I know it's been a while for a new chapter. Also decided to add a few new characters ^-^; there will be some cuteness in this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Transformers, Hasbro does. I just own my ocs.

Enjoy.

Chapter 5

Back on Cybertron, the Autobots had continued their fight with the Decepticons once they safely stored their newly replenished energon supply. Ultra Magnus' group hadn't seen any Decepticons for days and the femmes also hadn't run into any Decepticons. Two of the Wreckers, Roadbuster and Sandstorm, were keeping watch at the entrance of their base. Sandstorm was bored without any Decepticons around and Roadbuster was alert to his surrounding for any Decepticon activity. His sensors picked up an energy signature. Frowning, he used his visor to zoom in on the Cybertronian.

"What is it?" Sandstorm asked his teammate.

"A Cybertronian is heading this way." Roadbuster answered as he readjusted the vision on his visor.

They waited as the Cybertronian slowly made his way towards their base. They raised their weapons in anticipation as the mech came closer, walking with a cane and they noticed his red optics.

"Should we call Ultra Magnus?" Sandstorm asked Roadbuster.

"He looks harmless…" Roadbuster stated.

"Decepticons are known for deception." Sandstorm replied back.

"True." Roadbuster said and comm. Ultra Magnus. Both wanting to blast the unknown mech but knew better not to shoot first, ask question later.

Ultra Magnus came out the base with Hot Rod and Springer and waited for the mech to reach them. He noted the mech was as old as Kup if not older, his optics gaze over the scratches and welder scars on his armor, the bit of paint that seemed to have been chipped away on some of his armor and a few spackle of rust. What caught his attention most was his right leg. It was missing some of his armor plating and had some damage to it, hence the cane he was walking with.

The old mech stopped a few feet from the Autobots and lean heavily against his cane, Ultra Magnus took a step forward and felt the others raise their weapons. "Designation?" he asked the mech.

"Pendulum." grunt the older mech.

"Alliance?"

Pendulum narrowed his optics. "You assume any Cybertronian with red optics is a Decepticon?" he snorted, "I'm neither Autobot nor Decepticon. But I do help those who seek my medical help."

Ultra Magnus motioned for his comrades to lower their weapons. Hot Rod strode forward as he said, "I never thought we'd see an old neutral surviving the war."

Pendulum's optics narrowed further and faster then the Autobots could shutter their optics, he swept his cane against Hot Rod's legs, knocking them out from under him and Hot Rod landed on his back, "I may be old youngling, but that doesn't mean I can't defend myself." He declared.

The Autobots watched in awe as Hot Rod held his arms out in surrender and Springer cleared his throat. "What can we do for you?" he inquired.

Pendulum locked his optics onto the Autobots, "I'm looking for an Autobot femme. Maybe you know her. Her designation's Eclipse. I haven't seen nor heard from her in 2 orns and I'm worried about her." He explained.

Ultra Magnus frown sadly as he replied, "She deactivated a few orbital cycles ago."

Pendulum off-line his optics and sighed heavily. He onlined them and asked his next question. "Where is her sparkling now?"

"Hey, Prowl." Prowl looked up from his datapad as Blaster's voice came over his comm. link.

"Yes, Blaster?" he asked.

"Ultra Magnus is on the line wanting to talk to you since Optimus Prime has gone to meet the president." Blaster answered.

"Did he say what he wants?" Prowl inquired.

"Nope."

Prowl frown as the possibilities Ultra Magnus would call for went through his processor. "Tell him I'm on my way."

"Will do."

Prowl left his office and locked it out of habit. He didn't have to worry about the twins sneaking into his office for whatever prank they had plan thanks to Sidestep distracting them but that didn't stop Jazz from having his fun. He walked into the communication room and walked towards the screen. "Is everything alright, Ultra Magnus?" he inquired. "Shockwave didn't find the femmes, did he?"

Ultra Magnus smiled at Prowl's concern and answered, "No, the femmes are alright. There hasn't been much Decepticon activity. A neutral medic came to us a cycle ago, looking for Eclipse."

