Well, this is it! Something of an epilogue to Fledgling, and the end of one long, wonderful ride! I cringe a bit when I read some of those early chapters, before I really knew where this was all going and certainly before I knew this would become such a long, winding story. Maybe I'll edit them-but I'm pretty busy this 2017, and part of that bustle is a sequel to this story! I am absolutely not done with Updraft, even if this is where Fledgling ends.

So I think a little thanks are in order!

Miri: Because she's half yours, Uppercut and Windjammer are mostly yours, and this was all for you to start. I'm really happy you liked it.

M: For being my robot baby soulmate, and reading things the second I send them. You make me better at doing this.

wears_a_hat: For getting into fanfiction-I mean way into fanfiction-after this story began, and reading all of it so enthusiastically. Seeing you excited makes me excited about continuing

ntldr: For making Updraft one of your own, and for a decade of Transformers fun.

My wonderful readers: OCs are not everyone's thing, and some of you have let me know this particular OC and her little cohort matter to you. That means so much to me. Thank you, and I hope you stick around for what's next, I think it's going to be really something!

And one more thing, for ffnet readers: this will probably be the last story I post here before I delete this accout (THOUGH THE SEQUEL AND EVERYTHING ELSE WILL STILL BE ON AO3, DON'T WORRY). I'm just sick of posting in two places at once, it's time to move.

Enjoy, folks. This story means a lot to me!

It had taken some convincing.

Breakdown had been firm—he simply didn't want Skywarp in his home. Updraft had wilted, but could hardly blame him. Knock Out, to his credit, seemed to understand how much Updraft wanted to stay connected with him, when she was firm about his apology to her. But he had been wary.

"I don't want him to push you into something you don't want," he'd told her. "I only want you to be safe."

It was a mantra repeated often since the arena incident. Breakdown still played his radio programs, and Updraft still sat with him and listened. (Her siblings now made a point of staying upstairs, when Megatronus spoke.) She did so less often, but because sometimes she had tests to study for, or went out with friends after class. In bright, cheerful Iacon next door, rather than Rodion's still-new dangers. It no longer set her shivering, worrying about bombs. Something terrible could happen anywhere—why shouldn't she enjoy the times it didn't?

And Skywarp had kept coming to see her. Though Thundercracker and Starscream had gotten suspicious of his volunteering to travel, he slipped away to have energon with her, and ply her with gifts and Vosian gossip. Each time he did he seemed to relax more, until it was almost like the way things had been before.

With the New Year's break coming up, and his presence so consistent, she had decided what she wanted. And Breakdown had said no.

"That mech broke in, brought the cops, and abandoned you," he said. "And you want him here for a meal?"

Breakdown was worried, and she understood that. She knew it was more for Knock Out's sake than her own, because he loved his conjux and his conjux, by extension, loved Updraft. For that reason, he'd try and protect her, for better or worse.

"Only with your express permission and approval?" Updraft said. She smiled, twitching her wings up hopefully.

Breakdown's flat look didn't leave much room for said express permission, or approval. She braced herself for disappointment.

"Have you been speaking to him since it happened?" Knock Out asked. He had an odd look on his face, and she wondered how often he thought of his own family in Vos. She knew better than to lie.

"Yeah," she said. "I've even gone to see him—in public places, with Uppercut and Windjammer and Smokescreen all watching me. The important part was added quickly, when Breakdown's optics went suddenly bright. "He's sorry, and he means it. Even ask Windjammer, he says he's nice to me, too. They haven't talked, but he said we can give him a chance."

They went quiet again. Getting her siblings to help her argue would only go so well, when Uppercut's answer had only been that she guessed it was okay. She braced herself

Finally, Knock Out sighed.

"He's only one Seeker," he said. "I shouldn't say yes…but I'd still invite my parents in, if I was in your place. He can come."

"Knock Out," Breakdown said.

His conjux held out his hands. Relief coursed through Updraft like a transfusion. "He can come, on a conditional basis. We'll certainly throw him out if he's disrespectful—and we'll invite our own guests. Have a little get-together."

Breakdown sighed. "You have one friend," he said. "Please, not Swindle."

"I won't let him bring any merchandise! No business at all!"

She was already composing a datalog to send to Skywarp. Be good, she'd have to warn him, multiple times. No tricks. She needed them to see that he was worth this.

So New Year's became a slightly bigger affair than planned. Not too much bigger, since the building only had so much space, but certainly a get-together as her sire had said. Something Uppercut seemed excited about, if her humming and lantern building were any indication. Mostly red and yellow, and one blue (for Smokescreen).

"It'll be good for them to have some people over," she said. "All they do is work, especially since Dad stopped going on dates."

