Reviews

gc: I haven't decided yet… If it does, it'll be way in the future, and I'm not killing him off. AOE made me cry because of that. Thanks for reading, and more so for the review.


Just a note: I understand when people don't like to comment if they have nothing to say. I'm that way with reviewing, because of Asperger's, and I know a lot of people out there are just as uncomfortable talking to people they don't know, or afraid of upsetting someone, to comment or review a story. I won't be soliciting reviews from people, but I love getting reviews, and will reply almost immediately if I have a review. Thank you in advance.

"Normal Talk"

"Bee's Talk"

"Bee's Talk Holoform"

"Other Side Over the Phone (Comms)"

'Thoughts'

~Bond communication~

~Telepathic communication~


One Loss

One and a Half Months Later (Feb.), Ratchet's POV

I get up and dress Mariposa in a purple tunic with long pink polka-dot sleeves and hem and a pink bow and kitty graphic at the hem, pink polka-dot leggings, and purple socks, then head into the main room. I set her in the playpen in front of the monitors before getting a cube of energon.

Mariposa has recovered well, and has continued to master her milestones far earlier than expected. She is standing now, even if it's only for seconds at a time, but we're all proud of her. She weighed eighteen pounds when I did her last sparkling checkup, which put her in the fiftieth percentile, rather than the third.

I am six weeks along now. Two more weeks, and the sparkling will be viable. Arcee is due any day now, so I have to stay alert in case she needs me.

"Dada?"

I snap out of my thoughts at the sparkling's voice. "What do you need, little one?" I check the time. "You want your bottle, don't you?"

Mariposa nods. I watch as she walks toward me, holding onto the top rail of the playpen.

I smile and pick her up. "Optimus, watch the comms. I need to get Mari her bottle."

Optimus nods and steps over. "I can handle the monitors for a few hours. Why don't you spend the day with Mariposa?"

"And where would we go, Optimus? It's not like I know anyone besides Agent Fowler and his family."

"Agent Fowler gave us her information. Maybe her grandmother would like to see her."

"Optimus, there's bound to be snow where she was from, and she has only recently recovered! What if she gets sick again, or worse?"

"What are the odds of that happening?"

I sigh. "Very small." I glance to Mariposa. "Very well. I will get her ready as soon as I get her bottle."


Ratchet's Berth Room, Ratchet's POV

I activate my holoform and hand Mariposa her bottle before starting to pack a bag for her. I then lay out her clothes and snowsuit. I decide to leave her tiara, knowing that if her parents, and I use the term very lightly, are around, it won't end well. I grab a blanket and a pacifier as an afterthought, and grab two more bottles for her bag.

Once she finishes her bottle, I pick her up out of her fenced off play area before she has a chance to grab a toy.

"Dada?"

"We're leaving, Sweetspark." I lay her on the changing table and fasten the buckle. I then change her into a white long sleeved shirt, pink overalls, and white socks, then pull on her light pink snowsuit with a shimmery silver print and a white fur hood with connected light pink mittens and booties. I then slip her into her car seat and drape a pink and white crocheted blanket over her.


Indiana, Ratchet's POV

I pull out of the ground bridge and immediately start to slide. After getting control, I sigh softly. "Thank the All Spark I only have to drive a mile or two."

"Dada?"

"We're almost there, little one." I pull into the drive once I find the correct house. "All right, we're here." I activate my holoform and climb out before getting Mariposa out of the back.

I walk up the steps and knock on the door.

A woman in her mid-forties answers the door. "Who are you?"

I rub the back of my neck. "My name is Richard Anderson. William Fowler gave me your address. He said if I wanted to talk to you about Marianne I should come."

She nods. "He told me you might come. How did you find her?"

I sigh. "Someone left her beside the trash. I heard her crying and stopped. We couldn't find her name, so I started calling her Marianne."

"We heard." She sighs. "We just want to know that she'll be taken care of."

I reach down and take her out of her car seat. "I will make sure of it."


Outside, Ratchet's POV

I carry Mariposa outside and set her in the snow. She giggles as she tries to throw it over her head. "Careful, Little One."

"Dada!"

I lean down and take her hands. "Come on, Sweetspark. Let's get you to the backyard." She looks up at me with a smile. "You want to play in the snow?" She nods before leaning forward. "Okay, we'll get moving before you make yourself fall."


Noon, Ratchet's POV

I glance around the yard before turning back to Mariposa, who is crawling toward my vehicle mode. "What is it, Mari? Do you want to leave already?" She shakes her head. "Then you need to get back here." She shakes her head before continuing on. I sigh and shake my head before chasing her. "What are you doing?"

She pulls herself up using my vehicle mode. "Dada." "You know I can't transform here, Mari." I step over and pick her up. "Come on, let's go back." She lays her hand on my chest.

I sigh. I'll be so happy when she finally learns to talk. I'm never going to understand what she's trying to say.

She lays her head on my shoulder. "Are you tired, Sweetspark?" I sigh. "We need to go back so you can recharge." I go into the house and get her things before returning to my vehicle mode. After I dust the snow off her snowsuit, I fasten her into her car seat and load her things into the back. I deactivate my holoform before pulling out of the driveway. "Optimus, we're ready for a ground bridge."


