Chapter Twenty Eight – Sparkling

Three Weeks Later

Early morning in the Cliantha I

Arcee shifted under Hot Rod's arms, keeping her metal frame pressed against his, her receptor remaining against his spark. Her brow furrowed softly as an awkward feeling made her spark skip inside her, her stomach wiring twisting slowly in a mild constriction. She hummed at the pain softly in her sleep, making Hot Rod's optic lids lift, his gaze falling to her.

He brushed a hand up her back, his fingers working delicately. He leaned down and softly kissed the top of her head, pressing his metal lids against the pink in a smile.

"Shh, go to sleep," he whispered.

Arcee didn't relax. Her hands grabbed onto his forearms, her body squirming. Hot Rod's optics calmed to a warm blue and he looked down at her, faceplate hardened in concern. He moved his arms tighter around her middle and drew her close against him, letting their sparks press against one another, hoping the fluttering sensations would calm her. Arcee opened her optics and pawed at her spark. Hot Rod squinted worriedly.

"What is it, babe?" He murmured, looking her over slowly. "Somethin' bothering you?"

Arcee nodded. "M-My spark," she breathed. "S-Something's…interfering with it."

Hot Rod gave her a worried look, taking her hands in his. He squeezed them, hoisting her up in his arms as he stood on the ground, carrying her. She shuddered, groaning.

"It's okay, hun," he said warmly, moving toward the exit. "C'mon, let's get go get you checked out…"

Arcee squirmed. "N-No…"

"Baby, the medical officer'll - "

"It's not that. I want Ratchet to examine me," she sighed.

Hot Rod arched an optic ridge. "Why Ratchet? Our officer is right down the hall."

"Ratchet can fix anything," she said, looking into his eyes.

Hot Rod narrowed his eyes some, continuing to walk out of the quarters. "When we arrive at the Adonis III, no gawking at Bumblebee," he muttered under a breath.

Arcee didn't say anything. She only returned her head to his spark, feeling her own squirm and wriggle inside her.

//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\

At the Adonis III

Hot Rod carried Arcee to Ratchet's quarters, knocking against the door twice with one hand, keeping his arm secure around her middle. Arcee breathed out uneasily, pushing her head against his spark. His systems revved under her receptor, calming her only slightly.

"Baby, we'll get through this," he murmured, his voice soft and low. "Just stay calm."

Arcee made a sound in her throat, setting her hand on his shoulder. He laid his cheek on it, turning droopy optics down into hers. He didn't smile until many seconds later, and she slowly returned his, kissing his chest. He smiled a little more, then turned his optics to Ratchet who stood before the open doorway, fatigue present on his faceplate, as he'd been waken from recharge – something he hated.

The medical officer optic lids sunk slightly as he looked over them.

"What could you possibly need at such an early hour?" He yawned.

Hot Rod stepped forward. "Arcee…I think she's ill," he said, stealing a glance at her. "She said her spark's bothering her, Ratchet."

Ratchet blinked his optics twice, suddenly awake. He took a step toward the femme, scanning her body as he lifted his hands to her spark chamber. He detected its pulse, and furrowed his brow, twisting his lip with a skeptical look.

"Step inside," he ordered, taking a few steps back before he turned.

Hot Rod hesitated before moving one foot forward, moving towards the medical berth. He laid Arcee flat on her back, looking into her optics as she did the same to him. He patted her leg, leaning down to her.

"You'll be alright, okay hun?" He whispered, smiling. "I'll be right here."

Arcee smiled back, but it was weak. As she looked away, her frame shuddered slowly, one of her hands moving to her spark. Ratchet returned to her, stepping to her berthside.

"What do you feel?" He questioned, already lifting his hands to examine.

The femme swallowed in a whimper. "I-It hurts a little…D-Discomfort…"

The medical officer nodded and gently eased her hand from the top of her spark chamber, letting one of his fingers flip open her chest compartment. He scanned over her quickly pulsing spark, watching as it almost struggled to keep going. And then, he saw it…

His optics widened.

"Dear, Primus," he breathed.

Hot Rod furrowed his brow, taking two steps forward.

"What is it, doc?" he asked quietly.

Ratchet only continued scanning. Emerging from Arcee's spark was a second one, miniature, new life. It was trying to wiggle its way out from the mother spark, the top of its "head" only seen as a pale blue lump squirming back at forth, just peeking over the framework of Arcee's spark.

