"I'm not the sparkling... well, technically I am, but I'm not. does that make sense? uh, god man this is harder than they said it would be. what the hell am I supposed to say here, hey guys, I know I've been dead for a year and now I'm suddenly taking over a sparkling body just doesn't seem right." Will mutters.

"wait... William? what is happening?" Optimus asks confused.

"uh, its a lot to explain, but yeah, it's me. its Captain William David Lennox. say my whole name to hopefully convince you guys, because this fucker says my name a lot." Will says, pointing at Ironhide slightly. he looks around at everyone, suddenly feeling sick.

wow I've never had complete and utter control of this body, everything is weird.

"prove it." Ironhide grunts.

"huh?" Will asks, looking over.

"prove its Will and not Reflect fucking up after that wire chewing thing." Ironhide glares.

"prove it? I told you my full name, that no one on base has ever told Reflect. what you want my social security number?" Will asks.

"you could've seen his full name anywhere." Ironhide huffs.

"prove it? okay fine. how would you like me to do that?" Will asks. the four bots stare at him so Will rolls his optics and looks over at Ironhide. "y'know what? you stubborn old bastard, you want proof, I got it." Will smirks. he stares Ironhide down, until the bigger mechs optics widen and he stumbles.

"shit." Wheeljack yelps, catching the bot.

"what did you do?" Ratchet frowns.

"relax. he's alright. I wouldn't hurt Ironhide, I wouldn't hurt any of you, not on purpose. he was being an ass so I didn't take it easy on him, but I believe I've proved myself, yeah Hide?" Will ask. everyone looks at the Weapons Specialist, who slowly stumbles away from Wheeljack shaking his head a little. he has an odd look on his face as he rubs his chest plate a little.

"yeah. alright. you've proved yourself." Ironhide mutters. "s'Will." Ironhide mutters.

"and how did he do that?" Wheeljack scoffs. Ratchet looks between Will and Ironhide.

"he opened the bond." Ratchet says.

"huh? but he's a sparkling, he doesn't.... right...?" Wheeljack ask.

"yes, technically." Will says pointing at Wheeljack. "okay, I owe explanation. I get that. first off, sorry about that." Will says. "um.. I died and met the past Primes. they felt bad the Allspark was killing me and because Starscream stomped on me, they decided I deserved a second chance... but in doing so, I wasn't the only one they decided needed a second chance." Will says, looking over at Ratchet and Wheeljack. "and boom, I end up in this body, being called Reflect. cute name by the way. I've been living life here as a sparkling being controlled by the Primes completely until the other day. when I pushed Sam out from in front of Sideswipe, I earned some new Allspark marking that makes me a future Prime or something, and earned a little control of my body." Will shrugs a little. Wheeljack looks a little lost and Ratchet looks absolutely angry.

"so you mean to tell me, they used us? they gave us a sparkling they were going to take away? for a second time, we get to lose a sparkling? hmm?" Ratchet snaps.

"you don't have to lose him. I.. I'm trying to explain everything. I don't understand either alright? I'm trying, no one has told me how difficult it would be to do this alright? I'm sorry. I didn't get a choice here. I woke up in this body one your medbay berth. okay? I didn't even know I was a sparkling and I didn't have any control. hell its been a year and the damn Primes are still controlling me. I don't have the majority of control of the body, or I didn't, I will after today." Will says.

"so... we lose Reflect?" Wheeljack ask, softly. Will shakes his head.

"no. this time I have a choice, but it sucks. stay with you guys or stay with Hide." Will says, looking at the three. "it sucks and its not a fair choice. its fucking garbage, but they've come up with a solution for either choice. if I chose to stay with Ironhide, things change and it does suck. I've seen that future.... I won't explain it, its pointless." Will says. "but if I stay with Ratchet and Wheeljack, Ironhide gets to remember everything and no one else does. Ironhide will be the only one on base that knows my true identity. the bond stays open to stop your spark issues, but you can't reveal who I am. it'll be absolutely impossible. trust me I've tried. when those Primes say no, they mean it." Will frowns. he looks at Ratchet. "there was nothing wrong with my vocal processor after Sunstreaker ran me over, by the way totally all my fault I fucked up real bad, I just kept trying to tell you who I was and they simply shut it off, reset it back to the chatter." Will frowns.

