Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Shhh, Sunny, I know you're hungry, but this song's 'bout to end. I'll switch it to commercial and then I can feed you," Jazz begged as he bounced one hungry twin on his knee. The bitty, his bitty, he needed to remember, sniffled and stuffed his hand into his mouth. He suckled and Jazz winced, but kept bouncing his knee. If he could distract him for a little while longer... Just until the song was over...

Sky-Byte's newest hit finally drifted to a close and Jazz threw on his best grin. The audience could hear a good smile, he always said. "Well, folks, ya heard it here! I'll Take a Chomp Out of You, new, fresh, and sure ta rip yer spark ta pieces! Let's go ta commercial, and I'll be back with yer favorite tunes!" He chirped. He hit the mute button on his mic, picked a random data chit for an ad and plugged it in. Making sure it was playing, Jazz finally allowed himself to breathe.

He sighed and shook his helm, "Alright, Sunny, let's go get you an' your brother fed, aight? Now, where is he?" Jazz tucked Sunstreaker onto his hip and left his padded studio room.

It was the one room he had that he could actually work from home in, but this wasn't working, not when the twins could slip in. No, and his boss was going to be having his plating soon if he couldn't focus completely on his job, but it wasn't Jazz's fault! Not with the twins getting kicked out of every single daycare he had found and not being old enough for school yet.!

No, he needed something more... permanent, but with his schedule fluctuating up to three hours a day in either direction... He couldn't outright afford a nanny, but what babysitter would be willing to help out with his hellions?

A crash from the kitchen had Jazz running and he skidded around the corner to see Sideswipe on the counter. A jar of energon goodies laid on the ground, shattered. Sideswipe froze when he saw Jazz before bursting into loud tears.

Jazz sighed and walked over carefully, "Aw, Sides... Are you okay?"

"'Ungry..." Sideswipe sobbed. Jazz dreaded what he knew was coming. He desperately tried to bounce both twins on his hip, but it was too late.

Sunstreaker was already bursting into wails.

"Primus," Jazz cried and darted to the twins' high chairs. "One sec, bitties, I promise, please please please be quiet," He begged. He threw open his fridge and rooted around for their favorite pudding cups. They were technically supposed to be snacks, but they would tide the twins over for now, right?

It would need to be good enough. 

Grabbing a spoon for each, Jazz peeled the cups open and shoved them into the twins' hands. Sunstreaker knocked over his, spilling all of his food. He looked at it for a moment before he began to sob harder. 

Emotions that he really didn't want to show in front of the bitties began to rise. He couldn't do this, not on his own. He couldn't do this now. He needed- He needed them- 

"Please please please stop crying," Jazz cried again, his own frustrated tears welling up in his optics. "Boys, please."

It was only because Sideswipe hadn't knocked his cup over that they managed to recover even slightly. He silenced himself and Jazz took the reprieve in one twin's crying to grab another pudding cup. With shaking hands, he held up some of the glowing blue fuel to Sunstreaker, pleading with him to just take it so he could get back to his job.

He couldn't keep doing this.

It had been like this for weeks. 

He had been lucky to have the first five weeks off.

The last three weeks, he hadn't been so lucky.

He needed help. He couldn't do this anymore.

He pulled out his data pad, and put in a request to the classifieds. He just hoped no weirdos answered his job ad.

Prowl sighed as he put his last box down. Granted, it was only one of three and all he could carry, but it was his. The apartment was dingy and had suffered the landlord treatment countless times, if the scraplet outline barely visible under what had to be several dozen layers of paint was any indication. For the fact that the fridge smelled of cheap engex and ash, and the fact that the floors had been polished enough times to feel grimy, the fact that all of the doors, except for the front door, refused to remain closed, even when locked.

But it was safe. He had checked the building several times over. It required a key for the front and back exits. He was on the second floor over a dumpster, so if he needed to jump out for whatever reason, he would survive the jump. Smelly, but alive.

That, and the paranoid landlord who own the building lived by the main door with enough cameras in the halls that when Prowl told him he was trying to get away from his old ex and provided a picture, Red Alert had insisted on doing a background check on the mech. He assured Prowl that if his ex was a threat to Prowl, then he was a threat to everyone else in the building.

He had never felt so safe as when he was in that apartment, even if it was suffocating. 

But now he needed a new job. He needed one now and he needed something that would allow him to continue his studies, even if online. That disbarred most food service jobs, and manual labor. It would need to be something... Prowl didn't wanted to say it needed to be something that would end up being beneath him, but he couldn't afford to be picky. That meant cleaning jobs if he needed to.

Hopefully anyone hiring wouldn't be a pervert.

Prowl sighed as he settled onto the preowned berth next to his things, and rummaged around to pull out his datapad. This would be the kind of job for the classifieds. 

HELP WANTED

Receptionist for morning and early afternoon shift. Must be willing to make calls, emails, and welcome customers with a smile. Pay based on commission.

That... Prowl didn't smile. He didn't do welcoming. Besides, what commission? He'd keep an eye on it, but it wasn't at the top of his list.

HELP WANTED

I HAVE A TURBOHOUND THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AFTER. WILL PAY WELL. HEALTH INSURANCE NOT INCLUDED.

He would rather put his hand through a shredder, and he's probably still come out better than if he took this job.

HELP WANTED

My grand carrier needs fulltime care. She's getting delirious and needs someone to keep track of her meds, her meals, and washing her.

Dealing with an elder in extreme need of personalized care... There was a great chance that she would die in his care and that wasn't a door he was willing to open.

HELP WANTED

I have two 34-vorn-old sparklings that need to be looked after while I'm at work in the afternoon and into the night. Must know how to cook and look after two bitlets with behavior issues. I'm willing to try a trial period.

This... probably wouldn't go well. He had experience from training in Praxus on dealing with people of all ages, including traumatized sparklings who had seen gruesome things firsthand. But children didn't like him, and he didn't like children. Especially ones this young.

He'd try the receptionist job first, and then the nanny position. Prowl was not going to risk meeting that turbohound under any circumstances, nor was he going to be dealing with a dead frame...

Jazz buried his face in his palms as the third prospective babysitter-nanny-caretaker  walked out of his apartment. The twins were mid tantrum, screaming and throwing their blacks at each other. The poor candidate had taken one to the visor, cracking it. Honestly, Jazz was just lucky he wasn't getting sued.

Sideswipe screamed as he played tug of war with his brother over one of their toys, but he paused when he saw Jazz's shoulders shaking. Sunstreaker tried to yank the plush zap pony out of his twin's hands, but he fell back when Sideswipe let him have it. The golden twin teared up, but Jazz couldn't find it in himself to care at that moment. Sideswipe was pawing at his knee guards, trying to get his attention, but Jazz was trembling as frustration began to boil.

Why couldn't they just make this easier?! They pushed and they shoved and were ruining his life. He didn't even ask for them, but he was the one most capable of taking them on.

Never mind the fact that he was doing this all alone, and there weren't many lining up to help him. Most of the caretakers in the area had heard about his twins through all of the daycares they had been kicked out of for biting and fighting and... everything. 

That last candidate had been the last.

His data pad pinged with a message from a very specific alert on it. If someone were to reach out about the job opening, it would send a very specific chime.

Alert: One (1) Message:

Classified Inquiry: Appointment Request

Jazz tensed and looked over his troublesome two. "Please, you two, don' scare this one off."

Prowl pursed his lips as he paced anxiously. The receptionist position had been filled by the time he reached out, the elderly caretaker had passed away in the three hours he had sat on his decision to reach out, and the turbohound ad had been rescinded. If the attack in the news was anything to go by, he had understood why. 

He was waiting to hear back from the last of his first choice picks. Even though he sent the request for an appointment less than five minutes ago, he was still terrified. If this fell through, he'd need to look into cleaning.  He was desperate, but he needed one more chance...

A ping at his data pad, exactly five minutes after he sent his appointment request, had his spark seizing for a moment. Prowl scrambled for it and clicked it on.

Alert: One (1) Message:

RE: Classified Inquiry: Appointment Request

Thanks for reaching out! It's still open and I'm a little desperate. Are you still open to come by today? I'll be available for the next three hours for the rest of the day, and tomorrow 9-3. If that doesn't work, please let me know. My address is provided. Please let me know what time you intend to show up.

Thank Primus.

Prowl's hands shook as he typed out a response.

I'm open for the rest of the afternoon. If all goes well, I expect to be there in 20 minutes.

He heaved a sigh of relief and half threw down his data pad. In reality, he could be there in 10, but he wanted to look presentable. Prowl sighed as he looked over himself in the mirror. Minor scuffs and scrapes, but overall still tidy. 

"It's just two sparklings. Two sparklings with behavioral issues and a creator who is desperate. Nothing you haven't dealt with in training either," He whispered to himself. He took a deep breath in, held it, and let it out. "Cube, lock the doors, and go," He coached himself for a moment before nodding. 

Hopefully his nerves wouldn't shoot him in the foot.

A knock at the door shocked Jazz, despite him knowing who it would be. He turned to the twins, occupied with various paints. He swallowed nervously, "Boys, be good, okay? Please?" He took a deep breath and headed for the door. He blinked in surprise to find a bot, just as black and white as he was, but inverted, and just a little taller than he was. 

But that wasn't what caught his attention.

It was how stoic he was.

Jazz still threw on a tired smile, "Hi, you're here about the caretaker position, yeah? Prowl? Please, c'mon in." He stepped aside, letting Prowl see into his messy apartment.

Prowl nodded and stepped inside, taking it all in. Jazz crossed his fingers, mentally begging for him to take the position. He needed just something-

His spark nearly gave out when Sideswipe charged them with literal handfuls of paint, dripping everywhere. "Jazzy! Jazzy!" He cried, but he froze when he saw the newcomer. His face twisted angrily and he changed course.

Prowl merely lifted an eyebrow as the sparkling smeared paint all over his bright white feet and shins. "Sideswipe!" Jazz hissed, but Prowl knelt before he could.

Jazz held his breath as Prowl got onto Sideswipe's level and cocked his helm, "That wasn't very nice."

"Go away! I want my Jazzy!" Sideswipe crowed, opting to smear more paint over Prowl's chest plating. 

"I'm- Prowl, I'm so sorry," Jazz started, but Prowl shook his helm.

He didn't break eye contact with Sideswipe as he spoke, "Don't apologize. He's been told not to paint on others, correct?" He ran a finger across his painted chassis to get a large glob of paint to sit on the tip of his finger. He reached out and dabbed the end of Sideswipe's nose.

The sparkling wrinkled his nose in surprise, "You're not nice! You shouldn't do that!"

Prowl inclined his head, "Then why would you paint me, if you did not want paint on you? That is not fair. You were being mean. Being mean isn't nice."

"You're big! That's not fair!" Sideswipe yelled back. Jazz was frozen in place as he watched the interaction. This was either going to go very well or very poorly.

"And you will be big someday too. You must be willing to help those smaller than you to learn. If you were to paint the wrong person someday, you could get hurt. I painted someone when I was much older than you, and he hit me. I am trying to help you learn," Prowl explained patiently.

Sideswipe pouted, "Maybe I don't want to learn!"

Prowl sat more fully and took stock of the colors on his legs, "No, I think you want to learn. But you want to learn what is interesting." He lifted his eyebrow again as he addressed Sideswipe, "If you promise not to paint me again without my permission, I will show you how to draw Jazzy's head. Does that seem fair?"

Jazz's breath was stuck in his chest as Sideswipe pouted and clearly thought about it. The sparkling turned to his twin and they had one of their silent conversations. Sunstreaker frowned at the newest distraction before he came over with more paper and paints. He pushed them into Prowl's direction. "You. Teach."

"Promise first," Prowl bargained and Sunstreaker glared. Jazz's spark was trembling in trepidation. If Prowl gave in, he'd never have the twins' respect-

Sideswipe tugged on his brother's arm with dirty hands, "Sunny! C'mon, please please please!" He turned to Prowl, "I promise not to paint you again without per-permi-"

"Per-mish-un," Prowl sounded out for Sideswipe. He nodded, "I'll show you." He looked up to Jazz for the first time in the entire interaction, "Sideswipe and...?"

"Sunstreaker. Only his brother can call him any kind of nickname," Jazz breathed. He was shocked and watched as Prowl took it all in stride.

The new mech nodded again and addressed Sunstreaker, "I want you to promise me, and I will help you to paint to the best of my ability."

His face scrunched adorably as he thought, Sideswipe still tugging on his arm. "Fine. You. Teach."

"Good. How about you find a good spot while I speak with Jazz. I will be there in a few minutes, if Jazz allows it," Prowl stated. The twins nodded and headed back to their table, papers and paints in hand. The Praxian stood and Jazz stared in disbelief. "I apologize. I felt the need to address them first-"

"You're hired," Jazz breathed. "No one- Mech, not even I can get them to calm down like that that easily." He leaned on the nearby wall and shuddered. Maybe he could actually get some things done now. "How much do you want? Make an offer, mech."

Prowl frowned and quickly pulled out his data pad. He typed in some numbers and showed the screen to Jazz, "I believe an acceptable going rate for two sparklings would be about 25 credits an hour. Is this acceptable-"

"35. 35 an hour, and when can ya start?" Jazz pressed. He was desperate. He needed this mech to stay. He needed the bitties to have someone stand up to them and guide them in ways he just couldn't at the moment.

Prowl finally afforded something of a smile as he looked at the twins eyeing him, measuring him up, "I do believe I have an art lesson to lead. Would you like to outline rules for them? I apologize to bring you back into this, but we would do well with a model."

Jazz laughed heartily and laid a hand on his shoulder, "Mech, you can have full rein of them. I've been drowning with everything. Their creators died 2 months ago and I wasn't ready... Please, I just need some help."

"Let us talk about it while we paint then. It sounds like they need structure," Prowl mused, but there was a critical look in his eye. Jazz got the feeling that he wasn't just talking about the twins.

He wasn't about to fight it, but so long as he could begin to focus on his own life again... he would take it.

Chapter Text

When Prowl had said he was dragged Jazz in to be a model, sitting on the floor with his family and this new stranger, this wasn't exactly it. Prowl had washed the twins' brushes in nearby water cups quickly, dried them off with one of the rags that they all used, and provided some colors. Sunstreaker watched him raptly and Sideswipe was bouncing in place, clapping his hands. Prowl stared the red twin down for a moment, but nodded to himself. Jazz made a note to ask him about it later. 

He grabbed his own piece of paper and clipped it to a nearby board to show the boys, "For any good face, look at the placement of the eyes, nose, and mouth. Jazz has two eyes, but he wears a visor over them, a nose, and a mouth. For basics, make a circle..." He explained, drawing out as he went. "His helm has a dark shape around it, so take a different color, only a little, and put two lines down the sides of his face, and round them to meet at the top. Add two smaller lines at the top for his audial horns, and then you can do his visor." 

Jazz shifted, but Sunstreaker hissed at him, "Jazz, hold still!" From what Jazz could see of his art, it was... actually looking quite good. He was following Prowl's instructions, comparing his work to his new nanny's.

"Yeah, Jazzy!" Sideswipe crowed. He was being more... freeform with his art, not that it mattered. He still loved it.

Jazz chuckled and stilled, "Sorry. I'll go back to sittin' pretty." Prowl made no comment, but looked back at his work. 

"Next, you'll want to do the nose, about one fingertip underneath the tip of the visor, and then the mouth. Is this the result you wanted?" Prowl asked stoically.

Sunstreaker looked it over and pouted some as he compared his drawing to Jazz, "No. Want better."

"Then I'll get us better supplies. Until then, the more you paint and draw, the better you will get," Prowl bargained. Sunstreaker nodded contently and grabbed at another sheet of paper. "Sideswipe, do you like your work?"

He was bouncing in place again and held it up, "Jazzy! Jazzy, can I hang it up?"

Jazz took one look at 'his' bright pink and purple helm and grinned, "'Course, Sides. Hey, Sunstreaker, why don't we put yours up too?" He cocked his head at Prowl, "Ya want to put yours up too?"

Prowl considered his picture for a moment, but Sideswipe, still with messy hands, crawled over the table to grab at it. Prowl showed him, but carefully moved him back around to sit on the floor, "You do not need to crawl across the table. You can ask."

"But that takes time!" Sideswipe whined. Prowl lifted an eyebrow and the sparkling shrunk back. "Sorry..." He cocked his head, bouncing back immediately, "What's your name?"

"I'm Prowl. It's nice to meet you, Sideswipe," Prowl stated. He turned attention to Sunstreaker and nodded again, "It is nice to meet you as well, Sunstreaker." The yellow twin narrowed his eyes at him, but let it be.

Jazz stood and held his hands out, "Let me have yer pictures. I'll set them out to dry." Prowl rose, but he cocked his head. "What is it?"

"I would like some guidelines and what their schedules are. I need to state that I never intend to strike the children in any manner, but I need to know how you discipline them. I need to know what you trust them to do and what you trust me to do. I will look after them to the best of my ability, but I also need to state what you are looking for," He said as he stood tall, but he tried not to wring his hands. He needed this, Jazz could tell. He was nervous and was clearly trying to see where the lines were.

But he wouldn't have let him stay if his kids didn't trust him, no matter how much peace it brought him. If his kids said one thing that sent up alarm bells, Prowl was out. But... Until otherwise... 

He put the painted pieces down and walked over, "Look at me, mech. I'm a' the end of my rope. They're banned from every daycare, and I ain't sure if ya know this or not, but babysitters 'n nannies talk to each other. The last candidate, the one that came over 'bout 2, 3 hours ago? Sunny threw-" He winced as Sunstreaker turned and glared at him. Jazz smiled weakly and held his hands up, "Sunstreaker. Sorry, bitty." Sunstreaker merely frowned and turned back to his paints.

Prowl watched it carefully, "You are letting them do whatever they want. It is one thing to acknowledge that he does not like to be called by nicknames, but you are bowing to them."

"I'm just... I'm sick of the cryin'. It... It was hard a few weeks ago. They're technically my second cousins, once removed or somethin', but no one else could take'm in. They're still... I think this is their way o' makin' sure they're not abandoned, and I don' have the spark to yell at 'em," Jazz admitted.

Nodding slowly, Prowl gestured back to the paint-stained couch. "I will be honest. I will help cook, clean, and look after them. I would like what hours you will need me, and while I can work around most times, I would like to get some schoolwork done. I was forced to move to Iacon for personal reasons, but I was studying to be an enforcer back in Praxus, detective branch. My credits failed to transfer, so I must take all of the exams again. If all goes well... I can graduate in 30 vorns, as the test times overlap, but if you intend for this to be a long term position, I want you to know that. My studies may prohibit my hours if I am fully occupied here." 

His eyes searched Jazz's face, and Jazz knew exactly what he was asking.

Jazz shrugged, "Bring your work here. If ya keep it safe in yer subspace, the twins have trouble stayin' down sometimes, if ya want to stay late. Or if ya get them their food 'fore they start gettin' fussy, they'll be happy alone for 'bout 30 minutes? I know it ain't much, and I'll be around ta spend time with 'em. As long as y're here, I'll pay ya."

Prowl opened his mouth to protest, but Jazz pointed at him, "Look, mech. I get emergency calls ta stay longer every now 'n then. Consider it with ya bein' on call. Ya dig?"

His shoulders slumped and he nodded, "I understand. I... thank you. This means a lot."

"You have no idea what all of this means ta me. Three days ago, I cried because the boys were hungry an' cryin' and Sunstreaker knocked over his puddin'. I... Let me give ya a lay of the land 'fore they decide to go back to bein' hellions. If ya want to give 'em a bath after, feel free,  I have some stuff to do. I need to go back to the office in a few days, so I'll be around if ya have any questions."

Prowl nodded and allowed himself another smile, "I will try to help as I am able. There are a few other responsibilities I wish to have outlined, and I will prepare bath for them. Do they have difficulties with baths?"

Jazz winced as he led Prowl out of the living room, "Sunstreaker loves baths, but if ya get Sides in there with 'em, they usually make a mess of the bathroom. The one they use has a drain so it ain't a problem, but y're probably goin' to end up gettin' a bath yerself with 'em." He eyed the paint all over Prowl, "I'm sorry again, mech. They... I don't know what they were like before the accident, I only met 'em when they were real little, maybe only a few vorns?" He took Prowl down the short hallway. There were six doors and Jazz went to the closest.

"So we only got one washrack, but it's usually enough. Feel free ta use it. The twins usually use their sparklin' cleanser and polish, and I have mine tucked up higher. Feel free ta use either, or if ya want to bring your own, that's fine," Jazz shrugged. He gestured to the oil bath and shower combo on the far wall, along with the mirror and polish kits next to the door. There were several bath toys scattered along the walls of the bath. "I ain't goin' to pretend ya ain't going to get away without some painted battlescars."

Prowl looked over the room and nodded, "I appreciate it. I may need to do that. Thank you."

Jazz shrugged with a grin, "Ain't no thing. Anyway, the twins' room is next. No matter what I've tried, they still share a bed an' they wake up screamin' sometimes, but the best I can do is hold 'em. I'll try ta give ya a warnin' if they're havin' one of their off days." He walked Prowl over and opened the door. "My days off, I usually read 'em a bedtime story, but I don't always have the time for it on my work nights."

While there were two beds, only one clearly saw any wear, given how wrinkled the blanket was. The other was in a milder state of disarray, but it seemed to be more of a playground. The room was a mess, but Prowl could only fault them so much. He wanted them to have a clear room, but he also understood the need to have some amount of mess. More than once, he had come across some home visits when he was in training and a couple would state that one partner preferred a dirty setting as a way to mark their space.

It wouldn't surprise him if this was also the case. The twins needed some amount of mess.

"I would encourage you to keep a routine with them," Prowl said carefully. "If you could provide the schedule you intend to keep, that could help with the adjustment period as well."

"An' if ya want, you can call into the station and I'll put a message out. Can't always do that, but maybe once a day 'er so?" Jazz asked. 

Prowl paused and cocked his helm, "What is it that you do exactly? And 35 an hour isn't necessarily a paltry pay."

Jazz shrugged, "If y're goin' to be doin' more than just keepin' my little scraplets alive, I want ta make sure they're taken care of. But I'm Jazz, from CIBR, Iacon's Best Radio!" He struck a groovy pose, "I run the rush hour and early nighttime radio, so prime time for folks goin' out for a good time!" He cleared his throat when Prowl merely lifted an eyebrow. "But don't worry 'bout me. I got enough squirrel away. If I wanted ta hire ya for a century or two, I'd manage. But I wanted ta ask. What forced ya out of your last city? Family or bad breakup? Ya didn't have a job lined up, so..."

His doorwings twitched and Prowl looked away, "It is a personal matter. I do not expect trouble to follow me here, but I was retrofitted with a full enforcer's armor before I was forced to relocate. I will protect your sparklings to the best of my ability."

Jazz froze and he forced a laugh, "Are ya tryin' to tell me I hired some kinda bodyguard nanny?"

"If that is what you require," Prowl stated. He cocked his head, watching the radio host. More than once, he had heard about celebrity's kids being put in danger. "Perhaps the day could come where you vouch for my work. This kind of assignment wouldn't be... common, but it is not unheard of for those looking to move into an enforcer position." He took a step back, "And the other rooms?"

Jazz followed him out and gestured to the next four doors, "I'd rather these doors stay closed, but quick rundown. That one's my guest room. My brother comes through every now'n then, but he's been busy with some work with his unit. The one next to it is an extra room we use fer storage. There's a lotta boxes stacked boxes in there, an' I don' want the twins goin' in there. I know they'll jus' find some way ta get hurt. I have a lock on the door."

He led Prowl to the door at the end of the hall and opened it, "This is my studio. I'll be here for the first week if ya have any questions, but I don' want ta risk anything gettin' turned on, but unpluggin' everything would ruin all o' my settings." Prowl looked around with wide eyes, taking the room in. Jazz grinned proudly, "Maybe someday, you can bring the boys in for a tour at the station sometime?"

"If they're being good," Prowl mumbled, finally drawing his gaze back to Jazz. "If you would want to do so on an off day, it is what I could consider a personal day." He shuffled awkwardly back into the hall, waiting.

Jazz smiled and locked the door behind them, "It'll be a thought. The last room is my room.  The boys'll try 'n get away from ya to end up in there. So long as ya don't go rootin' through anythin' too much, it's alright to go in there. I..." He deflated. "I'm goin' to be honest, I don' have much of a schedule with 'em. I've kind of had to trust them to start yellin' at me to tell me what they want."

Prowl nodded slowly and straightened, bobbing his doorwings up, "When do you intend for me to start? I am available to begin fulltime tomorrow. If you would allow, I would like to spend some time with the children today."

"Mech, when I go back to work, I'll give ya a key. I hope ya don' mind, but I would need ta run a background check on ya," Jazz winced. "Kids'n all."

He nodded, "I will be honest, I would judge you if you did not. I only ask that you are careful to not say where I am living now. I..." His face soured, and Jazz shrugged. "Thank you. I am currently living at The Safe Room Apartments on Rivot. My ID is-"

Jazz perked and cut him off, "Ok, okay then. I'll talk to Red real quick, but if ya got in, ya should be fine."

Prowl stared for a moment before his eyes trailed to the side and he nodded, "You know my landlord."

"Yeah. His 'partments's a bit of his back-up investment, but he mostly does security. I've talked to a lotta folks who've gotten his services 'fore and they've all said he's the best," Jazz shrugged. "I think one said that he managed ta find out who had stolen something way back when they were younglin's." He smiled, "If ya want to go hang out with the twins, I'll make that call, yeah?"

"Thank you," Prowl said. He bowed his head and headed down for the living room.

The twins looked up when Prowl joined them, and Sunstreaker frowned. "More teach."

Prowl joined them at the low set table, "In a moment. Are you both hungry?"

Sideswipe looked up and thought, "No." Prowl lifted an eyebrow at the pause, and turned to Sunstreaker. 

"Are you hungry, Sunstreaker?" He asked patiently. The child shrugged and Prowl sighed. He sat, "You do not need to tell me, but if you want to show me somehow, I can work with that." He could understand that Sunstreaker might not always want to talk, and given his incomplete sentences so far... Either there were times he didn't want to talk without Jazz nearby, or he had something else going on. He wouldn't know more until later, but for now, he'd need to gain his trust. 

And it would always mean more to adapt to any child's needs.

Sunstreaker froze for a moment before he reached for a brush. He dabbed a bit of green paint and eyed Prowl's plating. Prowl nodded and held out his hands. He lifted his right hand, "Right will be yes, left will be no. You have my permission. Are you hungry?"

Very carefully, Sunstreaker reached out and painted a small line on the back of Prowl's right hand. 

He bowed his helm, "I will get dinner started. Sideswipe, do you know anything you want to eat?"

The red twin perked, but squirmed in place, "Can we have that stuff with the shapes? And the chewy stuff? With the crumbles on top?"

Prowl blanked at any idea of what it could be, but Sunstreaker glared at him. He grabbed another piece of paper and drew out a rectangle. There were little curved shapes and-

"Ah, pasta and creamed sauce," Prowl said and the twins shared a hopeful look. "Would either of you like to help me?" Sunstreaker took the paint and smacked it against his left hand. 

A very solid 'No.'

Sideswipe wriggled in excitement, "I want to help! Let me help! You have to!"

Prowl held up a finger, "I will let you help, Sideswipe, but I need you to clean up a little bit-"

"But I'm coming back after dinner!" He cried.

Prowl lifted his eyebrow at the sparkling in an exaggerated manner, "Please do not interrupt me. But I was going to say that I would like you to wash your plating off." He eyed the labels on the paint tubes and relaxed to see it say 'nontoxic'. Good, that would make this next part less... objectionable when it went wrong. "Paint will make the pasta and sauce taste poorly."

Sideswipe eyed some of the paint on the end of the brush and shoved the brush into his mouth. Prowl waited patiently. It only took a moment, but Sideswipe was soon spitting it out and spitting on the table. “It tastes bad!” 

Prowl nodded, “I warned you. Let’s get you something to drink, get you cleaned up, and we can make dinner.” He rose and offered a hand to Sideswipe. The sparkling took it and followed him into the kitchen. 

It was a beautiful kitchen with enough counter space to weather a baking storm. There were pitchers of filtered energon available on the counter for drinking dispenser with a poor filter?), and some coolant as well. The sink was large, and surprisingly empty, and Prowl had little issue picking Sideswipe up to put him in. The child squirmed and Prowl turned the nozzle to the other side of the sink to test the temperature solvent. “Do you know where Jazz keep your glasses?”

Sideswipe pointed, still gagging, and Prowl relaxed. He pulled the cabinet door open and, yes, there were cups. The fragile crystal cut were on the higher shelves, but there were several sparkling-friendly cups at Prowl’s eye level. Luckily, there were names scrawled on the outsides. Most of the red ones had Sideswipe’s name on them and the yellow had Sunstreaker’s name. 

He grabbed the first he could find and filled it with some energon, passing it to Sideswipe. He had been playing with the faucet, and Prowl tested the temperature again. It was lukewarm. “Move this around in you mouth and spit it out. Don't swallow it," He instructed.

The child grumbled, but he took the cup. Despite Prowl's orders, he gulped deeply from the cup. Sideswipe grinned proudly and held the cup out. Prowl sighed and took the cup, "Fine. But do not blame me when you get an upset fuel tank on an hour." He took the cup, but used it and the faucet to begin cleaning off Sideswipe. 

"No, I don't want a bath!" He whined, trying to force the cup away.

Prowl pull them back and turned the faucet off. He rested his elbows on the edge of the sink and cocked his head, "If you want to help with dinner, you must be clean. Is there something wrong with the cleanser?"

Sideswipe pouted, "I want ducky."

"He's talkin' about his little rubber ducky," Jazz said as he leaned on the kitchen wall. Prowl flinched back in surprise, but Jazz waved his hand dismissively, "Red gave ya a full recommendation. He even sent me a list of yer courses in Praxus. Ya weren't kiddin', ya have child welfare trainin', trainin' in grief counselin', defense classes... Mech, y're a full sparklin' bodyguard. I should be payin' ya double."

Prowl shook his head, "No. You are providing me, hopefully, steady employment for the time being. I will overturn your life, all of your lives. I need to be able to do that unimpeded if you intend to have them raised to the capabilities to which I am aiming to."

Jazz strode forward, keeping an eye on Sideswipe, looking between them curiously. The radio host focused back on Prowl and crossed his arms. "What are ya thinkin' of?"

"Homeschooling, cooking, cleaning up after them, bath times, protection during outings, and social adjustment. I will require your help. I am willing to work 6 days of the week, 12 hours a day. That is what I am willing to do," He said. "I need one day off a week, test days not included, sick days if needed, ability to take them to doctors' appointments, an employment contract, and occasional access to your washracks. Is this amenable?"

Jazz stared him down, "You're willin' to play the part of a nanny, if not a creator. 'm I wrong?"

"They need special care. I cannot tell if Sunstreaker has a developmental disorder or if he does not like talking when he does not need to or with people he does not trust. Sideswipe will need certain aids to help him focus. I know the basics," Prowl bargained. He was tense, ready to get thrown out, but this needed to be known. His main objective was to help the kids in any way he could, even if it meant standing up to their guardian.

Luckily, Jazz only laughed, and took Prowl's hand. He forced a small rubber duck into his palm. Jazz smiled, "I'll have somethin' written up tomorrow. A company lawyer or two owes me a favor. When do ya want to get here? I'll be up to get them breakfast 'round 10 AM, and they usually fall asleep around 8:30 PM?"

Prowl looked at the small bath toy and then back to Jazz. He straightened again and flicked his doorwings, "I will be here at 9:15 AM. Sideswipe and I will be making dinner tonight. It will be ready in an hour."

"I'm lookin' forward to it," Jazz smiled and nodded. "I.... I'll go check on Sunstreaker. Good luck, mech."

No, he would not need the luck. He had a job, an apartment, and a new life.

That, and a small rubber duck.

Sideswipe squealed happily as he took his favorite toy, keeping him distracted so Prowl could gently wash at his plating. 

He would be content here while he prepared for his tests. Happy? No, this wasn't what he wanted to do with his life, but he was an enforcer. He would swear service to his people, and this would keep him in work, but it would also help out his city how he could. Two sparklings and a guardian would be a fine start.

Chapter Text

Jazz watched open kitchen and living room from the mouth of the hallway. Sideswipe was sitting on the island and dumping fistfuls of shredded cheese on top of a casserole dish, with Prowl carefully supervising. He pointed out places that needed more cheese and Sideswipe happily sprinkled it on. Sunstreaker was still painting at the living room, but he was rocking his head back and forth, but Jazz knew him well enough to know that he was happy.

There was laughter in his audials and a warm smell that was a little too close to his family's pasta and creamed sauce recipe in his nose and it was... magical.

Prowl looked up and caught his eye. He leaned down to whisper something to Sideswipe and pointed to Jazz. Immediately, Sideswipe's head shot up with a big smile and he waved, "Jazzy! Jazzy, I'm making dinner with Prowl! Come look, come look!"

His feet moved without his permission and he was soon on his kid's other side, looking over the dish. If it smelled good from the hall, it smelled amazing this close. "Wow, Sides. Maybe you can be a chef in the future?"

Sideswipe giggled more, "Noooo..."

"Yessss," Jazz grinned, nuzzling his face into Sideswipe's neck, making him squeal happily. 

Prowl ignored them, grabbing a bowl and poured in some bread crumbs, "Jazz, can you watch him and let him put some of this on the top? It's okay if he eats some, they're precooked."

"Ya got it, mech," Jazz responded. He was honestly relieved. He had some things he could still help with, and given Prowl's look, he was going to be 'forced' to help. Thank Primus, he didn't want to become on of those deadbeat creators who put all the work on someone else. Was this what Prowl meant when he said that he was going to upturn all of their lives?

He watched as Prowl headed over to Sunstreaker and knelt nearby. He leaned his head in, and if he turned up his audial horns... "-dinner soon, maybe about 30 minutes. I'm not asking you to pack it up, but to just be ready. Are you going to want to continue painting after dinner?"

Sunstreaker shook his head and looked over at Sideswipe throwing more crumbs onto the counter than the casserole dish. "No. Want bath."

"I can help you wash up now, and we can give you a proper bath after dinner, or do it all before or after. What do you want to do?" Prowl asked gently.

"First, now," He said simply and Prowl nodded. He held his hand out and Sunstreaker frowned in confusion.

Prowl kept his hand out, "Pass me anything you're not using. If you know Sideswipe will keep using it after dinner, please leave it." Sunstreaker paused, but shook his head. "Sideswipe will use it all or you still need it?" Sunstreaker nodded again and Prowl pulled his hand back. "Can you finish on what you're doing and come get me when you're ready for a bath?"

"Now," Sunstreaker demanded, but kept painting. Jazz winced, knowing how the older twin could get. Sideswipe tried to stick his hands into the casserole, but Jazz had to pull his hands out.

Prowl sat fully, "Sunstreaker, will you be finished with that soon?" His tone was patient, more patient than Jazz had at that moment. His nerves were already climbing-

The child growled and gave another streak across his work before he slammed his brush down. He glared at Prowl, "Now."

"Alright, now," He agreed. He looked over the work and nodded, "I'm sorry for rushing you. If we have time, you can finish what you're working on and you can come get me when you're done. It is a good work." He stepped aside and gestured for Sunstreaker to lead the way. "Jazz, please take Sideswipe off of the counter and feel free to put the casserole into the oven. 30 minutes. It's already preheated. Sideswipe can return to his art."

Jazz stared in shock. He would have gotten a meltdown, a few hits, and even more of an attitude. "A-Alright." Prowl nodded and followed after Sunstreaker. It was almost funny. Sunstreaker was staring at Prowl, arms crossed and literally tapping his foot like he was waiting like a boss from their early morning cartoons. When he saw that Prowl was following him, he strut off haughtily. Prowl smiled at the little sparkling that barely came up to his hip, and the adults shared a knowing look.

Getting Sideswipe off of the counter and back to his art wasn't any great problem, nor was getting the casserole in, so Jazz took the moment to go check on Prowl and Sunstreaker.

He hovered in the doorway and found that Prowl was using the handheld shower head to carefully direct the water while he instructed Sunstreaker on using a washcloth to wipe the paint away in straight lines. "...circles can make swirls in your finish, but that is not a guarantee. Straight lines will help prevent damage."

"Okay," Sunstreaker said and shifted a small amount to get another part of his armor. Prowl moved the shower head without needing to be told, and Jazz just... watched. He normally didn't have any problems with Sunstreaker, but he always thought that he needed help bathing. Now, he wasn't fussing at all.

When all of his plating on his front was done, Sunstreaker looked up to Prowl with a warning look in his eyes. "No back."

"Do you not want your back to be clean, or do you not want me to do your back?" Prowl guessed. Sunstreaker frowned and thought. He held up a single finger and Prowl nodded. "Do you want me to get Jazz to help you?"

"No. I..." Sunstreaker curled up a little. Jazz barely heard his small request, "I want to do it."

Prowl nodded and clearly kept the smile from showing, even when his doorwings gave a pleased flick. "I think we have a brush here. I'll wrap the cloth on the end so you don't get any scratches. Do you want me to tell you if there's anywhere you missed?"

"Duh," He huffed and Prowl snorted. "Meanie."

"Perhaps," Prowl mused as he passed the showerhead to Sunstreaker. He rose and paused to see Jazz in the entryway. He only nodded and continued for the twins' bath packs. There was a long handled brush that Jazz had bought on a whim, and he was suddenly glad he did. When he sat down again, Prowl requested the washcloth, "I'll show you how to do this. If you continue to want me to do it, I can, but I know you want me to show you."

Sunstreaker nodded and watched with avid attention as Prowl expertly wrapped the brush with the cloth. He turned around to show how it was used. "Do broad strokes going down and take your time. It will work with the solvent and make sure any debris doesn't get caught on anything else. If it does, that is something you need to be careful with. If it is painful, I need you to let an adult know. If you need to step out of the shower, turn the solvent off and come get me or Jazz, whoever is nearby, okay? We would rather clean up a puddle of solvent than worry about you drying off and getting hurt."

"My turn?" He asked. Prowl nodded and traded him for the shower head. The worked together to keep the solvent to his back and Sunstreaker shakily tried to get his back clean. There wasn't much there to begin with, so it only took a few minutes to make sure everything was done.

