Author's note. Sorry for taking so long to update, here's the newest chapter at long last.

Suggestions are welcome.

Enjoy and please review.

Starscream woke with a slight start, his Spark racing madly. He hadn't had a nightmare but it had been a very strange and thrilling dream in which he'd been chased through the air by monsters. But now he was awake, he realised it had all been a silly dream and he relaxed a bit.

But now he was a little confused as to where he was. He didn't remember having such a nice soft berth or a warm fuzzy blanket. He seemed to be a long open box that had pretty symbols on its sides.

Confused, he stood up, clutching his nice blanket and peering over the box's side. And he gasped as he made out the sleeping form of the Autobot leader Optimus Prime. And that's when he remembered, his daddy had given him in own special cot, because he loved him and thought Starscream was a good little Sparkling.

Starscream still had trouble believing all of this was true, Sharpshooter had always assured him he was a horrible little brat who needed a good whacking. But all Optimus gave him were hugs, Energon and a good place to sleep. He was undoubtedly the best daddy in the universe.

He idly wondered what time it was, he was starting to feel a little hungry. The room had no natural light, just a glowing orb near Optimus's berth. But Starscream didn't want to be a brat and wake his daddy up, especially if it was really early.

So he flopped back down with a sigh, looking at the funny symbols on his cot. His daddy had said they were special and would help protect him. Shame they couldn't relieve him of the boredom that was starting to set in.

He saw one that stuck out even so slightly and couldn't resist pressing it. But to his surprise, it gave way under his palm and he realised it was a button. The next moment, something shifted inside the cot's left side and something rose out of it.

He stared fascinated as a spindly looking thing extended out over him, with odd things hanging from it. And then they lit up, revealing stars of different sizes and colours. Some twinkly music began as it started to turn in a circle right overhead.

"Wow," he whispered softly, not sure what it was but unable to look away.

He was so absorbed in the gently spinning mobile that he didn't notice Optimus begin to stir. He turned his head at the sound of music and smiled behind his mask as he watched Starscream. The little Sparkling had a lot of pure wonder on his face as he gazed at the mobile and Optimus knew it had been a good idea to include it.

Optimus watched Starscream for a bit longer, enjoying how happy he was. But eventually, he knew he had to get up.

"Good morning Starscream," he said softly and Starscream jumped in shock.

"You like your mobile?" Optimus quickly asked, not wanting the young Seeker to panic.

"Yeah, it's really great, daddy," Starscream replied with a dreamy smile.

"I'll tell Hoist and Grapple how happy you are with your crib," Optimus said very warmly.

Starscream nodded before suddenly looking down at his tanks with a grimace.

"Are you hungry?" Optimus asked softly as he sat up properly.

Starscream gave him an unsure look before slowly nodding.

"Good, because I know I am," he said kindly and Starscream's face lit up as Optimus reached over and lifted him into his arms.

Starscream shrieked with laughter as Optimus tickled his tummy but Optimus didn't torture him for long, not with an empty tank. He commed First Aid so that a bottle of Sparkling Grade Energon would be ready by the time they got to the Rec Room.

"We're going to the Rec Room for breakfast, is that alright Starscream."

Starscream made a noise of agreement, he seemed content with snuggling against Optimus's chest. It was a bit early, though the sun was well up, and there weren't that many bots about.

By the time Optimus reached the Rec Room, First Aid was eagerly waiting and Optimus was thankful because he could sense Starscream was very hungry.

"Thank you, First Aid," Optimus said gratefully, as he took the bottle before offering it to Starscream.

Starscream seized the end and began to suck down the Energon as fast as possible, as though he was afraid it would be taken away. Optimus gently tugged on the bottle, trying to get him to slow down so he didn't purge.

"It's alright Starscream, just take your time and enjoy your bottle."

"Okay, daddy," Starscream said apologetically before continuing to carefully suck his Energon.

"Good Mech," Optimus said as he thanked First Aid as he sat down.

"Well done, First Aid, Starscream needed his Energon."

"My pleasure, I'm glad he likes it," First Aid said with a slight blush and smile.

"I don't want to get this wrong."

"You won't," Optimus assured him. "Ratchet will be proud to see how well you've done when he comes back home."

"I hope so," First Aid said before excusing himself.

"Perceptor," Optimus greeted warmly as the scientist came to sit nearby so he could sip his freshly poured cube.

"I don't see you here very often."

Perceptor sighed heavily before saying.

"I've been trying to work out how to turn those Sparkling back into adults but so far, I've hit a wall."

His optics slid over to Starscream who was dreamily sucking down the last drops of his Energon down. Optimus immediately knew what he was thinking and shook his head, letting Perceptor know he wasn't going to be experimenting on Starscream. Perceptor sighed before nodding, knowing it was pointless to argue.

"Do you require a cube, Optimus?" he asked politely, still eying up Starscream as though he could gleam information this way.

"That would be good, thanks," Optimus admitted, he hadn't wanted to grab one while Starscream was feeding.

Perceptor got up and fetched one and by the time he'd returned, Starscream had finally finished. Optimus panted his back, allowing Starscream to dispel some trapped wind.

"Hmm, so you all act and behave just like real Sparklings while keeping your memories intact," Perceptor couldn't help but observe as Starscream snuggled against Optimus as his daddy sipped his Energon.

"Yeah, Megatron wanted them to remember," Starscream answered softly. "So he could laugh and make fun of them, he thought they'd hate being treated like babies by Skywarp."

As Perceptor absorbed this information, Optimus chuckled.

"That seems to have backfired considerably, the Sparklings are having fun with Skywarp for a daddy."

"Heh, yeah," Starscream said with a fond grin for his Trine mate and a triumphant look in his optics for Megatron's folly.

He then gave Optimus a shy look and said.

"I'm having a good time here, you're a much better daddy than Megatron would have been."

This really made Optimus laugh and he rubbed Starscream's little wings in thanks. Starscream made a little chirping noise and his wings fluttered, making Perceptor's fingers twitch as they itched to take notes on Starscream's behaviour. This was a rare chance to study how an adult coped with being turned back into a Sparkling, in short regressing fully.

But he doubted that Optimus would allow this, so he'd have to work with what he had.

"Do you want to see the Airelbots, Starscream? They might take you for a little flight?" Optimus now asked.

"That would be great," Starscream said before his little nose wrinkled.

"Slingshot's a little mean though, I don't want him being mean to me."

"He won't be, don't worry," Optimus assured him. "The Airelbots need to learn how to get on with others, especially little Sparklings."

"Will you be there, daddy?" Starscream questioned and Optimus nodded.

"I will be, I can take a little data work with me while you have some fun with the flyers."

Starscream nodded, as long as his daddy was there, he'd be okay. Soon, it was all arranged and after visiting his office, Optimus headed straight outside, to where the young flyers liked to practise. Sliverbolt was happy to look after Starscream for a bit as was his Second Skydive but Optimus wasn't sure about the others.

However, Sliverbolt has promised they would all look after the little Sparkling and they would all treat him well. Optimus hoped so, they were all quite young and still trying to prove themselves. Optimus was sure they could but like all younglings, they were prone for making mistakes.

"Hello there," Sliverbolt said cheerfully as he greeted his leader and the little Seeker.

"Hi," Starscream said shyly, hiding his face in Optimus's arms.

""I'm trusting you and your team," Optimus said seriously as he gently handed Starscream over.

Sliverbolt smiled.

"Don't worry sir, we won't fail you."

To be continued

Author's note. How do the Airelbots get on with Starscream? What's happening back at the Nemesis? Find out next time, until then.