(Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers; just Anwen.)

(Authors Note: Hello dear readers, I'm so glad you're still enjoying the story thus far because I simply adore writing it for all of you (and myself, of course). I shall continue to work on this story whenever I get the chance, but know that I'll also be working on my other FF's, so updates aren't always going to be on a regular basis. But still, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. This is optional, but feel free to leave a comment for I enjoy your good vibes and feedback. It's thanks to your kind words that I've actually been inspired to update as often as I have been, so thank you for the inspiration and motivation. Until next time, stay safe, stay sane, stay healthy and stay awesome!)

"English/French"

'Mental thoughts'

"Flashbacks" (and sometimes sarcasm)

{Cybertronian}

::Sparkbonds::

:Speaker talk:

::Comm. Link::

Chapter 9

-Monday-

The weekend had ended too quickly for Anwen's liking, but she loved her job as much as she loved hanging out with Maggie, so it wasn't a total loss. She just hated that it was shark week and that she'd be feeling the effects of it all throughout her shift. Damn hormones.

Her morning had already started off terrible after she awoke to severe cramping in her uterus at 0400 and left her confined in the bathroom for nearly half an hour. She ended up having to submerge herself in a hot bath just to ease the pain. After that, she couldn't fall back to sleep so instead, she thought she'd make herself some tea, only to find that she was completely out. When she started to dress herself for the day, Anwen discovered that due to some slight bloating, her denim shorts no longer fit her comfortably. Instead, they left her feeling constrained and put pressure on her midsection. Nope. She refused to endure an eight hour shift in discomfort. Her options were to either wear leggings or one of her dresses, and since the weather was not quite ideal for leggings, she'd have to wear a dress.

"Peu importe, au moins ils sont à l'aise (Whatever, at least they're comfortable)," she said to herself as she began to rummage around her closet until she came across her long sleeve, hoodie dress. It was knee length and had a 3D dragon scale design all over the surface, which would give off a scaly appearance. The colors ranged from metallic green, blue and purple, which looked stunning and blended well together.

"Parfaite (Perfect)." Not only would this dress be comfortable, but it would also hide the bruises on her arm. Thankfully, they were starting to fade some. With a smile, Anwen adorned a pair of black booty shorts, her black bra and a pair of ankle socks before slipping on her hoodie dress and popping into the bathroom to brush her teeth, wash her face, brush her hair and put on some makeup. Sure, she felt shitty because her uterus was punishing her for not procreating, but that didn't mean she needed to look as bad as she felt.

Absolutely not!

If anything, she wanted to look stunning: like a goddess or a high-class prostitute...okay, definitely not that. She wasn't that kind of girl, nor did she ever want to be. Goddess, yes. High-class prostitute? No. The very idea made her chuckle, which then caused her to cramp and double over in pain for a moment.

Once she regained her composure, Anwen began her morning care routine before packing her makeup, hair accessories, toothbrush and toothpaste inside her toiletry bag to bring to work with her. She figured that she'd finish getting ready after breakfast. Also, as much as she hated the idea, Anwen decided to forego her morning swim for the day. She may be wearing a tampon, but it was a risk she dare not take. Not today.

Planning ahead, Anwen grabbed her bottle of Tylenol and threw it inside her backpack along with her toiletry bag and a bag of unwrapped Reese's minis. She always carried some chocolate around with her when it was her time of the month, and she always made sure to hide them in her desk when she was at work. She would discreetly place her chocolate in an empty can that at one point contained a variety of mixed nuts, but has since become repurposed for her secret sweet stash.

Admittedly, she wasn't one to regularly consume candy as she was rather selective when it came to her sweet tooth. Yes, she enjoyed Reese's, Ferrero Rocher and Skor bars well enough, but Anwen typically preferred the naturally sweet taste of oranges, mangos or strawberries as opposed to chocolate. However, during her monthly cycle she sometimes craved the latter.

