UPDATED 12/01/15 re-upload of chapters with changes and corrections.

It has taken 4 full solar-cycles of being under Ratchet's watchful optics since the Elite Guard message had seen him all but disappear into his quarters for nearly 2 full solar-cycles, only allowing Ratchet entry. Following the medic's orders to the tee for that period and showing he is now settled and no longer stressing Optimus has finally earn himself some time off base and away from the constant watchful optics of his crew.

The old veteran of course insisted he have an escort and was none surprised when the young Prime immediately selected Prowl. The two still had some unresolved points to discuss in private, without the chance of more interruptions. Following patiently alongside the Prime Prowl quickly recognizes the route they are taking and where it leads.

Detroit Central Park.

The only place with more open space and organic greenery than the island in Detroit Lake now dubbed Dinobot Island. It is also one of Prowl's favorite places to go to and relax between patrols and battles or just to watch the humans and various animals inhabiting the small patch of natural earth within the confines of the concrete, glass and metal city.

Transforming, Prime a little slower than usual, the two walk at a casual pace towards a more secluded area of dense woods away from the main play area of the park. Their presence doesn't go unnoticed by the humans who quickly swarm around them.

Children jump around their peds, squealing in delight getting to meet two of the famous Autobots in person while the adults bombard them with questions. What are you doing out here? Are the Decepticons going to attack? Where is the rest of your crew? Can I see you transform? You're that ninja one aren't you? So on and so forth.

Being not as socially adept as Optimus, the cyber-ninja let the Prime do the talking. He watches in quiet amazement as large mech quickly settles the over excited humans, satisfying their curiosity and worries before politely requesting to not be bothered unless it was important. The humans were surprisingly quick to disperse after that, going back to their own business leaving the two mech's to settle in the far wooded area of the large park in peace.

Sitting under the shade of a large tree, slender legs folded into his usual lotus position Prowl feigns mediation while discreetly observing the larger mech just over an arms length away. His posture still retains some of the stiff tension he'd observed in recent cycles, but the once torrid energy curling from the red and blue mech's plating has settled back to being barely noticeable.

Due to his training Prowl had been the most acutely aware of the Prime unconsciously projecting the emotional turmoil going on within his processor. It wasn't unusual for a mech or femme experiencing deep emotional unrest to project through the naturally occurring thin layer of energy emitted by the spark through the plating, but only those who had trained in how to attune themselves, sense and control such energies were consciously aware of it.

The last few cycles the cyber-ninja has been particularly aware of the fluctuations in not only the Prime's but the entire team's emotional states. All of them were gradually growing more agitated and anxious as the earth days ticked down. The general consensus seems to be that if the Elite Guard never arrived none of them would be the least bit worried. Though, not one of them spoke of this out loud.

"Um, Prowl?" Turning to face the other mech Prowl fully brightens his dimmed visor. "Sorry if I disturbed you. It's just I've put this off long enough... and it's not fair on you." Optimus states softly doing his best to maintain optic contact with the stoic cyber-ninja.

Prowl simply gives a small nod. "It's fine. You have had a lot more important things occupying your time."

"Hm yeah… listen I have actually been thinking about what you asked." Nodding the dark mech silently steels his spark for the worst possibility. Rejection. He'd felt the sting of rejection more than once in his lifecycle, but that didn't mean it hurt any less each time.

"I will be honest with you Prowl. I don't see why you would want to start a courtship with me." Arms, folded in an unconsciously protective set around his chest, tightening Optimus looks away towards the humans at the other end of the park. He observes the adults chatting and basking in the warm sun, more intently he focuses on the small children. Happy squeals and laughter echo through the park as the fragile little organics play, chasing each other, scrambling over the play equipment and tossing brightly coloured rubbed balls around. Steeling himself, feeling the others optics heavy on him he slowly turns back to his companion.

"I can't offer you anything in status, as I said before. If anything courting the likes of me may ruin what standing you have. You know the story with me and why I am where I am now, it's no great secret and the way things are going the further you dissociate yourself from me the better. I don't want to drag you or the others down any further than I already have."

Prowl shifts slightly, fingers squeezing where they rest at his knees. Always the first one to throw yourself into the firing line, Prowl mutters almost bitterly to himself, I always thought it was just some weird glitch or ridiculous attempt at proving yourself. The sense of resigned acceptance in the Prime's tone leaves the cyber-ninja on edge, wanting to loudly rebuke the statement, but he holds his glossa.

"Then there's the sparkling." Optimus' arms loosen, one hand coming to rest protectively over where the sparkling resides. "I want to know you're not doing this out of pity or some misplaced idea that I need someone to protect me or be a surrogate sire to my sparkling."

