Disclaimer: I don't own TF. I only own my OC.

Also... my writer's block is officially over! Whoo!!!

Realization

I sat at my desk in my office. My head was in my hands and my eyes were glazed over in thought.

'I do love Ratchet.'

I chuckled wryly. "Never expected to fall in love with an alien robot…"

I sighed, pushing some hair out of my face. I'm sure Cammie would want to know that I'd finally realized my feelings. And the other girls would probably find out from her.

The problem was…

How would I tell Ratchet?

'To him, I'm just the annoying human female that he has to work with. Not to mention, raise a sparkling with.'

I felt something wet on my cheek and swiped at it. It didn't help because there was more. I looked at my hand.

'Am I crying… over Ratchet?'

Never before had this happened. I've dated a few guys… but I didn't have such strong feelings for them, like I do Ratchet.

I stopped wiping at the tears, just letting them fall.

'I guess I do have reason to cry. Ratchet sees me as an annoying human, but when you get past that… we actually are friends. That's what worries me. What if he just wants to be friends?'

I leaned back in my chair, looking out the window that I had in my office. It was a sunny day today. There was a park next to the school, so I could see people having a good time. Little kids played on the jungle gym and swing sets. Parents talked with other parents, laughing every once in a while.

Something caught my attention though…

A couple that looked to be a few years older than me was taking a walk. They were holding hands and talking, smiles on their faces. The woman laid her head on the man's shoulder, closing her eyes in bliss. The man glanced down at her, the smile never leaving his face. The man said something, pointing at a bench. The woman nodded, opening her eyes and going to sit on the bench. The man remained standing, fumbling with something in his pocket. The woman got a questioning look on her face and spoke to the man. The man got down on one knee in front of her and the woman looked shocked. The man spoke and the woman had tears streaming down her face. When the man was almost done speaking, he took a small box out of his pocket and opened it. The woman jumped up, tackling him to the ground in a hug. She shouted something and the two shared a kiss. The man slipped a ring on the woman's finger and they kissed once more.

Tears were flowing rapidly down my cheeks.

'I had to fall in love with the one mech who hates me!'

I blindly wiped at my tears, even though it didn't help. Tears kept falling. I thought back to something Cammie once told me.

"People either fall in love with someone that's like them or the complete opposite of them."

I smiled ruefully. 'Looks like she was right about that.'

I thought about my friends.

'Maria has Jazz and Cammie has a crush on Optimus… those two might get together, even though they're opposites. Alana and Ironhide are alike and I've noticed the way they act around each other. They'll get together for sure. Paige and Wheeljack… for now they're friends, but it might turn into something more later.'

I was happy for my friends. Really I was!

But…

I'm not sure if I can find happiness like they can.

I curled up into a ball, as best as I could in my chair, and wept.

Later that week…

Today is Saturday. Which means it's been a week since I'd realized I'm in love with Ratchet.

I've been in a bit of a depression since then. I kept thinking about Ratchet rejecting me if I told him how I felt.

Cammie, being who she is, was the first to notice my strange behavior. She mentioned it to the other girls and they were also worried about me. Thankfully, none of them mentioned it to the mechs.

Then they'd be concerned about me… including Ratchet.

I'd also made a habit to avoid him these days. The only times I was around him was if I was taking care of Midnight or studying cybertronian medical knowledge.

Other than that, I had no contact with him. I'd stay shut up in my room, or stared blankly at the TV in the rec room.

Which is what I'm doing now. The TV was on, but I didn't see it. I wasn't even thinking either. I sat as still as a statue, my eyes completely blank.

"Kat?" I heard Cammie ask gently.

I came back to reality, peeking up at her. She had a concerned look on her face. I scooted over a bit, making room for her on the couch. She sat down, still looking at me.

"Kat, are you okay? You've been acting strange the whole week."

I didn't look at her. "How so?"

"You seem… depressed, and that worries me. I've never seen you act like this before."

I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. "I have my reasons for acting like this."

"What? What is causing you to act like this?"

I un-tucked myself, putting my feet on the floor. My hands laid in my lap. I looked over at her.

"I can't tell you."

Cammie scooted closer, putting an arm around my shoulders. "I'm your friend Kat. Whatever it is, you can tell me."

I laid my head on her shoulder, tears starting to fall.

"Kat…" Cammie breathed out, shocked at my reaction.

"I… I… I'm in love… with Ratchet."

Cammie gripped my chin, forcing me to look at her. She had a gentle look on her face.

"Why would something like that make you act depressed?"

