Ok here's chapter 15. I wrote it then scrapped it then rewrote it! Second version is way better. I hope.

The Recreation Room Revisited

The rest of the morning had been peaceful. No shouting, no sparkling scampering across the floor causing havoc, no laser fire or dented crotch plates. Even the twins were antic-free and Ironhide actually kept his groping hands off his sparkmate as most everyone worked to repair the recreation room.

Ratchet was in the Med Bay keeping his optics on Wheeljack. The poor engineer was getting a much needed recharge that would allow his systems to recover from the morning's excitement. And Elita and Optimus were in their quarters recovering as well.

"I'm wondering if we should go check on Elita and see how she's doing," Jazz said hopefully, glancing over at Prowl who was actually relaxing for once with a small cup of high grade.

"I'm sure Elita is fine, Jazz," Prowl insisted. "Ratchet reported that she and Optimus were both doing well when he checked on them."

"Yeah, but that was a few hours ago!"

"Jazz, they're fine."

"I'm actually curious if Optimus will be in one piece," Ironhide snickered from across the large table they'd all gathered around. "Elita might get angry and give Optimus a spanking."

Whack!

"OWW!"

Chromia gave her mate a swift kick under the table and glared at him. Elita didn't need them making fun of her. She needed their support. And Chromia wasn't going to allow them to crack jokes when Elita wasn't here to defend herself.

"I was only joking," he grimaced.

"This is not a joking matter," Magnus spoke up, setting his empty glass of high grade down.

"Magnus is right," Prowl agreed, leaning forward with his arms on the table. "We should consider the possibility that Optimus might not be returned to his mature self."

"Oh, that would be so cool!" Sunny grinned. "I can just imagine baby boss bot trying to give us orders."

"Sunny, this isn't a game," Sides seriously said. "Optimus is our Prime, our leader. We need him."

"Ah come on! You have to admit he's cute and cuddly even if he does bite," Sunny pressed on.

"He's also very vulnerable if our base gets attacked," Bumblebee quickly pointed out. "I remember countless times how frightened the three of us were when the base was attacked back on Cybertron. It took everyone on the base to protect us from harm and to keep us away from seeing the horrors of war."

"Bumblebee is right," Ironhide sighed. "Each of you had a daily guardian, someone to watch you and keep you safe, who always knew where you were on the base. We couldn't risk losing any of you."

"And if my some chance that Wheeljack can't return Optimus to his old self, then it will fall to each of us to look after him and see that he grows up. Just like we did for you, Sunny," Magnus said.

"Well, if that's the case," Sunny smirked. "I think Ironhide and Chromia need to get sparking so Optimus has a playmate his own size!"

"Why you little…" Ironhide started then just jumped over the table tackling Sunny to the ground.

Bumblebee and Sides quickly grabbed their drinks and moved off to the side. Sunny was begging for an aft ripping and they were going to let him get one!

"Honestly, we have enough overgrown sparklings on the base as it is!" Chromia huffed. "I'm not sure I'd want to bring a little one into this environment."

That's what she said. Only she was aching to have a sparkling of her own. Once everything was all settled she was going to have that talk with Ironhide even if she had to strap him down to keep him from running.

"Don't worry," Jazz whispered to her as he leaned closer. "I've known Ironhide a long time. He loves you more than his own cannons. He will eventually give in and give you what you want. He has a soft spot in his spark for little sparklings."

"Really?"

"Really. In fact, he was Sunny's favorite," Jazz smiled.

"WHAT?!" Sunny shrieked in disbelief, despite being stuck in a head lock.

"That's right, Sunny," Jazz smirked. "As much as you wanted attention all the time as a sparkling, whenever you were upset you only wanted Ironhide to hold you. Anyone else and it sounded like the universe was coming to an end. And you wouldn't stop crying until you were in his arms."

"That's a lie!" Sunny protested, looking absolutely mortified.

"No, it's not," Ironhide chuckled, tossing Sunny down to the ground. "You even cried more than your brother."

Both Bumblebee and Sides giggled hysterically over their cups of high grade.

"I wouldn't laugh if I were either of you," Magnus warned. "Sides, you were a constant visitor to the Med Bay getting your head, arm, leg, hand, whatever stuck in something you couldn't get out of. And you were the worst, Bee. If you got mad you had a tendency to lubricate on anyone and anything to express your displeasure."

"But he sure was cute following Optimus around like a little mechano-puppy," Jazz grinned.

"Hello everyone, mind if we join you?" Elita smiled from the doorway, a quiet sparkling in her arms looking curiously at everyone.

"One astrosecond, Elita," Prowl said getting to his feet. "No high grade while the sparkling is in here. Drink it or leave with it. Jazz, help get everyone's cups."

"Why is it so bad for sparklings to drink high grade?" Bumblebee asked, handing his empty cup to Jazz.

"They get painful system upsets and too much can be lethal," Magnus answered, handing Prowl his empty cup.

Prowl made sure the high grade canisters were locked up before inspecting the room. He didn't want to risk a repeat performance of earlier. Nor did he want to risk Optimus' life.

"Ok, Elita, it's safe for Optimus now."

