Discaimer; I do not own transformers or their merchandise.

I have really enjoyed writing this chapter, especially the parts with Ironhide and Livie, speaking of which there is a bit of Ironhide and Livie fluff. I hope you enjoy reading it. I do not know a lot about transformer history so no flames please. Livie will be having a name change soon.

Chapter 10

Smiley faces.

William lay in his bed next to Sarah in the family quarters; it was a quiet night and the couple were just dozing off when they heard footsteps racing past their window. Whoever it was had torches and judging by the sounds of the voices William thought there might have been at least three of them. He thought about getting up and seeing if everything was okay but it was his night off and they didn't sound like there were any problems; actually it was quite the opposite, they sounded quite merry,

"What's happening out there?" Sarah asked sleepily,

"Some of the guys have had some time off base and they are just returning," he replied and rolled over to give her a hug, "Go back to sleep,"

The three men carried on with their mission of carrying the small paint pots they'd purchased of red, blue and yellow paint to the Autobot firing range but one of them couldn't stop giggling. He was one of the youngest members of the N.E.S.T team who they called Knox due to his surname.

"Sshhh," another one snapped, "You'll wake everybody up,"

"Ahh who cares," Knox replied flippantly,

"We do," the other two, nicknamed Skippy {an Australian} and Punch.

They carried on through the grounds, keeping in the shadows so they weren't caught by the bright moonlight. The Autobot firing range was behind the main hanger; it used to be used as a storage area for rusty old equipment but there were also markings painted on the ground for the humans to play baseball. One of the first things William Lennox and his team did was clean it up so that the Autobots had an area where they could do their firing practice and training. The three rebels arrived at the firing range and shone their torches at their potential empty canvasses. They slowly walked toward their targets paint brushes and pots in hand giggling and fearless of the potential fallout. After it was finished they looked at their works of art and each other before leaving the area to return back to their barracks.

Bumlebee and Mirage were on patrol duty that night, they'd decided to do a patrol around the perimeter of the base which incorporated the Autobot firing range but a noise distracted them half way through so they never made it there. Bumblebee happened to look around and saw the three torches by the human residential area of the base,

"What the…Mirage something is happening over there," the spy turned around and looked toward where the scout was pointing.

The two Autobots raced up to the men frightening the life out of them,

"Watch out," Knox yelled.

The three men stood in front of the two Autobots like a frightened wild animal stunned by headlights of an oncoming vehicle, they stepped back to give Bumblebee and Mirage space to transform but Skippy tripped over Punch's foot and stumbled, sloshing paint everywhere,

"Idiot!" Punch whispered,"

"What's going on here?" Mirage asked in his heavy Italian accent,

Leave this to me," Knox whispered

"N-nothing…sir," Knox said,

The other two stood there and snickered, earning themselves a jab in the ribs. Bumblebee looked at the three men suspiciously, their faces were covered in camo paint but they were wearing what looked like old clothes splattered with multi coloured…paint,

"Why have you got those?" he asked,

"What?" Knox asked as he looked at the paint pots, "…Oh these? We're just doing a little painting," he said, the other two men snickered again, earning themselves another jab in the ribs.

Mirage frowned at them,

"At this time of night?"

"They're up to something," Bumblebee said,

"Yeah they are," Mirage replied as he looked at them, "But it's a human matter so we'll just take the paint pots from them and send them back to their barracks,"

The spy held out his hands, "Alright you three hand me the paint pots and go home," he said.

Reluctantly the three men handed over their paint pots and watched as Bumblebee and Mirage disappeared. Then Punch and Skippy turned to Knox,

"Just doing a little painting?" Punch repeated slowly, "What was that?"

"You know we could get into trouble for this, we've damaged their property," Skippy replied,

"Who cares, the Autobots will be cool," Knox replied with a dismissive wave of his hand,

"We'll see buddy, we'll see," Punch said through a yawn, "I'm bushed, I'm going to bed,"

The next morning Ironhide and Livie were outside the front of the hanger sparring together oblivious to the watchful optic of Barricade. She wasn't supposed to be doing that, it was Ratchet's instructions to take things easy and recuperate but she was bored and begged her father until he finally relented,

"Ratchet will have my hide," he exclaimed as he crouched down and prepared for the femme's onslaught,

"Who cares," she replied happily, "I'm having fun," and ran at the weapons specialist.

Her hands grabbed his and she pushed against the mech with all her weight, grunting and whining.

Just nearby the Decepticon stood watching them, he was released from the med bay after a scan to make sure that the anti virus had worked properly with the instruction to leave straight away. He narrowed his optics and growled deeply, not much longer and she'd be a trained killer of Decepticons. Not if he had his way she wouldn't!

