Hey guys! I see you all liked that previous chapter, so a (somewhat) faster update has been brought upon you! I know you don't really like DOTM (wait for it) because of what happens to the characters in it, but it's still featured in this story, and because of DOTM (as sad as it is), this story exists. It was a simple idea that grew so large it made us come to this point.
I don't even know how I got all of the inspiration to write so many chapters, but I quite like how this story is progressing. Something very original is unveiling. And the one thing I love most is reading someone's original ideas and how their characters act according to their personality and so on. Not some mumbo-jumbo stuff nobody can really get into or understand.
Nothing much to say here, other than the fact that there will be a huge revelation in this chapter, and it has something to do with Ratchet! (or his scans at least XD)
While Mel was sleeping, Ironhide got a comlink from Ratchet. He wanted him to come to him, saying he had some extremely important news.
Ironhide kissed Mel's head as he fizzed out of the cab and into Mel's bedroom, where Ratchet was trying to take apart the machine, for easier transport.
"Ratchet." Hide notified him of his presence.
"You're here, good." He stopped what he was doing with the machine, dropping a tube to the floor uninterestingly. "I commed you because I have some news for you."
"Yes, tell me what this is about."
"It's about Mel's survival."
He thought, well, all of them thought the battle was over and that Mel had won. "What of it?"
"One of the main reasons why Mel had survived cancer and the energon poisoning-"
"Where are you going with this?"
Ratchet continued anyway, "Is because of the strength of another being, which was surprisingly, unaffected by either diseases."
He narrowed his eyes as his eyebrows joined. "What being?" Ironhide was utterly confused.
"Her sparkling."
XxXxXxXxX
"Mel is… sparked?" Ironhide asked, bewildered, excited and horrified at the same time.
"Yes, my scans indicated another life form in her abdominal area."
"Primus, I…I'm going to be a father." The word 'father' sounded like the most honored title in the word.
"Yes, you will Ironhide." Ratchet said with a soft smile, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I just wanted you to know this. So that you could prepare yourself. I even made you a datapad with all the information about human pregna-"
"Frag that, does Melissa know?" he said, cutting him off.
"Know what?"
"That she's sparked?"
"Of course not. Symptoms should occur from time to time, such as nausea, tiredness and odd food cravings. But other than that, she wouldn't know until the end of these two months."
"Alright… Primus, this is so much to take in." he said as an afterthought. These news were certainly amazing. He knew what he had to do. "Send me the datapad. Is anything going to happen with," he paused, not knowing whether to say 'my sparkling' or just 'sparkling',"the sparkling? Because of the diseases."
"No, the sparkling is still developing, but no diseases have been detected." He said wisely.
Ironhide nodded in thanks, before disappearing from Mel's room and back into the cab where Melissa was peacefully laying. He looked at her in a slightly different way now. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, even before he found out she was sparked, but now, he had a definite reason to do so.
He lay beside her, trying not to disturb her, as he was watching her, observing.
She was so beautiful in his eyes. His perfect match. Everything he wanted in a femme was rolled into that one little human being. A kind, patient soul with a lot of loving support in it.
He couldn't have asked for anything more perfect in this moment.
So he made a decision. He had to tell her that the new base will be set in Chicago, he had to fill her in on all the details. Hopefully she would take it lightly and not retort. And after they've moved there, he would propose to her. They were together for more than 5 years already, as much as that seemed, it had been like that. Time passed quickly, because a lot of things were happening. But he wouldn't have had it any other way.
She was breathing normally and she was healthy.
And she was pregnant.
The thought made him smile.
But then the smile had disappeared. The question rose. How could she be pregnant?
Hide immediately commed Ratchet, "Ratchet, how is it possible that Melissa is sparked?"
"You two had interfaced." He stated.
How did he know? "You don't know that."
"I'm the Chief Medical Officer, of course I know! When I was connecting the tube to extract the energon with her vaginal area, the area was open and miss-"
"Alright, you said your point."
