It was done. All of the forms and paperwork had been filled out and they had received the all-clear from the Council. Ratchet and Ironhide were now the guardians of little Optimus. At first, Ironhide had been reluctant to even go before the Council of Iacon but, after seeing Ratchet so adamant and receiving a lecture to last a lifetime, he agreed. Upon leaving the Council auditorium, both mechs were ecstatic. Ratchet wearing the biggest smile anyone had seen on him for years and Ironhide carrying Optimus happily.

"See? Now how hard was that, 'Hide?" Ratchet teased his mate, stroking Optimus' helm as they walked, rewarded with a happy chirp from the red and blue sparkling.

"Alright, alright Ratch'... ya made yer point!" Ironhide grumbled, readjusting the squirming sparkling. Ratchet just huffed.

"Give him here." Ratchet said, holding his arms out for Optimus. Ironhide glared at Ratchet and gave Optimus over, but not before muttering, 'Ah'm capable!' Optimus chirped at Ratchet, his face beaming with a smile, and latched onto the white armour with his audio pressed against his new guardian's chest.

"What's he doin'?" Ironhide questioned, rasing an optic ridge at the sparkling clinging to his bondmate's chest.

"Listening to my sparkbeat, 'Hide. Sparklings do it a lot," Ratchet replied, handing a case of credits over to Ironhide for him to carry instead. The Council had decided that, because Optimus had been found by them, Ironhide and Ratchet would receive 100,000 credits to help pay for what the sparkling would need.

"Ah'm still not sure 'bout this Ratch'... Ah mean, what if his real Creators come lookin' for 'im? We'll be in a whole lotta trouble then!" Ironhide said, subspacing the case.

"Ironhide... drop it. You saw that note, so just leave it be." Ratchet sighed, readjusting Optimus again so the sparkling's pede wasn't squashed. The red weapon specialist just grumbled slightly, switching his optics back to the route they were taking, becoming lost in his thoughts until Optimus started squirming in Ratchet's arms and whining.

"S'matter with 'im?"

"He's probably needing Energon, or recharge. Either of the t-!" Ratchet grunted when Optimus' pede collided with his elbow, sending an electric pulse up the medic's arm and making it go numb. But the numbing of Ratchet's arm meant that Optimus wasn't as well supported as before, the sparkling slowly sliding out of Ratchet's arms.

"Ironhide! Catch him!" Ratchet ordered, almost actually dropping the infant. Ironhide quickly complied, sweeping Optimus into his arms and saving the sparkling from injury.

"Gotya!" Ironhide said, cradling the kicking sparkling gently, "Ya ok there Ratchet?"

"Fine... he just kicked my funny circuit...ooh ow..." Ratchet replied, rubbing his numbed arm and watching Optimus kick at Ironhide, "I think he wants to go down..."

"What? But he's jus' a sparklin'! He ain't s'posed ta be walkin' yet!" Ironhide protested, keeping a firm grip on the red and blue mechling.

"Just put him down 'Hide," Ratchet chided gently, his voice soothing the now-distressed sparkling.

"Well, we're almost home now so 'e can wait." Ironhide replied firmly, readjusting the sparkling for the third time. Optimus just whined and kicked more in his adoptive Creator's grip.

"'Hide, put him down." Ratchet said again, leaning against the side with a cube of Energon in his hand. The red mech just grumbled, slowly kneeling and setting Optimus on his pedes, the mechling holding on to Ironhide's knee. That was when something incredible happened. Optimus, tiny little Optimus who was barely a vorn old, took his first step towards Ratchet. Both mechs stared at the sparkling, their optics wide in amazement. Ratchet quickly set his cube down and knelt, encouraging Optimus forward with a smile on his face.

"Come on then, Optimus, come here!" Ratchet coaxed, holding his arms out as if to hug his son. Poking his glossa out in severe concentration, Optimus took another shaky step forwards, wobbling on his little pedes as he stood. Ironhide, meanwhile, just watched dumbfounded as he then felt the smaller hand leave his knee.

"He's walkin'..." He said dumbly, watching as Optimus took yet another step. But then Optimus' pedes shook too much and gave out, sending the child to his hands and knees. Ratchet's first instinct was to dart forward and pick him up but when Optimus managed to push himself back onto his pedes, that instinct was quickly shot down. For several more steps Optimus managed to walk unsteadily before collapsing into his Guardian's arms, giggling happily at his accomplishment.

"Hey! Well done!" Ratchet praised as he swooped his child into his arms, swinging him around in delight. Optimus, blissfully oblivious to how big it was, just giggled and shrieked as he was swung around in the air. The sparkling could feel the air rushing around his frame, a sensation of flying he felt as well, and he just giggled more. Ironhide, however, just stood there struck dumb at what his kid had just done. Ratchet, seeing Ironhide's face, settled Optimus in his arms and turned to his mate.

"'Hide? You ok?" Ratchet said, chuckling softly when Optimus waved a little hand in front of Ironhide's face.

"Hm? Oh... yeah Ah think Ah'm ok... not too sure now he's jus' gone done tha'..." Ironhide replied, still staring in disbelief at the now-sleepy sparkling in his bondmate's arms.

"Well!" Ratchet laughed, patting his mate on the helm, "Better get used to the little one walking, 'Hide! He's gonna be doing that a lot now!" Ironhide just grumbled slightly and took the sparkling into his own arms, hoping desperately to get used to Optimus and to get the little one to trust him more. Optimus whined for Ratchet, reaching his arms out sleepily and yawning but Ironhide didn't give in; he cradled Optimus close to his spark, allowing the sparkling to reluctantly press his audio up against it. A steady rythmn filled Optimus' audios and he chirped as he came to remember this spark beat too, a similar one to Ratchet's. One with more fire in it. One that was a fierce but loving spark. His Guardian's spark. Optimus yawned, rubbing his optics absently as they started to slide closed, one hand gripping Ironhide's finger weakly and bringing it to his mouth to nibble on gently. Ironhide smiled down at the little sparkling nestled in his arms and cradled him closer, altering Optimus' position slightly to keep him as comfortable as possible, and retreated back to their quarters with Ratchet in tow.

It was then that Optimus made a little noise, one that went completely unnoticed by his new Guardians. His little piping voice so quiet that you could've heard a pin drop, so full of exhaustion from doing very little but also a lot. One noise spoken that was unrecognisable to other, older Cybertronians. Optimus, speaking in sparkling talk, said one very little word before falling into a deep and peaceful recharge in his red Guardian's arms.

"Da..."