(Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers; just Anwen and Liam and any other OC's I've blended/pureed into this story :D)
(Authors Note: Bonjour fellow writers, dearest readers, fangirls, fanboys, and fellow TF enthusiasts of every shape, size, color, nationality, gender and genera! Woo, I'm on a roll with these chapters! I can't guarantee that I'll be this consistent for future reference, but know that I have absolutely no intentions of stopping this train for my name isn't Casey Jones (Look him up if you don't get the reference :)). Anyways, this chapter is just gonna be full of brotherly/sisterly love with a splash of our favorite twins mixed in for added enjoyment. Also, as an off topic side note, my sister still hasn't delivered her baby and it looks like she'll be induced as scheduled at the end of the month. So, long story short, that's been a major contributor to all of these new chapters: I write to keep my mind calm and collected in times of stress and anxiety...That, and I knit or I play video games in my spare time. Whatever helps clear my mind and de-stress. That aside, I hope you enjoy this new chapter and don't be shy about leaving a review for I love your positive feedback and draw inspiration from your kind words. Thank you all for your continued love and support of this story! Until I post again, stay safe, stay sane, stay hydrated, and stay awesome!)
"English/French/Spanish"
'Mental thoughts'
"Flashbacks"
'Sarcasm' (or emphasis)
{Cybertronian}
::Sparkbonds::
:Speaker talk:
::Comm. Link::
*:Phone calls:*
Chapter 27
Liam stepped out of the bathroom/bedroom to find his sister still sitting at the counter and sipping on some tea while conversing with the twins. Upon seeing her brother, Anwen gave him a smile, "Oh, don't we look more distinguished."
He emitted a slight chuckle and stroked his (now) well-trimmed beard, "Well, I don't know about that but at least I no longer resemble a caveman. Besides, it's not exactly easy to trim one's facial hair with one hand."
"I could have helped you, you know," she said matter-of-factly before taking another sip of her tea.
"Oui, but I was capable of handling it myself."
"Donc je vois (So I see)," a small smile lined her face as she reached up and lightly touched his hairy cheek, "You know, it's so strange to see you with a beard, or with any sort of facial hair in general."
"Est-ce (Is it)?"
"Mhmm. But it's not necessarily a bad thing: It's just different."
"Well, maybe that's what I was going for," he smirked before gesturing to her oversized blue flannel, "Je vois que tu portes toujours la chemise de papa (I see you're still wearing Dad's shirt)."
She fondly smiled at the plaid garment, "Oui. I still have his other flannels in my closet, but this one was always my favorite. I remember you used to wear his shirts when you were in high school, but then when you joined the Army, you gave them all to me and told me to keep them safe. By the way, did you want the red one back? I understand that one was your favorite."
"C'était (It was). I wouldn't mind having it again, but only if you're sure that it's okay."
"Bien sûr (Of course). You have as much right to them as I do. Besides, you always looked good in red."
"Vrai (True)." He then glanced over at the twins and asked, "So, how long have you two been in Diego Garcia?"
"Nearly four months," Sideswipe answered with a casual smile as he poured himself and his brother a mug of whiskey (since there were no glasses). "Sunny and I came to Earth a few days prior to us arriving on base, so we haven't really seen much in terms of scenery other than what we've glanced at through the World Wide Web." He then poured a mug of whiskey for Liam, to which he graciously accepted:
"Merci, Sideswipe."
"Sure thing."
"You know, if you guys ever get some vacation time, you should take a drive across North America: I bet you'd enjoy the some of the landscapes."
"Perhaps," Sunstreaker shrugged as he too accepted his mug from Sideswipe. "Although, we are curious to see Quebec since Anwen spoke so highly of it when we asked her where she grew up."
At that, he fondly smiled, "Ah oui, it's beautiful up there. Of course, I haven't been back there in years." He looked over at his sister and noticed that she appeared to be staring into oblivion, "Lottie? Tu vas bien (You okay)?"
"Hm? Oh oui, I'm fine," she replied with a smile. "I was just thinking of how nice it'd be to go up there again."
"Well, your birthday is coming up next month. Maybe we can see about traveling there for a week or two."
"Yea," Sideswipe agreed. "Optimus and Lennox would definitely give you the time off. Plus, isn't there another human holiday around that time or something?"
She gave him a slight nod, "The Americans celebrate their Thanksgiving around that time, while us Canadians celebrate ours on the second Monday of October...which obviously has passed."
"Had we known, Sunny and I would have gladly celebrated it with you."
"C'est bon (It's fine)," she waved it off. "I was working that day anyway because it was Monday. Truthfully, I didn't feel like celebrating it this year."
"Well, you're not getting out of celebrating your 20th birthday," Liam replied with a smirk as he gently tussled her curly red hair.
