Phew! I had to change this a few times... Keep getting writers block

Last time: 23 made up with both Frenzy and Soundwave, and agreed to go to the autobots christmas party...

"This is highly confusing," Twenty Three complained.

They had simply googled 'Christmas party' and come up with so many varying results it was insane.

"Is this supposed to be what they call a 'black tie' event? Or casual?" she blinked in confusion.

"Go for something in between," Frenzy suggested. "Then you wont be overdressed or underdressed."

"Crazy humans and their crazy clothes," Soundwave grumbled.

"I agree," sighed Twenty Three. "You have to wear something smart as well."

She looked her men up and down. They were currently wearing some of her baggy, sexless clothes that she rarely wore. She came to an awful realization.

"We're going to have to go shopping…" she grimaced. Food shopping, she didn't mind, as it usually had a good outcome, now she had learnt basic cooking. Clothes shopping, however, left her stressed out and clueless. She had no 'fashion sense' whatsoever. They had hardly thought fashion trends an important part of her training at Sector 7.

"We have hours, we don't need to go now," Frenzy put in, disliking human malls in general.

"No. We should get this over and done with, right Sounds?" she glanced at the older mech.

"Correct. Issues will not resolve themselves."

With a nod of finality, Twenty Three fiddled with her communicator.

"Dad?" she spoke into it. "I'm taking Sounds, Frenzy and Cade for a while, okay?"

"What? Where? Why do you need all three?" the deep voice demanded through the line.

"I'm going to a party of sorts with Mikaela and the Autobots. Frenzy and Soundwave need clothes too, so…"

"What? Why do they need clothes?" Megatron's voice was heavy with confusion. "And where would you ever find any to fit Soundwave?"

"Um, they're escorting me as humans," she answered.

"You turned my communications officer into a human?!?"

"Yes?" Twenty Three answered. Why was he so upset? "I can reverse it whenever I want. But I want them both with me, and I doubt the autobots would want an armed decepticon in their base."

"Why are you even going?"

"I feel like it?"

Megatron was silent for a moment.

"That's the most ridiculous reason I've ever heard."

"Shut up, Dad!" she wailed, making both men next to her bristle. No one talked to their leader like that. They were even more scared when Megatron began laughing.

"Very well, child. I trust you," he said, his voice full of mirth. "Try to wreck some more havoc while you are there, though, for me."

"If the situation arises," she answered non commitantly.

She still felt a little skitzophrenic in regards to her feelings for the autobots.

She was still a little bitter over the fact the dinobots had destroyed her human arm. True, she didn't miss it, but it wasn't about that, it was a matter of principal.

Then there was Ratchet. She had thought he was her friend…

Perhaps she would make a breakthrough at this 'christmas' gathering they would be attending.

--

Barricade sat patiently outside for about two hours while the 'humans' were inside the mall trying on clothes. He was a little sad he wouldn't be able to attend, but two men doting on her was enough, he'd be a third wheel.

It was nearing twelve thirty as they emerged now wearing casual-smart clothes.

Both men were wearing black pants, and neat iron creased shirts. Soundwave's was white with navy blue pin stripes to match his hair, and Frenzy's was a soft grey to match his own silver mop. Twenty Three was wearing a stunning blue skirt that flared out if she spun around, and a puff sleeved blouse. Her metal limbs seemed out of place in such a girly outfit, which had made one of the shop assistants extremely uncomfortable, but he hadn't said anything…He was there to sell, after all, not ask personal questions.

"You're supposed to be there in half an hour," Barricade reminded them, as they piled inside him, the men in the back seat and the femme in the front.

"I know," she grinned, and pressed the button to start his sirens. "We'll have to speed then."

She laughed gleefully as Barricade sped down the streets, vehicles fleeing his path. This was one reason she loved the police car. He was so wild, and adventurous.

--

"Thanks Cade," she patted his bonnet, and he flashed his lights at her. He'd gotten them there in record time, and they were now standing outside the autobot base with a couple of minutes to spare.

"No prob, Twenty Three. I'll pick you up when you call," he answered, and drove off into the sun.

"Okaaay," Twenty Three grinned at her two best friends, and raised an eyebrow at Soundwave, who was suddenly sending off waves of nervousness. "What's wrong?"

"I've never been inside the autobots base. This could be a trap," he voiced his fears.

"Don't be stupid. We may be vulnerable, but Twenty Three can kick can if anything goes wrong," Frenzy reassured his creator, and the girl nodded emphatically.

"You will not be harmed, promise," she winked at him, and knocked on the front door.

Optimus himself opened the door, Mikaela sitting on his left shoulder.

