Basis: Prime

Pairings: RatchetxBeta, OptimusxElita (small PowerglidexMoonracer)

I apologize for posting so late... My life is just so busy with EMS and school activities and hospital class hours and family members and homework... My goodness I'm surprised I had time for this at all. But it's finally here! ~Chapter four! yey~

Yes, I tend to mix G1 things in with other stories/worlds, and vice versa. Did the same in The Birds and the Beasts... And I also may mix up a few 'timeline-ish' things from Primeverse, such as the Omega Keys all while Smokescreen is completely fine.

xD I can't help but think, how would anybody understand Primeverse without watching every episode from the beginning? Oh well. Good thing I'm a nerd I guess.

READREADREAD for medic love! I think the ending it just fantastic. Coming from an author's view, of course. But that's what COMMENTS are for! Yay! And thanks to all those who do!

~enjoy~

[ August 17 - 8:02 PM (3:02 AM Paris Time) ]

"Optimus, watch out!"

Optimus turned and ducked just before Laserbeak's fire struck him. Smokescreen and the others had already dove for the ground just as an explosion was made.

Soundwave made his way towards them, shooting with Minors by his side, Optimus firing back as the others rushed towards the many many people.

"Why are there so many people at three o'clock in the morning?" Smokescreen shouted as he fired and knocked down two Minors. "This is crazy!"

"Maybe they're under some sort of hypnosis," Ratchet exclaimed as he ducked. "Remember that Danceitron issue?"

Bumblebee whirled his vocals and jumped, slamming Arcee out of the way of a bomb explosion. He ran towards the three Minors and released rapid fire, nailing every one of them if not more.

Ratchet turned to watch the people watching them, seeing how they had either scurried home or stood about a couple miles out. He turned back just in time to catch Soundwave's Resonance blaster nail him right in the chassis.

He couldn't help but moan in pain as the force crushed his armor, hating how he was absolutely helpless pinned to the rock behind him.

"Optimus..." he tried, hearing static. "Op..."

Optimus loomed above the unconscious Knock Out as he barely heard Ratchet's comm. link. He saw the ray being fired, now holding back Arcee and the medic, and aimed his launcher and fired. Soundwave pulled away a third appendage and caught the blast, mirroring it and shooting right back at the semi.

Optimus transformed and drove to the Eiffel Tower, transforming back to himself and jumping, landing almost halfway up the landmark. Soundwave fired continuously, but missed every time as the Autobot would jump from support beam to bar.

Soundwave stopped the blaster simply for fun and games as Optimus reached his level. His tentacles surrounded the tower, searching for the Autobot as he disappeared on him. Soundwave let himself fall to the support beams beneath him as he picked up his signal, but was too late as Optimus struck him upside the head and fired.

Soundwave fell several storied before catching himself. Smokescreen ran up and started climbing towards the two, ignoring Optimus' shouts to stay back.

The Decepticon shot at Optimus as Laserbeak returned, flying towards Optimus and shooting at him. He fell down to Soundwave's level and grabbed onto him, pulling him down to the ground, both falling as Smokescreen clutched onto Laserbeak and threw him into the sky.

Optimus jumped to his pedes, only to stare up at the looming Soundwave above him. Before he could think the tentacles were all over him, squeezing him and attacking him. Smokescreen fired but was knocked unconscious by a tentacle, Optimus nearly helpless as Soundwave hacked into the Autobot's systems.

Images of the War and the Keys and the Autobots popped up into Soundwave's data chamber, as he accessed the ports, searching for their lost and valuable hostages. They were Decepticon escapees, and they wanted them back, along with the information they were never supposed to see.

"Never," Optimus growled in pain as he knew what Soundwave was searching for. He groaned again as Soundwave went deeper, Optimus now pinned against a building.

Soundwave's facial screen beeped frantically as images of Elita One popped up. Beta, Mirage, Moonracer, Springer, Blurr, Bulkhead... the one who helped them escape...

This sudden feeling of... love... and... lonesome for this one femme, filled the data ports. It was overwhelming the Autobot's systems. Optimus tried to hold back, to not think of anything, but with the force so strong Soundwave was practically sucking it right out of the mech.

