Where There Is Smoke

Chapter 7

Talking:

"English or other Earth language"

"Cybertronian"

"Talking on the phone or recordings"

:comm. link:

[Texting]

'Thought'

(Bond talk)

** (Bumblebee speaking in beeps) **

Spark feelings

Druatch

Flash back or change of time or place

Time changes:

Nano-klik=1/2 a klik. Klik= less than a second. Breem (cybertronian minute) = 8 minutes. Cycle=hour. Joor (cybertronian hour) = 6 hours. Solar cycle=day. Megacycle= 1 week. Orn= 13 days. Groon= 1 month. Deca-orn = 3 months. Stellar cycle= 1 year. Vorn=83 years


Later Arcee found Smokescreen in the main area, mostly alone except for Ratchet who was tuning the ground bridge's instruments and Optimus who was focused on the next set of coordinates.

She walked up to him and looked up at him and said in an almost business-like tone "Up for a drive?"

Smokescreen looked down at her, surprised. "Uh… where to?"

Arcee just walked towards the exit ramp and gestured for him to follow "Just come on, there's something I think you should see,"

She transformed without saying anything else and drove away so Smokescreen followed, wondering what was going on.

The two of them kept driving until they were well out of Jasper and turned onto a road that looked like it hadn't been used in a long time.

Smokescreen opened a comm. line with Arcee and asked :Arcee, where are we going?:

Arcee responded :Remember we both agreed on going on a second date and that I'd get to pick what we did for it?:

:Yeah, so… what are we doing?:

Arcee smiled internally :You'll see. Oh, good we're here.:

Arcee turned into what looked like an empty parking lot in the middle of nowhere but then Smokescreen saw a few out buildings and a giant projector screen that was facing the lot. :Where are we?:

Arcee's holoform turned to look at him after she parked in a spot close to the screen. "It's a drive-in theater, it doesn't get used much because there's an actual movie theater in Jasper but the projector should still work if it's here and since this place is closed for the season we have it all to ourselves,"

Smokescreen rolled down his window and his holoform looked around before smiling at her. "Cool!"

Arcee's holoform dismounted her alt. mode and she jogged over to the building that was across the lot from the screen. "Come on, let's go see if we can get the projector to play anything,"

Smokescreen's holoform got out of his alt. mode and followed hers "Even if it doesn't we can use our projectors,"

They managed to get inside the building without forced entry, the fact that they were using holograms to get in and out left no need for that, and found the projector and a box full of film reels in the room on the second level.

While Arcee opened the little side door the projector was aimed out of, Smokescreen attempted to set it up. Arcee almost laughed when she saw he had it set up but was struggling to figure out how the darn thing turned on.

"Need help?"

Smokescreen shook his head "I got it, why don't you pick a movie while I figure this thing out?"

Arcee rolled her optics and looked through the box of film reels until she found one. 'Hmm, "How the Grinch stole Christmas"? Well, the holidays are coming up and I don't see any other Christmas themed movies in here,'

She turned around to see Smokescreen hit the projector out of frustration and the thing turned on. He turned to her and smiled, proud of his accomplishment. "See, told you I'd get it,"

Arcee rolled her eyes "Of course you did," A quick internet search told them how to load the film into the projector and they turned off their holoform projectors to end up outside in their alt. modes as the movie started up.

Later when the movie ended they went back into the projector room and put everything back where they found it before leaving.

On the way back they struck up a conversation through their comm. links.

:So, Arcee, what did you think of the movie?:

Arcee's holoform shrugged :It was okay, although there were a few parts I didn't get.:

:Me neither… I still don't know why everything that everyone said had to rhyme.:

Arcee snorted derisively, she didn't understand that either. :I can't believe that little femmeling believed the Grinch when he said he was this 'Santa' person.:

:I know, I mean she saw him before and knew who he was then so why not then?:

When they got back to the base they hesitated.

"What do we say if the others ask where we were? Do we want them to know about… us yet?"