"This is probably the safest room on the base," Elita sighed, sitting down. "Optimus is a little depressed because he has nothing to play with. He was all over the place in our quarters and in to everything. It was a race to keep things away and a fight to remove things from his hands."

"He hasn't recharged yet?" Ironhide asked, taking his seat beside Chromia.

"Pfft, I wish he would! I do have some work to do."

"We'll watch him!" Jazz quickly volunteered, almost leaping up and down.

Prowl rolled his optics and headed for the door.

"I've had enough excitement for one day. I'll be in the command center."

"Jazz, try not to drive Prowl crazy like the last time we had sparklings on the base," Ironhide said after Prowl left. "I don't think I can handle it again if he starts quoting rules and regulations on how to behave around sparklings."

"In fact, why don't you go with Prowl," Magnus ordered. "He and I have had our comlinks tied into Teletran for the past several hours. I could use the break and I'm sure he wouldn't mind the company."

Ironhide couldn't help but laugh at Jazz as he grumbled and sulked off.

"Ironhide, why don't you go check out storage and see if you can't find some toys for Optimus," Magnus suggested wiping that smirk right off Ironhide's face.

"Why me?"

"Because you always seem to know where to find them."

Ironhide noticed how the others covered their mouths, trying not to laugh. Even his sparkmate was giggling softly.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," he muttered as he got up. Everyone broke down laughing. Before leaving, he pointed a large finger at Optimus. "You owe me, Optimus!"

Optimus immediately started crying as the big angry black mech left.

"I had just got him to quiet down too," Elita moaned. "He'd been crying for nearly an hour!"

"It's ok, Optimus," Chromia smiled, rubbing his back. "I'll take care of mean old Ironhide for you, I promise."

"Ah! Does he have a mute button?" Sunny shouted, while covering his audio receptors.

Sides smacked his brother hard over the head.

"I apologize for my brother, Elita," Sides said. "Is there anything we can do?"

"I don't think so unless you can speak sparkling talk," she said, gently rocking Optimus. "He's frustrated. As am I. I don't know what he wants when he's crying."

"Well…I have something that might help," Bumblebee said a bit shyly.

Everyone looked curiously at him as he slowly approached Elita.

"This is kind of embarrassing," he smiled bashfully. "But…Optimus gave this to me and I had been saving it for the day I have my own sparkling. I don't see the harm in loaning to him for a little while."

Bumblebee pulled out a small toy bot. It was actually dwarfed by his large hands as he delicately set it down on the table near Elita but it was perfect for little hands of sparklings.

Of course, Sunny and Side fell out of their chairs laughing. They thought it was hilarious! Somehow Bee expected them to do that. But it didn't make him feel any better.

"Don't pay any attention to them," Chromia told him, helping him sit in the chair beside her. "You have a good spark."

"Yes, this is very sweet of you, Bee, thank you," Elita smiled, sitting Optimus up on the table. "Look, Optimus. It's for you."

Optimus looked at the toy for a brief second before then flopped over onto his face and just wailed as loud as he could. He didn't want to touch it if it was going to be taken away from him.

"Primus, make him shut up!" Sunny shrieked.

Magnus shot up to his feet. He had enough of Sunny's crap! So he marched over, grabbed Sunny by the audio receptor and dragged him out into the hall. Of course, Sunny whined the entire way. Everyone else ignored him, knowing he deserved whatever lecture Magnus had in store for him.

"Oh, Optimus, it's ok," Elita cooed, caressing his head. "You know, I have to give more respect to Optimus and the others for raising three sparklings. I honestly don't know how they did it."

"And to think Optimus still wants a sparkling even after all that too," Chromia added.

"Yes, I thought of that too," Elita smiled, lifting Optimus back up into her arms.

"Can I try something?" Bumblebee asked.

"I'm up for anything to help him stop crying. This is breaking my spark."

Bee quickly moved around the table so he could sit on the other side of Elita since Chromia was already on one side. He never liked it when Optimus was upset. Not even when Bumblebee was a youngling. He always took it upon himself to make Optimus smile. Hopefully, he could continue to do that now even if they're roles were reversed.

"Hi Optimus, remember me, Bumblebee?" he smiled, gently taking Optimus from Elita's arms and placing him on the table before him. Optimus choked and sobbed. "Why don't we play a game. Would you like that? I know…let's play…peek a boo!"

Both Elita and Chromia couldn't help but smile at how Bee interacted with a sparkling. He appeared to take to it quite naturally. And it was working for Optimus stopped crying and was staring intensely at Bee.

"Would you like to play peek-a-boo?"

"Here, Bee," Sides said, handing Bumblebee a small towel.

Optimus saw the towel and his little legs kick about excitedly. He knew what the yellow and black mech was going to do!

"Ka boo!" he grinned, pointing at the towel.

Elita literally eeped and covered her mouth! She couldn't believe Optimus could talk! The thought never occurred to her that he knew a few words.

"That's right, Optimus peek-a-boo," Bee smiled, handing him the towel. "Can you say peek-a-boo?"

"Come on Optimus, you can say it," Elita said encouragingly. "Come on…peek-a-boo."

