A birthday story for EmeraldMoonGreen, who owns Eclipse and Shadow. Here you go, Amiga! :) Happy Birthday! :)

Transformers Prime belongs to Hasbro. I only own Camilla.


Never Fear Again

Shadow put Eclipse to bed. "Goodnight, my little moon. Sweet dreams," she said softly to the sleeping little one before quietly moving out of the room, sighing softly as she hugged herself, already feeling like it was going to be one of those nights.

"Shadow?" Came a soft voice and she looked to find Soundwave coming up to her with Camilla, the lady spy, on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"Something bugging you?" The lady spy asked gently.

The femme shrugged. "It's just going to be a long night," she said.

Soundwave tilted his head to the side before it hit him. "The bad memories?" He asked gently.

She nodded, knowing he could sense that. "Yes," she said. "But don't worry, I'll be okay."

"Can we help in any way?" Camilla asked.

"No, but thank you for offering," Shadow said as she headed away from them.

The lady spy looked up at her friend, who looked at her. "How do we help her, Wave?" She asked.

"We can't push her to talk about painful memories," he said gently. "But you're right. We must help her somehow."

Perceptor came around the corner. "Is everything alright?" He asked.

"No," Camilla said sadly. "Shadow's having a rough night."

The scientist nodded sadly. "I do wish something could help her with those sad memories when they upset her," he said.

"Us too," said Soundwave.

"Perhaps I can be of assistance?"

The new voice made them jump and Camilla yipped in surprise, falling off of Soundwave's shoulder, but a tentacle caught her quickly, saving her from quite a tumble. She took a deep breath and looked to find the bot responsible and she breathed a sigh of relief. "Primus, you have a bad habit of sneaking up on us," she said without heat.

He chuckled. "I must be stealthy at times, my dear," he said. "Now, what's this about Shadow?"

"We're worried about her," Soundwave said. "She's...been through a lot. Her and Eclipse both."

Primus nodded as he knew of the femme's backstory from Ratchet. "She is a brave warrior," he said. "But even the bravest warriors have moments of weakness."

"We want to help her, but we don't know how," Camilla said, sitting down on Soundwave's shoulder. "We don't want to push her to talk to us, but we don't want to leave her feeling sad either."

Perceptor suddenly perked up. "Primus, perhaps you could help Shadow?" He suggested.

Soundwave perked up. "Yes," he said in agreement. "You helped Red Alert when he needed it the most. And Eclipse when she was afraid of you."

Camilla could see where this was going. "Do you think you can help Shadow?" She asked hopefully. "Please?"

The benevolent mech chuckled. "I will help her," he said. "Which way did she go?"

The lady spy gestured behind them and he nodded, heading in that direction. "I do hope he can help her," she said.

"He will," Perceptor said. "Now, we should get some rest. It's been a long day for us."

"That it has been," Soundwave said with a nod.

Camilla felt a yawn build up and covered her mouth as she couldn't stop the yawn from escaping. "Five cases solved today," she said. "I think Chief mentioned something about me having vacation time."

"That does sound wonderful," Perceptor said as the three headed to their quarters.

Meanwhile, Shadow was aimlessly walking down the hallway that led to the brig. There were no prisoners there, so she didn't have to worry about that, but she sighed, the cells reflecting her mood as she hugged herself again, rubbing her arms. "Hello, Shadow," came a voice and she turned sharply with a gasp, her Taser weapon out and ready when she saw a large mech coming towards her. She swallowed hard, backing away as he got closer. He smiled at her. "Don't be afraid, Shadow. I won't hurt you."

She glared at him. "I don't know you, therefore I don't trust you," she said.

She was a bit surprised when he just chuckled in amusement. "Ah, I was wondering where that fire of yours was," he said, smiling.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Flattery will get you nowhere," she said, using a term she had picked up from Camilla.

The mech rumbled with laughter. "I can see why Ratchet is head over heels for you, my dear," he said. "He has spoken highly about you."

She blinked. "Who are you?" She asked.

He smiled again. "I am Primus, my dear," he said.

Shadow's eyes widened in shock before she glared at him. "That's the biggest lie I've heard," she said.

Primus chuckled, impressed that she was standing her ground. "Let me prove it to you," he said before vanishing, making her look around frantically before hands gently grabbed her sides and she squeaked in fear as she was lifted up and the surroundings changed from the base to that of the canyon that was nearby

Shadow struggled her hardest to escape, but the mech had her and chuckled again. "Shadow, take it easy," he said. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Let me go!" She demanded, a bit of fear slipping into her voice.