XXXXX
-1800-
Anwen now had her foot propped up on the adjacent stool with the cold compress on top of it while Sunstreaker, Sideswipe and Liam worked together to make dinner. Not wanting to discourage her from helping out, she was tasked with grating the parmesan cheese, which was fine so long as she was doing something. In truth, she despised being immobile or incapacitated because she hated the feeling of helplessness. For years she had been independent and self-reliant, but whenever she sustained a significant injury, she had to rely on help from others which wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but it was an inconvenience for her. She often felt guilty or that she was a burden even though she was always assured that she wasn't.
At the moment, she wasn't harboring such negative thoughts, but rather, she was enjoying herself: Liam was here, safe and sound, and her Autobot beau's were also within her presence. What more could she ask for? A smile graced her freckled face as she fondly continued to listen to one of Liam's stories:
"...So then she walks up and says, "Lookie what I found!" To which we all turned around to see her holding a large garter snake. Oh mon Dieu (_ my God), I've never heard Maman scream so loud," he fondly chuckled, to which both Sunstreaker and Sideswipe laughed while Anwen pursed her lips together and narrowed her eyes in mock annoyance:
"To be fair, it was a nonvenomous snake and I was three years old at the time."
"Oui, but you still shouldn't have picked it up. It could have bitten you."
"I know, I know," she casually waved it off. "But can you honestly blame me for being curious?"
"No. But there's a difference between curiosity and carelessness."
"Donc j'ai entendu (So I've heard)."
He gave her a smile and asked, "So, funny stories aside, how've you been adjusting to Diego Garcia? Is it about what you'd expect?"
She shrugged, "Mm, ici et là (here and there)...at least scenery and location-wise. As for adjustments, I think I've been adapting fairly well with all things considered. I mean, I went from living in a van to having my own apartment: that alone is kind of a big deal. Not that van life was terrible: it wasn't. But it did have a few drawbacks...Like the fact that I was significantly limited on living space and couldn't have guests over unless they were comfortable sitting in the front seat or outside."
"Not to mention that you didn't have a bathroom or a place to do laundry," he added. "How did you even manage that?"
"I mainly used the college facilities and my dorm friends always let me do my laundry when the machines were available. Keep in mind that I chose that lifestyle as a means to escape the foster system without resorting to sleeping on the streets. And when I attended college, I didn't want to worry about paying off a student loan for the next ten or twenty years."
"And I don't blame you. The system is broken."
"Parle-moi de ça (Tell me about it)," she said with a slight roll of her eyes and a shake of her head.
"So Ani, what'd you think of this place when you first moved in," Sideswipe asked as he drained the pasta noodles while Sunstreaker began sauteing the mushrooms in a large skillet.
She fondly glanced around the small kitchen and emitted a sigh, "Honestly, I was shocked. I mean, I read in the job description that I would be provided with living accommodations, but I never expected to have my own place. I assumed it'd be similar to a dorm room or a sorority house, but no, it was an actual apartment that was already furnished with kitchen and laundry appliances, a bed, dresser and living room furnishings. To say that I was a bit overwhelmed was a bit of an understatement. Upon entering my new abode, I literally ran around like a little kid and explored everything in sight."
At the thought of her running around the apartment like a sparkling, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe couldn't help but chuckle while Liam fondly shook his head and smiled, "Now that just sounds cute."
She wanted to retort by saying something like "I'm not cute" but Anwen merely rolled her eyes and shook her head.
XXXXX
-Later-
After dinner was finished and the dishes were done, the group moved into the living room and challenged each other to a game of Castle Crashers. Sunstreaker opted to play as the Orange Knight while Sideswipe chose to play as the Red Knight, and Liam picked the Blue Knight while Anwen gladly chose the Green Knight. The apartment was soon filled with laughter as they battled against barbarians and fought each other for the affections of the first princess, with Sunstreaker being the victor. Although, it was a close call between him and Liam for a while. Both Sideswipe and Anwen were sure the Major would win, but no, he was defeated in the end. All in all, it was a good match.
Unfortunately, the hour was growing late and both Autobots needed to return to the base before curfew. With a sigh, they said their temporary goodbyes to the Bleu siblings before phasing out their holoforms and driving off.
A slight tugging in her chest caused Anwen to sadly frown: she was already missing the twins' presence and longed to see them again. Of course she'd see them again tomorrow and for now, that would have to suffice.
XXXXX
The next morning, Anwen and Liam awoke to a chiming sound and realized that it was her phones 'wake-up' alarm. "Mmph, Lottie...quelle heure est-il (what time is it)?"
*yawn* "It's 0520…," she hazily replied as she hit the snooze option on her phone.
He groaned and sat up in the bed while being mindful of his broken arm, "Do you wanna use the restroom first?"
"...No...vas-y (go ahead)…*yawn*...I don't have to pee yet," she sleepily replied as she rolled onto her right side while being careful not to agitate her injury. Hugging Morris (her stuffed moose) to her chest, she instantly fell back to sleep while he softly chuckled at the sight of her content form. Pushing himself off the bed, Liam walked over to the restroom and closed the door behind him.
