Prime Blood Ironbands Chapter 9

Ratchet lets Ironhide cry on his shoulder for a few minutes letting his own tears eek out. Ironhide as been through Pit and back physically within the last week. How could it not screw with his emotions? Near constant threat of either mate dying, a sparkling they never thought they could ever have arriving and then possibly dying right before them without even a chance and then … Chromia. Ratchet shook his head, it was a horrible way to do it. But she tricked Ironhide into reverting. He promised to never leave her side. She let him hold to that promise and pushed him away instead.

Ironhide pulls back wiping the facial fluids from Ratchet's shoulder, "Sorry."

Ratchet grasps Ironhide by the helm buds, "You didn't purge on me, and I'm grateful."

Ironhide chuckles shaking his helm still in Ratchet's grasp, "No I did that upstairs." Ratchet looks worried. Ironhide closes his optics trying not to cry again, "Please tell me my son will be alright. Please don't let everything Chromia and I just went through be for nothing." Then opens them back up and pleads, "Please? I have to go tell her… she was right."

Ratchet soothes Ironhide's helm and then gestures towards one of the berths. For the first time in a very long time, Ironhide says nothing and complies with everything Ratchet says. As a reward, Ratchet holds up a mirror and shows Ironhide how his son is nestled within his chest. "I'm going to warn you, it won't be comfortable. There's a reason why mechs and femmes are created differently. I'm going to make some adjustments and I'm going to give you a modified Energon regiment. Please follow my-"

"Ratchet," Ironhide's very soft voice cuts off his friend's beginning of a rant. "Please stay on Ocean City until he hatches. You can even have my quarters. Just please don't leave Chromia and I after all this. Her only dream….," he lets his finger tips caress the pod, "… lies here."

Ratchet is nearly ready to cry again when a lone tear escapes Ironhide again. Instead, Ratchet wipes the tear and cups his friend's face brotherly, "I promise." Then both take a moment to put their hands on the wiggling little one together.

Ratchet's com pings from Wheeljack. /Should we wait or are you ready for us to come back and make final adjustments to Ironhide's um, shell?/

Ratchet turns back to Ironhide, "Are you ready for the engineers to make final adjustments?" He nods. So Ratchet sends the signal, /Yeah, he's ready. He's a little emotional so tread carefully./

Wheeljack sighs into the com, /Understood. I'll try not to cry myself./ And the door opens with only Jolt and Wheeljack returning.

~~ Hours upon hours later, when Ironhide can't take Ratchet's lab anymore, he manages to call Optimus to release him. Actually, Optimus tells Ratchet to take a break. Ironhide searches the base for Chromia. He asks everyone he sees. No one has seen her.

Hours later, he finally finds her. Curled up in a ball tight as the pod in his chest, sound asleep in Optimus' berth under a black blanket with an Autobot insignia. Rosa's. Optimus had kept his daughter's blanket that her foster mother, Sarah Lennox, had given to Rosa shortly after Poco had died. Chromia now looked so helpless.

Her face is puffy where she has sobbed herself to sleep. Even now, Ironhide can see her eyes still cry in her sleep. Optimus has her in sanctuary away from everyone. Even her mate. Chromia is sleeping soundly, finally. Ironhide sighs deeply grateful that she is safe and resting, even if its not by his side. Silently, Optimus leads him out of the room, leaving her in peace.

"Why won't she see me now?" Ironhide asks with a shaky voice. Optimus shakes his head in a silent way of saying, you don't need to ask, you already know.

Instead, Optimus walks Ironhide back to his own quarters. "Get some sleep. Even if not for yourself, for the sparkling. This one is very strong but needs comfort. I did not bond with him and did not even try. You need to. He needs you, Ironhide." With that, Optimus pushes Ironhide to sit on the berth.

Ironhide really doesn't have a choice, he is so slagging tired, he nearly falls to his side. Curling up into a ball he mutters, "The berth is so big alone."

Optimus' voice hitches, "I… know." He was going to ask if Ironhide wanted him to stay in the room, but then he hears Ironhide's familiar mechly snore. Instead, Optimus takes the dehumidifying blanket from the under-berth drawer and lays it over his resting friend. "Sleep, my friend. It will be alright." With that, Optimus shuts off the light and leaves the room.

