"Normal Talk"

"Bee's Talk"

"Bee's Talk Holoform"

"Other Side Over the Phone (Comms)"

'Thoughts'

~Bond communication~

~Telepathic communication~


Birthday Party

One Week Later, 6:00 AM, Ratchet's POV

I'm now officially a month along. Agent Fowler brought us an invitation to a birthday party for the son of the nurse who cared for Mariposa when she was in the Emergency Room. I'm surprised that she even remembers one patient, but apparently Mariposa made an impression on her. Still, I'm not sure taking a thirteen month old to a nine year old's birthday party is a good idea—especially if said baby has been cranky for the last few days from her vaccinations and teething.

I shrug. It's not up to me—well, technically it is because she's my child—but June is a nurse, and I'm sure she knows what she's doing.

"Dada! Up!"

I smile at my daughter in her light blue sleeper with a fox, elephant, and owl print. "I know, Sweetspark." I walk over and lift her out before setting her on the changing table. After I change her, I dress her in a white cap sleeved onesie, pink overalls jumper with white polka-dots, and white strappy sandals. After, I quickly fill a bottle and hand it to her before carrying her into the main room and setting her into her fence.

"Dada?"

"What is it, Mari?"

She points to the TV.

"Oh. Okay." I find the remote and turn on the TV. "Better?"

She nods before sitting down and starting to play, slipping a pacifier into her mouth. Part of me wants to take it from her and wash it, but I know that if I do, she'll cry.


Ratchet's Berth Room, 9:00 AM, Ratchet's POV

I pick Mariposa up on my way to my berth room, and feed her before putting her down for her nap. I hand her an energon bottle before leaving her to sleep.


One Hour Later, Ratchet's POV

I get Mari up and change her before dressing her in a pink short sleeved polo, pink and green plaid shorts, and pink sandals, then carry her back into the main room. I set her back into the fence and turn back to my work.

"Dada?"

I look up to her, only to find her pointing at the TV. "What is it this time?"

"Do!"

"What?"

"Do!" She points at the screen again.

I look to where she's pointing. On the screen, a girl about her age is in a pageant. "I don't know, Sweetspark…"

She gives me a look she could have only learned from Bumblebee.

"I have to think about it, Mari. I'm not sure that's the kind of life I want for you. You're going to have it hard enough once we get back to Cybertron."

"Op!"

I turn to see Optimus walking in. "Where's Sunset?"

"Bumblebee is playing with her and Electro so I could finish my paperwork for Agent Fowler."

"Op. Do." She points to the screen. "Dada. No."

Optimus turns to the screen, looking as confused as I was.

"She wants me to put her in child pageants. I'm not sure if that's the kind of life I want for her."

"She may be young, but she is already capable of making her own choices, Old Friend."

"But—" I sigh heavily. I know better than to argue with a prime. "We'll have to bring this up with Agent Fowler. He has the final say."

"I know." Optimus sighs before turning to me. "I heard she was invited to a party."

"A nine-year-old's party, Optimus. She's thirteen months." I sigh. "But the child's mother is the nurse who saved her life, so we're going."

"I will watch the monitors until you return."

"Thanks, Optimus." I check my watch. "I need to get her lunch fixed so I can get her down for her nap."


Ratchet's Berth Room, 2:00 PM, Ratchet's POV

I get Mariposa out of her crib and change her into a light pink long sleeved dress with flared sleeves, a layered lace-covered skirt, and a solid overlay to the knee in the back and up to the waist in the front, and a bow at the waist, white tights, and light pink patent leather Mary Jane shoes. After she's dressed, I turn to the closet and pull out a newer tiara I had been saving. It's a silver circle tiara with a triangle-loop design and stones in the middle, encrusted with pink sapphires.

"Dada? Go?"

"A party, Sweetspark." I finish packing her bag and return to my normal form before picking her, the bag, and the package Agent Fowler had brought up and starting for the main room. Once there, I hand Mariposa to Arcee and transform. Once she has Mariposa secured, I pull out and head for the address.


Darby House, Side of the Road, Ratchet's POV

I park my vehicle mode on the curb and activate my holoform before climbing in the back and getting Mariposa out. Once she's out, I carry her up to the door.

June answers the door with a smile. "Richard. Good to see you."

I follow her into the house. "I was nervous about bringing Mari."

"Don't be. Jack's a good kid, and so are the twins."

"Twins?"

"Identical twin girls. They're two years younger than Jack."

"Mommy? Who' tha'?"

We both look down at a little girl with black curly hair. June sighs before taking her hand and leading her into their living room. "It's just my friend Richard and his little girl."

I look at the little girl with a smile before handing Mariposa to June so I can crouch to her. "What's your name?"

"I Ja'mi'e."

"Hi, Jasmine."

She points to Mariposa. "Wha' her name?"

"Marianne."

"Hi, Ma'ia'e!"

Mariposa looks down to us before reaching to me. "Dada?"

I stand and take her back from June.

"The others are outside." She reaches down and picks Jasmine up. "I'll take you."

"Thanks."


Party, Ratchet's POV

We're back inside because of a sudden storm. The older children are playing some kind of game while Mariposa and Jasmine play.

"Dada?"

I look down to where Mariposa is playing. "What do you need, Little One?"

"Up."

I laugh softly before lifting her. She lays her head on my shoulder. "Are you tired, Sweetheart?"

She shakes her head, but doesn't move off my shoulder. I smile and hand her a pacifier. She tends to get cranky when she's tired, even right after a nap.

"She looks tired."

I turn to June with a sigh. "She's only been up for half an hour."

June sighs. "Come on. I'm cutting the cake."

Mariposa perks up at that. "Ca'e! Dada! Ca'e!"
"We're going, Mari."

June laughs softly before leading me into the kitchen. She sets Jasmine into a booster seat between what I'm assuming are her before turning to get the cake from the kitchen. I set Mariposa into the high chair before moving to help June.

"Just sit down, Richard. I've got it."

I nod, and sit beside the high chair so I can help Mariposa. June soon walks in with the cake, nine lit candles sticking out of the top. On top of the cake is an orca drawn in black and white icing. The children and June sing, then Jack blows out the candles. I take a small slice for myself, and feed another to Mariposa before eating my own. Food is a new concept for the rest of the team, and me as well, but caring for a young human requires us to enter this new realm.

I sigh as I wipe Mariposa off, inwardly cursing the person who thought black icing was a good idea. Her lips and tongue are dyed black now, and I can't get it off no matter what I try.

June reaches over and takes the cloth from me. "Don't worry about it, Richard. It'll fade before she goes to bed."

"And I have your word for that?"

"Trust me, you'll have more trouble getting grass stains out of her clothes."

I raise an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Blue raspberry stains too. So does cherry and grape. Kids don't mind, so we shouldn't either. You have to pick your battles."

"Marianne isn't as wild as some children are, June."

"Wait 'til she turns two, Rick. They call it the terrible twos for a reason."

"Mom, come on! I wanna open presents!"

"I'm coming, Jack." She turns to me. "Trust me, I've got four kids."

"I know." I sigh, and follow her with my daughter. I sit on the couch with my daughter and watch the human youngling tear into his presents, doing my best to keep Mariposa from playing in the discarded paper.


Later that Afternoon

"Thanks for coming. It was nice getting to see Marianne again."

"It was good seeing you and Jack too." I sigh. "And good to meet your daughters."

She smiles. "Thanks again, Richard. Hopefully I'll see you around."

I nod before fastening Mariposa into the child seat, then climbing into my vehicle mode. I keep my holoform on until I turn the corner, then switch it off. Mariposa is asleep before we pull away from the curb.