(Please see all previous disclaimers)
And as Megatron and his mate Optimus were welcoming little Emerald into their fold, Starscream and Ultra Magnus were feeding their six little sparklings that they had sparked, their last ones from Megatron as they had been sparked when set free. It was hard work, but neither would change it for anything. Every one of the sparklings were precious to the pair.
Starscream was feeding one of the little seekerlings he had sparked while Ultra Magnus was feeding one of the mechs he had sparked. They could hardly be called little, as both Ultra Magnus and Megatron had data for big bots. This one, the runt named Starter, was at least sweet and easy going. The older two sparklings that Ultra Magnus had sparked were fussy and picky, though thankfully, since they had had their energon, they were now asleep.
"It's a shame that starter always has to be fed last" Starscream mentioned to his mate, feeling a little bad for Starter.
"It is, but at least he isn't going to throw a tamper tantrum about it" Ultra Magnus replied.
"That is true. Just like my sweet Scarlet" Starscream stated, talking about the femme seekerling he was feeding. The other two femme seekerlings were also asleep.
"I hope they grow out of it as they get older" Ultra Magnus uttered.
"Oh they will, as we will teach them to be better bots" Starscream stated, even though he knew when he was little, he was defiant to a "T." "It all goes back to routine and discipline."
Ultra Magnus smiled. "It seems even the wildest seeker can be tamed with that" Ultra Magnus stated, knowing he was jesting and lovingly teasing his mate.
Starscream was about to react badly to that when he saw Magnus' smile. Starscream realized that his mate wasn't making fun of him, but was lovingly teasing him. "Takes a stubborn bot to know a stubborn bot" Starscream retorted.
"Touché" Ultra Magnus answered, as he finished feeding Starter. "looks like Starter is just about to join his brothers and sisters in recharge land."
"Looks that way, my love" Starscream answered, as Scarlet was getting there too. "as will our precious Scarlet."
"Indeed. And just think, soon we will be able to have our own sparklings" Ultra Magnus whispered quietly. He was eager to have more sparklings to love.
Starscream smiled. Yes, they loved these little ones dearly and always would, but both were looking forward to when they could have their own sparklings that didn't share the data of a third parent. "Yes, it will be soon, as soon, my seeker heat will strike" Starscream stated, unaware that Ultra Magnus had no idea what the seeker was talking about, though Starscream was going to soon find out just how little his mate knew of such a thing.
"Seeker heat?" Magnus asked, a bit confused, as he had never heard of it, as there had never been any seeker Autobots while Magnus was running the Autobots.
"Yes, it is a time when seekers are highly receptive and all they can do with their mate is eat, drink and interface, with occasional rest periods" Starscream explained carefully, noticing his mate was getting concerned.
"How will I keep up? What about the sparklings we have?" Magnus asked, a bit worried. This sounded worse than the bot thought.
"I will help you keep up with the seeker heat and I have already arranged for our beautiful sparklings to be elsewhere" Starscream explained to try and ease his mate's concern.
"How long will they be gone from us?" Magnus asked, curious and anxious as well, as Magnus had become the more motherly figure to the little ones.
"12 days give or take" Starscream answered point blank.
"12 DAYS? Why 12 days?" Magnus answered and Starscream thoroughly explained the whole shebang to Magnus so that the grounder bot could understand. It was then that Magnus realized what he was in for and when he did, he found he was happy, as it meant that there was a likelihood that either one or both would then be carrying precious life inside of them. All they needed to do now was wait.