At the moment she was donning her rollerblades while taking a quick inventory to make sure she had plenty of feminine products to get her through the day. Thankfully, she did. With that, she then closed up her bag and slung it over her shoulders where she then adorned her helmet, lanyard and shades. After making sure all her lights were off and everything was in its proper place, Anwen slipped out the door and locked it behind her before rolling over to the elevator.

XXXXX

Upon exiting the apartment building, Anwen leisurely rolled off towards the base, deciding not to move as swiftly as she normally would. Instead, she mostly allowed gravity to do the moving for her. Nearly halfway through her commute, she spotted a familiar golden Lamborghini approaching her location.

Sunstreaker happened to be on his morning patrol when he noticed the speckled fleshy rolling his way. He sincerely wanted to put the past behind him and make up for his repulsive behavior the other day. With that in mind, he came to a stop and addressed the young woman, :Kinda early for you to be going to work, isn't it?:

She offered a courteous nod of agreement, "Oui, but I enjoy the quiet my commute brings me. Also, I like to arrive for breakfast early so I have time to enjoy it. I'm guessing you're out on morning patrol?"

:I am. I just recently left the base to begin my route. However, I am inclined to ask if you would like a ride to base?:

Anwen stood dumbfounded: did Sunstreaker just offer her a ride?! She needed to confirm this. "I-I'm sorry, I don't believe I heard you correctly."

:Your audio receptors appear to be working correctly. Now, do you want a ride or not?:

She was at a loss for words: should she say yes or no? Would he be offended? Would he be happy? Oh, now there was an interesting thought. Not wanting to be rude, Anwen gave a small nod, "O-Oui...I would appreciate a lift. Merci."

He opened his passenger door for her to slip in before he closed it behind her and carefully buckled her in as she sat completely still while holding her backpack on her lap.

Meanwhile, Anwen took a moment to inspect his interriour: it was similar to Sideswipes, yet completely different in its own way. His seats were of a high quality leather and his dashboard was so sleek and shiny. Everything was perfectly spotless and had an expensive, mirror-like shine. His windshield and windows were tinted (as all Autobots were), but his seemed a tad darker than Sideswipe's were. Regardless, they were devoid of any smears, water streaks, bug guts or dirt, making them seem almost non existent. If it wasn't for the fact that they were tinted, Anwen would have assumed he didn't have windows at all. There was also a fragrance about him that was similar to his twins, yet somewhat different. More masculine, but not overpowering. He smelled of expensive wax, cleaning solvents and imported leather mixed with a hint of...paint? Anwen deeply inhaled the blended scents and internally sighed: he smelled amazing!

Forgetting herself for a moment, she rested her arm on the armrest before suddenly removing it, to which Sunstreaker's voice emitted through the speakers, :I'm not gonna hurt you, fleshy. There's no need to act so timid.:

"I'm sorry, it's just that I know you don't like being touched and I don't want to overstep my boundaries."

He mentally rolled his optics but answered in a softer tone, :Look, Anwen, I get why you're being cautious. I do. But you don't need to be afraid of me. Yes, I don't like being touched, but I trust your hands are clean.:

At that, she exhaled and carefully leaned back in the seat, but still kept her hands in her lap just to be cautious. Meanwhile, Sunstreaker mentally sighed at the close contact: he was envious of his brother for having spent more time with the fleshy. She was so warm and soft. He'd normally find such attributes disgusting when it came to humans, but with Anwen, it was enjoyable.

"Sunstreaker?"

:Hmm?:

"Why do you hate my kind so much?"

Ah yes, this question. He wondered when it was going to pop up. With a mental sigh, he answered :I don't care much for organics in general, but humans? They rank up there with Decepticons in terms of their hatred, malice and cruelty towards others of their own kind and even those of different species.:

She lightly touched the armrest, "I agree that most humans are terrible; but there's more good than evil that inhabits this planet...it's just hard to see when everyone always wants to focus on the bad things that happen."

:Whatever helps you recharge at night, fleshy.:

Anwen gave a curt nod, "Oui, it does. As I've said to some of our colleagues: I strive to be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron."

