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Description
Guardian Chapter 3

Explanations
By Steph

Annabelle’s eyes were wide as she slowly glanced up at the black Topkick, she could feel her own jaw drop in shock and amazement, her mouth was dry like it was full of dust, and she only just realised, her own body was trembling, even her teeth were chattering. Annabelle looked like she was going to faint from shock. Ironhide noticed his charge’s reaction, a bright band of blue light passed from his optics, across her body, Ironhide carefully analysed the data from the scan, it reported, a heighten blood pressure, a fast, racing heart rate. He noted how the capillaries on the surface of Annabelle’s skin had constricted preventing blood flow to her skin, giving the young woman an almost ghost like appearance.

All of a sudden Annabelle’s body gave way under it’s own weight as the young women let out a small squeak as her body crumpled to the ground, Ironhide dipped his huge palm catching Annabelle just inches before she hit the unforgiving floor, her body slumped onto his awaiting hand in a heap.

“Oh slag it” he cursed, Ironhide quickly thought of what to do,

Scanning the internet, for “fainting” and “shock” he found numerous website but the most common treatment was to keep the patient warm. Ironhide swept his precious cargo up, and carefully lifted her near his spark, that itself gave off lots of warmth. Ironhide was still worried out of his processor, he knew from experience how fragile humans were.

Quickly the black autobots turned on his internal com line,

“Ironhide to Ratchet”

It blurred, for a few seconds with static in the background before an ominous annoyed voice rang through Ironhide’s audio receptors.

“Ratchet here,”

The medic’s gruff voice answered over the communicator, the weapon specialist could tell that the rescue hummer was annoyed.

“Ironhide you stubborn glitch, “what is so important that you need to disturb me?” “I’m in the middle of a repair job, Bumblebee has blown his vocal processor again”

Despite the situation at hand, the Topkick let out a small laugh, the youngest autobot over the years had broken his vocal processor no more then 23 times, and he was sure Ratchet was going to blow a gasket if he has to keep fixing it. Sometimes Ironhide wondered if Bumblebee did it on purpose just to get up the medic’s tail piping.

Ironhide became serious as he began to explain the situation at hand,

“Annabelle has responded…… somewhat shocked to the news I have given her,” Ironhide sighed

“she became very pale, and was shaking before she collapsed, I am keeping her warm but she’s still not slagging come around, Ratch,”

The medic could tell that the tough weapon specialist was worried,

“Ironhide, you slagger,” “You’ve surprised her to the point, her body was unable to process the information you have given her, so it has off lined itself to prevent stress. “The humans call it ‘fainting‘, it is a defence mechanism for if they are in danger, they ‘faint’ to prevent injury or so they do not have to feel pain.”

“It is not a very good one, mind you” sighed Ratchet, he pondered for a moment, shifting through the medical books he had access to online,

“Bring her to the base, She is going to need an Iv drip and some pain relievers, she will sleep off the stress, I will add a sedative so she can adequately rest.”

Ironhide let out a huge blast of air out of his vents, great he thought silently first day back on the job and he had already messed something up.

“Thank you Ratchet, I’m on my way, Ironhide out”

With that, Ironhide turned his internal com offline, carefully he placed the unconscious Annabelle on the grass, before transforming into the black pickup truck. Ironhide formed his solid hologram, he opened his back door, as his hologram went over to his charge and gently picked her up, holding her close to his chest. Ironhide placed her in the soft backseat, and draped a blanket over her shoulders.

He wrote a note to Jacob with his hologram, and left it on the kitchen table, the last thing he needed was Annabelle’s husband to report her missing and to have the police running around looking for her.

Jacob,

I know this will be difficult to believe, but it’s me, Ironhide, I returned today after you left for work. I feel so very guilty for leaving you both. I just had to try and make amends. I want to become your family’s full time guardian, and I can understand if you do not wish for that. Annabelle responded somewhat shocked to the news and she “fainted“. I am currently taking her to Ratchet, Our medical officer, for treatment, she is safe with me, I promise you. No harm will come to her whilst she is in my care.

Ironhide

Ironhide revved his engine, before taking off down the country lane, in the direction of the autobot base.
………………………………....................................................................................................