Prowl frown and his door wings rose slightly suspiciously. "Did you tell him that she deactivated?" he asked.

"I have."

"Then what's the problem?"

"He wants to talk to Sideswipe. About Sidestep."

Three joors later

The Cybertron space bridge hummed and glowed as it transported two Autobots from Earth. It died down a few breems later and the Lamborghini twins stepped out and back onto their home planet.

"Why the slag did you come with me here?" Sideswipe asked his brother.

"Do I need a reason?" Sunstreaker retorted to his brother.

"No." Sideswipe replied back.

Ultra Magnus bit back the grimace as he watched the twins bicker. He knew they were the best fighters the Autobots had at their disposal, but he was very grateful Optimus took them with him. He'd hate to deal with their pranks. "If you two are ready, we have a while to get to the base." Ultra Magnus interrupt. He transformed and the twins followed after him.

Sunstreaker grunted and cursed as the Earth bound Autobots drove over roads not meant for their alt forms. They reached the Autobot base within a cycle, the three Autobots transformed and walked into the base. The twins got greetings from the other Autobots as Ultra Magnus led them to the room Pendulum waited in. Ultra Magnus stopped at the door and stared at the twins. "You may go in Sideswipe… Sunstreaker can stay out here."

"Slag no. I'm not leaving my brother alone with some unknown mech. Besides, this neutral might end up killing Sides and I don't want to be left to raise mini him." Sunstreaker inform Ultra Magnus.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence of my not dying." Sideswipe retort with a roll of his optics. "Besides, if I do die, I was going to have Jazz and Prowl raise Sidestep."

"What?" Sunstreaker challenged voice low and hard.

Ultra Magnus rubbed his helm, attempting to alleviate the pain starting in his CPU and wondered how Prowl manage to survive the pit-spawn twins. He silently congratulated the tactician for his strong will to live. "Sideswipe, Sunstreaker. I hate to keep Pendulum waiting, so please finish up your arguing and get inside." The twins obeyed, Sideswipe pressed his hand against the panel on the wall and walked into the room, followed by Sunstreaker.

Pendulum turn as the door whoosh open and watched as two mechs walked in. Sunstreaker lean against the wall near the door and Sideswipe walked closer to the older mech.

"My designation's Sideswipe. The yellow one is my twin brother, Sunstreaker." introduce Sideswipe.

Pendulum waved his free hand and said, "I know who you are, your sparkling resembles you and Eclipse told me about you two as well."

"How do you know Eclipse?" Sideswipe inquired.

"She came to me when she was carrying your sparkling. She needed a safe place to stay and my help to build Sidestep's chassis."

"I'm surprise you didn't hand them both over to the Decepticons." He remark and yelped when Pendulum whack him on the helm with his cane.

"Don't you take that tone with me, mechling," Pendulum warned, "I may be old, that doesn't mean I can't take you over my knee joints and give you a good smacking. And just because I help either faction doesn't mean I would give either over to their enemies." he snarled. Sideswipe could feel Sunstreaker's amusement through his spark as he rubbed his helm and watched Pendulum mutter and walk over to a chair.

"So, why do you want to talk to me about Sidestep?" Sideswipe asked.

"I wanted to meet his mech-creator. And ask how Sidestep is doing." Pendulum answered primly.

"Sidestep's fine, he's getting along with the Autobots on the base and a lot of us are happy to see a sparking after so many vorns. In fact, Prowl, our tactician has set up a sparkling sitting roster for anybot interested in taking care of him." Sideswipe explained.

"That's good. Sidestep needs to get more interaction with mechs." Pendulum commented.

"Is that all?" Sideswipe asked anxiety to get back to Earth and to Sidestep. He was rewarded with another smack of the cane.

"What is it with younglings these orns and being so impatient." wondered Pendulum, a small smile crossed his old faceplate. "Actually, there is a favor I want to ask of you."

Sideswipe mumbled about not being higher up to take favors and was once again whacked, this time on the shin. "Ow! Slag! Are you related to Ratchet or do all medics have the need to abuse patients?" He wondered as Sunstreaker chortled again.