~~ The days pass slowly. Chromia avoids Ironhide. He has to see her. Using his commanding stride he heads right for Optimus' quarters again. Putting the code in he knows as well as his own, he finds he is denied access. Smirking he tries one of the other codes Optimus regularly uses. But before he can key in the last sequence, a large black hand comes over his. Ironhide doesn't have to look up, he knows that scared and battered glove. The glove retracts and now Ironhide can see the hand of a compassionate friend. Ironhide still doesn't turn, "I have to see her."

"She has made it clear, she can't see you."

Ironhide notices he didn't say the word won't but rather can't. Now Ironhide looks up to Optimus, "I don't need to talk to her, I just need to see her. Please?" Optimus looks down at his hurting friend, his own spark aching for them. Then with a thrust of his chin, Ironhide backs up. Optimus enters the quarters and seals the door locking Ironhide out in the cold hallway. A few minutes later, the door opens again. Once again, Chromia is asleep in Optimus' bunk. Up towards the head of the bunk she is wrapped up tightly in the deep black fleece blanket with a rosy-red Autobot logo appliquéd in satin. His breath becomes ragged seeing his wife as small and helpless as dear Rosa…. No, she is as strong and devoted as Poco (Rosa's mother). As quietly as he can he sits on the bunk beside her and finds himself laying his head beside her sleeping form. Optimus guards the door and Chromia. Ironhide drops his gloves and strokes her back so tenderly.

A tear comes to him, "Chromia, I never should have said I would lie to you. I never should have left you. I won't leave you now. No matter what." She doesn't open her eyes or even acknowledge that she heard him, but her left hand reaches out and touches his left ring finger. Her hand traces the grooves bound around it. In sparkling blue, the engraving says her name in their native language. He watches her hand. In red, outlined in deep black (darker than her mocha skin) a tattoo says his own name also in Cybertronian script-glyph. Permanently marked, mates bound forever ….until all are one. All are one. He can feel a thump from the pod in his chest. Together they have made a new one. Ironhide feels his son cry out in their bond to feel his parents both together. Instead, the sire sends his own warmth back letting the little one know his creator is right there and loves him twice as much as his sire. The son sighs and gives into his sires comfort.

Optimus comes closer to the couple. Ironhide continues to stroke her back, "You know, until that day I didn't realize how talented Ratchet was," his voice is very soft and warm watching her fingers feel her own name. Optimus just barely smiles. He knew their friend's talent, rubbing his own thumb against the inside joint of his own finger. The soft underside of Optimus' ring finger bears Elita's name and later he had Ratchet add Poco's.

Finally cupping her body closer to his face so he can feel her breath on his lips, Ironhide locks gazes with his friend, "I wish I could give her what you gave Poco."

Now it's Optimus' turn to take a ragged breath. "You did and so much more. I never could have raised those children. You know that. I could train them, tried to protect them, but…" He looks down at Chromia, "Ironhide, she hasn't stopped loving you. She just needs to adjust to the separation. She knows she cut you and I think regrets it dearly."

"Has she confided in you?"

Optimus shakes his head, "No. Poco did." Optimus now thumbs the inside of his right hand where Lilly, Primo and Rosa's names are engraved. If anyone ever stripped his gloves, they wouldn't see the markings with out searching, yet he could feel them any time he wanted to and not draw attention.

Optimus can't face Ironhide with his next words, "I'm leaving Ocean City in your hands tomorrow. I stayed longer than I already should have. Jungle Base has problems with infiltraitors. Prowl is asking for help with Inferno and Perceptor reassigned off base." Optimus can't tell Ironhide that Chromia pleaded to go with him. Or that he said yes.

Ironhide nods, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have distracted you from your duties, Prime."

Optimus smiles, "Look, she maybe your mate, but she was under my command and Elita's best friend. Who's to say I wasn't here for her and not you?" Ironhide can't help but smile at his friend trying to make things lighter. Just to add insult to injury, Optimus orders with a smirk but a firm tone, "Now get out of my quarters. I have things to do before I leave. I'll leave you a report on your desk. You look like you could use some rest of your own right now. It will be up to you to find someone to take the second shift tomorrow. I'm not covering your aft anymore."

Ever so reluctantly, Ironhide rises from his mate's side. She is still sound asleep, so he believes. "Will I see you off?"

Optimus shakes his head, "I don't want anyone to get wind of my departure. I'll be taking Bee, and Wheeljack with me."

"Not Ratchet?" Ironhide hides his sigh of relief making it sound like a sigh disappointed.

Optimus smiles warmly, "You need a friend. And I think he has the best medical knowledge to assist you. I want regular updates. It's been such a long time since anyone has seen a healthy pod hatch."