Arcee wondered aloud, then Smokescreen came up with an idea "I have an idea,"

He sent her a data burst containing his plan and when she saw it she hummed to herself. "Just crazy enough to work,"

Arcee revved her engine furiously and peeled into the base with Smokescreen following after her.

When she was inside she transformed into robot mode and stomped angrily towards the hallway leading to the bots' quarters.

When Smokescreen pulled up he transformed and walked up beside her "Ah, c'mon Arcee, it wasn't that big of a deal, was it?"

Arcee whipped around to glare at him with her fists clenched, ready to hit something. "Smokescreen, when a cop pulls you over and says 'Oh shit, you again' instead of what they usually say it is a very big deal!"

Ratchet looked up "What happened now?"

Arcee looked at Ratchet and jerked her thumb towards Smokescreen. "Smokescreen was speeding again, this time a human police officer caught him and I had to bail him out by telling him that his speedometer wasn't working and I was following him to the repair shop to get it fixed so he wouldn't go to fast but fell behind because another car cut me off,"

Smokescreen shrugged and smiled, trying to make light of the "situation" "Hey, it worked, didn't it?"

Arcee smacked him on the arm-servo and stomped away.

Smokescreen looked at Prime and Ratchet and shrugged but then he saw Blaster and started chanting frantically in his thoughts 'Please don't say anything, please don't say anything, please don't say anything…'

Blaster smirked and for a minute Smokescreen thought he was going to rat them out but then he said "Primus, mech, ya really messed up this time,"

Smokescreen tried to disguise his sigh of relief as one of exasperation "Yeah, maybe I should go apologize or something…"

He started to walk in the direction Arcee had gone but Blaster held up a servo "Nah, mech, give her some space, she'll cool down,"

While he said this out loud he sent over the comm. links :No, don' run after her just yet. Prahm an' Ratchet aint fully convinced yet. You chase after her now all the sneakin' around y'all been doin' will be fo' nothin'.:

Smokescreen nodded and looked around. "Where's everyone else?"

Ratchet replied while focusing on the ground bridge "Bulkhead bridged himself to Wheeljack's location to try to convince him to come to the base on Christmas party he, Bumblebee and the humans mentioned they were planning and Bumblebee took Sari home and should be back soon. Everyone else, besides Nurse Darby and the children, is here at the base,"

"Oh okay," Smokescreen went to the training room and focused on the thought 'Thanks, Blaster. I owe you one,'

Blaster reopened a private comm. with the Praxian and said with a chuckle :Ya owe me three, but who's countin'?:

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The next day, when the kids came to the base they were all excited about something.

Miko jumped right out of Bulkhead's alt. mode before he fully stopped and stared cheering "WHOO HOO! CHRISTMAS VACATION!"

Jack dismounted Arcee's alt. mode and pulled his helmet off "Miko calm down, one week off of school isn't an excuse to turn the base into an episode of 'Girls gone wild',"

Ratchet looked at the humans "Let me get this straight, during this 'Christmas vacation' you children won't be going to school for a whole week and will most likely spend all your time here at the base?"

Raf looked sheepish as he climbed out of Bumblebee's alt. mode. "Actually, I'm going to be visiting relatives with my family on Christmas day and Christmas eve,"

Miko pouted "And my host parents got invited to a Christmas party at the place they work and are making me go too but other than that you bet your aft we will!"

Arcee looked down at Jack "What about you, Jack? You and your mom have plans for the holidays?"

Jack shrugged "Not really, usually it's just me and her watching a couple Christmas movies after dinner on Christmas eve and then we open presents Christmas morning before she has to go to work if she's called in,"

Miko slumped "Lame, let me guess you guys watch the same movie every year?"

Jack glared "No, we watch different ones. Stop hating on a Darby family tradition,"

Bumblebee spoke up "Speaking of Christmas traditions, Sari sent a couple boxes of Christmas decorations back with me so we can decorate the base. Anyone want to help?"

