This wasn't what I intended for chapter 16. But I couldn't help but toss in some more Optimus sparkling moments. Hope you like them.

Morning Autobot base

Elita emerged from recharge like she did yesterday morning feeling a bit cold because one side of the bed was vacant. Six months back and she'd already gotten used to waking against the warm and comforting form of her sparkmate. She silently prayed that Wheeljack was going to be able to return Optimus to his old self.

She really missed her sparkmate.

She needed to apologize to him so badly for each time she got mad at him for bringing up the sparkling issue. Elita may be stubborn, but she knows when she's made a mistake and she's not afraid to admit it. And she knows she made a big one by denying Optimus and herself the happiness a sparkling can bring.

Soft short warbling captured her attention making her smile. Only her smile quickly faded as panic and fear filled her spark. Optimus started crying. She could feel how afraid and confused he was.

Wasting no time, Elita commanded the lights to come on as she hurried across the room. Optimus was sitting in the recharge crib huge tears streaming down his silver face plates, crying his optics out.

"I'm sorry, Optimus," she cooed, lifting him up. She could feel him trembling. "Are you afraid of the dark?"

Optimus grabbed what he could of her armor pulling himself closer, nuzzling his face against her. Her warmth was so comforting it started to make him feel better. He didn't like the dark! Her love and reassurance resonated within, calming him down.

"Feeling better now?" she asked, gently wiping the last of his tears away.

He sighed, laying his head on her shoulder, blinking his optic covers slowly as he stared at her. Yes, he was feeling much better now.

"Time to start our day then if you're up now," she smiled and headed for the door.

"BOT!" Optimus shouted in a panic reaching back towards the recharge crib.

"Oops, sorry, my bad," she apologized quickly retrieving the toy bot.

It was one happy sparkling warbling and twittering away at his toy bot as Elita headed towards the Med Bay. And one happy femme enjoying every moment of it.

Ratchet had been expecting Elita to bring Optimus by first thing in the morning. Since they still don't know exactly how he was transformed into a sparkling his systems needed to be monitored regularly for any changes or fluctuations.

"Good morning, Elita. How was your evening?"

"He didn't wake from recharge once. I found out Optimus is afraid of the dark."

"That's common for sparklings," he smiled taking Optimus and setting him on the exam table.

The sparkling didn't mind as he was talking in his own way to the toy in his hands. He didn't even pay any attention to the medic's hands as he was being thoroughly examined.

"Where are the empty bottles? I want to go make him his breakfast. I need the practice," she said, caressing Optimus' back.

Ratchet raised an optic ridge at her. Was she serious?

"Yes, you heard me right," she smiled happily. "Once Optimus is his old self again I'm going to apologize to him. Then hopefully, if he agrees, we'll get to work making our own sparkling."

"It's about time," Ratchet harrumphed.

"I know, I know."

"Well, I left the empty bottles in the recreation room in the energon storage cabinets. Just let me know if you have any questions. Or ask Magnus. He's usually in there this time of morning. He knows how to prep energon bottles for sparklings. I'll bring the little lugnut in a few minutes."

Optimus had been busy playing with his toy bot, making it bounce up and down, having fun as the two mature bots talked. But then he noticed Lita was leaving without him and he got worried.

"LITA!" he called, trying to get down and go after her.

Ratchet managed to grab hold of Optimus before he took a header. And of course, Elita came back to reassure Optimus everything was ok. The entire time, Ratchet just smirked at her. Oh yeah, she wasn't going to be a good mother. Pfft! She was a natural once she got going.

"Ratchet will take good care of you, I promise," she said, her tone calm and happy, caressing Optimus' face. "And if he doesn't, the next time I shoot him in the crotchet I won't miss."

Optimus couldn't understand what she said but she sounded so pleasant he just had to laugh.

"That's no laughing matter, Optimus," Ratchet grumbled.

Optimus giggled some more up at him.

"Try to teach him your name," Elita ordered as she turned to leave. "He learned everyone elses yesterday."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Optimus giggled at Ratchet again.

"You know Optimus, I wouldn't laugh if I were you," Ratchet said after Elita left, putting his face right in front of Optimus'. "She orders you around that way too, you just don't remember."

The mech didn't seem very happy so Optimus reached out and hugged him. The old CMO didn't know what do to as he was caught off guard by the sudden affection from a sparkling.

A deep hearty laugh erupted from across the room. Ratchet quickly pried Optimus off his face and stood up straight, scowling at the visitors.

Ironhide couldn't help it! It was too funny seeing such a little thing hugging Ratchet's face.

WHACK!

"OWW! Chromia!" he whined, rubbing his aft.

"There's nothing funny about this. Ratchet, that was very kind of you to allow Optimus to give you a hug. Optimus is absolutely adorable."

"Well, they're only adorable some of the time," Ironhide told her. "There's the lubricating, the puking, the smells, the crying in the middle of the night. Trust me, you don't want a sparkling."

