Title: Life as we Know It

Rating: K

Characters/pairings: No pairings for this chapter.

Warnings: Gender-bending, I suppose it could be viewed in a way as slash?

Summary: Optimus returns to her team.

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers Animated, just this idea.

Optimus had finally been released from the medbay and allowed to go back to her own base and team. She was admittedly a little nervous about how her team was going to react to the new her.

What if they all started treating her differently? Or worse, what if they all started fawning over her?

The more Optimus thought, the more anxious she became. Ratchet had tried to reassure her that she wouldn't be treated differently or respected any less just because she was a femme now. His words had done little to soothe the mech-turned-femme's frayed nerves.

"Prime," Ratchet's voice startled her, "Ready to go?"

The tall femme chewed on her lower lip, "As ready as I'll ever be."

The medic placed his hand on her slim shoulder, "Don't get your circuits in a twist over this, everything is gonna turn out all right."

She forced a small smile, meeting the old medic's optics, "I sincerely hope you're right."

Ratchet gave her shoulder another squeeze before he transformed and drove away, Optimus following suit.

The drive only calmed the Prime's nerves slightly; she was still a nervous wreck when they reached the base.

The two Autobots changed back into bipedal mode and, venting deeply, Optimus walked into the warehouse, flanked by Ratchet.

Bumblebee was sitting on the couch, playing their video game. Bumblebee glanced up when the two older Autobots entered.

"Hey boss bot, how you feelin'?" The yellow mech asked, not taking his optics off of the television.

"A lot better, thank you." Optimus replied, going to sit next the small mech.

"That's great," He flashed his leader a smile, "We were all pretty worried about you."

Ratchet walked off in the direction of his medbay, giving the Prime a pointed I-told-you-so look. The femme in turn gave the old mech a dirty look.

"Bumblebee?" Optimus said tentatively.

"Yeah, Prime?" The aforementioned mech replied distractedly.

"My new form doesn't…bother you, does it?" She asked, not looking at the yellow Autobot.

Bumblebee paused his game and turned to his commander, quirking an optic ridge.

"Should it?"

Optimus raised her helm in confusion, "I was hoping it wouldn't, but you know…Since I was a femme and all, I thought maybe…"

Bumblebee chuckled, further confusing the femme, "Look, Optimus, you're definitely hot, but you're like my brother…Sister…Whatever, but what I'm trying to say is that I just wouldn't think about you like that, it's too weird."

Optimus vented in relief, "You have no idea how much I was hoping you'd say that."

Bumblebee laughed again, un-pausing his game, "Yeah, no, I'm not going to be comin' on to you any time soon."

Optimus laughed at the scout's comment, feeling much more confident about the rest of her team's reactions now.

Bumblebee had always been the little brother she'd never had growing up, and they'd always shared a close bond. She saw a lot of potential in the young mech and tried her best to bring that potential out. He'd be something great, one day, when he finally matured.

She watched Bee play his game for a little while longer before deciding to go see the rest of her comrades.

The Prime stood and bid her youngest teammate farewell, who mumbled a distracted goodbye in return. She shook her helm in amusement at that. Thankfully, no matter how much things change, some things would always stay the same.

Optimus wandered down the hallway to Prowl's room. She doubted the cool-tempered mech would be very bothered by his leader turning into a femme, but she wanted to make sure.

She poked her helm into the dark mech's room, peering around. Prowl sat with his back to the door, meditating.

"Prowl?" She called out quietly.

The mech turned slightly, "I assume you are here to talk about to me about your new appearance?"

"You would be assuming correctly."

A small smile tugged at the corner of the black mech's mouth, "Come in then, and sit down."

Optimus did just that, crossing the room and sitting next to the other Autobot. A companionable silence fell between them until Prowl broke it.

"It does not bother me." He remarked quietly, turning his helm to look at his leader.

"I didn't think it would, but I wanted to ask you anyway." Optimus replied, her optics meeting his visor, smiling slightly.

Silence fell once more.

"Has Sentinel said or done anything to you Optimus since your accident?" Prowl asked suddenly.

The femme raised an optic ridge, "No, why?"

"I didn't like the way he was looking at you." Prowl's voice was tight.

