Domestic Salvation

Chapter 9: Homecoming

The two holograms strode down the stairs of the federal court building with smiles on their faces. "Well, we won." Ratchet nodded. "That was …a challenge."

"A show in restraint like no other." Optimus agreed and handed the manila file over to Ratchet's hologram; that took it. "Human regulations regarding children are major things."

"It wasn't that difficult, just time consuming." Ratchet stated. "Thank the all-spark we had a good Lawyer to help us navigate some of the nuances of Human politics and law."

"Mr. Richardson, Mr. Prime!" A child advocate councilor came down the stairs and broke their conversation. She adjusted her glasses and smiled.

Optimus' hologram turned and adjusted his coat. "Yes ma'am? Is there something we can do for you?"

"Yes, there is. The Judge would like to speak with you both one more time if that's okay." She said softly pushing a stray lock of blonde hair behind her ear. "Nothing's wrong, the judge just wants to ask you a question or two."

June Darby stood beside an ambulance on the street with Rafael. "June please put Rafael into…." He paused. "Into my car please; we'll be right back."

June walked forward and took the folder from the medic and nodded and turned Rafael away as the two men went back into the courthouse.

Rafael smiled as Ratchet's door opened and he hopped in. June moved around to the driver's side. "What's going on Doctor?" June broached.

"We are going in now, I need to focus on my hologram. We'll talk in a moment." He didn't say anything more.

A week later, some of the bots were parked in the street and driveway of the home that was positioned on the far outskirts of town. Neighbors were close but quiet, and none seemed the wiser.

Ratchet stood over the sink and turned off the water as he set the kitchen towel down on the counter. He turned at the sound of running feet. "Rafael no running in the house!" He stated.

"Sorry!" Rafael paused at the door to the back of the house. "Didn't mean to…I was excited."

"Homework?" Ratchet drove it home as he did every night.

"It's finished." Rafael stated.

"Did Optimus check it?" Ratchet came around the kitchen table.

"Yes sir." Rafael waited, though impatiently. "Can I go outside now?"

"Yes you may." Optimus said, as he walked into the room with a gesture outside.

Rafael tore into the back yard pulling the door closed behind him. Miko, Jack, and Bulkhead's hologram awaited him in the backyard.

"It's good to see him outside again." Optimus nodded. "This is a good place for all of us. It has been most beneficial for you as well."

"Where's Ella?" Ratchet asked quietly not wanting to focus on himself right now.

"Still sleeping." Optimus stated and walked to the patio door seeing Rafael outside with Miko and Jack. They had nerf guns and were littering the yard with foam darts. Bulkhead was just trying to pick up the tiny things without being shot at.

Ella; formally Ella Esquivel, was the second youngest of Rafael's biological siblings. The rest of the children had been placed in permanent or temporary care, but she was left, and homes were just too full. The courts had asked them if they would be interested in adopting her as well. Optimus didn't even bat a holographic eyelash, he and Ratchet said yes.

Ella was two and though she was a handful, she was a joy for Optimus, and even Ratchet. "We did the right thing didn't we?" Ratchet asked quietly looking outside.

"You would ask that now?" Optimus smiled and wrapped his arm around the other. "Of course we did." He gave a soft nod. "This is our home…these are our children." He smiled.

"Three children what were we thinking?" Ratchet laughed slightly but it was very nervous.

"We were thinking about our lives." He nodded. "June will move in, take over our former Master Bedroom." He stated. "She'll help us with Ella and Rafael with school." He nodded. "And daycare."

"It's a huge responsibility…and the Decepticons are still out there." Ratchet stated. "I needn't remind you."

"Training will intensify for us all. Wrench must be prepared." Optimus agreed. "If something happens to use we must make sure he is capable of taking care of his human siblings."

"And what of Rafael? What of our little Ella?" Ratchet shook his helm. "If the cons were to take hold of them." It seemed a terrible thought.

"We will do all in our power to see that they are safe." Optimus smiled down at him. The soft rustling sounds came from the monitor in the kitchen. "I believe she's awake."