"it honestly sounds like you've made a choice already." Optimus comments. Will turns to look behind him.

"I have." Will assures. he turns back to the other three. "look, the last thing I want to do is hurt anyone. so the Primes have helped me come up with a way that we believe is the easiest for everyone. its not their ideal choice, but it works and I refuse to do it any other way, I've seen the future. it really works. it hurts, yeah, its not going to be easy." Will says, looking over at Ironhide. "but its the best choice." Will assures. "so at the end of the night, the choice is made." Will murmurs.

"I can't." Wheeljack mutters, shoving Ironhdie out of his way. Will immediately waves a servo at the door and it unlocks. Wheeljack runs out with Ratchet quickly following after him.

"sorry we had to do this in your office." Will says turning to look at the Prime.

"no its alright. it was less likely for anyone to come in my office." Optimus assures. Will turns back to Ironhide, looking at him. the black mech has an odd look on his face, but he grabs Will and carries him off to his room. both are silent, until Ironhide locks the door of his room and stands Will on his berth. he looks down at the sparkling.

"you've already made your choice." Ironhide says. Will nods once.

"and you know what it is don't you?" Will asks. Ironhide nods at him. "I'm sorry Hide, I can't just leave them like that..." Will trails.

"I'll get to remember everything right? Ironhide asks.

"yeah. you are the only one that will remember this day, until I come back again. once that happens the other three will remember this conversation and everyone on base will know who I am... but lets face it. I've literally been Reflect for a year now. c'mon. I haven't been Will since I died, but you know they can't lose Reflect. they can't do it. it'll crush them. I got to see what happens, its like losing Nitro all over again, and I can't do that to them." Will says. Ironhide nods.

"I know." he smirks a little, crouching to be eye level with Will. "I knew what you were going to do the moment you said your choices after you opened the bond." Ironhide chuckles a little. Will smiles at him a little.

"I couldn't leave them after hearing about Nitro. I know what its like to lose a kid." Will adds.

"I know." Ironhide assures.

"I wanted to talk to them, but I think I should wait a bit." Will says, rubbing the back of his neck.

"unfortunately, I believe you're right Will. just give them a little bit, I'll make sure you get to talk to them before the night is over." Ironhide assures.

"I... I need one favor Hide, please. please just, I won't remember this, but make sure I spend time with them." Will says.

"I will." Ironhide assures gently. "don't worry I'll make sure it happens. they need it, but I have a question." Ironhide says.

"yeah whats up?" Will ask.

"why did you chew on that wire?" he raises an optic ridge. Will groans, shaking his head.

"god, believe me it wasn't my choice. I don't generally have any control over anything, I just exist in that body because I don't how to be a sparkling." Will shrugs. "but I had to have something like that happen so I could do this today. don't ask why, I have no Earthly idea." Will shrugs.

"I see." Ironhide murmurs. it goes quiet for a few minutes.

"look Hide, I don't want you to hate me, please. I love you but I wasn't sure-" Will starts.

"Will stop. look you've got a spark so we have real bond. I know exactly what you're feeling. I know everything. I know why you made this choice." Ironhide assures gently. "its a hard choice, yes, but, I agree with your choice. Ratchet and Wheeljack need you, I'll have the bond, I'm fine." Ironhide assures.

"I didn't know how to do this without hurting anyone, I've been trying so hard, but someone is going to be hurt, I did the best I could." Will sighs.

"I know Will. hey, I'm not worried. for a year now I've thought you were dead. I can wait a while longer. how many times have I told you I don't mind waiting on you?" Ironhide murmurs. Will laughs a little, smiling at him. the smile falls after minute.

"yeah you're surprisingly calm about this. I expected anger." Will says, frowning.

"oh I'm angry you were here the whole time and I didn't know, but I understand you couldn't do anything about it, and if this is just another dream, I'm not wasting the time I have by being angry with you." Ironhide frowns. Will smiles at him a little.

"its not a dream, but I do have another surprise, though, if you're fine with that, we've got time." Will says. Ironhide looks at him confused. "I had to get permission to do this, but they said it was fine." Will adds.

"do what?" Ironhide ask.

"back up." Will says. Ironhide straightens and backs away from the man, watching him.