"Besides, the answer is that, I've perfected the holoforms. They even carry sperms."
"So what will happen to the sparkling? And how did you make the sperms?" Searching the web on what 'sperms' were, Ratchet got him the answer.
"The sparkling will develop into a perfectly normal human being, Ironhide. The sperms are made by extracting a part of your-"
"I don't even want to know." Ratchet did make some weird tests on all the Autobots.
"Well, that would be your answer. Excuse me, but I am too busy to speak at this moment, I have a machine to transport back to the hospital." He shut off the comlink.
Ironhide sighed. He didn't even know the holoforms had these sperm things. But he was certainly glad of the outcome. He would finally have a family he longed for so long. He always wanted a sparkling of his own, to make his own family, but could never do so because of the war. But now, he was going to have a family and nobody could stop him from doing so.
As he watched Melissa lay comfortably in the back of his cab with the seats down, he saw that he needn't watch over her. So he downloaded the information of the datapad and started memorizing it. He needed to know this information, for the future health of both of his charges. His future sparkling was also his charge, which he would protect with his life, and wouldn't think twice about it.
The night had turned into day, as Ironhide didn't let himself slip into recharge. Earth days were much shorter than Cybertronian ones, so he needn't recharge as often.
But he watched her every few minutes, just to check up on her. His world now revolved not only around Melissa, but around her sparkling, too.
And she didn't even know she was pregnant. And by Ratchet's terms, she wouldn't figure it out by herself until, at least, two months have passed.
He let go of looking at the datapad. He was now solely concentrating on her calm, beautiful facial features. Luscious lips, soft cheeks and cute nose.
Unable to help himself, he put a strand of hair, that fell over her face, away in a gentle motion. He had to touch her. He couldn't just stare at her and do nothing. He looked at her for a little while, and then he caressed the back of her hand. It was so soft, despite all the illnesses it has gone trough.
He suddenly got a com from somebody. It was from Chromia.
He wondered what could she want.
He looked one last time towards Mel and silently disappeared from the interior of his cab. He reappeared in his garage, where the femmes were stationed. Two of them were in recharge, while Chromia was awake.
"What is it Chromia?"
"I need to talk to you. Outside." She replied, summoning her holoform outside the garage as to not disturb Arcee and Elita. The two of them got out, as Ironhide watched her. "How is she doing?"
"Melissa is fine. Fully recovered, actually." He confirmed.
"That's certainly good news. And how are you?"
"I'm fine, as well. Chromia, is there anything specific that you wanted to talk about? I have to get back to Melissa."
"Yes, there was something I wanted to tell you." She looked at him with her blue holoform eyes. "Do you intend to sparkmate with her?"
He was taken back with the question. Chromia was always straight to the point, just like he was. But something in that question sounded a little odd, coming from his ex girlfriend. "Chromia, what I intend to do with Melissa is completely my business." Why would he ever tell his plans with his current long-term girlfriend to his ex girlfriend? It made no sense to him.
"You don't have to be rude with me, Ironhide, I'm just asking." Her voice deepened. She felt like he didn't trust her.
"I wasn't rude." His voice deepened as well.
She didn't say anything for a while. "You really love her, don't you." She said. "Not that that's wrong or anything."
"Is there a point to this conversation?" he folded his arms on his chest, leaning a little to the side, huffing air.
"Is there, Ironhide? Since you are so unwilling for any form of communication, I feel like you're thinking of me as untrustworthy."
"You saved my life countless times, Mia. Why would I ever think of you that way?" Her actions confused him and he didn't know how to respond.
"We haven't contacted each other in years, Hide." She played along, since he was using her nickname, she used his as well. "I wanted to know what was going on. We needn't become strangers."
"Who said we would ever become strangers, Mia?" he came a step closer to her. "Is there something bothering you?" he was confused out of his mind.
And she just wanted to be up to date with everything that was going on. But she couldn't word it right. "I want to know what is going on here. I would like to be up to date, if possible." She switched into 'formal' mode. She was hard as nails, after all.
