Ratchet could feel when Megatron began his gentle touches the night before but all it accomplished was to soothe him into a deeper recharge.

When he woke up, Megatron was gone. His warmth lingered close to the sparkplating.

Don't get too comfortable you old fool, he chided himself inwardly, knowing not to linger in the feeling. He stretched out his joints in hope to escape the warm fuzzies and yawned taking a moment to reflect on what exactly he'd done.

Ratchet knew he was playing a dangerous game that Megatron wouldn't entertain much further. He showed a degree of kindness or confidentiality by not mentioning the kiss. But it was fishy that he willingly cuddled up.

There were only a few days left to be blackmailed, so the warlord was running out of time. Electracae's event loomed closer and closer and remained an unknown deadline to his houseguest. Of course, Megatron also had the decency thus far to not attack him. It was all a little too fishy.

But they hadn't discussed the kiss or his need for comfort. Ratchet knew why he hadn't confessed. Telling the Decepticon how lonely he was despite being surrounded by Autobots wasn't his idea of a good time. How the Council split apart Team Prime and Ratchet couldn't talk to anyone about the war with any degree of comradery. It wasn't exactly a workplace topic. But what reason did Megatron have for not torturing him with his weakness?

He had no qualms teasing him about First Aid or even Optimus. But on this subject, he seemed ominously silent about Ratchet's major transgressions.

A tingling edge of guilt hit him. Megatron had nowhere else to go. Maybe he felt pressured to entertain his whims. Then maybe Ratchet was too selfish to stop. He stole away Optimus, the least he could do is make it up to him.

But he was basically cuddling up with a mass murderer. Maybe he should get his processor checked out.

Ratchet rolled out of the berth, he would have to hurry out. He hadn't told Megatron yet that he was taking a few days off work at the hospital and then working when Megatron would be extracted. It would throw anyone off his trail for sure.

But he wasn't too sure he could spend that time with Megatron. They would probably get into fights, or worse.

Ratchet didn't even acknowledge Megatron, who was bound to be lounging on the couch. A picture of calm repose. It jarred him to see him so calm, like it was in the old days, instead of claw deep in the energon of another.

With a hushed whirr, the front door closed and the heavy clunk signaled it securely locking into place. For now, Ratchet was to himself. He would have time to think and time to retrieve more berthsheets for the ones torn from his berth.

The only problem was, Ratchet had no idea how to go about it. He only ever went to the hospital, the energon dispensary, and home. He'd never really had a need for much else.

Embarassed, Ratchet activated an old comm link and called out, "Bumblebee?"

It was possible the old scout deleted his war codes or deleted his communication protocols. But as Ratchet stepped into the elevator, he heard an incredulous reply.

"Ratchet? Is that you?"

Relief surged through him, "Who else would it be?"

"No one, I guess. Wow it's been a long time, we should meet up."

Ratchet felt a draught of lonliness hit the bottom of his tanks, "Yes, can we? I was hoping you could help me with something."

"Of course, ping me your location and I'll meet you halfway."

How troublesome. But Ratchet obliged and Bumblebee immediately pinged back a location that Ratchet didn't really know.

No wonder Megatron was envious of his ability to move about but how would the tables be turned if this was Megatron's Cybertron. Would Autobots be able to walk around freely or would they be subjugated?

"Ratchet?"

Bumblebee's crystal-clear voice cut through his worry and he looked up at the older scout, "Hello, Bumblebee."

"It must have been…years since I last saw you!"

Bumblebee came in for a tight squeeze and Ratchet flinched. It was a long time since someone had hugged him this close without an ulterior motive. He relaxed and patted the scout on the back, leaning into the hug.

Bumblebee was a little stronger than he remembered as he pulled away, "So nice to see you again."

"Of course," Ratchet nodded, studying Bumblebee's optics. "How have you been?"

"You know, the academy and all that," Bumblebee shrugged. Ratchet was glad for a detailed report, "I'm more excited to talk about you. What brings you out here?"

"I," Ratchet paused, "I'm looking for new berth sheets. Mine got ripped."

Bumblebee nodded sagely, "I know that feel."

The scout was more colloquial than Ratchet remembered, "Yes, I was hoping you could helping me find the right ones."

Bumblebee registered surprise before patting his back, "Of course, Ratchet."

He tried not to be irritated by Bumblebee's treatment, his pity that dripped through in every start to each conversation. Ratchet autopiloted through the conversation of how things were at the Academy, at the hospital, with the others, and at home.

