A/N: As always, Bumbee and I do not-and really can't seem to-keep to any one timeline. So here Annabelle is a teenager and Ironhide is still alive and well (no thanks to you Mr. Bay...)

Please R & R!

~~~Epsilon Pax & Bumbee

###

Annabelle willed herself not to fidget. She would sit still. She would. She would sit still and eat her peas. Yes, eat her peas and patiently listen, listen to—

"I'm not going."

Sarah pursed her lips in humored frustration at her husband's stubbornness. "William Lennox we're going."

"You can go. Annabelle can go. Hell, Ironhide can go, but I'm not going."

"Will," a dangerous stillness inflated Sarah's tone, "You're on leave so little, and my mother wants to see you. She's making your favorite meatloaf." Her voice became sweet and persuasive even as Lennox's became low and sullen.

"I don't like meatloaf."

"I don't like meatloaf either, Dad." Annabelle beamed at her father, who winked back at her appreciatively. Yes, that's it, she thought, butter him up, get on his good side…Sarah arched an eyebrow at her daughter; apparently, Annabelle hadn't been as subtle as she had thought.

"Annabelle," Sarah neatly folded her napkin on her now empty plate, "Isn't there something you wanted to ask your father about?"

This was it. Annabelle straightened up in her chair—she would not fidget—lacing her fingers together, prim and proper, and fixed her father with her most grown up, sophisticated look; well, as sophisticated and grown up as seventeen year-old could manage. A grin bloomed across Lennox's face; of course his wife had warned him about this conversation, had told him a serious decision needed to be reached, that he should handle the matter with tact, but now that the moment was actually here…inside he wanted to giggle.

"Dad," Annabelle began very soberly, "I passed my drivers test. I got my drivers license."

"Oh really?" He tried for nonchalant, "That's great Jelly-Belle, I'm really proud of you."

"Thanks," Her chair squeaked in restlessness, "Um…I'm not sure if you remember, but we made a deal that if I kept my grades up, passed my driving test and saved up a little…"

Lennox bobbed his head in understanding, "…then I would chip in and help you get a car."

A nervous smile turned up her lips, "Yup…" even inch of her wanted to ask, So…?

Spearing his last piece of grilled chicken with his fork, Lennox leaned back in his chair and chewed thoughtfully. Of course he had already come to a decision, had made it long before he had even pulled up the driveway that morning. Though, Annabelle didn't know that and it was never a bad thing to put up at least a little bit of a show. Swallowing his last mouthful, Lennox leaned forward again.

"Tell you what Jelly-Belle, I'll honor our deal, I will—" Annabelle's stomach did cartwheels of joy, "—but…with an added condition."

Her bubble of hope popped with a terrific splash, "…What?"

"I'll help you get a car—"

"—a decent car!" Annabelle quickly added.

"—a safe car!" Sarah interjected.

Lennox chuckled, "I'm not going to give her a junker," he consoled his wife.

Annabelle lifted a finger at him, "Yeah, but you can't pull a Mr. Witwicky."

"What's a Mr. W—?"

"Uncle Sam warned me about how his dad cheaped out on him—"

Lennox swallowed a laugh, "Annabelle, if Sam's dad hadn't 'cheaped out' on him, he wouldn't have found Bumblebee."

"Still…you can't cheap out on me!"

Sarah perched her dainty chin on the palm of her hand, "You know, Will…I rather like the idea of you stumbling over another Autobot that can pall around with Annabelle all the time, everywhere she goes…"

"As if Ironhide, Bumblebee and Wheeljack don't do that enough!"

"Alright, alright, enough now." Lennox fixed her with a serious look, "These are the terms take them or leave them. I will help you get a decent car if and only if you can pass a driving test of my choosing."

Warily, Annabelle narrowed her eyes, "…no tricks?"

"No tricks."

Still, Annabelle hesitated, something whispered at the back of her brain, told her that her father was up to something. One glance at her mother and Annabelle was convinced that she was in on whatever this was too.

"Take it or leave it Annabelle."

She chewed her lip, "Can I think about it?"

"Nope, offer expires as soon as you get up from the table."

He was up to something…she knew it. But she wanted a car, wanted one desperately. She'd be one of the few to have one in her class, which would mean she'd be instantly cool the moment she parked on campus…

In the end, her yearning for a car of her own won out, "Yeah, ok. Deal."

Lennox grinned as he rose from the table, "Good, that's settled then," easily he scooped up his plate, "Now help clean the dishes and get some sleep because you start first thing in the morning."

Annabelle froze, her mind stuck on the impossibility of his command, "B-but…I have school first thing in the morning…a-and hang on here, you have to tell me what the test is!"

"Right, right…" Lennox stood casually by the kitchen door, "Here it is: you must last one week, that's Monday through Friday driving with an Autobot and get their approval of your driving skills."

Annabelle's jaw dropped. This was either going to be blissfully easy, perhaps the best week of her life…or the worst. "I…I…um…"

Lennox grinned, "Right, sleep well!"

"Wait! Hang on a sec! Do I get to at least choose who I'll be spending the week with?"

His smile didn't falter, "Nope."

"Did you choose?"

"Annabelle, one does not choose an Autobot…all I did was ask Optimus to ask one of the bots to volunteer."

Skeptically she eyed her father, "Wait…who did you come home with?" But before he could answer, Annabelle bolted out of her chair, making for the front door with all speed.

"Annabelle!" Lennox sounded way too pleased with himself.

Flinging the door open she stopped flat at the sight of the hulking black pickup truck parked in the driveway. She grinned recklessly. This was going to be the best week. Ever.

"Why do you look so happy, spark-mite?" Ironhide growled affectionately.

"Oh I knew you'd come through for me Uncle 'Hide!"

Ironhide barked a laugh, "Oh no, Annabelle. I am not here to help you with your exam."

Annabelle's heart sank, "W-why not?"

"Because I am biased."

"Aw, thank you Ironhide, that makes me feel better."

"Biased against you passing."

"Ironhide!"

"Humans cannot drive, and you are no exception. I'm sorry, Annabelle."

Her nerves sang, "Well that was mean."

"It is the truth and not my fault that humans have evolved with reflexes that are pitifully inept to—"

"—I get it, Ironhide." Annabelle rubbed her temples, "So…who is coming then? Who is going to spend the week with me?" Timid hope flared within her as her thoughts turned to Bumblebee or Sideswipe, surely her childhood friends—and fierce protectors—wouldn't let her down. After all, if this was something that they could volunteer for she couldn't imagine Bee or Sideswipe not wanting to spend time with her.

"I do not know."

As if from a great distance his words collided with her, "What do you mean you don't know?"

"Prime did not inform me of his choice before I left."

"Wait…his choice? So Papa Bot made the decision?" A rush of adrenaline tickled her stomach in a rather unpleasant way; if left up to Optimus this might be a harder challenge than she thought. He would choose someone who would actually test her, who would teach her to drive his interpretation of safe. Her hopes of seeing Bumblebee or Sideswipe show up in the morning began to dwindle.

"Do not be discouraged Annabelle," Ironhide rolled forward, enough to touch his bumper against her, instinctively she rested her hands atop the warm chrome, taking comfort from the living metal, "It is not your fault that your species is incapable of producing proficient drivers."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"You are welcome."