I do not own Transformers, only my OC's.

Another massive thank you to my reviewers, you make this story all the more worth while to write :)

XxXxXx

Halloween, the day in which the devilish creatures of the world were said to come forth and walk the earth. There were plenty of those to be sure. Already there had been four devils, two zombies, three pirates, a werewolf and one particularly adorable Winnie the Pooh at my house.

I was the designated cavity faerie.

My uncle and aunt were out taking Annabelle around the neighborhood. They had asked me to come, but I have no interested in trick-or-treating any more. It was something my friends and I would do for fun and free candy, but without them here the concept of the holiday seemed rather childish. So instead I sat on the bed of the truck, a rather large bowl of candy at my side.

"Trick-or-treat," a little boy and his sister dressed as a knight and princess held out their pillow cases. I dropped a handful of candy into each. "Thank you," they ran off to their awaiting mother.

The air was nippy and the nature of my costume only rendered me victim to the elements. Had I a choice I would have been wearing jeans and a sweater, but my aunt had been far too into the costume idea for me to say no.

"What exactly is the point of this holiday?" Ron sat down next to me. I have no idea where he just came from. Sometimes I think he likes to completely baffle me.

"Candy," I pointed to the bowl before readjusting my circlet. It was a bit too big for me and kept slipping down.

He picked up a piece of candy, "something of no nutritional value whatsoever."

"Of course not," unwrapping one I popped it in my mouth. "It wouldn't taste so good if it did."

Ron made a face and dropped the candy back into the bowl, "you can keep it."

I laughed, but could not as anything because a slew of kids had come up.

"What are you supposed to be anyway?" Ron asked as the kids ran for the next house.

"A mythical fairy goddess of some sort."

"Is that supposed to make you immune to the cold?"

"Nope." He gave me a quizzical look. "How have you been anyway? I haven't seen you in two weeks." Like my uncle, he had been away on some secret military operation. They had taken off rather suddenly one afternoon; uncle only left a message on the phone saying he'd be gone for a while. All I knew was it for national security.

"Week and a half," he corrected. "And I didn't attain anything Ratchet couldn't patch."

It had been a while since I had heard that name. "So you did injure yourself."

"Comes with the field."

More trick-or-treaters came up and I dropped candy into their bags. "Do you ever wish the fighting could just stop?"

It took him a moment to respond. "All the time."

He was looking off into the distance, towards where the sun was setting behind the houses and trees. The wind shifted gently through his dark hair. For just a moment I thought I saw an azure glint flicker around him. But when I blinked there was nothing unusual.

Smiling, I silently took off my circlet I placed it upon his head. He turned back to me with a confused expression. "May you be kept safe until your wish comes true."

Ron smiled and ruffled my hair. "You as well."

He wrapped me in a warm, one armed hug.

XxXxXxXxX

Usually when I got up in the morning I was drowsy from having only two or three hours of sleep and was in desperate need of a cup of coffee. This morning however turned out to be a little different.

I awoke to shouting.

Bolting out of bed I scrambled over to my window. I could feel my heart hammering in my chest, but whether it was from having been jarred awake or from worry I was not sure. Perhaps it was a bit of both.

There were two boys rolling around the yard, yelling at one another.

"What the hell are you two doing?" I heard my uncle, but I could not see him.

I raced downstairs, nearly slipping down the steps as I went. Aunt Sarah was looks out the kitchen window, holding Annabelle protectively. The toddler seemed mostly unaware of what was going on. Moving to the screen door I looked out, not daring to go any farther.

Ron had appeared somewhere between the time I had left my room and stood in the doorway. He was attempting to separate the two boys. Who the heck where they?

Ron grew more outraged as the boys refused to adhere to his commands and wriggled themselves out of his arms to tackle the other.

Eventually he flat out put his foot down. Literally.

One of the boys yelped as the boot connected with his back. The other quickly edged away.

"Are the two of you finished," Ron roared.

The break allowed me to get a better look at the two. They looked about my age and were twins, identical save for their hair. One had his hair dyed green, the other a rusty red. It fit their rebellious natures.

The green haired twin edged slowly towards Ron and his pinned brother. Cautiously he helped his twin up as he was released. "Get back to base," Ron growled. "Optimus will hear of this."

"Dude, don' be such hard-ass," the rusty haired one said, brushing dirt off himself.

"We was just playin'," said the other.

"In MY yard," uncle stressed rather harshly.

"'Course it's your yard," the green haired one started.

"Why'd be we be in someone else?" The other finished. The twins shrugged at each other.

Ron made to grab them, but they scampered away. "You ain't gettin' us like this ya old fender," they echoed each other.

The odd remark made Ron clench his jaw so tightly I found myself hoping he didn't break his teeth. The twins laughed. Then, to my dismay, they noticed me.