His scowling optics widened a little as relief flooded his circuits, as Soundwave released the tentacles and stored the data away. His screen never left Optimus' face as he backed away, transforming and retreating like he was suddenly scared of the 'Bot. Optimus watched as Laserbeak followed him through the air.

"Optimus!"

He turned to see the others running towards him. "Are you alright?"

He slowly turned back to sky, but they were gone. "Yes, Ratchet. I am fine. How are the others?"

They all looked to Smokescreen as he walked towards them with a small groan, holding his head. He waved the medic off as he neared him to check for anything.

"I believe we are all okay."

"What did Soundwave do to you?" Arcee asked the leader.

"He stole the data of the escapees," he spoke. "We need to get back to base."

He paged the femme back at headquarters, and watched as the glowing green orb expanded for them to enter as police sirens were heard in the distance.

"I told you I'm fine," Smokescreen chirped again.

"You may feel fine, but you took a hard hit. There could be internal processor damage. Even minor injuries in there could offline you."

He sighed once again as Elita One joined them. "Ratchet is correct. By the images of your neuronet on the monitor, you have copious amounts of radiation flowing through your circuits."

"Easily treatable," Ratchet spoke at Smokescreen's look of horror.

Arcee watched them from across the med bay as she stood over Springer. Her fingers gently traced over his frame, tickling the plating, but knowing he wouldn't smile back like he used to. She missed him already... She didn't want to bother Ratchet over him anymore, but all this waiting while he was in stasis was starting to bother her.

She looked up as Smokescreen's voice echoed through the base.

"You know, I thought we only went there because we saw more 'Cons coming," he talked to Optimus. "But I only saw those Minors and Soundwave."

"I didn't see any either," Arcee joined them. "Why?"

"Perhaps they had already groundbridged back to the Decepticons after Soundwave and the others found them."

"But why would Soundwave be there?" Beta asked. "What did he want? There are no more relics."

"He wanted data," Smokescreen replied. "He hacked into Optimus."

"Hacked?"

Elita walked up and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Optimus has explained to me that we are in no more danger than we already have been, from being escapees. Since the Decepticons don't know our base location, there's isn't much they do anyway."

Moonracer sighed and gave a soft smile as she joined them.

"Why are you so happy?"

"Powerglide just paged me."

"How was he able to do that?"

She shrugged. "No idea. He said he missed me. I told him all that happened and he started to freak out, but he's okay."

"Aw," Beta smiled. "I bet you can't wait to go back, huh."

She shook her helm and gave a wide grin, and leaned forward to her audio. "He said he found an old crib," she whispered.

"I thought you said you weren't - "

"I'm not," she said. "We're just trying, but once I get back we're planning on it."

"For sure?" she giggled.

She nodded and smiled.

Beta's smile dropped a little, but not enough for Moonracer to think something was wrong. At least she didn't think she would tell.

"You still want one, don't you," she heard after a moment.

Beta looked up and around, seeing how no one was around them to listen. She nodded, and huffed a smile.

Moonracer slid a hand around the back of her neck and squeezed it for comfort. "Oh, don't worry, hon. Your day will come."

"With who?" she whispered. "I'm not... involved with anyone."

Moonracer quirked her helm and glanced to Ratchet.

"If we did get back together, he wouldn't want one. I can guarantee it."

"No you can't," she smiled. "Have you ever brought it up?"

She looked to the medic and lightly sighed. "...No... mainly because I know he's so busy with the war and all. Who knows when there'll be an after-the-war."

"Then when you do get back together, bring it up. Tell him what you want."

"If I told him a wanted a sparkling... Primus, I don't even know what he'd say. We'd have to get bonded first anyway."

"Not necessarily. I'm not bonded."

"You know if you're trying for a sparkling that he'll propose sooner or later," she spoke softly. "And you two have been together so long you practically already are."

She nearly growled to herself in frustration, sighing as Moonracer squeezed her neck again. "I just... have always wanted one..."

"I know, hon."

"I've always wanted to be pregnant," she smiled. "I don't care how much pain it takes to give birth."

Moonracer laughed at that. "It's definitely worth it," she soothed. "In fact, I think that's the best part."

They turned when a loud clatter sounded behind them, and heard Ratchet's voice. "Miko, I said Mirage needs to rest."

"Aw, it's like Bulk all over again, Ratch. He needs to strengthen himself! Not give up!"