Optimus Prime had just left his office to find William Lennox and touch base with him, he heard the sound of clashing metal and grunting outside and walked to the main entrance to see what was happening. He stood and watched the weapons specialist and Livie for a while smiling at the little femme's attempts to match her strength with Ironhide's but she was just too small and still weak from the virus. Optimus Prime was soon joined by others who had heard the noises and smiled at the two bots sparring in the hot midday sun. Despite her recent growth Livie was still a lot shorter than the massive black mech who could easily knock her down or seriously harm her but when they did connect he just lightly touched her on her arm,

"Got you, you're dead," he said.

Livie rushed at the weapons specialist and swiped him around his abdomen with her clawed hand scratching his armour. When she saw the four massive scratch marks across his abdomen, she stepped back, her optics widened and covered her mouth components with her white claws,

"I'm so sorry," she said.

Ironhide looked down at her, narrowed his optics and growled. Livie looked at him fearfully, "Never…apologize for the damage you cause, you could get killed in battle,"

Every now and then the weapons specialist would stop and teach her an attack move or a defensive move and then allow her to practise on him. Sideswipe came out after finishing what he was doing and stood next to the automaton,

"He's a good teacher," the frontline warrior said,

"Yes, there have been many of you who have learnt under Ironhide," Prime replied, "He's a good teacher and friend,"

Livie ran away from Ironhide and hid behind some crates left out on the tarmac, Ironhide looked around for the femme,

"Livie, where are you?" he called.

The Autobots watched as Livie climbed on the crate and stood on it, when Ironhide passed her calling her name she jumped on him,

"Got you now," she said as she grabbed his crest and clambered onto his shoulders.

He grabbed her by the waist swung her off his shoulder and pinned her on the ground, and then kneeling over her on all fours and making sure his cannons were out of the way he held her hands in one hand and tickled her with the other,

"Now whose got you?" he asked,

"You haven't," she said as she tried to wriggle from his grip.

The weapons specialist tickled his daughter, "Whose got you?" he asked,

"You ha ha ha, you hav ha ha ha haven't," the femme laughed,

Ironhide carried on tickling her, "Who has you,?"

The femme carried on squirming under her father as he carried on tickling her, "He he he," she laughed.

His fingers found their way to her delicate wiring just under her neck plate. It was one of her most sensitive spots and as he ran his fingers down the wire she kicked her legs while laughing heartily,

"No more," she begged, "Daddy, no more,"

"Yes more," he said light heartedly.

Livie spotted Chromia who was watching with a big smile on her face, "Mum help me he he he he," she laughed as Ironhide found her feet and tickled them,

"Oh no I'm not going to help you," the femme laughed, "I'm going to join your father," she said as she planted herself next to Ironhide on all fours and tickled her.

The humans heard the noise the two Autobots were making and went to investiagte what was going on; Will looked on in disbelief he played like this with his daughter and it had never occurred to him that multi million year old robots would do the same thing, especially a cannon toting, don't mess with me weapons specialist.

Barricade slowly walked toward Ironhide and Livie menacingly, neither of them noticed the Decepticon approaching, they were so engrossed in their sparring and playing, however his movements weren't going unnoticed and Barricade found himself surrounded by Autobots very quickly. Livie saw Barricade standing there and stopped laughing,

"Dad?" she said uncertainly.

Ironhide's first instinct was to protect but he decided to wait and see what Livie would do. Barricade stepped toward her as she got up,

"Daughter," he said, "I'm leaving and you're coming with me,"

Sideswipe went to step forward and defend Livie but Prime stopped him, there was a tense moment when Livie didn't say anything to him. Then she stepped toward him,

"No…I'm not," she said,

"I am your father you have to…"

"You are not my father Barricade, this is my father," Livie pointed toward Ironhide, "The Autobots are my family, this is where I belong. I was brought up by them and here is where I will stay. If you want me near you than you come and live here…as an Autobot"

Barricade looked at her for a moment and then burst out laughing, he suddenly stopped and looked at her with blood thirsty optics, "I will never live as an Autobot, you are Decepticon and you will come with me," he snarled sadistically, as he stepped forward and grabbed her arm. Livie felt intimidated by him, she snapped her arm out of his grasp and stepped back as the other Autobots closed in. Her spark was pumping energon around quickly preparing her for fight or flight as more Autobots walked toward her in their weapons mode,

"No Barricade I won't. I'm staying here," she replied angrily.

Barricade looked at her and narrowed his optics into tiny slits, "I am your father and you will do as I say," he snarled dangerously.

