(Time to see how Maria is doing with the Autobots. Does she already fit in, or not entirely? Let's find out. The following scene when Hot Shot is playing with Maria was inspired by Pixar's Brave. Brave belongs to Pixar.)

Chapter 5

Kind of like a family

One week had passed since Maria was discovered, and during that time she managed to settle in and was starting to get to know the rest of the team, as well as the mini-cons. Besides even meeting the mini-cons, she became great friends with them, because they both had natural curiosity for earthly things. Some of those things included sports, history, politics, religion, and two of her new favorite past times, music and dancing. She loved listening to the earth music and dancing along to it, so much in fact that Rad surprised her with an old radio his Dad had given away, that way she could listen to it in the rec room whenever she wanted, as long as she didn't play it too loud. Alexis also brought over some books for Maria to look at, since Maria was interested in various earth literature. Despite the books being too small, Maria did not have any trouble reading, for her optics could zoom in on the text.. Carlos brought in some baseballs and basket balls so that the two could play some ball, mostly toss and keep away, a game in which Carlos would try to catch the ball while Maria dribbled it. And Billy and Fred introduced her to the undeniably fantastic and memorizing world of television. Some hours of the day the three could be seen watching the screen from the medium sized t.v. in the rec room.

Besides turning into an 'Earth Child' as the Autobots put it, she also quickly became best friends with non other than Hot Shot and Sideswipe. It was pretty natural since the two cadets were younger than the rest of the team, so it became no surprise that Maria would often hang around with them. Hot Shot was glad to be around her, he was so nice he even allowed Maria to share his birth with her, thus his quarters became Maria's quarters.

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Now one day, Hot Shot was in search of something in particular. Moving slowly around the rec room he playfully crooned. " Where did you go? Come on out. I'm going to find you sooner or later."

Walking into the rec room, Rad and Highwire stopped at the sight of Hot Shot stalking around, with a big smirk on his face plate.

"What are you doing ?" Rad asked. Highwire beeped and chirped, asking as well of course.

"Just looking for Maria. She thought it would be funny to put earth water in my energon cup, and to see if my mouth would short circuit when I drank it. Now I'm looking around for that little joker so I can teach her a thing or two." Hot Shot answered.

While Hot Shot explained what had happened, Highwire tapped Rad's shoulder and pointed to the bench. Underneath the bench, all curled up in a ball was Maria, snickering quietly.

Rad saw her and smiled. He then looked up at Hot Shot and replied.

"All that searching must have tried you out. Why don't you take a seat ?" Rad grinned, winking an eye. Seeing her cover was blown Maria quickly bolted from her hiding place and hid herself behind the energon dispenser.

Realizing what Rad meant Hot Shot nodded and made his way to the bench. "I think I... MIGHT!" Bending his head under the bench Hot Shot was dumbfounded. No youngling. But instead of getting upset, believing he might have been tricked, Hot Shot raised himself up and scratched his chin playfully. "Now if she is not under there, where else could she be."

Looking out from her hiding place, and seeing Hot Shot was turned away from her, she turned her attention to Rad and Highwire, who in return motioned her to come to them. Inching her way closer, she was almost free when...

"I'm going to eat her up when I find her. She is going to...Ah Ha!"

Almost instantly, Maria was scooped up and held close to the scouts chest plate as Hot Shot sat himself down, keeping a firm grip on Maria, who was shrieking with giggles.

"I'm going to eat you! " He laughed.

"No, don't eat me." Maria screamed.

Immediately, Hot Shot began to gently nibble Maria's neck cables, making chomping noises as he did so. Maria was shrieking with hysterical laughter, as she felt Hot Shots lips softly biting her sensitive neck cables. After nibbling her neck cables, Hot Shot repositioned Maria and started nibbling her sensitive, metallic belly, earning more laughter, and causing Maria to try and push his head away. Rad and Highwire couldn't help but giggle at the adorable scene.

"Do you apologize for putting water in my energon, now? " Hot Shot teased.

"Yes, Ha-ha-ha-ha, I do. Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah- I'm sorry."

Satisfied, Hot Shot stopped his torture and freed Maria, who scrambled away from his lap. Highwire chirped a question, and Rad answered. "They do kind of act like siblings, don't they?"

"Siblings?" Maria questioned.

"Oh, it's just another word for a brother or a sister."

"Why do you say that." Maria asked.

"Well, ever since you came around everything seemed to have changed. The base is no longer boring, instead it reminds me of family gatherings my family has yearly. The way you and Hot Shot were playing, it reminded me of when my cousins and I used to wrestle to see would was the best." Rad explained. He was right in some way. It seemed as though the Autobots were starting to become somewhat like family members to Maria. For example when ever Maria was playing around she'd be with Sideswipe and Hot Shot, like brothers and sisters. When ever she got bored she would hang with Hoist or Scavenger, for they often told her stories of battles they were a part of, kind of like uncles. When she wanted to feel useful she would help Red Alert clean out the medical room and he would provide her with some of his As-I-always-say speeches, like a grandfather.

Hot Shot nodded in agreement. "I got to admit, you are like a little sister, and I never had one." He smiled, rubbing Maria's head.

Feeling for Hot Shot, Maria placed a hand on his chest plate. "I admit that I was bored being an only youngling. I never knew what it was like having a brother or a sister. Would you like to be my big brother?" Maria asked, stunning everyone. Hot Shot was bewildered for a second, but chuckled softly. " Aww, sure thing, little sis." He smiled, hugging the youngling in appreciation.

"Would you like another brother?" Sideswipe interrupted, walking into the room. He obviously heard the conversation and could help but listen.

"Of course. You can be my little brother. 'The more the merrier', as the humans say." Maria giggled, causing Sideswipe to walk over, lift Maria up, and hug her tight. " Thank you, sis. Hey, does that Optimus can be the father?" Sideswipe asked.

Maria smile quickly disappeared and was silent. This caught everyone's attention, and Rad looked up. "What's wrong?"

Looking down at Rad, Maria thought about Sideswipe's question. "I am not so sure about Optimus Prime. I do say 'hello', but he never seems to talk to me, and when he does it's mostly with the rules around here. It's like he doesn't want anything to do with me."

"I don't think he is avoiding you on purpose. Maybe he is just shy around girls. Just give him some time. Someday he might talk to you about stuff you two might have in common." Rad reassured.

"I hope so. I really like to know him." Maria said, almost reassured.

What the six occupants of the rec room didn't know was that outside of the room, listening intently, was Optimus Prime. He was also listening very close to Maria's opinion, about him being a father figure for her. A sad thought came flooding into his prospector. "I also want to know more about you , little one, but I don't want to go through the pain again. The pain of a father who had yet to hold something more precious than the spark of Primus, and the pain of the loss of some one so dear to you." He whispered to himself. He then left, trying to forget what went on in there, but the words Maria said kept ringing through him.

"I really like to know him."

(What is wrong with Optimus? Why is he avoiding Maria? That will have to wait. Until then, keep commenting on the story and wait for more.)