Author's note. Well I'm finally back in Scotland and this time, I'm back for the rest of the summer. Hope everyone enjoys this update and suggestions are very welcome.

Mentions of rape and abuse so be warned.

Megatron will come back into this story but not until a little time's past.

Enjoy and please review.

"Son?" Bumblebee repeated weakly as Prowl cradled the little Sparkling against his chest.

"That...that can't be the boss bot's Sparkling...can it?"

"I'm afraid it must be," Ratchet said grimly as he finished examining the unconscious Autobot.

"My scans show he must have given birth less than a cycle ago. And hasn't received any medical attention."

Prowl looked up sharply.

"We must get him back to our ship," he said urgently. "I'll take care of the Sparkling, Bumblebee, you help Ratchet carry Optimus outside, we can load him into Ratchet then."

"Right," Bumblebee said distractedly, tearing his optics away from the Sparkling and focusing on Optimus.

"Right, I'll do that."

"Gently now," Ratchet said gruffly as Prowl departed the Shuttle with the Sparkling, to tell Bulkhead what was happening.

"That's it, ease him up."

As Bumblebee helped to lift their leader, Ratchet murmured encouragement, now wasn't the time for yelling. The poor little Mech was in shock and no wonder, Ratchet's grim prediction had come true, or at least, that's what it looked like. If Optimus had willing given birth to another Mech's Sparkling, he would not have run away like that, he had obviously escaped.

"I can't believe it," Bumblebee said, very subdued as they made their way outside to where Bulkhead was examining the little Sparkling.

"He's so small," Bulkhead was just saying in wonderment before spotting his other teammates.

"Let me take him."

In another moment, the large Mech had gently taken Optimus and lifted him into his arms, supporting his whole body carefully. Ratchet gave him an approvingly look before transforming into a medical vehicle. Bumblebee stood back as Bulkhead placed Optimus inside, where Ratchet could scan him some more and decide just what he would do first once they were safely back at their ship.

"We'll follow," Prowl announced, turning to Bumblebee and saying.

"Bumblebee, I need you to stay with me and help look after this Sparkling, I need to make sure this Shuttle isn't being tracked."

"Okay," Bumblebee croaked, still staring as Ratchet and Bulkhead set off.

Both Mechs headed back into the Shuttle, it was of a very good design and actually looked new. It also appeared very well equipment, Prowl could see storage for Energon that would keep it very fresh, causing him to be silently impressed. The little Sparkling was still sleeping in his arms and he turned to face Bumblebee only to find him staring at the berth they'd found Optimus on.

"Bumblebee," he said softly and the yellow Mech jumped, looking at Prowl with watery optics.

"They...they really hurt him," he whimpered, taking in the stained berth that still had fresh energon and oil on it.

"They did," Prowl agreed quietly. "But we should not dwell on that, he's back with us now and we'll take care of him."

"We won't let them hurt him again," Bumblebee said suddenly fiercely and Prowl didn't dissuade this notion. Somehow, he suspected this was only the beginning of Optimus's troubles.

"Can you hold this Sparkling while I check out the main computer?" Prowl now asked, hoping to distract the angry Autobot.

"Um," Bumblebee said, successfully distracted as he stared at the tiny bundle.

"You think I can?"

"Just have a seat and hold him like I'm doing, you'll be fine," Prowl said in a kind tone, indicating another berth that wasn't stained.

Bumblebee sat delicately down as though the berth would fall apart and loosely held out his arms. Prowl bent and gave the Sparkling to Bumblebee before helping him to sit back and hold him. Prowl lightly stroked the little helm, making sure this Valour was definitely asleep before heading to the front of the Shuttle.

Bumblebee just sat there, mulling things over. He'd been so desperately hopeful that wherever the boss bot was, he wasn't suffering. But this clearly wasn't the case, not if this Sparkling was anything to go by. He glanced down at the little guy who was drooling slightly in his sleep.

Normally, Bumblebee would have been horrified and disgusted to see this but his emotions were swirling too much for him to care. He just stared down at the little form that so strongly resembled their Prime. At least colour wise, the Sparkling was too young to really resemble his Creators form, nearly all Sparklings looked the same when they were first Sparked.

They had tiny little arms and legs with a long, slightly fat body. The biggest part of them was their head, making the rest of them seem undersized and of course, this meant their optics appeared enormous. The exception to this description where flyers they were born with tiny little wing nubs which soon grew into overly large butterfly like wings.

