Mid-March found the ranch firmly stuck in the limbo that comes after winter and before spring.
The first daffodils were trying desperately to poke their little yellow heads up through the half-frozen earth whilst small, delicate icicles still clung to the eaves of the house and barn.
Early on one such morning, Cordelia awoke to low rumblings coming from just outside the double French doors which led to the balcony.
She turned over onto her side, unable to lay on her front any longer due to the now-sized melon bump protruding from her abdomen.
Since she'd entered the third trimester, she'd had the return of nausea, though not as bad as it had been in the first trimester. Her left leg was being troubled by sciatica and sometimes her backside felt as if she'd sat on a red-hot poker.
She pushed the dark blue duvet off herself and swung her legs over the side of the bed, tucking her feet into the thick fleecy socks that Optimus had so graciously gotten her when she'd grumbled about having cold feet during the night.
At twenty-eight weeks pregnant, Cordelia's bump had really 'popped' out, creating a lot of looseness between her hips and a lot of pain in the small of her back. If she looked down, she could no longer see her feet. Her centre of gravity had also been affected and she walked with the comedic waddle that she saw denoted in the Lifetime movies that Optimus watched when he thought no one was about.
She nestled into her furry dressing gown that felt like an embrace and made her way toward the balcony doors.
"…be lying if I said I wasn't worried by the increase in Decepticon chatter and transmissions. Particularly as they are originating from deep within abandoned Chicago."
"Gah, those slag piles are nothing without Megatron and even with him they were about as good as a bit of cosmic rust in my aft."
Hound's voice also spoke in low, hushed undertones.
Cordelia swallowed and pushed one of the doors open, stepping out into the cool morning air.
Optimus' optics widened in surprise when he saw her. "Lia! This isn't a normal hour of function for you; is everything okay?" His voice was slightly higher than usual, and his optics were ever-so-slightly squinting at her.
"Nothing's the matter…the baby was kicking, and it woke me up. Is everything okay with you?"
Optimus let his hydraulic joints hiss – a kind of hesitation for when he was thinking about what to say.
She watched Hound slink away behind the barn, muttering something about needing to clean his heavy weaponry.
The balcony placed her at about chest height with Optimus, but he had turned away from her to look at something in the distant horizon.
"Optimus?" At the sound of her voice, he turned to face her again and his optics found her green eyes. A question hung in the air between them. "What were you and Hound talking about? Are the Decepticons back?"
His silver palm came up to meet her and he gently scooped her into his grasp, cradling his hand around her small body.
She assumed her usual position on his hand; leaned back against his fingers with her arm curled around his thumb.
He ground his mouth plates together and when he was at full size, it sounded something akin to a demolition derby.
She rubbed his thumb encouragingly. "Come on big guy, spit it out."
"I…I don't want to worry you." This time when he spoke, his voice was low and husky as if he was trying to fight back a strong emotion.
She motioned to be brought up to his face and he did so, looking at her through guarded optics.
She stood with some difficulty and placed both of her hands on the blue 'goatee' that adorned his chin. "Optimus…I'll worry more if you keep things from me. We're a team, remember? Do you remember how you felt when I first hid my pregnancy from you? I'm gonna be selfish now and ask you not to do that to me. I'm a big girl."
That awarded her a wry smile. "In contrast; you are a five-foot-one, one-hundred-and-ten-pound human. I've known bigger scraplets." He winked at her before nuzzling her gently with his nose. "Ahh, you are so soft. Your weight in my palm is home."
"Nuh-uh. That's not gonna work this time. Optimus, please tell me what is going on."
He simulated a long sigh, ruffling her hair with the expelled air from his nose. "In the last fourteen hours there has been an increased amount of Decepticon chatter. Nothing of any note thus far…but enough to make the humans pay attention."
"Are YOU worried?"
The audio covers at the base of his ear finials spun this way and that, indicating that he didn't really want to continue discussing this particular subject.
"I am…worried about a few things, yes." He set her gently back down on the balcony. "Lia…you need to pack a bag. Leo is on his way here. I have been called to London to liaise with a new organisation. We leave in an hour."
.o
Optimus held true to his word. Less than an hour later, he, Cordelia and Leo were driving swiftly along the US-287 heading north and towards Malmstrom Airforce Base. Bumblebee and Hound followed a few miles behind, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention to themselves.
Leo sat in the driver's seat, casting anxious glances out of the corner of his eye to Cordelia, who was nestled comfortably in the passenger's seat.
"Lia…I'm sorry about what I said before. It was unfair and uncalled for. I hope you can accept my apology."
