Hello! I'm so thankful for how patient you all are with me. I meant to have this chapter out a long time ago, but I've been in and out of the hospital the past few weeks and I've been sleeping and/or catching up with school when I was at home. So sorry it took so long, but i'm finally posting. Please go vote in the poll because I really value your opinions. If I don't really get much feedback about that, then I'll just do whatever I feel best. Shout out to Pixiecropse, Codemaster belloc, Courtneyxx1998, MidnightRose00, and Nike735 for favoriting/following my story! REGARDING THE POLL: I'm closing it May 1st, 2019, so you have until the end of April to give me your opinions. Otherwise I shall do whatever feels best. Onwards!
Link to the song: /watch?v=T3i_nFj3zHY
/watch?v=7Hfz6A9ExPU
/watch?v=VsjzB7GRZeA
Legend: Speaking in thoughts to wolves or Edward
Thinking/Dreams
Emphasis on a thought/word
**** swear words
"Comm"
Text Message
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Transformers or Twilight, all I own is Katherine, students that were hurt/died in the attack, and the plot.
Merry Christmas!
I woke up warmer than I was used to when I was the only one in the bed. My brow furrowed as I tried to figure out what was going on without opening my eyes. My hand felt along whatever I was resting on and I became more puzzled at the feeling of a body beside me. A small chuckle rumbled beneath my hand and I shot up as my eyes flew open. A smile tried to split my face in half as I dropped onto my dad in a hug, "Oof! Merry Christmas, Katherine. Told you I'd see you at Christmas."
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as his large hand smoothed down my bed head, "Yeah. Yeah, you did. Merry Christmas, daddy."
He hugged me before releasing me to go to the bathroom. I got an outfit ready for the day and took over the bathroom once he was done. I showered and brushed my teeth before pulling on royal blue leggings covered with images of corgis in Santa hats with presents and Christmas lights. I then pulled on my blue sweater from the day before and pulled half my hair up in a braid. Looking at my make-up selection, I deliberated before deciding to go natural today.
Exiting the bathroom, Epps quickly took it over and I pulled on navy fuzzy socks covered with Christmas lights. My dad was dressed in relaxed jeans with a black shirt with one of his old flannel shirts over it. A grin grew on my face because it was just like Christmas with him and my mom before. My smile fell as I realized that it wasn't going to be like old Christmases. My mom wasn't here anymore and it would just be my dad and I with the Bots, Bella, Sam, and the Cullens.
A worried voice shook me out of my thoughts, "Kat? What's wrong?"
I bit my lip as I looked up at my dad and fully took in his arm in the sling, the way he was slightly cradling the ribs on his left, the cuts and bruises lining his face and arms. Do I tell him? I don't want to add more. He's already suffered so much. Steeling my courage, I responded honestly, "I just….kinda forgot mom wouldn't be here with us this year. Does that make me a bad daughter?"
He pulled me in tight against him despite the pain I'm sure it put him through. He kissed the top of my head, soothing my fears, "No, angel. She would want you to keep moving forward and living your life. You'll never forget her, but you can't always live worrying what she would think. Your mother loved you more than anything, I promise. I also know that she's still watching over you, cheering you on. How about we go see her later today? Just the two of us?"
The smile he gave me was shaky and I'm sure the one I returned was just as shaky. I couldn't believe I had forgotten her. I had forgotten my own mother, how does someone do that? I was still pondering that as we headed to the rec room since we'd be hanging with the Bots, the Cullens, and Bella. Sam was coming with his parents later cause Judy demanded part of the day to be just them. Her and Ron still weren't completely comfortable being around the Bots for super long. But I was curious to see their reactions to the Cullens.
A chorus of voices yelled variations of "Merry Christmas" to my dad and I as we entered the rec room. We greeted them back and I went around giving out hugs as my cousin helped me quickly pass out gifts. My dad was seated on the giant coffee table meant for the Bots and I claimed a spot beside me. Ironhide and Chromia were on the loveseat behind us. Pretty sure it was because they were scared to let us out of their sights thanks to the Cons making it obvious that they were after us two.
Everyone tore into their gifts in their own groups and I watched the Cullens and Bella open the friendship bracelets I had made for each of them. They all seemed to like them and I grinned in pride. I didn't have a lot of money, so it was the handmade, thoughtful gift route this year. I had given the Bots coupons to redeem for a wash or for maintenance work. Turning my attention to the small pile of gifts before me, I eagerly tore in, mimicking the way my dad was doing to his own pile.
Carlisle and Esme had given me a gift card to a music store in Seattle, which made me fidget with anticipation at the idea of being able to buy more supplies. Rosalie and Alice had given me a certificate for a shopping spree and makeover all on them, which made me a little nervous since I knew they wouldn't let me spend a small amount of money. I glanced up to see Edward chuckling and meeting my gaze with open amusement. Blushing, I turned back to opening the gift from Emmett and Jasper, which was a promise to teach me all they know about fighting. Hm, I wonder how much more they can teach me that Hide and the others haven't started to.
