Author's note. Sorry for the long wait, there's a nice long chapter to make up for that.
Written by me and the-writing-mew.
Enjoy and please review.
...
"Optimus?" Elita found her catatonic mate in the rec room holding a cube of strong highgrade. "What happened?"
The Prime opened and closed his mouth but no sound came.
There was only one thing that can make him act like this when everything was fine...
"You caught Arcee masturbating?" She tried and he allowed his head to fall onto the table, banging it hardly.
That was a 'yes'.
"My poor dear." She hugged his strong arm while trying hard to not giggle.
Later, when she was sure her mate was stable, she decided to take a look on their daughter, and when entered one particular smell hit her...
This was not just HER scent, but another's.
She frowned and walked towards her berth, only to find it empty and a mess of fluids on it, but, on the floor, next it were pieces of pink and blue armours...
Her optics widened.
She invited a mech into her quarters!
Furious, she stomped towards her private washracks to face the fragger who took advantage of her innocent daughter!
Optimus nor Megatron would kill him, she will!
There was a dense mist from the hot water they were using to wash each other... And moans and nonsense words can be heard. The femme commander released her rifle and carefully opened the curtains...
...only to find her naked daughter in the arms of a naked Thundercracker, both kissing each other softly but passionately.
Her spark skipped a beat at the sight.
The lovers were unknown to her presence as they continued showing each other how much they loved each other.
"Bond with me, TC," Said softly the young femme and he hugged her with his optics offline.
"There's nothing else I want more in this universe than make you mine, to be yours... But not yet, let's wait, to tell everyone," He said and Elita covered her mouth to hold a gasp. "I don't want to start another war... With your family, your grandsire, my trine and my family... Luckily I have my Winglord's permission to be with you."
The little femme's blue optics onlined to look at him and Elita hid from their sight, still hearing.
"He's my leader, my... King, and I'm nobility, I must have his permission to bond someone... And luckily I have. But my family... That's another matter," He told her.
She smiled. "The same with my family." Then they hugged back. "I love you Thundercracker, so much."
"I love you too my sweet Arcee," He declared back his love to her causing Elita to muffle a sound behind her hand.
That sounded so sincere.
However, she couldn't forgive they were fragging without permission!
And how in the pit did they even start?!
When it happened?!
How...?!
She better wait for them to come out and answer her questions.
Her optics frowned when a thought crossed her mind. Did that seeker femme knew about this? Why else was Arcee so attached to her?
That Slipstream would hear a word or two from her later.
She lifted up her gaze as the naked lovers walked out from the bathroom, her blazing blue optics shinning in the dark...
"MAMA!" Arcee screeched devising her very much angered mother.
Thundercracker froze right there and could only utter one sentence:
"I'm dead."
Elita's optics frowned to almost slits.
"NO! No mama! I love him, you can't kill him!" The pink, naked femme covered his body with her own naked one. "If he dies, I'll die too!"
"Don't be ridiculous," Elita scolded, primus, she'd forgotten how melodramatic femmes in heat could be. Even her own daughter was not immune to this. "Put on your armour this instant."
"You aren't going to hurt him?" Arcee demanded.
"Arcee," Elita said dangerously, she was not going to talk to them while they were stark naked.
"We'd better do it," mumbled Thundercracker, feeling highly embarrassed. Unlike a certain trine mate, he was not comfortable with displaying all his...equipment to a femme who was not his lover. Besides which, Elita's displeased expression gave him an almost desperate urge to do exactly what she wanted.
Arcee glanced at him before giving in but still kept herself between her mother and lover. They got re-armoured in silence and once they were done, stood like petulant children in anticipation of a lecture. And Elita did not disappoint.
"Just how long has this been going on?" she wanted to know.
"A while," mumbled Arcee. "When I went for a walk after my heat started."
Elita felt like groaning, frag it, she should have kept a better optic on her daughter. Somehow, with everything that had been going on, she had not been as vigilant as she should have been. She was definitely at fault but she wanted to get to the bottom of this before assigning any more blame.
"I'm surprised at you Thundercracker," she told the blue Seeker sternly and he squirmed, feeling suddenly younger than his actual age. Primus, he didn't think there was that much difference between his age and Elita's but right now that didn't matter. He was a Mech who'd taken a femme's innocence and said femme's mother was not happy.
"How could you take advantage of a young femme in heat?" she continued, causing Arcee to burst out.
"It wasn't his fault," she exclaimed. "He found me by accident, I made him break my seal. I needed him mama."
"All femmes need a Mech when they're in heat," Elita said wryly.
"Well it's stupid," Arcee said, real feeling in her voice. "Why does anyone need to go through a heat? It's pointless torture!"
"There aren't many who would disagree with that," Elita acknowledged. "But I'm afraid it is a part of our anatomy and we just have to deal with it."
"I did deal with it," Arcee stated. "I know my seal meant a lot to you and father but I wanted to get rid of it. I've wanted to be with Thundercracker for ages, I'm glad he took my virginity. I want him to be my ma..."
"No Arcee," Elita said sharply. "You are far too young to be thinking of bonding."
"Why not?" demanded her daughter, hands on hips.
"This is the problem with breaking your seal during the heat," Elita said, trying to stay patient while idly wondering how her Sire would react if he ever found out one of his Seekers had taken his granddaughter's innocence. It was unlikely to be a pleasant reaction. "All you can think about is interfacing and being with your lover forever. But a relationship is more than passion, you need a mind that is not completely clouded by lust to make such a commitment."
"I'm not just clouded by lust, I wanted him before I transformed," argued her daughter. "And TC wants me too, don't you?"
He started to say yes but Elita cut in tightly.
"And did Thundercracker want you before you transformed?"
He froze, that was a very dangerous question. Shifting awkwardly, he said. "I...I always took my duty to her seriously when she was on the Nemesis."
This wasn't what Arcee wanted to hear but what else could he say? The way he'd seen her had changed when her body had undergone it's final upgrade to an adult frame. He realised it had been different for her but he couldn't change how he'd felt back then.
"I'm glad to hear it," Elita now said. "But as I was saying, you cannot make such a commitment while under the influence of your heat. Your father will have a hard enough time dealing with you losing your seal but declaring that you are going to bond would devastate him. And I agree with him that this is all too soon."
"How can you say that, you and papa bonded young," Arcee shot back.
"Not out of my first heat we didn't," her mother replied smartly. "And with everything that is happening, it simply is not the best time. You're an Autobot Arcee, you have to think about your responsibilities."
"But I love him!" Arcee declared with tears in her optics, clinging to his arm furiously.
Elita internally sighed, in this state, her daughter could not be reasoned with. Instead she said to Thundercracker.
"You are very lucky that my mate did not detect you earlier. But unless you wish for your luck to run out, I suggest you leave now."
"Yes ma'am," he said submissively.
"But you can't go," Arcee said, clinging tighter to him.
"I've stayed too long, I'm sorry," he said as gently as I could. "I should have been helping with the medical pods, I do need to go."
