A/N: Just wanted to take the time to thank everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited, and followed this story already! Seriously, you guys have been the best! I was so nervous to start this story so it feels really good to know I'm doing well.

CHAPTER 2
Questions

"So, at least Barcode left you alone."

Danny looked over at Orion as they sat in their bedroom that night. The room was large, as it had to be to house a human and a Cybertronian. But it was also a dual-themed room. Orion's side of the room was very much like a mini-library, given he loved reading his data pad books. His bookshelves were so big and took up nearly his entire side of the room. Whereas the rest was filled with toys, and other items, mostly for pranking. Meanwhile, Danny's side of the room was filled with more toys than Orion - given he liked playing with toys and games. And was themed after space - a subject which always fascinated him.

Given this, however, to look up onto Orion's berth he'd often have to sit up and crane his head. Especially given the size differences between it and a human bed. "I guess," Danny replied, chewing his lip. "Do you think he'll stop totally though? He still thinks I'm a "weird fleshbag"."

"Who cares what he thinks?" Orion peered over. "You're not a weird fleshbag to me!"

Danny nodded his head slowly, now sitting up on his bed. "Yeah, but... Lot's of people think I am don't they? Because I don't talk like a lot of humans," he explained, making Orion frown ever so slightly. "I can't help it but I know people think I'm weird."

Orion shook his head, now hopping down from his berth to talk to his younger brother. "I mean you are different, but a good different," Orion explained - showing his mature side as he often did when not pulling pranks. "Besides, people can be stupid like that. Sire and carrier always told us there would be people like that."

It was true - they had always said that. The first time Danny had faced someone who found him strange they'd sat the boys down to explain it to them. They called it "prejudice", which was to say that some people had very old fashioned beliefs. That humans should be raised by humans, and Cybertronians by Cybertronians. And if you went and took someone like Danny from their natural environment it was sickening. To them, it didn't matter that Danny had a loving family, it only mattered that it wasn't a "normal" one.

Danny had never cared. He loved his parents, and his brother. Even though he'd always known he was adopted, he'd also always known that his parents also loved him just as much as Orion. But sometimes it did bother him, being so unusual like he was. After all - he often heard he was the first recorded "adopted at birth" case from either side at the time of his adoption. Since then a handful of others had taken this as their chance to try it themselves, but they were still very much rare.

"I know, I just wish some people would shut up," Danny admitted. "I'm glad I'm here - but they make me feel bad..."

"Anyone else been saying anything?" Orion asked, Danny gave a shake of his head. "Then maybe they're not feeling that way anymore... It's like sire always says, time changes everything... Or something..."

A soft click of the door opening grabbed their attention. Of course, it was Solaris, and by the look in her optics she'd heard it all. "The things that boy said really bothered you, didn't they Danny?" the boy gave a nod. "I know you don't want me to talk to the school, so I won't. But if I'm not going to, I offer you both this to think about. Barcode is the product of a rough life - he's poor, and doesn't have a stable home life if his sire is anything to go by. In a way, I would say perhaps the boy is jealous."

Danny looked up, surprised. "Jealous? Why would he be jealous?"

"Think of the life you both lead for a moment," Solaris replied, putting her hands on her hips. "You don't need for anything, want for anything... You come home to parents who adore you. There is such a thing called envy that you will one day learn that runs high in all of us in one way or another."

Orion shrugged his shoulders a little. "I mean I get it, but it's still stupid. It's not our fault we have it easy and he doesn't."

"Perhaps that is a wisdom he has not yet learned," Solaris agreed. "And perhaps one day he will."

That's when Danny asked a question that seemed to make his mother's optics dim. It was an innocent question - but it was one he did not yet know carried some weight. "Carrier... If you knew this would happen weren't you scared to adopt me?" he asked curiously. "I mean you were the first ones to adopt a newborn, right?"

Solaris looked as though she was at a loss for how to respond. Perhaps still worried her son was too young to know just why they had adopted him so quickly. "We can talk about why we adopted you when you're older. But I don't regret my decision, Daniel," she explained. "Your sire and I love you very much. It is worth the challenges that come with it."

Determined to end the conversation, she looked thoughtful. "Now it's time to recharge you two, I just came in to say goodnight," she explained, moving to adjust their bedding, motioning for Orion to hop back on the berth. "Your sire will be in for story time, it's his turn. I love you, little ones."

"Goodnight, carrier. Love you."

Danny noticed how relieved she looked at the fact they seemed to accept the answer. But even as she gently kissed them both tonight, Danny couldn't help but have questions. As he had for a while now. What had happened with his parents? Why were they such a sore spot with his adoptive ones? Had they known them? Was there something wrong with them? He closed his eyes a bit as he thought this out, only opening them again as Orion spoke up again.

"Danny?" he turned over to look up at Orion quietly. "Even if you are "weird", I'm glad you're my brother. I wouldn't like it if you weren't."

Danny smiled a bit, nodding his head. "I'm glad we're brothers too," he agreed. "And I'm glad I have sire and carrier..."

It was true - all of that. But it didn't stop the part of him that, in the back of his six year old mind, was starting to wonder. What was the answer? What was with the secrets? And when he found out the answers, would it be a good or bad thing? He could only wonder as they laid there - waiting quietly for their father to come to give storytime. Hopefully, that would eventually make him get his mind off these questions.

"So Daniel's beginning to ask questions."

