Author's Notes: This fic is not an Annabelle / Ironhide pairing. He is her guardian and considers her as his own sparkling (kid). This fic touches on a true problem in our world, child abductions. What would the Transformers, especially Ironhide do, when this occurs in her area and the ability to do something? More light hearted than it sounds. Locations and times will change rapidly hence the use of headers. And here we go, Chapter 1

** Somerville Elementary, 1st Grade, Mrs. Wagner's Art class. Friday morning. **

The young teacher smiled, the smacking sound of her hands clapping together creating a reaction. The children quieted, chairs scraping as they turned toward the front of the classroom. Petite and blond haired, she had the energy to handle paints more often worn or tasted than on a canvas. "Today we are working with flexible plastics. You know them as Shrinky dinks. Make whatever you want, color it then we bake it for you to keep."

She held up a plastic square painted with a butterfly then showed the same design much smaller, shaped, hooked and hanging on a necklace chain.

"You can make a charm, cellphone sticky, or key chain, whatever you want. Just make sure it is something you really want. Our budget is limited, and we can only do this one time."

In the middle of the third row, Annabelle Lennox chewed her bottom lip, trying to decide. Her finger traced cybertronic glyphs as she focused, unaware of what she was doing. Somehow a certain black truck, like the one she always drew, would not be a good idea. Then she smiled, grabbing the red and black markers. Fifteen minutes later, it was done. Dutifully, the child added it to the metal rack and joined the others in recess. The Midwest sun cast no shadows directly overhead, the heat not dampening yells and screams as children played outside, sound carrying in through the open classroom windows.

Mrs. Wagner looked over each design, stopping when she reached Annabelle's. "Finally, that girl did something more normal. Though I'm not sure what that is. Seems sad somehow. Maybe an upside-down cat face?" Clicking to herself, she placed it in the portable oven with the others, watching the timer carefully.

** Lennox Family Farm, Watson County, 3:55 pm Friday **

Sarah Lennox waited at the end of the driveway, watching her daughter hop off the school bus, literally. The last step missed and both feet landing squarely on the ground, the camo colored backpack balanced over one arm. Automatically Sarah checked her child, making sure she was not injured and had the backpack, sunhat and anything else she had left with. "How did school go honey?"

"Okay. We did stuff in art class. Carl pushed Jenny on the playground again and Mr. Wilkins was sick, so Ms. Smith did story time. "

"Sounds like a busy day. Hungry?" her mom grinned, the apple and cheese snack waiting in the kitchen.

"I'm always hungry and growing," she copied Sam Witwicky's favorite phrase then giggled. "Are daddy and 'Hide home tomorrow as promised?"

"As far as I know," Sarah opened the front door, waiting for little feet to enter first. "Ironhide is babysitting this weekend while daddy and I go to dinner and stay overnight to celebrate our anniversary."

"YAH!" Backpack and hat were dropped on the floor as the girl hugged her mom tightly.

"I thought you'd say that. Now get changed and washed up and I'll make spaghetti for dinner."

** Lennox Family Farm, Watson County, 7:20 pm Friday**

Annabelle snuck on sock feet into the kitchen, shoes carefully left at the bottom of the carpeted staircase. Bumblebee's advice about scouting being more preparation than action guiding her actions. Sarah's voice drifted in from her phone call in the living room.

"That's too bad. The Jennings seemed like such a happy couple. I tell you…" the sound of her voice faded as Sarah walked into the den, closing the door behind her.

The five-year-old slowly slid open the kitchen junk drawer and began riffling through it. Barely tall enough to see it in, she felt for the crinkled tube. Grinning triumphantly, she hid the super glue in her pants pocket then slid the drawer closed. Creeping back across the wood floor, she picked up the shoes and slowly headed back up the stairs, one hand firmly on the handrail. Bedroom door closed, Annabelle flopped on her bed, giggling.

"Wait until I show 'Hide." Smearing super glue over the back side of the Shrinky dink, she lay down then turned on her right side. With her hand, she put the plastic piece on her left upper arm and pushed down, careful to not get any on her short-sleeved t-shirt. "Ewwww, feels gross. Smells too. "

Half an hour later of trying to not move and forgetting, she sat up and waited to see if the piece would fall. It didn't. "Just in case," she muttered, tying a gauze bandage around it. "Got to stay there until tomorrow." Annabelle tied her shoes on, grabbed her favorite animated DVD and snuck back downstairs. Her mom's voice could barely be heard through the closed den door. Loading the DVD into the player, she skipped way ahead to the best part and began watching.

The den door opened. "Annabelle, honey are you…oh, there you are. Sorry that call took so long. Want to help me decorate a cake for them coming home tomorrow?"

A delighted screaming child ran for the kitchen, answering in her own way.

** Lennox Family Farm, Watson County, 6:30 am Saturday **

"Annabelle, time to get up."

"Momma?" a soft voice echoed then gasped, as her memory returned and the child sat up. Excitedly, she pulled the bandage off her arm, glancing down then winced as the skin pulled a little. "Looks good. Wait until I show 'Hide."

Dressing rapidly, she practically shot down the stairs, trying to brush her hair and balance at the same time.

"Slow down there missy!" Mom commanded, apron already spotted with eggs and flour. "No running on the stairs."

"Dad does. I've seen him and Epps too," she countered, pulling out a table chair and hopping up onto it.

Sarah frowned, knowing that was the truth. "Ironhide wouldn't want you running on the stairs. You fall and get hurt and he's liable to blow them up with his cannons."

"Uh huh, Daddy forbidded him to use his cannons on or around the house and no more shooting the critters either. Optimus told him too. I heard him. I like Optimus, can he come over too? Like on my birthday, 'cause that would be so cool! And he doesn't have to get me a present or nothing."

"It's forbid him not forbidded and present or anything," Sarah corrected the minute there was a pause for breath. "Now eat your cereal then you can help with chores. This farm doesn't run itself. Chicken coop roof leaks and the barn door is cracking. I'm glad Will got the week off. I need him home." Intent on thoughts of her husband, she missed he small bulge under the girl's shirt sleeve.

To be continued…