"And, just like Bulkhead, you can't push a patient too far or it'll exacerbate their injuries. Now leave him alone."

The human growled to herself and gave another glance to the noble before she walked off. Mirage watched her as he sat on the berth, whimpering as Ratchet suddenly stretched out his arm to draw more energon.

"I rather admire her commitment to help me," he spoke.

"Yes, she is committed, but she'll also push you too far. You need to follow a doctor's orders, not a human child's."

Mirage looked up to Ratchet and then over to the stasis-locked bright green mech. "When are you going to start on the others?" he asked quietly after a moment. "I know... to Arcee, Springer means... a lot to her."

Ratchet lowered his arm and set the energon inside the generator. "I understand that. Once I finish this test I will take him out of stasis and start more treatments."

"...Is he going to even make it?"

Ratchet turned to him, and back to the monitor. "Yes," he nodded. "I have him stabilized... for now."

For now, he thought over the medic's words. Mirage sighed as his gaze fluttered back to the mech. He knew what kind of relationships he and Arcee had been in for however long, and how Arcee suddenly disappeared and crushed his spark. He knew, though, for the the many many years they had been apart and he had fought with Springer, that still he never forgot her. He doubted he ever stopped loving her, either. He knew he missed her, and even though he figured she disappeared and didn't tell him for his own good, she still missed him too. Now that they were united again, if something happened to Springer, with her watching, she would never forgive herself for not saying her last goodbye, or feel herself again. He didn't know about Cliffjumper or Tailgate, but he knew for sure that this would take the cake.

"You know if something happens to him... She'll never forgive herself... right?"

Ratchet gradually stopped typing and looked back over to the noble. "...I... have an idea... of what would come of it. I know they mean a lot to each other."

Mirage laid back on the berth, and slowly glanced back to him. He watched the monitors beeping at the same pace for the past joor, thinking how the medic himself was in the same situation. And so was he, he thought. If something ever happened to Hound, with their bonded sparks, Primus knows how he would handle it. Even though Ratchet didn't show much feeling towards Beta, he knew that deep down he still felt something. And if something happened to either of them, it would be Arcee and Springer all over again.

"You know, Beta still thinks about you," he said after a long silent while. "And I've seen how you act around her."

"I have had this conversation a million times in the past joor," he grumbled. "I know what she needs, I - "

"No, no, no," he glanced towards the medic with compassionate optics. "All I'm saying is that you and her... It's the same situation. Don't tell me if something happened to her, you wouldn't feel terrible."

"I would feel bad because I know her and I hate when anyone goes offline, Mirage. It doesn't mean I... am still... in love with her."

The words, after he said them, made butterflies flutter everywhere inside him, as Miko had explained the Earth phrase. In love, with Beta... like he had been for eons, until the break up. Was Beta still in love with him? That was what everyone seemed to be saying.

But he knew Beta didn't come here to create drama. She didn't even want to come here in the first place, specifically because Ratchet was here. She knew it would be nothing but awkward. Ratchet thought back to when he first saw her and approached her, and soothed her enough to bring her back to a private med bay room and examine her, and tease her, and how she would still giggle around him.

"I'm not saying you're still in love with her," he suddenly heard Mirage break the silence. "I'm reminding you that you still have certain feelings for each other, whatever those feelings may be. It's not my business... It's for you and her to work out."

Ratchet looked back to the monitor, and huffed softly to himself. He knew Mirage was right... They had all been right. About them. He needed to talk to Beta, before they went back to Cybertron.

"Please, I do not."

"Optimus, stop, and relax..."

"We have fooled around too much already," he spoke softly. "We cannot keep secretly disappearing on the others simply for our own pleasure."

Elita sighed and rested her helm back on Optimus' chassis. "I know," she spoke softly. "I just miss you."

He kept his servo rubbing against her back, and planted a light kiss on her helm. "I am sorry, Elita," he spoke after a moment. "I wish you wouldn't have to leave."

"Who says we do?"

"Cybertron needs you. The others have more important values back there than here."

"They can go," she whispered. "I'll stay with you. Beta will stay with Ratchet. Springer will stay with Arcee."

"And risk the production of sparklings or permanent separation? I fear Arcee could not mentally afford to lose another partner."

Elita just giggled. "You worry too much."

