"excuse you?" Wheeljack ask.

"Prime and I are going to the Ark crash site. we'll be back in a day or two." Ratchet says. Wheeljack huffs, shaking his head.

"of course you are. better find a way to fix what you broke with Ironhide while you're on the moon or just don't bother coming back Ratchet. you've really messed up this time." Wheeljack snaps, storming off.

Wheeljack knows he can find Ironhide in his room, but he's not expecting to see the mech sitting on his berth, the book Ratchet had damaged on his knee, sipping a cube and looking a little lost.

"hey." Wheeljack murmurs, stepping in. Ironhide looks over.

"what the hell do you want?" Ironhide snaps.

"sparkling would like to be with you." Wheeljack murmurs. "if you don't mind." he adds. Ironhide nods, moving the book to his berth and setting his cube down.

"yeah sure squirt. c'mon." Ironhide murmurs, reaching for the sparkling. Wheeljack hands him over gently.

"Ironhide, I'm... I'm sorry about Wills photo album, if Ratchet really damaged it, please tell me. I'll find a way to fix it." Wheeljack assures. the temperature in the room drops, Ironhide's immediately reaching over to grab the photo album and tuck it behind him carefully.

"books fine. he just held it too hard. s'whatever" Ironhide mutters.

"no its not. look I know you don't like to get sentimental or anything, but Ratchet really shouldn't have done that. I'm serious. I can't replace the book, no one can. I know you don't.... Ratchet had no right to destroy Wills property Ironhide. especially since he keeps something of Nitros very near and dear to him. he shouldn't have hurt you and I'm really sorry." Wheeljack murmurs.

"shut up." Ironhide snaps. Wheeljack puts his servos up, taking a step back.

"I know I'm crossing a boundary and I'm sorry, but I really did just want to let you know, even if it doesn't matter.... I'm sorry Ratchet did what he did and I'm sorry it was my fault okay?" Wheeljack ask.

"I'm not mad at you. you didn't point your gun at the book and you certainly didn't damage it. he did." Ironhide mutters.

"I know, but that doesn't mean I don't know it hurt. no matter who did what." Wheeljack murmurs, walking out of his room. the door shuts behind him and Ironhide sighs, leaning back against the wall behind his berth.

"Hide okay?" Reflect ask.

"yeah squirt. m'okay." Ironhide assures.

"I angry for Ironhide too! Ratchet hurt!" Reflect says, standing up on the weapon specialists lap. "Ratchet Ironhide alone!" Reflect shouts. Ironhide leans away from the sparkling shouting in his face.

"thats cute Reflect, but don't be angry at Ratchet." Ironhide murmurs gently, hugging him.

"Ratchet hurt Hide... hurt Hide bad..." Reflect says quietly, wrapping his arms around Ironhides neck. "Hide....?" Reflect asks, nervously.

"yes little one?" Ironhide murmurs. the sparkling pulls back, looking ready to cry and Ironhide frowns. "whats wrong? don't cry its okay." Ironhide soothes.

"if... if Opmis an Ratchet go bye bye... Ironhide die. Will tell Reflect." Reflect says quietly.

"I'm not going anywhere little one. I promise you that.now how about you take a nap. okay?" Ironhide ask. "I'll be here when you wake up, promise." Ironhide murmurs, kissing his head gently. Reflect nods a little and curls up. Ironhide lays over on his berth, intent to nap with the sparkling. he needs to talk to Will. he waits for the sparkling to settle into stasis before doing the same himself. he's not sure if Will is going to see him, but he at least has to try.

~

Ironhide sits up, shaking his head.

"Will?" Ironhide ask.

"hey baby, whats up?" Will grins.

"I'm surprised you let me see you." Ironhide murmurs. Will frowns a little.

"well... I wasn't angry at you. I was angry at myself and wanted to make sure you cooled off before I came back." Will murmurs, getting up off the floor. "are you still angry?" Will ask.