Miko and Raf held up their hands excitedly "I do!"

Just then Smokescreen pulled up and let June out of his alt. mode before transforming.

Jack was surprised to see his mom there. "Mom, didn't you have to work today?"

June sighed "Yes, but I have a later shift than usual,"

Bumblebee tilted his helm towards the hall that went to the storage rooms "Hey, Smokescreen, we're going to decorate the base for Christmas. Want to help get the decorations out of storage?"

Smokescreen nodded. "Okay,"

Arcee followed them "I'll go with to make sure he doesn't break anything,"

Smokescreen glanced at Arcee as they followed Bumblebee to the storage room where the decorations were kept. He had noticed that Arcee has been rather distant towards him since their second date.

Sure they agreed to keep their relationship private for the time being but she acts like nothing is going on between them even when they are alone and he wanted to start moving forward with their relationship.

Bumblebee found the boxes he had stacked in the corner of a storage room they kept random stuff in and picked up one in each servo. "Alright, three more boxes left, grab 'em and let's get started,"

Arcee and Smokescreen looked at the boxes he was holding and the ones that were still on the floor. "What's in these boxes anyway?"

Bumblebee shrugged "String lights, tinsel garlands, some ornaments, don't worry none of it's breakable,"

He left the room with the boxes he held, leaving Smokescreen and Arcee alone.

Smokescreen hesitated before trying to get Arcee's attention. "Um, Arcee…"

She just knelt down and grabbed one of the boxes. "Can you carry two or should I come back for the other one?"

Smokescreen frowned and grabbed the other two boxes and started to walk out of the room but he wasn't watching where he ended up walking face first into the door frame and fell to the floor, clutching his faceplates as the boxes he was holding fell on the floor.

Concerned, Arcee crouched next to him. "Smokescreen, are you okay?"

Smokescreen moved his servos so that one covered his optics while the other fell limp at his side and moaned teasingly. "No~, I need attention~,"

Arcee rolled her optics "Of course you do…" She tried to pull his servos away from his face plates to see if he was injured "Come on, let me see,"

Before she could react Smokescreen uncovered his faceplates and pulled her down for a kiss. "Gotcha,"

Arcee's optics widened in shock at first but after a minute her optic shutters slid closed and she returned the kiss and the two kept kissing while they shifted positions so Smokescreen was sitting with his back to the wall.

Once they did they broke the kiss and stared into each other's optic for a moment, the only noise being their cooling fans kicking in.

Smokescreen broke the silence by pointing out the obvious. "We just made out in a closet,"

Arcee nodded "Guess so,"

He hesitated before asking "Wanna go again?"

Arcee shook her helm. "Not unless you want someone to come looking for us when we don't come back with the rest of the stuff,"

Smokescreen huffed and climbed to his peds. "Fine," he helped Arcee up and the two of them picked up their boxes again and went back out into the main area where the others were.

When they got there they saw the others hanging strings of shiny material and little glass bulbs everywhere.

This confused them but before they could question the strange behavior June spotted them and held up her hands. "Hold it right there, you two,"

Immediately both Autobots froze and Smokescreen opened a private comm. with Arcee. :Uh oh, busted.:

:Shh! They might not know yet.: Arcee looked at June with all seriousness and asked "What's wrong?"

June pointed up "Look what you're standing under,"

Both bots looked up and saw the doorway had been decorated with the same sort of materials the others were currently hanging.

"Oh cool, you guys hung… what is this?" Smokescreen balanced the boxes he was holding in one arm-servo and carefully ran his digits over the tinsel garland that run across the top of the door frame and hung down in a spiral that was taped to the side of the door.

"It's called tinsel, but look closer," June pointed above them and Arcee saw the strange plant with white berries hanging from the ceiling.

Smokescreen, on the other servo, needed more guidance "What? What are we looking at?"

Arcee gently back handed his chest and pointed up at the plant.