It was already dark before Jacob returned home. As he expected the lights were out and it was completely dark inside the cottage. He slowly turned the keys before opening the door, but to his surprise, it was already open.

Frowning, Jacob placed his keys on the desk beside the front door as he set his brief case down on the front hall floor. Jacob’s eyes scanned the dark room, the only light was the faint glow of the moon, coming through the front kitchen window, something small and white caught his eye on the kitchen table. It looked like a piece of paper folded in half, Jacob gave it a confused squint as he strode over to retrieve the white sheet. With trembling hands Jacob opened the paper, his eyes quickly scanned the note, once, twice and a third time. His face went white as he collapsed heavily into one of the nearby chairs. His own sweaty hand went to his face.

“Ironhide,” he whispered out loud. How was that even possible? Jacob’s feelings went from shock, to anger, to happiness then to worry, Annabelle! Did Ironhide mention he had Annabelle with him! Jacob shot up out of the chair, he had to find Ironhide so he could kill him, for all the stress and worry the black mech had put his family through. He had to find his wife to make sure she was ok, but he had no idea where the autobot base was, of course he didn’t that’s why it was called a “secret” base, but he had to try. Jacob grabbed his coat and launched himself out of the back door and into the night.

………………………………......................................................................................................

It was completely pitch black outside when Ironhide finally rolled into Autobot HQ, Ratchet was waiting by the main entrance, carefully with mother like care, the medic took the still unconscious Annabelle from Ironhide’s backseat. Ratchet ran his own scan, his optics widened, before he re ran his scan once more, just to be sure. He mentally smiled to himself, his scanners were far more sensitive then other autobots such as Ironhide, as he was a medic. So he knew the news of Annabelle’s pregnancy before the others. He kept his vocal processor quiet, he figured Ironhide could use “a taste of his own medicine” as the humans called it.

Ironhide almost jumped as he quickly transformed into his robot mode, the cannons on his shoulders whirred their internal mechanisms as the weapon specialist almost stumbled towards the medical bay that Ratchet himself was heading to with the young women carefully encased within his giant palm.

Ironhide quickly made his way over to the metal berth that Ratchet had placed Annabelle on. The medic placed a small blue blanket on top of the metal before placing Annabelle upon it, the rescue hummer scanned the small human, he sighed once more turning away to one of the giant shelves that held some of the necessary equipment Ratchet needed. In his years on earth Ratchet had become a skilled human doctor as well as being an autobot medic, he had studied human physiology and disease for the past fifty years and Ironhide had complete faith in the yellow autobot.

Over the years there had been new additions to the original four autobots who had come to earth, some more survivors of the great war had responded to the message that Optimus Prime had sent across the stars. There were the twins, Sunstriker and Sideswipe they really knew how to liven up the place, Red alert has also made an appreance, the head of autobot security, he was well known for his paranoia about security and protocols and he taken up to strengthening the security around the base, which ranged from building a watch tower to placing hidden cameras in every room in every available space. Prowl and Hotshot had also come to earth, Prowl was a sucker for following every rule by the book and it was quite fitting he had chosen a police car as his vehicle form. Hotshot loved to speed around, being about the same age as Bumblebee they both were best friends on Cybertron before the great war, he was quite delighted to have met up with his old buddy. Hotshot had become very fond of Bumblebee’s charge, Sam, but he had a particular soft spot for Sam’s girlfriend Michaela and had recently become her guardian.

Ratchet returned to the table with his hands full of human medical supplies, carefully, the medic started an intervenes drip, to replace some necessary hydration that Annabelle had lost. Ratchet then opened a small piston on his finger revealing a small human size needle, he injected two substances into Annabelle’s Iv line, Ironhide watched, his optics were flashing dangerously with impatience. He nervously hovered around the medical berth, his optics not leaving Annabelle.

“Frag it all Ironhide,” “You better had to stop that infernal hovering, now let me work, before I weld that giant aft of yours to the roof” Ratchet voice was gruff, Ironhide rolled his optic waving a hand dismissively.

“I’d like to see you try, Hatchet” he whirred, laughing under his breath.

The use of the medics hated nickname made the yellow hummer quirk. Ratchet picked up the nearest thing on the table behind him, which happened to be a huge metal wrench, he threw it at Ironhide’s head, it hit it’s mark with a satisfying clang, as it bounced off the weapon specialists metal, leaving a small dent.

