Blitzwing knew that as soon as she would open her mouth, they immediately went quiet. They never made a fuss when she sang last night and they knew that she would have the same effect on them again. All three, including Hothead much to his chagrin, liked it.

She did have an angelic voice after all. They didn't know how to describe the song that she sang. It was sad and mournful, carrying with it a tone of hope though. It made them sad as they listened to her. They were so focused on her that they started to take her in. She was rather plain looking but in her simplicity, there was great beauty. Especially when she sang, she looked just downright elegant and graceful. And stunning. Just stunning.

As her song came to a close, there was a slight silence before Random clapped wildly. "Bravo! Bravo!" He cheered. "Amazing, Cici!"

"Thank you, Raine!" She replied happily, blushing. He beamed up at her as he stood up and looked down at her. Icy resumed control.

"Of course," Icy remarked kindly. "So, you often practice?"

She nodded. "I kind of have to. My brother insists upon it." She answered with a slightly depressive tone.

"What nonsense!" Hothead emerged. "You're a natural at this! You cannot let your brothers tell you such stupidity."

"I suppose so… I guess I shouldn't practice so much." She said to herself. "I do get tired and then it gets difficult to sing for actual concerts."

"There," Icy nodded. "Of course you practice but you mustn't overwork yourself."

"We wouldn't want to have that lovely voice of yours tire out!" Random thought aloud. "And then if you lose your voice! That would be horrible!" He exclaimed sadly yet scared. Cecile smiled slightly as she hugged them.

"Thank you." She whispered.

They felt themselves stiffen as they were spending a lot of energy on just trying to keep themselves corporal. And they hated that. They wished that they could be in their normal body without her having to know they were a Decepticon. Though they knew that they couldn't show her their true form, lest she panic and call the Autobots…

And fear them.

They didn't like that last thought especially.

They could deal with pesky Autobots and their ridiculous heroics. And they could deal with panicking organics… but seeing her fear them… they didn't know how they would even begin to handle that. So, they would have to keep a distance.

"Cecile," Icy said as she looked up at him from the hug. "I don't mean to be rude but I don't like to be touched. Could you please release me?" He lied. And they hated that he had to lie.

Cecile immediately released them, smiling at him kindly. "Oh of course not! Why didn't you say so before? I completely understand." She said sweetly and Blitzwing smiled.

But deep inside their spark they wished that they had a form that she could hug. They wanted to hold her closely and take her away from her awful family. But they knew that they weren't good for her. The idea of holding her and letting her know that she would be okay and safe was a genuinely warming thought. In their servos, protected from her awful family.

"So, what do you want to do?" She asked, an excited expression on her face as she pulled them out of their thoughts.

"Whatever you'd like, Cici!" Random replied in Icy's stead. She thought for a moment before smiling.

"How about you sing!" She suggested. And Random beamed as he jumped to the challenge.

"What would you like me to sing?" He asked happily. She giggled.

"Hmm, maybe something cheerful!" She said, matching his enthusiasm. Random thought for a moment before smiling widely and nodding.

"I've got it!" He beamed as he cleared his throat dramatically.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away!"

His voice was by no means amazing but to her, it was sweet and soft. It sounded like he was really trying not to sound off pitch. He was so different and so wonderful; all of them were. And so unlike her brother and family. The trio gave her their time and their voice and for that, she would be eternally grateful. They truly hadn't a clue just how they had given her, and they barely knew each other.

She couldn't remember the last time she was so happy and it was delightful. The Trio had spent the entire morning with her before they had to go suddenly. But it was a wonderful morning and besides, now that she had their number, she could text them and see when and where they could meet the next time.

She flopped back onto her bed and clutched her biggest teddy, which was nearly her size and nuzzled it. She wished it had been the Trio, but they didn't like to be touched, which made her rather sad but respected their choices. She liked how hard and cold they were, however strange it felt.

She wondered briefly if they weren't a fan of their job. Since Lucius didn't seem too enthused to return to it. She tried to brush the thought away and instead sat up, humming to herself. She pulled out her cell phone and said aloud:

"Text LRH: I miss you! Would you like to go out tomorrow to Detroit, Christmas is coming up and I was wondering if you'd like to go shopping with me? Around the same time as today, or some other time? Let me know! Thanks!"