"Wow! Twenty Three!" she exclaimed with a grin. "You have some human friends! That's awesome! Does that mean you've dumped Soundblaster and that tin can, Frenzy?"

Twenty Three glared at her, and gestured to her friends, who were both wearing sour expressions.

Couldn't even get my name right, worthless fleshbag.

Who's she calling a tin can, the little wretch.

"Mikaela, this is Soundwave, and you know Frenzy. I have transferred them into human form for the occasion."

What? How is that possible? Optimus' voice boomed in her head in shock. She raised a mental barrier to try to keep the voices out, but knew it would only work so well.

"Shit!" Mikaela swore, swinging down from the Autobot's frame. Optimus helped out and gently placed her in front of the cyborg. "Sorry. I didn't mean any offense."

"Stupid fleshbag," Frenzy muttered, and Mikaela looked affronted, but dropped it. She'd just insulted him, so she supposed he deserved one free shot.

She held out her hand to the unfamiliar face.

"Sorry! Friends?" she grinned hopefully at him.

He just eyed her hand with disgust, and edged closer to his girlfriend.

Optimus decided now would be a good time to interrupt.

"Welcome, Twenty Three, Soundwave, Frenzy. I have one request before we continue to the celebrations," he warned them, and Twenty Three raised an eyebrow. "No fighting."

"Keep your dinobots in check, and we won't throw the first punch. However, if I see a threat, I will protect my friends."

"There will be no need for that," he assured her, and they walked into the main room.

The decepticon trio stopped dead as they entered the decorated rec room.

Autobots and humans alike, dwarfed by the decorations.

"What the slag is that?" Twenty Three gasped, pointing to an enormous tree covered with baubles.

"That's our Christmas tree," Sam grinned, walking over to them, and extending his arm, much like his girlfriend had done. "Sam Witwicky."

"We've met, Ladiesman217," Frenzy spat, and Sam blanched.

"Barricade?"

Frenzy seemed to have a fit, Twenty Three having to restrain him as Soundwave sniggered.

"That's Frenzy, Sam," Mikaela whispered, and Sam laughed embarrassedly.

"Zee, be nice. They can't help they're primitive life forms. It's not their fault they can't recognize you, they're just stupid," Twenty Three preened, calming her lover down.

"Hey, I heard that," Mikaela shot, annoyed her guest was being so rude.

"I said you were stupid, not deaf. It isn't a criticism, Mikaela," she tried to calm her host now. "I too, did not realize how primitive my own mind was until I gained the knowledge of the Allspark. Human minds are simply not created to hold as much information."

Mikaela held her breath for a minute, and closed her eyes.

1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… 7… 8… 9… 10…

Finally, she opened her eyes, and smiled again. This only confirmed in Twenty Three's mind her obvious lack in intelligence.

"Well, let's introduce you properly to the others," she said, ushering her over to some Mechs her mind identified as Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, yet she could not remember ever conversing with them.

Mikaela swapped introductions, and they seemed tense.

Frenzy and Soundwave seemed to be glaring at them.

She shrugged, and held her hand up in greeting.

"What happened to your arms and legs?" Sideswipe asked her. "I thought squishies were supposed to be, well… squishy."

Twenty Three glanced around the room until she spotted the dinobots. They seemed to be listening avidly to a story told by Ironhide.

"That one," she pointed at the triceratops. "He shot a laser straight through my arm, and it disintegrated. I replaced it, and the others soon afterwards."

"So," Sunstreaker tweaked one of her vectors, feeling slightly less fearless. "When did you get these babies? They look pretty dangerous, if creepy. I saw the dinobots after you escaped. Ratchet was not happy…"

She withdrew her vector and wrapped it around herself protectively a couple of others seeking out contact with Soundwave and Frenzy.

"Where is Ratchet?" she asked quietly. Despite the fact he left her for the autobots, she still cared about him on some level.

"Oh, Doc Hatchet's fixing up old Wheeljack. Another explosion," Sideswipe grinned, glancing at the door as if they'd enter any time. "It's the third one this week!"

"What he doesn't realize, is all the energon he's using for his tests, we spiked them with sugar," Sunstreaker sniggered, and Frenzy's eyes widened. That was Skywarp's trick! "If he'd just taste some he'd realize, but if you use it for anything else-"

"Boom!" Sideswipe finished animatedly.

"It doesn't sound very safe," she said, glancing at Soundwave, who nodded slowly. She knew better than to look to Frenzy for support in things like this, as he was the biggest prankster around. "I don't believe I'll ever understand this pranking business," she sighed.

"But at least you know what it is," Sideswipe grinned. "Ratchet said you might not, and not to mention anything like it around you."