"alright." Ironhide murmurs.

"its a holoform for now, but this is the look the Primes decided on after my Alt form." Will says. in the blink of an eye there's a bot almost Ironhides size standing in front of him.

"holy slag... wow." Ironhide says, stepping back further. Will smiles. he looks almost like the sparkling but older. he looks good, but Ironhide would never admit that to him. "you're... keeping the sparkling alt?" Ironhide asks, looking him over. Will scoffs, looking himself over.

"why not? I like it." Will snorts. Ironhide snorts.

"well it looks sparkling generated." Ironhide mutters.

"well, it was made by the Past Primes, so I mean, just insult them I guess." Will shrugs, shutting the holoform off. "you're the only one that gets to see it and its not set in stone or anything." Will adds. Ironhide snorts and moves him over, plopping onto the berth beside him. he leans back against the wall silently a moment, before looking at Will.

"so, back when you visited me the first time and told me you were watching me and the sparkling, you lied then." Ironhide says.

"not technically. I don't have real control of my body. I get to watch a lot of things." Will shrugs. "but I wasn't allowed to say anything. there's a lot of rules." Will frowns. Ironhide nods leaning back and sighs.

"this second chance is a nightmare." Will sighs. Ironhide looks over.

"don't worry about it Will. I'm sure everything will work out." Ironhide assures gently. Will looks over at him.

"this is the weirdest thing thats ever happened to me..." Will sighs. Ironhide snorts a little and scoops him up, putting him on his knee like he used to.

"are you allowed to leave the base Will?" Ironhide ask. Will frowns in thought.

"I don't see why not, they didn't say I couldn't." Will shrugs. Ironhide nods and gets up, taking Will with him. "where are we going?" Will asks.

"out. just stay quiet." Ironhide says. Will nods. sitting silently in his arm, its the best way to avoid being revealed.

"hey! Ironhide! whats up? where you going with Reflect?" Jazz asks.

"out." Ironhide grumbles.

"I dunno, Ratchet and Wheeljack-" Jazz starts.

"can take it the fuck up with me when I get back." Ironhide snaps. he storms past the smaller mech and outside. he sets Will down and transforms.

"what are we doing?" Will asks.

"gonna keep the secret?" Ironhide ask.

"well yeah, sure." Will shrugs.

"the beach. Ratchet and Wheeljack don't let you drive outside the base and I can't see a reason for them to stop you now, just follow me. you can transform right?" Ironhide snorts, shifting on his tires. Will huffs.

"not in control doesn't mean stupid." Will mutters, transforming. his tires spin a little on the sand, not at all surprising. as Ironhide had said, he hadn't been allowed to drive outside the base much. it takes him a second, but before Ironhide can offer to just drive them both, Will speeds off across the sand in his tiny alt.

"hey! get back here!" Ironhide snaps, speeding after him.

"catch me if you can old man." Will smirks. Ironhide speeds past him quickly.

"your top speed isn't even half of mine." Ironhide smirks. Will frowns, but Ironhides right.

"hey! my alt mode is a toy!" Will huffs. he's already pushing his top speed of 75, Ironhides carefully running 85 so he doesn't out run the smaller too fast. he can't just leave Will behind like that.

"sounds like a you problem." Ironhide snorts. Will huffs, attempting to push himself but his body argues. he can't go any faster. he wants to be angry but doesn't at the same time. this will be the only real day Ironhide gets from him for a few years, so he wants Ironhide to be happy. the older mech is happy enough Will can actually feel it through the bond, something he's missed. he wants them all to be happy, but this would do for now.

"hey! wait for me!" Will huffs. Ironhide laughs and slows down, carefully moving to ride beside him.

"don't try and race me if you can't keep up." Ironhide snorts.

"just wait you asshole, next time we get the chance to do this, I'll beat your ass." Will huffs. Ironhide snorts.

"only in your dreams." Ironhide smirks.

despite slowing down to Wills speed, they get to the beach rather quickly. its so early there's not even any military personal running around. Ironhide transforms, looking down as Will does the same. they sit on the dock together happily.

"its been a while since I've been out here." Will murmurs.

"well, you have been dead for a year." Ironhide snorts. Will gets quiet for second and Ironhide looks over at him. "Will?" Ironhide ask.

