Starscream was confused once again.

As the air outside chilled with the alteration of the planet's axis, so changed the human's behavior. Like the previous, Halloween incident, decorations were added to Nya's courters. Though, it wasn't little ghost lights, or bats on strings. They were small strings of colorful, sometimes twinkling, lights, shiny red ribbons, and ropes of evergreen plants. There must have been another earth holiday coming up, and he was content with that theory. Though that didn't last long, as the day Nya went into town and came back with boxes of shiny spheres, bright metallic glittering frizzy ropes, and even more light strings, he couldn't keep his curiosity silent.

Starscream approached Nya, while she and the children-Jack and Raf, Miko was strangely absent-were decorating the human areas for whatever reason.

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bell rock," the Air Major was quietly singing to herself.

"Nya?" he asked.

She swiveled her head up to look at him, "Hey, Scream, something you need?"

"Why are you covering the base in the fluffy, sparkly plastic?"

Nya chuckled, before turning back to the young human males, "What are we decorating for boys?"

"Christmas!" The two humans said in unison.

Starscream, raised an optic ridge, "Christmas, oh please don't tell me this is part of another one's of your earth holidays."

"I thought you enjoyed Halloween?"

"Tolerated is the more correct term. I didn't mind the history behind the holiday, it's just I didn't understand the point of the modern traditions."

"Example?"

"The costumes, if no one believes that they have to hide from spirits anymore, why do it?"

Nya sighed, "Well, I guess you can't understand it, until you do it."

He narrowed his optics at her and lightly flared his wings. Clearly conveying his opinion on that idea.

Nya rolled her eyes, "Don't worry, I won't do that," she chuckled, "Like I could get you in costume Scream."

Starscream caught the little smirk on Nya's face as she turned back to her work. The sliver seeker, inside secretly wished she would forget about this conversation. As when Nya got something in her mind that she wanted to do she would figure out a way to do it. Even if it meant, probably trapping him in his holoform to stuff him in a costume.

In the next moment, the ground bridge opened up and in came, Bulkhead, Smokescreen and Miko, with a giant pine tree in tow. Alright, this was weird.

The young human femme ran over the balcony, and the screamed excitedly, "We got the tree!"

Nya when up to the railing, her eyes a little wider with surprise, "Well…that's much bigger than I expected, but alright."

"Alright, so we got the tree, but why did we need a tree again?" Smokescreen asked.

"For Christmas!" all of the humans called out.

"Another Holiday? Wow, you guys have so many," Bulkhead said, while, Miko instructed the wreaker on where to put up the large pine tree.

"So, what are was celebrating in this one?" Smokescreen said excitedly, to which Bumblebee whirred in agreement.

"Well, it really started as a pagan holiday called winter solstice, though once Christianity took over in the Middle Ages the celebration to ward off winter depression, was converted into a festival of the birth of Jesus Christ," Raf explained.

"So, it's a religious holiday?" Arcee asked.

"It can be, though it really depends on a person, and their family's traditions. Because a lot of the things that people do don't really have anything to do with religious part. Take me and mom, we're not all that religious in general, so it's mostly an excuse for presents and for distant relatives to come over," Jack said.

"People tend to pick and choose the traditions they want to do, sort of like a spectrum. Some people fall on the 'Christmas is a time for gifts and present' while others fall on 'Christmas is the birthday of my savior'," Nya explained.

"Yeah! Like in Japan, we're all about the aesthetic and presents! Christmas trees, candy, presents! It's just a big party," Miko said.

"And there are also those, who don't celebrate Christmas at all. Jewish people celebrate the holiday known as Hannukah, rather than Christmas," Nya said.

Bumblebee whirred curiously at Raf.

"My family is all hardcore Catholics, so we're on the opposite side of the spectrum then Miko," Raf said.

"And where do you fall on the spectrum?" Starscream turned towards his human.

"I was raised catholic, even was a choir girl once upon a time, but I don't really make that big of a deal out of it," Nya stated.

"Why not?"

"I believe that there are three topics that should never be brought up in conversation, religion, politics and the great pumpkin," Nya stated, "Besides it's no one else's business. I go to weekly worship, and follow all of the rules on holy days, but I don't really like to announce my religion to the world."

"So, that's where you disappear too on Sunday mornings," Starscream murmured to himself.

The elevator to the surface suddenly opened, letting in Agent Fowler. Though, the lesion wasn't his usual self. He had on large dark shades, and a large portable water dispenser in his hand.

"Hello, everyone," Agent Fowler muttered.

"What happened to you, Army?" Nya asked.

"Department's Christmas party," Agent Fowler said taking a seat on the couch.

"Oh, let me guess, someone spiked the eggnog?" Nya asked.

"You have no idea," the lesion groaned.

"So, what exactly are we celebrating?" Arcee said, trying the stir the conversation away from the obviously unwell government agent.

"Uhm, Raf?" Jack said, turning to the younger boy.

"Well, on the religious side, it's the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. A prophet that lived over 2000s years ago," Raf said.

"Then the Romans killed him, but that's another holiday," Nya said.

"Cheery," Arcee said.

