PERSON-WHO-READS: Thanks so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it so much! That's an interesting thought you have actually, you'll probably get your wish. But not in the way you'd think. I'll just say keep a look out on my profile for something on the horizon.

And thank you, I hope you and yours did as well!

A/N: Thanks to my good friend, NIGHTHAWK211, for the suggestion of where to take this chapter because I was stuck for a bit. But man, I had a hoot writing it!

Thanks to my second beta, SIDEKICKS-ANONYMOUS, for working on this chapter! You rock!

...

CHAPTER 18
New Feelings

"So, first home inspection went off without a hitch."

Ratchet said this rather happily as he turned to walk towards Dylan a month after they'd made their decision. They had needed another one in preparation for Ratchet to adopt him, and like he'd said, it hadn't gone badly. Ratchet had to hold back his temper a few times, mostly when the man accompanying Reese that day had suggested he'd do anything to hurt Dylan. The teen knew it was mostly because he was still moving past how horrific his abuse by his biological father had been, but it still had worried him.

"Yeah, I guess," Dylan replied, taking a deep breath. "But did you have to give the other one that crap? You gotta remember that they're the ones writing the home inspection too." He swallowed. "One thing they find wrong and this whole thing could blow up in our faces."

Ratchet frowned. Of course Dylan was still worried about that. He supposed the boy would worry something would go wrong until the papers were officially signed. And honestly, he couldn't blame him either. They'd already established that other adoption attempts had fallen through.

"Nothing is going to go wrong, Dylan. And you're not going to be leaving, if that's what you're worried about," He explained. "I'd fight tooth and nail before I'd let them take you away from me."

Dylan nodded his head, pushing the bangs of his hair away from his face. He wasn't going to stop worrying, Ratchet was right there. Especially not now that he knew that his biological father had been released from jail. That meant that somewhere out there, Eugene Logan could very much be looking for him. But until he had reason to feel otherwise, he would hold onto the hope that Ratchet's adoption of him would go through. "I just hope you're right," Dylan kicked his foot up slightly. "I don't think I can take any more disappointment honestly."

Ratchet vented, knowing that was true. "I'll keep my temper down," He grunted, begrudgingly, but none-the-less he didn't want Dylan to worry this much. "Anything that'll make you feel more confident about this." He added. "So, is Ironhide still coming by to pick you up? I know you said that he was taking you and Scarlet out somewhere today."

Dylan smiled. He had nearly forgotten, but he was actually looking forward to getting out for a bit. Sure, he and Ironhide weren't as close as he and Ratchet were yet, but he still was growing to like the mech. He'd been reaching out more in the last month since Ratchet had asked him to be the godfather in the event of him or First Aid not being able to take care of him. So Ironhide had done what he could to make a connection with his godson, and it was working, regardless of the fact that Dylan still had feelings for Scarlet.

"Yeah, he's going to take us to see a movie I think," Dylan replied, putting his hands in his pockets. "You should come with us," Dylan brought up, as Ratchet stared at him in surprise.

"I mean... Not if you don't want to. That is," He paused a moment. "I don't know, it's just, it might be cool to do something with the four of us. Seeing as Ironhide's your best friend and all."

Ratchet had to take a moment to absorb the fact that Dylan was asking him to come along. The boy never invited him out when he went on his own. But he supposed that now that things were growing between them, and the situation was looking permanent, maybe Dylan had decided it was safe to go out and do things with him regularly. And while Ratchet did have some work to do from home, a few hours to see a movie with his son and best friend wouldn't do anything.

Yet Dylan stood there looking nervous, as if dreading the "no." Which is why it came as a surprise when Ratchet nodded. "Of course I'll come along," he spoke up. "I'd love to come and get out for a while. I mean, if you're not ashamed to be seen out with your old mech."

"I uh, I've never had a dad who wanted to do anything with me but..." Dylan paused a moment, and then smiled. "You really are coming? Wow, that's great! I'll uh... I'll go get my jacket," He commented, starting off towards his room before looking at Ratchet. "You're sure you want to come? You don't have to if you have work."

Ratchet tilted his head. "I'm fine with coming, I just am surprised you want me to," He lifted an optic ridge a Dylan rubbed the back of his head, looking at his feet. "And by the look on your face, I don't think you're telling me something. Mind telling me why you want me there?"

