Ironhide looks down at the sparkling in his arm when she shifts, chirping quietly in her sleep.

"sweet little sparkling." Ironhide says softly, nuzzling her gently. she chirps again quietly, purring softly. he watches her, before looking over at his bonded and second sparkling. "y'know little one, when the war started, I never thought I'd get to have a family. I never really wanted one either." Ironhide sighs, sitting back down carefully. he puts the box he was given on the floor and cradles the little sparkling in both servos, carefully rubbing her little cheeks with his thumbs. he gives a small smile, glancing up at his bonded. "but then I met your carrier and he changed everything little one. once he was just a stupid human, then he was a stupid human soldier... then he was a soldier. a stupid human soldier Optimus made me a guardian of. I'm not sure how we went from strangers to guardian and charge to friends... to... well, this." Ironhide murmurs, motioning around. he knows the little sparkling can't see it, but it doesn't stop him.

"Ironhide."

"Prime?"

"Barricade is back."

"I'll be right out."

"come on sweetspark, duty calls." Ironhide murmurs, standing back up. "you're not even a day old yet and duty calls." Ironhide chuckles softly, heading out of the room. she chirps softly in her sleep.

he kisses the little sparklings head, shifting her to the crook of his arm.

"my sweet little sparkling." Ironhide murmurs softly, rubbing her cheek gently. the sparkling purrs happily, but doesn't wake.

Ironhide makes his way out of the base to find Barricade standing anxiously outside. Optimus is waiting with him. the Con is beat up pretty good and there is energon pouring from his chest, where Ironhide knows the mechs subspace is.

"Prime, Barricade, whats this about?" Ironhide ask, glancing over him.

"I called you because I couldn't get Reflect. I assume he's in recharge." Optimus frowns.

"alright...?" Ironhide ask, confused. he shifts the sparkling, immediately gaining Barricades attention. his optics are drawn to the sparkling. "so whats this about?" Ironhide ask.

"me, needing help." Barricade mutters. Ironhide raises an optic ridge. Barricade glares, looking away. "Frenzy is in need of medical attention, I am... not in good condition either. it got out I was coming to see the sparklings and that I saved them instead of saving Ravage. I am... conceding. I'll take Reflects deal if its still on the table. I'll swap sides and fight for the Autobots, but only if your medic will help Frenzy. he has to help Frenzy. " Barricade says firmly, finally meeting Ironhides gaze. his words shock both the Prime and the Weapons specialist. "but I don't have time to delay. Frenzy is in urgent need of care." Barricade adds.

"what do you need me for?" Ironhide ask, glancing at Optimus.

"you're Reflects bondmate and Reflect is asleep. untraditional, I know, but your input will count as Reflects vote." Optimus assures. Ironhide nods immediately.

"fine, then because I know what Reflect would do in this situation, I have to say yes. come on. I can see energon leaking out of your subspace. if you want Ratchet to save Frenzy we should move fast." Ironhide says, heading inside. he misses the almost relieved look on Barricades face as he quickly follows after. he doesn't say anything about it, staying silent.

"you said yes. I'm surprised. even if that is what Reflect would do." Barricade says, following after him as quickly as he can. Ironhide grunts.

"my vote counts as Reflects. if I said no and it got back to him, he'd be pissed. besides, he's been trying to get you on our team since he was found by you as a sparkling. this is important to him for some reason, Primus only knows why. I wouldn't betray him like that. Reflect is my bondmate, I wouldn't hurt him like that. he trusts me to make choices he's not awake for." Ironhide says. he shifts his sparkling when she whines, immediately turning his gaze to her. "besides, I may not like you, but you saved not only my bondmate, but my sparklings. I owe you one." Ironhide adds, watching the little femme. "they would not be alive if you hadn't gone after Reflect instead of Ravage." Ironhide murmurs, rubbing the little sparklings cheek gently.

"I appreciate that." Barricade mutters.

"besides, I think you'll make a great addition to the team, don't tell anyone I said that or I'll kill you. these fragging sparklings have me going soft." Ironhide grumbles. Barricade looks over at the femme.

