Chapter 20! Yay! This was one of my favorite to write! Oh, and I know the chapters are incrediby short, but they should start being longer soon. So. All you who read, REVIEW! Please. Jgirl911 is the only one who reviews this story. Please review! Okay, onward!

Chapter 20

Mudflap slowly onlined his optics, found himself in the med bay, and unable to recall how he had gotten there. Then it all came rushing back into his processor, the thoughts tumbling over themselves to make themselves known. Mudflap fought the urge to cry. What was he becoming?

The feeling of someone tightly clinging to his hand brought him back to the present and made him glance around. Skids, re-painted back to green, was clinging tightly to his hand and staring at it intently. Mudflap yanked his hand away and rolled over, facing his back to Skids; he didn't want his brother to see him upset, and he certainly didn't want his brother to judge him. Best to pretend to be recharging. "...Mudflap?" Skids whispered quietly. Mudflap did not reply, nor did he move. "I know you're online bro...C'mon, talk to me," Skids pleaded. Mudflap had shut the twin-bond so tightly, Skids couldn't sense anything, except that he was online and active. Mudflap still stayed silent and Skids vented a sigh. For a moment, Mudflap thought Skids had given up.

He thought wrong.

Mudflap squeaked as Skids climbed onto the berth with him. Refusing to back down, Mudflap kept his back to Skids as his older brother forced him to move over and leave more room. Skids resisted another sigh and reached out and stroked his brother's back, comforting him. Unconsciously, Mudflap leaned into the comforting gesture, his engine purring happily. "I know you're scared, bro. I would be too, if it was me. Don't worry though, everything will be okay. I'll help you get through this."

For the first time that day, Mudflap twisted around and met his twin's optics. "Y-you mean it?" he asked. "Mmhmm," Skids replied, pulling his twin even closer until they were chest to chest. It was awkward, with the way their frames were built, but that didn't matter as Mudflap manage to settle comfortably against his twin and cycle a sigh of contentment through his intakes. "...Skids?" Mudflap whispered a moment later. "Hmm?" "...What am I?" Mudflap hadn't wanted to ask, but he had to know.

Skids sat up and gave his brother a fierce look. "Oh no, don't ya dare start! You ain't a freak, or anything like that. You just...special..." Mudflap didn't seem satisfied with that answer, and he started struggling to pull away from his brother; Mudflap was easily upset in this state. Skids grabbed his twin's waist and held on tightly. Energon tears fell from Mudflap's optics as he tried in vain to twist out of his brother's strong grip. "Mudflap! Hey, why you crying?" the voice of Skids was gentle as he asked the question and Mudflap gave one mopre feeble struggle before collapsing onto Skids.

"Y-y-y-you don't care!" Mudflap sobbed. Skids was struck dumb by Mudflap's statement and then snapped out of it; he pulled Mudflap back against his chest and reassured him. "No, Mudflap. I care. I care so, so much, more than you can imagine." As Skids was speaking, his arms wrapped back around Mudflap and rubbed soothing circles on his back. Mudflap whimpered and shuddered, but Skids chose to ignore Mudflap's sounds of continued disbelief as they both fell into recharge.

Yay! I love this chapter! So much fluffiness, it makes me want to gag! Honestly, where does my brain get this stuff! Anyway, review please!