In the words of Fat Albert:
HEY HEY HEY!

How you all doing, my lovely readers?
...

Yes, yes, I know...
Haven't updated in a LONG time.

BUT I HAVE RESAONS
No excuses; REASONS!

To start off:
I was nearing the end of my Senior year at high school
So I wanted to focus my mind on that so I would flunk
And guess what?
I PASSED!

I'll be graduating soon
And then I'll be off to college

But as to the other reasons
I had writer's block for a while
NOT FUN

And my one fanfic buddy is helping me decide which of my many stories needs updating
And this one got picked.

Okay,
I have wasted enough of your time

ON WITH STORY!
FINALLY!

Ember's P.O.V:

It's been a few days since Predaking found me and brought me to his cave. And in that time a few things have happened. Predaking had set a few ground rules; one of them was that I never leave the cave unless he was with me. I don't mind the rule actually since I tend to follow him everywhere unless he tells me to stay or I am feeding my pups.

Predaking also made the rule that every night we have to block the cave entrance with a large boulder. Even if Predaking doesn't come back before nightfall he told me that I have to close it. That rule I have some trouble with as I can't sleep without Predaking around. The first night Predaking didn't come back on time I didn't close the cave up and I waited for him. To say he wasn't happy about that would be cutting it short.

Another thing that has happened is that Predaking made my pups a little nest to sleep in. It wasn't much, just made out of bent scrap metal and some soft material Predaking found but it did the job. It was even big enough for me to lay down in it with them. And more than half the time that's where Predaking found me.

Also, since my coming here, I have given my pups names. Starting from youngest to oldest, the little lavender and purple femme I have given a name that was told to me by Raf. Raf had called to talk to Bee one day but he was busy so I told the young boy that I would keep him company till the yellow mech came along.

Raf didn't mind, and he soon started talking on about this big project he had due. He said that he had to write a report for his history class on a mystical creature people used to believe in back in the past. And the creature he had picked was one that described as being small, delicate, and very beautiful to look at. Raf had said the creature was also called a fairy or fay but the name I liked best was Pixie.

So my youngest pup, my small and delicate lavender femme, I named Pixie.

My next youngest, my little red, blue, and white mech, I gave a name that for some odd reason just felt right. I can't recall when I heard the name or who had said it but deep in my spark I knew this was his name; a name that felt strong but at the same time gentle.

Orion, my youngest mech was from then on named Orion.

Moving on to my oldest femme, I felt a pain inside me at how striking she looked like Bumblebee. Same bright yellow and dark black, and even thought their eyes had not yet opened I had a strong feeling her eyes would look like his too. It pained me too look at her and not think about Bee, to imagine what if life took a different turn and my pups had been his. The bond I shared with her too reminded me of Bumblebee; so bouncy and full of life.

So I chose a name that was similar to Bee's but was at the same time different. Miko had told me this name from a story she told about being chased by these creatures. How they flew with great speed and precision but still looked ready to attack.

Yellowjacket, my eldest femme was to be named Yellowjacket for even though she looked like Bumblebee she was something different.

And finally for my eldest mech, I thought of name after name but only one seemed to fit him. True, it was based on his outward appearance but I had a feeling it would make him stronger. His blue fur reminded me of the sky on earth on a clear morning, and on those clear mornings how you could see the faded white moon in it. His name also comes from the scar on his face, which I know will never fade away.

To my eldest mech I have given the name Moonscar. And I will forever believe it will make him stronger.

Turning my attention away from my pups for a moment, I think about life. I try to imagine how things would be if I had never been captured, I attempt to picture my life right now in my head if I had just stayed on the Nemesis that day and maybe taken a call from Jack, Miko, or Raf and talk about how their partners are rebuilding a living complex. Just having done something different that day to change how the end result.

But as I close my optics I know that I couldn't change a thing, even if I wanted to. Life works in strange ways and deep in my spark I know one way or another I would have ended up out there. But as I open my optics I then look back at my sparklings and think to myself that even if their conception was against my will I would never wish for them to be gone. It is not their fault how they came into this world and my love for them is strong.

Letting a sigh escape me, I stand up from the nest and make my way towards the cave's opening. The sun is nearly set and Predaking has yet to return. This has become a noticeably regular thing with him. Predaking will stay with me till the sun is highest in the sky, then take off and not return till the setting sun is about to disappear; that is if he returns at all.

Blowing out some dust from my nose, I watch as a cloud starts to roll in. A very clear sign a rust storm is coming. That is the only downside with Predaking's cave, it being so close to the Sea of Rust that Rust storms tend to come around now and again.

