Author's note. Ironhide and Chromia have a little time 'alone' time, while Optimus gets some visitors. Big thanks to all those who have reviewed so far.

Warnings for sticky interface scenes and a little bit of cussing.

Enjoy and please review.

Skywarp's POV.

Skywarp sadly snuggled in his mate's arms, listening to the sounds coming from Ratchet's office, most of them growls and curses. It didn't bother him, he could tell it was just the doc's way, and it didn't alarm him. The truth of the matter was, he was bored, not to mention feeling very miserable.

The reasons for his misery were shared by most of those in the Med Bay, but the reason he was bored was that said persons were asleep. His mate had fallen into light recharge and he couldn't bare to wake him. Skyfire had been forced onto a berth after collapsing from exhaustion, and had been given a sedative meaning he was in a deep but fitful recharge. Ratchet of course was in his office, the other Medic was taking a well deserved break, the mad scientist was um, doing mad scientist stuff and of course all the other patients were asleep.

What was a poor Seeker to do?

Salvation came in the form of Blaster, the red Cassettes player that was polar opposite to his counterpart Soundwave. Just the sight of him cheered Skywarp up somewhat as he could indulge in thinking about all the rumours he had heard about the two Split-Sparks, the x-rated ones of course.

"Hey," Blaster greeted softly, seeing that Skywarp was awake but mindful of Ratchet's wrath if he disturbed anyone.

"Hey," Skywarp grinned back, sitting up a little so as not to disturb his mate. "What you doing here?"

"I need a check up with the doc," Blaster said, though frankly he looked fine to Skywarp.

Skywarp frowned, Blaster looked better than fine, he was positively glowing with good health. Then he remembered something.

"Hey, Blaster, Soundwave didn't give you any trouble did he?"

Blaster paused in the act of knocking on Ratchet's office door, and slowly turned to grin very widely at Skywarp.

"Oh no, he wasn't any trouble at all."

Blaster calmly knocked and was told he could enter, however just before he did he turned back to Skywarp and said.

"Though next time, I might need to borrow your handcuffs. The pink ones."

And he left a gawking Seeker as he entered Ratchet's office. Skywarp just sat there, gaping at the closed door before shaking his mate, just needing to tell someone. Finally Thundercracker stirred with a mumbled.

"What is it?"

"TC, you are never going to believe this, that Blaster, he just asked if he could borrow my handcuff, you know the pink ones," Skywarp said excitedly.

"So?" Thundercracker asked blearily as Skywarp clung to him.

"To deal with Soundwave."

"What!" Thundercracker managed to yelp before there came a roar from the office.

"I do not believe this."

There was a ringing silence after that, and then Thundercracker said dryly as he settled down for another sleep.

"Doesn't sound like he really needs them."

Ironhide's POV.

"Baby, that was amazing," Ironhide groaned as lay sprawled on his berth, Chromia lying right beside him in the shelter of one of his arms. Her rifle had finally been discarded, though not before it had been involved in some serious foreplay. He idly reflected it would need a through clean before he handed it back.

It was just as well he remembered to activate the sound proofing in his room (which Prowl had insisted on) before he had pouched on Chromia who was ready and waiting on his berth. Frankly it was a miracle he had managed to do that, since Chromia's legs were already wrapped around him as she locked his lips in some fierce kissing. It had been very hard to put her down long enough to do that, especially considering the aching pressure he was starting to feel behind his codpiece.

Returning to the berth he was immediately seized and they engaged in their usual bout of positioning, meaning they wrestled while kissing to see who would go on top. In this case Chromia won no doubt due to the fact that she was desperate.

Both he and Chromia were considered dominant, and it had shown before they had found each other. Whereas Ironhide had been known for slinging (willing) Femme's over his shoulder, Chromia had been known for pinning Mech's on their back underneath her. So it was always somewhat physical their foreplay before they even got to the business of actual interface. Speaking of which.

Chromia smirked down at her aroused mate, grinding her hips into his groin, lifting his arms over his head. She suddenly slammed a pair of stasis cuffs on his wrists, making Ironhide cry out in shock as he was cuffed to the berth head rest. He struggled as Chromia got up, her optics glinting with mischief and arousal.

"Babe, what're ya doin'? Let meh go!"

"Oh no. I've been chaste for four million years 'Hide. I'm going to make you beg for me," Chromia said, laughter in her voice as she stripped all her armour off after setting the large gun on the floor with the safety on.

Ironhide's optics lit up as he looked over his beautiful her beautiful blue-green body. His optics finally settled on her port, lubricant already gushing down her thighs. He trembled as she reached over and ripped off his own codpiece to reveal his half stiff piece. He gave an angry cry as she pulled away, not touching him.

