Nine Months Alone

Chapter Three

Knock It Off!

"Decepticreep!"

"Junkie pile!"

"Oil waste!"

"Cyber trash!"

"You pathetic excuse for a-!"

"CUT THE FRAG OUT OF IT, YOU TWO!"

The two mechs glanced nervously at Arcee, knowing that they crossed the line. The expecting femme heaved heavily, metal scraping mildly against each other at every exhale while walking tiredly on her feet. A month had past, and already Arcee was showing obvious signs of her pregnancy. A few hormonal bouts here and there pulsed through her drive, but most of the time she tried to keep her systems under control.

During the course of the month, the intermixing of Autobots and Decepticons was easier said to bring back together than the actual action. Since Breakdown and Arcee grew close because of her relationship with Knock Out, they'd come together to talk of the old days and other topics, but sometimes Bulkhead would come across them. And since he and Breakdown weren't exactly best buddies, it was as if the war still existed.

"Would you two stop acting like sparklings and for once grow up?" the sharpness in her voice echoed through out the base.

The femme's optics locked on to the Wrecker.

"I don't care if you hate me or not, but this... has got to stop, Bulkhead. I'm honestly sick and tired of you fighting him."

Breakdown's turn.

"You've lost so much, Breakdown... and you've handled everything so well, don't let it all go to waste. And this sparkling..."

She placed a careful hand over the growing infant.

"This baby is both Decepticon and Autobot. What's it going to think when it sees you two fight?"

A stinging silence was in the atmosphere. For a moment an air of understanding was among the three of them, but Bulkhead's optics turned angry.

"I see what's this about," the green Autobot began. "You're siding with him because he's a Decepticon. He was a Decepticon! Everything you decide upon, if you had to side with either us or them, you'd chose the 'Cons. It's because you let him into your spark...! I can't believe you'd do this, Arcee. Do you remember what they did to you? What they did to us?"

A pang of guilt throbbed and lumped inside of her, and she felt her brow crunching.

'No, don't bring it...'

"They took Tailgate, Cliffjumper..." disbelief welled up in his voice. "I can't believe you'd dishonor their memory like that. All for that 'Con!"

That was it. Arcee had enough.

She felt herself face to face againts the green Wrecker, arm raised and ready to attack, but something inside of her made her halt her blow. The Autobot before her cringed to brace the invisible slap, but he was lucky to be spared.

The blue femme lowered her arm and gave a more merciful look at Bulkhead. She jabbed a finger at him.

"He is gone, too," she began sharply. "He's the father of my child, don't you dare say those things about him. Just because I was with him and he's a Decepticon, doesn't mean I abandoned them both. I cherish them, still. As I said, I don't care if you hate me or not. Right now, Breakdown's more sympathetic than you. He's more of an Autobot than you'll ever be."

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."

She felt Breakdown smoothing a hand down her back with comfort as she dried the tears off her face. They were both in the privacy of the hanger, sitting on the berth.

"It's alright, it's alright..." said Breakdown reassuringly. "This thing between me and Bulkhead's been going on for Spark knows when. You were brave to stand up for me, Knock Out and the 'Cons... Thank you."

A warm smile was on her face through her tears, and she felt her spark grow a little lighter.

"Anytime..." she muttered under her breath.

After a long pause, Breakdown then spoke.

"He was my friend, and I want him back as much as you do... but he's gone. If it helps, then I just want to let you know that you're not the only one who will miss him."

Breakdown seemed so serene and collective after the war. Perhaps long centries of fighting can do things to a bot, especially since he lost an optic. Out of all the support she was receiving, Breakdown was extremely helpful.

As a lump in her throat smoothed out, Arcee then began to speak.

"It wasn't always perfect, me and Knock Out. I wanted to let him in, I wanted to let him know that he means so much to me, but, I... I pushed him away. I didn't let him know that. I was so damn caught up in the past, I was scared that I was going to lose him. What happened to Tailgate, Cliff, I... He just didn't deserve that from me. But he wanted to be with me, and I just couldn't see that. And now he's gone, I can't say that to him at all. He loved me... cared about me. And I treated him like that..."

She felt an arm wrapped around her shoulders.

"I'm sure he knew..." began Breakdown. "He wouldn't hate you for all that, I'm sure of it. He just... waits for you, no matter if it takes you eons. He doesn't care how wrecked up you are. He stays since he knows how to fix it. And he's still alive. He lives in you."

A drop began to roll down her face as she felt a quiet sob coming out of her person. Breakdown took her into an embrace and she could feel herself being rocked back and forth.

All this time, out of all the moments she worried, they could finally be laid to rest. And she did nothing wrong. She really did have the best friends around her.

Once there was silence around them, Arcee began to speak.

"Pregnancy hormones suck."

"I know."

"Be grateful that you're not a femme."

"I know."

"Shut up..."

"I know."