I only own my OCs!

Babysitter

August 31, 1994, 3:00 PM, Ratchet's POV

I'm sitting near the edge of the platform by the computer in holoform, using a lap desk to write some notes on white paper with a pink and blue border. "Ratchet? What are you doing?"

I look up with a weak smile. "I had to give Agent Fowler the card until he's able to be financially stable, so I need to work to support Mari. General Brice already got me in at the ER, but I need to find a sitter for Mari."

"We could watch her."

"She needs more contact with humans, and I need to make sure she's sheltered."

"From whom?"

"From the cons, Optimus. Even if nothing's happened yet, they know she's out here. I have to find a way to keep her safe, and maybe hiding with humanity during the day is the answer."

"We will back your decision, Ratchet."

"Thanks for understanding." I turn from the nearly finished caretaker notes to the fliers I'm working on. "Once I'm finished here, I need to head into town and hang these fliers."

"Hey, Rick!"

I turn from where I'm hanging one of my fliers to find Kate Walters. "Hey."

"What have you been doing?"

I sigh before pulling my excuse out. "My old sitter quit, and I don't want to put Mari in daycare yet, so…"

"I could watch her… I don't have Benny in daycare yet either, and I'm home all day…"

I lower the flyer and give her a look. "Would you be able to come over in an hour for an interview?"

"Of course!" She sighs. "I'll have to bring Benny, though."

"They can play while we talk."

"Okay, then. Where—"

"I'm across the street behind you, and across the street to the left. I've seen you and Benny outside when I'm putting Mari down for her naps."

"OH! You're the guy who just moved in!"

I nod weakly. "I'd been renting the one next door, and my lease ran out. Thankfully I was able to buy this time."

"That's good." She sighs. "I have to go. Eric and Benny are waiting in the car."

I nod, and look from her to the flyer in my hand. "That was easier than I thought it would be."

I pull into the base and head to my room, where Arcee is watching Mariposa.

"Back already?"

"I have to interview someone at the fake house in an hour, so I need to get Mari changed."

"Want me to go with?"

"No. It's better that I do this myself." I sigh softly. "But get Bailey."

"He's doing homework."

"He can do it at the new fake house. I can't leave him here and appear as an attentive human parent."

"I'll go get him."

"Thanks." I pick Mariposa up and lay her on the changing table, where I change her diaper, then change her into a black sleevless tutu dress with a bumblebee on the chest and a black tutu with silver dots and yellow trim, yellow and black leggings, yellow socks, and black Mary Jane shoes, then gather a few toys and supplies to make the house look "lived in". I then pick up Mariposa and shift to my normal form before turning to gather the supplies.

"Ratchet?"

"In here, Bee. You can come in."

"Where are we going?"

"The fake house. You need to bring your homework, and pack a few things in case she comes to see your room. I've got the gallon bottle of energon we filled for instances such as this, Mari's milk, and a few other things. We've got clothes and non-perishable groceries, along with dishes nd a few cheap toys, still in the house, though they need to be unpacked from "moving". I'll work on that while Mari plays, so I'll be ready for the interview."

"And you need me there because…"

"Because you're not technically old enough to leave behind, and you're part of my family. Logically speaking, I would need someone to look after you as well as Mari."

"Do you have to go to work?"

"Sadly, until Agent Fowler gets a replacement for the card, I do. I can't expect the money the government uses to provide our supplies to go toward Mari's expensive toddler meals and toddler clothes. What doesn't go toward Mari's care will go into her savings account." I turn and grab the last bag. "Now… You have your homework?"

"Yep."

"Get your bike and come on."

"Why do I need my bike?"

"Because you'll be leaving from the fake house until further notice."

"Are we ACTUALLY moving there?"

"No. I'll drop you and Mari off at Kate's, which means early mornings for all of us unless I get put on night shifts after a while."

"Awwwww…"

"Stop complaining and come on. We need to get to the house."

fake house, 3:15 pm

I pull up to the house and carry things inside before locking my vehicle mode. Can't have anyone try to steel me while I'm interviewing Kate. "Put your bike in the garage and start unpacking your room. I'll let you know when Kate gets here, so you can get back to work on your homework."

"Okay." I watch him head upstairs before setting Mariposa on the floor with a bottle and a few quiet toys. I then turn to the boxes on the table with a heavy sigh and start to unpack them.

4:00 PM

I look up when I hear a knock on the door. "Come in."

Kate walks in with Benny on her hip. "Hey." I hand her an application I printed off at the base. "I'm not going to be too formal, but I do need your information."

"I'll get this filled out as soon as I put Benny down."

"There's no rush. Just take your time. We'll do the interview once everything's filled out."

"Okay…"

"I need to go upstairs real quick so I can check on my son. Will you be okay until I get back?"

"Of course."