"y'know, I'm starting to think thats okay." Barricade murmurs. Ironhide glances over at him, before nodding.

"come on, be quick." Ironhide says.

"I'm trying. I don't want Frenzy dead." Barricade murmurs. Ironhied nods.

"Ratchet, set up the medbay."

"Prime already warned me. Jack and I are waiting. how bad is it?"

"Barricade doesn't look too bad, but I haven't seen Frenzy. he's leaking energon from his subspace so Frenzy has to be in pretty rough condition. there's energon everywhere."

"be quick."

Ironhide carefully pushes open the medbay door, letting Barricade in.

"leave Reflect alone while he rests. I promised him I'd keep you safe on this base and I intend to keep that promise if you're serious about changing sides. if you need anything let me know, but don't be surprised if I can't answer right away." Ironhide says, looking at Barricade. Barricade nods at him.

"alright, thanks." Barricade nods a little. the little femme in Ironhides arm lets out a loud wail.

"alright alright, hang on we're going back, there's no reason to have a tantrum." Ironhide soothes, heading back for his and Reflects room immediately.

thankfully the closer Ironhide gets to their room, the quieter the sparkling becomes. she's gone quiet by the time they get back into the room. the little mechling doesn't even seem to notice his twin had left the room, curled happily against Reflects chestplates, in sound recharge like his carrier.

"don't worry little one. I won't make you leave them again. I promise. I'm sorry." Ironhide murmurs gently. he lays the little femme down with her brother and carrier. "I'm sorry little one. I didn't mean to upset you. I'd never want to hurt you little one. I'm sorry." Ironhide adds softly. he rubs her cheek gently, leaning down to kiss the mechlings head gently. he smiles a little and leans over to kiss Reflects head, before heading out of the room.

he comes back with four cubes. one each for both little sparklings and one each for him and Reflect.

"baby?" Reflect mumbles, shifting. Ironhide sets the cubes on the desk and looks over.

"yes Will?" Ironhide asks, walking over to him. he crouches down and smiles at him. Reflect gives him a sleepy and confused look.

"Barricades here." Reflect mumbles. Ironhide nods.

"yeah, I know. Frenzy's hurt and Ratchets helping him." Ironhide murmurs softly.

"wanna go see him." Reflect mumbles. Ironhide sighs a little.

"alright hold on a moment, let me com Ratchet and see if you're okay to come in, okay?" Ironhide ask. Reflect nods a little, cuddling the sparklings gently. he kisses the little mechlings head, holding them tightly.

"m'kay don't make me leave them." Reflect says softly.

"I won't baby." Ironhide assures gently.

"Ratchet, Reflect wants to see Barricade."

"bring him down."

"if Jack isn't busy, send him to get the sparklings. we can't leave them and I can't carry all three of them at once."

"sure thing. he's on his way down."

ironhide nods to himself, before smiling at Reflect.

"wait just a minute okay? we've got help coming okay?" Ironhide murmurs.

"m'kay Hide." Reflect mumbles.

"you should be resting." Ironhide murmurs.

"I will, after I see 'Cade." Reflect yawns. Ironhide snorts.

"you know Ratchets going to sedate you when I bring you down there right?" Ironhide asks, amused.

"I know. maybe I'll stay in recharge if he does that." Reflect grumbles.

"someone call for back up?" Wheeljack grins, walking into their room.

"grab the sparklings and be careful with them. hurt them and I'll beat you." Ironhide growls, scooping the sparklings up gently. he passes them to Wheeljack.

"I wouldn't hurt them." Wheeljack murmurs. "I'll be careful Ironhide. I wouldn't hurt a sparkling." Wheeljack assures.

"you repeatedly bashed my bondmates head into the dryer while for 3 years while he was a sparkling. forgive me if I don't believe or trust you." Ironhide snaps sarcastically.

"leave him alone." Reflect growls sleepily. Ironhide hefts his bondmate into his arms, kissing his head gently.

"shhhhh." Ironhide soothes gently.