“Ahh, frag it” Ironhide cursed, his hand absently rubbing the newly made dent.

Ratchet let a satisfied smile stretch across his face plating

“You stupid glitch that should teach you some respect for the medical officer that has saved your aft more times then you can count.“ “Now stop acting like a sulking sparkling and help me make Annabelle comfortable.”

Grumbling Ironhide made his way over to the cabinet, that was used to store human supplies, it came in handy as often Sam and Michaela would come over with Bumblebee and Hotshot and stay. The black Topkick grabbed another blue blanket, he silently went back over to the metal berth and draped the blanket over Annabelle’s shoulders. Ratchet watched curiously, before addressing Ironhide.

“She should come around tomorrow morning, after the sedative has worn off. “Its late I am going to get some Recharge, I’ll need if those pitting twins get up to their usual tricks.”

With that Ratchet turned and exited the medical bay, leaving Ironhide alone with Annabelle. The black autobot glanced down at the human now peacefully resting on the medical berth, he pulled up one of the huge metal stools, and sat down next to the table, he gently placed a hand over Annabelle laying his head down just next to her. He followed his human into recharge.

The sun began to shine its golden colours gently upon the morning ground, the light shone through the window and onto the metal berth, Annabelle let out a huge yawn, she glanced around squinting her eyes, taking in her surroundings. She put a hand to her face as she slowly sat up, rubbing away the sleep in her eyes. Annabelle noticed she was on a drip, she squinted with confusion before noticing the black autobot’s head just next to her. His optics were dim, Annabelle figured he was still sleeping. Carefully Annabelle looked around the medical bay trying to figure out where she was.

The movement caused Ironhide to stir, his huge body hummed as his systems came online, his optics brightening, the black Topkick glanced down at Annabelle, lifting his head to get a better look at her, she certainly looked better then before she had colour back in her cheeks and her blue eyes were alight with curiosity. Annabelle looked up at Ironhide with a questioningly look.

“Ironhide, Where am I?”

her voice was still rough from not being used. The mech’s optics regarded her for a few seconds

“Your at the Autobot base, I brought you here yesterday after you fainted from shock, Ratchet has being treating you, it was him who put you on that medical drip, “I take it you are feeling better?”

Annabelle let the information sink in for a second before she glanced up at Ironhide,

“Err yes, I am, thank you”

Ironhide decided to try and ask Annabelle again, he hoped this time she did not faint.

“Annabelle do you remember what we were talking about before you collapsed”?

Annabelle looked up at him, the memories hitting her like a tonne of bricks,

“yes, you asked if you could become my guardian again,” “Before I answer you Ironhide I want to know where the hell you have been, when I needed you most over the past ten months”

The black mech’s spark hit its core as the guilt of his failure surged through him, he braced himself, his logic processor going into a frenzy trying to format an antiquate response.

“I… I never meant to hurt you Annabelle you are the best thing that has happened to me whilst on this planet, meeting your family, becoming your guardian. “I would not have regretted it for the world, it is just…. when your farther died, it hurt me so very much I could not face the fact that now both of your parents were dead.”

Annabelle’s eyes filled with moisture as her thoughts went to her parents, she didn’t realise that it had not just hurt her, Ironhide had known them about as long as she did, He, like her had lived with them, watched them grow old. He had even risked his life to save herself and her mother. She felt regret over the anger she previously felt, leave her as she listened to Ironhide pour his spark out to her.

“Even though there was nothing I could have done, I still felt that I had failed your parents, failed you,” I was not sure if I was strong enough to face that everyday, you remind me so much of your parents.”

Ironhide’s voice went quiet and Annabelle saw something she thought was impossible, Small droplets of a glowing blue substance had formed around Ironhide’s optics and fell like tears splashing the floor with huge puddles.

Ironhide’s voice shook as he whispered “I’m so sorry Annabelle, I just want to make it up to you”

Annabelle felt herself cry along with him, her voice was shaking,

“Ironhide, I’m sorry, I never knew how much it hurt you too, I’m sorry I didn’t see” she took a deep breath before saying,

“I would be honoured if you became my families guardian once more”

Ironhide’s optics widened, his spark hummed happily as he felt a warmth seep through all of his circuits, it was a curious feeling, it was love.

