Winnie smiles and pulls him closer, still tickling him. He squeals even louder, clinging to her fingers. That TICKLES! Winnie stops for a bit and smiles as he breathes hard.
"Winnie," he gasps, lying back against her hand. "Whew."
She smiles. "A little ticklish?"
"J-Just a little," he breathes, a hand wrapped around one of her fingers.
She puts a hand around him and looks over to Sunray.
"Breakfast?" he asks, passing over a mug of energon to Winnie, and a shot glass for Lifeflight. "Shot is low-grade, mug is standard," he says.
"Thanks," she says, taking a sip. Warm! Much better than cold energon.
"Alright, anything fit your fancy?" he asks, "Pancakes, toast, eggs, oatmeal..."
"Umm... toast please?"
"Alright... anything to go on said toast, ma'am? Eggs, hollandaise, the blood of your enemies..."
"Oh I prefer a little gore-toast any day," she says in a fake British accent.
"Of course, we all do," he says with a wink. "But I seem to be fresh out of vanquished enemies... next preference, please?" He smiles at Winnie, barely able to contain himself.
"Um... eggs?"
"Comin' right up. Anything beside that? We got plenty in the fridge... breakfast goes big around here."
"I'm fine thanks."
"Okay." He reaches into the fridge, and pulls out a box of eggs. "Shield? What do you want?"
"Selection four," Shield answers, walking into the reading room.
Winnie smiles. "Selection four?"
"When he was little, he got tired of telling us what he wanted, because it was the same every time. Selection four is his code for toast, buttered, two eggs, over, and a cup of blueberry oatmeal."
"That's a system," Winnie says with a smile.
Sunray grabs six pieces of bread, and pops two into the toaster. He cracks seven eggs into his skillet, and turns the heat up. Reaching back into the fridge, he grabs a bowl of blueberries, and sets it down on the island.
"You can eat some if you so desire," he says, picking some out himself.
"Ooh! Winnie! Grab me o-one too! What are th-they?" Lifeflight asks.
Winnie grabs a few and hands one to Lifeflight. "Blueberries," she says, popping one into her mouth.
"I-I've never had one b-before," he says, cautiously peeling a little of the skin back, and he takes a bite. "Mmm..."
"Good?" she asks, grabbing a few more.
"Ya!" he chirps, taking another bite. "A l-little tart."
"Yeah. But otherwise they get all squishy-icky."
"Eew," he says, giving a look to his blueberry and Winnie's.
"These are good ones though." Then she turns to Sunray. "Who'd ya get these from? They're really good."
"Hmm... I honestly can't remember... Mama and Daddy do most of the resource gathering."
"I'll have to ask them later. I've been looking for a good blueberry farm," she says rolling one in her hand.
"Sounds good," he answers.
Winnie sets one on the counter and flicks it gently, bumping it into Lifeflight's leg. He squeaks and picks it up, setting it in his lap.
"Th-They are imposing th-though... I mean, it's h-huge coming t-towards me! B-But they taste so good..." He takes a bite of the one Winnie flicked at him.
"Whatcha gonna do today, Winnie?" Sunray asks.
"Well... maybe we're finally gonna get down to the creek."
"Yay!" Lifeflight cries happily. "Creek!"
"Sounds solid," Sunray says. "Breakfast up!"
He flips two eggs over, and then cuts two others out, onto a plate. The toast dings and pops up, and he puts them on a plate too.
"Breakfast served," he says, sliding it over to Winnie.
"Wow... thanks," she says, taking a bite of toast.
"Yep."
She looks down to Lifeflight. "Want some?"
"Sure! I th-think..."
She breaks off a little piece of toast and dips it in the eggs. She hands it to Lifeflight with a smile.
He takes a bite, and his eyes widen. "Wow..."
"Ya like it?" She asks taking another bite of her own.
"Yes!"
Winnie smiles. "Cool."
Sunray reaches into a cupboard, and pulls out a box of oatmeal. He finds another pot, and starts the oatmeal. She watches him fix it and shovels the eggs into her mouth.
He pulls three eggs from the pan, and the other two pieces of toast go on another plate. He puts the other two pieces of toast into the toaster, and starts stirring the oatmeal.
