Chapter 217 – Interim Call
(WPOV)
Will grinned as he rounded the corner and paused for a second, just to listen.
"My name is Sarah, please feel free to use it," Sarah stated in a wry tone.
Will chuckled and carried on his way, striding into the communications bay and nodding to Lena as he made his way up to the top catwalk.
"General," Will stated amicably, saluting for a moment before leaning against the rail the second the general waved him into taking his ease.
"Will, sorry about calling you up so late..." General Moreshower began calmly, Will nodded and patiently settled in, listening to the briefing and offering up his own reports. He glanced at his watch and saluted two hours later, bidding the general a good recharge without even thinking about it.
"Are you planning on turning into a bot yourself?" Chris asked in an amused tone. Will shot the man a confused look for a second.
"What...?" he asked with a frown. "Oh! No, Optimus must be rubbing off on me," he laughed.
"Well there are worse role models, night Will," Chris stated in a wry tone. Will grinned as the man shut their link down and immediately turned, climbing down the catwalks.
"Sweet dreams boys bots and femmes," Will called out cheerfully.
"Sarah's just about to go to bed Will," Lena reported with a bright smile.
"I thought you said you'd shut those cameras down," Will frowned.
"I have. Sarah asked Sunstreaker to ask me to tell you to hurry up because you've stopped listening to the Primary," Lena reported cheerfully.
::. I'm on my way Sunstreaker.:: Will sent cheerfully.
::. Noted, I'll inform Sarah.:: Sunstreaker replied gravely.
Will grinned and shoved his hands in his pockets, meandering down the corridor and glancing into Wheeljack's shop. The smoke had cleared, and Skids and Mudflap were bustling away straightening the shop up again.
"How goes it?" Will called out curiously.
"Almost done!" Mudflap called out cheerfully.
"We've only had a stupid amount of practice doing it after all," Skids added in a cranky tone.
"Maybe 'Jack'll figure out how to not let the large-scale stuff explode this go around?" Will commented curiously. He grinned when the twins glanced at each other and burst out laughing. "Night bots," he added cheerfully, nodding at the idle waves and carrying on. Will picked up his pace slightly, jogging past med-bay and lifting a hand at Kae as she glanced up at him. He'd be back in a few minutes, and the femme knew it. Through the door to the guest quarters wing and into the unit assigned to his wife, Will glanced around and made a beeline for the bedroom.
"You made it," Sarah murmured drowsily, looking up at him from her pillows.
"For you? Through rain, hail, sleet, snow and Decepticon attacks," Will murmured gently, stroking her cheek and pressing a gentle kiss to the lips of the most beautiful woman in the world.
"You've been spending too much time around Optimus," Sarah chuckled, tugging him down onto the bed.
"You object?" he asked innocently.
"Only if you sprout up an extra twenty feet and transform into something or another yourself," his wife murmured contentedly, hugging him soundly for a long moment.
"I'll be beside you soon," Will murmured gently, pressing another kiss to his Sarah's lips.
"Make sure the twins get Belle to bed soon," Sarah murmured before her eyes closed.
"I will," Will whispered, carefully levering himself back to his feet and smiling at the contented expression on his sleeping wife's face. He stood there for another moment more before turning and walking into the main area, he glanced around and poked his head into Belle's room.
"What's next?" Anabelle asked with a frown, looking at her books.
"Uh... reading the first act of Romeo and Juliette and then you're done..." Sideswipe frowned.
"But I still don't have it!" Anabelle stated worriedly, looking up between the two holoforms.
"Uh..." Sunstreaker's holo frowned. ::. All-call!.:: the mech called out quietly over the Primary. ::. Has anybot managed to scan in 'Romeo and Juliette' from the humans' libraries yet?.::
::. Got it! Sending it along!.:: Jolt replied instantly with a cheerful lilt in his tone.
Will grinned, he couldn't help it as Sunstreaker grinned and set the book in question down on the table in front of Anabelle.
"How'd you do that?" Anabelle demanded suspiciously.
"Jolt scanned it in when he and Lena were on one of their library dates," Sideswipe chuckled. Will pulled his head back into the room and jumped.
"So about the orbit-" Kae began calmly, two steps through the doorway.