It was only when Sparklings reached their third Sparkling cycle that they started to form properly into the type of bot they would be. Before then, they just grew bigger, their limbs slowly growing into proportion with the rest of their body. Bumblebee knew quite a few Sparklings from back home, though he hadn't interacted with any in quite a long time.

When he'd been about to go off to Cybertron to train as an Elite Guard, he'd felt himself too grown up to hang around Sparklings and Younglings. But he always remembered having a good time when he played with them, although he'd never been properly involved in looking after them.

He wondered how different it would be with this Sparkling...Valour?

After all, unless he was very much mistaken, Valour was only half Autobot, the other half was Decepticon. At this thought, Bumblebee felt the slow burn of rage as he remembered what those monsters had done to Optimus, the pain they must have put him through.

Unconsciously, his grip began to tighten on the Sparkling, making it mumble and shift. Luckily, this was enough to snap him out of his building anger and focus once again on Valour. The little one's face was screwed up with discomfort so he relaxed his grip and tried to rock him a little.

This seemed to help but Valour still wasn't as settled as he had been before. Not wanting to end up with a bawling Sparkling, he hissed in the direction Prowl had gone.

"Prowl...Prowl, he's starting to wake up."

"Just comfort him," was the reply he received. "I'll be there in a few moments."

Bumblebe frowned down at the grousing Sparkling, wondering how he could do that. Shifting his grip slightly, he started to lightly stroke Valour's head, hoping that would be enough to calm him. To his surprise, it seemed to work, the little Sparkling started to settle down in his arms again. He sighed with relief, he felt too stressed to deal with a crying Sparkling.

"How is he?" a voice said from right beside him and he jumped in fright, staring annoyed at Prowl.

"Fine," he groused, hoping Prowl was going to take the Sparkling.

Prowl ignored his tone and said conversationally.

"This is a good Shuttle, as far as I can tell, there's nothing tracking us. It would appear this Shuttle was designed to evade any and all detection. And I would deduce by its newness, the Decepticons haven't managed to install any safeguards yet."

"So, they won't be able to find us?" Bumblebee said hopefully but Prowl just looked grave.

"Perhaps but we will have to prepare, it would not be wise to linger here. As soon as Ratchet deems Optimus ready, we will leave this place and seek a safe haven. We must help Optimus hide from his Sparkling's Sire, whoever that may be."

Bumblebee shivered.

"I can't imagine any Mech doing that to the boss bot."

"But they have," Prowl said in finality, holding his arms out for the Sparkling.

"And now he needs our help and support Bumblebee, if Valour is to grow up as an Autobot."

Bumblebee nodded as he handed the Sparkling back to Prowl. Prowl hummed as he tucked the Sparkling into his arms, before wrapping a warm blanket around him. He did something funny with the blanket which meant Valour was securely attached to his chest so that Prowl only needed one arm to support him.

"Come on, let's go," Prowl said kindly as Bumblebee slid off the berth.

They walked back in silence to the Ark, each wrapped up in their own thoughts. Valour continued sleeping though he was squirming a bit now in Prowl's blanket sling. Bumblebee wondered how Optimus was, he'd seemed so badly injured and in a lot of pain.

"So?" Ratchet said when they finally got back, he was bending over Optimus who appeared to be recharging.

"I don't think anyone is tracking him, that Shuttle was built for subterfuge but it seems the Decepticons didn't have time to place safe guards. Prime appears to have stolen it before this could happen."

He said this with a grim smile of triumph.

"Good, but they'll be looking for him," Ratchet said with a growl. "I don't know who the Sire is yet but something in ma fuel line tells me he's important."

As Bulkhead and Bumblebee looked very upset at this, Prowl now said softly.

"How is Prime, will he be fit for travel?"

"He should be but he'll need to rest," Ratchet said, glancing at the Ninja bot.

"It'll take time for him to get over what he's been through, we can't let him be under any sort of stress."

"I...I'll babysit for him," Bumblebee offered feebly, not knowing what else to say.

As Bulkhead and Prowl smiled, Ratchet said seriously.

"You'll need to, it's unbelievably stressful bringing up a Sparkling, even more so if you're on your own. There'll be cycles when all Optimus wants to do is give up entirely, that's when he'll need our support the most."

