a/n: I'd like to just start off with thanks to all those reading and for the reviews. This has been a fun story to write and I was surprised by such a response from all of you. Again, I humbly thank each one of you.

I'm sure a few of you have seen the movie Gladiator. I always loved his name Maximus Decimus Meridius. And I've been waiting for a story where I could use the name Max. Yes, that means Optimus and Elita have a little mech.

So here it is. The final chapter of sparkling cuteness…or is it?

Several months later…

There was probably no prouder father in the multitude of universes as Optimus Prime. He sat at his desk. Not working. Not thinking about his Autobots or the Decepticons or the humans. His optics and attention was solely focused on his son, Maximus, or as Elita calls him - Max, who was sitting on the desk before his father suckling on his energon bottle.

The sparkling was only a few Earth months old now. He was coordinated enough to sit up on his own, crawl around like lightning, climb his father's towering height with ease, and had a limited vocabulary that he could speak including a few choice words he'd picked up around the base. Needless to say, Elita was not happy when Ironhide's dirty mouth let loose a few words that Max seemed to enjoy saying often.

"Slag," the sparkling sighed, shaking the empty bottle.

Optimus refrained from laughing or smiling. He agreed with Elita that it was best to not encourage their son to say such things. At least until he was older. Max was a very smart little bot though. He was learning to not to say them in front of Elita. Optimus was always a bit more lenient and never punished the little mech.

"All done?"

(burb!)

"Guess that means yes," Optimus chuckled.

Max simply smiled and held up the empty bottle for Optimus to take. Despite the sound effects, he was a well mannered sparkling, hardly cried unless there was a good reason and curious about anything and everything. He was a sparkling one never wanted to their back on because he was always into something.

At this moment, it was the datapad with Prowl's report that Optimus was supposed to be reading. Max held it in his tiny hands turning it around and over, intently examining it. Optimus erupted with a hearty laugh when his son made a scrunched up face and dropped the datapad aside like a used up, unwanted toy.

"I don't care for them much either," he smiled, laying his arms on the desk and resting his chin on his crossed forearms. "They never seem to disappear off my desk."

Max giggled. His bright blue optics sparkled with mischief as he crawled across the desk to his father. Optimus could literally feel his spark swell with pride and happiness. His own optics glimmered with absolute love for the son Elita and he created together.

It was moments like this that made the leader still feel in awe about this little life form before him. He sometimes couldn't believe that he and Elita produced a sparkling. They created life. A son. An offspring whose personality already strongly resembled both his parents.

Stubborn. Strong. Intelligent. Generous. Loving.

Yes, Maximus was definitely the son of Optimus Prime and Elita One.

"What are you doing, you little lugnut?" Optimus asked when Max sat right before his face.

Max's small optics focused intensely on his father's face. His tiny hands explored the edges of the armor on his father's chin. He even used Optimus' chin to pull himself up onto his feet. Little legs wobbled as he smiled nervously. It was only a few days ago that Max started trying to stand. And like all those other occasions his knees buckled and he fell onto his pint sized aft.

"Oops," Max huffed.

"Try not to be in such a hurry, my son. You'll be on your feet soon enough."

On impulse, Optimus tickled his son's belly with a finger making the sparkling roll onto his back, squealing and giggling. Little arms hugged his father's hand as little legs kicked about excitedly. A huge grin on the sparkling's face was topped off with blazing small blue orbs that shined with so much happiness and love.

"Ok, that's enough," Optimus laughed, helping his son to sit back up. "Don't want you to have an…"

Max hiccupped and spit up some partially digested energon. The tears and wails were instantaneous as the warm sticky substance trickled down his chin.

"Oops, it's ok, Max," Optimus replied calmly, grabbing the small towel he had for such occasions. He gently wiped the energon spew from Max's chin, cooing to the sparkling. "That was my fault for getting you too excited right after you ate. See, you're all cleaned up now."

Seeing that Max was still upset, sitting there with his bottom lip stuck out, Optimus picked up his son, holding him close to his chest and patted his small back. Soft humming emanated from the big mech's vocal processor, a favorite lullaby Bumblebee liked when he was a sparkling and one Max seemed to like as well. One Optimus found always calmed down an upset sparkling.

"Better?"

