A/N: I'd just like to thank everyone for their support on this story so far. I still am so stunned and thrilled at how great a reception this has gotten. :) Your reviews, favorites, and follows truly make my day better! :)

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CHAPTER 35
A Little R&R Part 1

Tyler leaned against his bedding quietly that morning. To say he still felt bad about what had happened was an understatement. He had broken a friendship, a centuries long friendship at that, and it did not exactly make him feel good to know. He heard as Fowler opened up the bedroom door, and stepped inside. "It's not your fault you know." Tyler turned on his side, and looked up at the man quietly "And you know he's going to say the same thing a whole lot less nicely if you don't come out of your room."

Tyler took a deep breath, knowing the man who may as well have been his father was right. He took a deep breath and sat up on the bed, running his hands down his face. "I get that, dad." Tyler finally spoke up "But I don't get why he doesn't hate me. He was friend with Knock Out forever... We've barely known each other a few months."

"Hate you?" Fowler leaned against the wall "Kid, I don't think "hate" and "Tyler" could ever be in the same universe as his processor or whatever they have." Tyler shrugged his shoulders and slumped a bit "You know, choices aren't always easy, son. You're always going to hurt someone in this kind of situation. It just... Happens." He paused "... Ty?"

"So you don't think he secretly hates me?"

Fowler laughed at that, shaking his head. The thought of Breakdown "secretly" hating anyone was absolutely amusing. He had learned by now that Breakdown was very open and honest about his feelings. It felt as though lying about them was a foreign concept to him entirely. "Nah. I think he loves you about as much as I do. He's just hurting right now." He stepped forward and seated himself on the bed "Come on, get out of bed and go out with him or something." He grinned "He needs it."

Tyler shook his head, smirking a bit. "How do you always know the right thing to say?"

"It's a gift." Fowler stated, shifting his tie a bit "You'll learn in good time that your dad is a smart guy." Tyler laughed a little in response "Hey, you laughing at me, you little punk?" He questioned, wrapping his arms around Tyler, and tickling his sides playfully as the boy squirmed "Come on, you're gonna laugh at me still?"

"You're tickling me!"

Fowler smirked as Tyler carefully got away and out of the bed. Tyler couldn't help but grin and laugh, enjoying it when Fowler got playful. After all, Tyler had missed out on having a playful guardian past the age of three, and having that helped. It reminded him that here, he could be a kid, and that made him feel good. "Knew I could get you out of bed if I tried hard enough." Fowler teased him gently "Now, get dressed, it's my day off, so I get you tonight. But you and Breakdown should go have fun, do something."

"You do know that our idea of fun usually breaks a few rules?"

"I don't need to know what you two are doing."

"Who are you and what did you do to my dad?"

Fowler snorted, and clapped Tyler on the back in response to that. "You're not the only one who worries about him, Tyler." Fowler shook his head in response "But he's at his best when he's with you and vice-versa." He explained "He needs you, kid."

Tyler nodded his head, and hugged Fowler in response. He paused a little and shook his head. "I'm at my best when I'm with you too, you know that, right?" Fowler nodded as he gave the boy a firm hug in return "But you're right about Breakdown too." He stated as he slowly let go "Maybe you should come with us, though. I bet Breakdown would like that." He explained "Wanna come?"

Fowler stared at Tyler silently. He had never been invited along for their bonding time, that had been a thing that was exclusive to the two of them. He slowly nodded his head, and smiled a little. Knowing that perhaps the three two of them could work together to help Breakdown through this. "Alright, I can do that." Fowler nodded his head "But you won't be getting in trouble with me around." Tyler grinned as Fowler started out the door "You can count on that."

"I know, eyes in the back of your head, right?"

"Every parent has at least two pairs."

Tyler watched as Fowler left the room, sighing quietly as he threw on his clothes. The only thing that Tyler could hope was that Breakdown was indeed okay. He spent all the time worrying about him and Fowler, but at the end of the day, he was the one taking things the worst. And to tell the truth, he felt bad for Knock Out too. Perhaps it was the "all-too-kind" side of him, but he hated to see anyone, even a Decepticon feeling as pained as Knock Out had been. "There I go again, worrying for no reason." Tyler grunted "I'm a glutton for lectures."

Tyler took a deep breath, and laughed at himself. Trying to push his absolute uncontrollable urge to worry aside for the moment, he put on a large smile. Even if it looked like the fakest smile in the world, at the very least, he might be able to fool Breakdown. "Ty, eggs are on the table! Hurry up so we can eat and get going to... Wherever!" Fowler called out.

"Yeah, I'm coming." Tyler shouted back.

After a moment, Tyler made his way downstairs, finding his nerves now went to how the day would go.

...

"What are we doing out here again?"

Tyler stared over at Breakdown, shrugging his shoulders a little. Tyler had never been camping, so when Fowler had decided to call in sick for the weekend in the middle of breakfast and had him pack for an impromptu camping trip, it had stunned him. What was Fowler getting at? Taking them away from civilization, the Autobots, everything. "Boys, for the weekend we are leaving this whole war behind us." Fowler commented "That's the point of this camping trip."

