Disclaimer: All Transformers characters belong to Hasbro. Any made up characters were created by me.

Summery: (Post 2007 Movie verse) While watching his charges one winter, a new Autobot arrived on Earth and some surprisingly information was known about the old Weapon Specialist, Ironhide.

"blah" – Normal human speck
"blah" – Cybertronian speck
'blah' – Comm. Specking
blah – thinking
Blah - flashbacks

The Iron Giant
By Yami-Yugi

Chapter 4

It wasn't long until he pulled off the highway and drove down a private road that led to the base. He hurried inside and to the Medical Bay. He was met by Optimus and closed doors. "Sir?"

"Ironhide, thank Primus you're here," he said with hand on his shoulder.

"Should I be irked to go inside?"

"All I can say, is brace yourself. I know you're the only one that can calm her down."

"Right sir." Ironhide said as he open the doors slowly.

"If I don't do it, then you'll BOTH die!" Ratchet screamed.

"And I told you to stay away from me, you quack-bot! I'm not doing anything until Ironhide is in this room!"

"Fine then! Have it your way, you hard headed glitch!" Ironhide cleared his throat nervously and both 'Bots stared at him, stopping in mid quarrel. "Ironhide...you finally showed up," Ratchet sighed. "Maybe YOU can talk some sense into that crazed femme of yours." Ironhide sighed heavily with his hand on his face. He walked over to Chromia and put his hand on her shoulders.

"'Mia, darling. What is so wrong that you won't let Ratchet help you?"

She cuddled against him, nuzzling her head against him. "...Well...I...we're..."

"C'mon, Chromia. It can't be that bad..."

"We're...having a sparkling... I'm carrying..."

Ironhide looked shocked. "What? How? I thought..."

"Before you left... Th-that night... I...I was h-helping some of the other femmes...with thiers... The 'Cons were hard to hide from. I helped them care for their sparklings and keep us all safe. Something...initialized from spark sitting the others. Elita found out I was carrying after I got injured in battle. She sent me here." Ratchet sighed impatiently.

"Primus..." Ironhide said as he gently hugged her.

"...W-We're finally...having a baby... I... I wanted to tell you myself..." she said, nuzzling into him.

"You won't if I don't fix you up." Ratchet said with a huff.

Chromia looked towards him. "...I'm sorry, Ratchet. I wanted Ironhide to know, to be here with me. This is something special for us."

Ratchet sighed. "I wasn't trying to ruin your moment. I was thinking of your health and its health."

Ironhide turned Chromia's head back towards him. "Chromia...I don't want to lose either of you. You think you can let the Doc Bot fix you now?"

Chromia sighed. "Okay..."

"I'm sorry I wasn't here."

"You are now." They shared a kiss as he led her over to a berth.

"I saw Prowl when I came." Chromia said as Ironhide help her on it.

"Yeah, he had a rough entry as well."

She smiled at him as she laid down. Ironhide stood watch as Ratchet came over. "Now can I help without you attacking me and throwing things at my head?"

"Sorry about that." Chromia said.

"It's okay. I've seen worse, believe it or not." He ran scans and carefully checked her over to examine the extent of the damage. He hooked her up to an energon line. Both Chromia and Ironhide looked at Ratchet worriedly. "She's not going to die anytime soon. It's just a precaution so the sparkling doesn't die." The two mates sighed in relief. "I have to force you offline. It will be safer for you and the sparkling if I work while you're unconscious."

"You're the Doc."

"I'm not going anywhere," said Ironhide. As soon as Ratchet injected the solution, Chromia fell into recharge. Ratchet started work on the minor injuries on her limbs. Ironhide waited out of his way. He watched diligently, worrying every second for his mate. Prowl came in, wanting to see Ironhide. He looked better then he had since Ratchet fixed him up.

"Ironhide, I heard you were here."

"Looking better I see." Ironhide said.

