I enjoyed writing the last chapter and I hope that everyone like it. I did it different just to give it a new flavor. I hope that Jolt and Ema passed the test and I wrote them slightly different. I worry about my characters starting to become vanilla and generic because I have been writing this so long. I also try to go back and reread just so I don't make major mistakes but if you see a mistake please feel free to e-mail me so I can correct it. I don't have a beta but if anyone does so beta-ing I would love the help.
Please take a moment to leave a review. I absolutely adore them and I read them over and over. Enjoy!
Shalon lay in her berth the next morning. She groaned as she turned over. Her mate had left early but he had left smirking because she was so sore from his ministrations. In the two years that they had been together Megatron had never been so ardent or as dominating as he was last night. Shalon was beginning to think that he was bored with peace and worried that he would look for ways to exercise the energy that she felt building within him but she also feared speaking to Allie about it because she knew her mate would see it as a betrayal. She worried for her sparklings and concern marred her features as she wondered if Megatron would try to upset the balance that Allie, Optimus, and he agreed to in the peace treaty.
Shalon also wondered if she could talk to him about this. Megatron had said he would respect her if she talked to him in private and not challenged him in front of his soldiers. Would he talk to her about this or would he dominate her again? She was scared of his reactions but fear had never stopped her in the past.
She couldn't deny that she had liked his attentions even if he scared her a bit. He had patiently waited for her to online again and then he had tied her up once more and driven her to the edge of sanity before finally taking his own pleasure. It was so unselfish in one way but it also reflected a sadistic side that Shalon would sense in him from time to time. Megatron did not give in to her pleas as he usually did but he tortured her with her own pleasure without letting her overload. It was so frightening and exhilarating at the same time.
Shalon wasn't sure if she could endure it if her mate wanted to start pleasuring her like that each night but once in a while would be nice.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Aura, why are you here so early?" Ratchet asked as she and Thundercracker walked into the infirmary. "Did your mate bend one of his wings?"
"No Ratchet, we need for you to look over Aura. She has been tired and doesn't know why." Thundercracker said. Aura smirked at his protectiveness.
"Aura why don't you take the berth in room 5." Ratchet said as he turned to put his data pad on the counter and then sent a request for Aura's file.
"Hey Ratch, you have rooms now?" Thundercracker asked.
"Yes, Allie requisitioned for the infirmary to be expanded. The two large closets have become rooms and we now have expanded into the waiting room while the old quarters along the outer area of the corridors are now rooms are now rooms for patients that are forced to stay for longer periods." Ratchet turned back and saw that Aura was lying on the berth waiting for him to start her exam. "And don't call me Ratch! My designation is Ratchet and I hate it when you mechs butcher it!"
"Sorry I spend too much time with Skywarp and those Judo twins." Thundercracker said dryly and Ratchet rolled his optics at him.
"So you are having lethargy? Let's find out why." Ratchet began examining her starting with her spark. Aura patiently waited as she listened to the hum of the scanner as it passed over her. Ratchet did another scan and then concluded as he wrote on her chart.
"Well Aura, you will need to start taking medical grade immediately. I will also need for you to start taking supplements immediately. You are not only carrying but you have been for some time." Ratchet informed them both and Aura burst into tears. She was expecting a sparkling. It was so surprising that she couldn't believe it.
"Are you sure Ratchet? I mean Aura has not shown any sickness at all." Thundercracker said disbelievingly. He looked at Aura as tears rolled down her face and Thundercracker quickly pulled her up so that he could sit behind her to support her shaking frame.
"I am sure. You made start feeling sick though when you start the medical grade and nutrients since your body is not used to the sudden fuel change but the sparkling will need the extra nutrients. My scan shows that you are already in the early stages of the second stage of developing. Other than the tiredness, you have had no symptoms. It is not unusual for this to occur and it is not the first case where a carrier had no idea that they were spark." Ratchet said smiling. He looked at the happy couple thinking that he couldn't be happier for them. He knew that Doc worried about each of her patients and since Aura's emergency surgery and losing a sparkling Ratchet had watched the older femme carefully for signs of depression.
"Oh Thunder, a sparkling." Aura whispered as she looked over her shoulder at her mate.
"A sparkling." Thundercracker said his voice filled with awe.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Kiki, let's go! I have patrol duty and then I have to finish my reports as aerial commander." Starscream yelled up to his mate.
"I am coming my lord. I just need to finish packing Starburst's treats." Kiki hurried as she ran around looking for all of her sparkling's toys and then throwing the last of her things together. She ran down the stairs as Starscream handed the squirming sparkling to her and opened the door so that Kiki could take Starburst out and buckle her in the transport.