"I was never really angry. just upset." Ironhide murmurs, reaching for him. Will walks over happily, cuddling him. he kisses the bigger and hugs him tightly. Ironhide holds just as tight. "tell me what you told everyone else." Ironhide murmurs firmly, face in Wills stomach since the man is standing and he's still sitting on the bed. Will tenses a little, hugging Ironhides head hard.

"I've been talking to the sparkling. telling him what to say to you." Will murmurs.

"yeah I know, he's been telling me. how have you been talking to him?" Ironhide ask.

"through his Prime mark. I talk to Optimus sometimes too, but not the way I do you. anyway, I've been telling Reflect what to say.... you're gonna die and I don't want you too." Will murmurs. Ironhide frowns a little, holding just a little tighter to him for a brief moment.

"it doesn't make sense to me. why do you think I'm going to die Will?" Ironhide asks, pulling back to look up at him.

"I've seen it.... Hide I've seen you die... it was weird... awful. one minute everything seemed okay and the next... the Primes are pulling me in to show me a new possible future. the more I watch the more I see happening in real time. we're trying to stop this from happening. its not time for you to die yet." Will murmurs. "humans lied and you pay the price." Will says softly, clinging to him.

"lied about what? I know you can't give details but you need to help me here." Ironhide murmurs. Will holds tighter.

"if they find him... just don't trust anyone. okay? don't trust anyone. not even other Autobots. got it? not everyone is as they seem." Will murmurs.

"Will, what are you talking about? you're starting to sound crazy, which is rich coming from the mech who sees his dead bonded when he sleep. whats going on?" Ironhide ask.

"remember what Jetfire said? being an Autobot or a Decepticon is an intimate personal choice. you can make your choice and change your mind anytime anywhere, you don't have to say tell anyone. there could be an Autobot in the Decepticon ranks and vice versa. not everyone will be honest about their choice, okay?" Will ask. "you... please tell me you understand, at least a little. please." Will murmurs. he drops his forehead against Ironhides. "please...." Will begs quietly. Ironhide frowns a little, staring into his eyes.

"okay. okay. I'll figure it out. I promise. I'll figure this out Will." Ironhide murmurs, cupping his face gently. "don't worry. I'm not dying anytime soon. I will figure this out and I'll be careful. I promise." Ironhide assures gently.

"I don't want you to join me yet." Will murmurs.

"I can't join you yet, I promised Reflect I'd see him grow up." Ironhide smiles a little.

"he really needs you." Will mumbles, hugging tighter.

"I know. I won't leave him." Ironhide assures gently. Will sighs shakily.

"you can't trust anyone. don't trust anyone. don't trust him." Will murmurs, holding tighter to the man.

"I won't. I won't trust anyone. I promise. I haven't since you died... well except the sparkling but you wouldn't be using him as a messenger if he wasn't trustworthy." Ironhide murmurs. Will smiles a little, but still doesn't look convinced. "come on. come have a seat." Ironhide murmurs, pulling the smaller down gently. Will sits on his lap quietly, burying his face into Ironhide's neck, squeezing the mans hips hard between his knees. like he's trying to convince himself Ironhides not dead yet and that he can stop this from happening if he holds tight enough.

"m'not ready for you to join me here.... no matter how much I miss you. I'll never be ready for you to join me." Will murmurs. he's shaking by now, almost trembling, sounding like he wants to cry.

"I'm not ready to join you either, even if I miss you. that sparkling needs me." Ironhide murmurs softly, pulling him closer. "don't worry Will. don't worry." Ironhide soothes gently. Will lets out a shaky sigh.

"okay." Will murmurs, clinging to him.

"I will join you, eventually, but not any time soon." Ironhide murmurs.

"Ironhide...?" Will asks.

"yeah?" Ironhide murmurs.

"promise me one more thing." Will says.

"yeah, okay Will. whatever you need to feel okay. what do you need?" Ironhide ask.