"Much," he smiled. Prowl looked over to where Ratchet was working. "Is Chromia alright?"

"She had a hard time getting away from the 'Cons. Her entry wasn't good either... But she'll be fine."

"She'll make it. I won't let her die so easily."

"She...she's carrying..." Ironhide said.

"Carrying? But I though she couldn't?" Prowl said.

"So did I. Apparently humans have trouble sometimes too."

"All the time," Ratchet added. "Her reproductive program had a small error. That error corrected itself once she started having a more maternal nature for those sparklings."

Prowl looked confused. "Long story short, she was helping other femme's with their sparklings while her and Elita protected them from 'Cons," explained Ironhide.

"Oh I see."

"Well, now the hard part," Ratchet sighed. Ratchet double checked things before starting the delicate work of repairing Chromia's chest.

"So, how's little Annabelle?" Prowl asked.

"She's in the hospital right now."

Prowl looked worried. "Is she okay?"

"She got sick from playing the in the cold, wet snow. We played Hide and Seek and she decided to hide in the deep, wet snow of the cornfield close by. The doctor's say she'll be back to one hundred percent tonight. We can take her home."

"That's good to know." Prowl said.

"Yes, very." He turned to watch Ratchet's careful work for a moment. Chromia's vital signs seemed alright for the moment as he carefully removed damaged areas and replaced them with new protoform armor.

"I know you are their guardian, but what will you do now that Chromia's here with a spark?" Prowl asked.

"Try and care for both. Annabelle might be human, but she's always been like my sparkling. It's similar to how you are. I must seem weird, a giant sentient robot adopting a human."

"I don't think it sounds all that weird..." Prowl said.

Ironhide smiled. "That's a relief. I'm sure if Bumblebee were a bit older and Sam was younger, he'd be the same."

"Yes, I suppose you're right," Prowl chuckled. "I've heard many things about Sam and I only just heard from Bee this morning."

"I'm sure you will meet him later."

"I look forward to meeting more human friends and allies." Suddenly, alarms rang out.

"Chromia!"

"Slag! I got too close to the spark chamber!"

Ironhide had a cannon charged, hovering over Chromia. "Do something!" he shouted.

"I'm trying to!" Ratchet worked as delicately as he could to calm the distressed sparkling orb.

Ratchet gently forced the sparkling chamber open and sent energy waves to the pulsing orb inside. "What are you doing to them!"

"Trying to help! Prowl, get him out!"

Prowl nodded and gently took a hold of Ironhide shoulders. "Calm down, let's go outside and out of Ratchet's way."

"Let go of me! CHROMIA!"

"Damnit Ironhide! Get out! I can't save them if you don't calm down and get out!"

"Can't save them?" he asked, panic now mixed with the rage and confusion.

"Slag this!" With a quick flip of his transformed hand and a good shot, Ratchet managed to get an injection into Ironhide's neck. He stared for a moment before collapsing.

Prowl looked in shock and then looked back at Ratchet. "Primus... Remind me not to piss you off."

"Just go... I'll explain later."

Prowl nods. "Want me to take Ironhide?"

"Please. He's going to kill himself and Chromia with him." Prowl nods and again and lifted Ironhide to his feet, draping an arm over his shoulder before taking the weapons specialist out of the med bay. He carried him into the Rec Room and set him on couch, waiting for him to come to. Ratchet continued to send energy pulses with one hand while the other worked very very carefully on repairing surrounding damage.

Ironhide woke up with a groggy feeling. He blinked his vision clear and slowly sat up. "...What in Slag hit me?"

"Ratchet needed to sedate you." Prowl said.

"What? Why?" he said, still clearing his head a bit.

"You were going to hurt yourself and Chromia."

"How would I...? Chromia... Is she okay? The last thing I remember was something went wrong."

"Last I heard Ratchet is still working on her."

"Not anymore. You can go see her now, Ironhide. Both of them are safe now." Ratchet said as he walked into the Rec Room.