She leaned over and took his large hand in both of her small ones, squeezing it gently. "Leo…there's no need to apologise. I know what you said came from a place of genuine love and affection. I'm sorry for my reaction."
Suddenly Optimus' radio clicked on and Christina Perri's sweet vocals filled the cab.
"I have died every day, waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more"
Optimus set his radio to a rather tactful volume, his way of letting Cordelia and Leo know that he was not listening to their conversation.
Leo ran a hand through his mop of curly hair. "Oh Lia, you don't need to apologise love. As long as you and I are okay."
"'Course we are." It was at that moment that Nova decided to start her daily round of somersaults.
Cordelia winced as a particularly strong foot was smashed into the back of her ribs. "Oof, do you have to do that now?"
"Do what now?" The expression on Leo's face was one of surprised puzzlement.
Cordelia shifted in her seat, gently but firmly applying pressure to her swollen stomach in the hope that it would encourage Nova to kick somewhere slightly less painful.
Leo's eyes widened in taciturn understanding. "Ohhh, the baby. What does it feel like when she kicks now?"
"It used to feel like a little goldfish, swimming around and flicking their little fins against the bowl. Now it feels more like…someone tap dancing inside of me, or sometimes it feels like my womb is a washing machine with a frog inside it."
Leo snorted. "A washing machine with a frog inside it? I've heard it all now."
The rest of the drive passed fairly quickly, considering the long distance. The only noise was the light sound of the pitter-patter of rain on Optimus' windscreen and the dulcet tones of Johnny Cash coming from the speakers in the cab.
By early afternoon, they pulled in through the heavy gates that guarded Malmstrom Airforce Base.
A short soldier with a classic military buzz-cut instructed them to go to the second hangar on the left, where two C-17s were waiting to be boarded.
Optimus drove himself slowly up the ramp into the belly of the waiting aeroplane before popping both his driver's and passenger door open.
Cordelia and Leo hopped out of Optimus just as Hound and Bumblebee drove up the ramp behind them.
Optimus transformed but was unable to uncurl to his full height as the plane's ceiling was too low. The top of Bumblebee's head just brushed the ceiling and Hound faced the same problem as Optimus.
Optimus seemed to be slightly exasperated by this fact and awkwardly lowered himself to sit against one side of the plane, one knee bent and the other leg stretched out as much as he could get away with.
Hound walked away, mumbling indecipherably to himself. Bumblebee settled against a pile of military crates and began fiddling with something in his silvery fingers.
Leo went up front to talk to the pilots whilst Cordelia hung back with Optimus, leaning lightly against his thigh.
They exchanged no words as the crew took a register of all aboard the plane; Autobots and humans alike.
Unlike commercial air flight crew, this crew were in military uniform.
A kindly looking woman with deep brown hair approached Cordelia, eyeing Optimus a little apprehensively. "Sorry madam, but for take-off you need to be in the jump seat." She indicated a flip down seat attached to the wall of the aircraft. She looked up at Optimus. "Erh, Mr Prime, I'm afraid you have to be in your vehicle mode, with your handbrake applied for both take-off and landing. Once we reach a cruising altitude, it will be safe for you to transform."
If Optimus was annoyed by the woman's request, he didn't show it. He merely nodded at her and folded himself back into a Western Star, nodding to Bumblebee and Hound to do the same.
The woman helped Cordelia to strap into the jump seat. It was complete with a criss-cross style shoulder harness and a standard lap belt. As the woman leaned over to secure the last strap into its holder, Cordelia noticed a badge on the left side of her chest that she had never seen before and did not recognise.
The badge itself was almost a chevron shape and black in colour. It sported an upside-down 'V' with a skull placed over it. Underneath this were three capital letters: T.R.F.
A question rose to the base of Cordelia's throat, but she thought better of it and swallowed it back down.
The aeroplane's lights flickered momentarily as the ramp was lifted and secured into position. The crew completed their pre-flight checks and then settled themselves into their own jump seats.
Leo sat directly opposite to Cordelia, the same harness and straps holding him in place. He gave her a thumbs-up as the plane rocked into motion.
It unnerved Cordelia that she wasn't able to see out of any windows whatsoever as the plane made its slow progress towards the runway.
She turned her gaze to the Western Star truck which sat as close as was physically possible to her. She reached out her right leg and rested her foot gently on one of Optimus' enormous tyres. His RPMs increased quietly, acknowledging her.
She wrapped both hands tightly around the straps that lay across her chest and squeezed her eyes shut as the plane steadily increased in speed as they got closer and closer to the runway.
When the plane reached a full stop and rocked on its wheels for a second that seemed to last for eternity, Cordelia knew that take-off was imminent.
