Prime Blood Ironbands:

Timeline: After Infernal Fire and the Wrecker's rescue of Chromia. Mixes with Prime's Bloodline story: Rosa.

Current? Ironhide and Chromia are stationed on Earth at the newly established Ocean City. Jungle, Artic, and Tasmanian Bases are in various stages of construction.

Warnings: M for romantic interaction. {flashback} and {end} flip back and forth numerous times between past and present. Sorry for the confusion but it's important.

Characters: Duh, Ironhide & Chromia, Optimus & Elita, Ratchet, Bee… um I forgot who else. Oh yeah: Wroughtiron, Ferrous, Poco, Primo, Rosa all mine, everyone else Hasbro's (of course).

Continuum: Mine + G1 + Movie + Exiles all scrambled together like egg-stuff.

Lastly: if any of you read Ironbands on deviantart, I decided after reading better fan fiction on Ironhide&Chromia via lady tecuma, and litolehatchee, and a few others, this needed a complete overhaul and upgrade. So fan fiction gets the better version.

On with the story… Once upon a time in a Autobot Ocean City Base~

Intro/recap: After pulling a double- near triple- shift Chromia wanted nothing more than crawl into her berth and die next to the sleeping warm mech already there. She pulled the horrendous shift because incoming Prowl looked worse than overworked Chromia did. Ironhide needed to sleep for the installations going on with the equipment Prowl and Grapple were bringing in. So that left Chromia to be the acting CO. Occasional long shifts were nothing new, but they were still hard. Jetfire, unable to sleep, made his way to the command deck near the middle of the third shift. Seeing Chromia, he merely chucked a thumb to the door. She didn't even try to pull rank or scoff, she only gave him a weak smile an slumped off down the hall dragging her peds.

Now here the femme was trying as quietly as possible to enter her shared moonlit quarters. She came closer to the berth and the moisture reducing blanket was silently pushed aside by her mate while she crashed face down, armor still on. The blanket, desperately needed for metallic beings (especially the mech terrified of rust) living on the ocean, came over her body followed by the thick unarmored thigh across her lower back. The mech's naked chest curls nearly across her back, too. The bicep and forearm aligned with her own as does the calf against her bent thigh. His chin rested against her helm top. Covered, snuggled, and pinned to the berth by her beloved larger mate, Chromia quickly slipped into stasis in complete bliss.

All too soon, it was a bright clear day with the sun reflecting off the gentle roll of the ocean casting dancing reflections across the ceiling from the CO quarter's open balcony. Seeing who the CO was of Ocean City, the "balcony" was actually a weapons platform with massive rotating cannons currently positioned straight up so humans down below could do some wiring adjustments inside the mechanisms. Hearing the voices, the sparkling blue femme commander now alone on the berth brought her optics online. The voices weren't loud or unpleasant to the femme. In fact, she lay there a little bit longer listening to the voices and gazing to the sight outside the open balcony "windows/doors". Her mate knows how much it frightens her to awaken alone in an enclosed room, so he had opened the "windows" before he headed to duty. And now the deep toned Cybertronian mech-commander voice was drifting up to her audios from below guiding the crew's duties. Laying there listening and staring at the opening reminded Chromia how the "windows" were "installed" with a grin.

She wanted windows when she moved here. Ironhide tried to tell her that it wasn't safe for the CO to have a human delicate luxury item like glass in the wall of their quarters. The ensuing fight put two rounds through the wall: one his and one hers. Large enough for them to walk out onto their "balcony". She got her "windows".

The pinging of a personal long distance communiqué brought the femme commander to the present and upright. She went over and picked up the mobile unit activating it: "Chromia," she answered warmly. The beaming red femme on the other end of the screen sent Chromia's spark such a flutter that the mech down below stuttered his last set of instructions feeling it through their link. "FIRESTAR!" Chromia squealed.

