AN:

Hey everyone! This little short story has been bugging me for awhile now so I decided it was about time to sit down and write it. Hope you guys like fluff! It was actually kind of nice to write something a little less sinister for once. Hopefully everyone is in character!

And as always reviews are appreciated!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Transformers or any of the characters seen in this story except for my my OC seen in the next chapter.


Chapter One

/Autobot Base - Mt. St. Hilary, Oregon, 1992/

Tired, worn, and weary, the Autobot forces shuffled into the Ark after a devastating battle against the Decepticons. The latest battle had not gone well for the Autobots and many were injured in the Decepticons' brutal attack on their base.

Although they had managed to fend off their bitter enemies and force their leader to call for a strategic retreat, the Autobots were far from calling it a victory.

Three of their own were critically injured; Tracks, Sideswipe and Cliffjumper currently were all under the excellent (if ornery) care of the Autobot's resident medic Ratchet. While Ratchet was busy with the more extensive injuries, Sparkplug was more than able to patch up any other grievances the battle torn 'Bots had obtained.

Over all it hadn't been so bad of a battle, but morale was low after seeing the devastation left on the once scenic mountainside that housed their base – their home.

"Make sure you don't strain that rotary cuff, ya hear me!"

"You got it Sparkplug!" Jazz assured the human mechanic with a cheery wave over his shoulder.

The easygoing mech was grateful for the repairs, don't get him wrong, but he just needed to get out of the med bay. It wasn't necessarily the friendliest place to hang around after a battle –especially with Ratchet going off the rails over whatever stupid injury a bot had received during the fight.

What Jazz really needed just then was a nice cube of high-grade and a couple of pals to hang with.

With that thought in his mind Jazz made his way directly to the rec room where he was sure to find several other bots looking for the same kind of thing.

It was a pretty normal routine for many bots –going to the rec room after a hard fight. And Jazz was sure that today would be no different.

He passed only a few stray mechs as he strolled through the orange halls of the Ark. Upon reaching the rec room, the visored mech was more than little shocked to find the place nearly empty.

Frowning, Jazz walked up to one of the few mechs brooding in the silent room, "Hey, Sunstreaker! What's up mech?" He greeted, smoothly plonking himself down across from the yellow frontliner.

The golden mech leaned back and scowled darkly, "All the bots are out trying to clean up the stupid mountainside."

Jazz tilted his head to one side, "Is that so?" he asked. He hadn't heard anything about a cleanup crew organized, so that had to mean it was voluntary.

"Slaggin' pointless if you ask me." Sunstreaker grumbled, taking a large swig of his high-grade.

Jazz's visor darkened slightly at the complete disinterest shown by the larger mech, but he didn't fault him. Sunstreaker was always moody whenever his twin was injured. It was probably for the best that he left the frontliner alone to drink his concern away in peace.

"Well no mech asked you, so if you don' mind I'll be takin' my leave." Jazz stated cheerily, mock saluting the yellow warrior.

Sunstreaker ignored him and continued boring holes into the seat Jazz had just vacated.

Jazz rolled his optics behind his visor and strolled out of the rec room to make his way outside. He wanted to see what was going on outside.

As soon as the mostly white mech stepped outside he felt the burning noon sun on his armor. Jazz dimmed his visor by a fraction and shrugged his shoulders before making his way around the side of the mountain where he could sense his fellow mechs. While he would never admit it, the rotary cuff Sparkplug repaired was still slightly sore and would likely be stiff for days. Jazz shook his head at himself, that's what he got for trying to use a series of tanks as monkey bars.

"Hi Jazz!" Bluestreak greeted Jazz with a enthused wave, "Whatcha doing out here? I thought you tore your shoulder up. If I had known you were out of the med bay I would have commed you to let you know what we're doing out here -but since I didn't know you were out of the med bay I didn't comm you. I'm glad you found us anyways!"

Jazz smiled at the dirty and dusty sniper, "You betcha Blue! I wasn't gonna let something small like a torn cuff keep me away from the party." The saboteur glanced around, noticing the neat piles of rubble and greenery that had been cleared away.

"What's ever'one doin' out here anyway?" he asked curiously as he took in all the damage done to the mountain side.

It was pretty bad, Jazz noted with regret. The whole side of the mountain reserve had been blasted to bits during the battle and almost all the trees had been burned, broken, or uprooted in one way or another. What once was a beautiful park like area was now not much more than dusty cliff-side.

"We're trying to clean up some of the rubble and replant the trees that aren't too badly torn up." Spike chirped up from behind a large boulder. "Its a lot of work, but I think we can make the place look decent until everything grows back." The young human explained seriously.

"Is tha' anythin' I can do ta help?" Jazz inquired hopefully.