Without warning, the plane lurched forward and Cordelia was pushed back into her seat. There was the usual vestibular sensation that she had left her stomach behind as her body ascended into the air.
Within fifteen minutes, the pilot announced over the loudspeaker that it was now acceptable for passengers to undo their safety belts and transform.
Optimus attained his robot mode just as Cordelia undid the last of the belts that were securing her to the jump seat.
He resumed the position he had been in before take-off, his silvery palm face up on the floor. Cordelia climbed on and was gently deposited onto his right shoulder.
"Are we flying to London?" Cordelia kept her voice low, not wanting anybody to overhear her.
She cast her gaze quickly over at Leo, who was chatting quietly with Hound in the far corner of the aircraft.
"Yes, we are flying to a base in Northolt." Optimus, replied, his voice equally as low. Cordelia never failed to be impressed that somebody who did not possess a pair of lungs was able to imitate a whisper so perfectly.
She leaned against the side of his head, absent-mindedly tracing circles into the base of Optimus' audio covers with her fingertips.
"Optimus, what is the 'TRF'?"
Optimus hesitated before her answered her. "The TRF is a new organisation that has, for all intents and purposes, replaced Cemetery Wind. TRF stands for…" he cast a nervous glance around the aircraft before continuing, "…it stands for 'Transformers Reaction Force.' I just hacked into MI6's database under the guise of a youth performing a prank and ascertained that the TRF is an organisation formed by Earth's governments as a paramilitary force out to combat any and all Cybertronians on Earth…including any human sympathisers."
Optimus' words sent a cold trail of ice down her spine; a black ball of despair that settled at the pit of her stomach. "Combat…do they mean…kill?"
Optimus nodded grimly. "Lia, I promise you this. I will not allow you to be in any danger whatsoever. That is why I have arranged for you and Leo to stay out of harm's way whilst I liaise with the appropriate organisations and individuals."
"Where?"
"A small cottage in South Wales. It is far enough that you will be out of immediate danger, but close enough that I can get to you quickly, should the need arise."
"But Optimus…I don't want to be apart from you at all."
"Nor I from you little one, but right now, your safety, and that of your unborn child is more important than what I want." He turned and brushed his lips softly across her swollen abdomen. "It is only for as long as I have to 'smooth things over', as the humans say. I promise you; it won't be a minute longer."
"As long as you are safe. Promise me something Optimus?"
He regarded her with a raised optic ridge. "What can I do for you little one?"
"Make sure you are safe…make sure you can always get back to me. Even if it means…even if it means hurting humans."
He simulated a sigh and nodded. "I promise little one. You are and always will be my most important priority."
.o
As the plane began to descend over the city of London, Optimus placed Cordelia gently back into the jump seat and transformed himself back into his vehicle mode.
Cordelia dug her heels into the floor of the aircraft, bracing for the inevitable jolt when the plane's landing gear met the runway.
Optimus, Hound and Bumblebee all rocked on their wheels as the plane touched down on the tarmac.
Cordelia shut her eyes and took a big breath in before letting it slowly out through her nose.
The minute that it was safe to do so, Cordelia and Leo unfastened their seatbelts as the other Autobots all transformed at the same time.
They were guided from the aircraft down the exit ramp by two TRF soldiers, motioning the way down with light wands.
Optimus descended the ramp first and waited at its base, making the C-17 look like a child's toy.
Cordelia stood next to his left foot, placing a nervous hand on his ankle joint, which was slightly lower on his new body than it had been on his old one. Leo stood nearby, his practiced eye taking in the new surroundings.
Optimus leaned down, cupped both hands around Cordelia and lifted her into the air, bringing her close to his face. The TRF agents jumped at the movement and Optimus cast them an annoyed glance.
"Lia," his voice was pitched to its lowest tone, meant only for her. "Lia, you and Leo are going to drive to the cottage from here. Crosshairs and Drift will escort you. Once I have finished my discussions with the TRF, I will fly there to join you." He dipped his head downwards and pressed his flat nose into her hair. "Stay safe my little one. I will see you soon."
Cordelia pressed herself fervently against his face, planting a sloppy kiss on his Prime sigil. "I will, but you need to stay safe too, okay?" He rubbed his nose gently up and down her face, a sort of Eskimo kiss, before he bent down and set her gently back down on her feet.
A blue Vauxhall Corsa had appeared in front of them and a TRF agent got out. Leo moved around to get into the driver's seat and motioned for Cordelia to get into the passenger's side. She cast one last look at Optimus before she folded herself into the car and shut the door.