Firestar giggled back. "Hey there CO, thought I would check in with you." Chromia wanted to say so much but what could she? It had been so long since she saw her medic and dear, dear friend. Firestar helped her out though, "So how is it going on the water? Any rust from that glitch headed mech of yours?"

Chromia laughs, "Actually, I've been having a grand time making sure his underarmor is properly sealed." Firestar sniggered into the innuendo that was definitely fact. Chromia finished the statement off with an optic glint, "And likewise returned."

Chromia could feel her mate's confusion through their bond. Chromia took the hand held unit out onto the balcony and easily sat herself down between two cannons. Back against one and stretching her ankles high against another barrel. Ironhide could see her and he sniggered at her so sexily relaxed among the powerful -even if offlined- weapons. Like a bird making a nest inside the barrel. He send her a wicked thought about being between his cannons. She licked the send right back making him visible shutter down below in arousal.

Firestar is very warm in her next statement, "So I take it bondhood agrees with you both?" Like she really had to ask? Chromia and Ironhide had waited far too long to bond. Unlike Prime and Elita who had sponantiously combusted, or herself and Inferno who had done it properly.

Chromia is just as warm in her reply, "Firestar, now I understand you and Elita about a thousand times better. How Optimus makes it now, I'll never understand. I can't imagine the silence. And you, how do you do this silently?"

Firestar blushes, "Actually, that's one of the reasons I called. I may not have to. Perceptor thinks he may have found the cure."

Chromia squeals, "Really! That's wonderful!" Swiftly she sends to Ironhide the news. He shoots his head up and beams a smile back letting her know he will send Inferno his own private message later. Chromia turns back to the device in her palm. "He sends his blessings." Firestar smiles and nods accepting the tough warrior's gift. Chromia leans in, "How?"

Firestar is all smiles when she drops the next set of news, "Perceptor's mate is expecting. And she thinks that a sparkling is part of the key to forcing the poison residue out."

Chromia gapes, "Okay wait you just threw too many impossibilities at me at once. So let's break this down. First, WHO has a mate? And WHAT do you mean expecting a sparkling? Three, isn't that a bit dangerous? And four, YOU are EXPECTING!"

Firestar laughs into her friend's over taxed processor. "Yes, Perceptor bonded in a near Wheeljack-like-explosion of commotion a while ago. Her name is Laroura and she's half Cybertronian and half Rousan. Two, yeah, can you believe it! A new little science-bot will soon be running around. Perceptor is so happy you'd think his Energon has been traded out for helium. NO, I'm not expecting… yet. But we are going to try later this week."

"Do you want me to come?" Chromia reaches a finger out to touch the screen.

"I know how much 'Hide and you need each other. I don't want to separate you."

Chromia smiles, "Well, 'Hide said something about Prime needing him for something special, personal, so I'm all yours for a few days. Let me get some stuff set up here with Jetfire and Prowl and I'll be there."

Firestar smiles, "That would be great, Chromia." Then she smirks, "You know, if this works you and Ironhide could have a few sparklings of your own."

Chromia shakes her head sadly, "You know better than that. After the stuff Mindwipe did to me… I've lost…"

Firestar reaches out to her friend and knows first hand exactly that damage that had been done. "With Wheeljack, Perceptor, myself… we'll find you a way."

Chromia doesn't want to sink to spark break, "Look, you try it out first. Let me know how carrying goes. If it's successful for you, we'll talk. Deal?"

Firestar smiles, "Okay. Look I've got go. Perceptor wants to run some tests. I'll see you in a few days?"

Chromia nods. "I sure miss our femme talks."

"I thought there were females on that base with you?" Firestar is a bit more worried about her friend.

"Females, yes. Female soldiers, yes. Femme warriors, no. Ones that understand mechs and Autobot command structure, heck no. Ones that understand me-" she rolls her optics in real grief, "Pit no!"

Firestar chuckles, "Commander, even I don't understand you! The only one who does, shares your berth. And for that, you are damned lucky."