New life.

Ratchet's mouth curled into a light smile, and Hot Rod moved beside him.

"Ratchet, is something wrong?" he asked worriedly.

Ratchet shook his head, unaware that his news would be good ones to Bumblebee, not Hot Rod. He wasn't aware of what had happened weeks before in Bumblebee's quarters…

"It looks like you're a father, Hot Rod," the medical officer grinned.

Hot Rod froze. "What?!"

"Haha, that's right. Congratulations."

The mech only stuttered out sounds, looking from Ratchet to Arcee. He stopped, optics flashing as his mind replayed that night where he'd caught her making love to Bumblebee after she'd lied to him. His hands curled into fists at his sides.

"I am not the father," he said sternly.

Ratchet gave him a look. "If you're not, then who could it be?" He looked at Arcee.

The femme looked away immediately, blushing.

"Probably the very last mech you would expect to be," she said softly.

Hot Rod glared angrily at the floor.

Ratchet blinked, his optics widening as he realized. "Bumblebee?! No way!"

Arcee nodded. "I'm afraid I'm not lying to you, Sir." She smiled.

The medical officer was in shock. The youngest member of the base, Bumblebee, was a father before them all? Already bonded with another femme??

Ratchet shook his head, covering it with a hand. "Primus Almighty…"

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Bumblebee's Quarters

Darren's Perspective

Unwillingly, I let Bumblebee wrap me in his arms and press my back against him, and I felt him sigh to himself as his hand rested on my side, his fingers doing what they always did. I didn't smile, only hid my eyes under locks of hair, sinking down against him. Bumblebee took in a deep breath before leaning down to meet my eyes, his electric ones penetrating me.

He frowned. "Darren, I am deeply sorry for invading your privacy," he whispered. "You know I wouldn't do that without a purpose in mind…or a thought."

I looked at him, slightly suspicious. "And what were you spying on me for?"

"I was curious as to who the two humans were," he said, blinking. "I hadn't known they were you and your significant other." He grinned, then pressed his cheek on mine. My lips subconsciously curved into a small smile. "Son, forgive me."

I sighed. "I just…didn't want you to see that."

Bumblebee purred, agreeing. "Yes, I wish I hadn't either."

"Why not?"

"I feel like I'm losing you already, Darren," he said as his arms hugged me tighter. "I feel like it was just yesterday when you came across the Adonis III."

I nodded and leaned my head back against his chest, feeling each of his breaths lift and drop my head. I smiled. "I'm only fifteen, Dad. I won't be leaving for a few more years…"

He sighed. "Only three years at the least…Once you finish school, Darren, you must leave for college."

I frowned. "Yeah…It'll hurt, leaving you." I lifted my chin to look upside down at his charming face, watching his lips curl into a smile. They parted away and revealed his teeth, his hand sliding across my shoulder. "I'll miss you."

"And it will hurt me more to let you depart," he said, his thumb grazing across my throat. "But, I know you'll be an amazing human man, won't you, Darren?"

I grinned. "Of course. After everything you and I have been through, I'll be an expert."

He laughed at that, brushing over my chest with his fingers. "That's right."

Smiling even wider, I turned and laid my ear against his chest, listening to his spark with my eyes forward. I let him sway me back and forth, and yawning, I closed my eyes. He chuckled, his fingers fiddling curiously with one of my ears.

"Tired?" He whispered.

I nodded. "It's too early in the morning," I breathed in another yawn.

"Mmm," came his drowsy reply.

He leaned back and stretched his legs out on the berth, turning his head to lay his cheek against the wall. I felt him shift beneath me, holding me even more secure against him. I smiled as his fingers crawled over my stomach, his big hand soon resting there. I listened to his spark as it slowed, then looked up at him. Bumblebee was asleep – already.

I returned my ear to its place and sighed, feeling his fingers still work their magic on my skin even though he was sleeping. I turned my eyes up to a single rectangular window fixed high on the wall, looking past the glass at the moon.

I got lost in thoughts about Bumblebee. I got lost in his spark's warm thrums, his breathing's rhythmic timing. And, I got lost in his playful fingers that sent chills up my spine and a smile to my face. Before I slipped into a dream, I thanked God for such a wonderful guardian, such a wonderful father figure.

Thank you God for sending this one angel from Heaven to me.