Ratchet nodded. "I'll go retrieve her." He stated softly. "You need to get ready to head back to base. Make sure Wrench has turned in his studies for the evening. I'm still missing reports from two of his online instructors."

Optimus nodded. "I'll stay for a few hours and then I'll be back here. I won't leave you overnight." He stated softly his hand touching Ratchet's cheek. "You know that."

"Yes, but next weekend when we are back at base…" Ratchet murmured low. "Your circuits are mine."

Optimus nodded and sealed his eyes as the little girl on the other end of the monitor began to cry out. "Dah-dee!"

Optimus pointed at Ratchet. "That's you."

June heard the exchange as she entered from the garage door into the house; her arms filled with groceries. "How can you tell, aren't you both Daddy?"

"I am Daddy…as it stands." Ratchet pointed at Optimus. "Ella calls him Father." He stated.

"Well that does make it easy." June smiled as Ratchet took his leave.

Optimus' hologram came to her side helping her with some of the bags. "Is this everything?" He asked. "Quite a few bags."

"Yes." She smiled offloading some of the bags into his hands and setting a few up on the counter. "Milk straight to the fridge."

"Yes we don't want a repeat of last time." Optimus nodded and lowered the bag around the large jug before moving it to the fridge.

"So she calls you father?" June asked through a bright smile.

"Something like that…more like Fa-dur." Optimus smirked. "Ratchet is more like Da-dee." He shrugged. "It's acceptable."

Ratchet entered with the little girl who clutched against him. She held her little blanket and her hand rubbed at her eyes. Upon seeing Optimus she reached out. "Optimus, I'll help June, Ella will always prefer you to me if she can get to you." He stated.

Optimus smiled turning to the little girl and offering out his hands. "Just for a few minutes my Spark I have to go to base in a short time." Moving into Prime's hands the little girl smiled at him and pulled at his nose. "Yes little one."

"Oussidie!" Ella yelled. "Affe!"

Ratchet sighed. "Take her outside to see Rafael for a bit before you go." He said putting pasta boxes in the far cabinet. "Her shoes are on the couch…don't you dare let her go out barefoot again."

"Yes Ratchet." Optimus shook his head and moved into the living room to fetch his daughter's shoes.

"No splinters or scrapes like last time." Ratchet repeated. "There are not enough kisses for that little one's ouchies." He rolled his eyes.

Optimus shook his head as he sat the girl on the couch and began to put her shoes on her small feet. "No." She said and pulled the shoe off and tossed it.

"Ella please," Optimus leaned back grabbing the shoe she had tossed, and when he turned around she had hopped off the couch. Tearing away with one shoe on and one sock foot; blanket trailing behind. "Oh no you don't." he grabbed her lifting her up and all she did was giggle. Optimus rolled back on the floor and tossed the girl up a few times, just enjoying her company. He smiled up. "I love you." He laughed at her, and she giggled in response.

Wrench smiled as the ground bridge opened. "Hello Creator." He smiled and pushed down the handle deactivating the ground bridge.

The semi came fully into the middle of the room before transforming. Optimus' hands found their casual place behind his back. "Wrench it's good to see you." He looked up. "How are your studies?"

"Going well. I am still awaiting grades from two of my correspondence instructors." Wrench said. "But I forwarded the other grade information to your inbox."

"I saw them, Ratchet and I are both very proud of you. Please ensure when your grade reports come back you forward them. Ratchet is…expectantly awaiting your grades." He smiled and put a hand on the mech's shoulder. "I'm going to check on the others."

"Creator?" Wrench seemed nervous as he stepped forward.

Optimus put his hand on the orange and blue pickup's shoulder. "What is it Wrench?"

"Well Arcee and Wheeljack are in the medical bay …they've….well they've been arguing a lot." He said softly. "A lot of a lot."

"About that box of sparks?" Optimus inquired.

Wrench gave a low nod. "Yeah, like they can't make up their minds or something." He said and stepped out of his Creator's grasp. "I hope everything is going well, but I don't know if I can handle anymore of their yelling."

"Where is Bumblebee?"