Minutes later, he emerged and smirked when her phone alarm went off again, causing her to groan in annoyance. "Ughhh...Alright, I'm up...I'm up…," she carefully swung her legs out of the bed and grabbed her crutches that had been propped against the nightstand. With a disheveled frown, she headed into the bathroom and closed the door behind her while Liam stepped into the kitchen for some water.
As he casually poured himself a mug and drank the cool liquid, he gazed out of the kitchen window and fondly smiled as the sun slowly started to rise over the island. Truly, Diego Garcia was a beautiful place; however, it could never hold a candle to Canada and his shining Quebec. No. That would always be his home. No matter how far away he was, his heart would always yearn to return to the land of his and Anwen's birth. As much as he had come to appreciate the other countries/continents he lived in/visited, he could never replace the love he held for his home country. To do so would be a sacrilegious act in his mind.
After several minutes of enjoying the sunrise, Liam heard the distinct *ka-click, ka-click, ka-click* sound of Anwen's crutches, to which he looked over to see her now wearing a pair of dark denim short shorts, her Goonies tank top, and her trademark blue flannel. However, he noticed she had a familiar red colored, plaid flannel underneath her arm, to which she presented it to him:
"Here you go. I figured we both could wear Papa's shirts today. Plus, this one is rightfully yours, so I want you to take it back."
At that, he smiled and hugged her to the best of his (current) abilities, "Merci, Lottie."
"De rien (You're welcome), Liam."
XXXXX
-0610-
Upon arriving at the base (via shuttle bus), Anwen and Liam headed over to the chow hall for some breakfast, to which upon seeing the handsome young man in the company of the young ginger, Mama Rosita warmly smiled and asked, "Azul, is this the hombre (man) who has been coveting your affections lately? El es muy guapo (He's so handsome)!"
At that, both siblings looked at one another and gagged:
"Eww, he's/she's my sister/brother," both Anwen and Liam replied at the same time, to which the Spanish woman's eyes widened almost comically:
"Oh Dios mío, lo siento mucho (_ my goodness, I am so sorry)."
At her honest mistake, the Bleu siblings shook their heads and laughed before Anwen gave her a warm smile, "It's fine, Mama Rosita. You haven't met Liam yet and didn't know we were related. But, with that being said, allow me to introduce you to my big brother, Major Liam Martin Bleu," she gestured to the man beside her.
"It's an honor to finally meet you Mayor Azul (Major Bleu)," she warmly stated before respectfully saluting him. "Your hermana (sister) always speaks so highly of you." She then noticed their injuries and gasped, "Oh, que les paso a ustedes dos (_, what happened to you two)?"
"It's a long story," Anwen replied with a small smile, to which Mama Rosita emitted a sigh:
"Well regardless, I wish you both a rápida recuperación (quick recovery)."
"Merci, Mama Rosita," she politely bowed her head.
"Por supuesto (Of course). Now, how about I dish you two some desayuno (breakfast)?"
"Merci," both siblings replied as she loaded their plates with hot scrambled eggs, chorizo, and seasoned hash browns with a healthy drizzle of hot queso sauce on top.
Seeing as how Anwen couldn't use her crutches and carry her tray at the same time, Liam set his tray down on a nearby table before retrieving hers and setting it across from his. Once she was seated, he grabbed her a glass of cranberry juice and handed it to her before fetching his own glass.
Afterwards, the two of them sat across from one another and began to eat their breakfast when he smiled at her and casually asked, "SoOoo, who's this 'man' that Rosita mentioned?"
(Another Authors Note: Hello again! I hope you all found this chapter to be heartfelt and enjoyable because I certainly enjoyed writing it for all of you. With this chapter, I wanted to mainly focus on Anwen and Liam's relationship because as siblings, it's important that they have some time to rekindle their family bond since they hadn't seen each other in months. While this story is meant to mainly focus on Anwen, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, you must remember that Liam is also an important character and plays a significant role in Anwen's life. But don't worry, there will be plenty of smut from our lovable 'terror twins' soon enough ;) Also, there will be some future dialogue between Liam and Maggie, so I'll be sure to add that whenever the opportunity pops up :) Also, yes, Liam slept in Anwen's bed with her, but he slept atop the covers and had a blanket of his own to cover up with since it's 'her' bed and he didn't want to impose. Personally, I see him as one of those guys who doesn't like a lot of coverage when he sleeps because he sometimes gets overheated. Also, he offered to sleep on the couch, but she insisted that he slept next to her as the (queen-sized) bed was much more comfortable and would provide better support for his broken appendage. Plus, it makes sense that Anwen would want him close by because after spending nearly five months in the dark not knowing his whereabouts, she needed to assure herself that he was really there and not still MIA. Also, if you're wondering: yes, Anwen knows Spanish because she took classes in high school and had several friends/past coworkers who also taught her; however, she can't quite speak it as eloquently as other people can. And yes, Liam understands it too :) Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and as I mentioned, feel free to comment for I love your inspiring words and appreciate your support. Thank you all again! Stay awesome!)