"Thanks, Ratchet," Ironhide sighed. "Prowl, how long was I out?"

"Oh, three earth hours. Why?"

"Three earth hours! Oh slag! The Lennoxes!"

"What's wrong?" Prowl asked.
Ironhide practically jumped up off the couch. "It's getting late. I forgot about them! They need a ride home from the hospital."

"If you want...I could give them a ride." Prowl said.

"Hospital? What happened?" Ratchet asked.

"Annabelle got sick from playing in the cold weather yesterday. She's fine now. I need to get back to them...but..." He started to falter from his position from worry and the sedative still wearing off.

"I don't think you should go, Ironhide," said Ratchet. "Come with me back to Chromia. She needs you more right now."

"Seriously, Ironhide. I don't mind taking them."

"You're sure you can? You clear him Ratchet?" Ironhide asked.

"A little drive can't hurt him. He needs to get an Alternate mode anyway. Come back if you run into trouble or you start to feel weak." Prowl nodded. "Be careful. Come on, Ironhide," Ratchet said as he put an arm around Ironhide and led him off. Prowl watched them until he turn and headed off himself. He made sure the coast was clear as he walked out past the boundaries of the base. He got as close as he can without being seen. He crept up to a hiding place among some rock formations that over looked a highway. He watched the cars go by. He smiled as a few police cars caught his eye. He saw a Highway Patrol Chevy SUV go by and scanned it. After he got his alt mode he drove off towards the hospital Ironhide told him about.

At the hospital, the Lennoxes were getting worried because they hadn't heard from Ironhide in a long time. Annabelle was getting the final okay from the doctor as Sarah packed up her things. Will waited and hoped Ironhide would show up. It wasn't long until a Highway Patrol Chevy SUV drove up. Prowl looked around and decided the best course of action would be to go inside. He activated his hologram and a young man in his early thirties stood in front of the SUV. He wore a black suit with the jacket buttoned up to his chest. A white dress shirt was underneath with a nice collar, but no tie. He had reddish blonde hair and a police badge in the inside pocket of his jacket. He looked like an officer that just got off duty. Blue eyes shown with an intense sense of duty. He flipped a hand over hair and straightened his jacket a bit before going inside. The front desk nurse greeted him with a smile. "Hello, sir, may I help you?"

"Ah, a friend of mine sent me to take the Lennoxes home."

"As safety precaution, what friend?"

"My friend Ironhide sent me."

"Oh, you're friends with the uncle. In that case, please go right ahead."

"Thank you." She nodded as he left on his way. He walked down the hall and was greeted by a worried Will.

"Will?" Prowl started.

"I-...You're not Ironhide. Do I know you?"

"We met before when I first landed here. I'm Prowl. I'm one of Ironhide's friends. I'm second in command of the Autobots. The emergency took longer than expected so he sent me to pick you up and take you home."

"I see Ratchet got you working better." Will said "I'll get my wife and Annabelle."

Prowl smiled and waited for Will to return. "Mommy...is somefing wrong? Why is a powice man taking us home?"

"I don't know Anne." Sarah said.

"Sarah, Annie, this is Prowl. He's Ironhide's friend. You remember him, don't you Annie?"

"...I'onhide's friend is powice man? Hey! You all better now," she smiled.

Prowl smiled. "I see you are better was well." he said.

"Uh huh," she smiled. He smiled back.

"Shall we?" They headed outside where his true form waited for them.

"Oooo," Annabelle smiled. "Pwetty powice car."

Prowl's hologram blushed a bit. "Thank you."

Sarah smiled a little bit. Will just sighed in relief. "Prowl...do you think we could go to base instead? I'm worried about Ironhide."

"I don't know..." Sarah said. "I want to get Annabelle home and safe. She doesn't have much of her things."

"Me want to see I'onhide mommy."

