Celebrations

"Hey Blaster, we need a jam don't ya think?" Jazz asked in a cheery tone as he wandered up to the communications officer.

Blaster swiveled the seat so that he was looking up at the mech. Cocking his head in curiosity, he wondered just what the mech was talking about. "A rave dude? Why?" he asked.

Jazz grinned, his visor gleaming brighter. "You mean you haven't heard the news man?" he exclaimed.

"What news didn't I peruse?" Blaster asked. Now his curiosity was aroused. He was never the last to hear anything. So just what had he missed?

Leaning forward, Jazz whispered for a few astrominutes in his audio. Blaster's optics got wider and wider, just as his smile stretched from audio-to-audio. "You're being straight?!?" he asked in disbelief after Jazz finished.

"Totally straight," the mech confirmed.

"Oh man, cuz! We've got to get the gig planned!" Blaster exclaimed. Swinging back around to the computer consol, he logged into Google and began a search of local bands and DJs. This had to be the best party that the Autobots had ever seen!

Jazz leaned over his shoulder, conversing with him about the various local artists that the search engine brought up. So engrossed were they in the party planning, that they didn't hear the sound of mechs coming into the main communications room.

"What are you two doing?" Sunstreaker's voice asked. He and Sideswipe strolled up to the two mechs, glancing at the computer screen.

"Planning the party to dwarf ALL parties!" Blaster announced. He clicked to the next page of local artists, glancing at their availability and their gig fees.

The twins looked at each other, bemused. "A party? For what?" Sideswipe queried.

"Oh, Ratchet took Wheeljack on this weekend retreat to pop the question," Jazz explained without even turning his head.

Now the twins were even more confused. "What question?" Sunstreaker asked. He was a tad perturbed that he hadn't heard about all this beforehand. It was a bit of pride for him to always be up on ALL gossip!

"Ratchet wants to get hitched, so he planned this incredible weekend to convince Wheeljack to say yes," Blaster informed them in his best football game announcer voice.

"Hitched? What's that?" Sideswipe asked. Visions of Wheeljack tying the grumpy medic up to a mech hitching post and doing various erotic things to him filled his meta. He'd never thought that Wheeljack was that creative in the area of bonding, but perhaps he was wrong? Eyeing the yellow mech next to him, he wondered just how pissed Sunstreaker would get if he did the same thing? But perhaps it'd be worth the beating he'd receive after the fact.

Jazz snickered, he actually SNICKERED! "Man, that means they're getting married," he said with a smirk. He had seen that look cross Sideswipe's face and knew that the 'hitched' word had caused the pervert to think of all sorts of weird and wild bonding maneuvers. How Sunstreaker put up with it – he'd never know.

"MARRIED!?!" the twins said in unison. Their optics opened wide in complete disbelief. Then they glanced at each other in confusion, for although they'd heard Sparkplug griping about buying clothes to attend the marriages of his friends, neither one really knew just what marriage really was. "Um, what the heck is marriage anyways?" Sideswipe asked.

Leaning forward, Jazz pointed to a local band that he really thought would be perfect for the party they were planning. "Oh, that's just when two mates publicly declare that they're bond mates for the rest of their functioning," he explained in an offhanded way, not even bothering to look at them.

Sunstreaker narrowed his optics as he and Sideswipe exchanged a glance. He knew how much his brother liked to tease the other mechs, which absolutely drove him to glitches! He'd quit counting how many mech's tailpipes he had had to kick in order to 'protect his turf'. Granted, half of the problem was Sideswipe himself. The fragger seemed to dream of being a 'player' like Bluestreak! He'd have to look into this whole 'marriage' thing. Maybe if he forced Sideswipe to publicly declare his fidelity to him – then the other mechs would get the message. But could he convince Sideswipe to do it was the question. For the red Lamborghini was smart enough to see that it'd dramatically limit his future flirtations.

Turning his optics back to what Jazz and Blaster were looking at, Sunstreaker decided he'd help organize this whole party. "Well, I will make sure this party is organized properly," he smirked. "You and Blaster arrange the entertainment, while Sideswipe and I get the supplies!" he stated. Grabbing his twin by the arm, he dragged him out of the room. They needed to purchase the supplies to make it 'festive', and they needed to find one of the mech's who had enough trunk space in order to haul it back from the store…

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"Hey Ironhide," Sideswipe hollered as he spied the red mech. He and Sunstreaker glanced at each other with a quick nod. The van should have enough space for what they purchased on their little 'party shopping trip'.

Ironhide stopped and turned around. He narrowed his optics as he spotted who had called his name. The little freager had pasted a sign on his aft just a few cycles before, and he still wasn't quite over it. In fact, it might be a good time to kick his aft about it. True, he'd have to kick Sunstreaker's as well – but two against one odds never bothered him much. "What do you want? You piece of slag," he growled.

Sunstreaker's optics narrowed at Ironhide's tone. It was obvious the mech was pissed about something. Probably something his dumb brother had done recently. Shooting a glare at Sideswipe, he silently informed the mech that there was no way he'd back his aft up this time!

"Ah Hide, you ain't still mad over that little sign are you?" Sideswipe chortled. A grin spread over his face, his relaxed attitude showed that he wasn't afraid in the least.

"You little freagin' punk! Why I outta-" Ironhide drawled as he stormed closer to the red Lamborghini, his optics brightening in anger.

