It was the night before Christmas and all through the base

Everyone was stirring with great aliveness and hast.

The transformers weren't a kind to be trying to get to sleep early for Santa to come soon. No that day went on like any other day. All busy of their own. Shotaius and Beth had just finished putting the decorations up and so decided to spend some time together and so placed Seth with Crystal in the nursery. She didn't mind, but she still wanted some help with the eight sparklings she had to take care of 24/7, at that she got her wish . . . well, sort of.

Ratchet had been meaning to ask Crystal something for the longest time. As the years they spent with them lingered he had grown feelings for the femme every time he would come in and check on the sparklings and she just be there to watch him. The simple exchanging hellos began to sink into Ratchet and he had begun to develop feelings for the twin. No one really knew it, but some did guess like Sunstreaker and Sideswipe for instance.

He knew them two very well and knew they would blab to everyone, but since he confronted them before and threatened them to turn them into femmes themselves they thought it was in their best choice to shut their mouths forever. Jetfire had also suspected something from those two's strange behavior after a 'check up' from Ratchet. He couldn't put his finger quite on it though and so he paid no mind to it till he had good proof to back up his theory. So Jetfire moved along.

Ratchet didn't know what to say to her though. He wanted to ask her out as those humans say. he had never had a femmefriend before and she had once been engaged. Ratchet even wondered if she was still over him.

There was only one way to find out and so he mustered up all the courage he could and came to her in the nursery. When he entered she turned to him with that sparkling on her hip like always. He just smiled and said-

"If I didn't know any better I'd say she was attached to you."

"Yea, I get that alot," smiled Crystal gazing at the ground.

Ratchet then came closer to her and seemed a bit nervous about things. Crystal saw this and so asked-

"It's not time for their check-up so why are you here Ratchet?"

"Well the truth is," started Ratchet as he looked up into her emerald optics.

He then saw Carla playing with a large stuffed bear she had gotten for her first Christmas and when he saw her he then looked at Crystal who waited and waited for his answer. She was willing to wait all night if she had to for she didn't mind at all. To her Ratchet reminded her of a small sparkling trying to spit something out and tell what was really on their minds. You had to be patient with them and apparently him as well.

Ratchet then sighed knowing he couldn't tell her yet and so he extended his arms and said-

"Can I hold the baby?"

Crystal just smiled and shook her head as she gave Carla to Ratchet. She then, as she handed Carla to him, gave him a quick kiss on the cheek that instantly froze Ratchet. She then smiled and waited to see what Ratchet really had to say perhaps that kiss would push it out of him.

"The truth is Crystal I was wondering if I could, how you humans say, ask you out."

"Now?" asked Crystal looking around seeing she had things to do like watch the sparklings.

"Well I had things set up for tonight if you wanted to come, but if you can't I understa-" started Ratchet but was cut off by Crystal.

"Sunspot, Jazz, Optimus!" she called.

"I didn't do anything!" cried Jazz from across the room.

"I didn't say you did now get over here!!" cried Crystal with such hard force it made Ratchet flinch a little.

All three came running up and so asked-

"Yes Crystal?"

"Okay boys I want you to watch the younger ones tonight okay," smiled Crystal placing her hands on her knees and bending down to them.

"Why?" asked Optimus.

"'Cause I'm trusting you boys. Now can I trust you with this responsibility?" asked Crystal.

"Yes ma'am," They smiled all giving her a cute little salute.

"Good, now I'm going out with Ratchet so be good, all of you!" she said wrapping her arms around Ratchet's arm.

"Well then, let's be off shall we," smiled Ratchet leaving with what he wanted.

Katy and Bumblebee decided to spend their night with Jetfire and Wheeljack just watching Wheeljack experiment on Jetfire different theories he had. It was quite fun watching Jetfire get hurt.

"Now this won't hurt a bit," said Wheeljack getting ready to pour something that was steaming on Jetfire.

"That is what you said 1 hour 53 minutes and 24 seconds ago," sweated Jetfire. "And it still hurts."

"Well that's what you get for volunteering," chuckled Katy.

"Stop laughing at me this isn't funny!" said Jetfire.

Katy just cracked up in more laughter. She always laughed and Jetfire found this so very strange.

"How can you live with her Bee?" asked Jetfire. "I'd go crazy!"

"To late," sighed Bumblebee.

"Hey!" said Katy shoving her husband.

Bumblebee then began to laugh and so they continued to watch Jetfire be the lab rat he volunteered to be they only wish they had a camera.

It was time now. It was the perfect time to act and this Barricade knew. Frenzy was there watching the children secretly and he had just given him the signal to come in and do his job. As the door crept open all the children looked and wondered if Crystal was back.

"That was quick," smiled Jazz as he came closer to the door, but his smile vanished as he saw this strange transformer come through the door and close it quietly behind him.

He smiled and placed a finger to his lips saying-

"Shh, if you're quiet then I won't have to hurt you."

All the children froze in spot and said not a word. They were scared yes and as the decepticon took out a bag he smiled and said-

"Now . . . who's first?"

All then broke the silence and started screaming and crying trying to be heard, but it was sound proof and so none heard them. Barricade then grabbed the first he could get . . . Butterfly.

"AH!" she cried as he picked her up by her leg. "Let me go!!"

"Hey, let go of my sister!!" cried Maze jumping on his sister and trying to get her back, but he was just picked up and put in the bag.

It was mayhem in that room as Barricade ran to gather them all together. Optimus was off in the corner and so he was last to be seen and so Sunspot came and pushed him in a cabinet to where he could not be seen for he knew the importance of him.

"What are you doing?!" cried Optimus.

"Shut up!" said Sunspot as he saw Barricade coming to him.

All Optimus heard was a struggle and a few clinks of metal as if someone was being hit. He then heard a body drop and heard dragging. Optimus couldn't have been more quiet as Barricade loomed over his hiding place. He then heard Jazz.

"Hey decepticon, you don't have me!" he teased.

"Then come here and join your friends," said Barricade.

"Try and catch me!" spat Jazz running off and heading for the door, but Barricade had caught up with him. "Darn these short legs!"

"That's right come here," smiled Barricade grabbing him by the neck, but Jazz back lashed and bit him. "OW! You little come here!"

He then grabbed Jazz even tighter around the neck almost choking him. He then placed him in the bag with the rest of his friends and so looked around one more time to see if he missed anyone. He figured he had them all since they were all squirming around so and so he left seeing his job was done. Optimus though didn't leave his hiding spot.

He was so scared about everything right now. His friends were gone. He was the only one left. He was also afraid Barricade would come back.

Crystal was enjoying the time she had with Ratchet, but it was ruined when they got a call by Shotaius about something involving the children. Crystal then raced to the nursery and when she found the door open and all the children gone she cried out with fear.

"The children . . . where are they?!"

"They're gone," said Shotaius trying to stay calm even though his own child had been taken.

When the mothers came though they broke down just as much as Crystal did.

"My babies, where are they?!!!" cried Katy.

"Seth!!" cried Beth.

"We believe the decepticons have taken them," said Wheeljack.

"They have," came a voice as Optimus finally came out.

"Optimus!" cried Crystal as she ran to him and placed her arms around him. "Who did this?!"

"A decepticon," said Optimus. "I was pushed in there and everyone was taken."

Optimus then began to cry and so Crystal held him close. This was all her fault. If she would have just stayed then maybe . . . maybe they'd still be here.