He just sighed playfully as Elita shifted downwards and kissed him on the cheek plate. "But you are a Prime, and with as much as you've gone through I couldn't blame you."

At that he smiled and kissed her back. "Thank you, dear. Same goes for you, as well."

She chuckled softly to herself and nuzzled him, kissed his neck lightly as she offlined her optics. "Should we be getting back, then?"

"Perhaps," he replied. "But Ratchet has not needed me for anything."

Elita smiled and looked up at him. "You think just a few minutes would hurt?"

She could only gasp and giggle as Optimus pulled her closer to him, lips locking snuggly and passionately.

[ August 17 - 10:43 PM ]

Beta had been standing behind the medic for at least a cycle now, knowing Ratchet hadn't known or heard her with the drill going or clatter of tools. She tried to stand as close to him as possible without him knowing, creating a game with herself and see how long she could last. His body heat was just so... addicting... like she remembered. She wanted to feel his presence again, even if it meant pretending she wasn't in love with him but secretly still was.

Her optics remained dull, almost offline, as the drill stopped and Ratchet exchanged the tool for a pair of simple pliers.

"How long are you going to keep this up?"

Beta's optics jerked online in surprise. "...How did - "

"Please, Beta," he started and turned to face her. "I've been with you how many years?"

Her shocked parted lips closed and optics fell to the floor. As she turned her frame rather quickly to leave, she stopped, as Ratchet's cold hand pressed against her upper arm.

"We need to talk," he said quietly to her.

Her helm slowly turned back to the medic. Talk? About what? There was nothing to talk about... that she wanted to talk about, anyway. Although with everything she was feeling and that had happened so far in the past few joors, she didn't think it could get much more awkward than him looking inside her valve for infection.

She looked to his other hand as he set the tool down. "Shouldn't you finish your work?"

"I'm done."

Her optics flickered up to his then quickly down to the floor, and let out a soft "Oh".

Ratchet sighed to himself as he let go and walked around her to the other side. "Beta... There are some... things, we should talk about."

"I know."

He closed his mouth for a moment before he spoke again. His hand almost naturally cupped around her chin and lifted it up, making her gaze fall on his own, a movement he used to do when they would fight and he would make it up with a kiss. He knew Beta remembered it the same way, but both knew this wouldn't result in a kiss. Not yet, anyway.

"I... just wanted to apologize," he almost whispered. "I don't want you to feel so uncomfortable around me. I want you to still like me."

Adrenaline shot through her circuits as Ratchet's soothing voice and soft hand against her faceplate. She only gave a soft smile when Ratchet's thumb started sweeping across her cheek plate.

"Don't apologize," she spoke. "It's not your fault I'm in this situation. I'm the one making it awkward."

Ratchet smiled lightly back at her. "You're just stressed and scared, Beta. You're worried and paranoid. Every Autobot goes through this, multiple times undoubtedly." He let go and her faceplate fell back to it's usual position. "I just wish I could tell you... or, help you, through this..."

Her optics flickered but never left his.

"What I'm saying is, or asking is, what do you feel? Right now?"

"...Everything?"

"Everything."

"I feel... scared. Mostly. I feel out of place... Like I'm not worthy of being an Autobot. I feel like we're being watched, and like I've lost so much ever since I've been under Elita One. Or even ever since I've been an Autobot... ever since I lost you."

Ratchet listened to her intently as she told him everything he asked her to tell him. She wasn't afraid to let it out, and he loved that. He loved how he got her comfortable enough to trust him like this, and to just release all her inner feelings on him. He did nothing as they stood there in the empty med bay, watching how she would talk with her hands as she explained, or how tears would flow and her vocals would quiver but she just wiped them away. At least another cycle passed since she started, Ratchet only showing her comfort and that he was listening, and there for her. And she knew it, too. She knew he did care, and would always be there for her, even it part of her feelings was due to thinking she had lost his care and support forever.

Ratchet knew she couldn't handle that. She needed someone, anyone, to just care. To just listen to her, and help her. Work with her through all her problems. To love her. Ratchet certainly had no problem doing that before, and by his current feelings he didn't think it would be much of a problem now, either.