Prowl turned the water off and got the towel ready for Sunstreaker, but let him dry himself, "Remember, top down. If you start from the bottom, the rest will drip down, and you will need to start over." Sunstreaker only nodded, but bundled the towel around himself. "Are you cold?"

"He usually does, I shoulda mentioned that," Jazz winced. Sunstreaker jumped in surprise, but Prowl rested a hand on his back to steady him. "I'll go get his favorite blanket."

"Please, and thank you," Prowl agreed. He sighed as he looked to Sunstreaker, "He doesn't tell me important things, does he?"

Sunstreaker pulled the towel closer to his face, "No."

"This smells great, Prowl," Jazz said as he managed to wrangle the kids into their seats. Prowl had called everyone to the square table. Sunstreaker sat across from his brother, keeping him as far away from the painted mess that was his kin as possible. Prowl put the food down, and began to dish himself up. He held his hand out to Jazz for his plate, "How much would you like?"

Jazz blinked in surprise, ready to do it himself, but Prowl frowned. He was doing... something, but what? "Oh, um... Can you do three scoops for now?" It earned him a nod and the frown disappearing, and he soon had his food in front of him. 

"Do not start until everyone has their food," Prowl cut in. "Sideswipe, how much would you want?"

Sideswipe wriggled in his seat, "Four scoops!" Prowl lifted an eyebrow and carefully dished up four much smaller scoops for the sparkling. Sideswipe clapped happily and took his plate.

"Sunstreaker, do you want closer to Sideswipe's size, or Jazz's?" Prowl asked again.

The sparkling looked at the portions and pointed at Sideswipe's plate, "Five."

Prowl nodded for the last time and did the same thing as he did to Sideswipe, doing five small scoops to get him the same serving as Sideswipe. "Thank you for your help with dinner today, Sideswipe. If anyone would like to help with dinner tomorrow, I would appreciate it." He lifted his fork with food, "Please dig in."

Sideswipe grinned and ignored his fork to start shoveling food into his mouth. Prowl twitched, but let it be for the moment. Sunstreaker sneered, but Sideswipe began gnashing his food with his mouth open.

"Sides," Jazz warned. Prowl shook his head.

He turned to Sideswipe and lifted his eyebrow in the way that he did. "Sideswipe, can you please chew with your mouth closed? It hurts my audials when you do." Sideswipe froze and looked to Jazz for a split second before he shrunk down and nodded. He continued to chew, but with his mouth closed. Prowl let the eyebrow fall and he put on a smile, "Thank you, Sideswipe. When you are done chewing, would you like to tell us how your day went?"

Sideswipe perked up again and began to chew faster, but Prowl shook his head again, "We are not going anywhere for a while, Sideswipe. If others can't talk when they eat, then you will have less food to chew when it is your turn to talk, so you can talk more. Your food is not going anywhere."

"He's right," Jazz added, looking between the kids. He smiled at the new nanny, "So, Prowl, how'd yer day go?"

Prowl took a deep breath, "I managed to unpack my boxes this morning, but I still need to hang a few small items I brought with me. I had a small muffin this morning from a bakery near my apartment, and Red Alert gave me a rundown of the activity of the apartment of the night prior."

"Do he always do that?" Jazz asked. He shoved a forkful of food into his mouth to show the kids how one talked at a dinner table. He could do this. He could help me a good example.

He nodded, "He has told me that so long as I pay my rent on time, and I continue with my intentions to become an enforcer, he would prefer me to help him navigate the police system. He has been disregarded as paranoid more than once. While I can understand his tendencies, I also understand where the station is coming from. I believe he has hopes that I will help him to the best of my abilities, and I hope to do so. He... has been good to me thus far." He took a bite of his own food, cutting his conversation short.

Jazz shrugged, "Yeah, he's a little nuts, but I'm glad he's keepin' ya safe." He turned to Sunstreaker and saw that he was pushing his food around. "Everythin' ok, Sunstreaker?"

"It's not right," He complained. He pouted and glared at his plate.

Prowl laid his hands down, "Is it not as you remember, or does something not taste right about it?" Sunstreaker shrugged and Prowl sighed carefully through his nose. "I cannot fix what I do not know, Sunstreaker. What about it isn't right?"

"It's crunchy," He mumbled. "This wasn't crunchy with Riri and Sire," He whispered. The rest of the table froze and Jazz looked away. Of course. This might have been close to his family's recipe, but his family had never put bread crumbs on top.

Prowl nodded, "Alright. Next time I make it, I'll make sure to have a section without the crunchy. Sometimes people make things differently. Do you not like the crunchy?" 

Sunstreaker thought about it and tried another bite. He shrugged and took another bite. "No crunch next time," He said.

"I'll make sure of it," He agreed. "You can help me to make sure it doesn't, if you would like?" Sunstreaker relaxed and soon, the meal was back to normal. Prowl lifted his gaze to Jazz, "And how was your day, Jazz?"

"Pretty good. It was my day off, so I probably won' be able to have dinner with everyone tomorrow, but I can do breakfast and lunch," He tried to bargain. "Most of it was spent tryin' to find someone to help. Like I said, Sunstreaker threw a block at 'em, and I don' even know what set 'im off."

Prowl lifted an eyebrow at the blond twin and Sunstreaker shrunk down. "Touchy."

"Ah," Prowl nodded. "They did not ask permission?"

"No."

"Did you ask them not to?"

"No."

"If you do not want someone to do something, you need to tell them first. If they do not listen the first time, try to get away to an adult you trust. If they try to stop you, then you scream. Understood?" Prowl said. He knit his fingers together and looked between the boys, "If someone you don't know ever tries to take you somewhere, I want you to scream as loud as you can. If a stranger tries to drag you off, scream that you don't know them. Promise me."

Jazz's armor prickled as he understood where the topic was coming from. Prowl was teaching them very real defensive techniques that they could actually use.

Well, it was what he was paying for. He didn't even fault Prowl for explaining that. It was something that the boys' daycare would normally teach, but since there weren't any reputable ones that would take them, they weren't being taught that. 

Sideswipe chewed frantically so he could answer, "Promise!" Sunstreaker eyed Prowl oddly, but nodded.

"Trouble?" He asked.

Prowl glanced at Jazz, but he only shrugged. Prowl sighed and turned fully to Sunstreaker, "You do understand that throwing things and hurting others is not okay. You need to know that there are other ways, but so long as you're better about it in the future, you won't be punished this time. If it happens in the future for a not good reason, then Jazz and I will be discussing time out times. Good reasons include if someone hits you first, or if someone hits Sideswipe first."

"Or if someone is hurting someone smaller than we are?" Sideswipe demanded. "Earlier, you said that we need to look out for people smaller than us, so if someone is hurting them, can we attack?"

"There is a difference between attacking and defending," Prowl said. He watched Jazz nervously, but he wasn't cutting in. Jazz was going to let Prowl handle it. If someone with actual legal definitions could defend his arguments, then he wasn't about to fight it. Primus, a fragging cop was going to help raise his wards. "Attacking is when you do more than is needed to push the other person back. If they start to run and you chase, you will get in trouble. If they fall and you keep hitting or kicking them, you will get in trouble. If they try and hit you, you are allowed to hit back."

Sideswipe grinned and squirmed in his seat, "Can we take a fighting class? Please please please? We'll use it for good!"

Jazz coughed and choked down his food, "H-How about when you're older?"

Prowl frowned and  rushed to correct him, "We will see if you are responsible enough for it. There are some I know who should not know the skills that they do. I do not think you would use them for bad things, but just as one must be careful with a knife, you must be careful with your fighting."

Sunstreaker blinked in surprise, "No hurting others."

"Precisely," Prowl mused. He relaxed and continued on.

It was the best dinner Jazz had in... months. He didn't feel like he needed to cry, but even if he hadn't gotten the twins... When was the last time he had a homecooked meal like this? It was only because of the twins that he had food in his pantry. Otherwise, he always ate out.

Given the look that Prowl leveled at him, he knew. Jazz chuckled and had another bite of the pasta and sauce.

Prowl helped Sideswipe scrub at his plating, having gotten it dirty from his second round of painting, also having worked on his own. The towels and blanket that Jazz left out for them were a warm reminder that he was welcome in their home, but it was odd caring for a sparkling that he didn't already know. There was always at least one child amongst those at the station they trained at, so the sparkling was familiar to all of the cadets. There was less squirming, less screaming, less protesting from their 'victim', but Sideswipe was already happy to smash his ducky into the solvent. 

Jazz was working to clean the rest up, supervised by Sunstreaker, so that was one less concern. After this week, Prowl would be on his own. He was already making a mental list of things he would need to get.

Sideswipe would need a wiggle chair and probably some kind of toy to absently play with, and Sunstreaker would need a similar toy so that he wouldn't feel left out. Sunstreaker could probably go well with an art book with disappearing ink so he could practice his fine motor skills, as well as getting better at drawing without needing to buy new books all of the time. 

They would also need educational materials. Counting, writing, shapes, the works. They also would normally use this time to be practicing emotional skills. They couldn't just learn from each other, they needed more friends, more kids to play with. That would mean parks in the afternoon. He would need to speak to Jazz about nearby trusted avenues and local parents' groups. If he could get into those, he could try to coordinate playdates and meetups. If what he figured was true, then the twins probably hadn't been outside playing as much as they should. 

He could likely force a morning excursion to a nearby park with Jazz so they could outline how often Jazz was alright with the boys going out, and if he was okay with friends coming over. Primus, he might not have his enforcer decals yet, but he certainly had the armor. This was going to be fun to explain, but if he could get the parents' trust, it may help when he did become an enforcer...

This was going to work out in his favor. He wasn't going to let it go any other way. 

Sideswipe squealed happily as Prowl began to rub the wash into his armor. Prowl smiled and made sure to not let his fingers linger in the boy's ticklish spots too much, it was getting time for bed. Getting him riled up wasn't a good idea.

Prowl waited patiently in the living room, looking over the rest of the mess that the boys had wrought that Jazz hadn't managed to get. There were stains in the couch, soaked in the carpet, and splattered into the table. It was going to be a lot of work, but... he could do this. 

He continued to plan his next 30 vorns with the boys, their developmental needs, doctors visits, vaccines, school needs, everything as he waited. 

And he didn't need to wait long.

Jazz came out after several minutes and stretched, "Mech, I don't know who you are or which Prime sent you, but you're my hero, I ain't kiddin.'"

Prowl turned to him, "And I might say the same to you. They will be a handful, but I have worked with worse colleagues before. Do you understand what I mean when I say that I will force you to participate. You do not get to take a back seat to their upbringing just because I am here. If you hand me more power as you did tonight, you will not have the right to get angry with my decisions. I need to know what your expectations are. If they fight, I will need to trust that they did it for a good reason, and if they did not, they will need to be punished. If we do not agree on punishments, this will not work."

"Nah, I... I get what ya mean, and I woulda said the same thing, but... probably not as good as you did," Jazz admitted. "I am really really outta my depth on this one. I didn't have the time for parentin' classes, and I didn't know how to ask for help. Everyone kept passin' 'em off and saying that they didn't have the means or time, but I couldn't let that keep happenin'. I couldn't, and I'm wonderin' if I'm the right choice, ya know?" He went to collapse into a nearby dining chair. 

"Every creator wonders if they are doing the right thing, bringing a new spark into this world," Prowl stated as if it was as simple as saying Cybertron had two moons. "You perhaps may not be their creator in the most common sense, but they trust you. I believe Sunstreaker is simply not talking with strangers, but I cannot tell without more information and time. Were they around when your cousin and their conjunx passed?"

Jazz frowned as he leaned forward to prop his elbows on his knees, "I... I don' really know. They won' talk about what happened that night, and everyone on scene said differen' things. All I know is, Sunstreaker had his brother behin' him and didn't let anyone other than family anywhere near them without screamin'. Another cousin o' mine ended up insultin' them and that didn't help nothin.'"

"No," Prowl hissed. "I imagine not." He looked to the hall for a moment and sighed. "It... It's an ex, you were correct."

"What's the story there?" Jazz asked.

Prowl pursed his lips, "I... don't wish to get too far into it, but he... It devolved into a stalker situation and it eventually went on to impact my work. Praxus' enforcer academy could not, in good faith, keep me working there with all that he was doing, and advised I move to a new location. They provided enough funds to relocate and live on my own for three months, but that would be it. I gathered what I could drive with, and I left. When I said that I am not expecting him to follow me, that is true, but I need you to understand, Jazz, that those sparklings will always be my first concern. Never doubt that."

His lip quirked, "Nah, mech, don' worry. Y're intense, and if ya got Sunny to use a complete sentence or two around ya, y're good folk. Like I said, I'll have a company lawyer draw something up tomorrow, hopefully by lunchtime, and we can talk about it before I need to head in at 4. Any plans?"

"I hope to take the three of you to a nearby park, if you have any regular locations. We can go over more topics there, but I wish to see how the twins interact at a park without anyone else there, or a smaller number of sparklings. I am compiling a list of things I intend to get for them to help. It is basic accommodations so when they get to school in the next six vorns, they should be allowed to continue it."

Jazz scoffed, "If they're not kicked out-"

"Do not say such things, even to yourself," Prowl cut in sharply. Jazz flinched and Prowl continued. "Those children will be looking to you for support. Hopefully, someday, me as well, but for now, they will see me looking to you for guidance. Sparklings are not stupid. If they think that you believe they will fail, they will act out. Believe they can do better, and they will. This will be a careful balancing act so that we push them to success, not burnout. Are you prepared for this?"

The laugh that came out of him was not kind, but self-deprecating, "Y'know, mech, I wasn't ready when I took 'em in, and I'm barely ready now. But if you're helpin' me out... I want to be the creator they need me to be, not just the cool cousin they met twice and can't remember." He stared into Prowl's eyes from across the room, "I love those boys more than anythin'. I'm ready."

Prowl lifted his chin and practically exuded power and resolution, "Good. We start tomorrow. I will be here at 9:15. Get some recharge. If you need me, you have my comm code." He rose and bowed his head, "Until tomorrow."

Jazz rose from his chair to escort him to the door, "I'll see ya tomorrow, Prowler. Thanks for... everything." Prowl merely smiled in return before disappearing down the apartment hall. 

He closed the door after him, wondering exactly what Jazz had just brought onto his small family. 

Salvation or sacrifice?

Chapter Text

Prowl hadn't had time the previous night to stop for shopping, and he hadn't worked out when his off day was going to be, but he figured he would be able to make a stop at some point with the boys. Maybe Jazz, but that would hinge on how much he would insist on paying. Not that Prowl wouldn't mind paying, but he wouldn't fight his theoretical boss on it.

No, he also needed to take stock of what the family had in their pantry, more than just a quick glance that he took the other day. It might take some work, but he also wanted to see if there were any foods he needed to stay away from. Jazz might have the basic medical information, but if they had any allergies, he needed to know. That, and he wanted to schedule a doctor's appointment and see to getting them into therapy. If they had been there the night their parents died, it would be something he wouldn't be able to handle himself. 

Either way, he knocked on Jazz's door at exactly 9:15 and waited. Would Jazz already be up like he said? He had said he would be open to going to the park today. Hopefully his company would have the contract done by the time they returned for lunch, but Jazz had faith-

The door opened and Jazz was caught mid-yawn. He froze, "Y're actually here. I thought ya were kiddin'." He stepped aside and Prowl strode through. It looked like nothing had changed since he had left, not that he could fault Jazz. Yesterday had been rough.

"I very rarely joke when it comes to expectations. If I say that I will be somewhere at a specific time, and I am not, expect that something has gone wrong. I will alert you if I am ill," Prowl said. He headed for the kitchen, "When do the boys usually wake up?"

Jazz was still blinking the sleep from his eyes, "They're up right now, but they're playin' in their room. They don' usually come out until it's time for breakfast."

Prowl nodded and he began to go through the pantry and fridge. "Good. What do they normally eat in the morning."

"Um... cereal or toast. I don' cook too much in the mornings. My carrier tried to teach me, but I have the cooking capabilities of a scraplet," Jazz admitted.

Prowl grunted as he pulled out an unused box of pancake mix and looked up at him, "I can see that."

Jazz flushed and sputtered, "Prowl-"

"Go get Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. We will be making pancakes today. Do you have chocolate chips?" Prowl mused. He turned back to the pantry and made a quiet noise, "Never mind. I found them. Would you be amenable to making a stop at a few stores today? There are things I would like to get and want your input."

"So long as I can get to the office before 3, it's all good. I've gone shoppin' with 'em a few times, but they're... a lot. It's kinda gotten to the point where I thought it's be easier to have my groceries delivered," He winced as he rested his hip against the counter. "What are ya thinkin' about?"

Prowl began to pull out the ingredients, "A sparkling store for specific furniture. There is a chair I know that another cadet I used to know used to constantly balance. It takes a certain amount of attention to remain upright without falling, but it is enough to offset Sideswipe into focusing on what he is working on without fidgeting constantly, as well as some other supplies for the both of them. I also wanted to consider getting them another checkup and if I could bring up professional counseling."

Jazz nodded, "I'll put in some calls to have ya added to their permission list, and they're in therapy right now. They're... They've been goin' to someone alright, Smoky. I'll get ya their contact information soon."

"Alright. I do not want to be made aware of any concerns unless you feel it pertinent. They are entitled to their privacy," Prowl said. He nodded to the holoscreen in the living room, "Could you put on some morning cartoons? I would like to get their attention when they are ready to come out." He set the supplies down and continued to look for the cooking supplies. Jazz pointed to a few drawers and Prowl nodded. 

He took that time to go turn the television on and sighed in relief when Rock'em Sock'em came on. It was a pair of brothers who came from Kaon who had been pit fighters that had to navigate the world around them when everyone thought they were stupid. It hit a little too close for home for Jazz, but the boys loved it.

It took only five seconds into the show for the twins to come running out of their room. Sideswipe leapt into the couch, Sunstreaker climbing up after them. "Rock'em!" Sideswipe yelled happily.

"Sock 'em!" Sunstreaker yelled after. Jazz looked to Prowl and he happily noticed how surprised Prowl seemed.

He joined Prowl in the kitchen and leaned on the counter, "They love that show, and Sunstreaker gets just as excited 'bout it as Sides does. Do ya want them to help with breakfast?"

"No, they are out of their room and will join us when they are ready," Prowl said. He began to lay out what he needed, but pointed to the box, "Open that and get out two cups. You will learn how to make these."

Jazz froze, "But I'm not-"

Prowl turned to look at him, "Everyone who has patience and a will to learn can handle this. Either you help me now or go join your creations. They will be spending most of their time with me. They will miss you. I will enforce family meals when possible."

"I... I'll help next time, Prowl. Hold me to that?" He asked. Prowl nodded and flicked his hand dismissively. "Thanks." He slunk away and went to sit between his kids on the couch. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker looked up in surprise, but quickly curled into his sides. The brothers on the screen were fighting each other at the moment, over something Jazz didn't completely understand, but it was clearly just a miscommunication. 

He could already tell that the moral of this episode was to talk your problems out and find out what was going through everyone's heads, and honestly... He wished some people still did these days. So many problems could be fixed just by talking things out, but sometimes, it didn't feel that easy. Not everyone wanted to talk, sometimes they just wanted to stay angry.

A delicious smell and the sound of sizzling came from the kitchen as the episode began to wind down. Their friend, Tobor, ended up stepping in and being an intermediary between them and explained the situation. The brothers quickly realized what idiots they had been and made up, coming out stronger than ever.

Just as the end credits began to roll, Prowl called from the kitchen, "Breakfast! Jazz, can you show the boys how to set the table?"

Sideswipe leapt off of the couch, "Prowl, can I help? Please please please?" He raced over to try and peer over the counter to watch Prowl cook at the griddle. He tried to reach out, but Prowl carefully grabbed his hand before he could touch it. 

"Careful. This is very hot. You will get hurt. You didn't listen to me about the paint, but will you listen to me now?" Prowl asked as he flipped another pancake. 

Sideswipe pulled at his hand and Prowl let it go. He pouted, "I... Yeah... Don't touch."

"Good. Do you want to know a way to test if something is hot?" Prowl asked carefully. He put another dollop of pancake batter onto the pan. Sideswipe stared in amazement at the loud sizzle. He nodded. Prowl held out his hand, "I will bring your hand close, but I will not let you get hurt, okay? Just for a moment." Sideswipe put his hand into his nanny's and Prowl turned it so that he held Sideswipe's hand out. It was just near the edge and Prowl's attention was focused completely on his charge, "Do you feel how warm it is, even from here? If you feel it this hot from this far away, it means that it will hurt to touch it." He carefully took Sideswipe's hand away. "If it can cook pancakes, it will hurt you," He warned.

Sideswipe watched him sprinkle chocolate chips into the pancakes and bounced on his tiptoes, "Can I have that one? Please please please?"

"Go help Jazzy and Sunstreaker set the table, but to let you know I'm keeping my promise..." Prowl took his spatula and rubbed it into the center of the mix to cut a line in it. "Now you will know that this one's yours." Sideswipe squealed happily and took off to help his family. 

Jazz watched in amazement as Sideswipe actually seemed excited to do some chores, laying out the plates that Jazz passed him. Sunstreaker was content to lay the forks and knives out in neat lines. When Prowl finally used up the rest of the batter a few minutes later and brought the pancakes to the table, everyone was ready. He put it down and took three plain pancakes for himself before looking up to Jazz. 

Like the night before, he stared patiently, "How many would you like to have, and what kind, Jazz?"

"Three chocolate, if you don't mind," He smiled. "And I'll wait for everyone else to dish up first."

"Thank you," Prowl said. He repeated the same with the brothers, Sideswipe asking for two chocolate and Sunstreaker asking for one of each. "Thank you all for setting the table. You did a good job."

Sideswipe proceeded to scoop one end of the pancake into his mouth and try to chomp through it. Jazz winced and immediately looked to Prowl. The mech was patiently cutting through his pancakes and ignoring the disaster to his left. "Sideswipe," He finally said. "Do you want help cutting your pancakes?"

"Yesh pleash!" He chirped. He still had half of a pancake hanging out of his mouth. He barely managed to catch it in his hands when it fell, but Jazz winced, knowing his hands were now covered in syrup. 

"Put that back on your plate, and you can ask for help with cutting your pancakes," Prowl said gently. He put his fork and knife down and reached for Sideswipe's utensils. "Jazz, can you help Sideswipe wash his hands? Sunstreaker, will you need help?" He began to cut the pancake and a half into more bite sized pieces.

Sunstreaker looked at his mangled pancakes and nodded. He had apparently trying to do his best with the prong tips of his fork, with little success. Prowl nodded, "I will be there in a moment. Next time, I will show you how, alright?" Sunstreaker nodded and Prowl nodded back. "Good."

Jazz's head was still spinning. It was the cleanest meal he had had in a while, especially with syrup, and there was almost no screaming. Getting the dishwasher started, their toys they wanted to bring packed up, and everyone out the door... it was painless. There was laughter and someone else who knew what they were doing was keeping an eye on them. The twins stopped at the door, bouncing on their heels, waiting for the adults. Prowl took their hands while Jazz pushed the door open.

"Will I be taking both of them with me?" Prowl asked as they made it out to the street. Sideswipe was clinging to his arm and he picked up his feet to swing freely. Prowl moved his arm a little bit to give him a little extra movement, making him giggle more.

Jazz nodded, "If ya want? They get a little rambunctious if they're not kept entertained. If ya need to stop, ya have my comm code, feel free to yell." He transformed into the docking lane and waited.

Prowl nodded and looked to the twins, "Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, we're going to go to the park. I need to know, will you both behave on the way there?"

Sunstreaker flinched and nodded without a word. Sideswipe glanced past Prowl to his twin in concern. When he turned his attention back to Prowl, he only nodded silently.

There was definitely something there. It wasn't his job to pry, and while he could be there for them, he wouldn't know how to comfort them.

It was one point that he failed in at the academy. Even by the most veteran Enforcers' standards, he was no good at comforting those in the prolonged aftermath. The immediate aftermath, he could be a rock, but otherwise, he only had so much sympathy.

"Come along, bitlets," He said and transformed. He opened his back doors for them and Sunstreaker forced Sideswipe back so he could see the road from his side better. Sideswipe scoffed and crawled in after. "Buckle up," Prowl reminded as he shut the door. 

Soon enough, they were off, and Prowl took a moment to appreciate the city for what it was. He hadn't had much of a chance to look around yet, but now... Iacon was large. Not in the same way that Praxus was, but it was more spread out. The architecture was more brutal, fewer and smaller windows, less crystal, but there was still an elegance to it all. The drivers seemed to be capable here, which was good. 

He could get used to things here. Maybe. Hopefully.

But it wouldn't be home. 

Home had lost its meaning a long time ago. Home would mean safety and warmth and peace and... no.

He wouldn't have a home for a while.

The boys stayed quiet in the back, looking at all of the other alt modes that drove next to them, and Prowl was shocked that this was them being 'unruly'. The greater probability would be that they didn't know Prowl's driving habits and they were worried. 

They physically relaxed when the park came into view and Prowl slid into the docking lane again. Jazz was already transforming out and he wandered over, "Were they okay?"

"Overly concerned, I believe, but they were well behaved and quiet," Prowl reported as he opened his back door. The twins unbuckled and soon sliding out. They hung back for a moment, as if waiting for permission. Prowl transformed and gestured them forward, "If you know where to go, stay within sight, but have fun. Jazz and I have more matters to discuss."

"Awesome!" Sideswipe chirped and took off, dragging his brother with him.

Jazz watched the pair head for the playground and strolled alongside Prowl, "I thought ya also wanted to watch them."

"I do," Prowl said as he didn't look away from their pair. He straightened to notice that there were already a few sparklings at the playset. A yellow minibot sparkling was playing on the slide with someone who had to be his creator, a tall red and blue mech with a battle mask retracted. There was similarly an older mechling on the swings, yelling at... Prowl couldn't tell if that was his creator or grandcreator, an older teal blue mech with probably more chips in his paint than Prowl cared to think about. "I want to see how they interact with other children. If it's their personalities that clash, that's one thing, but if they can't control their behavior or hold back... that's another."

Jazz tensed when he saw that they were barging up the small tower, close to where the yellow sparkling was, "Should... we be worried?"

"We can speed up, but I can hope that they understand to ask to get past," Prowl grumbled. He watched as Sideswipe paused when he saw that they finally reached the top, Sunstreaker right behind them. They whispered to each other for a moment before Sideswipe walked over to the younger bot and pointed to him and his brother. Sunstreaker had his arm crossed, aggressive, but Sideswipe looked anything but. 

The sparkling nodded happily and crawled to the side so the twins could both go down. The other creator watched them carefully with the kind of look that spoke volumes about him. He was making sure that all of the children at the playground were safe, his creations or not. 

"Y'know, I was scared ta take them out to the park. After the first few accounts of bitin', fightin', and punchin', I was terrified they were going to be little terrors," Jazz whispered.

"The day is not over, but we shall hope for the best," Prowl said. He saw Sideswipe look to him for... something, and Prowl only nodded. "They have their own specialties, it seems, Sideswipe is more of the people person between them. Sunstreaker is smart to let him handle others."

Jazz smiled and gave two thumbs up to his kids was Sunstreaker joined Sideswipe at the bottom and they visibly cheered. They ran up again, Sunstreaker slipping past this time, but Sideswipe stayed behind. He cocked his helm at the bitlet and addressed both him and his creator. The mech straightened in surprise before he nodded. "Ah, what the frag is he doin'...?"

He was pleasantly surprised when Sideswipe sat down and put Bumblebee on his lap, holding him close. Hope bloomed in his chest when he saw Sideswipe slide down with the smaller friend. "What..."

Prowl smiled as he looked to Jazz, "That, Jazz, is the power of expectations. They want you to be proud of them. They understand that they need to protect those smaller than them. Now, I want you to go over there, pick him up and tell him how proud you are of him. After, put him down, crouch in front of Sunstreaker, and tell him that you're proud as well. Do not touch him unless he invites it first."

Jazz chuckled, "That, mech, I can do." He left the Praxian behind to go race up to his kids. The yellow sparkling was already in his creator's arms, so Jazz was free to scoop him up. He spun them around in a circle with a laugh and Sideswipe squealed happily. He clearly sang Sideswipe's praises, making his own sparkling light up.

Prowl's smile didn't fall. He knew the power of positive reinforcement, and this would be the first step of many.

Given how much Sunstreaker squirmed in front of them, he was also happy at the praise he got. The other mech turned to Jazz and smiled widely. The pair shook hands and began to introduce themselves. Jazz put a hand on Sideswipe's helm, ruffling his plating a small amount, but earned more giggles. He didn't touch Sunstreaker, but the sparkling crossed his arms when it was his turn to be introduced.

Then, Jazz turned and waved Prowl over. Prowl tensed, but forced himself tp walk forward. Already, he was thinking of scripts that the pair could be using to introduce himself, but he wasn't ready to talk to a stranger like this so soon. What if something about him traced back-

"This is Prowl, he's helpin' me with the twins. Prowl, this is Orion Pax and his bitty, Bumblebee. They're actually from here, so if ya have any questions about the place, they can help," Jazz introduced.

Sideswipe turned to Prowl and tugged on his knee, "Prowl, Prowl, can you push me on the swing please? Please please please?"

"Eager, isn't he?" Orion chuckled and bounced Bumblebee on his hip. "I believe Hot Rod is over there with Kup. We're all hoping that this placement lasts. Sentinel was not the person that Hot Rod needed."

"After that big display on the first day?" Jazz scoffed. "Even all the way in pre-k, we heard about it. He's what, in third grade?"

Orion nodded, "I know Kup, he's much more grounded. One can hope that he helps redirect Hot Rod's energy."

Jazz laughed in agreement, "Tell me 'bout it. I don' know what he was thinkin', sendin' Roddy in that-"

"Jazz," Prowl cut off. "There are young audials here," He frowned. "I will take Sideswipe and Sunstreaker to the swings." He turned his attention down, "Is that alright, Sunstreaker?"

The mechling reached up and tugged on his right hand and Prowl's doorwings flicked in approval, "Alright. Let us go."

"Mind if we follow? Bumblebee hasn't had anyone to swing with," Orion asked. He readjusted Bumblebee on his hip again. The child was watching Prowl with wide eyes, fascinated by this stranger.

Sideswipe, in a similar position in Jazz's arms, wriggled, "Can Prowl look after him too? Sunny won't want Prowl touching him, so he can push me and Bee at the same time!"

"I see nothing wrong with it," Prowl nodded. "But you should ask Orion before you offer his creation for anything."

"Please please please?" Sideswipe begged, half squirming out of Jazz's arms. The radio host laughed and held him under his armpits. 

Orion chuckled like the godsend he was and nodded, "He doesn't talk much, but he'll let you know when he's not having anymore fun."

"I know of some other younglings that do not communicate by official means," Prowl nodded, keeping his optics away from Sunstreaker. He held his arms out patiently and Orion did a smooth transfer.

"You know your way around bitlets," He noted. "Professional nanny?"

"No-" Jazz started, but Prowl cut him off.

"Yes," He sent a sharp glance to Jazz. He was practically begging Jazz not to say anything, but he kept his mouth shut. "Please let Sideswipe down so we can go to the swings," He said, averting his gaze.

There was no way Orion didn't suspect something. This was not what he needed. If he told the wrong person anything-

Jazz nodded slowly and let Sideswipe down, "Now, don't have too much fun. It's illegal, you know."

Sideswipe's mouth fell open in shock and he turned to Prowl, "Is fun really illegal?"

"Some kinds," Prowl mused and urged the twins towards the three free swings. The last youngling, Hot Rod, eyed them carefully, but kept going higher and higher. It wouldn't be long until he was parallel with the top bar.

Before they could get too close, Prowl knelt in front of the twins. He gestured to Hot Rod and spoke loudly so the mechling understood what he was saying. There was no way to misunderstand what 'placement' meant, and that could mean insecurities. He wanted the other mech to know that he wasn't saying bad things.

"Do you see how fast Hot Rod is going? That means it would be hard for him to stop. If you do not give him space, then there is a good chance that he could kick you, and I will not be angry with him. It is your own responsibility to be careful to watch for him. I will still keep an eye on you all, but you must be careful, alright?"

Sunstreaker frowned at the other child and nodded, while Sideswipe wriggled in place, "Swing now, swing now!" Prowl lifted an eyebrow and he groaned, "Prowl!!!"

He would need to keep an eye on Sideswipe then.

He waved them to the swings and got Bumblebee situated on the baby swings, the only one capable of holding him without potentially falling. "Sideswipe, get on this one next to Bumblebee. Sunstreaker, you can pick your own."

Sideswipe tried to wiggle up onto the bar, but it flipped out from underneath him. Sunstreaker looked over the seat and tried himself, but still ended up on his back. Bumblebee giggled and kicked his legs, making the chains flail. There was an incredibly low chance of Bumblebee falling out, but it was still not a chance he wanted to take.

Prowl seized them to hold him still, and he cocked his head, "Are you two alright?"

Given that Prowl wasn’t freaking out, the twins soon brushed themselves off. Sideswipe grumbled and reached up again, but Prowl held up his free hand. "Here’s what I want you two to do," He said. He shifted to the side and let Bumblebee’s seat go for a moment so he could demonstrate. "Turn around so that the swing is against your back and grab the rope. Pull yourself up and the seat will slide under you. You will want it tucked a two fingers from the back of your knees."

He waited for the pair to do as he said and nodded happily as Sideswipe got it faster than his brother. Sunstreaker may be more artistically inclined than his brother, but Sideswipe wasn’t stupid.

"Now, you want to kick your legs forward, wait a moment, and then swing them back under you. Wait another moment and swing them back forward and repeat," Prowl said. He began to gently push Bumblebee and waited until he had a steady rhythm going before he attended to his actual charges.

Sideswipe was actually doing well, already having a decent swing, but Sunstreaker was getting more and more frustrated when he wriggled and kicked and flailed, trying to get it. Prowl winced, "Sunstreaker, hold on-"

"I can help!" Hot Rod yelled from the top of a swing. Prowl’s spark nearly gave out when he saw Hot Rod to start to let go of the chains-

"Leave ‘im!" The older mech, Kup, yelled before Prowl could move and he barely managed to cement his feet to the ground. 

Just like a meteor crashing, Hot Rod flew from his swing and and crashed to the ground. Kup grunted as he watched Hot Rod spring up, "Brat, what did I tell ya about doin’ that?"

"Get bent, old timer!" Hot Rod laughed. He still raced over to the group, but he hadn’t heeded Prowl’s advice from earlier.

He ran through Sideswipe’s forward swing. 

There was malice in Sideswipe’s eyes.

Prowl couldn’t even blame him.

He still barely managed to wrap his arms around Sideswipe and the swing before he could strike Hot Rod, and he dropped them a moment later to get in Hot Rod’s way. 

He raised his doorwings aggressively and frowned, "Sunstreaker does not like to be touched. Please mind that."

Hot Rod froze and flinched back, "I-I’m sorry, I didn’t-" His eyes were wide and full of a learned fear, and Prowl immediately felt bad.

"You are not at fault," Prowl said as he quickly crouched and lowered his doorwings. He did not like towering like that, but he did not want any harm coming to Sunstreaker first. Prowl knit his fingers in front of him. "If they wish to play with you, I am alright with that, but please do not touch Sunstreaker. Can you agree to that?"

Hot Rod still looked at him with a calculating look, "Which one is Sunstreaker?"

"Hey Sunny, look what I can do!"

Prowl turned in time to see Sideswipe letting go of his swing set chains and flying forward. He had enough time to brace, and catch the wayward child. Sideswipe giggled the entire time and smacked at his plating with unscathed hands, "Again, again!"

Prowl took a deep breath, help it for five seconds, and slowly let it out. He crouched and lowered him to the ground. "Sideswipe, I want you to go get Orion and Jazz for me." He looked around and quickly found them. They had alarmed looks and Jazz was already running. "I want to have a talk with you and Sunstreaker, okay? What you did was not safe, and we need to talk about it. However, I cannot look after Bumblebee at the same time."

"Prowl, good catch, mech, but are you two okay?" Jazz demanded. He finally skid to a stop and knelt next to Sideswipe, looking him over for damage.

Hot Rod was stepping back, "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get him in trouble-"

"He is not in trouble," Prowl tried to soothe. "If you would like to listen to our talk with him, you can, but I would like you to ask Kup first. If you wish to bring him over, I am okay with that. But Sideswipe is not in trouble, nor am I mad at you. You came over with good intentions, and while I wish you had been ore careful, I cannot fault you for wanting to do good," He said gently. Hot Rod nodded slowly and he stumbled away back to his guardian. 

Kup nodded to Prowl and rubbed his charge’s back gently.  He muttered things their group couldn't make out and frankly, it wasn't any of their business.

Prowl sighed in relief and nodded back, "We’re fine. Orion-"

"-Is getting Bee," Jazz cut off. He looked at his sparkling, still oblivious to the harm that he had nearly put himself in. "Sides, bitty, ya can' go jumpin' like that. Not until y're older at least."

"What, Hot Rod was fine, I was going to make it," Sideswipe protested. He stamped his foot as he tried to make the adults in his life see reason for his clearly logical decision to fling himself from Prowl's shoulder height.

"Sideswipe," Prowl stressed gently. "You scared me. You remember how I told you that you chewing with your mouth open hurt me audials, and you were worried for me? What you just did could have gotten you hurt and I was worried that you would get hurt. If you want to jump like that, Jazz and I can look into gymnastics when you're a little older, when it's safer, but not yet."

Not when he could break a bone like it was a poorly reinforced truss on a bridge.

Sideswipe pouted, but Sunstreaker came in from his own swing and pushed his brother. "Sunny-" Jazz cut in, but Prowl stood. He raised his doorwings in the same position that he took with Hot Rod and frowned.

"Do I need to put you two in the corner when we get home? No fighting, you two are better than this-"

"Rock 'em, Sock 'em, Tobor here," Jazz stepped in. He smiled and crouched, "Look at me, hey. Deep breaths, okay? Let's talk about this." Prowl blinked in surprise, but he took a step back. Jazz glanced at him and winked. He turned to Sunstreaker, "Can ya tell me why you pushed yer brother?"

Sunstreaker looked up at Prowl but Jazz shook his head, "No. Don' look at 'im, look at me-"

"Jazz," Prowl cut in. "I think he pushed Sideswipe because of me." As if to prove his point, Sunstreaker pointed at Prowl. Behind them, Kup snorted. A second later, Hot Rod giggled quietly. 