Hide took an already taken step back, arms still folded. "There isn't much to fill you in on, Chromia. Everything is fine. You should be recharging with Arcee and Elita." He wouldn't dare tell her that he is expecting a sparkling with Mel.
"Isn't it obvious I can't recharge?" she crossed her arms too, annoyed at his poor perceptive skills. He observed her and raised an eyebrow. Chromia knew him inside and out and knew when to speak up. "Unknown reasons." But, she knew the reasons very well. She wanted to know what Melissa had that she didn't. And it bothered her that she even allowed herself to think of it.
Ironhide scanned Melissa for she was on his mind the whole time. She was sleeping peacefully, although the temperature inside his cab had lowered a little. He put on the seat heating and made a mental note to grab a blanket from her room and cover her.
Ironhide also kept an eye on Mia. She wasn't usually like this. He knew her too well. "I think you know the reason." He paused, turning to her. "Is it something regarding the past?"
She was always straightforward. "Yes."
"Is it something about the War?"
She seemed to think over it. "In a way."
"Come on Mia, I don't play these games. Tell me what's bothering you and well blast the problem." Thinking it was a Decepticon, he could use some action. Both of them smirked.
"Unfortunately, it's not about the 'Cons. It was about us."
Us.
He hadn't heard that word from her in a very long time.
"What of it?" his eyes narrowed.
"I was wondering what," she knew that if she wanted to be on his good side, she should start addressing humans by their designations, "Melissa has, that I don't."
"I never expected this to bother you."
"It's not that much of a bother as it is a question of curiosity." She had good comebacks.
"There isn't much to say."
"So you are her mate for no reason?" her one arm unfolded, bent and moved around, her voice holding a hint of sarcasm.
"I am her mate because I like spending time with her. Besides, what does it mean to you? We were over millennias ago." He didn't understand why she was bringing out these questions and starting to be clingy.
"As I said, just questions of curiosity, Ironhide. No intentions of doing anything."
"Did you intend to do something?"
"No."
"Chromia." His voice deepened as his processor immediately surfed up a deeply buried memory of Chromia almost killing a femme that had come close to Ironhide. "I know what you can do to femmes. And how furious and deadly you can be. But if you as so much as lay a digit on Melissa… well, I don't have to tell you the rest." His voice fell to a tone that Chromia hadn't heard. Ever.
But, instead of feeling threatened, she was actually happy for him. Happy that he had found someone he would take his time for and devote himself to the mentioned person. She smiled. He got confused. Then she started giggling.
"What?" he didn't know what had gotten into her.
"Ironhide, I'm not a fragging 'Con." She returned to normal, without any more giggling, but there was a small smile at the ends of her lips. "I wouldn't dare hurt somebody close to you. Besides," she radiated warmth and kindness now. "I only want the very best for you and Melissa. If it means you being a mate with a human, so be it, but I am here if there is anything you need."
"Likewise." He mightn't have been her mate, but he certainly held respect towards her and knew what to say and when to say it. "Thank you." She needed to know that he had her back all the time, mate or not. "Was this the question you wanted to ask from the beginning?"
"Indeed." She said. "I think I'm able to recharge now." Ironhide nodded as her holoform fizzed out.
He then remembered that he should have gone to her room to get the blanket. So he did what he wanted to. But as he was going through the house, he saw Nicole and Bee sleeping on the couch in the living room, lying together, with Nicole lying on top of him.
He continued on to the second floor, getting to Melissa's room and grabbing two blankets. Since everybody on the property was now in a deep slumber, as he went downstairs he tried to remain as quiet as possible. He used one blanket to cover Nicole and Bumblebee. Nobody would see his silent and kind action, so he moved out of the house.
He got to his alt mode and the door opened on his own. He got in and the door silently closed in on itself.
He was surprised when he found her awake.
"Hey." He put on the blanket over her and lied on the lowered seats, resting on his forearms. "Since when were you awake?" he softly said, getting closer to her. He enveloped her in a hug as the slowly got into their sleeping position, with Mel lying on his chest.
