"Didn't you say you were only going for the selfless things we needed to go out with the kids?" Bulkhead asked, looking at the many bags that Raf, for example, could barely hold.
"Those kids don't know when enough is enough, they almost bought out the whole store," Fowler said, holding his head and looking like a father who paid for everything out of his own pocket.
"But William, it's Christmas and the kids want to show the Autobots all the beauties of this holiday," June said, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"And what do you have in those bags?" Smokescreen asked curiously, looking from the kids to Fowler and June and back to the kids. And yet he wasn't the only one, as Bumblebee was also looking at it curiously and even his curiosity drove the grumpy doctor out of his lab.
"Everything. Clothes so you can go with us to Jasper Nevada and see how beautiful it is during Christmas, then some decorations to make the base more than gray and then some small things" said Miko excitedly.
"And what did Fowler bring?" asked Bumblebee and pointed to a tall tree that was taller than Fowler and was leaning against the wall.
"That's a Christmas tree, everyone has it in their homes during Christmas and there's a gold star on top of it" said Raf with a big smile, since out of the three children he was probably the happiest that it was Christmas and that they could spend it with the Autobots.
"And what do we need a Christmas tree for?" asked Ratchet and looked at it as if he was satisfied with how the base looked, gray, empty and sad.
"The kids want to show us Christmas in the best light, old friend, so let them show us," said Optimus, who with Arcee had quietly walked up to the others a few seconds ago and saw how the hangar suddenly filled with bags.
Ratchet wanted to say something, but realized that no one would take his side and that he was going up against 6 Autobots and 5 humans. "Great," said Miko as she caught their attention and began to hand each of them a bag with their clothes.
Everyone got winter jackets in their colors, winter boots, gloves, hats and scarves. While the Autobots were looking through and choosing, Miko, Jack and Raf created a small list of what they would do. And since it was Monday, December 23rd, they had lots of ideas of what they would do and a week full of fun was ahead of them, even if they had little time.
Miko finished writing the list, put elf ears on Jack, Raf and herself and turned to the gang. "So, with my elf helpers, we created a list of activities for the next few days," Miko said to get the attention of the boys on her sides who were smiling, especially Jack, whose gaze stayed on his friend a little longer.
Arcee looked at Jack and smiled. The boy was head over heels in love with her. And then she looked at Miko. "And what is the activity for today?" she asked and Miko looked at her with a smile.
"The first activity so that Christmas can begin" Miko fell silent for a moment and made a dramatic silence. "To decorate this base and make it a place that is ready to welcome Christmas" said Miko.
"Then let's get started" said Bumblebee all excited as he ran to Raf.
Everyone started to do as Miko instructed and started decorating the base. Bumblebee, Raf and Smokescreen decorated the tree. Optimus, Arcee, Wheeljack and Bulkhead were in charge of the lights that they pulled along the railings. Jack, June, Fowler and Ratchet who unwillingly joined in helping started to arrange some tables and put other decorations such as mistletoe. Miko looked at it with a smile and borrowed Raf's laptop, connected it to the speakers and played Christmas songs with which everyone went faster and easier.
Everyone helped each other, joked and had fun, although some like Optimus and Arcee helped each other a little differently, but they were not alone, since Fowler and June also showed this behavior.
The decoration was over and everyone was standing in the middle of the hangar again and in front of them was a tree, but something was missing.
"The gold star is missing" said Miko as she held it in her hand and nudged Optimus with her elbow. Optimus looked at her and saw her handing him the star. He looked at it and took it, but something occurred to him. It was Christmas time, when people were supposed to be surprised and in happiness and love.
Before taking a step forward, he also took Arcee's hand and only then did he take a step forward and went to the tree. He came to the tree and put a gold star on the top of the tree and turned to the rest, but he saw how the others were smiling, too noticeable. And then he noticed how Miko was smiling with the biggest smile and pointing above his head. He raised his head and saw a plant. "What is that?" Optimus asked and Arcee looked at it too.
"It's mistletoe" said June and they still didn't look like they knew what she was talking about. "And when two people meet under the mistletoe or are together under it, they are supposed to kiss" June explained.
Optimus looked at Arcee and saw how her cheeks caught a soft lipstick color. He smiled as he pulled her closer, gently placing his hand on her cheek and kissing her softly. Most were surprised, some more, some less and some not at all.
When they pulled away they smiled into each other's eyes and then looked at the others. Optimus cleared his throat. "What do we have next?" he asked.
Miko immediately reacted by grabbing her friend's hand. "So..." she paused and then smiled "the next activity is in Jasper Nevada and more specifically on skates" Miko said with a smile.
"I'm not getting involved in that" Ratchet said and left before he gave anyone a chance to talk him out of it. But some of them were expecting it.
They started getting dressed and when they were done, the underground bridge turned on and transported the group to Jasper Nevada. They walked in a slightly spread out group when they came to a public skating rink. "This will be interesting" Bulkhead said as he sat on a bench and put on his skates.
"I hope you're not scared of the ice," Wheeljack said as he hit him in the shoulder and stood up on his skate.
"Just don't overdo it and don't be too harsh, I don't want to treat you here," said June, who walked up to them with a warm tea in her hand and Fowler walked next to her also with tea in his hand and his arm around her waist.
Jack looked at that and frowned. Fowler and his mother? No, he didn't want to think about it or imagine it. Jack decided to take some action. He walked over to Miko and held out his hand to her. "Will you come with me?" Jack asked and Miko turned to him and looked at his hand.
He wasn't the only one head over heels in love, it's just that when he talked so much about Sierra she didn't think he would want her, but after a few conversations with Arcee. She started to believe a little that there might be a chance. She smiled and took his hand. They went out onto the ice and started skating.
Arcee noticed and smiled. "What are you smiling about, love?" she heard the question and felt strong arms wrap around her waist.
"Look how cute they are" Arcee said and felt happy for both of them. They were like two people, she and Optimus. They loved each other but thought they didn't love each other until they said it.
"Yes they do" Optimus said, but then he grabbed her and led her onto the ice.
"You Autobots can skate?" Fowler asked when he saw Prime and Arcee go out onto the ice and they looked like skating was in their blood.
"As we've told you a million times before the war, we lived almost like humans and we're similar in many ways" Wheeljack said and also went out onto the ice with Bulkhead.
June smiled and watched as everyone was on the ice. Bumblebee was Raf, and the little boy was helping the explorer skate, and Smokescreen was racing Wheeljak.
Everything was about as it should be.