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It was a quiet Saturday morning, I had been dressed and sat in my overstuffed lounging chair reading a book when Sideswipe entered my room. "

Hey there miss all grown up." He said with a smile. "How does it feel to be 17?"

"It feels like 16 + 1." I said with a mischievous smirk on my face.

"I always knew you were trouble Sideswipe said fondly." His face growing somber he asked me if I was about ready to go.

"Yes," I replied as I grabbed my brown leather shoes and slipped them on.

Sideswipe gave a short chuckle at my brown socks with little pink hearts on them.

"What is so funny?" I asked acidly.

"I was just thinking how it was the small things I find so adorable about you."

"Oh," I said a bit ashamed of the tone of voice I had just used with him.

Smiling he ruffled my hair in a way he was fond of doing to hear my squeak of outrage that he always got for messing up my hair. Once again he grinned as I squeaked and fixed the damage he had caused.

"Let's go." He said holding out his hand.

The graveyard had green grass with headstones everywhere. Multi colored flowers as well as memorial wreaths and crosses were placed at various head stones.

I stopped at the headstone that read, "Marcus Sean Asher, Loving Father." It had the year of his birth with the date of his death. I knelt down and placed my flowers in the little space made to hold flowers. Silent tears fell as I gazed at the headstone over my father's grave. After some time I asked Sideswipe, "Where is my Uncle Travis and Aunt Marsha?"

"Italy."

Shocked I looked at him and repeated, "Italy?"

"Yes he was given several options and he chose to relocate his family. They have never been in any danger. The Decepticons never even looked for them."

With a deep sigh I turned my attention back to the headstone of my father as tears continued to fall down my face. Sideswipe put his arm around me. I buried my face in my hands as I tried not to weep like a baby.

"I never got the chance to tell him he did the right thing. He was right you know. If he had just told me where he wanted to send me I would have begged until he gave in. I knew how to make my father give in and do things my way.

Sideswiped grinned at that. "I know, he warned Ratchet and Optimus about that. Ratchet just shrugged and said, "She is in for quite a shock when she tries that with me. Your father was afraid that we would only see the side of you who is angry, scared and confused. Optimus assured him several times that no one would judge his daughter on how she behaved the first few weeks in our care. That is why your father wanted them to meet you at your Uncle's house you know."

I gave him a confused look.

Sideswipe continued, "You father wanted the two Autobots that would have the most control over you to see what you were really like before you learned you were about to loose your old life. I think in a way it worked. Both Ratchet and Optimus Prime were able to see that even though you were used to getting everything you wanted, you were a pleasant young lady to be around. You were not like some younglings who could be intolerable to even be in the same room with. They were able to see for themselves that the issues you were having were not part of your personality. You were just you acting out of grief and anger. I think it had the effect your father wished. I believe they were more patient with you then they would have otherwise been."

Astonished I looked at Sideswipe and said, "That was patient?"

"Oh yes," he replied with a laugh.

"Ratchet was horrible to me. Do you know what he did to me on the way here from my Uncle's house?"

"Yes and it was necessary. Your father warned Optimus about how you tend to panic. Once panic sets in you tend to lash out and be very difficult to deal with. So the sedatives were for your protection."

"What about that whole jamming a tube down my throat thing?"

"Ratchet did that because you refused to eat. He already knew you were used to digging in your heels and getting your way. You were deficient in many vital nutrients you need to stay healthy. Ratchet knew he would only have to do it once. Once you understood the consequences of not going along with what Ratchet wanted he was sure you would cooperate after that. He decided that doing it while you were mostly sedated would be much easier on you ."

I looked at him stunned. "Nice? Ratchet?"

Sideswipe looked at me for a long time before he said, "You do know he cares a great deal for you?"

Again I could only stare at him with a bewildered look on my face.

"Can you think of one time he ever threw anything at you, or threatened to rearrange parts of your body ?"

I shook my head no but I said, "He was so,….so I could not think of a word to describe Ratchet."