"Oh, now I see it,"

Jack laughed "You guys are standing under mistletoe,"

"And you know what that means…" Miko held up her camera phone in anticipation.

Arcee looked around nervously while Smokescreen just kept looking at the weird plant, wondering if it was dangerous since everyone was making a big deal about them standing under it. "What? What does it mean?"

Bumblebee giggled "Ah, come on 'Cee. You've been on Earth long enough to know about human traditions. It just so happens there's an Earth tradition that if two individuals find themselves under mistletoe they have to kiss,"

Greenblades crossed his arm-servos "And according to legend that tradition was started by the Norse Goddess, Frigga. Do you really want to risk angering a goddess?"

Arcee looked up at Smokescreen then looked down, biting her lower lip component, while Smokescreen rubbed his neck joint awkwardly before shrugging. "Well, it is a tradition…"

Arcee looked at him as if to say "Are you out of your mind?" but then hesitated before standing up on her tip toes so she was closer to his face and he leaned down and the two of them kissed.

Everyone smiled and got back to work, Miko saved the picture she took and put her phone away. "Finally!"

What none of them noticed was Arcee and Smokescreen both enjoyed the kiss and when Miko piped up it broke the spell, so to speak, and Arcee broke the kiss by falling back down on her peds and went to set the box she was holding on the floor off to the side.

"Are patrols still as they normally are?"

Ratchet nodded "Yes, last I checked they were,"

Arcee nodded and went over to the ground bridge and bridged herself to the location she was supposed to be patrolling that day. "Be back later,"

Everyone nodded and Jack called out "Okay, be careful,"

Arcee waved as she walked through the portal "Always am,"

Smokescreen set the boxes he held next to hers and after making sure she was gone, a mischievous grin hit Smokescreen's faceplates and he jumped into the air.

At first everyone thought he was jumping for joy and smiled at his antics but then he kept doing it and seemed to be reaching for something.

June cautiously went over to him so he wouldn't accidently step on her while jumping around "Smokescreen, what are you doing?"

Smokescreen stopped jumping and looked at everyone, pointing up at the mistletoe "Alright, who put that up there and how do I get it down?"

Jack looked embarrassed "Uh… funny story about that…"

Smokescreen noticed that not only did Bulkhead also seem embarrassed as he quickly left the room to go get something but Optimus quickly turned around to focus on hanging a large wreath and making sure it was perfectly straight.

Raf was the one that ended up explaining "Miko brought the mistletoe and Ratchet, Blaster and Bulkhead were the only bots in the room when we were hanging it and they couldn't hold onto it so Jack, being the tallest human here, held it while they lifted him up but he couldn't reach so in the end Bulkhead ended up lifting a ladder with Jack on it,"

June crossed her arms and glared at her son. "I still think that was a bad idea in the first place but then Optimus came around the corner, luckily he stopped in time but if he hadn't…"

Raf cut her off before she could start on how that would have ended if Prime had run into them. "… Optimus came out just as Jack hung the mistletoe and they ended up underneath it,"

Smokescreen looked at Jack, then at Optimus, then back again. "Did you two…"

Jack shook his head and held up his hands in a "Don't even go there" gesture. "No, I climbed down the ladder before he actually got underneath it,"

Miko guffawed "Climbed down? You slid down that ladder so fast we thought you jumped,"

"And then I walked in after everyone quickly moved out from under it and then you two got caught under it," Bumblebee went over and dug in one of the boxes Smokescreen had been holding and pulled out a red and green contraption "Oh, here's the tree stand,"

He set it in the corner and said "Now all we need is a tree…"

Bulkhead came back in "I'll go get one,"

Miko ran up to him "I'll go too,"

Jack rolled his eyes "You just want an excuse to use an ax,"

"Yes!" Miko threw her fists in the air and jumped into Bulkhead's alt. mode as soon as the door opened and the two of them ground bridged out of the base to find a decent tree in an area that was more densely populated by conifer trees.

Smokescreen made a pout-frown. "Still…" he glanced up at the mistletoe.