"Bumblebee is on Patrol. He should be back in a few minutes." Wrench said with a smile.

"Thank you my son." Optimus gave him a nod and left him.

"You're welcome Creator." The youngest Autobot turned back to the console to monitor readouts and to finish his studies.

Optimus looked back a moment an smiled, he was very much like himself, but looked more like Ratchet when his face molded into seriousness. It was spark warming to see.

He left his youngest child and made his way down the main corridor. The clear medical bay doors gave way and both Autobots turned to face him. Arcee was leaned up against a Medical berth her arms folded over her torso.

Wheeljack was faced away from her palms down on the next berth in thought. "Hey Prime." Wheeljack pushed up and turned slightly.

"Problems? Wrench believes you've been having a disagreement." Optimus strolled in. "Perhaps I could be of assistance."

"I just don't know what to do." Wheeljack said calmly. "There's not enough raw material or time to make bodies for them. They've been in stasis for far too long."

Arcee stepped forward her arms dropping. "Look Wheeljack you have to try." She said. "Would you let their sparks just gutter out? Without knowing?" She sounded hurt.

"They would be vegetative. They aren't even yours Arcee." He stated calmly. "They are mine."

She nodded obviously hurt by the accusation, and she turned on her heels, leaving the two mechs alone.

Optimus noted Wheeljack made no attempt to follow, and no attempt to right the wrong. He just turned back to the box with hurt optics. "I'm sorry guys." He murmured low to the box. "I just, there's no way to save you all…"

Optimus came forward and looked at the box. "Their scans?"

"The sparks are basically inert." He sighed. "Even if I transferred them to bodies, there's no telling if they'd hold, or the degradation to which they may already be effected."

Optimus nodded. "The decision is yours." He placed a hand on the Wrecker's shoulder.

"I um." Wheeljack forced himself to look up. "What would you do?" He asked.

Optimus looked away a moment composing his thoughts. This question had so much weight to it he didn't possibly with to drop it, because the outcome would be catastrophic to Wheeljack's emotional state.

"Wheeljack, as you know I myself have three children." He smiled. "One of which is of my own code, two of which are not." He stated softly. "My love extends to each and every one without question." Turning to face Wheeljack he smiled. "Are you still able to merge?"

"Of course." He said softly.

"Than there is hope, and I have a solution if you are open to suggestion." Optimus smiled at him softly.

"Of course." Wheeljack said with a low tone.

"They are inert, this means that even if there were bodies built and their sparks were transferred. They would not be aware, nor would they be fully functional. Is that correct?"

A heavy sigh left the wrecker as he nodded. "Yeah, that's right." It was difficult for him.

"I offer you to take comfort." Optimus smiled and motioned to a berth.

"Why?" Wheeljack asked. "What are you doing?"

"I am a Prime, the Matrix can reintegrate these sparks to your own. If you wish not to see them gutter out, than I will merge them back with yours."

"Can you do that?" Wheeljack blinked.

"I believe I can…I would not have offered if I did not believe the matrix contained the power to do so." He stated calmly.

"I'd ….I'd be honored Optimus Prime." Wheeljack's vocals for the first time took a reverent turn.

Motioning to a berth Optimus nodded. "We'll begin than."

"Prime?" Wheeljack hesitated at the berth slowly. Optimus quirked a brow but waited patiently. "I um…want your consent to court Arcee."

"She's an adult you hardly need my consent." Optimus stated as he came forward to the box with the three little sparks.

"Her creators are not here to give consent that my spark desires." He stated. "Her commanding officer is the second best thing I could ask for."

Optimus held out his hand to the box of sparks. His torso separated and the matrix pressed forward merging the three sparks as one before him. "You have my blessing." Prime said calmly as he took the box up in his hands and came to the table where Wheeljack had laid himself out.

"Open your torso plate." Optimus requested.

"Usually a mech would buy me a cube first." Wheeljack said nervously but did as asked. "Will this hurt?"

"I do not know." Optimus said and proceeded to reintegrate the inert merged spark back into Wheeljack's own.

The end.

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