Max nodded his head, rubbing his optics with small fists. His mouth opened wide, a soft yawn sounding. Optimus started humming again, knowing his sparkling was heading into his usual after meal recharge. The soft melody continued until small optics covers closed over dimmed optics.

"You can put me to recharge like that any time."

"Of course, anything for you," he smiled warmly as Elita approached him quietly. "How long were you standing there watching?"

"Long enough," she smirked at him.

"Thank you for our son," he sighed, staring affectionately at her.

"You should thank Wheeljack for being his blundering self. None of this would have happened if he hadn't turned you into a sparkling."

"True. But he didn't spark our son. You did that."

"No, we did that together. It wouldn't have been any fun without you."

Optimus laughed loudly then quickly quieted down when Max wiggled slightly in his arms. The little mech grew calm and stayed in recharge, head back, mouth open slightly. Both parents content to watch him recharge, much like they do for a few minutes every night before they recharge themselves.

"Optimus!Optimus!Optimus!" Blurr shouted excitedly from the doorway as he blasted into the office. The commotion woke Max instantly who started crying loudly.

"Blurr! You stupid aft!" Optimus growled.

"Language!" Elita chided her mate, taking her squalling son in her arms.

"Sorry, Lita."

"SorryOptimusbutyouhavetohurry! Icantbelievetheyfinallydidit! Ratchetsaystohurryyourafttothemedbaybeforeitstoolate!"

"Optimus!" Magnus called, suddenly appearing behind Blurr. "The fraggers finally did it! Ratchet's about to bring the little femme online."

"Language!" Elita snapped at Magnus.

"Sorry, Ma'am."

"Go, Max and I will catch up," Elita smiled up at Optimus, rocking Max.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his hand caressing his son's head.

"I'm sure. Besides, he needs to be put down for his nap."

Optimus nodded then kissed Max on top of his head and then kissed Elita on the cheek before following Magnus.

"Did they finally come up with a name for her?" Optimus asked as he and Magnus raced down the hall, Blurr had already taken off and was far ahead of them.

"They're not telling like its top secret," Magnus chuckled. "Unlike someone who was going around the base bragging about his pregnant sparkmate carrying his son."

"Just wait until you have a sparkling of your own," Optimus countered, glaring playfully at his friend. "You're so happy there's no way to contain it."

"Wait up!"

The two mechs stopped.

"Hide, move your slow aft!" Optimus ordered.

"I'm moving it lugnut!" Ironhide huffed, moving his heavy aft as fast as he could. "I'm not going to miss the blessed event! Never in a hundred million years."

"I'M GOING TO MAKE ALL YOUR MAINTENANCE CHECK UPS AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE IF YOU DON'T GET THE FRAG OUT OF MY MED BAY!" Ratchet's irate voice boomed down the hallway.

Up ahead of the three mech wreckers, four young mechs – Bee, Sunny, Sides, and Blurr – came flying out of the med bay. The commotion was followed by half a dozen wrenches and various tools that flew out the door and slammed into the opposing wall.

"You go in first," Ironhide said, pushing Optimus forward. The big mech shot his weapon's officer a look. "I'm not joking! Chromia would kill me if I got hurt right now. You know Ratchet's aim can be deadly when he's that mad."

Optimus rolled his optics while inside he was smiling. The overall feeling around the base changed once Elita got pregnant with Maximus. Everyone was smiling and jovial. Prowl didn't punish Sunny that much for the pranks he's pulled lately. Even Ratchet smiled and was in less of a wrench throwing mood until just now.

"Safe to come in?" Optimus asked standing in the doorway, Magnus and Ironhide peering from behind him.

"Sure, just scaring away young mechs who are a little too excited about a new femme on the base," Ratchet remarked, waving them to come in. "I have no doubt that once the initial shock wears off her parents will put them in their place."

Optimus would have to agree with Ratchet on that one as he looked sympathetically at the extremely worried parents to be. Prowl, normally calm, collected, and a stern second in command appeared unraveled and almost terrified. Jazz, head of operations, normally a very chatty, enthusiastic mech appeared extremely nervous and was very quiet.

While Optimus was still in the dark about how Ratchet managed to help Prowl and Jazz produce a viable, healthy spark, the Autobot Commander was thrilled for his officers. Thrilled that they'd get the chance to experience what he and Elita have had the chance to experience. Thrilled because with new life brings new hope for their species for it is still unknown how many Autobots survived amongst the stars.

