(Please see all previous disclaimers)
Having left the med bay, Lancex had much to think about. Talking to Jazz and Aquaformer seemed to be helpful, but he still wasn't sure. Sure, he was connected intimately with Cosmos, and while it wasn't a full bond, they were now connected for life. He could live with that, as Cosmos was a gentle bot. But the part that got Lancex was the fact that it seemed Optimus and Grimlock, two extremely strong, powerful and dominant bots who could seeming get any bot they wanted, sought him out. Him, the last survivor of the settlement. Him, the sniper who became one to stay alive. Him who seemed to have little to offer such vastly different powerful bots. He hoped that Aquaformer was right about one thing, if they truly loved him, they would accept what he had done in the past to survive.
Then there was also what Ratchet had said, those who want to be part of a family can choose to do so. They can choose to love, even if they didn't have the best family or any family in the past. Lancex still had a choice to make. Would he choose to love them? Would he choose to accept them for who they were and their past, as all of them had a past just like he did. A past that had shaped them to be the way they were. This was so much to think about. For now, he just needed a nap to recover.
Meanwhile, as Lancex had left, Ultra Magnus and Skyfire returned to greet their mate and see if she was ready to head home. Her drip that had been running was no longer connected and she appeared as if she was ready to go. "So has Ratchet discharged you yet?" Skyfire asked carefully.
"Not just yet, but he is a little busy" Aquaformer replied, warmly.
Ultra Magnus sighed. "Aquaformer, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset. I wanted to show you love, though you always seemed like you'd rather run than let me help you" Magnus admitted.
"I'm sorry, too, Aquaformer. We failed to ask you how you needed us to help you. We presumed we knew" Skyfire added.
"Forgiven, my loves" Aquaformer replied, shocking her mates. They hadn't expected her to be so easily forgiving. "My optics are opened that I wasn't being the best mate to you. I didn't allow you to show me love in the way you speak it best. I thought only my way was best. I also grew so used to having to be alone and fend for myself, so I didn't act like a good mate as I didn't know how. None of these excuse me or my choices. I'm sorry for what I have done or failed to do."
Her mates smiled softly and forgave her. "May we escort you home now, love?" Skyfire asked, though both Ultra Magnus and Skyfire offered the femme an arm. Aquaformer softly blushed and then took a hold of one arm from each bot and headed out with them, figuring Ratchet would be okay with this anyway. It felt good to be on good terms again.