Interesting comments and I want to thank you so much for them. I like how everyone picks up on different parts of the story because I never know what one reader likes and the other doesn't.

I am still working on this auction. We have almost a hundred items for it and I am thrilled since it is the first auction that I have ever put together. I worry that not many will show but then I know that God will take care of us because He knows how hard I have worked. I have a friend making my flyers, I have two others that I are helping me with gathering community items, and I wrote all the major theme parks, aquariums, science centers, symphonies, and family entertainment places that I could find in a hundred miles radius. Whew! I am tired!

Now that you know what I have been working on you can see why I haven't written much. But I will finish this story since it has come and passed its year anniversary. Please take a moment and leave a review. They are so special to me. Enjoy!

"Push Raven!" Ratchet commanded and Raven screamed. Where was Mirage? Someone was supposed to get him and relieve him from patrol early. The sparkling chose to arrive early and there was nothing the platinum hair femme could do but scream and push when told to.

"Come in Raven, you are doing fine. The helm is crowning already!" Cassie exclaimed in amazement and Raven sent her a look of shock.

"Why are you so excited? You delivered three at one time!" She snarled back as another contraction started and Raven struggle to catch her breath as she readied herself to push again.

"I know but it is different when you can see what is happening than when you are lying on your back struts pushing a melon out of a hole the size of a lemon!" Cassie said dead panned and Ratchet groaned as Raven snarled and snapped crying out as she once again pushed with all her might.

"When this is over I am going to kill you!" She screamed at her friend and co-worker and Cassie smiled impishly back, her look saying that there was nothing Raven could do while in her position, and Raven screamed just from the frustration of her standing there like she really cared. Raven knew she would calm down after the sparkling arrived but Cassie kept smiling holding her hand and telling her how wonderful she was doing.

"Okay Raven you need to give one more and the sparkling should be ready to come out." Ratchet said as he waited with excitement to deliver the sparkling. He was ready to catch and had already cut Raven so that the helm would not tear her. Raven began pushing one last time as the sparkling slithered out from the warm carrying chamber and into Ratchet's waiting hands.

"Ratchet is it out?" Cassie asked excitedly.

"Yes please get it out!" Raven shrieked as she fell back against the berth harshly panting from exhaustion. The doors opened as something suddenly slammed against them trying to hurry them faster and Mirage ran into the infirmary. His armor was dusty and scratched from the rough terrain he had patrolled when Trailbreaker relieved him and his first sentence came out in static from his panic at trying to get back to the Hall in a hurry.

"Calm down Mirage! Raven is doing well and if you will quit shaking I will let you wrap the sparkling in his blanket as soon as I can get him to cry." Ratchet groused at the normally blue and regal mech as Mirage tried to calm his internal systems. He was still running hot as he took the blanket but the saboteur smiled as he heard their sparkling's first cries.

Raven cried out in joy as she looked at Mirage and he returned her shiny sparkling smile with one of his own. "You were wonderful, Raven." He leaned down to kiss her head but she looked up and met him with her lips. Mirage groaned at the simple intimate contact and Raven smiled against his lips.

"Thank you for making it on time." She said softly so only he could hear.

"Thank you for making me a creator and sire." He returned just as tenderly. Time seemed to freeze until the little being in Ratchet's arms squeaked and cried for its parents. Mirage laughed as he took the sparkling and wrapped the blanket around him and then turned and handed him to his carrier. "What will we call him?" Mirage suddenly asked as he looked at the two most important beings in his life since the war started. The mechling was mostly white with blue accents. Raven looked him over carefully but sighed in relief when the only similarity that her son had to its original creator was his blocky size. She looked him in the face carefully and smiled as his purple optics took in hers and then glanced up to Mirage as he clicked and cooed happily at his parents.