Leo pulled out of the base and onto the main road. Cordelia watched the houses float past the window, framed by the harsh glow of the streetlights which stood like sentinels along the pavement.
They passed high streets, giant shopping centres and more roundabouts than she cared to count. At long last, they joined the flow of traffic on the motorway.
"Ugh, I've always hated driving through London."
"Mmm." Her reply was non-committal, hearing but not really listening to what Leo had said.
Leo looked at her quickly. "Lia? Is everything okay? Is the baby kicking you?"
She had to fight past the sudden fog in her mind to fully process what Leo had asked her.
"What? Oh, no, she's fine. I think she's sleeping." She rubbed a hand over her swollen belly, shifting in her seat to try and get more comfortable.
In the door mirror, she could see the lime green Chevrolet Corvette Stingray being closely followed by the electric blue Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse.
"Leo…can I ask you something?" Her voice was a little higher usual as she tried to swallow the apprehension to the back of her throat.
"Of course, you can always ask me anything, you know that Lia."
"Do you think…do you think I'll make a good mother?"
"Oh Lia, of course I do. I don't think you'll make a good mother; I know you'll make a good mother."
She leaned back into the seat, reaching forward to turn the seat heater on. Although March in the United Kingdom was nowhere near as harsh as the winters she'd weathered on the ranch in Montana, there was still a slight nip in the air.
Delicious warmth began to spread underneath her, warming her cold legs and the small of her bag. She snuggled down further into the seat, trying to absorb as much of the heat as possible.
"It's just…I have next to no memories of my own mother. I have a few hazy pictures of a lady in my head with the same colour red hair as mine, but how do I know they're real and not just a figment of my imagination? What if I screw this baby up the same way my dad screwed me up?! What if I don't know what she wants when she cries? What if she asks me about her father? What if –"
"Shh, shh. You're overthinking it Lia." Leo soothed her, taking one of her hands and rubbing his thumb back and forth over her bony knuckles. "It isn't going to be easy, but me and Optimus will be there for every step of the way. I know you're frightened –", he lifted her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of it, "—but know that I am always proud of you Lia. Always."
Cordelia was about to answer when her stomach decided to emit a thunderous rumble.
"Oh god, I'm so sorry." She said, looking down as her cheeks burned.
"What are you apologising for my girl? If you can manage to reach around to the back, there's some packets of crisps, some drinks and a couple of sandwiches."
"Oh Leo, have I ever told you how awesome you are?"
He said nothing but winked playfully at her before turning his attention back to the road.
Cordelia loosened her seatbelt a little before turning herself around in her seat with some difficulty.
There was a Tesco 'bag for life' on the back seat and she was able to reach over and grab it with one hand and bring it through to the front. She placed the bag between her feet in the footwell and delved through its contents.
Her hands closed upon a sandwich first and she pulled it out to see that it was a chicken club sandwich. "Do you have any preference as to which sandwich you want?" When Leo shook his head, she tore open the packaging of the club sandwich and took a generous bite from it.
In record time she finished the sandwich and washed it down with a glug of Pepsi Max. She tucked the packaged back into the bag, taking care not to spill any of the crumbs onto the car's floormat.
Next, she pulled out a packet of crisps, feeling her mouth break into a wide grin when she saw what flavour they were.
"Oh, you didn't!"
He returned her grin, the wrinkles around his eyes creasing in only the way his could. "Optimus told me just before we left that you were showing a certain proclivity for the consumption of pickled onions. I didn't think an actual jar of pickled onions would be a good idea on a long car ride, so I figured that pickled onion flavoured crisps would be a good substitute."
"Well, you did good Leo!" She tore open the packet of crisps and plucked one out, popping it whole into her mouth. At once, the flavour exploded on her tongue, a zingy, tangy explosion that sent her taste buds into the stratosphere.
She took another sip of Pepsi Max, and the cold liquid seemed to have roused Nova from her catnap, because she felt a sudden flurry of kicks aimed at her ribs. She pushed down on the right side of her bump, trying to encourage Nova to distribute her kicks a little more fairly.
"She kicking again?"
"Yeah, I don't think she likes pickled onions very much." The kicking continued for a few more minutes before it died down. What felt like an elbow was jabbed into her abdomen, causing her skin to bulge out.
Leo's eyes widened. "Woah, that's amazing! Does it hurt when she does that?"
"No, it just feels like my skin is being stretched, which I suppose it is. What sort of time are we expecting to get to the cottage?"
Leo glanced at the LCD display on the car's console. It declared that the current time was 17:52. "Hmm, I reckon we'll get there for about half-seven. That sound good?"
"Yup, that sounds good. I hope Optimus won't be too long after us."