"You both need to relax," Prime smiled at them. "Ratchet knows what his doing. He has delivered two healthy sparklings of late."

"Speaking of sparklings, where's mini Max?" Ironhide asked, smirking up at his Prime.

Ratchet snorted, "More like mad Max if he doesn't get his bottle in time when he's hungry."

Optimus just grinned at them both. He didn't mind the playful nicknames they gave his son. It just showed how much affection his friends had for the little sparkling.

"Least he's not half as loud as Boomer when he screams for a feeding," Magnus added. "My audio receptors are still buzzing from this morning."

"If you have something to say about my son say it to my face!" Ironhide growled, standing toe to toe with the City Commander.

"I thought I just did," Magnus grinned, not feeling the least bit threatened by Ironhide. After all, he was taller and stronger than Prime's weapon specialist.

"Shut up or get out the both of you," Ratchet threatened, hoisting up a wrench and smacking Ironhide on the head with it.

"Ow! Why did you hit me and not him?" Hide questioned, wisely backing away as he rubbed his head.

"Because your head was easier to reach," Ratchet remarked, setting the tool down. "Now, let's get the little femme online, shall we."

Ratchet motioned for Prowl and Jazz to move over to the med table he had in the center of the med bay. There he gently pulled away the small blanket to reveal the tiny soft grey and feminine looking protoform that was to be their sparkling once the tiny spark was transferred.

"I trust the body is satisfactory?" Ratchet asked them.

Both mechs just nodded their heads, making the medic chuckle softly to himself. He understood their reluctance to show their happiness until their little femme came online. This was the first successful try after half a dozen failed attempts to produce a spark strong enough to sustain its own energy without too much medical assistance.

"Did we miss it?" Chromia asked, hurrying in to the med bay sparkling in her arms.

"No," Ironhide smiled.

"Hide! Kaboom!" the sparkling cheer throwing his arms up in the air.

"Later, my son," he cooed, taking his sparkling into his arms.

"At least Boomer was aptly named," Magnus snorted.

Boomer ripped a loud raspberry at him, making Ironhide grin proudly. The City Commander looked slightly hurt by the gesture.

"Don't worry Magnus, Maximus loves you as an uncle," Optimus chuckled, patting his friend on the back.

"Are you…"

"Sorry, we're late," Elita came in interrupting Ratchet.

"Oppy," Max grinned, hands grabbing for his father as he leaned away from his mother.

"He refused to go back into recharge," she said, handing over Max.

"Are we ready now?" Ratchet asked looking every bit annoyed as he sounded.

"Of course," Optimus smiled, cradling Max in one are while his other held Elita close.

"Good," the CMO said then turned to Prowl and Jazz. The pair stood a rigid as ever side by side. He smiled kindly at them. "Everything will be fine."

With that said, Ratchet went to the far side of the room. Everyone watched curiously as he unhooked a cable from a small device then carefully lifted it up and brought it over.

"Are you ever going to tell us how you managed this?" Optimus asked.

"A spark is pure energy formed from the energy of two bonded sparks," he smirked gently setting the device down near the protoform. "All it needs is an energy enriched containment field for it to be nurtured within until it's strong enough to be transferred to its body."

"Everyone knows that," Ironhide harrumphed. "Reproduction 101. We learn it when we're younglings."

"And that's all you need to know. How this particular spark came to be is between Prowl, Jazz and myself. Now quiet. Prowl, Jazz, come closer, please."

Ratchet was used to the audience for this. Everyone was in the med bay when Maximus came online. The same for Boomer when he came online a few days after Max. Optimus felt it important for those few on the base to witness these miracles. It boosted moral and made them all understand just how precious life was and that they needed to enjoy every astrosecond of it.

The device slowly opened to reveal the tiniest spark anyone had ever seen. A soft pale blue hue emanated as it pulsed steadily. Its glow was so much brighter then a mech's dark blue spark. Yet, both were equally impressive, equally vibrant with life if one was lucky to have a sparkmate or able to see the birth of a sparkling.

"Would either of you like to place her into her body?" Ratchet asked softly.

Still speechless, both parents shook their heads no. Jazz couldn't bear this much longer and was afraid he'd drop the tiny spark. For comfort and reassurance he grabbed Prowl's hand and started squeezing the life out of it. The black and white mech was so focused on the tiny spark that he didn't even notice he was squeezing Jazz's hand right back in response. Both their sparks were racing in anticipation as Ratchet gently lifted the tiny spark from the safety of the makeshift womb he'd build.

