Honest fact: The day I was adopted, according to my Dad, the guy looked at them, looked at us, and signed the papers. Very little words, very little anything. We do, however, still have the pictures from that day, and I remember it well—especially what the dress I wore looked like. I don't, however, remember what the judge looked like, or even the date. Little kid memories are strange…


"Normal Talk"

"Bee's Talk"

"Bee's Talk Holoform"

"Other Side Over the Phone (Comms)"

'Thoughts'

~Bond communication~

~Telepathic communication~


Adoption

Two Weeks Later, June 6, ratchet's POV

I slide out of my vehicle mode in holoform outside a pale gray two-story house and wait for Agent Fowler to get Mariposa out before stepping around the front. I'm seven weeks now, and I have no clue why Agent Fowler insists we move into this…house. We're just fine at the base, and Mariposa needs a stable environment. I cross my arms and glare at the house.

"Come on, Rick. I'll show you around." He sighs. "We've already got it furnished, so it's ready for the two of you."

"Why do we have to do this again?"

"You can't adopt a child without a home study, and we can't do a home study at the base." He sighs. "You can go back as soon as everything's finalized.

"We're going to be stuck living here for at least a week while I wait for the social worker." He hands me a list. "This is ridiculous." I turn to him. "What did you tell them about me?"

Agent Fowler sighs. "You're a field medic."

"And they're okay with it?"

He shakes his head. "You need to stop worrying, Ratchet. They won't take her. You're good with her."

"We're lying to the government! I'm not human!"

"You're the best person to raise her." He smiles slightly. "Besides, General Brice has already vouched for you. We're on your side. She's never going back to them."

I sigh heavily. "You can't promise anything, Bill."

"Maybe not." He sighs. "But we'll do our best."


Two Days Later, Ratchet's POV

Agent Fowler bought a house for the sole purpose of keeping our cover. Mariposa and I stayed there for the last several days so we could get the necessary home visit out of the way without her learning about our kind. To put it lightly, we were both glad to be home.

Mariposa starts crying half an hour before she usually gets up. She pulls herself on the rails of her crib to where she's sitting, and reaches up for me. "Dada!"

I stand and activate my holoform, then lift her out before holding her close to me. I slip her "Daddy's Girl" pacifier into her mouth and run a finger gently over her tear streaked cheeks. "What happened little one?" She looks up at me. "Did you have a bad dream?" She nods. "Oh, Sweetspark." I sigh softly before glancing back at the time. "Might as well get you dressed."

I change her, then dress her in a white onesie with a purple heart graphic, a white hoodie with purple bear ears and a purple heart print, lavender sweat pants, white socks, and white and pink Velcro tennis shoes, then put her tiara on. After I hand her a bottle, I return to my normal form and carry her into the main room.


11:00 am

After getting Mariposa up from her morning nap, I change her, and dress her in a white short sleeved ladybug print onesie with a ladybug apliqué and lavender trim, lavender pants with a ladybug appliqué on the butt, white socks, and white and pink Velcro tennis shoes. We don't have to be at the courthouse until after her afternoon nap, and I've got the day off, so I can actually play with her. Primus knows she needs the stimulation. She's still behind for a Cybertronian her age.

"Dada. P'ay?"

I laugh softly. She's catching on a lot slower than a femme her age, but as a human, she's definitely advanced now. "Yes, Mari. I'm going to play with you. I have the day off, remember?"

"Ratchet?"

"What's the problem, Optimus?"

"Agent Fowler left a package for you. It's from Indiana."

"I'll be right out, Optimus." I step into the main room with Mariposa in my hand and take the box before scanning it. "It's safe."


12:00 am

I feed Mariposa, give her an energon bottle before setting her back into her play area. She doesn't have the time to take her afternoon nap, which risks her becoming cranky at the worst possible time.

While she's playing, I open the box Agent Fowler had brought. It's full of outfits, all with the same country theme. "Probably from her grandparents." I smile when I pull out a toy. "And a tractor, too." I smile and hand her the small green tractor.


2:00 pm

I change Mariposa into a short sleeved lavender dress with rosettes attached to the skirt and sleeves, and a rose at the waist, lavender tights, lavender ankle strap shoes with rosettes and bows, and a lavender knit bonnet with lavender lace on the brim and a lavender ribbon threaded through it. I slip her new lavender sweater on to both shield her delicate skin from the harsh sun outside, and shield her from the air conditioning inside once we reach the courthouse.