"So, what does the non-religious side celebrate?" Starscream asked.

"Capitalism," Nya said, causing Agent Fowler to spit out his water.

"Nya," Jack fussed, through his fit of giggles.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself," The Air Major said through her own laughter, "No offence was meant Miko."

"We good," Miko said.

As the days passed the halls of Autobot Outpost Omega1 were filled with newfound excitement and cheer. The thought of something to celebrate had brought in a lighter atmosphere into the base. In between missions, the team would spend time decorating the base, watching the classic Christmas movies, and listening to Miko play Christmas songs on her guitar, to which Nya would some times sing along. There was even, somehow, a few presents underneath the giant tree they had set up in the main part of the base, and in the case of Bumblebee and Smokescreen, trying to sneak a look at which ones were for them.

Eventually, Night of the 24th, Christmas Eve, arrived. Everyone was present for the party in the early afternoon. Music filled the base, and the humans were enjoying cups of hot chocolate. Though that didn't mean everything was peaceful…

Bumblebee whirred excitedly at the presents underneath the tree.

"I know. We could find out if we had some kind of X-ray scanner," Smokescreen said.

"Only if you two want to end up on Santa's Naughty List, put them back under the tree and come to the party," June clipped, from the human's platforms.

"Busted," Smokescreen groaned.

"I still don't believe that this Santa Claus can fly around the planet, in a sley pulled my reindeer no less, and deliver millions of presents in one night," Ratchet griped, "There is no math or science behind any of this. It's not possible."

"Could he make copies of himself, and travel around the globe?" Starscream theorized.

"Mm, that could work. The others did sight multiple Santa's in Jasper's shopping district, but how he would manage to clone himself would be an entirely different matter," The autobot medic stated.

"Nya your thoughts?" Starscream turned to his partner who was on the nearby platform.

"Don't bring me into this discussion," Nya said, after taking a sip of her hot chocolate with an abundance of marshmallows.

"Major Lee you are a pilot and have a background in plane engineering and aerodynamics, you surely should see how preposterous this Santa Claus is?" Ratchet said.

"Ratchet you might need to think about getting some coolant. People have tried to explain the magic of Christmas for years, and none have figured it out. There's no point," Nya said.

Ratchet scoffed, and left obviously to work on something even though Optimus had given everyone the night off, unless there was an emergency (said prime was out on a drive, enjoying the Christmas lights of Jasper).

Starscream leaned closer to Nya, "So, do you really believe in this conspiracy?"

Nya shook her head, "It's not a conspiracy. It's a fun thing for the holiday."

"He's breaking into homes."

"No, Scream…"

"That's illegal."

"Okay, listen there are children here, do not ruin this holiday for them. And yes, I believe in Santa, sue me."

Starscrema sighed, "Just when I thought you were reasonable."

Nya chuckled.

The sudden gasp and giggles of Miko drew the attention autobot's air team.

"Miko is something wrong?" Nya asked.

The energic teen, through her fit of giggling, pointed upward.

They looked up, finding a small piece of greenery, that was tied to a string which was, somehow, attached to the ceiling. Starscream was confused and Nya was horrified.

"Who put that up there?" Nya said in a mild panic.

Miko laughed louder before shouting, "Starscream and Nya are under the mistletoe!"

"Miko no," Nya tried to say but it was useless, they now had the silo's occupants' entire attention.

Starscream could see the amused faces of the other children, the pitying looks of the adult humans, and the confused expressions of the cybertronians. What was this little piece of greenery?

Nya sighed, her cheeks turning reddish, "Let me up on your shoulder."

"Why?" Starscream, asked as he let the air major climb up him.

"I'm sorry, but we're at war and I can't risk cursing us," Nya said, before pressing her lips against his cheek plate.

The seeker felt his optics widen, as confused reactions and cheers sounded throughout the base. Starscream would admit he wasn't an expert in human culture, but he did know that kissing was an action of only of the closest of human relationships. Mostly done between family, and conjunxs. Not between coworkers, and especially not between coworkers of different statures-Nya was still technically his commanding officer after all-even though they worked more as a partnership.

He glanced down at the human woman, whom had slipped off of him and back down to the platform during the chaos. If she was uncomfortable, she wasn't showing it.

"What was that about?" Bulkhead asked.

Nya felt like her tongue was stuck in her throat so, no answer was coming from her, but thankfully June stepped in to save the autobot air team.

"When two people are caught underneath mistletoe," June pointed to the small greenery above them, "they have to kiss or they're cursed with bad luck," The nurse chuckled awkwardly.

It took a bit before the party got back into the swing of things (Starscream cut down the mistletoe). Smokescreen and Bulkhead started singing carols, though Nya had to correct them when they accidentally started singing, "jing my bells" instead of "jingle bells". Soon the evening came, and Nya and Raf had to leave to attend to their religious duties for the holiday. Miko, Agent Fowler, and the Darbys stayed for a little longer, but eventually they had to retire to their homes.

Bumblebee and Smokescreen had to be convinced to recharge that night, claiming they wanted to catch Santa. But eventually Ratchet shoved them into their courters. Everyone recharged relatively well that evening.