"I don't know a Ratchet and only the best can get away with it." Pendulum answered his smile never wavering.

Sideswipe rubbed his shin and with a sigh said, "I can't do the favor for you but I can run it by our superior officers for them to decide."

Pendulum nodded, accepting that answer and said, "There are three brothers in my custody, orphans of the war. The eldest is an adult and the middle is close to adulthood but still acts like a slagging sparkling and youngest brother is still a youngling. I want you Autobots to take them in. The eldest and youngest brothers helped me whenever I need it, but I'm sure the middle brother is going to be the death of me some orn."

"I thought you didn't do favorites with either faction." Sideswipe stated and again, was whacked.

"Usually I don't, Eclipse was an Autobot and Sidestep was sparked by two Autobots so it's logical for the Autobots to take him in. The three younglings, on the other hand are neutrals and I want the Autobots to take them in."

"Why?" Sunstreaker asked.

"Because I don't want the Decepticons to get their hands on what they are capable of… And I don't want them to do anything else to harm the younger brother."

Back on Earth, Ratchet was just about finish with the Dinobots' bi-monthly check-ups when Snarl said, "Ratchet." He turned to the stegosaurus, "What this?"

Ratchet followed Snarl's gaze to the sparkling staring back at the Dinobots. When Sideswipe was told to return to Cybertron to meet with the neutral medic, the red warrior asked Ratchet to watch Sidestep while he, and apparently, Sunstreaker were gone on Cybertron. Ratchet agreed to watch the sparkling and left him with a tablet and his stuff bear knowing he would keep himself entertained while Ratchet worked.

Ratchet went back to scanning Sludge's system and said, "That's a sparkling."

"Sparkling?" wondered Swoop.

"He's like a human baby. Right now he's a toddle and would stay like that until he reaches the age of 5." Ratchet explained.

"Oh." The Dinobots said in awe.

"Who they, Ratset?" Sidestep asked.

"They are the Dinobots." Ratchet answered the sparkling and pointed to each Dinobot and named them all. "They were built 15 orns after we found some dinosaur bones in the mountain."

"Oh." Sidestep said not taking his optics off the Dinobots.

"All 5 of you check out ok, be sure to return again next month for your next check-up." Ratchet informed the Dinobots and went to write up the Dinobots files. The Dinobots and Sidestep continued staring at each other.

Ironhide had worked a double shift late last night and in the morning and was dozing when he heard running echo from down the hall. Snarling, Ironhide stomped to his door, open it, stepped out and turned to the mech that was now up the hall. "What the slag is going on?" he demanded and was promptly trampled by Sludge.

Prowl's desk was practically covered in datapads as he read one. He was half way through it when his desk began shaking and the datapads jumped and clattered to the floor. "What the slag?" Prowl wondered as he got up. It sounded like a stampede as he headed closer to the door. The tactician took one step into the hall when he was almost trampled by Slag in his triceratops mode. He barely had time to jump back into his office and watch with a frown as Swoop also ran by. Curiosity getting the best of the tactician, he followed after them.

The rec. room door hissed open and many helms were stuck out the open doorframe wondering what was going on. They watched Grimlock run by down the hall, followed by a loud squeal. They turn back down the hall to find Sidestep being chase by Snarl. Frowning, Jazz stepped into the corridor and scooped the sparkling into his arms, gaining a startle squall. Hearing Sidestep's squall, Grimlock stop and turn back to see what happen. Snarl skidded to a stop two feet away from Jazz and the Slag and Swoop crashed into Snarl. Sludge came up from the hall Grimlock was heading when he also stopped and Prowl came up behind the three Dinobots.

"Snarl, why da frag are ya chasin' Sidestep?" Jazz asked before Prowl got a chance to.

"Us playing," answer Snarl.

Prowl frowned at the Dinobot, "Playing what?"

"Tag." All five Dinobots answered at once.

"Is this true, Sidestep?" Jazz asked and received an excited nod from the sparkling.