She looks up at me and I can't help but smile. This little human will soon be my daughter.


I park and put Mariposa into her stroller before starting on the walk across town. I know I could probably find a closer parking lot than the one on the edge of town, but Mariposa needs the fresh air.

I walk into the courthouse with her, and take a seat on a bench against the wall. After a few minutes, they call us in. I give her a pacifier and take her out of the stroller, then carry her into the room. I glance down to her for a moment. She looks kind of cranky. I'll have to put her down for a nap once we get back, but for now, I can't do anything about her mood.

The judge walks in and smiles at the two of us, then sits down at a nearby table, rather than up on the stand. He reads over the file before looking at the two of us, then signs the bottom of the pile of papers. After handing them to me, they take a picture, then, after taking a picture with us, he walks out, leaving me kind of confused.

I sigh heavily when she starts to cry, simply grateful that she waited until he was finished. Then again, she probably doesn't even realize what's going on. She's fourteen months, but she doesn't usually do this on a daily basis. I know she's cranky, since she's missed her nap, so I need to get her home before she causes even more chaos.


Base

I change Mariposa into a lavender tank top onesie, jeggings, and white socks, then tuck her into her crib for a much-needed nap. Once she's down, I head into the main room, leaving my charge to care for my daughter while I add my new documents to Mariposa's file on the computers, and set the hardcopy aside for Agent Fowler to add to her casefile when he gets here.

"Ratchet?"

I turn to find Optimus behind me. "Optimus. What did you need?"

"I believe you have the day off, Old Friend."

I shake my head. "I wasn't working." I finish typing the last of the information off the paperwork in, then save and close the file. "I was just updating Mariposa's file."

"And where is Bumblebee?"

"With Mariposa. I had to put her down for a nap before she got any worse." I turn to him with an eyebrow ridge raised. "Where's Sunset?"

"I sent her to the park with Arcee and Electro."

"Did you… need something, Optimus?"

He sighs. I hope nothing's wrong. "You have been raising Bumblebee since he was five vorns."

"Yeah…"

"And you are certain his creators are off-line?"

I look down. "Witnessed it when his younger brother was sparked. Why?"

"Have you ever thought of adopting him?"

"If you want to adopt Bumblebee, I am fine with it, Optimus."

"I did not—" Optimus sighs heavily. "I meant that if you wish to adopt Bumblebee, I can allow it."

"I—I wasn't expecting you to offer something like this…" I look up to my closest friend. "Of course I want to." I sigh softly. "But he's kind of old to form a bond…"

"I am aware of that, Old Friend." He shrugs. "But I am also aware of how much you care about the youngling."

"Thank you, Optimus." I turn back to the computer to update my new son's file, only to feel a hand on my shoulder.

He nods. "I will update his file." He smiles down to me. "You know as well as I do there is more than one way to form a parent bond. Go. Spend time with your family." He sighs.


Ratchet's Berth Room

Bumblebee sets down his gamepad when I step in. "Ratchet? What are you doing back so soon?"

I sigh softly. "It's still my day off, Bee. I thought I'd spend some time with the two of you, once she wakes up from her nap."

"Really?"

"Yes." I sit on the berth and motion for him to join me. "I've finally decided to adopt you, as well."

"You're serious?"

"If you don't want me as a Carrier, I understand…"

"That's not it, Ratch. I'm just…" He sighs. "I haven't had a family for vorns." He looks at the floor. "I was starting to feel like it wouldn't happen…"

"I've been wanting to for vorns, Bee, but I thought Optimus may have wanted to, and we didn't know if your creators were online." I sigh heavily. "If you don't want—"

"OF COURSE I DO!"

"Keep your voice down! You're going to wake the—"

Mariposa whimpers, causing Bumblebee to run across the room. "It's all right, Little One. Go back to sleep." He turns to me once she drifts back off. "Sorry…"

"It's all right. She's back to sleep now." I sigh heavily. "But you need to go before you wake her up again. I'll come find you when we're ready to leave."

"Right. I won't wake her up again, Ratch."

Once he's gone I lean back against the door with one hand on my plating. Only a week before its viable. With any luck, this one won't end in a miscarriage.


4:30 pm

I slip Mariposa's navy blue strappy flats and white sunhat on before walking down to Bumblebee's berth room. "Come on, Bee. It's time to go."

"Huh?" He turns to me. "Oh. I'm coming."