"sorry. I just wish I had been able to tell you I wasn't dead..." Will sighs.

"I know. its alright Will." Ironhide assures.

"why are we out here?" Will ask.

"I didn't want to chance anyone hearing you." Ironhide says. he looks out over the water, before looking down at Will. he opens his mouth to say something, but Will laughs.

"never could willingly get you out here when I was alive." Will chuckles. Ironhide snorts.

"I've spent a lot of time here and at the house since you died." Ironhide murmurs. Will nods a little.

"I know, you took me to the house. I got a little more control after saving Sam, so it was nice to be able to wonder the house... you didn't get that picture book by accident Hide." Will assures.

"so you remember everything, even as the sparkling?" Ironhide ask.

"no. I remember everything right now, but I've only got like half my memories, maybe less when I'm the sparkling. I remembered the book though." Will says.

"so did you remember on your own the stories I told you?" Ironhide asks, looking back over the water.

"no. I didn't... but I didn't realize back then, how much that 4th of July meant to you." Will says. Ironhide huffs a small laugh.

"yeah... I didn't either really. I didn't realize how much any of those memories meant to me. I thought, foolishly, I'd have more time with you. I'm a soldier I should know better." Ironhide frowns.

"I know... and I know this choice is going to be the hardest on you, I won't even remember today, so I'm sorry, but I seriously hope you can take comfort in knowing I really am alive." Will says.

"I do Will. its relaxing to know you're alive. relieving, but I have believed you were dead for a whole year, so please, allow me time to process." Ironhide says. "you won't remember this, but do try to give me some time. I may avoid you as Reflect, okay?" Ironhide murmurs. Will nods.

"alright." Will murmurs. "I won't remember but hopefully the Primes will recognize that." Will murmurs. Ironhide nods at him.

"whats going to happen in a few years when you're revealed again?" Ironhide asks. Will smiles.

"well, it'll be seven years. I'll still be a youngling but, I'll be basically aged up. I'll be about your age. I'll have all the knowledge I should gain over the years. everyone will have memories of me growing up basically, but it won't technically have happened. we'll have some fun and exciting adventures. everything will basically be perfect." Will shrugs. Ironhide snorts and nods.

"just... one thing doesn't make sense to me." Ironhide says.

"I can do my best to explain, what up?" Will ask.

"you told me to take the sparkling, which ended up being you, to see Barricade. why is that?" Ironhide ask. Will frowns.

"I... I have no idea. honestly, uh, I just know I'm supposed to make friends with Barricade." Will shrugs a little. "just doing what the Primes tell me, but he doesn't mean any harm... the Primes let me see into his past, remember when you found Ratchet and Nitro? well, Barricade was a youngling in the next room over, with Bee... Frenzy was in the sparkling room. he spent weeks fixing Frenzy, and vowed he'd never hurt a sparkling." Will says. Ironhide looks over.

"I didn't know Bumblebee was in that mess, he certainly wasn't a youngling when the war started. he was still a sparkling." Ironhide frowns.

"I don't know why Bumblebee was in there, but I got to look at Barricades memories and that was definitely Bumblebee." Will shrugs.

"you don't have a lot of answers." Ironhide snorts.

"yeah I know." Will mumbles. Ironhide nods a little.

"ready to go back? Ratchet and Wheeljack are ready to talk." Ironhide says. Will nods getting up.

"yeah. I guess I owe them some answers, even if they won't remember." Will says. Ironhide nods.

"I'll drive us back." he says, getting up. Will nods.

Will nods and lets the bigger take him back to the base. Ironhide immediately walks him to the medbay, dropping him off outside the doors.

"you okay?" Ironhide asks.

"I'm nervous." Will mutters, walking into the medbay.

the first thing he notices is that Wheeljacks not in there, but Ratchet is.

"uh, Ratchet...?" Will asks, hesitantly. the medic tenses, before turning to look at Will.

"so it really is you then?" Ratchet ask.

"well, when you say it like that, I kind of wish it wasn't." Will says. "I wanted to tell you guys. I really tried." Will sighs.

"why? why were you sent to us?" Ratchet asks.

"you guys deserved a second chance... plus you were the only ones on base with real sparkling experience according to the Primes." Will says. "where's Wheeljack?" Will asks.