Prowl tilt his head and said, "If you wish to play a game, please do it outside the base. You are disturbing everybot with your running."

"Ok." the Dinobots chorus and rushed towards the entrance, barely giving Jazz time to get out their way.

"Is that safe?" an Autobot ask.

"It should be," Prowl replied, "we can also have some Autobots supervise the game."

Jazz smiled and said, "Well, I better take little Sides outside before da Dinobots grow impatient." Prowl watched as his mate headed towards the entrance.

"Prowl?" Prowl heard Ratchet call through his comm. link.

"Yes, Ratchet?" Prowl inquire.

"Do you happen to know why Sludge ran Ironhide down?" Ratchet ask and Prowl frowned.

Jazz set Sidestep onto the ground and the sparkling was instantly intrigued with the outside world. Jazz lean against the wall, as the Dinobots debated whether to start their game over or continued where they left off.

"Me Grimlock say we continue." Grimlock decided.

"Ok. Tag! You it." Snarl stated as his press his foot against Grimlock and run.

"No fair!" Grimlock growled as he went chasing after the other retreating Dinobots. Sidestep squealed once more and ran with the other Dinobots. Jazz couldn't help chuckle at the sight of 5 Dinobots and a sparkling playing together. He noted that the Dinobots stayed in their alt forms, the exception on Swoop was no doubt because he could fly and wasn't fair to the game.

He faintly noticed other Autobots coming out the base to watch the game as well, probably concern the Earth built Autobots would treat the sparkling roughly, they were however very gentle when they tagged Sidestep and with a bubbly giggle, he would go after one of the Dinobots. The only time any of the older Autobots took a step was when Sidestep tripped and fell. The Dinobots stopped their running and stared at the sparkling and the Autobots stopped as well, Sidestep didn't whimper or cry from his fall, he merely pushed himself up to his pedes and tried brushing some of the dust off his tiny chassis. He eventually abandoned that action in favor of chasing after Slag.

Exhaustion decided to rear its ugly head an hour later as Sidestep plopped down on the ground. The Dinobots decided they needed Energon as well. Jazz went over and pluck the sparkling up. "Had fun?" he asked and Sidestep nodded sleepily. "Let's get ya chassis clean of the dirt befor' yer uncle Sunny blows a gasket."

"Ok." Sidestep mumbled.

As Jazz walked into the base behind the Dinobots, he distinctly heard Grimlock announce, "Us Dinobots big brothers to him Sidestep. Us bite head off anybot hurt him Sidestep." Jazz laughed, already imagining the look on Sideswipe when he finds out about the Dinobots adopting his sparkling as their little brother.

Sideswipe certainly wasn't thrilled when he found out the Dinobots claimed Sidestep as their little brother. The Dinobots themselves had to learn that they couldn't bite or attack Sideswipe at all as he is Sidestep's creator but that didn't mean that they couldn't be protective of the sparkling whenever he was with Sunstreaker as Sidestep was still getting over his fear of his uncle. No one really complained much to the Dinobots playing with Sidestep, practically having the mentality of a sparkling, they would play simple games or spend hours watching cartoons and trying to explain to the sparkling what was going on or why they laughed at funny parts of the cartoon.

Two orns went by and Sideswipe and Sunstreaker found they had a day off together. "What are we going to do?" Sideswipe wondered aloud from where he sat at the table.

"You're asking me?" Sunstreaker replied back to his brother.

"Well, normally we would put some prank together and wreaking havoc on some unsuspecting Autobot." Sideswipe told his brother.

Sunstreaker scoffed. "Yeah, well, we've apparently been retired from pranks for the moment thanks to your miniature clone." The yellow twin stared down at Sidestep busy bouncing a ball attached to an elastic string that was Velcro to Sideswipe's chair.

"Be nice to your nephew."

Sidestep click excitedly when Bluestreak came over, "Hi guys! What'cha doing? Don't you have the day off today? That must be nice. You can spend your time with Sidestep more. I'm surprise the Dinobots trusted Sidestep, being the way they were. I bet you weren't happy when you found ou-"

"We get it Blue." Sideswipe told Bluestreak as Sunstreaker stared down at Sidestep watching Bluestreak, fascinated. "We don't know what to do."