"How about Tank?" She said thinking it over carefully. Mirage looked at the sparkling trying to decide if he liked the name or not but before he could answer Raven she shook her head and said, "No wait I like it as a nickname but he needs something a little better. How about we call him Sureshot." Raven looked up at Mirage and he smiled.

"So you think he might become a tank former?" He smirked and Raven grinned.

"Why not? He is going to be big and he seems to be very pleased with himself. I think it is a good name." Raven said as she turned her attention back to Sureshot cooing and clicking at her son.

"Then Sureshot will be his designation." Mirage said and bent down to nuzzle his helm against his family.

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Optimus and Megatron stood in the lower chambers of the Hall as they took stock of the massive room that the gate resided in. It always amazed him that the Hall had such large rooms under the base part of their home and that there were intricate hallways and corridors underground that connected them together. They watched as the blue and green swirl of light so similar to their space bridge open and then the last remainders of their troops walked through carrying long tombs that floated between the soldiers. Optimus was glad to have the hover technology because the smaller mechs would have struggled to carry the marble tombs that the humans had given them while on earth. The two Decepticon tombs were much simpler, theirs made of a fine metal, while Jazz's stood out in its entire splendor.

Optimus look over to watch his mate silently as she stood very still, her eyes shiny from moisture that she carefully held back, watching her brother pass by on his way to his final resting place. He reached out to her through the bond to make sure she would not falter but Allie did not open her side of the bond though she felt the Prime's gentle tugging. She looked across the chamber and smiled briefly at him and then fixed her gaze solemnly on a point careful of not breaking control over her emotions.

Prime felt sorry for her. She had been denied ever seeing Jazz and he never seeing his sister before dying. Optimus knew that Jazz had never allowed anyone to see his grief over 'losing' Elita though his high spirited friend and special ops officer would occasionally crack in front of his leader with couple of cubes of high grade. It was one of many casualties that burden the leader though he would never show it to others.

He looked to the right of his brother to see Prowl and Tia standing there as Tia quietly held Little Jazz on her waist. The couple had come so far and everyone loved the little black mechling with blue stripes who looked so much like Prowl with his tiny door wings. Optimus wished with his spark that Jazz could see the little one that was named after him because he knew that Jazz would have been proud of the sparkling.

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"Hound do you have a minute?" Perceptor asked. Hound was surprised to see the scientist and teacher at school on a day he did not teach.

"Sure Percy, what can I do for you?" Hound had adopted the nickname that the other teachers called Perceptor and the red microscope seemed to accept it with as much dignity that a genius could do.

"I have noticed that you have been moping around at the Hall lately and with Mirage so busy with his mate I wondered what I could do for you." Perceptor always long winded with his explanations walked closer and sat in one of the students' chair in front of the desk that they shared.

"I am fine Perceptor, really, I just been busy adjusting to this new world and teaching." Hound stated frankly but Perceptor stared at him for a moment before speaking.

"I know that Nocturne has been coming by to talk to you and I had hoped that she would be more open. Not many understand her and she has allowed only a few to really know about her background. She is a good femme and would make a good partner for you." Perceptor stopped for a moment suddenly unsure if he should continue and Hound stared at him before returning to the pads that littered the desk. "I have her address if you want to check on her." Hound looked up quickly almost knocking one of the pads off the desk in his hurry to try and conceal the excitement on his face plates. Perceptor smirked at the tracker and held out a smaller pad that Hound stared at before reaching for it.

"Thank you Percy I appreciate it." Hound said sincerely as Perceptor passed the pad to him.

"It has her address as well as her communications code if you should decide to contact her. There is a very important reason that she requested time off but I think you could help her. Any more I can't say because it would be a breach in confidence but she needs you." Perceptor said the last softly hoping that Hound would check on the bubbly femme that all the students and staff loved.

"I promise I will go and check on her and thank you again." Hound subspaced the pad and went back to checking pads and Perceptor took that as a dismissal.

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Allie walked up the corridor that led to the next level. She was deep in thought over her brother and did not hear her mate approach from behind.