Ironhide stands up and puts a hand on his friend's shoulder, "You just love turning me into an experiment, don't you?"

Optimus shakes his head in amusement, "I didn't ask you to step in front of the beam for me."

Ironhide narrows his gaze, "You know, Prime, I'm getting tired of saving your aft."

Optimus smirks back, "Well that's fine. I'm getting tired of seeing yours. Get out of my quarters."

Ironhide heads for the door and smirks back to his friend, "Good to see Orion is still alive and well." Optimus just shakes his head in warning. And then silently, Ironhide leaves with a last glance at his sleeping wife. With Optimus leaving, maybe as FIC he can nail Chromia down for a talk. He leaves the quarters with a smirk of a plan.

Ironhide finally had a good night's rest since reverting back. His dreams become of peace with Chromia once again. When his alarm awakens him, he find's Prime's orders waiting for him in his office along with a cube of Ratchet's formulated Energon. The orders state Ironhide has been placed on restricted duty. He grumbles, but he knows, his first duty is to protect the pod. Not just for himself, but for the hope of all Autobots. For Chromia. For their bond. The last note in Prime's report was that Commander Chromia has been reassigned off base: undercover. Needless to say, Prime didn't say where. Ironhide's spark plumments. His mate is gone. Again. He roars a primal mech roar in anger and spark wrenching pain.

Ratchet races to the office from warnings of passers by to sounds of a battle inside the City Commander's office. Swiftly the CMO punches in his over ride hearing the battle inside. He finds Ironhide tearing the office apart with tears again streaking down his face. Ratchet can't zap him in fear of hurting the sparking. Instead he barks sharply, "IRONHIDE! Stand down!"

Ironhide whirls around on Ratchet ready to tear him apart. Seeing Ratchet's face etched in concern, he drops his fists in defeat. With a motion of his hand, Ratchet has everyone clear the room. Swiftly they do. Ratchet picks up the still sealed cube of formulated-Energon. Righting a chair, Ratchet presses Ironhide's shoulder making him sit and shoves the cube into his hands. Ironhide looks at it but doesn't consume it. Ratchet nudges the cube again gently, "I don't want to hear anything until the cube is gone. I can feel the sparkling from here screaming for it."

Ironhide looks up to Ratchet to see if he's serious. Ratchet pulls his poker face. Ironhide slowly consumes the cube. When it's almost gone, Ratchet, leans against the wall and crosses his arms. "What is it?"

The black and red mech looks up to his dear friend, "Prime let her be reassigned. Off base."

Ratchet sighs heavily, "Yeah, I was afraid of that."

"You knew?" he growls.

Ratchet slowly shakes his head, "No, not for sure. Chromia had talked to me. I suggested she talk to you first. But you know femmes-

"Apparently not." Ironhide grimaces and crushes the cube with a bare hand. "I thought after all this time-"

"Hide, calm down. You have to stay calm for the little one. Do you want him to know you hate or love your mate?"

Ironhide sneers right at Ratchet, "Do I have a mate anymore?"

"Don't you dare Ironhide! Don't you dare give up on her! You never did before. You bonded yourself to her long before your sparks merged. Don't you dare let this spat and transformation undo everything you both have fought and nearly died for." He stands up and scowls, "So help me Ironhide, I will beat the scrap out of you and take your son as my own if you give up on your beloved."

To which Ironhide launches up and becomes overprotective. Pulling out one cannon on his friend, he clutches his chest armor with the other, "Oh like PIT will YOU raise my son! No one touches my son but me!" The cannon comes level with Ratchet's helm.

Ratchet beams his beloved smile of success, "Now there's the Ironhide I know. Good to see you're back. Now clean this place up and get this city in line. Because I'm not doing your job and this place is in sore need of a confident strong leader." To which he lightly kicks the tipped over desk. "And I'm not your maid."

Ironhide shakes his head, "Get back to your lab Ratchet and leave me alone." Ratchet chuckles and turns to the door. Before he opens it, he turns back and asks softly, "Are you going to be alright?"

Ironhide stands up, righting the desk, "For now. But ask me again tonight when I try to recharge in that berth alone."

Ratchet knows the situation is serious, but so doesn't want Ironhide to slip into depression so he opens the door and smirks back, "I love ya Ironhide, but not that much."

In response, Ironhide picks up the nearest object (the chair) and flings it at the parting comment. Ratchet, ducks and chuckles his way back down to his med bay.