Frag, she was just like his brother in terms of humor. If he was in his bipedal form right now, he'd be rolling his optics and shaking his helm with a disapproving scowl across his face. :Oh Primus, no.:

She couldn't help but softly giggle, "Quoi (What)? You don't like puns?"

:No.:

Instead of questioning his reasons why, she lightly rubbed her fingers over the armrest and swore she felt him shudder at her touch. That familiar tingling sensation appeared within her chest again, causing her to gently rub her sternum.

:Is something wrong?: Sunstreaker didn't want to sound too concerned, but he needed to know in case she needed to stop by the Med Bay.

Anwen shook her head, "No, I'm fine. It's just a muscle cramp in my chest. Ratchet scanned me the other day and found nothing that would raise concerns."

His spark eased at hearing that bit of information. Normally, he wasn't one to worry, but with her being his and his twin's apparent 'chosen one', he couldn't help but feel some sort of concern. :Don't hesitate to see Ratchet if it gets worse or if something else pops up.:

"Je ne veux pas (I won't)."

:You better not,: he replied in a serious tone.

XXXXX

Sunstreaker pulled up outside of the chow hall and opened his door for Anwen to exit. Upon slinging her backpack over her shoulders, she offered a smile to the golden Lamborghini, "Merci for driving me to base, Sunstreaker."

:...You're welcome.:

A slight dust of red appeared across her freckled cheeks as she lightly swayed on her blades, "I don't suppose I'll see you again later, will I?"

:I can't say for certain. Why do you ask?:

She shrugged, "Just curious. I see Sideswipe more often than I see you around, but I suppose that's because he enjoys interacting with my species, whereas you avoid them at all costs unless told otherwise."

:My brother is just social by nature.:

"So I've noticed. Well...I don't want to keep you from your patrol duties, so I guess this is goodbye for now."

:It would seem so.:

"Au revoir (Goodbye), Sunstreaker."

:Likewise...Anwen.: He then drove off, leaving the young redhead behind him.

XXXXX

After finishing her breakfast, Anwen leisurely rolled over to the main hangar and headed over to the back where the offices were located. She rolled down the long hallway and entered the women's restroom where she was determined to finish applying her makeup for the day. However, she first needed to pee. That, of course, was her first priority.

Once done, she washed her hands and set her backpack on the counter so she could remove her toiletry bag and begin her makeup application. Of course, she first had to brush her teeth. The last thing she wanted was to have bad breath or some leftover food particles stuck in between her teeth. Nope. She simply wouldn't have it.

While brushing her pearly whites, Anwen thought about her ride with Sunstreaker which caused her to blush. She never in a million years would have imagined riding shotgun in his vehicle form, let alone be permitted to even see his interriour: it was amazing! And to think, she was the ONLY human to have ever ridden in him. What an honor and privilege that was. The more she thought about it, she had to ask herself why. Why did he break his own rule and allow her, a human, to ride with him? What made her so special?

She spat out her toothpaste and rinsed off her toothbrush, shaking off the excess water from the bristles before placing it back in its travel container and back into the toiletry bag. Removing her makeup, Anwen carefully set to work on her eyes. She wanted to look fabulous, yet not too sexy to where it would look like she was trying too hard. No, that wouldn't do. In the end, she went with a blend of green and brown which made her golden amber eyes pop. Adding a bit of mascara to her lashes gave them a fuller look, which complimented the shadow rather nicely.

Anwen then removed her helmet and took out her hairbrush where she gently ran it through her curly locks before pinning some off to the sides using a pair of faux jeweled, butterfly hair clips. She then took out a tiny bottle of rose oil and dabbed a few drops behind her ears and onto her wrists. Afterwards, Anwen applied some wine red lipstick and took a moment to look at herself in the mirror: she was gorgeous! A smile appeared across her freckled face which boosted her confidence. Sure, she may be on her period and feeling crummy, but she wasn't about to let her fellow humans and Autobots see that. No; all they would see was a beautiful, young woman.

