Okay I'm on a roll at updating...was very depressed writing this chapter and this is the last chapter. This New Years has been bad....and I want to cry. But I hope you gusy enjoy.

Chapter 12

How Can We Make this Work?

Walking into the med bay surprised Ratchet. Yes he had patients all the time and it was his job as the medic, but Ironhide came in all beat up and it seemed like he was forced to come here instead of voluntary. "What brings you here today Ironhide? Hardly see you in here at all. I thought you could handle all the pain."

Ironhide looked up at Ratchet with a pleading look. Ratchet looked on Ironhide's shoulder and there sitting was Richelle with an impatient look on her face and then he looked back at Ironhide. "Wow I never thought I'd see the day that Ironhide started taking orders from a human female."

Richelle looked up at Ratchet and said, "Fix him because I hate seeing him like this."

"Richelle these injuries are quite minor his body can repair most of them he doesn't need my help at all." Ratchet explained.

Richelle didn't say anything, but gave him a dirty look that nearly scared Ratchet the Hatchet to death and squeaked, "Okay I'll take a look at him to make sure he's fully functioning."

Richelle smiled and climbed down off of Ironhide and said, "I'll be back later Hide."

"Don't rush." Ironhide called back to her. Richelle looked back and blew him a kiss and continued out the door.

"Wow, I don't think I've seen you take orders from her before." Ratchet spoke.

"Well apparently she wants to make sure I'm okay. Though I'm pretty sure I'm fine but in order to keep her happy I got to have this check up. Human females can be very….emotional it seems." Ironhide replied.

Ratchet chuckled and started repairing Ironhide from his battles. One thing Ratchet knew about human females, which he knew a lot about them, but the most important was never get them mad or its going to be the end of the world, and Ironhide had just witnessed what a human female could do. Their anger was worse than a male and the female race was feared by all men if they didn't obey.

"Do you still want to make her your mate?" asked Ratchet teasingly.

Ironhide looked up at Ratchet and replied, "She's already my mate, and I don't mind her having her temper, she reminds me a lot of myself so I'm okay with it…it's just that she has to win or else I get a mouth full of nasty words from her."

"I'd never thought I'd see the day you'd actually make a human your mate, but that's not my business."

Ironhide looked up at Ratchet and retorted, "Be careful old man, you may get yourself a nice wrinkly old human female."

Ratchet took out his wrench and hit Ironhide on the hit head. "HEY! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING ME, NOT MAKING ME WORSE!" Ironhide yelled.

Ratchet just laughed and continued of what he was supposed to do instead of doing what he wanted to do in the first place. Once he had finally finished his business he let Ironhide get up and stretched around before he would go see Richelle. "Hey Ironhide…is Richelle being too hard on you?" Ironhide looked down to see Daniel standing there with Grace right next to him.

"She just wants to make sure I'm okay. I'm used to taking orders." Ironhide replied giving them a big smile.

"Yeah we know that, but by a human female?"

"Who's talking about me?"Asked a demanding voice behind them, the two humans turned around to see Richelle standing there with her arms crossed. Grace hid behind Daniel and pointed at him.

"Oh I see what side you're on." Daniel gritted through his teeth and smiled at Richelle, "Hey my dear! How are you? We were just talking about you."

"So I could see. Just what were you saying?"

"Nothing much really, just saying how wonderful you are," Daniel replied as his face started turning bright red.

"Oh yes Daniel I can believe that when your face is turning bright red."

"Richelle…do you think you're being too hard on Ironhide? I mean he can take a lot of hits. He's an Autobot. Yes you may be his mate…but come on." Daniel explained to Richelle.

"Let me talk to Ironhide alone Daniel…Grace. Please." Richelle spoke pointing toward the door. The two looked up at Ironhide and he nodded in agreement. Once the two had left she walked up to him and he picked her up.

"Is it a crime to be worried about you? I didn't want you leaking anything and dying because of it." Richelle whispered. Ironhide could tell she felt guilty, her pheromones were everywhere. She couldn't hide her feelings from him; he was far too complex for her to do anything of the sort. It was one the advantages of being and Autobot with heightened senses.