“Thank you Annabelle” his voice was soft and sincere

Ironhide has some questions of his own for his young charge, one of which he was very curious about.

“Annabelle, may I ask what have you been up to, these past few months?”

Annabelle’s cheeks went bright red, her hand touched her stomach, Ironhide’s optics watched her curiously, he scanned her.

“Are you all right Annabelle,? “Your heart rate has increased and your pheromone levels have peeked.” Ironhide could not understand his charge’s embarrassment, surely it could not be that bad.

Annabelle took a deep breath, to compose herself, how was she going to explain this to a giant alien robot!

“You see Ironhide, me and Jacob, well we wanted to start a family, and well.” “We were successful, I’m…. I’m.. pregnant” Annabelle finished very relieved to have gottern it off her chest.

Ironhide tried to process what Annabelle had told him, he scanned the word “Pregnant” on the internet, his optics brightened as he found the definition , The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Ironhide’s whole body went totally rigid, the only sound was Annabelle’s breathing and Ironhide’s internal systems.

Annabelle carefully watched the black mech, trying to anticipate his reaction. Ironhide slowly turned his bright widened blue optics to his charge’s face, he spoke in a voice that was so quiet, Annabelle was strained trying to make out what he said.

“Your expecting a sparkling?”

Annabelle though unsure of the terminology, merely nodded her head.

Ironhide looked at her as if she had shot him, Inside, Ironhide’s internal systems were struggling, his logic processor was working over time to process the information, when all of a sudden Ironhide’s huge metal body slide off the chair and hit the ground with a huge bang, causing the whole med bay to shake, some of the equipment fell off the shelves.

Annabelle looked down off the edge of the metal berth, the black Topkick was sprawled out on the floor, he was very still, his optics dim. Unable to control herself Annabelle began to roll on the table in a huge fit of laughter. Ironhide, the almighty weapon specialist had fainted.

Behind the closed door, through some of slits, Ratchet stared at Ironhide’s metal body on the floor, he began to laugh to himself, he would make sure never to let Ironhide live this one down.

To be continued…

Description
Guardian Chapter 3

Explanations
By Steph

Annabelle’s eyes were wide as she slowly glanced up at the black Topkick, she could feel her own jaw drop in shock and amazement, her mouth was dry like it was full of dust, and she only just realised, her own body was trembling, even her teeth were chattering. Annabelle looked like she was going to faint from shock. Ironhide noticed his charge’s reaction, a bright band of blue light passed from his optics, across her body, Ironhide carefully analysed the data from the scan, it reported, a heighten blood pressure, a fast, racing heart rate. He noted how the capillaries on the surface of Annabelle’s skin had constricted preventing blood flow to her skin, giving the young woman an almost ghost like appearance.

All of a sudden Annabelle’s body gave way under it’s own weight as the young women let out a small squeak as her body crumpled to the ground, Ironhide dipped his huge palm catching Annabelle just inches before she hit the unforgiving floor, her body slumped onto his awaiting hand in a heap.

“Oh slag it” he cursed, Ironhide quickly thought of what to do,

Scanning the internet, for “fainting” and “shock” he found numerous website but the most common treatment was to keep the patient warm. Ironhide swept his precious cargo up, and carefully lifted her near his spark, that itself gave off lots of warmth. Ironhide was still worried out of his processor, he knew from experience how fragile humans were.

Quickly the black autobots turned on his internal com line,

“Ironhide to Ratchet”

It blurred, for a few seconds with static in the background before an ominous annoyed voice rang through Ironhide’s audio receptors.

“Ratchet here,”

The medic’s gruff voice answered over the communicator, the weapon specialist could tell that the rescue hummer was annoyed.

“Ironhide you stubborn glitch, “what is so important that you need to disturb me?” “I’m in the middle of a repair job, Bumblebee has blown his vocal processor again”

Despite the situation at hand, the Topkick let out a small laugh, the youngest autobot over the years had broken his vocal processor no more then 23 times, and he was sure Ratchet was going to blow a gasket if he has to keep fixing it. Sometimes Ironhide wondered if Bumblebee did it on purpose just to get up the medic’s tail piping.