"See you soon?" she asked hopefully and he resisted the urge to squirm. Femmes in hear were exceedingly demanding but he doubted Elita would tolerate him coming anywhere near her daughter in the near future.
"I don't know," he said honestly. "We'll just have to see how things go."
Looking very disappointed, she sighed before giving him a kiss. Elita coughed and he apologetically moved away, he needed to catch up to the others and hope that neither Megatron nor the Prime sensed anything about him.
"Arcee, you can't keep seeing him like this," Elita now stated. "Your father is bound to catch him, surely you realise this?"
Her daughter trembled before furiously yelling. "It's not fair, I've interfaced with him, I need him. I burn all the time and he's the only thing that stops it."
Elita knew that while her daughter's attraction to the handsome blue seeker helped a lot, any Mech with a functioning spike would help her burning. But of course, she didn't say that, just stepped forward and hugged her young daughter. There was a lot more she wanted to say on the subject but now was not the time. However, she would have to make it exceedingly clear that Arcee could not go sneaking around like that, it was far too dangerous and would make the eventual breakup that much harder.
...
Later, she went along to see how all the Decepticon femmes were doing, Optimus had posted guards to ensure that they were not disturbed by too curious Mechs. She knew that most of the Autobots wouldn't mean any harm but she doubted these femmes wanted various bots clumsily attempting to court them right now, not after what had happened. Primus, these bots definitely had something in common with their Decepticon counterparts, she remembered all the gawking she'd received when first captured.
"Do you have everything you need, Ratchet?" she questioned when she met the medic, who was assessing how best to proceed with all his new patients.
"Just about," he said, eyeing his data pad. "Although we could do with some new supplies, we're gonna have to call some other planets for that. But I should manage."
He glared at his pad as he said. "Damn fragger's done a lot of damage Elita, I ain't gonna lie."
"I know," she said softly, would he apologise to these femmes? Sending them here was a step in the right direction but he needed to do a lot more to make up for what he'd done. "But I know they are in good hands here."
He gave her a wry smile before saying. "Are you looking for Chromia?"
"Yes but if it's possible, I'd like to speak with Slipstream first," she requested. "Is she up for that?"
"Yeah, that should be fine," he agreed. "I wouldn't be too long though, I can tell she's distressed by what's happened to the others."
"I won't be long, I just need to ask her a few questions," she assured her.
He indicated where she could find the Seeker femme and she quickly went. Starscream had already been and gone, assuring himself that his cousin was fine and also to tell her he had no idea what had been happening. She found Slipstream finding pensively sitting on a berth, looking considerably better than she had when she had first arrived here.
"Slipstream, may I talk to you?" she asked softly and the femme looked up.
"Sure, what is it?" Slipstream questioned.
"When were you planning to tell me about Arcee and Thundercracker?" Elita said without preamble, causing the other femme to stare.
"How do you...?"
"I just caught them," the Autobot femme commander responded. "So?"
Slipstream stared before sighing. "Alright. I caught them when I escaped the Nemesis, I promised I wouldn't tell if Arcee took me to the base. But hey, I showed her how to flush transfluid, I did you a favour."
Elita was speechless. She didn't know if yell the other femme, beat her or... Primus knows.
"Besides, they have strong feelings for each other. I've seen them; THAT is more than just passion," Continued the seeker.
"What you mean?" Asked in a growl Elita.
"There was a heavy sense of duty in Thundercracker, as if he had to help her because she needs him, also, his obvious attraction towards her, even if she can easily be his daughter, he wants her... Loves her. She's his one."
Elita was now ready to kill this femme for not informing her before and now telling her this?!
"I've never seen it before, but they complement each other perfectly, he may have had dropped an optic or two on her when he first met her even if she was a femmling back then. Besides, no mech obeys blindly anyone like that, even if she's in heat," The seeker added.
Silence followed until Slipstream spoke again.
"Believe me when I'm telling you this, those two are sparkmates."
Now she was going to kill that seeker-!
But Slipstream's next words froze her...
"They need each other, is more than just her heat, he can try to use his common sense, but eventually he will end up obeying her and her urges, and if you or anyone tries to separate them, you can kiss them goodbye, they would escape together and she would never forgive you for trying to separate her from her lover.
Also, if this was a normal heat, she would have already passed onto another mech once her seal was broken and they were separated for more than three days... And hey, she resisted a week, only wants him!"
"That means nothing, you... You taught her how to... And... And... Its normal for a femme to grow attached to the mech that took her virginity!" The femme commander tried.
Slipstream lifted an optic ridge while smirking. "Not when in heat, is very much different than what you believe, she only needs a spike, not a specifically one which is her case;"
"And yes I taught her to and thanks to that she's not pregnant, yet, but accidents do happen. You better support them or she would take a hard decision, and it will be him, not her family."
Once again Elita was speechless.
"Think about it, Elita One, if this was a 'normal' heat she would have passed onto another lover who might sated her easily, why does she continues thinking about TC?" Asked the other femme.
"Because he was her first!" Roared a very angered pink femme. "Is normal she wants him only!"
But Slipstream only shook her head. "No; as far as Arcee told me, she felt good with him back in the Nemesis, I asked her about it and she told me he made her spark flutter... And that is why she faked having nightmares so he would have to sleep with her in her same berth every night."
Again, Elita was petrified. She didn't know her baby was so... So... Acting like a... OH Primus. Why Arcee never told her?!
"She noticed it the first time she slept with him after crying for you that he had to consolate her... And she want him to continue." Continued Slipstream.
"Listen, Elita, Thundercracker is a good mech, the best I've ever met, but so far he rejected every single femme that tried with him, he said to me in that moment -when I asked him- that he was still patiently waiting for his destined mate and that he wasn't in a hurry... That was before the war covered our planet. But he obeys Arcee because he loves her, there would be no breakup there, they won't take different paths, but the same, the one that would allow them to be together. He's a very mature mech; with his head on the ground, a good prospect if you ask me."
Silence again; Elita didn't know what to say about it all... Just being angry that her little girl wasn't a pure virgin anymore and now this other crazy femme came with the news that they are destined?!
"There's another thing," Slipstream started again. "Thundercracker is seeker nobility, he can only bond seeker nobility or royalty with the Winglord's permission only,"
That caught the other femme's attention since she heard him mention that to Arcee in the shower...
...but he also said his 'king' approves.
"However, since Arcee is the Prime's daughter, Megatron's grandaughter, she was pure when he took her the first time, the Winglord may approve -if he hadn't already- because Arcee is practically an Autobot and Decepticon princess."
Elita's questioning look said it all to Slipstream.
"Starscream's sire, the Winglord is old and weak, Starscream then is the Winglord by right... And I'm sure he already knows... And approves."
Elita's mouth only opened and closed but no sound came from it.