She looked at Annabelle. "I don't know. You just recovered from being sick, sweetie."

"Pleeaase..." she begged.

"Your mother is right." Prowl said "Ironhide wouldn't like it if you get sick again."

Annabelle pouted. "But...he said he'd come back..."

"Well...how about we stop by the house and get some more overnight things. We can get blankets and coats."

"Really daddy?"

"Will..." Sarah sighed.

"She's just as worried about Ironhide as I am, if not more. She adores him, Sarah."

"Well...alright. We can go, but we're stopping by the house to get more warm clothes." Annabelle practically squeaked with joy. Prowl could only smile as they got inside. He "sat" in the driver's seat and headed out. They stop by the house were the Lennoxes got what they needed.

Annabelle hugged her stuffed kitty tightly, glad her mom brought it for her last night at the hospital. Then she eyed her other stuffed animals. She smiled as she saw a stuffed Beagle. She grabbed him and then looked through her clothes. Sarah came up to help her pack. "Anne, why are you bringing Buddy?" she asked with a smile. "You already have Fluffy."

"I'm bringing Buddy for I'onhide. He'll make him feel better." Sarah smiled at her.

"That's sweet of you." She went over to the closet and got out a pink suitcase with rainbows on it. She started packing clothing in it.

"Oh mommy, I want these too," Annabelle said as she brought over a few shirts and pants she had picked out.

Sarah smiled. "Okay sweetie."

She helped Annabelle pack and they headed outside. Will waited for them, standing next to Prowl. His hologram "sat" waiting in the driver's seat. "Okay is everything ready?" Will asked.

"Yes, let's go." Will got into the front passenger seat. Sarah put their things inside before lifting Annabelle into the backseat. Prowl just smiled as he waited.

"Is everyone in and buckled up?" he asked.

After buckling Annabelle first and then herself Sarah nodded. "We're ready back here." she said.

"Alright. Let's go." He drove away and headed back towards base.

Back at base, Ironhide was hovering over Chromia's berth. She was fast asleep, both her and sparkling resting peacefully. He watched her with intense optics, still a little worried about them. Ratchet was working in the back with Wheeljack to create a form for the sparkling sleeping inside Chromia. He was determined to birth the sparkling as soon as possible. It was "under too much stress already" and probably wouldn't survive much longer. "I'onhide!" He looked up when he heard the familiar voice and saw the Lennoxes walking into the med bay with Prowl behind them. Annabelle ran up to him up to him happily.

"Sorry Ironhide but they insisted to come and see you." Prowl said.

"That's fine Prowl." Ironhide said as he gently lower his hand for Annabelle to climb up into "You are looking much better Annabelle."

Annabelle smiled and hug his thumb. "Me miss you." She said.

Ironhide smiled back. "I was only gone a couple of hours." He said.

"Me know." Annabelle then noticed Chromia. "Who she?"

Ironhide smiled again. "Her name is Chromia." he said "She's my bond mate."

"What that?" she asked.

"Well we are kind of like your mother and father." Ironhide explained in a way for her to understand.

"Really?"

"Really."

"She's your wife? Way to go, big guy," Will smiled. Ironhide smiled again.

Annabelle nuzzled against Ironhide. "Dis were you been?"

"Yes." Ironhide said "I'm sorry if I worried you."

"It's okay. You must love Chwomia vewy much to stay wif her."

Ironhide smiled again. "Yes I do." he said.

"Okay I think it's done." Wheeljack said.

"Run a final check to be sure. We built it pretty quickly."

"Right Ratchet."

"What's going on?" Will asked.

"...Chromia...She's pregnant..."

"I'onhide be daddy too?" Annabelle asked.

He looked at her and nodded. "I'm going to be a father." A big smile came on the little girl's face. Ironhide smiled back. Chromia slowly came too. Ironhide, still holding Annabelle in his hand, came close to his mate. "Mia?"