Ironhide became serious as he began to explain the situation at hand,

“Annabelle has responded…… somewhat shocked to the news I have given her,” Ironhide sighed

“she became very pale, and was shaking before she collapsed, I am keeping her warm but she’s still not slagging come around, Ratch,”

The medic could tell that the tough weapon specialist was worried,

“Ironhide, you slagger,” “You’ve surprised her to the point, her body was unable to process the information you have given her, so it has off lined itself to prevent stress. “The humans call it ‘fainting‘, it is a defence mechanism for if they are in danger, they ‘faint’ to prevent injury or so they do not have to feel pain.”

“It is not a very good one, mind you” sighed Ratchet, he pondered for a moment, shifting through the medical books he had access to online,

“Bring her to the base, She is going to need an Iv drip and some pain relievers, she will sleep off the stress, I will add a sedative so she can adequately rest.”

Ironhide let out a huge blast of air out of his vents, great he thought silently first day back on the job and he had already messed something up.

“Thank you Ratchet, I’m on my way, Ironhide out”

With that, Ironhide turned his internal com offline, carefully he placed the unconscious Annabelle on the grass, before transforming into the black pickup truck. Ironhide formed his solid hologram, he opened his back door, as his hologram went over to his charge and gently picked her up, holding her close to his chest. Ironhide placed her in the soft backseat, and draped a blanket over her shoulders.

He wrote a note to Jacob with his hologram, and left it on the kitchen table, the last thing he needed was Annabelle’s husband to report her missing and to have the police running around looking for her.

Jacob,

I know this will be difficult to believe, but it’s me, Ironhide, I returned today after you left for work. I feel so very guilty for leaving you both. I just had to try and make amends. I want to become your family’s full time guardian, and I can understand if you do not wish for that. Annabelle responded somewhat shocked to the news and she “fainted“. I am currently taking her to Ratchet, Our medical officer, for treatment, she is safe with me, I promise you. No harm will come to her whilst she is in my care.

Ironhide

Ironhide revved his engine, before taking off down the country lane, in the direction of the autobot base.
………………………………....................................................................................................

It was already dark before Jacob returned home. As he expected the lights were out and it was completely dark inside the cottage. He slowly turned the keys before opening the door, but to his surprise, it was already open.

Frowning, Jacob placed his keys on the desk beside the front door as he set his brief case down on the front hall floor. Jacob’s eyes scanned the dark room, the only light was the faint glow of the moon, coming through the front kitchen window, something small and white caught his eye on the kitchen table. It looked like a piece of paper folded in half, Jacob gave it a confused squint as he strode over to retrieve the white sheet. With trembling hands Jacob opened the paper, his eyes quickly scanned the note, once, twice and a third time. His face went white as he collapsed heavily into one of the nearby chairs. His own sweaty hand went to his face.

“Ironhide,” he whispered out loud. How was that even possible? Jacob’s feelings went from shock, to anger, to happiness then to worry, Annabelle! Did Ironhide mention he had Annabelle with him! Jacob shot up out of the chair, he had to find Ironhide so he could kill him, for all the stress and worry the black mech had put his family through. He had to find his wife to make sure she was ok, but he had no idea where the autobot base was, of course he didn’t that’s why it was called a “secret” base, but he had to try. Jacob grabbed his coat and launched himself out of the back door and into the night.

………………………………......................................................................................................

It was completely pitch black outside when Ironhide finally rolled into Autobot HQ, Ratchet was waiting by the main entrance, carefully with mother like care, the medic took the still unconscious Annabelle from Ironhide’s backseat. Ratchet ran his own scan, his optics widened, before he re ran his scan once more, just to be sure. He mentally smiled to himself, his scanners were far more sensitive then other autobots such as Ironhide, as he was a medic. So he knew the news of Annabelle’s pregnancy before the others. He kept his vocal processor quiet, he figured Ironhide could use “a taste of his own medicine” as the humans called it.

Ironhide almost jumped as he quickly transformed into his robot mode, the cannons on his shoulders whirred their internal mechanisms as the weapon specialist almost stumbled towards the medical bay that Ratchet himself was heading to with the young women carefully encased within his giant palm.

