I am sorry for how short this chapter is DX

Lots of crap going on this chapter! Bolt earns some respect from the other Autobots this chapter~

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers, it belongs to HasTak. I claim only Aquafire, her trine, Skyblitz, Wildfire, Lightning Bolt and the unborn sparklings along with the other unknown sparklings.

Remember to review everyone! It'll be a bit before I update WWAS as I am currently not at home and I'm preparing to get a new laptop so I'm having to transfer all my stuff to stick drives.

Aquafire was doubting herself again, much to Smokescreen's displeasure. They'd worked so hard to get her where she was and it was all for nothing now!

"Why are you doubting yourself again?" He pried gently.

"I want to forget it, Smokescreen, I really do but it's there in the back of my processor like some sort of virus," She whispered. "How would you feel if you had a sparkling terminated before you even knew of its existence?"

"Much like yourself, I'm sure," He shifted a little, unsettled. The thought of having a sparkling terminated just grated on his gears and brought up a type of rage that not many had seen in the gambler before. "The past is the past, you need to move forward," He told her. "You have two very healthy sparklings to look forward to caring for and you have Bolt as well. He is still basically a youngling compared to everyone here. He is still somewhat dependent on you, Aquafire. Are you happy with how things currently stand?"

"Yes," She nodded though her answer was subdued and slightly timid sounding.

"Is it that you do not think you can be a good Carrier for the sparklings? You raised Bolt from sparklinghood if I am not mistaken."

"This is different, Smokescreen," She sighed. "I am giving birth to them. I found Bolt after his Creators were offlined. He isn't of my own alloys or codes."

"You still raised him," He persisted. "He turned out just fine, no problems or glitches. You instinctively knew what to do to ensure his survival, it will be no different with these sparklings you now carry. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe will not leave you after the sparklings have been birthed, you know this, but I know you also doubt it." She looked down, ashamed. "They will stay by your side even after you've given birth, Aquafire, they will love the sparklings no matter what." Aquafire nodded and gave a small sound as she tried to steady her emotions. "Why don't you go rest? I can tell you're exhausted."

"Thank you," She whispered. The Seeker left the room and was unsurprised to find the twins waiting for her with worried expressions. They pulled her into a warm, comforting embrace as they tried to chase away the fears they knew she had. "I just want to go lay down," She whispered. The twins nodded and went with her to her quarters.

"Babe, what's wrong?" Sideswipe asked quietly once they were within the safety of the Seekers quarters. "What's bothering you?"

"Everything," She admitted.

"Don't let it get to you," Sunstreaker rumbled, kneading the plating along her back gently to relieve the tension. "Nothing is going to happen to you or the sparklings."

"I can't help it," She whispered.

"You're going to be fine," Sideswipe assured. "You're going to be an excellent Carrier and we'll be the best Sire's. We won't leave you, no matter what... even if one of them belongs to Starscream. We'll treat it just the same, we'll make sure it never suspects that we're not really its Sire." This actually put the femme at ease.

"And don't worry about the others," Sunstreaker murmured. "If anyone says anything to you about the sparklings, they'll have us to deal with." Aquafire nodded and trembled slightly. One of her biggest fears was having the other Autobots find out and shun her. She knew there were still those that doubted where her loyalties lay and they would undoubtedly try to harm her and the sparklings if they found out. In their minds, she was and always would be an ex-Decepticon.

"Thank you," She whispered. The twins curled up with her, protecting her. They communicated over the bond, thinking of ways to pull her out of the sudden depression.

-X-X-X-

"Back up." Sunstreaker glared at the mech who had dared to try and insult his femme. "Get the frag away from us before I tear you apart!"

"Why're you protecting that Decepticon whore?" He growled back, obviously not afraid of the former gladiator and his impending doom.

Prowl, who had just stepped into the rec room with Jazz and Bolt, quickly went to settle the dispute, much to his mates horror.

"Back down, both of you," He got between them, doorwings held high and stiff.

"You too?" The gray bot gaped at his commanding officer. "Have you all gone mad? She's a Decepticon!" He lunged at Prowl, intent on shoving him aside to get to Aquafire. He quickly found himself sailing through the air towards the opposite end of the room, where an angry Jazz held him pinned.

"If ya ever dare ta attack mah mate, Ah will personally see ta it dat ya nev'r see th' light o' day again!" He snarled. Jazz released him and stalked back towards Prowl, drawing him into his arms protectively while he touched his stomach, worried.

"I'm fine," Prowl assured. Jazz nodded and looked at Aquafire, who looked shocked and terrified. Sideswipe had her pressed against his chassis, servos placed over her stomach in a protective manner.

Elita took the moment to approach the bot they'd left on the floor and glared at him, frame practically radiating how furious she was.

"If you ever attack either of them again, I will see to it that you receive capital punishment," She threatened. "Attacking a femme is not something I nor Optimus will tolerate. Attacking two Carriers? You're lucky neither of them were hurt, I'll leave it at that." Aquafire and Prowl gasped when Elita said this, basically announcing that there were sparklings on the way.

"That slagging glitch is carrying?" The bot gaped at her. "Why do we even allow her to remain functioning? She'll poison our ranks!"

