Well it's certainly been a long time since we were here, hmm? After my laptop dying a horrible death, returning to school (so to speak) and a year of writing on books that I might very well be able to publish for cash rather than the pure joy that this particular fic has given me for the past several years, shall we update again? Fair warning, it's going to be a month or so between updates, rather than a daily update as I had originally done at the start, life has a way of getting in the way of best laid plans. Shall we get a move on?

Chapter 223 - Settling In

(CPOV)

Chance walked in a daze amidst the group of holoforms, Firelight's tucked comfortably under his arm, and his niece dozing in Beachcomber's arms as Kae's holo led the way into the slowly rousing mess hall.

"We'll move you to the family units beside Will, Chance," Kae commented, glancing over her shoulder before striding into the kitchen.

"You!" Chef Franco's voice shouted.

"What?" Kae's voice demanded.

"You have your own bloody kitchen! I will not have you commandeering mine!"

"The last of my human quarters were gutted last orn to outfit Will's room: Sarah was the one to pick the furnishings out in the first place; I need to borrow the paleo table for our newest and second-youngest resident fresh out of Australia," Kae replied in a grave tone which though overtly pleasant, offered no alternative for argument.

"Huh, she really is a young Ba Noi," Chance muttered to himself, shaking his head and glancing around the near-empty mess hall.

"Sorry I'm late, I got stuck behind the non-sentient parade," Flareup stated in an amused tone, delicately working her way through the human sized doors into the mess before striding into the kitchen.

"Have you run through decon?" Chef Franco's voice demanded as the 'bot entered the food-prep areas.

"How d'you think I managed to get stuck behind the parade in the first place?" Flare retorted with a laugh, delicately positioning herself in full view of the room without blocking any path.

Chance sat in his usual spot in the mess, winding an arm around Firelight's holo the moment she sidled close; content to sit and listen to the barely-argument echoing from the kitchens. Beachcomber's holoform took his other side on the long bench, tucking Tien between them; the various holos either grouping around them at the table or peeking into the kitchen to watch their Prime as she behaved as the human she had been.

"Well while you're here make yourself useful and run an allergen sweep for me," Franco grumped. "Where's the newbie's sheet?"

"She's seven; the sheet'll be printed out the moment the Colonel wakes up to sign it," Kae stated patiently.

"Seven-year-old on the paleo table is a celiac," Franco stated in a gentler tone. "What were you planning?"

"Jacobs' banana paleo pancakes."

"If you're making them anyway build a forty-serving batch and throw the batter in the blaster for the four-o'clocks," Franco ordered idly, wandering out of the kitchen and toward the only occupied table.

"Oui Chef," Kae replied in a serious tone, glancing around herself. "Bee, we need fifty peeled bananas, stat!"

"Oui Chef!" Bumblebee parroted his sister brightly, scrambling into the storage areas.

"So you're our newest resident," Franco stated calmly, striding over and sizing Tien up.

"My niece, Tien," Chance stated patiently.

"Well, you're in luck - probably a tide-over from yesterday - paleo table just got put in last week. Have you got a favourite food young miss?"

"P'skettie," Tien replied shyly.

"That's easy," Franco grinned at the girl.

"But spaghetti is made of wheat…" Chance frowned.

"I switched the entire base to gluten free pasta two weeks ago; nobody noticed enough to complain," Franco scoffed. "I'll shake your hand when my hands are clean," he added with small smile to the girl as a bell dinged from within the kitchen. "For now I best be getting back to my bread."

"But your hands look really clean already," Tien commented shyly.

"Oh they are - clean enough for kneading anyway - but there's wheat on my hands, and if I get it on you doubtless the murderous medic over here will make it my blood," Franco smirked at Ratchet's holoform.

"Metaphorically, right?" Tien asked in a timid tone.

"In your case, yes," Ratchet stated with flat honesty and a solemn nod. "I would never expose you to such gratuitous violence." Chance grinned at the holo as his niece relaxed and leaned against his side, a hand idly worrying the doll tucked into her pinafore pocket.

"What's your favourite colour sweetheart?" Chromia asked sweetly.

