CHAPTER 2
Reunions and Introductions

Being adopted had its ups and downs. For example, Jeff no longer had to worry about school assignments pertaining to family. But on the other hand, there were still those sideways glances he got during school from those who weren't the biggest Autobot fans. He couldn't believe it when on only the second day of school, a freshman nearly ran away screaming from him. His friends tried to explain the great losses he suffered in the Battle of Chicago, and while Jeff sympathized with him, it didn't stop it from being any more frustrating.

None-the-less, Jeff wrote it off, there would always be these kinds of people. In fact, he remembered a time where, before he came to live with him, he hated the Autobots for what they had done to Earth. That was of course before he was taken in by them, before he met Prowl and realized that the Autobots were some of the kindest people one could ever meet. But even then, it had taken months of putting up with his attitude and inner anger for them to fully gain his trust, yet looking back he was glad they did.

He sighed as he plopped himself down on the couch once he'd been dropped off at home. To say the least, he was exhausted, according to Brent everyone felt that way the first few days after summer vacation. "Dad?" Prowl poked his head into the room calmly from their small "kitchen" "How are things going with that signal and all? Did you guys figure out what it is yet?" He questioned.

Prowl shrugged his shoulders, uncertainty in his optics. To say the least, the mech had taken Optimus's suggestion of a break, and thus knew little on the progress made with the signal. "They haven't called me in in a panic." Prowl commented "So I am under the impression that it is not a threat, at least I hope this is the case." He sighed quietly "How was school today?" He questioned.

"Boring and slow." Jeff shrugged "And I've still got two more years of this. I can't wait for graduation."

Prowl snorted quietly in response, shaking his head a bit. He knew that it was a fair enough comment, most juniors were probably ready for their senior year to be over with already. But he didn't look forward to Jeff's senior year, as it meant that Jeff would start looking into colleges, even if he wouldn't be leaving for some time and he knew that to be true. "Don't wish to grow up too soon, sparkling." Prowl teased as he gently tapped the top of his head "I've only had you for a little over a year. I'm in no hurry for you to grow up." He added.

Jeff smiled a bit, knowing that much to be true. He didn't mind the fact that he still had a couple of years before he possibly left for college. But he also didn't think he'd leave after senior year anyway, he was still learning everything he had been deprived of learning. Unfortunately, due to his rather convoluted past, the things he needed to learn seemed to just pile up. "I just can't wait to be out of high school is all." Jeff shrugged "Dad?" Prowl made a "hmmm" sound "Do you think I'll even know enough about the world to go to college?" He asked.

Prowl knew Jeff had worded it wrong, but didn't correct him. "I believe that you'll be able to go to college. As for moving out of the base at nineteen to go there." Prowl paused a moment, putting his hands on the couch "We'll see how far your maturity and reasoning has come at that point in time." He shook his head "I don't want to send you out on your own without knowing you're ready. You'll be far too overwhelmed." He explained.

Jeff nodded his head a little bit, placing his hands in his pockets as he stood up. He hated being that way, having not been raised as well as some others might have been. All he wanted was to be a normal kid, but he supposed that was a bit too much to ask for given the childhood he'd had. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He paused a moment "Did you leave home for school?"

Prowl nodded his head a bit. "Yes, I did. At the time, my creators felt I was ready." Prowl shook his head "That's where they were wrong. For the first semester, Gears had to tutor me in my subjects. It didn't help I was the reckless type back then either." He paused a moment "My father tried to convince me to come home, and thinking back on it. I probably should have taken his advice." He sighed.

"Yeah, well, from what you've told me, grandpa always did know what was best." Jeff commented.

It still felt odd, having someone call his father, Cable, "grandpa". But at the same time it made him smile, it was a sign that Jeff was becoming more and more comfortable with the roles his new family had. Granted, his father had been missing in action and presumed dead for several centuries now. That was also too bad, as he had a feeling that Cable would have loved the thought of being a grandfather, he'd always seemed to like the idea after all. "Yes, he did. He was the firmest mech I ever met but also the most caring." He shook his head "Even if he did not have the great patience I posses for you." He noted.

"Great patience?" Jeff snorted.

"I could have kicked you out at least four times, remember that before you say another word."