But morning came all too soon. The younglings got up at an un-primusly joor of the morning, waking everyone else up with their excitement. Everyone gathered in the main area with quiet joy on their faces (even Optimus was cracking a small smile). Starscream leaned against the wall near the human platforms, and looked to the left to find Nya. The Air Major was dressed in slippers and sleepwear, her hair, styled in pigtail low worn braids, was frizzy with sleep, with a mug of the left-over hot chocolate in her hand.

She leaned up against the railing and smile at him, before turning back to the scene of the others surrounding the tree and handing out gifts.

Nya sighed fondly, "Well, it's official, kids are still kids no matter what planet they're from."

"What do you mean?"

"It's sort of an unspoken rule that kids will get up at a ridiculous hour on Christmas morning. Looks likes it is the same with cybertronians."

"Hey Starscream, this one's for you!" Smokescreen said walking over to the duo, a brightly colored oddly shaped present in his servo.

"For me?" Starscream said trying not to show his shock.

"Well, yeah, it's got your name on it. Sure, it's in ity-bity writing, but it's your name," Smokescreen handed off the gift then headed back to the crowd around the tree.

Starscream look at the gift. His optics focusing on the tag that read, "To Starscream, From Nya".

"You got me a present?" He said staring in awe at her.

"Of course, I did, you're my partner Scream why wouldn't I," Nya said, taking a sip of her hot chocolate, "Besides, I got everyone gifts this year. Of course, most of them are things that I built out of scrap metal."

"Everyone?"

"Everyone."

"Smokescreen, and Bumblebee?"

"Sleds. For both of them."

"Arcee and Bulkhead?"

"Punching bag, and-Ratchet's probably going to hate me for this- a set of drums"

"Ratchet and Optimus?"

"A rack for his wrenches, and a number one boss mug."

Starscream chuckled at that last one, before he carefully ripped the wrapping paper off of his gift. Inside was a bucket of metal polish and a polishing chamois. He stared in awe at the precious gifts, feeling his optic mist slightly.

"I overheard you complaining that there was nothing around here for you to use to polish or clean yourself properly. And since most of the other bots just use the car wash, rather than the wash racks here, I thought you could use this," Nya said, "You, okay?"

"O-of course, it's just no one's ever given me a present before."

She nodded slowly, "I get it. I remember my first Christmas with dad, and he gave me the first present I ever received, a Reba McEntire album. I remember feeling completely shocked and overwhelmed. So, if you need a moment…"

"No, no. I'm fine. I'm sorry I didn't get you anything," He admitted.

"We have a saying here on earth, 'it's better to give, than receive'. You didn't need to get me anything Scream; besides you already gave me enough this year."

"I did?"

Nya nodded, "You gave me another home. If you had never crashed into my back yard that night, I wouldn't be sitting here. It would have been another Christmas, spent trying not to freeze and missing the family I lost. I would probably be wondering what my life would've been like if I have never gotten into my accident."

Starscream gazed at her. Suddenly remembering that he was just as alone as he had been when they had first met. Trapped out in wilderness, without any other being around her. What would've happened to her if he had not plummeted into her life? Would she have ever gotten the proper treatment for her conditions? Would she had died out there, with no one to remember her? What would've become of him? He feared to think about what he might have been push to do if he never met her.

"What would've that future have looked like? If you never crashed," He asked out of curiosity.

Nya took a moment before clicking her tongue and saying, "Well, Me and Ray probably would've gotten married. Found a house to grow old in together, and by now," she smiled, "we'd either have our first child or I would be pregnant with them."

"You want sparklings?"

"I knew I wanted to be a mom ever since I first started babysitting in high school," she sighed, "Won't be happening now though."

"Because you have no mate to raise them with?"

"Well, not only that, but after the crash, it was discovered that my body wouldn't be able to carry a child to term, and if it did, I probably wouldn't live through the birth," Nya said sadly.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it was hard at first, but I've this family to care about now. And if push comes to shove, I can always give adoption a try," She gave him a smile, "Merry Christmas, Starscream."

"Merry Christmas, Nya."

A/N:

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays everyone!

Yes, Starscream's gift was a reference to Armada, if you were guessing.

I hope that no one minds the religious references in this on-shot, I know that people can be sensitive about that. So, if you were offended, I apologize.

Quick shout out to the viewer, WildFlosbee! They gifted me with a wonderful drawing of Nya this Holiday season! Go Check it out!

Link to Drawing - 1163013748-sketch-pad-20

Annoucment!

I will be starting a meta watching the show series, with the Shatter Glass decepticons, from Soundbluster's Shattered Glass Transformers Prime comic (or the Blusterverse) watching Transformers Prime. My cover artist Courtsk14 contacted them and got permission.

Link to SoundBluster Go check them out,

Wattpad- user/SoundBluster

Deviant Art- soundbluster

The story will not be on my regular updating schedule, so expect the chapters to be random and slow to update, but I will do what I can.

As always, I am open to suggestions, and requests for chapters! Have a wonderful time with the Holidays Folks, until next time!