"Star are we staying at the Hall for the weekend?" Kiki asked.
"Yes, Thundercracker just commed me and told me that Aura is going to have to cut back her hours as chief so Thundercracker will be taking over some of her duties. That leaves me with taking over weekend aerial patrol as well as posting the weekly flight schedule." Starscream told her as he threw the bags in the storage compartment. He quickly walked back to the front and took the pilot's seat. Kiki and Starburst were strapped in ready to go.
"Why is Aura cutting her hours back?" Kiki asked as she looked at her mate with a question on her face.
"It seems that Aura is almost in the second stage of carrying. She and TC didn't even know it until this morning when TC made her go and see Ratchet." Starscream informed her.
"Oh…OH! Wow Star, that's incredible. Aura didn't have any sickness or anything?" Kiki asked, her eyes large and amazed, she opened her mouth to say more but stopped.
"No, TC said he only noticed that she was tired all the time." Star told her as they lifted off and headed for the Hall.
"Wow… really I am so happy for her but it is sudden and it will definitely put a hamper on the work roster." Kiki murmured.
"Allie will handle it I am sure and Lord Megatron will also make sure that we all pull our share of the work to make up for it as well as Prime." Starscream told his mate. "Don't worry Kiki; you will still be able to stay at home with Little Star I promise." Starscream leaned over as he covered her hand with his.
"I am not worried my lord. I have everything that I have ever wished for including a mate that adores me. I am sure that you will take care of everything." Kiki told him.
"Well we may have to sparkling sit the twins so that Aura will have more time to rest but I leave that to you to work out." Starscream raised her hand and kissed it gently before handing it back to her to steer the transport.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Hey, when do you leave for patrol?" Shayla walked over to the table where Allie was sitting.
"I don't patrol that much anymore. Optimus usually has me helping him with all the paper work that accumulates between the five bases. We have so many now scattered throughout the Realm that it makes things easier if I stay and help with training and all the red tape associated with running things." Allie replied as she watched her dearest friend come and sit down next to her. "So how are you feeling?"
"I feel fine. I can't get used to the tiredness associated with carrying but Aura says that it will pass. Speaking of Aura, have you heard?" Shayla asked excitedly.
"Yes, Optimus told me this morning when Thundercracker burst in the meeting late. He announced it as his way of apologizing for being late." Allie told her.
"I am so happy for her. She has been so depressed and anxious since losing the other sparkling." Shayla commented.
"I know. At least now this will be good news and bring them more happiness. Besides Thundercracker is a seeker and they love sparklings!" Allie said laughing.
"I know. I think that all mechs love sparklings because that is all Sentinel drones on about. 'We will have one that might be fit for the Prime line, ya da ya da ya da, and so on." Shayla laughed as Allie cackled. "He forgets that Optimus is three ahead of him and with twin mechs at that!"
"I know but Sentinel sees himself as a god…"
"…with a serious foot in his aft." Shayla laughed again and then sobered. "He's my aft and I am afraid that I do love him."
"I know you do. Look at Megatron and Shalon. I would never have thought that Megatron would go for her but they are permanently mated and doing well together." Allie informed her best friend.
"I know. It's just creepy that the little spitfire would end up with a control freak." Shayla commented.
"He's not that bad. It's just his title personified. He's takes it to the extreme." Allie added in thought.
"Hey, what are you two talking about?" Cassie asked joining them.
"We were just commenting on some of the couples and talking about how happy we are that Aura is expecting." Shayla replied. "You look good Cassie. Soundwave is good for you."
"Well thank you I think." Cassie laughed. "I think he is too."
"You guys staying in the Hall while your little ones are adjusting to their upgrades?" Shayla asked.
"Yes, Soundwave wants to be close to Ratchet if something happens with the upgrades. I like being here but it is cramped in our quarters." Cassie replied as she took a drink of her energon that she had brought with her.
"Well with nine sparklings and younglings I wouldn't be surprised. Cassie how do you do it?" Shayla asked.
"Younglings make great sparkling sitters." Cassie sung out and all three laughed.
"Well I have to admit that I would go crazy but you handle it well." Allie complimented.
"Thank you but there are moments that I think that I am losing my mind." Cassie stated.
"It is just like directing all of your troops Allie. Craziness comes with the territory." Shayla added. Allie laughed harder.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Ema you need to drink your energon." Jolt said as he downloaded the day's report for patrol. They were sitting at Ema's counter by the energon dispenser as they were getting ready for their shifts and Jolt was patiently trying to get Ema to take her energon. Ema would sip a little but then get distracted by her thoughts.
