- Memories are perhaps the best gifts of all. -

~~|||~~

[Chloe's Third P.O.V]

"Chloe!?"

For second the girl's concentration was interrupted, the cause of it almost turning vatal for her. Her finger slipped, but in narrow time her other arm reached forward to grab the dangerous cylinder from falling and breaking the very explosive motor she was working on. But once she did that she lent too much forward, but felt relief brush over when the chain wrapped around her waist tugged up, preventing her from falling. A heavy sigh left Chloe, that was a close call. After saving the day and climbing back up she put the cylinder down and wiped the formed sweat off her forehead, getting back to work.

"Maybe I should finish that up..." She murmured out loud, like a monkey sliding down from her invented staircase around the huge project she was trying get to work. Chloe got a wrench from the ground and got up, starting to place a shelter for the exposed dangerous wires.

A man soon formed to her small smithy's opened doors, his look deepening the sight of her.

"Chloe!" He growled out loud, getting the girl all jumpy. The so-named teenager turned around to face him, remembering the cause why her life would've ended one minute ago. And it got her to deepen her look. "Do you have any idea what time is it!?" The adult questioned, rushing forward motioning his arms up.

Chloe suddenly frowned, bringing her arm up to see what the clock was. Annoyed groan left her, as she saw her school to start lesser than half an hour.

"The bus," Realization hit her, she had missed it. The man before her folded his arms proudly, nodding that she was right. And that he was pissed. "Uncle Joe I'm sorry. But this is way more important than math!" She preferred for her work, green eyes furious as ever. Her uncle glanced back at her non-finished work full of metal, a heavy sigh leaving him. He couldn't believe how small period of time he could stay angry to her.

"You remind me of your father." Joe chuckled sadly, Chloe rolling her eyes. She gets to hear that lots of times. What can you do- being inventor's daughter gives her the reason to follow his footsteps. "Always skipping from school." He suddenly blurted, giving her a warning look. Chloe made a funny look to him, full of confusion. "I'll give you a ride, you need to study also if you want to work someday." He nods outside, not going to move until she would.

"This is my work." Chloe reasoned, arms crossed firmly. But she couldn't but hesitate under her uncle's hard stare, biting her lip. But she was sure of one thing, nothing could take her away from her dream as the greatest inventor-- like her parents were. "All I need to know is which hand's left and right."

"And how many there will be once you loose the other," The man parts in, there was no arguing for him. Chloe glared at him, but his finger was strict to point out. Although he did make grin for her, knowing what will work. "I'll get us some harburgers along the way, you'll see Jack too."

Chloe saw no way out of this, ending up pouting. She put the wrench in her palm down to the tool box, glancing back at her work. The thought of getting some food brought her to the realization how hungry she was, as well that she'd see her classmate Jack. Jackson Darby, you'll get know to him.

"Fine." The teenager spat, with grumpy expression storming past him and towards his black SUV. "But I want chocolate milk-shake! And extra fries!"

Her uncle chuckled slightly, walking after her. But until he left the smithy his worried green eyes gazed back at the huge project of hers, he never got the answer what was she building. Chloe had the habit to show him her inventions when they were ready and this didn't seem to be an exception either.

But he closed the doors anyway, hearing his honk been pressed four times.

"Coming, coming." The man smiled, jogging easily for his car. The day was turning very hot, so his tight t-shirt was a perfect choice for the day. The shorts didn't prove to be wrong either. But once Chloe's uncle got into the vehicle and he started it up he could feel judging eyes on him, his own freezing to the teenage girl beside. His brow raised. "What's with the look, young lady?"

"Are you taking steroids?" Chloe lent forward, studying his solid body. It was nothing more than muscle as he was a big guy. So similar for her father. Unlike him Chloe looked like a cowboy girl with amazing curves, she loved her red/white camo sweater as well tight high-waisted black jeans and her brown special boots, don't forget her natural beauty; she gets called carrot-head lots of times by the red hair and green eyes. Her freckles were one thing she didn't like, they were too much of them. Everywhere.