4:45 PM

"Sounds good. I'll bring them by tomorrow morning on my way to work. Bailey takes his bike to school, and I'll have Mari's schedule for you when I drop them off."

"First week's on me, but after that it's ten bucks an hour."

"Thank you." I shake her hand. "I'll see you tomorrow at six."

September 1, 5:15 AM, Ratchet's POV

I groan when my alarm goes off, and turn toward the door of Mariposa's dresser, where my scrubs are waiting. I know I'm supposed to pick up a lab coat and ID at the hospital when I get there.

I quickly shift to holoform and get into my scrubs and start getting Mariposa's things ready before starting for Bumblebee's berth room to get the mechling up. "Come on, Bee. I have fifteen minutes before I have to be at the hospital."

He groans and rolls out of his berth before shifting to holoform and starting to get dressed. "Your lunchbox is in the fridge, and your progress report is on the counter. I have to get Mari up and dressed."

"Thanks, Ratch."

I wake Mariposa—thankfully with only a whimper, not a scream—and change her quickly before dressing her in a white short sleeved onesie with "My Daddy is a Doctor, What SuperPower Does Your Daddy Have?", dark pink pants with ruffles at the ankles, white socks, and her white and pink Velcro tennis shoes. I brush her fine blonde hair, and pull her hair into two tiny ponytails before clipping tiny gemstone covered hair bow clips onto the tops.

I glance at the clock before gathering her things and her car seat, then stop at the kitchen to check up on Bumblebee and grab my lunch and Mariposa's and Bumblebee's energon bottles for the day before heading to the main room, where I transform and open the back. "Hurry up and get your sister buckled. We have to go." I pull out of th base and quickly activate my holoform in the driver's seat. I can't let myself forget to do that. The less people who know of my true form, the better.

"Slow down, Ratch. We'll get to Kate's in plenty of time for you to get to work."

"Did you get your homework done?"

"Yep."

"Okay, good. Don't bother Kate too much and make sure you get your homework done before I get back. I'll be there a little after six. Make sure you play nice with the babies, and let Optimus or I know if Soundwave's minions mention getting Mari."

"I usually make it a point to avoid them after my first day…"

"Well, I need you to at least try and find out what they're planning. Your sister's life may depend on it."

"I'll do my best."

"That's all I can ask." I pull up outside Kate's house and open the back door. "Call me if anything happens. I've got my cell on me."

"I'll do my best, Dad."

Kate steps out with a white baby monitor in one hand. Agent Fowler had gotten us one as well, but I very seldom use it. "Hey Rick! How's Mari today?"

"She's good." I climb out to help get her things inside. "She may be a little fussy today, since she's in a new place. It took her three days to settle in with our last sitter." I sigh heavily. "The yellow metal water bottles are Bailey's medicine. He needs to drink one with both breakfast and lunch, and he can have the second one whenever he wants after school. Mari's schedule is in her diaper bag, and her bottles are the pink ones. They all need to be refrigerated."

"I'll keep that in mind. Have a good day at work!"

"Be good, Bailey."

"I will!"

I take one more look at the two before pulling away.

Its not long before I reach the hospital. I pull into a space as far from the entrance as I can before starting inside. I stop and get my ID and lab coat before heading to the ER for my first day.

"Rick!" I look around for a moment before my eyes land on June. "Heard you were transferring her from one of the military hospitals."

I shrug. "I had to step back a bit so I could spend more time with Mari, and the general figured I'd b better off working here until we get a few things settled."

"Did you get Mari settled in daycare okay?"

"She's with a sitter, actually. The sister-in-law of a friend of mine."

"Ah." She sighs. "I didn't want to leave Jack in daycare either. You'll get used to the idea soon enough."

"I'm sure I will."

With Kate, Bumblebee's POV

"Well then…" Kate smiles and sighs before looking down at me. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

"No, Ma'am. Dad didn't wake me up early enough."

"Probably assumed you'd eat here." She smiles and leads me inside. "I've got Mari's meals waiting, and I've got a few microwavable breakfast meals in the freezer if you want one of those, or we've got pancakes…"

"You don't have to go through all the trouble. I can just eat cereal…"

"Nonsense!" She smiles and puts an arm around me. "It's no trouble, Bailey." She shrugs. "How about french toast? I'm making some for Benny and I."

"Sounds good."

"All right. And Mari gets her oatmeal, and maybe her own piece if she wants."

"Num-num?"

She smiles at Mari, who is snuggly nestled against her hip. "Yep. I'm gonna go fix your num-nums right now."

"Yay!" She blinks at Kate. "P'ay me?"

"You'll get to play with Benny after breakfast, but you can play with your brother until he's up." She turns to me. "You do have your homework done, right?"

"Yep. It's in my backpack."

"Got lunch money?"