The Prime's slanted optics thin as he examines the cyber-ninjas reaction to his words. "If this is all because you just want to help me, that's fine, I appreciate that. But please don't propose such a thing to me if this is only because of the sparkling."

Slowly becoming self conscious of the degree to which he has hunched, shoulders rolled forward, golden fairings raised high Prowl is quick to regain his usual refined pose. Bright cyan optics study his every move with careful scrutiny.

"Optimus, I did not come to this decision to make the proposal lightly and I can assure you I've been thinking about this since before we knew of the sparkling." That seems to soften some of the strain in the air, Optimus' posture visibly relaxing.

Shifting to close at least a small measure of the distance between them Prowl carefully lays one hand against angular red shoulder plating. A small, reflexive twitch passes through the thick metal, but the large mech makes no move to pull away. Prowl, knew like all the crew, of the Prime's aversion to letting people close to him, let alone touching him. The fact he didn't immediately move away encourages the dark mech.

"I will admit the revelation of the sparkling did prompt me to approach you sooner than I was planning," Bright optics abruptly thin at this, blue lips pulling into a thin line. Raising one hand Prowl rushes forward. "But it is not the sole reason why I would like to pursue a courtship." Optimus quirks a black and white optical ridge at that, helm tilting with open curiosity, hands coming to rest loosely in his lap.

"You have proven to be a fascinating enigma to me. When I was first assigned to your crew I honesty wasn't ever planning on doing any more than honor the obligation I had to follow your orders… Which, I didn't." Prowl adds with only the barest hint of embarrassment.

Early on his going against the Prime's orders, doing things the way he saw fit was his own little petty game of spite against the Elite Guard run vicariously through this impudent young Prime. He wanted to make the stuffy, academy bot crack. Make him so incensed he would throw him off the team just to gain relief from his constant cold aloofness, indifference and constant drive to undermine his leadership.

It had quietly infuriated him that; yes he did manage to torque off the young Prime enough to get a decent rise out of him, but never once did he ever get him angry enough to even threaten being kicked off the team. All he got was a rather mentally tried mech rattling his audios off with endless, boring lectures right out of the Elite Guard training manual.

The Prime's lack of real response to his testing and constant questioning of his leadership never ceased to quietly drive him mad. His stubbornness, seeming blindness to his own situation and plain jerk-ish behavior made Optimus hard to put up with at the best of times, yet he refused to bow out without a fight. He refused to just give up and walk away, he'd make the Prime throw him off the team one way or another to prove his point about mecha like him and the Elite Guard.

Prowl knew of the state of affairs in the Prime's dismissal from the Elite Guard. Pretty much everyone knew that, but not the actual circumstances that lead up to it. He'd been tempted to start using that as another point to aggravate the Elite Guard drop out, but finally learning the full story had helped sway his opinion on the younger mech. Optimus finally relenting in some of his bull headed stubbornness, going from being just their appointed leader to a good friend as well, also helped.

"You put up so many walls, caging yourself in while doing all you could to push everyone so far away you were… difficult to tolerate at times, let alone follow your command. Your attitude was rather abrasive at the time." The tactfully delivered statement draws a small rueful smile across pale blue derma.

"Hm, you mean I was a standoffish jerk who order rather than spoke."

Huffing lightly Prowl crosses his arms, derma pursed. "I was trying to be tactful about it, but yes. At times I wanted to clamp my servos around your neck and shake you til your processor rattled, you frustrated me so."

The blunt honesty pulls a warm bubbling laugh from Optimus, what remains of the anxiety in the air completely melting away. This is… interesting, Prowl muses genuinely surprised at how quickly the younger mech is loosening up and rising from the pit of quiet brooding he'd been in for over a deca-cycle now.

Emboldened Prowl pushes ahead.

"You're a maddeningly complex mech Optimus, and I can't stop myself from being drawn to you, wanting to solve the puzzle that is you. Wanting to be closer to you, know more about you… much more than what could be had with just friends." Taking a chance the dark mech every so gently slides his hand down the mech's arm to rest his black and grey hand over a larger cerulean one.

Optimus' looks away in embarrassment, frame tensing with unease. Steely, slender fingers curling around his thicker ones sharply draw his attention back to the smaller dark mech, optics blazing with conviction behind the sweeping visor.

"I know there is little you can offer to this courtship in status or future gains and I don't care for there is little I can offer in return myself. All I can give is myself, my knowledge and skills and solemn promise as a cyber-ninja and Autobot to always be there when you need me and all I ask in return is you. No matter what is to come I will never turn my back on you and all I ask is for something as simple as that in return." Prowl's free hand rests over his spark in a show of his honesty.

"The sparkling… it changes nothing. I don't care about its sire only that it is part of you and that is all that will matter. If you want to raise it entirely on your own with no input or influence from me I'll gladly stay to the side and treat it as yours and yours alone, but I want you to know I'll be here for you and it in any capacity you want or need."

