Title: Happily Ever After

Rating: K (+?)

Summary: The time had finally come for Techna and Sideswipe to become sparkmates. Both were excited and so was the rest of Team Prime at NEST. Everyone, including the humans, shows up for the big ceremony, but will a certain ex-Prime feel too guilty to even show his face?

Techna couldn't help but grin all day. Today was finally the day that she'd become bonded with Sideswipe. Her spark warmed at the thought of it. People were constantly congratulating her throughout the day, even Knockout! At that moment she was looking for Sentinel to tell him about the ceremony in case he wanted to come. When she found him he was just leaving the med bay from his checkup (Ratchet wanted to make sure the damage wasn't affecting him). She walked up to him and he was surprised by her cheeriness.

"What's gotten you in such a good mood?" Sentinel asked curiously.

"Sideswipe and I's bonding ceremony is today. Just thought I'd let you know if you wanted to join, it seems that all of NEST is wanting to." Techna replied with a shrug. Sentinel looked surprised. She's going to be bonded soon? "Well I gotta go find Arcee, see ya!" Techna ran off to find her friend. When Techna found Arcee they began to talk excitedly about the upcoming ceremony. Everyone was making sure that Sideswipe and Techna were away from each other because of an ancient tradition. Arcee surprised Techna with a small pendant that'd go on her arm, right under her autobot insignia. It was a deep blue and if you held it to the light perfectly, it turned red.

"It reminded me of your optics." Arcee confessed as Techna gawked at it. "It's a present from Jack and I. Jack's giving Sideswipe a matching one as we speak." Techna's optics brightened as she looked up at Arcee.

"Thank you!" she exclaimed as she wrapped the blue femme in a hug. Arcee laughed and hugged her back.

"No prob. Let's put it on you!" Arcee helped Techna position the gem on her arm. Techna couldn't help but admire it before turning back to Arcee.

"Will I be able to transform with it on?" Arcee shook her head.

"Sadly no, but you can easily take it off and put it back on." They kept chatting about random things and as the time for the ceremony grew closer, Techna became more and more anxious. "Nervous?" Arcee asked with a smirk.

"Yeah…what if I'm not right for Sides? I am a lot younger than him and I don't know much about Cybertron after all." Techna responded with a sigh. Arcee rolled her optics.

"It's all a matter of the spark, not age. And I know for a fact that no one else is more suited for Sideswipe than you." Arcee placed an ensuring servo on Techna's shoulder. "Now brighten up! It's almost time to start! I'm still surprised you're allowing Knockout and Sentinel to join!"

"Like I said, we need to accept them as autobots now, not as enemies. Besides, they've proven that they're able to behave." Arcee chuckled at the femme.

"You are definitely like your sparkparents." Arcee mused. Techna rolled her optics and realized that it was time to go meet everyone for the ceremony. Her optics widened and Arcee laughed at her nervousness. "You'll be fine! Now let's go before you're late!" Techna and Arcee began walking to the main hanger. Sentinel was about to go into his room when the femmes ran into him.

"Are going, Sentinel?" Techna asked. He sighed and turned to them.

"I'm sorry but I will not be attending. Best wishes to you and Sideswipe." Sentinel responded before going into his room. Techna frowned but kept walking with Arcee. Her spark fluttered when they got to the doors. Arcee turned and looked at Techna with a smile before entering without her. Techna let out air from her vents to wait for her signal to enter. Techna's spark clenched and doubts ran through her mind. Was this how Silverspark felt before she became bonded? Techna tried to relax but her anxiety was going through the roof. A servo was placed on her shoulder, causing her to jump in surprise. She turned to see Sentinel standing there. "Is it too late?"

"Well everyone's going to notice you entering but go on in." Techna said with a smile. Sentinel slipped into the room silently, leaving Techna alone again. When Optimus said the words of welcome it was Techna's cue to come in. She hesitated at first but entered the room. There was a large circle with Optimus and Sideswipe standing in the middle. All of Techna's friends, bot and human, were standing on the edge of the circle smiling. Techna glanced over at her sparkparents who looked like they couldn't have been more proud. Sideswipe's optics brightened when he watched Techna approach. When she got to the center she immediately held servos with Sideswipe as ordered. Optimus began reciting the ancient traditional text as the couple stood before him. Finally it came time for the vows.

"Sideswipe, you may say yours first." Optimus said with a smile. Sideswipe stared straight into Techna's optics.

"Techna, when I first saw you as a sparkling I instantly wanted nothing more than to protect you. When I found out that Optimus didn't know who your sparkmate would be I was disheartened. I was then told that your sparkparents were something special called 'soul sparkmates' I regained hope. I swear that I'll never hurt you and no one can separate us." Sideswipe started before leaning down to place his forehead against Techna's and whispered, "You're my everything and Primus Techna, I love you so much." Tears welled up in Techna's optics. He straightened and made his voice louder. "I swear by Primus, that I'll be true to you if you'll do me the honor of being my sparkmate." Techna's smile widened as she looked up at him.