Her head lowered and was tucked under his chin. She was still wearing the brown wig Nicole had gifted her with. And it suited her quite well.
Ironhide brought up the lighting in the car just a little. The lights were very dimly lit, but it was nice to see the inside of the car, even slightly, rather than being in complete darkness.
"Mel."
"Hm?"
"I have to tell you something."
"Is it serious?" she said, finding it easy to speak now.
"It is." She sighed as she started to get up off him. "You don't have to get up." he looked at her and opened his arms.
"I know, but if it's serious…"
"Don't worry. Just lay here." He said with a smile. She smiled back at him and moved back into her previous position.
"What's going on?" she said, head tucked under his chin.
"We're moving."
"Who is?"
"Your family and all of the Autobots."
"Where?"
"Chicago."
She pondered on the thought of moving to Chicago. "Why?" she liked asking these short questions, knowing Ironhide would gladly answer them. "Why can't we just stay here?"
"The Autobots need shelter for the winter to come, Mel. We don't have it here. So Optimus made a deal with the government that all of us move to Chicago and continue our lives there."
"So we've no choice but to go there."
He sighed and after a silence, he spoke up. "I presume you don't want to."
Her right hand interlocked with Ironhide's left as they lay on the seats. "This is my home. I don't think I can just up sticks and go. How much time do we have left?"
"A couple of weeks at most."
She was silent for a second. "You said we're going to live in Chicago, right?" something in her mind clicked at the word 'Chicago'.
"Yes."
"Epps is there."
Where the frag did she remember Epps now?
Ironhide searched through his processors. Yes, Epps was stationed in Chicago. He was retired from the Air Force years ago.
"Yes, he is there."
She was silent for more than just a second this time. She didn't want to go. She didn't want to leave her home, her comfort zone. She didn't want to leave this house of memories. Memories so dear to her. Holiday meals with the whole family here, including her parents and even grandparents. Most of her life revolved around the old wooden house.
She wanted to stay here, so badly. Going out of here would be like tearing a piece of her heart.
"Hide…"
His other hand went to her head, holding her close, while his other hand was caressing hers. "I'm here."
"I don't want to go." He felt wet circles on his fake shirt. She was crying. This news hit her deeply.
"Not yet Mel, not yet you don't. We're still here. Just relax and don't think about it."
Her hands went around his neck, as she tried to console herself. His arms went around her, as if protecting her from the fate they were bother destined for.
Her voice was a whisper as she held him closer. "I love you." She said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
He held her tighter. "I love you a whole lot more." He kissed her forehead. "Just take it easy, dear. We aren't going anywhere." He resisted adding 'yet', for the sake of her. He didn't want her stressing herself out. "Everything will be fine."
She brought her head up from under his chin, and without having to open her eyes, she found his lips with hers. She kissed him deeply. "I'm still so tired." She said. "Maybe I'll get sick again."
"You won't, don't worry. You just woke up, your organism hasn't awakened yet. If you want, continue sleeping. It's around 2 in the morning now." he said softly.
"But you have to sleep too."
"I will."
"You can't sleep with me in the truck."
"Just because I refuse to do it doesn't mean I can't do it." He smirked. "Now, you continue to rest." He kissed her nose.
She smiled and exhaled lightly. "Thank you." She didn't even think about what she was saying. But he always appreciated her kindness and politeness.
"Always." He cuddled with her until she gently fell into a slumber herself. He stood awake that night, caressing her, listening to her heartbeat, listening to her breathing.
And it was all he ever needed. Just peace and comfort.
And love.
Well this was quite a thing to write/read! Well, looks like the Bots are going to be moving to Chicago and Chicago is the place where DOTM starts! So expect me following DOTM. It's going to take a while to write that too, since I've never written a story with DOTM elements in it. But as they always say, there's a first time for everything. :)
So this is basically all I've to say at this moment. Internet may be lagging a lot, which could result in late updates, but rest assured, I am alive, just internet-less.
So review folks!