Chromia looks down to her bonded striding across the deck inspecting the work. He looks so good as Commander. Yeah, that stride of confidence and guidance not afraid to give credit where it was due and admonish when need be as well. He turns his head looking back up to his mate with complete endearing love. Chromia looks away from Firestar returning his love softly, "Yeah Firestar, I am blessed."

Firestar smiles again, "We're at Jungle Base. I'll see you later this week. Bye."

"Bye Firestar." She disconnects the device. Ironhide sends her a wave of concerned confusion. Using their new sparklink she sends, "Firestar is asking me to come to Jungle Base. I don't want to leave your side, but I know Prime is asking for you for something private and personal."

Stepping closer to the building so his mate can see his blue optics better and his face plates in tenderness, Love, this planet is small enough, I will be able to feel you from Ark to Jungle Base. Go stand by your friend's side as I do for mine. It will be alright. I can feel you now, it's more that I every hoped for. Shhh, don't cry." Even from this distance he could see the few tears beginning to tumble down her face. He smiles, "Go. Prowl can handle this place for a few days."

Chromia stands up and nods to him. The tip to his helm is a signal to both that he is getting a com-call. He turns away from her to deal with business. Chromia turns back inside their quarters and puts the com unit down to start her own day as joint commander with Ironhide of Autobot Ocean City. {see Pre_ceived and Infernal Fire}

~~~ Later that week, Chromia went to Jungle Base to be in the waiting room holding Inferno and Firestar's hands while a heavily sparked Rousan and excited Perceptor ran tests on the beloved couple. The tenderness in which Inferno gazes down at his mate shows that their bond has healed. He can hear and feel everything she does. It nearly makes both their frames sing so that the sparkling blue femme in the room could too.

Perceptor turns finally around and beams, "Start picking names and asking for bigger quarters."

Firestar launched herself onto her mate. He grasped her just as tightly cuddling and swinging her around not even caring that he nearly knocked Chromia or Laroura down. Perceptor quickly pulled his pregnant mate aside into his own arms. Chromia squealed in delight for them both. Inferno finally stopped swinging and Chromia was able to wrap an arm around each red bot to hug the couple back. Inferno's face was completely soaked in tears from both his mate and himself. And then to everybody's surprise, he sank to his knees and started praying in the old language most reverently saying praises for his repaired bond and the little on the way.

Laroura pressed her forehelm to her mate and joined the prayers. Chromia lowered her own, hearing Perceptor add his own words to the prayers. The scientist's words were in gratitude to their god for granting wisdom to give this beloved couple the blessings they deserve. He took no credit for himself. No this was all in praises for who gifted him with the processor to decipher the mysterious of the universe and restore what should have never been broken. Everyone prayed that the new sparkling would be happy and healthy.

Not long after that, Inferno and Firestar drifted off with the other expecting couple to talk plans. Chromia drifted back out of the way. Firestar glanced back to her a couple times with sympathy for her damaged friend. Chromia lifted a palm, "I'm going to go call Ironhide and let him know."

Firestar holds a hand out to her friend, "You aren't leaving until you give me a couple names and help me paint the sparkling' room. You got it? I hear the name Tia on Earth means sister of the creator, Tia 'Mia."

Chromia chokes back her smiling sob and nods. Firestar is not going to let Chromia just slip off the base without being part of this miracle. Chromia understands and leaves the room to head to the communication's room.

The walk down the hall was hard and soon the blue femme commander finds herself slipping into a corner and curling into a ball sobbing. She can feel her mate reaching out to her. He knew she was aching and had a good idea why, but still supported her letting her know, no matter what, she was his… forever. Even if it would only ever be just them two. Chromia tries to hold onto that, but it's still hard. The chip that Mindwipe had put on her spark chamber to capture the energy readings and changes when she finally bonded with Ironhide had to be cut off. Cutting the poisoned chip off had also cut layer after layer of strong metal from the wall of her spark chamber weakening it. There had been rumors how Elita had conceived: stolen water from the Well of the AllSpark before it was jettisoned. Supposedly there were a few other femmes out there who had done the same thing. But the toll conception puts on the spark chamber would be too much for Chromia's poor damaged one. As it was, she had to be careful when she bonded and overloaded with Ironhide. Carrying would probably kill her… and the sparkling. And where would that leave her beloved mate?