Knowing that if Predaking doesn't come back soon he'll get trapped in the storm, I wait a few more minutes before I have to move the boulder into place. The closest of Cybertron's suns is now touch the horizon, making a soft yellow orange haze cover the land. Any minute now it will be gone and the storm will be upon us.

I start to worry for Predaking. He normally won't stay out when a rust storm is coming. So what could be keeping him?

Looking over to the storm, I can see I still have some time till it reaches the cave and the sun is still a long way from setting so I sit down and decide to wait for the Predaking.

He may not like it that I am prolonging to close the cave but in this case I am making an exception.

.-.-.-.-.-.

Predaking's P.O.V:

I know I should have left a long time ago to head back to the cave, but I just can't take my attention away from these bots.

My curiosity had gotten the best of me over these past few days and I came to see what these Autobots have been doing since Ember's absence. Trying my best to stay hidden, I watch from afar at how these bots work on repairing their settlement. I see the drones working hard and a few of the Autobots but none that I have ever met.

Two of the Autobots I can see are a red one and a yellow one. The two seemed to be arguing over something but I can't tell or hear what is being said.

Another pair of bots I see is a femme who moves around on a wheel and she is talking casually with a mech whose optics are covered by a screen. They are either oblivious or completely ignoring the other two mechs that are arguing but that is soon changed as a fight breaks out and it takes the two other bots to pry the mechs apart.

Looking in a different direction I found an Autobot I do know and that would be the one named Arcee. She seems to be sitting alone, far enough away that the others don't see her and it looks as though she is thinking. On what she could be thinking about I can't say.

As I continue to look around, I don't see the bot I am looking for. Looking around some more I finally spotting him, the bot Ember thinks so fondly of. He had just stepped off the Nemesis' elevator and from the way he is walking it appears as though the yellow and black mech hasn't slept in a long time.

As I watch him walk, I try to figure out why Ember talks so much about him. I can understand why she think the Autobots are great, they did save her after all, but why this mech in particular? Nothing about him screams him being special but to Ember he is.

As he finally finds his way to where Arcee is, the two begin to talk. From the way Arcee is pointing at the mech I have to guess that she is not pleased with something he did. The mech then shakes his head and quickly transforms and drives off in the opposite direction; catching the attention of the other visible bots.

If I had to guess where he is going I would say out to look for Ember. It both enrages me and makes me sympathetic seeing this mech drive off. Enraged for the fact that this bot is the only one obviously looking for Ember but sympathetic for the very same reason. I may not be ready to let Ember out of my sight and back to these insufferable Autobots, but knowing that the one she cares about hasn't given up hope makes my respect him a bit more.

Looking to the sky, I find that the sun is almost set. Knowing that I should have left a long time ago, since a rust storm is on its way, I turn my back to these Autobots and begin the trip back to the cave. But the image of that mech driving off still plays in my mind, maybe he truly does care for Ember?

Once I am well enough away, I take to the skies and fly off towards the cave. Where, no doubt, Ember will be waiting.

.-.-.-.-.

No P.O.V (Autobots):

The day had started out like it had been for what seemed like years to the Autobots; cold, dark, and painfully quiet. Everyone seemed to walk around the Nemesis in a sluggish fashion and for the reason why was clearly visible. It had been so many long days since any of the bots had seen Ember that most of them had come to the conclusion that the wolf predacon had met her untimely end.

They even had made a shrine dedicated to Ember by her bedroom door, a datapad projector showing her image at a time when she was happy with small trinkets around it and letters addressed to her from each Autobot. The letters were never read aloud and forever would remain that way.

The only one who refused to believe this idea was Bumblebee. The young scout knew deep down in his spark that Ember was alive and no matter what his friends told him he kept on believing that.

Bee had long ago moved out of his and Ember's shared room and into another. He had told everyone that the room now felt too big without Ember in it with him and found a smaller room. Problem was that Bumblebee tended to work from the Nemesis so he would always pass by the old room and see the shrine.

He didn't per say hate the shrine, it was a lovely thing his friends had put together, but it angered him at how quickly they had thought Ember to be dead. Even after Knock Out had told them Shockwave wanted to keep her alive, they still assumed the worse.

Knock Out… That mech was another problem.

Ever since he had escaped and returned to the group he never spoke a word. The Autobots would be lucky to hear him sigh when Knock Out was around. More than half the time the red mech withheld himself to his room and only came out when someone needed medical attention or he needed energon. This worried everyone but they knew Knock Out had his reasons for locking himself away.