"Purple," Tien murmured timidly.

"Purple is a lovely colour," Chromia fairly cooed to the girl. "I'm going to set up the rooms," she announced to the group.

"Her luggage is beside me," Firelight commented. "I'll be right back," she added, looking up at Chance for a moment. Chance nodded and pecked a kiss to her forehead. Firelight grinned, her holo flickering out with Chromia's the next second.

"Like this," Bumblebee announced out of the blue, jogging toward them for a second before tossing a jacket toward Beachcomber.

"Thanks dude," 'Comber grinned, draping the coat around Tien. Chance looked down at the girl half-dozing against his arm and noted the gooseflesh creeping along her arms.

"I didn't think how cold it is here, it's coming on summer back home…" Chance murmured worriedly, winding his arm around the girl.

"That's okay, I know a ton of places where we can get some warm stuff," Bumblebee announced cheerfully, bearing a small plate heaped with strawberries, whipped cream and poker-chip sized pancakes in one hand, his other holding a small basket.

"Is that for me?" Tien asked in a soft, awed tone as Bumblebee set the plate in front of her; grandiosely pulling cutlery, napkin and syrup decanter from the basket and laying them in their proper place.

"Of course sweetie," Kae replied in a softly amused, motherly tone; the holoform idly wiping her hands as she strode to the table at a more sedate pace than the scout's. "You should try the maple syrup, it's been a good year - my uncle Brick got me fairly addicted to the stuff when I was about your age."

"Enough that she flew there personally to get it," Ratchet added in a wry tone.

"Thank you, your majesty," Tien murmured solemnly.

"None of that, I refuse to respond to the royal frippery until after the coronation - and unless you turn into a Cybertronian yourself someday you'll never personally have to use it," Kae stated in an amused tone, delicately booping Tien's nose with a finger. "You call me Kae. Now, by your lot's leave I'd like to return to bed…" she added suggestively, glancing around at all present.

"'Night Kae," Chance piped up with a grin, the petite, dark-haired holoform winking before blinking offline. Tien poured an experimental drop of syrup on a bite of pancake, tested the result, then measuredly doctored each one.

"What does that taste like?" Bumblebee asked curiously.

"It tastes like the magic of the earth and the knowledge of the Faerie Queen," Tien replied gravely, offering the holoform one of the bite-sized pancakes topped with a strawberry slice and a scoop of whipped cream.

Chance grinned as Bumblebee gravely accepted the bite, popping it in his mouth and grinning at the taste - immediately dissecting its flavour for the benefit of the rest. Tien was rapidly relaxing with the bots around her, it made him feel all the more certain with his decision to bring her home. She'd survive and thrive with so many new friends around her. He looked at Beachcomber for a long moment, the bot doubtlessly feeling his gaze and returning it. In a look, Chance knew the bot wanted to speak with him, which suited Chance just fine, he wanted a long chat with the mech as well.

Later.

Clearly, the mech's guardian protocols had fully manifested: He'd investigated a jacket before Chance could even think of the temperature, or even note a shiver from the girl tucked on his left.

Chance wasn't altogether certain he wanted his niece's husband to know more dirt about him than he himself had blown out of the mech's air filter and carburetors - but he'd deal with it later.

Far more central to his attention at that moment was the lithe, absurdly sexy little woman stepping over the bench and sidling her way against him again. Automatically, Chance wound his arm around the femme the moment she came into contact with his tricep.

"You are a funny creature," Firelight murmured in amusement. Chance looked down at the femme curiously. "You offer to be my subordinate yet cover me as a dominant."

"I apologize if I've offended you," Chance began immediately, making to lift his arm from her shoulders.

"I did not say it was bad," Firelight replied in amusement, trapping his arm in place. "Simply that you are a funny creature - I like that you protect me in this unfamiliar form."

"It takes a little while to coach the humans into behaving properly," Ratchet commented in an amused tone.

Arcee whistled something, and Chance looked down at Firelight as she began giggling.

"What?" he murmured curiously.

"Nothing dear," Firelight murmured tenderly, pressing a kiss to his temple.