Ironhide quickly made his way over to the metal berth that Ratchet had placed Annabelle on. The medic placed a small blue blanket on top of the metal before placing Annabelle upon it, the rescue hummer scanned the small human, he sighed once more turning away to one of the giant shelves that held some of the necessary equipment Ratchet needed. In his years on earth Ratchet had become a skilled human doctor as well as being an autobot medic, he had studied human physiology and disease for the past fifty years and Ironhide had complete faith in the yellow autobot.

Over the years there had been new additions to the original four autobots who had come to earth, some more survivors of the great war had responded to the message that Optimus Prime had sent across the stars. There were the twins, Sunstriker and Sideswipe they really knew how to liven up the place, Red alert has also made an appreance, the head of autobot security, he was well known for his paranoia about security and protocols and he taken up to strengthening the security around the base, which ranged from building a watch tower to placing hidden cameras in every room in every available space. Prowl and Hotshot had also come to earth, Prowl was a sucker for following every rule by the book and it was quite fitting he had chosen a police car as his vehicle form. Hotshot loved to speed around, being about the same age as Bumblebee they both were best friends on Cybertron before the great war, he was quite delighted to have met up with his old buddy. Hotshot had become very fond of Bumblebee’s charge, Sam, but he had a particular soft spot for Sam’s girlfriend Michaela and had recently become her guardian.

Ratchet returned to the table with his hands full of human medical supplies, carefully, the medic started an intervenes drip, to replace some necessary hydration that Annabelle had lost. Ratchet then opened a small piston on his finger revealing a small human size needle, he injected two substances into Annabelle’s Iv line, Ironhide watched, his optics were flashing dangerously with impatience. He nervously hovered around the medical berth, his optics not leaving Annabelle.

“Frag it all Ironhide,” “You better had to stop that infernal hovering, now let me work, before I weld that giant aft of yours to the roof” Ratchet voice was gruff, Ironhide rolled his optic waving a hand dismissively.

“I’d like to see you try, Hatchet” he whirred, laughing under his breath.

The use of the medics hated nickname made the yellow hummer quirk. Ratchet picked up the nearest thing on the table behind him, which happened to be a huge metal wrench, he threw it at Ironhide’s head, it hit it’s mark with a satisfying clang, as it bounced off the weapon specialists metal, leaving a small dent.

“Ahh, frag it” Ironhide cursed, his hand absently rubbing the newly made dent.

Ratchet let a satisfied smile stretch across his face plating

“You stupid glitch that should teach you some respect for the medical officer that has saved your aft more times then you can count.“ “Now stop acting like a sulking sparkling and help me make Annabelle comfortable.”

Grumbling Ironhide made his way over to the cabinet, that was used to store human supplies, it came in handy as often Sam and Michaela would come over with Bumblebee and Hotshot and stay. The black Topkick grabbed another blue blanket, he silently went back over to the metal berth and draped the blanket over Annabelle’s shoulders. Ratchet watched curiously, before addressing Ironhide.

“She should come around tomorrow morning, after the sedative has worn off. “Its late I am going to get some Recharge, I’ll need if those pitting twins get up to their usual tricks.”

With that Ratchet turned and exited the medical bay, leaving Ironhide alone with Annabelle. The black autobot glanced down at the human now peacefully resting on the medical berth, he pulled up one of the huge metal stools, and sat down next to the table, he gently placed a hand over Annabelle laying his head down just next to her. He followed his human into recharge.

The sun began to shine its golden colours gently upon the morning ground, the light shone through the window and onto the metal berth, Annabelle let out a huge yawn, she glanced around squinting her eyes, taking in her surroundings. She put a hand to her face as she slowly sat up, rubbing away the sleep in her eyes. Annabelle noticed she was on a drip, she squinted with confusion before noticing the black autobot’s head just next to her. His optics were dim, Annabelle figured he was still sleeping. Carefully Annabelle looked around the medical bay trying to figure out where she was.

The movement caused Ironhide to stir, his huge body hummed as his systems came online, his optics brightening, the black Topkick glanced down at Annabelle, lifting his head to get a better look at her, she certainly looked better then before she had colour back in her cheeks and her blue eyes were alight with curiosity. Annabelle looked up at Ironhide with a questioningly look.