As Lifeflight finishes the toast she looks back at him. "Want some more?"
"Mmm... I'm f-full," he murmurs.
" 'Kay." She smiles and takes another bite.
Sunray finishes with the oatmeal and mixes some blueberries in, then puts all the food on a plate.
"Selection four," Sunray calls.
Winnie watches Shield walk in and takes the last few bites of her breakfast.
"Thank you," Shield says, and takes a seat next to Winnie.
She smiles at him then leans back in her chair, feeling warm and full.
"Blaade," Sunray calls. "Come eat."
"Not hungry."
"Booster?"
"Coming."
She pulls her plate over and stands up. She takes her dishes to the sink as Blade walks in.
"Back from the dishes!" Sunray says, snagging them from her. "No dishes in the morning. I will do them later. Or Daddy."
" 'Kay." She smiles and walks back to the counter, nearly running into Blade.
He stands in the kitchen and holds out an arm.
"Booster," Blade insists.
Winnie watches Sunray as she sits back down.
"Okay," Sunray says, reaching into the fridge for a vial.
He pulls out a syringe and needle from subspace, and puts it together, drawing one milliliter from the vial. He takes Blade's arm, and injects it into his elbow, Blade watching the entire time. Winnie watches him, then looks down at the counter. Blade sighs and taps his chest, then walks back into the living room.
Winnie smiles and then looks over to Lifeflight.
He stretches and looks up at Winnie. "Wh-what do you want t-to do now? I th-think we ought to wait f-for G and Bumblebee s-so that th-they know where we're g-going."
"Yeah. Hmm... what do you wanna do?" She asks.
"I-I don't know... S-Sunray?"
"Hmm... I don't know. Board game? Oh, Winnie, you could go feed King. I haven't, yet."
Winnie smiles and looks outside. "Sure! I keep forgetting he's here."
Sunray laughs. "We'll stay inside, so you can take him out."
"I-I'll sit in-n the window," Lifeflight says.
" 'Kay. Where's his food kept?" she asks.
"Uh... pantry. On the left. It's past the washroom down here," he says.
"Thanks," she says, standing up and walking quickly to the specified door. She opens it and pokes her head inside, looking around.
"Look down," Sunray calls.
She smiles and looks down at the dim floor. "Thank you!" she calls back.
"Yep! I'm going to go get Oneshot."
Winnie reaches down and reaches into the bag. She feels a cup, and scoops the contents of the bag into it. She then closes the door, and heads towards the door to the porch.
"Oh, Winnie! Here," Sunray says, reaching into the fridge.
He pulls out a cut of meat, and gingerly sets it down on a plate for her.
"Thanks." She says walking in and picking it up.
She turns and smiles at Lifeflight before walking outside. She quickly pads barefoot to the kennels, and calls a greeting to King. He whines as she opens the door. Setting the meat on the floor she pours the contents of the cup beside it and takes off his muzzle.
When she takes the muzzle off, he eats ravenously. When the food is gone he stares at the door and whines.
"Okay then. Stick close."
She pokes her head out and makes sure no one is outside. The two walk outside, Winnie with two fingers on his head. Then she lifts her fingers.
"Go way out," she tells him, and the dog shoots forward, sniffing everything excitedly.
She watches King sprint around and then he freezes, tail wagging. She looks at him and then slowly sinks down onto all fours. She growls playfully, and sways back and forth, smiling.
He barks, and runs over to her, nuzzling into her hair and yipping happily. She wrestles with King for a while, playing and running around; while chasing each other Winnie flops onto the grass.
"Wee?"
Winnie jumps up and looks around for her dog.
"Wee!"
Raybeam comes out onto the porch, and King is right beside the rail, sniffing his feet. Winnie runs over and wraps her hand around his muzzle, but there's no need. King looks up at the sparkling, waggling his hindquarters happily. Winnie breathes out and looks up at Raybeam.
"Hi."
"Eh..." he whines, looking down at King. "Doggy..."
Winnie pulls the dog back towards the kennel. "Sorry. One sec." She smiles.
He slowly takes a slep back, watching Winnie lead King back. "Play?" he asks.
