Heyyy, back with another chapter!

xXTheLegendXx- Wow, thank you so much! I'm so glad you love it, and I do hope you'll like this chapter! Things are definitely starting to progress into DOTM!

jgoss- Lol, thanks. Macey and Sunny will be an interesting pair.

Maria B- Yeah...;)

KayleeChiara- Ah, thank you! Oh yeah, it's going to be a big change for pretty much everyone on base. And yes, Becca's visions on the future are definitely foreboding. But thanks for the review, and I hope you like this one!

SapphireSpark- Thank you, same goes to you!

MysticFire101- LOL. It was great, I loved it! It was super entertaining, and thank you for the review!

The Silvernote- Thanks :)

Autobot-Bre-Lightblast- Haha, me too. Thanks for the review!

And now, onto the story!

Chapter 21: Double Trouble

~ 2 weeks later~

It's been a pretty hectic two weeks, and not just for me, but for everyone on N.E.S.T. We just had a whole crew of Autobots arrive at base, they were called the Wreckers. I didn't know much about the Wreckers, but Sideswipe was happy to fill me in on them. Apparently, they're a group of Autobots, infamously known for being wild, loose-cannons and basically Ironhides. Sunstreaker, was comparatively less excited about the Wreckers arrival. In fact, I'm pretty sure Sideswipe was the only one who was actually excited to see them. But they ended up settling down well, and even though they could be obnoxious a-holes, I found myself liking them.

But currently, they and Twins were all out on a mission. I didn't know much about it, but Lennox mentioned something about an ancient Cybertronian relic giving off a faint signature in South America. It sounded really interesting, and I wanted to go, but was stopped for obvious reasons.

I sighed, pushing the spoon around in my cereal as Becca and I sat in the cafeteria of N.E.S.T. She had a few extra hours before she had to go to work today, and she thought it would be nice to get together and have breakfast.

"Are you ever going to eat the cereal?" Becca teased, finishing off her eggs.

I sighed, scooting the bowl away from me, "Probably not."

Becca's jocular expression faded, as worry replaced her big, blue eyes, "What's wrong, Mace?"

"Nothing." I muttered, tapping my nails against the table.

"Something's clearly wrong," Her eyes widened, "Nothing's going wrong with the pregnancy, right?"

I shook my head, chuckling softly, "No, Becca. Things are fine."

"You still want me to throw you a baby shower, right?"

"Knock yourself out."

Her face morphed in confusion, "Well...then what's wrong?"

"Being pregnant is so boring!" I complained, slumping onto the table. I know I was being dramatic, but still, "I mean, I know the Autobots want only what's best for me, and to keep me out of harm's way, but seriously! I haven't even completed my first month yet, and I'm only barely showing. I can still do missions, and patrol rounds."

"Please," Becca scoffed, pouring creamer into her coffee, "If anything, you should be happy that you're not working. Director Mearing is a nightmare. And besides, I thought you were setting up for the baby."

I sighed, resting my head on my chin, "It's not that I'm not excited for the sparkling. I just...I hate this feeling, of being bored with nothing to do. It makes me feel, a little useless, you know?"

Becca's eyes widened, "Macey Isabelle Price!"

I internally cringed at the full use of my name, "...Yeah?"

"Are you serious? You're freaking Primus' recarnation! If anything, you're the most useful person on the base. Way more useful than I'd ever be."

I rolled my eyes, "Becca don't say that. You're really good at calculating coordinates, the teams probably wouldn't have found me without you."

Becca laughed, "Okay, now that we've established our usefulness..."

I couldn't help but grin, and then let out a thoughtful sigh, "I can't believe we've been here for almost two years now."

Becca smiled, "Yeah. Well, it sure was an eventful year and a half."

I snorted, "Eventful is an understatement."

"Oh, yeah, huge one."

I laughed at that, smiling up at my best friend, before turning as I picked up on the sounds of footsteps approaching us. I recognized the lady with short brown hair as Hazel, the one who was there when Becca had fainted from the infection, and had first told everyone that she was gone. I didn't know much about her, but Becca and her had became close while I was gone. A heavy feeling swelled in my chest for a moment, and I knew it wasn't coming from the sparkling. I swallowed hard, as Becca greeted Hazel brightly with a hug as she got up from the table, the chair making an unholy screeching sound against the floor.

"Hey, Bec. Did you forget we had work today?" Hazel asked, chuckling.

Becca groaned, rolling her eyes, "I wish I did."

