Christmas at the Witwickys. Portland, Oregon, Earth
Christmas day at the Witwickys meant a lot of chaos and confusion. Though he'd done this several times before, especially after the birth of Daniel, he still found it to be a rather hectic event. There was Mass in the morning before presents [Sparkplug had insisted that they wait this year], relatives to visit, gifts to drop off, and last minute preparations of the turkey-and-tofu dinner to be prepared [some of Kelly's friends were vegetarians, and she herself was dabbling in the lifestyle], much of the preparations involving ways on how not to burn the tofu.
But by four o'clock, everyone was gathered about the tree in the livingroom, eagerly inspecting their presents, exchanging words of gratitude, and in general enjoying themselves.
In short? A perfect afternoon, if Rad would say so himself. Even if Daniel was responsible for about a third of the racket being made, and Sparkplug's old record player accounting for another third, just to ensure it was heard over the excited chatter.
Rad suspected he and Lionizer would go back to Cybertron slightly harder of hearing, if things continued as they were.
First Aid at least would take care of his audio circuitry, a perk humans didn't get to share in.
"More eggnog?" asked Buster. He'd come home three days ago, after spending the first half of the week with his college pals. "Plenty to go around." Then, in a lower voice, "As well as Granny Rose's fruitcake. Yuck."
"No thanks, I've had plenty."
More than plenty; they were making his fuel cells feel oddly sticky after being rendered in what had to be one of the most uncomfortable conversions he'd performed so far.
First Aid would have to look at that, too, and then mutter something about Rad cutting down on his sampling of human food items.
"Suit yourself," he said, looking a little crestfallen, then proceeded to make the rounds about the room, offering said drink to the others.
At that moment, a certain intercomm chose to ring, announcing there was a direct call from Cybertron. All the Witwickys had one, to keep in touch with events on Cybertron.
"I'll get it," said Spike, elbowing his younger brother. Even after all this time, they still found ways to bicker over who took the call.
"Rad? Rodimus just called. He's got a message for you."
As quickly as he could, Rad made his way over to the intercomm room without crushing anything more valuable than discarded wrapping paper [that Kelly was busy collecting for recycling or scrapbooking].
"Yes? What did he say?"
In a lowered voice [that wasn't really all that lowered, given the din], Spike delivered the message. "The incept is to be brought out of stasis lock on January fifth. And he wants the Witwicky family as well as you to be there to witness it."
"It is? He does?"
"Yes. I know it's sudden and my boss won't like it, but it's an invitation from the Prime himself. I just hope MacCabe will accept whatever I tell him when I tell him. You guys aren't exactly high on his opinion poll."
"Rodimus will explain it all to him if he gives you trouble," Rad said, trying to ease Spike's mind. When it came to MacCabe, the feeling of general dislike was mutual, and not through any fault of Rad's. MacCabe just didn't care for new fangled things like computers, cell phones and intergalactic robots. And Rad was certainly an intergalactic robot.
"That's what I'm worried about," he said as Buster headed his way, still bearing eggnog. He was quickly sent away with a "No thank you".
"I thought you liked that stuff," Rad said, puzzled.
"Not when Granny Rose makes it. Why do you think I stock up on antacids before Christmas comes?"
"Thought it was the daily dose of calcium that motivated you," Rad joked back. "Back to the family, and then dinner, if Kelly hasn't burnt the latest batch of tofu."
Laughter, both theirs and their family's, greeted them when they got back to the others. Happy laughter from all those gathered, before Kelly's head popped out from the kitchen.
"Dinner time, Witwickys!"
"All right!"
A mad scrum ensued as everyone tried to find a place at the table, still laughing and chatting away happily.
It was Christmas time after all, even with slightly scorched tofu.
A time to be with friends and family both old and new.
Tomorrow, once they were all told about it, they could worry about getting ready for the inception.
But by four o'clock, everyone was gathered about the tree in the livingroom, eagerly inspecting their presents, exchanging words of gratitude, and in general enjoying themselves.
In short? A perfect afternoon, if Rad would say so himself. Even if Daniel was responsible for about a third of the racket being made, and Sparkplug's old record player accounting for another third, just to ensure it was heard over the excited chatter.
Rad suspected he and Lionizer would go back to Cybertron slightly harder of hearing, if things continued as they were.
First Aid at least would take care of his audio circuitry, a perk humans didn't get to share in.
"More eggnog?" asked Buster. He'd come home three days ago, after spending the first half of the week with his college pals. "Plenty to go around." Then, in a lower voice, "As well as Granny Rose's fruitcake. Yuck."
"No thanks, I've had plenty."
More than plenty; they were making his fuel cells feel oddly sticky after being rendered in what had to be one of the most uncomfortable conversions he'd performed so far.
First Aid would have to look at that, too, and then mutter something about Rad cutting down on his sampling of human food items.
"Suit yourself," he said, looking a little crestfallen, then proceeded to make the rounds about the room, offering said drink to the others.
At that moment, a certain intercomm chose to ring, announcing there was a direct call from Cybertron. All the Witwickys had one, to keep in touch with events on Cybertron.
"I'll get it," said Spike, elbowing his younger brother. Even after all this time, they still found ways to bicker over who took the call.
"Rad? Rodimus just called. He's got a message for you."
As quickly as he could, Rad made his way over to the intercomm room without crushing anything more valuable than discarded wrapping paper [that Kelly was busy collecting for recycling or scrapbooking].
"Yes? What did he say?"
In a lowered voice [that wasn't really all that lowered, given the din], Spike delivered the message. "The incept is to be brought out of stasis lock on January fifth. And he wants the Witwicky family as well as you to be there to witness it."
"It is? He does?"
"Yes. I know it's sudden and my boss won't like it, but it's an invitation from the Prime himself. I just hope MacCabe will accept whatever I tell him when I tell him. You guys aren't exactly high on his opinion poll."
"Rodimus will explain it all to him if he gives you trouble," Rad said, trying to ease Spike's mind. When it came to MacCabe, the feeling of general dislike was mutual, and not through any fault of Rad's. MacCabe just didn't care for new fangled things like computers, cell phones and intergalactic robots. And Rad was certainly an intergalactic robot.
"That's what I'm worried about," he said as Buster headed his way, still bearing eggnog. He was quickly sent away with a "No thank you".
"I thought you liked that stuff," Rad said, puzzled.
"Not when Granny Rose makes it. Why do you think I stock up on antacids before Christmas comes?"
"Thought it was the daily dose of calcium that motivated you," Rad joked back. "Back to the family, and then dinner, if Kelly hasn't burnt the latest batch of tofu."
Laughter, both theirs and their family's, greeted them when they got back to the others. Happy laughter from all those gathered, before Kelly's head popped out from the kitchen.
"Dinner time, Witwickys!"
"All right!"
A mad scrum ensued as everyone tried to find a place at the table, still laughing and chatting away happily.
It was Christmas time after all, even with slightly scorched tofu.
A time to be with friends and family both old and new.
Tomorrow, once they were all told about it, they could worry about getting ready for the inception.