Sideswipe chuckled, "Tell ya what, kick my aft AFTER the party – ok?"

This statement stopped the ticked off mech in his tracks. "What party?" he asked. He was always in on any gossip, and he hadn't heard a THING about some party. Was the little freager pulling his tailpipes? If he was, he was going to earn an even WORSE whipping!

"The engagement party," Sideswipe said.

Ironhide narrowed his optics, leveling a suspicious glare at the mech. "What the frag is an Engagement party?" he asked.

"Well, after a mech asks another one 'the big question'. Their friends throw them a party in order to celebrate," the prankster explained.

"Quit vocalizing in slaggin' riddles! What the heck is this 'big question' and why would we all celebrate over a stupid question?!" the van demanded to know.

"Oh, guess you haven't heard then," Sunstreaker said in his normal arrogant tone. He truly LOVED it when he knew something important that the other mechs didn't. It just proved how truly superior he was. "Ratchet took Wheeljack on the getaway so that he could ask him to marry him," he finished.

Ironhide's jaw just about hit the floor. Like Prime, he'd taken Spike and Sparkplug to a couple of these 'weddings' they complained about. So he had a general idea of what the concept was. And Ratchet wanted to get MARRIED!?! Slag! He'd never have even suspected that from the medic! True, the slagger had been monogamous bond mates with Wheeljack for Primus-knows how long. Heck, even he couldn't really remember a time when those two hadn't been bond mates. But they were going to embrace this human idea and publicly ANNOUNCE that they were a couple until they off lined?!?

"You ok Ironhide?" Sideswipe asked with a grin. He wished he had his digital camera on him; the look of total shock on the tough old mech's face was – PRICELESS! He berated himself for not keeping his camera on him at all times. He'd missed a truly perfect 'screensaver' pic!

Clamping his mouth shut with a clang, Ironhide nodded. "Frag, I never thought I'd live to see the day…" he mumbled.

Sideswipe grinned as he and Sunstreaker got on either side of the shocked mech and put their arms over his shoulder armor in a 'brotherly' fashion.

"Yep, neither did we.." Sunstreaker started.

"But we've got to get the party supplies.." Sideswipe smoothly added.

"We've only got until tomorrow night.." not even a beat was missed.

"To make this the best party ever!" the red twin continued.

"But we don't have the trunk space.." Sunstreaker added.

"So, if you're not busy – you wanna come shopping with us?" Sideswipe finished.

Ironhide looked from one to the other. They seemed sincere enough. And if Ratchet was truly going to get married, Ironhide would do anything he could to help the mech. Indeed, he had more 'trunk space' than most mechs, so they could purchase a ton of party supplies. So he nodded his consent.

The three headed for the entrance to the base. A strange spring in their step, their optics bright with happy anticipation… They waltzed right past Hound and Trailblazer as they went.

"Now THAT'S strange," Hound said to his fellow scout. To see Ironhide of all mechs, hanging out with the prankster that always seemed to find him a good target, just didn't seem right.

Trailblazer nodded, "Something's up. Wonder what it is?"

Hound started after them, "Let's find out, shall we?"

----

"Hey guys, whatcha up too?" Hound called out.

The three mechs stopped and turned around.

"Oh, just going on a little shopping trip," Ironhide drawled with a dismissive shrug.

The two scouts glanced at each other, suspicion in their optics. Old Ironhide NEVER went shopping. That fact, coupled with the fact of who he was going with – made it even more suspicious. Now if it'd been a group of the well known 'players' on base, it'd be suspicious but somewhat understandable. But Sunstreaker was notoriously jealous. So there was no way that he was going to 'share' his brother. So obviously, they weren't leaving base with the 'shopping' excuse – for a little bonding fun. So just what WERE they up too?

"Whatcha shopping for?" Trailblazer asked.

"The party tomorrow night," Sunstreaker replied. His tone indicating that they were somehow 'dolts' for not realizing that.

"What party?" Hound queried. Of all the mechs, he and Trailblazer were generally the FIRST to know any good gossip. So he didn't believe in the least little bit that there was going to be 'a party'.

"You don't know?" Sideswipe said with exaggerated optic ridges. He couldn't help but smirk a bit, for this was probably the FIRST time that he and Sunstreaker knew something before the two scouts did.

"Know what?" Hound and Trailblazer said in perfect synch.

"Ah, ol' Ratchet's asking Wheeljack to marry him this weekend. We're getting the stuff for the engagement party we're throwin' them," Ironhide answered. His southern drawl made his words sound almost musical.

Again, Sideswipe berated himself for not having his digital camera on him. For the matching expressions of total disbelief on the two scouts faces were even better than the expression that Ironhide had gotten.

"You're kidding," Hound stammered as he regained some of his composure.

"Nope," Sideswipe answered.

The two scouts stared at each other, and then turned their optics back to the three mechs. "Well, then you're going to need even more hauling capacity than you've got right now. This party's got to be HUGE!" Hound said as he nodded to Trailblazer.

"So, are you two coming along then?" Sunstreaker asked as he studied the two scouts. With them and Ironhide coming along, they could bring enough decorations back to deck out the entire base.

They nodded and fell in behind the three. Walking to the main gates, the five mechs transformed and rolled towards the nearby human city. They had a LOT of shopping to do!

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