The pair had endured so much sparkache the past month or so that they were afraid to speak, smile, or even show any signs of happiness today so far. They didn't want to do anything to jeopardize the survival of their little femme. Their optics and hope watched expectantly as the tiny spark was placed within its spark chamber.

Ratchet leaned over the sparkling, medical sensors thoroughly scanning her form, anxiously waiting for signs of activation all the while meticulously monitoring any energy fluctuations in her spark. This was her finally hurdle, the hardest step for a newborn spark and he prayed her spark was strong enough to give the protoform life.

And just when it seemed to be taking too long the tiny spark flared brightly. The spark chamber automatically closed up as her systems all booted up one by one, limbs and fingers slightly twitched with life. The CMO grinned proudly, moving back and allowing Prowl and Jazz to move as close as they could.

It'd be important that their faces be the first the little femme would see. She, like all sparklings, could sense her creators through their spark bond. And it would be very comforting and reassuring for her to see them first as she came online.

Prowl was the first to reach for her. His hand trembled slightly as he put a finger beneath her tiny hand. Her hand felt so warm. Then he let out a short laugh when her fingers instinctively curled around it. Not to be left out, after all this was his sparkling too, Jazz did the same thing to her other hand.

"Wow, she's got a grip!" he grinned from audio receptor to audio receptor, pure joy filling his spark. This was the happiest day of his life! He finally has a sparkling of his own. Primus, he was a daddy!

A soft sequence of clicks sounded then suddenly optic covers snapped open to reveal the brightest blue orbs either mech had ever seen. They both gasped and grew still as stone, staring down at this beautiful life they'd created. The femme's optics stared intently at the black and white mech then looked at the silver mech.

"She's studying us," Prowl whispered, not taking his optics off the femme. That dull ache in his spark was totally extinguished now as he stared down at his daughter. His daughter. Prowl couldn't believe it! He was a father!

The femme shrieked loudly and kicked her little legs excitedly. Bubbly giggles filled the room. She released her grip and reached up to them. She could feel how much love they both had for her.

"Ratchet?"

"Go ahead, you can pick her up," the CMO chuckled at Prowl.

"You first, Jazz," he said, moving slightly away. "I know how much you've wanted this."

"But it was your idea to ask if Ratchet could help us. It should be you that gets to hold her first."

"Well, one of you'd better do it and do it quick," Ratchet said, pointing down at the confused little femme.

She didn't understand why they weren't picking her up. She just wanted to be held and comforted. Huge tears filled her optics.

"Oh hey, don't cry," Prowl cooed, carefully lifting her up and cradling her close to his chest. The warmth of his spark so close to hers quieted her down.

"Yeah, don't cry little babe," Jazz spoke softly, wiping her tears away. "We'll hold you anytime you want, promise."

The little femme smiled, lavishing in the attention she was getting from her creators.

"She's purring!" Prowl giggled.

Jazz refrained from laughing at his sparkmate. It wasn't often that Prowl let his guard down like this. Usually only in their quarters away from prying optics did he show the depth of his emotions. But Jazz had a feeling their daughter was going to change that…a bit.

"So, does the little femme have a name?" Optimus asked after remaining quiet with the others. They'd given the new parents some space. Now it was time to get a better look at the new femme Autobot.

"Prowl came up with a good one," Jazz smiled proudly, shoulders and head held high.

Prowl turned to face the others, clutching his daughter closer. Her optics focused solely on him for the moment. He looked down at her, his optics shining with a happiness the others had never seen from the normally reserved mech. But it was a happiness they all fully understood and shared.

"Her name is Violet," he replied softly.

There was a long moment of silence as everyone processed the information.

"Such a lovely name for a lovely little femme," Optimus commented.

Just then, both Max and Boomer spotted her. Neither knew what was going on but when they saw her they clicked excitedly. Max even reached for her. He recognized another sparkling, a possible playmate. Boomer nearly leapt from Ironhide's grasp, always been one for being a bit gung-ho about everything he did. And he has actually hit the floor a few times because his unprepared parents didn't keep a tight hold on him.