He shook his head and held her. "Not until you are calmer," he said before recalling that Ratchet had told him Shadow was ticklish. "Hmm, perhaps a new tactic might be best."

She blinked at him before giggling as fingers wiggled into her sides. "Oh? Are you ticklish, my dear?" He cooed at her, tickling her stomach now and she laughed now, her legs giving way, to which the larger mech scooped her up and tickled her stomach with both hands.

"AHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" She laughed out. "STOHOHOHOHOHOP!"

Primus smiled. "What beautiful laughter," he said as he then began blowing raspberries into the femme's stomach, making her shriek with giggles. "Now, where is that one spot that just makes you go into tickle paralysis?"

She froze at that before laughing as he tickled her underarms. "Ah, yes, I remember now," he said with a chuckle. "It's right here."

He buried his face into her neck and blew a big raspberry on her ultimate weak spot and Shadow let out the loudest squeal she had ever let out before, freezing up with tickle paralysis as Primus playfully nibbled on that spot while his hands continued tickling her sides and stomach.

"EEEEEEEEE! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NOHOHOHOHO!" She laughed out.

"Do you believe now that I am Primus?" He asked in amusement before gently removing Shadow's stomach armor and blowing a giant raspberry into the exposed protoform.

She let out another loud squeal. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! YEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHES! IHIHIHIHIHIHIHI BELIEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEVE YOHOOHOOHOOHOOHOOHOOHOOU!"

Primus chuckled. "Cootchie, cootchie, coo," he cooed, nuzzling his nose into her neck and making her squeak before he stopped the tickle torture, his hands just resting on the femme's stomach and sides. "Are you going to stay put if I let you up?"

She took some deep breaths, but nodded and he let her up before picking her up and holding her gently in his arms. "Shadow, what is troubling you, my dear?" He asked. "Please tell me."

She sighed, not really wanting to talk about it, but the arms holding her made her feel safe and...she took a deep breath.

"It's...old memories," she said. "Of my...ex-mate."

He nodded gently. "You're a strong femme, Shadow," he said gently. "But even the strongest warrior can have their moments of weakness."

"But I'm not weak," she said.

"No, not at all," he said gently. "But when I say weaknesses, I mean a breaking point, a point where you need someone to help you through the tough times."

She couldn't argue that and sighed. "I...I'm afraid to go to sleep tonight," she admitted. "I had a nightmare last night and...I don't want to relive it again."

Primus nodded gently. "Let me help you then," he said, picking her up. "Just close your eyes and leave the rest to me."

Shadow looked up at him with tears in her eyes, tears that he gently wiped away. "Shadow, I promise you, you'll never have to fear that monster again," he said. "Or those nightmares."

"You promise?" She asked hopefully.

"I promise," he said. "Now, close your eyes."

She did as he gently requested, hearing his sparkbeat as her head rested against his chest and she was soon asleep, opening her eyes to see she was in a dream, but everything was charred and black until she felt a presence near her and she looked to see Primus was beside her and he smiled. "Walk with me, my dear," he said, gently taking her hand.

Nodding, she walked with him, the dark landscape changing into a beautiful valley like the ones she had seen in pictures. She then saw her family relaxing in the meadow and Eclipse was giggling as she jumped through the flowers before looking up and seeing her mother. "Come on, Mommy!" The little femme called out. "Daddy's got a surprise for you."

Shadow looked at Primus, who nodded to her. "Go on, my dear," he said gently.

She took a deep breath and moved closer, seeing Ratchet smile at her before he handed her a pink tulip. "I love you, Shadow," he said. "I know your past, but I still love you. Nothing could make me stop loving you."

Tears of joy ran down her face as she kissed him, feeling his arms come around her and making her sigh in happiness.

Back in the real world, Primus smiled at seeing that Shadow was now lost in a peaceful dream. He carefully teleported back to the base and took her to her room, going inside and tucking her into bed, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Sweet dreams, Shadow," he said softly before looking over to see Eclipse was sound asleep, but had kicked off the blanket in her sleep. Smiling, he went over and fixed the blanket so that it was tucked around her again. "Sweet dreams, little one," he said quietly before heading out, seeing Ratchet in the hallway and he nodded. "Shadow is doing alright, Ratchet. She should have no more nightmares."

"Thank you, Primus," the medic said in relief. "I was worried about her."

The benevolent bot nodded before he vanished, leaving the Bots and former 'Cons to their peaceful dreams, especially Shadow.


Happy Birthday, EmeraldMoonGreen! :) Hope it's a blast! :)

Please leave a review, but no flames!

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