"I need you to promise me, that if the sparkling reacts badly to something, you'll trust his instincts. okay?" Will ask.

"what do you mean Will?" Ironhide asks, looking a little confused.

"just... if the sparkling starts acting up randomly, just trust him okay? its really important that you remember this, even if you don't understand what I mean, you will when it happens. I'll make sure of it." Will ask.

"okay, I promise. " Ironhide assures gently. "I'll back him up okay?" Ironhide ask. Will nods and holds tighter.

"no matter how happy or excited you are, and I know you will be for a while I've seen that too, stand with Reflect.... he knows more than you do... I can tell him more than you. the Primes can reset him back to sparkling chatter so he can't say anything. don't trust anyone but the sparkling. got it?" Will murmurs.

"okay. okay. its alright. I trust you." Ironhide murmurs, nuzzling him. "its okay, I love you." Ironhide murmurs. Wills quiet, trying to hold himself together. "hey, I love you." Ironhide murmurs.

"I love you." Will mutters softly.

"can you answer some questions for me?" Ironhide ask.

"I guess." Will murmurs.

"okay well, I know why the sparkling is afraid I'm dying, but what was that mess with Optimus? do you know?" Ironhide ask. Will hugs tighter.

"that was an accident... I was talking to him about your death and... he went through some of my memories. he found my memories of the Fallen and Egypt. he saw Optimus die, I didn't mean for him to see that stuff, it was an accident. I didn't want him to see that. I would never-" Will starts, pulling back to look at the bigger.

"hey, easy. its okay. it was an accident, I just wanted to make sure Prime wasn't next on the list." Ironhide assures gently.

"h-he saw that stuff and started going crazy. I couldn't get him to understand that it had already happened." Will murmurs.

"thats okay. thats alright." Ironhide assures gently.

"I never meant for him-" Will starts.

"Will I need you to just relax a little, okay please? he's okay. we've explained to him everything. its alright." Ironhide assures.

"but he saw Optimus dead." Will murmurs.

"thats okay. he's almost forgotten about it already." Ironhide snorts a little. Will smiles a little, cuddling him.

"m'kay." Will murmurs. he lays his head on Ironhides shoulder, nuzzling his face into the mans neck.

"how long can you stay?" Ironhide murmurs. Will hugs tighter.

"I can beg the Primes for more time, they'll find ways to give it to us. I can't do it often, but I told them I was gonna need more time with you this time." Will murmurs, hugging tighter. "it won't seem like much longer, but... when you wake up it'll be morning, probably about 8 AM I think." Will murmurs.

"8AM? will it was only about 4PM when Reflect and I laid down for this nap." Ironhide murmurs.

"if its too long you can tell me to leave any time and I will. I thought the Primes were being very generous." Will murmurs.

"and they are, but what about the sparkling?" Ironhide ask.

"he'll be alright, but I can pop out here in a bit then come back." Will assures. "to check on him." Will adds.

"alright. sounds good." Ironhide murmurs, holding him tightly. "Primus Will I've missed you. I really have." Ironhide says. Will smiles a little.

"missed you too." Will murmurs, cuddling him. Ironhide smiles at him. "Ratchets an asshole by the way." Will mutters. Ironhide pulls back to look up at him.

"what?" he snorts.

"he's an asshole." Will murmurs. he motions to the nightstand beside the bed, where the photo album sits, only it has the damage the real book had done to it. Ironhide stares at it a moment.

"why did you make it look like that?" Ironhide ask.

"I didn't... you did." Will murmurs softly.

"no I didn't." Ironhide growls.

"I can't change the appearance of important items. only you can and for some reason, thats what the book looks like in pretty much all your memories now." Will murmurs. Ironhide pulls one arm from the smallers waist and leans over, grabbing the book. he pulls it over to them.

"great so he ruined it in the real world and in my dreams. what a nice guy." Ironhide mutters, looking at the book. Will takes the book gently.