Optimus stared intently at them for a minute as they kept repeating the word.

"Wait, let's see what he does!" Bee said when Optimus pulled the towel over his face.

The towel came down…his optics locked on to Elita…he smiled…and then…

"Pee ka boo!" Optimus shrieked then giggled wildly.

Elita could literally feel how happy he was. Finally, he was happy. Primus, she hated it when he was upset.

"That's a good little mech," she smiled at him, tickling his belly and feeling his love for her.

Optimus repeated his new little act for each of them. This time when Elita offered him to toy bot he happily took it, even playing peek-a-boo with it. He even greeted Magnus with a jovial peek-a-boo when the City Command returned with Sunny.

"I see you finally said it right," Magnus smiled, patting Optimus on the head. "Elita, I believe Sunny has something to say to you."

"I just wanted to apologize for being a…"

Magnus narrowed his optics when Sunny nervously glanced up at him.

"I want to apologize for being a stupid aft. I was rude, inconsiderate, and disrespectful to both you and Optimus. I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted."

"Jeez, Magnus, can you straighten Ironhide out for me too?" Chromia asked as Sunny quietly returned to his seat next to his brother.

"I'm afraid it's too late for Ironhide," Magnus smirked. "Besides, you've whipped him into shape rather well over the years."

Chromia giggled. Oh yeah, figuratively and literally!

"I mean it, Elita!" Ironhide huffed as he just entered the room. "You'd better remind Optimus that he owes me once he's mature again." He set storage bin on the table and pulled the lid off. "Here you go Optimus. These should keep you happy enough for a while."

Magnus looked into the bin and was shocked. Where in the universe did Ironhide come up with that many toys?

"Don't say a word," Ironhide growled at him. Then he smiled, reaching in to pull out a toy. "Here, Optimus, this was always a favorite. The only toy to occupy three sparklings at once and keep them entertained for hours."

Optimus' optics widened! Oh wow! That toy looked like a lot of fun!

"A ball?" Elita asked.

"Ba!" Optimus shouted.

He quickly handed Elita the toy bot he was playing with then crawled over toward the black mech.

"Ba!" he shouted again, pointing at the ball.

"You want this, do ya?" Ironhide teased.

(beep)

Little arms reached up for it. Imploring blue optics looked up at Ironhide. The big mech was not going to cave so easily. Especially not in front of his sparkmate who was watching his every move like a hawk. Last thing Hide wanted to do was give Chromia more ammunition for her sparkling talk.

"I'll give it to you if you say ball."

"Ba!"

"No. Ball."

Optimus really wanted the ball. So he pulled a trick that worked on the big red, white and blue mech. Optimus stuck out his lower lip and started to whimper.

"Ironhide, you made him cry…again!" Chromia chided him, yanking the ball from his hands. "Here you go Optimus."

(WHISTLE!)

The ball, which was almost too big for Optimus to hold, rolled out off of his lap. Of course, he gave chase twittering and chirping. And everyone just sat and watched as the sparkling was having a rip roaring good time rolling the ball and chasing after it.

"Slag! Get him!" Ironhide shouted when the ball rolled toward the far end of the table were no one was sitting with Optimus giving chase.

They were too late! The ball rolled off. The sparkling did a somersault off the end of the table and landed with a hard crash.

No one moved as they waited for the wailing to start.

Only it didn't.

There was an 'oops', followed by a grunt as a chair moved, and then a hysterical squeal of happiness. And when they all looked under the table, there was Optimus hugging the ball and smiling, his little blue optics full of mischief when he looked back at them all.

Optimus falling off the table prompted Magnus and Ironhide to make a safe area to play. And play they all did. So, by the time Ratchet meandered in to see what all the laughing and shrieking was about, everyone, including Jazz and Prowl, were sitting on the floor in a circle rolling the ball around for Optimus to chase. All the tables and chairs had been neatly stacked on one side of the room.

"Optimus hasn't recharged yet?" Ratchet asked seeing a very hyper sparkling roll off the ball and giggle with his feet in the air.

"Nope, unless you count the thirty second power recharge he took over an hour ago," Ironhide answered.

"Ah, well, that means he'll be…" Ratchet started then paused when Optimus yawned wide and rubbed his optics. "Yup, he'll be falling into recharge any moment now."

"Should I take him to our quarters?" Elita asked worriedly.

"No, its best to let them fall into recharge where they're at when they've been playing for a while," Ratchet answered.

"Yeah, if you move him now he might get all hyper again," Ironhide added.

Optimus shook his head. He wanted to play. But it was getting very hard to keep his optics online. He quickly crawled of to Lita, the name she told him to call her.

(beep?)

"Oh, you want your toy," she smiled then handed him the toy bot Bumblebee had given him. "There you go. He really likes it. Thank you Bumblebee."

"You're welcome."

"Shh, I think he's finally falling into recharge," Jazz whispered.

Every optic in the room watched close as Optimus' optics started to dim. His head shakes turned into a head bobs. Until finally, he gave in to recharge with his toy secure in one arm, his knees tucked under him, his head on the floor, and his aft in the air.

A collective, but quiet, aw sounded from every mech and femme in the room.