"You guys are taking this too far." Breakdown grunted "I'm fine."

Fowler raised an eyebrow and grunted. "I know that's a load of crock." Fowler asserted "You need this, trust me. And so does Tyler." He looked between the two of them "Things lately have gotten you so on edge that it feels like you two are stressing all the time." Tyler frowned, though he knew that Fowler was telling the truth "And don't give me that I'm not your creator bullcrap either." Fowler told Breakdown sternly "By human standards, I'm older than you." He added.

Tyler looked over at Fowler. "How old are you exactly?"

Fowler frowned at that, making Tyler decide that it was best not to joke like that right now. Breakdown crossed his arms, and huffed a bit, looking down at Tyler. "And I suppose you agree with him?" Tyler nodded slightly, hearing as the mech grumbled in return "Frag it all, you two are the biggest worry warts..." He paused a moment "I'm fine, alright!?"

"Yeah, I can tell." Fowler noted "Sit down you stubborn hunk of machinery. I'm gonna teach my boy how to pitch a tent."

Breakdown was silent as the two set about their work. It was a rather interesting custom of the humans, then again, the whole thing seemed to be. Sleeping and living out in the wild, it was as bizarre as possible. After they had finished pitching their tent, Tyler turned to Breakdown. "Come on, you can't grump around the whole trip." Tyler chuckled "Dad's right, we need to have fun for once away from all this crap."

Breakdown stared down at Tyler, breathing inwardly. After a long moment, he nodded his head slowly. "Alright, alright!" Breakdown transformed down and activated his holoform "What can I do to help this camping thing...?" Tyler stared at Fowler, who smirked a bit "Don't be so smug about it or anything... I just suppose that I can give this whole relaxing weekend thing a try."

"Tyler, do you know what fire wood is?"

"Logs?"

"Yeah, you and Breakdown should go and get some. We'll need it tonight."

Tyler nodded his head, and though he hesitated a moment, Breakdown followed him. All the mech could wonder is why they had to worry about him so much. He was a grown mech, he could handle himself. They were his responsibility, not the other way around. "You two spend far too much time worrying about my well being." Breakdown commented "I think you're both forgetting who the guardian is here."

"Even guardians need intervention sometimes." Tyler turned his head towards him "I know you're worried, Breakdown." He looked down, shaking his head "Just like I needed help when I went on the stand. Or when I was deciding whether or not to approach dad about adoption." He then added "Or..."

"I get it." Breakdown grunted, picking up a log "This is what you mean, right?"

"Yeah." Tyler nodded.

Breakdown took a deep breath, looking at Tyler as he took a small handful. He took a deep breath, setting his down, and putting a hand on his shoulder. "What I'm going through is not your fault." Breakdown nodded his head at him "Please, if you're blaming yourself for what happened with Knock Out and I..." He shook his head "Don't. It's my fault. Period."

"But I-."

"I made my choice. I chose my side." Breakdown shook his head "I'm happy to relax and all, but nothing is gonna change that." He explained "I just want that out of the way." Tyler smiled slightly, and nodded his head "Now, you want to tell me what the point of collecting this is?" He asked.

"I think it's called a campfire." Tyler explained "Maybe dad'll even let us roast marshmallows."

Breakdown grimaced as he looked it up. Though the things made sense, he certainly once again found it weird. Just as he did every time a custom involving treats was brought up. He tried to think of burnt Energon treats, and cringed. Yet he also saw the relaxation value of it all. Out here, he could relax, there wasn't anyone out there. Maybe he could even enjoy himself. "It sounds fun." Breakdown encouraged "And maybe you're right... If this is any indication, maybe I can relax."

"Just like I can." Tyler nudged him.

Breakdown patted the boy on the shoulder, and nodded his head in response. Tyler was no doubt right, or rather Fowler was. He needed to stop grumping around and at the very least try to enjoy the weekend. "So, roasted marshmallows, huh?" Breakdown encouraged "You sure know a whole lot about camping."

Tyler frowned. "My dad took me once... Before he died." He paused "I barely remember it, but yeah. I guess I do remember how it goes." He picked up an armful of firewood, struggling to hold it up "This would have been easier with your real form." Tyler grunted, taking a deep breath "I never had to do this when I was three."

"I would have paid credits to see you try though."

Tyler slugged his guardian on the arm gently, and stuck his tongue out. "Hey Breakdown?" Breakdown nodded his head "Why don't you carry it all since you find it so funny." He snarked "You're the buff one of out of the two of us."

Breakdown set the fire logs onto Breakdown's holoform's arms. The mech only chuckled lightly as the boy jogged up ahead, back towards the camp site. He couldn't help but grin a little. "Kid, I'm going to dunk you in the lake for that one." He chuckled, staring over at "Lake Meade" a few feet away.

He only smirked, and took a deep breath afterwards before heading off after him. Perhaps the weekend could be fun after all, no matter how hard "getting away from it" seemed in theory. Perhaps it was all he needed to get his mind off Knock Out. Because whether he wanted to admit it, or not, he needed that right now.