The sequel is here! Okay, no, this is not the actual sequel, it's more like a mini-sequel. It's just a short story of what happens in Convoy now that Hunter is a part of the team and timeline. I had some free time during the week and was in a TFP mood and had ideas bubbling for this so I started on it! YAY!

Enjoy!

I do not own Transformers or anything in relation. I only own Hunter, the Hybrid race, and any other character that you may not recognize.

"Some nights I stay up cashin' in my bad luck. Some nights I call it a draw…" Fun; Some Nights

1

Ω Sleepless Nights Ω

"I. Can't. Sleep," Huntress Starstreaker James muttered to her ceiling. For the last two hours the Hybrid femmling had been tossing and turning, but, despite how tired she was, she just couldn't seem to achieve power-down. And she knew why. Tomorrow she faced her greatest challenge yet; Hybrid school—or as she liked to call it "Hy-school"—and she didn't think she'd ever been more nervous in her entire life. The sixteen-year-old had never really liked school, but at least in the past it had been human peers she'd had to deal with. Now she was going to have to deal with other Hybrids her age. Hybrid teens who probably already knew all about their heritage, how to completely control their abilities—heck—probably knew what all their abilities were! She, on the other hand, did not. Hunter had only known of her… Hybrid-ness for a little over a year, and—even with Greasy Coggs' (her Hybrid mentor's) help—she still had a lot to learn about herself much less about her heritage. What if she was the only one at school who knew nothing about the history of their race? What if she was the only one who still didn't have complete control over all her abilities? What if she was the only one who still hadn't come into all her powers yet?

All of her wonderings made the girl feel even sicker to her tank than she already was. Why did she have to go to school anyway? Why couldn't she just be homeschooled instead? Lots of other kids received their education that way; it seemed to work for them. Granted, as the Fuser, she would only be attending lessons twice a week at the most. Greasy, Optimus, and the school administration had come up with the arrangement so that she could tend to her regular duties and training as the Fuser along with her studies. Plus, since she hadn't come into her full powers and didn't quite have complete control over some of the ones she did have yet, it was a safety precaution for the other kids at the school as well. Still, two full days out of the week still seemed like a lot of school to Hunter.

Sighing heavily, the scarlet and black-and-silver-striped Hybrid held her stuffed wolf Blue up and looked at him. [A/n Blue is actually a special toy created specifically for Hybrids, meaning he can transform sizes, just like Hunter's weapons.] "Why does life have to be so complicated, Blue?" she asked. The little wolf simply stared back at her with unblinking, button eyes. Sighing again, Hunter hugged him close once more. "Well," she huffed, "it's obvious I'm not going to help myself fall asleep by wondering and freaking out. I need something to take my mind off it." An idea suddenly popped into her head. Looking over to the door that separated her room from her spark-father's, the femmling could see a light shining through the crack beneath the door. He was still up. "Looks like Dad's gonna "rescue" me again," she joked with a smile. "Just like always." With a groan, the Fuser sat up, cast her blue thermal tarp off to the side, and made her way to the door.

Autobot commander Optimus Prime, like his daughter, was still awake, though not for the same reason. Sitting up in his berth with the bedside lamp on, the red and blue mech was reading the last data pad of the day. In all honesty, there really wasn't anything on it that couldn't wait, but reading always seemed to help put him to sleep. Besides if he finished it now, that was one less thing to do tomorrow.

The slight creak of a door suddenly brought the Prime out of his reading. He looked up towards the door to see his spark-daughter standing there, peeking in at him with a sheepish expression.

"Daddy?" Hunter murmured shyly.

"Sweet-spark," Optimus replied, setting the data pad on his bedside table, "what are you doing up at this hour? You should be in stasis." A worried expression crossed his face. Why was she still awake? Was it a nightmare? Was she sick?

Hunter pushed a little farther into the room. "I can't fall asleep," she answered softly.

As she came all the way in, Optimus took notice of how she had her arms wrapped around Blue, pressing him close to her mid-plate, something she only ever did when her tank ached. At that, the mech sat up straight, preparing to jump out of bed and rush to get Ratchet. "Hunter, is it your tummy?" he asked, looking even more worried.

Hunter smiled at her father's concern. He was always worried about her safety and health. If he was human, the femmling was willing to bet that he'd be gray already with as much as he freaked out over her. It was both amazingly sweet and insanely annoying. "Yeah," she nodded, "but it's not like that. I'm just…" she took a deep breath and allowed the nervousness to come out on her face, "… all jittery about tomorrow."

