Title: Twists & Turns - Telling The Family

Disclaimer: Don't own Transformers.

The ride home was less than pleasant. The damage to her pede translated to a sharp pain in her break pedal every time it was jostled, which was near constant. Ratchet was furious with her for running off and being damaged, which was always wonderful, and Bumblebee and Bulkhead kept asking her questions about the Con in the cave. She was also starving, and craving all sorts of Cybertronian sweets that didn't really exist anymore. Arriving was even worse.

Arcee was immediately hauled to the makeshift med berth and forced to sit still while Ratchet prodded her injuries and complained about how dirty she was. Bee and Bulkhead had told everyone she was back and had some sort of announcement to make, so everyone, children included, had gathered around to wait. It was highly unnerving to have everyone staring at her while she was trying to figure out how to break the news to everyone. It also didn't help that Miko was trying to goad the others into guessing what her announcement was. Ratchet finally shifted his attention from her pede and began scanning her systems.

Arcee figured she had about a minute before the medic blew the whistle for her, so she exhaled loudly to catch everyone's attention. "So, I think you all should know -"

"Oh no."

"Shut it, Ratchet." Arcee warned, glaring even though Ratchet was behind her, "What I'm trying to say is . . . I'm sparked."

There was silence. Arcee glanced over her shoulder, but Ratchet's face plates were frozen in a mixed expression of shock and horror, so she looked back to the others. They all seemed to still be processing what she'd just said; unsurprisingly, it was Miko who spoke first.

"What the heck does that mean? Is sparked a disease or something?"

"I think . . ." Jack started, staring at Arcee questioningly, "I think it means she's pregnant."

And the room exploded. Bumblebee started beeping and clicking so fast no one could understand him. Raf tried to translate, but even he could only make out every fifth word or so. Ratchet made a noise she'd never heard before that somehow conveyed at least twelve emotions at once.

"You're gonna have a sparkling?" Bulkhead sounded absolutely dumbstruck.

Miko whooped and punched the air before throwing an arm around the still confused Jack. "Congrats, Jack, you're gonna be an uncle!"

"Wait . . what?"

Ratchet made the noise again. Arcee groaned and buried her helm in her servos, feeling overwhelmed. Someone touched her arm, and she lifted her helm. Optimus Prime had more hope in his optics than she'd seen in vorns. She couldn't help but feel proud that it was her sparkling that brought that hope to the leader of the Autobots himself.

"Arcee." He spoke, and everyone else fell silent, "I know this must be hard for you, knowing Cliffjumper can't be here, but we are family. We will always be here for you, for both of you, through the good and the bad. This sparkling is a miracle, and we protect them from this war."

"A sparkling!" Everyone looked at Ratchet, the serious atmosphere woven by Optimus broken as he continued yelling, "Not again!"

Bumblebee beeped, offended. Arcee glared at him.

"Ratchet is actually rather fond of younglings." Optimus said, amused, "In fact, when -"

"That is not the point!" Ratchet said quickly, "We need to sparkling-proof the whole base, and I need more equipment, and we'll need a sparkling berth."

"Well," Arcee attempted to slide off the med berth, "While you're doing that-"

"Uh uh uh!" Ratchet snapped, "I am going to perform a proper scan on the protoform and then Optimus will escort you to your room, where you will remain on berth rest until we are certain no further damage was done."

"Fine." Arcee was irritated, but too tired for an argument with Ratchet. As he went about with his scan, she looked down at the children, who had gathered round her.

"Congratulations, Arcee." Raf said, smiling at her.

"Thanks, Raf."

"This is so exciting!" Miko cheered, "Our first alien robot baby!"

"Miko." Jack said in that warning tone he'd developed specifically for her.

"Be quiet." Ratchet ordered, "It's bad enough I don't have a medbay to kick you out of. Hm, a quinton along, nice strong spark pulse, chest plates are starting to seal . . . the sparkling is healthy. Now go have some energon before you fall over, you're drinking for two!"

Arcee mumbled irritably, but hopped off the berth and headed for energon anyway. She wasn't doing it because he said so, she was just hungry.

"So . . . how does having a sparkling even work?" Miko asked.

The room suddenly emptied of Autobots with surprising speed, save for Ratchet, who peered down at the humans. "I suppose I could give you a lesson on Cybertronian reproduction cycles."

"Huh?" Jack and Raf said together.

"Cool!" Miko said, as excited as ever.

"I thought 'the talk' from Mom was bad . . . " Jack said, traumatized.

"That was so not cool." Miko agreed with a shiver.

"There are so many words I can never use again." Raf said, his face haunted.

Everyone else was still in hiding.

And now the Autobots know! Heh, I love Ratchet. And traumatizing children. This was shorter than intended but whatever.

So whether Arcee bonds with someone at some point in the future is still being debated, but she stays single throughout this story so I have time to mull it over.

Also, unrelated question, any female Transformers characters from any verse you'd like to see in a fic?