Optimus Prime could see this was going to get nasty, he heard Livie's protests and he was going to make sure the young femme whom he had watched grow and blossom was protected,

"Barricade, you have heard Livie now I want you to respect her and leave this base…without her!"

Barricade looked at him, and then back at Livie, "Let me go, Barricade. I'm not your daughter I am Ironhide's daughter and I'm an Autobot,"

Ironhide stepped forward and stood behind Livie placing his hands on her shoulders protectively, "You heard her, now go," he snarled darkly,

"Fine have it your way," he snarled back as he stomped off toward the fence. He slowed down and stopped, Livie watched as he turned around and raced toward her; Ironhide raced toward him and smashed into the mustang,

Clang!

Metal smashed against metal as the two mechs engaged in a savage battle,

"You….leave…my…daughter…alone," Ironhide growled with every hit,

"No she comes with me," Barricade growled back as he hit the weapons specialist across the face, sparks flew as Ironhide's face moved in the direction of Barricade's punch involuntarily.

"Daddy!" Livie screamed and went to run after him,

Sideswipe ran after her and grabbed her arm, she tried to wriggle herself free from his grasp,

"Let me go," she screamed,

"No Livie, you're too small to fight him, let your father defend you,"

Ironhide was grabbed by his horn, he growled in pain, and reached back to grab any part of the Decepticon desperately. Finally his hand met Barricade's chin, he shoved his hand up pushing the mustang's head back. He growled as he let go of Ironhide. The weapons specialist overpowered him and pushed him to the ground holding his limbs down, his cannon whirring mercilessly and aimed at Barricade's head,

"Leave!" he growled, "Without Livie,"

Barricade growled as he kicked the weapons specialist off, his arm transformed into his spinning spikes and he leant into the weapons specialist,

"Daaaddddyyyy," Livie screamed,

"Don't even think about it," Optimus Prime growled and shot Barricade but the hunter was too quick and dodged the round, giving Ironhide the chance to get up.

Humans who heard the commotion from the main command area went outside to investigate; the sight that met their eyes was alarming as they watched the two behemoths fight against each other, the tarmac had been ripped to pieces where they were fighting. A loud whirring filled the air as Ironhide onlined his cannons again, and shot at Barricade's arm. William looked around, if Ironhide missed his target and caught the F22's lined up on the tarmac there would be real problems,

"No, no, no," he yelled but there was no reaction,

"Leave!" Ironhide growled as he walked toward the mech, "Without Livie, she is my daughter. Leave!"

Optimus Prime and Sideswipe stood next to Ironhide, "You are no longer welcome here, Barricade. Livie has made it clear she wants to stay here and that is where she will stay," they marched forward, pushing Barricade back toward the fence,

"No," Barricade growled as he tried to move around the three mechs, "She will come with me,"

Livie pushed through Optimus Prime and Sideswipe and marched up to the Decepticon,

"I will not come with you," she bellowed,

"Livie, back down," Optimus ordered her,

"No I won't this is my battle," she argued; Livie knew she was going to pay for this later but this was her home,

"You leave here," she growled, "Leave me alone and let me live my life with my family," she glared at Barricade, her optics glowing a bright angry red.

Barricade and Livie stood opposite each other, neither said a word, they just glared at each other angrily. William heard the commotion and stood there his breath hitched as he watched to see what their next move would be. Barricade's weapon retracted,

"…Fine…," he spat at Livie, "Have it your way," he snarled, "Next time we see each other we will be fighting…as enemies…Autobot" he spat as he transformed and drove away.

William sighed with relief as he watched the Decepticon leave. He looked at the damage caused and pinched the bridge of his nose. How was he going to explain this one to the powers that be! Optimus Prime looked at Livie. Oh he was so angry! Suddenly she felt very small and wished the ground would swallow her whole. The Autobot leader strode toward her purposefully, he didn't want to squash her feisty nature it could do her well one day; but he wanted her to understand that she didn't disobey his command. Elita saw him,

"Go easy on her," she said,

"She needs to know she was wrong to do what she did,"

"Livie come with me," he said firmly, "Elita, come to my office,"

Livie lowered her head in shame and followed the leader to his office. The door shut firmly behind her and Optimus Prime looked at the youngling standing in front of him. She looked up,

"Optimus Prime I…," Prime put his hand up,

"Sit down Livie," he said quietly,

The crystal blue femme sat down in front of Optimus and Elita silently. She was in trouble and she would be disciplined for it,

"Livie," he started, "Do you know why you are here?"