"Allie?" Optimus called softly and Allie jumped.

"Oh Optimus I am so sorry. I didn't hear you." Allie said and smiled shyly back. She was embarrassed that he could do that to her when she prided herself on her special ops training.

"It's okay. I wanted to make sure that you are okay." He fell in step with her as they walked up the corridor until they once again were in familiar hallways. Optimus sighed through his vents glad to be out of the lower chambers. He didn't like the creepy feeling that settled in his gears nor that the Matrix of Leadership seemed to react erratically when he needed to be down there. He had come to watch another ceremony and that time he saw the cubes once again float in the air around the femmes as they chanted and sang. He also noticed how the symbols and lines on the floor lit up as if reacting to their movements. That time Megatron had not joined him but still the energy that emanated from the ceremonial chamber and oracle still left him feeling dazed and baffled at the same time.

Optimus talked to Allie about it that night but all she would say was that he didn't need to be down there and that she feared that the oracle could react negatively to him. Somehow Optimus didn't think so and that now he was beginning to believe that Primus may have left a piece of himself in the Realm long ago before Cybertron was even formed. There were tales that the priest told to sparklings in the old temple of Primus. The tales told of the brother travelling the universe before Primus settled and now seeing the cubes, not just one but seven of them, made the tales seem like a possible reality.

"I am fine though tired. It wasn't easy seeing Jazz's tomb being carried in from earth today." She told him and then Optimus felt her slide her arms around his waist. "It would have been better with you standing with me but I don't think I would have been able to control my emotions so it worked out alright." She looked up as they continued walking through the hallway and Allie turned them toward the floor that housed their quarters.

"Are you going back home?" Optimus asked her as he firmly held her against her while still allowing her to easily saunter through the hall with him.

"Yes, Elita is teething and she needs me." Allie looked up at him. "Thank you for bringing Jazz's body home." She whispered and Optimus leaned down and kissed her on her nose.

"I love you Allie and I would do anything for you." He solemnly said.

"I know but still I am very grateful, besides, I wouldn't want take advantage of our bond. I love you too and I want you to know that I am always grateful for your love and protection." Allie stated. She wanted him to know how she felt and why and she opened herself up so that Optimus could see her sincerity.

Optimus smiled at his mate. Words were not needed between them as they gazed at each other just in front of the door to their quarters.

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Hound stood outside of Nocturne's house nervous about taking the final step and knocking on the door. The neighborhood seemed very quiet with the houses spaced out for plenty of privacy. Hound had been to Bumblebee's house and on a rare occasion he had been invited to Starscream's house when their little one was born. Her house was simple, like a little cottage with flowers planted neatly in their boxes and beds and Hound could tell that trees, both plain as well as fruit, were planted around the house so that there was plenty of shade.

Hound debated with himself as he stood on the threshold of the door. Would he be invading her privacy by showing up or would she be happy to see him. Perceptor alluded that something might be wrong but Hound could not understand what could dampen Nocturne's happy mood.

With a final exhalation through his vents he wrapped the plates of his knuckles on the quaint white door and waited patiently for the femme to answer. He heard movement after a few minutes and then Nocturne opened the door. Hound immediately was concerned because he could see the streak marks from her tears and he had never seen her so disheveled before. Her soft blue blouse was caked in stains, her hair was oily and dirty, and she looked like she had not bathed in a few days.

"Hound, what are you doing here?" Nocturne said with confusion. Hound's spark went out to the femme in that moment. Whatever she was dealing with she was not doing well with it and he wanted to be there for her more than anything he had ever wanted before.

"I was worried since you haven't been at school and I wanted to check on you." He told her as he gestured with his hands and then placed them down to his side. "May I come in?"

"It really isn't a good time Hound." Nocturne replied softly her speech slow and drawn out which wasn't normal for her and Hound frowned, his face plates scrunching to make a funny gesture that was not usually seen on him.