"Nah, I think we were almost done already." The human responded politely.

"Besides it was really easy once everyone started helping. Its really good to know that everyone cares about the reserve so much. I mean, I know that some mechs love nature like Hound and Seaspray, but not everyone really likes it like they do. Not to say that there's anything wrong with that! Sometimes all the dirt and dust can get really annoying but-"

"It's all right Blue, I know what you mean. I'm glad to see how you've fixed up the place." Jazz responded knowingly, placating the young sniper.

"Bluestreak is quite right. It is spark warming to see the mechs come together of their own accord." Optimus put in regally, stepping in from behind the small group.

"Prime!" Jazz stated, instinctively coming to addressing his leader. He was too proud to admit that the huge mech had startled him.

"At ease Jazz." Optimus said, waving a servo. "How are your repairs faring?"

Jazz looked away, ashamed that the gentle leader had seen right through him. "Sparkplug did a dandy job, I'm just a bit sore OP. It'll be fine within the rotation."

The prime didn't look entirely convinced by his third in command's words, but nodded anyways. "That is good. I trust your judgement."

"Hey Prime, I think you might want ta see this!" Hound called from over the other side of the cliff range and interrupting the short lull in the conversation.

The prime looked vaguely interested and turned towards his companions, "Let's go investigate, shall we?" The regal mech asked gently.

Jazz grinned broadly, "Lead the way Prime!"

Optimus nodded curtly and began scaling the side of the mountain with beguiling ease. The saboteur snorted lightly and bent down to offer his human friend a servo.

"Need a lift, little man?"

"Sure thing! Thanks Jazz!" Spike said sincerely as he climbed into the mechs hand. "I was not looking forward to trying climbing all the way up on my own."

Jazz nodded understandingly, "Fair enough." The smaller mech stated before putting simply of his attention into navigating up the mountain side after his leader.

Climbing up to the largish ledge in the mountain the saboteur found Prime, Hound, Blue streak, Smokescreen, Bumblebee, and Blaster with his cassettes.

"Now this is a swinging party!" Jazz said enthusiastically as he placed Spike safely on the ground. "What's going on mechs?" He asked with a slightly more serious tone, crossing his arms and leaning back on a conveniently located boulder.

"Blaster's cassettes found a mountain lion's den!" Bumblebee explained, coming over to stand next to Spike.

"I hope you have not disturbed the wildlife that lives here Blaster." Prime's authoritative voice rumbled deeply, his concern clear.

"I think we're already too late for that, Optimus." Hound stated solemnly, indicating a small broken body half buried in a rock slide. "That's the mother there."

All the Autobots were silent and some could be heard to whisper an 'oh no'. Jazz's mandible clenched tightly at the sight no doubt caused by the battle earlier that morning.

To many it would just be another casualty of war, but for Jazz, every life was precious.

The Decepticons had a lot to pay for.

"Blaster! Blaster! We found a survivor!"

The somber mood was interrupted by the cries of the tape deck cassette bots as the small mechs came racing out of the den with a small something bundled in Eject's arms. Steeljaw followed behind his three siblings at a much more subdued pace.

"Whatcha got there my mechling?" Blaster asked lightly as his cassette approached.

Eject's optics twinkled and Blaster smiled at the sheer elation flooding his bonds with his creations. "It's a cub!" The small blue mechling declared.

"We think it belonged to the deceased mother. There was only one." Steeljaw put in with a low rumble.

Blaster appeared unaffected by the golden quadruped's seemingly insensitive words, but Jazz knew better. Something was obviously bothering Steeljaw, but further than that he had no insight on it. He hoped that Blaster would take care of it.

"Can we keep it? Pleeeaassseeee?!" Rosanna chirped buoyantly -Rewind, Eject, and Ramhorn all quickly joining the chorus of 'pretty pleases' and various forms of begging endearments.

Blaster looked back at the Prime, his hesitation clearly showing in his expression.

Optimus looked thoughtful, considering the squirming bundle of fur and claws still in Eject's servos.

"I don't know Blaster. You would have to be responsible for it. Are you up to the task?" The prime asked seriously.

Blaster was suddenly bombarded by a wave of 'pleases' and promises that 'they would take care of it' and 'they'd do all the work' through the bonds he had. The red mech risked glancing over his shoulder bolt to see the four sets of wide optics and pouty faces. He never stood a chance.

"Yeah, I'll take full responsibility for the lil' thing." Blaster stated reluctantly, letting his cassettes know through the bond that if they didn't hold up to their end of the bargain there would be severe repercussions.

"Alright then, the lion cub survivor is yours to take care of." Optimus rumbled lightly, smiling underneath his mouth guard at the exuberant cheering coming from the cassette bots.

