"have you gotten to work on Remix' voice box yet?" Reflect asks suddenly. Ratchet looks over confused. his adopted sparkling had been quietly studying for the past two hours, Echo cradled in his lap while he studied, so the question startled him. Ratchet shifts Remix, before frowning.

"not yet no, why?" Ratchet asks.

"well... they're getting about that age they'll start talking but you said his voice box wasn't formed enough for him to form real words, just sparkling chatter." Reflect says softly.

"I haven't managed to get my servos on the parts yet, but I haven't forgotten, I promise. I'm working on it." Ratchet assures. Reflect nods.

"okay. sorry, I didn't mean to like... imply I thought you forgot or anything. I was just-" Reflect starts. Ratchet smiles gently.

"you're worried about your sparklings Reflect. its okay." Ratchet assures gently. "speaking of sparklings, hows Echo adjusting to her new optics? she can see wall outlines and doorways now I think." Ratchet asks. Reflect snorts.

"she hasn't turned them on yet. she's learned to give them a few days. Wheeljack said she should be able to see outlines of bots and humans now, which is gonna be really helpful I had him take the soundwave thing away. it really bothered her." Reflect says. Ratchet nods, watching Reflect rub his daughters cheek gently.

"he's trying his best. this is probably her last upgrade for a while." Ratchet says. "what color did he make them this time?" Ratchet ask.

"he tried to let her pick but she didn't understand so they're yellow right now." Reflect says. "he's keeping all the old upgrades, incase she ever wants to go back to them." Reflect adds. Ratchet nods.

"I know, or incase the ones she's using don't work out or something. its nice to keep back ups." Ratchet smiles. "has Echo started trying to talk yet?" Ratchet ask.

"no not yet. but Ironhide is trying to convince her to say 'creator', I'm trying to convince her to say Prowl. he really only liked me when I started talking." Reflect snorts.

"at least once you were talking he could have some kind of conversation with you." Ratchet snorts. Reflect chuckles. "don't push her too hard." Ratchet murmurs.

"I know, its bad for her." Reflect assures gently. "I remember you ranting about that when I said slagger for the first time." Reflect snorts.

"yeah? its weird. you remember so much of your sparkling hood." Ratchet says, watching him.

"you know whats weird?" Reflect ask.

"hmm?" Ratchet ask, turning away to head for his office..

"I didn't even get a choice. Sunstreaker tripped and shattered the gaming system and I was just intending to yell gibberish at them. but then I shouted slagger." Reflect mutters, shifting Echo once more. he frowns a little.

"well you don't often get the choice-" Ratchet starts.

"I saw the Primes again." Reflect says suddenly, looking up at him. Ratchet turns to look at him confused.

"what?" Ratchet ask.

"I wasn't the one just talking to you." Reflect says. Ratchet walks over to him.

"what did you see? are you okay?" Ratchet ask.

"Megatron and Starscream are back." Reflect says. "or at least they're coming back. the Decepticons will be mobilizing. I need to talk to Optimus." Reflect says getting up quickly. "will you-" Reflect starts.

"keep the sparks? yeah." Ratchet assures, taking Echo gently. Reflect nods and runs out of the room, looking distracted. "thats okay, isn't it little ones? you two can stay here with me and enjoy your nap." Ratchet murmurs, walking into his office and sitting in his chair. he snorts to himself. "maybe I'll catch a nap with you. your carrier won't be back anytime soon." Ratchet chuckles.

Ironhide frowns, wondering into the medbay. he'd gotten off shift and found not only his bondmate missing, but also his sparklings. he assumed that todays lessons had run late, it didn't happen often, but found the medbay empty.

"Reef? Ratch?" Ironhide calls. its silent. "Echo? Remix?" Ironhide calls, walking around.

"don't wake them up." Wheeljack says, heading out of Ratchet office.

"they in there?" Ironhide ask. Wheeljack shakes his head.

"Reflects been talking to Prime for about three hours. Ratchet and the sparklings are having a nap in our berth.