"Please Nocturne I really am here to help you." He stated quietly hoping that she would at least allow him entrance. He started toward her hoping to keep her from closing the door on him.

"Hound you don't understand…."

"Then help me to understand." He interrupted looking heatedly at her. He was here and he wanted to help. What more could she ask for and why did she shut him out.

"But Hound this is something I have to deal with." She stated agitated that he kept her here at the door.

"You can deal with it but let me be here to support you." Hound insisted. Nocturne realized that he would not go away until she at least let him in. The femme stepped back to allow him entrance and she turned to walk in through the narrow hallway and into the quaint kitchenette that house a small white round table with two matching chairs. Hound took stock of the cottage with an appreciative optic. Nocturne had plants in the little window sun box and greenery all around. Hound liked that she had a green thumb as humans called it and he also likes that she decorated with flowers in vases and little handmade quilts and afghans that hung over the furniture in the open floor cottage. He saw that she had a small fire crackling in a fireplace with an iron screen to protect her living quarters. It was very warm and charming and Hound thought it suited her down to the tiny pianoforte in the corner.

"Would you like to sit down? We can sit either on the couch or at the table." Nocturne said as she gestured towards the table and then glanced at the couch. Hound walked over and pulled out a chair for her to sit in and then pulled the other out for himself. They both sat there for a few moments in silence before Nocturne suddenly jumped up and went toward a cabinet.

"I don't have any high grade but would you like some mid-grade energon? If you came from school I am sure that you must be famished." She turned back and looked at him expecting an answer and Hound could feel his spark jumping in his chest. She was so beautiful with the lost look on her face and her burnished brown hair glimmering from the sunlight coming in at the kitchen window.

"That will be fine thank you." Hound replied when he managed to get his voice back. Nocturne turned back and filled two cubes from a dispenser, turned back, and handed him one as she sat back down with hers. They sat there looking at each other while sipping their energon in silence and Hound wondered how to start the conversation since he was used to her doing all the talking.

"Nocturne!" Hound watched her flinch as she jumped back up.

"Excuse me Hound; I need to take care of something." She quickly grabbed up a cloth and another cube of energon and ran past him. Curious to what was going on Hound slowly stood up and followed quietly. He wondered who was yelling as he heard someone yelling Nocturne's name again and then a mirage of curses towards to femme which angered the tracker. Why would she put up with someone yelling at her like that?

Hound peeked in to see Nocturne padding something in a berth with the cloth she picked up from the table. Ho und stepped closer to see a feeble transformer lying with a mesh covering over his body.

"Femme be careful! I don't like moisture to get in my gears." He rasped harshly at Nocturne.

"Yes sire I know. You like for me to dab carefully. You need to let me help you with your energon." Nocturne replied respectfully as Hound heard a harsh rasping sigh expelled from the old mech.

"I was in the first war youngling and I don't need you to play nurse. Just because I am dying doesn't mean that I am helpless." He snarled at her and Hound watched her flinch again at the mentioning of dying.

"Please don't talk like that. You need to save your strength." She told him as she finally removed the energon that had spilt on the old red mech. His colors were slowly dulling and Hound wondered how much longer he had until his spark gave out.

"I don't need you!" the mech snarled at Nocturne as he tried to shove her away but didn't have the strength to do it. Nocturne waited patiently for the fit to pass and then started feeding him slowly through a tube that was connected to the mech intravenously. She looked over her shoulder, her sad brown eyes showing her grief even if she had control of her posture and Hound realized why she couldn't tell him what was going on.

Nocturne had to live through any creation's spark mare. She was watching her sire slowly die and there was probably nothing she could do. Hound slowly walked to her and knelt down next to her as he took her hand with one of his and began to dab with the cloth that she had put down watching her slowly feed the energon into her sire. No one said a word as Hound watched the old dilapidated mech slip into recharge and Nocturne was too choked up to send Hound away.