"Besides," Continued the seeker femme. "Don't you think it would be a good way to end the war? With a bonding ceremony between our peoples? Just imagine the impact it will have... Arcee, Autobot's and Decepticon's princess, Prime's daughter and Megatron's granddaughter, bonding Thundercracker, a seeker noblemech and the Winglord's first trinemate, a trinemate that is Second in Command and Air Commander of the Decepticons... Just think about it."
"I..." Tried the femme commander but the other was already interrupting her again.
"Starscream already informed me about Megatron... The fragger, he has it deserved, BUT, he's submissive now, he can declare a ceasefire and soon peace if we all work together and stop any attempts of inner wars between the Decepticons. And what better than end a war with a bonding?"
"My daughter..." Tried again Elita while thinking about everything the other femme told her... All the possibilities for their people, PEACE, above all for all!
For the only price of selling her daughter.
"Is no longer a child, but an adult femme madly in love with my cousin's trinemate... And vice versa."
"But, they can't, she's too young! She doesn't knows what she wants but a spike in her valve!" Exclaimed Elita causing Slipstream to roll her optics.
Mothers... Always too attached to their children.
"Then make them court, publicly," Stated the other matter-of-factly. "Then later make them bond; they will anyways with or without your consent, sooner or later. But if you make them court, they would need to watch their actions better, you know, no more 'facing around or sneaking to do it. Him, because seeker tradition forbids it, her... Well, I suppose your tradition is the same."
Elita One grimaced. She hadn't expected her baby although already an adult, knew about sex, tried it, have a boyfriend and now wants to bond with him in such a short space of time.
...a bond that may benefit her suffering people.
"And, Elita?" Started again the other making her look at her. "You better non't speak about to this to the Prime until you've made a decision."
The femme commander grimaced.
"And... You need a new sparkling, perhaps your mate can help you with that," Finished the smirking seeker.
Gasping in indignation, Elita bit back: "Don't force me to leave your door open to Sunstreaker."
"Touché, Elita One," Said Slipstream as her smirk faltered. She may never be ready for a mech after what Megatron did to her. She may look strong and hard willed, but on the inside... She was very much unsure.
Elita saw the look and instantly felt bad. She was just on edge because of what she'd discovered about Arcee. She'd fully expected her daughter to start experimenting, mostly through masturbation and self-exploration. But to be sexually involved with an older Mech, a Decepticon no less...she was having a lot of trouble with that.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I shouldn't have said that. Megatron never got that far with me but I still know what it's like to be attacked. I..."
She swallowed before admitting. "I haven't been able to make love to Optimus yet, I just...never feel in the right state for it. I can't even imagine how I'd be if he'd done even half the things you and the others suffered.
"It's alright," Slipstream shrugged. "I shouldn't have teased, I'm not a mother, I don't know what it's like having my daughter go from child to adult like that."
With a small wry smile, she added. "I can guess how Starscream will be like when his daughter's grown, he'll he chasing off any Mech that even looks at her.
"I'm sure he will," agreed Elita, she could definitely see the Seeker winglord doing that. "But if she's anything like her mother, she won't take kindly to being controlled."
"You mean when the same can be said of Starscream," the other femme chuckled. "Yeah, that'll be fun to watch."
"Indeed," Elita mused. "Slipstream, I'll do my best with Arcee. I know Thundercracker is a good Mech, it's just hard to see my daughter bonding with him so soon after upgrading. I'd just feel a lot more comfortable if she didn't rush into a bonding, I just think she needs to grow as her own femme before she commits."
"You might have a point," acknowledged Slipstream. "But that's why it's a good idea for them to court. Let's face it, most femmes do date once they're old enough, even if they don't bond straight away. Just don't give them an absolute no, she'll be less resistant if you work with her."
Elita grimaced but she did know Slipstream was right. Arcee would not accept a complete ban on Thundercracker, she probably would try to flee with him. And then if Megatron got wind of what was happening and attempted to capture them...needless to say, that would probably all end in disaster. However, she was still going to set some extremely firm boundaries, it was the best for all of them. Not the least because of how her mate was going to react when he learned what was going on, it would be hard enough stopping him from beating the living slag out of the seeker without the fact Arcee wanted to bond with him.
"I'll do my best," Elita promised. "It isn't going to be easy, Megatron's already made it clear he'll hold Optimus responsible if Arcee loses her innocence and what he'll do."
Slipstream winced, maybe Megatron wasn't quite as submissive as her cousin had described. He hadn't allowed any of the other Cons inside the harem so it made sense that he was possessive over his granddaughter.
"Well, if you let him think Arcee is still sealed then maybe he'll accept the courtship more easily. No need to upset him," she suggested.
"I'll take that into consideration," Elita said with a smile. "I'll leave you in peace, no one will hurt you here. And if you wish, I'll have a word with Sunstreaker, get him to stop bothering you if it makes you uncomfortable."
Slipstream hesitated, she wasn't really sure what she felt about that. In a way, it was cute how he was trying to get her attention and a touch flattering that he wanted her after everything she'd been through. But she still did not feel in the right place to even think about dating, she really needed to build up herself again before she even thought about starting any sort of relationship.
"Tell him I can't be with anyone right now," she finally said. "But I appreciate the thought."
"I'll do that," the pink Autobot assured, glancing to one side, hearing Ratchet moving around. "And I'll let Ratchet know your decision although I doubt he would have allowed Sunstreaker though anyway."
"Mechs can be persistent," Slipstream said knowingly. "Good luck with Arcee, I like her."
"Thank you," Elita said warmly before taking her leave.
"Don't worry," Ratchet said after she'd spoken to him. "I don't want any Mech trying to sneak in, these femmes need a chance to properly recover without having to deal with interface starved bots."
He glanced at his latest patient, a young femme with a bad infection and suffering from a high temperature. The head Medic had every intention of giving Megatron a piece of his mind for abusing these femmes but mercifully for the grey gunformer, that would have to wait.
"Once I have that list of supplies we need finished, I'll hand it over to high command," he now stated, checking the femme's stats and deciding that she needed some more coolant. "Just as well you've been in contact with other colonies and planets."
Elita nodded. They had already given Skyfire and Streamfire a list of new things they required, now they would have to drastically add to it. She suddenly remembered Slipstream's words, imagine if they could end that war and just focus on rebuilding. Sadly, it wasn't that simple ending things although if they did, perhaps a union between an Autobot and a Decepticon...
"No," she told herself firmly. Arcee was far too young to bond, besides, there were other Autobots who could potentially bond with Decepticons.
She had already left Ratchet to his work and gone to make sure Chromia was doing okay. Her friend had been freaked out by the meeting with Megatron, making her miss the no nonsense femme Chromia had been. She wished she knew a way to help the blue femme out of her shell but she had no idea how to do that.
"Hi," she greeted when she entered and found Chromia feeding Dynamite, his bright red optics looking around everywhere. Even though he was still slightly underdeveloped, he was progressing extremely well and would be free of the wires and tubes that were still attached to his little body.
"Hi," Chromia said with a small smile, stroking her son's head.