"Stop talking about my mother like that!" Bolt beat Elita to it as he stalked over. "She's done nothing to deserve this type of treatment! Everything she's ever done since coming to Earth has been done for the protection of her family and the Autobots! Stop talking down on her!" He had the entire rooms attention then. "She left the Decepticons a long time ago and for a good reason. She risked her own life just to protect me and bots like you from harm. She's been through so much more than you even know and yet this is how you treat her?" Tears of coolant ran from his optics then. "Autobots are supposed to be accepting of all things! So why can't you accept that my mama is an Autobot, just like you, and means no harm? You're no better than the Decepticons you fight right now. You're the one poisoning the Autobot ranks, not her. If you ever talk about my mother like that again, I will not hesitate to put you in your place."

Chromia came and wrapped an arm around the young Praxian with a proud smirk. The bot who had previously been mouthing off sat there stunned, unable to process what had just happened. He was taken down to the brig while the room burst into cheers and howls of agreement to Bolt's little speech. Many congratulated Prowl and Aquafire on their pregnancies, much to their relief. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were given incredulous looks from others who were unable to believe that the Twin Terrors had sparked a femme. There were also cries of "They've reproduced! We're going to die!" from others, mainly Red Alert as he ran from the room, screaming.

"You did good, kid," Chromia smiled, hugging the young mech. "I think you just earned a lot of bots' respect today, including my own."

"Thanks," He smiled sheepishly. He ducked away and went to embrace his mother who smiled and rained kisses down on his helm, much to his embarrassment.

"What's a baby shower? Sounds kinda cool! Maybe Prowl and Aquafire want one? What do you do at one? Is it fun?" Bluestreak was talking with Carly who'd just told him about how humans had baby showers for expecting mothers.

"Well, Blue, a baby shower is a party for expecting mothers," She explained to him. "Sometimes people like to surprise the pregnant woman and keep it a secret from her until the day of the party. Other times though, women plan out their own baby showers and it usually consists of close female friends and the mother of the expecting woman. The guests usually bring gifts for the unborn baby, like supplies, toys, clothes, things like that."

"Wow, that sounds fun!" Bluestreak grinned happily. "We should definitely plan one for Aquafire and Prowl! Primus knows the sparklings need toys and bottles, cribs. Oh and blankets!" He continued to rattle on, much to Carly's amusement. It actually wasn't a bad idea though, throwing a baby shower for the two bots. She would have to talk with the femmes and Optimus before they could start planning, though she was sure they would all readily agree to it.

After everything calmed down, Aquafire returned to her quarters with the twins. They were still a little wound up from the conflict but their anger melted as they snuggled with the femme.

"Not much longer," Aquafire murmured as they kissed her stomach.

"Primus, I can't wait," Sideswipe whispered with a big smile. Sunstreaker moved up and captured Aquafire in a slow, gentle kiss.

"Never doubt us," He whispered, kissing her again. "We'll always be here for you and the sparklings. We'd give our sparks if it meant you were safe and happy."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," She shuttered her optics tightly as she was reminded of the same promise from two different bots than the ones currently holding and kissing her.

"Aquafire, we're not going to leave you," Sideswipe told her firmly. "What happened to your wingmates won't happen to us." Aquafire whimpered as he kissed her.

"We'll always be at your side," Sunstreaker murmured.

"Love you," Sideswipe smiled down at her. Aquafire's optics opened in shock and she stared up at the twins. Sunstreaker looked completely serious while his twin had that infuriatingly charming smile on his faceplates.

Love.

They... loved her?

Primus, she'd nearly forgotten the meaning of the word. It had all but been erased from her memory when she joined the Decepticons and her trine was killed.

"You... love me?" She looked at them, conflicted emotions shining through her optics clearly.

"Yes," Sunny responded gruffly. "Took us going through the Pit and back with you to really realize it though. We would have informed you sooner but it just wasn't the right time for such a thing." Aquafire reached up and stroked his cheek with a small smile.

"My twins," She purred, not yet ready to return the sentiment. The two frontliners knew she wasn't ready and respected that fact. They knew she felt the same deep down in her spark and they were content with that knowledge.

She would tell them when she was ready.

-X-X-X-

Steel Wing tsked as he turned away from the mirror and stomped away. Why was Aquafire so fragging stubborn?

"Relax," Storm Ridge chuckled, eyeing his wingmate with an amused grin. "She'll tell them when she's ready to admit it. We can't do anything right now, nor can we interfere."

"I know," He growled. "I just don't like how slow everything is moving! I want her to be happy but she keeps doubting herself and everyone around her. Its fragging annoying."

"I know," Storm Ridge sighed. "Just a little longer, Steel, and we won't have to worry anymore." His optics flashed then. Steel Wing nodded and growled to himself.

Yes, just a little longer and they wouldn't have to worry anymore.

Just a little longer...

-X-X-X-

Soundwave watched the video recording for the tenth time that day, still unable to make up his mind on what to do with it.

"Hey... boss, ya gonna give it to Aquafire?" Rumble asked, hopping up onto the counsel.

"I am... considering it," He responded, sounding tired for once.

"She deserves it, ya know?" Rumble looked at his pedes as he swung them. "It's da least we could for her."

"Agreed," Soundwave nodded. He ejected the data disk and stored it away. Rumble reluctantly returned to his chest compartment for recharge and Soundwave shut everything down for the night. He laid on his berth and forced his processor to become blank before he fell into recharge as well.