More tears spilled out of my eyes. "I'm afraid."

"Afraid?"

I nodded. "I'm afraid he'll reject me."

I laid my head back on her shoulder, sobbing hard. Cammie hugged me to her, stroking my hair. I gripped her shirt.

"I've never felt like this before. I've never felt such strong emotions for someone."

I sniffled, still sobbing.

"It's confusing isn't it?"

I nodded, holding back a sob.

"I know what that's like."

I lifted my head, looking at Cammie. She had a sad look in her eyes.

"What do ya mean?"

Cammie sighed. "I have strong feelings for someone too. Every time I think about them, I wonder if I should tell them how I feel. But then I start thinking about if they'll reject me and how that might ruin our friendship."

My eyes widened in realization. "It's Optimus, isn't it?"

Cammie nodded. "I'm not sure if it would work out. We're so different. He's a leader, I'm just some silly girl."

I wiped my tears away. "Remember what you told me once? You told me that people fall in love with someone that's like them or their complete opposite."

Cammie looked down sadly. "I'm not sure it applies in this case."

"It does." I stated confidently. Cammie looked at me in surprise, before smiling.

"There's the Kat I know and love."

I smiled. "I've always been here. I just needed someone to bring me back to reality. Thanks Cammie."

"Anything for a friend."

I hugged her tightly. She returned the embrace.

"Kat?" she asked pulling away.

"What?"

"When you're ready, tell Ratchet your feelings."

I smiled. "I will… if you promise to do the same with Optimus."

She returned the smile. "I will."

She got up, tugging on my hand. "Come on, I'm sure the girls want to know you're better now."

"I worried you guys that much?"

"Yeah…"

I looked down guiltily. "I didn't mean to…"

Cammie yanked me off the couch, pulling me along. "It doesn't matter. Just as long as you're back to normal."

I smiled and sped up, keeping up with her pace.

Author's POV; Ratchet's Office

Ratchet sat at the desk in his office, doing paperwork. He was occupied with his thoughts though. He'd noticed that Kat had been avoiding him lately, but he didn't ask about it. He just let her be.

The sound of the med bay doors opening interrupted his thoughts.

"Thanks guys." He heard Kat say. He looked out his open door, seeing the twins leave after dropping Kat off. She was on the berth with Midnight.

"Hi sweetie!" she cooed. "How are you?"

Midnight let out happy chirps and clicks, reaching for her adopted mother. A smile graced Kat's features as she let Midnight grasp her arm.

A smile crept onto Ratchet's face at the scene. He closed the door to his office, letting the two have some alone time. He went back to his paperwork, but soon found himself looking at the sketch of Midnight. Kat hadn't been serious when she'd told him to put it in his office and frame it, but he did it anyway.

Looking at it, he thought about the sparkling. But he soon found his thoughts drifting to the spunky brunette that had drawn the picture.

He had to admit for a human, she was quite beautiful.

Ratchet shook his helm. 'Why am I thinking about the femme?'

Lately, Ratchet had been feeling things he'd never felt before. Whenever he was around Kat, his spark fluttered.

No! It yearned to be with her. There was something about her…

His spark would jump at her touch or when he heard her sweet voice.

Those weren't the only things to make him feel strange. She had a body that any other woman would kill for. Not only was she curvy, she was well-toned.

Ratchet knew this first-hand. He's had to check her for injuries before, so he knew what her body was like. Not to mention her eyes…

They were a forest green color. They were always warm, except for when she was mad or serious, then they would harden. They also had a certain spark in them. It'd be there whenever she was happy.

Most men would go after her and the thought made Ratchet growl angrily. He was surprised at his reaction.

'Why would that make me upset?' he wondered.

The answer to that was simple…

He's in love with Kat.

Sure, there had been times when he'd felt something toward her. Like when she was forced to wear that nurse's outfit.

But those feelings paled in comparison to the ones he felt now.

Ratchet got up from his desk, going over to his office door. He opened it, looking at the tiny human on the berth. She was smiling and laughing.

"Come on Midnight. You can do it!"

Ratchet looked at the sparkling. She was attempting to crawl over to her human mother. It took a few minutes, but she did it.

Kat threw her hands up. "That's my girl! I'm so proud of you!"

Ratchet crossed his arms over his chest plates, a smile on his face. His optics were focused on one thing… and that thing was Kat.

He looked her over. The happiness in her eyes, the smile that graced her features…

He may deny it at times, but deep down in his spark he knew.

He knew that he was in love with Kat.