Chapter 34

There was a moment when Gears thought that they had failed.

She had watched, frozen with wide, hopeful eyes as Prime rested his hand over Demona's eyes, the way how his own dimmed as he reached deep inside himself to make this so-called 'bond'. Ratchet stood ready beside his leader, gaze cast down and focused on Demona's dying spark, watching, waiting...hoping that it would light up like the sun with life.

They had both jumped when Prime abruptly tensed, his fingers curling almost gently around Demona's face. When Ratchet leaned forward, the larger raised his other hand a few feet in the air in a 'it's fine' gesture.

It seemed as though hours had passed.

Gears finally tore her eyes away from Demona's covered eyes to stare up at Prime, forcing herself to keep her mouth shut. Why isn't she responding? Why...why is it taking so long?

"I can feel her fighting," he said softly, shocking the both of them, "she's struggling against offlining still...she was afraid of me...but she's trying to reach back now..."

"Why is it taking so long?" Gears whispered.

"Because she's mostly gone," he answered, eyes darkening even more, "her mind and her body has completely offlined...the only thing keeping her here with us is her spark...it's still trying to guard something, it's still trying to fight...but her strength is fading..."

Gears stood up straight and leaned over torn, ravaged pieces of armor to stare at her spark, "C'mon, baby...you can make it...come home to me...come home..."

Optimus' body went rigid above her. Her eyes shot up in time to see him lean forward and shut his optics, raised hand lowering to the berth to grip it for support. Her eyes flew back to the dark spark, and widened when she saw it suddenly come to life with a brilliant red light.

Gears' breath left her as the spark-which looked like a radiant red star- began to spin rapidly in it's casing, sending out waves of heat as it worked double time to get everything back up.

Gears listened as systems kicked on inside with a soft whine. The still body tensed on the berth, her only hand clenching weakly at her side. Gears raked her green eyes down the girl's body, seeing the legs pull tight, claws spreading and curling. The bands around her wrist spun and for a minute Gears was afraid her blades would slip out, but they stayed hidden.

Prime lifted his hand from Demona's face and gently ran it down her remaining horn. She said, worried, "she's...is she okay? She looks like she's..."

He had a tired expression, but it was soft and warm, and his voice was relieved, "she's onlining."

Her eyes widened. ...onlining...she's waking up... "Already?"

Ratchet lifted his hand over her spark, as if to feel the warmth radiating from it. His gaze was gentle, "Stay close, Optimus. Until the bond is stronger, she'll need you to be near her for her to use your strength."

"I'm fine with that Ratchet," the taller said honestly, never taking his eyes off Demona's, waiting for them to light, "anything to keep her online."

You are one badass uncle.

He stiffened, and after a moment of confusion, his expression once again turned back into one of love, "your welcome, young one."

Gears tried, desperate to see those beautiful eyes, "Demona, sweetie?" She made her way closer, pressing her hands against her face. Her heart skipped a beat when she finally opened her eyes, and held her breath when she realized what color they were.

White. White like an angel.

But as they focused on Prime, the pure hue faded back into the familiar crimson, and she said, voice barely above a whisper, "you're saving me."

Optimus said nothing, content with watching the life and emotion play through her gaze. She then turned her head to look at Gears. Gears smiled at her, running her fingers down her damaged cheek plates, "how are you feeling Demona?"

And all of the painful waiting, the fear, the uncertainty, died inside when her newest child answered, also dropping her tone, "I'm home."

Gears felt her smile widened, and she completely closed the distance between them, leaning against her face and spreading her arms over her cheek like Alex had done only days before. She whispered, feeling more tears run down her face, "welcome back...we've missed you."

Demona closed her eyes again, but Gears knew she was still awake. She told her, "Alex thinks you're dead...he hasn't been...he's been lost without you...I have too..."

"I'm here now," Demona answered, "I came back."

...and the happy feelings gave way to something worse.

"...and if you ever scare me like that again, I'll weld your alloyed ass to this damn table!" she snapped, "I swear, you attract destruction and danger like a planet-sized magnet!"

Demona looked confused while the two males in the room both took on amused expressions. Gears pulled away, throwing her arms up in the air, "Do you realize how horrible it was, sitting there at your side and knowing that your beautiful eyes would never light again? After I and my boys adopted you into our family and were ready to take you in and love you-Dammit, Demona! You had us all thinking that you were dead or offlined or whatever!"

She stopped short when Demona said, "thank you."

"Thank me...for what? And don't think you're getting out of this 'talk'-there's a storm coming, and I-..."

"for believing," Demona said quietly, "even when everything else fell apart in my hands...you were there..."

Gears blinked at her, the anger draining out of her. "That's what a mommas for, babe."

Demona's expression turned almost painful, "I've never had a mother."

"You do now, whether you like it or not," Gears pointed a finger at her, "and no force in this universe can tear me away from you, so sorry kid. Can't get rid of me."

And those red eyes seemed to smile at her. Demona spoke, her voice so low it was almost difficult for her to catch, "I'm fine with that."

:3 AWWWWWWW Gears and Demona are reunited! :D And she asserted herself as Demona's momma. XD

Anyway...will probably have another chapter up tonight. It's one of those days where everything is just flowing like crazy...We'll see how those boys react when they see Demona alive and well! And hopefully I can squeeze a little uncle-niece bonding in there between her and Prime...no promises though.

Love to my readers! And holy crap! 100 reviews! Damn, guys! You are so amazing, I know I've said it before, but it just doesn't do you justice! Thank you, thank you, thank you for reading and keeping up with The Guardian! Here, each of you gets a cookie...*hands out cookies*

Demona, Gears and her family, and the story belongs to me. Transformers does not.