~~~ {[ insert Rosa's childhood story here for where Ironhide was.]} While Chromia was down helping Inferno and Firestar at Jungle Base, Ironhide was at the Ark helping deal with young cocky Rosa Pax (Optimus' daughter) adjust to warrior's grief for a horrendous mistake she made in love-for-family driven arrogance. It killed her brother. Ironhide did not tell Chromia that Optimus had a daughter knowing it would be a bit difficult for her to adjust to. One: Optimus taking a new mate, and human at that. Second: two offspring. One coming a bot. It was almost too much for his own processor let alone trying to explain it all. He was still coming grips with it all even though it had been a near ten year processes.

Chromia ended up returning to Ocean City before Ironhide. He told her something about a hijacked ship of Prime's he was investigating was delaying him. She just nodded and ran the base with Prowl and Jetfire until he returned.

When Ironhide returned, he was hiding something big in his spark. An aching pit for Optimus… again. A new pain, that much Chromia did notice. But she didn't push, Ironhide would tell her if he wanted to. If not, she could respect her mate being Prime's private confidant.

Prowl headed back to the Ark soon after Ironhide returned home. Chromia and Ironhide were all business and professional before the other human and bot crew members. Any outsider looking in would never know they were mates. Just an extremely well trained elite team. Not one to mess with. Jetfire knew better. There was the slightest twitch of Chromia's hand laying next to Ironhide's on the console. There was the extra glance Ironhide gave Chromia when he handed out the Energon cubes at "lunch".

When the details of bringing Ironhide up to speed about his city were getting monotonously dull and even repeated, Jetfire cut off Chromia with a very soft tone, "Go." She just stared at him and he smiled broader, "I know there other matters you need to discuss. Go. I've got this."

Ironhide just nodded. He was getting tired. It was taking a lot to keep his processor from drifting to all he just went through with Optimus. Looking to Chromia, he felt her just as quiet. Too quiet. She was holding herself back from him as well. But why? He let Chromia exit the command center first and then fell beside her down the corridor silently. Maybe he couldn't feel her because his own emotions were a bit messed up with Inferno, Perceptor and Prime being sires and the whole Rosa thing.

Inside their quarters, they were silent again preparing to berth down for the night. Ironhide systematically removed his heavy armor and set it inside the dehydrator beside Chromia's gathering armor. And then the spreading and soothing on of the anti-rust sealant Ratchet had prescribed for the rust anxiety-prone mech. Ratchet couldn't believe Ironhide would take the assignment so near the water with this issue. But then he saw a chance of stability for Chromia. A chance to make a home for her…

"Chromia, what's going on? How are Firestar and Inferno?" Ironhide tried to gently push through her firewall while massaging the sealant over her back, being careful of a few scars. A particular moan from her, causes him to massage that spot again. Chromia hoped she could distract her own spark-pain if she just focused on his hands soothing and warming her. It wasn't long and they were interfacing. But it wasn't passion-lit like other times. Both were holding back. It was just a routine. Once the dull lifeless and weak release was over, Chromia rolled to her front. Nothing needed to be sent or said. They both knew it wasn't what it should have been. Ironhide called the lights off, pulls the blanket over them and assumed his favorite position. Not only did the hitched up hip relieve pressure on a bent strut on his lower back, but it pressed him ever so close to his mate. For Chromia, the powerfully thick thigh pressed into her lower back was not only like a hot-pad on an aching similar strut, it was a reminder, she was safe. He was there. They were together. Forever…. Alone.