At least someone was getting some fun out of this.

Jazz sighed and turned to Sideswipe, "And Sides, why did ya decide to throw yourself from the swing?"

Sideswipe pouted and looked down, "It looked like fun and I know Prowl would catch me..."

"Are ya goin' to do that again?" Jazz pressed. 

"No..."

"What are you goin' ta say to Prowler?"

"I'm sorry for scaring you, Prowl..."

"Prowl?"

He crouched down to Sideswipe's eye level, "I forgive you, Sideswipe, but please do not do that again."

"Prowl, it's yer call what to do from here," Jazz said. Prowl looked up in shock, but he quickly relaxed. Jazz was giving him the metaphorical torch.

He nodded and looked over his charges, "I am alright with you two hanging out with Hot Rod and Bumblebee, but I am still going to ask you both to be on your best behavior. If you don't want to play with them, then you can stay with Jazz and I, alright?" Sunstreaker came and tucked on Prowl's right hand. Prowl nodded, "Go sit down, alright? Sideswipe, if you want to go play, go. We'll leave in an hour."

"Alright, Prowl," Sideswipe groaned.

Behind them again, Kup grunted. "Alright, Brat. You heard 'em. Go play." Hot Rod cheered and ran over. He and Sideswipe bounced together and raced off. They were poking at something in the grass, but no one could think to care at the moment.

Orion came over and smiled at the pair, "They're going to get on like a house on fire."

Kup snorted and waved them all over. The three collapsed into the circle of chairs, and Sunstreaker crawled into Jazz's lap to cuddle. "Don't give 'em any ideas. Hot Rod has a habit of actually catching fire."

Prowl's doorwings flared in alarm for a brief moment, but Jazz put a hand on his arm, "Calm down, mech. Kup?"

"Don' question my kid's ability like that again. He's learnin', but he knows how not to flame out," He frowned. "Yer kid's safe."

"I... I apologize," Prowl said. "I believe I am still a little... high strung right now"

Orion patted his shoulder, "I am stressed only by looking at you. I should not have left Bumblebee in your care."

"No, I was not expecting all of that. We all assumed it would be better," Prowl sighed. He leaned forward in his chair and sighed. "I must look at the bright side of this. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are capable of interacting with other children if they know each other, and they both understand that they are capable of giving me spark attacks from high distances."

"I once found Bumblebee on an eye level shelf in the pantry. I think I nearly offlined," Orion laughed again, balancing Bumblebee on his chest. 

Jazz shook his head and looked at Sunstreaker, "Are ya goin' to give us any spark attacks, my lil' bitty?"

Sunstreaker started in shock for a moment before he clung to Jazz's armor and began to cry. Jazz shared a desperate look with Prowl, and the nanny only looked at him sympathetically. He pulled a blanket out of his subspace and laid it out around his charge. "You acknowledged him as yours, Jazz. That would make anyone cry," He whispered. Jazz's eyes widened in realization and shock before he clicked him mouth shut.

He bundled Sunstreaker into the blanket and held him, whispering desperately. 

Prowl didn't need to hear him to know what he was saying. No, Jazz was reaffirming to Sunstreaker that he was now his.

Chapter Text

Prowl made them all grilled cheeses for lunch. The boys settled in the living room to watch cartoons and eat while he and Jazz went over the contract. Prowl knew he should probably eat, but his tank was twisting. Once he signed that document... He would be responsible for the two kids sitting in front of the holoscreen. Already, Sideswipe had nearly kicked another child in the head and almost decided to try and launch himself into orbit by literally copying his friend who could theoretically surf on meteorites and be perfectly fine.

"And after what happened in the park, you still trust me?" Prowl asked shakily as he looked at the documentation that Jazz's lawyer had delivered when they got home. 

Jazz smiled and relaxed, "Prowler, not ta steal a line from earlier, but what do ya think happened at the park earlier?" He took a bite of his sandwich and sighed contently. "That's a dmmn good samich," He said with a full mouth.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, you'll choke," He responded automatically and sighed. "I... I nearly retraumatized another child, barely managed to stop Sideswipe from trying to injure himself, and had to threaten the boys with corner time." He swallowed again. "I... I didn't like how today went."

Jazz swallowed and shook his head, "Nah, I think today went great. Let's see." He began to count on his fingers, smiling the whole time. "Sideswipe willin'ly played with a bitty half his size and helped him down the slide where his own creator couldn' get up there, and don't tell me that it ain't because of yer speech yesterday about protectin' bitties smaller than him, it is. Sunstreaker made a new friend with Bumblebee an' showed 'im how to draw in the dirt. Sides and Roddy got on so well that Kup asked us when we'll be comin' back through. Ya already made our lives to much better, Prowler. I wouldn't regret this for a second."

"What..." Prowl took a deep breath. "Alright. I... will try to see it all in a better light. Thank you, Jazz."

He smiled and pulled the paper back. "Alright, it's fairly easy stuff. You'll get a deposit at the end of each week. While I don't offer health insurance, my company's agreed to help ya get onto the city's most basic care plan. Shots, physicals, check-ups, and small injuries. It doesn't cost a thing, it comes outta your taxes. I'll get your documents all handled, it'll get taken out of your pay automatically. Anythin' ya want to get the kids, you fill out a form based on prices from online shoppin' and I'll need to take a look. Groceries, I'll put some money out for ya an' just get me a receipt and the change."

He wrote out a schedule and turned it around, "I have my off day on the last day of week. It would probably work better if ya had your off day then, so I could keep an eye on the kids instead, that might work best."

"That works for me," Prowl agreed. "You would not need to worry about finding someone else." His doorwings sagged in relief as more and more of the paperwork was shared and he realized that Jazz still wanted him to look after the children.

He still had employment, and with the money? He would have enough of a run fund if it came to it.

His ex had his methods, and Prowl didn't always know what they were.

He would know. He helped him advance some of them.

He just didn't have the proof, not after what happened at the academy-

"Prowler," Jazz whispered over the table. "Hey, ya good?"

He sucked in a sharp breath, "What- Oh. I, um. Yes. Sorry. Just..." He ruffled his plating in an attempt to recompose himself. "Sorry, this is good news that I needed. You were saying?"

Jazz watched him for another moment, "Prowler, I need to know. What happened back in Praxus?"

Prowl shrunk, "Your charges will be safe-"

"I don' doubt it, but ya clearly have some other stuff rollin' around in yer head, and talkin' can help," Jazz offered. He reached a hand across the table, "Ya don't need to tell me the gory details, just what y're willing to share."

He swallowed and nodded, "I... It... All Enforcers in Praxus need to have their own network. Sometimes the numbers from each branch might vary, but everyone gets put into a team. It's typically one detective branch student, two beat cops, and a forensics tech. It is to try and keep cases as streamlined as possible, but it also makes those teams incredibly insular. If there are problems, it's possible to get a transfer, but it is designed so that you always have a team to turn to. I... I was the sole detective branch on a team of just me and a forensics technician. It was an experimental team with experimental technology. I had a piece of equipment installed in the first 5 vorns of my 30 vorn training, and he received unfettered access to whatever technology he so wished."

Prowl smiled ruefully, "It was nice, at first. We created entirely new ways to test for evidence. We were closer that any team and... grew closer when we realized our compatibility meshed in other ways. We had an unmatched closure rate, but we wanted better. We couldn't do better though, not without... more." He reached his hand to cover the back of his neck. "It... We were never going to be assigned a beat cop accessory. It was too late for integration, so he decided to integrate something else. I never received the full report, but it was some kind of device that would make it difficult for me to turn my processor off completely. It is always running. It has its headaches, but it has its uses. Most of it was removed by the academy when they heard that he was doing something much worse than normal, and they put a stop to it, but some of the effects still linger."

"It was the vorn before graduation. I was the top of my classes, and suddenly, I am without any kind of support network, my processor is running overtime, and the academy, since they had technically sanctioned his work, could not do anything about my now ex-partner except reassign us both. However... I always felt as though he was stalking me. It took me three months before graduation, and I finally had enough proof. Hacked video cameras, paid homeless spies, taps on my credit chits. The academy couldn't deny that he was stalking me and... They couldn't do anything about it. Instead, they decided to grant me three months' worth of fully graduated Enforcer pay, provided me a ticket and enough time to pack in a day, and here I am. I am terrified that he will find me here, so I am begging you to not tell anyone about me more than you need to."

"And if he does find ya?" Jazz asked, searching Prowl's face. "Will ya run again? Hide? Y're always goin' to be welcome here."

Prowl shook his head, "I'm probably safer with Red Alert, but... I will keep that in mind. I... I apologize, I should not need to laden you with all of that-"

Jazz pointed at him with the end of the pen, "Hey, I need ya to stay, Prowler. If I need ta call down hell on whatever yer ex's name is, let me know. Trus' me, I've had ta owe in a favor or two to the Enforcers here. But I think Sunstreaker will kill me in my sleep if anythin' happens to you." His grin was so easygoing and convincing that Prowl couldn't help but to trust him.

He nodded weakly, "And my responsibilities?"

"Officially? Jus' lookin' after 'em and homeschoolin' 'em. There's an exam that they need to fill out at a nearby school near the end of the school decavorn, just to tell the government that they're not gettin' stiffed outta an education. If they pass their tests, we'll re-sign this contract, but it's just ta make sure they don' need a tutor," Jazz explained. "Unofficially? You're goin' to have access to bring 'em to doctors' offices and appointments. They go to a small clinic near here for check-ups and their primary care physician is First Aid. I warned 'im to expect a call from ya in the next month or so. I'm hopin' you'll keep on as ya have."

Jazz sighed as he leaned back, "I don' know how you've done it, but they already seem so much... happier now that y're here. It makes me wonderin' if I was failin' em."

"You said that you'd had them for about two months?" Prowl cut in. He nodded to the twins as they bounced along to a catchy theme song, "If you had told me that they had just lost their creators less than three months ago, I would not believe you. If you had told me that you were failing them, I would not believe you. If you had told me that you had only seen them twice before they were pressed into your care, I would not believe you. You kept them cared for. You were there when they needed you, and you are one of the few people that Sunstreaker has no problem with touching him. He does not trust me to that degree. You mean everything to them. I will not accept your blatant delusions that you have talked yourself into that you have failed them because you have not. Now look at me," He stressed again.

Jazz swallowed and Prowl knit his fingers in front of him. "I will be here at 9:15 A.M. six times a week. I will cook breakfast and you can choose to help me or spend time with your bitlets. Once or twice a week, you will look after them while I do shopping, or we get it delivered. You will spend time with them somehow, but you will. I will prepare lunch, and prepare their lessons while you prepare for work. While you are gone, we will do our schoolwork. When it is time for you to leave, you will let them know you love them, and that they will see you in the morning. They will be asleep when you get back, but that is why you will be there for them first thing in the morning. I will not let you push them off because if you make those children believe that you have abandoned them or pushed them onto me like they were onto you, I will report you for emotional neglect so quickly, your plating will rattle. Am I clear?"

He nodded and leaned back, "Crystal, mech." He didn't even bother to read the rest of the contract as he sighed the documentation. "I wrote a break clause. We're ta give each other a two month notice if ya plan to quit or if I plan ta fire you. I don' need to know anything else. I want ya in my family's life, Prowl, for as long as you'll be with us."

Prowl hesitated when he saw the sheer honesty in his face and turned the copy back onto his end. It had the standard employment clauses; liability, guaranteed employment, notice of leave, and enough smaller clauses that protected him, not Jazz.

It was perfect.

It felt like a slap in the face.

This was what Praxus should have offered him.

They didn't deserve him. 

The way those kids had looked at him though... The complete awe at his respect of them, the trust they were slowly putting in him, the unbridled joy when he gave them what they were worth...

He deserved this.

Prowl signed the document.

The boys looked up curiously as Jazz made a stop by them when he and Prowl's talk ended and the time to begin prepping for his work. He leaned down to kiss Sideswipe's forehead, and lifted an eyebrow at Sunstreaker. The golden sparkling pouted and reached his arms up, "Jazzy."

"C'mere, boys," Jazz smiled. He bundled them both into his arms and dotted more kisses all over their faces. "Be good for Prowl, okay? I love you both and I'll be around for a lil' while, but I need some space fer work, okay?"

"Okay!" Sideswipe chirped as he squirmed, still trying to watch his show. "Love you too, Jazzy." His guardian smiled and shook his head in amusement.

"Alright, bitties mine, I'll see ya tomorrow," He whispered and put them back down.

Sunstreaker was staring Sideswipe down as if his brother was an idiot, and they must have been having another of their silent conversations because Sideswipe whirled around a moment later. He pointed to himself, "Jazzy's?"

"My bitties," Jazz reaffirmed, knowing now that they needed to hear this. "Sorry that I ain't your creator, but I'll always be yer Jazzy."

Sideswipe nodded frantically, "My Jazzy!"

"My Jazzy!" Sunstreaker grumbled, but Prowl swept into the area with a practiced ease. "My Prowl!"

His brother's mouth fell open and he yelled, "My Prowl!"

Prowl knelt and shushed them gently, "You care share me, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe. Tell Jazzy you love him and wish him good luck at work today."

Jazz's spark soared as his boys looked up in unison and waved. "Love you, Jazzy! Good luck at work!"

"Love you too, boys," He whispered. It ached, walking away from them, even if it was just down the hall. He had no idea how he was going to handle going back to work for real. Maybe this week to just adjust would be perfect.

"Jazzy?" Sideswipe asked as he looked up to Prowl curiously. 

Their nanny gestured back to the holoscreen, "Let's finish this episode, and then I have some books I want you to look through. If you can get through all of it the best you can, I will let you go back to watching your show, alright?" The twins shared a look and nodded. Prowl smiled and rose, heading for the bags that rested by the front door. There were nearly a dozen notebooks, some art pads, four dry erase boards and plenty of markers. There were two of the fidget chairs, but they doubted that Sunstreaker would want his. He seemed to prefer solid ground. The playground had a chain and plank bridge that he hadn't been fond of.

Prowl had insisted on a progress bar for the twins. It would be a physical representation of how far they had come in learning their subjects. It would not compare them and Prowl hoped that it would encourage them to work together. He wanted to test the effectiveness of a good behavior chart, but he also knew that it could be a double edged sword. It could very easily turn into a competition between the brothers and make their relationship worse. He ended up on settling to see how the twins handled everyday before committing to a reward chart.

He began taking out some of the supplies and placing them in an otherwise vacant corner and the coffee table. The twins were closer to the holoscreen, so their show was uninterrupted. Sunstreaker saw what he was doing and frowned, but turned back to the screen. 

That was fair. If he was Sunstreaker's age, Prowl wouldn't want to help either.

The notebooks, learning books, dry erase boards came out and he began setting everything up. Today, they would go over the alphabet, basic words, and shapes.

He just hoped that the boys would cooperate. He couldn't train them like he would a turbohound, they needed just the same patience that he had been showing them.

When their show finally wrapped up, Prowl came over, "Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, I have some stuff I want us to do. Remember when I said that when you're done with your work, you can come back to your show?"

"Yeah?" Sideswipe chirped. He shared a look with his brother, "I think he's trying to get us to learn."

"Ew," Sunstreaker sneered, but Prowl lifted an eyebrow.

He cocked his head knowingly, "Well, Jazzy did find a Rock 'em Sock 'em book for you two to read. If you can learn enough to read it to him, I think he would like that."

That got the twins to reconsider and they grumbled. Sideswipe pouted and got up slowly, "Fiiiine." Prowl smiled and ushered them to the table. Sideswipe saw his chair and cocked his head, but took a seat. He lit up at the wiggle and began to play on it. Sunstreaker tried his, but he quickly pushed off. 

"You don't need to use that one, Sunstreaker," Prowl cut in. He took the fidget chair away and replaced his regular one. Sunstreaker huffed at him petulantly as he took his seat back. Prowl needed to hide his smile again. He was cute at this age, but it would lose its charm as he got older.

But this is why he was there. 

"Now, I would like to go over what you already know. Can we go through the alphabet first?" He asked. He drew out the letters and held his board up, "Do you know these?"

Sideswipe was actually seeming to sit still for once as he got used to his chair and nodded, "Riri went over these when we were younger! He always said we could do anything we put our minds to!"

"He was a smart carrier," Prowl agreed sadly. He hoped he wouldn't get into this talk, not yet, and he tried to redirect them. "So, let's do a quick reminder. A, B, C..."

The twins groaned and began to chant the rest in unison and Prowl nodded. He allowed himself a pleased doorwing flick, "Good. Now, let's check our shapes." He gestured to their boards, "Now, can you two draw me a line, a wave or squiggle, and a circle?" Given the bored looks he got, they already knew. "Of course. I will ask that you make a star and a square for me."

Sunstreaker rolled his eyes and uncapped his marker to draw a shaky square and a very lopsided five pointed star. Sideswipe shared his enthusiasm, but his square looked more like a trapezoid with a short side and his star was a bunch of lines. He looked at his work, then his brother's, and pouted.

Prowl laid a hand next to him gently, "Do not always compare your artistic ability to others', Sideswipe. There will always be things that you are better at than others, but others will always be better at things than you." He looked between them, "Now, let's run through a few more shapes, and then we can open our coloring books for a while. You can show Jazz in the morning, and then we'll switch to practicing our writing."

That earned a nervous look and Prowl looked between them patiently, "We are here to practice what we do not know yet. Sideswipe, wouldn't you like to be able to remember things to tell Hot Rod later? I am sure he would love to hear about your dreams and what Rock 'em and Sock 'em did today. Or Sunstreaker, to make stories to go with the pictures you paint for Bumblebee? He is still learning himself. I know he would like to look them over."

"Could we have a playdate with them sometime?" Sideswipe asked. He shared a look with his brother, who nodded. "See? Sunny agrees, we want to have a playdate! We haven't had one before!"

"I will speak to Jazz, but I can't promise anything," Prowl said. "Now, let's continue shapes, and we can work on writing."

They nodded and that was their next 20 minutes. Prowl asked them for shapes and stacked several shapes together to make different things. Something clicked for Sunstreaker as Prowl combined enough shapes to draw a more realistic. He stood to get a better look and Prowl happily showed him. 

"Do you remember when I had you both draw that circle? Jazz's face has more lines than that, and if you look hard enough, everything is lines," He instructed. He continued to draw Jazz's body using squares, rectangles, trapezoids, and triangles.

Prowl had never been so glad for his suspect sketching class. It had been a mandatory three semester course and it was really paying off in the weirdest way ever.

Sunstreaker watched avidly and tried to copy it in his shaky hands. Prowl readjusted his hold on his marker to show Sunstreaker, "These aren't good for this, but I can show you again when we color."

"Now," He demanded, pounding his fist on the table. He whined when it clearly hurt, but Prowl waited for a moment.

He lowered his marker, "I will show you at coloring time. It is not 'no', it is 'later'." He turned to a nearby clock, currently at 5:37, "When that turns to 6:00, we will move to coloring. I promise. I need to finish this first."

Sunstreaker watched the clock with angry eyes and glared at Prowl before he nodded. He stomped back to his seat and pouted. Prowl turned back to Sideswipe, "May I see your pentagon, Sideswipe?"

He proudly showed off his shape, but it soured when Sunstreaker glared at him. Prowl sighed internally, but externally nodded, "Very good. Now, let's put five more pentagons around that, and let's see what shape we get." He said this directly to Sideswipe and turned to Sunstreaker, "Can I speak with you in the kitchen? Sideswipe, please continue with your work."

The sparkling pouted and nodded. He followed behind his nanny until they were both behind the island, but Prowl made sure that his doorwings still hung past the corner so he could tell if Sideswipe was trying to sneak up on them. He crouched to Sunstreaker's level, "We both know you are excellent at art, Sunstreaker, but you have already learned most of this. Sideswipe needs time. There are things that he knows and can do better than you can, and does he make you feel bad for it?"

He reached out and tapped Prowl's left hand as his silent 'no'. 

"And you like it when people say you're doing a good job, right?" He asked again. Sunstreaker nodded and Prowl bobbed a doorwing up. He noticed that Sideswipe had done... something. He peered around the corner to see the red twin trying to sneak out. Sideswipe froze when he was caught and Prowl pointed back at his work. He nodded sullenly and returned to his shapes.

Prowl sighed and looked back to Sunstreaker, "I know you don't like making your brother feel bad, so we need to encourage him to do this. He might need a little help, and I would like it if you help him when he asks for it. I want you to know that if he ever behaves like this, I'll have a talk with him too, but you can't make him feel bad for learning. He wants to do this, and it's a good thing. Or would you rather it be a you thing?"

Sunstreaker didn't look happy and nodded slowly. "I don't like how I feel."

Prowl hummed, "That's okay. It's okay to want things that don't feel good, but it's how you handle it. For something like this, you can still do your hobby, and encourage your brother. Some things, you want to keep them yours, but it's also nice to be able to share that. Someday, Sideswipe might make a friend or find a new hobby that he loves, and you won't be good at, but you want to be able to do it with him. We both know Sideswipe would want you to be proud of what you do. So, what do you think we should do?"

He tried to peek over the counter to look at his brother, but pouted. Prowl moved back so Sunstreaker could look. Sideswipe was happily scrawling all over his whiteboard and wiggling all over his new favorite chair. He looked content.

Sunstreaker looked down, then up at Prowl, "I want to watch him work and show him what to do."

"I think that would be good, but be patient with him. He is learning, just like you are learning yourself," Prowl whispered. Sunstreaker nodded and he took Prowl's hand to lead them back to the table. Prowl let him and continued to watch over the pair as the brothers drew bad pentagon flowers and filled them in with different colors.

6:00 came and went, and Prowl silently moved them into coloring. He was encouraging them to be careful with their movements, and used the books that he had got in an attempt to work on their fine motor skills. 

While they began to color independently, he went to work on dinner. Yesterday, they had mac and cheese. Today, he had gotten some meat and started on tacos. It shouldn't be too bad.

While he worked to cook the meat, he quietly pinged Jazz. 'Dinner will be in 10 minutes. I'll ping you when it's done, but I'll save you a plate for when you have a moment.'

'You're my hero,' Jazz messaged back and Prowl smiled. He drained the extra liquids into a bowl for later, but it was smelling good. 

He barely managed to catch the hand reaching out, and sighed, "Sideswipe-"

"I was going to feel how warm it was!" He protested and Prowl lamented what was his life. He let Sideswipe's wrist go gently and Sideswipe sighed contently at how warm the stove was. "This is nice."

"It may be, but would you like the help me with dinner again?" He asked. Sideswipe perked up and Sunstreaker was on the same side, smacking Prowl's right hip. "I hear you. Alright, before you can help, go wash your hands. Safe hands means safe food."

"Safe hands mean safe food," Sideswipe echoed. He headed for the sink and began to root in the cabinets for their shared stepstool. Prowl kept an eye on them as he continued to cook the meat. Already, he was planning on having the boys rip up some lettuce and get the cheese and sour cream out. He'd need to see what Jazz wanted on his, of course. He cocked his head as he deemed the meat alright to be left on its own. 

Prowl turned to the twins to see them both with clean, dry hands and nodded. "Good. I'm going to get out the lettuce and wash it off. Can you two get out a bowl? I'm going to have you rip some of it up into tiny pieces for us."

"Sunny will get it!" Sideswipe chirped, but his brother was already moving. Prowl grabbed the lettuce, cheese, and sour cream and laid them out. Taking the lettuce out, he set to wash it. "Why are you washing it? I thought we already washed our hands!"

"Washing your hands gets your hands clean. We need to wash the lettuce before we use it to get it clean. When you make food, you need to wash your vegetables before you use them to get dirt off of them," Prowl explained. He peeled off four leaves and made sure that there wasn't any contaminants on them, and broke off the bitter end. Grabbing a bowl, he set the leaves and bowl on the counter. "If you're good, will you not jump off of the counter?" Prowl asked. The twins shared a quick look before they turned back to him with matching grins. 

He sighed and reached down to pick up Sideswipe so he sat on the counter with his legs hanging off. "Let me get your brother. Do not move," Prowl warned before he turned back.

Sunstreaker was reaching his arms up, begging to be picked up, and Prowl had to forcibly stop his smile. "Let's get you up," He mused and put Sunstreaker on the other side of the bowl. "Now, you both have two leaves. I want you to rip them up as best as you can to pieces about as big as your palm. If pieces fall onto the counter, you can put them back in, but if they fall on the floor, leave them. We do not eat food off of the floor, it will get you sick."

Sideswipe giggled as he took his two leaves and crumbled them in his hands, "But what if we want to get sick?"

Prowl went back to the meat, using his sensor panels to keep an eye on the boys, "Well then you won't be able to hang out with Bumblebee and Hot Rod or other friends. I will worry and Jazz will worry and we'll be sad because you won't feel good."

"Oh..." Sideswipe pouted. He wasn't crumbling his lettuce anymore, but he started ripping it up. Sunstreaker was going along and picking each piece manually. "When is dinner?"

"When you two are done," Prowl said. He turned off the heat and pinged Jazz again without a word. When he got one back, Prowl got the plates and tortillas out. "How is the lettuce coming?"

He turned around to see Sideswipe trying to take Sunstreaker's other leaf, but quickly stepped in before Sunstreaker could start throwing a fit. He plucked it from Sideswipe's hands and put it back down. Sideswipe stared in shock for a moment, "He was taking too long!"

"You both had two leaves to tear up. Did Sunstreaker ask for help?" Prowl prompted. Sideswipe shook his head and he continued. "Would you like it if he took your things away from you?"

"But he does, all the time," Sideswipe tried to defend. Sunstreaker frowned at him, but kept picking at his first lettuce leaf. 

Prowl sighed through his nose and nodded slowly, "And I will have a talk with Sunstreaker too, but I don't want you taking things from each other anymore. I know you two can be better than being mean to each other. If you are mean to Sunstreaker, he will be mean to you. If he is mean to you, you're mean to him. It's not nice to take things from each other." He looked between them, "I know you won't remember every time, but can you both promise to try and ask if you can use each other's things or to help each other?"

They shared another look and Sunstreaker reach out. He tore the piece in two and passed one half to Sideswipe wordlessly. Sideswipe grinned and happily went back to tearing up the leaf.

A board creaked and they all looked up to see Jazz there. He looked between the three of them with... a look on his face, but the smile wasn't unkind. Prowl opted to figure it out later. He pointed to a plate, "Go ahead and dish up, I'll get the twins at the table in a moment."

He nodded, still with that cryptic smile on his face, "Alright." He walked over and kissed his boys on the forehead, "Are you being good for Prowl?"

"Yep!" Sideswipe chirped, but Sunstreaker frowned.

"He took my stuff. Prowl had a talk with him," He tattled, but Prowl hummed.

Prowl cocked his head gently, "I will have talks with the both of you as many times as I need to, and there will be times you will likely need to talk with me. So long as I am here, you may talk with me. Now, let's let Jazz get his food, and he can get back to work."

"Thanks, Prowl," Jazz whispered as he slipped away. "Have you been listening in?"

He looked at Jazz sharply, "What? I didn't know you had a radio out here."

Jazz hummed as he scooped some of the meat into a taco and covered his in cheese and sour cream, "I think I have a spare in my studio. I'll pop out when I can, but if you ping me when you're putting my bitties to bed, I can do a shoutout."

"Please please please!" Sideswipe bounce. "Prowl, can we please?"

"I see nothing wrong with it playing in the background," He agreed easily. "Good luck at work, Jazz."

Jazz looked back over his boys again and kissed their foreheads before he left, "Be good for Prowl, you too. I'll see you both in the morning."

They waved and he slipped back down the hall.

Prowl sighed contently as he began to dish up the twins, giving them options on what to pick from.

Maybe this wasn't the worst.

"We're not tired!" Sunstreaker grumbled as Prowl herded them to their room. Sideswipe had his place on Prowl's hip and Sunstreaker tried to pull Prowl away from their room.

Prowl had the patience of a stone, unmoving and unyielding, "Yes, but if you stay up too late, you will sleep in. The more you sleep in, the less time you have with Jazzy."

"But we're not tired," Sideswipe protested as he yawned. 

Yeah, he wasn't buying that for a second.

He pinned Sideswipe to his side with his arm so he could open the door and pulled them both in. "How about I read you each a story, and if you're still not tired, we can play a game?"

Sunstreaker and Sideswipe shared a grin, thinking they had won. Little did they know, Prowl had a secret weapon.

According to his public speaking class, he had the most boring voice that the instructor had ever heard, if he put his mind to it.

He closed the door and put the boys down. "Go pick out a story, one each of you," He instructed as he carefully let them loose. They cheered and ran to their small bookshelf. Most of them had to be old ones from their... before. 

Sunstreaker pulled out a book about an ugly petroduckling and Sideswipe pulled one about Jacker and a magical ladder. They pulled him to the bed and Prowl chuckled as they climbed up after him. Snuggling into his side, they fought over who would get their story read first.

Prowl looked between them, and resolved it to a game of chance, "I am thinking of a number between one and ten. Whoever is closer will have their story read first. What is your guess, Sideswipe?"

He squirmed in excitement, "Ten!"

"Sunstreaker?" He prompted.

The golden twin squinted his eyes at their nanny suspiciously, "...Three."

"It was eight. I will read Sideswipe's tonight, but tomorrow, Sunstreaker, I will read yours. I promise," He swore. It was barely enough for Sunstreaker to relent, and Prowl looked over the book.

Time to mess with the children.

They didn't last through Sideswipe's story. Prowl smiled in bemusement at the twins and carefully moved Sideswipe so he was next to his brother, and his spark lightened as they curled up together. Tucking them in, he pet each of their heads. "Good night, you two," Prowl whispered before slipping off of the berth. Making sure their nightlight was on, Prowl finally shut off the lights and slipped out of the room. 

Jazz still had his 'ON AIR' sign lit up outside his studio, so Prowl took the opportunity to finish cleaning up. Dinner had long since been packed away, their school supplies were hanging in new caddies on the wall, and it was spotless.

For the first time in a while, Prowl had some time for himself somewhere where... it felt just a little bit like home. He opted to sit to wait for Jazz and took out some of his coursework. It wasn't difficult, he had taken the lessons over 28 vorns ago, but it hurt that he still needed to do them again. For now, though... He had time. He would ace his classes-

"They still asleep?"

Prowl leapt from the couch and took a defensive stance, but he froze when he realized it was just Jazz, standing in the hall doorway. He was clearly just as surprised as Prowl was and lifted his hands, "Hey, sorry, I shouldn't have snuck on ya. How'd ya get them down so easily? They're always gigglin' and makin' me read three stories each to get 'em down."

"According to my old public speaking instructor, I could have the voice of a drone if I wasn't careful," Prowl explained. "It does wonders at making... Very funny." He rolled his optics as Jazz pretended to fall asleep against the frame.

The radio host 'jerked awake' and chuckled, "Sorry, ya made it too easy. Those tacos... They were somethin' great. I appreciated the food. Normally, I'm able ta trade off for half an hour to grab somethin' from the breakroom, or me and some of the others go grab food after. It was nice to have somethin' home cooked fer dinner."

"I see no reason in leftovers getting left to waste," Prowl said plainly. "Whatever I make for lunch, or dinner the night before, feel free to take in. You are allowing me to feed myself for free, if I recall."

Jazz's shoulders slumped in relief, "Careful, mech. Y're goin' to make the office jealous. His expression sobered, "So, how'd they do today?"

"I had a discussion with them about not taking each others' things, but I doubt it will stick for a while. They're still in their third decade, there are still grown mechanisms that fail to grasp the 'don't take from others' lesson," Prowl huffed. "And I spoke with Sunstreaker about his brother. He is incredibly gifted artistically, but I understand that he considers art as 'his special hobby' that he wants to hoard to himself. I let him know that Sideswipe likely wants to share it with him, and to have patience. However, I will likely need to give him additional art lessons to prevent any tension. I am still trying to find what Sideswipe is better at, but I believe it is a social element."

"Sideswipe's definitely better at people," Jazz agreed. "Ya thinkin' of having playdates?"

"They wanted to have one, yes. I see nothing wrong with them, but I need to make sure they're up to date with their shots. I have a call with First Aid tomorrow and once I am sure that they will not give or receive any stray virus, I will reach out to Kup and Orion to arrange something," Prowl stated. "Would you be willing to allow an addition to their routine? I would like them to go to the park as often as possible. They need to have space to run around and potentially make friends."

Jazz shrugged, "I might not always be able ta come, but I don't mind. Y're doin' great, Prowler. I remember when I was their age, I didn't want ta do any kind of housework, and ya have 'em cooking with ya and helpin' with clean up."

Prowl flicked a doorwing in a shrug, "Manipulation. It is also how I intend to get them interested in reading and writing. I hope to have them put together a short story for you before the end of the vorn."

He laughed and strode to plop into the couch, "I'm lookin' forward to it. I... I feel like I can actually breathe now, but... I feel like I'm missin' out on their lives now, ya know?"

"I will take pictures and videos, if that is what you want, but this isn't anything that they wouldn't be doing at school or at daycare," Prowl tried to soothe as he took a seat at another couch. "This is normal. Perhaps you can make an appointment with the children's therapist as well. I do not have their contact information. Could you share that with me?"

"Actually, he, well... We have an appointment in the mornin' in a few days. You'll come with to drop 'em off? He likes doin' an individual session with each of 'em and then a group thing with them, so it's about three hours," Jazz explained.

Prowl nodded, "I will prepare for that with notes. Is there anything else you need?"

"Nope, y're good ta go. I'll make a stop at the bank tomorrow, if it's okay with ya so I can get your pay? And maybe the hardware store to get ya a key?" Jazz asked.

"That is acceptable," Prowl relaxed and rose. "I will see you tomorrow, Jazz."

"See ya tomorrow, Prowler. Thank ya again."

He keyed in with his ever changing code and used the two keys that Red Alert had given him. He stood still for the scan to sweep over him, and relaxed when he was pinged as green. He wasn't taking any chances with accidentally picking up a tracker. A small lockbox near the mailboxes had a green light by it, and Prowl approached. A small camera appeared next to the light took another full frame scan. A moment later, it chirped and the lockbox clicked open.

Prowl reached in and grabbed the datapad with the security feed on it. As always, it was approximately a full day of surveillance footage from all around the building. Red Alert had definitely looked over it all before, but they had agreed that a second set of eyes on everything helped. Besides, he only had so much training with the behaviors criminals exhibited at times, and Prowl wanted to make sure his apartment building was as secure as possible. It was a courtesy that not many landlords would promise to Prowl, but it was something that worked out for the both of them.

He headed up the stairs to his apartment and relaxed when he slipped in. Countless little tests of entry lay scattered around the room, untripped. A thin line of double sided tape plastered all around the windows, all without the marks of hands reaching through. Tiny graphite dowels that snapped at the slightest pressures remained tapped to protruding wall corners. His drawers still had the fine spider silk that Red Alert had provided from one of the lobby corner spiders on the gap between the body and the front of the storage, unopened.

No one had snooped around his room. It was safe.

His doorwings fell in relief as he collapsed into his bed. 

He was still hidden.

For now... He had his peace in that small family. 

He would have the pay to run again if he needed. 35 an hour, well adjust to 30 for tax, for 12 hours a day, six days a week... He would have just over 2,000 credits by the end of each week. One week would cover his rent, but if he was careful, he could save up quite a bit.

How much did Jazz make to be able to warrant that kind of pay? Detective branch or not, he didn't want to go snooping too much, so he would likely need to leave it... unless Jazz truly was earning that much, in which case the twins could be in greater danger than he thought. Or was inflation that much worse in Iacon?

That, he could do, but given how one week's worth of work could cover his rent, for a cheap apartment... It seemed that was the case. Prowl just hoped that Jazz wasn't going to stretch himself, but he had also stated that he could handle employing Prowl for several centuries if needed... 

It wouldn't be his place to worry about that. No, he would worry about keeping those kids alive, well cared for, and making sure they would be well adjusted for the rest of society. That couldn't be too hard. After all, he had studied enough to understand how people worked, and children weren't marred by years of bitter experiences, but...

Sunstreaker had that look in his eyes today, when his Carrier was mentioned.

Those were eyes that had seen too much. 

He had seen something, and he was doing his best to protect his brother.

Prowl had a suspicion that he knew what it was, but he would need to talk with their counselor. Hopefully it wouldn't be anyone incompetent, but he would find out soon.

Chapter Text

At 9:15 sharp, Prowl knocked at the door, and exactly 17 seconds later, Jazz opened the door. He smiled and waved the nanny in, "Mornin', Prowler. The boys are up, and I think they're waitin' on the cartoons to come on to get out here."

Prowl nodded and swept into the room. It was still as orderly as he had left it last night, but he knew that was due to change. "That's fine. Would you like to help with breakfast this morning?"

"Sure! What're ya thinkin'?" He asked as he followed Prowl into the kitchen. Prowl needed to give him credit, he actually looked excited to cook. Not that he thought that Jazz couldn't cook, but the impression he had gotten was that he didn't like it.

"Do you know their feelings on omelets?" He tried.

Jazz winced, "I tried ta take them to a diner one mornin', and Sides didn' like the taste, and Sunstreaker nearly threw up from the 'mouth feel', whatever that means." He scratched the back of his head, "I... tried to look into some of the stuff ya mentioned the first night, with Sunny. I... There was a lot of stuff on the Net about it, but-"

"I was going to have a discussion with First Aid about it, and I would invite you to be on the call. I've been told to look for various signs, but there are some children with peculiarities that may or may not mean anything. Regardless, it is a matter of respect. If the boys do not like eggs, I will make toast with jelly and bacon. I'll see how done they prefer it, and we'll go from there." He turned to Jazz, "Do you have a toaster? If not, we can use the same skillet."

Jazz thought and nodded slowly, "I think I have one... somewhere. Give me a minute." He began to go rooting through his cabinets as Prowl pulled out the ingredients he needed. "Any other plans for the day?"

"I intend to let the boys watch cartoons for a little while after breakfast and we can contact First Aid. Afterwards, we can make a trip to the park. You can make your stops while Sideswipe and Sunstreaker play, and then we come back for lunch. We will go over our writing and some math," Prowl reported. He twitched when Jazz finally dragged the toaster out and frowned at it. "I will clean that at some point today."

