A/N: After rethinking my last chapter, I really decided. I did not want to make this an Autobots and Decepticons story. And thus changed my mind. Lulz Sorry about this. Hope you guys like my new version just as much.

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CHAPTER 15
Love Means Everything

The entire ride back to the home was silent, but Ironhide had expected nothing less. He knew the young man was hurting, and there was nothing he could really do about it yet. Ironhide stopped in front of the home, but Tony didn't step out, his eyes red and puffy by now. Clearly, the teenager felt as though he was a loser right now, not worthy of anyone. He'd been rejected by Foster Families, he'd been used to that. But this time, it was by a girl, something he, like any boy would have liked to have. "She was an IDIOT Tony." Ironhide spoke slowly "If that was the only reason she wanted a date with you, it's her loss." He added.

Tony was quiet at that, he stared out the window, and traced his fingers along his doorframe. "I'm just so tired of rejection." Tony whispered "My parents... All my Foster Families until now. And now, girls... it's like nobody wants me around." He muttered.

Ironhide knew that Tony was aware that was far from true. He wanted him around, Will and Sarah wanted him around, Annabelle wanted him around. Tony was loved by every immediate Lennox family member, and he was very much wanted. "Anthony, you know that isn't true. We all love you very much. And we all want you around here." Ironhide replied soothingly "Do not let a couple of slaggers make you think you're unwanted." He explained.

"Sure, you guys want me, you want to be my family..." Tony muttered "But-"

"Anthony, you are a handsome and intelligent young man." Ironhide encouraged as best he could "You are going to make a human femme very happy one day. Just because one shallow waste of space thought you weren't wort it. Does not mean you aren't." He gently tightened the seatbelts to hug his youngest charge "There are many mean girls, Tony, but there are many kind ones as well. I am normally a good judge of character." He noted.

"And I was an ass because you wanted to protect me." Tony muttered, leaning back in his seat "How are you not mad?"

Ironhide was silent for a moment, he too was surprised he wasn't mad. But then again, when Annabelle had grown furious with him, he'd never been mad at her either. But he'd known Annabelle since she was an infant, Tony he'd known hardly a few months. Yet then again, much like Annabelle, he'd adopted Tony into his spark as a cherished member of what he called his family. "Tony... Before my bonded, my spouse, died, I never had the chance to have any biological children." Ironhide explained "I raised Bumblebee, but truthfully, that is it. And he was already sixteen vorns by that time as you know." He added.

"Yeah, he told me."

"Well, you and Annabelle... Much like Bee, are the closest thing to children I will ever have." Tony felt his head hang a bit, feeling even worse now "Yes, you were harsh, but you were upset. And even I'll admit I can be very overprotective." He sighed inwardly "But I only ever am, because I love you, youngling. You and your Foster Family are the most precious thing in my life." He explained "Not even my cannons are more important to me." This got Tony's attention "I tried to scare that girl away because the last thing I wanted to see was you in the situation yer in right now." He added.

"So, if you trusted the girl-"

"I would have talked to her, not have been the way I was. Unless I disliked the way she answered, or the answers themselves." Ironhide replied "But you need to try and at least trust my judgement. I am not quick to jump the gun, I have my reasons." Tony only nodded glumly, knowing Ironhide was telling him the truth "I never want to see you this way..." He admitted, quietly.

Tony leaned back against his guardian's seats. He'd never been given a heart to heart like this, from anyone. But it felt good, and it only reaffirmed how much this new family cared about him. "Thanks Ironhide. You're a really good guy. You know that?" Tony smiled, he rubbed the dashboard calmly "You're the best friend a kid like me could have." Tony noted.

Tony really meant it too, yeah, they'd been off to a really rough start, but Ironhide was his best friend. He'd always been there for him, looked out for him, had his back. Tony smiled to himself, he'd never expected his best friend to be a truck, but it was, and he was proud to say that. Ironhide rumbled his engine in approval, transforming slowly. "Glad I could be yer best friend, youngling." He noted, carefully tapping open Tony's window, and holding the boy in one palm "You really should lock this." He noted.

"Guess I forgot." He explained as Ironhide gently set him inside, on his bed "Whoa." He added.

"Haven't done that in years." Ironhide mumbled quietly "Goodnight, youngling." He told him "Tomorrow will be a better day."