"Yes sir," she replied meekly,

"What you did was very serious, you know that don't you?" he said gently,

"Yes sir," she said again, "I'm sorry,"

"That's alright Livie I accept your apology…but you're going to have to stop speaking to your senior officers like this, especially in front of a Decepticon,"

Livie looked down, Ratchet had spoken to him, "Livie you have to stop the attitude toward us or you will be punished. I should put you in the brig for this…but I'm not going to, you're still a youngling however, I'm going to warn you because next week you come of age. If I hear of you speaking to a superior officer or me in a manner that is disrespectful again you will be in more serious trouble and in the brig for one night. Do you understand?"

"…But I wanted Barricade to…," she tried to argue,

"No Livie, you were out of place, you stepped over the line," Optimus Prime was becoming impatient with the femme in front of him,

"I'm sorry,"

"Livie Optimus Prime was trying to protect you, Barricade could have killed you," Elita replied.

"But he wanted to take me away from here, from you and my parents. I didn't want that because even though he says he's my father he isn't. Don't I have a right to…,"

"…Livie he is a Decepticon…and very dangerous," Optimus interjected angrily. He looked at her "We love you a lot, so does Elita and it would break our sparks if anything happened to you...and that includes all of us,"

"Yes sir," Livie replied again.

"Good!" he said, "You may leave,"

Livie walked out of Prime's office and looked at the tall black bulk standing in front of her. He folded his arms across his chest, narrowed his optics and growled at her. Livie lowered her head as she walked up to him but she wasn't expecting him to do what he did next. He wrapped his massive arms around his daughter and hugged her tightly,

"Aren't you mad at me?" she asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled her head into his shoulder,

"Yes I am but Optimus Prime has already spoken to you, Livie," he said,

He placed his hands on either side of Livie's cheeks and moved her head up so that she was looking into his optics. He loved his daughter dearly and would never have forgiven himself if anything had happened to her. She looked up at him,

"I love you dad," she said,

"I love you too sweetspark," he said as he rubbed her crest, "But I want you to stop being rude to those in authority over you"

"I will," she replied,

"Promise?" Ironhide asked,

"Promise," Livie replied,

"Good, let's go and find your mother, she wants to take you to the firing range with her,"

"Oh really," Livie asked with excitement.

Ironhide looked at her, his face widened into a huge grin, "That's my girl," he said as he rubbed her crest lovingly,

"Daaad," she said and brushed his hand away.

She tried to reach Ironhide's crest but she still wasn't quite tall enough, she walked behind the weapons specialist and jumped on his back being careful to avoid delicate parts. She then rubbed his crest and tickled his horns,

"Livie," Ironhide laughed, "Come here you cheeky femme,"

He reached around behind himself and pulled Livie off his back, Livie allowed herself to slide off the weapons specialist's back and ran off,

"You can't catch me," she laughed,

"That's what you think," Ironhide replied as he ran after her, the femme wasn't looking where she was going and ploughed straight into Sideswipe.

Ooomph!

Sideswipe tried to steady himself and catch Livie at the same time but he lost his balance and started to fall over. He grabbed Livie around the waist so he didn't land on top of her but she ended up laying on top of him,

"Ohhhh, Sideswipe," she said as she quickly scrambled off the silver mech a little embarrassed, "I'm so sorry,"

"That's alright honey," he replied smugly as he got up,

"Well what's going on here?" Jazz asked and winked at the femme,

Jaaazzzzz," Livie said, if she was human she would have gone a shade of strawberry in the cheeks,

Livie heard her father's footsteps closing in behind her and looked around, "Got to go" she squealed as she started to run away again. Jazz and Sideswipe laughed,

"She's a little Spitfire," Sideswipe chuckled,

"Yeah, a fine femme too, she'll make some mech a nice spark mate one day," Jazz agreed.

Prowl heard the commotion outside and went to investigate, he looked at the weapons specialist running after Livie who squealed as he grabbed her around the waist, "Caught you," he laughed, but he fell over and pulled Livie down with him; they lay on the ground laughing together before Livie gave Ironhide the biggest hug and kiss on the cheek, "Huh didn't think he had it in him!" Prowl thought as a smirk crossed his face. Ironhide was enjoying himself playing with Livie and it was so precious to watch. She was the only youngling...well she was nearly an adult now but it was good to have one so young on the base, she brought so much joy into the sparks of everybody on the base; human and Autobot alike.

Chromia and Elita walked up to the mech and femme chuckling at their antics,

"Okay you two that's enough, its time for Livie to come with us,"

"And it's time for me to relieve Bumblebee from the monitor," Ironhide said as he stood up.

Livie walked off with Elita and Chromia to spend time with them. The young femme looked up at her mother,

"Mum, do you miss Cybertron?"