"I know I haven' used it in a while, but it can't be that bad," Jazz mused. "It's just a little... dusty."

Prowl gave him an unamused look, "Take a cloth and wipe down the outsides and empty the crumb tray. I will not tolerate unclean cooking utensils when I just told them that they need to wash their hands and vegetables before cooking."

Jazz chuckled and went to dump the crumb tray, "And that, Prowler, is why you're a better parent than I am."

"It is not a question of who is a better parent, but a matter of common sense," He explained crispy. He opened a cabinet he had seen Jazz looking through a moment ago and pulled out a pan. "I understand I am teaching the sparklings, but must I remind you of common sense as well?"

His visor twinkled as a devious grin crossed his face, "Are ya offerin', or offerin', Prowl?"

Prowl's doorwings shot up in embarrassed alarm and he whirled to focus back on his food, "I didn't mean it like that. Forgive me."

Jazz's grin fell, "Nah, y're good, I... It slipped out. Don' worry about it, I should be apologizin'."

"Then how about we both forget about it?" Prowl offered. He clicked the stove on and waited for the pan to heat. "When you're done cleaning it, please make about 8 pieces of toast. I'm going to try a few kinds of toppings for the twins to see what they like."

"Yeah, we don' get out much," Jazz winced. He perked, "Hey, do ya think they'd want to go out to eat sometime?"

Prowl smiled at the thought, "Perhaps we can add that to our routine. Do you have a diner you like to go to?"

"There's a good one I know, yeah, but Sideswipe doesn't like one of the waiters there," Jazz laughed. "He says she got his food wrong, but I think he's just angry that she called him Swiper. He hates that nickname." He began to dust off the toaster and wrinkled his nose when he realized how bad it was. "Ya sure we need to use this?"

"Get me another pan," He said. "I'll clean that when I have a free moment."

Jazz winced as he pulled out another, "Is there anythin' I can do?"

"I need an extra set of hands. You will flip the bread when I say," Prowl said. He looked out the corner of his eye when he laid down the first piece of bacon, "You will learn to cook for your children."

"Yessir!" Jazz laughed. Prowl hummed in bemusement as the radio host began to sing and dance in the kitchen. It was a welcoming sound and it was warm and...

He shook himself internally. 

No. 

This wasn't home.

This wasn't even his.

He tried to ignore Jazz's serenading, but even he couldn't stop his doorwings bobbing in time. Guess it was just one of the idiosyncrasies of a good song.

Sunstreaker looked at the piece of toast in front of him like it was a bomb, and Sideswipe was happily munching through all four quarters of his slice. Prowl smiled, "Did you have one you preferred, Sideswipe? There was plain, buttered, jellied, and butter and jellied."

The child blinked like a technodeer caught in headlights and looked down, "It was the crunch one with the stuff on it. The purple stuff."

"Was it kind of mushy?" Prowl prompted one more time and Sideswipe thought before he shook his head. "Then it was just the jelly on top then. I'll put a note on the fridge-"

"Prowl," Jazz said gently. He smiled when Prowl looked at him, but more of their attention was on Sideswipe. "I can remember that much."

They were interrupted when something hit Sunstreaker's plate and they turned to see the jelly and buttered piece. The boy was glaring at it, spitting the piece out into a napkin that PRowl gave him beforehand. 

Prowl cocked his head, "Too much?" Sunstreaker just glared at the piece. "Was it because it was a bad mouthfeel?" Sunstreaker still glared. "The jelly?" A brow twitch. That was something. "How about you try the piece without anything on it. If you like that, I'll trade you my plain toast, okay?" Sunstreaker slumped more into himself, but nodded. He picked up the piece and took a bite. He chewed and... nodded.

Jazz relaxed, "Is that good, buddy?"

Sunstreaker glared at him, but Jazz only laughed, "I'll take that as a yes. Alright, no jelly. So, are you two alright with going to the park again?"

Sideswipe perked, "Again?! Yeah! Awesome!" He wriggled in his seat, "Do you think we'll see Hot Rod and Bumblebee again?"

"I can message them shortly. I'll let you know what they say," Prowl said as he swapped out Sunstreaker's toast with some of his unbuttered toast. Sunstreaker began to tear into the toast happily and Jazz relaxed. "Is there anything you wish to learn today?"

"Art," The boys said together. Sideswipe giggled in glee, while Sunstreaker glanced at Prowl. His nanny gave him a rare smile and nodded. 

He was allowed to want things for himself, but so long as he kept in mind that that desire wasn't allowed to trample on the feelings of those he cared about... He would be ok.

Sunstreaker smiled back and shoveled his food into his mouth.

"WOOOOO!" Sideswipe yelled as he ran ahead of the family to the playground. Hot Rod was having a bad day and needed to recover, according to Kup, but Bumblebee would be there. Sunstreaker had brought along an art book that Jazz had gotten him, looking forward to show his new friend how to draw. He was still jogging after Sideswipe, not wanting to drop his book, but he was certainly running ahead of them.

Prowl watched them head off with a careful eye, but he knew they would be fine. If not, then the first aid kit he had bought would. He knew that these two would be trouble, but he would be ready.

Speaking of being ready...

He peered out of the corner of his eye, "Are you prepared to call First Aid?"

"And find out that I mighta been makin' Sunny uncomfy in his own house? Yeah, totally," Jazz laughed nervously.

Prowl hummed, "I thought we had established this. You were doing the best you could, and I do not believe Sunstreaker holds it against you, Jazz." He saw Orion watching Bumblebee by the swings, and he smiled when he saw the twins. They bounced and jumped around him, excited and ready to spend time with their new friend. Bumblebee was looking over the side of the bitlet swing, his horn nubs wiggling in excitement. Sideswipe was already bouncing around, doing funny faces to make him laugh. "I believe that Sunstreaker is just a quieter child, but Sideswipe more than makes up for some of his shy nature."

Jazz relaxed, "They'll always have each other, won't they?"

"Everything I have seen thus far, they love each other dearly. Let us get situated, talk to Orion for a moment, and call," Prowl instructed.

"Yessir," Jazz laughed again, nudging Prowl. His friend smiled back and they continued on. 

Orion had taken Bumblebee out of the swing and moved the kids to a nearby grassy patch so they could do their own thing. He joined the other adults a moment later and sighed, "It's nice to see a familiar face. He isn't old enough for preschool yet, and I think your boys are doing him well."

"Thank Prowl. He's the one actually gettin' through to 'em," Jazz said immediately. Prowl's head snapped over to him to glare and Orion laughed. 

"I can tell this is a common discussion," He mused as he looked between them. "How long have you two known each other again?"

Prowl sighed, "This is day three, but Jazz has helped out a great deal in getting us settled. It is my day off on Sunday, as it is one of Jazz's days off as well."

"Three days?" Orion sputtered incredulously. He glanced between them for a moment, "I thought it as at least a year or two, at least."

Prowl sighed, "Jazz is just that personable. He respects my decisions, which is making this entire situation easier."

"Me? Making this easier?" Jazz scoffed. He sighed, "Ya got 'em to bed after one story, not six. I still don' know how ya managed." He looked tired just thinking about it.

Orion coughed again in shock and pounded his chest, "One? For your bitties? The ones who ran Hot Rod to exhaustion?" Even Kup had been impressed and asked that if Hot Rod ever needed to get worn out, if he could rent out the twins for a few hours. Jazz had laughed and agreed. Prowl saw less humor in the joke.

Jazz grinned, "The very same. 'Cordin' to Prowl, he's got a monotone public speakin' voice."

Prowl stared at his employer with an annoyed look, "One example, and then we need to make that phone call, Jazz." He turned to Orion and cleared his throat,

"One of the most common tactics a mugger may employ is to approach a solitary figure at night and to ask for a cleaning rag from their subspace. While the victim takes two seconds to check their subspace, the mugger seizes the opportunity to assault the victim and rob them. One of the primary abilities that a potential target may utilize to ensure their safety is to deny the request and vacate the premises without turning their back or to pull one out from memory and throw it at the assailant and run before they have a chance to-"

Orion yawned and Prowl took that as a prompt to stop. Jazz's head jerked up and he shook himself out, "No offense, mech, but you could use that ta bore criminals to recharge."

"Believe me, I suffered for it, but it does have its uses," Prowl mused as he saw something from the corner of his eye. Bumblebee was trying to put some dirt in his mouth, but Sunstreaker grabbed his wrist. He was explaining something while Sideswipe nodded sagely. Bumblebee pouted and still tried to put the dirt in his mouth, but Sideswipe worked to gently open his hand. Sideswipe awkwardly picked up Bumblebee and began to toddle him over. The adult sighed, "We're about to have a story. Bumblebee was trying to eat dirt. Sideswipe is bringing him over. Give me a moment."

"What?" Orion demanded and he rose to follow Prowl. Jazz shrugged to himself and decided to trail behind.

Prowl knelt in front of Sideswipe and held his arms out, "Give me Bumblebee, Sideswipe. I want you to know that I saw what you and your brother did and I'm very proud of you." Sunstreaker was still trailing after his brother, but he clearly wanted his space.

Sideswipe happily passed Bumblebee over and squirmed in place, "Really? We saw he was trying to eat dirt and Sunstreaker said that if he need to wash dirt off of our veggies so we don't eat it, Bee shouldn't be putting dirt straight into his mouth either! He didn't want to pick Bee up, so I brought him over!"

"You did a good thing," Orion praised as he looked at Bumblebee's hands. "We're going to go clean him up, but I appreciate what you did, both of you," He praised, looking between the twins.

Sunstreaker waited until Orion had left before coming closer, "We did good?"

Prowl nodded and gave an approving doorwing flick. "You did. Sometimes, children will get dirt in their mouths, but it's not actively encouraged. Let's go wash your hands, and then we can come back."

Sideswipe grabbed his brother's hand and began to drag him after Orion, happily crowing, "We did a good thing! We did a good thing! We did a good thing!"

Jazz came up behind Prowl and cocked his head, "Y'know, me 'n my brother used to eat dirt all the time and we never got hurt."

"It is a recognized fact that exposure to a wide variety of germs can be a good thing to the immune system, but the fact remains that if I were to tell the boys that, they would regress to the habit of putting things in their mouth in an attempt to get healthier. Besides that, they actively stepped in when a friend of theirs was about to engage in a behavior that they had been told was bad. Even moreso, they took information that wasn't completely explained and extrapolated what that data meant," Prowl explained. He gestured for Jazz to follow alongside him, "I told them yesterday that they need to wash their hands and to wash the dirt from their vegetables so that they do not get sick. I did not say explicitly that putting the dirt in their mouths was bad, but they put that together themselves. This is a very good thing, and we should treat it as such."

"Huh," Jazz hummed and followed behind. "But are ya ever goin' to correct 'em?"

"By the time that they are old enough to understand that some amount of dirt and germs are healthy, they will be old enough that I will no longer need to be their nanny," Prowl said gently. His spark ached already at the thought of leaving the children someday, but he wanted to make a wider difference. If that included needing to leave the kids so that he could indirectly protect them someday... So be it. "If you wish, I can make a list of things that they will need to have elaboration on later in life. It can save you some trouble."

Jazz didn't respond, and in some ways, Prowl wasn't entirely expecting him to.

"First Aid speaking."

Jazz grinned over the three way call as Orion looked over their kids, "Hey, 'Aid. It's Jazz." He rattled off his and the twins' birthdates and identifying information, knowing Prowl could hear it. "Heads up, I got a nanny, his name is Prowl, and I included him in the call."

The other end of the line was silent for a moment before there was a sigh, "And did you think to tell me that before you listed off all of that information? Jazz, we don't have the proper forms-"

"I will have them sent as soon as I have an appropriate receiving address. I have the Notice for Inclusion, Medical Right to Information, and Limited Responsibility over Medical Decisions forms all filled out as of last night," Prowl cut in. "I have also asked Jazz to complete and file his own documentation to provide me access."

There was more silence and First Aid whined, "Okay, okay, so totally ignoring the fact that you knew all of that - no seriously, how did you - this kind of thing takes time."

"Under recognized Cybertronian law Chapter 19, section 8, paragraph 7, immediate and temporary access may be provided to a temporary guardian with either the permanent guardian's permission, or that of a recognized legal body," Prowl said smoothly. Jazz stared in shock and First Aid sputtered more.

"Okay, okay, okay, hold on, I'm getting my mentor on the phone, give me a minute," He huffed.

Hold music began to play in their audials and Jazz laughed in shock, "Prowler! What was that?!"

Prowl lifted an eyebrow and fragging smirked, "What, did you think that Praxus was lax in its education of Enforcers? I can recite the entirety of planetary law, but I am sure you'd fall asleep before I even get past the opening remarks."

"Primus," Jazz breathed, shaking his head again. He just hoped none of his fans had clicked on. The sheer competence of this mech...

He had managed to find the one available nanny in maybe all of Cybertron who knew extensive law passages, could manage two sparklings into being model children in less than three days, and could cook well enough that it actually made Jazz want to bring left overs into the office instead of going to a nearby diner...

He was so lucky.

"Alright, who the frag decided to break my apprentice's mind by listing planetary law at him. I swear-"

"Ratchet?" Prowl demanded tensely. "Ratchet?"

There was a split second where Jazz thought he had misheard him, but nope, Prowl knew the Director of Iacon Medical's Emergency Ward.

Ratchet, as it stood, never forgot a voice, "Prowl? What the frag are you doing terrifying one of my apprentices for a sparkling case?"

"You know I had to leave Praxus after everything. I made it here, and... Well, I... I needed a job. Jazz had a classified open, and, well... Here we are," Prowl said. He was shrinking down into himself again. 

It was that same damned tone he took when he spoke about his ex, and some aspects of Praxus. He loved his home city, no doubt about it, but they had hurt him. Anyone could see it, but Jazz was competent in another way from Prowl. He knew body language, and Prowl was ashamed.

"Hey, mech, don't feel bad, we both know this is a temporary gig. I promised a rec letter, didn' I?" Jazz said. He reached across the table and put a hand over Prowl's. "Let me talk to Ratchet?"

"Well, the details don't really matter to me. Look. Prowl, you're looking after Jazz's kids? I know you, you already had the paperwork done last night, didn't you?" Ratchet demanded. "You still have my contact info, go ahead and send it straight to me. Jazz, you sure about this? Prowl's a lot and he knows when to stop, but it's still going to be you calling the shots on what happens with your kids. You got your paperwork done?"

Jazz cleared his throat, "Yeah, um... I was goin' to finish them durin' this call, but then Prowler went all lawmech on First Aid and... Now you're here."

"Damn brats, wasting my time," Ratchet huffed. He grumbled more under his breath, "I'll have Prowl added on as a medical arbitrator for the kids until next vorn. You need to get it updated every 12 months or it'll lapse and give you more headaches. Was there some other reason you're calling?"

"I wanted to see if the twins' vaccinations were up to date and if there was any medical information I need to know about. I'm going to be with them most of the day for about 6 days out of the week, so this is information I need to know," Prowl defended. "Additionally, I wanted to bring up the potential of a few tests for Sunstreaker. He's exhibiting a few familiar behaviors and I want to know if this is something that will require a more delicate hand. Would you be willing to do a referral or would this be a better question for the twins' therapist?"

Ratchet hummed, "Looking at their information... They'll be due for a few more vaccines in a few months, but I'll send you their history and other information once I get Jazz's forms. As for the tests, I see their therapist on file, he'll be able to handle any questions you have. Now. Is there anything else?"

Prowl shrunk down, "I would like to double check that there have not been any attempts to access my medical file. My address has changed, but... After everything..."

Even through the comms, Jazz could hear Ratchet's engine rev angrily. "If that useless, rust-ridden scrap heap ever attempts to access your file from any medical clinic on Cybertron, I will have the Enforcers on his aft so quickly that Primus' head'll spin! But I have your address listed exclusively in my head, so don't worry. No one's getting to it."

Prowl sagged in relief and he nodded, "Thank you." He rattled off his new address, and Jazz made sure to also commit it to memory. "Unless Jazz has anything, that is all."

"Nope, no questions on my end. I'll try ta have these to ya before the end of the day, Ratchet. Thanks, and tell First Aid I said sorry. I didn't know Prowler was goin' to go at 'im like that," Jazz teased. Prowl rolled his eyes, but said nothing about it.

"I'm telling you right now, Jazz, Prowl doesn't half-aft anything. You'll have everything he promised you and more, but don't let him down on your end. He'll hold you to your word, even if you're being threatened otherwise. Trust me. There's a reason he had a high case closure rate in his training days," Ratchet warned. He huffed once more, for good measure. "Now, don't call me again unless it's an emergency, and Prowl, stop scaring my apprentices. You nearly ran off the last one."

Prowl smiled again, "Noted, Doctor. Thank you for your time." 

The line closed a moment later and Jazz turned to Prowl with his mouth falling open. "How the frag do you know the best doctor in Iacon?"

"Remember that experimental equipment? It was so new that they did not trust anyone but the best of the best to install it. I... may have said some words to Ratchet's last apprentice," He admitted weakly. "The equipment did not make me a kind person."

Jazz winced, but squeezed Prowl's hand, "Hey, ya ain't the most approachable person, mech, but I can tell ya that I know ya wouldn't be mean on yer own. Somethin' musta been wrong."

Prowl smiled at the trust, but his expression fell. "Let's finish getting those documents sent, and then you can go off on your errands. We'll be here until you get back, alright?"

"Alright, mech," Jazz smiled. He shook his head, "The Head of Emergency, Prowl. You know the weirdest people, don' ya?"

He allowed himself a tiny smile, "I know you, don't I?" Jazz stared for another moment before bursting into laughter.

"Alright, Prowl. There's your key and a confirmation of a transfer once a week to your accounts," Jazz smiled as he passed over the electronic key and flimsy over when they managed to get back from the park. Sideswipe was babbling happily about... something to his brother, who nodded along. 

Prowl tucked them safely into his subspace and nodded, "Thank you. I will keep them close. Now, let us get to work on lunch."

"Oh, oh, can we have Sire's robochicken noodle thing?" Sideswipe begged. Sunstreaker nodded next to him, looking between them.

Jazz perked, "I think I have his recipe book somewhere. That... might help."

"We may not have the correct noodles, but I don't see why not, but that may be better for dinner," Prowl agreed. "Boys, why don't you go turn on the holoscreen while Jazz and I start on lunch? Does the pasta and sauce leftovers sound alright?" He asked. He was already mentally preparing another dish in case the boys said no, but he needed to wait.

"Yeah," Sunstreaker said. He peered at his twin, "Sides?"

Sideswipe grinned, "Yeah! Please please please?"

"Alright, you two, let's get ya in front of the holoscreen," Jazz mused. He herded them into the living room. "I think Rescue Bots is on righ' now. Is that okay?"

"Yeah!" They cheered. Prowl smiled in amusement and pulled the rest of the casserole out. It was only half eaten, but that would make it perfect for their lunch. He dished everyone out while Jazz sat down with his boys and sang along to the theme song.

A moment later, Sideswipe pointed to something on the screen and yelled, "Look, it's Prowl!" 

Prowl's spark seized for a moment as a million thoughts ran through his processor, but they all boiled down to the same one.

No, it couldn't be-

A crash shook him out of his reverie and he looked down.

Oh.

A broken plate.

One of Jazz's broken plates.

Frag-

"Prowl," Jazz said gently as he carefully came into the kitchen. "Are you okay?"

He forced himself to nod, "Yes, sorry, I... I'll get this cleaned up-"

"No, ya ain't," Jazz said. He put a hand the back of Prowl's shoulder, gently leading him away from the mess. Thank Primus for his Enforcer grade armor-

Enforcer Grade.

Rescue Bots.

Sideswipe had connected Prowl as an Enforcer, just like in Rescue Bots .

"I'm an idiot," Prowl breathed, grasping for the counter. "I'm fine-"

"Please, Prowl," Jazz stressed. He continued to guide Prowl away from the kitchen. He was sat on the floor between the twins with his back against the front of the couch. "Sit with Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. Boys, get Prowler a blanket and make sure he doesn' get up, aight?"

Primus, the boys were looking at him in concern. He clenched his eyes shut, he needed to get himself together-

A small blanket was thrown over his head and Prowl looked up in surprise. It was Sunstreaker's blanket, it wasn't as fuzzy as Sideswipe's, and thank Primus. If he had that many small fibers rubbing against him right now, he was going to start crying.

The twins pressed into his side, using the outside of the blanket for their own use, but it prevented the kids from seeing him. Tears welled in his eyes and he trembled from the sheer thoughtfulness of these two sparklings. Already, they had respected his boundaries more than most adults and he hadn't even helped them in this capacity yet.

Minding Sunstreaker, Prowl rubbed Sideswipe's back in appreciation. Through the thin sheet, he could see the red twin look over his shoulder and wriggle-dance in place. "Sunny gets like this too sometimes. He doesn't like being seen either. Jazz turns down the music when that happens. It's okay, we'll look after you until you're better." Sunstreaker nodded and pat 

If Jazz ever said that he didn't teach these bitties anything, he was going to yell at Jazz until he got it through his thick head.

A warm bowl of leftovers was pressed into his hands and a gentle hand rested on his shoulder. "Take the time you need, Prowl. No rush, okay?"

Prowl nodded, but Sunstreaker turned. He tucked his hands underneath the blanket. "Hug?" He held his little fists out in a familiar display and-

He tapped Sunstreaker's right hand in affirmation and cried when the twins hugged him, all without the blanket irritating his already burning plating. Jazz still stayed nearby, his hand a grounding weight.

The shaking stopped after a while and Prowl was finally able to breathe. He reached for Jazz's hand through the blanket. Giving it a squeeze, Prowl finally allowed himself to relax and shifted the blanket back. The twins looked at him expectantly and Sideswipe perked up. "Prowl!" He whisper yelled, wriggling again. "Are you feeling better?"

Prowl forced a nod and smiled, "I am, Sideswipe. Thank you, both of you. I... I don't know how to say thank you for that."

Sunstreaker rolled his eyes, "Say thank you." Jazz laughed, and Prowl couldn't fight the single guffaw that escaped.

"Thank you, thank you all," He finally managed. He looked at the food in his hands and smiled. "Let's go ahead and eat. We don't want Jazz's cooking to go to waste."

"Nope nope nope!" Sideswipe chirped. He turned back around to his show and happily stuffed the pasta into his mouth. Sunstreaker continued to look over Prowl, but he must have deemed something as acceptable. His shoulders gave a small twitch and he joined his brother in watching the show.

Jazz sat on the couch but didn't let go of Prowl's shoulder.

Prowl wasn't going to ask him to.

That pasta never tasted so good.

"Hey," Jazz whispered to Prowl. They had all sat in front of the holoscreen for the past two hours, and Prowl knew he needed to get to work. "Are ya goin' to be okay?"

He hummed sleepily and nodded, "I will. I... I do not think we will be able to get any learning done today." His processor was pinging on various errors, but most of them could be cleared with a quick dismissal. It still bugged him, but he would need to take at least three hours to passively clear everything. If he even thought about teaching, dozens more errors cropped up.

Jazz looked at the twins that curled into Prowl's sides, "No, I don't think so. They're not goin' to stay down forever either." Sideswipe's engine was actually rumbling quietly, reminding them of a cyberkitten.

"No, they're not, and my processor is running into various dead ends at the moment," Prowl admitted. "I think I need to defrag properly if I am to clear some of the errors." He began to sit up and the twins turned around sharply in surprise. "I need to get up, you two. Do you want to help me with the dishes, or..." He turned to Jazz, looking for anything to distract the kids.

Jazz lit up, "How about ya do a pillow and blanket fort? It's been a while since ya did one of those, right?"

Sunstreaker lit up while Sideswipe grinned impishly, "Can we use your stuff too, Jazzy? Please please please?"

He sighed dramatically and tapped his chin in thought, "I dunno, will you promise to be nice for Prowler?"

"I believe I could do with some trickery and games today," Prowl mused. He smiled at the pair, "A little bit of foolishness is good for the spark." The twins shared another look, warring with themselves, but their mischief must have won out. They took off down the hall and Prowl could see them tearing into their room.

"I don't think ya know what you just did, mech," Jazz warned. He sighed, "When they were maybe... 17 vorns old, one of the two times I met them, Rico told 'em to give their parents trouble, and they manage ta chew through the tent cable holdin' everything up, vomit on our great-grandcarrier's back an' we didn't notice until later, and we still can't confirm if it was them tha' set off the sprinkler system."

Prowl stared in complete shock, "Please tell me you're kidding me."

Jazz grinned and shook his head, "Nope. The fire brigade tried ta find out how it was set off, but there were no codes, no pulled alarms, no smoke, nothin'. They're the Terror Twins, and ya just told 'em ta go nuts."

"We can use nuts?!" Sideswipe yelled as he and Sunstreaker each dragged a blanket down the hall. On it, there were several pillows of various sizes and Prowl could tell that some of the pillows definitely weren't theirs.

Jazz smiled and shook his head, "Good luck, Prowler. Are you goin' to ping me for dinner again?"

"That is the intention," Prowl mused. He rose when the twins began to take the throw pillows off of the couch. "Do you two want some help?"

Sunstreaker looked at him dead in the optic and frowned, "No."

He lifted his hands, "If you two need advice for building your little apartment, I will be cleaning the kitchen."

"Prowl-" Jazz started, but the nanny shook his head.

"It is relaxing, menial work. It will give the twins time to do what they wish to build, and me some time to dismiss some of my errors. Now, please go get that radio so you can tell the boys goodnight later," Prowl tried to order, but his voice still wavered. Jazz tensed, but Sideswipe swooped in for the save.

He squealed and pulled on Prowl's arm, "Prowl, Prowl, Prowl! Come and help us with the apartments!"

Sunstreaker stuck his head out from another blanket, "Swindle?"

Jazz barked a laugh and ran a hand down his face, "Oh, Sunstreaker... No, Prowl's not like Swindle. He's not a bad landlord, bitty."

"I believe I can pretend to be a landlord," Prowl mused. He crouched and looked over the fort they had so far, "It is not structurally sound."

The twins shared a look and Sideswipe reached up, "Structurry sound?"

Prowl reached over and poked it, "A structure is a building or anything that is built. If something is sound, it is stable, cannot be easily destroyed." He poked it again, and it tumbled.

Sunstreaker grumbled and kicked Prowl's ankle, "Fix it. You broke it." 

"I will perform the repairs. Now, tell Jazzy you love him and wish him good luck at work today," Prowl said gently as he knelt to put Sideswipe down.

Sideswipe grabbed his brother's hand and waved for him, "Love you, Jazzy! Good luck at work!"

Jazz sighed and knelt to kiss the twins' foreheads, even with Sunstreaker still glaring at Prowl, "Love you too, boys. Remember, be good for Prowl." He rose and pointed at Prowl, "And no more destroying their apartment."

Prowl smiled with a twinkle in his optic.

The radio host would later understand what the little glimmer in Prowl's eyes was, but he brushed it off as a trick of the light. Jazz shook his head at the three of them and headed in for his work for the night.

"Do you two want to know what makes a good apartment?" Prowl asked as he began to take the cushions that could be removed off of the couches. The twins watched with wide eyes as he began to construct a larger shape than they had planned. He separated the longer, three person couch into two different sections. "It is a livable space that is usually a part of a larger building. If we were to pretend that the couch is a larger building, then we can say that you each have your own apartment. Now what should we call the building?"

Sideswipe jumped as he looked in the left 'cave', "The Terror Towers?"

"Yes," Sunstreaker nodded. He crawled into the right cave and poked his head out. "Blanket," He demanded.

"A landlord must ensure the apartment is liveable. That includes making sure it is safe, comfortable, and that it can have a space that is completely enclosed," Prowl said. He took two of the sleeping pillows and put it in the openings to create doors. Sideswipe giggled and opened his 'door' to crawl in.

He peeked his head out, "This is so cool!" He looked up to Prowl and grinned, "I want to be a landlord!"

Prowl lifted an eyebrow, "But that means that you need be in charge of repairs, like if a wall get a hole in it or-"

Sunstreaker kicked out his door, "Like a door falling off?"

Sideswipe's eyes widened and he giggled back. He kicked the door out on his unit and squealed louder. Prowl sighed dramatically and reached for the pillows again, "If you're not careful, I'm going to need to evict you."

"Evict?" Sunstreaker asked. He narrowed his optics, "What does that mean?"

"It means," Prowl stressed as he picked up the pillows. He held them like he was wielding weapons. "That I have to provide you legal notice that you have 60 days to get out of your apartment."

Sideswipe cocked his head, "Why?"

Sunstreaker glared at him, "To give you time to get ready to get out, dummy."

"I knew that, idiot!" Sideswipe shot back.

Prowl cleared his throat, "You have both called each other a name. You are even." He replaced the doors in their faces, giving himself the chance to smile. "Now, welcome to the Terror Towers. I hope you choose to stay with us. Are you looking for a tour?"

Sideswipe opened his door again, "I want to live here!"

"Me too!" Sunstreaker grinned as he looked out. He frowned as he looked around, "But I don't like the color."

"While normally some landlords don't paint the walls for their renters, I think I can arrange for one wall to be a different color," Prowl mused as he grabbed one of the blankets. He braced himself against the front wall and lifted the top. With a swift move, he put the blanket over the divider to change the color, and replaced the top. "That is maintenance, so, lets get your leases signed. One vorn for... helping with dinner?"

"Dinner?" The twins chirped. They scrambled out of their apartments and herded Prowl into the kitchen. "Rent! Rent! Rent!"

Prowl allowed himself a laugh to hearing the sparkling twins cheering for rent. Only his life, he swore.

Jazz opened the hallway door to the smell of chicken and spices, the sound of laughter and squealing, and Prowl dishing up his kids. Sideswipe was clearly trying not to start eating and Sunstreaker, being the one who heard Jazz open the door, jumped down from his seat and ran over, "C'mon! Get your food!"

"Woah, never seen ya this excited fer me to dish up," Jazz mused.

Sideswipe laughed happily, "We can't go back to complaining about broken heaters and how we still have 18 days in our lease!"

"Eviction notice," Prowl corrected. "Sit down and eat, and I'll consider not blacklisting you from other tenements."

"No! I was already kicked out of Metal Mansions!" Sideswipe giggled. 

Jazz faltered, "What game are y'all playin'?"

Sunstreaker looked up, his fork partially raised, "Renter's rights."

"Eviction notice!" Sideswipe barely managed to choke out. He was laughing so hard that he was practically falling out of his seat.

Jazz sputtered, half laughing, "Prowler, what are ya teachin' my kids?" His boys got quiet for a moment, but they shared a hopeful look with each other.

Prowl lifted an eyebrow, "I am teaching them about renter's rights and their legal rights in an apartment." He looked at Sunstreaker, "How many days does a renter have to get out once an eviction notice is signed, Sunstreaker?"

"60 days," He said, shoving food in his mouth. He took his plate down and headed over to the mess in the living toom.

"Sideswipe, how long does a landlord have to fix a rust issue?" Prowl prompted.

"It depends on local laws, but in Iacon, it's 14 days," He replied, following his brother.

Jazz stared before he grasped the counter, his shoulders shaking. "Primus. My kid's nanny is teaching them law. In their third decade."

"It is amazing what a child can learn when they believe it's a game," Prowl mused. He took a bite of his own food. 

The radio host shook his head, "If I leave out yer name, mind if I share this?"

"I don't mind. I only ask you leave out my name," He shrugged. He grabbed his plate and rose, "And maybe the twins' names."

"I know ta leave 'em outta the public eye, Prowler," Jazz said, but he jumped, "Sorry, song's about to end in a minute."

Prowl waved his hand, "Go. I'll get this cleaned up before you're done."

He smiled knowingly at his friend, and then to his kids. They were tucked inside their little 'apartments' and talking to each other with the kind of enthusiasm that he was seeing more and more.

They were getting to be normal kids for the first time since their creators had died.

Well, learning about leasing laws maybe wasn't normal, but they were having fun.

He tuned into the 26 main city-states' datanets, their online forums, their radios for any sign of him. Any unusual posts, any strange comments, any abnormal callouts. Finally-

"Ya know, listeners, I recently came inta custody of my young cousins a while ago, and I just managed to get a new nanny for 'em. Well, I go out to grab dinner durin' this last song and I find out what game they've been playin' for the last few hours. He's been playin' Apartments in them. Not like you'd expect, but he's been teachin' 'em about leasing laws and tenant rights. I don' know where his agency found 'im, but I'm clearly not payin' him enough. And good luck findin' anyone like 'im, he's all mine. Now, coming up, this is my good friend Blaster's Rewind and Pump it Up!"

He had a leaf to look under now. Wonderful. This might be another false lead, but there was only one person that could find some way to make teaching the most boring part of their coursework into a sparkling game. 

And that person was Prowl.

He laughed and looked to the screen that had the data parser pulled up on it.

The location?

Iacon.

Perfect.

Chapter Text

The small family was settling well into their new routine. Prowl would show up and let himself in at exactly 9:15. Jazz would be waiting in the living room or the kitchen and they would trade greetings. Jazz would ask the menu for breakfast, and Prowl was setting up a rotation. Pancakes, toast, waffles, cereal, bagels, and he would be making premade cinnamon rolls this morning. They boys had been good, and he promised them a treat for a week well passed. 

Jazz was already pulling out the baking pan, and setting the oven to preheat. "I know ya want ta take the boys to the park today, but they have their therapist session today."

Prowl nodded as he took out the package from the fridge, "At 11, I remember. I told the boys last night. They understand that we are going to come back and depending on how they are feeling, we are either going to make another fort and watch their favorite channels, do art, or nap. I shared that some of my therapist sessions, I did not want to talk to anyone for a while, or that I needed comfort from my cohort, to talk about what happened, or they just needed to pretend that nothing happened. It will be within their own rights to do as they wish, and whatever they choose to do..." He peered at Jazz through the corner of his eye as he opened the cinnamon roll pack.

"I'll listen to 'em and I'll follow through," Jazz agreed. He reached onto the island for the cooking grease that Prowl had started keeping there. "I'm goin' to try not ta call ya durin' yer day off."

"I would rather come over for a time than need to worry," Prowl responded. He let a smile ghost over his face, "Your boys are charming."

Jazz laughed warmly, "I heard Sides tell Roddy that he wants ta grow up like you someday." He sprayed down the sides of the baking dish and then slid it over to the nanny.

Prowl sneaked a smile at him as he began to place the pastry pucks one by one, "As I said. Charming." Jazz shook his head and headed out into the living room. He paused and looked back, only for Prowl to nod. "We will have about 20 minutes."

"Got it!" He half sang and hit the power on the holovid. Prowl took the moment to place the dish into the oven.

Just like it was planned, like it always was, the opening thing of Rock 'em Sock 'em came on. Just like always, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker came running out of their rooms. Just like always, they settled down on either side of Jazz and all three sang the rest of the intro. 

Prowl watched them sway and bounce to the music and smiled, taking a few pictures for the scrapbook he was building for the family. 

A pang hit him in the spark as he knew that there would always be one person who would never be in the scrapbook. The one taking the pictures.

That wouldn't matter. 

He would never be a permanent fixture in their lives. He never had any kind of delusions about that.

A screech from the oven broke him out of his thoughts as the oven finally finished preheating. Prowl sighed in relief and set his internal timer. 9:32. 15 minutes to check, but most likely up to 18. Perfect 9:50. Leave by 10:20. Be there early at 10:50. Perfect.

He took out some of his coursework and began to study in the little time he had.

By the first commercial, the twins were already getting up to set the table without needing to be told. Jazz trailed behind them already singing, "We got the forks-"

"Forks!" Sideswipe chirped. He held up the four forks in his little hands as if he were Onyx Prime, getting ready to throw his legendary spear.

Jazz grabbed the plates from the cupboard, "We got the spoons!"

"Spoons," Sunstreaker said as he trailed behind his brother. He fixed Sideswipe's haphazard placement of the forks and looked up to Jazz as he set the plates down. "And what do you have?"

"The plates, bitties mine!" He sang the final line. Sideswipe ran to his side and crashed into his knee, hugging him tight. Sunstreaker came over and clung to his leg in similar but silent level of enthusiasm. Prowl shook his head as he looked up from his Introduction to Criminal Justice. 

"Hey, I'm Rock 'em!"

"And I'm Sock 'em."

"And this!" The holoscreen announced as the commercial drew to a close. "Is Prime Kids!"

"It's back on!!!" Sideswipe screeched and launched himself over the back of the couch.

Prowl sighed and looked up, "Sideswipe, what am I going to say?"

The boy looked over his shoulder and laughed, "No jumping over the back of the furniture!"

"And how many times have we gone over this?" Prowl pressed knowingly.

Sideswipe paused and began to count on his fingers, "Four?"

"And you know what happens with the fifth warning?" He asked, smiling gently to let Sideswipe know he wasn't actually upset.

He pouted, "Timeout for 10 minutes?" The episode started again and his attention was dragged back to the screen.

Jazz looked over his head and gave a thumbs up. "I'll talk with him-"

"Shhh!" Sunstreaker hissed at him.

Prowl shook his head and looked back to his book, but he knew differences between the criminal justice system and the juvenile justice systems. He had spent twenty-nine vorns learning the differences. He knew this material backwards and forwards. Now... He was just stuck-

He jumped again when his alarms screamed at him. When had time gotten away from him?

Shaking himself out once more, Prowl checked the cinnamon rolls. The scent of cinnamon and warmth surged out of the oven and began to dance around the room, making his spark ache again. Memories of his own creators swam in his head and he nearly dropped the pan, but his grip on the rolls remained strong.

"Boys, come dish up," He called as he put the dish on the stove. "Jazz, get two potholders?" He raised his arm and doorwing in preparation for Jazz to get past him for the table.

"On it, Prowler!" Jazz called. He ran past his kids, who were already scrambling to get up, and ran for the right drawer. He grabbed what he needed and ducked under Prowl's raised arm and the boys cheered as he slipped them onto the table. "Goal!!"

Prowl rolled his eyes fondly, but set everything down. "Alright, settle down. I want to make sure we're all clear on how today is going to go." He worked as he spoke, pouring the sugar icing over the top. Half, he left uncovered and served Jazz and Sideswipe their sugary mess. He gave himself one of the uncovered pieces and cocked his head as Sunstreaker, "I'm going to give you a piece with sugar and without, and we'll see what you like from there, alright?"

