CHAPTER 29
Another Year Older, Another Year Wiser

"He turns fifteen WHEN?"

Ironhide was nearly stunned into silence, it could not have been eight months, it could not be. He knew Ben had turned fourteen four months before he came to live with the Lennox's. But surely, certainly his son wasn't already turning fifteen that Friday. He mentally chastised himself, having been so focused the last few weeks on finding and killing Jason that he'd forgotten completely how much time had passed. What was worse was that Ironhide didn't even have the money to get him anything, and with the Lennox's already paying for many of Tony's needs already no way would he ask them.

Will looked at Ironhide, noting his surprise and worry. "Yeah, Tony's fifteen on Friday. I can't believe he never mentioned it to you." Ironhide looked away as Will said this "What's wrong big guy? It's just a birthday." He added.

"I have nothing to give my own son for his birthday. Without money... I..." Ironhide shook his head a bit "Primus almighty, if I had know his birthday was this week I would have done something in town. Anything." He shook his head slightly, not entirely happy with himself "Will, what am I going to do? I have barely two days to get him anything." He noted.

"Relax big guy, some gifts are NOT bought. They come from the heart... Spark." Will rubbed the back of his head, thoughtfully looking up at him "Come on, big guy. There has got to be something that doesn't involve money." Ironhide tilted his head "Don't even give me that look, 'Hide. I know as well as you do that you've got a helluva soft side." He added.

Ironhide sighed quietly, and crossed his arms a bit. Did he have a soft side? Oh yes, of course he did. But so much of what he had taken from Cybertron had deep meaning to him, and it was hard to think of parting with any of it. "It is very hard for me to find anything of great significance I can give him." Ironhide shifted a bit "What I saved from my home on Cybertron... It has deep meaning to me." He added.

"Haven't you ever heard of family heirlooms?" Will asked, Ironhide tilted his head "Passing something of great importance through the generations? I got a set of dogtags from my Grandpa, for example." He smiled "Well one half, my brother and I got one tag each." He added.

Ironhide stared down at his friend thoughtfully, he was a good man. But Ironhide had been a poor mech, he didn't have anything fancy to give to his son. Nothing that a human boy would like anyway. "I was a poor mech William. All I have are some holographic images- like your pictures. My cannons. Perhaps a few nicknacks here and there. But nothing of real value or that a human teenager would care to have." He admitted.

"Oh come on, there has to be SOMETHING." Will replied "If not, seriously, let me pay for you."

"William, if you payed FOR me, it would be a gift from you, not from myself." Ironhide told him, firmly "I'm likely to think of something, I just need to be given time, if nothing else." He explained, his voice quiet, distant "I have a thought, but it will be very hard to part with it." He looked down a bit "But I have always wanted to pass it down to my heir, which Tony now is..." He noted quietly.

"I'm sure whatever it is, he'll love it big guy." Will replied, a smile still on his face "Hey do you need me to pick Tony up from practice? I was just going into town." He added.

Ironhide's optics widened, he'd almost forgotten that Tony had finally been allowed to go to school as long as he was escorted. Not to mention that, only recently, Tony had tried out for the basketball team and made it, meaning he'd forgotten that too. He really needed to get a hang of remembering such things, and Ironhide himself knew that all too well. "Primus almighty, I'd forgotten he had school today." Ironhide groaned "No, I'll pick him up, otherwise he'll nag me about forgetting, AGAIN." He added.

"You'll get used to this, 'Hide." Will replied.

"Three months of being a Foster Parent hasn't made it easier. But I thank you for your vote of confidence." Ironhide sighed deeply, transforming down "Would you like me to give you a ride to where you're going? I can pick you up once I'm done picking Tony up." He added.

"Nah big guy, I'd rather take my own car." Will nodded "I got birthday shopping to do too you know." He added.

Ironhide grunted a bit, knowing that all too well, after all, Tony was still his Godson. He drove out of the area slowly, heading toward the direction of Tony's school, remaining decidedly quiet a he drove, his thoughts taking over. He knew what he was going to give to Tony, he truly had nothing else without money that he could give Tony. Would he like it? Well, that remained to be seen, but in the end it did have a great deal of meaning to Ironhide, and that he was even considering giving it to Tony was a rather big deal.