"...Ironhide..." the metallic blue femme smiled weakly. She blinked when she saw Annabelle. "...Wh-why are you holding that human sparkling?"

Ironhide smiled. "Mia, this is Annabelle." he said "I'm her and her parents' guardian."

"Hi Miss Chwomia," Annabelle smiled. "Ironhide take care of me, mommy, and daddy."

"I...sort of adopted her...like Prowl... That's going to change... We'll have our own child."

Annabelle looked hurt and confused. "Okay, Ironhide. It's ready," Wheeljack said as he carefully carried over the protoform.

It's body frame was a bit light and the helm had a mix of Chromia and Ironhide's features. Ratchet came over to Chromia. "Are you ready?"

Chromia nodded weakly. "...Yes..."

"C'mon Annabelle. Let's go. This is something private," said Sarah. Ironhide lowered her down to her mother without even looking at her, his attention on his bond mate. Annabelle still looked a bit upset but went over to her mother anyway. Sarah took her into her arms and the Lennoxes left. Prowl decided to follow just in case. He had this felling in his spark that the little girl might be upset with the new sparkling coming.

Annabelle looked back at Ironhide sadly as the Medical Bay doors closed. She nuzzled against Sarah. "I'll take you to the rec room." Prowl said "We have human sized furniture there."

"Thank you, Prowl," said Will as they walked away.

Ratchet waited for Chromia to open her chest. He carefully checked everything before opening the cover to the sparkling chamber. He put a forefield around his hand and took the small orb out. "It's so small..." Ironhide said in aw.

"All sparklings are," smiled Wheeljack as he opened the chest of the protoform manually. He carefully opened the spark chamber and waited. Ratchet gently dropped the sparkling inside and closed up the form. Chromia waited sadly and anxiously.

"...Ironhide...if this works...our sparkling needs a name..."

"...Uh..."

Chromia closed her chest up and stared at him. "Really, Ironhide?"

"...I...I've never...I didn't..."

She sighed heavily. "Honestly...I have to do everything..." The protoform blinked and looked around. Ratchet took it into his arms carefully.

"Congratulations, it's a femme." He did some quick scans and a check as he handed it to Chromia. She nuzzled against her mother as if they had been seperated for vorns instead of earth minutes. She smiled at the little purple sparkling.

"Hello, little one," she smiled. "Our little Aurora."

"Perfect name, Mia." She just sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Get over here, dad." Ironhide came over to look at his very own sparkling. Little Aurora squeaked as she stared at her big sire.

"It's okay little Aurora." Ironhide spoke gently with a smile on his face. She clicked happily and reached out little arms. She could feel the big spark pulsing with her own. Ironhide smiled and gently picks her up, remembering how he use to hold Prowl long ago. She cuddled against him, comforted by his big spark pulsing under his chest where her head rested.

Ironhide smiled at her. "She's so little...and so precious..."

"She'll need her big daddy to protect her," Chromia smiled. She slowly and weakly sat up.

"Yes considering her mother needs her rest still." Ratchet said.

Chromia glared at him a moment. She looked at Ironhide and a now sleeping Aurora. "Can't I just go to our room and rest?" she sighed.

"I can watch over them both," Ironhide said.

"Ironhide you hardly use your quarters. You mostly stay with the Lennoxes." Ratchet said.

"I'll be staying here from now on," he said matter of factly. "They'll understand. Maybe I can get Optimus to relieve me of my guardianship." Annabelle who had gotten away from her mother ran away crying.

"Well, maybe I can fix up your place at the Lennoxes. I could enlist the help of the others to put an extra berth and a crib in there."

"Jack...what about energon? He doesn't have any there. We'd have to get a dispensor in there too. Not to mention Aurora needs fine grade."

"Oh...you're right."

"I'm sure you could easily put one in, Wheeljack."

"I don't know... You'd still have to stay here until they finish remodeling your shed."

"I want to stay here. Chromia and Aurora need me."

