A plot bunny I saw on Livejournal and just had to pick up for Mother's day. I'd also like to thank akisawana for listening, inspiring, and contributing to the ideas in this chapter. The image of Mama Bear Ratchet will forever remain in my memory. You're awesome Aki!


Mirage had seen many unusual things in his life. Passing by the open door to the Dinobot's room and seeing some of the colossal mechs in a 'scuffle' was not one of them. Hearing the subject matter of their disagreement on the other hand was .

"I Slag say him Wheeljack more like mother," Slag growled, struggling to escape a headlock from his larger brother, Grimlock.

"You Slag rusty bolt bucket, I Grimlock think him Ratchet act more like mother to us Dinobots," the tyrannosaurus transformer rumbled back, keeping his hold.

Despite the Dinobots' wild natures, the five were unquestionably fond of and loyal to each other and their creators. No one else would they listen to so obediently. Besides perhaps Optimus, but it took the Autobot leader far more effort to persuade the small clan.

"What are you five arguing about?" Mirage spoke up, loud enough to be heard over the loud bangs and crashes of two giant beings of metal wrestling. His curiosity got the best of him again, he had to know why the Dinobots were calling Wheeljack and Ratchet their mothers.

"We Dinobots having discussion," Swoop answered, turning to Mirage and ignoring his brawling brothers.

"About whether your mother is Wheeljack or Ratchet?" Mirage asked.

"No, who acts more like Dinobot mother," Grimlock replied, finally flipping Slag on his back onto the ground. The miniature earthquake nearly made Mirage's knees knock together.

"Ah," Mirage said, trying not to smile in amusement. Well at least there was a distinction.

"You do know 'mother' and 'father' are human concepts, correct?" Mirage asked. The blue and white spy received five blank stares. Looks like a further explanation was in order.

"In the humans society, their mothers are their female parents, and their fathers are their male parents. Like Sparkplug is Spike's father. Although we don't have… gender identities quite like the humans, Ratchet and Wheeljack would still more closely be considered males. So, they're both more like your fathers." He didn't want to dampen their enthusiasm in calling the two mechs their parents, it was rather endearing really. Besides, Cybertronians did used to produce offspring and act as parents, at least before the war and both sides needed warriors and not be tied down with helpless sparklings.

Mirage wasn't even surprised by Wheeljack and Ratchet's parental fondness for the Dinobots. Before the war, the two had been a young bonded couple focusing on their careers before starting a family. And both had been looking forward to the day they could raise their own offspring in peace. Now that day seemed far and unobtainable as many of Cybertron's dreams were.

"We Dinobots know all that," Grimlock said, exasperated. "Him Spike tell us about them humans Mother and Father's Days."

"They special days to thank creators for raising them creations," Swoop explained. "We Dinobots want to thank creators, but thank them on separate days. So we deciding who acts like which human parent." Swoop sounded almost embarrassed as he went on, the other Dinobots' body language mirroring him.

Mirage smiled reassuringly at the five. "Well, I'm sure Ratchet and Wheeljack would appreciate whatever you have planned for them. And if you insist celebrating Mother's and Father's Day with them, I would suggest Mother's day for Ratchet."

Primus help Mirage if Ratchet ever found out about this, because then he'd be a terminated mech.

"Why you Mirage say that?" Swoop asked curiously. Behind the youngest Dinobot, Slag had crossed his arms, clearly disagreeing with the suggestion.

"Do any of you know what bears are?" Mirage was outright grinning now, and honestly he couldn't help it. The situation was rather funny. And by Primus, he was going to enjoy his last few days of life, thank you very much. Because again, when Ratchet found out about this conversation, he was no longer going to be alive.

All nodded, patiently waiting for the spy to continue his road of thought.

"Well, adult bears are fierce creatures and the humans fear and respect them. However, the mother bears are also gentle and nurturing to their offspring." Sometimes it really did pay off to listen to Hound talk about Earth life.

Swoop smiled, optics glittering with understanding. "Like him Ratchet."

Mirage matched the expression. "Yes, just like Ratchet."

More than the five younglings probably even understood actually. Ratchet had been working on sparklings and younglings long before his war career. And even if the CMO could be coarse with most of the Autobot army, the younger generation did not fall under such an attitude.

Early in the war when Mirage had just barely graduated from youngling status himself, he had reunited with his old, genial doctor from his sparkling days. And he'd never seen Ratchet act quite so feral than when the medic had protected Mirage and an equally injured Bluestreak from a Decepticon warrior with nothing more than a laser scalpel and won.

"I'd also recommend scheduling days off for all of you and Ratchet and Wheeljack with Optimus and Prowl for those days."

Swoop nodded. "Thank you Mirage."

"Not a problem. Although I would appreciate that you don't tell Ratchet or Wheeljack about my helping you," Mirage said, tone still light.

Snarl grunted, "'Course not. We Dinobots doing all the hard planning."