"He thinks we're bad role models," Sunstreaker placed his hand over his heart dramatically. "The pain!"

She raised her eyebrow once more in absolute confusion.

"You're in pain?" she asked.

Frenzy nudged her. "He's being sarcastic."

"Oh! Right, how humorous," she nodded seriously, still not getting it, but knowing it should somehow be funny.

"Don't encourage them," Ratchet spoke from behind them, making them all jump. "How are you, Twenty Three? Who are you're friends?"

"I am well, thank you," she smiled at him. "You of course know Frenzy and Soundwave."

"How on earth did you manage this," he leaned down and poked Soundwave in the rib, making him yelp in protest.

"Hey!" Twenty Three wrapped her vectors around his fingers, and guided it somewhere less lethal. Soundwave edged closer to her, and half hid behind her.

He had fought against all of these autobots before, and Ratchet was indeed a menacing adversary. The size difference didn't help either.

"So, are you going to tell me how you did this?" he smiled gently at her, making the twins behind them gasp in terror. Ratchet never smiled.

"It's my Allspark powers. It's just changing matter," she shrugged. "Kind of boring. What have you been doing?"

"Well, I've been busy slagging the twins here non stop, as well as fixing up Wheeljack every other day. I kind of miss the decepticon base at times like this. All of them would look after most of their own stuff," he laughed ruefully. "These idiots wouldn't know their aft from their engines."

"Ratchet! Don't swear around the lady!" Sunstreaker looked scandalized, then broke out into another cheeky grin. "No wonder you've never had a femme!"

"Shut up before I weld your aft to your helm," the old medic growled, making both twins crack up, and run for it.

"Bastards," he swore out his vents, then turned back to his friend and her mates, who were looking decidedly uncomfortable. "Sorry about them. They're idiots."

Twenty Three shrugged. "Happens. Ratchet, can you explain to me, what is Christmas?"

Ratchet blinked.

"I already looked on the world wide web, but everything contradicts itself," she hurriedly explained. "I was hoping you might know what it is…"

"Well, I'm still a little confused on that front myself," he admitted. "I will do my best to explain it. About two thousand years ago, a child was born. This child was supposed to be the child of God."

"What is 'God?'" she asked, her nose wrinkled in confusion.

"The creators of the humans and the earth. They claim he created the entire universe," he explained calmly. "Much like our Primus."

"Oh," she breathed. "Perhaps they're the same person? Different races just call him different things."

"Maybe," Ratchet scratched his chin thoughtfully. "It is a possibility…"

"So… Christmas, huh?" Frenzy interrupted, reminding them of their original purpose.

"Ah, yes," Ratchet sighed. "Well now, This child's name was 'Jesus' which means 'God is With Us.' The Christians say he went on to save the human race."

"From what?" Twenty Three furrowed her brow. The human race was still fighting pathetic wars.

"Sin," Ratchet explained. "Christians believe that if you sin you go to hell."

"That's not right!" Mikaela shouted, racing up to them. "Don't confuse her, Ratchet."

"My apologies, Mikaela. What facts have I mixed up, then?" he replied calmly. For some reason he could get along fine with these humans, but any idiot mechs, such as Sunstreaker and Wheeljack, he couldn't stand for a whole minute.

"Well, he did kind of save us from sin. But everyone sins, so you don't immediately go to hell if you sin. You ask him for forgiveness, and if you believe in him, and follow him, you'll go to Heaven instead of Hell," she explained.

"What is 'sin,' 'heaven,' and 'hell?'" Twenty Three asked, getting a headache. "I have never come across these words before."

Mikaela looked both shocked and delighted. This would mean she got to tell the awesome story.

"Okay, well, 'sin' is all the bad things you've done, like lie, cheat, kill, all that."

"Killing isn't bad, as long as they're not a decepticon!" Twenty Three argued, and Soundwave pulled her closer, not liking the sound of this.

"I do not like where this conversation is going. Desist," he ordered the human.

"But why?" Twenty Three said, looking up from his chest.

"This is human nonsense," he told her calmly. "Did you not vow to destroy all that was left human in you?"

"That's true… But what if this 'God' thing is Primus? Then it's not human stuff anymore."

"We will teach you about Primus later," Frenzy promised.

"But she should know!" Mikaela argued. "She should at least know the facts. Then she can decide for herself."

"Megatron would not approve," Frenzy spat at her, before turning back to her lover currently in Soundwave's arms. He petted her head gently. "You're idea of 'sin' completely contrasts with our own. Twenty Three is impressionable, and I will not allow you to confuse her."

Mikaela frowned. "This means if she died, she'd go to Hell," she warned him.

"Twenty Three will never die," Soundwave informed her blankly. "She is the life giver."

