Plot Bunny: An expression of almost childlike hopefulness.

Child

Sam smiled as he watched the children in front of him. Everyone of them wore an expression of hope. Each one hoping that this would be the day that they were adopted and were able to go home with a new family. He could see the look on the faces of other adults too. They all wore an expression of almost childlike hopefulness.

This hope was for finding a child that would help make their own homes complete. It was something he wanted more than anything. The desire was only matched by Optimus who seemed to want one just as badly as Sam did. Both of them had fought long and hard for the right to adopt a child and they had won at last. Now here they were at the orphanage trying to find the kid that they'd take home. Sam knew that they weren't going to get a teenager this go round.

They'd wait till he was a little older because despite Will's teasing Sam knew that a younger child would adjust to their lifestyle much quicker than an older child would. He was just barley out of his teenage years himself and he had no desire to have to go through what most parents went through when their kids were teenagers. He'd prefer to wait and in a few years if they wanted another kid then they could adopt again. It wasn't like he didn't have the time to adopt as many as he wanted. For now though he'd have to settle on a younger child and work his way up. At least this was a new experience for Optimus too.

The mech's avatar stood beside him looking over the kids in the room just as he did. He wasn't sure if he was ready to mingle yet or not. He wanted to try and talk to a few of the kids but the other adults were making it difficult. Sam didn't understand why they seemed to insist on talking to three or four kids at a time. Didn't that just make it harder to choose the one you wanted. Sam's eyes were still sliding over the kids when he caught one older lady staring at him and Optimus. The look on the woman's face was quite readable.

She looked at them like they were something that belonged in the trash. Sam sighed his desire to try and get to know the kids filling the room dieing just a bit. "Don't let her bother you." Sam looked over at Optimus. The man blue eyes had rested on the woman for a moment before they began roaming the room again. He watched everyone in the room like he could see into their very souls. Sam smiled a little as he slipped his hand into Optimus' their fingers intertwining.

"I know I shouldn't but she isn't really helping my nerves." Optimus only chuckled.

"Why in the name of Primus are you nervous little one?" Optimus swore that even if they spent a million years together that he'd never fully understand his human bonded's tendency to get nervous about every little thing. Sam scratched the back of his head.

"It's just the whole choosing a kid thing I guess. I mean what if none of them like us or something?" Optimus didn't miss the hand that ran across one of the scars that crossed the back of Sam's hand. He had a similar set of scars running down the right side of his face.

Optimus sighed and wrapped his arms around Sam in a light hug. The scars given to him by Megatron bothered Sam something awful. The reason why he had them didn't bother Sam at all but the way people reacted upon seeing them bothered Sam greatly. "Don't you worry about what they think one bit and if someone asks then tell them what you tell everyone else who sticks their nose in your business when they really shouldn't. As for the kids I highly doubt that it's the scars keeping them away."

Sam laughed and turned in Optimus' arms in order to place a kiss on the avatars cheek. "Thank you." Sam said as he turned to look at the kids again only to notice that that same woman was still looking at them. Figuring that it'd be best to be polite (at least in front of the kids) Sam waved at the woman. She took a moment to glare at Sam before turning back to the man that had to be her husband and the kids that they were talking to.

"Don't let her bother you." Both Sam and Optimus jerked a bit in surprise at the unexpected voice. "Mrs. Buis tends to treat most people she doesn't know like that and she tends to know just about everybody." The young lady that stood beside them smiled as she shook her head at the woman she had identified as Mrs. Buis. "Unfortunately that also tends to mean that if you're a same sex couple she'll give you hell for just breathing." Sam blinked as he looked between Optimus and the young lady standing next to them. Squinting he was just able to make out the name on her name tag. The tag read Sadie West.

"You seem to know a lot about her." Optimus said as he eyed Sadie.

Sadie let out a very unlady like snort. "Unfortunately. She's part of the city council and so am I. Her husbands alright. Kinda timed but alright. But anyways I'm getting off topic. I actually came over to see if either of you needed help." Both Optimus and Sam took a moment to smile at Sadie's willingness to help them.

"I'm sure you could help us." Optimus said

"We're looking for a child and well Sam here can't seem to move past rude people staring." Sadie laughed a little while Sam blushed and hid his face in his hands while muttering something that couldn't quite be understood.

"Ya, the crowd here can be kinda intimidating. Would you like me to get one of the hiders for you?" Sadie asked.

"That would be nice. Wouldn't it Sam?" Sam sighed and nodded.

"Sounds good to me. This way I can avoid Mrs. Buis' death glare." Optimus chuckled and shook his head a little.

"Good luck with that and if you find a way that works pass it on to me why don't ya." Sadie said to them as she turned and left the room presumably to look for one of the kids that was hiding from the adults.