Steeljaw was strangely lacking the same enthusiasm his brothers and sister shared over the collective success in getting to keep the cub.

His brothers noticed this and came frolicking up to the broody quadruped with the lion cub in servo –its hind legs dangling limply as the tired cub had given up trying to get free.

"Look Steeljaw, it's a mini you!" Rewind exclaimed, taking the cub from Eject and holding it out to his brother, essentially rubbing the cub's underside in Steeljaw's face.

"The organic is clearly nothing like me." Steeljaw growled darkly, getting up and moving so that his face wasn't full of fur.

~Steeljaw, behave.~ His creator warned lightly through the bond.

The golden plated cassette's eyes narrowed and he turned his head away, ignoring his siblings as they cooed and awed at the small cub.

Then their leader's regal voice captured everyone's attention, effectively interrupting whatever spat might have been brewing between the cassette bots.

"Autobots, congratulations on a job well done." Optimus Prime's deep voice rang through the warm spring afternoon. "You are all to be commended for your efforts to restore the reserve. You are all off duty –save for senior officers- for the duration of this rotation."

The huge red and blue leader paused to allow for the brief chorus of cheers coming from his mechs and the low groans of the senior officers in the background. Jazz wasn't all that fussed, really. The groans were just for show as he would likely have kept working off shift anyways.

And by 'work' he of course meant mess around with some of the other officers.

And by 'other officers' he of course meant a certain black and white tactician that refused to take a break unless Jazz was there to force him.

When the cheers died down Optimus dismissed the group with his iconic, "Autobots, roll out!"

Blaster flashed a grin and opened his chest compartment to let his cassettes transform and settle into their creators symbiotic hold.

Ramhorn was first, then Rewind and Rosanna, then Eject who swiftly placed the lion cub next to a disgruntled Steeljaw before also transforming into cassette mode.

With most of his cassettes put away and the rest of the Autobots already vacating the cliff-side, Blaster took the opportunity to address his eldest creation.

"What's bothering you my mech?" Blaster asked lightly, not pushing too hard if his creation did not feel like talking. He had a feeling he already knew what the problem was, but still gave Steeljaw a choice to talk or not.

He always gave his mechs an easy way out when they didn't want to talk, because he respected them. They had grown and matured a lot in the many vorns of war and Blaster treated each of them as their own person. A lot of mechs didn't view his cassettes as fully seperate or even intelligent beings. Blaster did though, he raised them and let them become who they wanted to be and respected their choices as their own.

It was one of the main reasons his cassettes respected him as much as they did.

Because he always respected them.

Steeljaw didn't respond at first, choosing instead to glare at the small cub currently nuzzling into his side. The large golden plated lion stood up abruptly -causing the cub to overbalance and topple into the dust at his four pedes. "I don't particularly see the point in keeping this creature." Steeljaw eventually grumbled, refusing to make optic contact with his frowning creator.

Blaster felt that his suspicions were confirmed in that statement and sat down lightly beside the golden quadruped, patting the space right next to his plating. His eldest creation hesitated for a long moment before succumbing to the strong need to be comforted and climbing onto Blaster's lap and curling up with his faceplate under his large arm.

Blaster smiled, knowing that he was finally getting through to the mech.

Steeljaw loved to pretend he was the tough big brother figure of their small family, but in reality he was just a gentle spark that needed just as much care and attention as any of his other siblings.

"You wanna tell me what's really both'ring ya?" Blaster asked gently, lifting his other servo to caress Steeljaw's pointed audials.

The large golden lion mumbled something into Blaster's side.

The red mech smirked. "Really now. Huh, cause I kinda figured you were just jealous of our new little addition." Blaster stated cordially.

"I'm not jealous!" His eldest creation said firmly, rearing back to glare at his sire. It was short lived though, because as soon as he saw Blaster's amused smirk he knew he'd already given himself away.

Blaster hummed, looking doubtful. "I'm not sure I believe ya, mechling."

Steeljaw groaned and flopped back down on Blaster's lap, earning him a curious mewl from the small cub on the ground beside him.

This time Blaster laughed, his smooth voice chuckling richly as he opened up his chest compartment for the second time that afternoon. "C'mon you, let's go catch up with the others."

Steeljaw sighed dramatically, pausing just long enough to stare down the orphaned lion cub before transforming smoothly and landing in Blaster's hold.

Once all his symbionts had settled the red tape deck stood up and looked at the mewling cub scrabbling at his pedes and smiled as he picked the small creature up and cupped it gently in his servo.

Blaster was sure life was certainly going to get a little more interesting with their new addition.

...But perhaps it wouldn't be a bad thing.