"Why don't you go on a picnic?" Bluestreak suggested. "Hound said that would take Mirage on picnics. I'm sure Sidestep would enjoy it, he could get used to Earth a lot that way and you both can spend time together."

Sunstreaker looked ready to sneer at the suggestion if Sidestep didn't pipe, "Picnic?"

"Yeah. You go outside and find a nice spot, spread a blanket and you sit on it. You bring some energons and enjoy the nature around you."

Sunstreaker scoffed at the thought of just sitting around the dirt covered ground and letting Primus knows what cling or scratch his beautiful frame. But it would seem that Primus wasn't going to give the yellow Lamborghini a break as Sidestep look at his creator and ask. "Can we do that, daddy?"

Sideswipe grinned and said back, "Sure Sidestep. You, me and uncle Sunny." Sunstreaker glared at his twin as Sidestep clapped his servos in joy.

:You owe me for this, Sides.: Sunstreaker growled through their bond.

Sideswipe ignored his brother as he went to get plenty of energon cubes for the picnic. The twins and sparkling heading towards the entrance, they didn't quite make it when Sidestep spotted one of his favorite mechs. "Ratset! Ratset!" he called happily, racing over to the medic and glomping onto his leg. The twins stopped in their tracks as they watch the medic they want to jump smile and pat the sparkling.

"Hello, Sidestep. Where are you going?" Ratchet asked.

"We're goin' on a picnic. Wanna come, Ratset?"

The red and yellow Lamborghinis were speechless as Sidestep ask the medic to come with them. Ratchet smiled more as he answered, "I don't have medical duties until tonight, so I would love to, Sidestep."

"Yay!" Sidestep squeal happily.

Smiling, Sideswipe picked his sparkling up and settled him onto his shoulder guards, emitting a giggle out the sparkling.

"Ooooh." Sidestep oohed as he stared up at the green canopy of trees three Autobots walked under. "What they?" he inquired, pointing at the trees.

"Those are trees, Earth's practically covered in it." Sideswipe answered.

"No, technically, the Earth is covered by 71% of sea water." Ratchet corrected.

"He didn't have to know." Sideswipe muttered.

Sidestep didn't seem to care as he stared up at the trees. "They huge." He commented.

"Not as big as Omega Supreme."

"Oh."

"Can we fine a spot and get this picnic over with?" Sunstreaker demanded impatiently.

"You're just a ray of sunshine, Sunny." Sideswipe said.

"Don't call me Sunny." Sunstreaker growled at his twin.

"There is a spot that Hound said was a nice spot." Ratchet told the twins.

"Lead the way." Sideswipe told the medic with a sweep of his arm. Ratchet raised an optic ridge at the red twin, mumbled and headed off toward s the location. Sideswipe could not take his optics off Ratchet's backside, most precisely, his aft.

:I would love to take a bite outta that aft.: Sideswipe told his brother, knowing he was staring at that sweet aft as well.

Sunstreaker grunted and replied back, :I'd do more than bite that aft.:

Ratchet led them to a lovely clearing, the trees were in bloom, the petals falling like colorful snow from the gentle breeze, and the sun's reflected off the river, making it sparkle like diamonds. The ground from free of small rocks and there wasn't a hint of litter as if the humans never found this small piece of paradise and defiled it.

Sidestep was in awe of the area and Sunstreaker looked around and said, "It'll do, I guess." And brought the blanket out his subspace and spread it on the ground. Sideswipe set Sidestep on the blanket who flipped onto his stomach to examine a flower near the blanket. Ratchet settled down next to Sidestep as the twins sat next to each other and brought the energon cubes they got out their subspace and placed them onto the blanket to grab. Ratchet grabbed a cube for himself as he explained to Sidestep what the flower was.

:I didn't think Ratchet studied the plants on this planet.: Sunstreaker said to his brother.

