus let out a groan as he flipped the Decepticon onto his back. But before he could turn to help her, he was back in a grapple and Kate was, yet again, on her own.
She thought quickly, diving under Ratchet's foot so narrowly that he almost crushed her.
Watch it, Kate!
Sorry, Ratchet!
Then she spied it: a piece of railing laying on the dance floor, right in front of the banquet hall doors. She quickly turned on her feet, heading in the opposite direction. Alice lunged again. She dove, pulled off a barrel roll, and kept running. She didn't stop until her hands clasped around the thick metal. She turned and swung at Alice.
"Leave. Me. And. My. Family. Alone!" She punctuated as the wind whistled with the force of her swing.
It slammed into the side of Alice's face. It was such a palpable blow that her jaw sparked, causing her to back away a few paces in shock.
Kate watched, holding the railing up again, ready for another attack.
Alice winced, holding her jaw. Her red eyes fixed on Kate, but she did nothing: just stood there, looking at her for a beat.
And then, in a flash, the Decepticons were all bounding back over the railing, leaving destruction in their wake.
"What the hell?" Kate just stood there, watching them run away.
She looked up at Optimus; his blue optics narrowed skeptically, watching the enemy shift into their alt modes and drive off.
"Do—" she began, truly puzzled, "Do Decepticons do that, Optimus? Back away from a fight?"
But Ratchet was the one who spoke up: "You surprised her so much that she got spooked and ran off!"
The Autobots all cheered her, congratulating her on her first Decepticon hit.
"We'll make a fine warrior out of you yet!" Ironhide chimed in, pumping the air.
Kate smiled, overjoyed at the Autobots's cheering. For the first time in her life, she felt like she actually handled herself. She felt so proud that she hadn't needed Optimus's rescue.
But still, a dread nagged in her mind.
"This isn't over." She frowned.
"It may not be over," Optimus agreed, "but it is for today. Celebrate the little things, as well as the big."
"Yes." she smiled, holding up her hand to Optimus's jaw, caressing it. "We still have a wedding to celebrate after all!"
And then the realization hit. Kate looked back at the banquet hall. The doors had been flung open, the guests and wedding party helping clean up the mess. Ratchet was back in his holoform, tending to some of the humans who had cuts and bruises from the attack.
But Kate? She locked eyes with her mom and Cal, who had just witnessed everything that had transpired between her and the giant mech that was the love of her life.
"Oh boy." She said, scratching the back of her head. "Secret's out."
Optimus gave a curt nod, not entirely paying attention to her. For, at that moment, he was trying his best to be the embodiment of strength and bravery, but he was staring into the fiery eyes of Maxine Barnes.
"It is indeed."