Curling her arms under her head, she was sure he was in stasis by the change of his sparkbeat against her back, the tears came. And then a whimpering sob embed out. She soon found out he wasn't asleep at all. Curling and turning his body to his side, he readjusted her as well. The thigh now lay over her side, not her back. He pulled her chest against his so he could feel her spark beating against his. His big palms tucked her face into his neck pressing his cheek to hers. "I'm here."

"I can never give you what you deserve," she sobs out. There was no point in even arguing. She just needed to vent. He could feel her emotions were so raw that anything he said would be taken wrong. So he didn't. He was just there for her holding her while she sobbed her self into stasis. Looking out to the stars, he tried not to be angry with his god. No, he needed guidance and begged for that instead, slipping into stasis as well.

The next morning with her more calm, he smiled into her spark and reminded her, all her mate really needed was her holding him at night. Chromia accepted his truth especially when he released tiny bit of what he was holding back: "I'm a tiny bit jealous of those mechs, too." Cupping her face though and smiling broadly, "But, I heard recently, Sideswipe and Ratchet are jealous of us." She flushes and he chuckles, "Hard and fierce as I am, I have a mate and flashy and devoted as those two are have no one." Chromia's spark waves in pity for them. Ironhide curls a palm over her delectable hip, "Ratchet's coming in a few days. I want him seething in envy." This time the interfacing is passion lit. Quite a few following nights, the entire base heard them crying out to the stars sure that the troops on Cybertron could hear them. They didn't care. Ratchet seethed from his quarters a few doors down.

Prime Blood's Ironbands Chapter 1:

Ironhide could only shake his head in amusement. He thought he was the only one who had these problems with his team. But listening to Ratchet's frustration, just short of cursing them out again, he knew these new rookies were driving him just as crazy. Then the door slid open and Ratchet nearly knocks over Ironhide in his frustration.

"Going to shoot one of them, Ratchet?" Ironhide jests.

"No! Because then I will have to repair them." Ratchet storms off down the hallway away from the installations he was overseeing.

"Do you want to go blow something up?" Ironhide tries to be helpful. Ratchet turns to his long time friend. Ironhide has to crack a smirk that leaves Ratchet shaking his head again. This time in amusement.

"Alright. But it could be you I blow up." Ratchet warns him really needing the physical release. Medic or not, he was still a mech and soldier.

"Oh, you really think you are that good?" Ironhide challenges him.

"Let's find out! I've patched up your sorry hide enough times."

"You're on!" Ironhide jumps into a roll and goes to his truck mode. Ratchet folds up right behind him and they tear off down the hall causing the engineer humans to dash out of the way or become road kill. Some how the two heavy speeding mechs make it to the firing range without killing anyone.

They have just barely started firing when the alert comes to Ratchet via closed com. "Sir, Medivac here." Ratchet motions to Ironhide to stop. Ironhide does and comes to him.

"Yes, what is it." Ratchet almost growls.

"I'm sorry sir but, well but we've got a situation." Medivac really hates to call his commanding officer. But knows if he doesn't, he will be in bigger trouble.

"What now?" Ratchet orders. Ironhide taps into the call.

"Sparker grabbed the wrong program. And now the system is going haywire."

"What did he grab?" Ratchet has a hand to his forehelm at this point.

"The virus." Medivac cringes.

"How the slag did he get that? Only Prime should be able to release it." Ironhide gasps.

Ratchet is rushing towards his lab, "That's the least of our worries right now, Ironhide. Call your team, clear the north tower and anyone in firing range." Then Ratchet turns back to Medivac, "Shut it down NOW!"

"I can't it won't respond. It wants your override command code." Medivac is starting to panic.

The base is being charged up. They can feel the floor rumble from the powering up of the new more powerful guns on the north tower. Ironhide turns to his own radio, "Chromia, gather the team from the north tower. We have to clear it STAT."

"Got it!" the femme voice responds. The broadcast is heard for the weapons team to clear the north tower.

Ratchet turns to Ironhide at the doorway where they will part to command their separate teams., "Ironhide, Optimus and team are in anytime. If I can't get that system shut down in time, you have to keep him clear. I can't even imagine what will happen if he is hit with that virus again."

