Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers, they are owned by Hasbro. Kryptonight is my creation. This has some slash in it, but it is not too blatant. No like – no read. This is a pairing of Ironhide and Ratchet and their poor son, Red Alert (from TF armada) has to help out. This is strictly a fan fic. No flames or harsh comments. Constructive criticisms welcome. Enjoy.

Ratchet awoke the next morning, tired but feeling more recharged than he had. Ratchet woke to see Ironhide lying down right next to him, still offline. Ratchet, not wanting to wake his sparkmate tried to get out of the berth when he realized that his sparkmate had a strong grasp on him. Ratchet could tell that Ironhide was not going to let go anytime soon, and so, the medic continued to lie there, but soon fell back into recharge. For some unknown reason, Ratchet was more than content to just stay there and spend time with his sparkmate. As Ratchet resettled back into recharge, he had no idea of what was to come.

(a month later)

Ratchet was going about his business about the med bay. The med bay was not as busy as it had been when the wars were going on, but Sunny and Sides still ended up in the med bay more often than the older CMO would like. Ratchet was sick of the two grown bots acting like sparklings, and was even more upset as Ratchet noticed that Kryptonight was taking after the troublesome twosome. It was not that Ratchet thought that Starscream and Hotshot were bad parents, it was just that Ratchet knew that the two sparkmates were overwhelmed and having Kryptonight mimicking the older twins spelled disaster, not just for the twins, but also for the little sparkling who still was growing into his armor plating.

While Ratchet was going about the med bay, he suddenly began to get more emotional than usual. No he was not grumpy, he was upset. Over what, he had no idea, but the tears began to form in his optics. He was tired, frustrated and felt underappreciated. Red Alert, who was working with his father, noticed the change and immediately sent for Ironhide to take Ratchet out of the med bay. Something was very wrong and having Ratchet in the med bay so emotional was a danger to Ratchet and any bot that might enter the med bay for repair. Ironhide came and drug the emotional Ratchet out of the med bay.

Ironhide was extremely concerned as his mate had been having weird mood swings. Yes, Ratchet got grumpy at times, but this went beyond that. Ironhide laid his sparkmate down in their shared berth, very concerned at Ratchet's condition, as Ratchet immediately fell asleep. Ironhide, very concerned for his sparkmate, immediately called their son, Red Alert (armada, the medic) to come and check on Ratchet. Red came quickly, as he realized that his father might be having any type of complication. Red was also concerned as he never knew his father to be as emotional as he had been.

When Red arrived at his parents/creators quarters, Ironhide let him in. Red immediately went to check on Ratchet with the equipment Red had brought with him. Ironhide, very concerned, hovered nearby as Red checked Ratchet. All systems appeared normal. Red asked his "mom" when the last time he and dad interfaced, even though the question slightly embarrassed the younger bot, as he did not want to picture his parents interfacing, that was just plain wrong. Ironhide told Red that they had interfaced with spark merging about a month ago. The only thought that went through Red's mind was Oh Shit.

Red, having found nothing else wrong, went to check his father for the presence of an unborn sparkling, which he did not tell Ironhide as Red wanted proof before he made any pronouncements. Ironhide, being unfamiliar with the medical equipment had no idea what red was doing or what he was looking for. All 'hide hoped was that their son would be able to help his dad.

Red scanned his dad and then scanned his dad again. No, this cannot be, thought Red, and so the young medic scanned his father several more times, each time coming up with the same result. Red swallowed as this was not going to be easy for any of them to take. Red, saying nothing, slowly put away the equipment, mentally preparing himself for what he was going to have to tell his "mother."

Ironhide, noticing a sudden change in Red Alert, knew that the young medic had found something, but judging by the look on the young bots faceplate, Ironhide could tell Red was struggling with how to phrase what he found. Ironhide, worried that Ratchet was having spark problems, began to cry, assuming the worst. However, before 'hide could start leaking energon, Red hugged the older bot. Ironhide was thoroughly confused.

Red looked directly into Ironhide's optics, just as he had the day he was born. Red knew that he had to let his mom know the truth.

"Mother" started Red, "please don't cry, Dad is going to be fine, he is just a little moody right now."

Ironhide was relieved, but could tell there was something that Red was not telling him. And so Ironhide demanded to know what the young medic found during the examination. And Red let out a big "sign" before continuing.

"Mom, dad is pregnant. Not only pregnant, but pregnant with multiples, although how many, I was not able to tell. Mom, you need to help dad, he is pregnant with multiple sparklings." Red finally let the "cat out of the bag."

To say that 'hide was shocked was an understatement. Ironhide never knew that either one of the could carry sparklings. Now Ironhide could understand why Red was so touchy about telling him this. It is hard to tell one's "mother" that his sparkmate was pregnant with what were going to become the young medic's siblings. Red quickly left after giving the news, he needed to find Optimus, his sparkmate, as this was too much for the young medic to handle on his own.

Ratchet was still in recharge, while Ironhide looked at his sparkmate with a slight glint in his optic. Wow, thought 'hide, now Ratchet is finally going to understand how I felt when I carried Red Alert all those years ago. And with that thought, Ironhide curled up around his smaller sparkmate, falling into a peaceful recharge. 'Hide knew well enough that his sparkmate would need him even more now that ratchet was carrying multiple unborn sparklings.