Chapter 1, The Waiting Parents.

Location: Planet Cybertron, Iacon City, Nexus Apartment Complex, Floor 16; Apartment number 214, Home to Ariel & Optimus.

(From Optimus’s point of view)

I love my new home, only been here for a little while and already I’ve settled in. I mean the view from this balcony to second to none. I can see the entire city of Iacon from here.

"Optimus dear." A voice said behind me.

I should change what I said just there, our, our home.  I turned around to see my dear love of my life, Ariel.

You wouldn't believe it, but she's pregnant, she doesn't look it but she is.

She smiled, came up to me, hugged and kissed me; I touched her chest, felt one of my kids move.

"Shouldn't you be lying down my dear?" I asked.

"Hey, remember what First Aid said, he said I should continue on as normal."

I kissed her again, she went back into the living room to lie down and read her book.

She married me and found out she was pregnant before the Allspark was found, then again we only found the Allspark about week and a half ago.

Three months in, one month to go before the birth. I remember about two months ago, First Aid said it could be a boy and a girl. 

What should we call our Sparklings? I had asked my wife countless times, but we don't have a clue.

"I'm glad that monster isn’t in town right now!" Ariel shouted to me.

"What monster?" I asked.

"Your horrible Step-brother, Megatron. I don't want him anywhere near me when I give birth!!"

"Alright, alright!! Remember what the doctor said; don't get your Energon pressure up." I moved back into the room and continued, "And besides my brother isn't a monster..... yes, he's mean, but that's just him."

She said nothing to that. She hates my Step-brother.

The last I recall seeing him was just after we found the Allspark, before I had that talk with Sentinel Prime. You wouldn’t believe what Sentinel said to me. He said I was a Prime and when he retires I should take over as the leader of Cybertron (or something like that). I told him that I didn’t believe him and that I wasn’t ready for leadership. He was very disappointed when I said that.

*Heavy sigh* Well, on the bright side Ariel's got one more scan at the hospital soon.

I closed the balcony doors and sat back down, across from my wife.

I started to relax when Ariel asked."What do you want to name them, Optimus dear?"

"Honestly, I don't know." I thought for a second about star constellations then I said, "How about, if ones a boy, Draco?"

I got up and sat down besides her, she sat up and I put my hand on top of the spark chamber, feeling the Sparklings reaction to the names.

"Draco, that’s a nice name." She replied.

I felt a small kick from one of them as she said the name.

"Okay, by the looks of things he likes it as well. Okay, how about, if ones a girl, Phoenix?"

"No, that's a boy’s name!"

"Are you sure?" I asked.

She nodded her head.

But I felt a punch from one of them.

"Well, I think she likes it, but let me improve on that name. How about Phoenixfire?"

This name started the unborn child kicking and punching, we both looked at each other, she felt it, and I felt it.

"Well Phoenixfire and Draco it is." She said.

*Sigh* I still remember the night she told me....

FLASHBACK

3 months ago.

I had just come home from work and was studying some reports on the living-room table.

She came in and sat across from me, she looked a bit worried.

I knew something was the matter so I stopped writing.

"Optimus... I've got something to tell you." She said, keeping her voice low.

We held a silence, then, "You're going to be a father...”

I was shocked at hearing this, at first I thought she was joking, but the serious look changed my mind.

"I'm going to be a what?" I asked.

"I'm pregnant you IDIOT!! Opps sorry, side affect of all this."

At first I never said anything, "Did you go to the doctors?" I then asked.

"Yeah. I’ve felt ill for the last few days so I went to First Aid. Don't know how many, don't know what gender it is, all I know is that I'm pregnant."

I smiled at the news and shouted, "This calls for a celebration!!"

"Ok honey, but, tonight don't go out drinking, specially with that no good brother of yours, Megatron.

Every time you have a drink with him you get in a fight!! Oh sorry!" She said.

"No, no your right, besides he's the one who starts the fights, I just get dragged in."

She started laughing to herself.

END OF FLASHBACK

Now we wait.

Just then the phone rang and my wife picked it up.

“Hello? Sentinel Prime, nice to hear from you again. Oh heard that rumour then. Yeah it’s true. Two we think. I know how could he keep such big news from his friends. True, Magnus would only get jealous and Megatron, he’s already jealous of us. You want to speak with Optimus?”

I shook my head quickly and whispered. “I’m not here!”