"Thank you, Prowl," Sunstreaker said quietly. His shoulders bobbed up and down briefly, not quite a shrug, but not... not. It just seemed to be a new tick, but it would be something else he could bring up to the therapist. 

Regardless, his doorwings flicked once in approval and he tore two pieces off of his own roll. One, he dipped into the sauce and quickly moved them to Sunstreaker's plate. The sparkling quickly tried the sugared one and wrinkled his nose. Jazz chuckled quietly through a bite, "Too much sweet for ya, bitty?" Sunstreaker nodded and tried the plain one. He visibly perked and nodded happily, his shoulders bobbing once.

"We'll add it to our list," Prowl said proudly and returned to his roll. With all of them having four - the adults could grab something else to eat later - there would enough for the family tomorrow. The point of the meals today would be to make enough to last tomorrow, if they wished. "Do you remember what I told you was today, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker?"

Sideswipe swallowed what he had in his mouth, "Yeah! We're going to see the blue mech!"

"Their therapist," Jazz explained before Prowl could ask. "He thinks it's better for anonymity if they don' say his name in public."

Prowl nodded and automatically tucked the information away for later, "I can understand."

"What does anonimitty mean?" Sunstreaker asked. He was looking straight at Prowl, not bothering with Jazz. The radio host tried not to look offended, but he seemed more amused than anything.

"An-on-ihm-ity," Prowl sounded out. "It means secret or to protect your identity. You remember how in Rock 'em Sock 'em, Tobor goes by 'Robot' when he sneaks into the base? He does not want the enemy to know who he is, so he gives a different name. It is common amongst spies," He explained.

Jazz laughed as he waved around his fork, "I remember when yer cousin Ricochet and I were younger, we went by spy names all the time! I was Meister and he was Stepper. Your great uncle, my carrier, always was in fits 'cause he never knew when we were in spy mode 'r not!"

"We can play spies later, if you want," Prowl offered when he saw Sideswipe wriggling in place hopefully, but with a full mouth. He grinned, showing his half-chewed cinnamon roll, but closed it at Prowl's exaggerated raised eyebrow. He giggled and went back to chewing. "But as I was saying, we will be going to visit your blue mech, and when we're done, we will go out or come back here for lunch after, and then it will be up to you two how we proceed. What is the one thing I want from you today?" He took a bite while he could.

"To tell you what we need," Sunstreaker said. He picked at his plate, "And if we don't want to do anything?"

Prowl swallowed quickly and nodded, "I may need some clarification on what 'do nothing' means to you, but I see nothing wrong with it. Let's eat. I would like to be leaving within the next 20 minutes."

"Yessir," Jazz said before taking another bite. Prowl shook his head with a smile. Jazz would end up packing everything up while Prowl ensured the twins each had their preferred blanket and a stuffed animal. Sunstreaker was tense while Sideswipe was clinging to Prowl's armor. 

They knew what this day was, and they clearly weren't looking forward to it.

Jazz led the way across town, and Prowl was glad that they arrived when they had. It had given them a 10 minute buffer, just as planned, and the kids were clearly petrified. Jazz winced when Prowl transformed out, holding a twin on each hip. They clung to him, not wanting to let go. "They don' like bein' separated from me, or you now, I guess. They don' know their therapise super well." He held the door open so Prowl could slip inside.

He hadn't managed to catch the name of the practice when he slipped inside. It was a clear interior, but it was clearly a sparkling therapist's practice with the warm colors, crystal blooms, and various mechanimals frolicking about. Prowl took a moment to appraise it, but he did turn to address Jazz, "Now that we are in here, would you mind telling me their name? Their blue mech?"

Jazz blinked in surprise, "Oh, right. I meant ta tell ya. It's-"

"Prowl?"

The voice was familiar, achingly familiar, and Prowl turned sharply, his spark racing with hope. His mouth fell open when he finally caught sight of the twins' 'blue mech'.

"Smokescreen," He whispered and stepped forward. "It- You're here?"

The other Praxian managed to compose himself long enough to put his datapad on a nearby table. Prowl blinked through tears beginning to build and looked to the children in his arms. They were watching nervously, but Prowl smiled through his joy, "It's okay, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe. Smokescreen is an old friend. J-Jazz-"

"Here, lemme take 'em," He said, stepping in. He took Sideswipe first, but Sunstreaker clung tighter.

Prowl felt a few tears begin to fall, "Sunstreaker, please let go, I-" He choked and Sunstreaker beeped at him in worry. "Please go to Jazzy. I am not leaving," He tried to assure, but his spark was trying to reach out to old cohort. Smokescreen was barely holding himself back, doorwings raised and fluttering, trying to get more sensor feedback on Prowl.

Finally, finally, Sunstreaker let go to cling to Jazz, and Prowl surged forward. Smokescreen met him halfway and they clashed into each other. Prowl began to gasp in relieved pain in earnest, happy to see a familiar face, someone who hadn't abandoned him out of fear of him-

"I'm here, I'm not going anywhere," Smokescreen whispered. His field wrapped around Prowl in a familiar way that a hug could not encompass and Prowl melted into him. "It's okay, Prowl. You're okay."

"I know, I know, I know," Prowl barely managed to squeak out, his vocalizer clicking out. "I missed you, I-"

"I know," Smokescreen responded. He pulled away the slightest amount and dug some tissues out of his subspace. "Listen to me, Prowl. I need you to take some deep vents. You have watchers, and you must remain strong." He took one of Prowl's hands and pressed it against his. Prowl ran through the familiar motion, breathing in as Smokescreen pushed against him, and letting out when Prowl pushed back.

Together, the Praxians managed to square their shoulders, flare their doorwings out in matching angles, and speak in tandem, "Strong for those who are not. Courageous for those who are scared. Unity for those who are separated. Together, we hold the line."

It was an old creed.

Protect those who could not withstand with their strength and their number. 

It was a mantra Prowl desperately needed in that moment, and it was one that worked. 

He had cohort, no matter how far removed.

He had someone who knew him and would not let him fall.

Smokescreen looked him over and nodded. "Deep vent in, hold, deep vent out. Status?"

Prowl dabbed at his eyes and took a stance that he knew so well that it felt like a default pose by this point. Heels together, toes out. Knees straight, but not locked. Hands behind his back, his wrist tucked right against the top of his waist armor. Shoulders back, doorwings raised proudly, and chin up.

It was the proud stance of an Enforcer who made it through their training and had mastered the stance that stood in front of every Enforcer station in Praxus.

"Clear and ready for duty," Prowl managed to dig out without his voice wobbling. 

Smokescreen smiled and bowed his head, "At ease. It is good to see you again, old friend. I... wish you wouldn't need to be here at all." Prowl knew exactly what he meant. He should be in Praxus, but no, he was in an entirely different city against his wishes.

Prowl looked away, "The Academy made their stance clear. They sanctioned his work, and their best way to keep tabs on him was to ensure he stay in Praxus. But... I believe we both know how he is.

The therapist frowned, "He ruined your life once already, Prowl. Stop letting him now. Do you think he still has the power to get to you?"

"You have met him, yes?" Prowl demanded bitterly. "You saw how he was, he would stop at nothing-"

"Who?" Sunstreaker asked and Prowl tensed at the reminder of his wards. It was not that he had forgotten them necessarily but he always did joke that Prowl could get on a one-track mind if something made him angry enough.

Smokescreen smiled tensely, "Someone Prowl used to know, Sunstreaker. We do need to be getting into session soon. Is there anything you are concerned about?" He was facing Jazz, trying not to look too hard at Prowl.

Jazz lifted an eyebrow, "Prowler's the one who's lookin' after 'em. He's their nanny."

"Nanny?" Smokescreen asked sharply. He did a double take. "You-" Realization crossed his face, "You did not graduate."

"It was the vorn before graduation, Smokescreen," Prowl hissed quietly. "His little stunt ruined a great deal, but..." He turned to the small family. His doorwings twitched sporadically as he subcinsciously claimed them as cohort and Smokescreen's shoulders fell in surprise. When he saw his friend's look, Prowl glared at him, "I would appreciate your silence on the matter, old friend."

"Do they know what happened?" Smokescreen pressed. "Do I need to book you a session as well?"

"The damage he did is still ongoing, but therapy will do little until I am sure he is gone from my life, and I do not believe he is anywhere near done with me," Prowl admitted.

Sideswipe livened up and swung his fists around, "We'll get him for you, Prowl! Rock 'em and Sock'em never let anyone near Tobor!" Prowl smiled at the innocence of the child.

He turned back to the therapist and lowered his voice, "I would like to see what I can do about getting them both tested for alternative coding." Smokescreen grabbed his datapad and began to take notes. "Sunstreaker is showing signs of various sensitivities and unusual socialization patterns for a sparkling, as well as recently developing a shoulder jerking tic. Sideswipe is also still displaying signs of echoing behavior, but that is not for me to determine. And... I am not sure if Sideswipe fully understands what it means for his parents to be dead. I have reason to believe Sunstreaker saw something that night, but Jazz has stated that he is unsure himself. It is not something we can just ignore and hope he learns along the way."

Smokescreen nodded as he peered underneath his chevron, "I take it that you are treading various topics carefully and utilizing your training?"

"I may have fallen from grace, but I was always top of the class where I excelled," Prowl responded indignantly while Smokescreen went back to his notes. He took a deep breath, "But yes, I am. I was told they have behavior issues. I believe it is a lack of understanding."

"Prowl, if anyone could work their way through turning two troublesome twins into model children, it would be you," He teased. He looked up, "I take it you are using your personal understanding?"

Prowl smiled as he bowed his head forward, "I am, but there are some lessons that it was not me to teach them, but Jazz. Having some of the same alternative coding helps. Even then, it is respect and explaining the 'why' of a problem that has corrected their behavior above all else." 

Smokescreen hummed, "I'll take that into consideration, Prowl, but I think you said something that you need to think more on." He leaned in as his face lost its smile. "You cannot ignore a problem forever and hope it goes away. If you think it will catch you first, lay your web first."

"Sometimes, Smokescreen, I truly do hate you," Prowl huffed, even if it lacked the malice he spoke of, but his processor was already chewing on the information. "As a favor to an old friend, would you be willing to help?"

If he could find somewhere to start on keeping tabs on him...

"Always, and this is not even as a favor. You deserve peace of mind, and I want to help, as a friend," Smokescreen soothed. He cleared his throat, "Now, I do need to get on with the session, we're already running late. Who wants to go first-"

"Me," Sunstreaker snarled. Jazz jerked back in surprise at the hate in his voice, but Prowl strode over easily.

He held his arms out for the twins and Jazz handed them over easily. "Careful, Prowler. The last time I heard tha' tone, I needed ta get some wiring replaced."

"I have some reason to believe that you were not reading a correct signal," He responded. He set them on the ground and held an open hand out to each. "Sunstreaker, Sideswipe. I want you to look at me." Sideswipe took the hand nearest to him and squeezed intermittently. 

Sideswipe had to drag his gaze away from Smokescreen with a contemplative look on his face, but he eventually did, "Yeah, Prowl?"

Sunstreaker, on the other hand, continued to glare at his therapist. "No."

"Sunstreaker," Prowl stressed gently. "Smokescreen is an old friend of mine. You know how I have spoken to you in the past and advised you? How that has helped you?" He lifted his doorwings in a weak attempt to get Sunstreaker's attention. Luckily, it worked. "Smokescreen helped me with some of that advice. Through me, he had helped you. I would like you to let him help you without me. I trust him a great deal. Do you trust me?"

The twin pouted and looked down, "Yes."

"I trust him to help you. You can speak to him as you would me. If there is anything you are scared or unable to tell me, you can tell him. I will promise to you that he will not share with us unless it is a problem that he believes you need help with," Prowl continued to think through it slowly. "You can make him promise to tell you if he needs to tell us, but anything else, he will not share. I promise you."

"He hasn't broken a promise yet, Sunny," Sideswipe encouraged. "Should I go first?" He looked back at Prowl, "Please please please, can I go first?"

Prowl shook his head, "It's up to Sunstreaker, he said he wanted to go first. But Sunstreaker, will you give it a chance, for me?"

Sunstreaker clung tighter to his blanket, "Okay." His bravos began to fall away and he knew he needed to say something.

"Thank you, I know this is scary, but it will be okay," Prowl promised. "I will be waiting for you when you are done." The yellow twin glared at him, but nodded. "Jazz's strong sparkling," He praised. Sunstreaker jerked his shoulders again and Prowl raised his doorwings in the Enforcer cant for 'alert, evidence.' He heard two quiet taps of a stylus on armor plating as acknowledgement and lowered them into his neutral position.

Sideswipe held his arms up, begging, "Up, up, up." 

"Sunstreaker, we'll be back when you return. I would not leave without both of you," Prowl swore. Sunstreaker nodded and slowly walked forward to join Smokescreen. The therapist did not offer a hand to hold and Sunstreaker did not reach out. Together, they walked through a nearby door.

Jazz shuddered in amazement, "Ya know, Prowler, I think takin' ya on when I did was the right move."

"No," Prowl said tensely. He looked to his employer, "I could have done with more time, but this was the bare minimum. This is an extreme show of trust."

"Ya really trust 'im that much, Prowler?" Jazz asked as he moved them over to a nearby set of seats.

"With my life," He said without any hesitation. "He graduated a few vorns before I did, but he has saved me several times over, Jazz. It is a debt I will never be able to repay."

Jazz cocked his head to the side was Sideswipe bounced his stuffed zap pony toy in his lap, "Nah, mech. I think y're repayin' your debt in the only way he'd accept. Sometimes, repayin' a debt ain't owin' a favor to a friend, but showin' someone the same kindness that someone showed ya. You've been doin' that plenty for the boys." He tilted his head back enough for Prowl to get the impression that he was looking right at him. "An' me."

Prowl had to look away to hide his flush, "Not with the children present. I... When it's just us. I'll tell you."

"I'll hold ya to that, Prowler."

"I'd expect nothing less," He agreed.

"Prowl?" Smokescreen called near the end of the hour. It meant that Sunstreaker's appointment went shorter than intended, but Prowl doubted he would be complaining. "He's asking for you," He said gently.

"C'mere, bitty," Jazz whispered as he took Sideswipe from Prowl. The sparkling was still happily playing with his toy, but he seemed to be snapped out of his revere. "Shh, you're okay, Sides, Prowler'll be right back."

"Come right back?" Sideswipe asked, double checking with Prowl.

The nanny nodded and pet over his helm, "I'll be back within a few minutes with your brother." He extracted himself and sped over to Smokescreen. "Status."

Smokescreen led him down a short hall, "Likely overstimulated. I managed to get him to open a little bit. While I agree with your assessment about alternative coding, he probably needs a more formal diagnosis and I don't feel comfortable doing that quite yet. Do you know when he'd probably return to school?"

Prowl hummed, "Likely in a vorn or two. I'm homeschooling at the moment, but if it needs to carry on for longer, I'm not opposed. Do you think it would be better to homeschool?"

"For the moment? Yes," He agreed. He gestured to a door, but paused, "And that shoulder motion you mentioned, Prowl?" Smokescreen smiled as joy crinkled in his eyes. "That's a motion that some children who are raised by people with doorwings adopt. He's trying to copy you and given the motion? It's his approval. Let him continue it for now, it seems to be a soft stim of sorts, or he's trying to communicate with you. Either way..."

Oh, his spark was going to give out, this was too cute.

"Do not discourage, understood," Prowl nodded. "May I collect my charge now?" He pressed.

Smokescreen nodded and knocked on the door before opening it, "Sunstreaker? I brought Prowl."

"Your brother is still in the waiting room," Prowl stated as he entered, looking for the golden child. It took a moment, but Sunstreaker was completely balled up in his blanket. The only think visible of him was his optic and a single hand. "Hello, Sunstreaker. I will not force you out of that, but are you ready to go?" He held out his hands and reminded him with a trembling fist, "Right for yes, left for no."

A single tap to the right, followed by a grabby motion.

"Do you wish for me to carry you?"

A few taps to his right hand again.

"Do you want to be held for a while?"

That earned him several smacks to his right hand.

"I will not let you go until you are ready, Sunstreaker," Prowl agreed and knelt to bundle him into his arms, tucking Sunstreaker gently underneath his bumper, additionally hiding the bitty. Sunstreaker was trembling, and Prowl knew what could help. 

He idled his engine, letting the soft noise and vibration echo in his audials. Already, Sunstreaker was leaning more into him, clutching at whatever plating he could in an attempt to melt into his nanny. 

"I am here, Sunstreaker, and I will not let you go," He promised.

Smokescreen lifted his doorwings in attention and Prowl responded in kind. 'Target, neutralized. Next target, pursue,' The therapist gestured in their Enforcer's cant and Prowl only nodded. He continued to idle his engine as he walked. He might not have been able to directly see Sunstreaker, but he trusted the child to let him know if something was wrong. Smokescreen followed them out, tapping at his datapad again.

Jazz stood up in silent worry when the trio emerged. He still held Sideswipe in his arms, but the child managed to squirm his way out, charging for the group. Prowl smiled and stepped aside for Smokescreen. The therapist smiled with a welcoming field, "Sideswipe? It's your turn, bitty."

"Not your bitty," Sideswipe pouted, but clutched at Prowl's leg. "Prowler? Blue mech safe?"

Prowl nodded and brushed his field against Sideswipe's in the same warmth that Smokescreen carried, "Blue mech safe, Sideswipe. Be good for him, okay? He is my friend."

Sideswipe slowly looked to Smokescreen and nodded. "Okay. Prowl says you're safe, so you're good, right?"

"How about I let you make that judgment?" Smokescreen mused. He gestured Sideswipe forward, "Let's go through here, okay?"

"Okay!"

Prowl sighed as the door closed behind the pair. A hand rested at his back and he managed not to jump when Jazz hummed. "Ya good, Prowler? Is Sunstreaker...?"

"It's just been a little much," He said gently. "Let's take a seat. I think he needs both of us, but I think I also want to go over the meal plan for the next week with you." 

Jazz blinked in confusion, but Prowl tilted his head to motion at the lump underneath his bumper. "Right, sounds good, Prowler. So, I went diggin' through some old cook books an' found this really nice casserole..."

Prowl let him continue to ramble in the way that only a mech who has nothing to say with too many words can. Sunstreaker's trembling had definitely stopped and Prowl was certain that he was in a dozing state. He and Jazz let their fields brush against his, letting him borrow their calm states to set his own right. He didn't stop his engine from idling and would only move when Sunstreaker was ready.

The door opened again an hour later and Sideswipe came running out. He definitely seemed out of sorts, but he didn't seem upset. Sunstreaker was definitely sleeping by this point, but Sideswipe seemed to know that. He wasn't yelling like he so usually did, only crawling up on Prowl's other side and under his arm. He sighed contently as he listened to the vibrations of Prowl's chest, "I'm tired, Prowler."

"I know, Sideswipe. We'll go home and you two can nap all you like," Prowl said. "Jazzy has work, but I'll stay with you as long as you need, alright?"

Sideswipe sniffled and wrapped his tiny arms around Prowl's reinforced arm, "Even when you're an Enforcer?"

"There is very little that could keep me away completely, Sideswipe, but I would have my own place to live and a new job. I would be happy to meet up for playdates every few days," Prowl tried to sooth, but it only upset him more.

"N-No, you need to stay, Prowl! You're important! Please please please!" He begged.

Prowl shushed him gently, "I am not going anywhere for a while, Sideswipe. For now, how about we go home, and we curl up for a nap? Perhaps Jazz can cook lunch this time," He peered up at Jazz teasingly, but his breath caught.

He might not have been able to see Jazz's optics, but there was something to his expression and body posture that... tickled him. It wasn't something he could identify, but it wasn't bad.

"Prowl, Jazz," Smokescreen said gently as he approached the family. "There were some concerns that Prowl brought up. It will likely need a follow-up, but... Prowl, I believe you are correct. I can send some documents that can help you explain some of the process for this, or you can book an appointment to talk about it in a controlled environment," He said carefully.

Prowl bowed his head, "I will have a talk with Jazz. I... I will need your contact information again. The Tacnet wiped some of my contact information when it was removed."

"Of course," Smokescreen agreed immediately. "Jazz already sent over your Right to Medical Information forms, so I'll let you know about anything concerning, but please keep me updated on your end."

"That's always the plan, doc," Jazz finally added in. " Can we reschedule later, we're all a little..."

He waved his hands, "Send me a time and I'll make it work. And Prowl?" 

The nanny looked up and Smokescreen smiled, "I'm glad you found something that makes you happy. Don't forget what I said. I think you have more of a support network than you think. If you need me to reach out back home about anything... let me know. I still have cohort and unit out there."

"I still do not understand how you were allowed to break away like that," Prowl mused, but nodded. He nudged Sideswipe and cooed, "Sideswipe? It's time to get up. I can't carry you, but-"

"Jazzy!" He cried, reaching out with grasping hands. "Jazzy, Jazzy!"

"I'm here, bitty mine," Jazz whispered. He nodded, "Thanks again fer everythin', blue mech. We'll see ya soon."

"We need to catch up soon," Prowl smiled to his old friend. "But not for a while."

Smokescreen laughed and shooed them all out, "Soon, yes. And good luck, you four!"

Prowl sighed in relief as he sunk into the twins' berth, Sunstreaker still bundled up in his arms, unmoving as he had been an hour ago. The transport had taken a while, but it was worth it. Given everything right now... he was reluctant to turn down a nap.

Jazz lowered Sideswipe down next to him, the scarlet sparkling also conked out from his emotional rollercoaster that day, "I know I've said it 'fore, Prowler, but I don't know how ta thank ya for everythin.' Today woulda been entirely different if ya weren't there."

"I think I can say the same to you," Prowl whispered as he rearranged Sideswipe into his side. "You helped me find a friend I never thought I would see again. And..." He hesitated when Jazz tucked the three of them in for their nap. "I believe I have a favor to ask."

"Name it," He said immediately. "What do ya need?"

Prowl sucked his lips in, scared to ask, but terrified not to. "I... Smokescreen was right. I can't keep pretending that Mesothulas is going to leave me alone for the rest of my functioning. He will not. I need to know that he stays where he is, or if he every comes here, he will not come near me. Do... Do you know anyone who can help?"

Jazz reached a hand out to cup Sideswipe's helm gently, rubbing a thumb into the soft metal. "Prowler, I'll make some calls ta at least make sure that he's still in Praxus. I'll try to have some answers for ya when ya wake up, okay?" He took his hand back, but slowly reached it out to Prowl, hesitant- 

No.

Asking.

Prowl let his head fall into Jazz's hand and his breath shuddered at the safety it promised. "Okay, Jazz. I trust you."

"I trust ya too. Sleep well, Prowler. Ain't goin' to let anything touch ya. Y're done runnin'," Jazz swore. He took his hand back and quietly slipped out the door.

For the first time in a very long time, Prowl felt safe. He closed his eyes, boxed in by two sparklings that trusted him with everything in their little frames, and fell asleep.

Chapter Text

Waking up was slow.

Normally, if Prowl took a nap, it was the kind of nap that left his mouth feeling numb and his eyelids refusing to work right, but this? This nap had him floating peacefully and he snuggled more into the warm comfort of... Rescue Bots bed set. Two purring systems, one on either side of him, made him blink wearily. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were snuggled into his armor, still deep asleep. Oh, they were never going to fall asleep tonight.

The door creaked open and Jazz stuck his head in to check. He relaxed to see Prowl's eyes glowing gently in the dark. He licked his lips and kept his voice low, "Hey, I knocked, didn't know if you were up 'r not. I talked with Smoky and he'll reach out to ya when he hears back from 'Nightbeat?'" Prowl nodded and looked to the twins. Jazz nodded in realization, "Gotcha. Look, I got a pot o' soup on the stove. I need ta drop in fer the night. I know it’s yer day off tomorrow, but if ya want ta spend the night, ‘m never gonna tell ya no. I… Thanks, Prowl.”

All he could do was offer a smile and Jazz returned it. “Sleep well, Prowl. If the boys wake up while I’m on the air, go ahead an’ ping me. I’ll pop out when I can to say good night."

Prowl nodded and shuffled deeper into the blanket, pulling the sleeping sparklings closer to him. Sideswipe beeped in confusion, but Prowl shushed him. He rubbed Sideswipe's back and the sparkling shined, but snuggled back down. Prowl sighed contently and hoped that Jazz understood.

The door was slowly closed with a laugh from Jazz, and they were cradled in darkness.

A heavy weight landing on his stomach woke Prowl and he curled up around the perpetrator. 

There was vicious giggling and he looked down to see not just one, but two giggling faces looking up at him. Prowl narrowed his eyes at them, but he sighed. "You two are lucky you are cute. Please do not do that again, that hurt."

"But we wanted to surprise you!" Sideswipe chirped. He wriggled and Prowl grunted as he moved the sparkling down his side. "Besides, we're hungry!"

"It's late," Sunstreaker nodded. He curled more into Prowl's stomach, but Prowl winced and tried to move him more to the side. Sunstreaker pouted, but aimed for Prowl's side instead. "Eat?"

Prowl smiled, "Well, Jazz did put on a soup for us, so let's go see what your Jazzy has for us." He checked his chronometer and noted that it was definitely around dinnertime, but they had slept clean through lunchtime. "Do you two wish to be carried?"

The twins shared a look and Sunstreaker whined quietly as he clung tighter. Sideswipe looked up and quietly nodded, "Please?"

He truly couldn't fight with that. Prowl sighed and wrapped his arms around them and began his awkward shuffle off of the bed. The boys giggled as Prowl finally made it off of the bed and into the hall. Sunstreaker reached down to grab the door handle and opened the door.

The smell coming from the kitchen wasn't necessarily amazing or perfect, but it was food. Prowl walked around to put the twins at the table, "Hold on, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker. I will be back soon." He left them at a table that had already been set - thank you, Jazz - to go look at the pot of soup.

It had clearly been left to simmer for a time, but that had made sure it was warm. Otherwise... It was can soup that had been left to boil. It was easy on the tank, it smelled wholesome, and it was filling. All the same... 

It was the thought that counted, and Jazz was taking care of them.

Prowl turned the stove off and brought the pot back. There was already a potholder at the table and Prowl again thanked Jazz's foresight. "So, you two do know what tomorrow is, right?" Prowl asked as he began to dish up himself and the twins.

Sunstreaker hummed sleepily, "No?"

"Tomorrow, I will not be here. You will have the full day to spend with Jazz. He should not have work, and he will take care of you all. I will be back the day after," Prowl said gently.

Sideswipe kicked his feet under the table, "Wait, why are you gone tomorrow?" He watched Prowl put Sunstreaker's bowl down and waited for his.

Prowl hesitated for a moment, but knew he needed to say this, "Would you say that Jazz likes what he does for his job?"

Sunstreaker pouted and nodded, "More than he likes us sometimes."

"No, he loves you two," Prowl corrected gently. "He just has too much to do at the same time. With most jobs, he has days off. His day off, told to him by his boss, is tomorrow. Now, Jazz needs a little extra help to do what he needs to take care of, so he hired me to help look after you two."

"You're only doing this as a job?" Sideswipe asked weakly. He looked at his own bowl of soup. "Do you like us?"

Prowl smiled and pet his head, "Sideswipe, I like you and Sunstreaker very much. Remember, Jazz likes his job very much, and I like my job very much. There is not a single sparkling I would rather look after than you two, but there are still things I need to handle in my own life."

The twins shared a look, "Jazz mentioned his job forcing him to leave once. What... What if you're forced to leave?"

"And I will do everything in my power to make sure that I don't need to leave, you two. It's just... I need to have my own life sometimes. Right now, your life is going out and having fun with your friends. Mine is to watch over you when Jazz cannot," Prowl explained. "To teach you, and to help you in any way I can. I am not leaving for many vorns yet, and I will never leave you. I will always be a single call away."

He sat down and looked between them, "It has been a long day so far. I am not trying to ignore your concerns, but there are times when you are tired or upset and your emotions do not work right." He knew he was going to regret this, but honestly, these kids needed the comfort more. "I will stay until after breakfast. I will address your concerns then, but I will need to return after breakfast. Is that alright?"

Sideswipe pouted and nodded, "Do you have another family to return to?"

Prowl froze, but looked into his soup, "No. I do not."

"Can we be your family?" Sunstreaker asked.

Prowl's mind went places, to heading to work in the mornings and doing trade off with Jazz, returning him to the kids-

No. It was incredibly inappropriate. Yes, he had been spending a lot of time with Jazz and... maybe he was starting to trust Jazz, but he had trusted Mesothulas once upon a time. He knew they were not equivalent, not in the slightest, but he needed to ensure that Mesothulas was not to be returning into his life again. 

If anything happened to the kids while he was trying to court-

Court?!

He wasn't even at that stage yet. Besides, Jazz had teased him, but Prowl had listened to his talk show. He was a flirt, an adonis, a figurative incubus, even if it was a persona. He knew how much a persona could bleed into someone's reality after a while, as seen that morning with the little comment. Prowl didn't see anything wrong with it, it was an automatic reaction to a flirty comment that he would get on the show, and Jazz had responded in the exact same manner.

No, he would not date the mech who had hired him. It could get too messy-

"Prowl?" Sideswipe asked. "Do... Are..."

His processor snapped back to the initial question and knit his digits in front of him, "Tobor is Rock 'em and Sock 'em's friend, correct? And he is close enough to them that it would dictate him as family, yes?"

Sideswipe nodded, "Friends are the people you can trust and care for, but family is who you love and love you back. Are... Are you family?"

Prowl's spark broke because there was no right answer to this, not with his need for professionalism. This is why he wanted to get his job as an Enforcer. There was more detachment from everything, but... Right now... These kids needed him. 

He allowed a smile as he looked between them, "I care for you both a great deal. Family is not a title you should hand out lightly-"

"We're not," Sunstreaker frowned. "We trust you. We promise not to jump on you anymore."

Sideswipe nodded desperately, "Please don't leave us. Sire and Riri already left and they haven't come back yet-" His voice cut out and Prowl got up from his seat.

"Oh Sideswipe..." He said gently. He knelt next to Sideswipe, "I'm here, bitty." 

The small sobbing bundle threw himself at Prowl, babbling incoherently. The only thing Prowl could do was hold him. He glanced to Sunstreaker, but the other twin was looking at his soup with an empty look in his eyes, a heavy weight on his face that Prowl knew well.

Grief.

There was no way that Sunstreaker didn't know what had happened to his creators.

Prowl held Sideswipe close to him as he walked over to Sunstreaker. He knelt next to the quiet brother and held his hand out. "I cannot promise that I will never leave, Sunstreaker, but I will do everything in my power to be here for you. 30 vorns, and I will help you in every way that I can. That, unless something bad happens, is what I will promise to you."

Sunstreaker's eyes drifted from his bowl to Prowl as tears welled. He nodded and reached his arms out. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Nothing needed to.

Prowl was already bundling him into his arms too.

He let his engine idle again and he walked around the large apartment, soothing the brothers in every way he could.

Oh, he had to be there in the morning when they woke up. They would never trust him again if he disappeared into the night. 

It took ten minutes, but the boys eventually calmed down enough that Prowl could return them to the table. Their food had cooled, but not completely lost the perfect warm edge that they needed. "You two are very important to me, but I do not have the best... history with those who I have called family. I have gotten hurt in the past. I know you two do not want to hurt me, but I am just scared."

Sideswipe took a sip of his soup while Sunstreaker nodded as if he understood perfectly. "You need help. Can blue mech help?"

Prowl blinked in surprise, but nodded, "I... That is a very good idea. I will need to talk to blue mech, but that will time some time. Go ahead and eat, and I'll have Jazz come say good night."

"Will Jazz ever leave us?" Sideswipe asked nervously. "I'm scared."

"No," Prowl said carefully. "Jazz will not leave you for a very, very long time. I will do everything I can to make sure nothing happens to him, just as I will do everything I can to keep you two safe. Now, let's finish eating and get to bed, okay?"

He was already compiling a message for Jazz. 'We had another crying session. They're eating at this moment, but then we're going back to bed. I estimate about 10 minutes before we give up entirely. Leave the dishes, I will get them in the morning. I will be staying the night and we need to have a conversation in the morning. I believe the twins fear I will be leaving them because it is my day off.'

He got a ping back a minute later with a thumbs up and returned to his own food. He was not happy with how the day had gone, but the best he could do was prepare to reassure the twins at every chance he could.

Jazz came out of his studio just as Prowl was carrying the twins back to their room. He looked over them in concern, "Prowl, are they-"

"Exhausted, and likely a little emotionally unstable, but nothing sleep, time, and reassurances can't fix," Prowl whispered back. He nodded to the door, "Can you?"

"Y-Yeah. Let me," He said. He held it open and Prowl slipped past. "What happened?"

Prowl looked them over to see if they were asleep or not. They were practically falling under into their soup, so Prowl ended up calling it early. "I tried to explain that it was my day off tomorrow and that I like looking after them, but I needed to have a day off like every job, and-"

"Whoa," Jazz whispered. He carefully reached out and guided Prowl to the unused bed. "Look at me, breathe, Y're panickin'."

He nodded shakily and took one deep breath in, another, a third. Finally, he composed himself enough to continue. "I worry they are getting more attached than is appropriate."

"Ya think they're takin' yer absence more as a thing on their side?" Jazz asked. He frowned and shrugged. "Lie ta them. Say yer goin' to handle some chores or somethin', but it's stuff fer them. Ya don't always need ta tell the truth, Prowler."

Prowl's doorwings rose angrily, "No, I will not lie to them for something as big as this. I care about them and there will come a day where I walk across that graduation stage and I will no longer be able to be a nanny to your children. I love them in this short week already and I will do whatever I can to keep them safe, but I will not shield them from that truth. Tomorrow, Jazz, I am going to contact Red Alert to ask that he does what he does best and if he can find some way to install a security program into something that one of Smokescreen's cohort can sneak to him and gain Red access to his systems. If he can do that, then he can remotely monitor Mesothulas' systems for his plans. I am going to ensure that if he does have any plans to come here, I know about it. He knows my every process, my every thought, and every potential action I will take."

He pressed a finger into Jazz's chest, "I am going to contact Ratchet and ask him if he would ever be willing to falsify records for me, and I will need your help as well. If Red Alert confirms that he ever finds me, he will likely know where I am working, and what my employer does."

Jazz paled, "My audience- Prowler, he'll know-"

"That is exactly what I will need," He stated. His eyes were burning in exhausted rage. "I will cower no more. If he believes that I am about to run again, or that I am about to undergo a surgery and will be vulnerable, he will do what he can, but Mesothulas is nothing if not patient. He will wait for the perfect moment to strike. I ask you to help me when I need it, Jazz. I trust you, and if you are going to trust me with your sparklings-"

"Ain't that an offer-" Jazz said instinctively, but his eyes were also glowing brightly with something. Prowl was getting very tired of not being able to recognize that look that seemed to border on something akin to fear, but his field was still nothing but open with something else burning under the surface. It was there for only a moment before Jazz reeled it back under control. 

"-I ask that you help me when I need it most," He hissed. Prowl's shoulders fell as he got to the deepest part of the issue. "I want to be able to move on with my life. I want to go on and have a future. I can't do that when I am forced to live in the past and look over my shoulder constantly. Now... I need sleep. Please forgive my outburst and my invasion of your personal space. You did not deserve it."

Jazz smiled easily, "It sounded more like ya needed that, Prowler. Don' worry about it. Look, why don't ya settle in for the night? I'll check in before I get off the air entirely, but I think this conversation's goin' ta go a lot better once you've had some recharge, yeah?"

Prowl swallowed and nodded weakly, "Yeah. Thank you, Jazz. I will see you in the morning. Are you okay if I stay in here? I... I don't want to know how the boys will react if I'm not here when they wake up."

"Go for it. It's a little too soft for my taste," Jazz admitted. He walked over to his kids and kissed them both on the head. He paused when he realized that Sideswipe's breathing was... "Good night, bitty mine."

"'Night, Jazzy," Sideswipe whispered, too awake to not have heard anything. Oh, this was bad. Jazz shared a nervous look with Prowl, but the nanny was too tired to care. He settled into the middle of the bed and Jazz gently shifted the twins onto either side of him. "Night, Prowl."

"Good night, Sideswipe," The adults responded. Prowl shuffled deeper into the bed and Jazz tiptoed to the door. He checked that the nightlight was working and he closed the door behing him with a quiet click.

Prowl was not looking forward to tomorrow morning.

Jazz was being reminded far too often that the mech he had hired was a force of nature. 

If he had been forced to run like Prowl had, if he had been forced to start over from next to nothing with the final door of what he wanted to do in life being slammed shut in front of him... He would have never recovered.

But here he was, towering over him with a finger in his chest, a terrifying glow to his eyes, and fire in his spark as he listed out his plan and Primus, what a plan. If this was Prowl with limited resources and desperate, what was he like with the backing of an entire Enforcer field behind him? 

It would be awesome.

Not in the funny way kids so often said it, but the kind that only happened when meeting with the Prime, or a personal hero. It was the kind of awe that stole his breath away and the strength from his knees.

Frag, he wanted this mech and he wanted him in ways that was not appropriate. 

Despite his persona, he wasn't typically a one night stand mech. Sure, he had them here and there, but it was always casual. Despite what everyone knew about the stereotype about personas, and typically only wearing them for a job, it was less of a persona than he cared to admit. It was who he had been when he was younger. It was breaking sparks and leaving trails of mecha and femmes behind him.

But this? 

Seeing this mech that took his more adventurous mech to the chest and found a way to get his more withdrawn to come out of his shell, seeing him rage like this? It was a whole other side to him and it just made him want to see more.

Waking up this time... 

It was to the distant sounds of a cartoon show turning on and the smell of warm cinnamon. He groaned and quiet talking that he hadn't even registered stopped. "Prowl?" Sideswipe asked as he looked over the side of the bed. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just... I am slow to wake," He grunted. He shuffled to the side of the bed so he could get up, "Is Sunstreaker in here?" He checked his chronometer and internally preened when he saw it was about 9:30. Jazz was keeping his schedule.

"Here," Sunstreaker said as he popped up next to his brother. Prowl nodded and the boy frowned, "You're here."

You're still here, he had meant, and Prowl knew it.

"You two needed me more," He explained. "Jazz and I need to have a discussion, but it will be one I am alright for you two listening in. Let's go wait for breakfast."