"its just a book cover Hide, the important stuff is on the inside." Will assures, opening the book. "the pictures aren't damaged, you've seen that, but you need to relax okay? I know you're angry, I'm angry too, but if you let it get to you, it'll be ruined in here too." Will murmurs, dropping his forehead against Ironhides with a small smile. "don't let him ruin something you care about, especially when its not broken. you can get a new book, you can't replace the pictures, but thats okay. the pictures are still okay." Will murmurs. Ironhide smiles at him after a moment.

"you're an idiot, but you're right." Ironhide murmurs. "the pictures are okay, so I guess the books okay." Ironhide adds.

"see? all you have to do is get a new book to put them in... and take a trip back to the house. check the mail box. hasn't been checked since I died... but I had some film developed... it probably came in after I died. there's a chance they're not ruined." Will murmurs. "get you a new book, put those in it, and don't let Ratchet ruin something you love." Will says. "and Hide?" Will ask.

"yeah?" Ironhide ask.

"you never grabbed the picture I hid in my dresser. I kept my favorites in there, you know that." Will smiles. Ironhide chuckles softly.

"m'gonna need a bigger book I think." Ironhide mutters, a small smile on his face.

"I thought eventually you'd find them, but you don't go out there often." Will murmurs.

"only when I can take the sparkling. Reflect likes it out there. the farm gives him room to run around and play with his powers." Ironhide murmurs. Will grins.

"I know. let me pop out and check on Reflect I'll be back. you'll still be here, but if you'd like to go somewhere else let me know." Will smiles. Ironhide nods.

Wills gone and back in a flash, Ironhide still doesn't understand how time works in dreams, but he smiles. Will, however, looks confused.

"where are we?" Will asks, looking around.

"I was pretty harsh with you last time, so I figured I could show you Cybertron, before the war. things probably aren't perfect, I was pretty young back then." Ironhide murmurs softly. Will looks around.

"s'beautiful." Will murmurs.

"I picked a later in the day memory. so you could see the lights of Cybertron better. it was a very peaceful planet, or at least what I remember." Ironhide murmurs. "is Reflect alright?" Ironhide ask.

"yup, still sleeping." Will chuckles. Ironhide chuckles a little. "this place is really beautiful Hide." Will murmurs. Ironhide nods. "I see why you guys wanted to go back home so badly." Will murmurs.

"thats not home anymore Will." Ironhide murmurs. "home is with you, here, on Earth." Ironhide assures. Will laughs, shoving him back hard. Ironhide snorts and lets go, laying on his back.

"you're such a sap sometimes, and you had the nerve to call me an idiot." Will snorts.

"how much time do we have left?" Ironhide asks. Will shrugs.

"few hours. it was already 8PM when I checked on Reflect." Will murmurs. Ironhide nods.

"good, means I don't have leave just yet." Ironhide murmurs, pulling him down to hold him. "and don't you dare ever call me a sap. I'll kill anyone who gets in my fucking way and you know that." Ironhide frowns. Will laughs.

~

when Ironhide wakes up, it takes him longer than normal. his system is sluggish from resting so long, but Reflect appears to have been up for a little bit. Ironhide didn't realize that was possible since Reflect is Will, but he's not bothered by it, atleast until he sits up and sees what the sparklings been doing the entire time he's been awake.

"no! Reflect! where did you get paint!?" Ironhide shouts, looking at his floor. Reflect squeals and giggles.

"Jack! Refelct make floor pretty!" Reflect squeals.

"you painted my room." Ironhide frowns. Reflect nods.

"make pretty picture for Ironhide." Reflect giggles.

"Reflect you're supposed to paint on paper, not my floor." Ironhide growls.

"Ironhide angry...? but Reflect paint happy for Ironhide." Reflect says, looking confused.