Mikaela blinked, the information sinking in. How… unreal…

"Perhaps this is not a welcome idea to the decepticons," Ratchet started, trying to avoid a fight.

"But she should know!" Mikaela argued, practically shaking with frustration. "Everyone has a right to know!"

Twenty Three looked between Frenzy and Soundwave, who were wearing identical looks of mistrust.

"I'm sorry, Mikaela," she frowned at the girl. "I don't want to do anything to distress my family. Don't say another word about it."

"Okay…" Mikaela sighed. "But I'm giving you a Bible whether you like it or not. It's up to you if you read it."

"What is a Bible?" Frenzy cut in, still not trusting the idea. "Is it dangerous?"

"You'll have to read it to find out," Mikaela winked at them. "I'll go wrap it up for you, and add it to the pile."

Twenty Three watched in disbelief as her 'friend' hurried off.

"Wrap it in what?" Frenzy muttered.

"Pile?" Soundwave blinked.

"This is another Christmas custom," Ratchet explained. "People give presents to their loved ones. They wrap them in decorative paper to conceal what is within, until they are given it. They're over there by the tree."

"Those are presents?" Twenty Three asked in delight at the brightly colored packages. "I only ever got one present, and that was in a crate from Screamer."

"I've never gotten a present," huffed Frenzy, only to be clipped over the head by an unimpressed Soundwave.

"They are unnecessary," he reminded his creation. "This is a human ritual, not cybertronian."

"Still," Frenzy looked longingly at the boxes.

"There are a couple over there for you," Ratchet informed them. "Of course, they won't have your names on them, like Twenty Three's do, as we did not know it was you who was attending. I believe Mikaela marked them with stars on the name tags."

Frenzy gripped his girlfriend's hand with glee.

"I've got presents," he laughed at her, getting excited. "I wonder what it is! I want it!"

"Why do you want it so badly?" Soundwave asked the younger male cynically. "You don't even know what it is!"

"That's the excitement," Ratchet volunteered, only to receive a trademark Soundwave glare.

"Ratchet, my friend, I hope you aren't being too harsh with our guests," Optimus clapped his CMO on the back. "How are you enjoying yourselves?" he directed at the humans.

"By talking to people," Twenty Three stated, looking confused, and Soundwave nudged her, to shut her up.

"We are fine," Soundwave replied, deadpan.

Frenzy was giggling at his girl's remark, still in high spirits over the thought of presents.

"That is good to know," Optimus replied, obviously amused, himself. "If you will follow me, we will begin the gift giving, as soon as Wheeljack and Mikaela join us."

"Wheeljack?" Ratchet asked warily. "He should be resting."

"He can't miss Christmas," Optimus argued. "The humans were quite adamant, especially Mikaela Banes."

Ratchet sighed and shook his head. "I'm not repairing him again."

The group proceeded over to the other side of the room where there were several human and transformer sized chairs. The dinobots looked up from where Ironhide had finished his tale, and gasped in delight as they recognized Twenty Three.

"Creator!" Grimlock crowed. "Me Grimlock miss you! Where you go?"

"I am not your creator," Twenty Three growled. "I killed your creator."

Silence…

"WHAT?" the dinobots cried all at once.

"I killed your creator," she repeated, glaring holes into Slag.

"Stand down!" Optimus shouted, as they began reaching for there weapons.

"But you are creator," Sludge insisted. "Me Sludge, saw you, Allspark, when you, Allspark made me."

"The Allspark was sharing my body. She was unstable, so I killed her," she repeated to the group of restless robo lizards.

"That is unfortunate," Optimus said guardedly, as he tried to place himself between the irate young woman and the edgy triceratops.

"Who wants presents!" Mikaela's voice carried over them, breaking the tension.

She was sitting cross legged in Wheeljack's outstretched hand gripping a small red parcel.

The twins decided to break the silence with a whoop of excitement, as the started shoving everyone around until they resembled a half circle.

Wheeljack gently placed Mikaela on the ground, as she handed over the red parcel to Twenty Three.

"There you go, Twenty Three," she smiled happily. "You can have the first present!"

Twenty Three accepted it gingerly, and carefully unwrapped it. It was a book with a fancy red leather cover on it. On the spine the words "The Holy Bible" was printed in black.

"Thank you," Twenty Three said politely, as the others were being given different presents.

It seemed Ironhide had given all his mech friends different types of artillery.

Sunstreaker gave Sideswipe some new mags, and Sideswipe returned the favor with a wax kit. The twins seemed to have gone in together to organize Ironhide a box that punched him as soon as he lifted the lid.