She could have him out of the incubator to feed him now, Ratchet had said that being close to his creators would strength his spark and thus, his body. She always held him when he needed a fuel but Ironhide took plenty of turns as well. The little sparkling would make little chirps of delight whenever his father held him close to his chest and that brought a true smile to Chromia's lips. She loved her little Mech so much, she was looking forward to all his accomplishments from taking his first steps to firing his first blaster.
"He's looking good," Elita complimented. "I think everyone is jealous of how strong he's going to be as he grows."
"He will, won't he?" Chromia sighed happily. She'd been so scared when he'd first been born but now she could relax enjoy him.
"I think he's adorable," Elita then cooed at the little red opticed sparkling.
Then a thought occurred to her... Her sire raped her friend, some of his code passed the protective sac, that means he have Megatron's code... HER code as well.
This sparkling was like a nephew for her.
What a thought. She may discuss it with Chromia when she's better.
...
Thundercracker practically floated his way back to the Nemesis. Arcee's confession that she wanted him since ever only made him happier than he already was.
Maybe she wasn't a seeker, and way too young... Primus, he can easily be her sire, but he still loves her and she loves him back!
He hopes one day they can have many sparklings, all like her; he'd enjoyed watching after her in the Nemesis, and he was a calm mech too... Their sparklings would be perfect.
The blue seeker sighed floating back.
:And what's wrong with TC?: Asked a worried Skywarp to his trine leader.
:If you promise to not say a word, I'll tell you,: Answered back the SIC.
:Oooh?:
:He's in love, and the femme he loves, loves him back... Madly.:
:Ooooooohhhhh...!: Gasped the black and purple seeker. :Finally! I thought he was going to die a virgin and single!:
:Warp...: Warned him his leader.
:And who's the lucky one? I bet they already fragged just by analysing the way he acts... Who, Screamer, who? Come on, tell me!:
:Megatron's granddaughter,: Said darkly the other.
Silence followed through the line for several minutes that Starscream thought Skywarp dropped the subject or was too shocked to say something.
:Poor TC,: Finally said the teleporter with a worried voice. :Did they already...you know..:
:Yes, she gave herself to him willingly, and, I don't know if you know this, but when you break a femme in heat's seal, she goes interface mad and only wants her lover or a lover near... She's chosen Thundercracker, and him only, which means-:
:They are destined?!: Skywarp's exclamation interrupted him. :Oh Primus... And she's Megs and Prime's...ouh...:
:Now you know the slag he's got himself into, and us because he's trine,: Starscream ended and now both seekers flied in silence digesting all that is happening...
Not even Starscream can say he's happy that his Trinemate was fragging his leader's granddaughter as a payback... This was bigger than that, the political impact it would have would be huge!
Arcee was not just any femme, and Thundercracker wasn't a common mech either, they must follow a series of rules in order to be together; their case wasn't the same Skywarp was, or his.
Frag! There was another problem to resolve because that can mean another war if Prime and Megatron knows and... Frag, his head aches by only thinking about it.
Without them knowing, Soundwave was listening to everything in silence. He'd better consult this with his mate and then plan a meeting with the seekers to solve this, after all, if Thundercracker and Arcee bonded publicly...that can mean peace, both factions bonding.
He likes the idea of his daughter growing in a time of peace.
The telepath nodded to himself before watching the blue seeker practically float behind them as he thought about...
Soundwave flinched.
...about Arcee, naked, moaning, gasping, grabbing him, kissing him, declaring him her love as he thrust-
He shook his head madly. Those things in his memory banks were unnecessary.
But only proved what his trinemates said to be true.
They landed back in the Nemesis and the blue seeker practically continued floating as he walked inside...
...until Megatron grabbed him by a wing and beat him hard on his stomach plates.
Everyone froze.
Thundercracker bent painfully and Megatron grabbed him by the neck, pinning him to the wall, growling at him dangerously. The blue seeker paled; this was just what he feared!
Could Megatron smell Arcee on him?
But he bathed well!
"Megatron! Let go of my trinemate!" Starscream screeched, but Megatron continued acting like a feral beast.
Soundwave send calming waves to his mind and reminded him of poor Ivory -his sparkmate- alone in that empty harem. However, several seconds and reminders from the telepath later, Megatron released the blue seeker with a grunt and walked away from him.
Thundercracker was left petrified and pale, so Starscream ordered Skywarp to take him back to his quarters, they would have a meeting to discuss this situation later.
...
"I've bathed... I've bathed...!" Whispered a shocked blue seeker as Skywarp tried to calm him with some highgrade.
"Yeah? But still her grandsire could smell her on you! Why'd you think he suddenly acted like that?" Barked at him Starscream.
"I've bathed?" With scared optics he said to his leader... it was all he could say.
"Yeah? Well, what about her spark residual energy on you? That cannot be bathed! Even if you hadn't merged, you both release energy! And it stays on you days after! That is how a family member can tell! Especially a possessive sire OR grandsire!" Screamed in the end the tri coloured seeker.
"What? Really?" Skywarp said with wide optics. "And how do you know? No one really knew before why their sires acted like that."
Starscream snorted. "I've wanted to know for a while, then I've collected elements and experimented. Then that was my conclusion... Especially if you make love or rape someone."
Silence, utter and thick silence followed.
Then Skywarp talked again. "Well, nor me or TC knew, duh! And I bet no one else knows if you just found out and hadn't published it, DUH, Screamer!"
Starscream was about to argue back when the door sounded; so, with a growl he stomped towards it and opened it.
There was Soundwave and his mate again.
"Now what?" Asked the SIC.
"We need to talk... About him," The femme started pointing the disturbed blue seeker. "And Megatron's gr-"
However, before Echo can finish Starscream hurriedly pulled them in, closed the door and locked it.
"Don't say that out loud," he said furiously. "If anyone hears and then decides to mention it to Megatron, he'll go ballistic. It's one thing for him to be acting on his instincts and another for him to know exactly what is going on."
"I apologise," she said sincerely. "I won't do it again."
"Mistake," Soundwave added, Echo would never deliberately endanger a bot.
"Yes, yes, very well," Starscream said, what had happened with Megatron had him on edge. And made him wonder if he would ever act blindly like that. Primus, Darklight was going to tease him mercilessly for this. Right now, she was helping Hook take care of the remaining femmes, she had wanted to do something for them. Their daughter was with her and Starscream felt confident enough that she would be okay on her own.
"So what do you guys wanna talk about?" Skywarp questioned, lounging back.
"About what this could mean for everyone," Echo said softly as Thundercracker rubbed his abdomen, Megatron had a mean punch. He was probably just lucky Megatron hadn't really known why he was acting like that or as Starscream had said, he would have been in real trouble.
"It could be a good thing for us," Soundwave stated. "If we managed to form a peace treaty, a courtship between two important members from both groups could help seal it."
"Tch, how did we end up here?" Starsrcream questioned wryly. "Talking of peace with the Autobots, only a few months ago, we were proud to be fighting against them."
