A/N: I han't originally intended to take the story in this direction. But the further I got, the more I wrote, the more I felt in my heart, this was the direction this story had to go in, in the end. I hope you all agree with my decision. :)

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CHAPTER 22
An Unforeseen Change of Plans

When Ironhide had woken up from his recharge, Tony was still sound asleep. His blanket half off, Ironhide carefully activated his holoform, and gently adjusted his blanket on top of him. He'd never watched Tony sleep, but he did, just for a moment. Quietly, he wondered how he could have even begun to hate the boy at first. He was one of the hardest people to hate in the world, it was near impossible. Sure the boy was a smart ass and had some issues caused by his non-verbal as well as his trauma, but no one was perfect.

In truth, had Will and Sarah not have connected so much with the child. It was very likely Ironhide would have chosen to have adopted him himself, as odd as it was, he really could have seen that happening. Yet Will and Sarah were happy with Tony, and he was happy for them, and for Tony. He knew the boy loved him, but not as a Father, but more as an older brother, or uncle. And frankly, he was fine with being either one on top of being his Guardian and Godfather, something his spark told him he'd be for a very long time.

Tony slowly awakened minutes after Ironhide had started watching him, rubbing his eyes. "Morning." Tony muttered, sitting up slowly "You been watching me?" He asked.

"A little. I've always found it calming to watch younglings sleep." Ironhide smiled at him "It used to remind me during the war of times of peace. I've never seen a youngling who isn't very... Peaceful in their sleep." He chuckled a bit "You do snore though." He added.

"I do NOT." Tony groaned.

Ironhide smirked a bit, but quickly detected movement, only relaxing upon noticing it to be only Sarah. "Tony?" Tony turned his head as Sarah called out "Sweetheart, breakfast is on the table if you're hungry. I think Ironhide probably wants to get his morning energon." She explained

"Coming, Mom!" Tony turned to Ironhide and smiled "Thanks for looking out for me last night, Ironhide."

"Don't mention it, go get breakfast, youngling. I'll catch up to you later."

Once Tony had left, Ironhide noticed as Will walked out to join Sarah, his confusion settling in slowly. They rarely both visited him, very rarely, but Ironhide didn't sense any intensity in them. Slowly activating his holoform, he carefully leaned against his door, and watched the two of them. "Ironhide, I think... We need to talk." Was all Will stated, Ironhide stared at him slowly "The last few days... We've noticed something." He began.

"Really, it's ben the last few weeks." Sarah replied.

Ironhide stared between the two of them, confusion obvious in his eyes. "'Hide. You and Tony... You have something special we don't have with him, and we don't quite understand." Ironhide looked between the two of them "I'm not so sure we're the right parents for him, Ironhide." He tried to explain, Ironhide tilted his holoforms head slowly "We think he belongs with you." He added.

Ironhide stared at them, uncertain of how to react. He closed his eyes slightly, heaved in a deep breath, and stared between them. "Tony loves you both, dearly. And simply because he came to me last night does not mean-" Ironhide began.

"It wasn't just last night, Ironhide. You've been more of a parent to him than we have been." Will crossed his arms, he turned to Sarah "We have a kid, Ironhide. And we love Tony so much. But there's an old saying, a really old one. That if you love something, set it free." He looked at Ironhide, straight in the eye "He doesn't belong with us, big guy. Well, he does, I mean. He'd still live here of course." He looked him in the eyes again "But we really think that you should be the one to adopt Tony." He noted.

Ironhide didn't know what to make of this, for a moment, he thought of it as rejecting Tony. But no, that wasn't it at all, and Ironhide knew that neither of them would have been approaching him like this. Not unless they really thought the same thing he himself had considered. Tony had never come to the farm to find the Lennox's and be adopted by him. He'd come to meet Ironhide, either by divine intervention, or by simple chance. The smallest chance that Tony was supposed to be his.

"What would we tell Tony?" Ironhide asked, he leaned against his alt mode again "I would be honored to be given the chance to be his legal guardian... But, I don't want him to feel rejected either." He shifted a bit "I love that boy too much to see him feeling as though you both are rejecting him." He closed his eyes a bit "You are not, are you?" He asked.