"hmm, I guess I could leave them in here." Ironhide mutters, thinking it over. he shakes his head. "nah, give me my sparklings." Ironhide says, heading back for Wheeljack and Ratchets room. he walks into the room and smiles immediately hearing a soft chirp. "hey kiddo, don't worry I'm coming to get you." Ironhide chuckles. of course Echo could hear him coming from a mile away. her sensitive audio receptors could pick up a human sneezing all the way on the human side of the base.

Ironhide carefully manages to take his sparklings from Ratchet, without waking the medic, and leaves.

"you said Reflect is with Prime?" Ironhide ask. Wheeljack nods.

"Ratchet didn't tell me much, just that the Primes freaked him out and he's been with Optimus for house." Wheeljack frowns. Ironhide nods and heads out of the medbay towards their room. if Reflect needed to talk to Optimus he'd leave him alone, catch up on some time with the sparklings.

he takes the sparklings into his and Reflects room and lays on the berth with the two sparklings, smiling. Echo giggles cuddling up to her creator happily. Ironhide chuckles softly, letting his sparklings crawl on him. Remix squeals climbing up to sit on his creators chestplates.

"what are you doing squirt? don't fall off." Ironhide snorts. Echo laughs, curling up beside him, engine purring happily. Ironhide chuckles, content to lay with his sparklings while they squirm around.

Reflect returns to their room, looking exhausted. the chat with Optimus lead no where, despite the fact he was older, Optimus still thought the Primes were over reacting. Reflect had eventually stormed out telling Optimus to fend for himself, that he would not longer give him messages from the Primes, even if they lead to him offlining.

Reflect pauses as he enters, seeing his sparklings in deep recharge, curled up with Ironhide. he gives a small smile and climbs up onto the berth with them. class was long, fighting with Optimus was getting old and tiring, and he was more than happy to curl up with his sparklings and bondmate. he curled up with them and all three immediately shift. Ironhide looks over at him.

"hey baby." Ironhide murmurs softly.

"hey, sorry I woke you up." Reflect murmurs.

"no I was in light recharge, just waiting for you." Ironhide murmurs. Echo chirps, lifting her head.

"I guess she was waiting for me too." Reflect murmurs, leaning over to kiss the sparklings head. Echo giggles, patting at his faceplates. there's a knock on their door. Ironhide and Reflect share an annoyed look before Reflect gets up. Echo reaches for Reflect with a whimper. "don't worry baby girl, you can come with me." Reflect assures, scooping her up gently. he carries her over to the door, opening it. "Prowl?" Reflect ask.

"Optimus let me know of your worries, about the Decepticons mobilizing." Prowl says.

"yeah I get it he's not worried about it." Reflect huffs.

"well I am." Prowl says firmly. Reflect looks confused. "you've never been wrong in the past. you were confused but you were right about Optimus dying, even if you had the time wrong. you were right about Barricade and Frenzy. you were right about Sentinel. you were right about Ironhide being killed, he would've been had you not been there." Prowl explains. "you've proven right too many times for me not to take this seriously." Prowl adds. Reflect shifts Echo gently.

"well, I'm glad at least someone else believes me." Reflect sighs softly.

"of course I do. if the Primes come back to you with anymore information, please let me know." Prowl assures.

"thanks Prowl." Reflect smiles.

"Owl." Echo chirps quietly. Ironhides head snaps over immediately.

"did she just-" Ironhide starts.

"she said Prowls name!" Reflect cheers immediately, tossing the sparkling into the air with a grin.

"Primus have mercy." Prowl mutters, looking annoyed. its clear he's attempting to not crack a smile.

"she did it! yes! we have a talking sparkling!" Reflect grins, cuddling his sparkling. Echo chirps, reaching towards Prowls voice.

"Owl." Echo mumbles.

"no-" Prowl tries. Reflect glares at him.

"she said your name, she wants you. take her for a few minutes. show her you're proud or I'll slag the hell out of you." Reflect warns. Prowl sighs and reaches for the sparkling. he takes Echo, looking annoyed.