"Things change when you have a family," Echo offered, smiling up at her mate who stroked her cheek. "Besides, we've been finding for so long with neither side clearly winning. I know I want a change from that."
"Hmph, well, I suppose that is true," Starscream reluctantly acknowledged. "My mind is a bit more focused on a proper environment for my daughter rather than battle and glory."
"I know Megatron is not going to be happy about Arcee being courted," the light blue femme stated. "But in the long run, I think it'll be a good thing for him. When Arcee has sparklings, he could be involved with them."
"Sparklings?" Thundercracker repeated dumbly. Oh Primus, Arcee had only just upgraded, how could they be thinking about sparklings? Now he knew why even Elita was hesitant about them being together, this did seem rather fast.
"You don't have to have any now," chuckled Echo as Soundwave wrapped an arm around her. "It probably would be wise for you to wait for that but it can be something to look forward to, for everyone involved."
He nodded, he dearly wanted sparklings but he didn't want to bring them into such an uncertain world. Like Starscream was starting to really desire, he also wanted his children to grow up in peaceful times. Thundercracker wanted to provide a good home and income for his potential mate, as was Seeker tradition. There was also the issue of impressing her family and proving he was a suitable match, just like he'd expect any Mech trying to court a daughter of his. And even though Arcee had been brought up in war bases all her life, he still wanted to give her a habitation worthy of her station as daughter of a Prime.
"Her father isn't going to be happy," he murmured, almost to himself.
"Of course he isn't," Starscream stated with a smirk. "But you are a good match and I will speak up for you."
"Thank you," Thundercracker said honestly as Skywarp added. "Yeah so will I. He isn't gonna stop me being with Moonie and Jack, their mine now."
"Don't remind us," his trine leader said with a groan. "Only you Warp could end up with an Autobot couple rather than just a normal femme."
"Hey, they're great," Skywarp said indignantly. "You should see this thing Jack does with his..."
"No, I shouldn't and I never want to," Starscream cut across him. "Urgh, you're almost as bad as our esteemed leader with his interfacing habits."
"Least I never touched up his daughter," the purple and black Seeker shot back, dodging a smack from the white Seeker.
"Thank you for that," he growled before turning back to Echo and Soundwave. "Well? How do you propose we go about this? Going to plant something in Megatron's mind?"
"Negative," Soundwave sighed. "Already done enough, any more and..."
He trailed off, he didn't want to think about what could happen.
"You need to talk with Elita about this," suggested Echo. "I don't think she'll react as badly as the Prime will."
"She already knows and wasn't happy," Thundercracker said gloomily. "She said that Arcee is too young to be with me."
"Wait, wait, wait..." Skywarp suddenly interupted him. "The femme Prime knows? How?! Did that spark smelling thing happened with you or Arcee?"
Everyone stared back at the black and purple seeker with different levels of frowns, until Thundercracker shook his head and decided to answer him instead.
"She... Umm... She discovered us... When we were showering," He hurried to add the last part seeing that his dark trine mate was about to suggest something.
Skywarp huffed in disappointment. He really was hoping his friend was discovered in the middle of a 'facing with little Arcee, not because he wants him dead, but because that would have been a much more interesting and spicy story to tell...
...just imagine being discovered in berth with your lover by your mother in-law.
Or maybe not.
Starscream facepalmed, Echo gasped and paled covering her mouth and Soundwave shook his head; honestly not even the telepath was expecting the blue seeker, from all mechs would abandon his common sense and frag his young lover so close her parents!
"Idiot" Murmured Starscream.
"I... I couldn't help it, she insisted and, and..." Tried Thundercracker.
"Shut up!" Growled his leader. "This may complicate things..."
"Maybe not; Elita is a reasonable bot, she would understand and... As far as I know Arcee always had a crush on Thundercracker," Echo offered and the blue seeker perked at that and flushed slightly.
His two trinemates stared back at him and then smirked teasingly at him.
"I think there's a chance for this, if you court her and if the courting is accepted by all her family," She added. "Just keep up hope, Arcee loves you... Especially if she gave herself to you...oh Primus," She suddenly gasped.
"What now?" asked the SIC in annoyance. "If she loves him and he loves back -you do, right?-" His mate nodded. "Then they must be together, we can use that."
"Uhh... Is not what I meant to say... Is... Well..." Echo hesitated. "If she loves TC and always did and only thinks of him..."
"Uh yeah, but she forbid us from seeing each other again," Mussed the blue seeker.
"Yeah..." Echo trailed off. "That is not what I meant... But... Uhmm.. She's, if she's madly in love with you... And if you were banned from seeing her..."
"Go to the point, femme!" Barked at her Starscream and his inpatient personality.
"She would grow violent without anyone... Without TC calming her and..."
"And fragging her?" Said Skywarp helpfully and once again everyone frowned at him.
"B-basically, yes," Added Echo.
Silence followed.
"Oh!" Exclaimed the femme as she received a call from Megatron. "He wants to see me."
Soundwave visibly jumped. He honestly thought his leader was going to leave alone his mate!
"I..I better go and see what he wants," She stuttered and walked away and out in a daze. Her mate following her with his gaze.
The three seekers looked at each other; then Starscream spoke:
"What are you waiting for, idiot, go after her! Protect her!"
Soundwave hesitated and Starscream rolled his optics before pushing the telepath out from the quarters... More like kicked him out.
Once out, the mech seemed to take a longer while to react, and when he did he ran after his Echo towards the harem.
"Echo!" She turned to face him. "Take me with you," He added and transformed in his alt-form, a small cassette deck.
She smiled and took him up. "You're so cute like this, 'Wave," Then softly kissed where the 'play' button was on purpose...
...and the tape deck shivered visibly.
The femme chuckled and then hid him behind her back before entering the harem.
"My lord?"
The lights were dim, but in a faraway corner, laid on a bunch of pillows, was Megatron holding Ivory in a hug as he caressed and cuddled her unresponsive body lovingly.
She froze at the sight and he looked up at her before motioning her to come closer without letting go of his femme.
"Are you my friend here, Echo?" The warlord suddenly asked. "You were always so kind to me... And... I treated you wrong."
The almost white femme went towards him and sat where he told her to. Luckily he wasn't paying attention one of her hands was hidden from his sight.
"Sing for us, Echo; I need to rest... And remember all the good times with my mate... I need it, I need her, but in this realm I've hurt her so much... I was cruel to her, to everyone, but most of all to her, the femme I love more than anything... I'm so sorry, Echo...Please, help me up to sleep, to leave this nightmare... Please, Echo," He pleaded with her.
In her hand, Soundwave felt guilty for a moment, but then again the slagger deserved it!
Echo nodded and started singing, activating her powers, since he asked for them so nicely and he seemed desperate; and soon he breathed out and fell on recharge with a smile on his lips.