Edward and Bella had given me a CD of my favorite songs being played on piano. Did you play all these for me?The bronze-haired vampire nodded to me and we smiled at each other before turning back to our own groups. I kept smiling at the thought that I had a new CD to listen to now. Mia and Hide had given me a Barrett M82 with the promise of teaching me to be a better sniper. Optimus and Elita gave me a knitted blanket (that Elita had apparently learned to make in her down time) that was red, blue, black, purple, pink, silver, and yellow to represent all the Bots I first met. I immediately wrapped it around myself before continuing on with my present opening.
Prowl, Bumblebee, and Jazz had grouped up to build me a music player like an iPod, but tons more space on it. Opening Ratchet's card, my jaw dropped in shock, which seemed to amuse him and the Bots. My eyes were wide as I looked up at him, "Y-you think I'm ready? For real?"
He gave a rare grin and nodded, "You're the only human that has learned so much in so little time. I know you're ready, little one. But not until you finish your high school education, understand?"
I grinned and leaped at him, which he caught me easily and lifted me to his face, so that I could hug him, "Thanks, Ratch! I won't let you down!"
His optics rolled goodnaturedly as I was placed back down by my dad and I wrapped myself in the blanket again, which I saw Elita smile at. I began working on the presents from my dad and smiled at each one. He had given me a lot of sheet music as well as some combat books since I had been getting more interested in combat when Mia and Hide demanded I learn more. My parents had me learn some self-defense growing up and now everyone wanted me to know more, especially with the threat from the Oliver family. An envelope was the last thing I grabbed and my hands shook a little when I recognized my name scrawled in my mom's neat handwriting.
My gaze jumped to my dad, who gave me a soft smile, "You don't have to open it now. You can wait however long you need to, angel."
Studying the envelope, I made a move to open it before dropping my hand and tucking the envelope into a bag with some other stuff I had gotten. I wasn't ready to read whatever she had written whether it be blame for not being there or forgiveness for not being there. I couldn't handle either of those options. Eventually, I made my way to the piano and I started by playing Last Christmas by Wham! before moving on to The Dark Knight Rises medley and a compilation of The Lord of the Rings music since my dad loves both of those series.
We hung out with everyone for another hour before my dad and I decided to go visit my mom's grave with Hide and Mia. I was surprised another Bot didn't tag along for protection, but I guess they figure they were close enough in case something happened. Our guardians let us go into the graveyard alone to see my mom and my dad kept his arm firmly around my shoulders. I was worried about hurting him, but he wouldn't let me move an inch from his side.
Once we got closer to the headstone, my dad finally let go of me and gave me a gentle push, "Go talk to her. I'll give you some privacy," I hesitated because I was scared to let him out of my sight, "I'll be right here. You can even stare at me while you talk if you want. Be a creepy guy in the park."
I couldn't help the snort at the mental image before plodding my way to the grave. Silently, I stared at the ground, not knowing where to begin. Sighing, "Hey, mom. Been a while." And just like that, words came pouring out about everything that had happened and how I was feeling. It was easier to talk to someone that wasn't really there and couldn't speak back. I must've been a while, but my dad never once tried to rush me, knowing I needed this more than I'd admit. Tears were streaming down my face and I knew then that I was done, "I miss you, mom, and wish you could be here. Love you."
Stumbling across the ground, my dad gave me a tight hug before gesturing towards Hide, "I'll meet you there in a bit. Tell Hide to turn the heat on a bit."
Nodding, I made my way to our guardians and wasted no time in clambering into Hide's alt. He didn't say anything, but tightened the seatbelt as his version of a hug as we both watched my dad."
THIRD P.O.V.
Will watched his daughter walk away, tears still falling from her eyes and shoulders carrying the weight of the world. He sighed and ruffled his hair as he stared at the marker bearing his wife's name, "Hey, Sarah. I know it's been way too long and you'd probably be screaming at me if you could. It's been...well, rough doesn't even describe it. The Oliver family found Kat in Forks and shot up the school. Guess they thought it would be easy to kill her and keep them out of it. She survived obviously, but that did a lot of damage. We didn't find out until a bit ago that the Oliver family was even involved. I wasn't here for her when they found the guy and he 'fessed up. Hide had to fill me in on that part."
He gave a dark chuckle, "I was capture by the Cons and tortured physically until the Bots saved me. The stuff they did to me...well, it will change me forever. Didn't realize how horrible Kat had it until I got back though. And Optimus and Hide told me everything. They think she has abandonment issues, Sarah. From all of the times I was deployed, when you died, when I was kidnapped. Prime thinks all of that piled up until something snapped inside one day. ****, she hasn't even stopped watching me the whole time we've been here. We were supposed to protect her, I was supposed to keep her safe and happy. Done a great job of screwing that up, I guess."
Sighing again, his brown eyes met his daughter's and he gave her a small smile, "She's so strong though. A lot like you. We have to get going back to base, but we'll come back soon. I love you, Sarah, and I miss you."
He glanced once more at the grave marker before walking towards his daughter and their guardians. Will had no idea how he was going to tell her about the experiments the Cons did on him. But he needed to figure it out fast before she started asking questions.