"I would imagine he'll be a few days or so – he has a lot to iron out with the TRF."
"What the heck are they supposed to be? The 'Transformers Reaction Force'? Optimus was able to hack their database whilst we were on the flight. He said that they were set up by Earth's governments to combat any and all Cybertronians on Earth."
"Hmm. Yes, I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried by their existence. But don't you worry Lia, Optimus can handle himself. He asked me to make sure that you don't worry 'excessively', as he put it. He said what he wants you to concentrate on your pregnancy and keeping yourself as comfortable as possible."
She rolled her eyes at this last statement. "Ahh, he's such a worrier."
"Hmm, I could say the same about somebody else I know."
She cast him a side-eye glance. "Speaking of Optimus…how are you two getting along these days?"
"We're doing okay Lia. I know we have…words sometimes, but that is only because we both only want the very best for you…sometimes we just express it differently."
"Good, because I love both of you more than I know how to say.
After they reached the Severn Bridge, the rest of the drive passed relatively quickly. Cordelia reclined her seat and settled down for a nap, taking advantage of Nova's inactivity.
.o
It was totally dark when Leo gently shook her awake. She stretched lightly and undid the seatbelt, putting her seat back in an upright position.
"We're here." He exited the car and came around to the passenger's side and opened the door. He held his hand to Cordelia and helped her regain a vertical base upon exiting the vehicle. "That will need its own axis soon!" He motioned playfully at her bump and she stuck her tongue out at him in response.
When Optimus had mentioned the cottage, Cordelia had pictured a small and run-down stone building with a patchy thatched roof. She was utterly surprised when she saw a quaint grey-stoned building with an extension on the lower right-hand side.
It was situated on a small patch of lawn, a stone footpath leading up to the stable-style front door. It was surrounded by a hand-crafted stone wall, creating a sense of calm serenity.
A large blonde lady appeared in the doorway of the house and approached them, a warm smile on her moon-shaped face.
"Noswaith dda! Sut wyt ti? Welcome, how was your journey?"
"Ahh, roedd yn dda, diolch," Leo responded in perfect Welsh.
"Ahh, siaradwr brodorol! O ble wyt ti?"
"Rwy'n dod o Fannau Brycheiniog, ond symudais i America flynyddoedd yn ôl. Rwy'n ôl am ychydig."
"Ahh, good to see you still have the mother tongue! I am Mrs Jones; I own the cottage. Anyway, I'll leave you to your evening. Here's the keys and there's some cawl heating on the stove. Have a good evening my loves!"
Mrs Jones got into a classic Volkswagen Beetle and spluttered off down a one-track lane, disappearing quickly into the darkness.
Leo took Cordelia's hand and led her up the garden path and into the cottage.
Cordelia sucked in a surprised breath as she crossed the threshold. The front door opened up into a light, airy kitchen where cream and white were the main colour themes. A fishbowl vase full of pink lilies sat on the circular dining table, adding a little splash of colour to the cheerful space.
She walked up four steps to the lounge, which was beautifully cosy. A pale blue, two-seater fabric sofa sat on a peachy coloured carpet. The kitchen's colour scheme of cream continued into this room, bringing a contemporary but inviting feeling. A log burner sat in the corner, already stacked with logs. Oak was the choice for the wooden pieces of furniture in the living room. A coffee table sat in the centre; this time a vase of white lilies had been placed atop it. A matching end table holding an elegant lamp sat to the left of the couch whilst a small sideboard sat beneath the small television that was mounted to the wall. A wicker chair sat underneath the curving stairs.
She followed the brown-carpeted stairs into a king-sized bedroom. A huge double bed dominated the room, giving her 1950s vibes with its white head and foot frames. It was dressed in pale blue and pink bedsheets. Small white bedside cabinets stood at either side of the bed, one holding a lamp and an old-fashioned alarm clock, the other holding just a lamp. A white wire framed clothes wrack sat along one wall, next to a small white dressing table, complete with a little stool. The wooden ceiling beams added a rustic and homely feel to the room. The bathroom was just off the bedroom, boasting a beautiful copper free-standing bath with a shower-head attachment.
Cordelia turned her head at the sound of the stairs creaking. Leo emerged and came to stand at her side in the bedroom. "So," he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, "how did Optimus do?"
"I don't know what to say…this place is absolutely beautiful. He did great. I do have one question though…where are you gonna sleep?"
"Ahh, did you notice the extension on the side of the house when we arrived?"
"Yeah?"
"That's the guest bedroom. I'll be kipping in there."
She smiled warmly at him. "Perfect, all we need now is for Optimus to get here and our little family will be complete."