Soundwave then transformed with his audios already covered and he went towards the sleeping couple. Echo was about to ask him what was he about to do, but then again she better continue singing...
...and her mate placed both his hands on the two laying helmets and started.
...
When Megatron woke up, he wasn't in the harem anymore, but on a luxurious berth and with a soft, warm body against his own, the naked body of the femme he loves more than anything in the universe.
"Have you woken up, love?" She asked softly kissing his cheek before straddling him.
He admired her for a moment then nodded. She kissed him and that is how they began their passionate, morning lovemaking season.
He missed this SO much!
When both finished and cuddled in post overload haze, he then started telling her about his horrible nightmare.
"I would NEVER hurt you like that, my love, I'd rather die first than daring to lay a single finger on you."
She listened carefully still cuddling him and sighed. "I know... But maybe, next time you have that dream, you can manipulate it a little bit to make it better. I wish I was there to help you with it."
He smiled sweetly at her and hugged her tighter before she started pushing him away with a smile. "Come on, lazy old mech, Maple must be up already and I want to witness her first etiquette class."
She started getting up and away when he couldn't help but slap slightly that perfect aft causing her to gasp in indignation then look at him with a knowing frown.
He only looked away trying to look innocent, but she knew better; she would have him later.
...
Echo watched how her mate worked and hoped that Megatron was okay.
Also, poor Ivory; if she ever awakes, she hopes she's not completely traumatised about it.
...
Ten days later the Ark was a hell, Arcee was like a feral beast and the littlest provocation could turn her into a monster capable of ripping out someone's arm...
...like it happened to poor Cliffjumper for daring to suggest she needs a big spike in her 'tight lil valve' and that he was up to help her anytime...
It wasn't a good idea to say that and the poor mech almost got his spark torn out by the new femme.
No mech after that dared to offer her a spike or a hand anymore, not even joke about it.
Elita was growing worried but her mate seemed happy seeing his baby acting like her grandsire when in battle. He prefers her like this to masturbating or her choosing a lover... Or lovers.
The young, pink femme even stopped self-servicing as she couldn't reach overload with her fingers or the little dildos, which only caused her to become more aggressive. Everyone tried to avoid her and her mother started growing restless as she reluctantly started liking the idea of a certain blue seeker's help.
Slipstream then talked to the femme commander:
"Admit it, Elita One, she needs him, make them court now before her sire suspects something... And please, for everyone's sake here, make her see him only once, please, she's just like her grandsire... Only she's hormonal and cute."
"I can't do that! She... She would jump him and possibly bond him... And he won't be able to stop her!"
Slipstream rolled her optics. "No she won't, she just needs him close, then talk to them after they are done, she'll be much more calmed after that. Have you made a decision? I've heard my cousin and that creepy TIC of his agree with the idea of making them court for peace."
Elita remained in silence after that. It was true... The truce using a bonding between her princess and a decepticon seeker noble.
She sighed.
"Also... When they are separated and courting, maybe you should ask TC to make a dildo replica of his own spike for her, because once courting, they cannot be together without company and 'facing would be impossible... And knowing Thundercracker he won't break the rules."
Elita only answered with silence as she seemed deep in thought.
"Come on now, call my cousin and prepare a meeting with that blue aft and your daughter for Primus's sake!" Slipstream added and Elita gasped.
"Poor Thundercracker..." Added the seeker. "She's going to dry him out when jumping him; good thing I taught her how to flush, huh?"
Elita frowned at her dangerously, but the other femme didn't seemed to notice.
"She got herself the best mech ever, and now that I think about it, he's so much like her sire, the Prime and Thundercracker are so much like each other."
At that statement, Elita's frown softened. Was it true? That Arcee picked Thundercracker because he was so much like her beloved papa?
She hadn't noted it previously but now that Slipstream said it, she found out it was true.
Perhaps then it wasn't a bad idea they court... Court, not frag.
She sighed, she wished that Arcee had already gone through the heat on Cybertron. With the lack of supplies, it would have been considerable dampened and her daughter would not be acting like this and could have been prevented from jumping Mechs until it was over. Instead, she'd broken her seal and was so desperately attached to Thundercracker that there was a big chance she'd end up carrying a sparkling. Elita's expression darkened, with the war and Optimus being forced to leave, her daughter had had a very poor childhood.
It was very hard at times to not wish she'd grown up as a normal femme in peace times.
"He's not a bad choice," she admitted to Slipstream. "It's just feels too fast, my little femme has been overwhelmed by her basic code and I just want her to relax into being an adult rather than being constantly ravaged by extreme emotions."
"There is that," acknowledged the Seeker femme, the young femme really had been hit bad. "But like I said, you can find some middle ground if you let her spend time with him. If they're courting, then she won't be constantly trying to jump him and they can talk like adults to each other."
"Hmm," Elita murmured, glancing over to where some of the Decepticon femmes were relaxing as they watched some human television. Their physical recovery was progressing well, although none seemed to have any desire to mingle with the Mechs. But that wasn't surprising, after all they'd been through, the last thing any of them would want would be Mechs flirting with them, especially enemy Mechs. Hopefully, with Skyfire's imminent arrival on Cybertron, they would not only have new supplies but perhaps the infamous General Strika.
Actually, the femmes state was another reason Elita wanted Arcee cured of her heat induced condition. The aggression, the intense desire to interface, the pheromones she was releasing, they were not helping the femmes recovery.
"Elita," came Ratchet's tired voice, he and the others had been rushed off their feet with so many patients. "Would you mind taking this to Firestar?"
"Of course," she said, nodding goodbye to Slipstream and going over to him. They were in the femme's Rec Room and he had just been checking a young femme to make sure a particular bad infection was clearing up. Elita and the other were doing the best to assist but because the femmes didn't want the Mechs near them, only Elita and Moonracer could really come in and help. Chromia was doing what she could but she was recovering from her own rape trauma and had her son to look after. This was why it was a little frustrating that Arcee wasn't in a proper state to help, she would have been perfect otherwise.
And of course, there was another femme on the base but she had a very good reason why she couldn't help.
"Hey," Elita greeted with a smile, entering the little room where Firestar was relaxing.
"Hi," the orange femme greeted back, tired but practically glowing with pleasure. Resting on her chest and sucking contentedly, was a beautiful mech sparkling with red optics and soft orange and yellow colours. Firestar had finally delivered her son, Taser, a few days previous and as predicted, was a big sparkling. There had been no issues with the delivery, his mother just needed some time to recover from it.
"Does he ever stop fuelling?" Elita teased as he gave Firestar the nutrient rich Energon she needed.
"He does when he's sleeping," Firestar laughed. "Just as well he's out of me, I don't think I could have expanded anymore."
She paused before adding. "And I'm definitely glad it wasn't twins, that would have been far too much."
"It would," agreed Elita. "It's turned out well for you."
