CHAPTER 37
Growing

Jeff had never had a real Christmas since his parents died. So the feeling of getting up at Christmas morning with a feeling of warmth and excitement was something he had not expected. Still in his pajamas, he carefully stepped out of the way as several children bolted by. "Jeff!" Jeff turned his head to Brent who was with his dad "Merry Christmas!"

"You too Brent!"

Jeff made his way to the first floor, staring around in search of his own family. He quickly found the Autobots, along with Turbo, handing out presents to each of the children. He quickly caught sight of Prowl among them, as he carefully motioned him over. "There you are, Primus, I thought I'd have to drag you out of bed." Prowl rolled his eyes "Give us a hand, will ye youngling?" He questioned.

Jeff didn't mind taking the time to help the kids out. He'd remembered when he'd been so excited to receive the presents as well, if nothing else it reminded him of his roots. And even made him even more grateful for what he now had. Once they had finished, however, he easily collapsed, seating himself on the ground. "Dad, if that's you coming behind me with a present besides the dog-." He stated as he heard footsteps.

"Mute it and accept your present."

Jeff only rolled his eyes a little at that, taking the wrapped package from Prowl. He pulled the wrapping paper off to find something he was not expecting in the least. A carefully constructed, simple, but all the same incredible looking blaster, much like the ones the Autobots used, only human sized. "Dad, you said..." Jeff turned his head towards Prowl "I already had that sword. You said I wasn't far enough in my training for-"

"You've come far enough in your training." Prowl explained "It is time I started teaching you to use one of these." He explained.

"A real, graded Autobot cannon?" Jeff questioned "I don't know what to say..."

"You're welcome." Prowl smirked, carefully taking the cannon, and placing it in a case "I'm going to take this out to my real form, Jeff. So that none of the children get their hands on it. But tonight, I will teach you to fire it." He saw Jeff's eyes light up at that prospect "Now why don't you join your uncle's and grandfather in the meantime." He added.

Jeff moved through the congregation, but rather than towards the holoforms, he grabbed his jacket and moved outside. The Autobots were all transformed, and seemed to be enjoying themselves over a morning Energon. "You my young son, are nuts." Prowl noted as he picked him up "It's freezing out here, and you are in your pajamas, you should be inside." He explained.

"I wanted to be with my family on Christmas." Jeff noted as he was deposited on Prowl's shoulder "Your holoforms make it easier, sure. But being with your real forms... It feels more real sometimes is all." He shrugged his shoulders a bit, leaning his head against Prowl's neck "Besides after spending weeks sleeping in the snow sometimes, a little while like this is nothing." He admitted.

Bluestreak grinned a bit, then stared at his older brother calmly. "Well are we gonna watch you give shorty his first lesson with the blaster?" Bluestreak questioned playfully "Come on, Prowl, I can tell the kid's probably dying to do it." Prowl smirked a little bit, staring at the blaster in his hands, he carefully lifted Jeff to the ground "Alright, awesome!" He turned to Cable and Smokescreen, who were a ways off "Hey father, Smokey! Jeff's gonna get his first lesson with an Autobot grade blaster!" He announced.

"Uncle Blue!" Jeff blushed.

Somehow, he had a feeling that the first time an Autobot youngling was given their lessons in blaster operating was a big deal. He understood why, it was mostly their primary weapons, something that made the use of it special. Prowl slowly set the weapon in Jeff's arms, as the teenager weighed it silently. It was heavier now that he was standing, and Jeff was holding it shakily. "Jeff?" Prowl stared down at Jeff slowly "You're going to do fine, son. It's on the lowest setting, so even if something goes wrong, everything will be fine." He then added "We're going to take this nice and easy." He explained.

"What if I make a fool out of myself?" Jeff muttered "You know I haven't got the best shot."

"You won't. You have me here with you."

Prowl's holoform moved behind him, moving his arms into a suitable position. Unlike their versions, Jeff's had a trigger which the boy was careful as possible not to pull. "Ease your grip son, steady her a bit. Not too much force." Jeff sighed quietly as Prowl whispered in his ear, and then stepped aside "Alright now, what you're going to want to do is keep your eyes forward, and not focus so hard." He explained "Be one with the blaster."

"What kind of advice is that?" Jeff asked.

"Trust me." Prowl noted "Aim it for that target." He pointed towards a target they had set up, which hung from a tree "And fire."