Ironhide easily carries Reflect to the medbay, Wheeljack following behind.

"what are you doing to my sparklings?" Reflect growls quietly, when the sparklings start whimpering.

"they're okay, they're just upset that neither of you are holding them." Wheeljack soothes gently. he speeds up a little to walk beside Ironhide. "they're alright. I promise you Reflect." Wheeljack murmurs.

"Hide?" Reflect mumbles.

"they're just fine Reflect. they're just a little too far from us. see? now that they're closer, they got quiet." Ironhide murmurs softly. he carries Reflect into the medbay, carefully pushing the door open with his back. Wheeljack follows him in with the sparklings.

Barricade is sitting silently, staring down a berth with Frenzy's fragile form laying on it. Ratchet is busy working on Barricades back.

"alright, this is where you have to walk." Ironhide murmurs, carefully putting Reflect down. Reflect stumbles a little, but Ironhides arms are immediately wrapped around his waist. "easy." Ironhide says softly.

"I'm okay." Reflect mutters. Ironhide lets him go after a moment, before turning and taking the sparklings from Wheeljack. they'd stay calm longer with Ironhide than they would the inventor. "Barricade, how is he?" Reflect asks. Barricade frowns silently. "Ratchet?" Reflect asks, looking at his adoptive caretaker.

"he was crushed. pretty good to. took a bad beating. Barricade grabbing him and tried to transform around him, but accidentally crushed him a little when he was shot. he'll live though, they both will. Frenzy's going to need some work, but he'll recover. Barricades going to stay in here until we get what was supposed to be your room cleaned out. since you aged up and moved in with Ironhide, we've been using it for storage. by the time Frenzy is healthy enough to leave, the room will be cleared out and it'll be their room." Ratchet assures. Reflect nods walking closer to Barricade. he's careful not to startle the mech.

"hey, Barricade? you heard him. Ratchet says Frenzy is going to be just fine. he's the best medic in the universe y'know. Frenzy will be alright." Reflect murmurs, carefully easing himself onto the berth beside Barricade. the ex Con is silent, only looking up when the mechling in Ironhides arm starts screaming.

"hey now, let your brother go." Ironhide frowns, gently prying the little femme's servo off her brothers armor. "don't hurt him." Ironhide adds. Reflect gets up immediately.

"give me him." Reflect huffs, reaching for his son. "I can't believe you let her hurt him." he scoffs, snatching the little mechling and holding him tightly.

"me?!" Ironhide growls.

"don't yell in the medbay." Reflect says calmly. he cuddles the the sparkling gently, kissing his head.

"I didn't do anything." Ironhide growls, cuddling his daughter. the mechling whimpers and cuddles to his carrier.

"its alright." Reflect soothes gently, rubbing the sparklings cheek gently. Barricade smiles gently, looking at Reflect. Reflect looks up at him. "if you're in a good contition, you can hold him." Refelct murmurs. Barricade glances over at Ratchet.

"you're good, just try not to move too much." Ratchet assures. Reflect walks over and hands him the sparkling gently. Barricade holds him carefully, looking down at the sparkling in his arm.

"so Frenzy will be alright?" Reflect asks, walking over to the little Ex-Con. he just barely bigger than the twins and it makes his spark hurt thinking about that.

"yes. thankfully, because your organization skills, we have all the parts I need to fix him up. I did some basic repairs, he need more indepth repairs, but he's not strong enough for that right now. I'll get to those in a few days when he improves, but I expect he'll be walking out of here in a week or so, depending on his recovery process." Ratchet assures. Reflect nods.

"good." Reflect nods. Barricade looks back down at the sparkling in his arm.

"why would you trust me immediately like this? I ask for help and you idiots just give it." Barricade growls. Reflect turns to him and shrugs, giving a half smirk.

"because I know you wouldn't hurt the sparklings and that means you wouldn't hurt any of the bots they love or care about. I trust you. I've trusted you with my life before, but you make one wrong move and literally no one will have the chance to kill you before I do." Reflect growls.