Twenty Three looked around the room at the happiness and humor spread around the room with unveiled delight. Sunstreaker was hanging a large sprig of mistletoe over Ironhide's head, and trying to get Jazz to kiss the angry weapons specialist.

"Come on! It's tradition!" Sunstreaker grinned.

"Earth tradition," Ironhide argued.

"When on Earth, do as the earthlings do," Sideswipe laughed, shoving Jazz forward, so he fell on top of his friend.

Both twins cracked up laughing, and ran opposite directions.

"We'll get you for this!" Jazz shouted, chasing after them.

"I've never seen so many people this happy," she whispered to Soundwave, Frenzy having run off to bug Mikaela about where his present was.

"It is unusual," agreed Soundwave. "We are in the middle of a war. I have not seen people this unguarded since the golden age."

"Twenty Three! Look!" Frenzy called over to them, an arm full of parcels. "These are yours! There's some for Sounds, too!"

Twenty Three laughed, and dragged Soundwave over to her other mate, where they plopped down next to Sam.

"These are all yours," Frenzy dropped the pile in her lap, and her eyes widened.

"All of them?" she asked.

"Yep," Sam grinned over at her, a walkie talkie in hand. "You're pretty popular, whether you know it or not."

Twenty Three frowned. "I'm sorry, I was unaware of this present giving ritual. I'm afraid I have nothing for you. For anyone."

Sam laughed.

"We didn't expect anything," he told her, amused. "We know this is your first Christmas, and you probably wouldn't know about it. It's enough of a gift that you decided to come. Especially for Mikaela and Ratchet. They really care about you, you know?"

"I know," she sighed. "But I don't understand why. Ratchet, I have spent much time with, but Mikaela, I barely know."

Sam shrugged. "She's just like that. She has a good heart, and now she's into this Christian stuff she has this need to befriend everyone."

"I tried to make a being like her," she admitted. Soundwave went rigid next to her.

What are you doing? You're giving them our secrets!

Shut up Soundwave. Silverstreak is no secret weapon.

"I failed," she continued at Sam's look of interest. "My creation was weak and stubborn and arrogant."

"Well, Mikaela is one of a kind," Sam scratched the back of his head. "But you tried to make another Mikaela? Don't get me wrong, I love her to bits, but I don't think having a whole lot of her running around would be good. Scary, if anything."

"See? Even the human agrees," Soundwave told her smugly.

"Just because you were right doesn't mean you have to rub it in," she sulked.

Frenzy noticed the change in mood, and shoved Soundwave, bringing his girl into a protective hug.

"Don't depress her, you idiot," Frenzy glared at his creator, then tried to divert his loves attention elsewhere. "Look at this present I got. I have no idea what it is, what do you think?"

She looked at the blue cardboard box which said "Roses," but when opened, it revealed not flowers, but sparkly little objects.

"I don't know, but they smell nice," she smiled, leaning into his chest, as she picked one up and studied it.

"That's chocolate," Sam explained, dumbfounded they'd never had a box of Roses before. "You unwrap it and eat what's inside."

Frenzy untwisted the side to reveal a brown lump.

"I liked it better when it was blue," he complained, looking at the wrapper, still in his hand.

"Just eat it," Sam rolled his eyes.

Frenzy shrugged and casually threw it into his mouth, then froze, and began choking in surprise.

Twenty Three patted his back in concern, and Soundwave made to help him, but the silver haired male let out a delighted laugh.

"That tastes amazing!" he cried, and gave Twenty Three one as well, pointedly ignoring Soundwave.

"You're right!" Twenty Three agreed after tasting her own.

Frenzy grinned and dove into his box, not stopping until he had tried every last flavor.

Soundwave turned dejectedly to his own pile of presents, and found that he, also, had received an identical box.

Twenty Three looked to her own pile of gifts, and began to sort through them.

From Ratchet, she received a human sized ratchet. She recognized the humor and laughed, making a side note to thank him for it.

From Mikaela, in addition to the Bible, which she didn't really understand as of yet, she received some funky clothes, and a stick blender, which she became immediately intrigued with.

Mikaela had spotted her inspecting it, and reading the manual and had laughed.

"I thought you'd like it," she grinned.

"Thank you! Thank you Mikaela!" she had grabbed her by the shoulders and given her a good shake.

"Hey, that's my girlfriend your rattling," Sam had stood in, and rescued her from the cyborgs steel grip.

Optimus Prime had given her a data pad filled with the basic Autobot history – his version, now he had remembered all of it.

The twins, not really knowing anything about her, except that she was extremely dangerous if you pissed her off, had gone with the safe option of getting her a box of fancy biscuits.

Wheeljack had given her a defibulator, something she had no idea how to work it, or what it would do if she could.