Ironhide points a commanding finger at him, "Then I suggest you get it shut down ASAP." But both of them have that look of fear for their leader. They know how deadly this could be for him. They can't deal with the thought of anything crazy happening to Optimus… again.

Ratchet barrels into his lab and starts directing engineers and Autobots in shut down procedures. The team is scrambling. One Autobot is just fumbling around. He never should have been allowed in the lab in the first place. Ratchet finally picks up the Autobot and sets him outside the door of the lab. He secures the door. He takes a heavy sigh and turns back around again.

"Lets get this right. Gina, try to contact or shut down the space bridge. Thomas, try cutting the power to the North tower guns. Muffy, try to over ride the program. Medivac, remove that chip!" The team immediately does what he says. He is praying this will work.

Mean time, Ironhide and Chromia and team are gathering the humans off the tower knowing that it's quicker that physically ripping the wiring out. They had been installing a new shield system. There were so many of them. The humans were so efficient. He certainly didn't want to see all their work go to pieces now.

"Ironhide!" he heard Chromia bellow. He turns to see the guns warm up.

"Ratchet! What are you doing?" Ironhide orders.

"I have to purge the system. It's the only way it will shut down."

"Well, aim them some where else!" Ironhide gives him a duh tone.

"I'm a little busy trying to not to let them blow the whole tower to bits." Ratchet growls back at his teammate. Then they all see the space bridge begin to form.

"Holy Spark!" Chromia, Ratchet and Ironhide all cry at the same time.

There is no time to command. All Ironhide has to do is turn to Chromia. She is at his side in a flash. He just turns to her and nods. She will follow his lead. Not even the sparklink is needed for this communication.

The tower guns are glowing green. They await for the bridge to burst. The bridge is directly in the guns line of sight. Good to know the guns work and are aimed properly. Too bad this is the wrong time to be firing. Chromia and Ironhide know they only have one chance at this. Timing will be crucial.

The flash from the exterior high altitude space bridge and that is their signal. Chromia and Ironhide blast their emergency thrusters at the same time side by side. All they have to do is knock Optimus' trajectory off a little to keep him out of the line of fire. The others will follow or back off. Chromia cries out, she is drifting off course. Ironhide reaches one arm out and catches her around the waist and pulls her tight against his torso. They both raise an arm over their heads to strike their leader off course. Ironhide wraps his black hand around her blue one. One might think it is for maximum impact. But combined with his words, she knows it is to protect her hand just as he protects her spark, "I love you, Chromia." She has no chance to respond.