"I won't hurt them." Barricade murmurs. "or any of you. I mean it. you save Frenzy and I'll swap teams." Barricade assures. he smiles back down at the little sparkling.

"Frenzy will be just fine Barricade, I promise." Ratchet assures. Reflect reaches over and swoops the sparkling from Ironhides arm, the bigger mech doesn't fight him, simply lets him have the sparkling. Ratchet watches Reflect. "you better get you a cube and get comfortable, you're not leaving the medbay for at least 24 hours. you're getting some rest." Ratchet says firmly. Reflect looks up at him.

"but what about the sparklings?" Reflect ask.

"they'll be fine with me." Ironhide assures. "you're going to hurt yourself." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect nods a little.

"okay." Reflect mutters.

"I've got a cube for you here. so have a seat and enjoy your cube. I can't believe you're still awake. I refused to wake up for at least three Earth days." Wheeljack huffs. Reflect shrugs a little and takes the cube Wheeljack offers. he has a seat on the berth behind Barricades.

"keep the sparklings full and distracted and they won't cry when Reflects not around, well, at least not too much." Ratchet mutters. Ironhide nods at him, watching his bonded cuddle their daughter. the little femme stretches, chirping happily. her happy chirp is immediately followed by another chirp, higher in pitch. the little mechling Barricade holds, chirps back quietly, rolling in the Ex-Cons arm, stretching with a whine, before curling back up.

"hmm." Wheeljack murmurs. Ironhide looks over at him.

"what?" Ironhide ask.

"nothing... just... the were basically talking to each other." Wheeljack murmurs.

"it was a twin check. the chirp at different frequencies to find the other. one special call for their twin." Ratchet says.

"actually, they're words." Reflect says. everyone immediately turns to him. "what? you guys can't understand that?" Reflect ask.

"no. you're not supposed to understand sparkling chatter anymore." Ironhide says, optic ridge raised.

"yeah well, you're not supposed to just age up the way I did either, but here we are." Reflect huffs.

"what did they say?" Wheeljack ask, curiously.

"she said where and he said what sounded like here, some words are jumbled or simply just baby talk, but that was plain as day." Reflect frowns, looking at the little sparkling. "its not much different from the way Bumblebee talked before Ratchet fixed his vocal processor. actually, its just about the same thing just... like a different dialect. its interesting. you could understand Bumblebee right?" Reflect ask.

"well, yeah, Autobots could." Ironhide says.

"sometimes. generally he was shouting about kicking ass." Barricade mutters. Reflect nods slightly.

"interesting." Reflect murmurs. "can any over you make the noises Bumblebee could?" Reflect ask.

"we all can." Wheeljack assures. Ironhide lets out a string of sputtering chirps and whirls the way Bumblebee used to speak. both the twins immediately burst into giggles and the Weapons Specialist chuckles, smiling at his sparklings, before looking at Reflect.

"its something all of our vocal processors can do, you skipped the stage, but a lot of Younglings used that way of talking back on Cybertron." Ironhide explains.

"and a lot of caregivers used it with sparklings, it was generally used for Allsparked sparklings. we believe it provided them some comfort. I used to talk to Nitro like that." Ratchet says. Reflect nods.

"interesting... I couldn't understand what Ironhide was saying at all, but you guys could." Reflect murmurs.

"ironically, the sparklings don't understand it either, they just like the sounds." Ironhide says. "and I'll teach you." Ironhide assures. "later." Ironhide adds. Reflect nods a little, sipping his cube. he looks down at his daughter, who is gnawing on his armor.

"y'know I'd be worried about you eating the paint off my armor if I hadn't eating so fucking much myself." Reflect mutters. Ironhide snorts. the little mechling squeals, grabbing hold of Barricades servo to teeth on it happily.

"I think your sparklings are hungry." Barricade mutters.

"they just had a cube not long ago." Ironhide says.

"but twins generally eat more when younger." Wheeljack reminds him.

"true." Ironhide says. Wheeljack grabs two sparklings cubes and hands one to Barricade and the other to Ironhide. the black mech gently takes his daughter from Reflect to feed her.