"Yes sweetspark I do," Chromia replied,

"Do you Elita?"

"Yes I do," Elita replied,

"Oh…what would it have been like…you know…growing up on Cybertron,"

"Sweetspark, you would have learnt many things with all the other younglings in the Autobot academy,"

"The Autobot academy? Is that where I would have lived?"

"Yes sweetspark, it was a right of passage,"

"Oh,"

Livie looked at all the other Autobots surrounding her and felt a strange sense of sadness. Chromia and Ironhide had done everything they could to bring Livie up and immerse her in Cybertronian culture but it still wasn't the same as living and growing up on Cybertron and the young femme felt like she was missing out,

"Will we ever get back to Cyberton?" she asked.

The two older femme noticed the sadness in her voice and looked at each other,

"No sweetspark, Cybertron was destroyed by a war which raged between us and the Decepticons,"

"Why?" Livie asked,

"Megatron wanted to destroy us and use the Allspark to conquer Cybertron and other universes. Optimus Prime released the Allspark so that Megatron couldn't get hold of it but the Decepticons went after it. Optimus Prime and a small group ofAutobots went after it as well including your father. Cybertron is lost without the Allspark which was destroyed when a human used it to kill Megatron. We have fought long and hard in a brutal war which has killed thousands Livie, we lost a whole generation and that is why you are so precious," Livie smiled

"Has the war ended?"

"No it's carrying on here on earth, we are trying everything to make sure we don't destroy earth like we did to Cybertron but Megatron's lust for power and greed is very strong," Elita said,

"Where is Megatron now?" Livie asked,

"We don't know, he is hiding somewhere," Chromia replied,

"I want to fight against the Decepticons, they can't destroy earth," Livie felt Chromia's fear through her bond, she responded to Chromia by sending back comfort,

Elita shook her head, "You were born during a battle, Optimus Prime doesn't want you to fight or be involved in any battle…but we fear you will be,"

"But that's not fair, if Megatron is still about then I will make sure he doesn't get earth," Livie stood up and faced the two older femme, her arms outstretched beside her,

"Livie," Elita said as she pulled the youngling down beside her, "We have lost many younglings and femme over the vorns. We want it to stop with you,"

A puzzled expression crossed Livie's face, "So why am I learing to fight?" she asked,

"To protect you, and so you can learn to defend yourself against the Decepticons,"

Livie jumped up and stood in front of the two warriors, "Well? What are you waiting for, let's go to the firing range,"

Chromia and Elita burst out laughing and took Livie to the firing range. The crystal blue femme was so excited and chirruped happily all the way there. They walked out of the command centre and around the back where Livie found herself standing in an area of tarmac. There were no planes or other military equipment, it was solely for the use of the Autobots as a training area. Right at the far end were areas of torn up tarmac where the twins practised their jet judo moves and targets in the shape of Decepticons which were designed to pop up and down during firing practice. Livie's optics lit up, she was never allowed around there her parents considered it too dangerous for one so young; it was out of sight and she'd be an easy target for Decepticons,

"Activate your battle computer Livie," Chromia said

Livie heard her battle computer hum to life as she activated it. Her optics changed from their robot mode into weapon mode and a target sight appeared which would bleep every now and then as they focused on a potential target. Chromia watched as Livie activated her weapons, a sniper rifle appeared from one hand and a blade appeared in the other. Livie hadn't seen her weapons before, she looked at them and smiled,

"Coooolllll," she purred,

"Okay young lady," Chromia said, "You can put your melee weapon away, we're going to do target practise today,"

"Oh muuumm," she whined, "I want to practise using it," Livie swung around dancing lightly on her feet. Her blade moved with her arm as she moved it purposefully in the air at imaginary targets,

"No," Chromia said firmly, "You will learn to melee without your blade first,"

"But…,"

"No buts missy,"

Livie hissed compressed air through her valves, "Alright," she replied with disappointment and retracted the blade,

"Good," Chromia said, "You have learnt your first lesson well, always listen to your trainer"

"Yes mum,"

Elita put her hand on Chromia's shoulder, "Remember, she's only young, you were there once,"

"She may be young but she's not invincible," Chromia replied.

Chromia and Elita took Livie to see the targets she would be aiming for, there were six in all and each one had a smiley face in either red, blue or yellow painted on them. They smirked at the mock Decepticons standing in front of them with silly grins on their faces, Livie couldn't help herself and burst into fits of laughter. Other Autobots heard Livie's laughter and went to investigate what had the young femme amused, even Prowl couldn't keep a staright face,

"I'm impressed," Sunstreaker laughed, "Even Sideswipe and myself didn't think of something like that, I shall have to congratulate whoever did this,"

"Now that's funny," Skids said, "Isn't it Mudflap?"