Base, Ratchet's POV

Arcee is waiting in the main room when we pull in. She gets Mariposa and her bag out of my vehicle mode. I transform and take her from Arcee. "I need to get Mari out of her snowsuit and get her to recharge."

Optimus turns from the monitors. "How was she?"

I sigh. "Fine, Optimus."

"Are you all right?"

"I'm just tired." I sigh. "I think I may try to recharge after I put Mari down."

"Are you sure she will recharge?"

I look up at Optimus. "She missed her morning nap because of our trip. I trust she will recharge for at least three hours."


Two Hours Later, Ratchet's POV

I sit up quickly before looking around, trying to figure out what pulled me out of recharge. I gasp as a pain rips through my frame. 'No. No, Little One.' I sigh heavily as I rest a hand over my abdominal plating. 'Two more weeks and you would have been viable.' I sigh softly before gasping at another pain. 'It will be over soon, Ratchet. Just keep it together. You can't wake Mari.' "Optimus?"

"Ratchet? I thought you were going to recharge."

"I was." I sigh softly. "I—" I grimace, trying to hold back a cry of pain. "Optimus, I think…" I sigh. "I need you to bring me a scanner."

"What's wrong?"

"I think I lost my sparkling."

Optimus sighs over the comm link. "I am sorry for yo—"

"Don't. I don't need your pity, Optimus."

I hear a soft knock, and sit up when the door opens. "Ratchet?"

"Mari is still recharging, Optimus." I groan softly.

"Do you want to go to the medical bay?"

I grimace. "This will end soon enough. Just give me the scanner." I take it when Optimus holds it out, and quickly scan for spark signatures. "Thank the All Spark." Optimus gives me a look. "There's still a chance we can save it, Optimus."

Optimus sighs. "We may not, Ratchet."

"I know. I need to stay positive." I groan before sighing. "I need to get to the medical bay before I wake Mari. See if Bumblebee will stay with her."

"Will you be all right on your own?"

I sigh. "It should not take you very long to find Bumblebee. I'll be fine until then."


Medical Bay, Ratchet's POV

I sigh once I reach my medical bay, simply relieved that I made it. I stagger inside and sit on the berth. At this point, I know there's no turning back. 'Come on, Ratchet, pull it together. At least you will get to see your little one this time.' I groan softly as Optimus walks in.

"Ratchet, are you all right?"

I sigh. "There's no turning back now."
Optimus nods in understanding before laying a hand on my shoulder. "What do you need me to do?"

"I can handle it."

Optimus sighs. "You should not have to. I am here."

"I know." I grimace before looking up at Optimus. "Thank you." I look down. "But I need to handle this alone."

"I understand."

I watch as Optimus walks toward the door. "Optimus?" He turns back to me. "Would you check on Mari for me?"

"Of course, old friend."

I watch as he leaves, then sigh. "Oh, Little One." I rest one hand over my abdominal plating before lying back on the berth.


Half an Hour later, Ratchet's POV

I stand up cradling a very small femme with ice blue and white armor. She's still alive, for now, but I know she's far too small to survive. I grab a blanket off the other end of the berth before wrapping it around her, then look down at her sadly. She looks so peaceful. I smile when a designation comes to mind. My little Serenity. "Why, Little One?" I sigh softly before activating my comm. "Optimus? Is Mari up yet?"

"Yes. Bumblebee is playing with her. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. Can you bring Mari? I want to at least have a picture of the two together."

"Of course. I will be there shortly."

True to his word, Optimus walks in a moment later with Mariposa in one hand.

"Dada?"

I reach my free hand over for her. Once she is sitting in my hand, I move her over to see Serenity. I watch as she pats the sparkling gently. I look up to Optimus before handing him a camera. He takes it wordlessly and snaps the picture before setting it down on the berth. I reach over and hand Mariposa to Optimus.

Serenity opens her eyes and looks at me. I can tell her already weak spark is starting to fade. I can feel an apologetic pulse from Serenity in my spark before she goes limp in my hand. "No. No! No, Serenity!"

I sit on the berth before looking up at Optimus sadly. He sits down beside me as I bury my face in my hands, Serenity's off-line frame lying beside me. Optimus sighs before putting a hand on my shoulder. We sit in silence for a few minutes.

I sigh softly before turning to him. "I'm okay, Optimus."

I feel Mariposa climb into my lap and look down quickly, not wanting her to fall. "Dada o-k?"

Optimus and I share a look before looking back down to her. I smile slightly in spite of myself. "Yes, Sweetspark. Daddy's okay."

I look down at the Cybertronian princess on my lap. Bumblebee changed her and dressed her in a gray long sleeved tunic with a cow graphic, black and white leggings, and white socks, and has replaced her tiara.

"I will take care of explaining what happened to the team, and talk with Agent Fowler about a proper memorial for your little one."

I sigh softly. "Thank you, Optimus."


That Night

I take Mariposa's bottle and set it on the changing table before changing her and dressing her in a red sleeper with a pink heart print and pink trim. I sigh softly as I lay her in the crib. "I'm just glad you're small enough to not know what happened today."

She babbles up at me before giving me a confused look, her head tilted to the side.

"Sleep well, my Mari."