Author's note: This chapter was written by StargazerPrime =D

"Hello" Human talking.

"Hello" Cybertronian/Magic talking.

"Hello" Thoughts.

"Hello" Talking through the bond.

Starscream landed outside the Autobot base before his comrades "How was that?" he asked with a smile.

"Brilliant" Ironhide replied with a smile and got off "thanks 'Star"

The Seeker transformed into his bipedal mode, he came to his friend's shoulder in height "You're welcome, so is it true that you have two daughters?" he asked with a smile.

'Hide smiled and nodded "Yeah it is, I became their father" he replied, not going into details as to how it all conspired.

Starscream smiled and nodded "Well you're a good mech 'Hide, you'll be a great father to those girls" he replied.

Ironhide smiled "Thanks, now I need to see how Jade is doing, she got injured whilst fighting the 'Cons" he replied and went to walk in but paused, he looked at his friend "umm..."

The Seeker smirked "Third on the right, the one with the double doors" he said.

"Right...thanks" 'Hide replied and blushed a little, he walked inside the Autobot base and looked around, it was completely different in both looks and atmosphere compared to the Decepticon base and smiled. He walked up the hallway.

Ratchet had treated Jade who was resting now and was getting to know Rebecca a bit better, she was a genuinely nice girl despite her shyness, he could see why Ironhide had become a father figure to them. He sighed quietly as he thought about him, he didn't belong with the Decepticons and should be an Autobot, he doubted he would see him again till the next battle. Then the Medbay doors opened making him jump and he looked up, he was surprised to see Ironhide there "Ironhide, hey" he greeted, not doing very well to hide the surprise in his voice.

'Hide smiled slightly "Hey, don't worry I'm no longer a 'Con, I'm an Autobot now" he replied.

It took all of Ratchet's willpower not to jump up and down in joy, he smiled and nodded "That's great" he replied "I've treated Jade's wounds and she's resting now"

Ironhide smiled and nodded, he stroked his daughter's hair.

Jade purred and opened her eyes, she looked up at her father and smiled "Hey" she greeted.

'Hide smiled and sat down beside the berth "Hey girls" he replied softly "you ok?"

The two sisters smiled and nodded.

"Good, guess what" Ironhide replied with a smile.

"What?" Rebecca asked.

"I'm an Autobot now, I defected" 'Hide replied with a smile.

The sixteen year old smiled "Aw that's great, you've always been a good person" she replied.

Ironhide smiled and nodded "Just remember that you two will always be good too" he said softly.

The two sisters smiled and nodded.

"Rest some more, you both need it" 'Hide said softly.

Rebecca and Jade smiled and nodded, they both got comfortable.

Ironhide looked around for a blanket and got one, he gently put it over his daughters and tucked them in, he kissed their heads gently "Sleep well" he whispered softly.

The two sisters smiled and settled down to sleep.

'Hide smiled and got up, he walked quietly out the Medbay.

Ratchet had given the three of them their privacy and was walking towards the living room.

Ironhide saw him and his Spark fluttered, but he contained himself "Hey Ratchet" he greeted and walked down to him.

The Medic turned around and his Spark fluttered, his admired the way his crush walked and the way his strong body moved, he almost forgot he was standing right in front of him and jumped a little "Oh! Um, hi, sorry" he replied and blushed, since when is he shy?

'Hide smiled, he found it cute seeing his crush blush and fumble for words, he blushed a little himself and cleared his vocals "I um...don't know my way around" he said quietly "could you show me?" since when did he blush? He hasn't for a long time and had never felt shy either, this was all new to him.

Ratchet found his crush's blushing adorable and smiled "Sure" he replied "follow me" he replied.

Ironhide smiled and nodded, he resisted the urge to hold his hand as he followed him outside, the base door was down like a drawbridge which was very clever.

"To the right is the garden" the Medic said with a smile and gestured to the right where the garden was.

The garden was beautiful with lush green grass and different kinds of flowers, there was a nice oak tree too

'Hide smiled "It's very nice" he replied "

Ratchet smiled and nodded "It is, c'mon, I think you'll like this" he replied.