It all happens too fast. Flash! The team emerges. Wham! Impact with Optimus and his "Oomph!" cry of shock, then a flash of green and a cold burn through her body, then his and splash! Impact with the water. And then she goes out.

~~~ The next thing the femme commander knows, "Chromia?" She knows this voice but it sounds slightly different. "Come on, Chromia. Don't do this to me." It's voice of deep compassion. She smiles. She must be alone with Ironhide for him to talk this softly and tenderly to her. Slowly opening her eyes she can see the water all around, but she is floating. She should be sinking. Why isn't she? "Chromia?" She can feel a grip tighten around her soft waist. Soft fingers, cold water, hot breath on her neck. Silent bond. Fear grips her spark/heart instantly. The spark bond-link has been severed even though she can audibly hear his voice? What the…?

And there it is again, a large firm servo -no! hand!- gripping her soft squish waist. Soft? Squishy? Her body tenses, there is a warm breath against her ear again pleading her name. She hurts. But she has never hurt like this before. She has never felt this way before either. She is cold. Wet. The hand on her waist is warm and a tight grip that is starting to press harder into her skin. Skin?

Chromia rolls her head to the side and looks up into another human face with electric blue eyes. She can feel his chest sigh and a smile break over his mouth at the sight of her eyes. That smile she would know no matter what creature it was on: her beloved praising "Thank Primus," his voice is very soft and warm. He presses his lips to her temple. "Chromia you had me frightened."

"Ironhide?" she manages to croak out. He smiles broader and nods. "What…?"

He laughs gently, "Can you swim?"

"I don't know. I'm still in shock," she manages to say. So many sensations she is not used to.

He laughs hearty. She likes the feel of his chest rumbling against her back, always has. Just as comforting as their normal bodies. "Well, I do know we need to get out of this water soon or else we will have hypothermia." She gives him a very confused look. He just shakes his head. "Never mind, just follow me. Alright? If you get into trouble, I'll be there."

"I know you will," she manages to say softly. His expression turns very soft. The silence of the bond doesn't seem to surprise him and for a strange reason, that is comforting… for the moment.

Ironhide loosens his grip on her waist. Chromia begins to move her legs like she had felt his doing while coming around. He lets go completely and she is able to tread water on her own. With an encouraging smile, he moves ahead. She some how manages to get her arms to follow his. This is so new. Such a strange and wonderful feeling. Best of all, she isn't alone. If she was to be changed, and the spark link severed, at least they were both alive and together. Stroke by stroke, she follows him to an access port on one of the strut-pylons of the Ocean City Base. Luckily it isn't too far away. This new body doesn't feel as strong as her Autobot body and tires easier. What has happened to her?

She follows Ironhide's lead and grabs the ladder rung. They stay there and rest for a moment catching their breath. "What happened?" she pants. His chest is heaving too. A crooked smile comes across his face. She can see he is retreating to a memory. "Ironhide? What are we going to do?" her voice wavers. She tries not to show fear. She knows they don't have time for fear. She tries to gather her wits but is failing miserably.

Her sparkmate drifts closer to her dropping his expression to one of support. It should bother her that he isn't freaking out, but on the other hand, it's very comforting. Chromia can see her mate's human face much clearer now that her eyes have cleared and are face to face. This human body of his, well her human body finds him very attractive. Just as her Autobot body had be enraptured by his Cybertronian frame and armor. The upper part of his human torso is out of the water, naked and within reach. A barrel chest. Solid rounded shoulders. Biceps that are also solidly rounded and mounded in muscles. His forearms are just as large and muscular. His "guns" are rounded and as powerful as his Autobot cannons. And his skin, as black as new tires. Glossy right now due to the salt water. She looks across his shoulders and up his firm neck and his broad head. His scalp is as slick as his chest. Not a hair on it. Yes a few of the scars have come across the transformation. Particularly the deep one across the forehead and left eye. His hand that comes toward her is as large as panther paws, but when they reach for her and cup her jaw bringing her lips within inches of his they are so tenderly powerful like powerful mech cupping a beloved mate. His lips press against hers and the kisses are the just the same warmth and passion she knows so well. Like coming home.

She has no control over these emotions. Do emotions drive this human body more powerfully or is it her fear of loosing him again? Her lips respond to his. They must take a take a better grasp of his, moaning a need of connection. Her own powerfully naked muscular yet feminine arm slides against his chest and around his neck sealing their union. Her palm slides up the back of his bald head and forces them tighter together. His lips part, her tongue responds. She joins his human experience needing to stay connected to him. Never to be separated again.