"Techna, it is your turn." Optimus said as he turned to the femme. Techna heard a few bots crying (like her sparkparents) and her spark warmed.

"Sideswipe, out everyone else here I probably know the least about Cybertron and its' culture. But you looked past all that and still loved me. I was told that when we first met when I was a sparkling that I literally curled up against your chest." Techna started. Sideswipe couldn't help but smirk at the memory. "Every time I'm with you I can't help but smile. Pulling pranks with you and Sunstreaker have to be some of my fondest memories, even as we had to run away from Ratchet or Ironhide. You've been there for me as long as I can remember and I can't thank you enough for it. Sometimes I wonder if I'm even right for you but you keep reassuring me every time without you even knowing." Her intakes hitched as she tried to keep from crying. "I swear by Primus, that I'll be true to you if you'll do me the honor of being my sparkmate." She knew what was going to happen next: the actually binding of the sparks. Optimus smiled at the young couple and motioned for Silverspark, Jazz, and Sunstreaker to come forward.

"Since Sideswipe's sparkparents aren't able to join us, Sunstreaker will fill in their place as guardian." Optimus stated. "Silverspark Prime and Jazz, do you approve of this bonding and do you grant your blessings to Sideswipe and Techna?"

"We do." They said together. Techna's spark beat faster.

"Sunstreaker, do you approve of this bonding and do you grant your blessings to Sideswipe and Techna?" Optimus asked. Sunstreaker grinned at his brother.

"I do." He answered. The guardians bowed lightly before returning to their places. Optimus turned to Sideswipe and Techna.

"With your vows spoken and your guardian's blessings, it is now time for the binding of the sparks. Face each other and open your chest plates to reveal your sparks to one another." Optimus announced. Techna felt extremely nervous but did as she was told. Sideswipe had his opened as well and she couldn't help but stare at it. It was blue with spots of silver while Techna's was blue with red swirled in. They closed the space between them and kissed while their sparks bound together. A shock went through them which caused Techna to gasp but smile against Sideswipe's lips. When they separated their chest plates closed and they were both in surprise at how it had felt. "Congratulations Sideswipe and Techna. May Primus give you his blessings." Everyone cheered as the newly-bonded sparkmates hugged each other. The reception was held in the autobot-sized rec room. When Techna entered with Sideswipe she was immediately tackled by hugs from the four ex-humans.

"Why is it always me getting tackled?" Techna laughed. "Okay guys, you're crushing my wings." They got off of her so she could stand before hugging Sideswipe too. "You guys will never grow up will you?"

"Probably not," Jack laughed. Everyone congratulated the couple.

"Oh, and by the way Jack, Arcee said that the pendant was from both of you so thanks." Techna said. Jack merely shrugged and grinned at her. When Sunstreaker walked up he was smirking.

"Congrats bro, I always thought I'd be the first to find a femme." Sunstreaker said. Techna rolled her optics and left the twins when she saw Mikaela walking up. She let Mikaela climb into her hand so she wouldn't have to kneel down to talk to her.

"I can't believe you guys are bonded! Congrats!" Mikaela exclaimed happily.

"Thanks Mik," Techna answered, using the nickname she always used for Mikaela.

"So was that a traditional Cybertronian wedding…err…bonding?" Mikaela asked. Techna sighed.

"Not exactly, a lot of old traditions have been lost since the fall of Cybertron. I've been told that they're usually an hour or so long." Techna replied. Sentinel approached the femme after Mikaela left. "So it looks like you changed your mind about going."

"I'm sorry for changing my mind last minute. You aren't angry are you?" Sentinel said cautiously. Techna shook her helm with a small smile.

"Nah, at least you came. Oh and by the way, I lied about the All Spark. I am its' guardian but it's locked away with the government. I was just trying to stay alive. Sorry about that." Techna said with a shrug.

"I'm surprised by how wise you are for such a young femme. Sideswipe is truly lucky." Sentinel complimented. Arms wrapped around Techna's waist and someone put their chin on her shoulder.

"I realize that every day." Sideswipe said from behind her. Techna felt him send love and happiness through their new bond. She had to admit that it was weird to be able to feel what he was feeling. But she sent back her own love and joy. Sentinel smiled down at the couple and walked away. Jazz started playing music and Techna couldn't help but chuckle.

"It's not a party until Creator puts on music." Techna said. Sideswipe moved so that he was standing next to Techna as Silverspark and Jazz walked up to them. Silverspark wrapped her daughter in a hug, tears running down her faceplate.

"I'm so happy for you, Techna!" she said.

"But if ya break her spark yer gonna be in deep scrap." Jazz warned Sideswipe. Sideswipe smiled at the mech.

