I'm sorry I haven't updated in so long!

I still feel weird about this chapter though. I've been shipping and RP-ing KOxSS so hard the last month and a half+ that it threw me off course completely.

Anyway, I tried to make this chapter justice. I really did.

Thank you all for the nice reviews :)

Enjoy!

It only took Megatron two days and a very explicit dream to give in to temptation and curiosity. He could no longer deny his wish to have a real relationship with Starscream. Much as it was against everything he believed in, the feeling just wasn't going away. If anything, it was getting stronger and stronger.

The warlord sincerely hoped that allowing the seeker to top for a chance would show him a level of trust. The tyrant laughed at that word. Trust. Trust Starscream of all mechs. Ridiculous! But somehow, it was not so much anymore.

Besides, it was sure to be a very pleasant experience.

Determined, Megatron strolled towards the SIC's rooms. He had almost reached his destination when he received a comm.

"Lord Megatron, there is an incoming transmission from Commander Soundwave. He wishes to speak with you, my liege."

The tyrant grunted in displeasure but changed his course regardless. For once he wished his TIC wasn't so dutiful.

Entering the Command Center, he was greeted by the Communication officer's visor staring at him from one of the monitors. When he neared the console enough, he spoke in a curt voice.

"Soundwave, report!"

The blue mech nodded slowly before playing a recording of his conversation with Shockwave. Megatron listened carefully and when it ended, the tyrant squinted his optics skeptically.

"Are you positive it's them?"

The TIC shook his helm from side to side in negative manner. But before his lord could speak even a word, he loaded an old photo file of Starscream and his trine on his display. The warlord's first reaction was to frown at it, completely missing the reason behind it. A few moments later his processor remembered that seeker trinemates shared a… special bond between themselves. Starscream should be able to tell if the mechs on that ship were impostors or not.

Soundwave, seeing that the ex-gladiator understood his hint, nodded curtly again and cut the feed.

Megatron was pleased at the possibility that three of his best soldiers were still functioning. But… if the SIC's trine was really returning, the seeker would no longer require…

Damn.

He balled his fists and growled. His inability to hide his anger earned him a couple of puzzled looks from the Vehicons in the Command Center. But none of them was as stupid as to question anything his leader does or says.

He turned towards one of the drones with a sneer.

"Estimated arriving time!"

The Vehicon jumped in distress before running his fingers on the console's keyboard to calculate the precise time Soundwave and the others would arrive.

"T-Two hours, my liege!"

Megatron grunted again. Starscream would began feeling his trine-mates through the bond soon if he hasn't started already. There went his chance with the seeker. Anger boiled within him. Anger mostly aimed at himself , for not acting on his desire and feelings earlier, for taking so much time to think about it, for doubting too much.

There was no way Starscream would be interested in spending intimate time with him again once his trine-mates return. He was just a substitute after all. A replacement, … a toy.

That thought made his spark freeze with coldness he hadn't felt for millennia. That… fling he had with his SIC was supposed to be just that – a fling. But over the past few weeks, Megatron's interest in the seeker had grown more than he had previously though. The idea of being just a substitute mate wasn't sitting well with him anymore. But it's not like he could do something now. It was too late…

The tyrant's thoughts were cut by the all too familiar clanking of heels. The noise was nearing the Commmand Center in a fast pace. The doors hissed open and Starscream all but sprinted to Megatron's side, a half excited and half-confused expression gracing his face plates. His optics changed directions quickly while his mouth was opening and closing without a sound. The jet was obviously trying to choose his words wisely.

"M-Master, is there by any chance any news about my trine?"

The seeker's hopeful voice was like a slap to Megatron. Starscream hadn't seen his trine for ages and yet he was so impatiently waiting their return. Longed for them so much. Not for his master but for his trine.

The ex-gladiator barely suppressed a growl at the thought.

"Why the sudden question, Starscream?"

The winged mech blinked a few times in surprise, obviously not expecting such a reply from his leader.

"I… I think I was feeling their presence through… through the trine bond."

The moment the quite words left the seeker's mouth, Megatron had a clear confirmation that the real Shockwave, Thundercracker and Skywarp were coming back to the Nemesis.

Starscream, not getting any reply from the tyrant, cast his optics downwards in disappointment. His excitement and hope died quickly. From a bundle of potential joy, the seeker turned into a pitiful sight. Even his proudly held wings had dropped considerably.

Megatron frowned at the miserable seeker in front of him. For some unknown reason, he didn't like what he was seeing.

"Your trine and Shockwave shall be re-joining our ranks in less than three Earth hours." Megatron purposely left any doubt about the mechs' true identities. Even he knew a trinebond never lies.