"Oh no, baby, you're gonna lay back and enjoy the show," Chromia purred, her optics dim with lust as she walked over to the large gun.

Chromia made sure the safety was on before dragging her glossa up the gun barrel, making Ironhide groan as his piece stiffened further. She smirked in satisfaction at the look on her mate's face and pulled a chair that had been sitting in a corner over to her, sitting down in it. She kept one hand on the gun and slid the other down her body, pressing three fingers into her well lubricated port as she moaned. She looked at Ironhide's face as she stretched her port open.

"Oh, babe!" Ironhide gasped as his piece reached full arousal and was begging to be touched.

Chromia smirked as, to her mate's utter shock, she pulled the gun down and slid it inside herself. She gasped and bucked her hips into the stimulation, watching Ironhide's face intently. His mouth was agape and his optics wide. She stood up and put one foot on the chair and started riding the gun like it was a piece as lubricant gushed down the barrel.

Ironhide bucked his hips up desperately as his mate made the most wonderful moaning noises as she rode the gun. Her beautiful face was screwed up in ecstasy and coolant beaded on her slender body. The ache in his groin increased to a point where he finally gave up his control.

"Oh slag, Chromia, just come here! Ah need you! Ah want you to frag me into oblivion! Please just come here!"

Chromia jerked the gun out of her port and ran over to the berth. She sat the gun down and was straddling Ironhide, dripping port positioned right above his throbbing piece. She reached up and un-cuffed him as she impaled herself on Ironhide's mechhood. They both cried out at the shock of pleasure that coursed through their systems.

Chromia immediately started to ride Ironhide, her head thrown back as she screamed in pleasure. Ironhide reached up and grabbed her hips, helping her move her hips faster as he screamed as loud as his mate.

Chromia reached behind her and grabbed the gun, pulling it closer to Ironhide. She waited for the moment just before overload when the walls of her port were squeezing in on Ironhide's spasming mechhood then shoved the gun into his port. Ironhide's orgasmic cries drowned out his mate's at the extra stimulation.

After what seemed like ages, Chromia slumped down and kissed the red Mech beneath her hotly. Ironhide sighed and pushed Chromia off, standing up with a smirk on his face. His optics glinted playfully as he stretched and headed to where his mate had thrown his codpiece. He picked it up and turned to the alluring femme lying on his berth.

"Ya know, Ah think that's enough fer today, love."

Chromia gave a yowl of protest and leapt off the bed to charge angrily at her mate. He dodged and spun around to face the piercing angry eyes of his unsatisfied mate. He chuckled as she dove at him again pinning him against the wall. She easily stripped all of his armour while yelling.

"You get your red aft back into that berth! I'm not nearly done with you, you slagger!"

Ironhide growled and spun around, reversing Chromia's hold on him and clamping a hand on her mouth.

"Oh no, baby, it is mah turn to frag you!"

Ironhide picked the jade coloured femme up and threw her onto the berth. He smirked as he rubbed himself and reached between Chromia's legs to rub the centre of her arousal. She gasped and arched up to him.

"Oh 'Hide, don't tease," she moaned as she tossed her head back.

He smirked and removed his hand, now covered in lubricant, raising it up to his lips and sucking his fingers clean. Chromia spread her legs wider as Ironhide pulled her legs over the side of the berth and positioned his piece at her entrance. With a final grin, he thrust in hard.

Chromia arched up to meet him as he started at a gentle pace. Ironhide shifted the angle of his thrusts and Chromia shrieked as he started hitting one place in her port that made her see stars. Ironhide started to speed up until they both were screaming in overload.

Ironhide pulled out once the spasms died down and lay beside his mate, allowing their systems to cool down. He smiled and pulled her into a hot kiss. When they parted, Chromia rolled on top of her mate and ground suggestively into him.

"Well, Ah guess Prime was right," Ironhide groaned.

"What about, sweetling?" Chromia purred.

"Tha' we ain't gonna be seen fer yer entire stay," Ironhide said with a smile.

Chromia giggled and reached down to grasp Ironhide firmly. "Well, he might be right."

Ironhide's laugh turned into a deep moan as Chromia slid down and engulfed his mechhood. His last thought was that he hoped that Prime had been right before he and Chromia slid back into bliss.

A long time later.

After several overloads, they now lay in each other's arms. Ironhide heaved a contented sigh.

"Ah really needed that."

"You needed that?"

She sat up, folding her arms and raising an optic brow indignantly.

"You're not the one who's been waiting millions of years

"Ah know and I wouldn't have blamed ya, darling, for taking someone," he said softly before adding. "Wouldn't have stopped me from beating the guy up, but ah still wouldn't have faulted ya."