Tony smiled at Ironhide slipping into his pajamas while Ironhide had turned to leave before adding. "Goodnight, big guy. Love you." He whispered.

Ironhide found himself lingering for the first time, not worried for his safety. Only worried that Tony would continue to cry, deciding the boy had calmed down, Ironhide transformed and lingered near the window to Tony's room. He'd only done this for one other human, Annabelle, but tonight, he decided it was time he did the same for Tony. No one would come near the boy's direction without his knowledge, something that, no longer to Ironhide's surprise, allowed him to fall into a much deeper, and far more peaceful recharge.

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That night was probably one of the most frightening Tony had ever spent. The nightmares were there, they'd always been there, but that night they hit him harder than he'd ever had them hit him before. His body trembled slowly, he whimpered quietly, and he fought back screaming, though he began to nearly a few minutes later. For Will Lennox's restless night, it was simply the cherry on top, not that he minded as he stepped into Tony's room and settled on his bed. "Son, wake up." He whispered, shaking Tony gently "Son, it's a nightmare, you're okay, wake up!" He said, a bit more panicked when he refused to wake up.

Tony jostled awake, his eyes wide, taking a few deep breaths. He looked up at his Foster Father in surprise. "You're okay, Tony." Will told him quietly as Tony made an attempt to relax himself "Easy, easy. What was it about bud? You were screaming." He explained.

Tony stared at Will, for the life of him, he couldn't even remember. Taking a deep breath as Will hugged him gently, he simply allowed himself to lean into his Foster Father's embrace. He didn't remember what it was, but as Will, sat up on his bed and held him, he had a feeling he did know. Being that a part of him felt the urge to fight him off out of fear. "It was nothing Will, I'm just..." Tony attempted to lie his way out of it as best he could "Sorry I woke you up." He added.

"Nah, you didn't. I wasn't able to sleep anyway." Will replied, running circles along his back in a comforting way "Just relax, son. Lay against me, I'll keep you safe from whatever nightmare you went through." He gently kissed the top of his head "I'll stay here as long as you need me to." He added.

Tony smiled a bit, Will was a good guy, he made him feel quite good, to say the least. Will smiled too, he hadn't been able to comfort a nightmare in a long time. And though it wasn't the most fun part of parenting, he did enjoy it. "You've had one hell of a day." Will muttered, Ironhide had clearly told him what had happened "I wish there was something I could do to make it easier." He added.

"You're doing it right now." Tony replied "This is nice."

Will smiled widely, and nodded his head. Will didn't know much about his parents, but he was sure he'd never experienced this before. Tony hadn't experienced a lot of things when it came to parental love, which was depressing to say the least. "Well, I'm your Dad. I love you just as much as Ironhide does." Will whispered "I'm always here when you need me, bud. You and Annabelle are my entire world." He added.

Tony smiled, for the first time, he realized, he liked the sound of Will as his Dad. Well, he always had, but tonight, it felt more comfortable, more natural. The boy smiled and snuggled against the former Colonel's chest. He felt at home here, with Will, with Sarah, with Ironhide. And it was time he started to make himself more at home. He smiled a bit and looked up. "I love you too, Dad."

Will's heart soared as he heard Tony finally call him Dad, something he'd waited for a long time for. He smiled widely, holding him only all the more gently against his chest. "Dad", he'd heard it all the time from Annabelle, of course, but he could definitely get used to hearing that from Tony too. "I definitely looked forward to hearing that, son." Will told him, happily "Now, go to sleep, little man, I'm here to keep you safe." He added.

As Tony slowly fell asleep in his Foster Father's arms, it was the safest, most peaceful sleep he'd had in a long time. Outside, a certain giant robot had transformed, and watched the entire event transpire before his very eyes. Smiling widely, Ironhide turned around, and transformed down slowly. They really were a family now, no matter what stupid pieces of paper for adoption said now. He reflected for a moment on the fact he felt as though Tony would replace Annabelle at one time, but now, he understood a simply fact...

There was room enough for two children in the Lennox's heart, and his spark. And it was just the right size for a young boy like Tony.

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A/N: Ah, MUCH happier with this version. Lulz I hope you guys enjoyed this better too! Reviews make my day!