The dinobots had given her a pretty green rock they had dug up, and a small tree in bloom.

Jazz had given her an mp3 player, which Frenzy and Soundwave had glared at, insulted.

"She has us for her music!" Frenzy muttered to Soundwave in irritation. "What does she need that for?"

"Ratbat and Buzzsaw already store her playlists," he agreed.

Ironhide, not wanting to gift a possible enemy with a gun, had instead also given her a food gift. Something called "Scorched Almonds" that, despite the sound, were not burned, but rather tasty.

All in all, the present giving part of the night went rather well. Once every gift had been given and received, Mikaela put on some cheerful Christmas music, and the real party began.

Soundwave and Frenzy stayed close by Twenty Three's side, as she talked to everyone she wished to.

Sam was getting out the alcohol for the humans, as Ironhide was retrieving the energon.

"Try some of this," Sam gave her a glass of creamy brown liquid.

She gave it a sip, and smiled at the gentle burning sensation.

"That's tasty," she commented, passing it to Frenzy to try. "What is it?"

"Baileys," he replied, as Frenzy downed the entire glass, then held it out for a refill.

Sam gave Soundwave the next glass before refilling Frenzy's and moving on to the remaining humans.

"Who is that?" she whispered to Frenzy, pointing towards a male human in his late twenties.

"William Lennox. He is linked to the army," Frenzy whispered, and she let out a low hiss, her guard immediately up.

"He's with the army? With the sector?" She growled lowly.

Frenzy twitched nervously, and looked to Soundwave for support. They could easily get killed in these forms, if Twenty Three started fighting. And there was no telling if she'd lose control.

"Tee, there's no telling if he was involved or not. He may have had nothing to do with Sector 7," Frenzy whispered, stroking her hair softly to calm her.

"Correct," Soundwave agreed, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Obtain more information before acting."

"I think I'll just ask him," she stated, before walking off, leaving her lovers to chase after her.

Reaching her target, she tapped him on the shoulder, making him spin around in surprise.

"Is your name William Lennox?" she asked, seriously to the bewildered man.

"Why yes, although most people just call me Will," he cracked a smile. "You must be Twenty Three, right?"

"Correct," she brushed the question aside. "Are you involved with the army?"

"Yes?" he answered, raising a brow at her. This young woman certainly was blunt.

"Are you involved with Sector 7?" she continued to press him, darkly.

"What? No! I'd never join those guys! I heard about what they did to you," he answered in shock.

Frenzy and Soundwave finally caught up to her, and once again, wrapped her in a two-way hug.

"Apologies," Soundwave looked over to the human, and Ironhide who was observing them quietly. "Twenty Three has a grudge against those who wronged her."

"It's understandable," Will answered, looking uncomfortable. "You have my word I had nothing to do with it."

"I know I saw your name somewhere, recently…" Frenzy murmured, staring at the soldier, before it hit him. "Your team killed Scorponok!"

"Hey, he attacked us first," the man defended.

"Who was Scorponok?" Twenty Three asked her first mate.

"No one," Soundwave interrupted firmly. He did not want a fight to break out. "He doesn't matter."

"Oh, ok…" she sighed, and leaned into his chest, full of trust.

"You are very defensive of your friends," Ironhide noted aloud.

She looked up at the huge mech, and nodded.

"Of course," she answered. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"No reason," he replied. "It was just an observation. It's a virtue not common among decepticons. Then again, virtues themselves are not common among decepticons."

"That's not true," she argued, standing upright again. "I've seen loads of virtues in my family. Bravery, loyalty, honor."

"Are we talking about the same decepticons?" Ironhide asked, concerned. Just what illusions had they tricked her with?

She growled angrily, her vectors twitching, before Frenzy decided to grab her, and drag her off somewhere else. Soundwave briefly apologized for their behavior, and followed quickly in their wake.

Stupid IronhideTwenty Three couldn't help but think, as Frenzy led her off. He sat her down next to Soundwave, once he'd caught up, and went to get them all some more drinks.

Soundwave wrapped his arm around her, and held her close to his side. He hardly ever got to have her to himself, since Frenzy had come back on the scene. Something he sorely regretted.

For some reason, he was more terrified than he'd been of anything else.

Terrified of letting her down.

Terrified of getting pushed to the side.

Terrified of losing her.

"Relax, Sweetspark," he whispered quietly to her. "Don't let them get to you. They don't know us."

She snuggled into him, taking comfort in his words.

"I know…" she mumbled back, from somewhere in his chest. He gently stroked her hair, until her heart rate slowed down, back to normal.

It was moments like these that he wanted to last forever.

