Thank-you's first go to Alice of the Forest, who introduced me to the song at the end of this chapter. Even if I had to search for half an hour just to hear it :D. Also, a million thank-you's to my dear beta Bee, who is far too patient with my foibles, and to my readers and reviewers, frankly I'm stunned you've stuck with me this far XD. As always, anything that you recognize, I don't own.
Chapter 139 – Wedding Day
(APOV)
Arcee came online as rapidly as her codes would allow.
Because today, today she was a maid of honour.
In moments, she was sending a gentle thought along her sister's line, Chromia immediately rousing and gently disconnecting from her potential mate, and Flareup... already waiting at her door. Cheeky thing.
Ratchet mumbled as Arcee lightly disconnected from him.
"Two more breem," he murmured, reaching out for her. Arcee chuckled softly and crawled up her consort's body, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips.
"Two more breem and you are waking up, beloved consort," she murmured gently. "You need to attend to Optimus, then walk your daughter down the aisle."
"Mm, you're off to tear her out of his arms, aren't you?" Ratchet murmured, his optics onlining dimly.
"Mm-hm, have you the instructions still logged?" she murmured in amusement.
"I do, beloved consort," Ratchet smiled at her.
"Good," she murmured with a smile, kissing him again. She rose and immediately summoned her armour, striding to the door.
Of course, that most certainly didn't stop her from shooting a wicked glance at her consort. A few of his processors popped, and he slumped back down again.
She loved doing that, but more so, she loved the fact that Ratchet still allowed his processors to pop when she shot him that glance. Flareup was grinning at her already, Chromia striding down the corridor with a smug look in her optics.
"Did you pop his processors too?" Arcee asked with a low laugh. Chromia promptly shot her the innocent look that they three had picked up from Kae. Arcee chuckled and idly made her way into the Prime's quarters, shaking her head at the two primes completely tangled together. She crawled up onto their berth and lightly nudged Kae.
"Sweet-spark," she whispered.
"Do I have to get up?" Optimus mumbled, pulling his Kae a bit more tightly into his chest.
"Not immediately, but your bonded does," Arcee informed him wryly.
Kae mumbled something incoherent, although it rather sounded like she didn't want to bother with the human wedding in favour of staying right where she was.
Arcee snorted in amusement and lightly tapped on Kae's shoulder, making an incessant tinging sound until her optics onlined.
"I'll be out in a moment," she murmured.
"I don't believe you," Arcee informed the femme cheerfully.
Kae pouted slightly and turned, pressing a gentle kiss to her mate's lips before lightly disentangling herself from his arms and cables.
Optimus groaned slightly at the loss, which made the four femmes chuckle somewhat.
"You get to announce to the world how much you adore her today," Arcee informed him with a low snort. "Now let her go long enough to get ready for it!"
That had the mech perking up, online and sitting up the next second.
"Wedding day!" he rumbled with a broad grin.
"You know, according to human traditions you're supposed to be freaking out so that I can bust your chops that you got yourself into this mess in the first place," Will called out cheerfully from the door.
Mikaela was laughing as she summoned her armour to her frame, leaving her mate in Will's hands. Arcee chuckled as the femmes began leaving.
But not before bearing witness to Optimus plastering a mocking look of flat panic onto his faceplates, making the major howl with laughter.
That was priceless.
(MPOV)
I wasn't really fully online until my sisters and I sank into the lubricant bath, then, and only then did the realization of what today's events entailed finally hit me.
My sisters were beaming at me as my spark flared with joy, because today I was going to bind myself once again to my beloved, following the human traditions I had never believed would be in my future. We didn't spend too much time in the baths, the girls fairly dragging me from the decon chamber and to the central.
Then came the first surprise, my dear, sweet little brother was there, his holoform already online and grinning as he held the polisher.
"It's my turn!" he chirped gleefully as I laughed.
"Down!" Arcee commanded with a grin as the femme's holoforms onlined, beginning to polish each other to a gleaming shine as my brother came after me.
I could suddenly see why my little-brother had so enjoyed me polishing his armour, somehow, the sensations were different for all that he and my Optimus used the same techniques with the polisher. A strong, relaxing massage rather than the foreplay that my mate and I indulged in. My brother spent extra time, polishing me to the gleaming shine he so prized in his own paintwork, beaming the entire time that he repaired the inevitable nicks in my paint.
He scampered off when he'd finished, grinning as Arcee shot him an amused glance that she hadn't even had to tell him to scoot.
Then, then came the holoforms, the four of us tweaking each other's programming until our 'makeup' was flawless, and our dresses perfect. My sisters were beaming at me as I made a final tweak to their gowns, lightly changing the embroidered detailing to match their own colours, rather than my own.
Somehow, it just felt more appropriate.