"She's nice." Sam said as he and Optimus moved over to one of the walls in order to sit in the seats lined up there.

"She's very helpful. I wonder if she works here or if she just volunteers." Sam shrugged. It could be either one of those options. It didn't really matter either way. Sam couldn't help but smile as he watched the adults and children in the room. Everyone looked hopeful and excited. Even Mr. Buis looked like he was enjoying himself despite his wife.

"Do you think we'll find a kid Optimus?" Sam asked quietly.

"It's possible that we might and it's also possible that we might not. We'll know the child we want when we see them and get to know them a little bit. Don't worry to much Sam. Even if we don't find a child here there are plenty of other orphanages to go to and we have plenty of time." Sam knew Optimus was right but he felt a little like a coward for not approaching any of the children in the room.

Then again none of them had approached them either. Sam watched as a few couples pointed at both him and Optimus. He knew that they were being talked about and wished that the people doing the talking had enough sense to wait until they were gone to do it. Or maybe they just didn't care that both he and Optimus could see them talking and pointing. Sam winced as he watched one woman motion down one side of her face. She was pointing out his scars. It didn't help that the woman she was talking to turned and stared straight at him with her mouth agape.

"Ignore them Sam." Optimus said as he eyed his bonded. Optimus knew that Sam hated attention like this and had they not been here for a good reason they would have simply left but they couldn't. They had yet to try and find a child to adopt. It wasn't really the type of mission that he was used to but it was one that he was determined to succeed in. It was something that both of them wanted badly. Sam let out a soft sigh as he leaned on Optimus' shoulder. Apparently Sadie was having a lot of trouble finding the kids that were hiding for she had yet to return.

"Do you think the kids ate her?" Sam asked Optimus causing the man to chuckle.

"I suppose that it's possible but it doesn't seem very likely. She may be trying to find more than one child. She did say hiders after all."

"True. If she's not back in fifteen minutes should we go looking?"

"No it's also possible that she ended up sidetracked. She'll be here before you know it." Optimus smiled as he and Sam talked in quiet voices. The conversation was silly but it was one of the few ways Sam was able to distract himself and with a group of moms and would be moms huddled in a corner talking and pointing Sam needed all the distraction he could get. At lest this way he wasn't constantly worrying about someone staring at them or at his scars. The sound of running feet stopped their conversation.

A group of eight or nine kids had just run into the room and many of the adults were now turning their focus from Sam and Optimus to the children. A few of the kids glanced their way but other than that they didn't really pay the couple any attention. It was only when Sadie walked over to them that they turned away.

"I think I have one for you to talk to but your going to have to go to her. I couldn't get here to come out of her room." Sam and Optimus glanced at each other before both of them stood.

"That's fine." Sadie nodded at Optimus before looking over at Sam, who had glanced back at the other adults to see if they were looking again.

"Well follow me then." Sadie said as she lead the pair out of the room and down a hallway. The room they entered was fairly small but it was quite warm as well. The walls were painted a creamy yellow and colored coloring book pages hung on the walls. A small bed sat on each side of the room with a large dresser sitting by the door.

A few battered and beaten toys lay on the floor. There was nothing in the room to set it apart from the numerous other rooms in the orphanage. Well nothing except the child sitting at a small table coloring. Bare feet swung back and forth as the child hummed and unknown melody. Long curly black hair hung down to the child waist. Optimus ruffled Sam's own curly brown locks as if to point out the connection. Sam snorted and pushed the avatar's hand away.

"I promise that she won't bite. So go and say hello." Sadie said as she pushed Sam towards the little girl. Optimus eyed the woman for a moment half expecting her to push him as well. "I have more sense than that." Sadie said as she watched Sam. "Besides I have the feeling that he needed it more than you. Optimus chuckled and nodded in agreement.

"Thank you for this. I wouldn't have been able to get him to enter the crowd of other parents." Optimus said in a low voice as he watched Sam move slowly towards the child.

"Ya. I kinda got that feeling. But this should work out fairly well. She's really shy too." Sadie smiled as she watched Sam's steady approach. It seemed like she was about to say something more but a loud yell interrupted her before she could even get started.

"Well that would be Mrs. Buis. I'd better go see what she wants. I'll come back and check on you guys in a few minutes."

"Good luck with her."

"I'll need it." Sadie left the room without another word. Leaving Sam and Optimus alone with the child coloring at the table. Optimus moved forward and placed a hand on Sam's shoulder before he cleared his throat. The child jumped in her seat before turning to look at them.

"Who are you?" The child asked in a small timid voice. Sam looked at Optimus for the briefest of seconds before bending down to the child eye level.

