THAT NEXT DAY…

The relationship between Skyfire and Starscream was strictly platonic—or, it was supposed to be, at least. The rules, in Skyfire's mind, were that if somebody was dating someone else, he wasn't allowed to do anything with that person.

However, he did visit the Decepticon base every couple days, and he and Starscream got to spend time together. Usually, they practiced science together, but every so often they would hang out in the Seekers' room and just make complete fools out of themselves.

"Okay, now I'm teaching geography," said Starscream, laughing and holding up a huge rock.

"Yes, Professor!" said Skyfire.

"This…is Cybertron." Starscream pointed to the rock. "It is our home planet. It's not really made of rock, but—oh, Primus, what is that?"

"It's Megs," said Skyfire. "I think he needs his diaper changed again."

"I should really not let him climb on my head, then," said Starscream, taking the sparkling off his head. Stars was floating in the air, as usual, but Megs (who had been sitting in Starscream's lap) decided to crawl all the way up to his head and stay there. Skyfire said it was a good thing that he was doing that, because it meant he wanted to explore his world.

"Don't worry, I'll change him," said Skyfire, taking the sparkling.

"How would you know how to change a diaper?" asked Starscream warily. "I didn't even know until I had sparklings. And I have to do it all, because Megatron won't touch them when they need their diapers changed."

"I used to sparkling-sit, remember?" said Skyfire cheerily, and took Megs to the nursery. When he came back, he gave Megs back to Starscream and said, "You know, I was thinking…"

"What?" said Starscream.

"Well, when I'm not working for the Autobots, I'm teaching an enrichment program for sparklings," said Skyfire. "It's meant to introduce the sparklings to the world of science. I have activities for sparklings as young as Stars and Megs."

"I-I don't know," said Starscream, taking Stars out of the air and holding him in his arms. "I don't know if I want them around a bunch of Autobots, especially when they're so young and impressionable."

"We're not asking you to convert them," said Skyfire. "I just thought it would be nice if we encouraged them to have a healthy scientific curiosity."

"What if the Autobots try to take them away?" Starscream asked. "I can just picture that. Prime would be saying to everyone, 'oh, look, some little Decepticons. We'd better turn them into Autobots before they know any better'."

"Don't be silly, we wouldn't do that," said Skyfire. "I mean…I don't think Optimus could bring himself to take someone's sparkling away. You gave birth to them; you are free to raise them how you wish."

"Uh-huh," said Starscream. "Right. I guess I'll think about it. Are there a lot of little Autobots?"

"Some neutrals have sent their sparklings," said Skyfire. "Actually, we're getting a lot of new sparklings. Lots of Autobots are carrying back at base, including Elita-1, Arcee, Chromia, and we think Prowl, even though he hasn't tested yet, but he and Jazz really wanted a sparkling so…"

"Jazz?" said Starscream.

"They've been in love for a long time, but they just got bonded, like, two weeks ago," said Skyfire. "They've been trying to have a sparkling ever since. Autobots don't really have sparklings unless they've bonded already. Um, no offense."

"Well, I didn't have these sparklings on purpose," said Starscream, watching Megs crawling around on the bed, and Stars floating in the air. "But I don't regret it."

"No, a sparkling is always good news!" said Skyfire, patting Megs' head. "So, anyway, we can sign them up for that enrichment program soon if you want. Don't you want them to learn about science?"

"Yes," said Starscream. "Look, it's still early in the day. Why don't we go now?"

AT THE AUTOBOT BASE…

"I'm home," said Skyfire, entering the Autobots' base, Starscream and the little twins behind him. Starscream was holding a squirming Megs in his arms, while Stars was flying. The two scientists had flown to base as a jet and a shuttle, and it was awfully convenient that Skyfire was a shuttle because he got to give Stars and Megs a ride.

"Conductin' some more 'research' with that Starscream tramp, huh?" said Ironhide sarcastically, walking into the hallway to greet them.

"Ahem," said Starscream, stepping out from behind Skyfire. In comparison, he was small, but he still had a nasty look on his face. Ironhide looked shocked that Starscream also had two sparklings with him.

"So, it's true," said Optimus, following Ironhide into the room.

"What?" said Starscream.

"Skyfire told us you were bonded to Megatron and had twins a year ago," said Optimus.

"We weren't bonded," said Starscream. "In fact, we weren't even dating. We were just having a little fun. Or, y'know, a lot of fun."

"Huh," said Optimus, looking like he didn't know what to say, which was Starscream's intent.

"But, you know, the old mech wasn't my first rodeo." Starscream grinned and elbowed Skyfire teasingly.

"Please, Starscream, not here," said Skyfire, his cheeks turning red.

"I knew it." Ironhide shook his head.

To Starscream's amusement, Stars flew to Optimus and started chewing on his fingers. Optimus looked a little put off.

"Don't worry," said Starscream. "That little Seekerling will chew on anything."

"Stars, no," said Skyfire gently, taking the little one away.

"What did you bring them here for?" Optimus asked, wiping his spit-drenched fingers on his leg.

"I wanted to sign them up for the science enrichment program I teach," said Skyfire. "They can do fun activities to help them expand their knowledge. Megs can walk and Stars can fly, and they're both learning to talk."

"Optimus! Optimus!" Bumblebee was yelling as he suddenly darted into the room. "You won't believe what happened! Guess! Guess!"

Ironhide smacked Bumblebee on the head. "For spark's sake, half-pint, spit it out!"

"We found out Prowl was going to have a sparkling!" said Bumblebee. "They're so excited!"

"Well, that is good news," said Skyfire. "Tell them I'm very happy for them."

"C'mon, tell them yourself!" said Bumblebee. "We can—oh! Starscream! Why are you here?"

"What was your name again?" said Starscream.

Bumblebee introduced himself then asked, "Are those yours? Skyfire told us you had sparklings a year ago!"

"Yes, I did," said Starscream. "And they're going to join Skyfire's scientist enrichment program."

"Oh, yeah, I'm taking that class right now!" Bumblebee shouted. "It's so fun! C'mon, I'll show you where to sign them up!"

"Um, yeah, sure," Starscream mumbled, and, taking his offspring with him, he followed the Autobots into the main monitor room. Prowl, Jazz, and Ratchet were there, all looking very happy.

Finally, Ratchet walked up to them and said, "Well, we got the results from the sparkling test back, and they—"

"Yes, Bumble-butt told us," said Starscream.

"Congratulations," Skyfire told them both, smiling.

"Thanks," said Prowl.

"Anyway," said Skyfire, "all you need to do is put their names into the computer. Then bring them here next week for their first class."

"Can they stay here for an hour or two and play with the Autobots?" asked Bumblebee. "I've never had some sparklings to play with before! Not even a brother or sister."

"We're going to have lots of sparklings very soon," said Optimus. "Chromia's sparkling is coming in only about eight weeks, remember? Arcee is past her due date and my own sparkling will be here in about six months."

"You better be prepared." Starscream smirked. "It's awfully hard to shoot your enemies when a tiny person is throwing up all over your shoulder."

Starscream and the little twins ended up staying at base until dark. Since there were four Autobot sparklings on the way, two of them very soon, the whole base was sparkling-proof and there were plenty of toys to play with. Stars liked to chew on them, which they couldn't stop him from doing, and they had all the future parents come in to meet the sparklings, just to know what it would be like once they had their own.