Ratchet stopped her as more tears had been falling from her optics for several minutes. His hand that had found its way to her neck and shoulder had been lifted away, Beta thinking Ratchet was just starting to get annoyed with her. But when she felt his arms wrap around her and pull her close to him, she simply sank into him, crying, sobbing, hating how she was in this situation but loving how Ratchet still showed this much love towards her. His frame, close to hers and he just hugged her, tightly and snuggly, lovingly, comfortingly, generated so much body heat it nearly made him cry.

Her limp body practically shivered in his embrace, but he just kept holding her. He guessed it was his secret way of loving her, though he knew he needed to do much more. But now was simply not the time.

His hand continued rubbing her back as her sobbing settled down and was reduced to strangled gasps and hiccups. He knew this was mainly what she needed; just to let it all out, and tell someone. His own faceplate nuzzled hers from time to time, whispering soothing things into her audio receptor. She would nuzzle back, like they were still in love, like she wanted to show him just as much love back.

Somehow they had managed to move a couple feet and face the opposite directions from where they started. Apparently swaying back in forth in a manner of soothing still ran through the medic's circuits.

"Beta?"

Ratchet's voice was soft and quiet, but loud in the silence they had been in for the past half cycle. "Yeah..."

"Tell me something."

Her wet, tired optics floated up to his as his faceplate leaned into hers, pressing against her cheek plate and nuzzling it again, his lips pressed just softly enough to kiss her but stop.

"T-Tell you what?"

"If I told you I still cared, still... loved you... like a friend... what would you say?"

She barely noticed how they were still swaying back and forth. His faceplate pulled away just slightly, but enough for her to look him in the optics.

"...Like a friend?"

He hesitated, but nodded.

"I..." She frankly didn't know what she would say. He only loved her like a friend? Not even a little like they used to? She wanted so badly just to say she loved him, not like a friend, but like the boyfriend he had once been to her. "I..."

"Or... what if I told you... I did love you."

"...Like a friend?"

His faceplate leaned back in and brushed his lips against her audio. "I love you," he whispered so faintly into them.

She exhaled through her parted lips and offlined her optics. They only swayed in the empty bay, in the dim lighting, as her helm rested against Ratchet's neck, with his faceplate still buried into her own. Ratchet said... he loves her... What was she supposed to say? I love you too? She didn't feel worthy enough to do it.

But she thought about what Ratchet was doing right now. He was doing nothing but comforting her, holding her, indeed loving her. He cared. He loved her.

Beta's vocals quivered as she started to speak. "Do... you really...?"

She felt his helm move away, and sighed to herself as he told her a sweet and soft "Yes".

"Ratchet..."

"Yes."

She only gave off a helpless, tired smile of excitement. "I love you too."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

Ratchet's own offlined optics powered up, dimly, as his lips pressed against the side of her helm. "I really do," he heard her whisper, and with that, he gave a light kiss to her audio. After a minute or so he gave another to her cheek, and a moment after, after they had swayed a couple more feet, another to her neck.

She never did online her optics as she felt his kisses slowly make their way to her lips. They kissed, with such passion that it made her even more weak, but filled her with so much happiness.

It was the nicest kiss either had had in a long time. Even when they were together and would kiss, rarely would they have make-up, passionate, I-missed-you-so-much kinds of kisses as wonderful as this. Ratchet chuckled at the thought.

He pulled away, pressing his lips together and smiling as their optics onlined. "Do you feel better?"

She keened a smile and nodded. "Thank you."

"It was the least I could do, with all I've put you in," he replied.

"Did you mean it?"

"What?"

"When you said you loved me."

"Did you mean it when you said you loved me?"

"Of course," she whispered after a short pause.

Ratchet only smiled. "Then yes," he said. "I do love you. I think I always have."

Beta couldn't help a wide grin when Ratchet leaned in and kissed her once more, on the lips, this time his glossa playing with hers and making her giggle. He playfully bit her bottom lip as he pulled away, remembering so many memories just like this.

"I'm really glad I stood behind you," she giggled softly as Ratchet's hug tightened.

"I'm glad I'm still wise enough to know your tricks," he teased.

"I'm glad I came here, after all. I think Elita was right."

"About what?"

"We were talking about how everything happens for a reason. I think we crashed here, and I went through all this chaos particularly to see you again."

Ratchet smiled as Beta placed a cool kiss on his cheek plate. "I'm just glad we got through the awkwardness and to the loving again," he spoke playfully. "Now... What was this about a sparkling?"