He blamed himself for allowing Ember to be taken away again. He had been with the predacon for half of her time of being captured and when they escaped he deserted her. Knock Out would replay that day in his mind over and over again, trying to find things that he could have done differently so the outcome would change. But no matter what he did, Knock Out knew it was his entire fault.

Bumblebee hadn't spoken to Knock Out since that day but whenever the scout saw the medic he could see the red mech holding onto the tuffs of Ember's fur; like if he wished hard enough they would bring the femme back.

But Bee found himself lucky as he had not seen the medic at all today, but he had also been cooped up on the Nemesis all morning and most of the group were outside working. Knowing that he had spent long enough up on the ship, Bee decided it was a good time to go out searching again.

Since Bumblebee never gave up looking for Ember the scout always found time to go out and look for any signs that she or Shockwave were around.

Finding his way to the elevator, and miraculously avoiding the shrine, Bee made his way down to the planet and while he did so he could see his fellow Autobots. At the moment, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe looked to be in a heated argument, probably over something stupid Bee was more than sure, and Chromia and Jazz were trying to pull them apart.

Bumblebee couldn't help but laugh at the scene. Kind of made things feel lighter than they actually were. But then the thought of what he was doing reminded him that things would not be alright till Ember came back.

Once the elevator touched down, Bumblebee walked towards the open terrain that had yet to be prepared for building new living complexes on. Surprisingly, at least to Bee, the scout found Arcee sitting quietly behind a tall stack of metal bars by herself. A look of thought is plastered on her face and her optics are looking out into the distance; the femme doesn't even register Bee as he comes up to her.

"You okay, Arcee?" Bumblebee asked said femme.

Blinking in surprise, Arcee turns her helm to find Bee at her side now. A smile forms on her face as she stares at the scout. "Hey Bee, yeah, I'm fine."

"You sure? You seem out of it." Bumblebee presses on, knowing that Arcee is a femme of many thoughts but fewer words. What goes on in her mind tends to stay there and boils to the point where it explodes later on.

Arcee looks down at the ground, clearly not wanting to speak to the scout about what she was thinking about a few moments ago. Bumblebee sees this and for some reason he knows Arcee has good cause as to why she shouldn't speak but his curiosity gets the better of him.

"You can tell me anything Arcee."

Arcee remains quiet a few more moments but with an audible sigh she looks back to the Scout.

"I've been thinking Bee, and please don't take this the wrong way, but I think you need to stop looking for her."

The name of who Arcee is referring to doesn't even need to be said; Bumblebee knows very clearly who Arcee is talking about. Anger fills the scout's spark and his face contorts to show it on the outside.

"Why should I? Ember is still alive, I know it. I am more surprised that you guys have given up and stopped looking." Bee says and his words are like molten lava; so hot that Arcee cringes back.

"Bee, it's been months. Yes, Knock Out was with her for a while but you have to think. Shockwave more than likely saw no need to keep her alive, or maybe she was killed in the process of escape and Knock Out didn't have the spark to tell us." Arcee said, not even getting up from her spot on the bars. "… Maybe he didn't have the spark to emit that she is gone. What if his mind erased what he saw and modeled it to what he desired; that Ember is still alive?"

Arcee did make a valid point. Knock Out had not been himself ever since he escaped, what if he couldn't cope with the fact that Ember was killed and he fabricated the whole 'hiding her in a makeshift hideout'? That would explain why he carried her fur around with him.

No. Bee refused to believe that. Knock Out may be acting strange but Bumblebee knew that the medic was strong minded and wouldn't allow his thoughts to cloud the truth. Knock Out may be egotistical and snarky sometimes but he was a mech who genuinely cared for Ember. Heck, if Bumblebee didn't know any better he would say the medic loved the predacon.

"Knock Out's too smug to make up something like this." Bee said as he continued to give Arcee a heated glare. "I may hate him for the reason that he left Ember but I know he did that. They escaped together, Ember was too weak to make it all the way, Knock Out hid her, and Shockwave found her. That. Is. It."

Arcee looked down at the ground again. Sadness radiating off her to the point she looked ready to cry.

"We all know you loved Ember, Bumblebee. We all did, but we know you loved her most of all. Primus, you two were, like, destined to be together; that's how perfect you two were." Arcee said as she cupped her face in her servos. "But it is time you faced the facts. Ember is not coming back."

"You're wrong!" Bee screamed. "I know she's alive! I refuse to give up! Even if it takes me hundreds of years, I will still keep looking for her."