Dylan looked up at Ratchet with a sigh, putting his hands in his pockets. He knew he couldn't hide it from Ratchet, especially if he wanted him there for confidence. "Okay, so the truth is... it's a date," Dylan explained. "And I know this sounds silly... But I'm so nervous. So I thought, maybe if my guardian was there... Maybe I wouldn't be so... Scared? Nervous? I don't know... My stomach is just in knots."

Ratchet's look of uncertainty suddenly turned into a smile, and then a chuckle. This was too cute, even for him—the fact that Dylan was scared like that to go on his first date... To think a kid actually wanted his father there!

"Stop! It's not that funny, Ratchet," Dylan said as he blushed. "Come on, please."

"Oh youngling, I just find it funny," Ratchet replied. "Most would find it mortifying to have their father in the theater for their first date."

"Ironhide only agreed to it if he was there," Dylan groaned. "So what difference does it make?"

Ratchet shook his head, putting his hands on his hips. The boy certainly was a hoot at times, but all the same, he nodded. "Go get your jacket on, then. Ironhide and your date should be here any time," Dylan looked like he was ready to crawl into a hole and die. "What? I'm just having some fun with you, son. Of course I'll come."

"I'm just scared because I... Well," Dylan paused a minute. "I've never kissed a girl... " He paused a moment. "And I'm worried she'll think I'm weird anyway. What if I do something I shouldn't? What if she changes her mind and thinks I'm weird the whole time?"

Ratchet first of all, hoped to Primus there wouldn't be kissing yet. But he understood Dylan's fear. Any act of affection, holding hands, kissing, anything like that, well, had probably been forced on him. Most girls liked those things but he was terrified of doing the wrong thing. "Dylan, you of all people would never do something she was uncomfortable with," Ratchet explained. "And as for the other way around... If you get uncomfortable, I'll be in the audience. We'll go home."

"She'd never talk to me again," Dylan replied. "Neither would Ironhide."

"They'd both understand, Dylan. Both of them know what you've gone through," Ratchet explained, to which Dylan nodded a little, understanding. "You're going to be okay though, I know it. Just go get your jacket."

"You promise if I get scared... If I change my mind..." Dylan breathed. "You'll take me home?"

"Of course."

Dylan nodded his head slowly, starting towards his room. Ratchet sighed, hoping that wouldn't be the case. Dylan was making a huge first step in moving forward from his past. He wanted Dylan to know it was okay to do things like that, so long as nothing went too far, and it wasn't an adult taking advantage of you. He hoped Scarlet would be able to show him that, too.

...

"Dylan was pretty scared to go on this date."

Ironhide shifted in his seat as Ratchet looked at him. They were in the Cybertronian section of the audience—this theater was one their real forms fit in, rather than others where they had to use their holoforms. "I can see why. If his hand goes anywhere near my daughter's aft, then godson or not, I will make a scene." Ratchet snorted slightly. "Though I doubt he will. He of all kids knows better."

Ratchet shook his head a little, looking at his friend. "I don't think he'll even hold her hand yet," He explained. "He's still learning that displays of affection aren't always a bad thing. He's too used to it being used to hurt him," He shook his head. "That's why I'm here... He's worried that he may get cold feet, and need to leave."

Ironhide gave a soft look in his optics at that. No doubt that hit him right in the spark, whether it was his daughter on the date or not. They looked over to see that Dylan was sitting near the back with Scarlet, twiddling his thumbs in his lap. "Why did he ask then?" He questioned. "If he wasn't ready, it wasn't like she was going to stop liking him. She talked about him all the time."

"I think he wants to try," Ratchet told him honestly. "He's trying to move forward, to have the life of a normal teenager," Ironhide nodded his head a bit. "Give him time, I don't think he'll back out," He then added with a snort. "It's funny, imagine if this does go somewhere. It'll be quite interesting."

"Our Godchildren possibly becoming our children-in-law?" Ironhide took a deep breath, as if he wasn't sure. "Let's just get past the first date. It really should be interesting though," He explained, turning his head back to the screen, narrowing his optics. "What is the point of this movie again?"

"I don't know. Blue got him into Star Wars." Ratchet explained. "They're really stretching things with a seventh trilogy, though."

Meanwhile, Dylan's confidence continued to fade. They'd been watching the movie for a good thirty minutes now, and it was great. He looked over at Scarlet every so often, but she didn't seem to be forcing anything on him. He knew she was waiting for him to make the first move, but he was too scared. He looked away from her as she looked at him, her eyes twinkling.

"Dylan, you can hold my hand, you know." Scarlet told him gently. "It's okay, I don't bite."