The twins looked hopeful and ran to grab his hands so they could drag him out. Prowl hid his smile at their reaction, but he knew that they needed to understand his boundaries. Just... He didn't have the spark to break theirs quite yet.

Jazz looked up and hummed, "Who do you have there, boys?"

Sideswipe giggled as he dragged Prowl to the couch, "We have Prowler! He's staying for breakfast!"

Prowl sat down and let the boys settle next to him, but he pulled out his coursework. He needed to catch up with it, he had largely been slacking on it all week, but it wasn't anything he couldn't do in a few hours if he tried.

Sunstreaker looked over his arm, "What are you working on?"

"Homework," Prowl explained. "I need to get it done today or it will be late. I do not wish to get in trouble at work."

"We goin' to have the talk before breakfast or during?" Jazz asked as he walked out to join them. Sideswipe lit up and shuffled to the side, clearly wanting Jazz to sit next to Prowl. The radio host raised an eyebrow knowingly, "Nah, Sides. I want ta stand fer this." He shifted his head just the tiniest bit to Prowl and he knew that Jazz was giving him a look. He rolled his optics the slightest amount in understanding. "I know this is supposed to be yer day off, Prowler. Sorry for askin' for overtime."

Prowl sighed and put his homework away, "As far as I am aware, Jazz, I merely stayed the night. I am not working at this moment, nor will I for the day. I still have approximately five different calls I need to make that will take half an hour each, I need to clean my apartment, I need to go shopping for groceries, and the homework I have been putting off all week." He was partially playing up some of what he needed to do, but he knew that Jazz could spot a performance a mile away.

Jazz winced and played into it, "Yikes, mech. Ya couldn't do that while lookin' over the boys?"

"Not without more time for myself, Jazz. I need to watch over them, but I also need some time for me," He said gently. "I do enjoy working for you all, but I need this."

"I respect that," Jazz shrugged. "Hey, just checkin', that contract ya signed was for the vorn, right? Do ya want to talk about signin' one for five vorns when it comes time ta renew?"

Oh, that could help a great deal with the sparklings' attitudes if they had the security of knowing they were already talking about staying on for another 5 vorns as it was.

"I see nothing wrong with it," Prowl agreed. "But I would like to have a discussion with the boys," He amended as he looked between the twins. "Just because this is a job, does not mean I care for you any less."

Sideswipe frowned, "But you wouldn't say you were family! I thought you were! Like Jazzy!"

"I do not like lying to you two. As I said yesterday, I have been hurt by those who I considered family," He said gently. "I am scared to call others family so easily, but that does not mean that I will not do anything to look after you two so long as I am able."

Sunstreaker nodded slowly, "But maybe someday?"

Prowl smiled and nodded back, "Maybe someday. But as for the moment, Jazz is my boss, and I have only known him for about a week. Adults have... different standards for considering each other family." Primus, he needed the conversation to move away. Sideswipe opened his mouth to ask more questions, but timer in the kitchen screamed, and Prowl took the chance to get up.

Jazz snorted as he passed and Prowl sent him back a playfully bitter look. The cinnamon rolls, although leftovers, still smelled very good. 

Maybe he could do this. With good company, warm food, and the support of the few people he knew, it would be fine.

He could do this.

He had to.

He didn't have a choice.

Prowl keyed in with his ever changing code and used the two keys that Red Alert had given him. He relaxed as he stopped on the main doormat, letting Red Alert's scan sweep over him. It chimed green and he sighed in relief. Instead of checking his normal security storage box, Prowl headed for Red Alert's apartment. He had already requested a meeting with the paranoid mech and was happy to know it was swiftly approved. 

He stopped in front of the door with two different visible cameras, and likely three hidden ones, and knocked on the door. "Red Alert, I have a personal request that is outside the bounds of my apartment."

The door opened and he waved Prowl in. The living room was less of a living room and more of a security office. Screens of security feeds lined the walls with several different transcripts of various radio stations were being transferred to different datapads. Something in the system was clearly already marking select words and highlighting them for later use. 

Somehow, Red Alert looked as healthy as he usually did, if the slightly dull paint said anything, but he still had some amount of care put into himself. He tapped his foot and gestured to a hard couch with no seams or any cracks that a small microphone could be plugged into. No, this was clearly some kind of response to something that he didn't know if he wanted to get into.

"What do you want?" He demanded as Prowl headed for one of the seats. It was painful and unyielding as Sentinel Prime's ego, but it still had a use.

Prowl sat up straight and pursed his lips, "I have told you about Mesothulas and I believe you understand what my attitude is."

Red Alert settled on the couch across from him, "You want to hide."

"Not anymore. I... ran into an old friend from Praxus, someone I trust with my life and medical information. He used to be my therapist," He stated evenly. He hoped that Red Alert would be able to tell how important this was to him. "As well as speaking to my old doctor. The one who performed the procedure for the Tacnet. I want to begin setting up measures to set a trap."

Primus, it had been hard to talk about it the first time, but Red Alert, once hearing about Mesothulas, had wanted to know everything. But now? It was easier because he got it and actively assured Prowl that he would do everything to make his apartment secure. Given how many security measures Red Alert installed into his apartment, Prowl believed him.

"You need me to do some security measures?" Red Alert asked knowingly. He frowned, "What is your plan?"

Prowl took a deep breath, "My intent is to plant a mirroring device onto his system so you can monitor what he is working on. It can be installed if I can get it to my therapist, who still has connections in Praxus and with Mesothulas' work. From there, we can set a trap. My doctor says that he has my files under close surveillance, but I do not entirely trust that. Or, he could open a secondary profile that is not quite as protected. If he can get the impression that there is something going on medically, I believe that he will take this as a sign that he can make a move."

"And if he can't figure it out?" Red Alert pressed.

"He is terrifyingly smart and if Jazz trusts your work to the degree he does, I think you can go undetected. But in case he can't take the hint... My therapist can start a rumor back home." He smiled fondly, "He said that I have a bigger support network than I realized and... from what Jazz told me this morning... I have a support network number in the millions."

Jazz pulled Prowl to the side once he had the kids set up in front of the holoscreen, "Hey, Prowler. I'm sorry I pushed ya last night, but I wanted ta let you know that my producers got some calls about yer little stunt with the 'Landlord' game ya played. My listeners want ta hear more 'quirky' stories about how you're takin' care of my kids. I said I wasn't goin' to do anythin' without your permission, but if there's anythin' I can do..."

"You shouldn't apologize for my behavior," Prowl corrected gently. His processor took the information and churned it over in his head. "How many listeners do you get on an average night?"

"In Iacon durin' my most popular hours? About 4 to 5 million?" He guessed. "Out of city? Maybe half a mill if it's a good night?"

Prowl reached out and pulled Jazz into a hug, "I believe you just gave me the last part of my plan, Jazz. Thank you."

Jazz carefully wrapped his arms around Prowl's waist and smiled, "Anythin', Prowler. Ya gave me my life back, and gave the boys a better chance."

"That was all you," Prowl mused, but he pulled back. Jazz looked sad about something, but he couldn't think of what it could be.

It took Red Alert a moment before he barked in cynical laughter, "His listeners?!"

Prowl shrugged, allowing a smile, "Apparently, it was a 'quirky' lesson. Considering I will be telling them about interacting with Enforcers and asking to speak with a lawyer next week, it may not be entirely unfair. But if we can confirm if Mesothulas is listening in to Jazz's station, and we can get Jazz to say something that can set the trap, and have Smokescreen confirm his movements, and Ratchet write in a file that Mesothulas can access... It can give him a chance to attempt to capture me, but it will just be a trap for him. He is... too infatuated to think of anything but." His landlord froze as he went through the information.

"But you know his habits, so what are the chances that he knows how you operate?" Red Alert dared. "What's to say that he knows you so well that he will see this coming?"

Prowl frowned and tried to process the information, but he smiled again. He looked into Red Alert's eyes and, for the first time in a very long time, admitted something that he had difficulty accepting at times, "Because he knows that I have a hard time opening up to others when I feel have no other options. To him I am running and scared. It is through Jazz and his family, Smokescreen, Ratchet, and you that I believe I can do this. If you cannot help with this, I would ask for your discretion with helping me find someone else who can develop the program."

Red Alert nodded slowly, but he hummed, "There has been talk on the Dark Net. Someone going by Tarantulas has been poking around, but no one is really sure about what. I heard Jazz's broadcast about you. Adjusted for time zones... He started poking around exactly 2 minutes and 34 seconds after you were mentioned."

"That is how long it takes for him to long into his programs," Prowl sighed. "He always did have a deep fascination with the Fateweavers of Eukaris. He always complained that he wished he could have their number of limbs, so the name makes sense." He deflated, "I have already been found."

His landlord didn't bother to sugarcoat it, "Yes. We need to work quickly. I don't want him in my building, but we have a leasing agreement. Stay here." He got up and headed into a back room and seemingly rummaged through... something. He made a proud noise and came back a minute later, "I used to work with a bunch of different mecha to do my job, and some of them were back-alley dealers. I can have a few approach Mesothulas and they have a very specific presence on the Net." He met Prowl's gaze. "They always do their job. If that job is to make him think that he's hiring them to be loyal, they will do it."

"You'd do this?" Prowl breathed in shock. "Go this far?"

Red Alert thumbed at a data chit, "You've helped me with my security system and I'm hoping to call on favors from you in the future. If this Mesothulas runs you out of town, it's not worth anything to me."

That kind of thinking, the quid pro quo, that he was used to. It was what he expected. Prowl at least appreciated the honesty.

"That, and you comply with my little habits," Red Alert added. "It. I feel." He was struggling. "It. Is. Nice. To. Not. Fight. For. My. Mental. Health," He finally forced out.

Prowl dipped his doorwings, "I understand. Your security systems make me feel safe in my apartment. You have my thanks. Is there anything within my plans you also believe you need?"

Red Alert frowned as he pursed his lips, "One thing. You have a restraining order on him, right?"

"In Praxus, but it takes extreme history to have a restraining order in one city be recognized in another city," He said. "For all that he did, it would likely not match the requirements."

"No, but this is where some amount of corruption can come in handy," Red Alert huffed. "You need a friend in City Hall. You need one of the Council to submit a claim to have him barred from Iacon. So long as it is someone that high up, they will not be questioned. I understand you've only been here a short time, but do you know anyone on the Council or anyone close to them?"

Prowl sighed and shook his head, "No, I don't. I... I need to find someone, don't I?"

He shrugged, "Send a message to Jazz. He's popular, he probably knows someone. Put it on speaker."

"I make no promises," Prowl said, but did as he was told. The dial tone echoed in the cluttered apartment, but to Jazz's credit, it only rung twice. 

"Heya, Prowler! Wasn't expectin' to hear from ya! Ya doin' okay?" Jazz asked.

Prowl slumped in relief at his relaxed tone, "Yes, Jazz, everything is fine. You are on speaker with Red Alert. He had a question for you. Do you know anyone who works on the Council, or close with them? He would like to see if we could get Mesothulas barred from the city entirely as a pre-emptive measures."

"Y're kiddin', right?" Jazz burst out. Prowl flared his wings indignantly, but Jazz continued before he could say anything. "Prowler, ya know and have talked ta Alpha Trion's personal assistant. You've pushed his bitty on the swings. Are ya that caught up in lookin' after the bitties that ya forgot?" He was laughing hard and distantly, Prowl could hear Sunstreaker shushing him. "Sorry, Sunstreaker. Anyway, Prowler. Ya know Orion'd be happy to help. Tell ya what, we can set up a playdate at the park tomorrow. Ya might need to explain the situation, but he's said if we ever need anythin' within reason, ta ask. I think this counts."

"I believe it is easier to let you socialize with others. I am not the most personable at times, but I appreciate this. Thank you," He sighed in relief. "Tell the boys I said hello."

Jazz chuckled in his audial, a warm sound that warmed his spark, "Will do, Prowler. See ya tomorrow." He disconnected and Prowl hummed.

Red Alert lifted an eyebrow, "You have the personal number of Alpha Trion's assistant, one that he has spoken of fondly for several centuries, but never given his name out to the public and didn't think to say anything?"

"I am not comfortable with other people. They always have ulterior motives, and I will need to apologize for also having one when I speak with him next week," Prowl sighed.

"My therapist calls it having friends. I call it having accomplices," He responded. Prowl smirked knowingly, but let it drop a moment later. "Let me decide my price. It will not be more than your rent, that I'll say. Frankly, knowing what this mech can do, I'd rather have him under watch anyway, so consider this an interest of mine as well." He pointed to the door, "We'll talk in three days. Have me an answer from his assistant, your therapist, and your doctor by then. Otherwise, leave me alone to do my work."

Prowl rose and bowed his head, "Thank you, Red Alert. I will not have them do anything without your mark."

"Good. Get out."

"Are you insane?!" Ratchet demanded over the phone. "You are asking me to make it easier for your stalker, who forced you to lose your chances of being an Enforcer in Praxus andmove across the planet for another chance, to find you so you can lay a trap that might work?!"

Prowl swallowed thickly, "Yes, Ratchet. I am. He will never leave me alone. I need to trap him violating his restraining order in a city he has been barred from so that he may be extradited back to Praxus and imprisoned there. I need your help with this, Ratchet. I knew it would be worse if I asked First Aid, and I trust you. Please. I need this."

He sighed quietly, "Ya damn kids, always knowin' how to pull on my corona. Fine. Okay. I will have First Aid make a file for you in his clinic when you give us the sign, make it so it looks like anyone else's and has the same standard level of security. Pit, tell whoever you're hiring as your security that I want him to help me overhaul our system at some point, this is a joke."

"When this is over, yes. I will speak with him and give him your contact information," Prowl said. "I... Thank you, Ratchet. I do not say that enough."

"I still think this is a bad idea," Ratchet huffed. "Make sure you tell me when this is happening. If this goes wrong, I better be the one to be there to tell you 'I told you so.'"

Prowl laughed quietly, "I would expect nothing less. Thank you again, Ratchet."

"Yeah yeah. Now let me go, I have other work I need to do."

"I'm proud of you, Prowl," Smokescreen said quietly over the line. "You know I'll do what I need to to help you."

"I know, old friend," Prowl said, emotionally wrung out. It had been a long day for him, and he was glad that he still had his day off. "Red Alert is wanting us to do this in three days. I'll need to balance the kids with this, but I think Red will take care of most of it."

"I should hope so. You're going to give him my number, correct? This is strictly in a non-professional capacity, but if he needs anyone-"

Prowl interrupted, knowing better, "He already has someone, Smokescreen. I know you have colleagues you trust, but he needs someone he trusts first. I believe he already has that."

"I understand, I am just offering to extend my contact into his network. I would guess that he collects favors like a politician."

"He is suspicious and makes it useful, I would be more surprised if he didn't. But do you happen to remember if anyone in your circle particularly didn't lie me, but they would be willing to help us out?" Prowl asked as he paced around his apartment.

Smokescreen hummed, "There are, but I'm not sure if I'd necessarily trust them. I can just drop a rumor."

"That can help, but he also apparently knows where I am. So long as I am vigilant, it will be fine," Prowl said, but he knew he was going to drive him insane until this was all in place. "Promise me that you'll let me know if he has travel plans."

"I promise, Prowl. I'm just... I'm glad you're not hiding anymore. That you're actually taking my advice for once," Smokescreen teased. "You know, if you had listened to me about the-"

"I know!" Prowl groaned, but it shifted into a laugh. "Hindsight is a bane, but perhaps I will begin to listen to you a little more now." He ran a hand down his face and sighed. "Thank you, Smokescreen. I... I need to go make my dinner. I'm going to have a long week."

He laughed and Prowl knew if he was here, Smokescreen would be patting him on the back, "I know, Prowl. But if you need anything, let me know."

"I know, Smokescreen. I will let you go, but... Have a good night. Thank you again." He disconnected the call and sighed as he strode over to his berth and flopped onto it. He looked around his empty apartment, sparsely decorated and it had no spark, no emotion to it.

Primus, he missed that sparkling bedspread, the open kitchen, and that small family right about now. He sighed, thinking about the situation.

Legally, he was checking off every thing he could, but he also needed to attempt to check that his restraining order would be respected by Iacon. Iacon was a part of the Tri-Torus Loop, and they had many legal recognitions, but he did not think restraining orders applied that way. It would probably work in his favor, since he was probably violating his own in some way, but... He was tired. He'd look into it tomorrow.

At 9:15 sharp, Prowl opened the door and took a deep breath.

Something just felt right.

Jazz looked up from the kitchen and smiled, "Hey Prowler. Ya ready to do this again?"

Prowl stepped inside and closed the door behind him, "Need you even ask? Where are the boys?"

"PROWL!!!" A door opened in the hall and Sunstreaker and Sideswipe charged down the hall.

He knelt and took them in arm, "Hello, Sideswipe, Sunsteaker. Are you two ready for breakfast?" Sideswipe cheered loudly, even has his brother glared at the loud noise. Prowl smiled and put them back down. "To the holoscreen with you. I'll get your pancakes started. Does anyone want to help me in the kitchen?"

"Can Jazzy?" Sideswipe asked, looking back to his guardian innocently. "Please Jazzy? Please please please?" During all of his pleading, Sunstreaker looked back and bobbed his head happily, even if his dour expression didn't change.

The radio host smiled and looked to his nanny, "I don't see anythin' wrong with it, do you, Prowler?"

Prowl lifted his chin proudly, "Let's get started."

He needed to step out of his fear. He had two kids to look after. Two kids, and a Jazz.

Chapter Text

Prowl peered up to the boys sitting at the dining table, watching them watch him and Jazz. He knew Jazz knew the boys were watching them, but he was clearly pretending nothing was wrong, humming happily. He could normally do with silence, but this was uncomfortable. He couldn't do this with Jazz blatantly ignoring the tension in the air, but s two sparklings staring at him as if... He were either going to disappear, but also if he was prey.

"How was your day yesterday, boys?" Prowl asked as he whisked together the pancakes. Jazz cocked his head closer to Prowl as if to indicate he was listening in. He was more focused on getting the griddle set up.

Sideswipe perked up, "After you left, Jazzy took us to the park! He was pushing us on the swings and stuff and we had a lot of fun! We came back for lunch and we watched the holo for a while and watched a movie while he made lunch! You called around then, I think. Sunny?" 

"He kept talking," Sunstreaker agreed as he crossed his arms. "Loud."

"Sorry, Sunstreaker," Jazz laughed again, but it was harmless. "Hey, Prowler, can we do chocolate chips again?."

Prowl thought for a moment and sighed, "I intended to do so. Sunstreaker likes one plain and one with chocolate chips and Sideswipe likes two chocolate chip ones. Is the griddle warmed yet?"

"Almost," Jazz agreed. He headed for the pantry, leaving Prowl to narrow his eyes playfully at the twins. Sideswipe giggled and wriggled in his seat.

"And what happened after I called?" Prowl asked, going back to look over the mix. It was done, and he began making his own pancakes, at least. He wasn't a fan of how sweet the chocolate chips made his pancakes, so he could at least get it done now before the griddle was... contaminated. 

Sideswipe swayed side to side excitedly, "Well, Jazzy took us out for a walk and stuff and he brought us back and made dinner and I think he didn't know what he was doing because he kept changing the channel, but Sunny didn't like what was on because Jazz tried to watch something about boats, but Sunny didn't like how one boat kept ramming another-"

Jazz sputtered and came back to the island, "Rust Sea Coast. It's one of them reality docs or somethin'. Not somethin' like that. I made sure to call the cable company ta lock those channels behind a password."

"It's 1235811," Sunstreaker cut in. Jazz's head snapped over in shock and Sunstreaker cocked his head, "Uncle Ricochet told us about it. It's your street and apartment number growing up."

Sideswipe cocked his head, "You remember that?" He shrugged before his brother could answer. "But Jazzy eventually let us watch How to Train your Predacon and it was kinda scary, but it was really cool too and can we play Predacons later? Please please please?"

Jazz leaned in close, "Predacons is pretendin' ta be a predacon an' destroyin' their stuff until ya want to be 'tamed' and eat what they give ya. Fruit snacks worked well for me."

"Demeaning, but effective," Prowl mused. Jazz snorted as he moved away and Prowl's doorwings did a tiny wiggle. "Have you told them that you are going into the office today?"

"I gave 'em a warnin', but I don't know if they understood. It'll probably be another case like yer day off was," Jazz warned.

Prowl sighed and nodded, "I'll explain it to them when it's time to go, but I want you to still come along. I need to do some shopping for this week and I can tell you how my calls yesterday went."

He snickered again and leaned in, "Like how ya didn' know who Orion Pax was?"

"Shush," Prowl grumbled. He gestured to the bag of chips in Jazz's hands, "Go ahead and get some ready. Only three of them, remember." He dribbled 4 small pancakes on the griddle in preparation.

Jazz shifted his weight towards the counter and grinned, "Yessir." He was already activating a hidden mod. A single clawed finger sliced through the bag and he shuffled the eight out with careful counting. "Red tell ya how much it'll be?"

"It will be a service I alone will be covering," Prowl said simply. He flipped his own pancakes and gestured for Jazz to put them into the twins' pancakes. "You are already stretching your budget from what I understand, and I am making more than enough to cover my rent and the cost of the service. Besides, Red Alert is seeing it that he is looking out for his own purposes. He believes if Mesothulas is to come into Iacon, it could spell disaster. Additionally, "

"Who?" Sideswipe asked.

The adults shared a quick look and Jazz shrugged. "Up to you, Prowler. It's your business."

"It would be safer to tell them," Prowl whispered back. He nodded to the boys, "I'll explain over breakfast. Why don't you two help Jazz set the table?"

Sideswipe lit up like the morning sun and was already slipping from his chair to help his guardian. Sunstreaker was a little slower, but he did as asked.

Prowl looked around, partially unwilling to start eating yet. Jazz hesitated, "Prowler?" He lowered his fork, "Ya doin' ok?"

"Yes, just... wondering how I should explain this," He said gently. He knit his fingers in front of him, "Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, sometimes, it is important to keep secrets. There are some secrets that are okay to keep, and there are secrets that you need to share. What I am going to tell you is a secret I need you to not tell anyone else."

"But what if I have a secret I'm keeping from you?" Sideswipe asked before he covered his mouth. "Oops."

Jazz looked worried, "Bitty, is someone forcin' ya to keep a secret?"

He shook his head and giggled, "No, it's just a secret that Sunny and I have!"

"Boys, if someone ever makes you keep a secret because it hurt you, you need to tell someone you trust," Prowl stressed carefully. "There is a chance that you are being bullied. I will never force you to tell me a secret, but I need you to trust me." He took a deep breath, "But that also means that I need to trust you. The person who hurt me, the one I thought was family... His name was Mesothulas. I need you boys to promise me that if you ever meet him, you must pretend to not know me. It is a game of spy, alright?"

Sunstreaker stared at Prowl and frowned, "He hurt you."

"And he will hurt you if he thinks we are family," Prowl said. "I will tell you when he is no longer a problem. But remember, you two are the most important thing in my life. Whatever that will mean to you, I want you to know that above all else."

Sideswipe nodded slowly, "So we can't be family, but we can secretly be family?" Jazz laughed into his pancakes and Prowl knew he was watching for Prowl's expression.

He nodded slowly, "I can allow for that, Sideswipe. Just remember, no one else can know, alright?" The boys nodded excitedly.

The red twin pointed at him, "Can we play house later? You can be the carrier, and Jazz can be the sire!" He looked so innocent asking, but...

Jazz choked on his pancakes. He coughed, trying to get it dislodged, but his head tilted back, looking at Prowl in panic. Prowl swiftly got up and marched around the table. He moved Jazz out of his seat, "It will be okay." Jazz nodded shakily and Prowl stepped up behind him. Planting his fist underneath Jazz's bumper, he began to use Hummer's Maneuver. It was something all Enforcers learned during their first training module, and it was something that continued to be periodically trained once a week every vorn.

So Prowl knew exactly what he was doing

He needed gave one, two, three careful sharp thrusts, and the piece of pancake launched itself across the table and... onto Prowl's plate. 

Jazz gasped and sputtered, leaning over the table. Prowl rubbed his back, "You're fine. I'm calling First Aid, he will be expecting us. Boys, finish up your breakfast. We need to make a stop at the clinic." He was already composing a message to the medic, and hoping they could get in quickly.

"I'm fine," Jazz croaked, but Prowl frowned. "I'm fine," He insisted.

First Aid pinged back that he was open all morning, especially for something such as the aftermath of Hummer's Maneuver.

"You are going, Jazz. Do not make me tow you," He threatened and Jazz let his head thump onto the table in a weak attempt to hide the blush on his face.

Sunstreaker frowned, "We're going to see First Aid?"

Prowl nodded, "Whenever someone chokes, they need to go to the doctor. Even though Jazz may be breathing now, there may still be some damage. Unless you feel the need to, you will not be forced to get a check up."

Sideswipe grinned, "Can I still have a candy?"

"I will ask First Aid," Prowl mused, but he put a hand on Jazz's back. "Do you need help, Jazz?"

"I'm fine, I just need a moment," He whined. "I think I need to lay down."

Prowl lifted an eyebrow, "Do you require help?"

"...No," He grumbled, but his legs were still shaky. Prowl sighed and gently moved him so that he could carry Jazz to the couch with an arm under his back and the other under his knees.

Jazz stared with his mouth hanging open in shock, "Do... I even way anything to you?"

Prowl glanced down for a moment, but he carefully lowered Jazz down, "I am outfitted to carry approximately 215% of my own body weight. You are approximately 90% of my own.

"So nothing?"

"You are not a struggle." Prowl looked over the couch and frowned, "Boys, we will be leaving in five minutes. I want you to be done eating before then." The boys were still 

Sunstreaker pouted, "I'm already done eating."

"Then I want you to go get your travel toy. Sideswipe, please finish your breakfast, Jazz will be fine," He reassured. He turned his attention back to Jazz, "Stay down for now, okay?"

Jazz nodded and curled into the couch, "Okay. Thanks, Prowler." Prowl's face fell in concern, but he let it go.

First Aid looked over his scans and nodded, "Well, I'm definitely seeing the reports. Nice job getting that dislodged as quickly as you did. I'm not seeing any damage, but Jazz, you might be a little tender where Prowl applied pressure. Your vocalizer is a different component so you shouldn't have any problems. If you do, make another stop in, and we'll get it figured out."

"Thanks, Doc," Jazz grumbled. He had his kids next to him and Sideswipe looked up with hope in his eyes. Jazz chuckled, "Could they get a treat? They didn' panic or nothin' and they've been good."

Sunstreaker nodded, "Prowl was there." It was a simple statement, as if it explained everything.

"Prowl can handle anything!" Sideswipe cheered, elaborating more on his brother's point. He kicked his feet and looked to his nanny, "He's so cool."

First Aid peered at the Enforcer-in-Training and teased, "Yes, he is. So, what started this in the first place?" Jazz coughed as the cables in his neck tinted a faint blue and Prowl focused in on Sideswipe. "Oh?"

Sideswipe squirmed more into Jazz's side. "We were eating breakfast and talking about what we wanted to do and I asked if we could play house. Jazz could be the sire and Prowl could be the carrier. Then Jazz started making weird sounds and Prowl got behind him and pulling Jazz close to him." First Aid might have had a visor and a face guard, but Jazz suspected he had a twinkle in his eye.

"What happened was that Jazz choking on some food. He got something stuck in his throat. Prowl saved his life," The doctor explained. "Do you want to come with me to pick out some flavors for your family, Sideswipe?"

Sideswipe looked to the two adults in his life and Jazz smiled. Prowl nodded, "First Aid is a trusted adult. I would like it if you listen to him when he speaks."

"Okay!" He chirped. Jazz helped him down and the adults watched First Aid lead Sideswipe out into the hall.

Sideswipe walked next First Aid and looked up, "Prowl said that he trusts you." It was almost an accusation, but First Aid was used to little kids using odd tones for odd things. Either way, he didn't seem scared or angry or anything like that, so he must have been just stating it.

The doctor turned his gaze down, "He did. Does he say that about others?" It could be a compliment, but he also got the sense that Prowl was trying to urge the twins to trusting those who were actually trustworthy.

"He says he's going to teach us to be careful around Enforcers, but I don't think he trusts a lot of people. He says that there's a bad mech who is getting in the way of him calling us family, but he said that we can call him family in secret-" Sideswipe paled and covered his mouth, "I'm not supposed to say that." He looked petrified and probably two vents away from crying.

First Aid knelt, "Sideswipe, I am a doctor. That means that I need to be able to keep secrets. If you want me to keep something a secret from Jazz and Prowl, I can if it's not hurting anyone."

"But it is!" He protested. "Prowl was yelling at Jazz - well, not really yelling - BUT he wants to be a family member, but apparently we're a job, but we're also really imporat or something to him and-"

"Hey, hey, it's okay," First Aid cooed. He reached his hands out and gently took Sideswipe's. "I see it too, trust me. They're made for each other. Tell you what, I'm going to give you some advice, okay?"

Sideswipe sniffled and gripped First Aid's hands tightly, "And you won't tell them I told you?" He didn't look scared of his caretakers, but if First Aid knew anything about sparklings - and he did, he scored the highest of his class in sparkling development and emotional welfare - he was scared of disappointing them.

"Nope," First Aid said, smiling underneath his face mask. He still pushed reassurance and comfort into his field. "Now, do you want them to be together?"

"Uh huh," He nodded. "But Prowl said that he's going to be with us for 30 vorns and then he's going to leave-"

First Aid bobbed their hands up and down to redirect Sideswipe, "Hey, hey, listen to me. That's if they don't end up together. Jazz likes Prowl. Do you know if Prowl likes Jazz?"

"Sunny and I think so? He gets kind of weird around Jazz and Sunny says it's a good kind of weird. I don't know? I think I heard Prowl tell Jazz he trusts him and he was acting all weird when he said it and he hugged Jazz at one point?" He rambled. "Sunny says that's a big deal. Like a really really big deal for Prowl."

The doctor's mind was running. Oh, this was either going to get him into a lot of trouble, or he was absolutely getting an invite to the conjunxing ceremony. Either way, he had written too many reality show fix-it stories to not know what to do.

"Alright, Sideswipe. Here's what I need you to do..."

Sunstreaker slipped off of the medical berth and suddenly began tugging on Prowl's hand. The nanny blinked in confusion, "Sunstreaker, is something wrong?" The sparkling only whined, trying to move Prowl. Deciding that protesting wasn't worth the meltdown, Prowl let himself get moved along.

Jazz lifted an eyebrow as Prowl was pushed towards the bed, "Do you think I need Prowler here to protect me, Sunstreaker?" Prowl was given the stink eye until he climbed up on to the bed. It was a tight fit, this room being designed for mechs within their frame class. All the same it wasn't...terrible.

"Do you want up with us?" Prowl asked as he got comfortable. Sunstreaker nodded and Jazz chuckled.

"Up we go, bitty," He laughed. He leaned down and scooped his child up. "Why did you bring Prowler over here?" Sunstreaker only huffed and burrowed more into Jazz's side. Prowl cocked his head at him, but they both looked away. Jazz checked his chronometer and hummed, "It's almost 11. Do you think we have time to still go shoppin'?"

Prowl nodded, "If we split up in the store, I don't see why not-"

Sunstreaker whined again in protest at the thought of and Jazz sighed, "Alright, we'll need to rush a lot." Sunstreaker reached for his free hand and began to play with it. 

"It's acceptable. I know the layout of the store and what dishes would be best for this week," Prowl explained. He looked through his mental list, "A baked ziti, red beans and rice, cheeseburger macaroni, baked potatoes, and a few others. I also would like to get more fruits into their diets."

"Y're makin' me hungry, Prowler," Jazz laughed. "I never finished breakfast, remember?" 

Prowl sighed and reached into his subspace to pull out one granola bars he had stashed for reasons like this. He opened it and tried to pass it over, but Jazz froze when he realized that Sunstreaker was not letting go of his hands, and they all knew better than to move Sunstreaker when he was comfortable. He was glaring at Jazz and Prowl, daring them to do anything.

Jazz winced as his stomach grumbled, "I can hold on until Aid and Sides get back." 

"I will hold onto it until then," Prowl agreed. He held the bar by the torn edges, pinching it together. "Does First Aid typically take this long?"

"Sometimes, if the twins are disagreeing on what they want," Jazz laughed. He looked down to Sunstreaker, "Is Sides getting picky again?"

Sunstreaker huffed, "They're out of lemon flavor." Prowl remembered one of their trips to a local creamery stand and lemon was one of Sideswipe's favorite flavors. Cherry was Sunstreaker's, Jazz was partial to watermelon. Prowl wasn't a fan of particularly sweet, but there was something so vibrant about blue raspberry that got him excited about the flavor.

"Tomorrow, when we go to the park, I will make a stop at the ice cream stand. We both know know that they have your favorite flavors," Prowl bargained. Sunstreaker nodded weakly and Jazz jerked his hand up to tap at Sunstreaker's nose. The child wrinkled his nose and sighed.

"Coming back," He warned. Prowl moved to push himself up, but Sunstreaker took a telltale deep breath. He sighed and settled back down next to Jazz.

Jazz laughed and nudged Prowl, "He has ya wrapped around his finger, Prowler." He rolled his optics and turned his attention to Sunstreaker.

The sparkling looked oddly smug and Prowl narrowed his eyes, "Believe me, we both understand that."

Before anything else could be said, someone knocked on the door and Sideswipe burst through the door. He lit up when he saw Jazz and Prowl, "Jazzy! I got you watermelon! Prowl, I got you that blue one!"

First Aid slipped in after, "Sorry about that, Sideswipe had some questions. Now, you're all ready to go, we just need one more signature and you can be on your way." He was clearly smiling under his face plate and Jazz relaxed as he took the lollipop. 

"Sounds good, Doc! Thanks again!"

He wagged his finger playfully, "Thank Prowl. He saved your life."

"I'd thank 'im for that, but all he does is tell me 'it's all in the job!'" Jazz protested, nudging Prowl again. The nanny rolled his eyes at the theatrics, but he wasn't upset about it.

First Aid hummed, "You are thanking him for doing his job. I think he is meaning to tell you to tell him that he's doing a good job or that you appreciate the hard work would be a better thing to say."

Jazz cocked his head as he churned the information over in his head. In some way... it made sense. If keeping the family alive was his job... Then yeah, it would make sense. 

He grinned and turned to Prowl and cocked his head cutely, "You're doing great work, Prowl. Good job." His slight accent came out smoother than he intended, but the way that Prowl straightened and his doorwings fluttered with a proud look in his eyes... Was that a faint blush on his cheeks or was that because of  Worth it.

"Thank you," Prowl responded, but he coughed. "First Aid, I will begin herding the children into the front. Jazz, will you handle the paperwork?"

He was waved away, "I'll meetcha out front, Prowler. Boys, be good for Prowl, okay?" He looked at Sunstreaker, still tucked into his side. Sunstreaker shared a nervous look with Sideswipe, but Prowl swooped in.

He knelt before Jazz and Sunstreaker and looked Sunstreaker in the eye, "We will not leave without Jazz. He has work later tonight, but we will be listening to him on the radio tonight and he will tell you goodnight, but he will be back in the morning. But Jazz will not leave you and I am not leaving without Jazz, okay?"

"But-" Sideswipe started, but First Aid cleared his throat. He stopped and looked to the doctor as if he had all of the answers.

"There are times for them to spend time together, but they need to have time to be apart, Sideswipe. You two will know," First Aid said gently. Sideswipe perked and nodded, looking between them. Sunstreaker hummed and squirmed out of Jazz's hold. Prowl helped him down. 

The nanny and the radio host shared one more look before they headed out. First Aid cleared his throat, "Sorry about that taking so long. Kids and their little habits sometimes."

Jazz shook his head as he thought back on all of the little quirks his kids had. "Yeah, Doc. They're really somethin'."

They barely managed to get a quick bite for the adults who didn't finish eating, go shopping, come back to put everything away, and make lunch. Prowl suggested that they have 'dinobot nuggets' and even Jazz was excited. He danced and sang with his kids as time ticked by more and more. Eventually, he dragged out the paints and didnt

Prowl continued to think about how tonight would go. There was a decent chance the boys would panic, but that could be mitigated with setting something up with Jazz to let the boys know he was thinking of them. If they were panicking about Jazz and him being separated, for whatever reason that they were worrying about now, then... 

"Bracelets."

"Prowler? What's goin' on?" Jazz asked as he broke away from the kids. 

He shook his head, "Nothing. I'm just... Thinking of what the boys will worry about. If they worry about you coming back, if they're concerned about us being separated, if you forget to tell them good night. Their largest concern seems to be us being separated more than we need to be, if I am reading their behavior correctly. I had the believe that making and trading bracelets, being impermanent, as well as it being a fun activity that the boys could do."

Jazz rubbed the back of his neck, "Do we have the supplies for that right now? I mean, I think we got some stuff down at the station that I can grab on the way home, but for now..."

They were both caught off guard when small feet kicked gently at their shins. Prowl blinked to see the twins standing there with paint laden hands, but... they were keeping their hands to themselves. 

Sideswipe reached up, "Can we paint you? Or each other? Just before you go?"

Jazz looked up sharply and Prowl met his gaze through the visor and he knew the radio host had an idea. "What were you thinking?"

"Something washable, if that's what y're wonderin'," Jazz grinned. He went to reach for Prowl's hand, but stopped himself. He turned the movement into waving Prowl over to the table, "Maybe a temporary mark?"

Sideswipe gasped, "No, it needs to be bigger!" He grabbed his brother and dragged him over, "If we're getting baths, I don't want your's washing off until you're back!"

Prowl sighed and followed behind, "It is up to Jazz. He is the one who will need to go into public with his mark."

Sunstreaker shook his head, "No, your mark."

"Now, bitties, I wouldn't mind it if ya two also painted me," Jazz said gently. "How 'bout ya each do a wrist and Prowler can..." He hesitated, "He an' I can talk about it."

"Well, Sunny and I did each other's chests! Why can't you two?" Sideswipe asked.

Oh Primus, how were they going to explain this one? That was incredibly personal, especially with the whole 'chest contains the spark' deal. Prowl hummed and Jazz cocked his head. The nanny tapped points near their shoulders, probably the least sensual point on their hoods that he could think of.

Jazz nodded and it would be the point that would be safest from getting washed off on accident. He clapped his hands together as he looked at his kids, "Aight, I think me and Prowler managed to work it out. How about you three work on me and then I'll do Prowler?"