"Packed lunch, in my backpack. Dad put my meds in there too."

"Does he mix something with juice or something?"

"Sort of…" I sigh softly. "It's pretty hard to explain."

"Your dad said I shouldn't worry about washing the bottles…"

"He's got a certain method to making sure they're clean, and the meds aren't safe for everyone. It's just one of the many over-protective things he does." I laugh slightly. "He won't even let me wash them!" Truth is, I'm too busy with training and patrols for chores, so Ratchet just takes care of the usual childhood chores while I worry about helping keep the cons from hurting humans, but I can't tell her that without blowing cover, and that's the last thing I want to do.

She sets Mari by a small pile of toys and turns to the stove. "If he's that hard-set on washing them himself I won't do it, but I'm usually careful with others' belongings." I turn to her as the sound of someone small moving comes from the monitor. "I'll be right back, Bailey. Benny's up."

I run a yellow wooden car over Mari's leg, causing her to giggle. "Do 'gain!"

"I'm back!" I look up as Kate sets a three-year-old boy in blue Star Wars pajamas beside Mari and I. "Now, How 'bout I get breakfast made before you have to leave for school?"

7:45 AM

I slip my arms through the straps on my backpack and walk over to the fake house before grabbing my bike.

"Later, Boss!"

"We'll try to get more information from the bug today."

I cringe and start for the school. 'They're not getting anything out of me today, that's for sure.' I glance back. 'Thank Primus.' They're following me, which means they don't know Mari's back at Kate's. 'Primus, please keep Mari safe…' I pull into the school lot and lock my bike in the rack before heading inside, keeping one eye on the minicon holoforms behind me.

I pull my books out for my first class and step into Mr. Davis' room with the two still following me. I take my seat and take out my phone before starting to type. "I'm not telling you guys anything, so you've got no reason to follow me."

"Don't care."

"You won't shake us off 'til we get her, Bug."

I look around before nodding. No one but us in the room. "You forget who I am. I never told Megatron anything about the All Spark, and I won't tell you guys anything about Mari either. I'm not afraid of you."

"You sure seemed that way the other day."

"I have to keep up the act of a human here on Earth. You guys do too, or they'll find out we're not human."

"So?"

I smirk. "I was pretending. Katie had already warned me that you were here."

"Who?"

"How!?"

"My friend, and She told me to avoid you two because you're part of the bad crowd."

"Good."

"Rumble?"

Rumble crosses his arms and glares at his twin. "Keep it down, Fren!" He sighs. "The Boss would have been really mad if he learned that someone besides the bug knew who we really are. Or did you forget we're not supposed to be on Earth?"

Frenzy huffs. "I didn't forget."

Rumble chuckles. "He forgot." He blinks at me as if he's suddenly remembered that I'm his enemy. "Anyway…" He gives me a frustrated look. "Megatron ordered Soundwave to get information about the Star Healer, and Soundwave says she's your baby sister, so we've been ordered to get information about her. It's the only way we can be down here with our Carrier right now, so we need any information you have."

"Seriously. Ol' Megs is getting real impatient. I don't know how much longer we have before he starts hurting Soundwave."

"Yeah. Right now, he's only going after Starscream, but he'll go after Soundwave soon if we don't get him the information."

"I know you care about him, but I can't tell you anything. You said it yourself. She's only a sparkling—not even a vorn yet. She'd never be able to survive what Megatron's more than likely got planned for her."

"I know, but…"

"No buts. I won't risk my sister's life."

"Morning, B. What's going on?"

I turn and smile. "Morning, Katie." I sigh heavily. "Just discussing something."

"With the bullies?"

I shrug. "I'm trying to figure out why they decided to follow me to school."

"Ah."

With Kate, Mariposa's POV

"Play nice now, Benny. She's still a baby."

I watch Kate nervously as she sets Benny back beside me. Now he's wearing actual clothes, though. "Hi."

"Hi." He picks up a car and holds it out to me. "Car."

"I p'ay?"

"Otay." He rolls a blue one over to me. "You pway bwue. I pway wed."

"Otay." I pick up the car and drive it around the room, crawling as quickly as I can behind it.

Jasper Hospital, Ratchet's POV

I sigh softly and set the chart I'm holding down on the front desk before moving toward lounge. I grab my lunch from my locker and head for the door to the cafeteria.

I look through the rather crowded cafeteria before finding June. She turns to me as I slide into the seat beside her. "How's your first day been so far?"

"Busy."

"It usually is." She smiles. "You haven't had too much trouble with the patients, right?"

I shake my head. "Not really. They're better than dealing with traumatied soliers, at least."

"I'm sure they are."

I nod and turn to glance at my phone. "I'm kind of worried about Mari, though. I hope she's settled in well with Kate."