They were at the door in the blink of an eye. "It's her," they stared at me with awed eyes.

I suddenly felt like a zoo exhibit. Cage and all.

"They ought a bring 'er to base now 'n then," the green one spoke again.

"Ya, she's practically Ironhides femme already."

CRACK!

Ron's fists came down on both their skulls.

"OW!" cried one.

"Rude!" cried the other.

"Shut your traps!" Hollered Ron.

The rusty haired twin pouted, hands rubbing his soar head, "you're such a grump."

"It's cause he doen' sleep," the other told his twin, "to busy mating."

That was, as they say, the straw that broke the camel's back. Ron's fist flew, missed its mark only by a hair and cracked into the door.

It splintered.

Alarmed, I flung myself backwards. My back connected with the table, sending both myself and it crashing onto the floor. Dishes and cutlery crashed around me.

I heard tires screech as at least one car peeled out down the road. My uncle was screaming something, but I was too dazed to know what.

Aunt Sarah knelt down next to me. I was not sure where Anna was. Playpen perhaps. She pressed a cloth firmly to my cheek.

"Will!" She half screamed over her shoulder.

"I'm fine," I murmured dizzily.

Will and Ron came running through the door in time to the cloth being taken away. A large splotch of blood covered it, "this is not fine!"

No, that certainly wasn't.

XxXxXxXxXx

I don't know who fussed more - my uncle, my aunt or Ron. All I did know is Ron had practically thrown me in the truck and sped, far beyond the legal limit, to the hospital. My uncle had scarcely gotten in himself.

Three stitches, a well placed bandage and a thousand apologies later I was back home. The injury hadn't been nearly as bad as it had seemed, only bleeding so much because it was a facial wound. Apparently a knife had flown by my cheek on the way to the floor. Must have been a sharp one, I hadn't felt a thing. Then again, I had been dazed.

Ron handed me a cup of tea before sitting on the edge of my bed. "I am sorry Mel."

A thousand and one. "It's fine. Really, it's not a big deal." Trying to make him feel better was like trying to jump the Grand Canyon.

"I shouldn't have lost my temper."

I blew on the rising steam. "I won't argue that matter. But those two were being rather crass." I sort of wanted to throttle them myself, now that I thought about it.

"Melry," Ron's urgent tone was startling. "I hope you don't believe anything those scrap heaps said."

So many strange remarks today. "I do believe one thing." His brows knitted together with concern. "You need to get some sleep."

He relaxed. "I'm not as sleep deprived as you think."

"All the same," I sipped my tea. "You don't need to accompany me every night. You're in the military. Not having enough rest could get you killed."

"I've been in far more battles than you can imagine. You don't need to worry about my safety."

I half smiled, "battle rugged huh?"

Ron just chuckled.

"But I'm serious," I put the cup down on the bedside table. "I'm supposed to be the insomniac, not you."

"And I'm supposed to be your guardian, not your assailant."

For a moment we just stared at each other. His features were pulled strait, mine confused.

"What?"

Ron bowed his head, "When you first arrived here, Will asked me to keep an eye on you. He was, and still is, greatly concerned for your well being. At first I thought it little better than babysitting, especially when you expressed animosity towards me." He lifted his head and smiled softly, "but I realize that was mostly my fault."

I tried to protest, but he raised a hand and quieted me. "You were new here and I was, in many respects, a stranger to you. Years out in the field has rendered me a hardened façade and it wasn't something you were ready to deal with on your own. I should have been more conscience of that fact."

I suppose I should have guessed. Why else would he spend so much time with a teenager? I'm not sure why, but I felt a little disappointed.

"You don't need to babysit anymore," I forced a smile.

"It no longer troubles me," he flexed his hands, "which is what started the troubles today."

I watched his fingers as they curled and uncurled. "Are you sure your hand is alright? You did break the door you know." At the hospital he had refused to have a doctor look at him.

"It's fine." He frowned, "can't believe I did that."

"You did admit to being trigger happy once."

"But that usually damages my enemy, not a civilian."

I made a mock pouted, "I'm not even a friend?"

He laughed. "I wasn't going to make an assumption."

Uncle Will walked in, hands in his pockets. "How are you doing Mel?"

I frowned at him, "next time you want to assign me a body guard, tell me about it first."

"Huh?"

Ron chuckled, "She's referring to me." He rose to his feet. "I should get a hold of Optimus. Those twins need to be run through a trash compactor."

That reminded me, "what's a femme and what does me being one have to do with the truck?"

They froze.

"Make that a shredder," Ron grumbled before stalking out of the room.

XxXxXx

Please Review!

A guardian? Is Ironhide confused, blind or just in denial? ... Actually, I know that answer, but I like posing questions :P

Next chapter preview:

"Can I have a lift to school?"

"Your legs broken?" Ron joked.

What was with this man this morning? I raised my textbook to swat him.