Joe blinked, caught off guard.

"Not that I know of?"

"It's obvious! What are you- a vegetarian?" Chloe tried to ask, it was obvious that he used clothes like that often but she wanted to tease him, seeing it work since he made weirder looks second by second. "It's not good for you to eat greasy hamburger... which means only I can eat it." Now the man saw where she was going, not hidden smirk covering his face.

"You sneaky little lady."

"You know it, bitch." Chloe almost snorted.

"What was that?" Uncle Joe turned shocked, Chloe looking out of the window quickly. Wide smile playing on her lips.

"Get me some food already!"

~ Time skip ~

"-- Welcome to K.O driving where every patty's a knockout. May I take your order?"

Chloe lent over her uncle to be closer for the mike, her chuckles so hard to keep in. She recognized that voice anywhere, everywhere.

"Uhh yeah, two super combos with extra fries, extra great chocolate milk-shake as well some company to school!" Chloe yelled to the mike, hearing groan of disapproval as well shocked gasp from the other end. Jack usually had his school-times spended for his work. "Pretty please say that you're going to come!?"

"Chloe- you're breaking the tannoy." Jack sighed quickly, relieved. Chloe immediately remembered the idiotic two customers which mocked him of his work-- if she'd get her hands around them they would be pleading for help. But it was weird too... since from that day her mother had afforted his the most coolest motorcycle of the year. "To class is five minutes--"

"You'll get some of my milk-shake?" Chloe tried, pleading. She couldn't handle math classes straight from morning. Their class' girls were the worst, so much in themselves and hair all the time in shape. She had to work with them if the man wouldn't come.

"I'd give you extra." Her uncle suddenly lent forward too, Chloe smiled him a little. Giving a playful punch for his chest. She was so glad to call this man her Uncle- her father's older brother. How relieved it was that he chose to take care of her since their passing to the heaven.

"... Alright, alright. Be quick and grab your things while I get ready." Jack sighed, ending the call rushily. Chloe squealed while Joe drove to pick their meals up, giving the new-comer girl the original price. She must've pinch-hit Jack. Until he gave few bucks to Chloe who prepared to leave the vehicle already with her food, his eyes sterned.

"These are to Jack. You get to home straight from school, is that understood?" Her uncle said, threatening. The girl responded with eye roll, exiting the vehicle and grabbing her backpack. He must've remember the trip she pulled last time-- but that junkyard was the best place to find useful stuff for her creation. Uncle Joe had to pick her up in middle of night after he got hold of her pinpoint, polices searching her and all.

"Fine, fine." Chloe shut the door close, but not without giving the adult her usual wave. "Thanks for the food and ride!"

I still know some manners.

Joe nodded, driving off and leaving her behind. Chloe watched him get on the non-busy road of Jasper, Nevada, heading for his work then. He worked as a personal trainer obviosly, trying to train the people in the small town. The truth was: it was filled with elder people. Poor uncle. It was a surprise the miserable place even had a school and people of Chloe's age.

A sigh left her, until roar of an engine caught her attention.

Chloe turned to look back, watching Jack on his gorgeous blue and hintly pink motorcycle drive beside, he stopped to give her a helmet. And of course to get her on.

"The beauty of it never ceases." The girl said in awe, putting the helmet on. Jack was really a generous person, and she had known him like four years already. But then she handed him the cash before even concidering to get on. "Here."

"Thanks." The boy took them and shoved into his pocket, watching Chloe now sit on the seat behind him. Until her arms sneaked around his waist as she sighed briefly, seeming ready to sleep. "You didn't sleep again, did you?" He sighed then, starting to drive. The motor was so peaceful.

I forgot to tell that I concider him as my brother.

We fight like God damm siblings.

"I did." Chloe defended, the seat so warm and Jack was so comfy.

