A/N: I'd just like to explain this as its been brought to my attention I may not have explained this properly. Tony does not ENTIRELY have memories of his Mom's abuse. He remembers small flashes through nightmares, and probably heard about it through talks around Social Services over the years. Just thought I'd clear that up. :)

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CHAPTER 13
The Thing About Protective Autobots

Ironhide dreaded this weekend when Will and Sarah left for the weekend. He didn't mind staying with Tony so much as he feared, as it was his first time doing so, that he would screw something up. He almost wished that they were taking Tony with them so that they could all go. But Will and Sarah wished to have a weekend alone, as a little break from all the chaos. Thus he had chosen, out of the kindness of his spark to look after his youngest charge. "The number of our hotel is on the fridge." Will nodded at Tony, Ironhide's holoform was seated on the couch, he'd heard tis before "Absolutely no parties, but you can have a few friends over. We got the local pizza place and other take-out places on speed-dial." He noted.

"I'm not much of a party person, you know that Will." Tony chuckled, leaning against the wall "We'll be fine, man. Ironhide won't let me screw anything up. I won't let me do that either." He then added "Now go on, Sarah already said goodbye, she's waiting in the car." He smiled "Have a good time." He added.

Will smiled, pulling the boy into a firm one-armed hug, planting a gentle kiss on top of his head. "Alright, son. I'm going." Will chuckled, then added "Love you, bud. We'll see you on Sunday." He added, then stared at Ironhide "Hold down the fort, big guy." He added.

"Love you too, Will." Tony gave his belated response.

"No need to worry, William. Your son is more than safe with me." Tony was stunned as Ironhide's holoform appeared beside him as if by magic "If what I did to those fragging glitches of bullies..." He settled an arm around the boy's shoulders "I'll look after and protect him as if he were my own." He then added "Just as I did many a weekend with Annabelle." He smirked.

"He has enough weapons to supply a small army, so I don't think I could be in safer hands." Tony smirked.

Will smiled a bit, almost stunned that these two were the same pair who hated each other four months ago. Tony had definitely changed, he was actually visibly happy, he hardly ever frowned anymore. Ironhide now treated Tony as if he were his own son, and was becoming just a good a role model as Will was. If everything was this smooth when the Social Worker showed up for their 'Adoption Inspection', they'd pass with flying colors. "Alright, alright, I'm going." Will tipped an invisible hat "Call if you need us!"

Will left, and Tony and Ironhide only grinned at one-another. "So when are Bumblebee and Ratchet coming over?" Tony asked, knowing that was the plan "I finished my homework early and all. Projector outside is set up beside the barn." He continued.

Ironhide chuckled a bit, knowing Tony had been excited for a long time. He loved his Foster Parents, of course. But as he'd told Ironhide, no Foster Family had trusted him at home without them, even for the night. Ironhide grinned, giving the human a fair shake of his hair. "They'll be here before the hour's up." He noted, then added "Any time now." He added.

"Great!"

Tony's phone vibrated, and a smile crossed his face. He chuckled at what had to be a text, and shook his head. Ironhide had seen this, a lot lately, and he almost wondered if he should worry. "Tony?" Tony stared up at Ironhide, who looked concerned "Who are you texting?" He asked.

"Oh, nobody, just a friend." Tony smiled.

As the boy pocketed his phone and headed towards the front door, Ironhide sighed. The boy was just a plain bad liar, and he knew that it was more than just a friend. Ironhide's holoform flickered slightly at the very thought of it, Tony dating. He wasn't ready for the youngest to start dating yet. No, he was still getting used to the idea that he loved this boy as if he were his own. And boys, well, matured much slower than girls, and Primus knew the last thing he wanted to see was the boy heartbroken.

The sound of a honking horn outside brought the Weapons Specialist out of his deep thoughts. He'd worry about Tony's love life later, after all, the boy was still fourteen and he wouldn't go on a date without telling Will or Sarah. Slowly disappearing, his real form drove from the barn. Tony was on Bumblebee's hood, laughing slightly, probably at something Bumblebee had said. Ironhide knew that Bumblebee had taken right to Tony, as he too had been taken from his creators at a very young age. He took right to a big brother role around Tony.