Ironhide nodded and they walked to the left where there was a grassy embankment, it wasn't too steep and the two mechs walked down it, in front of them were drones.

"This is our shooting range" the Medic said with a smile.

'Hide smiled "Now I do like this" he replied and walked up to one of the drones, he felt it "pure Cybertronian metal, this will be very efficient for battle training" he walked back over to his crush "who made them?"

"Que and Starscream" the Medic replied with a smile, admiring his crush's voice and the way he talked.

Ironhide smiled and nodded.

"C'mon, there's one more area to see" Ratchet said with a smile and they walked round towards the back of the base, there was an area that was made of soft tarmac, one that would be used on children's playgrounds and was coloured black "here are the combat grounds, beyond that is a grassy area with a few trees"

"Oh now this is impressive" 'Hide replied with a smile "this is perfect for combat" he felt the soft tarmac "soft tarmac, the same used at Sparkling playgrounds, am I right?"

The Medic smiled and nodded.

"Less risk of injury, whoever designed this has thought outside the box, I will definitely be using this to go a few rounds with Prime" Ironhide replied and looked at his crush "he has advanced skills"

Ratchet could only just smile and nod, his crush's deep gruff voice was almost making him go weak at the knees.

'Hide smiled and looked down for a moment, he really wanted to tell his crush how he felt, he had never had a Bondmate before and he did have an interest in mechs than femmes. He looked at Ratchet and he saw the same look in his optics that he most likely had, love, he walked over and looked at him "Ratchet...I...I have to tell you something" he whispered and blushed.

The Medic looked up at him, his Spark was pounding and had a feeling he knew what was coming, he moved a little closer to his crush "What is it?" he asked quietly.

Ironhide gulped a little and looked down, his mouth opened and closed a few times but no words came out when he really needed them to, he felt a pair of warm hands hold his own and he looked at them. He realised they had subconsciously held hands and blushed more.

Ratchet blushed and looked up into his crush's soft red optics, he could see the love and admiration in his optics.

'Hide could see just the same in his crush's icy blue optics and they moved closer to one another, their chests almost touching and they leaned in so their noses were almost touching. Both their Sparks pounded in their chests, almost like they were calling out for one another, they were meant to be. Then after a few tense seconds, they scared a soft kiss, both their Sparks fluttered wildly in their chests as they kissed. When they ended their kiss they smiled and touched forehelms "I love you" they both whispered and smiled.

Ironhide wanted to ask the ultimate question, one that he had never asked in his entire life "Ratch...will you be my Bondmate?" he asked softly.

The Medic smiled softly and put a hand on his lover's cheek plate "Of course I will Ironhide" he replied softly and stroked it gently.

'Hide purred softly and smiled "Call me 'Hide" he replied softly.

Ratchet smiled and nodded "Ok 'Hide" he said.

Ironhide smiled and held his lover close and purred "Let's bond" he replied softly and kissed his helm.

The Medic smiled and held his hand "To my quarters my love" he replied softly and they both walked into the base, his quarters was opposite the Medbay.

'Hide smiled and walked into his lover's quarters, he gently tugged his lover in and the door slid closed behind them.

In the Medbay Jade woke up from her nap and stretched a little, she looked at her sister still sleeping and smiled, she could feel her father's happiness and it made her curious "Daddy? Why are you so happy?" she asked through the bond.

"Ratchet and I are about to become Bondmates" Ironhide replied through the bond with a smile.

The sixteen year old smiled happily, she was happy for her father and knew he deserved happiness, she knew that their family bond would remain as a Spark bond is deeper.

That night Ironhide, Ratchet, Rebecca and Jade were sitting in the garden relaxing. The stars were out and it was a warm night, 'Hide had his legs crossed with his Bondmate sat on his lap comfortably.

The Medic snuggled up to his Bondmate and purred, his Spark glowed a bit brighter from his Bondmate's love.

Ironhide purred and cuddled him as his own Spark glowed a little brighter, he kissed him softly.

Rebecca and Jade smiled softly as they watched them, they were happy for their father, Jade especially "Daddy you deserve all the happiness in the world" she thought to herself happily.

End of Chapter 7