:I think most of us have trouble learning from our nature loving comrades.: Sideswipe replied back. They watched as Ratchet gave a smaller cube to Sidestep and helped him drink from it without spilling. :That is a sexy mech.: he said, his engine purring quietly.

:Yeah.: Sunstreaker agreed, knowing his brother could feel his lust for the medic through their bond.

They watched as Ratchet told Sidestep to be careful as he walked over to the river and look it over with curiosity.

:Can you imagine having sparklings with Ratchet?: Sideswipe asked his brother absently.

:Whoa bro! I'm not ready to have sparklings.: Sunstreaker informed his twin :Plus, you have a sparkling. Why would you want another one?:

Sideswipe shrugged as his sparkling dipped his hand into the water and stared in wonder as the liquid cascades pass his spread fingers.

:I feel… jealous that Eclipse had Sidestep all to herself. I would like to take care of my own sparkling after it's been spark, you know? Feed it, raise it, and teach it things as it grows up. I missed a lot of that with Sidestep, and I want to make it up to him now.:

Sunstreaker stared at his brother like he never seen him before in his life :If having a sparkling does this to you then I really don't want one.:

Sideswipe snorted at his brother and said, :You may say that now but some orn you'll warm up to the idea of having a sparkling.:

:The day that happens, you can paint me pink and lavender and I'll stay like that for a month.:

:You're going to eat those words.: Sideswipe said.

"You two are unusually quiet." Ratchet comment suspiciously.

"We're getting our zen on." Sideswipe replied with the most charming smile he had in his arsenal.

Ratchet raised an optic ridge at him, "You both don't know how to be zen." He told the two.

"There's a first for everything." Sideswipe shrugged.

"Ratset! Ratset!" Sidestep chirped as he hurried over to the medic.

"What is it, Sidestep?" inquired Ratchet. Sidestep held his servos out to show he was holding four flowers. One flower was white, one red, one blue, and the last one yellow. "For me?" Ratchet asked and Sidestep nodded. Ratchet smiled as he accepted the flowers from the sparkling. "Thank you, Sidestep."

Sidestep smiled and bounded over to Sideswipe and sat in his lap. Both brothers gave each a look at the scene. Sidestep didn't seem to notice as he held his daddy's servo to his chassis and hummed a song he heard Jazz play once.

The next had both Sideswipe and Sunstreaker on patrol, leaving Sidestep with one of the Autobots as his sparkling sitter. Sidestep sat on the floor in front of the TV, playing with his teddy bear.

Cliffjumper stood by watching the sparkling. Bumblebee walked over to the other minibot and asked, "Planning to sign-up as a sparkling sitter?"

"Frag, no." Cliffjumper scoffed.

Bumblebee frowned at his friend, "Why not?" he wondered.

"That is the spawn of the red Lamborghini, the bane of us minibots. Who knows when he starts teaching it to beat on us?" Cliffjumper questioned.

Bumblebee looked over as Sidestep cuddled his teddy bear to his chassis. "He's pretty harmless, considering that he's a sparkling right now."

Cliffjumper still stared at the sparkling that resembled the front-liner down to his colors. "Sideswipe isn't capable of raising a sparkling. And I still say Sideswipe only got with the sparkling's femme-creator because he wanted the lay." He insisted.

Bumblebee shook his head at his red counterpart, "From what I heard, he knew and loved her."

Cliffjumper growled as he said, "I think she should've aborted the sparkling and save us all the trouble of having to watch the spawn."

"Cliffjumper!" Bumblebee shouted aghast at what he just said. They both felt a presence near them, they both looked down and found Sidestep had abandoned his teddy bear on the floor and stood near them. He stared at them with wide optics that slowly filled with coolant and his lower lip quivered and ran out the rec. room.

They both stared after the sparkling and Bumblebee turn his optics onto Cliffjumper. "I think you hurt his feelings."

Cliffjumper shrugged and said, "He'll get over it, he's the Lamborghini's spawn after all.

It was nearly two hours when an Autobot came into the rec. room asking, "Has anyone seen Sidestep?"

Cliffjumper was rather mean to Sidestep.