Honest Fact: I've been a flower girl twice, but never a bridesmaid. It's kind of sad, when the women I've called my friends since I was ten or younger didn't care about me enough to even ask me if I wanted to be in their weddings. My claimed sister got married four years ago, and asked a friend to be her maid of honor. She had no one else. The person I called my best friend since I was five got married two years ago. She had her sister as maid of honor, and her fiancé's sisters as bridesmaids. Not even a thought to ask her best friend if she wanted to be in the wedding. I'd walk through fire for them, but apparently they don't feel the same about me…


"Normal Talk"

"Bee's Talk"

"Bee's Talk Holoform"

"Bee's Text-To-Talk"

"Other Side Over the Phone (Comms)"

'Thoughts'

~Bond communication~

~Telepathic communication~


Flower Girl Part 2

The Next Morning, 6:00 AM, Ratchet's POV

I get up and get Mariposa's breakfast and bottle together before turning to pull out her clothes for the day and pack her diaper bag. Thankfully, she only had one nightmare last night.

"Dada! I up!"

I sigh heavily, but turn to her with a smile. "Good morning, Little One." I lift her out of the crib before changing her, then dress her in an orange tank top with a red, pink, and orange spotted trim and two hearts, orange pants with red, pink, and orange spotted frilled cuffs, orange socks, and pink light up, glittery Velcro tennis shoes with butterflies on the soles. While I know she hates shoes as much as the next toddler, it's not safe to let her down anywhere in the base without them—something she has thankfully caught on to.

I pick her up before setting her in her high chair, then turn to get her oatmeal out of the microwave and her juice from the fridge. "You're going to be in a wedding today."

"We'in'?" She looks up at me curiously.

"You're going to be a Flower Girl for Izzy's wedding today."

"'Zy we'in'?"

"Later this morning. First, we have to take your brother to June's house."

"Go 'Une?"

I nod. "We can't stay, though. Bee's going to play with Jack."

"Me p'ay?"

"You can play with Bobby at the reception."

"'Cep'ion?"

"It's the party after the wedding."

"I go?"

I smile and nod. "Yes, you're going. You're the flower girl, after all." I sigh before closing her diaper bag. "All right, we need to get your brother to June's house, then you can play for a few hours before we have to get you to Vegas."

She pouts up at me. "Bumbee go?"

"He can't, Little One. He wasn't invited."

She pouts as I pick her up and start for Bumblebee's berth room. Thankfully, once we reach his room, she seems to have forgotten about his not being able to come. I reach up to knock on the door before looking down when I feel her tap on my other hand. "I do?"

I look from her to the door. There's no way he'll hear such a tiny hand through the metal door. "Let's do it together."

Bumblebee opens the door and smiles when he sees us. "Hey…"

"Ready to go?"

He nods before following us into the main room. "I assume you're taking me?"

I nod, and wait for him to shift into holoform—wearing his usual outfit. "Got your phone?"

"It's in my pocket."

"Fully charged?" I sigh heavily. "If that thing dies because you forgot to charge it…"

"It's charged, Ratch, and Agent Fowler brought me a portable charging pack last night, while you were at the rehearsal."

I nod and hand Mariposa to him, then transform before opening the doors. "Get Mari buckled in."

Bumblebee nods before fastening her into the built-in car seat. Once she's secure, and Bumblebee is buckled, I turn for the exit and pull out of the base.


June's house

It's a short drive to the nurse's house, and soon we're pulling up to her house. I activate my holoform before parking, then slip out and open the back door as June walks over to us. She's wearing jeans with a yellow T-shirt, and it suddenly hits me that I haven't seen her in anything but her scrubs since before I got Mari.

"Glad you three could make it. Jack's inside with the girls, Bailey." June sighs softly. "I need to make sure you're okay with me driving him around…"

"Of course. I trust you…" I raise an eyebrow. "But why?"

"Jasmine's daycare is holding a party for the kids who are moving on to their preschool, and Jazzy's one of them. I have to have her there at ten, then Jack's friend Brandon is coming at eleven, and the boys may want to go to the park…"

"I'm fine with it June." I sigh softly. "I'll be back this afternoon to pick him up."


Inside, Bumblebee's POV

I run in and wave to Jack. He's eight, and going into third, so I probably won't get to see him much in school. Ratchet said I was going into sixth, rather than fifth, and he suspects that it'll still be too easy for me.

