I ask that no one tries to contact the names mentioned in this chapter-save my own. The parents, are, in fact, mine, yes, I used their real names, and yes, they did mistreat me. I am afraid of how they will react to my posting this, as they are unaware as of yet which story I am posting, and I'd like to keep it that way. She is currently staying at our house, which makes it even more frightening for me if someone mentions that they read "Abandoned". She is aware of the abuse in the story. She is not aware I am posting it. She claims my abuser loves me. I have yet to see that, and I am 23. I don't know how they will react to this, nor do I want to find out.
"Normal Talk"
"Bee's Talk"
"Bee's Talk Holoform"
"Other Side Over the Phone (Comms)"
'Thoughts'
~Bond communication~
~Telepathic communication~
One Gain
Two Months Later, Ratchet's Berth Room, Christmas Eve, 6:00 AM, Ratchet's POV
I start awake suddenly with a wave of nausea. I quickly run to the bathroom across from Optimus' berth room. After purging for at least five earth minutes, I deem it safe to return to my room even though my tanks are still churning.
It's been two months since I found Mariposa, and she has changed quite a lot in the short time. The human holiday of Christmas is tomorrow, and Agent Fowler is insisting on his family celebrating on base with us. He has requested soldiers to assist in decorating the base. I have requested that he purchase several presents for Mariposa, and I know the others have some form of present for Mariposa as well.
I sit on my berth and smile slightly. While behind when I first took her in, she has become advanced with the care and compassion of the team, to where she has already started to crawl—a milestone that worries me constantly because I am afraid someone may step on her—and has begun to pull herself up as well as reaching for things when she wants something. She has a few teeth, but I know more will be coming. I've spent most nights trying to calm her because she's in pain. Last night was the first time she's slept through the night. I've also had to learn how to brush her teeth, but she'll be able to once she's older.
She is also more accepting of the other bots on the base, but still prefers myself over the majority of them. After myself is Optimus, then Arcee, and finally Bumblebee. Though accepting of Bulkhead and Cliffjumper, Cliffjumper claims to be bad with sparklings, and Bulkhead is afraid he will hurt her. He has been known to be quite clumsy, so I have chosen not to question his decision.
And speaking of my daughter, she has apparently woken up while I was looking back, and is now standing in her crib, looking at me while in her yellow floral sleeper and calling for me. I stand and switch into my holoform before getting her up. After she finishes eating, I dress her in a white long sleeved puffin print onesie, a mint green long sleeved T-shirt with a puffin graphic, black and white zebra-print pants with a ruffle on the butt, mint green socks and mint green Velcro tennis shoes that I am sure will be off as soon as I put her down. The irritated look I get from her when I put them on only confirms my suspicions.
Later That Morning, Around Ten
I sigh as Optimus rests a hand on my shoulder. "I believe you have a crate in your berth that needs to be sorted before the day is up, Old Friend. I will watch Mariposa for you."
"Thank you, Optimus." I sigh and turn to Mariposa. "I'll be right back, Little One."
She looks up at me with tears in her eyes. Since I hate hearing her cry, I try to console her before she starts to cry.
"Optimus is right here, Sweetspark." I sigh. "This… could wait until the others return from patrol."
"We will be quite busy when they return."
I sigh. "I understand. Comm me if she gets fussy."
Half Hour Later, Main Room, Optimus POV
I look at the sparkling Cybertronian Princess, as Agent Fowler has titled her, in the playpen before glancing back at the monitors.
"Dada?"
"He will be out soon, Little One."
"Op?"
I turn to Mariposa. "What do you need?"
She reaches up, asking wordlessly to be held. I nod and lift her from the playpen before holding her closer to me so as to prevent her from falling. She then points toward our berth rooms.
"I am sorry, Little One, but you cannot go to him yet."
Her lower lip trembles, and I can see tears welling up. "Dada."
I sigh and slip her princess pacifier into her mouth, then reach up to my comm link. I am not going to make our young princess cry. "Ratchet?"
"Optimus? Is something wrong?"
"She keeps asking for you, insistently."
Ratchet's POV
I sigh. "I'm on my way." I slip the packages—thankfully already wrapped and simply waiting for tomorrow—back into the crate carefully. "She's probably hungry, Optimus."
"Understood."
Main Room—Ratchet's POV
Optimus sighs. "He is coming, Little One."
"Mari?"
Instantly, she turns to the hall. "Dada!"
I take her carefully before holding her to my chest, close to my spark.
"I apologize for the interruption, Ratchet."
"I was finished anyway." I look down at Mariposa. "Why were you so upset, my Little Butterfly?"
She looks up at me as if to ask if I am insane before cuddling into my chest plates.
Mariposa's Mind
'You go 'way! He coul' come back, and Op won' ge' you!'
Ratchet's POV
"I know you like to have me with you, Mari, but I have several things I have to do today."
She scowls and points to Optimus.
"What did he do?" I sigh and look at Optimus. "What did you do?"
"I have been watching the monitors all morning, Ratchet."
"Mariposa doesn't like to be ignored, Optimus. I suspect that it has to do with the early abuse and neglect she sustained. I also suspect that it may be the reason she took to Arcee so quickly—she may look at her as a mother-figure."
"PRIME!"
Optimus and I look up suddenly at the shout, both startled. Optimus is the first to regain his composure. "Special Agent Fowler. Is something the problem?"
Agent Fowler's gaze trails to where Mariposa is snuggled into my chest, making my spark freeze. "Agent Fowler?"
"I have located Marianne's family."
