(Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers; just Anwen and other OC's I've sprinkled into the story here and there.)

(Authors Note: Bonjour my dearest readers, fellow writers and fangirls (fanboys)! I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the story thus far because I've still got plenty of ideas swirling around in my head. Also, thank you for the continued support and inspiring comments :) I love your positive feedback and good vibes. On a side note, I need to focus on updating my other stories, but I really wanted to put out another chapter for this one. I just couldn't resist :) But that aside, if I don't post another chapter right away, it's not because I don't want to, but rather because I have to focus on my other stories for a little bit. I don't like leaving things unfinished or on a cliffhanger. I try to make time for all of my FF's, but this one has been claiming most of my attention (which I don't mind, but I need to be fair to all of my stories). Anyways, feel free to R&R. Until next time, stay safe and stay awesome!)

"English/French"

'Mental thoughts'

"Flashbacks"

'Sarcasm' (or emphasis)

{Cybertronian}

::Sparkbonds::

:Speaker talk:

::Comm. Link::

Chapter 19

Upon reaching Anwen's apartment, Sunstreaker gave the speckled femme a gentle squeeze, to which she fluttered her eyes open and looked up to see an amused smirk lining the older twin's face, "...Pardon (_ sorry)...I didn't mean to doze off."

"It's fine," he stated before reluctantly setting her down in front of the door, to which she then unlocked it for them to enter.

Once the three of them were inside, Sideswipe asked, "So, Ani, what would you like me to do with these vegetables?"

"Oh, you can just set the basket on the counter for the moment," she replied as she removed her gardening gloves and placed them aside for the time being. Afterwards, she retrieved and adorned her apron: it was retro in style with a light blue base, pink straps and an equally pink frilled trim around the hemlines, and was covered in colorful cupcakes. Sure it was a bit cutesy, but Anwen loved it. Once ready, she then retrieved all the necessary utensils/culinary items and laid them out before showing the twins how to rinse off, dry and chop the vegetables and herbs.

While Sunstreaker and Sideswipe dealt with cutting the produce (while making sure to put the discard pieces into the (now empty) compost jar), Anwen measured out some olive oil and placed it in her Dutch oven to simmer over the stove for a few minutes before adding the chopped eggplant and seasoning it with salt and pepper. As she gently stirred the chopped pieces around, she smiled over at the twins, "I appreciate your assistance in preparing this dish. Merci."

"Aw, it's no problem, Ani. We're more than happy to assist you. Besides, we're learning something new and this is actually kinda relaxing."

"Oh? Chopping zucchini is relaxing," she playfully teased.

"It beats having to sit through another one of Prowl's lectures," Sunstreaker replied with a faint smirk as he watched her transfer the eggplant cubes into a large bowl. She then measured out more olive oil before adding the chopped zucchini into the Dutch oven and placing it atop the stove once more where she seasoned them and gently stirred them around with her wooden spoon. "So, what's the point of cooking the vegetables separately? Wouldn't it just be easier to cook them together?"

Anwen gave him a shy smile as she continued to gently stir the zucchini, "They'll all eventually cook together, but the point is to let them brown instead of steam. Also, this allows them to break down a little so they'll fit better in the Dutch oven."

"I see."

Once the zucchini was transferred into the bowl with the eggplant, Anwen measured out a little more olive oil and added the onion, to which she also seasoned it with salt and pepper and placed it atop the stove to cook. This time, she had Sunstreaker gently stir while she helped Sideswipe chop the rest of the tomatoes, garlic and bell peppers.

"So, Ani, how long does this dish actually cook for?"

"Hmm, about an hour and a half or so, depending on your preference. Personally, I like cooking it for that amount of time because it blends all the flavors together and turns the vegetables into a silky stew. Plus, that's how Maman (Mama) used to make it," she became quiet for a moment before speaking once more, "Whenever I bake or cook something she used to make, my memories of her become more clear and I can actually see her face or hear her voice again. Same thing happens when I do or see something that reminds me of my Papa...like drawing in my sketchbook or playing piano."