"Sure!" She says sliding the muzzle over King's nose as she puts him in the kennel. "What do you want to play?" she calls.
"Pet?"
Winnie looks up. "Do you want to pet him?"
Raybeam nods shyly, watching Winnie. She smiles and leads King quietly back over, muzzle still on. The dog's tail wiggles as they approach the steps. She snaps her fingers in front of the dog's nose and he sits patiently. Winnie holds a hand out to Raybeam and smiles.
Carefully, Raybeam gives her a hand and she brings it down gently to rest on King's wet nose. He wiggles but doesn't move forward. Winnie smiles at Raybeam.
"He likes you."
Raybeam's doorwings fold down, and his eyebrows knit together. He kneels down on the porch to get a better reach, and cautiously pulls his hand back, looking at the shining wet on his palm. He looks up at Winnie, cocking his head questioningly.
"Doggies' noses are really sensitive. Their noses are wet because they smell really well."
Raybeam looks back at his hand, then wipes the wet on his leg, holding his hand back out again for King. He stretches, and gingerly puts his hand on King's head. The dog presses into his hand and smiles under the muzzle.
Raybeam pets him a little, before a voice echoes from inside. "Raybeam..."
"Sun!" he chirps. "Doggy!"
Sunray comes to the glass door, and looks out of the screen. "Winnie..."
King's ears twitch at the voice. Winnie looks up to the mech. "It's alright. Ray, can you stand up for a bit, please?" She motions for Sunray to come out.
"Ya," he says, pulling himself up, and he stumbles a little, hanging onto the railing.
He glances over his shoulder at his panels, and flicks them a couple of times to recalibrate the sensors. Sunray comes outside, throwing a dishtowel over his shoulder.
"Hey, there, Ray."
A rumble builds in King's chest and Winnie tightens her hand. "Sunray, could you come over here? Hold out your hand."
"Why?" Sunray asks, walking over to Winnie. He puts a hand on Raybeam's helm, and the little sparkling's hands hang onto his leg.
Winnie looks up as King's growl fades. "Put your hand in front of his nose. I want to see what he does."
"If he bites me I demand that you give me a kiss to make it better," Sunray says, winking and sticking his tongue out. "Right on my canine slobbered hand."
She sticks her tongue back out at him. "He won't bite you."
"Heh."
He reaches out his hand, and has to lean over the railing to extend it down to King's level.
King leans back and looks up at the bot, then sniffs the outstretched hand. The dog relaxes and wags his tail.
"Well?" Sunray asks.
"Do I pass?"
Winnie smiles and scratches the dog's neck. "Yep. You two scored higher than most."
"Well, I feel honored," Sunray says.
"Me! Me!" Raybeam chirps, reaching out again to touch King's head. "Kin'."
Winnie let's go of his nose and hangs onto his collar instead, letting the toddler pet the dog.
The door slides open, and Bumblebee steps out, a smile tickling his mouth, and he stretches. "Good morning," he purrs, rolling his shoulders and flaring his panels.
At the sight of Bee's panels, King jumps and darts out, away from the porch. He drags Winnie into the middle of the lawn and turns, fur raised and growling. Bee watches this and walks over to Sunray, picking Raybeam up and putting an hand on Sunray's shoulder.
"Winnie?" he asks.
She bites her lip and pulls herself up. "Sorry." She looks up apologetically and pulls the scared King back to the kennels.
"Um... okay," Bee says. "For what?"
Winnie puts King back in the kennel before answering. "I should have been paying more attention," she says, as a muffled bark comes from the dog.
"Why? I've been out of it for a little... he seemed alright with Sun and Raybeam."
"Yeah..." she says, walking back to the steps.
"Well, at least he's doing better with some Mecha," he says, setting Raybeam down and leaning on the rail. He watches Winnie walk up to the porch.
She looks up at the bot. "That time when King got out at the compound was the first time you had seen him right?" she asks.
"Hmm... yes," Bumblebee answers, flicking his panels up in curiosity. "Why?"
"I think it must have been your reaction to him that day. When you growled at him and showed aggression he labeled you as a threat." She climbs back up the steps. "Neither Sunray or Raybeam did. It might take a while for him to warm up to you now."