"Yeah, so funny," Mudflap laughed.

William had been doing some training with the soldiers, it was time for them to have a break and released them all for a while. He walked through the main command area to catch up with Ironhide and noticed how quiet the base had suddenly become. He wasn't surprised to see the weapons specialist missing from his usual spot; he was watching the monitor for any Decepticon activity but he was puzzled about the disappearance of the others. Jazz sauntered into the command area and also noticed the absence of certain Autobots; he looked at William,

"What's going on?" he asked.

William shrugged his shoulders and pulled a face, "The place just suddenly went quiet," he replied, "Hmm, that's odd," the saboteur thought as he disappeared from sight to investigate the Autobot's disappearance. As Jazz walked through the base he heard the sound of laughter, the saboteur couldn't help himself and had to go and find out what had whoever was laughing amused. He looked in the direction the other Autobots were looking in and roared with laughter before sending a transmission back to William and Prime. The Autbot leader and the soldier went to find out what the saboteur wanted them for; Jazz turned around to William,

"Any idea who would do this?"

William tried so hard to keep a straight face, there was a bit of activity last night among soldiers who were off duty and it was a little bit noisy so he assumed that maybe one of them would know what happened. Optimus Prime walked up to William, he did see the funny side of it but this was an Autobot training ground for a very serious and long drawn out war,

"I trust you will find out who did this and deal with them appropriately, Major William Lennox," he said with an authoritative tone,

"Yes Optimus Prime, we will," William replied.

Prowl walked back with Prime, "What do you think sir?" he asked.

Optimus Prime looked at his 2IC, "Whoever did this was just letting off a little steam. Remember Prowl we are used to our enemy, we have been fighting them before the human world was created. The humans have fought bravely beside us during Mission city and Egypt against an enemy far more powerful than they have ever seen…who we brought to earth," Optimus looked out toward the horizon a heavy sadness weighing on his spark, "This is their world, they don't deserve what we put Cybertron through,"

Once things had settled down Livie and the two older femme went back to the business of training. They were going to let Livie use the targets to practice her aim but she just couldn't stop giggling when she looked at them, so they got her to do firing practice using obstacles to hide behind. The young femme enjoyed herself as she ducked and darted from one spot to the next, trying to hide herself from the femme who were stalking her. Every now and then she'd feel a little zap of electricity and either Elita or Chromia would yell that she was dead.

Livie noticed a red flashing light in her optics warning her that she was low on energon but there was no way she wanted to end this session, it was too much fun and carried on racing away from Chromia and Elita. There were pillars on the far side of the training area, Livie raced toward them and hid behind them. She waited for the femme to stop moving and assumed they were looking for her.

"Where has she gone?" Chromia asked.

Livie slowly poked her head around the corner of the pillar, they were standing together looking around, she cocked her sniper rifle; it was noisy as it clicked and hummed but neither Chromia or Elita heard it. Livie carefully aimed her cannon at Elita and fired a round…well pretended to fire a round, there was no ammunition in it,

"Got you," Livie bellowed and came out of her hiding place.

There was a loud clapping of hands, Livie turned around to find the source of the noise was coming from Arcee,

"Good work, Livie," she said as she approached Elita and Chromia,

"Yes that was a good move," Elita agreed in her deep voice.

The warning light flashed more frantically telling her to refuel or she'd be forced to shut down but the young femme still ignored the warnings and carried on until she crashed into a heap on the ground,

"Livie!" Chromia yelled and raced toward her, "Livie darling, are you okay?" Chromia asked as she lifted her daughter's head,

Elita looked at Livie, "She's gone into emergency stasis, let's get her to Ratchet,"

"Didn't she have any energon earlier?" Arcee asked,

"Yes she did but she's been active all day,"

Chromia picked Livie up and took her to the med bay. The medic didn't need to scan to know what happened, he took one look at her, hooked her up to a pump to give her energon and looked at the femme standing in front of him,

"She is the same as any other youngster, they think they're invincible. Was she not getting a warning?"

"If she was she didn't mention it," Chromia replied,

"What were you doing?" he asked,

"She was with us, we were on the training ground," Elita replied in her gentle voice, "She was enjoying herself,"

"Hmm, you need to keep a closer eye on her, she has gone into a rapid growth spurt and will be using more energon more quickly as her body develops into a mature adult transformer. I noticed she was sparring with Ironhide this morning so she has used up her energon quickly,"

He gave Chromia a canister of enriched energon, "She needs to drink this, it is a richer energon for growing femmes, it will replace lost nutrients far more effectively than the regular energon,"

"Nng," Livie moaned and lifted her hand to cover her optics from the bright light shining above her, there were voices talking above her and a hand rested upon her helm firmly.