Starscream's miserable posture disappeared in a mere klik. After hearing the wonderful news, he barely stopped himself from smiling happily to himself. Display of such emotions was not welcomed among the Decepticons after all. But he couldn't contain his excitement fully. He was finally joining his trine again! After so many years! Thundercracker may be a royal aft and Skywarp was a trouble on thrusters but Starscream loved them greatly. And being away from them had been a huge burden for him during the years.

The seeker left the Command Center in a hurry, skipping towards the Landing Platform aboard the Nemesis. Megatron and the rest of the army eyed the jet strangely as he disappeared in the first corridor on the right.

Starscream was planning to fly for a little while and wait at the Landing Platform for his trine to arrive. Silly as it may have seemed to the others, he just couldn't wait in his room or do any work.

Meanwhile, somewhere in space.

"PRIMUS, TC! DO YOU FEEL IT?! DO YOU?! DO YOU?!" Skywarp was yelling in a happy manner while jumping around the ship.

The blue seeker was glad to feel his trine leader through the bond as well but was hiding his glee far better.

"Yes, Warp, I feel it. Now sit down before you break something that we cannot fix!"

"I CAAAAN'T! I'M TOO EXCITED!"

The following several minutes were filled with a lot of yelling and screaming and noises in general as Thundercracker was trying to restrain Skywarp. To no avail though.

Shockwave just vented a sigh. That much time spent with the seeker duo was going to last him for a lifetime. If it was just the blue one, things would've been ok. But the purple one was a real menace. He couldn't wait to get them out of his antennas.

Almost 3 hours later.

Thundercracker had somehow managed to calm Skywarp down… to some degree. At least there was no more jumping and screaming.

"TC, we should be close enough to communicate with Star through the bond, right?" the purple seeker asked confusedly.

"Yes, Warp. But it's been a while since all three of us were together. We won't be able to do much more than feel Starscream's presence before we consume the bond again."

The prankster's optics gleamed mischievously at the mentioning of 'consuming the bond'. He moved to sit closer to his trinemate, brushing their knees and wings against each other.

"I miss him so much, TC" Skywarp said while resting his servo on the bigger mech's thigh and moving it dangerously close to the interface panel. Thundercracker managed to grab the servo before it has reached its goal.

"I miss him as well. But be patient, we should be arriving any minute now."

As on cue, Shockwave announced that the Nemesis was just ahead of them. The two seekers jumped on their thrusters and went to the nearest window to see the Decepticon warship in all of its glory.

"We're home again!"

Megatron and a couple of Vehicons entered the Landing Platform just in time to watch the two Cybertronian ships touching down on the Nemesis. Starscream took his place on the tyrant's right side dutifully but his frame was stiff with anticipation.

Soundwave and his crew exited the first ship and saluting their leader. All optics re-focused on the second shuttle. Its doors opened with a screech and a few bolts felt on the floor with a clank. It was apparent that the shuttle had taken heavy damage and was on the brink of breaking down.

Shockwave was the first to step outside, his huge red optic scanning the audience and finally fixing on Megatron. The huge purple mech walked the distance to his lord in a few big steps and holding his servo above his spark, bowed his helm in salute.

"My liege, your humble servant has returned."

Before Megatron had time to welcome him back, however, a loud 'zap' noise announced Skywarp's teleporting just in front of his trine leader. The purple seeker grinned widely and wrapped his arms around Starcream's waist, bringing their frames flush against each other. The Decepticon SIC squeaked in surprise at the sudden invasion but once he realized who was doing it he ceased his struggles and wrapped his arm around his trinemate's shoulder to return the hug. Reputation be damned, he was just glad to see his wing mates again.

Skywapr's friendly touch soon turned into a more mischievous servo wandering. One of his hands slipped down the silver seeker's waist and unceremoniously but gently cupped the trine leader's aft. Meanwhile, his other hand moved upwards to find the lowest and very sensitive edges of the wings and caress them teasingly.

Starscream truly wanted to protest at the blatant way the purple seeker was groping him in public, in front of his superior. But he just couldn't find it in himself to do more than mewl at the wonderful treatment he was getting. And very soon, the mouth that was raining kisses on his neck moved to his own mouth and nibbled at it lightly before kissing more insistently. Starscream returned the kiss without any hesitation, his audience already long forgotten.

Meanwhile, Thundercracker had made his way out of the shuttle and towards his trine. He wasn't surprised by Skywarp's display of affection. But Starscream! He thought his trine leader had a better control than that. But then again, he had been all alone all these years. It was understandable… somehow.

Personally, Thundercracker himself didn't have any problems with their trinemates being affectionate towards each other but the groping was too much to tolerate. And the stormy expression Megatron was sporting and the daggers he was glaring at the two seekers made Thundercracker spurt into motion, separating Skywarp from Starscream and rushing them away fro the others. And most importantly, away from their lord.