"you and Frenzy are going to be just fine." Ratchet assures, patting Barricades shoulder gently.

"he's the one I'm worried about. I didn't realize he wasn't in. and I crushed him." Barricade says, staring at the downed minicon. "lucky I didn't kill him." Barricade adds.

"ah, those little guys are always so tough." Wheeljack assures. Reflect clears his throat.

"didn't Mikaela cut Frenzys head off at one point?" Reflect ask. Barricade growls.

"yeah. I remember that." Ironhide says, shifting the femme in his arm. the little mechling chirps around his cube, drawing Barricades attention back down to him.

"alright kid, come on, you need rest." Ratchet says, walking over to Reflect. Reflect sets his empty cube down and lays on the berth. "we'll wake you if we need you." Ratchet assures.

Ironhide watches the medic sedate his bonded silently, shifting their daughter in his arm. he knows its for the best, but something just doesn't settle in his spark right when Reflects side of the bond goes quiet. not quiet like he's offlined, thankfully, Ironhide didn't need a PTSD panic attack while holding his sparkling, but quiet. the unusually calm quiet that comes with being unconscious. his spark and processor don't like it, but keeping his optics on his bonded soothes the memories.

"Ironhide." Wheeljack says firmly. the mech startles, turning to Wheeljack. the inventor looks concerned. "you alright?" Wheeljack ask.

"peachy." Ironhide mutters. he looks down at the sparkling in his arm. she's finished her cube and so has his son. he wastes no time snatching the sparkling from Barricade and walking out silently.

"what the hell?" Barricade mutters. Wheeljack and Ratchet share a glance, before Ratchet nods him after the mech. Wheeljack nods his head in agreement and follows after Ironhide. somethings off with the mech even if he doesn't want to admit it.

"Ironhide?" Wheeljack asks, running after him quickly. Ironhide doesn't answer him, just heads for his and Reflect room.

he's just barely made it into the door when Wheeljack finally catches up. he's careful not to grab the mech, he doesn't startle easy unless something is wrong and Wheeljack doesn't want to make him drop the sparklings. Wheeljack carefully follows him into the room.

"Ironhide, are you okay?" Wheeljack ask.

"I'm just fine Jack." Ironhide grumbles.

"why don't I take them?" Wheeljack asks, gently taking the sparklings from the mech. he gently sets them down on Reflect and Ironhides berth. "alright man, you're freaking me out a little. can you tell me whats wrong?" Wheeljack.

"nothings wrong. I don't like the way his side is so quiet. it brings back bad memories Jack." Ironhide mutters. Wheeljack frowns a little.

"I know... but you just have to remember. he's still here. he's just asleep. don't worry on that, focus on the sparklings." Wheeljack says carefully.

"I know, I'm fine." Ironhide mutters, cuddling the sparklings. "just go. I'm fine. the sparklings are fine. they'll keep me grounded." Ironhide mutters, sitting on his berth with the sparklings.

"I'm not just leaving you alone with them." Wheeljack frowns.

"I would never hurt my fucking sparklings." Ironhide growls.

"no I know you wouldn't, but I don't know if you're in the right mind to calm one of them down when they start crying because they're too far from Reflect." Wheeljack murmurs softly. "I know you wouldn't hurt them, but I'm worried about them hurting you. I'll be here to keep them calm." Wheeljack soothes, plopping on the chair at their desk. Ironhide growls quietly.

Ironhide stares silently at his sparklings, desperately attempting to keep the memory of WIlls death from the forefront of his mind.

Wheeljack watches him, but it seems as though Ironhide has it under control. the sparklings don't cry, they don't even whine, not even when they wake up. they chirp and click happily, cuddling up to Ironhide. Reflects side of the bond is silent, but it doesn't bother the sparklings, who are just content to wiggle and squirm against each other and their creator.

"Ironhide?" Wheeljack ask.

"what?" Ironhide ask.

"I'm going to get me a cube. its been three hours. I'm gonna grab one each for the sparklings you want one?" Wheeljack ask.