"I didn't know you played piano," Sunstreaker stated while continuing to gently stir the onions.

She smiled and gave a small nod, "Oui. Both of my parents played and taught Liam and I how to play. After they died, Ms. Claudia encouraged us to continue our lessons. But after she died and I became a ward of the state, I had limited access to a piano outside of my school. Most of the foster homes I lived in didn't have one, but the last house I was placed in did. However, I wasn't allowed to use it after an incident involving the 'wardens' daughter."

"Dare I ask what happened or who these wardens were," he inquired, to which she answered:

"Eric and Janice Colt were their names, but I referred to them as 'the wardens' because they were very strict and rather cruel towards me. Anyways, it was during one of their monthly social gatherings with their friends in which the incident took place: I was tasked with serving drinks to their guests while their daughter, Jessica, was showing off her 'musical skills'," she momentarily stopped cutting the peppers to air-quote with her fingers.

"Now, the thing about Jessica is that she was a self-proclaimed 'protege' and had dreamed of attending Berklee College of Music...for future reference. Anyways, one of their friends asked if I also played piano, to which she said, and I quote, "She's not privileged enough to take lessons. But if she wants to humiliate herself in front of all of you, she's welcome to do so." Playing along, I took her up on that offer and sat down, to which I then began to play Mozart's Turkish March from memory. Sure, I could have chosen something easy to play, but I wanted to savor the moment and rub her nose in it."

A small giggle escaped Anwen's lips, "You should have seen the look on her face when I completely upstaged her in front of her family and their friends. Of course, when I was finished, I looked her in the eyes and said, "You might want to use that privilege of yours to practice harder lest I humiliate you in front of your guests again. Also, for future reference, Berklee doesn't accept mediocre musicians as they have higher standards and expectations than everyone present within this room." Sure, I got severely punished later that night, but it was worth it to put that arrogant chienne (bitch) in her place. In truth, she wasn't really that good of a pianist. Of course, I'm not that great either, but I was certainly better than she was and everybody at that party knew it, including her parents."

"Well, I'm glad you stood up to that self-entitled pile of slag," Sideswipe replied with a frown. "I'm just sorry you were punished for it."

She shrugged, "It's no big deal. Like I said, it was worth it in the end. Although, I was never allowed to play their piano again following that incident; but I don't regret my actions that day."

"You know, if you want to get back into playing piano, there's one in the recreational center," Sunstreaker suggested with a kind smile as he looked over at the young redhead.

"Ah bon (Really)? I didn't know that. Of course, I can't recall ever setting foot inside that particular building."

"If you'd like, we can head over there later...assuming the rain lets up."

"I'd like that. Merci for offering."

"Of course."

XXXXX

After a few minutes, Anwen added the garlic, thyme and bay leaf to the Dutch oven, to which she allowed them to cook for about 30 seconds until they were fragrant. She then added the remainder of the vegetables (including the reserved eggplant and zucchini) and turned the heat down to medium-low. While Sideswipe took a turn at stirring the ingredients together, Anwen deposited the remainder of the unwanted produce bits into her compost jar before placing it underneath the sink. Afterwards, she began partially filling the right side of the sink with hot, soapy water while the left side was partially filled with hot rinse water. Grabbing a clean dish towel from the drawer, Anwen offered it to Sunstreaker and kindly asked, "Would you mind drying off the dishes after I wash and rinse them? S'il te plaît (Please)?"

How could he say no to that speckled face? "Alright," he took a hold of the dish towel while she began scrubbing the dirty utensils in the hot, soapy water. With a frown, he asked, "Shouldn't you be wearing some sort of protection on your hands? That water isn't exactly ideal for skin contact."

