Warning: This chapter has mentions of child abuse. Just wanted to warn you all ahead of time.

Chapter 4: Nightmare

It was night time at the base and Arcee had just gotten back from her Energon hunt, which had been successful, with Optimus, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead. Bidding her comrades goodnight, she headed to her room where her daughter was waiting for her.

"Welcome home mom!. How was the energon hunt?" Miko asked as she stood by her bed in her pink pajamas.

Arcee smiled. "It was great sweetie," she said. "Mommy had to knock out five 'Cons today and then bring back a dozen cases of Energon".

"Cool. I wish I could see you in fighting action more often, Mom, but I can't cause you want me to go to bed on time," the young girl said as she started to yawn, indicating she was getting tired.

"Because sweetie, you need your rest so we can go have a mother and daughter hang out tomorrow. And I need some sleep too," Arcee said with a motherly smile as she gently picked up her daughter and tucked her into her bed. "Sweet dreams, my little one," she said softly.

"Night, Mom," the teenager answered, falling asleep. Arcee then went to her side of the room and collapsed lightly on her berth, falling asleep too.

A few hours later...

"No! Please, don't! Don't hit me!"

Arcee woke up sharply, hearing her daughter scream that out and looked over to see Miko was struggling and crying. Turning on the lamp that was near her, she went over to her daughter in worry. "Miko, wake up! Wake up!" She said urgently, hoping the young girl could hear her and would come out of the horrible nightmare that had her in a tight grasp.

Miko woke up with a gasp and a scared look on her face, panting for a moment as she tried to get her bearings, but didn't relax until she saw her mother standing over her, looking at her worriedly. "You were having a bad dream, sweetheart," Arcee said in a very concerned voice, showing that she was worried about her sparkling. "What happened in your dream?"

Miko managed to take a few deep breaths, but her voice still had a scared tone to it as she spoke. "I dreamt that I was back at the foster care, where Mr. and Mrs. Owens were hitting me with their hands and then hitting me with a bat," she said, her voice now becoming shaky.

Anger filled Arcee on the inside as she finally learned what had happened in Miko's life before she adopted her. She managed to keep her anger inside as she rubbed her daughter's back to comfort her. "It's okay, honey. You're with me now and nobody is going to lay a hand on you. That I promise, as your mother," Arcee said, giving her a smile.

Miko smiled, knowing her Autobot mother would keep that promise. "Thanks, Mom," she said softly before feeling sleepy and laying back down. Arcee tucked her in and gently brushed a finger over her daughter's head to soothe her back to sleep.

The next day...

Arcee had just finished making dinner for Miko and she watched her daughter scoff it down like she never eaten before. This brought a smile to her face. "Do you want seconds, sweetheart?" She asked, still smiling as Miko immediately nodded.

After getting another helping, Miko paused and sighed, her voice becoming sad. "Hey, Mom. Do you remember the day when you asked me how my foster parents treated me?" She asked.

"Yes, I remember. Why do you ask, pumpkin?" Arcee asked curiously, though having a feeling it had to do with last night.

"Well, I want to finish that conversation. And you have the right to know, Mom."

As Arcee looked into Miko's eyes, she saw her daughter was scared, sad, and in pain. And so, after putting a bowl of ice cream and cake on the table, she sat down and Miko began to talk.

"Well, Mom, back in foster care, Mr. and Mrs. Owens were always punching me in the face or even hitting me with any objects in the house. They told me that I will never amount to anything and that only reason that kept me, was because they got a check from the government for taking care of me, not because I was a child entrusted to their care. They never fed me even though there was plenty of food in the fridge. One day, I finally called the Child Abuse people about it and that's when they were beating me until I bled, but lucky, just in a nick of time, the police came and arrested them. They got life behind bars and I was sent to government care, but for a long time, I was so scared to sleep at night because I was afraid that they going to beat me up some more."

That was when Miko broke down, crying while Arcee was shocked and angry to learn the painful truth and wishing she hadn't asked, but as Miko had said, she had needed to know. "Sweetspark, it's alright. Mommy's here and you're with me now, and nobody, and I mean nobody, is going to harm you. Okay, pumpkin?" She said gently, holding her daughter close to her spark to comfort her.

Sniffling a little, Miko rested her head against the warm metal, smiling a little. "Okay, Mom, and thanks for listening. I'm glad I can tell you this cause it's been on my shoulders every since that day and now finally it's gone," she said, hugging her mother tight. "I love you Mom," she continued, tears of happiness running softly down her face as Arcee hugged her back with happiness.

But while Miko wasn't looking, Arcee was very ticked off. Those people that were abusing my sparkling are lucky that I'm not a Decepticon, because if I was, I wouldn't mind eradicating them, without any remorse or pity.

But she kept this to herself as she thought of a way to cheer up her daughter. "Hey, pumpkin, after you finish eating your dessert, why don't we watch some TV?" She suggested with a smile.

"Sure, Mom! Let's do it!" Miko said enthusiastically as Arcee gave a kiss on her cheek and hugged her.

"My little sparkling," the femme said, happy to be a mother to an amazing child.

They watched a nice movie and then went to bed as it was bedtime. Miko now could sleep easy since she no longer had to feel afraid anymore now that she had a Mom that would love and protect her from both cruel people and the Decepticons.

And give them a beating they wouldn't forget either.

Please leave John2851 and myself a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418