Satisfied with her current appearance, Anwen packed up her makeup and placed the toiletry bag inside her backpack before grabbing her helmet and exiting the restroom. She then slipped into the dark office and approached her cubicle where she checked underneath her chair for the airhorn can as a precaution, before setting her bag aside and sitting down to remove her rollerblades and slip on her shoes. Glancing down at her watch, Anwen noticed the time now read 0650 which meant she had over an hour until work started. No matter. She would use this time to visit with friends, assuming there was anyone out and about at the moment.

Once finished tying up her laces, Anwen stood up from her chair and headed out of the office where she walked/limped down the large hallway and stepped into the hanger. A small smile lined her face as she spotted Sideswipe conversing with Bumblebee, to which she approached and waved up at them.

"Bonjour, gentlemechs."

There was radio static followed by a clip from Singing in the Rain, :Good mornin', good mornin'. We've talked the whole night through. Good mornin', good mornin' to you. :

Anwen emitted a slight giggle at Bee's corny choice of song before Sideswipe greeted her with a charming smile. "And a good morning to you, sweetspark," he suddenly took notice of her appearance and felt his spark hum in its casing. "Primus...you look beautiful, Ani."

:Pretty woman, walkin' down the street. Pretty woman, the kind I like to meet. Pretty woman I don't believe you, you're not the truth. No one could look as good as you, mercy,: Roy Orbison's voice sang out from Bee's radio. Sure, he could use his actual voice, but not for lengthy periods of time as of yet. He was still undergoing treatments but was making great progress.

At the compliments she received, Anwen blushed a deep shade of crimson, "Thank you. By the way, you both look handsome yourselves."

Bee bashfully waved his servo in a 'Aww, stop' motion while Sideswipe's optics softened at the young femme, "Your compliments are much appreciated, sweetspark. But in all seriousness, you look stunning."

"Merci," her heart rate slightly quickened before she felt the familiar tugging sensation in her chest. 'Am I crazy or am I feeling some sort of pull towards Sideswipe,' she mentally asked herself, not sure what to think of it.

The three of them talked for several minutes before Bee received a message from Ironhide: apparently he and Bluestreak were to meet up with him on the tarmac. He and Will were training some soldiers on advanced servo to servo (hand to hand) combat moves and he required some 'volunteers' to demonstrate for them. Of course, he knew Ironhide was likely testing him to make sure he remembered his own training. With that, he politely excused himself and headed out of the hanger, leaving Anwen alone with the silver frontliner.

She sat upon a crate as they casually conversed with one another, all while she kept feeling a pull towards him. "Sooo, I met with your brother this morning on my way to work."

"And? What did he say?"

"Well, you're not going to believe it, but he actually offered me a ride and I said yes."

His optics widened, "Sunstreaker offered you a ride?! That's...that's amazing!"

"Je suis d'accord (I agree)," she stated with a bemused smile across her face. "I thought he was joking at first."

"Sunny? Joking? Not a chance, sweetspark. He's always serious and doesn't have much of a sense of humor in the first place," he winked, causing her to blush. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask...would you like to hang out with Sunstreaker and I this weekend? That is, if you're not too busy."

"I'd love to...I mean, as long as your brother is okay with it?"

"Of course. In fact, Sunny and I discussed the idea over the weekend."

"Great; so what should I bring?"

"You don't need to worry about that, sweetspark. My brother and I will take care of all the arrangements. The only thing you need to bring is your smile," he then lightly poked her cheek, making her lips curve upward. "There...just like that."

Anwen placed her hand over his servo and met his gaze, fascinated by the beauty and complexity of his optics. Time seemed to stand still as they remained transfixed with one another before the silence was suddenly broken by the sounds of distant talking, signaling that humans and Autobots were heading inside to start their work day. "Well, I better let you go for now, but will I see you around later?"

Sideswipe gave a curt nod, "Indeed you shall, milady. Alas, while parting is such sweet sorrow, I shall look forward to our next visit. Until we meet again, sweetspark," he then gently took a hold of her slender hand and placed a chaste kiss upon it, causing her cheeks to turn a bright shade of crimson while her heart quickened its pace.