Anwen casually gave him a shrug as she continued to scrub, "j'en ai l'habitude (I'm used to it). Besides, while gloves are fine, I prefer using my hands to feel around in case I missed a spot while scrubbing. Not all stains are visible, hence why I need to feel that my dishes are clean, rather than just base it off a visual observation." She then dipped the utensils into the hot rinse water before safely handing them over to him. "Funny enough, my first part-time job was at a small diner where I was hired to wash dishes for a few hours after school."

"Tell us about that," Sideswipe chimed in while continuing to gently stir the ratatouille mixture.

"Well, it wasn't the most ideal position, but I specifically asked for it when I was given the choice between that and waitressing. Being the dishwasher meant that I never had to go out front, which is exactly what I wanted because I was afraid that my foster family would find out that I had a job and would try to claim my earnings. I worked so I could save up to get away from them, hence why I then took on a second job shortly after starting my first one."

"And what was your second job?"

"Cleaning rooms at one of the local motels. I was part of a small housekeeping staff that consisted of six people in total. Like my dishwashing job, it wasn't the fanciest or most ideal position, but it was honest work and a means to stay away from my foster family for a few hours during the weekends. Of course, they always assumed I was out doing drugs or sleeping around with my male classmates, which I wasn't. Sure, I had several male friends, but I never sought any sort of intimate relationship with them. Plus, I was too young to be doing that sort of thing." She handed Sunstreaker another item to dry off as she emitted a sigh, "Désolé pour la randonnée (Sorry for rambling on)."

"Sparklight, you have nothing to apologize for."

"Sunny's right, sweetspark," Sideswipe agreed. "We're glad you're opening up to us more and sharing pieces of your past with us."

A small dust of pink spread across her cheeks at that, "Well, I'm glad to be sharing a bit of myself with you two. In truth, I haven't shared this much of my past with anyone before. Even my brother doesn't know everything that's happened to me after he left to join the military...Of course, I refrained from telling him most of my experiences because I didn't want him to worry. Being so far away, it's not like he could do anything to help me if I needed it."

"I wish we were around to help you back then," he replied with a slight frown.

Anwen gave the younger twin a kind smile as she finished scrubbing the last of the dishes, "While that would have been nice, I'm glad you two are here now. Talking with you both has helped me a lot. Merci for listening."

"Of course."

XXXXX

For the next hour and a half, Anwen, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe took turns stirring the ratatouille mixture until it was finally time to remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs before adding the basil. Tasting the finished product, the young redhead emitted a content 'Mmm' sound. "Oh mon Dieu (_ my God), this tastes amazing!"

"We're glad to hear that, Ani," Sideswipe fondly smiled at her while his brother poured them some more whiskey.

*sigh* "I know you two can't consume solid organic foods, but I wish you could at least taste this."

"It is regrettable, but perhaps Ratchet will upgrade our holoforms so we can consume future culinary creations with you."

"j'espere (I hope so)," she stated as she dished up some ratatouille in a soup mug before retrieving a spoon and sitting down on one of the stools at her counter/dining area. As she waited for her food to cool down a little, Anwen glanced over at the twins with a shy smile lining her cheeks, "Sunstreaker?"

"Hmm?"

"How long have you been an artist?"

"Well now, that's a good question," he faintly smirked as he thought about it for a few seconds. "I've always had a knack for drawing and painting ever since Sides and I were younglings."

"It's true," Sideswipe chimed in with a slight chuckle. "Sunny here was always doodling on data pads or painting in our room when we were little. Our creators even dedicated an entire wall in our home for all of his paintings to be displayed on."

"Aw, that's so sweet," Anwen replied with a kind smile while Sunstreaker merely rolled his eyes and smirked:

"Anyways...you said that you also like to draw?"

She nodded, "Oui; but it's just a hobby. While I did take some art classes in high school and college, I mainly draw for fun. During my last year in college, I actually got a part-time job as a model for the art class."

"Really?" Both twins asked simultaneously.

