Title: Of Birthdays

Characters: Will Lennox, Ironhide, mentions of Annabelle

Universe: Bayverse, post-RoTF

Rating: K+

Warnings: None

Description: Ironhide doesn't understand the purpose of a birthday celebration.

"I don't get it."

Will frowns. "I know you've got access to the internet."

"Isn't what I mean, Lennox," Ironhide replies churlishly. "Your sparkling – your infant – isn't even mature enough to remember this, much less understand."

"Your point?"

The Topkick shudders around him, the Cybertronian version of an aggravated sigh. "All this effort. Cake. Balloons. Presents. Invitations. Why bother?"

For a long moment, Will is silent. How can he answer this in such a way for Ironhide to understand? How can he put his maelstrom of emotions into mere words?

"When Annabelle was born, do you know where I was?" Will asks, fingers drumming across the steering wheel.

"Judging by your military service record-"

Will doesn't even want to know how easy it is for the Cybertronians to hack into government databases. "Qatar," he finishes before Ironhide can. "I missed my daughter being born. When she opened her eyes for the first time, I wasn't there to hold her."

The silence in Ironhide's cab is more than a little heavy.

"She might not remember, but I will," he continues. "The first of many things I hope to see. Surrounded by friends and family, reminding me what I'm out there fighting for."

He glances at the passenger seat and the neat piles of delicately wrapped gifts. At the beautiful cake and the large beribboned teddy bear.

"This is more for me than for her, really. In the end."

"I see." Ironhide's rumbling vocals hold a note of apology as though his confusion were an insult to Will. "Family-"

"Includes you," Will says firmly, leaving no room for argument. "You saved my life. That makes us brothers. That's what matters."

"Humans have a unique way of seeing things," Ironhide rumbles, and then pauses. "I am honored, Will Lennox."

"Just Will."

"Of course." The Topkick's engine revs, speed ticking upward to the low seventies. "We'd better hurry. We can't be late for her birthday."

Will smiles.

a/n: Fluff and fluff. I don't write it often but this prompt called for it. I hope you enjoyed it.