At that, Optimus relaxed and couldn't help but smile. So that was what was wrong, huh? "You have the proverbial butterflies then, is that it?" he playfully teased.

"Big wild ones," his daughter said by way of answer.

Chuckling, the red and blue Autobot pulled back his thermal tarp and held out a warm and inviting hand to her. "Come here, then," he invited gently. "Perhaps I can help tame them down."

More than eager to curl up in Optimus' arms, Hunter gratefully climbed onto the berth and crawled into his lap, snuggling close to the Prime as he tucked them both in with the tarp. She closed her eyes and smiled. She didn't care if it made her seem like a little girl or not, cuddling with her spark-father was her most favorite past-time, and it never seemed to get old. Maybe her time in the foster-care system had something to do with that. Whatever it was, it didn't matter to the sixteen-year-old, so long as she felt all "snuggly-wuggly"—as her seven-year-old friend Annabelle Lennox so adorably put it. Instinctively, the girl rested her head over her father's spark-chamber. Her aqua-blue optics began to drift shut to the strong, steady beat of his spark—the spark that had ignited her own. She started purring.

Stroking her antennas and gazing lovingly down at her, Optimus chuckled again. How could he have ever been so blessed as to be the oh-so-proud spark-father of this precious miracle held in his massive arms? It was hard to believe that over a year ago she hadn't been in his life—hadn't even been a thought in his processor. Now, the Autobot commander couldn't imagine his life without her. As far as that went, he didn't want to. She took up so much of his time now; every thought he had almost always consisted of her one way or another. Hunter was his drive, happiness, hope, and laughter. She was his entire world. And the Prime wouldn't have it any other way. Happily purring back at his daughter, the mech planted a gentle kiss on the crown of her helm and held her closer. "Now," he crooned, drawing her attention up to him, "about these butterflies." He looked deep into her beautiful optics and smiled warmly, sending a loving and encouraging feeling through their spark-bond to let her know that it was all right and he was there, ready to listen. "Why are you so nervous about tomorrow?"

Hunter sighed heavily and let her head fall back to his chestplate. "It's just…" she began, not quite sure how to sum up all of her fears, "… well…." She looked back up at her father. "Dad, I've only known about what I am for a year. I don't have complete control over all my powers yet, and, according to Greasy, I might not even have all of my powers yet! Add that all together, and I am way behind all the other Hybrid kids my age. They'll all know more about our history than me. Know how to control their powers better than me. Know what all their powers are while I don't. How can I expect to compete when they're all that much ahead of me?" Suddenly her father's chest rumbled beneath her head as he chuckled and she looked up at him with a quizzical expression. "What?" she demanded, sounding a bit annoyed. Why was he laughing at her? How did laughing at her help?

Still laughing, Optimus met Hunter's optics and shook his head. "Hunter, sweet-spark, you worry far too much," he responded, gently stroking her helm.

"What'd'ya mean?"

"My shooting star, I understand that with everything you have been through why you would be cautious when going into any new situation. It is an admirable trait—"keeps you on your toes" as the humans say. But, dear one, not everything in life is a life-and-death situation."

Hunter gave him a skeptical look. "This coming from the 'bot who is constantly strategizing battle-plans and tactics twenty-four-seven," she deadpanned. She rolled her optics and scoffed with a smirk. "No offense, Dad, but you ain't exactly Mr. Relaxed-and-carefree."

"Ah, but I know when I need to "stress over" something and when I do not need to. And you, my precious one, have no need to worry about school tomorrow."

"Oh, really? And just how do you know that?"

Optimus chuckled warmly and cupped her cheekplate with a large, warm hand. "Because I know you, and I know how intelligent, resourceful, and determined you are." His smile became even warmer. "Besides, any girl who can face down her worst enemy and destroy him has enough courage to face anything."

Hunter blushed and looked away from his gaze. "You really mean that?" she meekly asked, gazing up at him again in a bashful way.

Optimus grinned. "Hunter, I could not be more sincere."

The femmling smiled lovingly. "Thanks, Daddy," she murmured, nuzzling back into his chest. Before she could stop it, a sudden yawn escaped her.

Optimus chuckled. "It would appear that it is time for someone to go to sleep. Past it rather."