"I guess we should introduce her," Jazz chuckled, reaching for Boomer and taking him into his arms. "Do you want to meet her?" Boomer nodded his head. Again, Jazz laughed. He had a feeling he was going to be doing a lot of that. "Boomer this is Violet. Violet, this is Boomer."

Violet gave Boomer a long stare then beeped kindly at him.

(raspberry!)

Tiny optic covers blinked rapidly. What was that? Uncertain, Violet curled up and snuggled as close as she could to Prowl's chest, warbling timidly.

"Typical of Ironhide's son," Prowl remarked, rolling his optics. Then in a stern, serious tone said, "I do hope he will not be spouting profanity around Violet. Same goes for you too Ironhide."

"I'll do my best to teach them both to behave," Chromia smiled, a bit embarrassed as she took Boomer into her arms. She quietly chided her son on his rude behavior and gave her sparkmate a long, hard look. Ironhide shrugged his shoulders giving her an apologetic look.

"I'll help if you need it," Jazz offered, arms folder across his chest. He agreed with Prowl. No foul language near their baby girl.

"It's ok Violet," Prowl said reassuringly. "Not all mechs are rude."

"Mech, me," Max grinned proudly. Yeah, that's right. Thanks to Elita's teachings Max knew the difference between mechs and femmes.

"That's right," Optimus praised. "You're a mech and Violet's a femme."

"Like Lita?"

"Yes, like me," Elita smiled, caressing her son's head.

"Can you say hello to Violet?" Optimus asked, moving Max as close as possible while still giving the tiny femme some space.

Violet still wasn't sure about all that was going on around her had turned her face into Prowl's chase, clinging to his armor. Max, wanting to see her face so he could greet her properly laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and beeped softly. He removed his hand when the femme slowly turned her head to look at him.

"Hi," the little mech smiled, waving at her.

At least this one didn't make strange noises. So Violet relaxed. What was he doing though? She looked at her hand and then tried to mimic what Max was doing. Only hers wasn't as coordinated as Max's yet. Still, sparks melted and awes sounded at her attempt to reply.

And Max, being the well mannered little mech he was, did what he'd seen his father do many times when he greeted Lita. He leaned over and kissed Violet on the cheek. And then leaned back rather proud of himself for being so nice.

"Aw, that was so cute," Elita cooed.

"Yes, cute," Ironhide snorted. "Max definitely takes after Optimus."

"Just what are your son's intentions towards my daughter?!" Prowl demanded.

"Oh good Primus!" Optimus exclaimed, pulling Max close to his chest.

"Prowl, I'm sure it's nothing," Elita replied as Optimus bolted for the door. "Optimus, where are you going?"

"I'm just getting Max to safety before Prowl throws him in the brig."

"Prowl, you wouldn't do that…would you?" Jazz asked.

Prowl just smirked at him.

"Who'd have thought Prowl had a sense of humor," Elita smiled. "Congratulations, the both of you. She's very beautiful."

"Thank you Elita," Prowl said. "And yes, she is."

"She's definitely a looker," Ironhide added and immediately put up his hands in defense. "I meant nothing. My son will keep his lips to himself, I promise."

Just to be safe, Hide decided to leave, pulling Chromia with him. The femme laughed, congratulating Prowl and Jazz.

"Come on Boomer, let's go to the shooting range," Chromia cooed. "Hide can hold you while you get to watch a real expert blow stuff up."

Boomer cheered excitedly and clapped as his parents headed out of the med bay. Elita followed, chasing down her sparkmate and sparkling. It didn't take long to find them. Optimus was walking very slowly.

"So, do you think we should warn them?" she asked, reaching his side.

"Nah, best to let Prowl and Jazz learn a few things on their own," he smiled, cradling the now recharging sparkling. "It's the only way to truly enjoy parenthood."

"Are you, enjoying it?" she expectantly questioned.

"Every astrosecond of it, my love. Every astrosecond of it."

So, what did you think? I hope you liked the final chapter. Yes, it is the final chapter of THIS story. Now, if you want it to continue there is a poll. A simple yes or no will suffice. However, and this is the reason for the poll, I will be deviating from my normal Optimus centered story and focus on Prowl and Jazz as they cope with the adventures of parenthood as they raise their little Violet. In fact that will be the title - Adventures in Parenthood. But only IF there is enough interest to continue this story with a sequel. And yes, there will be more sparkling cuteness and humor. So, go vote! Vote now!

Again I thank everyone for reading and the reviews.