{No one's POV}

The day started out as any other normal day for N.E.S.T. soldiers and allies. Samuel Witwicky, Autobot ally, adopted son of William Lennox, was doing his schoolwork when he came out to get breakfast. 

"Mornin', Sam." Robert Epps, a friend, uncle, and brother, greeted.

"Morning, Rob. How's Jazz doin'? Heard he had a nightmare last night." Sam frowned.

"He's as best as he can be. Still shaken up, and jumpy, but not as bad. His nightmare was... it was bad. The only other bots I know of who has nightmares like that is Ratchet and Ironhide." Epps sighed.

Annabelle Lennox, Will's three year old daughter, ran out, and ran to Sam. "Sammy, save me!" She squealed, jumping in his arms. Sam caught her, and was confused... until he saw Ratchet and Wheeljack's holoforms. Poor mechs were so tired last night, they fell asleep on the human couch. 

Ratchet's hair was dyed white, Wheeljack's was dyed gray. Both were pissed. "What happened to you two?" Fig asked.

"That's what we wanna fucking know!" Wheeljack snapped.

"Who thought this would be funny and dyed our holoforms hair?! I worked hard on this, and it'll take a while to fully remove!" Ratchet growled.

"It was me..." Annabelle sniffled. Both mechs visibly relaxed, they couldn't be mad at her.

"Why, Anna? Why?" Wheeljack asked.

"Fig told her about hair dye, and gave her some. He told me she was taking it to Sunny and Sides. That's all I know. And how in the hell would she have been able to dye your hair? She's three, she can barely count to ten." Hound huffed.

"Watch it, punk. Hurt Annabelle or her feelings, and I'll send you to Unicron himself." Sunstreaker huffed. He hated humans, but he loved Annabelle. She understood him, never called him a monster like others did. Just then, a tired looking, Captain William David Lennox walked in.

"What happened to you?" Epps asked.

"Ironhide."

"Got it, forget I even asked."

"What'd he do? Nightmare, panic attack, something in that category?" Jazz asked, slightly better. He was still cuddling Epps though.

"No.. Sam, remember how I told you to take Annie to your room, let her stay there for a few nights?" Will asked.

"Yeah." Sam replied.

"We're fighting again, and I didn't go to sleep until... 6:30 this morning." Will grumbled.

"It's about 6:50 now, so only 20 minutes of sleep. Dad, go back to bed, we'll save you a plate of breakfast for when you get some decent sleep. Don't make me sick Optimus or General Morshower on you." Sam stated. Will grumbled, but he complied.

Not long after, Ironhide came out. He looked the same way as Will did. "And when did you go to sleep?" Optimus asked.

"I haven't slept yet. You can put me on medical leave or some shit like that, I still won't sleep." Ironhide grunted.

"Papa 'Hide?" Annabelle asked. Ironhide was a softie for Will, Epps, Annie, and Sam, that was it. He looked at the girl.

"Yeah, Annie?" 

"Will you and Daddy end up like Mommy and Daddy did?" Annabelle asked, softly. She remembered staying up late, hearing Will and Sarah scream at each other, mainly Sarah screaming at Will.

"To be honest... I don't know. I hope not, but... we might." Ironhide replied.

"What fighting 'bout?" Annabelle asked.

"You wouldn't understand, Anna. Go get ready for the day, your mother's coming to pick you up for the weekend." Ironhide muttered. Annabelle complied. Will settled for joint custody between him and Sarah, he said she could decide her own choices involving his and her divorce.

Later on that day, around 2 PM, Wheeljack came out of his lab excitedly. "What is that, 'Jack?" Sideswipe, Sunstreaker's younger, less vain twin brother, asked.

"My new invention! It still has a few kinks in it, but I'll get it figured out. It's basically a shrinking ray. When I get it all figured out, we can shrink the Cons down, and lock them away in the brig!" He replied, giddily.

But, somebot, no one knew who did it, activated the ray, and set it to sparkling mode. When the ray fired, it hit an unknowing victim, who just walked in; Ironhide.