The two mechs whined and protested at the not very gentle way their older mate was dragging them. Once they were far enough from the Landing Platform, he released his hold on their upper arms and turned to face them. Both of them had their optics half closed and were breathing heavily. Thundercracker ignored the beautiful sight and frowned at them instead.

"Do you think in the middle of a crowd, in front of our leader and two other high ranked officers is a good place to make out and grope each other?!" the tallest mech growled, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Starscream bit his lip and cast his optics down in shame. Skywarp, on the other hand, was grinning smugly, obviously not finding anything wrong in what they had done some moments ago.

Thundercracker vented a sigh at the purple seeker's behavior.

"Warp, be serious for a second! Do you have any idea what a murderous glare Megatron was sending you?!"

Skywarp tilted his helm in confusion. "Why would old Megsy even care?"

The blue seeker let a corner of his mouth curve upwards in a resemblance of a smile and turned his attention to Starscream. "Perhaps dear trineleader here would like to elaborate on this matter? We've been apart for too long, Star. Perhaps you needed to find us replacements?" at these words the silver seeker turned his helm to one side in an attempt to avoid the question.

The SIC's embarrassment was cue enough for Skywarp to grin like a madman again. "Aww, Scree, so cute of you to finally act on that ridiculous crush you've been sporting for so long."

The teasing tone and the mention of 'crush' made Starscream snap towards his purple trine mate. "I do not have a crush on anybody!"

"Could've fooled me."

"I don't have a crush!"

"Yes, you do!"

"NO, I don't!"

"Yes, you totally do.~"

"I DON'T!"

"ENOUGH!" Thundercracker's voice boomed in the empty hallway, silencing the two arguing mechs. "Starscream, take us to your quarters and we shall talk there. In private."

The Decepticon SIC nodded in agreement. After a few minutes, the whole trine was inside his rooms. Starscream sat down on his berth with a little more force than necessary. He knew the long and embarrassing conversation he had to go through. He'd rather avoid it but Skywarp was too curious and TC was too concern to just let the topic go.

Skywarp took the space on Starscream's left, placing one hand around the silver seeker's waist and resting his helm on the other's shoulder.

"Sooo, let's see if I was right in assuming Megsy and Sounders took our places while we were away?~" the purple mech all but whispered in his trine leader's audio receptor.

Thundercracker sat down on Starscream's right side, poking Skywarp in the side behind the silver seeker's back. "Warp, don't tease him. It's not like he had a choice. Star, tell us what happened."

The SIC vented a sigh. "…Years passed and my I… become easily irritated and with time I started hating everything and everyone. I started plotting against Megatron and almost succeeded in offlining him a few times."

"And you're still alive?!"

"Yes. Truth be told, I'm a little surprised myself. But it's not like my failed assassination attempts went without punishments. Anyway, I grew hateful and I didn't even know why. Because certain trine mates of mine forgot to explain to me how their absence would affect me" The last sentenced was hissed. Starscream was clearly upset his trinemates didn't deem it important to tell him these kinds of things.

"We… every time I tried to talk to you about losing us, you were becoming so upset with the idea I just couldn't bring myself to continue. But that's not an excuse."

"But we're together again.~ Don't be so glum now!" Skywarp sing-songed, turning Starscream's helm towards him and kissed him full on the lips. The silver seeker didn't protest which only encouraged the teleporter. When the lips parted obediently, he moved his tongue between them and deepened the kiss. He kept the pace slow and sensual and when he decided to end the kiss, Starscream was already breathing heavily again. But before he had time to catch his breath Thundercracker turned his face towards him and gave him a deep kiss as well.

"Tell us more, Star. Tell us what you need." The husky voice so closely to Starscream's audio receptor aroused the seeker immensely. His interface panel clicked open involuntarily and the spike extended to its full length in a matter of seconds.

"Oh Scree, have they been neglecting your spike?" Skywarp hummed, bending at the waist to get his face near Starscream's interface equipments. "But you have such a pretty one. So sensitive," A finger traced the red line on the underside of the spike. " so yummy.~" The purple seeker's tongue teased the tip, causing the SIC to mewl in pleasure.

"We'll take good care of you."

"Yes, we will~"

"Hey, Knock Out, have you heard who arrived earlier today?" Breakdown asked, entering the Med. Bay.

"No. Who did?" The medic replied semi-distractedly.

The assistant grinned. This would be fun. Knock Out's fascination with seekers never ceased to amuse the bigger mech.

"Shockwave-" he began but was cut off mid-sentence by the sport car.

"Oh joy, another creep joining the parade. As if Soundwave wasn't enough."

"-And the rest of the command trine." Breakdown continued as if he wasn't interrupted at all.

The expression on Knock Out's face was just priceless.

Thanks for reading! :)