"Well, someones got to monitor the Earth's orbital system for signs of Cybertronian life." She retorted, before glancing down at me, "Macey, right?"

I nodded, "Yeah."

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot to introduce you guys," Becca said, motioning to me, "Macey, this is Hazel, my coworker, and Hazel this is my best friend Macey."

Hazel nodded politely, "Nice to meet you. And congratulations on your pregnancy."

I nodded again, "Thanks."

Becca could sense there was something wrong with me, I could tell by the way she was peering at me, but she obviously wasn't going to call me out in front of Hazel, and I'm glad she didn't. Instead, she smiled and said her goodbyes, hugging me tightly before her and Hazel went off to their station. And I was, once again, alone and bored out of my processors. I didn't have my check up with Ratchet until a few more hours, and I knew he was currently busy trying to put Jackie back together. Turns out, Sunstreaker was right on his claim that Wheeljack was a "walking explosion waiting to happen". Huh, go figure.

I threw away my cereal, before fizzling out of my human form and awakening again in my alte mode. I felt my spark (and the sparkling) thrum happily as my deep engine gunned to life, before transforming up into my bi-pedal form. It won't be long until I wouldn't be able to transform for a while, especially with how fast the sparkling was developing and all.

I had waved a hello to Mirage, Bluestreak, and Hound, who were all lounging in the Autobot Hangar. I didn't stick around though; I had decided there was somebot I wanted to visit. Now would be best, since Sunstreaker and the others weren't here to talk me out of it. I made my way down the long halls, crossing the courtyard, and past the weapons Hangar before I finally reached my destination.

The brigs.

I typed in the passcode, and watched as the heavy doors slid open quietly, displaying the rows of cells, illuminated by the purple energon bars. I already knew where to go, and turned to the first cell on the right to find the black and white mech sitting there idly. His ruby optics onlined again, I somehow always managed to catch him while he was recharging.

"Sorry," I chuckled softly, "I can come back later if you want to finish."

"That won't be necessary, I wasn't recharging anyways," Barricade replied, sitting up straighter on the small berth.

"You weren't?" I raised an optic ridge in confusion, "Then what were you doing?"

"Meditating."

"Huh?"

"Yes, the practice of contemplation in silence-"

"Yeah, I mean, I know what it is. I was just surprised you would do something like that." I explained.

Barricade shrugged, "There isn't much else to do."

"I feel you there," I mumbled, subspacing the small energon cube I've been carrying around. I carefully pushed through the bars, and Barricade took it gratefully. We sat in silence as Barricade drank about a third of the cube, before he subspaced it.

"So," I started off, placing my servos on my knee-plates, "First things first, we got to change your optic color."

"Did you get the serum?" Cade asked. He was referring to the serum that Ratchet kept, a chemical substance that changed Cybertronian's natural optic color, it was kind of like the equivalent of a human dyeing their hair...except, it's like their dyeing their eyes. I only knew about this because they had wanted me to change my optics to their brilliant shade of Autobot blue.

I had to deny them though...of course, I was an Autobot for life, no doubt, but my green optics was the only thing left I had of my past. Even if I was never really a human, and my destiny was always to become a Cybertronian and save the world and all, I still couldn't just forget all the memories from my human life...or my parents. My mom always talked about how beautiful my eyes were, and I guess...I just wanted to keep that part of me. Besides, I had no idea bots could have optics colors other than red or blue for a while. Well, then again..there was Neutrals.

I sighed, "No, I couldn't. Ratchet's been piecing Wheeljack back together all morning, so he had to move my appointment. I won't be able to get it until later."

Barricade nodded, although I could see how disappointed he was. I was too, I really wanted to get him out of there, but the Autobots have been so swamped with the whole 'Cybertronian relics suddenly appearing on Earth' thing that they had to move back Barricade's defection process. So essentially, he was just sitting here doing nothing, wasting away like I was. Except, at least I didn't have to sit in a maddening cage all day, waiting for my next energon. And I hated the way it was, I really did. I just wished the others could see what I saw in him. What Primus saw for him.

"When is your mate returning?" Barricade asked, breaking the silence that settled between us.

"In a few days," I answered, before putting a hand to my chassis, sighing softly, "A long few days."

"I thought you would be reveling in your freedom from his protectiveness," Barricade said, and I could sense the teasing edge to his tone.

"Yeah, I thought I would...but, turns out, I kind of miss it." I said, staring up at the ceiling in thought, "Huh...what would that be classified as? Stockholm Syndrome?"

