Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers. They are the property of Hasbro. I'm only borrowing them. I do own Sunfire.

A Reason to Continue On

Chapter 2

They found the brothers in a park near the Riverfront area. The signs of the battle were all around them in the form of shattered trees and churned up earth. Luckily, they had kept the fight away from populated areas.

The twins lay together near the water's edge, Sunstreaker wrapped in his brothers arms. Sideswipe's injuries had been relatively minor, but Sunstreaker's normally pristine chest armor was scared by a large hole. The breach had compromised both his spark chamber and his main energon pump. It had only been a matter of time before he bled out. Which Decepticon had been responsible for the fatal blow was not determined.

XX--XX

"I want to see them," Ratchet requested as First Aid examined his open chest. The new sparkling, a femme, was just fine. It would take a couple of orns for First Aid and Wheeljack to build a spark casing and protoform for her. Meanwhile, she could stay where she was with Ratchet. First Aid felt that Ratchet needed her right now just as much as the sparkling needed her creator.

"Ratchet, you need to rest," First Aid tried to keep his mentor on the exam table as he tried to sit up.

"Aid, I…I need to see them," pleaded Ratchet. First Aid acquiesced and helped the medic off the table and walked him over to the door to the private ward where the bodies of the brothers had been laid. Ratchet looked up at his protégé, "Alone." First Aid looked at him searchingly, then nodded and stepped back, allowing Ratchet to enter the dimly lit room alone.

Ratchet stood still for a moment as the doors closed behind him, then slowly walked over to the side-by-side berths holding the tarp covered remains of his bonded. With a shaking hand he pulled back the coverings to reveal their faces.

Overwhelming grief griped his spark and his knees gave out and he collapsed forward half laying on the berth holding the twins, his head between theirs. He wished he could cry like humans did to express his tearing sorrow, but his form was never designed for such a function. The three of them had known the possibility of this day coming, but the reality of it was entirely different from the theory.

Ratchet suddenly felt the rapid and pained fluttering of the sparkling in his chest reacting to his grief and instinctively soothed her. Placing a hand on his chest plates he stood back up and looked at his bonded again. Both of their faces bore contented smiles. They had been together when they died and had known what they had given him. His hands traced the curves of their mouths. Yes, he would miss them for the rest of his long life, but he could not regret the time he had had with them nor the precious gift they had given him. He would look after their daughter and raise her to know what her other two creators had really been like. The twin warriors had been brutal and savage, but he had seen the other side of their personalities, the one they didn't show to most others. Everyone knew of Sideswipe's prankster tendencies and his sense of fun, but he had also been extremely caring and gentle. Sunstreaker's ego had made him vain, but beneath the waxed to perfection exterior he had been insecure. He had also been fiercely protective of anyone he cared for and his artistic talent had been truly brilliant. Sunfire, his mind prompted him. He would name the sparkling femme Sunfire, and he would honor the twins' final wish and continue on.

Trailing a hand over a cheek on each brother he addressed them, "I will stay as you asked and raise our daughter. Then, one day, we will be together again my twins….Until all are one." He gave each a final caress with a small, sad smile on his own face, then turned to leave the room and seek his berth. He needed his rest after all, he had a sparkling to raise.