The Combaticons were all over the moon with their child and they kept turning up, wanting to see Taser and his mother. Optimus had allowed it although he had requested that they only visit one at a time. Thankfully, they'd accepted it, Firestar was so tired that having all of them turn up would have been overwhelming. As Firestar had suspected, Breakdown was the sire of this child but the others were still very much involved. That's what happened with Gesalt teams, they shared nearly everything.
"Yeah," mused Firestar. "A little hard to believe, after everything that's happened. This actually went well."
"It's good it went well," Elita told her firmly. "Never feel guilty, we need happy moments like this."
Firestar nodded before saying. "We're going to see Chromia and Dynamite later, I think these two little guys are going to get on great."
"I'm sure they will," Chuckled softly the new mother.
"So... How does the father feel? And the uncles?" Tried Elita to a yawning Firestar.
"They are all crazy by the new member, they love him so much, he'll grow to be as big as his sire... And I hope when he's old enough he's lucky to find a good femme... Because I would not tolerate him bonding a bitch."
Elita chuckled. It seems her friend learned some human words... And curses.
"I'm sure he will find someone like his mom, you'll see."
"Yeah... Sadly Arcee hasn't found anyone yet... She's too aggressive and needs someone... As if she's being denied..." Suddenly suggested Firestar causing Elita to frown slightly.
"However..." Continued Firestar. "...if I remember correctly... She had a crush on Thundercracker," Elita flinched at that. "I wonder if she... Uhmm... Needs him?"
Silence followed, then the mother waved it off. "Naah! That's ridiculous."
Elita remained quiet.
"But... If she needs him.. And is acting like a beast now... Maybe she must see him... You would know, you're her mother." She said smiling and her commander offered her a smile back.
...
It was noon, the forest looked particularly beautiful with the colours of the sun going down in the horizon.
Then a couple of mechs hurried towards the clear... And Arcee seemed to look even more restless as they approached.
Sparring with her sire hadn't taken even half of the burning she had inside, even if she almost defeated him several times. She can be stronger now but he have experience.
"Calm down, Arcee... He's coming, and remember, no sparks and after he's down, we immediately go back and you take a cold bath.
"Yes mama, yes," She said excitedly looking at the approaching mechs jumping slightly as a sparkling waiting for her prize... Her so much awaited prize.
Her valve lubricated and tightened in anticipation and her whole body prepared for this moment.
The femme commander couldn't believe she was actually doing this, allowing her baby to be with a mech... An older and a decepticon mech nonetheless!
"Thundercracker!" She couldn't help but scream and jump him as he hadn't even landed still and crushed her lips onto his.
Starscream looked amused and shook his head, then unsubspaced a little, blue tape deck...
...then Soundwave transformed... And stared at the making out lovers.
"Go to the forest," He couldn't help but tell them with a little huff. He was frustrated too at how restless Thundercracker acted lately and now seeing this... Was too much.
Without a word the blue seeker carried eagerly his eager lover to a secluded part behind some trees.
Then both Decepticons turned around to see a crying Elita One and Slipstream -who was petting her shoulder-
Seeing the mech's faces -except Soundwave's- the seeker femme said to them: "Her baby is a full femme now and already found a mate, is hard for her."
They remained in silence.
"Besides," She continued. "How would you react when your daughters grow up, got their first heat and then go interface mad?"
They both flinched.
"My sweet Arcee... I hope he's not too hard on her," Cried lowly the Prime's mate.
Starscream sighed at that. "Believe me, Elita One, he's a good mech, he would kill himself before even thinking about hurting Arcee. And allow me to add that she caught the best mech from the Decepticon army and seeker kin... She's lucky."
That only -somehow- caused the pink femme to cry harder.
"Besides, I thought that when a mech is away from the femme in heat, he would be ok, however Thundercracker became more... Feral lately, as if he was denied from something," Added the Decepticon SIC.
Elita and Slipstream stared at him.
"Yeah, we had to separate him from fighting Megatron several times, as if he sees our leader -and her grandsire- as a possible obstacle to get to her... Well, Megatron didn't help ether, he punched Thundercracker once out of nowhere because somehow he felt something in him... That he was with his granddaughter."
"What?" She gasped and not even the seeker femme could believe what she was hearing.
"Conclusion: they are destined. Must bond after courting ceremony and cease fire," Soundwave offered.
Silence followed, only the winds could be heard... Along with occasional moans and groans coming from the forest.
It seems the couple hadn't wasted a second.
"My baby... Optimus... Optimus would not take it well," Tried Elita still crying.
"Nor Megatron, believe me, in the last five days him and Thundercracker have acted like sworn enemies. I don't even know what happened to my trine mate!" Exclaimed Starscream.
"If you hadn't called, they might have ended killing each other," He concluded.
"And Arcee would have killed everyone who crossed her path back in the Ark," Added Slipstream.
Another awkward moment of silence followed.
"How are you, cuz," She then started and her cousin smirked and walked towards her to hug her.
"How's my favourite cuz too?" He said.
"Nah, fine, even after everything, you know me, nothing can bring me down," She said smirking.
"Yeah, I know... I would have killed him if he wasn't so... Vulnerable lately... Practically weeping around... Except when he fights Thundercracker," Starscream said caressing her face softly.
"When Strika knows about this... She would rip off his spike!" The seeker femme declared.
"That's why I don't want to be Decepticon leader," Starscream chuckled. "Don't want to be in his... Shoes when that happens."
They were about to continue, but then noticed Arcee's mother looking longingly towards the place her daughter and that mech disappeared through.
"Okay, Elita One, I, Starscream, Decepticon Air Commander and Second in Command, and seeker Winglord, leader of seekers and fliers, came here to propose you... A truce, a cease fire, and to seal that, a bonding between our families, because as Trine, Thundercracker is like a brother to me... And my right wing."
She gasped and her spark gave a hard beat.
It is happening... And so fast!
She felt paralysed.
Feeling her hesitation, Soundwave started: "They must court, according seeker tradition as well as Autobot tradition, once the courting is official, they would not be able to be together alone until their bonding ceremony."
"Which must be as soon as possible," She added sadly with a hoarse voice.
The tape deck nodded.
"Optimus would be devastated... Our baby..."
"We will set our demands in three days, one of them will be for Arcee to bond Thundercracker, that way peace would be sealed for both our people. However, no one should know out from this circle that he'd taken her seal, if that happens she would be disgraced and he... He will be castrated before I have to take and extinguish his spark with my bare hands."
Elita gasped in horror at that and Slipstream lowered her head.
"Its our tradition, he dared, as a high noble, to take another noble's seal without permission, and a youngling one at that. However, as the possibilities this can mean, I can look somewhere else," Starscream said. "For peace."
The Autobot femme was scared with the -partial- knowledge of seeker tradition.
"Its just because each one of us, nobles and royalty have a duty to attend, we have responsibilities with our people and I know is the same for you the Autobots. We are not normal and common people, we're here for a reason, and if we must bond and sacrifice everything for something worth, then we must leave everything behind and do our duty."
Elita sighed at that. He's right.
