People, I need sparkling names! Three to be exact~ I'm not saying its going to happen but it might and someone is gonna get sparked! So I need names, mech and femme names actually.

Anyway, now that I got that out of the way, welcome to chapter 16! Shocking (not really) revelations, a few reunions, and perhaps a little forgiveness~ Oh, and some faint Jazz/Prowl action XD

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers, it belongs to HasTak. I claim only Aquafire, her late trine, Skyblitz, Wildfire, and Lightning Bolt.

Thank you for all the reviews so far everyone! I love you all so much for your continued support! It means a lot to me :D Continue to be awesome and you shall be rewarded me lovely reviewers!

"Bolt, that's enough." The young mech stopped what he was doing and frowned at Jazz. "Ya need ta rest, mech, or Ah'll be takin' ya ta Ratchet again." This had the Praxian 'blushing' in embarrassment as he nodded. "Out with ya," The young mech put all the training equipment away and darted off.

Jazz sighed as he watched him and shook his helm, praying to Primus yet again, asking, pleading, for him to send them an answer to their current situation. Bolt had committed himself entirely to his training ever since his mother had apparently defected back to the Decepticon ranks and he never stopped, not even when he was close to going into stasis. The bots had to keep a close optic on him to ensure he didn't hurt himself or anything and had to remind him (more like drag him away) to get energon and rest.

The saboteur felt a servo squeeze his shoulder and turned to meet his mate's optics. He sent a surge of emotions through their bond and Prowl nodded, feeling the same.

"I too am worried," He admitted. "We can only hope that Wheeljack and Skyfire finish the amplifier soon."

"Mech's are startin' ta worry," Jazz chuckled. "Ain't heard an explosion from the labs in a while."

"Yes, everyone does seem to be on edge because of that," Prowl's doorwings twitched. The SIC jumped in surprise when his bonded captured his lips in a kiss that had his spark throbbing in its casing, begging to join its mates.

"Primus, Prowler," Jazz whispered, wrapping his arms around his waist. "It's been too long," Prowl let out an uncharacteristic whine as his mate pulled him close.

"Jazz, not here," He whispered. "We can't-"

"Ain't like we haven't done it before," Jazz grinned. Prowl kissed back, wrapping his arms around his neck as Jazz walked them into a nearby wall. Who was he to complain? They were alone, the twins were in the brig, Bolt was resting and they had some time for a quickie. Jazz took every opportunity he could to interface with Prowl, as the Praxian was certain that the chances of him conceiving a sparkling were now to his satisfaction.

They'd been holding off for a while now, ever since their last conversation about the subject anyway, and it was only recently that Prowl had begun to really consider it. He'd gone to Ratchet several times to ensure he was in top physical health, as it was imperative that his systems were all primed and ready for a potential sparkling.

Praxians, much like their Vosian cousins, the Seekers, sought out only the best possible mates to bear a sparkling with. Whether they were to be the Sire or Carrier, they sought out those who could provide the strongest codes for their sparkling. It was not uncommon for the two races to take multiple partners to ensure the sparkling received the strongest codes and traits. It was also not uncommon for a single carrier to be sparked by two different bots, giving them two sparklings from two different Sire's.

Between himself and Jazz, their sparkling would have the best possible codes around. He or she would have traits from them both and in Prowl's mind, this was an advantage. They worked well together already, so one could only imagine how talented a sparkling created from them both would be.

Just before they could get into it, the pair was interrupted by a comm. from Optimus, requesting their presence in the meeting room at once.

"We'll finish this later, Prowler," Jazz whispered, stealing another quick kiss before they untangled from one another. Jazz watched as his mate's doorwings trembled and he let out a low keen, obviously already anticipating what would happen later.

They headed for the meeting room and were slightly surprised to find Wheeljack and Skyfire amongst the waiting command staff, both looking quite proud. Elita and her femme officers were also present for the meeting.

"It's finally finished!" Wheeljack announced when Optimus nodded to him to proceed. "The amplifier is complete and ready for use!"

"Does it work without blowing up?" Optimus questioned warily.

"Yes, we tested it on Blaster just this morning," Skyfire smiled kindly.

"That's what that noise was," Ratchet mused, smirking.

"Let us see if we cannot hear what was said in the security video now." Red Alert took this as his cue to bring up the video and allow the two scientists to connect the amplifier to the computer.

The entire room fell silent as it began to play, listening as the once silenced words were heard, clear as day.

"If you come back to the Decepticons, Megatron says he will ensure that your youngling is not touched in battle. If you fight us, then we will take action and that brat of yours will be used against you." Skywarp said, grinning at her.

"You're bluffing, 'Warp," She snapped. "You couldn't harm a youngling even if you were ordered to."

"I couldn't but that doesn't mean others won't," He hummed. "It's simple, Aquafire, obey the order, return to the Decepticons, and the youngling remains safe. Refuse, disobey, and that youngling will be used against you."

Normally, Red Alert would cut the video feed about now but now that he knew there was more, he allowed it to play.

"Leave Bolt out of this!" Aquafire spat at the black and purple Seeker, wings hitched high in anger. "He has nothing to do with this, Skywarp!"