“Ironhide, Where am I?”

her voice was still rough from not being used. The mech’s optics regarded her for a few seconds

“Your at the Autobot base, I brought you here yesterday after you fainted from shock, Ratchet has being treating you, it was him who put you on that medical drip, “I take it you are feeling better?”

Annabelle let the information sink in for a second before she glanced up at Ironhide,

“Err yes, I am, thank you”

Ironhide decided to try and ask Annabelle again, he hoped this time she did not faint.

“Annabelle do you remember what we were talking about before you collapsed”?

Annabelle looked up at him, the memories hitting her like a tonne of bricks,

“yes, you asked if you could become my guardian again,” “Before I answer you Ironhide I want to know where the hell you have been, when I needed you most over the past ten months”

The black mech’s spark hit its core as the guilt of his failure surged through him, he braced himself, his logic processor going into a frenzy trying to format an antiquate response.

“I… I never meant to hurt you Annabelle you are the best thing that has happened to me whilst on this planet, meeting your family, becoming your guardian. “I would not have regretted it for the world, it is just…. when your farther died, it hurt me so very much I could not face the fact that now both of your parents were dead.”

Annabelle’s eyes filled with moisture as her thoughts went to her parents, she didn’t realise that it had not just hurt her, Ironhide had known them about as long as she did, He, like her had lived with them, watched them grow old. He had even risked his life to save herself and her mother. She felt regret over the anger she previously felt, leave her as she listened to Ironhide pour his spark out to her.

“Even though there was nothing I could have done, I still felt that I had failed your parents, failed you,” I was not sure if I was strong enough to face that everyday, you remind me so much of your parents.”

Ironhide’s voice went quiet and Annabelle saw something she thought was impossible, Small droplets of a glowing blue substance had formed around Ironhide’s optics and fell like tears splashing the floor with huge puddles.

Ironhide’s voice shook as he whispered “I’m so sorry Annabelle, I just want to make it up to you”

Annabelle felt herself cry along with him, her voice was shaking,

“Ironhide, I’m sorry, I never knew how much it hurt you too, I’m sorry I didn’t see” she took a deep breath before saying,

“I would be honoured if you became my families guardian once more”

Ironhide’s optics widened, his spark hummed happily as he felt a warmth seep through all of his circuits, it was a curious feeling, it was love.

“Thank you Annabelle” his voice was soft and sincere

Ironhide has some questions of his own for his young charge, one of which he was very curious about.

“Annabelle, may I ask what have you been up to, these past few months?”

Annabelle’s cheeks went bright red, her hand touched her stomach, Ironhide’s optics watched her curiously, he scanned her.

“Are you all right Annabelle,? “Your heart rate has increased and your pheromone levels have peeked.” Ironhide could not understand his charge’s embarrassment, surely it could not be that bad.

Annabelle took a deep breath, to compose herself, how was she going to explain this to a giant alien robot!

“You see Ironhide, me and Jacob, well we wanted to start a family, and well.” “We were successful, I’m…. I’m.. pregnant” Annabelle finished very relieved to have gottern it off her chest.

Ironhide tried to process what Annabelle had told him, he scanned the word “Pregnant” on the internet, his optics brightened as he found the definition , The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Ironhide’s whole body went totally rigid, the only sound was Annabelle’s breathing and Ironhide’s internal systems.

Annabelle carefully watched the black mech, trying to anticipate his reaction. Ironhide slowly turned his bright widened blue optics to his charge’s face, he spoke in a voice that was so quiet, Annabelle was strained trying to make out what he said.

“Your expecting a sparkling?”

Annabelle though unsure of the terminology, merely nodded her head.

Ironhide looked at her as if she had shot him, Inside, Ironhide’s internal systems were struggling, his logic processor was working over time to process the information, when all of a sudden Ironhide’s huge metal body slide off the chair and hit the ground with a huge bang, causing the whole med bay to shake, some of the equipment fell off the shelves.

Annabelle looked down off the edge of the metal berth, the black Topkick was sprawled out on the floor, he was very still, his optics dim. Unable to control herself Annabelle began to roll on the table in a huge fit of laughter. Ironhide, the almighty weapon specialist had fainted.

Behind the closed door, through some of slits, Ratchet stared at Ironhide’s metal body on the floor, he began to laugh to himself, he would make sure never to let Ironhide live this one down.

To be continued…