It has been a week. A week since Optimus had bodily lifted Ratchet off of the supply shelf. A week since Ratchet made a fool of himself and had gotten caught (by their leader no less!). A week since those big, warm servos wrapped around the entire length of his hip plating-

Nope, not going to go there!

Shaking his helm to clear his processor, Ratchet forced himself to concentrate on his work.

Currently, he was welding one of his drills back together. Surprisingly, Bulkhead had managed not to break his tools… unsurprisingly, Wheeljack had.

Unfortunately, Ratchet had no time to lecture the Wrecker, too busy trying to keep the primitive technology at his disposal as up to date as possible. Which was no simple feat, considering how all of it seemed to fall apart so easily.

It felt like he was fixing the hazardous equipment more than he was completing any work.

Letting out an irritated sigh, he jumped at the sudden sound of engines gunning through the bases entrance. The loud, excited chatter of the children caused his shoulders to relax.

He did care for them, really. He just didn't find it necessary to show it like the others.

"Hey, Docbot!"

"Hello, Miko."

He watched on, hiding his amusement, as the young Japanese youth scaled the stairs to the platform, trying to be somewhat level with him; Jack, Rafael and June following close behind.

"Is there something I can assist you with?" He couldn't help but keep his tone as mild as possible. Better to keep her as less interested as possible so she wouldn't bother him more than necessary.

And knowing Miko, she could go on for hours bugging him if she wanted to.

It was rather impressive… not that he would admit it out loud!

Miko grinned up at him, taking out a flat, square object from behind her back. "This," She tapped the front cover for effect, ignoring Jacks groan when he realized what it was- "Is Twilight!"

She was going to make him ask, wasn't she?

"…and pray tell, what exactly is this 'Twilight' about?" It looked like a simple book to him. Nothing extraordinary about it at all. Except for the picture of an apple held between two human hands. Seriously, what is it with these humans and taking unnecessary pictures of fruit?!

Jack quickly lunged for the book, swiping it from Miko and running down the stairs to keep it away from her. "No! No more gross chick books!"

Miko cackled and gave chase, dragging Raf along with her. "You can't escape the vampire love, Jack! Never!" And she proceeded to chase him all around the hanger… and then out the large doors…

Well then.

Soft laughter caused his tense shoulder plating to relax. He glanced down at June Darby to find her smiling up at him. "Twilight is this silly romance novel about forbidden love. It's mostly a love triangle at first, between a human girl, a hot vampire, and a hunky werewolf. The two boys fight for the girls love and all that jazz." She waved her hand, propping her hip against the railing of the platform.

Ratchet hummed, his optics dimming at the prospect of a 'forbidden romance'. He almost choked on his own intakes when he thought about Optimus and himself in that type of relationship.

Not that Optimus would ever pick a washed out medic like himself. It was frowned upon- inconceivable! A Prime deserves a worthy mate, someone more capable and…. someone who isn't him.

He must have zoned out for longer than he had thought, for a small touch to his arm snapped him out of his daze.

June frowned, patting his armor to keep his attention on her. "Are you alright?"

"…yes. I am just thinking of how strange humans are with their- romance?" He shuddered at the thought.

"Who would want to have relations with creatures that could cause injury to them?"

"I repeat, forbidden romance. It's all the rage, nowadays."

He huffed, flapping his hand at her. This only caused her to laugh, "What? Not the cheesy romance novel type? Can't you imagine yourself in… oh, I don't know… a sappy war story?"

He could only stare at her, not quite following.

"Come on, Ratchet! Just imagine it! You, the miracle worker medic that would give his life to those he saved on the battlefield. No one able to crack your rough exterior, even if under all that tough plating, you're really a gentle, caring bot. Then, one day…" June trailed off, trying to come up with more.

That was when Optimus walked in.

Grinning, June pointed to Optimus. "Then, one day, a handsome leader swoops in and sweeps the medic off his feet! He opens the medics heart- er, spark, and they fight to keep their love and each other alive. They would die for the other. No matter how the rules about fraternization say they can't be together…"

Okay, now that's just ridiculous….

June let out a dreamy sigh, her cheeks tinted a light pink. "Now that's a romance novel I could definitely get into."

Ratchet felt his plating overheat at the thought- NO! AS MUCH AS THE 'FORBIDDEN ROMANCE' FACTOR REMINDED HIM OF HIS CURRENT SITUATION, HE HAD TOO MUCH AT STAKE TO EVEN CONSIDER-

"Good evening, June, Ratchet." Optimus nodded to them both, reminding them that he was still in their presence.

"Hello, Optimus. I was just telling Ratchet here about romance."

Optimus seemed to straighten at that, glancing between the two with a slight smile. "Oh?"

"Yep." She placed her hands on her hips, tilting her head in the medic's direction. "I was just mentioning that Ratchet and you have quite the relationship, now that I think about it." She tapped her chin in thought, a devious smile curving her lips. "You're both like the parents to a bunch of crazy kids!"