Jeff chuckled at that, but knew that Prowl was serious. Having him around was far from easy, he was at times a pain in the butt. But Prowl did have a great deal of patience with him despite it all. The sound of beeping grabbed Prowl's attention, as he clicked on his com link. "Prowl here." He paused quietly "Yes sir, I'll be there ASAP." He clicked it off "Well, the signal made planet fall." He noted.

"You have to go intercept it?"

"No, Optimus simply believes I should come identify the newcomer." Prowl placed a hand out "C'mon, you can join me."

Jeff grinned a bit at the thought of a newcomer not only to the base, but to Earth as well. Climbing onto his palm, Jeff prepared for whatever they would find.

...

"Father?"

It was, perhaps, the last thing that Jeff imagined Prowl would say upon seeing the newcomer. To say the least, Jeff was whole-heartedly confused, moreso than he had been about most things that happened on base. Prowl's parents were supposed to be dead, Jeff had been aware of that a long time ago. Yet that was the only reaction that Prowl seemed to have. Jeff took in the sight of the mech quietly, he was taller than Prowl by several feet, a pearl whit color with optics as blue as the sky. He almost looked as bulky as Optimus, almost, though no one was that big.

As Prowl set him down, Jeff watched quietly as Prowl took a tentative step forward. A few words were exchanged in Cybertronian and a tight, loving embrace followed. Jeff had to take this in for a second, he was looking at a sad mech, or someone at the very least who was thought to be a dead mech. Jeff glanced over at Optimus, who was now standing beside him and nodded. "It's really him." Optimus nodded, as if reading his mind "I never imagined we'd find him alive. We almost didn't as his ship crashed." He put his hands on his hips "But you are indeed standing in front of a living legend." He noted.

Jeff stared up at Cable quietly, blinking a bit. He didn't know whether or not to intrude upon the moment. Frankly, he felt that, despite being in the family, it wasn't his place. The mech didn't know him, they'd never met, and according to the Autobots, mechs didn't always warm up to humans right away. "And Blustreak and Smokescreen made it here as well?" Prowl nodded affirmatively "Thank Primus, I worried after the planet fell that I would never see you again." He replied.

For a moment, Cable caught sight of Jeff, and smirked a bit. "So this must be a human." Cable turned around, showing visible wear and scars in his metal frame "Well, they aren't much to look at, are they?" Jeff had to hold back a grimace at that comment "What's your name young one?" He questioned.

Jeff nearly didn't know how to reply. He eyed Prowl for help, but Prowl himself looked a little lost on how to approach this either. He wasn't sure how anyone would react to the whole story of this. "Father, much has changed since I last saw you. Beyond my standing as second-in-command." Prowl cleared his metal throat quietly "Much has changed." He repeated and then added "You're a grandfather now." Cable's optics visibly widened at that "This is my son, Jeff." He noted.

For a moment, Cable looked at Jeff like it was some form of joke. To say the least, Jeff didn't make a move, allowing the mech to scrutinize him to his sparks content. "Please tell me it was through adoption so I don't have to sit through how that form of reproduction works." Cable noted, Prowl simply nodded his head in response "Well then, this is a pleasant surprise." He noted "I was fairly certain I wouldn't be a grandfather the way my boy's are with the femmes." He noted.

"I uh..." Jeff paused a moment "Kinda came as a surprise to dad too." He kicked the floor nervously "It's nice to finally meet you, sir. Dad's told me a lot of stories and all." He managed to say, though he stumbled over his words a little bit.

Cable merely smiled a bit, crossing his arms a bit. As the mech crouched to his level, and held out a finger, Jeff was surprised. From first glance, Jeff had been almost certain there would be no friendliness from Cable's reaction. "It's an honor to meet you as well." Cable nodded as Jeff shook his hand gently "I very much look forward to getting to know you, Jeff." He noted as he stood up straight "But for now, Prime and I have much to discuss." He commented, putting his hands on his hips.

"What's wrong?" Prowl questioned.

Cable eyed his newfound grandson a minute, then shook his head. "Not here, not with him." Cable noted "I believe the three of us should discuss this alone."

Jeff knew what that meant, after all, it always meant the same thing. They didn't want to make him worried or scared of what was happening unnecessarily. As Prowl turned to him, and stated he'd be back soon, he sighed a bit. He could only hope that whatever it was, it wouldn't be as bad as what their family had endured before he was even officially a part of it.