Dylan's finger twitched slightly as Scarlet held her hand out on the arm rest. He didn't know whether he could take it or not. Was he ready for that? Was he ready to try and take the hand of someone that wasn't trying to take advantage of him? "I'm scared," Dylan murmured. "I know I said I wanted this, and I do. I really like you, Scar. I'm just not... It's just…" He paused.

"Dylan," Scarlet looked him in the eyes. "I'm not afraid of you, if that's what you're worried about. If I was, do you think for a second I'd be here? Let alone with my father?" Dylan blushed a little. It was a good point after all. "It's okay to hold my hand... We can take the other things slower. But I've seen you stare at it for the last ten minutes," She paused. "You can do this."

Dylan looked at her now, his eyes lowering to the hand. Slowly, he reached forward and rested the hand over hers. Let his fingers interlock with them, and let her do the same. And unlike when his father had held his hand in this manner, it felt right, it felt good. He felt himself relax, knowing he was not going to hurt her, or her, him. "Thank you," Dylan murmured.

"Boys and girls hold hands on dates, Dylan."

"No, I mean... Thanks for understanding... And helping," Dylan whispered. "I just... This feels good, I'm glad you encouraged me," He smiled slightly. "I can't promise the rest will be quick."

"I'd rather take it a little slow anyway," Scarlet replied. "No labels, just... Dating?"

Dylan nodded, he liked the sound of that. Slow and steady. He wanted to be her boyfriend, eventually, he thought. But for the moment, this was new to him. He had to take it easy and let things work themselves out as best he could. "Yeah, dating would be good," Dylan commented as he was surprised to see her head on his shoulder. "I still don't see why you like me, though. Most people would hate to go out with me."

"Why would I hate it?" Scarlet replied. "I care about you. You're sweet, funny, and cool."

"You're buttering me up."

"I think your dad would agree," Scarlet told him.

Dylan peered over to where Ratchet and Ironhide were sitting. Though Ironhide wasn't paying attention to them, the medic was. He gave a small thumbs up, clearly having seen the hand-holding. He took a deep breath, and laughed a little. "Yeah, I guess he probably does," He explained. "He was teasing me earlier too," He paused a minute. "I'm almost ready to call him my dad with the way he acted. He sure acts like one most of the time."

Scarlet smiled a bit, looking up at him. "Are you the same kid that couldn't stand Ratchet a few months ago?" She asked teasingly.

Dylan thought about it. He almost wanted to say yes, but at the same time, that wasn't the truth. He wasn't that same boy; that boy was changing and growing up into something new. He was happy, he realized, he was really, truly happy. "No, Scar, I don't think I am," Dylan told her honestly. "And I think that's a good thing."

He really did.

...

When they exited the movie a few hours later, they were laughing. Ratchet and Ironhide had stayed off a bit to allow them to enjoy what was left of their date, so they stood outside, smiling. Dylan leaned against the wall, his eyes looking over at Scarlet. They'd been laughing and talking for about a half an hour when Ratchet and Ironhide finally stepped out. "Alright, Scar," Ironhide spoke up. "You have plenty of time to hang out at school. But it's getting around dinner time, I think we all need to go home."

Ratchet nodded his head in agreement. "I think he may even trust you two to go without him next time," He joked, though Ironhide gave a look that said no way. "Or not. Come on, Dylan. We need to get back home too. We can stop at your favorite place, that Cane's on the way back."

"Call me later?" Scarlet asked with a smile.

"Definitely," Dylan nodded his head. "Night, Scar; night, 'Hide."

As the two groups split up, Dylan tried to hide the wide smile from Ratchet's view. He was a little afraid that the fact he was actually smiling so wide could concern the medic. After all, he rarely had this big a smile on his face, if ever.

"Well, I think that went well," Ratchet hummed. Dylan only nodded slowly. "See? I told you that it would go alright."

Dylan smiled, his eyes looking up at Ratchet quietly. "Thanks Ratch," He paused. "I love you, thanks for coming."

Ratchet stopped in his tracks, did his audio receptors malfunction? Or did Dylan just... He turned around, to see that the boy was, again, giving him one of those looks. The looks that he only gave when he was scared of what was coming next. "You... You do?" Ratchet asked, his voice tight.

Dylan rubbed his arm, uncertainty in his eyes. "I... At least I think so. Every time I'm around you anymore. I feel warm, I feel... I feel…" Dylan paused a minute. "You make me happy. And you make me feel safe. Safe isn't something I've ever really felt before," He said. "Is that love, Ratchet? Is that what real love is supposed to feel like?"

