Transformers Prime AU (Book 1) (Wattys 2017)

Chapter Twelve

A week later.

Smokescreen laughed hysterically as he ran through the house. He had been asked to get ready for bed but didn't want to. He had taken his shirt off after eating two chocolate bars, and was now extremely hyper.

Optimus slid as he rounded the corner and chased the boy. Smokescreen laughed and squealed when he saw his dad trying to catch him. Optimus tripped over a toy and fell on the floor. He tried to grab the boy as he went down, but the boy wiggled free. This was a game to him. Smokescreen jumped on the couch and laughed as his dad stumbled to his feet. He squealed and jumped over the other side.

Optimus ran and picked up the boy as he entered the kitchen. He slipped on some spilled water and went down again. He shifted and ended up spinning a little before landing on his back. He panted heavily as he lay on the floor and stared up at the ceiling. Smokescreen was laughing as he laid across his chest. The boy giggled and crawled where he could see his dad. The father raised his head to look at him.

"That was fun dad." Smokescreen panted. "Let's do it again!" He grinned. Optimus sighed and rested his head on the floor.

"Dog pile!" Arcee screamed as they heard her running.

"Ar- Oof!!" Optimus grunted as she landed on top of him.

He sighed again and rested his head on the floor. Putting them to bed wasn't working. He furrowed his brow when he noticed two little feet hanging over the counter. Bumblebee looked down at him and smiled as he ate another cookie. That's where they were going. He looked up as Bulkhead stood over him, covered in mud again.

"Need help Dad?" He asked as he grinned.

Optimus looked around at the messy house then at his kids smiling faces. He thought about the conversation he had earlier with someone. They had asked if he needed anything or wanted help. The father smiled a little then rubbed Smokescreens and Arcees head. He looked back up at the other two as Bumblebee ate another cookie.

"I would appreciate it." He said then looked at the children still on him. "I have everything I need right here." He muttered as he thought of an earlier question.

~

Bulkhead helped get his siblings ready for bed and then went to get the mud off. Optimus got the two younger ones in their pajamas, then finally got them in bed. He was exhausted and walked to the table to get some work done.

The house was still a little noisy as the kids ran to each other's rooms and played together. Optimus sat at the table with a bunch of papers scattered in front of him. He rested his head in his hands and gripped his hair as he stared at them. House payment, electric bill, water bill, signing the kids up for school, and whatever else. He sighed softly and rubbed his face. He listened to the quiet house for a moment.

Wait. The house was quiet. He raised his head and furrowed his brow. He strained his ears as he listened. He could hear a muffled conversation in the other room. Optimus quietly got up and followed the noise. He stopped at the youngest boys door and listened.

"....then will kidnap Uncle Ratchet." Arcee said.

"We can't kidnap people." Bulkhead responded.

"You don't know that." She shot back.

"Guys you're forgetting the important stuff. First we have to get cookies." Smokescreen said. "Bumblebee will want cookies so it's super important." Optimus leaned against the wall as he listened.

"Actually we have to kidnap dad first." Arcee said.

"We're not kidnapping anyone." Bulkhead sighed in exasperation. Optimus smiled a little and opened the door. The kids had made a blanket fort between the two beds and were making a list of some sort. They looked up when they heard the door open.

"We've been discovered!!" Arcee yelled. She grabbed the list and dove under the bed. Smokescreen panicked and hid under the bed with her, his little legs stuck out.

Bulkhead rolled his eyes as Bumblebee sat next to him with a book. Optimus smiled a little, and leaned against the door frame as he watched them. Bumblebee nudged his brother and handed him the book.

"What are you four doing?" He asked as he glanced at the bed.

"I'm not sure anymore." Bulkhead admitted as he opened the book his brother gave him. The father smiled a little and walked into the room.

"Nothing!" Smokescreen yelled from his hiding place. "And you can't make me tell!" He giggled a little.

Optimus sat down just next to the two boys under the blanket fort. He looked under the bed and Arcee stared back at him. The father put a finger to his lips and she grinned. He grabbed Smokescreen by the leg and drug him out quickly. The boy yelled in surprise and looked up at his dad. Optimus smiled a little and picked his son up. He held him tightly in his arms and tickled him. Smokescreen squealed and giggled as he tried to get him to stop. After a few minutes the boy was out of breath and just lay in his father's arms.

"I... give up." He panted as he grinned. Optimus raised an eyebrow and tickled him a little more.

"Okay! Stop!" The boy yelled as he laughed. His father stopped and waited patiently. "We were making a plan to go camping." Smokescreen panted.

"You ratted us out!" Arcee yelled from under the bed. Bulkhead rolled his eyes again as Bumblebee sat in his lap, and looked at the picture book.

"You knew we were going to have to tell him eventually." The oldest said. Arcee mumbled something and crawled out. She sat by her dad and handed him the paper.

"So can we?" Smokescreen asked. Optimus looked at him then at the list, he thought for a moment.

"Aren't you already?" He asked as a small smile formed. The kids looked around at their fort and then grinned.

"Hey we are!" Arcee said as she smiled. Bumblebee grinned at his dad then at his oldest brother.

"Wait!" Smokescreen yelled and took off running. He came back a moment later with a bag of cookies.

"Now we're camping." He said as he ate some. Bumblebee grinned again and dug in.

"This isn't really camping..." Arcee mumbled as she ate a cookie.

"We need popcorn!" Smokescreen said he moved to get up, but Bulkhead stopped him.

"She means we need to be outside." He said.

The kids gathered around their dad as they ate more cookies. He realized they would probably become hyper in a few minutes. Optimus thought for a moment and an idea came to him. The father grabbed some glow in the dark stars he found earlier, and attached them to the ceiling. He turned the lights off and lay on his back under the fort. The kids lay next to him and talked excitedly as they pointed at the stars. They snuggled up to him and slowly fell asleep. He continued to stare at the stars as he thought.

"Dad..." Bulkhead whispered. Optimus looked at him. "Can we go camping one day?" He asked quietly.

"Of course." his father said, then smiled a little.