"Ironhide! Chromia!" The voices cry out from above. Optimus, Ratchet and the others are scouring the area for them. The search parties are out across the ocean.

Ironhide pulls back from the panting kiss leaving them both flushed with heat. She looks down at her own black skin pressed against him. This body has respond delightfully to his touch. She really likes these new raw sensations.

"I kind of like this new body," she smiles at him.

His hand drops to her shoulder and around to her back, "I'm beginning to understand these humans a little better." Then with a twisted smirk, "And a friend of mine." She doesn't move. Neither does he. Even though the voices above are calling for them. Some are even desperate. Neither is anxious to be found… just yet. Ironhide can't help but chuckle lightly to himself, "Fragg'n paybacks, Primus."

"What are we going to do?" She asks again, trying to push aside their duty.

"What do you want to do?" he asks her, pushing just as hard.

"You are Base City Commander, Sir," she tries to give him a reason to take control of the situation.

"Not right now I'm not," his voice whispers hungrily. She watches the look in his electric blue eyes turn so un-commander-like.

"Then who are you?" she already knows answering his huskiness. They have tried to keep their relationship from interfering with the operation. Not very many people knew how passionate the hard as bolts commander could be in his own quarters with his beloved mate. But there was one who knew better than anyone else how much Chromia had Ironhide's spark wrapped around her servo. And right now he was up there bellowing for them both.

Ironhide's tone drops to a very husky voice, "Let me get you out of this water and I'll show you exactly what this body can do."

"More than this?" she kisses him again. His hand drops from her back and down below the water. Presses her against his hips letting her feel the human male side of him hardening in a familiar way. She already knows what he can do to her in their 'Bot form, so her head begins to swim again at the expectation of their new relationship.

"Do you want me to show you or do you want them to find us and let Ratchet start the experiments?" He warns her.

"How long will we be like this?" she asks high on these new feelings and barely focusing on reality. A sharp emotional pain hits his chest. His facial expression quickly changes. He very quickly understands his friend's plight and all the information Ratchet had thrown at Optimus and Ironhide about Rosa. This virus, as exciting as this was, could be the death of them. Or a gift… Primo… Firestar & Inferno… Elita and Lilly…

"I don't know, but I want to take advantage of this as long as I can. So quietly follow me." She joins his smile and determination. Even with a less warrior like life on this base, Autobot command life leaves very little long term personal time.

She grabs his arm before he can climb up the ladder, "Wait!" He stops and turns back to her, "Are we still Autobots or are we Earth Marine Corps now? Who are we?"

He slides closer to her, "No matter what Chromia my love, I am yours. I will do everything I can to protect you and stay by your side. I will not leave you, ever. My life is nothing with out you. I … I can't make it with out you. That much I know. I'm not strong like Optimus. Ever since I met you, I have figured out just how weak and vulnerable I really am. I am no bot with a hide of iron."

Chromia leans in and presses her forehelm to his, "Ironhide, you are my strength. You held on and never gave up hope for me all those years I was Mindwipe's prisoner."

He shutters, "Actually… I did give up hope a couple times."

"What made you keep strong?" she presses reminding him that there was something that kept their love alive. There was something, he hadn't lost everything.

He closes his eyes, "Optimus wouldn't let me give up. He said he could feel it." With this, Chromia shuttered. She's had a nightmare of her kissing Optimus begging him to make love to her pretending she was his Elita and he was her Ironhide. But Optimus refused her, saying she only loved Ironhide and no substitute would do. That dream seemed so very real. Like it was a real memory of her leader stating, "Your spark only pulses for Ironhide." Chromia lifts her head to her mate, "We have good friends don't we?"

Ironhide nods, "Yes, we do. We lean on them when our hours look darkest." Ironhide knows he and Ratchet were the ones to carry Optimus through Elita's death. It was Firestar, Moonracer and Chromia carrying each other through those long years of separation from their mechs.

Chromia looks up to the sun flashing off Optimus' chrome and Ratchet's glass covered rescue lights. "I guess we shouldn't worry them too much."

Ironhide looks at what she sees and sighs heavily, "Primus, I hope Ratchet doesn't turn me into a pin cushion. I'll kick every single one of his wrenches into the drink." Chromia giggles. He cocks an eyebrow at her, "Yeah, you keep giggling. Wait until the first needle comes out of his servo, then we will see who is laughing."

She grips his hand, "I'll hold your servo, big guy."

He wiggles his fingers at her, "They're called hands, Sweetspark.'

"Sweet heart," she teases him.

Trying out this new voice device, he calls her by her Cybertronian pet name in their native language. No matter how many times or ways he says it, every time her knees weaken. He smiles in triumph and dashes up the ladder.

2 coming…