The group in the room isn't surprised to hear Optimus and William Lennox want to make a training exercise out of going to a farm. Only after the challenge he has in mind is complete can everyone go apple and pumpkin picking. Everyone is intrigued by what Optimus has planned and how there's a corn maze big enough with several entrances and exits. Everyone will have an assigned entrance to start at and exit to find. Everyone looks at the maze map, seeing how challenging it is. Optimus adds they'll be playing freeze tag, and the teams will not enter the maze together. Everyone must go a different way than their teammates. Teams are not to plan before they arrive at the farm and must wait for everyone on their team to get out of the maze to do anything else around the farm.
Everyone laughs at Optimus, saying Jamie can't fly to figure out her way out. The teams are decided before everyone is dismissed. They found out the preschoolers would be part of the fun but would be with an adult. Everyone likes the fun hunting game, even if they're not using water or paintball guns. Everyone but Drift.
"What's wrong?" Crosshairs asks once everyone has left.
"I hate not liking Jamie being alone in the maze."
"I think we're exempt from the rule," Crosshairs assures his friend, "go ask Prime."
I can't believe we're this worried about her. Crosshairs thinks, watching Drift leave the room. Jamie won't mind being with us, but this shouldn't be a concern.
Optimus worries hearing how worried Drift is about letting Jamie be alone in the maze. He assures Drift that the two or three are exempt from the rule.
"He's relapsing as well," Ratchet comments once Drift is out of the room, "I hate saying his anxiety is beyond normal, but when he's terrified to leave his femme alone. He's right; with Jamie's mental health, she can't be left alone. I hate saying that and that she's at that point."
"I worry about the three of them. I shouldn't be saying I'm pleased with Crosshairs' effort to keep Lightning from seeing his and Drift's struggle, and I think he doesn't tell her everything about Jamie's mental struggle, but the less she knows, the better. I know He already worried, but not like his brother or Drift."
"Glad they don't deal with nightmares every night, but it's not great when they suddenly happen."
The two drop the conversation, knowing they can't come up with a solution.
"Seriously, the other side of the maze?" Sideswipe complains.
"This is supposed to be a challenge," Sunstreaker argues, "you three go first."
Crosshairs, Drift, and Jamie go into the maze.
I can't believe this. Sideswipe comments through the bond. They shouldn't be worried that they don't dare let her go into the maze alone.
I know. We all hate there's nothing we can do but watch Jamie struggle.
The twins and Lily go into the maze as instructed.
"How is this a training exercise?" Crosshairs asks.
"I think it's more for fun," Drift replies.
Suddenly, Crosshairs is hit from behind.
"Audrey," Jasmine laughs.
"Got ya," Crosshairs picks up Audrey, "what are you doing?"
"Tag," she replies, laughing, "you can't move."
"She understands freeze tag," Jasmine explains while taking Audrey from Crosshairs, "see you there later."
"Taken down by a four-year-old," Crosshairs sulks.
He smiles with Drift, hearing Jamie laugh. The three wait a minute as per the rules before continuing on.
Sunstreaker makes it out of the maze first. He can't believe it took two hours to find his way out. Realizing why Optimus wanted everyone at the farm right when they opened. It's now one in the afternoon. He hopes his team finds the exit soon. Laughing at how he wants to do the other things humans are doing at this farm and other Earth things he once found annoying. How he couldn't wait to go home. To Sunstreaker's knowledge, Cybertron is still being rebuilt, but Cybertronians can choose to go home. Now, he doesn't want to return to Cybertron. He'd rather call Earth home — most of the time.
Are you going to help me find the exit? Sideswipe asks through the bond.
No, I don't know where you are in the maze to help, and even if I did, it's cheating. Sunstreaker argues.
Sunstreaker waits twenty minutes until Lily and Sideswipe walk out of the maze.
"We crossed paths, and there's no rule saying we must separate if we find someone else on our team," Sideswipe defends.
The three don't have to wait long for the others.
"Next time, we're playing a game when I'm tagging everyone else," Jamie complains.
"I didn't think she'd find this boring," Sideswipe comments.
"I think this maze is too big for a challenge like Optimus was hoping for," Crosshairs comments, "only Audrey and Jazmine found us."
"I think it was more for fun," Drift argues.
The group decides to get food.
Sunstreaker has to force Sideswipe past the desert stalls on the way to get lunch. Jamie and Lily Leigh, watching Sunstreaker shove Sideswipe to make him keep moving.
"You're annoying sometimes," Sunstreaker comments, "and an embarrassment."
The friends see everyone else is out of the maze and waiting in line to get food as they head to the picnic tables.
Everyone got a pulled pork sandwich and shared the cheesy nachos and cheese fries. They all think no one will want dinner since it's two in the afternoon. Add that they all still want to get pie.
Lightning joins the full table while the others sit at tables around them. Their friends talk about their time in the maze. Laughing at Crosshairs, saying Audrey tagged him. The little girl didn't get anyone else. Everyone else was tagged at least once by another Autobot. While talking, everyone is paying attention to Jamie, hoping she'll eat and not a tiny amount of food. Lily hates knowing Jamie is from a different dimension and deals with shit.
Jamie wants to find the biggest pumpkin, not pleased she's likely not going to find any large ones.
"You ok?" Crosshairs asks
"It's harder to deal with knowing this happiness is temporary."
Crosshairs hugs Drift, hating how this is now a normal part of the day to worry about Jamie, hoping it's temporary. Knowing that Jamie's better periods still come with struggles, but it's nothing compared to the past three months.
The two watch Jamie and Lily find a pumpkin.
"Can you believe Sunstreaker is even looking for one?" Crosshairs whispers, smiling.
Drift smiles, "come on, we better find ours before we're stuck with the tiniest ones."
Everyone finds a good-sized pumpkin, clearing out a lot of the large. Jamie found an extra large pumpkin that many people couldn't believe she could carry with how short she is. Everyone goes to the parking lot to allow the Autobots to put the pumpkins in their subspaces. They return to the farm to enjoy more fun and desserts before everyone returns home. Now, a day of pumpkin carving needs to be planned.
