A/N: Heyyyyyyyyy besties. Been a while, huh? My second senior year of college flew by in an instant! But guess what? I'M DONE! I graduate on May 13th, 2023! I'm officially a Kinesiologist! Now I'm working toward applying to Physical Therapy school! But don't worry, I'll be back for a while! I promise! Thank you all for sticking through with me this long. You've all helped me get through these long and hard years of undergrad and I couldn't be more thankful.
Cheers to another new chapter in my life! And a new chapter to this book!

"No."

"Oh come on grumpy!"

"Absolutely not."

"But it's for our grandsparkling!"

"I am not dressing up as Santa Claus."

Blades sighed as he tried to reason with his mate, "Heatwave, please, this is Starlight's first Christmas! And you have the best voice for Santa! Please??"

Heatwave stiffened in response, "Why couldn't Hotshot do it?"

"Because," Hotshot spoke up as he walked into the guest room, "Starlight would be very upset if I was nowhere in sight. Plus... you sound like Santa too."

"Ha! See? Even our son agrees!" Blades said as he stood proudly.

Heatwave sighed in defeat as he took the costume, "Alright fine. I'll wear it. But only for Starlight."

Hotshot whined, "Aw but I wanted to sit in Santa's lap too!"

That earned him a hard whack from a pillow.

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"You want me to do what??", Scorch exclaimed.

Medix rolled his eyes as he gently handed Starlight to him, "I want you to hold her."

Scorch backed off a bit, too scared to touch her, "Why??"

"Well, you need to learn how to properly hold a sparkling," Medix chimed, "And what's better to practice with an actual sparkling?"

Scorch tried to get away, "No please! I don't want to drop her!"

Medix cradled his daughter as he walked after Scorch, "You're not going to drop her. I'm right here to guide you."

Scorch flung himself into the bathroom, locking the door behind him, "I don't want to! You can't make me!"

Medix sighed as he stood outside the door, "Scorch, you're sparked. You need to get used to being around a sparkling."

Scorch started yelling loudly to block out Medix's advice, "LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOUUUU."

Medix rolled his eyes and looked toward his mate who was walking back toward the main area, "Can you believe this? He's afraid to hold our daughter! Our sweet ray of sunshine! Our perfect little SPARKLING."

Scorch knew that was directed at him and started yelling again, "NOPE. NOT LISTENING. NOT HERE. GO AWAYYYY."

Hotshot chuckled as he heard his friend's screams, "Well you know what they say babe."

Puzzled, Medix looked up at him, "No? What do they say?"

"Denial is a river in Egypt", Hotshot said as he started walking away, "I'll go find Wedge and bring him here. You keep Scorch occupied."

Medix stared at him, pondering if that idiot was actually serious, "I- huh?"

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"Scorch."

"NO."

"Scorch, let me in."

"I SAID NO."

Wedge sighed as he turned to Medix, "May I hold Starlight? I want to try something."

Medix handed Starlight over without hesitation, "What's your plan?"

"I want to show Scorch, by myself, that he can hold her," Wedge said confidently, "just... make sure Hotshot doesn't try to break down the door to get her back, alright?"

Medix nodded, "Alright. I trust you. Starlight definitely trusts you too. Just please be careful."

"I will", Wedge said as he waited until Medix stepped away.

When the coast was clear, he knocked on the door with his free servo, "Scorch? Babe, can I come in? It's just me out here."

Scorch was hesitant but he eventually unlocked the door with a click, "It's unlocked."

Wedge very gently opened the door, seeing his mate sitting on the ground and protecting his spark region, "Scorch?"

Scorch looked up but then froze once he saw the tiny pink sparkling nestled in Wedge's huge arm. He began to back into a corner, looking terrified to go near the sweet bean.

Wedge gently shut the door behind him, "Hey it's okay. It's just me. And Starlight."

Wedge sat on the floor, making sure he was at least a foot away from his mate as to not make him anxious. He then spoke up in a soft and gentle voice, "I'm not going to force you to do something you don't want to do... But I do want you to watch."

Scorch hesitantly looked over at his mate, "W-Watch what?"

"This."

Scorch's optics widened as he watched his mate start to cuddle the small pink sunshine. His spark started swelling with love as his mate began to coo and nuzzle the sparkling.

Wedge continued to spoil his favorite niece with lots of attention. "Oh who's my favorite little sunshine! You are! Boop!"

Starlight giggled loudly as her favorite uncle very gently booped her nose. She then grabbed one of his very large digits with both of her tiny servos.

Wedge chuckled huskily as he carefully wiggled his digit, "Tiny servos. My ultimate weakness!"

He then proceeded to blow a soft raspberry into Starlight's tummy, which in turn made the sweet sparkling burst out into a fit of giggles.