"fine, I have paperwork to deliver you can come with me for that, but then you have to go back." Prowl mutters, turning away with the sparkling.

"be nice to my sparkling." Reflect warns.

"of course." Prowl mutters. he heads down the hallway to the madbay, looking annoyed, with Echo on his hip.

he makes his way into the medbay, looking at the datapad in his servo.

"now what are you doing with him squirt?" Wheeljack chuckles, walking over. Echo squeals, giggling and boucing in Prowls arm. the TIC keeps a careful hold on her. Ratchet steps out of his office, confused.

"Prowl, what the hell are you doing with her?" Ratchet frowns.

"Owl!" Echo squeals, giggling. Prowl heaves a sigh.

"I was told she said my name so I had to be nice or Reflect would kill me." Prowl mutters. "and frankly, I'd really rather just get what I have to get done so I can get some stasis. so if you would please, take this." Prowl frowns, holding out the datapad. Ratchet takes it looking it over.

"what is this?" Ratchet frowns.

"we need a list of everything you need to have a new human partner in here, plus you forgot to sign your last medical supply list order." Prowl says. "and Wheeljacks paperwork is in that two. his list of needed supplies was also unsigned. I assume Reflect snatched them while neither of you were paying attention and simply forgot to sign for you both this time." Prowl says. Ratchet nods, signing. he passes the datapad over to Wheeljack.

"here you take that, and I'll take this." Ratchet murmurs, taking Echo. Echo giggles and cuddles up to him.

"take her, thats fine. just tell Reflect you stole her. I rather like my protoform and armor exactly where it already is." Prowl says, snatching the datapad and leaving.

"bu Owl!" Echo giggles waving.

"you're so fragging cute." Wheeljack grins. "how can he be such a stick in the mud towards you when you're so cute?" Wheeljack asks.

"because he needs a good fuck and no one wants to touch him." Ratchet snorts, cuddling Echo gently.

"fuck." Echo giggles. Wheeljack winces.

"oh you've done it now." Wheeljack laughs.

"no no Echo, if you say that you're going to get me in trouble with your carrier." Ratchet says.

"fuck!!" Echo squeals.

"can you go back to say Prowl?" Ratchet ask.

"fuck Owl." Echo chirps, curiously.

"I'm dead." Ratchet groans quietly. Wheelajck laughs, leaning over and kissing his head.

"good job love." Wheeljack teases. Ratchet glares at him.

"okay come on Echo, I better get you back to your creators." Ratchet murmurs, carrying her off.

Ratchet knocks on Reflect and Ironhides door firmly.

"oh Prowl you came back- Ratchet?" Reflect asks, confused. Ratchet looks unamused, holding Echo out.

"I see she's started talking." Ratchet says. Reflect sighs.

"what did she say?" Reflect ask.

"fuck owl!" Echo chirps. Reflect raises an optic ridge.

"I see and where did you pick up that word?" Reflect asks, shooting Ratchet a dirty glare.

"she heard me tell Wheeljack that Prowl was stuck up because he needed a good fuck." Ratchet huffs.

"fuck Owl!" Echo chirps.

"stop saying that Ratchet! damn! my baby was innocent." Reflect pouts at him.

"she's still innocent. she just says fuck sometimes." Ironhide snorts, shrugging. Reflect glares at him.

"in my defense, when I said it I didn't know she could talk." Ratchet frowns. Reflect sighs.

"thats your only saving grace." Reflect frowns. Ratchet frowns, patting Echos head.

"get some rest squirt. be good. we have training in the morning." Ratchet frowns, looking at Reflect, before walking off. Reflect shifts his daughter, looking down at her.

"okay sweetie, its time for you to get some stasis." Reflect murmurs,

"let her lay with us until she falls into stasis, then we'll lay them in their berth." Ironhide murmurs.

"you should be in stasis yourself." Reflect frowns. "you have less than six hours before you have to go back on patrol. now lay down and be quiet." Reflect says firmly. he scoops up Remix, or tries. Ironhide grabs his wrist.

