A/N: I'm honestly proud of how this story is turning out. When I first wrote it, I thought, "Nobody's gonna like it." But I guess I thought wrong. Before I let you guys read I'd like to say another big thank you to all who have read my story and spared a minute to tell me what you thought. I've gotten so much encouragement with this and it makes me want to update whenever I can so you guys can read more. I think I'm going to try and update everyday from now on.! Enjoy!

Note: If any of you are interested in reading a Megatron/OC romance story, I just posted the first chapter yesterday, it's called His Little Flower. Be sure to check it out!

Sam looked up as he heard someone come out of Lissa's room. Ironhide walked towards him, looking a little blue in the face. Sam stood up quickly, pulling the mech aside. "Is she…okay?" He asked quietly.

"Yes Sam, she's going to be fine. Her doctor said that she was to be discharged tomorrow, but we need to let her rest now."

A sigh of relief escaped Sam's lips. His cousin was going to be alright, physically. A worse problem came to mind, "How is she…mentally?"

Hide' stared down at the young man, noting the terrified fear in his eyes. "She's fine, still smiling."

Sam looked at him in disbelief, "She's still smiling after, after that?"

He nodded, "Yes, your cousin is a strong girl, she's been through much worse."

The raging anger built up inside Sam again, and the urge to find the man who did it came rushing back into his head, "Ironhide." He hissed, "I need you to help me find the man that did that to her. He is going to pay for this."

Hide' saw the fierce determination in his face, he wanted that man dead, just as he did. But he knew better than Sam did, and that would only cause more trouble. "Sam, would Lissa want you to be a murderer?"

Sam thought about this for a moment, then drooped his head. He knew Ironhide had a point, Lissa would be horrified if she found out that he did that. Heck, he wouldn't be much better than the man that killed her father. "You're right, but I'm just so angry. I don't understand why that had to happen to Lissa of all people! She's already been through enough!"

"I know Sam. I am too, it took all of my self control not to kill that insect right on the spot. But, I knew that Lissa wouldn't want that of me either, so I didn't. You need to understand that yes, she has been through a lot. But it has made her strong in ways that many people cannot even fathom. She sent me out here because she was worried about you. She asked me to tell you that she was okay, and not to worry."

Sam sat down and put his head in his hands, "So, you're telling me that Lissa, who is the one in the hospital bed beat up and in pain, is worried about me?"

Hide' chuckled a little at his reaction, "Yes, your cousin has a lot of love for you."

Sam knew that, and he loved her just as much. But he also wondered if a certain mech loved her too. The question that he was trying to figure out earlier suddenly came to mind. He snapped up and looked Hide' in the eyes. "Ironhide, I need to know. Do you…love her?"

Hide' turned away, unsure of how to approach this. "I am…attracted to her, yes."

"I knew that, but do you like, like her like her?"

He sighed, knowing that he wasn't going to let this slide. "Yes, I like her like her. She's…the most amazing femme I've ever met. Does that answer your question?"

Sam smiled widely, "I knew it!" He jumped up and danced around in circles, getting weird looks from all the other people in the waiting room. "Hide' has a crush on Lissa Hide' has a crush on Lissa!"

Ironhide flushed a little and grabbed Sam, putting a hand over his mouth to shut him up. "You're lucky your parents aren't in here! And that there are people watching, if there weren't I'd have my cannons on you so fast, you'd be dead right on the spot!"

Sam just stood there, his muffled laughter emanating from Hide's large hand. He pushed it away and sat down again. "Aw c'mon Hide', I'm just messing with ya. I knew that my parents weren't in here, that's why I did it. I'm sure my dad wouldn't take to kindly to an alien robot falling in love with his niece. But that doesn't matter, the real question is, what does she think of you."

Ironhide's cheek tingled as a reminder as to what transpired between them in the hospital room. He decided not to tell Sam about it, in fear that he would embarrass him even more. That question did intrigue him though, as he was wondering the same thing himself. "I don't know Sam."

Sam waved it off, "Don't worry, I'll talk to her. I know her better than anybody-"

"No," He cut in firmly, "I'd rather do it myself. There's less of a chance of miscommunication that way. Do not approach her about it."

"Alright if you're so sure."

Lissa awakened again in the middle of the night. This time, not because of nightmares, but because of the throbbing pain she felt in her sides. There wasn't a nurse in the room, and they didn't leave her one of those emergency buttons, so she decided to find one herself. She swung both legs over the side of the bed, hissing in pain at the movement. 'C'mon Lissa." She said to herself, "You can do this." Slowly, she put both feet on the ground and tried to stand. She was a little wobbly at first, but was surprised to see that she could stand properly. Squealing a little in delight, she tried to take a step, and failed miserably. 'Walking is a whole other story.' Regaining her balance she hung on to the bed, shuffling her feet forward.