"I know who you've been hiding in your apartment," Bumblebee leaned in to tell him secretively.

Primus it gave his spark a sudden twist, "You do?"

"Yeah, that new idol, what's her name?"

Ratchet's shoulders sagged in relief, "Electraceae."

"Yeah, man that must be great."

"I'll see if she'll meet up with you," Ratchet offered.

Bumblebee practically glowed, "Oh wow, the guys back at the Academy will be so jealous."

Ratchet smiled at Bumblebee but inwardly panicked. Then again, Bumblebee was an old friend.

"Bumblebee?"

Ratchet interrupted him so the scout seemed very surprised, "What is it?"

"What would you do if Megatron returned to Cybetron?"

Bumblebee was no longer the soft bubbly scout. His optics rotated as his glare hardened, "At best, I would detain him for processing. At worst, I would make him pay for what he did."

Imagine that, he wouldn't save him and let him sleep in his berth.

"What would Optimus have done?"

Bumblebee frowned, "I don't know. He isn't here. What is all this about?"

"You're right," Ratchet said absentmindedly, "He isn't here."

Bumblebee studied him, "Is everything alright, Ratchet?"

"Yes," Ratchet nodded as if to prove it, "Everything is fine. I'm just thinking about the past a lot lately."

"I understand," Again, the pitiful tone that erupted from the younger bot didn't soothe his worries or make him feel less alone.

"Why don't we go pick out those berth sheets?"

After Bumblebee helped him pick out a rather plain set that would fit his berth they had a lunch. The whole time, while sipping energon with additives, Ratchet could only worry about his houseguest. He nodded and smiled at all the right times, listening to Bumblebee prattle on about his police work.

They all were coping in their own way. Bumblebee was still chasing Decepticons. It was the only thing he knew. Ratchet was far more attached to him than the others. He was glad the scout was finding his own sliver of happiness.

"We should do this again sometime," Ratchet spoke softly.

Bumblebee's optics widened, "Really?"

"Of course."

He fidgeted, "I'm glad you said that. It seems none of the others want to talk to me much anymore."

"Just don't ever end up on my medical berth, I'm not sure I could stand that."

"I'll be safe, Ratchet."

They said their goodbyes and he watched the young bot speed off into the dipping sun.

Ratchet came back early.

It was only a few hours before Ratchet returned to the apartment. Megatron had assumed Ratchet was off to work. Now it seemed he would remain in the apartmet.

"Is there anything you want to do tonight, Megatron?"

An odd question from the medic.

"There is not much to do. You don't have a vis screen and unless you want to play doctor, there is nothing else in this apartment that indicates you have much entertainment."

"Then, will you help me put these sheets on the berth?"

Megatron vented out, studying the small bot in front of him, "Very well."

Ratchet always moved in front of him, his hips swaying slightly as he calmly walked in front. He wasn't guarded or afraid but it didn't mean he wouldn't slice Megatron apart the moment he felt threatened.

As he began unfolding the sheets, Ratchet did something a little more unexpected.

"Megatron, I'd like to apologize to you."

Megatron said nothing, merely handled his side of the silky-smooth sheets.

"I shouldn't have kept you here so long and I should have had a more definite plan. I should have gotten you admitted into Cybertronian culture. I'm sure with my connections I could have done it."

Megatron didn't know what to say, so he changed the subject, "Why do you listen to Earth sounds?"

Ratchet looked a little hurt that his apology was pushed aside, "They help me sleep."

"Do they make you happy?"

Ratchet looked down, his optics beaming out from behind a troubled visage, "They remind me of happier times. I know that sounds stupid, but the last time Optimus and I were happy was on Earth."

"You still miss him then."

"I miss what he could have done. How much he could have saved."

"You saved me because of him," Megatron smoothed down the sheets over the berth, not looking at the medic.

"I want to save everyone. I want to fix everything wrong in the world."

"But I caused it," Megatron pointed out, "I caused the trouble you're trying to fix."

"But," Ratchet looked angry to be contradicting himself. "But you shouldn't be left out of Cybertron because of that."

"That was my choice," since Ratchet wasn't handing over the top sheet, Megatron rounded the berth to retrieve them.

"Don't lie to me Megatron you miss this world. And you have a lot to offer, the things you said before you went power mad weren't wrong. You could still make a difference in this world-"

Megatron interrupted the medic with a kiss.