Optimus's optics widened; she hadn't given any thought to how the big blue mech would be affected by his old friend turning into a femme. She would have to confront him later about it…

The mech continued, "If he makes any unwanted advances toward you, I want you to tell me."

The femme gave Prowl a long look, before replying softly, but sternly.

"I don't need you to protect me."

The mech nodded slightly, then offlined his optics, signaling he'd most likely gone back to meditating. Assuming that meant they were done talking, she got up to leave, but was stopped by a hand on her leg.

"I know you don't need me to protect you Optimus, but you're my friend, and I don't want you to get hurt."

The femme's faceplates softened.

"Thank you, that means a lot to hear you say that," She murmured, "but still, I don't want you to treat me differently because I'm a femme."

A small, but genuine, smile crossed Prowl's faceplates, "I understand."

"But I'll still kick any mech's aft that tries to take advantage of you."

The words hung between them. Prowl didn't say them, he didn't have to, because Optimus already knew. It was admittedly touching to know that, despite all their differences and problems in the past, the dark mech would be there for his leader.

Optimus nodded, acknowledging that she understood what he said, and what he didn't say, and left to find Bulkhead.

She searched all over the base for the green mech and finally found him on the roof, painting.

Not wanting to disturb the giant mech just yet, Optimus approached quietly and watched the mech paint over his shoulder. As a mech, Optimus had never seen the point of art, and still didn't really as a femme. She did appreciate its beauty more now, though.

She cleared her throat.

Bulkhead jumped, spilling some paint, dumping a can of brushes, and almost knocking over his painting. Wincing, she moved to his side to pick up the scattered brushes while he cleaned up the paint.

Bulkhead kept his helm down and remained silent the whole time they were cleaning up the mess. Even after they finished, he refused to look up at his leader.

Feeling more than a little awkward, Optimus reached out and placed her hand on the huge Autobot's shoulder, feeling him flinch at the contact. The poor mech radiated nervousness.

"Bulkhead?" She said softly, "Look at me."

The mech raised his helm slowly, but kept his optics down. His cheeks were flushed a bright crimson. It worried Optimus, she'd feared Bulkhead would be the most affected by his leader turning into a femme.

"Look at me." Optimus repeated, a little more sternly.

Bulkhead shyly met his leader's optics.

"I don't want you to be uncomfortable around me just because I'm a femme." She said softly, "I'm still the same 'bot I was before, just in a different body."

Bulkhead nodded, optics flicking down briefly, "I know boss-bot, I've just always been uncomfortable around femmes." He lowered his gaze again, and his cheeks burned red, "Especially really pretty ones."

A smile broke out over Prime's face plates; Bulkhead was really such an endearing mech. Despite his size and power, he was the sweetest, most humble 'bot Optimus had ever met. He'd always had a soft spot for the big green mech.

"Well, do you think you can get used to me?" She asked, tilting her helm to the side, "Because according to Ratchet, I'm stuck this way."

Bulkhead smiled shyly, "It's gonna take a while, but I think so."

She smiled and patted his chestplate, "I'm glad to hear it, and if you need to talk to me about any problems you're having with adjusting, I'm more than willing to listen and work something out."

"Thanks Prime." He replied, his optics reflecting his appreciation.

"No problem." She said and turned to leave, but paused, "Oh, and Bulkhead?"

The mech snapped to attention, "Yes sir? I mean, ma'am, I mean…umm.."

Optimus suppressed the urge to laugh at the flustered mech, "I was just going to say, that's a beautiful sunset you painted."

The mech stood there, dumbstruck, for a klik, then a huge smile broke out over his faceplates.

"It's just something I, uh…Thanks, Optimus." He said, scratching the back of his helm bashfully.

"You're welcome, Bulkhead." She said, amused, then left the mech to his art once more.

Optimus felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Now that she knew she still had the complete support and respect of her teammates, she felt as though adjusting to her new life as a femme would be a lot easier. Now, however, she had to confront Sentinel about his feelings…

I think a lot of people expected Optimus's team to fall head over heels for her, but I just don't see that happening. That, and I think Optimus will have enough admirers, and will need some friends to defend her new womanhood.

You know what to do, please review. :)