It took her five minutes to get to the other side of the room. "Damn drugs." She muttered under her breath. Quietly opening the door she peered outside. Two people sat in the plastic chairs in the waiting room. One was Sam, who was sleeping peacefully, and the other was Ironhide, who was studying the floor. 'Why is he still up?' "Hide'?" She called out from her room. Ironhide quickly looked up and came to her side, a worried look on his face. "What is it? Are you alright?"

"I'm-argh, fine." She hissed through her teeth, a new wave of pain coming from her sides. "C-can you get a nurse. I'm in a lot of pain right now."

He took her hand tenderly, "Where does it hurt?"

"My sides. Argh, they, they hurt so bad." And they did, she was on the verge of tears from it now.

Hide' carefully took her in his arms, being sure not to touch her sides. He put her back in her bed and jogged out to find a nurse. There were a few chatting with each other at the nurses station. "The woman in room 207 is in a lot of pain, can you help her?" He asked gruffly.

They both nodded and quickly walked towards the room, Ironhide following right behind them. Once they were inside one grabbed a clean needle and began putting morphine into it, the other took her hand, rubbing in soothingly. "Oh honey, don't worry, we'll take care of the pain and it'll go away in a few minutes okay?"

Tears ran down Lissa's face, which was scrunched up in agony. She managed a small nod.

Ironhide couldn't stand seeing her like this, "Can you hurry up with that medication?" He barked, coming to her side in the same instant and taking her other hand. "I'm right here." He murmured soothingly.

The nurse walked back over and took her I-V bag, pumping the new set of drugs into her system. Once her tears subsided and she began to calm down the nurses left the room telling Ironhide to get them if she ever needed anything again. He grabbed a chair and scooted it up to her bedside. He was utterly exhausted from keeping the holoform up all day, but he didn't care. Lissa needed him, and that meant more to him than going to staisis at the moment.

Scooting closer to the edge of the bed, she laid her head on his chest. "Thank you Ironhide."

"Are you in any more pain?" He asked, running a hand through her hair.

"No, I'm fine now."

Hide' could hear a little fear in her voice and knew that everything wasn't fine. "What is it Lissie?"

Lissa knew she couldn't keep anything from him, he'd find out eventually anyways, "I-I'm just a little scared of going back to sleep, m-my nightmares, they may come back."

"Move over." He said suddenly.

Confused, Lissa did what he asked. Ironhide stood up and sat down on the bed, taking her in his arms and resting her head on his chest. "Don't worry about them. Nothing can hurt you while I'm here, I'll protect you."

Lissa wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling deeper into his chest. She had to admit, with Ironhide here she felt much safer. She knew he wouldn't let anything happen to her, and that calmed her in a way no drug possibly could. "Ironhide?" She asked quietly.

"Yes Lissa." He rumbled.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"You have to promise you'll answer this truthfully."

He chuckled, "I promise."

She hid her face in his chest, not wanting to meet his eyes when she asked him this. "D-do you, have feelings for me?"

Ironhide was caught a little off guard by her question. He knew he had to tell her, it was only fair. "Yes, I do. For many reasons, and some I can't explain. I didn't tell you earlier because we're at war Lissa. If a Decepticon ever found out how I felt about you, they'd hunt you down immediately." He tightened his arms protectively at the thought.

"You would never let them." She murmured meekly.

Had he just heard right? "No, I wouldn't. But the Decepticons are smart and if I ever wasn't there, they'd find out. I couldn't live with myself if you got killed Lissa."

"But, how will they find out? We don't have to tell anyone about it."

His spark stopped for a moment. What was she saying? Did she feel attracted to him as well? "You're right, but I fear they'd find out anyways."

She tightened her grip in his shirt. "You wouldn't let them hurt me. And besides, I don't care if they did. I know how to use a gun, and when Bumblebee comes back he'll protect me as he does Sam."

She had a point, and he'd make sure that Bee didn't let anything happen to her, a death threat would probably do nicely. But he had to know for sure about how she felt first. "Lissa, what are you saying?"

Lissa looked up, fondness shining in her eyes. "I'm saying, you cranky old man, that I like you too."

He didn't realize he was holding his breath until he let it out, relieved upon hearing her words. He could feel his spark utterly singing and thanked Primus that she felt the same way.

Ironhide chuckled and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "What are we going to do now?"

Lissa propped her chin up with her hand, thinking for a moment. "I think we should just keep going on as we always do, and just see where this takes us."

That sounded perfect to him. He moved the blankets so he could cover them up and turned off the light. Lissa got comfortable in his arms and quickly fell into slumber. Ironhide watched her chest rise and fall, the motion calming him some. He still couldn't believe that she liked him too, or that he fell in love with a human. But one thing's for sure.

He wasn't going to let her go.

A/N: Okay! Now that they admitted their feelings to each other the rest of the story should go smoothly. I hope you all enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun writing this, it was just SO DARN CUTE! As always, review!

~Court