"Hmm..." he rumbles. "Makes sense. You eat?"
She smiles. "Yep."
"Good," he says, stretching again. "Hmm... anything else?"
"Nope... Lifeflight and I might go down to the creek in a bit though," she says, looking in through the door.
"Nice. I think I'll polish my cannon today... so if there are any stray shots... well, that's me, so no reason for alarm."
"And I shall give Oneshot a bath," Sunray says. "Mama is assigned to medbay today."
Winnie nods. "Cool."
"I request a mathematics exam whenever it is convenient," Shield adds, standing in the doorway.
Winnie looks over her shoulder to him and smiles.
"Well, let's get to it," Bumblebee says. "Sounds like we each have something to do."
A tiny helicopter flies over Shield's head, and lands on the railing, transforming into Lifeflight. "W-Winnie!" he squeals brightly.
"Hey, Lifeflight. You wanna go to the creek?" she asks, turning to him.
"Yes!" he says, eyes wide. "Yes!"
"Cool. I'll get my shoes."
"Okay," he says, watching Winnie walk onto the porch.
She walks past Shield and appears a minute later, boots in hand. Lifeflight watches as she sits on the stairs, starting to lace the boots up.
Bumblebee walks past her, gently tugging on a lock of hair sticking up in the back, and he sits on the swing, facing the yard. His right arm formats into his cannon, and he starts twisting it, and pulls the top half off.
Winnie sticks her tongue out when he walks past. She stands up, walks gingerly inside, and holds out a hand for Lifeflight to climb on.
"See you in a bit," she tells Bee.
"Alrighty," he answers, setting a piece to the side, and pulling out a bottle of cleanser and a rag. "Shout if you need aide."
"Can do," she calls, as she walks down the porch stairs with Lifeflight in hand.
"Th-This is exciting!" Lifeflight bubbles, "I c-can't wait to s-see it!"
"Me neither," she says padding across the grass.
They cross over to the trees, and walk down under the shade.
Winnie smiles and breathes in the cool, earthy smell. "I can hear the water," she says, listening.
"M-Me too!"
She carefully ducks around the branches and follows the gurgling. As they step out behind another a tree, the creek comes into view. At the beginning, it is only a little trickle, and it runs down a small dip, gathering together to become larger and more voracious as it rushes past Winnie. At the start of the water, there are some wild lilies, and Lifeflight gasps in awe when he sees them.
"P-Please put-t me down b-by the lilies," he murmurs.
Winnie grins and sets him down in the moist earth. Unlacing her boots she casts them aside and sticks her feet in the cool water. He stretches up to sniff the first lily carefully, and smiles at the sweet scent.
"W-Winnie! They smell-l good."
She smiles and bends down to smell them. "Mmm... yeah."
He stretches and walks to the next one, smelling that one too. Moving to the little trickle that the creek begins as, he dips a foot in. Squeaking when he feels it is colder than expected, he looks up at Winnie.
"Just a little cool," she laughs, and messes with the moss on the rocks.
He puts the other foot in, and looks down the slight dip, to where the creek moves into a pool before continuing. Looking up at Winnie, he jumps, and slides down the moss into the pool, diving in with a little splash.
She jumps as he slides, then seeing it was on purpose, relaxes and watches him surface. He smiles up at her, treading water.
"You scared me," she laughs, pushing a lily pad over beside him.
"R-Really? I'm sorry, I-I didn't-t mean t-to," he says looking up at Winnie with warm, pleading eyes.
"No... no. It's fine," she smiles, wiggling her toes.
He smiles, and turns over, diving down again into the water. After a few moments, he comes back up, water running off his helm and shoulders.
"W-Winnie! There's s-something d-down there!"
She puts her hand into the water. "Really? What'd it look like?"
"White," he says. "White a-and thick."
Winnie slides a little further into the creek and sticks her hand in the mud. She feels something solid and pulls it out. She brings it into her lap and wipes the algae and dirt off.
"Oooh."
"Wh-What is it?" Lifeflight asks, walking over to the edge of the creek and looking up.
"It's an antler," she says, rubbing away more muck.
"Wh-What?" he asks, "Wh-Where do they come from?"