Soundwave sighed sadly when Frenzy returned, drinks in hand. He seemed to have downed a few before coming back as well, as he was staggering slightly. He seemed to have even forgotten his campaign against Soundwave, as he'd brought all three of them a drink.

They accepted them gratefully, and Frenzy skulled his own beverage before collapsing next to Twenty Three.

"How you feeling, Tee?" he asked her sluggishly.

She smiled at him, amused at his antics. "I'm fine, Zee. Give me a hug?"

He tried to comply, but ended up falling into her lap. "Hey, Tee… You gonna drink that?"

She giggled, and handed him her drink, wondering lightly, just how much he'd had.

Soundwave watched in horror as Frenzy downed his latest drink, and quickly drank his own, before that, too, could be scabbed.

His cassette seemed to be drifting off to sleep, head once again in their lovers lap, as she traced lines over his face, and played with his hair.

He couldn't help but feel sad it wasn't him…

Twenty Three felt his sadness ebbing out from him, and turned to give him a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"You know I love you too, right Soundwave?" she whispered to him, careful not to wake her first love.

"I know," the older mech in humans skin sighed. "Just not as much as Frenzy."

She looked at him helplessly.

"Don't try to deny it. I've been in your head, I know how you feel," he reminded her.

"Sounds, I've known Frenzy longer. He's always been there for me… Give us time, and I we may get closer as well," she told him, nuzzling his neck affectionately.

"It's hard if he's always there," he complained, a little unnerved at just how good that felt…

"We'll sort something out, I promise, Sounds. I'll make sure we get plenty of alone time."

Soundwave sighed happily, and rested his head upon hers.

Suddenly, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe jumped into view.

Soundwave tensed immediately, holding Twenty Three firmly against him.

Slag it! His voice creeped into her head. Did they hear?

"You're looking comfortable," Sideswipe grinned, amused.

"Would you like to tell us how this little love triangle works, then?" Sunstreaker added, aiming to poke the unconscious male, but Twenty Three diverted his finger.

"Negative," Soundwave growled, his guard up.

Twenty Three was a little confused at why he was suddenly so defensive.

"What is there to tell?" she asked them, confused. "I love them both, they love me. We are together."

"And they don't mind sharing you?" Sunstreaker asked, his grin spreading. "Would they mind sharing you with us?"

Soundwave let out another low growl, and held his mate even closer.

Twenty Three just blinked in surprise.

"They do mind sharing, they just don't have a choice. I will not be taking any more mates, so forget that idea immediately! I already have too many others after me," she warned them, cuddling Zee close to her frame, and leaning back into Soundwave.

"Hey, sorry, sorry!" Sideswipe said, his hands up in defense. "We were only teasing you!"

"I think we should go," Soundwave gestured to the room around them.

Several autobots were already over energized including, surprisingly, Ratchet. Since he was the only one Twenty Three really wanted to see, she nodded. "Okay…"

"What, you're going already?" Sideswipe complained.

"Yes, thank you for your company. Excuse me, I must go and find Mikaela," she spoke politely, gently lifting Frenzy up in her vectors.

Twenty Three said her farewells, and met Soundwave at the door, after he had collected their gifts.

They waited barely two minutes before Barricade rolled up, and opened his doors for them.

"What happened to Frenzy?" he asked, slightly concerned, as Twenty Three lay him down in the back with her.

Soundwave sighed, and got in the front.

"He's just drunk and tired," Twenty Three said with a smile. "Cade, the Autobots gave us presents! Wasn't that nice?"

"They didn't ask you for anything, did they? Not more dinobots or anything?" the cop car sounded concerned.

"No, it's just part of this Christmas festival thing," she explained.

"I still don't trust them," Barricade warned her. "They might be trying to bribe you."

"I… don't think so, Cade," she sighed softly, caressing Frenzy's jaw line. "But I will keep your warning in mind."

Barricade left it at that, not wanting to say anything else in front of Soundwave. He knew the mech didn't trust him, and he knew about the "Laserbeak" incident. He could understand to some extent. If twenty Three was his, he wouldn't want anyone coming within an inch of her. This didn't make him hate Soundwave any less, however. He'd always despised the communications officer, as did most of the decepticons, except for his cassettes, of course.

The radio began playing quietly in the background, causing Twenty Three to drift off to sleep as well.

Barricade pulled into the base entrance silently, opening his front passenger door to let Soundwave out.

He complied, and made to open the back door, to retract his sleeping femme, but Barricade locked his doors, turning the music up slightly.

Soundwave glared at the cop car.

"Let me get her, you slag pile," he growled. How dare he.

"She's asleep. Let her be," Barricade argued in response.

"She should be sleeping in her quarters, not in another mech," Soundwave shouted, angrily. "Let her out!"