"Yeah!" Sideswipe grinned and shared a devious grin with his brother. Together, they ran to get their paints while the adults both took a seat.

"You really ok with this, Prowl?" Jazz asked quietly. "I know it's washable, but it's still... a thing." Getting Sunstreaker painted when he didn't want to was hell, and if he had overheard Smokescreen right, Prowl had some of the same coding as Sunstreaker.

Prowl shrugged, "It is the weight of the paint that sets off some of my sensors, but it is also a requirement to be an Enforcer, so it is something I will need to get used to eventually." He smiled as the boys brought their paints. Reds and yellows and blues. "I never thought I would be learning lessons that I could use in the Enforcers. I figured I would be applying more lessons from my training here than not."

"Yeah, well," Jazz smiled as he helped his boys crack open their paint. He hesitated as the blue of their splattered paint jars was a little harder to open, but he shrugged it off. "Ya always learn something new, Prowler. Now, what are ya goin' to paint on me?"

"I'm doing my name!" Sideswipe smiled as he opened his red. Jazz cocked his head as he saw that Sideswipe opened his easily. Maybe the blue had just been stuck?

"Me too," Sunstreaker said calmly as he opened his yellow.

Prowl reached for the fine details brush and grabbed the blue paint tin, "Then I shall as well. It is washable." He shuffled in closer but... given their positions, Prowl had to be right there to reach the edge of the hood. The paint came out smooth and he elegantly painted his name onto the metal. He cocked his head and leaned down to Sunstreaker, "Is that pretty enough?"

Sunstreaker narrowed his eyes as his guardian's work and nodded, "Jazz is pretty."

Instinctively, Prowl nodded, "Yes, he is." He tried very hard to ignore what he just said as he looked at Sunstreaker's work. The child was pouting slightly, but Prowl smiled at it, "It is very good with the paint you have, Sunstreaker. I can go over penmanship with you today as part of your lessons, after math, if that's alright?"

"Yes please!" He chirped.

"Prowl! Look at mine, please, please, please!" Sideswipe begged. He pulled on Prowl's arm and the nanny sighed, but allowed for it. He would need to wash his arm off, but perhaps the kids had been right for them to paint their hoods.

Sideswipe's was much messier than his brother's, but it held just as much character and Prowl smiled. "Yours is also very good, Sideswipe. I don't know how much time we have before Jazz needs to go for work." He practically needed to force the words out so he wouldn't melt and die on the spot from sheer embarrassment. "Perhaps we should let him paint me before he needs to go."

"Yeah!" Sideswipe cheered. He grabbed the blue paint that he had used on Jazz and pushed them into Jazz's hands. "Hurry!"

"Alright, alright, bitty," Jazz laughed. He dipped the brush in and removed the excess paint. He looked over Prowl's chassis and Primus, had it always looked so-

Pure thoughts, Jazz.

He swallowed and looked up. Prowl looked nervous and uncomfortable and so many other things, but Jazz set his mouth into a firm line, "Hey, Prowler? Ya don't need ta do this if ya don' want to-"

"No. It is only fair," He cut off. He clenched his fists. "You have my permission."

"But it ain't what ya want," Jazz responded. He frowned and pulled back. "Sides, go get me the tape from the kitchen, the bright yellow stuff about as wide as yer hand. You know the stuff."

Sideswipe pouted and twisted his foot cutely, "But I thought I used the rest up...?"

Sunstreaker growled and looked ready to throttle his brother before he stormed off. The group listened as he rummaged through the junk drawer of the kitchen before he stomped back to Jazz. He pushed the tape into his hands and sat back down, glaring at his brother. His engine, still not strong enough to support a transformation for a long time yet, revved enough to be audible.

The adults shared a look, but for all that it was, he wasn't outright attacking his brother at the moment.

Jazz shrugged and messily scrawled his name onto the tape and ripped it off. He smiled, "Mind if I do the honors, Prowler?"

"I do not mind," Prowl replied easily and leaned in to give Jazz more room. The radio host carefully spread it out and patted it down. "It's dry, correct?"

"Yeah, stuff dries fast on this tape," Jazz shrugged. "Are ya goin' to be able to handle the bitties while I'm gone?"

Prowl looked between the kids and nodded, "They will have some time to get used to things. We'll keep your radio on and we will make sure to call in around bedtime." He reached for the tins of paint, but he froze when he picked up the blue tin. He frowned. "This has a different density. It's heavier." He looked at the tin closer and paled. "Where did you find this, you two?"

Jazz frowned and reached out for it, "What's wrong, Prowler-" He swallowed in horror as he realized what kind of paint Prowl was holding. 

It wasn't the kids' fingerpaints.

It was his heavy duty paintjob paint.

And Prowl had just signed his name on Jazz's hood with the stuff.

He would be wearing this for weeks unless he went to get specifically detailed.

"Is it too late to rub it off?" Prowl asked, his voice half laced with static.

Jazz reached out, "Hey, Prowler? It's fine. I can just go to the detailer in the morning... maybe they have an opening?" He laughed weakly, "I mean, not how I ever planned on gettin' a cop's name on me, but..."

Prowl frowned, but sighed, "I have some tools back at my apartment. I'll grab them when I come in tomorrow."

"You know how to detail?" Jazz asked and laughed again, this time, in shock. "Is there anythin' ya can' do?"

He frowned in confusion, "All of my skills come from the Academy. We must be able to provide for ourselves, our unit, and anyone we come across who is in our custody for the time being. If an abused spouse needs a good meal and to be cleaned up, it is easier for us to do that than retain a rotation crew for such things." He shook his head and sighed. "I will put this on top of the fridge and we will re-evaluate tomorrow."

He focused on Sideswipe and frowned, "Did you know this was the incorrect paint?"

Sideswipe winced and stepped back, "I, uh..."

Prowl instead focused on Sunstreaker, "Did you know this was the incorrect paint?" The boy flinched and also stepped back, partially in front of his younger twin.

He slowly nodded, "Sorry, Prowl. Sorry, Jazzy."

"You picked paint that would stain permanently on purpose," Prowl stated evenly. The boys flinched, making him wince himself. He took a deep breath in and sighed. "I will be discussing decision making with the both of you. I want to understand why you did what you did, but I need you both to understand that it is unacceptable. For now, clean up your paints. Brushes in their cups, tops on the paint. Jazz, I am sorry I didn't notice earlier-"

"Nah, mech. I shoulda noticed it wasn't the same when the lid was harder ta open," Jazz explained. He looked over the paints and cringed, "No clue why the jars all look so similar." HE shook his head, "Now I'm glad I respected yer boundaries. Anyway, I... I need ta be gettin' to work. "See ya tonight?"

Prowl nodded and sighed, "Yes. I will see you when you get home. I will make sure to cook extra leftovers so that you may take them in tomorrow." He turned to the children and saw them still standing there warily and his spark broke. "I will not hit you two. Ever. I will take a few steps back if I am ever so angry, but it will never come to violence. I promise."

Sunstreaker nodded and Sideswipe put a hand on his shoulder, "Bath?"

"After ya clean up, bitties mine," Jazz said, making sure to add in his claim. He needed them to know that he still loved them. "Come give me a hug before I go to work. I love ya both so much, alright? Just please don' trick me like this again, aight?"

"Alright..." They mumbled. They dragged themselves over and fell into his waiting arms. 

Prowl lifted his chin somewhat. "Now, tell Jazzy you love him and wish him good luck at work today," He recited as always. 

The boys did as they were told and Jazz kissed their foreheads. "My two perfect little terrors. Remember, be good for Prowl. I want you two to be on your best behavior."

"Yes, Jazzy," They crowed and he smiled. 

Now he just needed to find a way to explain this to his coworkers.

Blaster laughed at him when he saw his friend stroll into the studio's breakroom, "You know, you remind me of when I got back from my maternity leave with Rewind and Eject. My bitties could stay in their tape deck the whole time but Wow, they made sure to remind me they were there. You could barely see... my... red... paint." He walked over and took a closer took at Jazz's shoulder, "Now, either you got another bitty or a new beau that I didn't know about, and that looks far too nice to have a bitty do it."

Jazz grinned and did a performative shimmy, "Who knew, Blaster-mech? Nothin' gets me dates quite like a cute bitty on each hip and not a conjunx mark in sight!" Blaster lifted an eyebrow and Jazz snorted, slugging his friend in the shoulder, "I knew I couldn't get anythin' past ya. No, the twins have been gettin' weird 'bout me and their new nanny and tricked us inta usin' my standard blue. They really need to not put 'em into the same jar as they use for finger paintin'."

"Yeah, I get that," Blaster winced. "That's not a mistake easily made. Do you think they did that as a joke?"

"Nah, they're weird, but they ain't mean. I mean, he had his day off yesterday and they missed him a lot, but I don't think this is retribution," Jazz huffed. "Either way, he has some stuff back at his place and he'll grab it tomorrow morning 'fore he heads in. Did you know that Enforcers 'parently need ta be able to provide for themselves and anyone else, so they know how to cook and detail and stuff?" He went to the back for a cup of warmed energon and sighed in relief to drink his usual fare. "I can't believe I'm sayin' this, but I missed this sludge. Nothin' like it."

Blaster hummed as he leaned on the counter next to him, "I can believe it. But as for your bitties... How did your nanny react? You mentioned he's teaching them apartment law, is he actually normal?"

"Nah, Pro- he wouldn't do anything to hurt 'em. He actually took Sides to the chest when the kid decided to try and kill himself jumpin' off the swings. I don't think I've ever actually heard 'im yell, but Primus, mech, I've been wantin' to vent to someone for forever. I trust yer discretion on this, so ya can't tell anyone else." He eyed Blaster's tape deck suspsiciously. "Or your bitties."

Blaster knocked on the clear window, "No spilling any secrets, you four." Whatever they replied with, he only nodded for Jazz to continue.

"Primus, what do you do when you hire a nanny who was forced to start over because a stalker ruined their 29 vorn trainin' ta be an Enforcer and he's the most damn competent person ya ever fraggin' met, and ya start catchin' feelings? It's only been a week and I already want ta take him out ta dinner and have him do things I can't say without Mech Resources involved?" Jazz whined. He put his mug of energon down and groaned. 

His friend blinked before a wide grinned crossed his face, "You are finally catchin' feelings? You? The station flirt? Primus, it's about time!" He cackled, drawing attention, but Jazz only whined louder. "So the twins tricked him into signing your chassis in permanent paint. Did you do the same?"

"Barely not," Jazz admitted. "He has plating sensitivities and he was tryin' to push himself I ended up suggestin' tape instead. But no, he's been perfect. I mean, he cooks better than that egotistical chef over in Kaon, Mixmaster or whatever. He talks through his decisions with the bitties, he doesn' want ta lie to them? He's got Enforcer grade armor already, and he's sharper than any knife I got in my kitchen. He might not have the best sense o' humor, but mech, he can rage like a storm in the Rust Sea and it makes me want ta call him Sir and-"

"Little too much there, mech," Blaster chuckled. "But I get it. Ya goin' to tell your listeners about this?"

Jazz shook his head, "Nah, I gotta be careful about what I say 'bout him. His stalker's listenin'. Don't worry, he's already got a plan."

Blaster clapped him on the shoulder as he checked his chronometer, "Well, if you ever need any help, let me know, Jazz. If it means getting you back here, I'll do what I can."

"Thanks, mech. I'll let 'im know," Jazz relaxed.

"So that was your very own CIBR, Iacon's Best Radio's... Me! That was my new single 'Every Side of the Sun', dedicated to my twins back home. And I actually got a call in the middle of it, and I wanted to let my very special boys know that I hope you all recharge well, and to keep bein' good for your nanny. Now, coming up on CIBR, Iacon's Best Radio..."

Jazz groaned as he finally stumbled into the apartment. Everything was neat, in order, and clean. It was perfect, but not as perfect as seeing Prowl on the couch, doing his homework, waiting for him. He was late, nearing 10:30 instead of the 9:15 he was supposed to be coming home, but he had gotten held back for a Welcome Back!!! party. He had maybe two cubes of engex, well, two cubes too many. He couldn't actually remember how many he had had, but everyone kept pushing them into his hands. Either way, he had been glad he notified Prowl before it got too late.

Prowl looked up sharply when the door unlocked and he rose, "Good evening, Jazz. Are you... Are you doing okay?" He noticed the stumble and frowned, "Are you overcharged?"

Jazz waved his hand, "I made sure I had somethin' to eat beforehand and it wasn't a lot. I just... it's been a little bit."

"We're getting more food into you, I'm going to wash you off, and we'll get you to bed," Prowl stressed. He subspaced his work and marched over to Jazz and strong-armed him to the table. Jazz sighed in relief to be off foot and wheel, faceplanting into the table. 

He groaned, "I'm not... super overcharged, just a little buzz. Probably under the legal limit-"

"Please give me some kind of heads up if you intend to come home after partying like this again. I did not think you would have high grade," Prowl lectured gently. "I could have a better chance to make you some food." He passed him a similar granola bar to that morning. "Eat this and I'll get you to the bathroom."

"Can ya carry me again? Y're so-" He had the granola bar shoved between his teeth before he could continue.

Prowl sat in the seat next to him, and he glared, "I will not allow you to say anything you regret while you are even the smallest amount overcharged. I have seen too many in the 'charge tank in the precinct realize how badly they have messed up because of a loose tongue. Now, eat, and let me do my work."

Jazz nodded and slowly ate his granola bar. Prowl gave him a rundown of the day and Jazz let himself get lost in the soft sway of his near-monotone. His doze didn't end as he finished the bar, nor as Prowl took the wrapper. It barely hiccupped as Prowl heaved him up and into the bathroom to wash off the marks he could.

It wasn't anything fancy, no polishing past a touch-up, but to just sit on his stool and let the warm water and steam build up around him as Prowl gently washed the twins' names away...

For a moment, Jazz could pretend that he wasn't the legal creator of two unruly split-sparks and the steady hands washing him down were that of a lover.

A second after that, guilt seized his spark and he knew he was awful for feeling it. He began to cry, ashamed of his relief to just pretend for that moment...

A warm hand rested on his back and Prowl's voice wrapped around him like a warm blanket. No, that was the towel... 

What was Prowl saying? Something about it being okay? Or bed. 

Bed sounded nice.

The steam was thick, but Jazz didn't need to worry about keeping his balance as Prowl again lifted him. Jazz whined and leaned into his chest, nuzzling a headlight in his drunken exhaustion. A door was opened and... oh. This was his room. That was his bed, and his sheets, and his pictures of him and Rico... Rico and his unit... him and the kids... There wasn't a single one of Prowl and the kids.

Damn, he needed to fix that.

What was Prowl saying, something about 'sheets' and 'wet'?

The towel was suddenly stripped away from him, leaving him exposed to the cold air and he keened, reaching out for Prowl's warmth.

Practiced hands caught his wrists before moving to hold both in a single. His blanket was pulled over him and his systems slowly began to warm up again. "'Night... Prowler..."

"Good night, Jazz," Prowl whispered. Jazz whimpered as he was moved onto his side, and a heavy weight settled at his back. Whatever it was... Jazz was glad for it.

Prowl was going to kill him in the morning.

Chapter Text

Pain. 

Pain and more pain.

Jazz groaned in protest as his head throbbed and his fuel tank swam and his body ached. Distantly, he understood that his blinds were closed and door shut, keeping out the things he didn’t want to deal with. Cartoons, the smell of greasy food, and just… too much.

A straw was pressed into his mouth gently, and even without opening his eyes, Jazz trusted. He took a careful sip and nearly wept.

Energon. 

Clean, crisp energon.

He drank deeply until his tank protested again and let the straw go. “Uggh, um, wha…?”

A warm hand settled on his jawline to rub its thumb on his cheek soothingly. Jazz whined and leaned into it, looking for the comfort. “Breakfast is in five minutes. You’ll eat it in here. We can talk later.” The voice was flat, absolute, and devoid of any emotion. 

Jazz grunted and finally opened his eyes. “Prowl?”

“Rest. The boys have eaten and they are watching their show,” He reported. He took his hand back and looked down at him. “As I said, we will talk about this later. It will be up to you whether you believe you will be better by the time you need to head into work.”

This time, his voice was cold and clipped. 

Jazz’s spark sank, but the pain was too much yet for him to really deal with anything yet. 

His head flopped back down and he hummed something that barely sounded like, “M’kay. Thanks, Prowler,” even to himself. 

The door clicked behind Prowl left, leaving him on his own.

Prowl knocked before he entered, bringing in the smell of greasy food, and Jazz lifted his head, “Wha…”

“Sideswipe, stay out here,” Prowl said, clearly not to him, but Jazz’s head was still fighting him as he tried to focus. “Yes, I will tell him. Go join your brother.”

“Okay!” Sideswipe chirped loudly and Jazz winced as he heard his usually tiny pitter patter sound more like rumbling thunder.

The door was shut once again and Prowl brought the food tray in. He set it down at the foot of the table and moved to help him up. His face was as stoic as ever, but there must have been a crease somewhere that was making Jazz anxious because he hated seeing that look on Prowl. Once Jazz was sat up, Prowl set the tray in front of him with a simple, “Eat.”

“What-“

“Eat,” Prowl hissed. He settled on the foot of the bed. “Or do I need to begin lecturing you now?”

“No, I… I’ll eat,” Jazz responded weakly. He took another look at his food and his spark melted. Fried eggs with cheese sprinkled on top, already melting into the gooey goodness. There was enough bacon to feed an army, and a bagel with enough butter and jelly to make his teeth hurt. Another two glasses of energon sat in the corner and his kids must have snuck some candy onto the tray.

It was perfection on a plate. 

Jazz dug in, well aware of the fact that Prowl was watching him like a hawk the entire time. He peered up once, a piece of cheese hanging out of the corner of his mouth. “Have yu eatten yet?”

“Eat.”

Jazz flinched and went back to his food as more shame began to well in his chest. Every bite was helping his hangover just a little bit. He would need some time to get over it completely, but his hangovers usually cleared up quickly. 

He finally finished the eggs and the bagel and sipped on his energon. “Prowl, I-“

“You hired me to look after your sparklings and I would like to not explain to them why you aren’t with them, watching their shows. I explained you are feeling ill this morning - Sideswipe asked me to tell you that he hopes you get better soon - but I would like to not have a repeat of this. Thank you for telling me you were going to be late, but you were clearly not in any state to drive-“

Jazz lifted his hands, “Prowler, I don’t need a lecture about that-“

“I stayed the night because I was concerned you would choke on your vomit in your sleep,” Prowl snarled. His face was twisted into a tight scowl. “And do not say that you would have been fine. You may not remember but you did vomit. So do not tell me you do not need a lecture. I take it that this is your first time getting overcharged since you have taken in the boys, but it is the same point. You are responsible for them now. It is not going to be just you to suffer if something happens to you. I am not saying not to drink, but to please use more care. I know you are better than this.” He pursed his lips and took a deep breath, “I have said my piece. While I would normally apologize for my anger, I believe I am somewhat justified in it.”

Jazz swallowed thickly and nodded, “Nah, mech, that… that’s fair. I don’t remember too much ‘bout last night, but I just… I think I had drinks pushed into my hands and not… questionin’ it an’ next thing I know, I’m here. You’re right, Prowler. I know some ‘pology ain’t going to fix this, so I’m goin’ to try and do better. I’ll talk with my coworkers ‘bout last night.”

Oh, Blaster was going to kill him.

Jazz let out a tiny huff, “If I’m bein’ honest, I don’ think y’re goin’ to be the last lecture I get today. I… I’ll do better. I need to go apologize to the kids too-“

“Stay in bed for now. I’ve set an alarm for 2 P.M. so you can get ready to leave, but you need rest,” Prowl said quietly. 

Relief, something he didn’t want to feel in that moment, settled around him like a security blanket and he nodded. Prowl took the tray back and helped tuck Jazz in. “I’ve already set your dirty sheets to wash, and I’ll check in on you every now and then.”

Huh, the sheets had been changed.

Jazz hummed and settled back into his bed, “Thanks, Prowler.” A whisper from his days in customer service echoed in his ear and it slipped out before he could think. “Ya went above and beyond. I appreciate your work…”

His optics had already closed, so he missed the relieved smile on Prowl’s face.

Ok. Ok ok ok, he was not fired for lecturing Jazz like that. Hell, he was being commended.

Prowl let out a deep breath that he didn’t know he had been holding and took a moment to compose himself before heading out into the open kitchen and living room. The boys were playing with their toys as the holoscreen played in the background.

Volume turned down, of course.

Prowl was angry, not vindictive. Not yet, at least.

Sunstreaker looked up, “Jazzy?”

”He ate and should be feeling better soon, but I’m still going to check on him every few minutes, alright?” Prowl stated, keeping his voice neutral. He had compartmentalize his rage. He couldn’t let the children know he was upset. He just hoped his stakeout training was working to keep him awake. 

Sideswipe nodded in agreement, “Did you tell him I hope he gets better?”

Prowl smiled and nodded, “I did. He said he appreciated it. Now, who wants to learn about Enforcers and what to do when they question you?”

The boys cheered and Prowl let himself relax. He set his alarm to go off every three minutes, and hoped it would be enough. 

He put the tray down to get to it later.

He could afford to wait.

This time when Jazz awoke, it was nearly lunch time and his headache was still there, but it wasn’t demanding to split his head open. He still whined as he turned over in bed, but his tank had settled.

“You can do this, Jazz. You’re Jazz, you can do anything,” He tried to pump himself up before he rolled himself out of bed. His head pounded in protest and static filled his vision before slowly clearing. 

The door opened and Jazz looked up sharply before he saw Prowl there. He didn’t look angry anymore. He looked tired, if anything. 

He sighed as if Jazz was one of the kids and strode over, “You could have gotten me, Jazz.” He reached out, but froze, “May I?”

Jazz’s mouth pulled into a weak smile, “Sure, mech. Ya know, I can just do this myself.”

“Is it so hard to accept help when you need it?” Prowl replied easily. He gently pulled Jazz into another bridal carry. “And I have been told by Smokescreen in the past to clarify some of my lectures after I am done being so... emotional. Such as the fact that I was angry, but I do not see you any differently. It was just a mistake. And to get in front of this before it becomes an issue, this incident is not the kind of behavior that requires me to act on it, such as reporting this. I have not, nor will not, this once. If it becomes a recurring problem, I will let you know before then.”

“Prowler, I don’ think y’re capable of keeping a problem from me if ya tried,” Jazz laughed as he was carried out into the hall. His twisted mirth dropped a moment later. “But I know ya got your secrets, and I know ya care, Prowler. Y’re right ta call me out. I just… yeah. Ya don’ got to worry. ‘M goin’ to have a talk with my coworkers. I… I like engex, but not that much. ‘Sides, there’s probably goin’ to be a few others that I need ta have a talkin’ to with and some who’ll probably have a talkin’ to with me.”

Prowl hummed as he stopped in front of the door, “Yes, well, feel free to send them my way. That is a turn of phrase, but I would not mind if you give my comm code to someone you trust explicitly, in case something were to go wrong."

"Blaster knows me pretty well. I'm his emergency contact, and he's mine, but... I should probably add you to that list, huh?" Jazz asked.

Finally, Prowl pushed the door open, "I have already informed Red Alert to inform you if something were to happen. I believe he appreciates the openness about my situation and that he feels as if he has a modicum of control over something." He strode into the... the dark living room. There were no lights on, the holoscreen was on low, the twins were nowhere in sight, but if he had to guess, they were under the massive pile of blankets on the couch. The smell of their breakfast still hung in the air, accompanied by the thick smell of coffee.

Jazz looked around the room in confusion and shock before he finally looked back at Prowl. "What...?"

The mound of blankets moved back to show his boys making a nest in the middle of his couch. Sideswipe looked hopeful as he pat the soft area between him and his brother. He whisper-yelled, "Jazzy! Come sit! Prowl, bring him over!"

"In a moment," Prowl said gently. "I want to get him more energon to drink. I will bring him back in a moment." The boys whined quietly, but they went back to their show. Prowl walked Jazz over and placed him onto the counter. Jazz watched Prowl move with intense precision, not a movement wasted, not a joint moved that didn't need to be. "Are you planning on going into work?"

"Yeah. I'll be good ta go after lunch," Jazz replied as he leaned back. Something blue on his shoulder caught his attention and he frowned. "Did ya grab your tools last night?"

Prowl faltered for the first time in his elegant dance. Finally, he continued, "No. I did not leave last night. I stayed last night, remember?"

"So where'd ya sleep? I think I washed the sheets on the guest bed, and I really hope it wasn' the couch, I'm a better host than that," Jazz tried to rationalize, but Prowl shook his head. Jazz's spark tightened. "Prowl, ya did sleep, right?"

"I told you. I needed to keep an eye on you. Forgive me for... watching you while you slept. And if it's any comfort, I still have a stakeout program installed. It allows an amount of power down while still retaining attention," Prowl said. "I understand that such a position can be awkward, but considering last night-"

Jazz reached out and planted his hands on Prowl's shoulders and this close, Prowl could almost see his optics. They searched Prowl's face, but Prowl was only... open... as he always was. He was guarded, stoic, as stone, but he had been carved with a master's hand. There was fear, patience, anticipation there, but no regret.

Prowl wouldn't regret doing what he thought what was right, and if that was watching an overcharged boss as he slept and lecture him in the morning-

"Don't ever change, Prowl," Jazz said earnestly. He swallowed and took his hands back. "I woulda done the same for my friends, or even a stranger. I... I might be payin' ya, but don't underestimate how much ya mean to us as this point. Ya said you'd turn our lives upside down?" Jazz grinned as he leaned back fully, "I think y're just turnin' our lives right side up. I know ya won' do anythin' too weird. So long as ya don't go snoopin' through my drawers or oversteppin' with what ya wouldn't do for Smoky, do what ya need to. I want to see what you can do without worryin'. Ya forgave me for a comment I made and said there was no problem. Well, I'm sayin' there's no problem, clear?"

The nanny stared at him for a solid moment before he nodded, his doorwings slumping low in relief. "Understood. Thank you, Jazz."

He leaned forward and took the drink from Prowl and took a deep gulp. It was so refreshing. "Of course, Prowler. Now, I think there are some bitties who are waitin' for us."

"They are waiting on you to join them. I need to make lunch," Prowl countered. He reached out to carry Jazz once again. "Are you sure you're going to be alright to return to work? Your hangover seemed bad."

Jazz snorted, "I'm still young, they burn out quick." He kept an eye on his glass, "But if ya keep carryin' me everywhere, I might get spoiled."

"You are already spoiled," Prowl teased as he set him down. He looked between the twins and nodded, "Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Jazz is not to get up before lunch is ready unless it's an emergency. Can you handle that?"

Sideswipe gasped and squirmed excitedly, "Can we tell him what we learned earlier?"

Prowl pulled a notepad out of his subspace and flipped to a page that somehow didn't have... doodles on it? Sunstreaker must have gotten to it. The nanny lifted an eyebrow, "So, we have a report that put you and your brother in the vicinity of a theft of gummy bears earlier. Can you tell us where you were during that time?"

"I won't speak without my guardian and lawyer present," The twins recited in their own tones. 

Jazz blinked in surprise, "Y're teachin' them to not answer questions?"

"It is a legal requirement for educational institutions to provide a student with their parents and-or a lawyer if they are every questioned by..." He looked between the sparklings again.

Sideswipe raised his hand, "By any Enforcer or someone other than our teacher!"

"And we're still to ask for you if they have a problem," Sunstreaker huffed. "Unless we need help from the enforcers."

"Prowler, y're teachin' my bitties to handle the law," Jazz laughed, but it made his head pound. He took a sip of his drink and shook his head. "I don't know what I'm goin' to do with ya."

His friend smiled in amusement, "You are going to sit there and feel better. Boys?"

Jazz suddenly found himself with his lap full of his kids, perfectly content to watch their shows in his hold. "Well played, Prowler. Well played."

Oh, he hated doing this, but sometimes, it needed to happen.

Jazz saw Blaster as he headed in and strolled over, "Hey, mech, before you say anythin', I know ya saw me last night and my kids' nanny already laid into me."

"Told you that you're the only thing your kids have left, besides your insane brother?" Blaster asked.

"Yep."

"And that he'd call child services on you if this keeps happening?"

"In a sparkbeat."

"And that I'll kick your ass if you get this overcharged at a company function again?" He dared.

Jazz snorted, "He told me I vomited in my sleep. I don' want to think about what woulda happened if he wasn't watchin' me."

Blaster paused and eyed his friend again, "He watched you sleep?"

"Not like that, Prowl's about as cool as it gets. Besides, he's lookin' after my bitties," He shrugged. "But he stayed up all night, Blaster. I... How do you repay that kinda thing? I told 'im that I'm goin' to have a talk at work and... I'd appreciate it if ya backed me up," He requested.

The tall mech looked him over and jabbed a finger into his chest, "You're going to need to tell him how you feel at some point. Get his creepy ex out of the picture, support him, get him on his feet, and then look at romancing him. You do that before any other steps and he will think you're taking advantage of him. You ruin this mech or run him off, I'm going to kill you. You've known him for what, a week? You're already looking healthier than I've ever seen and that's saying a lot." He crossed his arms, "I want to meet him. Invite me over at some point to meet him, and I'll back you up in this talk."

"You'd support me either way," Jazz joked, but Blaster just lifted an eyebrow. Jazz knew Blaster was messing with him, but he also knew Prowl wanted to get Blaster's number. "He actually wanted your comm code, and I don' blame 'im. If somethin' were to happen while I'm at work, he needs to know. I'll try and set something up for tomorrow-" He cut himself off as he remembered what tomorrow was.

It was the day that Prowl was going to start to set everything in motion. He had set the board, and he was going to make his move.

"The day after tomorrow, maybe. I'll get ya his comm code and you two can work somethin' out, promise," Jazz swore. "Now c'mon, I need ta go clear this with the station manager first. Here's ta hopin' I don't get written up." Honestly, he was more scared of his boss than anything else.

He marched through the halls with Blaster at his tail, hopefully on his side, when he got to his office. He knocked and a sharp "Come in" echoed through him. He was scared, but... a part of him needed to come to clean to someone who could do something about it.

Blurr was sitting at his desk, looking through his files, when Jazz and Blaster walked in. He sighed and put the datapads down, "I'm assuming this is about last night?"

"Yeah," Jazz said. Blurr gestured to the seats in front of his desk and Jazz plopped into the nearest one. "I knew there was a party, I knew there was goin' to be drinks, and I know it's on me ta regulate-"

"After a certain point, it's a little harder to keep an even head," Blurr cut him off. He turned the screen on his desk around to show the cameras. Jazz was laughing and joking, getting swept up by the midnight to 6 A.M. crew. He had more drinks getting pushed into his hands, and while he could tell that there was a period of time where he was trying to turn them away, it was dropped after another shot or two.

Rage build up in him, but Blaster put a hand on his arm, "Jazz already got a lecture from his bitties' nanny because the mech stayed up all night watching him, and I gave him one too. Granted, I left when I saw what direction the party was taking."

"They were trying to get you to do something stupid," Blurr agreed. He knit his fingers on his desk, "You came to be, I'll give you some grace there. But there still needs to be some responsibility."

"I understand that," Jazz nodded. "But I need ta do something. My nanny gave me the talkin' to of a lifetime this morning. I... I'm not blamin' anyone here, but myself, but I at least want ta remind everyone that some of us have families to get back to after parties like this. I threw up in my recharge last night, and I don' even want to think about how I managed ta get home. If they ever pull something like this on someone else, they might not be so lucky."

Blurr frowned, "You'll be a pariah for this. They'll see it that you're trying to take the fun out of the parties."

"There's still more that could be done," Blaster cut in. "Too many people brought their own Engex. I'm not saying who, but they said it was home brewed Vosian wine. It had more of a kick than a Tesaurus whiskey. If I need to chip in for a bartender, I'm down." He pinged Jazz quietly. 'Ask your bitties' nanny if a workplace could be held liable for letting their employees drink too much at a work event.'

'Smart.' Jazz quickly pinged Prowl as Blurr looked between them. The blue mech knew there was something going on, but he didn't know what. 'Prowler, I need an answer super quick. Is there legal... somethin' if an employer allows a work party and its employees get injured or worse because of drinkin' too much?'

Already, legal case after legal case was getting sent to him, clearly already prepared. Jazz's eyebrows rose slightly as he saw a case that happened within the last three vorns. A tax office held a party and a bunch of the employees decided that throwing their boss out the window into a nearby pool was a good idea. Luckily, the boss was a flier, so no harm was done, but the fact was it coulda been anyone. The boss sued and won. After the tenth, Prowl stopped sending them. 'If you require more, please let me know. And feel free to contact me on the phone if required. The boys are practicing their glyphs.'

'Perfect, Prowler. Gotta go, bye,' He finished and stared Blurr down, "Let's just get a bartender. I'm just worried about the next time. Sign off on it, and I'll make ya the hero in all o' this."

Blurr smirked knowingly, "Are you trying to sweet talk me?"

"Would ya rather I brought out the sour talk, Blurr?" Jazz asked. He kicked back in his chair and cocked his head. "I can if I need to. Does what happened at Elite Offices mean anything to you?"

He sighed and leaned back in his own chair. "You don't suffer a write up, suspension, or termination, but you give that speech like you promised and Blaster takes credit for the bartender. You come in on Sunday for a little bit of overtime, and I don't put this on any documentation and I kill any concerns anyone has. Agreeable?"

Jazz frowned. Sunday was Prowl's day off. "I need to ask my nanny before I agree to that. He already works more than I do."

He narrowed his eyes, "Then you better check quickly, Jazz. I have an email from at least three different other hosts about your behavior last night." Jazz took a deep breath and nodded. He quickly rang Prowl. The first ring wasn't entirely finished, but Blurr tapped his finger on the desk, "Put it on speaker."

"Hey, Babes," Jazz cut Prowl off. "I'm in kind of a bind righ' now. I... Can ya work on Sunday? I know ya just pulled some-"

"Yes," Prowl cut him off in turn. Jazz sighed in relief that he wouldn't be losing his time slot. "I will let the boys know. We can discuss this more when you get back. You will be home on time tonight, yeah?" His tone left no room for argument, but Jazz knew that Prowl didn't use the word 'yeah'. 

Oh bless him, he knew.

Jazz nodded even though he knew Prowl couldn't see him, "Yessir."

"Good. Dinner will be waiting for you. I need to go. Make sure to come straight home," Prowl finished and the call ended before Jazz could respond.

Blurr lifted an eyebrow and purred, "Are you sure that's the nanny and not your 'junx? He nags almost as much as my own." Blaster had his own look of concern, but Jazz swallowed.

"He's the best of the best. Can we go now?" Jazz demanded. His tank was churning bitterly as he realized that he would be practically pulling two weeks in a row. Same with Prowl.

Their boss waved his hand, and Jazz couldn't be out of his office fast enough. Blaster followed after him and grabbed Jazz's wrist to drag him into a nearby conference room, "Jazz, what the hell was that? That's the nanny?" He hissed.

Jazz laughed as he could relax for a moment, "Mech, Prowler knew somethin' was wrong the second I either interrupted him or called him Babes. He also doesn't say 'yeah', Blaster. He was playin' along."

Blaster paused, "Wait, you got all of that from a few words?"

"Like I said, Prowler's scary smart. Here, ping 'im yourself if you need to confirm," Jazz mused. He sent a short databurst to Blaster and leaned against the wall. "He's cool, Blaster. Trust me."

He paused and nodded, "I'm calling him. I'll put him on speaker." He pushed the call through and the dial tone rung for one full ring before Prowl picked it up.

"State your name," Prowl commanded with a tense quip in his voice.

"Jazz gave me your comm, he's right here with me," Blaster said, peering at Jazz.

Prowl hesitated, but Jazz cut in to help him out, "This is Blaster, Prowler. This is the mech I was tellin' ya about."

"Understood. Apologies for the tone, I was not expecting a call from someone else so soon," Prowl explained. "I would like an explanation, please."

Blaster smiled at the 180 that the mech on the other end took. Instead of being the hardass nag of a nanny, this was a concerned friend who looked after Jazz's kids. "Jazz got blackmailed a little bit into doing some overtime. But like Jazz said, I'm Blaster, one of his best friends. You're...?"

"Prowl. Jazz told me he would get me your comm code when he could, but this should work well enough. Jazz, despite what I said earlier, I am not expecting you home on time. Would I be wrong to assume that your boss will attempt to hold you over tonight?"

Jazz sighed and ran a hand down his face as he knew Prowl was right, "Yeah. Tell ya what, mech. When ya put the kids to sleep, go ahead and grab the guest room or snuggle in with the boys again. Ya stayed up long enough as is."

There was a pause on the line before Prowl huffed, "I was hired to look after the boys while you are not here. It would be a violation of the terms. I need to go, Sideswipe is demanding my attention, but come home as you are able. I need to head home to update my landlord and get the detailing equipment, remember?"

Jazz lifted a hand to the name elegantly painted on his shoulder and frowned, "Yer sleep matters more, Prowler. It's just a few days."

"Understood. You are alright, correct?" Prowl asked weakly. In the background, they could hear the twins complaining. Jazz smiled.

"Yeah, Prowler. I'm fine. I'll talk to ya in the mornin.'"

The call ended a moment later and Blaster whistled, "Damn, Jazz. I think I get it now. Yeah, he knew. So, ya ready to go make that speech?"

Jazz groaned and buried his face into his hands, "No, but let's do it." He sighed and pushed off the wall. "Ya got my back?"

Blaster smiled and nudged his friend, "Always. C'mon, switch off is about to happen. How ya want to play this?" They strode out together, knowing that this wasn't going to be a fun conversation.

"Dive in?"

"Sounds good."

Jazz walked into the breakroom and looked around at all of the minor radio hosts. A few were looking at him, but they had been the minority who kept passing him drinks. 

Blaster pushed past him and cleared his throat, "Hell of a night, last night, huh?" The break room went quiet as he used his booming voice. Some of those who had an honest good night cheered, but Jazz stepped forward.