(OPOV)
Optimus nodded to Will as his best man gave him the thumbs up. It was seven thirty-three, June twenty-fifth. He waited for another twenty seconds and began to stride down the aisle, Will right beside him.
Because three years ago, to the minute, he had entered this planet's atmosphere. General Moreshower was doing his level best to keep a straight face as he stood at the altar.
"Welcome to planet earth," he murmured quietly. Ah. Now it was Optimus' turn to smirk slightly. He had, of course, several millennia of practice keeping a straight face.
But that was not for this night.
"Thank you," he rumbled gravely. Chris was beaming at him the next moment.
"It's nice to see a man standing so patiently," Chris informed him with a smile. "Means I don't have to bother with calming you down enough to stay put and wait for your fiancee."
Optimus smiled as Will snorted softly. In truth, he was counting the astro-seconds until finally, his chronometer stated that it was seven thirty-five. He turned somewhat as the music began playing, Will's Anabelle promptly made her appearance, beaming that she was the current centre of attention as she marched down the aisle, scattering rose-petals on the path his Kae would take.
Will was beaming at his little girl as she reached the spot Arcee had gently informed her of, tossed a handful of rose petals in the air and scampered to her mother, crawling up onto Sideswipe's lap the next moment. Then came the attendants' holoforms, Chromia and Ironhide in the lead, arm in arm to guard his bride from the evil spirits, tricking them from recognizing the two to be wed, the two of them visibly struggling to conceal the practically identical smirks.
The promise of a sound ribbing to come.
Optimus already had his response in processor, no matter what ribbing was shot at him during the reception, he was simply going to sit, a smug expression plastered to his holoform's face as he sat with his Kae's holoform at his side.
Then Flareup and Jazz, his spark sang that his dear friend was there, alive, the saboteur himself was looking rather smug with Flare on his arm.
Then, then his chronometer sang with the sweetest note.
At seven thirty-seven, his Kae stepped into view, her hand resting lightly on her spark-father's arm as the medic smiled, guiding his daughter toward him. She looked absolutely exquisite, her dress a pale silver, subtle blue flames twinkling up her bodice. Arcee was at her other side, Maid of honour, and femme guardian, as was tradition. The femme to stand down any who would defy their binding.
The second the seconds ticked away, at seven thirty-eight, his beautiful Kae's eyes raised to meet his. The moment she had laid eyes on him, three years ago.
This was the well, he was certain of it.
(MPOV)
Ratchet was beaming as he walked me down the aisle, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead before he took my hand from his arm and placed it in my Optimus'.
"Love her, guard her and respect her," my spark-father commanded, holding our joined hands together and holding my Optimus' eyes.
"With all that I am, father of my mate," Optimus rumbled firmly.
That had a few of the ladies in the crowd tearing up already, and we'd barely even started!
Ratchet smiled and went to stand beside Ironhide, my spark-father, and one of Optimus' closest friends. Arcee stood beside me, smiling, even as her eyes scanned the crowd.
The warning to any nay-sayer.
Chris stepped forward and smiled at us.
"Wilferd Arian Peterson wrote, that a good marriage must be created. In marriage the little things are the big things. It is never being to old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, 'I love you' at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is having a mutual sense of values, and common objectives. It is standing together and facing the world. It is forming a circle that gathers in the whole family. It is speaking words of appreciation, and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is not only marrying the right person, it is being the right partner. Today, we stand witness beneath the stars, to the marriage of Optimus Prime to Mikaela Banes."
It was all I could do to not tear up myself as I stood beside my Optimus, hearing the words I never thought I would live to.
"Optimus, please face Mikaela, and hold her hands, palms up, so you may see the gift they are to you."
I looked up at my Optimus as he cradled my hands, a gentle thumb stroking my palm.
"These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life. These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times. These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving. These are the hands that will fight beside you, to protect you when you are low, the hands that heal you. They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams, together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized."
I'd have to ask Chris later if he knew just how true those words really were.
"Mikaela, please hold Optimus' hands, palms up, so you may see the gift they are to you."
I obeyed and felt the first tear escape my eye as I looked at my Optimus' hands, then up at him.
The devoted love in his eyes the gift I never thought I would have.
"These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day," Chris stated gently. "These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams. These are the hands that will fight to protect you as you bear his children to the sanctuary. These are the hands that look so large and strong, but will eternally be gentle with you. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years. These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief wrack your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his optics: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you."
My spark flared with love as my Optimus did just that.
(WPOV)
The assemblage released a practically simultaneous sigh of happiness as Optimus reached up and gently wiped a tear from his Kae's face, the very motion so deeply endowed with the love they had for each other. In that moment, the politics of this union were completely forgotten, instead, it was a simple, heartfelt and beautiful wedding between two star-crossed lovers.
Literally.