"I feel a little bad about that," Updraft said. Her own lantern (for Skywarp) was awaiting Uppercut's emergency surgery, as she hadn't done well with the glue. "He stopped after I got here."

Uppercut made a face. "That's a good thing. They were mostly fraggers, like your carrier. But," she added, optics sparkling, "I think he's also worried he might have more sparklets. We're all he can afford to put through school."

Updraft must have looked upset, because Uppercut held up her hands in a placating way.

"You're the best thing that's happened in years!" she said quickly. "But—"

"Can you imagine four sparklets?" Updraft interrupted, her own optics bright with mischief. She'd gotten over it fast. "Or five? Knock Out went to med school long enough to know about spark grounds—"

"And yet here you are," Uppercut said. Then they were both grinning. Three sparklets was an almost insane number to the average Cybertronian—most couples rarely had even one, and sometimes the neighbours still stared. She still hadn't learned how Knock Out had earned the licenses to keep two.

They were quite a household.

Breakdown grumbled a little, but the party started without a hitch. To Updraft's surprise, Windjammer had invited mechs from work. He only took shifts a few times a week (this was still, in Updraft's opinion, too many) to help with the bills, but he was well-liked on the build sites. He and Updraft hadn't invited any classmates (besides Smokescreen who would, of course, be there whether they liked it or not). The bots at the Elite Guard Academy were from the world Updraft had left, not anyone they would bring home to make fun of the shop.

She just hadn't expected the mechs Windjammer brought to be ones she'd met before.

The way Wheeljack grinned at her, she knew he remembered her run-in with the streetcar cables. Bulkhead's smile was kinder, but Updraft knew her cheeks had darkened anyway. (Windjammer, to his credit, had looked extremely concerned when he heard the story. Uppercut had laughed out loud.)

"Your brother's the smartest mech on the site," Bulkhead told her. Behind them, she watched Windjammer duck his head and Knock Out beam. "We hear you got him to school."

Now Updraft ducked her head, wings flicking in embarrassment. "Something like that. He deserves it."

"He does," Breakdown said. His voice had become a pleased rumble. "The little one here didn't do half bad getting him there, either. You two need a drink?"

"Yes," Wheeljack said, leaning in and grinning.

At the same time, she heard the door flinging open and Smokescreen's loud, cheerful "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" as he entered. There was the sound of a few boxes falling too, and Smokescreen's muffled "frag," as he bent to pick them back up.

"Watch the hinges!" Knock Out snapped, rushing ahead even as Uppercut grinned.

Bulkhead raised a brow. "Rich kid?"

"Well, he is that," Windjammer said, even as he smiled and straightened up. Updraft could see how Smokescreen's optics lit up as he saw her brother, and he squeezed her arm as he went past and toward him. Windjammer had only gotten brave about it when Updraft had Smokescreen visiting more, Uppercut had told her. They would have to make sure those two ended up alone together, some time tonight. Maybe on a balcony, surrounded by lanterns. Windjammer would die of embarrassment, and appreciate it immensely.

Uppercut had had the same idea, if the way she winked one optic her sister's way meant anything.

Of course, that also had to be the moment her comm pinged. I'm here, Skywarp told her. Teleported to the end of the street, saw your friend come in.

She brushed Knock Out's arm as she passed him, going for the door. "He's here."

Her sire's hand on her wing made her pause, but only for a moment. When she looked back at him, he was smiling. Breakdown was occupied, chatting with Bulkhead, as Windjammer smiled and draped one arm around Smokescreen. Uppercut watched them both with narrowed optics, and Updraft went for the door.

Skywarp had polished to perfection—to her surprise, as he stepped in there were his glyphs, painted carefully at the base of his wings. She hoped his token of respect wouldn't be lost on Knock Out (but she had to wonder who had painted them. Would he come up with some for her?).

"Happy new year," he said, words careful as he put one arm around Updraft. With the other, he held out a bottle to Knock Out. "Something for you."

He felt too stiff, like he was nervous. Skywarp was at ease around almost anyone, or tried to be, but it seemed coming back to Updraft was wringing him out.

"Well, thank you," Knock Out said. He sounded genuinely surprised about being addressed at all, let alone so politely. After last time, Updraft could hardly blame him.

"You had a good trip?" Updraft asked, as she closed the door behind him. Skywarp smiled, resting his hand just above her wings.

"I tried to teleport off the shuttle," he said, and Updraft caught a grin. "Do not recommend."

"Sounds about right," she said. Already, she was grinning. "And—you didn't have to bring me stuff," she added, as Skywarp held out another—huge—box, leaning towards her with it under his arm. "I told you, no presents."

