"Orion, how are you?" Razer asked, smiling at her second youngest son, who was now a full grown mech. He didn't look like Optimus Prime, leader of the autobots, but the thought of him soon becoming it made her fuel tanks churn.

Orion looked up at her, and his optics seemed to hold something that was anger, yet not. She couldn't place her digit on it… "I'm fine, Carrier. Why are you here?"

"What, can't I visit my second youngest sparkling?" She teased.

Orion glared at her, huffing as he put a data pad away, "I'm not a sparkling anymore."

She frowned, following after the grumpy mech, "I know, but all four of you are still like sparklings to me. Anyway, met anybot new? I noticed that pink femme was watching you quite a lot."

"You mean Elita-1? No, we're just friends," cam his reply.

She raised an optic ridge, "And I'm a cyber-cat. Actually I came here to tell you the whole family and some friends are going to be having a party together at Shockwave's, in the next cyber-week. You could bring along Elita-1."

Orion nodded, putting another data pad away. "Sounds fun. I'll consider coming."

Razer already knew the answer so with a defeated sigh, she placed a servo on Orion's arm, turning him around to face her. Looking at him with sad neon green optics, she said softly, "If you don't want to go, you can just say it. Look, I don't want to pry but you and the other three are like sons to me, and I do worry about you all. What's wrong?"

He glared at me, snarling, "That is none of your fragging business! Go worry about somebot else, Carrier."

The last word was full of so much venom Razer flinched back, the servo that had been on his arm at her side like she just realised she was touching poison. As he stormed away, she couldn't help a tear escaping.

Wiping the tear away, she pushed the emotions away to deal with later, and walked out of the Iacon Hall of Records, keeping her vision to the ground as she focused on getting home.

0o.o0

"I see it didn't go well?" Ratchet asked. Razer had managed to get home, and she was curled into the corner of her berth, Ratchet sitting cross-legged next to her, a comforting arm around her shoulders.

Razer only nodded, trying her best to keep the emotions in. She hesitantly leaned against Ratchet, and said bot didn't seem to mind.

Ratchet sighed and moved his legs so they were spread wide enough for a bot to fit. Razer didn't hesitate when Ratchet took his arm off her; she moved, sitting between his legs and resting on her side against his chassis, her helm resting above his spark. Wrapping his arms around Razer, Ratchet said softly, "I know it's not just that sweetspark. What's on your processor?"

Razer couldn't help but smile. Her and Ratchet weren't sparkmates, but they had such a close friendship that it almost bordered on a relationship. She couldn't find the right word for it, but it was something very special to her.

Sighing, Razer whispered, "The War. I know it will happen, and you and Wheeljack know that too; we discussed on what we will do when the time comes but…" Energon began to fall from her optics as she looked up at Ratchet, spark broken. "Ratchet, will we be able to do it when the time comes? We've tried so hard to keep them all happy, but I feel like I've failed as a Carrier." With that, she buried her face into Ratchet's chassis, crying.

One of Ratchet's servo's rubbed soothing circles across her back strut, the other servo coming to her face to lift it up and look into determined blue optics as Ratchet said firmly, "Razer, you did the best you could, and you were and still are an amazing Carrier. You have always been there for us, and the reason this family hasn't fallen apart." Ratchet used his digit to wipe away her tears, his optics softening as he smiled gently. Razer smiled back, closing her optics as she rested her forehelm against his as Ratchet whispered, "I know it hurts, but don't let that ruin the good memories, OK? I know it will hurt when the time comes, but we'll all be there for each other. I'll be there for you."

Razer opened her optics, meeting loving blue as she whispered back, "Promise?"

"I promise." He replied, and Razer closed her optics, snuggling against Ratchet and slowly drifting into recharge.