"happy?" Ironhide mutters. Ironhide gets up and shifts, turning to face the picture the way Reflect is. its the tree from Wills back yard, exploding with the fireworks, a tiny blob in the background Ironhide thinks is Will. Ironhide wasn't sure you could draw happiness before, but this was happy. this picture was happy. "I see that... you drew very happy." Ironhide murmurs softly.

"Ironhide still angry?" Reflect ask. Ironhide shakes his head.

"no buddy, I'm not angry. come on, lets go get a cube alright? then we're going to town okay?" Ironhide ask.

"okay!" Reflect squeals. he lets Ironhide scoop him up and they head out of the room.

"hey you guys missed the launch. you okay?" Jazz asks, confused.

"kept Reflect up a little later so he wouldn't watch the launch. didn't want him having a fit over those two leaving." Ironhide murmurs. he wastes no more time with Jazz, heading to get himself and the sparkling a cube.

he sits them both down, sipping his own cube with Reflect settled on his lap, drinking his own.

"hey, any plans for today?" Sam asks, running over to them. Ironhide looks down at him.

"me and Reflect are going off base for a bit, why?" Ironhide ask.

"oh, Bee and I were gonna try and keep him busy today." Sam says. Ironhide raises an optic ridge.

"if you must, you two can come with us. I need to grab something from a store, then go to the farm." Ironhide mutters.

"oh no way, that sounds real personal, we'd hate to interrupt you." Sam says quickly. Ironhide stares at him a moment.

"I'm just going to get a new photo album since Ratchet ruined Wills, and I remembered more pictures hidden in the house." Ironhide mutters. "not like I'm going in there to do anything weird. would you like to go with us or not?" Ironhide ask.

"sure. if you don't mind. I'm worried about Reflect and how he'll react when he realizes..." Sam trails, looking at the sparkling.

"right. fine you two can join us." Ironhide mutters.

"I don't think I've been out there since..." Sam trails a moment, thinking. he gives a small chuckle. "since that Halloween movie night. the one where the twins broke out into a fight." Sam snorts, grinning at Ironhide. a month before Wills death. Ironhide snorts.

"Will went red in the face screaming at them when they stepped on his projector." Ironhide mutters. he smiles a little, before shaking his head to glare at Sam. "knock it off. I already invited you to come with." Ironhide grumbles, sipping his cube. Reflect shoves the cube away from him once its empty and gets up.

"Reflect take Sam drive!" Reflect squeals. Sam pulls back hesitantly.

"I don't know if thats a good idea in the base Reflect." Sam frowns.

"no not base. on farm." Reflect giggles. "room for vroom!" Reflect adds.

"thats pretty cute." Sam chuckles. "sure. okay." he smiles.

"if you and Bee are going, tell him we're leaving." Ironhide mutters, getting up.

"sure thing, thanks Hide." Sam smiles, running off.

"ready to go for a ride?" Ironhide ask. Reflect nods, throwing his arms up.

"yes! go!" Reflect squeals.

"go where?" Wheeljack asks, walking over.

"m'taking the squirt with me to the farm so he can run around for a bit. he likes to drive through Wills old corn stalks." Ironhide says, picking the sparkling up. Reflect grips the bigger mechs plating, watching Wheeljack.

"Reflect go with Ironhide." Reflect says firmly.

"okay, sounds good, have fun guys and be careful." Wheeljack smiles a little.

"go!" Reflect giggles.

"wait kid, we're waiting for Bumblebee and Sam alright." Ironhide says, heading out side. to his surprise, Bumblebee and Sam are already waiting for them.

"ready?" Sam ask.

"yeah." Ironhide mutters, transforming around the sparkling. Reflects holoform is immediately activated. he giggles sitting up front, reaching forward to compare his hand size to Wills handprint on the dash. Ironhides holoform smiles a little. "sit back." Ironhide murmurs. he's not so harsh on the sparkling touching the mark anymore, now that he knows its Will. Reflect sits back happily.