She nodded her head and said into the phone. “He’s not here at the moment, can I take a message?”

For a few minutes there was silence as Sentinel said something to her.

She then sighed, and then yelled “OPTIMUS!! IT’S SENTINEL PRIME!!”

I got up and took the phone off her as she went into the kitchen to tidy up some more.

“Good evening Sentinel. Before we continue on, what did you say to her just then?” I asked.

“I said that I knew you were there and not to lie to me.” He answered.

“But how did you know?”

“When she says ‘He’s not here at the moment, can I take a message?’ that usually means you’re there and you’re just avoiding me.”

I sighed deeply and he continued. “For the last week you’ve been avoiding me and don’t deny it, why Optimus why?”

“Look Sentinel, I respect you as a father figure and all but you know fine well why I’ve been avoiding you.” I said.

“If you mean that talk we had...”

“What else could it be? Look I’ve got enough on my plate at the moment with Sparklings on the way and a family to run. I’m not ready to lead, give that job to someone who can do and who wants it. And I’m sorry I couldn’t accompany you to Trypticon but unlike you, I have family commitments.”

“Optimus will shut up for two minutes and listen to me. I didn’t phone you about that. Megatron’s been attacked.” He said.

I stiffened when I heard that and said. “What?”

“You’re brother’s been attacked by a Driller monster. He was talking to Shockwave in Thetacon when a field trip of Hatchlings got attacked along with their guardian. They of course fought the monster and they beat it into a retreat, thank Primus.”

“Was Megatron injured?” I asked.

“No, not as I know. But it came close.” He answered.

“Where is he now?”

“He’s heading to Trypticon. This brings us to the second thing I phoned you about.” He said.

“What is it?” I said, knowing he bringing this back to that chat we had.

“Look you remember the chat we had last time we met and you said something about science, how you loved to study it or something like that. Anyway I have a brilliant idea.”

“I’m listening.” I said.

“I was thinking about that conversation we had and how about this, instead of one leader ruling the planet. How about two leaders co-ruling and what if both leaders commanded two different parts of the job. Like the Defense Force and the Science Division. Thus said leaders have time to do other stuff.”

I can see where this is going before you say, so I asked the question I knew he wanted me to ask.

“And whom would be these leaders?”

“You and Megatron.”

Oh no, that was asking for trouble.

“Who would be commanding what?” I asked.

“Since you are a mech of science Optimus, you would be commanding the Science Division. Your Step-brother Megatron since he has a knack for violence and guns he’ll command the Defense Force and will acquire the name ‘Lord High Protector of Cybertron’.”

Well, maybe this won’t cause trouble, especially since he’s getting both his favourite job and name title.

“That sounds a good idea. Have you told Megatron yet?” I said and I meant it too.

“Yes I told him yesterday, that’s why he’s heading to Trypticon. I’m going to announce this at the first Cybertron Unification Day celebration. So do you think you can make it to Trypticon by tomorrow morning?” He asked.

“I don’t know, I think Ariel might have something to say about that.” I said.

“Wait Ariel, Optimus you’re a mech you can make your own decisions. Don’t let her make them for you.” He said.

I sighed as Ariel came in and sat down.

“I’ll take the next high-speed train to Trypticon and I’ll meet you tomorrow morning. Bye.” I said putting the phone down.

I turned around to face my wife; she was still sitting down but with her legs crossed and an impatient look on her face.

“What did he say?” She asked coldly.

So I told her about Sentinel’s idea (I left out what happened to Megatron in case she laughed), about the two leaders thing and who would be leading what.

“Megatron leading the Defense Force!?! Has Sentinel lost his old mind??” She cried when I told her.

“I actually think it’s a good idea.” I answered.

“Optimus you know what he’s like. Giving him power over the defence of this planet will cause nothing but trouble and you know it.” She said.

“Look honey, don’t worry about it. I’ll keep an optic on him, just for you.” I said as I kissed her on the head.

“You’re heading to Trypticon then.” She asked.

I nodded my head and she then asked. “When are you coming back?”

“Tomorrow night, why?” I said.

“My hospital scan is tomorrow afternoon, do you think can make that?”

“I think I can, I’ll phone you if I can’t make it.” I said.

I headed towards the door and as I opened it, I turned back and asked. “Will you be okay on your own?”

“Don’t worry about us honey, Phoenixfire, Draco and I will be fine.” I said with a warm smile.

I said bye and left for Trypticon.