"I understand," she said softly, rubbing away her tears. "I know Thundercracker is a good Mech, I always felt better knowing he was her guardian on the Nemesis. I don't like how fast this has happened but I want my daughter to know peace and for her own children to be brought up happy and safe. No more playing in bombed out buildings and going hungry, worrying that our loved one's won't return."
"I want that for my daughter to," Starscream stated and by his side Soundwave nodded. They knew they were lucky, their daughters were innocent little sparklings and it would be many cycles until they had to start worrying about heats or interface partners. "But even if Arcee finds herself with spark after bonding, she will still need you and the Prime. In fact, she'll probably need you even more than she did before."
She smiled ruefully, she wondered how true that would be. But then a question occurred to her.
"How is Megatroin going to be involved in this?" she wanted to know.
The two Cons glanced at each other.
"Well," Starscream said slowly. "We're hoping that if he believes Arcee to still be a virgin, he will accept the courting and eventually, the bonding. For a cease fire to work, both sides will need to bring different things to the table. For instance, you have the fuel and we have the space bridge technology."
"If we did work something out, the first thing I and Optimus wish is for fuel supplies to reach our people on Cybertron," Elita said firmly. "I've been away from my femmes for so long, they will need help."
"That is acceptable," the Seeker winglord agreed. "When are you planning to tell Prime?"
"Soon, I'm not going to spring this meeting on him at the last moment," she replied with a sigh. It wasn't right to keep something this important from him even if his reactions wasn't likely to be good. "Do you really think Megatron will handle this well?"
"I'm not sure but after everything that has happened, he doesn't seem to have any desire to fight," Starscream said cautiously. "I believe that if he thought that he had a chance of being in Arcee's...and your life, then he will want to give this a go."
Allowing Megatron to become a part of her life? Elita wasn't sure how she felt about this, they'd never had a proper father/daughter relationship before, was it even possible anymore? What would happen if she just couldn't become that close to him? Was Megatron going to become insane with rage or grief?
"Starscream, I don't know if I can give Megatron what he wants," Elita said carefully. "The same for Arcee, she's been badly hurt by what he's done, I'm not sure if she can get past that. Or if she even wants to."
Starscream and Soundwave nodded their understanding, it was entirely possible their leader had done too much damage to be forgiven.
"How are your mates and daughters?" Elita now asked as Slipstream grinned and said. "Yeah, I need to meet your femmes Star. You better let me see them soon."
"I will," he said with a slight roll of his optics and a smile.
"Echo, doing much better," Soundwave stated. "Daughter, happy and growing."
"Same," Starscream added.
"It's the best time," Elita assured them, remembering how Arcee had been close to that age. The way she shrieked with laughter every time her sire made silly faces with her and played games with his little femme. How she loved to sneak into their berth for a cuddle, Arcee had always been most comfortable with someone sleeping in the same room as her. Elita had sometimes wondered if it was because of what had happened to her parents but regardless, she'd always made sure Arcee knew she could come to them when distressed. When Optimus had gone, there had been a lot of nights when Arcee had wanted to sleep in the same berth as her mother and to be honest, Elita had needed her just as much as her daughter had needed her.
Bots had no idea how nice it was to cuddle a Mech like her mate, not only was he big and strong but the Matrix within his chest gave off a very comforting aura around him.
"So I'm the only one without a daughter," Slipstream said wryly. "Oh well, I'll settle for being an aunty for now."
"There's plenty of time, you don't need to rush," Elita assured her gently. "There were certain factors at work for all the sparklings that were born recently."
Slipstream nodded, she knew she didn't have to have a sparkling just because the first team of femmes on Earth had. Glancing over to where Arcee and Thundercracker were hidden, she asked. "How long do you think they'll be?"
"Unknown," stated Soundwave as Elita sighed. She was really glad Optimus wasn't here, he would not enjoy waiting for his daughter to finish her time with Thundercracker. And she had to admit, she hoped they wouldn't be too much longer either.
...
"It's a beautiful sunrise," Optimus mused as he watched the warm glow in the distance peeking over the mountains.
"Hmm," agreed Elita, leaning against his shoulder. They were sitting at the viewpoint above the base, enjoying a bit of peace and quiet. Teletran One had reported disrupted signal from Cybertron, making them all think that Skyfire and Streamfire were they and establishing communication. So the two Autobot leaders wanted a moment to themselves before having to deal with what that communication would likely mean.
"What's wrong?" he asked gently, sensing something was amiss.
She sighed, this was not going to be easy.
"Optimus, Starscream and Soundwave have proposed a cease fire with the aim to develop a proper truce," she stated softly, bracing herself.
"When did this happened?" he wanted to know, looking at her sharply.
"Yesterday at noon," she told him. "They want peace for their children."
"I'm glad," he said. "But that's not all, is it?"
"No, it's not," she admitted heavily. "My love, this isn't going to be easy for you to hear but you have to know I did everything I could to prevent it. But now it's out of my hands."
"What is it?" he asked earnestly, he had a very bad feeling about this now.
Taking a deep intake, Elita explained in a bit of a rush about how Arcee's heat had been too much for her, how she'd pounced on Thundercracker, become addicted to him and all that had followed.
"So Starscream has proposed," she finally said. "That they court with a view to bond."
He was silent for a moment before growling. "That seeker took her seal and you didn't tell me?"
"Because it wasn't forced and there was no taking it back," she said, knowing he was angry. "Believe me, I wasn't happy, I did all I could to make sure she would last her heat but it wasn't enough. That heat has been far too strong, her body couldn't cope with it. I stopped them seeing each other when I found out about it but didn't help. You saw how Arcee was and from what Starscream said, Thundercracker wasn't much better."
He made a growling sound before stating. "She's just a child, she can't bond at such a young age."
"Even for peace?" she asked quietly and he froze.
"You want us to give up our daughter for peace?" he wanted to know.
"I want her children to have the opportunity to grow up in peace," she stated firmly. "Optimus, she won't have any other, I hate to admit it but this is more than heat induced obsession. I think her sparks calls to him the same way mine did for you. My love, I know you will hate it but we have to be able to discuss this rationally with Arcee. She's...she's not our little femme anymore."
Her expression collapsed into misery and his optics softened.
"Don't cry my love," he said, drawing her into our arms and she gratefully rested her face against his chest. Holding her close, he said. "I thought I might explode when Cliffjumper said that...thing to her. How could anyone talk to a child like that? But she is not a child and she is going to receive unwanted comments sometimes as much as the thought angers me."
"Someone suggested she likes him because he's like you," she murmured, causing him to blink in surprise before chuckling.
"Is that so? Well, I will still expect him to prove himself to me that he's a worthy mate for my little femme."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," she said, looking up and kissing him on the lips.
He returned it gently but the kiss soon grew into something much more passionate.
Author's note. Big thanks to sticktablet137 who suggested the name Taze for Firestar's sparkling, we basically went with that. How does the peace process progress in the next chapter? Find out next time, until then.