Scorch didn't know what came over him, but some sort of ancient cybertronian carrier instinct started drawing him in. He began to scoot closer to the duo as he kept looking on in curiosity and wonder. In that very moment, his spark felt like it was needing to be a mother... A mother holding their child close.

Wedge noticed this but didn't turn his gaze away in fear that he might scare his mate off. Instead, he continued to spoil his sweet niece with attention.

Starlight didn't think anything of it when she saw the yellow stranger approaching her uncle. How could she? She didn't know any better.

Before he knew it, Scorch was right next to Wedge, looking over his shoulder to gaze at the tiny pink femme.

Starlight looked as if she was the happiest sparkling in the galaxy. Her smile was contagious. Her demeanor was that of an angel. Even when she put her pede in her mouth, Scorch couldn't look away.

Wedge smirked as he felt his mate lean onto his shoulder to get a better look at his niece, "Well hey there, beautiful. Can I help you with something?"

Scorch froze as his face turned a bright blue, "I...I..."

Wedge chuckled, "look at her babe, she's the sweetest sparkling I've ever seen. She's such an angel and she has this contagious smile."

Scorch looked back at Starlight, a small smile escaping his dermas when she looked up at him with the brightest smile.

Wedge smiled as he continued, "I don't know how Medix and Hotshot did it, but they made such a sweet little femme. She's so easy to hold and so affectionate."

Scorch blushed a bit more, "Y-Yeah..."

Wedge looked at his mate with a soft expression, "Would you... like to hold her?"

Scorch paused for what seemed like forever. His processor was on overdrive telling him not to... But his spark was telling a much different story.

Finally, he went with his spark.

Wedge carefully handed over the small femme to his mate, gently coaching him on how to hold her properly. "There you go babe. You've got this."

Scorch breathed shakily as he held Starlight close. He hesitated but eventually mustered up the courage to look down at the pink sunshine.

Starlight looked up at him with her beautiful blue optics, plastering a sweet smile as she buried into him.

Scorch doesn't know what or how it happened, but he was relaxed. He felt comfortable holding her this way and wasn't planning on letting her go any time soon.

Wedge chuckled softly as he looked at his mate, "I warned you. She's contagious."

Scorch smiled as he leaned into his mate's shoulder, enjoying his company. "Thank you..", he said softly, "Thank you for doing this..."

Wedge kissed his mate's helm as he wrapped his arm around him, pulling him close as he looked down at the small femme, "No problem, babe. I'm always happy to help."

After a bout of comfortable silence, a heavy object slammed into the door, startling all three occupants.

That heavy object? That's Hotshot.

Hotshot broke open the door in a protective rage, "WHERE'S MY BABY."

Before a word was said, he was suddenly lassoed by Hoist and brought to the ground. Hoist got to work in tying him up, trying to control the beast. "Y'all better come out to the main area. Hotshot's getting restless."

Wedge immediately picked up his mate, who was still holding the little femme, and quickly walked out of the bathroom.

"Don't have to tell us twice!"

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"Do I have to say it."

"Yes."

"Ugh... don't laugh."

"I won't", Blades said with a snicker.

Heatwave groaned as he walked out of the hall and into the main area, "HO HO HO! MERRYYYY CHRISTMAS!"

Unfortunately for Heatwave, the last bot he'd ever want to see at the Christmas party just walked through the groundbridge. Fashionably late as always.

Blurr immediately started pointing and laughing as Bumblebee closed the groundbridge behind them.

Heatwave ran into the kitchen as quickly as possible, trying to avoid Blurr's frantic picture taking.

Whirl sat there for a moment as she watched her adoptive mother chase Heatwave into the kitchen, "well... HI DAD!"

Bee immediately hugged his daughter as she ran into his arms. "Hi Whirl! It's good to see you!"

Whirl tried to drown out her mother's hysterical laughter, "It's good to see you too! I'm so glad you two could make it!"

"Us too. Your mother would not stop talking about it on our way here. Apparently Blades let him know the plans for this evening and he was a bit eager to get here. Now I can see why."

Whirl giggled as Heatwave's 'BLADES YOU DID W H A T' was drowned out by Blades' laughter, "I know mom needed this."

"He sure does", Bee teased. "Anyway, where's the new addition to the Rescue Bot family?"

"Right over here!", Medix beckoned as he pointed at a large mound in the middle of the couch, "There's a virus on her though. I think they call it "Hot of Shot", so you might want to be careful!"

Bee chuckled as he went over to the large red and yellow mound on the couch, "Ah. I see. Let me try something."

Bee slowly reached his servo into an opening of the large mound, immediately being met with a low growl.

"Hm", he pondered, "Let's try this."