"you're not taking both my sparklings and not laying with me. get yoru afts down here." Ironhide growls softly. Reflect sighs slightly and smiles a little.

"okay." Reflect murmurs. he lays Echo down gently, before crawling over and curling up with his family. "m'sorry." Reflect says softly.

"don't be sorry. you're just not taking what little time I have with you away from me." Ironhide murmurs, kissing Reflects head.

"we don't get to spend a lot of time together its kinda my fault." Reflect sighs.

"we spend more time together because of the sparklings Optimus takes pity. he doesn't want to make just one of us raise the sparklings. we both need to be around them." Ironhide murmurs softly. Reflect cuddles closer, engine purring softly.

"Optimus is gonna have a lot of fun with them tomorrow." Reflect snorts.

"she's picking up words faster than you did. who knows how many words she'll be saying by tomorrow." Ironhide murmurs softly. Reflect chuckles softly, settling down for recharge.

Reflects up bright and early with the sparklings. Remix bounces ahead , but Echo stays happily at Reflects side, holding his servo so she doesn't get lost.

"go ahead baby, knock on Optimus' door." Reflect smiles. Remix squeals, giggling, and slamming his servos against the door as hard as he can.

"hang on Remix, I'm coming." Optimus assures, sounding amused. the door slides open and Remix runs right in. Optimus chuckles and looks at Reflect, taking the box of toys.

"thanks again Prime, oh and watch your words around Echo." Reflect frowns.

"if everything okay?" Optimus asks.

"Echo, would you like to tell Optimus what you told me and Ratchet?" Reflect asks. Ech chirps looking up at Optimus.

"fuck Owl!" Echo chirps. Optimus balks, shocked and amused.

"yeah she started off saying his name and Ratchet taught her to say fuck." Reflect sighs. he crouches beside his daughter. "can you say Optimus?" Reflect asks. Echo whines, looking confused and tilting her head. "Optimus." Reflect says slowly.

"anononon." Echo chirps.

"Op-ti-mus." Reflect corrects gently.

"Anonymous!" Echo chirps.

"thats a new one." Optimus snorts. "I've been Octy, Oppymus, Autonomus, and Opmis, but anonymous is a new one." Optimus chuckles.

"where the hell did she even get that word?" Reflect asks. he stands and shakes his head, walking off.

your sparkling just called Optimus, Anonymous and she is very proud of it.

thats cute. Bumblebee used to call him Autonomus.

where the fuck did she even get the word?

no idea sparkling CPUs are strange you know this.

Reflect sighs and nods, heading towards the medbay.

Optimus looks down at the sparklings. Remix is happily playing, but Echo is standing right next to him. she looks up at him with a quiet chirp.

"hello little one." Optimus murmurs. Echo whimpers throwing her arms up. "would you like to sit with me?" Optimus asks, scooping the sparkling up. Echo curls up in his arm. "don't worry I'm sure Wheeljack will have new optics created for you in a few days." Optimus assures gently. he sits down at his desk, cuddling the sparkling gently.

Optimus isn't wrong. a week later Wheeljacks quickly upgraded her optics once more. the bright yellow optics see not only wall outlines, but also bot/human outlines.

Echo sits quietly in her creators lap, looking around the rec room.

"she made any moves to get up yet? she's had them for a few days." Bumblebee asks, walking over to Ironhide. Echo looks up at him, chirping.

"she's still adjusting." Ironhide murmurs. Ironhide points at the yellow mech, looking at his daughter. "Bumblebee." Ironhide says gently.

"Buzzy!" Echo chirps. Bumblebee grins.

"thats close enough for me!" Bumblebee grins. "whens Remix gonna start talking?" Bumblebee ask.

"he's in the medbay with Jack, Ratchet, and Reflect now. they're upgrading his vocal processor. it was malformed." Ironhide explains.

"you're not with them?" Bumblebee asks.

"we decided it was best to keep me and Echo both out of the way. give her a chance to get used to her optics while they're working on him. shouldn't be long." Ironhide assures. Bumblebee nods, smiling at Echo.