"Well...we'll have to discuss this. We'll have to talk with Optimus about it too. Someone needs to protect the Lennoxes if something happens."

"I'll go work out ideas. You two can get Prime in on it." With that, Wheeljack left to go tinker in his lab.

"...Alright... Let's go. Chromia, you stay here and rest with Aurora," Ratchet said. She nodded and laid back down. Ironhide gave Aurora over to her. She settled comfortably against her mother as the two bots left.

Prowl, who was walking the halls a bit later, heard some soft human crying. He went to investigate, following the sound two hallways down from where he was. He was surprised to find Annabelle, curled up against the wall. Her sobbing was the noise he had heard. He slowly knelt down to look at her. "Annabelle? What's wrong little one? Does your mother know where you are?" he asked gently.

"N-no...!" she sobbed and sniffled.

"Maybe we should find her."

"...I...I don't wanna go home..."

Prowl got a bit confused. "Why not?" he asked.

"I...I...I want I'onhide!"

Prowl smiled. "I see." he said "Come on, I'll take you to him."

"...No...!" she wailed.

Prowl sighed and sat down next to her. "But you just said you did. What's wrong?"

"I'onhide don't want me anymore!" she wailed, breaking into sobs and burying her face in her hands.

This got Prowl even more confused. "What makes you think Ironhide don't want you anymore?" he asked.

"H-he...he said so! He said...he w-wanted to...leave! H-He...don't w-wanna be...our...our guard...no more...!"

This got Prowl upset. That wasn't how the Ironhide he knew acted. "Where did you hear him say that?"

"...I...I...got away from mommy... I...I wanted to see...see him...ask him 'bout the new baby... H-he...he..." she broke into sobs and tried to continue. "He...h-he said...he wanted to...to leave! Stay here! Not come home! H-he...he wanted to not protect us anymore! He...he wants to stay with Chwomia and...and...and the new baby! He don't want us anymore! He...He loves the baby now!"

Prowl now understanding where all this was going. "Annabelle understand this," he said gently "For long before there was life on this planet he and Chromia had tried long and hard for a sparkling of their own but some how Chromina didn't have right programs to make one. So to have one now is making old Ironhide quiet excited and proud to even have one after all this time. He properly wasn't thinking clearly cause of it when you heard him say that. But if you want we can find him together and you can tell him how you fell about all this."

"...He...he...still...still wants...Annabelle?"

"C'mon," he said as she stood up and held out his hand. "I'm sure it was all just a misunderstanding." Annabelle slowly climbed into his hand. Prowl then gently lifts her up and headed towards where he saw Ironhide going an hour ago. He patted Annabelle on the head as the two waited outside of Optimus Prime's office. She was still sniffling a bit. Inside Ironhide and Ratchet were talking to Optimus.

"Ironhide, I know your new sparkling is very important to you. I know it means a great deal to you and Chromia to finally have one of your own. However, I can't let you just forget about a family you've built a relationship with. They are our human allies and they need protecting."

"Whether or not I protect Will won't effect our stance with the human military."

"Ironhide! This goes deeper than that! You've become more than a guardian to the Lennoxes. Have you even thought about their feelings regarding this matter?"

"But sir..."

"I'm not going to relieve you of your guardianship. I can't allow it."

"How am I supposed to support Chromia and my daughter if I can barely fit MYSELF in that house!"

"IRONHIDE!" Ratchet growled, threatening to choke him with the strong hold he had on his shoulder. "Have you even given one thought to the little Lennox girl? She ADORES you, Ironhide." Both pairs of optics stared into Ironhide's.

"...Annabelle..." he spoke sadly, his spark sinking to the pit of stomach.

"Sir, I think we should go ahead with Wheeljack's plan. I know Bumblebee and Prowl will gladly help with the modifications to the shed. Until it's finished, I think the Lennoxes could stay here."