The three Autobots stopped talking and looked down at her, Ratchet moved the light from her face, and scanned her

"How are you feeling?" he asked,

"Horrible," she moaned, "What happened?"

"You ignored you're warnings for a refuel and let yourself go into emergency stasis. What did I tell you to do?",

"Take it easy because I am still getting over the virus…but I was enjoying myself too much," she moaned as she turned her head away from his piercing gaze.

He allowed a small smile to grace his features, "We've all done that Livie," he replied softly, "Your energon levels are back to an acceptable level for a young femme. Just don't do it again,"

"No I won't Ratchet,"

"Good, I have given your mum a special formula of energon especially designed for your developing body, make sure you have a regular refuel when you need it,"

"Yes Ratchet,"

"Okay just rest a bit before you start moving around again,"

Livie lay on the berth and shuttered her optics, she felt her father flooding her bond with worry and love when he heard what happened, she sent back reassurance to him that she was okay; but the old weapons specialist wanted to make sure for himself and made his way through the main hanger to Ratchet's med bay.

He looked at her and rubbed her crest, she purred at her father's gentle touch, he then balled his fist and lightly hit her,

"Oww," she moaned, "What was that for?"

"Because of the worry you just put myself and your mother through," he replied, "Don't do it again!" he scolded his daughter,

"Sorry," she croaked.

Optimus Prime decided it was about time they had some time out, the episode with the smiley faces on the mock Decepticons convinced the Autobot leader both species needed some well deserved recreation. Sarah suggested a picnic on the beach to which the humans agreed was a great idea. When Ironhide told Livie what was happening on that day she clicked and whined happily, jumped up and down and clapped her hands,

"You've got to have your history lesson with Prowl first,"Chromia said,

"Awww muuummm," Livie moaned, "I hate the history lesson, it's so boring. Prowl drones on and on about…well…history,"

"Livie it is important to learn about the history of Cyrbertron, it is your heritage,"

"Yeah, but…,"

"Live," Ironhide and Chromia said together and just to get the point across Livie felt them flood her bond with disappointment at her arguing. She tried to close it off but the pair of them were too strong for her so she reluctantly walked out of the door and through the hanger. Livie stomped through the main hanger, her footsteps ringing loudly on the concrete floor, those working inside the hanger turned around and looked at her and smiled before turning back to their work. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker entered the hanger and looked at Livie,

"Woah, what's eating you, honey?" Sideswipe asked,

"My mum and Dad, they're insisting I have a history lesson with Prowl before we go out,"

"Ohh well it's important you know where you came from," Sideswipe said as he bent down in front of Livie.

"I know but Prowl makes its boring, he drones on and on…,"

The said tactician walked up behind her, "…Uhmm…Livie…you might want to review your last statement," Sunstreaker said.

"What?" Livie asked,

She caught the look of horror on the twin's faces and turned around. The tacician was stood behind her, his arms crossed and an optic ridge cocked.

Uh oh!

Livie slapped her face with her hand,"I'm so dead," she moaned.

The twins laughed and Sideswipe rubbed her helm affectionately, "You'll be fine," he said.

Livie turned around and looked at Prowl again, he towered over her and looked so annoyed. Neither of them said a word as they walked toward his office, he punched the code in and gently nudged Livie in first before the door slammed shut behind her. She cringed at the bang and waited for him to move in front of her and start his lecture but it never came,

"Livie," he called quietly, "Come here please,"

Livie turned around and saw hms standing behind a table with metal bricks of all shapes and sizes. She looked at them and then at Prowl puzzled,

"You're not mad at me?"

Prowl looked back at her stunned, "What…no," he laughed, "Why would I be mad at you child?"

"Oh…because sometimes I say things out of line and get into trouble," Prowl smirked,

"I heard your comment about history, but this is important for you to learn Livie. You need to know Cybertronian history because Cybertron was your home,"

He bent down in front of the young femme and placed a hand on her shoulder, "You know what we're doing today?" Livie quietly shook her head, "We're going for a walk…through Iacon,"

"What?" Livie said.

He walked to his desk and pushed a button, a large blue sphere materialised and stood in front of her with a small dot on it. Livie watched as Prowl pointed to the dot,

"This is Iacon?" he said.

He moved the sphere around and touched the dot; the sphere disappeared but a large 3d solid holoform stood in front of her,

"Come," Prowl said.

