Shorter chapter, but I was fighting it. Thanks to ChloeBee for her help with the sparklings. I have one last chapter planned for this story. And, actually, a sequel which I've started. Hope you enjoy!
Optimus and Ratchet watched blue optics as pure as the morning sky on a clear day come online for the first time. She turned her helm in their direction before twittering, the sound sweet and gentle. Ratchet smiled softly down at her. Optimus readjusted his grip on their daughter carefully. "What are we going to name her?" Ratchet asked. Optimus looked over the tiny life form he held in his arms to take in her appearance.
The sparkling looked a lot like both of her creators. Her torso was red and white, similar to Ratchet, though her red was closer to a scarlet. Her helm and legs were the same shade of blue as Optimus'. She also seemed to have inherited his antennae as well, for there were stubs for them on either side of her helm. She had a tiny chevron from Ratchet that was scarlet in colour. The metal of her collar stretched down over her shoulder unlike Arcee whose shoulders remained uncovered. Her knees had the same points on them as Ratchet had. A perfect blend of both Ratchet and Optimus Prime.
"Should it match Sapphire?" Ratchet asked after a long pause. Optimus gave a slight nod, still feeling very drained.
"Scarlet," Optimus suggested. "The colour closest to our own that she has." Ratchet's smile grew.
"Scarlet it is. Sapphire and Scarlet. Our daughters," Ratchet said, putting emphasis on the plural. Optimus began to slip away from him again, and Ratchet tapped on Optimus' shoulder. Normally, a carrier would feel drained, but they would be able to recover quickly from the trauma done to their frame. Optimus' case was a little bit different. He had the Matrix of Leadership which had to be removed since it blocked the sparkling's path. Unfortunately, it caused Optimus to be both in more pain, and much weaker. His spark chamber had to heal first before Ratchet could return the Matrix of Leadership to its proper place within Optimus' chest. It had been a fact that Ratchet had overlooked, forgetting that it would have to be removed until there had been no choice.
Ratchet stood up, and weakly Optimus did the same. Ratchet took his place at Optimus' side, ready to step in should Optimus experience any trouble. The taller Autobot slowly made his way to their quarters, carefully keeping Scarlet against his chassis. It wasn't long before Optimus was settled on their berth and in recharge with both Sapphire and Scarlet resting. Ratchet smiled at the sight of his little family before joining them in recharge.
"She's adorable," June cooed at the sight of the young femme in Ratchet's arms. The medic had taken his daughters out of their quarters to allow Optimus some more time to rest when Scarlet had begun to whine. Sapphire was tiredly holding onto a piece of metal on Ratchet's leg, looking up at the human speaking.
"She looks a lot like Sapphire," Jack pointed out, his eyes on the older sparkling. Ratchet felt his spark tighten, and he nodded slightly.
"She does," he replied after a pause, guarding his emotions. Sapphire's sparkling blue optics shifted to her adoptive Sire at his statement, sensing his sudden unease.
"Sire," she called softly. Ratchet's optics softened, and he kneeled down to rub the femme's helm in praise.
"That's my girl," Ratchet responded. Sapphire raised her arms in a universal sign of wanting to be picked up. Ratchet was extremely reluctant to give in, simply because he wasn't sure how Sapphire would react to Scarlet just yet. Sapphire's doorwings dropped in misery. She withdrew her servo and stepped away on shakily legs as tears began to spill from her optics. Feeling very dejected, she walked away, staying close to the wall in case she stumbled. "Sapphire." Ratchet's call went unheard, for Sapphire ignored it, despite how much she wanted to be held and comforted. Scarlet chirped from Ratchet's arms, and Sapphire froze, her doorwings almost vertical. Scarlet chirped again, and Sapphire turned towards the medic and other sparkling. Ratchet sighed, knowing he would have to allow Sapphire near Scarlet sometime soon, and kneeled down.
"Come here, Sapphire..." He said gently, "Come and meet your new sister."
Sapphire edged closer slightly, still sticking close to the wall, her optics bright with fascination and her doorwings quivering. Scarlet blinked slowly, rubbing her optics with clumsy and under-used servos, her own optics locked on the bluer sister before her. Ratchet lowered Scarlet closer to the ground until she was optic-to-optic with her sibling. The older sparkling edged further forwards until she was within poking range of the younger. Scarlet's fingers curled and uncurled as she studied the being before her; two sky-blue optics scanning over the sapphire-blue frame, trying to remember every little detail as if she were going to forget soon.
Slowly, as if frightened of startling either Ratchet or Scarlet, Sapphire reached forward. The sharp tips of her fingers brushed her sister's face gently. Scarlet squeaked at the coldness of the claws of her sister, little wide optics staring up at Sapphire, looking almost fearful. Until she giggled. It was a soft sound; one that was as if it were a lullaby. Sapphire's optics instantly shot up to Ratchet's in surprise and slight fear.
Ratchet smiled, encouraging the blue femme to interact with the tri-coloured one more. But Sapphire removed her servo from Scarlet's face, drawing a surprising whine from the youngest Cybertronian. Scarlet swiftly and clumsily grabbed ahold of her sister's finger and tugged on it; Sapphire frowned but allowed her finger to be pulled anyway. It was then that Scarlet decided to nibble on the finger, startling Sapphire. It dragged a surprised squeak from her, and her optics widened further.
"Sire," she called gently. She didn't try to pull away from Scarlet, but her doorwings raised.
"It's okay Sapphire," Ratchet said. He watched Sapphire put her other servo on his arm to get a better look at the smaller sparkling. A soft smile slowly bloomed on Sapphire's face. She giggled softly, making Ratchet's smile grow, for it was a sign that Sapphire was accepting her sister.
"That's so cute!" Miko cried suddenly. Only Ratchet looked up. His smile didn't fall, even though Miko was the child he liked the least. Sapphire yawned and leaned against her adoptive Sire's arm. Carefully Ratchet picked Sapphire up, allowing her to settle in the remaining space in arms. Sapphire chirped at him tiredly before falling into recharge. Sapphire had never taken well to being up in the morning. Ratchet stood, easing the strain on the gears in his knees and legs, suddenly feeling better. After all, they no longer had to worry if Sapphire would accept Scarlet or not. A very good thing.