Ocean City Commander turns back to the mess he has made and begins putting his new life back together. "So Sparkling, lesson number one. If you make the mess, nine times out of ten you will have to clean it up. And trust me, you will be cleaning up after yourself. Your creator was no maid, and neither am I." And so Ironhide calmed himself by talking to his son.

As much as he tried to avoid it, Ironhide can't help but find himself stuck with Ratchet and his horrid soap operas. He threatened Ratchet if he teases him about being one of the pregnant females, he would shoot out a vital body part insuring the medic he would NEVER be a sire or a creator. No matter how much time he spend repairing himself. Ratchet promised not to make the comparison. But the smirks he tried to conceal still left Ironhide fuming. Finally Ironhide did take out one light from Ratchet's shoulder and finished off the threat, "Ratchet, I pray one day you will get yours. Then we'll see how you handle it." Ratchet felt an uneasy wave across his spark. Threat or omen?

One day while searching for Ironhide, Ratchet made his way up to the City Commander's private quarters. He found Ironhide had dragged what was left of Chromia's shell remains back up here. Carefully removing each piece from himself that he didn't need, Ironhide was patching his mate's shell back together. He knew he had to keep some of her parts, the ones closest to his spark, for the pod's sake.

Checking in with the engineering crew, Ratchet found Ironhide even got a couple humans and Jolt to help him. They tried to recreated Chromia's shell with Earth made parts as well. It wouldn't be her same body. Too much of it was either embedded in Ironhide's body, the sparkling's pod, or was just plainly gone. But Ironhide would do everything he could. Ratchet would silently support him.

On one of Optimus resupply jaunts, Ironhide drags him to his quarters. Optimus leaned on the door way as Ironhide pulled the sheet off the new shell of Chromia. Optimus smiles. "You've put some long hours on this. It looks good. Will it work?" He carefully inspects it.

"I don't know. I need you to contact her." Optimus lowers his head. Ironhide thrusts a finger in Optimus' chest, "I know you know where she is. She hasn't spoken to me. Not even when she left. Has she felt the change at all?" Ironhide watches his friend for signs.

"She hasn't said. She doesn't report back much." Optimus very carefully answers. He doesn't want Ironhide to loose it after all this time of being calm.

"What is she doing?" Ironhide is pleading for information about his mate. Optimus stops him with one glare of warning. "Come on. You can't be serious." Optimus shakes his head with a sigh. "Why not? Not even a hint?"

"You know exactly why," Optimus warns in his friendly tone.

Ironhide strokes the shell, "She's afraid I will drag her back and be mad at her."

"No, quite the opposite. She can't resist you. She never could." Optimus stops and looks directly into Ironhide's optics, "You know she always loved you. There was never anyone but you. Ever." Optimus lays a hand on his friend's shoulder, "She never hated you for leaving. She loved you for leaving. She can't handle being away from you."

"Then why is she staying away? I don't understand. Why will she tell you but not me?" Ironhide is clearly hurting in his confusion. Optimus can't help but smile, almost laughing. "I don't think this is funny."

Optimus drops his head still smirking, "I can try, but you know how strong she is. You know how determined she is. It must take some strong females to put up with us." Then it hits Ironhide right between the optics. Optimus is referring to Ironhide helping Poco leave him. He sighs heavily, "Pay backs, my old friend. Paybacks." Optimus leaves silently. It leaves Ironhide running a longing hand over Chromia's new body. It leaves him remembering their life here.

{flashback} Just after Ironhide and Chromia made their bonding & vows and ultimatum to Prime, Ocean City needed them. Ironhide brought his sparkmate to the newly formed base while Ratchet, Optimus, and Bee went to another city for extended missions. Weapons Commander, former Second in Command of the Autobots, Ironhide was now City Commander for Ocean City. With a team of humans to assist him, the construction went ahead of schedule. Chromia pushed herself harder than any other 'Bot or human.

Part of him smiled with pride. That was the old Chromia he knew. But the flip side was that he hurt for her and worried over her. Several times he tried to order or pull her away. They hadn't had a moment alone yet. The shuttle trip from Moonbase to Earth hadn't even given them time to physically join.

Why was she pushing herself so hard? Sure she could feel his flirting and even sent some back. But what was it? What was she afraid of?

He came up to her in front of others and put on his commander tone, "Chromia, down time."

She shook her head not facing him, "Not until this is done."

He took her arm and physically turned her away from the project. And that was hard because she resisted him. But he was stronger. "That's what you said four projects ago. Do I need to get Wheeljack down here to null you?"