Bee immediately jammed his digit into the side of the mound, watching in amusement as the mound shrieked and fell off the couch. He then looked down to see a tiny pink mound nestled into the cushions of where the bigger mound once sat. "Aha! I found the treasure!"

Bee gently scooped up the very giggly pink femme and held her close, "Hi there, Starlight! I'm your uncle Bee!"

"Great uncle", Medix corrected as he helped his pissed off mate off the floor.

"Same thing really", Bee teased as he sat down on the couch next to his sister-in-law. "Wassup?"

Quickshadow snorted loudly at her brother-in-law, "Not much."

Just then, Blurr came out of the kitchen, still recovering from his laughter. He immediately focused when his daughter ran over to hug him. "Oh! Whirl! Hi!" He hugged her back tightly.

Whirl giggled, "Hi mom! I'm so glad you're here!"

"Oh believe me, I would not have missed this party. Sorry I'm late though.. We got a bit caught up with some cons."

"Cons??" Wedge piped up, "What cons???"

"Nothing you need to worry about right now, Wedge", Bumblebee reassured him, "It's been taken care of."

Blurr immediately skidded over when he noticed what was in his mate's arms. "Is that her??? Is that Starlight???"

Bee gave his mate some room on the couch so that he can sit down, "It sure is. Want to hold her?"

Blurr didn't even let him finish that question. He already swiped the small femme into his arms as gently as he could. "Ohhh she's so precious!"

"Hey take it easy with my grandsparkling, Blurr", Quickshadow said as she nudged her brother, "She's only a few months old!"

"Hey I'm careful!" A quick bout of laughter fills the room, "Wh- but I am!"

Whirl chuckled as she spoke up, "I love you mom, but you're really not. There's a reason I don't have a nose now!"

Hotshot shot up almost immediately, "HE DID WHAT-"

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"Ohhhh Santawave! Come on out so that you can meet a special little femme!" Blades said in a cheery tune.

Heatwave peeked in the room, sighing in relief when he noticed Blurr duck taped to a chair. He then put his beard back on as he walked into the room. "HO HO HO! HELLO EVERYONE!"

Medix beamed at his father-in-law as his daughter immediately started getting excited.

Heatwave sat down in a large chair, "So, where's this special little femme I've been hearing about? I hear this is her first Christmas!"

Hotshot set the duck tape down on the table as he gently took Starlight from his mate, "She's right over here, Santa!"

Heatwave smiled at the sight of his granddaughter, immediately going back into character, "Ho ho ho! Bring her here!"

Hotshot brought her over, setting her in his dad's arms.

Starlight looked up at Heatwave, puzzled at his different appearance.

Heatwave held her close as he tickled her tummy, "Ho ho! What a beautiful little femme! And so sweet too! Oh you are on the very TOP of my Nice List this year!"

Starlight started giggling and squeeing with glee, plastering a big smile on her face as she grabs Heatwave's digit.

"Oh! Ho ho! She's strong too! What a fierce little angel!"

The whole room filled with scattered giggles.

Heatwave cuddled his granddaughter fondly as he stayed in character, "I bet you have a really loving family. I bet your mommy and daddy would do anything for you. Ho ho!"

"That's right!" Hotshot cheered as he held his mate close. "She's a perfect little ball of sunshine!"

Medix smiled as he leaned into his mate, "Almost too perfect, if you ask me. I think Santa should get her something extra special!"

"Ho! You're right! I should give something to this perfect angel!" Heatwave then reached into his sack of presents and then pulled out a puppy plushie.

Starlight immediately squealed in excitement at the sight.

Heatwave then gently handed the puppy plush to his beloved granddaughter, "Ho ho! Here you go little one. Your very own puppy! A plushie puppy!"

Starlight instantly cuddled the plush, showing immense amounts of comfort and love toward the plush.

Medix leaned over and whispered to his mate, "Hey isn't that the same plush that Blades just rubbed all over both of us?"

Hotshot chuckled, "Looks like it. Now it makes sense why Starlight really likes it."

Medix smiled, "Remind me to thank your mother later."

"You're welcome", Blades said as he passed by, startling the young parents.

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Starlight squealed at the sight of her grandpa now that he has suddenly stepped out from the same hallway as the strange Santa man entered into.

"So, what did I miss??", Heatwave said in his normal voice.

"Oh not much. Just Santawave", Hotshot chuckled as he held his daughter, "But don't worry, he left you a present!"

Hotshot then smugly pointed over to Blurr, who is still duck taped to a chair.

Heatwave took a big deep breath in as he looked up to heaven, "Thank you Santawave, it's exactly what I wanted this Christmas."

Heatwave then began to point and laugh his aft off at the now extremely pissed off Blurr.

Hotshot chuckled as he handed his father the camera, "Take lots of pictures! It's going in the scrapbook!"

Blurr screamed in response.