Ratchet almost felt coolant in his optics at that. That Dylan even had to ask him what love was supposed to feel like…Every child should know what love felt like by the time they were fourteen. But here, Dylan was just discovering it for the first time. "Yes, Dylan, that's exactly what love feels like, especially feeling loved," Ratchet told him gently. "That's how you're supposed to feel around your parent."

Dylan could see that Ratchet was leaking coolant, knowing full well he was a little emotional. Dylan had to admit, he was feeling a bit of it too. Knowing now what love felt like, and that Ratchet really did feel that way about him, it made his heart beat a little faster than normal. "Then yeah," Dylan nodded. "I love you, Ratchet."

Ratchet smiled again, and this time pushed the coolant from his optics. "I love you too, son," He told him without a single hint of hesitation. "More than you will ever know."

The entire drive home, Dylan felt even more warmth inside him. He finally had someone who loved him, really, truly, loved him. He never had believed he'd find that, but sure enough, he had. He could chalk this up to one of the many things he had learned since he'd come to live with Ratchet, two of which came that day. He thought about it as they drove through Cane's, and as they ate when they got home.

It was a new term for him to get used to, but one he was happy to know: "I love you".

He knew that it would still feel foreign to his tongue for a while, but it was a good foreign. He sighed quietly, and watched as the mech sipped his energon and now read over some news on the data pad. He was quiet about it, but he hoped beyond hope that this adoption went through. He didn't know if he could take having this feeling and then having someone yank it out from under him.

And for that matter, he had more to stay there for now, too. Scarlet, the two of them were getting closer than he'd ever expected. In time, he thought, she might be his girlfriend. Another thing he never thought he'd have in his life. He leaned back, and let his thoughts turn away from the very thing he was terrified of: Eugene Logan. He knew this was the month he was supposed to be out. And he knew, somewhere in Oregon, he was free...

But he'd try not to be scared for the moment. With any luck, there wouldn't be a problem. With any luck, in a few months, he'd never see Eugene again. Because he was going to be adopted, he told himself. He was going to never be able to be touched by the man again.

But a part of him, no matter how he tried, did worry.

...

The last thing Eugene Logan wanted to come out of prison to was this news. Not only was he shut out of Dylan's file forever, due to the arrest and suspected molestation case of two old colleagues—but now people were saying that Dylan would soon be adopted and that he would never see him again after that? He never would even have a prayer, Gene figured. After all of this, he'd NEVER have his revenge.

Now here he was, in a dead-end apartment in the worst part of town. Stripped of his badge, his ranking, and most of all, all the money he'd ever accumulated. He saw the glares that most people shot him on the street now, most insisting that he was a bad guy, a monster. But as he sat there waiting for that call from Donnie that he had been waiting for for the last several hours, he thought, and knew.

If they wanted a monster, he'd show them a monster.

The sound of the phone ringing grabbed his attention. Gene stood to his feet and crossed the distance in the living room to the landline, ripping it up and answering. "Alright, Donnie, this had better be good," Gene commented. "I'm really getting tired of waiting. And what's more, I'm tired of hearing this crap that I can't come near him," He explained.

"That's hard, Gene," Donnie replied. "I don't think I can get involved anymore. They took the other two down, now. I didn't touch the kid, but if they find out I'm helping you," He paused a moment. "Look, I have my own kid to think about. And I don't want her growing up without a father."

"You had better be kidding," Gene snarled through gritted teeth. "I didn't pay you to wuss out on me!"

Donnie's voice got caught in his throat. "To be frank, Gene, You're in deep shit, and I'm not letting you drag me down with you." He was very blunt about it. "I don't work with pedophiles, Gene. And considering you gave him to two guys who admitted to it, I'm not buying your 'wrongly accused' story," He then added. "And I dare you to try anything for the money. I got a double-barreled shotgun with your name on it if I see you anywhere near my home or my daughter."

And then there was a dial tone. That was that. The kid had even ruined a good chance of him finding where he lived. He growled slowly and looked out the window, out onto the city. If someone like Donnie wouldn't do it, he knew he had other people that would. People in the underground, the darker parts of the world that owed him favors and would go the lengths he wouldn't.

He thought for a moment of who to call before picking up the phone. With a few dials, he got the person he was looking for. He licked his lips. Dylan wouldn't elude him much longer, he knew. He'd find him soon and then the boy would wish he'd never been born.