Lost & Found

11: New Family

Chapter 11: New Family
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(Autobot Comm Link - :::)

"Adopted...by you? You'll be my new papa?"

Optimus nodded, grinning at her gawking expression. "If it is alright with you, I would like to take you as my own."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, I-ah!"

Liza maximized and tackled the big bot to the ground, cheering loudly as she squeezed his neck. "OH THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, OPTIMUS!"

Chuckling, Optimus eased himself onto the ground while hugging her. "You're welcome."

Pulling her head from his shoulder, she looked at him with teary eyes. "S-So I get to call you papa now? You'll let me do that?"

Optimus nodded. "Of course."

She squeezed him. "Thank you! I promise I'll be the best daughter! I won't be bad this time and I'll be good!"

"You were never a bad child."

Shocked by his words, she stared at him with wide eyes. "I-I'm not?"

"No. You're simply a child composed of sweet innocence and purity who has been exposed to hate and evilness."

"B-But they said I was a mista-"

"It doesn't matter what they said to you, Liza. They hurt you and filled you with lies. Whatever they have said to you, they lied."

"S-So you don't think...I'm a bad person? I don't make mistakes all the time?"

"Not at all."

She gasped before squeezing him again. "Thank you." 

A rare smile pulled on the Prime's lips as he continued to embrace the girl, his large hand reaching up to stroke her small back. "Don't worry, sweetspark, you're safe with me. I swear on my spark I will not hurt you and will do everything in my will to protect you from those who wish to harm you. I promise, my Little Liza."

::: Optimus?:::

The Autobot Leader frowned at the interrupting beep.

What a magnificent way to ruin such a beautiful moment.

Shifting on the ground, the massive bot continued to cuddle his new daughter with one arm while he raised the other to answer the link. ::: Yes, Ratchet?:::

::: Are you with Liza at the moment?:::

Said girl shifted in his burly arms, her head snuggling into his chest plates. ::: I am. I felt it was necessary to introduce her to Earth's nature and help her become familiar with the planet.:::

::: How generous of you, Prime. Whenever you two return to base I would like to do another checkup to ensure there were no negative reactions from the human foods before Colonel Lennox takes her to her room.:::

::: Very well, Ratchet. We will return shortly. Prime out.:::

The link was shut off and he dropped his servo back to his side with a sigh, his other hand still stroking Liza's back. "Are you ready to go, Little One?"

Frankly, he believed that the Autumn breeze was getting a bit chilly-(not that it bothered him in the slightest)-but he worried that it might be a bit much for the four-year-old girl in his lap.

"Nu-uh." She shook her head, her grip tightening even more. "Wanna stay here with you a little longer. Please?"

Releasing a sigh from his vents, the Prime circled his arms around the girl, his long legs bending at the knee as he leaned back against a large oak tree. The tree groaned in protest.