"I agree. I'll have to come up with a cover story for their stay here, but I think we can do this." Ironhide didn't reply. He was still lost in his disregard for Annabelle. Prowl, who could hear what was being said inside, looks down at the little girl in his hand.

She sniffled as she stared up at him. He smiled. "I think it's safe to go inside now." He knocked on the door.

"Come in." Optimus spoke.

Prowl came in. "I think a little girl wants to talk to her guardian." Prowl said with a soft smile.

Everyone looked to the small girl Prowl was holding. Optimus had a smile in his optics. Ratchet glared with his arms crossed at Ironhide. "...I...I'on...-sniffle- I'onhide...?" The weapon's specialist looked up at the soft call of her voice.

"..Ann-...Annabelle...?"

"...Y-You...You...still...still want us...?"

He turned to her and stood up. He took her from Prowl's hand. He carefully held her against him. "I'm sorry, Annabelle. You must have overhead me earlier. I'm very sorry. Of course I still want you." Prowl just smiled at this.

Optimus and Ratchet smiled as well, glad to see the softer side of Ironhide. Annabelle nuzzled against him, crying again. "I...I'm glad..."

"C'mon, let's get you to your mother. She's probably looking for you," Ironhide said as he carried her out of Prime's office. Optimus just smiled and let him leave.
"So...what's going to happen?" Prowl asked, concerned as well.

"We have plans to make his quarters at the Lennoxes more like a home for Chromia and the sparkling. Wheeljack is making plans already."

"I know I shouldn't have to ask, but would you mind helping out?" asked Ratchet. "I know Bee will want to too."

"Of course." Prowl said.

"Wheeljack will be happy to know. So will Ironhide," smiled Optimus.

As Ironhide walked back to the Recreation Room, he ran into Will and Sarah running towards him. "Annabelle, there you are!"

"Mommy!"

"You can't go running off like that," Will said.

"I sorry..."

"We need to talk," said Ironhide. "I greatly upset her and she had run off. I...I'm a father now."

"Congrats big guy." Will said.

He smiled. "Thank you, but some things are going to change now."

"You...You'll be leaving us, to take care of Chromia and the baby..."

"...Yes...but not permanantly. Annabelle thought I was going to leave you. She heard somethings I didn't mean to say." He smiled at her and patted her on the head. She nuzzled against his hand. "I have to stay here at base for a little while. There are plans being made to make my shed bigger so I can raise Chromia and Aurora there. While the others make the modifications, I'll have to stay here. I believe you're welcome to stay here as well." Will and Sarah looked at eachother.

"I'm glad you're going to remain with us, Ironhide. I don't know what we'd do without you. Anne would be very upset," smiled Will. "I've gotten used to having you around."

"I don't think I could leave you either. The three of you mean a lot to me. Just don't tell the others. I have a tough image to uphold," he smiled as he playfully growled and glared at Annabelle. Will laughed.

Sarah smiled. Annabelle giggled. "Want down, pwease." Ironhide smiled and lower her to the ground.

She ran over to her mother. She picked her up and hugged her. "Please try not to run off anymore."

"Okay," she smiled.

"Well, it's getting late. You should get to bed now, Annabelle. I'm sure there's a place for the three of you to stay for the night. I know Optimus will let you know further details once we found out how best to handle the situation." The Lennoxes nodded and headed off.

"Night night, I'onhide," Annabelle yawned.

Ironhide waved to her. "Night Annabelle." She waved sleepily. He smiled and watched until they were out of sight. He smiled more at the thought of his own daughter. He headed back to Med Bay and went inside. A warmth filled his spark to see Chromia and Aurora sleeping together. He went over and sat on the edge of the berth. He watched them sleep for a bit. He carefully lifted both into his arms and carried them out.

He carried them all the way to his quarters. He carefully laid them down on his berth and got in next to them. He kissed them each on the forehead. "I love you both with all my spark." He quickly fell asleep.