"Ema, please you are not drinking." Jolt gently reminded her and she shook her head to clear her thoughts. She finished her cube and looked up to see the satisfied smile on Jolt's face plates and beamed a smile back. "Good, now let's go so that we won't be late for patrol."
"Jolt," Ema began, "what do you see in me?" She asked him suddenly and Jolt stopped. He looked at her carefully wondering what she was thinking.
"What do you mean Ema?" He finally asked.
"I was wondering what you see in me. I am not pretty like the rest of the femmes and I have no special talents so what so you see in me?" Ema asked him suddenly shy as she blushed her usual pink and Jolt thought she was adorable.
"I think you are wonderful because you are honest when you can actually speak, you don't like all the unnecessary gossip that is annoying, you enjoy the patrols that we do together, you are funny when you are not shy, and you may think you are mousy with your brown hair and gold flecked eyes but I like mousy and simple." He told her and she smiled at him. Ema laughed as her eyes twinkled with humor.
"You must like mousy since you let me have no recharge last night." She sarcastically said but then smiled adoringly at him. Jolt smiled back as he leaned in and rubbed her nose gently with his.
"I do like mousy and you are a very beautiful mousy." Jolt said quietly. "My little glitch mouse." He smiled and then kissed her gently before turning over his cube and Ema laughed as he had to wipe away the pink fuel that dotted along his torso and thigh plates. "Well that was unexpected." Jolt said expelling air from his intakes.
"…But cute." Ema said smirking at her future mate.
"You are cute, adorable, funny, breath-taking…" Jolt began.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get the picture." Ema finished laughing.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Bee, Bee can you come here?" Stargazer yelled from the wash racks. She was leaning over holding her abdomen as Bumblebee walked in.
"Star, what is it?" He stopped to look at her ashen face and immediately kneeled down. "Sweet spark what is it? Are you sick?" Bumblebee asked concern for his mate.
"I think so; can we go in so I can see Doc? I don't feel well at all." She said quietly. Stargazer leaned against him weak and exhausted from purging and felt Bumblebee's spark pulsing in his chest. It made her feel better to be near him and it made Stargazer fear that Bumblebee might also be affected by her sickness.
"Star can you make it to the transport? I'll com Doc and let her know to expect us soon." Bumblebee said. Stargazer saw his optics momentarily dim while he talked to Doc and then he was back. He quickly picked Stargazer up as she whimpered and clung to Bee as he carried her down the stairs and out to the transport. He carefully strapped her in with a plastic bag in case she was sick again and then quickly set the code for the locks on the door of their house. He heard Star moan as jumped into the pilot's seat and started the transport for liftoff.
Stargazer felt the transport lift off as Bee quickly guided it toward the Hall. She was thankful that it only took a few moments to reach the Hall and she could already feel the transport descending.
"Oh Primus Bee I think I will be sick again." Stargazer felt like her stomach was dropping and it did not bode well for her.
"We are almost there my darling. Hold on." He told her as Bumblebee was given immediate priority for landing and they quickly settled on the tarmac. Stargazer started tackling her straps as she struggled to get out of the seat. Bumblebee turned and tried to assist as her hands flailed futilely at the harness that trapped her to the seat. Bumblebee just released her before she opened the door and purged on the tarmac as Ironhide and Ratchet ran over to the young femme.
"I'm so sorry!" Cried Stargazer as she tried to recover some dignity.
"Sweet spark it's okay. You are sick and we need to get you to the infirmary." Ironhide said as he helped the femme carefully avoid the mess she had made as Bumblebee ran around to walk next to her on the other side.
"Star, please are you okay?" Bee said desperately.
"No I'm not!" She snapped as Ironhide held her waist. Bumblebee quickly took her elbow and they walked with Ratchet not saying anything to the corridor that led to the infirmary. As they entered the infirmary, Ratchet let Stargazer lean on Bumblebee as he disengaged from her.
"Put her in room two for now. Doc is on her way and I can go ahead and start the scan." Ratchet informed them and Bumblebee was quick to respond.
"Ratchet what could be wrong? I don't want her to be in so much pain." Bee said slurring his words as they came too fast.
"Bumblebee not now! I won't have you worrying when we haven't even started." Ratchet grouched and Doc smirked as she walked in.