"Of course," he answered. "But you won't have to worry about that, I promise to never hurt her." Silverspark smiled and hugged him too as Jazz hugged his daughter.

"Funny, back on Cybertron I had to help raise you and Sunstreaker after you were orphaned and now here you are, bonded to my own daughter." Silverspark laughed. Techna tilted her helm.

"You did?" Techna asked. Silverspark nodded. "Wow that is ironic." The small group chuckled. A country song was on next (it was a soldier's iPod) and Techna's optics widened at the realization of it. "I know this song…it's called If Heaven Weren't so Far Away. It's about what the singer would do if he could visit a place called 'heaven'."

"Which is…?" Sideswipe asked. Tears filled her optics.

"It's like their version of the Well of Sparks. Every time I hear this now I can't help but think of those we've lost in war." Techna answered.

"Okay that's enough of remembering sad memories. They didn't die in vain and they all were brave soldiers." Silverspark said. But sadness were clear in her optics. Sunstreaker ran up to where the stereo was and grinned as he worked on it.

"This is for the new couple!" Sunstreaker announced. You Are the Only Exception by Paramore was put on. "Now dance with your sparkmate bro!" Techna couldn't help but giggle at her new brother-in-law. Everyone had agreed to put in a little bit of the humans' tradition in there and they apparently decided to have a slow dance. The couples in the room paired up, including Silverspark and Jazz. Jack was dancing with Sierra and they didn't seem to really know how to dance. Miko and Raf (AS FRIENDS) danced sorta goofily. Chromia and Ironhide were together. Elita One was talking to Arcee when Optimus awkwardly came up and asked Elita for a dance. Techna giggled quietly and looked up at sideswipe.

"Looks like Optimus is crushing on Elita." Techna observed. Sideswipe turned his helm and smirked as their leader danced with the smaller femme. Even the humans found partners. Mikaela danced with a soldier named Jonah. Sam danced with Carly. The Lennox's danced together. Techna looked worriedly over at Arcee who looked lonely. She couldn't help but smile when Dino walked up and asked her to dance. Eventually most of the bots and humans were dancing. Sentinel and Knockout were standing in the corner observing.

"Humans have the strangest customs." Knockout observed.

"Agreed, but I must admit, I never knew that Optimus liked Elita One." Sentinel said with a smirk as he watched his ex-student dance. When the song ended, the couples back away from each other. Optimus and Elita looked a little embarrassed but by the look in their optics, Techna knew that they had confessed feelings for each other. After the party everyone went to get recharge. Neither Sideswipe nor Techna's room was big enough for the both of them so they were separated until further notice. Techna was having trouble with recharge, nightmares kept waking her up.

Sideswipe felt that Techna couldn't sleep and to be honest, neither could he or Sunstreaker. They were eagerly talking about the day and Sideswipe was giving Sunstreaker scrap for making that announcement at the party when everyone was giving little speeches if they wanted to. Sunstreaker had said that they had been fighting over who would get a sparkmate first. Sunstreaker eventually threw something at Sideswipe showing that he was annoyed.

"Go to Techna, I know that you're worried about her." Sunstreaker ordered. Sideswipe looked at him in surprise. "Even if it turns out to be a simple nightmare you need to go comfort her! I don't give a frag about the space in there, you guys are bonded after all!" Sideswipe chuckled and stood up with his servos raised.

"Okay, okay I'm going!" Sideswipe said. "Thanks bro." Sunstreaker shrugged as Sideswipe left. When Sideswipe made it to her room he knocked on it lightly.

"Come in," a quiet voice responded from the other side. Sideswipe opened the door. When Techna saw him she smiled and walked up to him. "What are you doing here?" she asked as he hugged her.

"I felt your fear through our bond. What's wrong?" he answered. Techna gave him a sheepish smile.

"It was just a silly nightmare." She responded as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She smiled when Sideswipe began to rub her lower back. "Today was really something, huh?" Sideswipe smiled and moved so that the door could close behind them.

"Indeed," he agreed. He kissed the top of her helm before looking down into her baby blue optics. "You need to get some recharge." Techna frowned before laying her helm on his chassis.

"Will you stay with me?" she whispered. Sideswipe sighed and sat down with her on his lap.

"I promise to stay right here with you." He whispered back. Techna sighed in contentment and looked up at him.

"Love you." Sideswipe leaned down and kissed her.

"Love you too sweetspark." She closed her optics and fell asleep in his arms with a smile on her faceplate. Eventually Sideswipe was also able to fall into recharge as well, both as happy as they could be.

Primus this chapter took a while to write! 6 pages on Word!

Hope you liked it since this was the last chapter! Thank you those who stuck by me from Once Upon a Spark through Life as an Autobot! Be sure to check out some of my other stories please! :)