"Riiight," Chance chuckled, rolling his eyes.

"What?" Ratchet asked curiously.

"Unless I'm very much mistaken: That, was femme for 'it takes a while to train men in general' or something… like that…" he trailed off at the frosty gaze Arcee levelled at him. "What?"

"And how do you know that?" Arcee demanded flatly.

"Because my mother told me flat out that the man a girl doesn't have to train extensively is the one she keeps: I put the toilet seat and lid down," Chance sniffed before turning to murmur in Firelight's ear. "But they're right: Come the day, you're going to need to train me to be a proper Cybertronian, my queen."

"I promise I'll be gentle," Firelight stated with utter sincerity.

"I trust you," Chance stated honestly before he gave Firelight a quizzical look.

"You should have spoken with your grounder mentors more thoroughly before swearing outright to be my subordinate," Firelight gently chastised him.

"He should have spoken with us period," Ratchet grumped.

"Mechs grovel, and mechs beg to be the bonded mate of a femme for the status," Arcee stated gently, catching and holding Chance's eyes. "But only the most lovestruck or desperate swear their subordination outright."

"Then put me squarely in both categories and add utterly certain that the entire purpose of my life has always been to be at your beck and call - and now to keep this rugrat out of trouble," he added, looking down at the girl dozing against his side over her well-picked-over plate. "Up until this point I've just been bouncing around this little planet waiting for my girls to show up."

"Hmm?" Tien murmured.

"Let's get you tucked into bed, huh?" Chance asked gently. Tien nodded into his chest and Chance smiled as Beachcomber's holo rose and collected the girl once more. Chance grinned to himself at the sleepily bemused look on Tien's face as a number of gentle kisses were pressed to her forehead as the group of holoforms around them flickered and thinned until only Chromia was left, the femme quietly leading Beachcomber to the guest quarters.

"This unit is yours," Chromia murmured quietly. "Your common room is adjacent to the Colonel's through that door, and this room is Tien's," she finished with a smile, pushing open the portal in question and leading Beachcomber into the dimly lit space.

"Do you want your pyjamas?" Chance asked gently, receiving a sleepy nod from the girl in Beachcomber's arms. Chance smiled and retrieved a cozy set from Tien's luggage as Beachcomber delicately set her on the bed.

In silence, Chance shook out Tien's pyjamas and knelt down, gently removing the girl's shoes and leggings before gently slipping the pants over her legs. Thin little arms reached for the sky the next moment, and Chance gently peeled the layers from the girl until he could gently tug the pyjama shirt over her head.

"Think you're awake enough to brush your teeth?" Chance gently enquired of his niece.

"Mm hm," Tien nodded, slipping off of her bed and reaching for his hand. Chance smiled and gently led the girl to the bathroom, standing at the doorway as she looked around for a moment. "Where's the water?"

"Oh that's right you guys are still on the cistern," Chance chuckled. "Here, there's a cup right here, the water is good to drink from the taps here."

"Oh, okay," Tien murmured, filling her cup and proceeding to brush her teeth. Chance turned his back as she next used the toilet.

"Is there a washcloth?" Tien asked softly, just as Chromia's holoform pressed a set of towels into his hands.

"Thanks Chrome, right here sweetie," Chance smiled, offering the little square to the girl, hanging the fresh linens in their place and nodding to himself as she proceeded to freshen up. Chance followed his niece as she retraced the path from bathroom to bedroom and crawled into her bed. "Would you like an extra blanket?" he asked gently, tucking his niece snugly into her bed.

"I'm okay," Tien mumbled, Chance nodded and leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Sweet dreams Tien," he murmured. "I'll be right next door if you need anything."

"Okay Uncle Chance," Tien murmured. "'Comber, will you stay with me?"

"Always," Beachcomber murmured gently, his holoform taking residence in a comfortable looking armchair near the head of the bed.

Chance narrowed his eyes at the holoform for a moment, but the little voice in the back of his mind couldn't help but note the protective air that had taken full residence in the holo's demeanour.