Sighing a bit, Ironhide reflected on things quietly, it was not his first go around at a "Birthday". He'd had his creation days with his daughter, but this, this would be far different. He just hoped he wouldn't screw it up.

...

Tony's apartment half of the barn had been completed several weeks prior. Ironhide had still found it hard to get used to having it, but the longer it was there, the more he was used to it. He found Tony in his bed, quietly curled up, fast asleep. Of course, it was usually his job to get him up for school, even if it usually ended up forgetting he'd gone there later in the day. His holoform carefully phased in, onto the edge of the bed. "Happy birthday, m'boy." Ironhide leaned over, kissing Tony's forehead gently "Time to get up, my precious one." He noted as Tony started to shift.

"Five more minutes." Tony muttered, lifting his head slowly "Can't you give me that on my birthday?"

"It'd be unlike me if I did." Ironhide smiled as Tony slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes "You sure don't look a year older, do ye, m'boy?" He noted.

Tony chuckled a bit, he shook his head quietly. Ironhide set a package on his lap before Tony could even get up. "Dad, you didn't have to get me anything. Really, I think you've given me enough so far." Tony told him, looking him in the eyes "Besides, things cost money, and-" He began.

"I didn't pay anything for your gift." Ironhide replied "Open it up, and have a look." He noted.

Tony stared at the gift for a moment, but slowly but surely began to open it. By the time all of the wrapping was gone, Tony had already noticed how heavy it was. But what he saw next was a bit of a shock, it was small, about the length of his arm, but rounded, a cannon. "That... Was the first cannon I was ever given by my Mother." Ironhide stated quietly "Shortly before she died." He added.

"D-Dad, I can't take this, no way." Tony stared at Ironhide "Not something from Grandma." He added.

Ironhide smiled, he stroked Tony's hair gently, shaking his head. "I've wanted to pass this down to someone for years, Tony. Yes, it is from my Mother, but think of it this way, m'boy. I may need money to help with your care." Ironhide looked to the side "But I wanted to do this myself, your creation day is important to me. Very much so." He explained.

"So you're giving me the only thing you have left of her? Just because my birthday is important?" Tony asked, confused.

"Indeed, I am. I have no use for it anymore other than as a trophy of sorts, Tony. It's much too small for me." Ironhide was silent for a moment "Perhaps one day, it may be of use to you." He added.

Tony smiled, he really did appreciate the gift, there was no mistaking that. The gesture had simply, stunned him into silence. To be given something of such sentimental value to Ironhide, it was hard to believe he'd have done so. Hugging the holoform tightly, he allowed the mech to hug him back as well. "Thanks Dad, it means a lot." He ran his hand along the cannon slightly "Never thought I'd actually get a cannon of my own." He admitted.

"I don't think anyone will possibly be able to top it, do you?" Ironhide chuckled.

"Probably not, how many kids can say they have their own Cybertronian cannon?" Tony laughed quietly, he had a teasingly thoughtful look on his face "Though, Uncle Will DID tell me that he'd teach me to ride a motorcycle. And that he'd get me one for-" He began.

"The day you start riding a motorcycle is the day that I go offline." Ironhide snorted "You can forget that, right now." He told him flatly.

"Buzzkill." Tony grinned.

Ironhide smirked, letting Tony go gently, he stared at Tony silently. Fifteen years old, to think Tony was already a year older than he was the day before. He was already growing up too fast and he hadn't even been adopted yet. Ironhide took a deep breath, and patted his son's back. "Alright go on birthday boy, get ready for school so I can get you there and I can get some stuff done." He noted.

"If you guys are throwing me-"

"You'd better believe we're throwing you a party." Ironhide turned his head and winked as he made his way out of the room.

Tony could only hope that Ironhide knew how to throw a birthday party, or Heaven only knew how well this would all turn out.