Bumblebee smiled and said "You do realize we have a whole bag of the stuff in one of those boxes, right?"

"Really?" Smokescreen started rooting through the boxes and the yellow scout put a servo on his shoulder.

"Calm down, Smokescreen, if we keep working at whatever's in these boxes it will turn up eventually,"

Smokescreen slumped. "Okay," he pulled something out of the box. "What are we supposed to do with these?"

Jack looked over and saw he was holding a coil of Christmas lights. "Those are Christmas lights, you're supposed to hang them up or wrap them around something and plug them in and they light up. Probably should save some of those for the tree when Bulkhead and Miko get it,"

They all worked on decorating the base, except for when Smokescreen and Bumblebee had to leave for patrol and the humans decorated with Blaster and Rewind's help until Bulkhead and Miko came back with a good sized pine tree with lots of lush branches.

Blaster and Ratchet got it off the roof of Bulkhead's alt. mode and the green mech held the tree up while Miko tightened the bolts that would hold it in place before leaving for his own patrol shift.

Later that evening, after they got the main area of the base decorated and everyone's patrol shifts were finished Raf grabbed the remote and turned on the T.V. "Hey, there's a few Christmas specials on tonight. You guys want to watch one?"

Just about everyone agreed on that but none of them could agree on which one they wanted to watch so Raf just picked on at random and the humans all settled on the couch to watch while Rewind and Smokescreen, Bulkhead and Bumblebee's holoforms sat on the floor.

Jack recognized the movie as the opening credits came on "Well, can't argue with a classic,"

After a few minutes a familiar song started to play.

"…You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch… you really are a heel… you're as cuddly as a cactus, you're as charming as an eel, Mr. Grinch…"

Arcee and Smokescreen both jumped when they recognized what was playing and shouted "OH PRIMUS NO!"

Everyone stared at the two of them for a moment then Jack smiled "Never thought I'd see you two agree on something,"

"Yeah, it's kind of spooky," Miko shuddered dramatically.

Ratchet called over from the med. bay "If you don't want to watch any human films you could always finish watching 'You, Me and the Rust Sea' instead. We never did get to finish it,"

Miko quipped back "And whose fault is that Mr. 'The T.V. is getting shut off until further notice'?"

Ratchet smirked darkly "The one who lost their television privileges in the first place,"

Miko frowned and shouted back "'Tis the season to be jolly, Scrooge-bot!"

Jack went over to the T.V. and got the dvd player set up since Wheeljack left the box of dvd's that the Cybertronian movie was on with them. "Uh, how about we start the movie and not a fight?"

Once they got the movie going all the humans found someplace to sit and all the bot's holoforms appeared in the humans' area to watch it.

Once again, Arcee and Smokescreen were sitting on the floor next to each other like they were before. However, this time they both started to nod off towards the end until their real bodies were in recharge and their holoforms fell asleep against each other.

Jack noticed the two got real quiet all of the sudden, too quiet, and looked over to see what had happened.

He smiled at the sight and got out his phone and moved to try to get a picture of the two of them.

Miko saw him and started to ask "Jack what are you…"

Several of the others shushed her; most of them wanted her to stop interrupting the movie while Jack wanted her to be quiet so she wouldn't wake the two dozing holoforms.

When she looked at him with confusion he motioned for her to be really quiet and look where he was pointing.

Miko couldn't see because she was on the other end of the couch so she got off the couch and crawled over so she wouldn't be blocking anyone's view of the T.V.

When she saw what Jack had been pointing at and taking a picture of she bit her lip to keep from squealing and took out her own phone to snap a pic.

Unfortunately she forgot to turn the sound off and it made a loud click sound which woke them up and the two teens had to sneak back to their seats before they got caught.

Smokescreen and Arcee looked around, disorientated, but when they realized they were leaning against each other they quickly moved apart and focused on the movie.