"Mhmm, but I ended up quitting that job after four months because one of the male students started coming onto me and made me feel really uncomfortable." She lightly shook her head at the memories, "But that aside, I'd be happy to model for you if you asked."

Sunstreaker's eyes took on a softer look as he gazed upon the speckled femme, "I've never drawn a human before, nor have I ever had the desire to do so...but I think I'd be willing to make an exception with you, Anwen. In fact, when you've finished your nutrient intake, I'd like to draw a sketch of you."

"Ah bon (Really)? I-I'm honored. Merci for offering to do that."

"Of course."

XXXXX

-Half an hour later-

Upon finishing her lunch, Anwen politely excused herself to go use the restroom and brush her teeth before Sunstreaker could sketch her. While she did that, the twins decided to casually look around her living room: From what they could tell, the entertainment system setup was similar to the gaming area of the recreational center, except Anwen's TV was about half the size as the one the soldiers used to play on. Also, her games and DVD's were alphabetized rather than just haphazardly strewn about the shelving units. All in all, everything was neat and tidy, which made sense considering that she was a rather organized person in general.

Furniture wise, there was a stationary desk and chair, a dark grey couch with brick red throw pillows, a matching grey chair and an oaken wood coffee table. On top of the desk sat a laptop, a small stack of folders and notebooks, and an ihome charging station/speaker system. Beside the grey chair sat a medium cotton rope basket filled with various colored balls of yarn, while draped across the couch was a beautifully-made, cable-knit throw blanket.

In terms of wall decor, there were two rather generic abstract paintings hanging on either side of the entertainment system while a large six tier bookshelf (about 6ft (1.8288m) tall and 4ft (1.2192m) wide) sat against the far right wall. Upon inspection, they realized that it was bolted to the wall (for safety) and contained a variety of novels, textbooks and personal items, which included a small collection of colorful geodes, some seashells, and three framed pictures:

The first was a wedding portrait of a young couple, probably in their early 20's. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe assumed this picture was of Anwen's parents due to the fact that the woman looked almost exactly like her, except she had green eyes as opposed to amber. Her curly, red hair was tied back in an elegant updo, while a familiar pearl necklace hung around her neck. The man was significantly taller than the woman and had short black hair, hazel eyes and a finely-trimmed mustache. Both had joyful smiles on their faces and were adorned in 80's style wedding clothes.

The second was a portrait of a young man in his early to mid 20's. He was adorned in a military uniform and had a diamond shaped face, sun kissed/beige skin, short black hair, green eyes and a cleft chin.

The third picture was of the same soldier and Anwen: She was wearing a graduation cap and gown (with a sash and tassels) while the soldier wore his camo jumpsuit and a pair of sunglasses. A smile was plastered across their faces as he was pictured giving her a piggyback ride while she was captured in mid laugh while holding onto his shoulders with one hand while the other held her diploma.

As Sunstreaker and Sideswipe glanced at the framed photos, Anwen casually stepped into the living room with a smile and asked, "Vous aimez les images (Like the pictures)?"

"Of course," Sideswipe replied with a smile. "By the way, you look just like your Carrier."

That made her blush as she looked upon the wedding portrait, "You really think so?"

"Mhmm. You both share similar features, but I think the most distinct one is your smile: it's completely identical to hers." Upon seeing her lips curve upward, he gently poked her cheek, "There, that's the one."

His gesture/action made her cheeks turn a shade darker than they already were, to which she felt her pulse race. 'Oh mon Dieu (_ my God), why do I have this urge to kiss him?! Why is he and his brother so freakin' charming?!' She mentally asked herself these questions before Sunstreaker's voice sounded in:

"So, Anwen, are you ready for me to sketch you?"

Snapping back to attention, she gave him a nod, "Bien sûr (Of course). By the way, I have a spare sketchbook and some art pencils in the desk drawer that you're welcome to use...That is, if you need them."

"I appreciate the offer. Thank you."

"De rien (You're welcome)."