"Dude knock!" Will exclaimed, and promptly clapped a hand over his mouth.
"I did, you didn't hear me," Kae shrugged. "Anyway-"
"Annie Kae!" Anabelle sang happily, running through the common room excitedly.
"How did I not hear you knock? I always hear someone knock-" Will scowled.
"Will you play Juliette!?" Anabelle asked excitedly as Mikaela automatically scooped the girl into her arms.
"Juliette doesn't appear until the fifth scene," Mikaela informed the girl with a patient smile.
"I know, I've read it already," Anabelle stated cheerfully.
Will squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head for a second.
"The act or the entire book?" Kae asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The whole book, before 'Streaker gave me Jolt's copy," Anabelle stated seriously.
"Then shouldn't you be writing the essay?" Kae asked patiently.
"I read it, I don't understand it," Anabelle reported gravely. "So 'Streaker said that maybe if I listened to it the way that Shakespeare intended then I might understand it better. It even says in the front of the book that it's meant to be acted out."
Will took a deep breath and rallied his best argument, he'd been waiting for three years to use it, which was eight years less than he'd been expecting.
"Hey Bell, does it make sense at all when I say that Kae and Optimus are star-crossed lovers?" Will asked his daughter innocently. Anabelle turned to look at him with her mother's eyes, the seemingly involuntary 'don't insult my intelligence' look melting rapidly into wide-eyed shock.
"Daddy you're brilliant!" Anabelle shrieked as Kae lightly set her on her feet, launching herself at his legs and promptly head-butting him. Mercifully, his daughter gave his legs a rapid hug before streaking back into her bedroom. "I need the keyboard!" her voice sang gleefully.
Will wanted to shoot a smug look at Kae, but he couldn't, really.
"You gonna live?" Kae asked him sweetly.
"Yes..." Will managed to squeak out.
"You want an ice pack?"
"No..."
"That was a nice little bit of parallel argumentation," Kae informed him consolingly.
"Thank you."
"I was never that innocent."
"I know."
"Will!" Kae laughed.
"I mean you might have been, maybe, at least up until you were able to pick your own head up," Will shrugged.
"You're an ass, do you feel like sitting down yet?"
"Not really, you were saying about the orbit?"
"How's Saturday?" Kae asked him innocently.
"Saturday should be alright," Will nodded. "What do the Directors say?"
"Oh they don't get a say," Kae stated cheerfully. "Linda cleared Barry's timetable, and Director Mearing's already on call to be bridged.
"And the President?" Will asked with a frown.
"Moreshower said space trip. He jumped," Kae stated sweetly.
"Fair enough, wait-" Will frowned as Optimus's holo strode through the door with Bumblebee's close behind.
"What lady is that which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight?" Optimus rumbled, laying a hand on Bee's shoulder.
"I know not, sir," Bee replied innocently.
"Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!" Optimus rumbled in a throbbing, passionate tone while Bumblebee grinned like a madman. Will rolled his eyes, he couldn't help it. "It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night, like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear; beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear. So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows as yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, and, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my spark love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."
Will looked down at Kae, half expecting her to start gently scolding the mech for being sappy. No such luck, she was going to play along tonight.
Then he frowned, voices were coming from Belle's room. Loud voices... He poked his head through the door and jumped, there was a massive party in Belle's room.
"-Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall." Sunstreaker stated with deep irritation colouring his tone. His holoform stormed away and disappeared along the hallways.
Oh. Just a holoform. The door through which he had his head poking was now an archway. One of several. Anabelle was in her pyjamas, scampering back and forth with a broad grin on her face before running toward him with her arms up.
"Daddy watch! It's the best part!" Belle whispered as Will automatically lifted his daughter to his chest, following her gaze.
The holoform had extended; the party was through the arch now. Kae was clad in a pretty white dress with a matching mask and hood; Optimus matching her costume in rich blue tunic and hose as he paced forward to take her hand.
"If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss," Optimus rumbled tenderly. Will blushed furiously, he wasn't entirely certain he wanted his daughter watching this... even Kae was blushing.
"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much," Kae lilted with soft, sweet innocence, gently guiding Optimus' hand. "Which mannerly devotion shows in this, for saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmer's kiss."
