wildernesstales | TF: Christmas Challenge

Rating: PG
Series: G1
Pairings: Prowl/Jazz and all the pairings from the others make an enormous comeback (Red Alert/Inferno, Ratchet/Wheeljack/Ironhide, Blaster/Bluestreak)
Summary: Twenty years on Earth and Prowl reflects on the customs the Autobots have incorporated into their own calendar
Warnings: Easy on the fluff and big on the angst… Ooops…
Disclaimer: As per usual, the good things in life are not mine to have, but belong to someone else... in this case Hasbro, Takara and IDW and anyone else I’ve forgotten…
Authors Note: Written for the

prowlxjazz Christmas challenge, which is based around the four candles of advent. This one is for Love. I would just like to point out that my brain is an evil thing and reading through these prompts and finding a place for them in the series I’ve written so far… I realised that it would be full of angst and I almost didn’t want to write it… but hey, we all love a good bit of angst, right? And having been thoroughly nice to Red Alert in the last story, I’m back to playing on the poor mech’s paranoia!
This could kind of be seen in the same series as the Hope, Peace and Joy sets
Feedback makes friends. Flames dealt with by the masters of paranoia and fire, Red Alert and Inferno.

This fic is bought to you by the phrase ‘Happy Christmas’ and the wish that you get what you desire!

Twenty years they had been on Earth, twenty long years. Prowl stood and watched the preparations for their twentieth Christmas going on around him. Bluestreak was rushing around like a glitch-mouse after energon with the decorations, throwing them haphazardly in the air as he collided with Blaster, who was fiddling with the new (yet another bigger and better) sound system.
“Hey Blue man, watch yourself there.” Blaster laughed as he held out his hand for Bluestreak to take.
“Thanks Blaster. I’m sorry I didn’t see you there, I was just trying to get all these decorations up before the party tonight because you know I want it to be special and I wanted to make everything special and nice and…” Prowl was actually grateful when Blaster silenced Bluestreak with a kiss. He wasn’t sure how much more of the excitable Datsun’s explanation his audios could take.
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were arguing over the positioning of the baubles on the Christmas tree. After the year Jazz hadn’t been present to organise the decorating, Sideswipe had taken it upon himself to do it. Which resulted in an extortionately large amount of red baubles on the Christmas tree that year. Sunstreaker had been less than pleased and had virtually demanded that gold baubles be placed on it in equal amounts. The brawl they got into and the tirade Ratchet launched into after repairing them remained the highlight of that particular Christmas. However, since then, there had been an agreement made and Sunstreaker and Sideswipe *always* decorated the tree, with equal amounts of red and gold baubles. When Tracks had started to ask why there were no blue baubles, glares from Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and Ratchet quickly shut him up. As vain and egotistical as he may be, Tracks still had a good self-preservation instinct.
As the years had gone by, Sparkplug had introduced them to the idea of making their own decorations to be used again and again. Now the tree was decorated with an offering from every Autobot; even Optimus Prime and Prowl had made something to hang on the Christmas tree. Each year, they were carefully unpacked and reverently placed on the tree; the only items to be placed by anyone aside from Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.

The party was now traditional, stemming from the moment Prowl had asked Jazz to raise the morale of those Autobots stranded on Earth. As much as his logic centers despised the chaos that the festivities caused, he couldn’t help but enjoy them as he watch his companions having fun; the only time they were able to ‘let themselves go’ as Jazz put it. Miraculously, every year the Decepticons did not bother them in the week surrounding Christmas. If Prowl was a betting mech. he would have laid odds on it being due to Skywarp’s influence. The Seeker had been thoroughly grateful the year they had helped him and Thundercracker after a bad storm had nearly offlined Thundercracker. Ever since, they had received a small token of Skywarp’s thanks each year. Of course, the first year, Red Alert had practically destroyed the small package that he had found outside the doors to the Ark. Prowl decided he was glad Inferno had been drafted to calm his lover down as he watched Jazz carefully unwrap the package. Skywarp’s present turned out to be the plans to Megatron’s new ‘super-weapon’. Wheeljack and Perceptor had enjoyed themselves immensely that Christmas concocting a myriad of ways of disabling the weapon. Much to the displeasure of their respective partners; the very vocal displeasure of Ratchet especially.

Prowl smiled as he watched them, remembering all the Christmases that had brought them up to this point. Each one would have a special place in his memory banks. Like the year they had all decided to get one another presents. The multitude of calls Prowl and Prime had had to deal with regarding Autobots in shopping malls. They had sent Red Alert into a near meltdown, prompting Inferno to rush him to med. bay, leaving Prowl and Prime to explain the reasons behind large metal robots storming the shops that Christmas. Thankfully, once Optimus Prime had explained the reasons, they were accepted and advice was offered for the next year.
“What ya thinking about?”
“Christmas.” Prowl turned slightly to find Jazz standing at his side, eagerly watching the decorating (for Bluestreak had finally dragged himself away from Blaster) and frivolity that was taking place in the rec. room.
“Turned out well again this year ain’t it?”
“Definitely.”
“I say we leave them to it and go do some celebrating of our own.” Jazz whispered in Prowl’s audio.
“You are incorrigible.”
“Yup. And you love it.”
“Indeed.”

**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~**

By the time Jazz and Prowl returned to the rec. room, it had been decorated and the party was in full swing. Everyone was laughing and joking amongst themselves.
“I see Sideswipe’s latest batch of high-grade is going down well.”
“Yup. It’s good stuff too. Even Ratchet’s being allowed more than one cube this year.”
“And all cameras have been confiscated by Red Alert?”
“Most of ‘em.” Jazz smirked before dragging Prowl across to the table containing all the high-grade. “Come on, get that down ya… we’re lagging behind.”
“That is most certainly not my fault.”
“Well, you weren’t complaining.” Prowl declined to say anything, knowing the Jazz was telling the truth. He certainly hadn’t complained. In fact, begging for it might have been more accurate. Distractedly, he downed the contents of his cube, ignoring Jazz’s triumphant expression.
“Presents presents presents!” A shrill voice rang out above the music.
“Daniel Witwicky, you know better than to demand.” Carly admonished her son while Bumblebee laughed and nudged Spike.
“He’s almost as bad as you.”
“The little lad’s right thought Carly.” Ironhide nodded. “It’s time for the presents.” Ratchet stifled a groan as Wheeljack clapped his hands together.
“Any idea what they got Ratchet this year?” Jazz leant close to Prowl and asked.
“Yes. And I’m not ruining the surprise.”
“Spoilsport.”
“Naturally. There’s no fun if we know what we’re receiving.”
“Bet you already know what I’ve got you.”
“I had my chances to find out, but I never took them.” Jazz relaxed minutely as Prowl made his admission, before looping his arm round the tactician’s shoulders.
“Look at ‘em all man. I just love this time of year.” Prowl looked at the Autobots, currently in the midst of exchanging presents or unwrapping those they had already received. Wrapping paper littered the floor and cries of glee filled the room. This was the time of year when all Autobots put aside any differences they had and welcomed one another into their sparks. Prowl was not surprised to see Sunstreaker thrust a neatly wrapped present into Track’s surprised hands. Or to see Brawn sidle up to Perceptor and hand him a box. Or Cliffjumper and Mirage hugging one another in thanks for the presents they had received.
“You can just feel the love, can’t ya?”
“Most definitely. Merry Christmas Jazz.” Prowl agreed, wrapping his arms around the saboteur and drawing him closer before kissing him.