A/N: I'm so sorry for the LONG wait on this update. Other fic projects took me over, and now I think I'm almost ready to get back to this fic. Once Turning Point is done, this will be my primary concern once more.

Warning: Cuteness and fluff?

Disc: No, TF's are not mine.

Family is Forever – Chapter 23 – Diff'rent

"She still hasn't come out?"

"She's only accepting energon, and hardly ever wants to leave her room. Jazz and I…we are worrying."

Optimus nodded, optics fixed on the closed door, behind which was Prowl and Jazz's daughter. "Has she given any indication as to why she is staying in there? She is usually so social. For her not to be so is-"

"Unusual. I know," murmured Prowl tiredly, rubbing his optics. "We don't know what to do. She keeps saying that she doesn't want to come out because mechs will treat her differently, and she insists that she's not different and doesn't want to be treated as if she's Primus's daughter."

The larger mech hummed in thought. The concern was a valid one. Some mechs were still in awe over the fact that Harmony had cheated death due to that special blessing he had bestowed on her. But he knew that it would only work once. Next time the white femmeling was in danger, she would not be so lucky. Quietly, he asked his SIC, "How does she respond to you and Jazz?"

The black and white let a faint smile touch his face, and replied, "Better than we had hoped. She has come to terms to how we both are while fighting. She understands that we can be…vicious. Apart from that, she is grateful we do not treat her differently. We still love her, we play with her, read her bedtime stories. Harmony is a beautiful thing borne out of what Jazz and I felt for each other, even at the time it was influenced by the Heat."

The Prime nodded. He took a few more silent moments for himself before asking, "Do you mind if I speak to her?"

Surprise flitted across Prowl's stoic features before he smiled at his leader. "Not at all. It may help."

He left, leaving one of his most trusted friends with his daughter. Perhaps Optimus could break her out of this odd mood she had carried since the day of the battle.

Optimus had to get on his knees to crawl through the youngling's doorway, and found her looking curiously at him through her visor, her favoured toy – her SunSun – held close to her. "Hi," she said softly.

"Hello Harmony. It's been a while since I've seen you," greeted the large mech in return, sitting on the floor in front of the small berth.

A morose expression settled on Harmony's young features, and she mumbled, "Since I went all glowy."

"That's right."

Optimus was confused. Prowl had described it as bad, but not as bad as this. Surely, there must be something more to this.

Gently, he asked, "Why have you been avoiding everyone Harmony? You must be terribly lonely."

The white femme clicked up her visor, showing fierce, blazing optics. So much like Prowl's when he was stubborn, Optimus mused. "You're….not gonna treat me diff'rent?" she asked quietly, the hope she had tried to mask peeping out in her tone.

A smile split the Prime's face as he said, "Harmony, you are still the same adorable little sparkling that played at my feet under my desk with your special cubes. You are still the daughter of two of my most trusted friends. Just because you were blessed with something that operated to prolong your life, why would I treat you any different?"

"Really?" Harmony asked excitedly.

"Really," he answered, holding out his arms.

The white femme leaped into them happily, snuggling closer to the large, warm spark of the Prime. She chirred, a little smile finally breaking out into her face. "Why though? Everyone else will treat me diff'rent."

"Harmony," Optimus rumbled softly, "when Jazz comes back from a mission he should have gotten injured on, but comes back unscathed, would I treat him different? If Wheeljack manages to make something truly remarkable – and which doesn't blow up – do I pay him any special attention? Not in the way you think. An extra word of praise or maybe letting them view my true smile is all I will offer them in terms of difference. However," here he tilted up the young femme's helm so he could look her in the optics, "this new attention you are most likely going to receive is not something to be afraid of. Mechs will treat you different. But if you want them to treat you the same as before, then you must make it perfectly clear that you are still the same giggling, happy youngling we all know and love."

"How?" Harmony asked, defences dropped in light of what her 'Uncle' told her.

"Well…what would your parents do to change another's mind?"

Harmony thought hard, doorwinglets twitching on her back as she did so, before she smiled wide and answered, "Well, Father would just put them on extra work shifts until they shut up and did as he told. And Papa would probably prank them."

Optimus burst out laughing, patting Harmony on the helm. "Perhaps the pranking may be effective. It will remind the Ark just how impish you really are."

Harmony nodded her helm, optics shining with renewed life. "And Daddy can't even ground me because you gave me permission to do it!"

Optimus chuckled nervously this time, replying, "Perhaps it would not be prudent to mention me specifically. Maybe you should rope Sunstreaker into helping you out."

The femme's expression turned downcast then, asking in a small voice, "You don't think he'll treat me differently?"

Optimus opened his mouth to answer, but was beaten to the punch.

"Are you serious? You'll still be the little annoying niece that demands me everywhere because she has me wrapped around her little finger," snorted a voice coming from the doorway.

"Uncle Sunny!" cheered Harmony, personality doing a complete 180 upon seeing the scowling frontliner, his frowning expression so familiar to her. She jumped out of Optimus's arms and ran to the golden mech, hands reaching up for him. "Pranks! I want to do pranks!" she called out. The bigger mech smiled at seeing Sunstreaker cave under those big blue optics and that adorable pout. It was cute to see the stubborn, tough warrior soften under the youngling's hands.

"Fine…we do Tracks first," Sunny replied, nodding to Optimus as he left.

The red and blue mech could only smile. Things were going back to exactly where they were supposed to be.

A/N: Yay! I finally did something for this fic!

The next chap probably won't come out until January, and it's…well, it's more about Prowl and Jazz than Harmony.