"Of course not!" Sarah replied, stunned by the accusation "We're always going to be there for Tony, Ironhide. Just as an Aunt and Uncle." She smiled a bit, setting a hand on Will's shoulder "Sure Tony would be really happy with us. I don't even doubt that." Ironhide listened to her words quietly "But Ironhide, if there's one thing I've learned from what Will told me..." She wasn't sure how to finish her thought.

"Sometimes, even if you're happy with someone. Even if they love you. They aren't right for you, Ironhide." Will smiled a bit, and then added "We can help you big guy, we can talk to Marie. I'm sure the government would allow it." Ironhide smiled a bit "There are plenty of Foster Kids out there, looking for good homes. And who knows, maybe we'll find someone who we can make as happy as you make Tony." He added "But he belongs with you big guy, and I say that with the most honesty I possibly can." He added.

Ironhide thought for a long hard moment, this would make him a Father. A real Father, with responsibilities to him. Responsibilities he was stunned to be more than willing to be happen. The more he tried to talk himself out of it, the more he realized. Will and Sarah were right, he and Tony shared a special bond, and there was nothing he wanted more than to raise the young boy into a man. "Send him to the barn after breakfast. He and I have much to talk about." He replied.

...

Tony was confused as to what Ironhide needed him for that morning. The mech normally wanted to relax in the morning, rather than talk to anyone. Yet, the mech waited, transformed, and seated in the corner. He looked to be deep in thought, but as Tony tried to quietly close the door, he slowly looked over. "Tony..." Ironhide patted a spot on his knee "Come here, youngling." He noted.

Tony blinked a bit, he crossed over towards Ironhide, who gently scooped him, gently into his giant lap. "Ironhide, what's wrong? You look... Confused." Tony stared up at him, Ironhide stared back down "Did I do something wrong?" He asked.

"No youngling, I simply am thinking of how to say this correctly." Ironhide let out a deep, inward sigh "Will and Sarah have opted out of your adoption. But please, do not be angry at them. They did not reject you youngling, not even slightly." Tony tilted his head, confused, actually extremely confused "Tony, when you first came here, I was afraid you'd replace someone dear to me. And... In the last months, that fear came true..." Tony stared down at this, unsure of where Ironhide was going with this "And I'm glad it did." He explained.

"Why? So that you could have your spark broken when I got sent off to another home?" Tony asked.

"Tony, they opted out because I want to adopt you."

Tony was dead silent after those words were uttered. Was this a dream? Tony expected to wake up at any time now, he was actually convinced he would. But it never happened, Ironhide simply stroked his back, carefully. "I love you so much, youngling. And I can't ignore my paternal feelings for you any longer, it is much too hard." Tony felt tears fill his eyes "Will and Sarah, they saw that you were much happier with me. They believe I give you something they can't." He explained, he stared down at Tony "And you make me very happy too, youngling." He noted.

"I didn't want to break their hearts." Tony replied quietly.

"Which is why you kept your happiness with me to yourself, isn't it?" Tony nodded his head quietly, Ironhide smiled a bit "Tony, you should have told them. The only person you would have hurt is yourself by not coming to me." He shook his head "I would have liked nothing more than to be your legal guardian. And I hope you realize it." He noted.

"Will the government let you?" Tony asked.

"I will see to it they do." Ironhide stroked Tony's cheek, gently "It will be a long process Tony. And after it's done your life will not be normal. The life of an Autobot's son is very hard. And if the Decepticons ever come back, you will be targeted, it will be frightening." Tony was silent "But Tony, if a life with me is what you want. I will see to it it is what you get." He explained.

Tony nestled up gently to Ironhide's chest, thoughtfully going through what Ironhide had told him. He felt the mech's hand against him, stroking his back, he felt loving optics upon him. And he realized, even the moment he spent with Will the night he'd called him Dad... It didn't compare to this, by any means. This was home, with Ironhide, in his safe arms, with all the love he gave him. "Just promise me, you won't leave me." Tony stated quietly "I want to know that I'm not going to get my heart broken again." He added.

"I promise youngling, you have my word." Ironhide was surprised by his own softness "I love you Tony, and I swear with every fiber of my being. Your life with me will be forever." He noted, he smiled a bit "Welcome to my family, young one." He added.

For the first time, Tony heard those words, and for the first time, they truly had meaning. He knew it was probably one of the few moments Ironhide would spend being this soft, this kind. It just wasn't his nature to be mushy. But as he gently snuggled up against his chestplate, he knew, then and there, that he had made the right choice. Here, with Ironhide, had always been home.