"Remember the elk I told you about?"
"Yes..."
"This is one of the things on their heads," she says, holding it up.
"Oh..." he says, looking closer. "I didn't kn-know they c-came off. What a-are they m-made of?"
"Bone... they grow out of their heads and then fall off every year."
"Wow..." Lifeflight says, as Winnie sets it back down in her lap.
He puts his hands on it, and then reaches into subspace, pulling out a tiny scanner. Passing the light over part of the antler, he looks at the readings.
"Interesting m-molecular st-structure," he says.
Winnie smiles and wipes it down on her jeans. "You should see what the big ones look like."
"D-Do you have a-any?" Lifeflight asks.
"Probably... if nothing else, I could get one in a few months."
Lifeflight smiles, and sits down on Winnie's leg. "It's s-s-so nice out-t here."
Winnie leans back against a rock. "Yeah."
Subspacing his scanner, Lifeflight wipes his eyes and scoots down to nuzzle against Winnie. "O-Out of the w-water it's a l-little nippy."
She smiles and pulls her arm up around him.
"It's a g-good thing you f-found m-me," he says softly, snuggling into her warmth.
Winnie bites her lip and nods. "I think so too..."
"W-Well, I w-was beginning-g to w-worry if y-you were okay," he murmurs, "a-about you doing something r-rash."
"Rash?" She smiles down at him.
"I don't know," he says, "i-insist on swapping y-yourself for me, h-hunting down Depthcharge yourself... th-things like that."
He looks up with Winnie and smiles knowingly.
"Pretty spot on," she says, looking back at him.
"I-I am g-grateful you did-d all you d-did, though," he says quietly.
"I hardly did anything... it was my fault it happened in the first place," she says, looking down.
"No, it wasn't," Lifeflight says softly, looking back up at her. "It-t was no one's f-fault."
"I dropped you..." she mumbles.
"I fell," he corrects. "I w-was hanging o-onto your hair and I f-fell off."
She chews her lip and says nothing. "P-Please don't b-blame yourself," Lifeflight asks.
She opens her eyes and looks at him. "I'm sorry."
"Why?" he asks.
"I do blame myself. I'm sorry for that and I'm sorry I dropped you."
Lifeflight stands up, climbing up Winnie's shirt. He hangs onto her hair, and stands on her collar, peering into her eyes.
"Stop. Blaming. Yourself." He taps her nose with a finger. "Things-s happen."
Winnie smiles a little bit, then looks down. "But that shouldn't have."
"Th-That's like s-saying... saying... I-I shouldn't have m-met you," he says. "I-It must have been meant t-to happen, b-because it did."
She sinks down a little bit in the moss, looking into his eyes.
"I-I want to tell you," Lifeflight murmurs, "th-that I want... want t-to kiss you. B-But I won't. M-Mostly because you could e-eat my helm... s-second is I don't know i-if you want to. I... I... j-just want to show my thanks f-for you b-being th-th-there."
He whispers the last few words, and his eyes lower, then flick back up to Winnie's, and he slowly sits down on her collar, curled up next to her neck. Winnie stares out at nothing.
A little squeak comes out of her mouth as she tries to speak. Lifeflight's fingers trace over a small part of her skin, and he flicks his rotors, reseating them in the folded down position.
"Uh..." she says, still trying to process what just happened.
"I'm sorry," Lifeflight mumbles. "I sh-shouldn't have s-said that-t."
"No... er, I... I mean, um..." She feels her face heat.
"N-No, I just st-step into e-everything two f-feet and shoulders f-first," he sighs, curling up against her warmth. "F-Feel free t-to ignore the last statements-s I h-h-have made."
"No, I won't," she says, brushing his rotors gently in an attempt to pull his mind away.
He shivers, and holds onto one of her fingers.
"A-are you cold?" she squeaks out, feeling him shiver.
"N-Not more than u-usual right n-now," he murmurs, "I just l-like feeling you n-near me."
She feels her throat tighten and is quiet for a minute, listening to the water chatter and the bugs gather as the sun climbs up. A boom is heard from the direction of the house, and Lifeflight startles himself off of Winnie's collar, landing in her lap.