"I'm sure she has." She smiles. "How's Bailey doing in school?"

"Really well. He's enjoying himself, too."

"Now that's surprising." She sighs. "Jack and his sisters don't usually enjoy having to go to school."

I shrug. "I was homeschooling him before this year, though, so I think he's just glad to be around other kids."

"Probably." She smiles. "With his disability, though…kids can me mean, Rick."

"I'm aware of that, June, but he hasn't come home crying once since school started, and he's a pretty sensitive kid. I'd be able to tell if he was being bullied."

3:00 pm, Bumblebee's POV

I gather my books and stick them into my backpack before zipping it closed, then sling it over my shoulders. I watch the two holoform minicons walk ahead of me as I grab my bike, and start for Kate's slower than usual to make sure they don't see where I'm going. Once they're inside the house, I put my bike up and run for Kate's front door.

I step in quietly, just in case the babies are asleep, and meet Kate in the kitchen. "How was school, Bailey?"

I sigh and pull out my phone. "Good. How was Mari?"

"That's all I get?"

I shrug. "School went fine, I found out the bullies live a block away from us, and I got most of my homework done during lunch break. How's my little sister? No one showed up to ask about her, right?"

"No one Bailey… What's going on?"

I sigh heavily. I'll just have to tell her the issue, without mentioning that we're aliens. "The bullies keep saying they're going to try and take her from us. I've told Dad, but we haven't been able to do much more than protect her. That's why Dad was so nervous about leaving her today."

"Ah…" She smiles as she sets a couple cookies in front of me. "Don't worry, Buddy. I'm able to keep her safe." She turns to the fridge and pulls out my water bottle. "My sister-in-law is a Special Forces soldier, and my husband is the police chief here in Jasper. We'll make sure to keep Mari safe."

"Oh…thanks, Kate." I smile up at her. That makes me feel a little better.

"So, how much homework do you have?"

"Just some English…I don't need any help with it."

"If you get stuck, just come get me."

"I will. Thanks again, Kate!" I quickly get settled at the kitchen table to start working on my homework. The sooner I get done, the sooner I can play with Mari.

"Mommy, I go potty!"

Kate sighs heavily and sets my water bottle on the table a little more forcefully than necessary. "I'm coming, Benny!"

7:05 PM, Ratchet's POV

I pull up to Kate's house with a heavy sigh. It's been a long day, and I still have to get the kids to bed—that's if Mariposa doesn't have any nightmares tonight.

Bumblebee comes out with his backpack on his back, Mari on his hip, and her diaper bag slung over his shoulder. Once he's inside, he sets Mariposa into her seat with a sigh. "They're still trying to get her, Ratchet."

"I was afraid of that…" I sigh heavily. "We need to get her home, now. You can tell Optimus what intel you've gathered during your day once we get to the base. With hope, we'll be able to keep them from getting her, but you have to let me know if I have to start leaving her at the base. Her life may depend on it."

Bumblebee's pov

'"You won't shake us off 'til we get her, Bug."' I have to hold back the shudder wanting to escape. They're going to do everything in their power to get my sister, which means we have to do everything in our power to keep her safe. At the same time, she needs contact with humankind so she can get over her fear of them before she's old enough to start school. At this rate, half of me is scared that she won't be ready until she's 30, while the other half is more scared that she'll be too ready, and won't want to stay with us once we can return home.

"Bee?"

I shake my head before climbing out the back of Ratchet's vehicle mode with Mari and her diaper bag in my arms, as well as my backpack. The second Mari and her bag are with Ratchet, I transform and turn toward my berth room. "Sorry. I was thinking." Ratchet nods toward where Optimus is running the command center. "Right…" I turn to our Prime with my hands clasped behind my back, under my doorwings. "Sir? I have intel reguarding the Decepticons knowledge about Mariposa Prime."

"Proceed."

"Soundwave has a fake house like we do, right across the street from where our new one is. I believe the other Decepticons may have houses in Jasper as well, that they use as cover during our current cease-fire. Rumble and Frenzy are still attempting to get information from me, but I have remained silent on the matter at hand." I sigh heavily. "We may want to take note that some of the Decepticons haven't lost their compassion for sparklings and their Carriers, especially their younglings. Mari might not be in as much danger as we suspected she'd be with them."

"I assume Soundwave has taught them well, Bumblebee. Continue."

"Soundwave and his minions have yet to learn that Mari is staying with Kate during the day, though I don't know for how long. He could find out tomorrow, or it could happen next week, or next month. He might never find out if we're careful enough, but Ratchet's vehicle mode may tip him off after a while. I'm trying to get closer to the minicons so I can get more intel, but that's all for now…"

"Good work, Bumblebee. Report back when you have more information. Dismissed."

"Thank you, Sir." I start for my berth room before glancing back. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."