Jack glances over from where he's watching his little sisters. He's wearing a black T-shirt and blue plaid shorts with sandals, while the twins are wearing black and white shirts with pink shorts and black vests with black shoes, and his baby sister is wearing a dress with a black short sleeved top, lavender and silver glitter suspender graphics, and an "I", a , and an Elmo graphic, purple and white striped long sleeves, a purple tutu skirt, and a purple collar, purple and lavender striped tights, black quilted Mary Jane shoes, purple hair ties with heart shaped balls on the ends. "Hi, Bailey!"

I smile and slip out my phone. While I hate having to use it to talk with humans, it's the only option that won't blow my cover as a normal human. "Hey, Jack! You excited about school?"

He shrugs. "Sort of. What about you?"

"Yeah… Dad finally got me registered. They put me in sixth. Dad thinks it'll still be too easy for me."

He sighs heavily. "Guess we won't see each other at school…especially if they promote you."

"Promote me?"

"Send you to seventh. I thought…"

I sigh softly. "We're refugees, Jack. Dad homeschooled me until this year. This is my first time in a public school."

"Cool." He grins at me. "What's it like?"

I sigh softly as I remember the vorns on the Ark with Ratchet or Perceptor. "Its not as much fun as you think. Trust me."


Vegas Golf Course, 9:00 am, Ratchet's POV

I climb out in holoform, set to where I appear to be wearing a white dress shirt, a scarlet tie, and black slacks with black shoes. I climb into the back after Mariposa and her bag, then head inside. Izzy's got her flower girl dress and whatever else she'll need with her in their dressing room.

Izzy walks over and smiles. "Glad you could make it, Ratchet!" She takes Mariposa from me. "How's our little Flower Girl doing today?"

I smile. "She's great."

Mariposa smiles up at Izzy as the two turn to walk away. "Me we'in'? Go 'cep'ion?"

Izzy gives me a confused look. "She's been asking that all day. Just say yes."

"What's she asking, though?"

"If she's in the wedding, and can be at the reception. She's fairly advanced verbally."

"Ah… Probably because of…" She trails off, then starts down the hall. "Yes, Mari. You're my Flower Girl, remember?"


Mariposa's POV

The second Izzy sets me down, I look around the room. There's three other women in here besides the two of us, Sarah, and Izzy's mommy, and the women are wearing long matching dresses, and matching shoes, while Sarah is wearing a sleeveless orange dress that goes to her knees, and orange sparkly heels. I watch the three of them help Izzy into a long dress with no straps that trails out behind her, then tie on a belt that matches the other women's dresses, and a sparkly flower pin, then watch her slip into white heels.

"All right, Mari." I look up to her mommy. "Let's get you dressed."

I whimper softly, as I feel tears in my eyes. I don't know this woman. "Dada?"

Izzy steps over and wipes my face off with her thumb. "It might be better for me to do it, Mom. She's doesn't know you, and she's been traumatized."

I reach out to her. "'Zy…"

"Isabelle…" Her mommy huffs softly. "Go ahead, but don't get anything on your dress."

"I'm not five anymore, Mom. I'll be careful." She puts tights and white shiny buckle shoes on me, then picks up a dress like hers with straps, and flowers on the waist instead of a pin-thingy. After she pulls it over my head, she zips up the back, then combs my hair with her fingers before curling it around them, then slips a ring of orange roses in my hair before standing.

"Aww…"

"Izzy…"

"She looks like a little princess…"

"She is a princess, Melody." She grins. "Madison's checking with the men, but we should be able to start on time."

Kate crosses her arms. "Eric had better have Benny dressed by now." Izzy gives her a look. "Sorry…"

She doesn't sound very sorry, so I glare up at her. "No mea'!"

Amy laughs. "You just got told off by a baby!"

We all turn to the door at a knock. "We're ready when you are."

"We're on our way!" Izzy hands the women some flowers, then hands Kate a basket full of petals. "Carry this for Mari until we get outside. I don't want her spilling them. Someone needs to carry Mari, but don't make her cry."


June's House, Jack's Room, 9:45 AM, Bumblebee's POV

"Jack, Bailey, come on! We have to get Jazzy to her daycare party!"

"Yes, Mom!" Jack stands before turning to me. "Let's go."

I nod, and grab my phone, the charger, and the power pack before running after him. I watch as June buckles Jasmine into a car seat, then checks to make sure the twins are buckled before letting Jack and I in. "Seatbelts, boys."

We both pull them on quicky. "Got it Mom!"

She looks back at me in the mirror. "Bailey?"

I nod, and she pulls onto the street. "Now, we'll stop and get Brandon once we have Jazzy settled, then we'll get back home for our own little party."