Will could see his Sarah tearing up as he stood with Optimus. It was one of the things he loved about his Sarah, when the training of a soldier got in the way of his own emotions, he could always rely on his wife to express them for him. When he came home, and his daughter was fast asleep, his wife showing her vulnerability to him, allowed him to do the same as he grieved the men he'd lost. Will felt joy for the gentle titan as he stood with the holoform, joy that the bot had someone as well.
As far as he knew, nobody had written Chris' words for him, his respect for the general upping itself yet another notch. Apparently, the man had been paying attention to what the bots told him.
"Mikaela and Optimus have prepared their vows to each other," Chris told the massive assembly with a gentle smile, in his own way, obviously enjoying the chance to apply his generalship for something other than war. Mikaela looked up at her Optimus with a gentle smile as the bot began to speak.
"Mikaela," Optimus began softly, his voice carried on the gentle breeze. "Three years ago I saw you, and three years ago I could not look away. Three years ago you fought beside me, prepared to sacrifice yourself for a purpose you had not yet learned. In three years, across distance and togetherness you have become my dearest friend, my ally, my life. You honour me with your love, your trust and your friendship, your very presence making me a better person. With joy, three years to the day I pledge my love to you, give my spark to you to hold for your own as your husband, your bond-mate."
Will smiled as he gently offered Optimus the ring Ratchet had quietly slipped to him, that had caused a bit of trouble, especially seeing as the holoforms would dissolve the rings the second they went offline again. It'd precluded having a ring bearer. The rings would stay on the holoform's fingers here on out, but they were of course, the representation of the spark-chamber rings Optimus and Kae's proper forms wore.
"With this ring, do I yield my spark to you, in weakness and in strength, in triumph and in defeat, through joy and through sorrow I belong to you to the end of days and beyond."
Will smiled all the more as Optimus slipped the ring onto her finger.
"Optimus," Mikaela murmured with a smile. "Three years ago I saw you, and three years ago I could not look away. Three years ago you fought beside me, prepared to sacrifice yourself for a world you did not know. In three years, across distance and togetherness you have become my dearest friend, my ally, my life. You honour me with your love, your trust and your friendship, your very presence making me a better person. With joy, three years to the day I pledge my love to you, give my spark to you to hold for your own as your wife, your bond-mate."
Arcee reached forward with a beaming smile, lightly handing Mikaela a matching ring.
"With this ring, do I yield my spark to you, in weakness and in strength, in triumph and defeat, through joy and through sorrow I belong to you to the end of days and beyond."
(BPOV)
Bumblebee had been adamant in his research of the human's bonding ceremonies.
Not really for his love of learning everything as a scout, he just wanted his sister to have the perfect wedding.
So now he sat, beaming as the humans filed in past his Primes. It was the time for the 'reception'. As far as he could tell, this reception was the first meal shared by the wedded pair, surrounded by friends and family.
It was also the first dance between the wedded pair, and the first chance for their friends to tease them for taking so long in getting married.
Bee was the most concerned with their first dance, he and Jazz had been quietly squabbling over the song from the moment Jazz had heard about the human's bonding traditions.
They'd agreed on this one. Which is to say Bee had beaten Jazz over the helm and made him listen to it.
Because it was perfect.
"Ladies an' Gentulmuhn, Prime Optimus and his bonded mate Archangel," Jazz announced. Bee grinned and began playing the music softly.
Kae had said surprise her with the music. They could dance to anything.
Bee fully intended to surprise her with the perfect song.
Soft piano began playing, and his sister shot a rapid, gently curious look at him as her mate gently caught her waist.
"When the weight of the world is on my mind and on my shoulders, and I can't seem to find the peace I need. When the burned and battered ground beneath my feet is getting colder, that's when you call me close to you..."
Kae was smiling, a single tear running down her cheek again as her mate cradled her close, the two slowly spinning around the floor with no heed for those who watched.
"Whenever darkness falls and I feel like I'm drowning, when every breath of air is hard to draw. When my heart feels like a stone, and I'm struggling on my own, I turn around and find my strength in you..."
Jazz was grinning at him across the dance floor. Bee grinned right back as the human ladies teared up as they watched the two holoforms dancing with optics only for each other.
"You're alone, you are one in a million. Everyday in the world on your own, when the battlefield is roaring with silence just remember, when you face the unknown, you're not alone..."
Bee smiled at the major's wife as she carefully edged toward him, delicately leaning against his hood. He looked his holoform toward the sweet woman.
"Who is this by, and can I have the song?" she whispered. "Will says you're the DJ today..."
::. Perfect song =little-brother=.:: his sister's voice whispered on the primary.
Bumblebee grinned.
A/N. Sorry, I forgot to mention the song title and artist, it's: You are Not Alone by Frida Amundsen