Chromia narrowed her optics, growled then stormed off.

"Now who's laughing," Ratchet snickered. "That means no interfacing for you for what…a week?"

"Shut up!" Ironhide barked then marched off after his sparkmate.

"You see that Optimus. Always stay on your femme's good side."

Optimus giggled, he thought it was so funny that the way the big mechs acted. Then he giggled even hard as the yellowish mech tickled his belly. He quickly learned the mech's name was Ratch and was rewarded for saying it.

"Ratch!"

"Oh, you liked that didn't you?" he smiled, patting Optimus on the head. "Ok, one more isn't going to ruin your appetite." This time Ratchet handed the treat to Optimus and watched as his eager tiny hand shoved it into his mouth. "Don't tell Elita I gave you an energon sweet. Ok?"

The medical diagnostic beeped signally it was done. So far so good. Optimus is functioning properly like a normal sparkling.

"Let's go, Optimus. Time for your breakfast before you get cranky."

Along the way to the recreation room, Ratchet heard Chromia really laying into Ironhide somewhere in the halls. The couple was being so loud Ratchet was sure the entire base heard them.

"And that's why I stay single," he commented to Optimus.

Upon arriving in the recreation room, Optimus started wiggling excitedly in Ratchet's arms. He didn't hesitate to set Optimus on the floor knowing he'd just start crying if he wasn't let loose. The room still had a clear area for him to play. No tables were available; they were still stacked on top of each other. So Magnus and Elita were sitting on a couch talking.

Optimus crawled over as fast as he could then climbed up onto Magnus' lap.

"Mags!" he beamed proudly, poking the big mech in the chest.

"You remembered," Magnus smiled.

"Sparkling's aren't idiots," Ratchet said. "They absorb anything and everything into their little processors. Everything's fine with him Elita. Please, call me if there are any changes."

"Of course," she smiled as Optimus climbed across the couch onto her lap and reached for the bottle.

"Well, if you'll excuse me I'm going to check on Wheeljack. He left the Med Bay last night so I assume he was working in his lab most of the night."

"Go easy on him, Ratchet," Elita said, handing Optimus the bottle.

The bottle was greedily suckled as someone's little tank was gurgling loudly.

"I will. Remember, only two bottles. If he's still hungry wait awhile before giving him a third," the CMO said as he was going out the door.

"Hey, slow down there."

Optimus grunted pushing her hand away while managing to keep the bottle in his mouth.

"It will be alright, Elita. He'll slow down for the second bottle."

"You know a lot about sparklings."

"Well, raising three wasn't easy for us mechs. We kind of learned on the fly. We had to. Three little lives depended on us. And soon, you'll be an expert too. I'm glad you've decided to have a sparkling with Optimus. You're going to make him one happy mech."

"I actually can't wait," she beamed.

"Uh oh," Magnus exclaimed upon hearing the all too familiar sound of a sparkling sucking on an empty bottle.

Uh oh indeed. Optimus didn't hesitate to express his displeasure.

"Magnus, can you get me the other bottle, I left it in the cabinet," she said, cradling Optimus as he wailed loudly. "Shh, it's ok. See, Mags is getting your bottle."

The bottle was quickly retrieved and silence filled the room once Optimus' mouth latched onto it. As Magnus had informed her, this bottle was being ingested at a much slower rate. Elita watched as little optic covers slowly closed. Small hands balled up and were held against a tiny chest. Soft purring sounded. And one content sparkling felling into recharge suckling his bottle.

"Do I let him keep drinking?"

"Yeah, he'll wake from recharge if you take it away too soon," Magnus warned. "He won't recharge very long. And he'll be fully energized and ready to go once he wakes."

"Morning everyone!" Bumblebee greeted as he came in. Then spotted a recharging sparkling and lowered his voice. "Oh, sorry…morning."

"Morning, Bee," Elita whispered, not taking her optics of Optimus.

He'd stopped suckling on the bottle. So she slowly pulled it away and her spark instantly melted. Optimus continued recharging with his mouth slightly open. No one spoke but just watched. A few minutes later, one little hand rubbed a cute nose then grabbed onto whatever piece of armor on Elita it could latch onto.

"Elita, are you crying?" Bumblebee suddenly asked.

"I'm sorry…it's just so overwhelming at times," she smiled. "He doesn't hold back his love at all."

And just like that, the quiet moment was over!

Optic covers popped open. Bright mischievous blue orbs looked around. And a fully energized sparkling wiggled to get down. Elita laughed. She couldn't help it. She was learning how quickly things change with a sparkling.

"There you go," she said putting him on the floor.

"BEEEE!!" Optimus cheered excitedly.

Bumblebee didn't even have time to squat down to greet Optimus. The little bot climbed up the mech's frame and greeted him with a hug around the neck.

"Thank you, Optimus. That was very kind of you," Bee smiled, hugging the little mech back.

"I think you're his favorite," Elita chuckled.

"I am?"