She ups her chin at him and returns the military attitude, "Sir, you put this under my command. If it isn't completed properly you will find me at fault. I'm finishing it."

He reaches into his back and pulls out a set of stasis cuffs, "Chromia, don't make me secure you to your quarters." Terror flashes over her face. He instantly regrets his last move and moves the stasis cuffs out of sight. Her demeanor resumes to command. He sighs heavily and tries again, "Four hours, and then you rest."

She challenges him again, "Six and yes."

He points a finger at her, "In six hours you will be in your quarters one way or another. That is my final order." She only nods and turns back to her work.

Six hours later he comes to his quarters and seals the door. Chromia is in there pacing arms clutched tightly around her chest. Not sleeping. She jumps when she sees him. But he can see, she's upset. Tramatized. He opens his arms wide and she launches into them. He can feel her shaking.

"I'm sorry for the cuffs," he whispers against her audio receptor.

"I'm not sleeping in quarters alone. Never! Even if I have to bunk with the humans." Clearly her nightmares aren't over and there was a lot they needed to talk about.

He tips her head up to face him. "Tonight, I'll stand guard." He lifts her into his arms. He knows she is exhausted and afraid of her nightmares. Sitting himself down and releases his upper torso armor. He knows she isn't ready to release her own armor right now, there is something in the bond she is holding back.

Chromia, shhh, I will not force you. But let me in.

'Hide, I'm so scared of myself. I never want to hurt you for who I have become. I have changed. I'm not the scared little recruit you knew.

No, you aren't. You are the toughest warrior I know. You lead your femmes to safety. You lead them through their leader's murder. And you were brave enough to bond with me. Let me show you what this bond can do.

If for no other reason, he has removed his armor to feel her against his tender side. He keeps the lower armor on so she knows he won't force himself on her and she doesn't feel obligated. His bare arms cup and surround her head against his throbbing spark as he lays them both down. Her body slowly relaxes in his grip. "I love you," he whispers. "I will protect you. Always."

She chokes out her question, "Ironhide, would you ever lie to me?"

He won't lie, "Yes."

Her nails dig into his under-armor, "Why?"

"If it will save your life, I will lie to you." Something about the way he flexes his arm lets her know, he has done it before and would not hesitate to do it again. "Can you live with that?"

"If it is the only way to live with you, yes."

He presses his face against her, "But I will never stop loving you. No matter what. Nothing can ever stop my love for you. Not even my extinguished spark will stop my love." She doesn't say the words back to him. He didn't expect her to. He just expected her to trust him. And he feels she does. Her body goes limp in his arms and he knows she has finally gone into sleep mode.

Even when his com pinged a few hours later, he only answered it softly. They were needing his approval for something. "I'm a little busy with something else. Do it and I'll sign for it later."

The human asks again, "Sir, how long will you busy?"

Ironhide smiles to the hinted question. "I'll be there in the morning."

The human smiles, "Yes sir. Good night." No one else dares to call him and he was grateful. He finally had Chromia to himself. If any accident or attack comes, they will feel his full wrath. But for now, he will resign himself to Chromia's comfort. She was all that mattered any more. He would protect her at all costs. {end flash back}

All costs… all costs… The memory washes over him laying alone in his berth were he made her that promise so long ago. And now, Chromia knew their child was more valuable than them. She had lied to him to save his life. His own words had come back to bite him fiercely. He wouldn't let her down, not now. Not ever again.

More than determined than ever, he berated Prime every day with messages to forward to Chromia. Prime never responded. Neither did Chromia.

Ironhide's chest was beginning to swell with time. Many a night, Ironhide awoke to the pounding in his chest. He had to soothe his with a tender stroke of his thumb and his bond. He had to wear the outer-armor night and day to keep the pod secured to his chest. But it sure hurt and restricted his sleeping positions. No longer his favorite one of face down , hip cocked up to relieve the bent strut in the back. Oh there were mornings he was rivaling Ratchet in the grumpy department.

Both of them grumbling over the warm Energon dispenser a clutching aching backs or sides. Ironhide looks up to Ratchet, "Please Doc-bot, how much longer?"

Ratchet snarls back, "Don't call me that, Mayor."

Ironhide cocks a brow, "Rotten wrench."

"Iron imbesile."

"Mad medic"

Ratchet raise his cube in toast, "Got that right, Arsenal Aft."

Ironhide rolls his neck, releasing a few pops and crinks, "You wanna go a few rounds? I can still throw you." He smirks, "Me and my son can take you out."