She blushed when she realized she had included a heart emoji at the end before putting the phone down and listening for any new notification but didn't hear anything. She briefly panicked, wondering if they had thought her message was too abrupt and her displays of affection were too much. She got up and decided to go grab a snack. As she got to the kitchen, she heard a notification alert. Pulling out her phone, the text was read out to her.

'Thank you, Cecile. That sounds excellent. Would 4 pm be a good time for you, my dear? Also, what does that symbol represent? - L'

Cecile exhaled in relief. Before quickly wondering why they wouldn't know what a heart symbol meant. Perhaps in Austria things were different? Regardless, she texted them back.

'Yes! 4 pm works excellently! The symbol is a sign of affection.'

A couple of seconds passed before another text popped up.

'Christmas? That sounds amazing! I'd love to kiss you under the mistletoe!~ - R'

Cecile blushed at the last text in shock but she slowly smiled before giggling slightly. Raine was honestly the most forward of the alters but also very sweet. He was adorable and she found herself experiencing the same feeling in her chest as she did earlier. The man was so sweet and gentle towards her and she loved feeling safe and comfortable with them. She hadn't felt that way in many years… not since her mother.

She subconsciously traced the necklace around her neck, the purple gem hanging from a silver chain. She missed her mother's voice and her warmth. The necklace was given to Cecile as a present before she died.

But this feeling was different. With her mother, she felt a familial love, one that was personal and unconditional. Sweet and motherly. This feeling was… unusual and nothing like what she felt towards her mother. She had never felt like this before. She knew that she didn't really talk to many people outside of her family and that probably also caused her not to make any friends. But with Lucius, Heinrich, and Raine she felt… a tingling sensation. And when they called her pretty… Her heart just about leapt into overdrive and her face was warm.

Even then, as she was remembering it, she was blushing red. She listened to the text again and grinned like an idiot, heart beating fast. Perhaps they felt the same way as she did? Perhaps they felt this thumping in their chest, the warmth in their face, the fluttering in their stomach. She wanted that so much to be a reality.

And then it hit her.

Blitzwing had found a Shatter Crystal that afternoon when Cecile had texted them. They were intrigued at the mention of 'Christmas' – a tradition that some humans enjoyed. A holiday where they give each other gifts for some reason Blitzwing never quite understood nor looked into.

"But spending time with Cici would be great!" Random exclaimed as they paused from walking.

"It is enjoyable to spend time with the femme. She certainly is talented, although very unusual in her social behavior." Icy analysed. Random snorted.

"Unusual? Well that makes four of us!" He cackled.

"I suppose…" Hothead grumbled.

"You're just grumpy! We all know you liked the way she sang! Also, she's so pretty and sweet like energon cake!" Random laughed joyfully. He noticed the strange symbol she texted to him. "Ooooh!~ What does that mean?" He beamed, his eyes going wide as saucers.

Icy rolled his eye as he resumed control and responded back to Cecile with his own text. Due to Random's persistence, he added the question about the symbol. She responded quickly.

'Yes! 4 pm works excellently! The symbol is a sign of affection.'

A symbol of affection? He had never heard of expressing affections through the means of text as such. But it was a rather sweet notion, he thought. Until Random took over and started frantically "texting" her back. As soon as Icy had read what Random wrote, he took control, but it was too late. Random had sent it to her.

Icy was too mortified by Random's actions to realize that Hothead had taken over.

"Why did you send that to her?!" Hothead demanded. "We will not be kissing her! She's an organic!"

"So? She's cute! Also, she's so lonely and we all know we want to kiss her! She needs somebot to give her a good smooch!" Random exclaimed. He sighed dreamily before his eyes widened in elation. "Oooh! Maybe I should go and give her that kiss now!"

"No!" Icy suddenly took control. "Random, we are not doing that."

"Why not?" He asked innocently.

"Because," Icy paused for emphasis. "She is an organic and we are a Decepticon. Also, think of the Decepticons! They would offline us!"

"So what if she's an organic!" At that, Hothead and Icy were rendered speechless. "Besides, you never denied that you didn't want to kiss Cici!" Random teased.