Will shrugged somewhat then, looking down at his daughter watching the play with rapt attention. If he were truly honest with himself, he'd started it - and those two always sounded like that. He glanced down at his watch and rolled his eyes. Apparently, the holoform had got hold of his suit: He was now clad in what was evidently the livery of the Capulets, complete with ridiculous sleeves and a sword. Will did what he did best then, he stood to attention and resignedly worked to keep his face straight as the final scene of the first act played out, all the while fervently wishing that Sarah was there to see it.
"I need to take notes," Anabelle informed him gravely.
Will automatically set his daughter down and smiled as she scampered through the fading party and to her desk. Will strode over to Mikaela as the holoform faded back to her normal, modestly clad appearance.
"Where'd Optimus go?" Will asked curiously, glancing around.
"He's in the entrance bay," Mikaela stated blandly.
"He pulled over?" Will asked with a raised eyebrow.
::. Kae gets that one.:: Ironhide's voice rumbled with a laugh.
::. What?.:: Will demanded with a frown.
::. You owe me two Blue!.:: Bumblebee's voice sang.
::. Now or later?.:: Bluestreak asked innocently.
::. Well if you happen to be near central already...:: Bumblebee began in a musing tone.
::. Frequency switch!.:: Blue announced cheerfully.
::. Is anybot going to tap his helm?.:: Ratchet asked in amusement.
::. Don't wanna.:: Ironhide grinned.
::. Why?.::
::. 'Cause he looks so happy...::
::. You know? You're right. If you wake him up with that ugly mug of yours he'll shoot you...::
::. Ratchet!.:: Chromia protested.
Will looked at Mikaela, who was standing and looking at him wryly.
"What?" he asked with a frown.
"You're sure you want to know without Sarah holding your hand?" Mikaela asked him in amusement.
"No. Thank you," Will stated gravely.
"Know what now?" Sarah asked in a groggy tone.
"I'm sorry Sarah, too loud?" Mikaela asked gently.
"No, bathroom, where's Bell?" Sarah mumbled.
Will poked his head back into his daughter's bedroom and smiled.
"Done and done!" Anabelle announced happily. Plopping her pen into it's holder.
"Brush your teeth," Sunstreaker stated gruffly.
"Canna have a snack first?" Anabelle asked sweetly.
"What would you like?" Sideswipe asked curiously.
"Milk and cookies," Anabelle and Sarah chorused each other out of each other's earshot, Belle at her desk, and Sarah already shuffling toward the fridge. Will grinned, Kae had a delicate hand holding her throat.
"Will? Kae? Sunstreaker? Sideswipe?" Sarah asked groggily, reaching for the glasses on her own version of autopilot. Will smiled, even the proverbial bomb wouldn't genuinely wake his Sarah.
"I gotcha," Kae murmured in amusement, gently taking the glasses from Sarah's hands. Sarah reached out and wrapped Kae in a sleep-awkward hug for a moment.
"You're a saint," she mumbled, collapsing down on one of the kitchen chairs.
"Warm or cold?" Kae asked gently.
"Warm please," Anabelle sang sweetly, crawling up onto her mother's lap. Sarah lifted her hand, pointed to herself, to Belle, back to herself, then wound her arms around the girl, cuddling her daughter like a teddybear.
"Warm?" Sunstreaker asked curiously.
"Helps you sleep," Kae stated with a smile.
"Okay..." Sunstreaker stated hesitantly.
"Cold please!" Sideswipe stated cheerfully. Kae looked at him.
"Cold," Will replied, somewhat mystified.
"I don't have any cookies!" Sarah stated with a start, sitting bolt upright in her seat.
"Will, explain warm milk to the twins, the cookies are in my quarters," Kae ordered quickly, smiling and winking out.
"Warm milk?" Sideswipe asked him curiously. Will smiled and got down to work, fetching out a pan and measuring out three mugs worth of milk, setting it on the heat element and leaning on the counter while it warmed. Anabelle was already half-dozing in her mother's arms as he quietly talked the twins through the human rituals of putting a child to bed.