"My names Sam and this is Orion but I call him Optimus." Sam's voice was almost as quiet as the girls voice had been when she had spoken.

"What's your name youngling?" Optimus asked as he bent down beside Sam so that he could look the child in the eyes. He blinked his eyes going wide a bit at the sight of the girls eye color. They were blue the exact same shade of blue as his.

"My names Audra." She answered as she looked back and forth between both Optimus and Sam. Something between the three of them clicked.

OoOoO

Sadie sighed as she watched Mr. and Mrs. Buis walk out the front door their newly adopted little boy in tow. She wondered if she should go and check on the two men she had taken to Audra's room earlier. She hoped that the fact that they hadn't showed back up in the main room was a good thing. Poor Audra was far to shy. She hardly ever came out of her room on adoption days and most parents were looking for a child with a little more spirit. The child needed someone who was willing to dig that spirit up. She'd had a feeling about the male couple when she had first seen them. There had been something about them that had just seemed to scream that they'd be perfect for Audra. Plus with how shy the brunette seemed to be she was sure that he'd understand how nervous Audra was.

There was an air around the couple that was hard to resist. She could tell just by looking at them that both of them were kind but stern and very loving. They'd love a child with ease and would hopefully provide an equal balance of freedom and discipline. She found herself hoping that they found a child. All the better if that child was Audra. The poor girl needed a good home and a loving family after all she had been through. Sadie looked up upon hearing the sound of footsteps coming down the hall. It was the black haired man that had been with the brunette. Sadie smiled when she noticed that said brunette wasn't with him.

"Cam I help you?" Optimus smiled as he looked at the woman in front of him.

"I believe that you already have but if you're willing I'd like your assistance again." Sadie smiled as she began sorting through papers.

"So who ended up talking first your partner or Audra?" Optimus chuckled.

"Well Audra talked first but that was only after I cleared my throat and scared her."

"She can be a bit jumpy at times but she's a good kid. She deserves the best. All the kids here do really." Optimus nodded in understanding.

He could still feel Sam's joy radiating down their bond. That whole in their lives had just been filled. Neither one of them could wait to get Audra home so that they could introduce the newest member of their family. Tomorrow they would go shopping for anything that audra needed and didn't have and probably several this she didn't really need but wanted. It was the beginning of a new stage in his and Sam's life and relationship.

Things from now on would be different. There would be hard times and easy times and sometimes one of them would want to pull their hair out, real or not. Raising a child was something new to both of them and there would be plenty of mistakes made but there were always people that would be more than willing to help them. He was looking forward to all of the memories that wee to come. All the joys, sorrows, love, and heartbreak. This was something that they needed. Both him and Sam.

"Okay I have all the forms you need here and a few extra that you might need if you live in town. A form for school and a good babysitter service for if you need it. That sort of thing." Sadie said as she handed Optimus all the required documents. Optimus nodded as he flipped through the stack of papers. He was about to make his way back to Sam and Audra but Sadie stopped him.

"Unless you want to sign those in crayon then you might want this." Sadie said as handed Optimus a pen.

OoOoO

Sam smiled as he listened to Audra talk. She was quite the little chatterbox once she got used to whomever she was meeting. God Sadie had them pegged apparently. Audra looked like a mix between him and Optimus only with a bit more of Optimus in her features. The thing was though that she was turning out to have his personality. Shy until she got used to a person and then she was ready to talk for as long as you wanted to talk. She was perfect. She was everything he had hoped for and more and he loved her already. It felt like he ad known her all of her life instead of just the past half hour.

It was like it was when he was with Optimus. Everything fit just right to make a picture of amazing beauty and now their picture was even more beautiful. They had a child. Their family was complete and that while that had been eating at him for the longest of times was gone as if it had never been. His life was as complete as it was ever going to be and he looked forward to starting on this newest change as soon as he was able. The future was bright and nothing was going to change that.

Ooo

So comes the end of Fifty thousand words. I think I did a little over fifty thousand words but oh well I hit my goal. I figured I do my last chapter as a kinda rough draft for when sam and Optimus adopt Audra. I'm not sure if this idea will become a fic or not. I'll decide after Full Moon Rising and possiblely Dog Collar are done.

Sorry for the wait but I wasn't able to go to the library last week because we had a big snowstorm last weekend. So for those of you who read my other stories if I don't update Dog Collor along with this one then my newest chapter should be out next week.

Oh and for those of you who don't know. Now I myself aren't exactly sure which month it is but Transformers 3 comes out on either June or July 1st 2011. So we have a little under a year and a half to wait. I'm excited already! Now then until my next update. On my other stories not this one. Please read and Review.