"yeah sure." Ironhide mutters. Wheeljack nods and gets up, heading out of the room. Ironhide shifts his sparklings, heaving a small sigh. "I know you're alright Will, I know you're Reflect, but sometimes its hard to remember you're the same." Ironhide sighs softly, looking at the sparklings. the sparklings chirp quietly both staring up at him, even if the little femme can't see. "don't you two start sitting up or doing nothing until your carrier can see you do it." Ironhide mutters. the sparklings stare at him quietly, so he lets out a small chirp the way Bumblebee used to. immediately it sends both into a fit of giggles. Ironhide looks up when the door opens. Wheeljack smiles, walking in.

"they sound happy." Wheeljack murmurs.

"they are. they're generally happy little sparklings when they're not crying." Ironhide murmurs, gently rubbing their cheeks with his thumbs. Wheeljack walks over, sitting three cubes on the berth.

"here, two for the sparklings and one for you." Wheeljack murmurs, smiling a little at him.

"thanks Wheeljack." Ironhide murmurs. "take one of them and see if they want a cube." Ironhide says. Wheeljack nods, scooping up the little mechling.

"hello little one, do you want a cube?" Wheeljack smiles, scooping up a sparkling cube. he offers it to the mechling, who turns his head with an angry squeal. "okay okay. you don't have to eat it if you don't want to." Wheeljack soothes, putting the cube. Ironhide grabs his own cube, sipping it while the little femme in his lap gnaws on her cube, not quite hungry but willing to teethe on the cube and stay quiet for the time being. Ironhide smiles at her. "you okay?" Wheeljack ask, softly. he watches Ironhide carefully.

"I know what Reflect hsa said and I know what Prime said.... but I just worry about her." Ironhide mumbles. Wheeljack nods.

"Reflect says he wants to name them early." Wheeljack murmurs.

"y'know twins end up named early so creators don't have to refer to them both as 'little one' or 'sparkling'." Ironhide murmurs.

"you come up with any names?" Wheeljack ask.

"he has a few in mind from the things the Primes have told him. he has one he wants set for her, but he's going to let me name the mechling... how do you pick a name for someone who hasn't shown whats special about them yet?" Ironhide frowns to himself. Wheeljack shrugs.

"you just pick one. I mean, if he ends up getting an ability that doesn't fit the name, you can change it to one that does." Wheeljack assures. "y'know we named Reflect for his mimic ability and I haven't seen him us it once since he changed." Wheeljack murmurs. "we told him he could always change it, but he says he likes it." he chuckles.

"Ive seen him use it only once. he copied my canons right after he changed." Ironhide murmurs. "he still has the ability. he just grew out of using it as a toy." Ironhide shrugs.

"any ideas for the little mechling?" Wheeljack asks. the plating on Ironhides shoulders shifts, as though the question bothers him in one way or another. or perhaps its the answer.

"Annie always demanded Will and I give her a little brother." Ironhide murmurs. Wheeljack snorts. he'd heard the toddlers demands before.

"yeah. I remember." Wheeljack chuckles.

"she wanted a little brother she could name Remix, because she liked the music Jazz made." Ironhide says, looking over at his son. Wheeljack smiles a little.

"Remix, its cute." Wheeljack murmurs, looking at the sparkling.

"I'm not sure how Reflect will react, so I haven't suggested it yet..." Ironhide murmurs softly. Wheeljack smiles at him.

"he'll like it. Ironhide, Annabelle wasn't your sparkling. you two didn't have her, but she was as close to it as you could get. Annie and Will both would be honored if you used the name for your sparkling. don't be afraid to bring it up to Reflect." Wheeljack soothes, smiling. he pauses and frowns, before shaking his head.

"whats up?" Ironhide ask.

"we're needed in the medbay. trouble with Barricade." Wheeljack says, heading out of the room with the mechling. Ironhide follows quickly.

"wait, Barricade is the trouble or Barricade is in trouble?" Ironhide asks.

"not sure yet." Wheeljack mutters.