'Maybe you will!'

Cecile's reply came in at the worst time ever. Random grinned even wider as he went to speak, only to be cut off forcefully by Hothead.

"No, you crazy fool!" He yelled. "There will be no kissing the girl!"

Random grinned widely as he giggled. "She wants me too! Oh, sweet Allspark! I'm the luckiest 'con in the universe!" He laughed aloud as Icy and Hothead didn't know what to say.

Icy knew that Random was the most unhinged of the three but to suggest so brazenly to kiss a human? An organic? It would be considered an offense to not only the Decepticons but to Cybertronian society in general, Autobot or not. But to his own utter shock, he didn't find the idea of kissing Cecile disgusting, let alone unappealing. And that fact that she expressed a similar trail of thought.

It was strangely… desirable to think of her in that light. However, he quickly hid those thoughts away. Random especially did not need to know, let alone Hothead. He knew that Hothead would have a field day with the notion.

Hothead was fuming. He had never heard something so ridiculous in his years of existence. Random was utterly insane and so was Icy! Both of his fellow alters were utterly deluded… But even he could agree that protecting Cecile wasn't a bad idea. Her family treated her like scrap. And he did indeed want to keep her close just as much as Icy and Random did… Ugh, even the idea of kissing her wasn't unappealing!

Blitzwing figured that Cecile was just being flirty with them. Because Random had been flirty and perhaps Cecile had found that charming and sweet. She must have just been polite and friendly. She wasn't exactly socialized so it would make sense that she wouldn't know the intricacies of flirting.

But what if she did?

Icy groaned internally as the thought had all crossed their minds. She was certainly a mystery but a sweet one. Though, deep down inside, all three did indeed find the idea of kissing Cecile a rather pleasant one, to varying degrees.

Maybe you will!

That text didn't help matters whatsoever.

Lucia walked into the kitchen and saw the flustered Cecile and knew immediately what was up. It was that gentleman - Lucius and his alters. She knew there was something up with the man but he seemed polite enough. He was by no means that much older than Cecile, perhaps in his late 20s, which was acceptable. He didn't seem to treat her rudely, not at all like her brother. Lucia found happiness in the fact that her ward was so happy.

And the look on Cecile's face… Lucia knew exactly what was up. She smiled and approached Cecile.

"Hello, Cecile." Lucia greeted.

Cecile turned towards the voice and smiled as she recognized her. "Lucia! I'm meeting up with them tomorrow."

Oh yes, Cecile had it bad. Lucia giggled as she realized that this was the first time she had ever seen the girl express any romantic interest in anyone. Cecile bore a confused look.

"What's funny?" She asked.

"Oh nothing much, my dear. I couldn't help but notice how happy they seem to be making you." Lucia replied sweetly. Cecile blushed as she nodded.

"Well, yes!" She flopped onto a chair, leaning against it as she held her phone close to her chest. "He's so sweet and wonderful, and handsome…"

"You got a closer look at him?" Lucia teased. Cecile's face turned further red.

"I think more metaphorically. But I was so close to them one time." She expressed, her smile turning sour. "But I just the outlines…"

Lucia closed the distance between her and Cecile. She wrapped her arms around the girl as she hugged her tightly. "I know your sensors don't let you see people, and I'm sorry, my dearest."

"It's okay, at least I can see the outlines of my hands." Cecile pulled away briefly to raise her hands right up to her face.

"All this technology and they can't even give a girl her sight back." Lucia scoffed.

"It's all right, Lucia." Cecile replied confidently. "I am capable of doing things!" She exclaimed proudly. The Caretaker smiled widely.

"Indeed you can."

Cecile went quiet for a moment as she spaced out. Lucia gave Cecile a confused look, but knew that the girl could not see it. Suddenly the girl looked up at Lucia and looked almost sheepish.

"Lucia, can you keep a secret?" She asked. Lucia's confused look vanished quickly as she laughed.

"Oh, of course, my dear!" Lucia answered kindly. "What's up?"

"Well…" Cecile paused before she exhaled. "I think I'm falling in love."

The elder woman's eyes widened in shock and surprise. She hadn't realized just how deep this appeared to be. And Cecile had it bad for sure.

Edited: 2/28/2022