Looking up at the scout, Arcee saw that he truly meant what he said and that was the point to where she finally allowed her tears to fall. Not for the fact that Ember was gone, she had cried those tears long ago, but for the fact that the scout was willing to waste his life looking for someone she believed was dead.

"So… you are going to just keep on looking?" Arcee asked. "What happens when you finally find her and find out that we were right?"

Bumblebee didn't speak, just continued to look down at Arcee. His face was now a permanent look of anger and when he finally looked away and began to walk away from Arcee he had only one thing to say.

"It won't be like that… and if in some sick and twisted way you are… I may just end my existence to be with her."

And with that the scout transformed and raced off as fast as he could. He didn't look back to see the hurt look on Arcee's face or to see the other bots staring at them. Maybe if he had looked back Bumblebee would have realized how much he was hurting everyone, but again he didn't.

All that he saw was the open landscape of Cybertron and that was enough for him to keep on searching for the one he loved.

As long as there was open land to search, he would.

.-.-.-.-.-.

Ember's P.O.V:

The storm was right outside the cave now. Rust clouds billowed out to the point where I kept on sneezing every few seconds.

I knew I should have closed the door long ago but fear told me not to. What if something happened to Predaking and he came back injured? I would need to help him and the door would need to be open for him to come in quickly. But what if someone else was out there and found me? What if it was Shockwave?

My mind was racked with so many thoughts that I almost missed the sound of wings flapping in the distance. Finally looking up and away from the storm, relief filled me as I saw the form of Predaking coming in. As he came closer it appeared to be that he was not injured but from the look he had on his face he didn't look happy.

Stepping back for him to come inside, I watched as he quickly did so and just as swiftly closed the cave's entrance just as the storm was about to hit us.

:: I thought we talked about closing the entrance if I didn't come back before dark? ::

I couldn't respond. The tone Predaking was using was both hurtful and cold. I know I should have shut the cave but I couldn't. Maybe it was me being too afraid but I just couldn't.

:: … I will let it slide this time, but you must promise to close it from here on out. I only do this to protect you. ::

Predaking said as he used his wing to lift my head up so we were looking into each other's optics. No matter how cold Predaking could be or how angry he may sound his optics always showed the love and tenderness he had. Optics are the gateway to the spark and no matter how much Predaking wanted to act all tough and bad, his true nature was not.

:: Come, we should rest. And maybe put that little one back in the nest. ::

Looking to the back of the cave, I could see one of my pups had fallen out. It was Pixie, and by the way he small lavender tail was swaying I could guess she was trying to find me. Call it intuition but I somehow knew that Pixie was not the strongest of my children.

Whereas Moonscar is the largest, Pixie is the smallest. Where Yellow Jacket was always full of energy, Pixie hardly ever moved. And Orion was always curious, sniffing around and nibbling on anything he could find. But Pixie would tremble when something new came her way.

Trotting over to my youngest, I gently picked her up but I nearly dropped her from the high pitched yelp she let out. Pixie's size is what worried me the most; just touching her made it look like you would crush her. If one wasn't careful you could easily press on her too hard and that would be it.

Giving Pixie a moment to calm down, I slowly walked into the nest and placed her back inside. Immediately, Orion was there and cuddled up next to Pixie and the sight warmed my spark.

Orion was always there for Pixie, and even at this young age I knew he would always have her back.

Snuggling up to my pups, I soon found Yellow Jacket nibbling on my ear and Moonscar cuddling up close to my body. So young my pups were, they haven't even opened their optics yet, and however I could their love for me.

:: They deeply care for you. ::

Predaking said as she peered down at my pups. And if he wasn't in his dragon form I knew he would be smiling down at them. Predaking had taken it upon himself to be the best and most protective uncle to my sparklings. During the night I could find him up now and again just watching over us. And during the day he would always keep an optic out for them when they were walking around the cave.

:: Just as I do for you. Now rest. ::

As I watched Predaking walk over to his spot in the corner, I couldn't help but think of my life.

This may not be like the home I had with the Autobots but the love was still the same.

Predaking cared about me more than any other being. There were reasons for this but I think the main ones are that we have been together far longer and before coming to Cybertron we were the only ones of our kind.

Predaking may not be related on a molecular level but I see him as an older sibling. Always watching out for me and now for my pups; like a great leader he watches over his people.

Again, it may not be like the Autobots, but the love is still the same.

I just wish I had Bumblebee with me.

Well there you have it!

DONE!

Do you guys like the names I gave to the sparkling?

Review me your thoughts.

And again,
Sorry for the lateness of this chptr.
And for any errors I may have missed.

Until next time
Hopefully not too long:

Girl Supersonicboy OUT!