"Now, now Ratchet; he has a right to be worried." Doc said as she took a seat on the stool and looked at Stargazer. "Now I heard about the unfortunate accident on the tarmac so let's scan for viruses first." Ratchet had already started scanning as the couple watched both Doc and Ratchet anxiously.
"Well now, there are no viruses that are picked up. What next my love?" Ratchet asked his mate.
"We scan for sparks. It seems to be the most popular ailment of the moment since we have so many that are carrying." Doc commented as Stargazer heard the hum of the spark scanner and waited patiently for the scan to be through. If Bumblebee could hold his breath then he would because deep down he wanted a sparkling so bad but at the same time he respected his mate's desire to wait until they were older. If Stargazer was carrying then they would be the youngest parents but Bumblebee was sure that the sparkling would be well loved.
Doc continued to scan and it seemed that time was interminable. When Doc finished scanning and laid down the scanner Stargazer breathed a breath of relief.
"Do you want Ratchet to stay?" Doc asked. Bumblebee's first thought was that this wasn't good and he took Stargazer's hand within his.
"I don't mind if he stays because we both see him as well as you and I know that Bumblebee loves and respects him." Stargazer informed them.
"Stargazer you are carrying but the spark is not strong. We are going to have to place you on berth rest and immediately start the medical grade. You will also need to begin nutrients now and there will still be a chance that the sparkling will not survive. Do you understand what I am saying?" Doc looked at the couple as Stargazer began to shake with reaction. "No Star, you can't fall apart now. This sparkling needs you to be strong."
"Doc, what can I do?" Bumblebee said quietly.
"You can support Stargazer and make sure that she is taking very good care of herself." Doc looked at him. "You also need to understand that your mate may very well lose the sparkling. The spark is very weak." Doc looked back at Stargazer. "I don't believe in terminating a spark but you will have to be very careful with your movements, you will be on berth rest for most of carrying, you will not be able to work, and your rest will not be easy due to all the berth rest you will be on only to be given no guarantees that the sparkling will live. Are you willing to go through this?" Doc wanted them to be sure because this would not be easy for either of them.
"Ratchet, let's give them some privacy so they can talk." Doc tugged Ratchet's arm but Ratchet still would not bulge.
"Ratchet, what caused this?" Bee asked solemnly.
"No one knows why one spark is strong when another is weak. Research has looked at several different possibilities but no results are conclusive Bumblebee. We just don't know why this happens." Ratchet looked at the couple sadly. They were so young to have to be dealing with the possibility of losing their first sparkling and Ratchet felt so sorry for the young scout.
"Bumblebee we will do everything we can to support your decision but you and Stargazer need to talk to each other. I will understand if you choose to…" Doc hesitated a moment, "terminate, but you also have to understand that Star could lose more than just the sparkling. She will need constant care to ensure that this doesn't happen and incidents or unfortunate circumstances could still happen to change the dynamics of what we are dealing with. The positive of this situation is that at least we are not at war and that Star will receive the very best care."
Bumblebee looked at his mate with concern edging his face plates. She was so young to be facing this kind of situation and it broke his spark that they would even have to discuss something as dreadful as this. He could see that she was trying to hold back the tears and her usual happy go lucky attitude was severely diminished. He reached for her trembling hands and Stargazer gripped them desperately as she looked up at him with unshed tears giving her such a tragic angelic look.
"Doc and I will leave you so that you may discuss your options." Ratchet said gruffly as he ushered his mate out.
"Bumblebee," Stargazer whimpered his name, "I am sorry that I let you down." She cried.
"No, Star you could never let me down. It just happened. Don't think that way; please my love you could never disappoint me." Bumblebee exclaimed. "We do need to talk. I don't want to lose you. You are my world but I know that you will want to fight for this sparkling's life."
"We made it and it is inside me. How can I not want it?" She said softly.
"Are you sure? This is your life we are playing with and Ratchet and Doc would not be this serious if there was a threat to you." Bumblebee looked her in the eyes. "I will support you whatever your decision is but I want you to also know that I will be devastated if I lose you."
"I know, and if it was you, I would be devastated as well but I have to fight for this life Bee. I can't let it just die or terminate it." Stargazer looked at him as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I am willing to risk my life for this sparkling." She whispered it as he wrapped her in his arms.
"You may put your life at risk and still lose it. Can you handle that if it occurs?" Bee whispered into her ear.
"I have to because I can't terminate it." She said softly back.
"I understand my love." Bumble bee held her as he formulated what he would tell Doc and Ratchet. It would not be easy but he would support his mate no matter what.
Well I have had a few wondering if Bee and Star would have a sparkling. I hope that I didn't disappoint.