"He'll have it," Prowl began but at that moment, Optimus groaned loudly and started to stir.

"Damn stubborn...," Ratchet grumblebed as he turned back to his patient.

"Pass me the Sparkling, the sight will help calm him."

Prowl obeyed, gently handing over Valour who yawned widely but didn't wake up. It was just as well Ratchet had him because a moment later, Optimus had come on-line in complete panic, his head twisting from side to side frantically.

"Where is my Sparkling? Where is he?" he yelped, his optics blazing with confusion and anger.

"Here he is," Ratchet said calmly, offering the sleeping Sparkling to his Creator.

The Prime's optics fell on Valour and he instantly snatched him into his arms, though somehow managing to be gentle about it. He cradled the little one against his chest, who seemed to be in an even deeper sleep now that he was with his Creator again. Optimus's whole body relaxed as he smiled down at his son, safe in the knowledge that they were safe.

"He's a healthy Sparkling," Ratchet now assured Optimus gruffly. "You're a lucky Mech."

"I know," Optimus said softly.

"You know, when I found out I was going to have him, I didn't care who his Sire was, I just knew I wanted to do all in my power to protect him."

"Who is his Sire?" Bumblebee couldn't help but ask, even though he got stern looks from Prowl and Ratchet.

Optimus gave a bitter laugh.

"Here's a clue, you've all heard of him."

"What?" Bumblebee said in confusion as Prowl frowned.

But as Ratchet's optics widened in realisation, Bulkhead said slowly in horror.

"You don't...you don't mean Megatron, do you?"

As Optimus smiled grimly, Bumblebee yelped.

"What! The Slag Maker himself Sparked you up?"

"Yes," Optimus said, his voice a bit tight. "He liked the look of me and took me to his berth and sometime later, I was sparked up."

He gave another, bitter laugh.

"He was so happy, so proud, so damn smug."

His face contorted in disgust and anger as waves of memories washed over him. He looked up to see Bumblebbe who appeared to be trying to hold his Energon down and his face softened. The poor Youngling wouldn't understand any of this, making him deeply regret the young Autobot had to learn about it at all.

He was a member of Optimus's team and as such, Optimus would do everything in his power to protect him, both mentally and physically. He knew he'd probably have to talk about what had happened to him, to Ratchet in particular.

"It's alright Bumblebee," he said gently, lightly stroking his son's cheek.

"It wasn't...easy but I'm away from him now. I won't allow him to hurt any of us ever again."

Flashback

"Such a feisty little Autobot."

"Get the hell away from Megatron."

Laughter.

"My, my, Carrying has made you so feral...I like it."

"Frag you."

"Hmm, maybe as a special anniversary gift, little Prime."

Snarls of anger and more laughter, deep mocking laughter.

"Never mind little Prime, another time. Now, have you taken your evening Energon."

A growl.

"What was that, little Prime?"

"I said yes."

"Good, I wouldn't want my heir to suffer from malnourishment, he will grow up into a fine Decepticon warrior."

"If it's a Mech..."

"Oh, it will be, little Prime, I have a good feeling about this."

Dark mutterings.

"You know...it's such a shame we can't interface until my son is born...

"Such a shame."

More mocking laughter.

"Indeed. Well, there are other ways we can enjoy ourselves."

"The frag...Don't you touch me there."

"What's the matter, you always complain I just take what I want. Now, I'm giving you some attention and pleasure."

"I get no pleasure from having your filthy hands touching...ahh!"

"You liked that, little Prime, when I squeeze you like so..."

"Uh...slag it...let me go."

"Not when you're enjoying it so much."

"I'm NOT...!"

End of Flashback.

But of course, Megatron never listened to him, he just laughed and did what he liked. That incident involved him playing with Optimus's Spike, trying to force him to overload from stimulation by hand. He'd never use his mouth on Optimus, the Prime wasn't worthy enough for that.

"We won't let him hurt you," Bulkhead said softly but seriously. "He'll have to get through me first."

"And me," Prowl said calmly, his voice holding promise.

"Me too," Bumblebee said loudly and firmly as Ratchet slowly nodded.

"You can count on me," he said quietly, not needing to be as loud as the others.

Optimus smiled as he held his son close.

"I know."

To be continued

Author's note. What plans to evade the Decepticons do the Autobots come up with? Can they find a good enough place to hide or will they be discovered? Find out next, until then.