By the time the movie had ended, everyone was tired and ready for sleep so the Autobot guardians brought their charges home and everyone retired for the night.

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The next day was Christmas Eve and the humans all had to go to the store for some last minute Christmas shopping. Since it wouldn't do for most of the Autobots to be sitting around in the parking lot Arcee, Bulkhead and Smokescreen drew straws to see who would be carpooling with Miko, June and Jack since Raf was going with his family to visit relatives, Miko's host parents both had to work and Bumblebee couldn't take them because he was going to ground bridge to Detroit to pick up Sari.

Smokescreen drew the short stick so when Arcee went to the base—after threatening to beat him within an inch of deactivation if anything happened to her charge on his watch—June and Jack piled into Smokescreen's alt. mode and they went to pick up Miko.

When they got to Miko's host parents' house Bulkhead was there waiting. While they waited for the Asian girl to come out Bulkhead made not a threat but a promise that if anything happened to Miko he would pummel the Praxian until he was F.U.B.A.R.

When Miko finally came out and climbed into the back seat of Smokescreen's alt. mode Bulkhead drove off to go to the base and they all drove to the Jasper mall.

Miko looked around at the sleek interior "You know, I don't think I've ever ridden in your alt. mode before, Smokescreen. This is pretty cool,"

They could almost hear the smile in Smokescreen's voice as it came from his stereo's speakers. "Thanks,"

When they got to the mall Smokescreen parked in an empty space and let his passengers out.

June looked at him as she pretended to lock the doors. "You sure you'll be alright out here?"

Smokescreen rocked on his axels "Yeah, I'll be okay,"

As the two female humans walked away, Jack went back and whispered "You need anything while we're in there?"

"No, I already got Christmas gifts for who I'm getting them for. Just don't take too long, you know how I get when I'm bored,"

Jack smiled and asked "What are you getting for Arcee?"

Smokescreen immediately got flustered "What makes you think… how do you know…"

Jack held up his gloved hands "Easy, I was just asking so we don't get her the same thing if you did get her something,"

Smokescreen sighed and said "Alright, you caught me… don't tell anyone but I going to give her her a…" he described the gift he was actually in the process of making for Arcee.

Jack looked impressed "Whoa, didn't think you were the type. I don't know if she usually goes for that sort of thing but I'm sure she'll like it either way,"

Smokescreen rocked on his axels and said "Yeah, and since your mom is my charge I was going to get her a…" he described June's present, which was all ready to go.

Again Jack was impressed "Well, she could certainly use one of those. I'd better go before I lose them, be back soon, alright?"

They three humans disappeared into the building, leaving Smokescreen alone in the parking lot.

To pass the time he scanned the lot and the surrounding area. There was a group of carolers across the street so he adjusted his audio receptors to hear them while he mentally went over what was left for him to work on for Arcee's present.

Miko and the Darbys came out an hour later and got into his alt. mode again. As soon as they were in June immediately said "Smokescreen, no using your scanners to peek in the bags,"

"Ahh,"

After dropping Miko off so she could wrap the packages she purchased, Smokescreen took Jack and June home so they could do the same and went back to base.

When he got there Arcee looked at him "You're back early… where are they?"

Smokescreen slumped once he was in robot mode "They thought I'd peek so they sent me away,"

The Autobots all rolled their optics and looked over at Optimus who was still working at his terminal.

Bulkhead spoke sadly in a quiet voice "Optimus still hasn't decoded the coordinates yet and the 'Cons have been a little too quiet lately,"

Arcee snorted "They're probably interrogating Starscream to see if he told us any 'Con secrets while he was going solo,"

Bumblebee looked at everyone and pushed the corners of his mouth up with his digits "Come on guys, why the sad faces? Tomorrow's Christmas, it's supposed to be a happy time of the year,"

Everyone nodded and dispersed; Bulkhead ground bridged to wherever Wheeljack was, Bumblebee bridged himself to Detroit to pick up Sari, Arcee told Prime and Ratchet she was going to check on June and Jack and Smokescreen went to his quarters.