It was only a partial lie. The sparkling hadn't changed how he felt, but he did care about its parentage despite how hard he has been trying to put it aside. The idea that Megatron's foul essence curls within Optimus, not only tainting him but what should be a pure innocent spark yet to truly experience life, leaves a bitter twisted barb in his spark.

"So… Optimus Prime, do you accept my courtship?" Prowl asks softly shuffling forward a little closer, spark near quivering in its casing as Optimus stares back at him.

A long, pregnant pause insures as the dark mech watches the proverbial cogs tick over in the larger mech's CPU. Eventually Optimus issues a long out vent, before dipping his helm and nodding.

"That… that's something I would like too. So, yes Prowl. I accept."

A wide, pleased smile slides unbidden across the cyber-ninja's narrow face plates softening his normally sharp features. He receives a warm, if not a little shy smile in return. The warmth of relief and delight curling through his spark Prowl closes his optics, leaning forward, the golden chevron adorning his fore-plating barely touching a blue helm crest.

Thick blue fingers clumsily twine with thin grey as the Prime tentatively turns, shuffling a little as he tilts his helm into the gentle touch of fore-plates optics shutting off. Prowl rewards the gesture with a gentle squeeze and rubbing his thumb over blue plating as the waving ribbons of nervous, shy energies from the Prime begin to ease. They sit like this for several kliks, Optimus' fingers fidgeting occasionally in their hold, Prowl basking in the ambient warmth and gentle flow of the unique energies of the others larger frame so near. He'd become so used to putting physical distance and the simple pleasures of sharing contact between himself and others since losing Yoketron he'd almost forgotten how nice it can feel with such simple touches. I hope Optimus feels this as warmly and keenly as I, Prowl muses pushing back some of his own energies wishing to share with his new partner.

A slight shift of crest against chevron sends tiniest of contact sparks between them, eliciting a tiny start from the red and blue mech and a faint warm flutter through the black and gold mech's circuits. Encouraged by the contact, Prowl gradually lifts his free hand barely brushing the tips of his fingers against the dark false glass adorning one side of Optimus' broach chest aiming to move towards his collar.

The reaction is instantiations.

Optimus reels back violently, slapping the hand away barely missing slamming himself into the large tree trunk behind him in his haste. Stumbling forward Prowl gasps, optics flaring on causing his visor to flash bright as he catches his sudden lost balance. He stares in shock as Optimus pulls his knees up and turns away, frame almost glowing with embarrassment.

"Uh, um… I-I sorry. Just… w-wasn't expecting that." Optimus utters awkwardly, one hand rubbing at the back of his helm and neck, the other nervously petting at his lower chest plates, spark racing behind the plating in anything but excitement.

Waving a hand, Prowl reassures him lightening his tone with a gentle tease. "It's alright. Perfectly fine. Just a no would suffice next time." Watching them look everywhere else but him, a small prickle of unease settles in his spark. That was… unexpected. Maybe I mistook the signal? Was too much too soon? Prowl wonders seeing them now looking awfully unsettled. Then it clicks.

The sparkling.

In his moment of contentment and loss of logical thinking he'd momentarily forgotten about it. Stupid, stupid! How could I forget such a thing, Prowl hisses internally, never touch carrying mecha where the sparkling resides without prior consent.

Awkward silence pervades for almost a full cycle, neither sure what to say. Prowl is a little shocked when Optimus carefully reaches out, gently taking his hand again but does no more. He's tempted to act on the little touch, get in closer to him again, but decides this will have to do for now. He doesn't want to upset or push the truck-former away so soon. They continue to sit in a more tranquil quiet for another 12 cycles, enjoying the warmth of the earth's sun, the light breeze and simply getting used to each other.

Looking to the sky Prowl notes the earth's sun making its slow arch dipping towards the edge of the city the cyber-ninja makes a decision. Smoothing rising to his peds the slender mech offers a hand to the Prime. "I think it's about time we head back to base anyway. Primus knows what Sari and Bumblebee have gotten up to since we left."

Swallowing down the mortification at his own overreaction Optimus accepts the offered hand, allowing the smaller mech to help ease his stiff frame up from the now thoroughly flattened grass. Having someone that close, touching had been nice, more than nice really. That little spark, as faint as it had been had caught him off guard and actually felt quite pleasant once it passed through his circuitry. Though aside from touching helms as he's seen others do and holding Prowl's hand he hadn't been sure what to do next, nervousness and indecision making him restless and dulling the moment a little for him.