Chromia looked him full in the face as she answered.

"You're my Mech, Hide and I'd never give you up."

She now slyly placed her hand in a certain place that made him groan. As her grip tightened, he felt himself grow big again, as she said.

"Besides, I think it was worth the wait."

"Still," Ironhide said, as he grew. "Ah think ah have a bit ta go yet, before ah fully make it up to you."

After performing his duty as a sorry Mech-mate, they both once again slumped down, this time Chromia lying half on him.

"Ah should probably check everything's alright, ya know Prime won't want ta disturb unless it's an emergency but ah still want ta make sure everything's fine. Hopefully, we won't have to go anywhere."

"Mmmm," Chromia murmured, her hand between his legs. "You'd better find your codpiece, before we lose it again."

"Right, where is it...Oh."

His codpiece had been tossed to the other side of the room. He very, very dimly remembered tossing it off once at least one of his hands was free. He supposed he could get up and retrieve it.

"Meh, its fine over there, nothing likely to happen."

Switching on his comm as his fingers stroked Chromia's bear back, he called Prime. His leader answered, quite quickly which made Ironhide focus a bit more.

"Ironhide, I wasn't expecting to hear from you for at least another week."

"Ha, ha, very funny Prime. So anything up."

"Not really, Dinobots are in a bit of a mood at being left out, Red's finally letting it all out, Blaster's Spark split, I've got a ridiculous amount of reports on a my desk and.."

"Woh, woh, back it up Prime. What da ya mean, Blaster's Spark split?"

Chromia gasped, this was something that everyone had been waiting for, for a long time but it was still something of a shock.

"Indeed, Ratchet called a while ago with the good news. Though I must warn you," Optimus added, amusement clear in his voice. "Ratchet mentioned something about neutering over-sexed bots who go at it too hard with no thought of what can occur. So I hope you have not done anything, he'll make me regret later."

"It's fine Prime, don't you worry yourself none," Ironhide replied with a chuckle, though Optimus's words reminded him of something he had been meaning to bring up with his mate. He had to stifle a moan as Chromia's hand squeezed lightly.

"Ah got it covered."

"I'm sure you have," was Optimus's dry reply. "I'll see both of you later, enjoy yourselves."

"See ya later, Prime an' don't worry, we will."

Switching the comm. off Ironhide lay back with a sigh, tightening his grip around Chromia as he did so.

"Heh, who'd have thought it," Ironhide finally chuckled. "Blaster's gonna have a Sparkling at long last."

"That'll be interesting," Chromia said softly. "How long?"

"Quite a bit ah think, Spilt-Spark Sparklings ain't like regular Sparklings, they'll only grow to a certain height, and there's only code from their bearer, so it takes longer for them to be Sparked," Ironhide said, remembering a conversation between Blaster and First Aid on the subject. He hesitated for a moment and then said.

"Chromia, ah...ah want us to Spark Bond tonight, it's been so long since we were last together and sometimes ah worry the Bond will wither."

Chromia raised her head as she gently laid a hand on his chest, over the place where is Spark was.

"The Bond's still there, Hide," she said softly. "And as strong as ever."

"Ah know, it's just...," Ironhide couldn't finish his sentence but Chromia understood.

"Tonight," she whispered as they settles down for recharge, they were both exhausted from their exertions.

Ironhide dimly registered that they'd need to pay the Wash Racks a visit later on, meaning he'd have to call maybe Jazz about Code Sapphire. Code Sapphire was where the corridors leading to the Wash Racks were cleared so that a couple who, ahem, really needed to use they could do so, without anyone gawking. And obviously, they'd have privacy once they were there.

But unless there was a huge emergency, like the volcano exploding was he moving an inch until he and his mate spend a decent amount of time in each other's arms.

Optimus's POV.

Optimus tiredly rubbed at his optics as he sat at his desk, it was going to be a long night. Earlier, both Sunstreaker and Sideswipe had woken up in the throes of horrible nightmare, a nightmare in which they had relived what had happened to them that day Megatron had attacked. It had taken a bit to calm them down.

There had been some good news, Blaster was finally going to have his Sparkling which would bring a lot of joy to the Ark. But it was still depressing to think about those still hurt, and it was times like this that Optimus felt overwhelmed. What was he going to do?

"Prime."

Optimus looked up at the sound of his name, and was surprised to see Thundercracker and Skywarp standing in the doorway. He quickly gestured for them to take a seat and they did, but they still looked very serious. It was Thundercracker who spoke first.

"Prime, we need to talk."

Before Optimus could say anything, Skywarp now spoke.

"About Starscream."

To be continued.

Author's note. Next chapter features the twins and Thundercacker and Skywarp's 'talk' with the Autobots. Till next time.