"hey cutie." Bumblebee smiles. Echo reaches out towards him. Bumblebee grins and crouches down, letting the sparkling grab hold of his faceplates and pat them happily. it was just something the previously completely blind sparkling did.

"wheres the other one?" Barricade asks, walking over. Echo chirps happily reaching for him.

"he's getting a vocal processor." Ironhide explains, putting Echo on the floor. the sparkling is hesitantly, servos out in front of her to watch out for items, as she carefully walks towards the outline of Barricade.

"new update?" Barricade asks, crouching down.

"yup. she can see outlines. I think Jacks actually getting close to getting her to see. I don't think she'll ever actually see like everyone else, but its possible." Ironhide shrugs, watching his sparkling.

"so I don't need to guide her over anymore." Barricade says, reaching out for the sparkling when she gets close.

"no, thankfully." Ironhide says. Echo carefully pats at Barricades outstretched servo, as if double checking its there, like she sees it. "she's really getting used to these fast. I think she enjoys being able to see for the most part. she shuts them off occasionally, she just needs a vision break according to Reflect." Ironhide shrugs.

"hey there kid." Barricade murmurs, scooping her up gently. he stands and smirks at her. Echo giggles, reaching out to knock on his subspace. even without sight, the little sparking knows exactly where its at. Frenzy growls from the other side. "don't mess with him Echo, just leave him alone." Barricade chuckles.

"little fucker still pissed she stepped on him?" Ironhide ask. Bumblebee laughs.

"grow up Frenzy! she's blind it was an accident!" Bumblebee chuckles, walking off. Frenzy huffs, annoyed. Echo giggles, knock on the subspace door again.

"alright, alright squirt, just leave him be okay?" Barricade chuckles softly. Echo squeals, headbutting him happily and curl up in his arm. "Primus, all we need is another Reflect, don't go headbutting everything squirt." Barricade says, cuddling her gently. Echo giggles happily.

"Fin!" Echo giggles.

"Fin doesn't want to come out to play." Barricade chuckles softly. "she's getting pretty good at new words." Barricade says.

"she thinks she has to make up for the fact Remix can't talk." Ironhide snorts, sipping his cube. Barricades been on base long enough that Ironhide doesn't actively worry about him with the sparklings, so he can relax.

Hide.

is he done?

yeah. I'm on my way to the rec room with him now.

how is he?

still sleepy, but he's trying out his new parts.

good. Echo and I are already in here.

alright, be right there.

Barricade puts the sparkling down gently.

"be good squirt." Barricade smiles, grabbing himself a cube. he heads out of the rec room, patting Remix's head when he passes Reflect.

"hey." Ironhide waves.

"hey Hide." Reflect smiles, scooping up Echo when she waddles over. Echo purrs happily, cuddling up to him. she chirps at her brother, who gives a sleepy chirp back and yawns. Reflect walks over and settles Remix in his lap gently. "he's alright. just a little sleepy." Reflect murmurs. Ironhide cuddles his son gently. Remix yawns and cuddles up to him.

"thats alright. if he needs to lay here and nap thats fine. Prime wiggled me out of duty today so I could stick around and help you with them. if he's anything like you he'll be whiney until he wakes up." Ironhide smirks.

"I will smack you." Reflect glares.

"I know you will." Ironhide grins at him. "I've got him. go get you a cube and spend some time with Echo, alright?" Ironhide ask.

"yeah alright. I'm gonna grab a cube and probably a nap." Reflect murmurs.

"do you want to leave her with me?" Ironhide ask.

"nah, I'll take her with me. enjoy time with Remix." Reflect smiles at him. Ironhide watches him leave and cuddles his son.

"don't you dare start talking until your carrier gets back." Ironhide murmurs. Remix yawns.

"okay." Remix mumbles, curling up quietly. Ironhide drops his head back with a groan. he can hear a few amused chuckles, but ignores them. how was he supposed to tell Reflect that Remix had said hsi first word after being asked not to?