"We'll be keeping watch," Chromia's voice murmured softly in his ear. "Attend to your femme." Chance shot a grateful look toward the femme before following the path of the lithe little Firelight as she flitted away to investigate their human quarters.

(WPOV)

Sarah's hand was glowing.

Will gazed with a single bleary eye at the red glow emanating from his sleeping wife's hand as it rested gently over his wrist for a long moment before he realized it was the face of his watch. Sarah chose that moment to roll to her other side in her sleep, releasing a soft hum of contentment before her breathing indicated her return to REM. Will squinted against the blinding light until the settings automatically dimmed to bearable levels.

There were two flags, white ones: Lena'd put them there for him to see when he officially woke up. Will flicked his hand open and read the report. He reached up and rubbed his eyes tiredly with his free hand. If Chance had a spark showing the man was out of Will's hands, which meant he now really needed to find more senior officers.

Hopefully that was all the 13th had to offer them this year.

Will shut his hand down and contentedly gathered his wife a bit closer. Lena had the chaos under control; he didn't need to go back on duty for another few hours. Will closed his eyes, and Sarah's alarm went off.

"Good morning my love," his wife whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips.

"Please tell me you still have fifteen minutes of snooze time?" Will mumbled. He could see the lights slowly working their way through morning-mode through his closed eyelids.

"Anabelle broke me of that habit."

Will groaned softly and pulled his wife closer for a long moment.

"What are you on about? I'll be in the med-bay," Sarah murmured teasingly. Pressing another kiss to his lips.

"You're warm, and soft, and I don't want this moment to end," Will replied honestly.

"Then I'll meet you here in sixteen hours, and we can do it all over again," Sarah murmured teasingly, lightly escaping him.

Will rolled to his back; watched his better half for a few moments; flicked his hand back on and began re-reading the reports which had come in while he'd been sleeping.

"You have a new patient," he commented to his wife. "Chance brought a civilian girl in around oh one hundred."

"How old?"

"Seven."

"Seven!?"

"Seven. Chance has the same thread Kae and Optimus did linking him to one of the femmes they brought back from captivity. Apparently they went to go see his family, and wound up bringing his niece and the Cybertronian that'd been disguised as their family dune-buggy back to base with him, who also has a thread with the girl," Will stated calmly, offering his hand-holo for his wife to see. "They're in the unit next to ours."

"The common-room adjacent?" Sarah asked calmly, lightly cupping his hand with her own as she read the girl's most up-to-date file.

"Yep."

Sarah gave a thoughtful hum, nodding to herself as she quickly read through both files. Will grinned as she lightly controlled his right hand to advance the screen with her left - the only digits which would do so.

"I wonder if I could have one of these," Sarah murmured mostly to herself.

"Probably," Will shrugged.

"Stay still for a moment dear," Sarah murmured in half-hearted remonstrance. Will just grinned as his wife all-out commandeered his arms. At least, until his hand rang: Ratchet's face popping up a moment later.

"Good morning Will, is Sarah! Excellent. We have a new femmeling on base," Ratchet began calmly.

"So I see, Will's been updating me," Sarah replied wryly.

"Then you know they have taken residence in the rooms adjacent to yours," Ratchet confirmed with her. "I would request of you to see to her first thing this morning, I believe she will rouse in approximately four hours."

"My duty shift begins in one hour, what do you propose I do until she wakes up?" Sarah asked in that same wry tone.

"Sleep in yourself? Eat a proper breakfast? See your daughter off?" Ratchet listed off in an enquiring tone.

"Are you trying to keep me out of the med-bay for some reason?" Sarah asked ominously.

"Absolutely not! I'm trying to give you and your mate some uninterrupted time before your weekend is commandeered by Will's duties," Ratchet grumped at her.

"I see. Thank you, Ratchet," Sarah responded placidly, smiling at the mech.

"Besides, if you go for it, I don't have to leave my berth and mate for a few more hours," Arcee's voice added in a softly amused tone.

"I'll see you in four hours then, Ratchet," Sarah stated in a lofty, grinning tone, lightly closing Will's hand before dragging him back to their bed.