"Yeah, well, can't help it," he said cheerfully. "And it's not your real present. That'll be here a in a minute."

Updraft frowned, and opened the box a crack. Instantly her mood brightened—a multi-storeyed box of sweets, in a rainbow of colours. They would last months, and they were high-end. You couldn't get them here.

"The whole bottom part is sweetsticks," Skywarp said proudly. "Your favourite kind. Don't eat them all tonight!"

"I don't think I could," Updraft said honestly. "This is…a lot."

"What a tragedy," Smokescreen said from the doorway. "Here, just give those to me for safekeeping…"

"I'll put the first tier out," Updraft said, smiling wryly. "No sense not sharing in the new year."

She wondered if Skywarp would be unhappy, if she was supposed to hoard her gift to herself.

"Perfect," was what he said, to her relief. "I really wanted to try the mercury creams."

In the next room, Breakdown laughed loudly at something Wheeljack said. Updraft had the thought that Windjammer invited them more for his sire's sake than his own. She would have to see about getting him to go out more. Through the doorway, though, she could see Bulkhead's hand on her brother's shoulder, and Smokescreen turning back to stand at Windjammer's side. So maybe she could let him be.

Someone had put on the radio, one of the pop stations. Megatronus would be speaking tomorrow, after all, not during the celebration. Uppercut was by the energon dispenser, humming the tune. Knock Out watched her and Skywarp for a moment, before finally relaxing his wheels. He still hadn't taken the drinks in.

"I'll let you two catch up," he said, before heading through the doorway towards Breakdown. She was sure he'd be listening, as Smokescreen and Uppercut were.

Skywarp knew it too. She knew from the sheen of his polish and how he held his wings that he was on his best behaviour. It was all for her sake, and it tugged at her spark. He had his hands folded in front of his middle, optics flicking from the next room to her. He grinned.

"You're gonna like your next gift even more," he said. "Though I'm not sure you'll be able to get it downstairs."

Updraft raised a brow, even as Skywarp reached up to touch her shoulder. "That better not be a knock on my size."

"Only a little." Skywarp's grin went wider. "If you trust me unsupervised with your family, that is."

She elbowed him gently. "You're my family, too."

His smile was softer. "Well, I guess we're all on probation, aren't we? Go on."

She watched him stroll into the next room from the steps, not a flicker of a teleport generator in sight. She had warned him not to use it again, after last time. And he'd do it, if it was for her.

It felt so warm, to know that he understood.

Updraft remembered to skip the cracked step, the one Breakdown didn't have time to fix. A rush of cold air hit her as she pushed up the hatch and climbed out, and she flinched when something cold and wet touched her helm.

It snowed occasionally in Vos at the lower levels, but they were well above the cloud line there. Updraft had hardly ever seen it, so she paused to let a few flakes fall on her hand. They landed gently on the warm metal, and melted, but before they did Updraft got to see their lovely patterns.

Distracted as she was, it took her a moment to notice the figure at the roof's edge. The wings made her wonder why Skywarp had teleported up here after all, but—

The figure's paint was blue. A deeper colour than she remembered, but maybe it was the light? He turned to look at her as she stood, and Updraft felt a shudder ripple through her. Thundercracker's wings and shoulders drooped, the posture of a mech about to be scolded.

He waved.

Her feet carried her closer, slowly, but she stopped just short of him. He had definitely repainted, and in the light of the neighbourhood's lanterns it was striking.

"Aren't you cold up here?" was all she asked. Thundercracker shook his head.

"Of course not," he said. "No colder than a high flight."

Close up, she could see that he'd added two wide red stripes to his paint, one on each wing. He saw her staring and shrugged, shyly. Thundercracker was only partially the vain Vosian.

"Skywarp convinced me it was time for a change," he said. "All three of us got red accents. Still not sure about it."

"You look handsome," she said after a moment. She was going to say something else, about how red was her favourite and how it suited him, but the words caught in her vocalizer instead. They came out a sob, and when she stepped forward Thundercracker's arms were around her and she was shuddering, furious and anguished and relieved all at once.

"You jerk!" she sobbed, into his front. "You slagger! I missed you!"

His grip tightened, but for a moment he didn't speak. One hand reached up to gently stroke her finial, and Updraft squeezed her optics shut.

"I know," Thundercracker said finally, his voice almost inaudible. "You deserve better—you always have. I'm sorry, Updraft."

Those few words were enough to make her feel as if a vice had been lifted off her spark. She sighed, shaky, leaning one audial against his chest, and could almost hear his spark hum.

"I shouldn't have snuck away," Updraft said quietly. "But it was the only way to know."

"I know," Thundercracker said. His hand stroked over her helm. "You worried me so sick I turned it all into anger, and—well."

