Update here! :)

Chapter 10

Sure

Chromia stretched out beside Ironhide on their berth in the private quarters and cuddled against him. It was evening, and they would be recharging soon.

"What's wrong, my warrior?" she asked softly, sensing his mood. Usually she could feel him relaxing, but tonight it was different; he was remaining tense.

"I researched vinegar…" he said softly with a groan. "It's even worse than water." He lamented, "And it's acidic. I hate acidic stuffs."

"My poor mech," Chromia rubbed her hand on his arm gently. "It should do the trick, though. Then all the nasty, sticky stuff will be gone." She didn't envy him a bit. In fact, she knew she'd make an even worse fuss than he would if she was ever in his present situation.

He sighed.

"Come on, now. Cheer up." Chromia told him. "I think you will be needing a good rub down with oil once the vinegar has done its work, and you like a good rub down."

"Bribes? Chromia…Bribes? Am I a sparkling to be bribed like so?" she was drawing him out of his dark mood, and his optics twinkled a little bit as he smiled at his mate.

She gave him a stern look. "If you were a sparkling I would just have to bribe you with toys, not service. And I could pin you down and make you take your medicine. Or spank you for refusing. Brat!"

He chuckled, loving how her optics snapped when she called him names. "Alright, alright. I will attempt to be good for the medic."

"Attempt?"

"That's as much as I dare to promise... as far as Ratchet and vinegar go."

"I guess I'll have to beat it out of you." Chromia said, getting up and standing on the floor with her hands on her hips. Ironhide chuckled and sat up. He knew she was playing. He watched her, waiting for her to make a make a move so he could make his.

She walked over to his side of the berth. "You're in trouble, mech." She said, leaning forward just a little. She was just out of reach, and she knew that she was tantalizing him.

"But, you can't get me," He teased, scooting away just enough to make her come after him. Taking the bait, she darted forward to give him a play swat. He turned back and caught her before she could touch him. "Now who's in trouble, femme?" He asked, holding her close.

"You are." She said sweetly then kissed his jaw.

"No, you are. You can't get out of trouble as easily as that."

She chuckled because there was absolutely no logic to that statement.

"Irreverent brat." Ironhide said fondly, "Laughing at your elders. You're in for it now."

She kissed him on the mouth. "Threats?" she asked, still close.

"Warnings,"

She chuckled again, delighted with the way he always cocked an optic-ridge when he said 'warnings.'

"I warned you," he whispered then pulled her over his lap and gave her a love-tap.

When he let her go, she sat up and gave him a mock pout as she rubbed her rump. He would never hurt her, but it was fun to tease him about it.

Ironhide smiled as he watched her. It really was the most wonderful thing that she was his. She was his, and he was hers… it always seemed like a miracle that he had found the most wonderful femme in the universe and that she was happy to be with him and spend her entire life with him.

She saw that he was finished playing by the soft look on his face, and she could feel it in her spark, too, feel the warmth and peace. She scooted over. "Tired now?" she asked softly.

"A bit." He said; then he nodded as he realized that he was quite tired.

Chromia put her arms around his neck. "Good-night, then. Recharge well, my beloved of all bots."

"As long as you are with me, I will." Ironhide told her, still holding her as he lay down. They snuggled close and let recharge come.

OooOOoOoOOooO

In the morning, the logistics department called Ironhide and requested a small service. He told them him would help them. He was always ready to help out the human allies, and if he happened to get so busy that he missed an appointment with Ratchet, so be it.

He downed his morning Energon and headed for the door quietly. Chromia had better not find out that he was running off. It was rather hard for a five ton bot to be very quiet in a silent room.

"Ironhide…!"

He stopped and went back to where Chromia was just coming out of recharge. "Yes, my love?"

"Where are you sneaking away to?" she asked, rising and slipping her arms around his neck.

"Logistics needs a small favor from me. I'll be back, though."

"Okay." She kissed him and let him go, and he headed to the logistics center.

It was a nice morning for a drive; it wasn't hot yet, and the people were just starting to move around.

"Mornin', Ironhide!" Someone called from a tank.

"Good morning!" he called back.

He reached the logistics center and pulled up to the loading dock.

"Luke!" he called, "What do you mean calling me in to deliver things? I'm a Con-fighting Battle-bot, not a messenger-bot!"

Luke came over with grin, knowing that the big bot was teasing. "It's just one pallet," the burly man said, "Kinda small to haul with the delivery truck, but it's going too far to move with the loader."

"Well, as long as it's not hazardous." Ironhide said, backing up to the loading dock.

"Nope. It's just a couple barrels of vinegar going to Ratchet." Luke said easily, motioning the loader over. "What Ratchet wants with vinegar, I'll never guess. I'm thinking it could be a prank from the twins, but I'm not going to raise questions about small deliveries."

'VINEGAR!' Ironhide thought. He was badly surprised. He was going to have to take the vinegar to Ratchet himself. There would be absolutely no getting away now.

He groaned when the loader lowered the pallet into his truck-bed.

"Thanks, 'Hide." Luke said, patting the truck's fender.

"Sure." Ironhide said, starting to pull away. Once out of earshot, he muttered, "Thanks nothing. I'm bringing the knife to my own execution."

There you go, folks! I'm looking forward to winter break! ~More time to write fic, you know ;)

I do love reviews, and they stimulate further writing! *hint, hint* Let me know what you like.