"You start the movie without me?" Ironhide asked as he parked beside Bumblebee.

"Sorry, Uncle Hide, but you were in there for a while." Tony shrugged "You didn't miss much, just a chase scene." He explained.

Ironhide's holoform quickly appeared and stared over at his charge with a smirk. "You know they're my favorite parts, punk." He teased gently, smirking at him "I might have to punish ye fer that one." Tony smirked back at him "Hey Bee, while yer here. I think the little man has a girl he's conversing with, perhaps you can get it out of him, I sure as slag can't." He added, Tony's face went bright red at that.

"Oh, tell me more, tell me more was it love at first sight!" Bumblebee began to play the song "Summer Nights" from Grease "Tell me more, tell me more, did she put up a fight?"

"I have the nosiest group of Uncles on the planet."

"Get used to it bub." Came a sound clip from Bumblebee.

"Let him be, you two. We can interrogate the female human under a lamp later." Ratchet snorted.

Somehow, what Ratchet said did not make Tony feel much better about their nosiness. Yes, Tony did have a girl he had a massive crush on, and who may have liked him too. But Tony was not about to tell the three of them about her. After all, of all the Autobots, he'd bonded the most with the three of them, and God knew that they could be extremely overprotective. In fact, he was half tempted to climb under a rock the way they were being. "You see, this is why none of you are EVER meeting my dates." Tony replied.

"Like pit we're not. Annabelle had that same mindset Tony." Ironhide noted smugly "Ask her how well that went."

Tony stared at him slowly, shaking his head, his face going even redder. Lord help him, he had Dog The Bounty Hunter for a guardian. Taking a deep breath, Tony crossed his arms, cursing to himself. Ratchet inwardly chuckled, they could have fun with this. "It isn't THAT bad. We'll only strap her down to one of my berths. Shine a giant lamp on her, and ask her eight thousand questions." Ratchet began coyly "Ironhide will only shoot her twice if she doesn't answer in a way we're happy with." He added.

"I'll be sure to bring the truth syrum." Bumblebee chimed in jokingly with a sound clip.

"Ooooh we haven't used that in way too long. I can't wait!" Ironhide noted teasingly, he turned to the now twitching Tony, who stared at him with a glare "Don't worry though Tony, just because Annabelle never had a date. Doesn't mean it'll be the same for you." He added.

By the time they had finished, Tony looked ready to vomit. Ironhide chuckled, and stared over at his charge. "We're only kidding, m'boy. We'll grill her a little, but we aren't that bad. Unless they give us a reason to be." Tony seemed to sigh with relief "I will, at the very least, be meeting her however. If you have any intentions of courting the human femme, I will be okaying her. And oh yes, I will be driving you." He noted.

"Please tell me Will can talk you out of it." Tony gulped.

"He will try, and fail, as he always does." Ironhide chuckled.

This time, the chuckle didn't seem like one to signify he was kidding. Rather, Ironhide had an evil chuckle this time, clearly one that signified he was very serious, and that Tony probably should have been afraid. Very, VERY afraid. The teenager shifted a bit, and cursed under his breath again. He only half paid any attention to the movie, considering he now feared what the three Autobots would do to this girl, needless to say. They were like three older brothers in that sense, all not wanting to see the younger sibling hurt, and all ready to grill his date.

He had no doubt in his mind that Ironhide wouldn't be alone if he ever dated Jennifer. The three of them would most likely make some form of 'fun' sport out of it that would ultimately leave Tony in a state of disarray. And when and if they did, he told himself, they would very easily see an angry side to him. After all, Ironhide wasn't the only one who could be scary when mad. Then again, they were giant robots, and he was a fourteen year old human. He sighed to himself, he had to deal with it, no matter what.

And he knew, just knew he was going to hate every second of it.