Jamie doesn't care about her birthday; to her, it's just another day. The Autobots plan a little celebration but end up talking about something that Jamie thinks about and why she doesn't want to celebrate her birthday.

Jamie POV
It's April tenth, my birthday, but I don't care. It's just another day, though the Autobots like to celebrate. I'd rather not, but they do very little to celebrate. Though this is the first year, I'm back at N.E.S.T. on my birthday since it relaunched. Some bots, like Sideswipe, probably want to throw a party. Crosshairs and Drift like to celebrate a little, and it's fine though I'd rather act like it's just another day.
Now I've been back at N.E.S.T., but I returned to my dimension last night cause I'm going out in the afternoon with my mom. She knows Crosshairs and Drift are coming with us.

As usual, Drift moved me on top of him.
"Good morning, Tanjōbi omedetō (happy birthday)," he says before kissing my forehead, "I told the bots at N.E.S.T. no big birthday party, but I think a little one is a good idea."
Drift would tell them what he thinks a little party should entail; I trust it won't be a lot.
We are interrupted by my cat, Ace, meowing he's hungry.
"Told you we should have slept at your base," Drift jokes.
"He'd still be meowing at us when we walk into the house," I tell him before getting off him, "at least Okada is quiet, though he's hungry."
My bearded dragon waits patiently as Ace continues to meow. I get Ace and Okada's food bowls and go upstairs.

Once the pets are fed, Drift and I get ready. Drift questions my choice of wearing pants when it's 75° F ( 23° C) but doesn't argue I should put shorts on. As always, I wear a T-shirt with the Autobot insignia and my silver Autobot insignia necklace and leather ankle boots, which, of course, Drift questions. He has a simple look; a black tee, shorts, and shoes.

"What took so long?" Crosshairs jokes when I open the door, knowing he just earned himself an elbow in the gut.

We go upstairs and leave ten minutes later. Crosshairs and Drift driving their alt modes while I'm with my mom in another car. I know it's odd, but we deal with it.

It's a good afternoon out, even though I couldn't get any frogs. This pet store has been out of animals, possibly for two weeks, or people going crazy buying them. The plan is to go back home for a while before going back to N.E.S.T.

I don't know why my mind thought I'd see my dogs Buddy and Onyx when I walk into the house. What kind of joke is my mind playing on me? This is a way to ruin the rest of the day. I don't want to kill Crosshairs and Drift's happy mood. I try to ignore my broken heart by working on a story until my mom is ready to play a card game. We do this every weekend. Sometimes Crosshairs and Drift join, and other times they sit on the couch. I don't know what they do on their phones. They didn't want to join us tonight. They went to my room.

Drift POV
I know you well, Jamie; something is wrong. I hate you leave Crosshairs, and I no choice but to look at your social media profiles for clues.

"Damn, that's the problem," Crosshairs comments.
"This is strange; why would she be thinking the dogs would be waiting for her? Buddy has been gone for sixteen months, and Onyx four years."
Has she been missing the dogs lately, and I've failed to notice?
"You know she wants another dog, but the pain of losing Buddy is still there."
"Why remember the dogs today of all days?"
"Hopefully, seeing the others will be a good distraction."

Optimus Prime POV
The others want to throw a birthday party for Jamie, but I told them no. I don't think Jamie will be mad that we got three large cakes so everyone can get a slice, but only one is decorated. I told the others no presents. I doubt Jamie would be mad, but I am keeping this simple.

I wait in the hanger for Crosshairs, Drift, and Jamie to return. They return twenty minutes later; its obvious something is bothering them. I'll ask Crosshairs and Drift later.

Jamie is happy with the gathering, as everyone wants to know what's been going on in her dimension. It's a challenge because I don't want them to make her talk about the scrap that's been going on there.

Sideswipe POV
By now, everyone has learned the signs something is bothering Jamie, and she refuses to say anything. This time it's obvious something is bothering Crosshairs and Drift as well. Prowl is a fragging idiot and tried to get Jamie to talk about what's bothing her. It's late enough; I can easily distract her.
"Hey, isn't there a new episode tonight?" I ask her. She knows what shows I'm talking about.
It's almost eight o'clock. A few other Autobots want to watch T.V. with us. Glad Jamie doesn't question why Crosshairs and Drift aren't coming with us.

Optimus Prime POV
Prowl and Ratchet stay behind to hear what Crosshairs and Drift have to say. Jolt also stays behind, though Ratchet could tell him what we've talked about.
"It's unusual, but Jamie was thinking Buddy and Onyx would be waiting for her when she walked into the house when we got home," Crosshairs explains.
"She's never done that before, but It's still concerning," Ratchet adds.
"There's not much we can do," I sigh.
"So, why must we act like today isn't her birthday?" Prowl asks.
It's strange Drift walks away, and Crosshairs knows why.
"Are they fighting?" Ratchet asks.
"That actually would be better, at least they'd make up; likely by bedtime," Crosshairs sighs, "but no, Jamie hated her birthday because to get it's just a reminder of how much of a failure she is. You guys know what her younger brother has done."
"But he didn't figure out how to travel across dimensions at eight years old, is fighting with an advanced alien race, has powers," Jolt comments.
"The issue is she separated her friends from other dimensions and hers for so long, and with the shit she dealt with for years, she felt alone. So while she's been able to spend s lot more time with other friends and us once she turned eighteen, but it was too late. I hate how she's closer to Crosshairs and Drift but still feels alone," Ratchet explains.
I failed Jamie, and now this is what we deal with.
"And losing pets is having a serious effect on her," Prowl realizes.
We can keep talking about Jamie for hours, but it always ends in not knowing what to do to help her.

We go to the lounge room to watch T.V. with him, discovering several Autobots have joined her and Sideswipe.
While we'd be doing this even if we had a birthday party, I hate the reason Jamie doesn't want to celebrate her birthday. Maybe I am thinking about this too much, but I can't ignore this. I've known Jamie long enough that I feel like a father who's failed his child, and I can't even fix the issues.

I stay for an hour before needing to go work on some things. Jamie lets me hug her.
"Happy birthday; you know how much we love you."
With that, I leave, hoping to have made her happy.