"No it's not a crime my dear. I'm not used to someone being worried about me. It's been a long time."

"What do you mean? You had a girlfriend in the past?" asked Richelle.

"Yes. Her name was Chromia, but I haven't seen her in millions of years so I don't know if she is alive or not." Ironhide sighed.

Richelle looked down feeling tears swell up in her eyes. What if she lived? Would Ironhide still want her or would he dismiss her to go to his lost love from many years ago. Ironhide could tell she was disturbed about what he had said. Sighing he put a finger under her chin and had her look up at him and said, "I want you to stop thinking what you're thinking right now. You are mine and I would never leave you for anyone."

"How I cannot think about it? How will I know you'll stay with me and not go running to her?"

"Chromia and I were not only mates, but were good friends who understood one another and if we got separated then if we found a new mate we'd understand a little hurt, but we would understand one another. Not try to kill the new mate." Ironhide explained.

Richelle looked at him even though it was good news to hear. She felt foolish that she thought she was the first one to have him not anyone else. She finally got enough courage and spoke, "Well I must say that's good to hear."

Ironhide gently stroked her on the head which he knew made her mad. "Hey I'm not some kind of pet you know."

"Oh I'm sorry dearest I forgot you hated that." Ironhide smiled. Richelle just gave him an evil look and then gently punched his hand for she knew if she punched it too hard she'd end up hurting herself. Ironhide started walking out of the med bay and down to his room. As he walked they passed Ratchet.

"So I see the human is okay with your repairs." Ratchet spoke.

"Yeah but you forgot to use my name. Richelle."

"Oh yes…sorry Richelle. Do you like him better all fixed up?"

Richelle looked at Ironhide and then back at Ratchet, "you did a good job on him."

Ratchet felt his chest swell. He did a good job, but very rare did someone compliment his work. Ironhide looked down at Richelle in his hand who had her hand on his chest and smiling up at him. He smiled back at her and then nodded at Ratchet and continued to his room. When they got to his room he opened the door and there inside were Daniel and Grace.

"About time you guys got here." Grace spoke and smiled up at the two.

Daniel smiled at them and then looked at Grace, "So you guys going to get married or something? Grace are you staying?"

Grace looked at Daniel and then up at Ironhide and Grace, "You know how much I love you Richelle right?"

"Of course."

"Well, I think I will go back home back in Maine, no idea what Daniel will do. But I'll visit."

Ironhide put Richelle on the ground and she hugged her friend. "Be safe okay?"

"I am, you better be safe, and you're dating the giant robot here."

Ironhide bent down to her level and said, "She'll be safe with me. The Decepticons won't get her again."

Daniel looked at Grace and then Richelle and said, "I think I'll stay in the area….more gay guys out here and I'll hopefully get a chance with someone."

Grace hugged Daniel and hugged Richelle. She needed to see her family again. Though she could see why Daniel was staying here. His family back home really didn't approve of him being gay and didn't really acknowledge him that much.

"You know you can come by anytime and visit any time you want…if you're bringing a male let us know in advanced." Richelle spoke.

"Of course I'll let you know. I love you all very much."

"Hound can take you home if you like since he was the one who brought you here." Ironhide spoke.

Grace looked up at Ironhide and replied, "Thank you very much."

Ironhide nodded and walked over to his desk and made an announcement for Hound to come to his room immediately. Once Hound had made it Ironhide told him he was to take Grace home. Hound nodded and transformed. Apparently Grace had been thinking about this long and hard for a while because she had everything packed and ready to go. She put her stuff in the back of the jeep and waved goodbye to her friends and Hound took off.

Ironhide looked down at the two humans with him and said, "Well it looks like you two are the only humans from your hometown staying."

Daniel looked at Richelle and then Ironhide and whispered, "I'll be leaving now."

Daniel left out of the room and Ironhide picked up Richelle and put her on his bed. He activated his holoform and started tenderly kissing her on the lips. The two were together forever now and no one would tear them apart.

Have a Happy New Year