A couple weeks after the raccoon extermination...

In the weeks that followed, Ironhide kept to himself, remaining watchful of the Lennox family from afar. He just wasn't sure how to proceed with these humans. They were so delicate and easily startled he didn't want to cause them any further grief. Perhaps avoidance was the answer to successfully guarding humans? He kept his distance from them, a silent, but alert sentry. It seemed to be working until the day Annabelle started walking.

The Lennox's were out in their front yard on a warm sunny day with Annabelle. Ironhide was standing guard as he always was in the driveway nearby, continually scanning the horizon for any potential attack. Had he been human, Ironhide probably would've developed a hefty collection of ulcers being constantly alert. But Autobots could be alert without stress for as long as their energy was charged. He paid particular attention to the sound of jet planes overhead. That fraggin' Starscream wasn't going to catch HIM off guard.

Sara's excited voice caught his attention. "Oh look! I think she's going to do it again," she said pointing a video camera at her daughter.

Annabelle was propping herself on all fours, seeming ready to practice her walking outside. The Captain gently held out his hands which she readily used to pull herself upright. Planting her tiny feet she wobbly righted her body, clenching her fists.

Ironhide watched with unexpected fascination as the little human took a few tentative steps before plopping down on her diapered bottom.

"Oops! Try again Annie." Will encouraged, helping his little girl up.

Sticking out her tongue and then giggling, the toddler tried again, taking four steps this time before toppling.

Both parents clapped, gasping with high voices, "Very good Annie! Keep trying."

This went on for almost fifteen minutes until at last Annie was toddling with much more confidence. Ironhide tipped his crested head curiously. It was a rather primitive start but with more exercise the muscles in Annabelle's legs would develop properly.

Captain Lennox turned his head, noting the intent stare Ironhide was giving to his daughter's first steps. He smiled. Ironhide suddenly noticed Lennox's stare and quickly averted his optics, grunting quietly.

The deep noise caught Annabelle's attention and she directed her awkward walk towards the driveway.

Sara lowered the camera slightly, "Come back, Annie."

But the toddler didn't listen. Briefly she stopped at the gate, using the newly built fence post to steady herself. She was looking toward Ironhide's intricate foot.

The mother's voice tensed a bit, "Annie, stay in the yard." She took a step as if to retrieve her daughter when Will took her arm gently.

He said in a hushed voice, "It's alright Sara. Let her meet him."

Worry still filled the woman's eyes but she didn't intervene.

Ironhide wasn't yet aware of Annabelle's close proximity until Will said, "She's coming to you Ironhide."

The big black Autobot abruptly looked down with a startled jolt upon seeing the tiny girl starting a tedious path toward him. He cautiously took a step backward.

"Captain Lennox..." his voice was tense.

The man grinned, "It's alright Ironhide. She just wants to meet you."

For a moment Ironhide didn't want to say what he was thinking, but the toddler was getting closer to him. He took another step backward. The slight tremor it caused made Annie wobble dangerously, but she corrected.

Finally the bot grudgingly asked, "What am I supposed to do?"

Lennox almost laughed aloud at the sight of the giant weapons specialist retreating from a little toddler.

"Just hold still Ironhide. She'll come to you."

Ironhide froze like he could in his vehicle stage until little Annabelle made it to his foot. She put two hands on one of the thick struts that supported his weight, taking a break from standing on her own. Annabelle touched the slick metal inquisitively.

By this time Sara was even smiling at her daughter's boldness. She wasn't sure if Annabelle realized Ironhide was even a living thing and not just some playground equipment. She could see the uneasiness all over the Autobot's metal face.

"Hope you're not ticklish." Sara called up to him.

Ironhide gave her a puzzled stare, "Impossible. That is a human sensation."

The sound of Ironhide's rumbling basso voice made Annabelle crane her neck all the way back. She seemed to be wondering where that big voice was coming from. But the moment her head rolled back the shift of weight threw off her balance and she stepped backward. Her feet danced across the concrete, erratically trying to find her lost balance, but it was no use.

Seeing her inevitable fall, both Sara and Will instinctually surged forward to catch her. Unexpectedly, Ironhide quickly dipped down and caught the little toddler in one massive hand, preventing the fall. Leaning against metal fingers twice the width of her entire body, Annabelle steadied herself again, seeming unaware of the fall she could have sustained. The big Autobot remained stock still, allowing the young one to find her feet while using him as a support. She finally released her hands from his metal and he put his hand behind her as a precaution.

Once his scans determined she was steady again he removed his hand. Much to his surprise the little girl turned around to follow its upward ascent.

Will finally stepped in and scooped up his daughter giving Ironhide a bewildered smile. He put his forehead to Annabelle's saying in a higher voice, "Did you see that Annie? Ironhide saved you. Can you say 'thank you'?"

Ironhide watched the exchange inquisitively as Will mouthed the words 'thank you' very slowly. He seemed to be showing the young one the various positions of the mouth when the word was spoken.

The little one made the 'a' and 'oo' sounds of 'thank you' but the consonants were eluding her.

As he pondered the interaction, Ironhide's left cannon subconsciously began to spin slowly, extending outward a bit. The action made making a metallic fwooshing sound complete with a pulsing chirp. Without warning Annabelle opened her mouth and squealed. Ironhide bristled, fearing he'd frightened the young one. But it wasn't a squeal of terror. The child was looking up at him and laughing!

Ironhide stared down at her and Lennox, "What is amusing?"

The Captain laughed too, "I don't know. What did you just do?"

He looked at his cannons a moment, then at Annabelle who was staring up at him. Slowly, he extended his left cannon.

The sound, accompanied by the movement made her giggle with delight.

Again he retracted the cannon and extended it, procuring another laugh from the delighted toddler. Both parents were laughing too at their daughter's giggling fit.

Ironhide didn't understand. He understood laughter. He himself as well as all the other Autobots could laugh. Though, not many Autobots had ever heard the weapons specialist laugh and he did it so rarely they suspected he didn't laugh. The simple movement of his cannon didn't strike him as even remotely funny.

"Why is that amusing?"

Sara smiled, "Who knows? Annie just thinks it's funny."

Ironhide squinted his optics at her, "Why are YOU laughing?"

"Her laugh is contagious." Sara quipped.

The big Autobot pulled his head back in shock, "The laughter is a disease?"

At that both humans laughed.

Ironhide looked at both of them with concern, "She appears to have infected you both. Perhaps I should contact Ratchet to examine you."

They laughed even harder until Will finally said, "That's not what it means Ironhide! She means that if Annabelle laughs it makes us laugh. It's not a disease."

Shaking his head Ironhide grumbled to himself.

Sara waved up at him, "Do that cannon thing again."

Ironhide was about to protest until he saw Annabelle lean forward expectantly, smiling. This time he extended the cannon more quickly which delighted Annabelle as she giggled loudly.

"Humans." Ironhide thought wryly.