"You chose trine," she said. "I get that you always choose the trine, but—"

Now she looked up, her optics damp with coolant. "I thought you'd understand, that's all. You and Skywarp, of all mechs. You've seen everything."

Thundercracker loosened his grip, just enough to step back and kneel, just below her optic level.

"I'm thinking being…privileged, messed with our heads," Thundercracker said. His voice was still too quiet, his words careful. "I was worried about us if we openly kept coming here. People are talking."

Updraft had to bite her lip and think hard about what she would say next. Anger bit her spark too, and she stiffened her wings.

"Since when have you cared what other people think?" she asked. He looked away, brows furrowed.

"More than the other two ever did," he said. A smile twitched in the corner of his mouth. "But it was at your expense, when it's not your fault. I always worried about this."

Updraft tilted her head. "You didn't know—"

"No, not who it was," Thundercracker said. "Your carrier told me a long time ago that the sire was a roller. We were worried about your…prospects if people knew. In Vos."

Updraft reached out, to squeeze Thundercracker's wrists. On the simplest level, this was all just proof that Thundercracker worried too much.

"Well, I don't care if people know," she said. "In Vos or not. Actually, I'd be happy they did, because my sire's good to me and everyone should see it."

"Is he here?" Thundercracker asked. Updraft nodded, and looked towards the stairs.

"He might be eavesdropping, to make sure you're civil." She grinned at his hurt look, even as her spark constricted. "I can't blame him after last time."

He squeezed her hand. "Hm. I guess you can't."

She was about to pull him to his feet when she remembered something else. Something important enough that her grip on his hand tightened, and Thundercracker's dipped wings twitched nervously.

"Skywarp told me you almost broke up the trine," she said. Thundercracker shivered, flickering his optics and looking away. "You wouldn't let Starscream hurt my caste or—"

"I wouldn't," Thundercracker said, and the shiver had reached his voice. "Even if you're out of Vos, I didn't want you being taken advantage of. And he said I should have."

"Starscream hates being humiliated more than he wants to hurt me," Updraft said quietly. Finally, she tugged his wrists, so Thundercracker would stand back up. "Losing his lieutenants would be bad for him."

Thundercracker snorted, even as he put his arm around Updraft. "He doesn't deserve us. But I guess we need him."

"You could lead a trine," Updraft said, leaning against him. Thundercracker coughed suddenly, looking alarmed.

"Oh, no," he said. "I could, maybe, but I'd hate it. You need a certain spunk, not just discipline. You, though…"

Updraft tried to imagine being part of a unit, so cohesive both in the air and on land, let alone leading one and making decisions for all of them. To give yourself up to a bond that could never be mistaken for just military, or something equally as superficial.

"I guess I've learned how not to do it from the best," she said dryly. Thundercracker brought his free hand up to his mouth, hiding the crack of his grin. "I'm not even thinking that far ahead yet. I need to concentrate on school."

"Good girl," Thundercracker said. Updraft heard the familiar old note of approval in his voice. "You're going to succeed no matter where you study. Vosian flight is valuable outside the city, you know. We're the best."

"I'll do my best," she said. It was getting darker. Loud laughter wafted up from the house, Skywarp's, and the smell of good energon. They heard the door being unlocked again, too, so someone else had arrived. She looked up at Thundercracker, who finally, finally seemed to have relaxed.

"I love you, kid," he said. His voice was still soft, but warmer. "I'm sorry I was such a slagger. Skywarp was right to come back to you."

She opened her mouth, to say I love you too and revel in having him back, when Smokescreen's head poked out of the hatch.

"Happy new year!" he said cheerfully. He looked entirely festive, but Updraft could see how his optics flashed with suspicion. It remained to be seen whether Thundercracker could get into her new family's good books. "That your surprise?"

"He is," Updraft said, grinning crookedly.

Smokescreen smiled back, though his gaze lingered on Thundercracker. "Well, bring him downstairs. Your sire's gonna pace a hole in the floor unless he can run through the questions. Also, your girlfriend's here."

She had nearly forgotten Royale would come with Swindle. Of course she would, they had planned if themselves as soon as the whole thing was settled. Skywarp really had outdone himself with the surprise.

Thundercracker stared at her. "Girlfriend?"

Updraft felt her faceplate heat up. "We're seeing where it goes."

She waited for the question-question—wings or wheels? but it never came. Instead, Thundercracker squeezed her shoulder and motioned towards the hatch.

"Why don't you take me to meet her, then?" he said. "And make sure I'm welcome in the house."

"And make sure Skywarp's on his best behaviour," she added. "Let's do that."

Smokescreen's head disappeared back inside. Updraft relaxed.

They could work with this.