Once there he pulled a box out from under his berth and laid out its contents on his berth and resumed work on his project.

'Almost done, and it has to be done by tomorrow,'

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Later that night, after Bumblebee had brought Sari to base with him and the two of them were recharging on his berth, he got a call from Raf.

He groggily answered it. :Raf, what is it? It's almost two in the morning.:

Raf's voice sounded worried on the other end of the line. "Sorry 'Bee. I'm just calling to let you know I might not get back in time to spend Christmas with you guys,"

Bumblebee sat up on his berth. :What? Why?:

"Our car broke down on the way to my aunt and uncle's. We found a repair shop that can fix it but it's closed until the day after Christmas. I'm sorry,"

Bumblebee got up and left his berth room :Hold on, I need to ask Prime something.:

He went across to Prime's quarters and knocked on the door. When the Prime answered he explained the situation and his idea on how to remedy it.

Prime Ratchet and a moment later let him know that the medic agreed to the plan.

Bumblebee thanked him and went to meet Ratchet in the main area. :Raf, stay on the line. I'm on my way to the ground bridge, Ratchet's going to trace your call and bridge you and your family here so you can stay at the base tonight and we'll bridge you back when your car is fixed and you can drive back like you normally would, ok?:

Raf made a noise like he was shushing someone next to him before saying. "Wouldn't you get in trouble for bringing more humans to the base?"

Ratchet got there and scanned Bumblebee's comm. link and tried to trace the call on his computer. :Only if they know where the base is. They already know about us and we're bridging them here so no, I don't think so.:

"Ah hah! Bumblebee, I have the coordinates, tell Rafael to get his family together and explain to them what ground bridging is so they know what's going on,"

Bumblebee passed on the message and the ground bridge opened. :Okay, the bridge is open, I'm coming through to get you guys, see ya in a minute.:

He transformed and drove out. A few minutes later he came back with the Esquivels crammed into his alt. mode and looking very sickly.

Ratchet shut the ground bridge down and Bumblebee let all of his passengers out. Raf's parents and siblings all looked like they were about to puke while the boy climbed out like it was no big deal. "Sorry guys, ground bridging takes a lot of getting used to,"

Donavon dry heaved and said "I am never doing that again,"

Ratchet waved him off and walked away "Too bad, that's how we're sending you back to get your vehicle so you can drive home. Now if you all don't mind I'm going back into recharge. Bumblebee, they're in your room tonight. You brought them in, you look after them,"

Nodding obediently, Bumblebee led the family to his quarters, walking slowly as they gawked at everything now that the wooziness had passed.

Bumblebee smiled and beckoned them to come more quickly "Come on, we can give you a tour tomorrow, right now you guys can sleep in my room,"

Bumblebee pressed the release panel on his door since he hadn't locked it and closed it behind himself and the Esquivels.

Once inside he grabbed a pillow of his berth, which was made of the same gel-foam material the berth padding was and set it on the ground to make a bed for his guests.

"It's not much, but I'm making do with what I got, if I have you all on the berth with me and Sari I might roll over and squish someone,"

Maria smiled up at Bumblebee "Gracias, Bumblebee, had you not brought us here I do not know what we would have done,"

The Esquivels all thanked him and he grabbed a couple extra human sized blankets he kept in case Sari got cold and set them down. "Goodnight, I'll be right up here if you need me, alright?"

The Esquivels nodded and stripped out of their snow gear and crawled into their "bed" for the night.


AN: My utmost apologies for two reasons. One because this chapter is late and two because the "Christmas Special" Chapter has gotten so long I'm going to have to break it down into smaller parts.

Quick shout out to the people that reviewed and/or added; SuperGirlInJeans, Bigby the Big Bad Wolf, brave kid, kaleia (Guest), Zanza Flux, KohakuPrime42195,

Comments, suggestions and predictions welcome, any flames will be used to brew coffee for Miko.