"in our room trying to figure out if we've lost another sparkling." Ratchet mutters.

"you haven't." Will assures.

"look, you're a great sparkling as Reflect and I'm sure you'll be a great mech, but it changes everything Will. you staying with Ironhide changes everything. you understand that right?" Ratchet asks. Will frowns a little.

"you don't know what I've chosen." Will says.

"what idiot wouldn't chose their bondmate?" Ratchet snaps, turning away.

"an idiot whose lost a kid themself." Will says softly. Ratchet looks confused, turning to face Will.

"what?" Ratchet ask.

"I've lost a kid before... I know its hard, I wouldn't do that to you guys. Ironhide can wait for me.' Will shrugs. "besides, I don't know how to be a Cybertronian. I need someone to teach me and Ironhides not going to do that." Will snorts. Ratchet looks confused.

"you'd rather stay with us than Ironhide?" Ratchet ask. WIll nods a little.

"to be honest, I didn't have caregivers as a human a child." Will says. "so kind of selfish reasons, but at the same time I couldn't find a way to just take a kid from someone. I lost Annabelle, remember? I won't take a kid from someone else." Will adds. Ratchet looks at him like he doesn't really believe him.

"I don't get it Will." Ratchet mutters. "why would you choose us over Ironhide? he's your bondmate." Ratchet sighs.

"because I need you guys and you guys need me." Will says. "I want to stay with you and Wheeljack, unless you two don't want me to... I'm still Reflect. it feels like I've been Reflect far longer than I was Will anyway, but if you don't want me to stay with you two, tell me... I can tell the Primes. its not too late for me to change what I do." Will says.

"we want you to stay and thats the problem." Ratchet says. Will looks confused.

"huh?" Will ask.

"I want you to stay Reflect... but how can we take you from Ironhide like that?" Ratchet ask.

"you're not. don't worry about that. please. okay? I've made my choice. I want to stay with you and Wheeljack." Will says. Ratchet frowns and walks over, picking him up and putting him on the berth.

"but how can we-" Ratchet starts.

"look Ratchet, I get it. I do, but come midnight, that won't be anything you have to worry about anymore. Ironhide is a big boy and he stands behind my decision. he knows I'm doing this for me and you two. he knows it hurts, but he'll still have our bond, I can't leave you and Jack." Will says. "don't think about him for a few minutes, please. think about yourself and be selfish. I'm staying with you and Wheeljack unless you really don't want me to." Will murmurs.

"of course we want you to stay with us!" Ratchet snaps. Wills optics widen and he takes a quick step back, looking up at Ratchet hesitantly.

"don't yell at him." Wheeljack frowns, walking over.

"why do you want to stay with us?" Ratchet snaps, glaring at him.

"I already told you." Will says.

"he wants to stay with us Ratchet, why are you fighting this so bad?" Wheeljack asks.

"because I don't trust it!" Ratchet snaps. "somethings not right here! they're just going to rip him away from us!" Ratchet growls.

"I swear I'm not going anywhere, please stop shouting." Will winces, covering his audios receptors. "I sound like Will, but I'm still in a sparkling body." Will frowns.

"I want him to stay with us." Wheeljack says. Ratchet looks over. "please Ratch. please, I want him to stay with us, why are you arguing?" Wheeljack asks.

"I don't trust it. how many times are we going to lose a sparkling?" Ratchet ask.

"you're not losing me, you're not losing Reflect. he's still here, I'm still here!" Will shouts. Ratchet and Wheeljack look at him. "I'm right the fuck here and I'm not leaving! do you know how hard I had to fight to make them let me stay? to make them give me a choice to keep from pulling me out from under you guys?! I fought so fucking hard! I won't give it up because you're afraid!" Will snaps.

"he's fighting to stay with us, why are you arguing this Ratch? Wheeljack ask.

"I... I don't know." Ratchet admits.

"I want to stay here, please let me stay with you." Will says. "I'm going to go stay with Ironhide, but only so you guys can think and make sure you agree with my choice.... if you don't, let me know please. so I can let the Primes know I'm sorry I wasted their time." Will adds.

"Ironhide please come get me. I can't stand the screaming."

"I'm on my way."