He had to admit, the twins listened to him with rapt attention, and he highly doubted they'd forget. He glanced at the door, Kae would be back soon with the cookies. An arm chose that moment to reach through the door, attempting to unlock it before falling to the ground. Will strode to the door and opened it.
"What happened? What's wrong?" Ratchet's voice demanded from the med-bay.
"I misjudged my holoformatic solidification speed," Kae stated in a marginally pained tone, winking online a few steps away at the camera point before striding toward him and reaching down.
Will looked down at the plate of cookies, mercifully unbroken.
"Here Will," Kae stated patiently, handing him the plate.
"Coming in?" Will asked curiously.
"Need help?" she asked with a little smile.
Will looked back at the twins lounging near the stove, watching the milk warm while Sarah and Belle dozed.
"Probably not, you should come in anyway," Will chuckled, handing back the plate.
Mikaela chuckled and strode in, Anabelle perked up somewhat, looking at the femme while her mother roused somewhat.
"What kind are they?" Anabelle asked curiously.
"Monster cookies," Kae smiled at the girl.
"But I don't wanna get eaten!" Anabelle sang playfully.
"Then you'd better eat it first!" Kae replied cheerfully, handing out the treat in question. "Remind me to teach you basic human cooking skills," she added musingly, looking at the twins.
"Can I get in on that?" Will asked in an amused tone.
"You still don't know how?" Kae asked with a laugh, lightly poking a knuckle into the milk and shutting the heat off.
"Warm milk is one thing..." Will trailed off with a shrug, pouring he and Sides a cup of cold apiece. "If you get it too hot you can always cool it down again with a bit of cold. You're the one that managed to make a random desert goat stew actually taste like something I'd want to feed my family."
"As you like," Kae chuckled, handing out the mugs of warm milk.
Will munched on his bedtime snack in comfortable silence with the company around him.
"So what was Ratchet on about?" he asked idly.
"You have the room on silent," Kae shrugged. "You missed me turning the air blue."
"Why?" Anabelle asked drowsily.
"I cut my holoform's arm off."
"Why'd you do that?"
"I didn't do it on purpose," Kae chuckled quietly as Anabelle took her last sip of milk.
"Teeth, bed," Sunstreaker informed her gently, picking Belle up the second her arms began to reach for him.
"'Kay," Belle mumbled, "Night ev'body," she added before tucking her face into Sunstreaker's neck.
Will watched with a smile as Sunstreaker carried his pyjama clad daughter into the bathroom, then into her bedroom five minutes later. Will rose with his wife and stood at the door, watching as the holoform tucked the girl into bed before he strode in.
"Night baby girl," he murmured, kissing her forehead.
"Night daddy."
"Sweet dreams sweetie," Sarah stated gently, kissing her as well.
"Night momma," Belle murmured.
Will turned and gently began leading his wife to their bed.
"Hey 'Streaker?" Anabelle asked in a marginally alert tone. Will winced, if Belle woke up again now they'd never get her to sleep…
"Yeah Belle?" Sunstreaker asked curiously.
∂What did the etchings say properly?∂
Will murmured a translation into Sarah's ear, smiling as she wound her arms around his waist.
"They say: ∂ Little femmeling rest thy helm, cast thy thoughts to another realm; recharge safely in thy bed, whilst beautiful things float through thy head. May golden wishes dance and sing, the bells of serenity about thee ring; warm and safe let thy spark wand'rings soar, as thy guardian watches over thee, forevermore.∂" Sunstreaker murmured gently.
Will looked up at his daughter and the holoform and smiled. Belle was out cold; Sunstreaker smiling gently as he tucked the covers up to her chin. Will blinked his eyes tiredly and looked down at his wife - sound asleep on her feet and leaning on him. He glanced around and noted that Kae had disappeared - but then she probably had a few moments ago in respect of a family moment. Sarah snuffled slightly against his chest and Will chuckled softly.
"That's a hell of a prayer, Sunstreaker," he murmured with a wry smile, yawning before scooping his Sarah up and carrying her to bed.
"Good recharge, Colonel," Sunstreaker replied in a quietly amused tone before the lighting dimmed and the holos winked out.
"We'll keep them, I think," Sarah mumbled into his neck.
"As you wish," Will whispered with a smile.