"For how long?" Jack questioned, glancing over his shoulder. Chloe's eyes widened as she stood to sit, her hand forcing his face forward.

"Concentrate!" She piped, not wanting to crash with anyone. Her uncle would be very pissed about it. Jack's head turned forward then, but his eyes would travel back on her once in a while, demanding. "... Five hours," Jack opened his mouth to argue. "But I slept my weekend very well!"

"Which means 8 hours." Jack groaned, worried for her. Her lack of sleep is mostly the reason she falls asleep during classes. "... The following weekened you will come for our place."

"Absolutely not." Chloe argued, that man's Mom would kill her with all food, lecture and hugs! One reason these two are so close; their Mothers knew each other all the way from childhood. And June Darby sticked like second mom for her... who Chloe had been avoiding since her own mother's passing-- she always reminded her of her Mother. Jack's eyes again traveled back to her in confusion and frustration. "I'm spending all my free-time to get my invention done for. I know this will be something big."

Second for what I and Mom did...

By that Chloe touched the necklace around her neck, grasping it tight. The stone was made of pure unknown material, blue. But it was beautiful. Unique for her. Her fondest memory.

"You need to get away from your home for a while." Jack made a tight turn, they already could see an empty school yard. "Like seriosly. Get a boyfriend or something else to think about."

... Idiot.

"Shut up." Chloe growled through gritted teeth. Jack pulled over for his rightful parking lot, not even getting to remove his helmet as Chloe was already off and looking pissed. The boy ended up sighing, throwing his helmet off until rushing after her. His eyes apologizing for his motorcycle.

"Chloe!" Jack called, noup. The girl entered the building, empty halls greeting them. Damn the class had already begun. "Look, I'm sorry," The male grabbed her hand, forcing her to stop. Her head slowly turned to face him, been greeted by soft and hurt smile. "It has been two years but I see that you're still in pain... my apologies."

Chloe frowned, realizing how idiot she was. She shook her head sadly, chuckling quietly.

It must run in the family to not stay upset for too long.

"Sorry." She said too, she was short-tempered but not able to stay angry for too long. "I don't know what came into me... I guess everything reminds of them, including you."

Jack smiled sadly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders while fuzzing her hair up.

"It's fine, hot-shot."

"Oi! They were perfect you idiot!"

"Wait-- the class!"

"Ohh shit!"

~~|||~~

[Autobots]

"Optimus, I'm picking up a faint energon signal."

The medic informed, tapping up a screen and map where was a moving target. The trail was barely seenable, which was the reason Ratchet picked it up. Hearing his call Optimus soon walked to see what was going on, his optics deepening.

"It isn't one of ours since Arcee and Bumblebee are guarding the children and Bulkhead is out on patrol." Ratchet added, the pinpoint not telling exactly who was on the move. But their Prime didn't want to leave anything unchecked.

"Most likely it is Starsceam or Airachnid... Megatron usually doesn't send his drones out alone." Optimus said, thinking.

"Or maybe it is he himself, concidering how faint the trail is." Ratchet gave a hint of growl, despite his tries not managing to pass through the target's small barrior. "Soundwave must be infering most of the signals."

"The real question remains why is the Decepticon out there." Optimus turned towards the Ground-bridge then. "Bridge me out. I will not allow anymore take-backs surprise us the more they have already done."

"Alone?" Ratchet questioned highly concerned. "What if it proves to be a trap?"

"Then you will call everyone back to base, or bridge me back if I require so." Optimus knew the dangers of this mission, but knew they had risked pretty much everything else already. Even the human children had been involved all this without a good reason.

"Alright then, Optimus. But I will inform Bulkhead to be ready if you are in need of back-up."

"That will do, old friend."

《~~|||~~》

Alright, how's it doing? So I desided to write second TFP book for fun, this time wanting to bring more of Megatron up. It'll be fun and actioned no worry!

I'd also really appreciate for getting some comments, votes and opinions :'D

~keep reading.