"He will be unless you return to the Decepticons," He smirked. "I could easily warp out of here, snatch him, and go back to Megatron, holding him for ransom again. You'd do anything for him, right?"

"You know better than anyone that I would do anything for my youngling," She hissed. "You would to, so don't lie."

"True," He hummed. "What will it be, Aquafire? Will you return to the Decepticons? Or do we have to use other means to ensure you return?"

The command staff watched as Aquafire lowered her wings and let out a soft defeated keen.

"I... will return," She whispered. "Tell Megatron I will be ready for retrieval tomorrow morning... I want one last night with my son."

"Always knew you were a smart femme," Skywarp smiled. "Bye! Oh, and Ramjet says he can't wait to have you back!" He warped out of the cell then.

Red Alert paused the video and looked at Optimus. The others were all tight lipped as they tried to process what they'd heard.

"Well Ah'll be," Ironhide was the first to break the uneasy silence. "She was threatened an' blackmailed inta going back."

"We need to begin preparing for a possible rescue mission." It was Prowl who spoke next.

"Darn right we do," Ironhide agreed.

"Yeah," Jazz nodded.

"Agreed." Optimus rumbled.

"Optimus, I want some say in how this mission is planned," Elita cut in. "She is one of mine after all."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." His men all failed to hide their amused grins and snorts of laughter. When everyone finally settled, they began the slow process of planning Aquafire's rescue.

-X-X-X-

"Don't worry, we've got you," The voice was slow and distorted to Aquafire. She knew she was moving, being held to a warm chassis, but she couldn't tell who it was.

"Sunstreaker..." She curled up in his arms, wrapping her own around his neck.

"Stupid femme." This was the last thing she heard before she fell into stasis.

-X-X-X-

"OUT!" Ratchet tossed the Terror Twins clear out of the med bay before they got the chance to even speak. They gaped at the door, looked at each other, and then trotted off like technopuppies with their tails between their legs.

Ratchet glared at Aquafire, who was pressed into a corner of the room, optics narrowed in a menacing manner.

"On the berth. Now." He snapped at her. Aquafire hissed at him but did as he said when he brandished a wrench and raised it threateningly. "Explain."

"What do you want me to say?" She snorted, arms crossed over her chest. "I have nothing to say, I'm perfectly fine."

"Aquafire, I was told that you were being forced to merge sparks when the team arrived to rescue you," He bit out angrily. He watched as the femme winced and knew he'd hit a sensitive nerve. "Explain."

"Look, things between Starscream and myself are complicated," She muttered. "I barely even remember what started it. I got into a slight confrontation with Shockwave and Megatron, hence my injuries," Ratchet made a sound of semi surprise at this. He honestly would not have put it past her to pick a fight with one of the Decepticon command staff. "I really do not remember, Ratchet, its rather frustrating."

"I understand," He grunted. "Do you wish to have a few sessions with Smokescreen?" Aquafire instantly knew what he was hinting at and nodded slowly. It would do her some good to talk with him, considering all that had happened in the past few months and weeks. "Lay back and I'll start on your repairs," The femme did as he said without question and remained quiet as he worked. "Aquafire, when was your last heat cycle?"

"Why do you want to know?" She scowled at him, not wanting to divulge that particular piece of information to the medic.

"Medical purposes," He looked straight into her optics. "I don't have all of your records, so pieces are missing and I want to ensure your frame is functioning properly considering your age. You'd just graduated the academy when you joined the Decepticons, right?"

"Yes," She hissed out. "A mistake on my part that I will never be able to fix. My last and only heat cycle was during my third year in the academy."

"You were taught what it was? Any complications?" He continued to repair her as he spoke.

"My Creators taught me what it was and even encouraged me to seek out potential berth partners," She felt her faceplates heat up at the memory. "I knew not to merge sparks of course, I certainly didn't want a sparkling at that age. There were no complications as far as I'm aware. I had willing partners whenever I needed to get rid of the charge."

"Do you remember how many times a day you needed the charge released?" He knew she wasn't comfortable speaking with him about such private matters but he assured her that they would stay just that; private.

"It varied," She grumbled. "Depending on where I was and who I was with I suppose."

"Was your heat cycle the first time you'd ever interfaced?" Now that was certainly embarrassing for the Seeker.

"Yes, my Creators were insistent that I wait until my heat cycle arrived to interface." She admitted sheepishly.

"Even outside of the heat cycle, it's not unusual for Seekers to constantly want to interface," He smirked at her expression. "Seekers are notorious for it in fact. Nothing to be ashamed of really. Just pick your partners carefully."

"What are you getting at, Ratchet?" She grumbled irritably.

"Nothing," He shrugged. "I'm honestly surprised you haven't started another heat cycle with how relaxed and healthy you've been."

"I don't want to go into heat," She grumbled. "It's annoying and we're still at war."

"That's not what your processor thinks," He gave her a pointed look. Aquafire rolled her optics and remained silent as Ratchet finished up her repairs. "The moment you feel something might be wrong, I want you right back in here, you hear me?"