I stumble back, one hand holding tightly yet gently to my daughter, the other hitting the wall under the platform behind me as I slump against it. 'No. Primus, no. I already lost one sparkling.' Vaguely, I sense a hand on my shoulder.
"Ratchet? Are you all right?" He moves the hand from my shoulder and offers to help me stand.
I force my emotions back before brushing the hand away. "I'm fine, Optimus. Just…surprised. I hadn't known Agent Fowler was looking for her family." I stand back to my feet and look down at Mariposa, who looks scared, worried, and upset. "It's going to be okay, Little One."
She lays a tiny hand over my spark.
"As I said, I found her family. They flew to Jasper yesterday, and I'm meeting them at a diner this afternoon. It may be good for her to be there. Her reactions may be helpful, considering the way we found her."
"I—" I sigh heavily, trying to stay in control. "I will have her ready a half hour before noon, Agent Fowler."
11:30 am, Base, Ratchet's POV
I look down at Mariposa as she lays on the changing table Maya had bought for her, and sigh. I'm in holoform, searching through the closet portion of her dresser for a suitable dress, knowing deep within my spark that this is going to be the last time I will ever see my daughter. I finally pull out a short sleeved dress with a white top, pink cuffs, a "Princess" graphic, and a pink sheer-covered skirt with a pink satin sash, white lacy socks, and pink glitter Mary Jane shoes. After dressing her, I gather a few supplies to take with her, including a small pink sweater in case the diner is cold. I then return to my normal form and sit on the edge of my berth. I stare down at her as she drifts off to sleep in my hand.
Main Room
"Prime, where is Ratchet?"
"He was in his berth room a moment ago."
I walk into the main room before looking down at the agent. Mariposa is sleeping on one hand, while her bag and car seat are in the other. "I'm ready, Agent Fowler." I kneel down and let him take her, then watch him put her into the car seat before taking the bag. Once my hands are empty, I transform, praying to Primus I can keep control of my emotions through this ordeal. I barely notice when Agent Fowler straps her in the seat behind me and climbs into my passenger seat.
"Ratchet, is something wrong?"
I simply sigh before taking off for the diner.
12:00 PM, Diner, Ratchet's POV
I sigh as Agent Fowler takes the car seat out of the back, then activate my holoform and climb out with him. I take the car seat, leaving Agent Fowler with the bag. I want to spend as much time as I can with her before she is taken from me.
"Hello. I'm Agent Fowler. We spoke on the phone?"
The woman nods. I look them over. The man has short brown hair and a beard, while the woman has blonde hair, cut shoulder-length. Neither one even glances at the car seat or its contents. Are they that dense to not realize that their daughter is sitting right beside them?
I take her out and hold her as Agent Fowler and the parents eat. After two minutes, she uses my arm to pull herself onto her feet in my lap and simply stares at the two with a scowl.
I then notice that she's glaring at the woman.
Mariposa's mind
'You never 'membered to fee' me, and only fed yourself!'
Ratchet's POV
She turns to glare at the male.
Mariposa's mind
'And you left me in a blankie where I could be froze and killed!'
Ratchet's POV
The glare turns to both of them in general.
Mariposa's mind
'And none of you think I'm worf anyfing! All you wanted was drugs and beer!'
Ratchet's POV
The male turns to me for the first time and sees her. His expression is one of pure horror. I now understand why a human says that they look like they have seen a ghost.
Mariposa looks up at me, and her expression changes to a large smile. "Dada."
That's when the male comes alive and starts shouting. "He's not your father!"
Mariposa looks like she is about to cry. I help her turn to face me, then slip her princess pacifier into her mouth and hold her close to my chest. "Daddy's here, Little One."
Agent Fowler stands. "My friend Richard here has raised her for the last two months, and has done quite well at it for being a first-time father as well as single."
He then turns and leads me away. "You can take Princess Marianne and leave if you want to, Rick, just stay nearby."
"Why?"
"I've seen her reactions to the couple. She was mad at both of them, but she looked terrified to even be in the same room as her father. That's a sure sign that he was the one who hurt her and left her to die. I need to finish up with these two and contact the police in Indiana to pick the couple up at the airport. After that, Marianne becomes a ward of the state, and I can assist you in adopting her if that's what you want." Agent Fowler then smiles. "But I do still need a ride back to my helicopter."
I sit back on the window seat by the door. "Thank the All Spark."
"Are you all right?"
I nod. "I was afraid you were going to take her from me."
"We knew she had been abused, Rick, and you found her left to freeze to death. I would never return a child to someone like that."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." He sighs. "Now get her out of here before they try to hurt her again! I won't even mind calling Prime for a ride if you don't think you can do it."
I nod. "I need to get her back home." I smile weakly. "And yes, Agent Fowler, I do wish to adopt her."
"You'll need medical reports and birth certificates."
"I trust you can get them, Agent Fowler." I groan. "I apologize, but I must return to the base. I trust you can get the necessary paperwork."
Agent Fowler's pov
I watch Ratchet until he's out of sight. "Poor little thing never deserved a life like this." I walk back into the diner and join the parents. "We've been calling the little one Marianne."
The woman—Stacy—turns to me. "Her name is Sheyenne. Sheyenne Rayne. I hate the name Marianne."
"It doesn't matter. She's answering to Marianne now." I sigh. "Rick is a doctor, and he's very good with children. He asked me to get her medical records and birth certificate."
The bearded man—Aaron—turns to me. "And why didn't he ask for it himself?"
"He wasn't feeling well. His niece is waiting back at his house to care for the baby so he can rest."