I pull into the park, and smile when I see Arcee and Electro with Sunset. Arcee's pushing Sunset on the swings while she holds Electro in one of those baby slings. She'd gotten it from Maya. "Hey, Rick. Hi, Mari." She turns to see Bumblebee with me. "Hey there, Bailey."

"Hi, Sadie. Dad, can I go play on the monkey bars?"

I blink. He called me his Dad. I mean, it's obvious he's been around humans a lot the last few months, but none his age. I can't understand how he'd know to call me Dad out here.

He turns to me with concern on his face. "Dad?"

"What?" I shake my head. "Of course. Go play, just be sure to check in."

"Rick, you okay?"

I nod before setting Mariposa in the swing next to Sunset and giving it a push. "I'm fine, Sadie. Just a little surprised."

"That Bailey called you Dad?" I nod. "So how did it go?"

"Good. She's officially my daughter now." I sigh softly. "And Orion said I could adopt Bailey too."

"Haven't you been planning to for years?"

I shrug. "All I've done is care for him, Sadie. For all I knew, Orion wanted to adopt him. You know how close they are."

"Hey, Rick."

I turn before smiling. "Hello, June."

"Watch your sisters, Jack." She turns to me after setting her youngest in another swing. "How's Mari?"

"Good." I smile. "We finalized the adoption today."

"That's good." She glances toward Arcee. "That's your niece?"

"Hey. I'm Sadie, and this is my son, Jason."

I sigh. "Sunny's my friend's daughter. She's watching her for him while he's at work." I glance toward the playset. "Bailey's over there somewhere."

"Bailey?"

I nod. "I'm working on adopting him too. I've been raising him for the last few years."

"I wouldn't mind you bringing the kids over sometime."

"I'll be sure to do that."


An Hour Later

"Rick Anderson?"

I turn at the voice. "Yes?"

"I'm Violet Stevens. Bill told me you needed someone to train a child for pageants?"

I nod, grateful that June is on the other side of the park with her daughters and Jack, because I'm sure she wouldn't like the idea of me putting her in a pageant. I'm not sure I like the idea yet myself.

"How old is she?"

I motion to the swing. "She'll be fifteen months at the pageant."

"Okay. She's young enough that we can make this work, and there's not too much we have to do." She sighs. "What categories is she in?"

I sigh softly. "Just what's required and Outfit of Choice—whatever that is."

"Any outfit of their choice, or yours in her case."


That Evening

I lay a hand over my plating before shifting down into my holoform. I've been contracting for about half an hour, and need to get into the medical bay soon or I'll never be able to save my sparkling, but I can't abandon my daughter. I change Mariposa into a lavender sleeper with a pink and purple butterfly graphic, then tuck her into her crib with a bottle of energon. "Bumblebee?" It's all I can do to keep my pain out of my voice.

"Go ahead, Ratch."

"I've asked you to call me—ah, never mind. I put Mari to bed, but I've got some work to do. Could you sit with her?"

"Sure."

I sigh heavily. "If I'm not done in an hour or two, I'll have Optimus or Arcee take over."

"Okay." He sighs. "You okay?"

"I'm fine, Bee. Just… stay with Mari."


Bumblebee's POV

"Bumbee? Dada?"

"He's in the main room. Just go to sleep, Little One. Big Brother's here."

She looks up at me. "Bubby?"

I nod. "Yep. I'm your big brother now." I run a finger over her side. "Now recharge, Little Sister."


Ratchet's POV

I hate having to lie to Bumblebee, but I can't let anyone know what I'm going through—not again. I sigh before resting a hand over my plating. "Oh, Little One…"

"Ratchet?"

I gasp before turning toward the door. "I'm fine, Optimus."

"You should be with Mariposa." He steps over to me. "How far?"

I sigh heavily. "Seven weeks. I found out on her birthday." I shake my head. "You need to get back to Sunset. I'll be okay."

"Sunset is recharging, Old Friend. You should not be alone through this."

"His spark's already gone."

He lays a hand on my shoulder. "I am here."


Optimus' POV, Three Hours Later

I lift a tiny mint green and white mech from the table and hand him to Ratchet. We can still see his colors, but they're quickly fading.

"I can ask Agent Fowler about a memorial…"

"Don't, Optimus. I didn't tell anyone this time. We'll just handle this on our own this time."

"I will have Bumblebee stay—"

"No. He needs to recharge. He's just a youngling. I can go back to her."

"Ratchet—"

"My daughter needs me, Optimus. I'll survive."