Ratchet stuttered, unable to form a proper reply to her statement. "W-W-WHAT?!"

She only laughed, "Yep! Optimus is the father, Ratchet is the mother and everyone else? The loving children."

"T-THAT'S PREPOSTEROUS!"

"Hey, I'm not the only one to notice you're both like an old married couple."

"I'M NOT THAT OLD!"

"Suuuure, you're not."

Oh, now she was just messing with him on purpose. And in front of Optimus no less- wait… was he chuckling?!

"Hey, mama Ratchet!"

Ratchet swiveled around to glare at Miko, who had just reentered the hanger along with Jack and Raf.

"What did you just say?"

Miko only smirked, the dreaded romance book clutched between her hands. "What? Is mama Ratchet gonna send me to my room?"

Ratchet growled, unable to stop his hands from clenching into fists.

Undeterred by the medics growing frustration, Miko skipped over to Optimus and pretended to hide behind his large pede. "Papa Op, mama Ratchet is scaring me!" She mock whined, obviously trying to hold back her giggles.

Ratchet hoped Optimus was going to talk some sense into the humans, but-

"Ratchet, please refrain from scaring our children."

No fragging way did he just say that.

Staring at Optimus in shock, he couldn't help but notice the warm smile on his faceplates; nor miss the amused sparkle in his optics.

June was right, he really was handsom- oh for Primus' sake!

"Uh oh, it looks like mama has a headache~"

Miko…

"Now, now, let's all leave the stressed out mother alone. Being a mom isn't easy, especially when it comes to-"

Ratchet cut June off with a loud, ARGH! He swiped his welder and broken tools off the table before stomping out of the hanger to find a quieter place to work.

…and a place to cool off, before his rising temperatures forced him into stasis.


The sun setting caught Ratchet's attention, cluing him in that he had stayed out longer than he was supposed to; although he had finished fixing his tools. Well, he had tried to. You can only fix something broken so many times before it became useless completely.

Pinching in between his optics (a habit he learned from the humans), he contemplated his options._

Going back to the hanger would only mean subjecting himself to the humans torment. They had probably relayed the conversation from earlier to the other Autobots, which could only mean ten times the teasing for Ratchet…. which also meant ten times the painful reminder of loving someone you couldn't have.

Well, slag.

"Ratchet?"

He jumped, turning around to spot Optimus (with June sitting on the long expanse of his shoulder) making his way toward him.

"Ratchet, you have every right for solitude and privacy, but leaving the military grounds is unacceptable. The Decepticons may not have made an appearance as of late, but the dangers are still present. The risk of being seen, or worse…"

captured.

Ratchet bowed his helm to hide his grimace. He had been so frustrated that he had completely forgotten about where he was going. Too distracted with his foolish feelings and daydreaming.

He could have gotten his team- his family, injured.

Or killed.

"I… I'm so sorry Optimus." He thanked Primus that his vocals didn't waver, but he still could not muster up the courage to lift his helm and face his leaders disapproving stare.

He started at the gentle, yet firm grip that held his chin in place, forcing his helm up.

Optimus stared down at him with a hard frown, the look causing Ratchet to flinch the slightest bit. He mentally cursed himself when the Prime's optics widened, obviously catching the action.

"Ratchet…"

Looking off to the side, the medic bit his glossa and internally begged the bigger bot to let him go. He felt humiliated at his recent actions- he was acting like a hormonal teenage girl from those soap operas June was so fond of.

"Ratchet."

The stern, silent command of 'look at me' caused Ratchet to sigh inwardly. He slid his gaze back up to the Prime- only to feel his own optics widen in shock.

Optimus Prime actually looked sad, of all things!

"O-Optimus? Are you alright?"

The large red and blue mech stared down at him, his azure optics dimming to a somewhat soft glow. "…I believe the real question here is, are you alright, old friend?"

Old friend… of course.

"I'm functioning to optimal levels."

Optimus looked him over quietly, his faceplates unreadable, before finally releasing Ratchets chin and allowing his arm to drop to his side.

"You've been working too hard, old friend. Go back to the hanger and get some recharge."

Ratchet couldn't help but snark back, "Only if you do."

Optimus smiled (Ratchet would deny the warmth that spread through his spark from that smile), "You have always taken care of me, now allow me to do the same for you."

Opening his mouth to argue, Ratchet could only let out a static filled gasp when Optimus suddenly swooped down and picked him up. What was it called? Bridal style?

"O-Optimus! PUT ME DOWN!"

"Not until we have reached your quarters, old friend."

Was Optimus really going to make sure Ratchet got some recharge? Seriously!?

Ratchet clutched the broad mechs shoulder plating, practically clinging for dear life since his friend was now tall/huge as frag.

June crooned from her place on Optimus' shoulder armor, carefully reaching down to pat the flustered medic's helm. "Old married couple."

"Ugh."