"Yeah, whatever," She snorted. The Seeker barely got out the door before a black and white blur barreled into her, sending them both crashing to the floor. "Bolt!" She gasped, wrapping her arms around the youngster.

"Mom!" He nuzzled into her chassis, doorwings trembling as he clung to her. "I knew you'd never go back to the 'Cons willingly! But... why? Why did you do it?" He looked up at her, confusion and hurt written all over his faceplates.

"To protect you, sweetspark," She whispered. "I couldn't let Megatron hurt you, I couldn't let them take my reason for living away."

"I'm not a sparkling anymore," He protested. "I could have dealt with it."

"No, not against Megatron," She shook her helm. "He would have offlined you without a second thought, would've done the same to me had I not complied. I won't lose you to them, Bolt."

"I never want you to do something like that again," He clung to her tightly. "Please, mom, promise me no more stupid stunts?"

"I promise," She kissed his helm softly. The two slowly untangled from one another and stood up, leaving when Ratchet barked at them to get out.

"Aquafire." The Seeker stood at attention then and saluted.

"Elita-One, ma'am," She acknowledged her commander.

"Welcome back," She smiled gently. Aquafire relaxed and smiled back softly.

"It's good to be back with my son, ma'am," Aquafire rumbled softly. "And back where I know I'm... safe."

"Come speak with me when you have the chance, we've not spoken in quite some time." Aquafire nodded and watched the femme commander leave before she followed Bolt to the rec room. They took a seat and were joined by a grinning Jazz and a relieved looking Prowl.

"It is good to have you back," Prowl flicked his doorwings in greeting as he sat with his mate. "I feared the worst when I was informed of how you were found."

"I'm just glad to be back," She sighed, flicking her own wings in response. She rubbed Bolt's back softly as he cuddled against her side, his arms wrapped around her tightly.

"Ya shoulda seen ole' Screamer," Jazz cackled. "Ain't never seen tha' mech move so fast in mah life. Twins got 'em good fer sure."

"So I wasn't imagining things?" Her optics widened slightly. "The twins... they were really there?"

"Yes, " Prowl nodded. "They were last minute additions to the team."

"Somebot told 'em bout th' plan an' they wanted in," Jazz chuckled.

"They were the first ones into the base," Prowl continued. "I was later told that the Conehead trine were the ones to lead them to Starscream's quarters."

"Ramjet and the others are my guardians," She rumbled out. "I am protected from Starscream by Vosian law."

"A Seeker under the protection of a fully formed trine cannot be harmed by another," Prowl knew of the law and was grateful that the Coneheads had enforced it.

"Right," Aquafire nodded. "Where are the twins anyway? I would like to talk to them."

"Right here," Aquafire turned her head and was somewhat surprised to see the two frontliners.

"We'll leave you to talk," Prowl gently coaxed Bolt away from his mother and left with Jazz. The twins settled across from her and stared at her silently, gathering their thoughts obviously.

"Thank you, for stopping Starscream," Aquafire broke the silence.

"We did what was right," Sideswipe murmured. "He was trying to force you into a merge... we just sort of lost it." He fell silent again before speaking. "We feel like it's partly our fault that you left."

"Megatron threatened my son," She growled. "That is the only reason I went back to them. You two had nothing to do with it. What happened between us was a misunderstanding, that's all."

"We were out of line," Sunstreaker grunted.

"We don't take... er... rejection of any form well, never have," Sideswipe admitted.

"You were the first femme to fight us," Sunstreaker grumbled.

"Honored to have been the first," She snorted. "But why couldn't you have talked with me about it? It could have saved us all a lot of trouble."

"We didn't think you would listen," Sunstreaker shrugged.

"Look, can you forgive us?" Sideswipe looked at her, optics pleading.

"I should be asking the same," She sighed. "I was angry and confused, I didn't want to be seen as weak. I overreacted, simple as that. Can you two forgive me?"

"Yeah," Sideswipe grinned at her then. "And we forgive you."

"You owe me a repaint, femme," Sunstreaker grunted.

"We'll see," She snorted. The tension that hung between them slowly faded as they talked and drank energon. "I should get going," Aquafire sighed softly. "Ratchet will have my aft if I don't rest."

"We'll walk you back," Sideswipe stood with a smile. "Just this once," He added when she glared at him.

"Fine," She relented. The twins stood on either side of her as they walked back, both occasionally brushing up against her and touching her, as though to reassure themselves that she was real and safe. Aquafire didn't really mind though, as she did the same to them, assuring herself that they weren't some Decepticon trick. Once they reached her quarters, she noticed that they seemed reluctant to part so soon and let out a soft vent. "I'll see you both tomorrow, alright? Just don't... crowd me like you did before."

"We've learned our lesson," Sunstreaker grunted.

"Goodnight," With a nervous flick of her wings, she disappeared into her quarters. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker gave the door one last look before leaving, both deep in thought.

"Bro, we're not giving up on her this time... right?" Sideswipe whispered to his brother quietly.

"No, we're not," Sunstreaker affirmed softly. "We gave up and chased her away once but not this time. We're not giving up, Sideswipe."

"Good," Sideswipe grinned as he and his twin entered their quarters.

They would earn her trust again, no matter what.