Sirius had just come from the boys' room when Solaris brought it up. It didn't entirely surprise him that he was. At age six, people were pointing out his detachment from his biological culture more and more. And at this age he was starting to start thinking, even quietly, about his parents. Maybe wonder what they were like, who he more looked like, the small things. "Do you think he's old enough to know a little?" Solaris asked. "Not about the accident. But just... Little things?"

The mech looked thoughtful at that. Knowing that the answer was probably a double-edged sword. "I think he is. But when we start giving him information, he'll want to know what happened," his optics dimmed a little. "How the pit do we tell him that someone took his mommy and daddy from him? Let alone that they were never caught?"

It was true - try as they might, no one had found the drunk driver. They searched high and low, doing what they could, searching where they could too... But eventually, the case had gone cold. A simple, tragic accident that no one would have to answer for. A fact which only made it harder on Sirius over the years. "I suppose that's true," Solaris replied. "But it won't be any easier a few years from now than it will be today."

Sirius hated the fact that she was right. He sat down on the berth quietly, resting his head on top of his knuckles quietly. "So what? You think we should start talking to him about it?" Solaris gave a quiet shrug, as confused and torn on the subject as he was. "I say we wait until he's seven... That's only a couple of months away and it gives us time to think of what to tell him."

"That's a good compromise," Solaris replied. "Did he seem OK when you read to them?"

Sirius nodded his head, having known nothing was wrong until his bonded had told him this. And that was what did concern him about everything. What if Danny thought about this even more than they thought? He didn't want the boy to stress, after all, he loved him dearly. "No I think he's fine, but we should keep an optic on it," he replied, moving to lay on the berth as Solaris did. "I simply hope he doesn't find out by other means. That one sparkling has quite the mouth."

Solaris shifted a bit. "The kids at school don't know who he is. Only a few people do really."

Sirius shifted. "A fine point," he replied. "Perhaps we're overthinking it."

That last thing, he said as more of a reassurance to himself than anything.

Danny woke up later that night.

He didn't often wake up in the middle of the night. But that night? He seemed a bit restless and thus resolved to go and grab a glass of water. He made sure to be quiet to keep from waking his parents up, but it only took him until he was out in the kitchen to realize he wasn't alone. Sirius was up as well, sitting on the couch quietly, looking to be half-in recharge himself.

Of course, his father was quick to notice that he was up. His blue optics turning to look at his youngest son curiously. It was only when he turned that Danny noticed what he was doing. He was watching a holographic video that Danny had never noticed before. That of himself, many years younger, with another human, a boy, as the two goofed off near the Sea of Rust.

He'd barely gotten a glimpse before he'd turned it off. "Danny, sweetspark, it's late," he explained, standing to his feet as he approached him. "What are you doing up at this time of night?"

Danny shrugged. "Couldn't sleep, sire. Can I get a glass of water?"

Again - that look of relief that he'd seen before crossed Sirius' face. He quietly motioned for Danny to do so, watching him closely as he took a cup and water from the fridge they had. "Sire?" he asked, surprising the mech again. "Who was that in the video you were watching?"

Sirius' optic ridges arched a little as he asked that. A certain sadness moving over his face that gave Danny a good idea that this human was very important to him. Despite being none of the human friends he'd met at first glance. "That was... A very good friend of mine, who has since passed," Sirius explained. "Before you were... Well... Around the time you were..."

"Was that... Was that my "dad"?"

Sirius frowned a little, as if he had backed him into a corner. And unknowingly, Danny had in his own way. "... Yes, Daniel, it was," he explained, his voice pained. "But if we have this conversation tonight, your carrier will be very upset..."

Danny returned his frown, a little disappointed, but understanding. He supposed his parents would both want to have this talk with him, but now that he knew they'd known each other... His curiosity piqued in a newfound way as Sirius began to walk him back towards his bedroom. "You were friends?"

"Your father and I were best friends, Daniel," Sirius replied. "It was how we got custody of you soon after you were born. I was your godfather before I was your sire."

"Oh," Danny nodded his head slowly. "Cool! What was his name?"

"Marcus," Sirius replied. "And your mother's was Elisa."

Danny nodded his head, smiling. "Thanks sire. I've... Uh... I've been wondering."

Sirius looked relieved by the fact that his son was satisfied with getting at least some of his answers. He stopped in front of the door as they stood there a long moment. "If you want, I have many videos and pictures," he explained. "When you're ready... Your carrier, brother, and I can sit down, and watch them..."

Danny looked at his father for a long time. He definitely wondered what they looked like, even if he now had some answers. But at the same time, a certain knot turned in his stomach - a great nervousness. He wasn't ready for this - he realized, at least not fully. Even if he finally had some small answers. "Maybe later," Danny replied. "I uh... I'm not sure I'm ready."

Sirius gave a soft smile at his son, greatly relieved by his questions - or at least those he wanted answered, were now no longer questions. And perhaps they could dodge a full discussion for another year or two. "Well then, off to bed. You have school in the morning," he nodded. "Goodnight, son. I love you."

"Love you too, sire."

And then he was in the door, leaving Sirius standing out there. He knew that Solaris would be as relieved as he was. But at the same time he could not shake the fact he figured they were not nearly out of the woods yet.

A/N: Woo, that chapter got deep. I definitely wanted it to address that Danny was at an age he might start asking questions. But not throw all the heavy stuff on a six year old yet. That all will come later, rest assured though. Hope you all enjoyed!