Jeff sighed quietly, taking it in, he leveled the gun, and fired. To the surprise of everyone, including himself, the target had been sent flying several yards from the blast. He turned to Prowl, who had a look of pride and a large, excited grin on his face. "Kid isn't good with human weapons. But he picks up one of ours and he's a natural." Smokescreen tilted his head "You sure you're not part Praxian kid?" He asked.

Jeff felt himself blush again, simply staring at the fallen target and then at the blaster. It was the first time he had gotten anything on his first try, and to say he was surprised was an understatement. "Lucky shot." Jeff shrugged "Nothing more."

"A lucky shot would have shot a hole through it." Prowl tilted his head "What you did? Is skillful." He made his way towards where the target had fallen "Let's try that again." He explained.

Inside, Jeff couldn't help but feel extremely excited to continue with the training. If nothing else, it felt good to show some skill in front of his family. In his mind he could not think of a better Christmas than how he was spending it right now.

...

Arriving home the next day felt weird after spending the last few days at the children's home. The german shepherd he had adopted, whom he'd named Rusty, had taken up residence on his bed, and was sound asleep. Meanwhile, Jeff sat in the chair in front of his desk, looking thoughtful. For a while, he had been worried that he might be left there, as stupid a fear as it had been. But now that he was back home, and nothing had changed, he couldn't help but feel better. "Glad to be home?" Prowl questioned as he entered Jeff's doorway "I noticed how tense you were to leave." He explained.

"Old fears. Stupid reasons." Jeff shook his head "I guess I'm still adjusting."

Prowl nodded, understanding what Jeff meant. Though he would never do anything of the like, he knew it was a fear Jeff had faced before. If nothing else, Prowl knew that he would never go as far as to leave Jeff anywhere. His home was Jeff's now, and that was the end of the story. "Never fear that Jeff. It's illogical." He paused a moment "Doing so would only serve to break my own spark. And besides, what would I do with all I have gotten and done for you?" Jeff laughed a bit "You do understand the fear will never be confirmed, correct?"

"Of course, dad." Jeff shook his head "But we all have our irrational fears."

Prowl nodded his head, knowing of how phobia's worked. It didn't concern him fully that Jeff feared abandonment, he had reason to in the past. But inside, he did silently hope that sooner or later Jeff would put these fears aside and know better. "Indeed we do. But you need not have that one for any longer." Prowl stated "So, you hear from Connie since the other night?" He asked.

Jeff nodded, smiling at the thought of his girlfriend. Prowl had never seen the absolutely goofy and enthused smile that crossed his face, if nothing else it was a bizarre mix of emotions. "I just got off the phone with her, she misses me already." Jeff paused a moment "You know, you don't have to worry about losing me either, don't you?" Prowl tilted his head a bit "Just because I have a girlfriend now, I mean... I'm not moving back home or anything." He explained.

Prowl smirked a bit, knowing that would come up at some point or another. Though he was still not certain about Jeff dating, he was comforted by the fact that Jeff was certain that would not happen. He was not ready for anything to get that serious, nor was he ready for Jeff to start thinking of moving out of the house like that. "I approved of the relationship as the date went well." Prowl shook his head "Let's not take our thoughts past that, shall we?" He asked.

"Wouldn't want you to glitch again." Jeff chuckled.

"You haven't managed to push me that far."

"I know, but I've seen it happen." Jeff snickered.

Prowl simply shook his head at that, placing his hands on his hips. He sighed quietly, motioning Jeff towards the bed. "Just go to bed, it's late, your systems indicate you are exhausted." Jeff rolled his eyes a bit, but climbed onto the bed "Primus, at the rate you're growing, I'll soon be reflecting on how I'll miss this." He added as he pulled the blankets over Jeff "If it weren't physically impossible, I might ask you to stop your growth."

"You still have me for a while dad." Jeff replied.

"And that is something I cherish." Prowl stated as he moved to the light switch "Goodnight, son."

As the lights went out, and Rusty cuddled up closer to him, Jeff smiled. Prowl was right, he was growing, more and more as the days went on. A part of that scared Jeff too, the thought of it was easily nerve-wracking. It meant that he might be out of the house at college before he knew it. But he couldn't help but be excited as well, a few months ago, or a year ago, he was nowhere near this point.

But now, with his family by his side, Jeff was growing, something he couldn't help but also feel excited about.