[RL w/ Bumblebee, later Sam -- Welcome back, Daddy?]

[know_sacrifice]

It had been a challenge, to put together a family barbecue in less than a week, but Mikaela had managed it. Granted, only a few of her aunts and uncles had been able to make it, but she figured that that was for the best. Like Mr. Edgeworth had said, throwing some huge party would probably not be the best thing for her dad, not right after he

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[yellowbeebot]

Bumblebee is just relaxing lazily in the summer sunlight, sensors idly watching the family, another set using a judicially placed booster to keep an eye on Sam at home. Who said he couldn't be in two places at once? His engine revved slightly as Mikaela approached.

"Hey. How are things going?"

[know_sacrifice]

"All right!" she said with a bright smile, running her fingers over his hood, and then shaking her hand a little. Hot metal was hot, whoops. She leaned against the panel of his door anyway, though, and it wasn't so bad after a moment or two.

After a moment she seemed to deflate a little. "Everyone's not as...happy. As I thought they'd be."

[yellowbeebot]

"Oh?" He paused a moment, trying to help cheer her up a bit again. And of course he's hot. He's 'Bee. Also he's been sitting in the sun.

"What's wrong?"

[know_sacrifice]

"It's not that anything's wrong, exactly," she murmured, watching her family. Her dad with his back turned to everyone but her mom, her aunts and uncles in their little knot around the table. A little bit removed from the party, she could see that it was kind of odd.

"Everyone seems kind of tense, I guess?" she said finally. She bit her lip. "It's weird."

[yellowbeebot]

"Your father did just get out of prison, Mikaela. They're adjusting to having him back, is all." Yes, that must be it.

[know_sacrifice]

"Mmm." She let out a sigh, then turned to look down at him, sliding her hand along the nearest sleek curve of metal. "Yeah, I'm sure you're..."

She trailed off as the sound of raised voices reached them--her mom and dad were arguing. She couldn't hear them clearly, not from here, but the phrase "--raising your car-crazy daughter by myself--" reached her, and she flinched.

[yellowbeebot]

A disapproving rumble rose from Bumblebee and he quietly switched songs.

Shut up, shup up, shut up! Don't wanna hear it!

"She shouldn't talk about you like that." Protective Bee is, well, protective. He's pondering just...doing something drastic. But then of course, he has to remember the mission, which is hard to do when you out yourself to the whole world as an alien robot.

[know_sacrifice]

"Yeah..." Mikaela said softly, looking away. Of course she shouldn't, but it was true. Her dad was firing back now, his deeper voice just as audible; "--can't you just let me enjoy myself for a day?!" All her aunts and uncles were looking over at them, trying not to be obvious about it.

"See, this is what I meant," she murmured. "They should be happy, and they're just... they're fighting."

[yellowbeebot]

"People are strange. They do thinks that don't make a lot of sense." Like call your ex-boyfriend. "It's been a while for them, hasn't it?"

Ring ring, Sam Witwicky.

[know_sacrifice]

"Four years," Mikaela said with a frown. "But it's not like they haven't seen each other, or anything. Mom and I went to visit him a lot..."

Although those visits had trailed off lately, her mom claiming it was because she was too busy to drive Mikaela out there. It was true, mostly, but now it seemed suspicious.

[yellowbeebot]

"Sometimes things happen." Bumblebee makes a non-commital noise, sounding a bit distracted.

[know_sacrifice]

"Yeah, I know." She's distracted enough that she doesn't seem to notice he's distracted. She sighs again, shaking her head, and lets her head fall back against the doorframe.

[yellowbeebot]

"I wish I could help you someway." And he is plotting a way to help her. Just you wait, Mikaela.

[know_sacrifice]

"I'm just glad you're here, 'Bee," she says with a hint of a smile, patting his door.

[yellowbeebot]

"Hey, it's what I do." He pauses for a moment. "Hm. Actually, I have to grab something for Optimus...I'll be back soon." He honks cheerily, starting his engine.

"Don't worry! Won't be gone long."

[know_sacrifice]

Mikaela jumped away, startled by the honks and the sudden rumble of the engine so close. "Oh? Um. O-okay!" she said, caught by surprised. She backed off a few steps, giving him room to pull away. "See ya when you get back..."