"You sure are different from all the other Primes I've met." He said, the amusement clear in his tone, as he shifted on the berth.

I raised an optic ridge skeptically, "Just how many Primes have you met?"

"Three."

"Damn, you're old."

He chuckled, "Four, if we're counting you."

My optics widened, "Holy crap! Who were they?"

"Well, there's Optimus, and then Sentinel Prime, the one before him, there was also Jetfire from the battle of Egypt, and then there's you."

I nodded thoughtfully, "That sounds pretty cool. What would you do if you were a Prime?"

The black and white mech snorted, "I wouldn't want to be."

"Why not?"

"Too much responsibility. And besides, my spark is not pure enough to carry the Matrix of Leadership." He murmured, looking off at something in the distance. I could sense that his processors were somewhere else right now, probably reflecting on a past memory, but I couldn't take the silence anymore, so I opened my mouth to say something else, only to be interrupted by a comm.

Macey to Ratchet. Do you copy? The medic's gruff voice filled my helm.

I pressed two fingers to my helm, Yeah, I copy. What's up, doc?

Haha very funny, He said, sounding not amused at all. Oh well, at least he got the reference, Anyway, I just finished surgery on Jackie. You're up next so get your aft down here.

Okay, doc. I said, before ending the comm, I looked up at the black and white mech with regret, "Sorry Cade, Ratchet needs me in the Med bay."

Barricade nodded, "It's alright, I'll be fine by myself."

"You shouldn't have to be by yourself," I said softly, "Especially when you're doing the right thing."

He looked away again, "Go ahead, take care of yourself and that sparkling."

I nodded, feeling the sparkling's spark flutter in my chassis. The sparkling was feeling something again, I could tell from the sudden and almost foreign consciousness that felt like it had been awaken inside my helm. I smiled warmly, giving my chassis an affectionate rub, right over the sparkling.

"Let's go to Uncle Grumpy Medic, Sparky." I teased.

"Sparky?" Barricade repeated, raising an optical ridge.

"Yeah, I don't have a designation in mind yet, so I just stick to Sparky." I explained.

Barricade crinkled his olfactory sensor, and I chuckled again before bidding him a goodbye, and made my way to the Med Bay. Once I had gotten there, I had smiled at Jolt, and he directed me over to a berth. Ratchet came in not long after.

"Okay, it's been a couple of weeks...is it too soon to ask if the sparkling's gonna be a mech or femme?" I asked, because I was eager. Besides, how would I know how to decorate the room?

"Still too soon," Ratchet answered, placing that strange cold device against my chassis as I laid down. I did the breathing exercises like he instructed me to, before Ratchet went to write something else down, and his facial expression changed, "That's...odd."

Oh no. I felt my spark pick up in slight panic, automatically locating the second one within me, and only relaxed slightly when I could feel it pulsing. I looked up at him, "What? What's odd?"

"Nothing too serious," He assured me quickly, and I felt like I could finally breathe again. "It's just that...I think the device has read wrong, because it is picking up on another spark signature."

"Um...well, isn't that because I'm pregnant?" I asked slowly.

"No Macey," Ratchet shook his helm, "I can only sense one. But the machine reads two."

I stared at the Autobot medic, before blinking slowly, "You're losing me, doc."

"Well, this could only mean one of two things," He went on to explain, walking away from me and towards his holo-display, his digits danced across the keys for a moment, "Either the machine had somehow read the spark signatures wrong, or the spark had split itself in half while in the gestation chamber."

"And that would mean?" I asked, the nervousness building up inside me again. I didn't like suspense, especially if it had to do with my sparkling.

Ratchet turned around, "Well, that would mean that you wouldn't be having just one sparkling then."

My optics widened, and if it could, I'm sure my mouth would drop to the ground. Jolt had stopped cleaning the counter, and looked up at me with the same shocked expression. In fact, the only one who wasn't staring at me wide-opticked and slack-jawed was Wheeljack, but that was because he was in stasis. I'm sure if I wasn't myself, I'd be gaping at me too.

Because if what Ratchet was saying was true, then that meant I'd be having...

"Twins," I muttered softly. "I'm...I'm having twins?"

"It appears so." Ratchet nodded.

Oh the irony.

I let out a breathy chuckle, still in shock over the new news, "Sunstreaker's gonna lose his processors."

Haha, he sure will. I love this fic so much. Sorry it took so long for this chapter to come out, I had a bit of writer's block and I also had so. Many. School. Projects. Thanks for reading y'all, make sure to review!