"Ratchet is blunt and does whatever he has to for his patient. Yes, he is can be intimidating when he wants to. He clearly felt that scaring you was the best way to make you understand the seriousness of what was going on."

Sideswipe was thoughtful for a moment before he continued, "He never left your side until he was sure you were going to be ok. Like I said he cares a great deal for you. After you first got here you were very unhappy and cried a lot. That is when Ratchet approached me and asked if I could help. I was not sure at first, but it did not take me long to see through your anger. Ratchet was very pleased with himself when he passed us in the hallway and you were smiling. He about fried my processor bragging about how well his plans turn out endlessly for days."

I laughed a bit as I remembered the smug look Ratchet gave that day he passed us in the hall.

"Optimus Prime signed Ratchet your legal guardian on the paperwork you father sent when he relinquished his parental rights."

"What?"

I looked up to see Sideswipe grinning at the look on my face as he continued. "Yes, Optimus had to decide who he would assign. It was not an easy decision. We all had a conference and after hours of discussion it was decided Ratchet would be best.

I was in shock. Ratchet is my legal guardian? How, … how strange. Although many things started to click into place. That explained the bossy bot always telling me what to do.

I smiled for a moment suddenly remembering the many times Ratchet seemed to act like a parent. It made me mad at the time but now it made better sense. Sighing having my thoughts once again return to my father that lay in the grave at my feet,

"He never got to see that I am ok and happy. I never even got to say that I loved him. He died not knowing I still loved him."

Sideswipe pulled away and used a finger to guide my face up so I would have to look him in the eye. "Your father knew you loved him. He always understood you were angry. He warned Optimus you would be furious but you were a very forgiving and adaptable person. He knew you would learn to thrive once again. Optimus talked to your father at least once a week and always told him how you were doing and calmed your fathers fears that you would never be happy again. When you started to enjoy life once again Optimus made sure to tell your father. Your father knew you were doing better and it would not be long before you were happy once again."

I let Sideswipe pull me closer as we stood there together silent.

"I am ready to go home now." I said after quite some time passed. "Before we get on the road and head back to the base would you please drive me to any burger joint, I am so sick of Ratchet picking my food."

With a laugh Sideswipe said, "of course my dear." As he guided me to his alt form.

Sideswipe pulled into a restaurant that looked a lot nicer then a five minute fast food place. I gave him a questioning look as he parked in a place close to the door.

With a mischievous look Sideswipe said, "Here I can take you to this nice restaurant where they serve the food you desire yet I can honestly tell Ratchet I kept you away from the pit spawned fast food establishments."

With a conspiratorial chuckle I hopped out and walked to the front of the car. Sideswipe wrapped his arm around my neck and led me to the door as he once again messed up my hair laughing as I squeaked, broke free then attempted to fix my hair with my fingers.

Once we were done we strolled back to Sideswipes alt form. I climbed in the car and snapped my seatbelt on. "Thank you for taking me to see my father's grave."

"Your welcome." He said placing his hand on my knee. "Anywhere else you want to go."

"No. I am ready to go home now; I got a movie to watch if you want to watch it with me."

"I have some contraband I can bring." He said with a wicked smile.

"What is that?" I asked confused.

Sideswipe handed me a large sack. I opened it to find my favorite junk food and a six pack of my favorite pop. Laughing I said, "Ratchet will blow a circuit if he saw me with this."

"I guess we need to make sure he never finds out then." Sideswipe said as his eyes lit up with pure mischievous delight.

"Well then let's get home."

And with that Sideswipe turned unto the highway that led to home.

XX XX XX

This is the end of this story. Kari would love to have 'she lived happily ever after' but fate has other plans. I have plots spinning in my head so, keep your eyes open for a sequel.

Thanks go out to… Great Diabla Assassin. ~Thanks for letting me type out my thoughts, and helping me brainstorm. My husband ~Who is good listening to me bounce idea's off him.

Thank you so much for reading….. I hope you enjoyed it.