Twenty Three began to stir, and looked up at Soundwave through the window.

"Sounds?" she called sleepily.

Barricade unlocked his doors immediately, and let her out, carrying Frenzy's still unconscious form.

"I'm sorry this idiot woke you up," Barricade apologized, transforming. "I warned him not to."

"Don't call him an idiot, Cade, he's still my mate," she yawned patting the mech's foot. "Thanks for the ride. I'll see you tomorrow, I suppose."

Barricade nodded, shot one last glare at Soundwave, then turned to leave.

Twenty Three raised an eyebrow at this, but just grabbed Soundwave's hand in one of her own, and made their way back to her room.

"Sleep well, Zee," she whispered, as she tucked him in to one side of her bed.

Slowly, she turned back to her second lover, and motioned for him to come forward.

Wrapping him in a tight hug, she sat him down on the bed, placing herself next to him.

"Sounds," she addressed him gently, and his heart froze at the tone.

Was he in some sort of trouble? He nodded nervously in response.

"What's going on with you and Barricade?" she asked, her tone serious, yet soft. "Is there some history there?"

Soundwave sighed, nervously.

"I have a history with most of the decepticons," he answered evasively. "I am not well liked."

"Oh?" she asked, placing a hand on his knee. "Please tell me, love? Don't leave anything out…"

"I… don't know. It's a long story," he tried to shake her off.

"Sounds," she looked away, hurt. "Anything I find out about you, your past, it won't change how we are now. I promise… I'd just… rather find out from you than from the others. I won't think of you any differently, I promise."

"You can't promise that," Soundwave looked at her sadly. "You can't promise what you are going to think."

"I love you Soundwave," she said fiercely. "Maybe not as much as Zee, but I do love you. That isn't going to change any time soon."

"…Okay," Soundwave said, seriously. "But it's easier to show you than tell you. Link minds with me."

Twenty Three obeyed, and was immediately thrown into visions of deception, blackmail, and lies against most of the other decepticon. All to serve both Megatron and himself. He'd double crossed almost all of her friends at some stage. Every decepticon, barring Megatron himself, and his own cassettes.

Once the images faded, Twenty Three was shocked silent.

Lies and deception was one of the things she couldn't understand. She, who was trained to follow everything at face value, something which had caught her out before.

But part of being in a relationship, as she'd learnt after Frenzy's redecorating stunt on Starscream's quarters, was that you had to recognize your differences with your partner, and accept them for it.

So she didn't understand how Soundwave could blackmail people… She didn't understand Frenzy's love of pranks either, but they'd worked through that. And it meant the world to her that Soundwave had shared this piece of him with her as well.

Soundwave, himself was getting rather nervous. His mate had been quiet for some time now.

"You promised…" he said dejectedly, taking her silence for disgust, or betrayal.

Twenty Three pulled him into a close hug, dragging him down to lie in the bed next to her. She reestablished their link, and shared all her emotions for him, not masking anything.

He almost choked on the amount of love she felt for him. His entire body burning with it, he grasped her, digging his fingers into the soft skin of her back.

They lay in their silent embrace for some time, letting their thoughts flicker across each others minds.

Eventually, they were disturbed by the door creaking open. They both were amused to see Rumble, Ravage, Ratbat, Laserbeak, and Buzzsaw peeking through. They seemed uncertain of what exactly they were to do from there.

Twenty Three sat up and gestured for them to come in quietly. She moved herself and Soundwave over so there was enough room for Rumble to lie down next to his brother, and Ravage to curl up at the base of the bed.

Ratbat snuggled up in between his creator and his 'mother,' while the other aerials decided to sleep perched on her bed head.

Twenty Three cuddled the youngest cassetticon, who crooned at her, making her giggle. She looked over to Soundwave, to find him staring at her with glazed over eyes.

To find a femme, a mate, who not only loved him, which was a feat in itself, but one who fit in so… perfectly with his family… It was unimaginable. But it was real.

He took her by surprise, reaching right over Ratbat to pull her into a searing kiss.

"Twenty Three," he growled throatily. "I love you so much…"

She smiled into him, and kissed him back, just as passionately.

"I know, my darling," she whispered back to him. "And you know I love you too."

They both lay down, hugging each other around an excited Ratbat.

Soundwave idly patted his head until he calmed down, and also fell into recharge.

Soon enough, the only one who wasn't asleep was the slightly traumatized Ravage, who kept an eye open from his position at their feet.

He had known Soundwave the longest… And never seen him act like this.

The again, femmes had strange effects on mechs.

poor ravage...

poor FRENZY - he's gonna have one heck of a hangover...

More silverstreak stuff coming up

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