"Yes, that's exactly how you acted when you spotted Optimus first thing in the morning," Magnus replied. "Except, you couldn't get his name right and called him Oppy."

Elita burst out laughing. She never heard that nick name for her sparkmate before.

"He was teased relentlessly about it too from the rest of us," Magnus continued, laughing. "Even Prowl got in on the fun, putting Oppy up at the top of the reports he turned in to Optimus."

Optimus clapped and giggled. He didn't know why they were laughing but he figured something was funny.

"Well, I need to start my shift," Magnus said, as the laughter died down. He moved and patted Optimus on the head. "Be a good little mech today. See you all later."

"Later Magnus," Bee and Elita said as the City Commander walked out the door.

"Bee, do you think you can watch Optimus for a few hours?" Elita asked, getting to her feet and moving towards him. "I need to shower and get some work done. I was afraid to leave him alone yesterday in our quarters."

"I would love to," Bee smiled.

Before Elita could respond, Jazz came moping in and headed for the energon supplies. That was highly unusual as Jazz was always so upbeat and jovial, even early in the morning. Only Bumblebee over heard Prowl yelling at Jazz last night and knew that was part of the reason. He also knew that Prowl recharged in his office and left Jazz alone in their quarters. Also, another reason for Jazz being sad.

"Hey Optimus, I think Jazz needs a hug," he whispered to the sparkling.

(beep?)

"Go on, go give him a big hug," he said quietly, putting Optimus on the floor.

The one called Jazz did look unhappy. Optimus didn't like it when everyone was sad. So he did what Bumblebee told him.

Jazz, who was in a slightly depressed mood didn't notice the others, until something grabbed hold of his leg. He looked down to see Optimus hugging him and he just smiled, feeling infinitely better.

"Elita, I think Jazz should get the chance to sparkling sit for a while," Bumblebee whispered to her. "He's been dying to hold Optimus and hasn't had much of a chance. Plus, it will make him feel better."

Elita grinned, patting Bee on the back. He had such a kind and generous spark.

"Jazz, how do you feel about some sparkling duty?" Elita asked the silver mech as she marched over and plucked Optimus off the floor. "Just for a few hours so I can take care of a few things."

"Why I'd love to!" he exclaimed, sounding like his normal self.

"Good, he's all yours," she said, placing Optimus in Jazz's waiting arms. "And if Prowl gives you any grief about it, just tell him he can deal with me."

"Yes, Ma'am!"

So, with a twittering sparkling in one arm and the storage bin of toys in the other, it was a happy Jazz that strolled through the halls to his and Prowl's quarters. They were safe for sparklings. They were neat, tidy, and weapons free.

"There you go, Optimus," Jazz grinned setting the sparkling down.

Of course, it was a new room and Optimus had to explore it. He just had to! With Jazz as his shadow he crawled everywhere he could. Occasionally he'd glance back to see the sliver mech crawling after him. They'd exchange grins then continue on.

Unknown to either of them, Prowl had returned to his quarters to retrieve a datapad he left on his desk. There, leaning against the doorway, the black and white mech quietly watched his bonded crawl around, chasing a giggling and shrieking sparkling.

"I'm gonna get you!"

(GIGGLES!)

"I got you now!" Jazz laughed, grabbing hold of Optimus foot and gently dragged him closer to tickly his belly.

Giggles, shrieks, whistles…sparkling mayhem erupted.

Prowl sighed contently. His bonded was so adorable playing with a sparkling.

Jazz turned when he felt the loving warmth of Prowl fill him.

"How long have you been standing there?" Jazz asked, rising to his feet.

"Long enough," Prowl smiled, pushing away from the doorway.

Optimus rolled over onto his hands and knees. It was on to the next thing while the mechs talked! He crawled over to the bin and pulled the lid off. It took some effort, but he managed to pull himself up onto his feet, cling to the rim of the bin. Oh wow! He'd never seen so many toys!

(trilling!)

Prowl and Jazz glanced down to see Optimus looking in the toy bin. Seeing he was occupied they focused back on each other.

"I'm sorry, Jazz," Prowl sighed, caressing his sparkmate's face. "I try not to get too mad at you. It's just sometimes I expect more from you since you're my mate. I know I shouldn't. You're responsible and never would do anything to endanger yourself or others."

"You just worry too much about me, that's all," Jazz smiled back affectionately. "It's my fault too. I know I shouldn't do things behind your back. Some times I just can't help myself. Bee and the twins are a bad influence on me."

Prowl raised an optic ridge at him.

"Ok," Jazz laughed. "So they learned from me and I need to show some restraint when I'm with them."

Optimus' muffled cries suddenly interrupted them. They both turned to see two little feet up in the air, kicking.

"Ah, he's so cute even when he's in distress!" Jazz cooed staring down at an upside down Optimus stuck in the toy bin.

"Honestly Optimus, how do you always get yourself in these situations?!" Prowl chuckled, rescuing the sparkling.