Ratchet shakes his head looking up to the sky, "Please Primus, why did you have to merge those two? Hum? Have I wronged you in some way?" Ironhide chuckles heartily and heads down the hall to the training grounds.

A few weeks later, Ironhide is sparing with his team again. He is more defensive in protecting his chest these days letting the other take the offensive positions. "Everybody needs to know how to defend themselves as much as how to take on a foe. And I will show you how it's done. Ready Hot Shot?" The blue and yellow mech nods curtly.

Hot Shot didn't want his commander sparing, but he knew better than to face the wrath of Ironhide. They all knew that he kept the fate of all their hopes within his chest. More than half way into the session, the door opens. He looks up from his sparing. Freezing his moves, he can't believe what he sees. She's right there in front of him. His beloved mate, Chromia. Still as a human, he didn't care, but just as beautiful. She smiles to him as he blocks Hot Rod's foot coming towards his face, keeping his optics on her. He grabs the foot and twists it. Without breaking eye contact with her, he drops Hot Rod like a spent shell. Like the old days. Hot Rod's bruised ego hurts more than his knee.

Ironhide ignores Hot Rod and comes kneeling before her. "Hello."

"Hello," she softly returns. "Finish. I can wait." She takes a seat and watches him finish the training. Chromia was always infatuated in watching him fight, but even more when he trained. In this mode, he was protector. Teacher, not warrior. Trying to save his team's lives. She sees his chest has painfully swollen quite a bit. Yet he still has the grace he always had. Even when he takes on Optimus. Optimus avoids the chest but still gives him everything he's got. Ironhide takes a couple punches. She cringes. But he's right back on his feet with a few bantering challenges back at his best friend. Their friendship hasn't changed one little bit.

When Ratchet joins with Ironhide to take on Optimus it gets very interesting. Eventually the whole thing falls apart when the friends start laughing more than pulling antenna's and punches. Optimus has to wave them off, gasping for breath while laughing heavily.

Ironhide calls the training over with hand movements because he too is laughing too hard. The room is dismissed and the friends sit with Bumble Bee beside Chromia. Bee tells Chromia, "I heard a rumor that Ironhide is working on a new shell for you to revert back into."

"Really? I would like to see it." she sounds excited. He gives her a tender smile. She's actually talking to him and wants to come back to him. Ironhide turns to Bee with thanks. He didn't know how she would react and he was afraid to find out before. The friends walk towards his quarters.

Ratchet asks, "Have you had any signs of the change?"

She pulls up her sleeve, "Nothing here, but have begun feeling different. That's why I returned. I have been growing more tired. I'm getting worried. I also haven't been feeling well in my stomach. It comes and goes. And this body seems to be physically changing some way. I don't know." Ironhide gives her a very sympathetic look. He lowers a hand to her. She gives his finger a squeeze.

Ratchet tries again, "Should we see if you are ready?"

She looks up at Ironhide with all the sympathy she can muster, "I would like to be back in your arms, not just your hand." She smiles. Bee finds it very funny. They others just shake their head at the bad joke. Ironhide pulls the sheet off the shell.

Chromia's eyes go wide in amazement. She walks around it a couple of times, stroking it very lovingly. Then she looks up at him full of emotion, "You did this for me?"

Ratchet leans in, "He won't let me touch it. So for your sake, I truly hope it works."

"His hands do amazing things to me. I have no doubt of his skill. It will work." Ironhide swallows hard at jab to their physical relation ship.

She smiles, "Certainly you know what I mean?" she turns to the friends, implying the mechs talk of their conquests. Optimus blushes. Bee fans his own face and Ratchet laughs hardest of all. Ironhide kicks Ratchet in the ankle about their joke.

"Let's get this to the lab," Optimus chokes out. He scoops up the shell.

They all follow him to the lab. Ratchet hooks up the shell. Jolt parts the chest.

"Whenever you are ready," Ratchet nods.

Chromia turns back to Ironhide. He lowers his head to meet hers. She holds his face in her hands, "Just in case this doesn't work, know that I honestly do love you. I'm sorry for everything. Take care of our gift." She kisses his lips. Then she touches the swollen part of his chest, "I hope to see you soon son." They all stand back. She takes a run at the shell.

"WAIT!" Optimus shouts dropping his hand.

I'm-a working on 10. Sorry, couldn't help but make the jab. I see them as war-brothers, and best friends. Nothing more. Litohatchee has the best best best showing of Ratchet and Ironhide's brotherhood. You can find her in my favorite authors. Warning, she will make you laugh and cry.