Hunter couldn't help but nod in agreement. After a seriously intense training session with the team today, followed by a brief battle with the Decepticons (Team Prime won!), and then a video-game showdown against Miko (Hunter won!) the sixteen-year-old was more than ready to sleep. If it hadn't have been for her stupid nerves, she probably would have been asleep by now. Still, Hunter couldn't curse her nerves completely. They got her a snuggle session with Dad after all. "Only if you…" she broke off into another large yawn, "… sing to me." A sleepy smirk curled her lips. She never failed to snag up any chance she could to get Optimus to sing to her. It made her feel all warm and fuzzy whenever he sang. Plus he had an amazing baritone voice.

Her spark-father chuckled as he rubbed her backplate, knowing full and well what she was trying to do. "I've already sung to you once tonight," he playfully refused.

"You did," Hunter agreed, also knowing what he was doing, "but that doesn't count because I didn't fall asleep after you sang to me. So you get to sing to me again."

Optimus made an over-dramatic sigh and rolled his optics, causing his daughter to laugh which in turn made him grin joyfully. He loved to hear her laugh.

"Oh, come on," Hunter giggled, lightly slapping his shoulder. "You know you love it."

The Prime shook his head as he chuckled again. That he did. Even though he'd never admit it to anyone else, the Autobot commander absolutely loved to sing for and/or with his spark-daughter. Both that and holding her in his arms where she was always safe and sound were two of his most favorite activities in the world. "All right," he gave in after a minute, "just once more."

Hunter put on a cheesy grin. "Thank you!" she chirped, snuggling down into his lap and getting comfortable.

"Honestly, I don't know how you always manage to wheedle this out of me."

"Because I'm your daughter, and I've got you wrapped around my little finger." To emphasize her statement, Hunter held up a finger and wiggled it.

The Prime chuckled and rolled his optics again. His daughter was the most devious little thing. Kissing her head, the mech positioned himself so that he was more comfortable and held her closer. Then he began to sing the song that only the two of them shared.

"Hush, my little one, no need to weep,

I am right here, guarding your sleep.

Close your eyes, sweet-spark, in my arms I will rock…

You, beautiful sweet-spark, you I will rock.

"No need to cry, little one of mine.

No need to fear.

My love will be with you.

My love will be near.

I'll be near.

"Sleep now, my dear one, all will be well

I will protect you, and protect you I shall.

Slip away, small one, slip off to dream

Tomorrow is far closer at hand than it seems…

Than it seems.

"No need to cry, little one of mine

No need to fear.

My love will be with you.

My love will be near.

I'll be near.

"Dream peaceful things, dream only good

And I will keep out the nightmares, as my love only could.

Dream of the sun, and of peaceful rains falling

Rise to the sun's calling.

"No need to cry…

No need to fear…

My love will be near…

I'll… be… near.

"I'll always love you, my little one

And will do so, till my passing's come.

I love you more than Cybertron.

Drift off, my child, drift off and dream

Worry not of tomorrow or the dark.

I will guide you and not leave 'til morning light."

As Optimus finished singing, the sounds of soft snoring reached his audio-receptors. Looking down the Prime saw Hunter was fast asleep in his arms, head resting directly over his spark-chamber. He smiled. She looked so peaceful and innocent when she slept. The Prime knew it'd probably be more comfortable for the both of them if he took her back to her own berth, but he just didn't have the spark to move her when she was like this. Besides, experience showed him that when Hunter fell asleep with a grip on him like she had now, it was next to impossible to pry her off. That Hybrid strength really was all it was cracked up to be. And anyway, Optimus didn't mind sharing his berth with her—it was just more reassurance that she was safe and sound, and, after all they'd been through, the Prime needed that reassurance more than anything. The mech sighed. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt," he remarked with a smile. "Just this once." Another 'just this once' after countless others. He could never stick to that vow when this situation arose. Reaching over to his bedside table, Optimus switched off the light and repositioned himself so that both he and Hunter would be comfortable throughout the night. He pulled the thermal tarp more securely over them and tenderly stroked the helm of the femmling peacefully asleep on his chestplate. The Prime smiled adoringly. "Good night, my shooting star," he whispered, kissing her head once more. "Sweet dreams." And with that, the Prime lay his head back on the concrete berth and closed his bright blue optics, falling into stasis almost immediately. The father and daughter slept peacefully, wrapped in each other's embrace.

Okay, I'm gonna try to ask a question or present little challenges at the end of every chapter so here's the first one since I'm curious. What quality(ies) about Hunter—if any—do you like best? Be honest here, people.