Should he touch Prowl's hand like they were touching his? Should he stroke his arm like he did, maybe touch his shoulder? He didn't know what to do or how to conduct himself and a little voice in the back of his processor was quietly quailing over not doing something that might offend or be going too far too soon.

When Prowl's sharp tipped fingers had touched his chest the warm haze his CPU had slipped into vanished like he'd been doused in subzero coolant and he panicked. He was so caught up in his own thinking and enjoying the simple warmth of contact the sudden touch set off his now over reactive defensive instincts, driving him to remove the threat and himself from the situation. It had taken several kliks to force his spark to stop its frantic pulsing and his defensive protocols to shut off, worried the sudden lurch would upset the sparkling.

So far all he felt from it was the energy it drew from his spark to sustain itself, a light barely noticeable pulling sensation to the left side of his spark chamber. He'd come to find the feeling mildly comforting, adding weight to the fact that he was indeed supporting a slowly growing new life.

Following Prowl's lead back to the main road they both transformed into their alt modes, Optimus a little slower and less gracefully as the lithe cyber-ninja, before heading back to base.

Back at the base a little human girl is caught between gagging and turning away or keeping on watching out of mesmerized curiosity. The scene playing out in a delayed relay on the large screen both intrigues her and has her stomach twist in childish disgust.

"They looked like they were gonna kiss! Ewwww!" Sari moans loudly, hands clapping over her ears at her own words and round face scrunching up the thought of seeing her friends do that. Getting all schmoopy an exchanging spit, lubricants? Whatever, just yuck.

Bumblebee simply watches on unsure what to think of seeing his leader and the cyber-ninja so close and actually touching their foreheads together. Quite the intimate little gesture. Teletraan-1's hovering surveillance camera was too high up to give decent sound, but he gets the gist of what's going on.

"Wow… who would've thought. The boss bot and the pole-so-far-up-his-aft-he-can't-walk-straight ninja." Bumblebee muses aloud watching as the two sit ill at ease after Prowl did something that seems to make the Prime momentarily flip out.

Never, ever, EVER in a million vorns would he have seen it coming, let along believe anyone who said it was even possible. He'd thought something was up with Prowl suddenly hanging around Optimus a lot and actually talking nicely to him and getting a bit touchy, but never this.

Heavy metal creaks as Bulkhead shuffles forward, leaning his hefty frame closer to the screen. He'd protested spying on their Leader and the ninja, but watching the scene unfold he'd quickly changed his opinion. "I actually think it's kinda sweet." He sighs wistfully, optics glistening as he watches the two bots as they seem to settle into a comfortable stillness.

Sari simply gapes at her two friends. This isn't sweet, it's gross! Totally, totally GROSS! They were all googley eyed and touchy feely and, and, just yuck. "So you guys are ok with this?" She asks skeptically, brow furrowed, shoulders hunched displaying her uneasiness.

Both bots nod, very much surprised but also quiet happy with the idea. Seeing her friends so seemingly happy with the turn of events the little human's mind starts to wander. "Sooo… are they like, boyfriends or something now?" Sari asks, waving a dark hand in a vague gesture.

"Uuuh… boyfriends? What's boyfriends?" Bulkhead asks large optics brimming with confusion.

Sari rolls her eyes in exasperation. She's NOT going to explain that one, they can figure it out for themselves… did 'boyfriend' even apply since Ratchet said there were no real girls and boys in their kind. She isn't sure.

Flapping a hand dismissively at the big green mech she mutters. "Never mind." Glancing back at the screen she notes how the two now look more at ease, if distant.

It's so weird, but the Autobots seem so much happier than she's seen in weeks. Shoving down her disgust an idea starts to form in her mind. If having Optimus and Prowl together makes everyone happy, then she's going make sure they stay together even if a little extra intervention is needed to 'bump' things along.

The little human is about to share her idea with the two bots when a loud, bellowing shout makes them all near jump out of their skin and plating respectfully.

"What in Primus' name are you lot doing? Have you little pit-spawns rewired Teletraan-1's sky-cam?" The medic growls upon spying the relay video of Optimus and Prowl playing out on the huge screen.

Panicking the yellow mini-bot throws himself across the main keyboard sending the terminal into a squealing frenzy of alerts and errors as he jabs and smashes at the buttons forcing the screen to flicker out in a flurry of static.

"Ummm… no?" The yellow bot offers lamely.

Growling low in his chest, Ratchet jabs an accusatory finger at two young bots. "You had better have that console back to rights before Prime gets back or so help me I will weld you two to the nearest wall and you," Here the medic turns on the little girl trying and failing to sneak from the room. "You're going to help them."

Reaching into his subspace the red and white mech pulls out a small pair of insulated gloves tossing them to the little girl, motioning for her to put them on and get to work. I knew I would find a used for those one day, Ratchet grins self-indulgently.

TBC