We pull up to a one story building with a fence around it. June parks before climbing out and getting Jasmine out with her. "Jack's in charge girls. I'll be right back. Stay put."


Vegas Golf Course, 12:00 PM, Mariposa's POV

We stand at the doors with the men and Benny, who are wearing suits and vests the same color as the women's dresses. I watch from the window as family members are lead to their seats, trying to find Dada in the crowd. After everyone's sitting, Amy walks out with orange flowers and one of the men, followed by Kate with her husband. Then Melody-the person who carried me—with the last man.

Then Madison taps Benny on the shoulder. "Go on, Little One."

I look up at her. "I go?"

She glances up, then hands me a basket and nods. "Remember, walk slowly, Mari. Drop the petals slowly—just a little at a time."

"Okay." I start after Benny slowly, like she told me, tossing handfuls of flower petals on the silkly thing on the ground. I keep my eyes on the ground. While I love being in front of people, I don't love people staring at me.

I finally reach the front, and walk up to Melody before sitting in front of her, then wave over to the groom. I can see Benny from where I am, and he's jumping from foot-to-foot. He already looks bored.

Everyone stands to watch Izzy come down the aisle. I peek around the others, trying to see her again, but I can't see anything.

Once she finally gets to the front, and everyone sits down, a preacher—at least, I think he's a preacher, 'cause he looks like one—steps up. He starts talking, and I quickly get bored, so I start playing with Melody's skirt, then pull it over my head. Everything looks silly from in here! It's all orange-y!


Ratchet's POV

I watch my daughter closely as the officiant starts to speak. She sits in front of Melody and fidgets a little, then pulls Melody's skirt over her head, but otherwise behaves herself quite well for being a toddler. Benny, meanwhile, is misbehaving, albeit quietly, at least for now, and is hopping from foot to foot.

After the officiant finishes speaking—mainly welcoming everyone who had come to share this special day with them, then allows the two to share vows with each other, the groom first as I assume is tradition. This is vastly different from a Cybertronian bonding ceremony. "Whatever lies ahead, good or bad, we will face together. Distance may test us for a time, and time may tire us. But if we look to each other first, we will always see a friend." He takes the ring from the Best Man and slips it onto Izzy's finger. "Izabelle, look to me for all the days to come; today I take my place as your husband."

Izzy smiles. "Whatever lies ahead, good or bad, we will face together. Distance may test us for a time, and time may tire us. But if we look to each other first, we will always see a friend." She takes a ring from her Maid of Honor and slips it onto his finger. "Jackson, look to me for all the days to come; today I take my place as your wife."

"And now I introduce to you, for the first time: Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Carter! You may kiss your bride."

Everyone claps as the two kiss before starting back up the aisle. Melody bends over and picks up Mariposa before following, as the Zachary, the best man, picks up Benny.

Once I get to Melody, she hands Mariposa to me, then hands me a small orange bag.


With June, 12:00 PM, Bumblebee's POV

We're at the park in Jasper, with Jack's friend Brandon, who's wearing a yellow tank top and jean shorts. We played at her house for an hour and a half, then we went to the park for a picnic lunch and an afternoon on the playground. I'm actually glad I decided to come early, rather than patrol with Optimus.

Right now, we're watching her set up the picnic table with our sandwiches and chips, as well as carrot sticks and dip in little plastic cups. She brought apple juice too—though I have Energon in a water bottle instead—and chocolate cupcakes with red icing and apple stems for back-to-school. I start eating quickly, wanting to get back to the playground. I don't get much time to play, with the war and my job as a scout, so I want to do as much as I can while I'm here.

I cross the picnic area and put my trash in the trash can before running back to the table where I left my phone. "Can we go play now?"

"Yes, Bailey. Jack, keep an eye on your sisters until I get things cleaned up."

"Yes, Mom." He stands quickly. "Come on, you two! Let's go!" He grabs Brandon's arm, and leads the two of us to the playset before starting to climb.

Brandon finally gets his hand free and turns to his best friend as June walks over from their van and settles on a bench nearby. "Hey, Jack." Jack turns to him. "Wanna play pirates?"

"Why not?" He glances at me as I turn away. "What about you, Bailey? Wanna play pirates?"

I turn back to him and smile before nodding. "Sure!"

"Why doesn't he talk?"

I look down at my phone. "You can talk to me, you know. I can hear you." I look up to glare at him.

"Fine. Why don't you talk?"

I sigh heavily and look back down at my phone. "I was in an accident a few years ago, and my voice was damaged. I can't talk."

Brandon shrugs. "Whatever." He smiles. "Come on, then! Find a stick so we can play!"