Livie stepped into the holoform and walked along the streets with Prowl, their footsteps clanging on the floor. She looked around taking every single detail of the sight before her optics and would occasionally reach out to touch the object, it felt cold and smooth. She looked up at the tall towers and spires, they rose majestically into the Cybertronian night sky shining in the moonlight. As her optics followed the tallest building up she saw a road way weaving its way through the sky and around the buildings. Every now and then a transformer would walk past but they didn't acknowledge the two Cybertronians standing there,

"Why don't they look at us?" Livie asked,

"It's not real," Prowl replied, "I asked Perceptor help make this holoform to help you in your history lesson,"

They continued walking through the hologram looking at the buildings and the places of interest,

"This is the municipal building and here is the Autobot academy where you would have gone to learn,"

"But Prowl I wouldn't have been brought up an Autobot wouldn't I have gone to another place?"

Prowl looked down at her, her optics shining brightly at this new tactile way of learning he'd developed for her,

"You would have been brought up in the way of the Decepticons on Kaon," he replied,

He put his hands behind his back and continued walking through the streets of Iacon. They stopped in front of a large building and looked at it,

"What's this building?" Livie asked,

"This is where your mum and dad used to live," he replied.

Livie walked up to a window and looked in, it was dark inside and hard to see anything, suddenly a light clicked on revealing the inside of the room Livie was looking at. The house was nothing like their quarters on Diego Garcia, it had a large table and two chairs in the centre of the room. The walls were a pewter color on which case sat on the wall with data pads on it and next to the case was a number of weapons of various shapes and sizes. Livie smiled, it was so like her father. On the other side of the wall she could just make out a picture of Ironhide and Chromia in a tight embrace and happy. Prowl watched Livie look through the window and take in everything she saw.

They walked through the streets a bit further and stopped at the hospital, they walked a little bit further and saw a massive expanse of land spreading into the horizon. It disappeared into darkness,

"What's that?" Livie asked,

"Cybertronian plains," Prowl replied with a smile,

Come," Prowl said, "We must leave the holoform is getting old.

Back in his office Livie sat at a table making buildings with the blocks of a model version of Iacon while Prowl marked her work. Livie was happy, Prowl could see it in her optics and her happy clicking and chatter. She stopped and looked at Prowl thoughtfully,

"Why do you have the chevrons on your forehead,"

"Prowl looked at her, "Because I'm a Praxian,"

"Where's Praxus?" Livie asked with a keen interest,

"It's in the northern hemisphere, we'll look at t next time," Prowl replied.

He smiled, "Okay Livie, you can go now," he finally said,

"Really?" Livie asked, "But it's too early,"

Prowl chuckled and got up, "Even I like some time off, Livie," he said as he opened his door.

Livie walked out of the door and looked back at him, "I had fun, thank you," she said,

"Your welcome," he said with a nod of his head.

Livie bounced home, on the way she saw Sarah talking to Annabelle as she left some bags outside to go into Ironhide's form,

"Hello Annabelle," Livie said as she walked toward them.

Livie bent down to Sarah's level, "Hello Livie, my you've grown," she said.

Annabelle held out her hands to Livie in a cuddle me gesture.

"Hello Livie," Annabelle called,

Livie looked around to see Sarah carrying the three year old who had just spoken to her on her hips. Her blonde hair which was tied into a pony tail behind her head and hang in a tight ringlet was shining in the bright sunshine and blowing in the gentle breeze. She was carrying a teddy bear and a small blanket which draped over Sarah's arm and looked like it had been dragged around in the dirt. Her tanned skin set off the white sandals and shorts she was wearing and her pale blue "Hello Kitty t shirt.

Sarah looked toward Livie who was heading toward them and smiled nervously, "Hello Livie," she said, "Have you had a good history lesson,"

"Yes I have thank you,"

"Hello darling," Ironhide cooed to his daughter, "How was your lesson,"

"It was good daddy, we waled through Iacon and I saw your house and the hospital where Ratchet trained and the Cybertronian plains, and I got to build Iacon with some blocks,"

"Did you?" Ironhide asked,

"Yep, it was a fun lesson…but I kinda feel like…," she slumped her shoulders,

"That was home but I never got to grow up on it, I'm the only young person and…,"

Livie saw the sad expression in her father's face and stopped, "…But I would never have been brought up as an Autobot, and you would never have been my parents. Thank you…for being my dad,"

Ironhide wrapped his arms around Livie and stroked her crest with his massive servo enjoying the sound of her purring as he did so. He shuttered his optics as he processed this moment into his memory banks.

That's the end of this chapter, thanks for reading and 'll update soon.