"Yeah, well, not all of us did. Does someone want ta explain to me why I kept havin' drinks pushed into my hands? How no one stopped me from drivin' home last night? If it wasn't for a friend watchin' me all night, I coulda died in my recharge? Do any of ya have any idea how I'm supposed to react ta that? How I got reminded that I coulda let the two bitties in my care lose a third creator in the course of three months? They're not even 40 vorns, mechs. What the frag?" He lifted his hand, "Some of that's on me, but I know I said no to at least some of ya. Ya didn't respect that. Y're all fraggin' lucky that Blurr's goin' with Blaster's idea ta get a bartender next time, that he'd allow another party like that at all. You all know me, I'm down for a good party, but that wasn't a good party."

He glared around the room. 

"Some of you could have killed me. For some of ya, it was a good party, takin' the chance to celebrate. Others... Don't fraggin' talk to me," Jazz spat and stormed out. Blaster glared around the room and followed him out.

Jazz snarled to himself and continued on to his booth. Blaster waved everyone out, but still trailed behind. The booth was soundproof, except to the producer's booth, and Blaster hit the secret button to mute everything. "Clear."

"FRAG!" Jazz yelled, pacing back and forth. "Frag that mech, frag those fragging idiots- They could have fragging killed me, Blaster. I could have run off the road or anything-" He shook his head. "I could have left them without anyone."

"Don't say that-" Blaster started, but his friend continued to pace and shake his head like an itchy turbohound. 

"No, Blaster," Jazz cut off. He ran his hands over his head as tears began to streak down his face, "No. Rico can't take 'em, I can't ask you to do that, Prowler needs his time off, and I was the only one on either side who was even willin' to think about takin' them in. I- I got lucky so far, but-"

Blaster marched up and grabbed Jazz's wrists and pulled him in for a hug, "Hey, listen to me." He let the reels in his tape deck turn, providing a quiet whirring noise. "You're not alone in this. You have Prowl, and me, and how many other parents?"

Jazz was still shaking, but he swallowed, "N-Not many-"

"But that's not a 'none', Jazz. That's at least one other," He whispered. "Look, I know that doesn't feel like much, but you have so much more. Yeah, this is scary. It always will be. But doing it, to come home to them? It's worth it. I'm going to get you a drink, you can take a moment for yourself, and then you need to get ready for the fire because otherswise-"

"Y're going to burn," Jazz finished. He took several more deep breaths and nodded. He slowly let go of Blaster and grappled for his chair. It was solid against him as he curled into it. "How much time do I have before I'm on air?"

"15, but I'll tell Highjump to give you more time if you need it," He responded. "You good?"

Jazz let his speakers pop out and he began to play the new single he had been developing in his home studio the week prior. Every Side of the Sun was an upbeat tune, steady in its rhythm with an soothing background tone that looped repeatedly. It was a song he hummed absently for weeks while taking care of the boys, and each twin had their preferred version. This only combined the best of both.

He smiled up to his friend, "Yeah, mech. I'll be fine."

And he would be.

"Prowl, I know you don't know me that well, but I need a favor," Blaster asked over Prowl's comm. Jazz had just signed off for the night, and the boys had already been put to bed. He had already cleaned up their mess, but another was being made as he prepared leftovers for Jazz.

He had been right, Jazz was kept late again. Another full hour.

"Jazz needs something, correct?" Prowl guessed, stirring the red beans on the stove as the rice microwaved again. "I'm warming up his dinner."

"Perfect, but... I'm sorry to ask, but could you warm up some energon for him and put a few silver shavings in it? He's barely holding it together tonight and I know he won't let me help," Blaster explained. "He trusts you. A lot."

Prowl hummed a tune as he thought. If he got it started now, the silver should be dissolved by the time Jazz got home... "Alright. And do not consider this a favor. Jazz looks after me, just as I do him. Thank you for being there for him earlier." He went to get another put and poured out the necessary energon.

Blaster snorted, "What're friends for, right?" He faltered, "And... Would you be willing to have a playdate with my cassettes? They've been dying to play with the twins."

"I will likely be busy this week, but we can tentatively plan for something next week. I'm hoping that this all resolves itself later than that, but we both understand that even the best plan does not survive first contact with the enemy," He explained. He measured out the silver and threw in a little extra. Jazz usually did like the extra in it. 

"Y'know, Jazz told me you don't usually mess around so I can't tell if you're being literal or not but... If you need anything on your side, let me know," He offered.

Prowl set it on to simmer and went back to the red beans, "I will. Thank you for the offer, it... Things have not been easy. A few... friends, I suppose... have reminded me I have more help than I realized. I just hope I can pay it back someday."

"Yeah, well, Jazz had a bit of a breakdown in the office today about that. I know you're already doing a lot, but if there's anyway you help him get it through his thick helm, I'd appreciate it," Blaster mused. 

"Another? He's had a few, but I will attempt to talk with him. I have his dinner and energon almost done, he should be home soon. Is there anything else, Blaster?" Prowl asked. He went to hunt around for a plate as the microwave screamed.

"Not really, just... thanks for giving us back Jazz. He couldn't have done this without you," He replied.

Prowl smiled again as he thought back to all of the things Jazz had done for him. "Yes, well... He's giving me my life back as well. It... I would not be where I am right now without him either."

"You like him, don't you?" Blaster asked and Prowl sputtered, nearly dropping the plate. He barely managed to cement his grip on it, but he glowered at it.

He realized that Blaster was laughing and him and hissed. "He needs to get his life back on track and I am busy as well. Not to mention that it would be incredibly inappropriate. He is in a position of power, and he has... emphasized in some amount of way that I have am in one too. Given what I have seen... I do not believe he is wrong. It is not something I am comfortable exploring at this moment."

"But if you could," Blaster pressed. Prowl grumbled, but did not entertain the thought. He couldn't. "Fine, what would you need to be able to feel safe, or for Jazz to feel safe, to pursue each other?"

It was a question Prowl hadn't thought about before.

The microwave screamed again, demanding to be opened, and Prowl rushed to it, gripping the handle. He didn't have time to think about this. Not when one more person needed to be fed and not when he was about to talk about setting his plan into place, "I need to go. Jazz will be home soon. We will talk later." He cut the line before Blaster could press more, and he lowered the plate in his free hand.

What would it take for him to feel safe in any relationship again? Not even just with him and Jazz, but if he wanted someone else...

The thought of that warm hand cradling his cheek, his thumb sweeping in soft arcs, reassuring him that he would be safe, crept through his head like smoke, curling around him with the kind of certainty that he knew would bind them forever.

Ma-

The microwave screamed one more time and Prowl finally wrenched it open. He carefully grabbed the rice and began to dish Jazz up, knowing he could be home any minute. 

He managed to get the mug of energon poured and set on the counter when the front door opened. Jazz looked up, seeing Prowl standing there with steaming food and and mug and his shoulders fell.

"I thought you were goin' to bed," He whispered.

Prowl walked the food over to the table and set it down, "I will, but I wanted to make sure you'd eaten first." He gestured to the meal, "Go ahead and eat. I'll tell you how the boys' day went."

Jazz collapsed into the chair and his hands were shaking as he prepared to take a bite. Tears began to fall down his face, but he didn't acknowledge them, so beyond passing him a tissue, Prowl said nothing about it.

"Eat," He commanded, gentle as ever. Jazz nodded and took his bite. He grunted his approval and dug in as Prowl began to recount how the boys practiced their writing. He pulled out examples and Jazz looked the pages over with soft patience.

"Ya know, I can actually read this," He laughed. "Sunny's handwriting is getting better."

Prowl nodded, "It is. I need to find a way to encourage developing his fine motor skills. I'll figure something out."

"I know ya will, Prowler," Jazz whispered. He put the pages down and curled up more. Prowl cocked his head as he looked over Jazz. "I'm not hungry."

Jazz was always hungry.

Prowl rose and put a hand on Jazz's shoulder - his unmarked one - and leaned down, "Please drink your energon then. I'll clean up."

Before he could take the plate, Jazz grabbed at his wrists and paused. He shook his head, "I... I'm sorry, I don't-"

"Deep breaths, Jazz-"

"I'm so sick of everyone tellin' me to take deep breaths, Prowl!" He cried. Jazz curled up on himself more, but he still held Prowl's wrists. "Please, I'm so... I'm so sick of it. I... I feel like I'm just along for the ride and everyone's pullin' me a million different ways. I can't-" He was hyperventilating, trying to get himself under control and failing. 

Prowl used his ankle to pull a chair closer and sat in it so he wasn't towering over Jazz. He looked Jazz over for a moment before he nodded to himself. "You know, Smokescreen taught me something once, and I try to live by it." Jazz looked up and he continued. "If you feel like everyone hates you, sleep. If you feel like you hate everyone, eat. If you feel like you hate yourself, shower. If you feel like everyone hates everyone, go outside. Someone out there is better because you are here. You don't need to decide anything right now. Will you let me help you?"

Jazz was still trembling, but he nodded, "Y-Yeah."

He began to speak in his soft monotone, "Good. Now, I want you to finish eating. Don't worry about anything else. The boys are sleeping, the doors..." He hit a button on the apartment's controls. "...are locked, everything is going to be okay."

Jazz nodded again and slowly let go of Prowl. He began to eat again and Prowl continued to talk in his soft tones. Sometimes, Jazz would add in, earning a smile from Prowl. It  might not have been much to the nanny, but for Jazz... It was looking at a rainbow. Something you understood on a fundamental level, but when you saw it... it was a whimsical feeling.

When he finished eating, and drank all of his warmed energon, Prowl brought him to the washracks. "Do you want help?"

"I..." He took a grounding breath and nodded, "Yeah, I think I got it. I'll call ya if I need ya?"

"That's all I need," Prowl agreed. He disappeared to go wash the last of the dishes. Jazz took a deep breath in, held it, and then let it slip out. 

The shower wasn't long, but it was what he needed. He scrubbed Blurr's smug smirk out of his arms, his coworkers' empty stares out of his back, the fact that Prowl had been so angry with him that morning off of his hood. Well, except that Prowl remained on his shoulder.

That, he was okay to leave there.

He turned the shower off after what was likely only 10 minutes and began to towel off. Prowl was probably done with the dishes, so maybe they could meet up in the hall.

Jazz slipped out and Prowl peered out of his room, "Your bed is made."

"What did I do to deserve ya?" Jazz asked with a more joking tone than he meant, but the patient look in Prowl's eyes suggested he understood anyway. Primus. 

They slipped into his room and Prowl helped get him settled, "I'll be in the guest room. If you need anything-"

"Stay," Jazz begged, holding weakly at the nanny's arms. He needed to know Prowl could pull out his his old if needed. "Please." He could see Prowl battling with himself. "Nothin' weird, just... Please. Please." 

Let him have something good. It didn't need to be what he wanted, someone to hold, someone to share his life with, but even just having someone else there, just to keep him held together that night... 

Prowl deflated, "I cannot, Jazz. I am sorry. We can talk about this in the morning. Until then..." He hesitated, but eventually took Jazz's hand in his to squeeze. "Recharge well. Sleep dreams."

"...You too, Prowler. See ya in the morning."

Maybe...

Logic whispered to him.

Prowl didn't say no, but only that they needed to talk about it in the morning. They could lay it all out on the table. He would have a clearer head then. Hopefully... It would all be... Okay.

Prowl closed the door behind him, his spark and processor in turmoil. Why, why, why did Jazz need to look that trusting when he looked like that? It played hell on his installed Enforcer coding, the need to protect and help and so much more, but he knew that only so much of that was his coding. 

He cared about Jazz, he knew that, but he was exhausted, he was still trying to recover from the fit he had thrown that morning, and the kids had been good, but they had been so loud. 

He needed his sleep and he knew he couldn't do more for Jazz, not when his plating was crawling and itching and there were tears building up at the back of his eyes. No, he needed to give himself time. Especially when he had Mesothulas to worry about.

He could think through this.

Handle Mesothulas, get his feet underneath him, help the family until he could graduate and... work through it.

If Prowl cared for Jazz now, he needed to know that it wasn't some turbopuppy crush. No, Jazz deserved better than that.

They would talk in the morning, lay it all out on the table.

Chapter Text

Four small hands shook Jazz awake and he grunted in shock, "Wha-" He sat up slowly, looking around. Right, his room, but... his alarm hadn't gone off. A quick check to his chronometer showed that he had slept in a little, but not enough to be disastrous to his sleep schedule. 

After the day he had yesterday? He'd take what he could get.

"Prowl told us to go wake you up!" Sideswipe chirped happily. He looked past his guardian's stomach to his twin, "Prowl's said we're going to the park extra long today! And we can bring our art stuff!"

"If we're okay with it maybe getting dirty," Sunstreaker grumbled. He wrinkled his nose, "I don't want it to get dirty."

Jazz sighed and propped himself back onto his arms, "Well then, ya better take care of it, yeah?" Something tickled his processor before he froze.

The talk. He and Prowl were going to be having the talk today. It...

Oh Primus, he felt sick. Why why why did he think this was a good idea-

"Jazzy?" Sideswipe asked gently. "Can you come watch Rock 'em Sock 'em with us?" Sunstreaker nodded hopefully and Jazz's spark melted.

"Alright, bitties mine. Let's go," He smiled. "Would you want to get carried in?"

Sunstreaker wrinkled his nose and slipped off of the bed while Sideswipe cheered happily. Jazz smiled and picked him up, letting the yellow twin handle the doors for them.

Prowl was still cooking the waffles in the kitchen when they walked through. The smell settled Jazz's tank somewhat, but he still had scraplets running around in there. It only worsened when Prowl looked up. "Good morning, Jazz."

He knew he had to go to the living room, but he couldn't help walking over, "Mornin', Prowler. I, um... talk at the park?"

"That was my plan. The boys wanted you to watch their show with them. It would be good for you to spend some time with them," He advised. His tone was flat and face was... stoic, but there was something else to it.

Jazz put Sideswipe down and ruffled his helm, "Hey, Sides, can you go make sure the show is on? I want ta talk with Prowler really quick."

The boy looked between them, calculating something, and he nodded happily, "Okay!" He ran off to join his brother and Jazz sighed.

"I'm sorry for how I acted yesterday-"

Prowl twitched, but didn't look up, "I said we can speak at the park." Jazz leaned on the counter so Prowl could see him without looking up.

His visor clicked back, showing off his optics for the first time in a while.

While optics were usually one solid color, it was rare that some were... malformed... as it were. The lenses would refract the light differently, coming across with an almost rainbow effect. Most found it hypnotizing. Jazz found it annoying when everyone he talked to growing up was always distracted by them.

He wasn't above using them for his own purposes when he needed to.

Prowl's eyes snapped over to Jazz's in his shock and Jazz took the moment, "I'm tryin' to say that if ya don' want to talk yet, that's okay. I... I'm nervous and still decidin' if I want to. Do you want to talk about this?"

"I..." He wrenched his focus back to the waffle mix. "I don't know. I understand that this is a topic that we need to handle, but there is still too much going on right now for me to be thinking about this. I apologize."

"Nah, Prowler, it's nothin'," Jazz smiled and clicked his visor back into place..  He poked one of Prowl's utensils, moving it out of alignment, "We're talkin' it out, yeah? Isn't that somethin' you talk about with the twins?"

Prowl's shoulders fell in relief, "Yes, it... it is." He took a deep breath, "Fine, if that is the attitude, then I will put it clearly. I am unaware if how I am feeling about you is... a temporary matter or not, but either way, it is not something I am willing to act on in this moment. I cannot risk a deeper attachment than I already have and get distracted while I am trying to see if Mesothulas is still stalking me or not. Additionally, we have a contract. You are my boss, Jazz. I cannot forget that."

"Yeah, that's a thing," Jazz nodded. "And I understand all of that. Ta be just as candid, I... I kinda feel the same." Prowl looked at him again and Jazz shrugged. "I like ya, but I'm used ta hook ups, the few I've had. You know my radio persona's just that - a show. But I still like flirtin', and I'll lay off. I don' know how much I actually like ya yet, and there's the fact that I'm tryin' to get my own head on straight. Between my boss bein' an aft, my coworkers' tryna kill me 'cause they wanted ta double their salary by gettin' my spot, and just..." He took a deep breath.

It came out in a tired puff, "Everything... I'm not in the kind of headspace ta be makin' any kind of advances on anyone but my own thoughts. Ya know?"

Prowl allowed a smile and nodded, "I understand, and I do not hold it against you. To be fair... I wanted to stay last night, but I do not believe either of us were in the right space to do anything yesterday. It could have been a mistake." He moved the utensil back into alignment with the others.

"It could have been. I... I think I just needed someone. I could have gone to the boys' room and slept in their extra bed if I needed to, but y're right," Jazz mused. He pushed a different tool askew. "Ya want to have this talk after yer ex is gone and done with?"

"If you do not mind. I... I am not comfortable with some physical contact, but I would not mind getting to know you in this time," He admitted, fixing the tool. "I would still like us to be friends at the very least."

Friends, at the least. 

He could live with that.

Prowl cocked his head after a moment, "Of course, if someone catches your eye while all of this is going on... I would not hold it against you. I understand that you have likely had a dry spell, if you would-"

He was cut off as Jazz burst into laughter. His doorwings raised in offense, but Jazz tried to wave him down. "Mech, ya can't just- Oh, Primus. Prowler, y're a honk 'n a holler. Trust me, mech. If I wanted ta get some, I would, but I'm not right now." He sighed and leaned on the counter again. "I mean, same to you. Y're a damn catch, Prowler. You're... Somethin' tells me ya don't stop doin' somethin' until you've perfected it."

"You would be correct," Prowl mused. "Cooking, art, cleaning, mobilization of forces... It is all things I have needed to study, and I needed to ensure I was at the top of my studies. There were... some I was not good at. Emotional competency, some of my grief counseling, and such things are a little more difficult for me." He returned to the waffles and cracked open the waffle maker. The four he had prepared were ready, golden and warm.

Prowl peered at Jazz from the corner of his eye, "If I remember correctly, you were going to go join the boys?"

He saw Sideswipe and Sunstreaker look up from their program at their mention nd laughed. "Alright, Prowler, ya got me. How long until breakfast is done?"

"Give me another 10 minutes. Five, if you want to set the table," He said. "The next commercial starts then."

"You got it!" Jazz crowed and settled down between his twins, "So what are we learning about today?"

Sideswipe threw his hands up, "They're doing a big fight!" But there were always be fights in this show...?

"It's the season finale in a few episodes," Prowl supplied from the kitchen. "I need to talk to you before the next episodes tomorrow."

"Sounds good, Prowler," Jazz smiled.

Sunstreaker pouted and glared at them, "Shush." He curled back into Jazz's side and his tiny engine began to rumble contently as he watched the show. Jazz smiled and rubbed each of his boys' backs, content to enjoy the moment.

On the screen, Rock 'em and Sock 'em were doing their pre-fight cheer, Tobor cheering them on in the back. It was clear they were preparing the fight of their lives, and for a minute, Jazz wondered what the point of this show was, if not teaching violence. Then, he heard his boys.

"We can do it, we can do this, we can do anything!" They chanted along and Jazz smiled.

Maybe he could overlook the violence in the show as long as no one got hurt.

Jazz stretched out as they finally made it to the park. It was a cloudy day with a few chilly breezes, but Prowl had assured the boys that he had brought three of their warmest blankets for them and whichever friend they ran into that day. 

Prowl let the run ahead, but Sideswipe was pulling him along, "C'mon, Prowl, race you!"

"I will warn you, I'm must faster than you. It wouldn't be fair," Prowl cautioned. Sideswipe's face scrunched up in the way it always did when he was trying to think through a problem. 

He lit up a moment later, "We go ahead, and then you race Jazz to get to us!" He exclaimed.

Prowl looked to Jazz for his opinion, but the radio host was already grinning, "I don' see nothin' wrong with it, Prowler. We start here?"

"I see nothing wrong with it," Prowl mused. He nodded to the twins, "Go on ahead. I will put my all into winning this race for your honor."

"Nah, mech, I'll win for their honor," Jazz grinned as he puffed his chest out. 

Prowl let himself tower over Jazz for a moment as his bumper against Jazz's like it was made to fit there, "We'll see who the victor will be."

Jazz's optics widened in surprise, was Prowl flirting back?

He finally grinned and pushed back enough to realize that he couldn't. "Ya might be trainin' to be an Enforcer, Prowler, but remember, sometimes the criminals get away." He winked half of his visor off and enjoyed the look that Prowl settled on him. It was practically picking him apart and Primus, if they weren't in public and both agreed they weren't ready... He'd love to see what that processor would do when focused on him...

"Stop fighting!" Sideswipe begged as he crashed into their legs. The adults each stepped back to stare at him in confusion. Sideswipe looked between them in worry, "You're supposed to get along! No fighting!"

How the frag does one explain flirting to a sparkling-

Prowl knelt and nodded, "We will not fight, but it was one of those times that adults communicate in weird ways. Just as you pretend to fight and play spy, adults like to have silent conversations with each other. If you want, I can help you keep an audial out for those conversations. For now, I believe your brother is using this as a headstart."

Sideswipe looked back to the playground in dismay and screamed, running after his brother.

Jazz laughed as he watched his bitties run ahead, "Y're goin' ta kick my aft, aren't ya?"

"Without a doubt."

"How long for ya to overtake me?"

"At this distance? I am not entirely built for speed, but endurance."

"Cool cool. Mind givin' me a headstart too?"

Prowl smirked, "Need the extra time, Jazz?"

Jazz laughed, "I think I might need it. 3 seconds?"

"I will count," He replied and leaned in. "Make them count." Jazz swallowed and sprung forward. 

It was a different kind of exhilarating. He knew he wasn't being chased, but to hear the sound of pounding footsteps after him made a part of him panic. Not in a bad way, no, far from it, but to see Prowl running towards the kids made the radio host slow to a stop. 

Their nanny ended up skidding to a professional stop in front of the children and they were slack-jawed in awe. 

Sideswipe threw himself at Prowl's legs, "Carry me, carry me, carry me! Make me fly! Fly fly fly!"

"Perhaps in a short while," He mused, his vents opening in short puffs. If anything, he hadn't even broken a sweat.

Jazz caught up a moment later, but is was clear he was out of shape, "Damn, Prowler... Remind me... to never... challenge ya to a proper race."

Prowl looked mildly amused, "Do I need to create a workout routine for you? Honestly, I need to get back to my old training routine."

"Do I even want ta know?" Jazz grunted as he stood. "Y're probably a monster."

The nanny hummed, "It is a five mile run, 50 pushups, 50 sit-ups, and 50 squats, and that is for the standard officer. I typically do double that, when I have the option. I would start you off simpler."

Sideswipe tugged on Prowl's legs again, "Play! Plaaaaaay!" 

Sunstreaker nodded and walked over to point at Prowl, "Play."

"Alright," Prowl agreed. He looked around for a moment and saw a familiar blue frame. Smokescreen waved and Prowl bobbed his doorwings in greeting. The boys followed his gaze and ducked behind Prowl.

"Why is blue mech here?" Sideswipe hissed. Sunstreaker was glaring, but Prowl knelt in front of them.

"Just like he is to help you with things, he is helping me with a problem. You do not need to talk to him if you do not want to," He explained. 

Jazz nodded as he came up beside Prowl, "Actually, I can go talk to him if ya want. And Red, he knows me from a few security ads I've need to run before."

Prowl relaxed, "If you do not mind. I would like to keep the boys busy and if... I can avoid this for once..."

"Hey, I gotcha. 'Sides, Smoky knows ya too, he'll advocate for you. And if Orion shows up?" Jazz asked.

"You may share, but respect his decision if he chooses to help or not. If Smokescreen causes problems, I need you to tell him that you can keep a secret better than any Siren out there," Prowl prompted. His former coworker could not keep a secret to save his - or anyone else's - lives. The problem lay in the fact that he could hear better than anyone, which made keeping some secrets incredibly difficult.

Smokescreen would remember Siren. There were very few who couldn't.

"This is a lot, Prowler," Jazz warned. "Ya sure ya trust me with this?" He watched as a twin each grabbed one of Prowl's hands and he began to spin in a circle, just enough for the pair to treat him like a carnival game.

"It would cause me to become far more upset than if it were you. As far as I'm aware, you have my permission to discuss whatever you need to. Besides, I believe you have more tact that I do," Prowl explained. He slowed to a stop, but Sideswipe whined, so he spun in the other direction. "Red Alert knows the whole story, Smokescreen knows most of it, and you know even less, if I were to be honest. Jazz, they will also act in my best interests. I trust them with that."

Jazz sighed and nodded. "I don' blame ya there. If ya need anything..."

"I will let you know," He assured. He nodded towards Smokescreen. "I believe you have an appointment to get to."

"An' I can say the same to you," Jazz mused as Prowl continued to spin in a circle. The nanny was using an old dancer's trick to not get dizzy, using a focal point to keep his head about him. That focal point seemed to be Jazz, letting him share his displeasure with a joking annoyed frown. "Have fun, Prowler. We'll handle what we can. Actually, do ya want to be kept in the call so y you can hear what we're sayin'?"

Prowl nodded, "If you do not mind. I want to keep the boys away from this." He called Jazz and the call went through immediately.

Jazz muted Prowl's end of the call so the group could be heard, but Prowl couldn't, "There, tha' should work." The kids whined again and Prowl switched directions again.

"Thank you," He whispered. Jazz nodded and slipped away to join Smokescreen.

The therapist looked up in confusion, "Prowl didn't want to be a part of this conversation?"

"He wanted a break from it all an' I don't blame him. Lost my head there for a day or two and I think he just wants some time for himself. If ya need a voucher, Prowler told me ta tell you that I could keep a secret better than any siren?" Jazz said. Smokescreen hummed in agreement, so the radio host finally took his seat. "I'm also on call with Prowler so he can hear us, but not the other way 'round."

"No, that's for the best," Smokescreen agreed. He leaned closer, "Can you mute your end for a moment? I want to talk to you." Across the park, Prowl looked over in confusion, but Smokescreen did an intricate display with his doorwings. Prowl frowned, but bobbed both of his back in approval. Jazz muted his end and Smokescreen leaned in. "So, what's going on with you and Prowl?"

Jazz laughed at the bluntness of the statement, even as his cheeks dusted a faint blue, "Wow, mech, right to the chase, huh?" Smokescreen lifted an eyebrow and he sighed. "Yeah, so there's been some... tension-"

"You two didn't frag, did you?" Smokescreen cut in.

He wheezed out another laugh, "Primus, mech! No, not yet. Nah, we had a talk this mornin'. We both know we like each other, but we're not in any kinda place to do much about it. Prowler's dealin' with this and I'm tryin' to find my footin'. We're both not even sure if it's just some small fling, but we still needed ta talk 'bout it."

Smokescreen nodded slowly, "Good. He's still practicing some of the meditation I recommended, but did something bring this on? I had advised taking two weeks from the point of noticing the emotions to when he finally acts, but if he feels it better to act..."

"I... I had a bad day at work and Prowler put me back together when I didn' entirely deserve it. He kept me fed 'n got me to the washracks 'n then ta bed and..." He took a deep breath in, "I was outta my mind a little, but I asked him to stay. He, um, he said no, but we'd talk about it today. This mornin', we both agreed we like each other, like I said, but... yeah."

The therapist nodded and nudged him, "Yeah, I agree that it's a little early, but I'm not surprised you two are developing feelings. You love those kids and yeah, you might feel like you'd be better off without them, but they're yours now. You suddenly have a very attractive mech coming in and looking after them - and you - like he belongs there. On Prowl's side, you're also very attractive and have a stable life, you're providing in another way, and allowing him to indulge his old Enforcer coding. He's protecting and serving, even if just in your little family." 

Smokescreen lifted a finger, "Not that I'm saying that this is just a coding thing latching onto you, but I've noticed he trusts you. That kind of thing doesn't come easy for Prowl. Hell, if he didn't know me as long as he has, he might not trust me at all. Mesothulas messed him up."

"So I keep hearin' that some big thing happened," Jazz said carefully. "If that's not somethin' you can tell me..."

He sighed and leaned his head back, "No, it... I understand that Prowl wants his privacy, but I think you should probably know. So you know that most Enforcer academies on Cybertron have 30 vorn programs, right?"

Jazz nodded, "And he was let go around vorn 29, right?"

"Yes. Most of those vorns are spent training and studying, and around vorn 15 is when you're set out under guidance to take on real cases. At vorn 25, you're let to go out on your own with more oversight, but those two... Mesothulas made some truly remarkable tools and programs, and Prowl was regarded as the most capable trainee. He already had one serial killer under his belt by vorn 26, not to mention enough minor criminals that it was more than every other detective branch Enforcer in our class combined. Together? They were a force to be reckoned with. They were closing as many cases as came across their desk and they were actively digging through cold cases and solving those too."

"So what happened? Did Meso just... get too close to Prowler one day?" Jazz asked.

Smokescreen ran a hand down his face, "They started dating around... Vorn 23 or so? I was on my way to graduating. There's a big presentation you need to give in Vorn 29 as a summary of everything you've done, both within your unit and individually. It needs to be done completely by yourself. Your unit cannot be with you. It's supposed to be a thing where you can show you're able to prove you know what you're doing while working under pressure."

"Was he there for the presentation?" Jazz demanded. "And I thought most stalker things ain't a thing that comes out of the blue."

"No, it's not. But Prowl couldn't go anywhere without him there. Normally, it was fine, but there was some lead up that led to... a big case. That serial killer? Mesothulas followed Prowl to the sting and nearly ended up blowing the whole thing because he left a trail," Smokescreen growled. "He made some very stupid mistakes that nearly contaminated evidence and a lot of other stuff. Prowl reported the incident and his inability to leave Prowl alone. He tried everything he could, but he eventually found out that Mesothulas had installed tracking programs onto the tacnet, the one that he designed," Smokescreen continued bitterly. "When Prowl found out, he went to another team to get the programs removed."

Jazz winced, knowing just how that must have looked to Mesothulas, "Oh no..."

He nodded, "Yeah. So Prowl's presentation, Mesothulas stuck a recorder in the conference room and he had also changed some of Prowl's slides. Nothing that would have gotten him in trouble, but it made Mesothulas look better than he was. Prowl was outraged, and add in the fact that his presentation was broadcast when it was against the rules... He got into trouble. However, the academy knew it wasn't his fault, but they needed Mesothulas' projects more than they needed Prowl."

"So it was Prowler who got the boot," Jazz hissed. "Why did he do that?"

"He wanted to humiliate Prowl, and I think he believed he could talk the academy into giving Prowl a second chance, make himself out to be the hero," Smokescreen explained. He leaned forward in his chair, "Stalkers don't think straight, Jazz. He thought it would have worked, but it wasn't reality. The academy, luckily, knew that there was proof of prior behavior and gave Prowl a severance to set up somewhere else, with the promise that they would 'keep an optic on him,' but we all know that isn't the case. And Praxus isn't going to just do something about it. Not when he made a radio net that can pull in about 50 signals at the same time and compile a transcript that can be cross references for specific ideas. Not just individual words, but you put in the parameters of what you're looking for and it picks up anything similar. It already found at least three different drug trafficking rings that were using long range radio for smuggling."

Jazz pursed his lips and berated himself, "So that's how he found Prowler. I mentioned him on my show, Smoky. This is my fault-"

"Hey," Smokescreen cut in. "Mesothulas would have found him eventually. It's not your fault."

"Let's not delude ourselves. It is."

The pair turned to see Red Alert sitting nervously at his chair. He frowned, "You're Prowl's boss, Jazz."

"An' you're Red. It's nice ta actually meet ya in person," He greeted weakly. "Prowler's helpin' the kids, but I've got him on the line. Do ya want me to unmute yet?"

"Please," He nodded. Jazz took the moment to unmute his end so Prowl could listen in. "We will begin our trade off. I have the program on a flashdrive, and I've used schematics that I've found to make it look like a standard Enforcer-provided data chip. It will download itself onto his system, but it will hide itself. Smokescreen's provided an old case that I marked up to give him as a dummy so it should go unnoticed. Now, all it needs to do is get plugged in."

He pulled the data chip out and Smokescreen whistled lowly. "Wow, you weren't kidding. I would have used something like this all the time." He cocked his head, "I brought that box of other drives like you asked me to. How are we going to know when he plugs it in?" Red Alert frowned and Smokescreen winced, "Right, right, you'll know. Sorry, Red Alert."

"Anyway, I'm going to ask that these carefully be dropped in his office or scattered across his desk. He would be more likely to carelessly plug them in to check their contents to rearrange them. When he does that, it will have the program downloaded and we can continue without any issues," Red Alert said. "Additionally, I have put out feelers to my contacts. It seems he's found someone to spy on Prowl, but he's spying for me first."

Jazz winced, "Do you trust this mech?"

"As much as I can trust someone," He shot back. "Tarantulas is paying, but I'm paying more." He saw Prowl stiffen across the playground, "I have already informed Prowl of my going rate. Remember, I am doing this for my own wellbeing. I will do whatever it takes to feel safe." Smokescreen nodded sympathetically and Red Alert relaxed minutely to not be questioned. Jazz could sympathize.

"An' Ratchet's apparently confirmed that First Aid would help us on the medical side with a fake profile," Jazz continued. "Would he be able ta see through that?" He looked past Red Alert's shoulder and saw a familiar pair of frames and waved them over. Red Alert cast them a look and turned back to their little group.

Smokescreen hummed, "Maybe. It can more likely be pushed through as a clueless doctor just starting out. I've reached out to First Aid and he can give that vibe. I can ask him to play it up some if he needs. I think if he needs to, Prowl can use an old pseudonym, but-"

"No, medical files need to use actual names. They would scan Prowl if he were ever in a crash and he understands that. Smokescreen, work with First Aid and Prowl to find out what's the closest thing to having the Tacnet removed and get a medical history put together," Red Alert ordered. "After that... Jazz, have you reached out to the last part of this?"

"I'm assuming you mean me," Orion Pax greeted with his battle mask down, Bumblebee magnetized to his chest. He detached an arm long enough to wave at Jazz, and get one back.

Jazz winced as he gestured to the last seat at the table, "Yeah. Sorry ta drag you into this, but we need all hands on deck with this one. Prowl's wantin' to sit out for a little while, but he's on the line."

"I understand," Orion said. He looked down at his bitlet and smiled brilliantly, "Would you like to go play with your friends? Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are here."

"'Id'ipe! 'Un'teakr!" Bumblebee beeped. He squirmed happily, making Orion laugh.

He nodded to Jazz, "Please give me a moment-"

"Bee! Bee! Bee! We're playing cook! Come on!" Sideswipe came from almost nowhere, Sunstreaker on his heels. Behind them, Prowl strolled at a leisurely pace, but Jazz could now tell that he was ready to break into a run at any point. 

Orion smiled weakly at Prowl, "Hey, are you doing okay?" Bumblebee was waving his arms at Prowl in excitement, begging to be picked up by the twins' nanny.

Prowl took him carefully, "I am well, but this is a conversation that I do not entirely wish to be included in. I want a degree of separation from this, as well as the fact that any planning I contribute to will only be a hint for Mesothulas to be able to look through this faster."

"I understand. I will let you go, and good luck with your restaurant," Orion blessed softly and Prowl's face went slack at the pureness of it. He looked down to Bumblebee and whatever silent question was there, Orion shook his head. Prowl sighed in relief. He smiled and bowed to Orion before ushering the children away, Sideswipe chattering a million miles an hour.

Orion frowned as he sat down and knit his fingers in front of him, looking around the group and took on a new air about him. He pursed his lips, "Now, what is this I heard about one of my friends getting stalked from another city over?"

Jazz leaned back, "We're goin' to catch this creation o' a glitch, but he's been listenin' in to my station. Red Alert's confirmed that someone with a name that Prowler recognized is listening in and tryin' to get them to spy on Prowler for 'im. Luckily, Red's a better security mech than I ever thought, and is already on top o' it."

"You hold Alpha Trion's audial better than anyone else," Red Alert cut in. "If he can bar Mesothulas or Tarantulas or whoever from entering Iacon, it could help a lot."

"We all know there are other ways to get into the city," Orion stated. "And then there's be no way to know if he is actually here."

Smokescreen lifted his hand, "Actually, one thing that we can do is ask for a quiet dismissal. It's not used very often, but it would only activate when he tries to get in. Praxus is also far away enough to set off alarms to my contacts that he is missing."

"And mine will tell me if he doesn't need their service anymore," Red Alert grumbled. "Prowl sticks to a schedule, and he's agreed to a tracker." That got Smokescreen's attention, but he kept his mouth shut. "If he deviates outside of a specific range without letting me know, I will attempt to contact him and then the authorities. But we need to make it illegal for him to be here. If no other charges stick, we need to make it so that his very existence within this city is a sin and banish him."

Orion frowned as he thought, "And it will earn him an extradition back to Praxus."

Jazz flinched when a ping from Prowl caught his attention and he put the call on so he could be heard, "And with a record such as his, he would not be allowed to leave Praxus again without a mandated escort. Given that it would be in violation of a restraining order that Praxus recognizes, I would be able to deem who I view as capable to escort him."

"Then we can work with this," Orion nodded. He looked over to Prowl as he sipped on a fake cup of something that had Bumblebee looking at hi hopefully and the twins giggling. "You will be safe, Prowl. And if he tries anything, I will ask Alpha Trion to bring the entirety of the Iaconian legal system down on him."

"You have my thanks," Prowl mused. He was looking at Bumblebee when he said it, but the adults all understood what he meant. "And what is on the menu now?"

"Now, I speak with Alpha Trion," Orion said.

Smokescreen raised his doorwings defensively, "I will reach out to First Aid and Ratchet."

"I'll let y'all coordinate and tell me when I need ta start broadcastin' information," Jazz raised his hand. "I don' like it, but I'll do it."

Red Alert nodded and pushed the data chip towards Smokescreen, "And I'll do my job and watch."

"And Prowler?" Jazz mused as he turned to watch his kids's nanny. "Just keep bein' you and watchin' out for those bitties. You have people who care about ya. You're not alone in this."

He watched as Prowl froze, fake cup halfway to his mouth, watching Jazz right back. Sunstreaker reached out and shook Prowl's leg, snapping him out of his paralysis. Prowl shook himself out and smiled to the child, going back to his game. He looked up one more time, wearing that same rainbow-rare smile.

Jazz's spark melted, knowing that he had earned that smile. Sometimes, just sometimes, he didn't mess things up. Sometimes, he did things right, and maybe, Prowl was right. He had done more good than not.

Smokescreen leaned back against the bench as he watched Prowl and Orion Pax play with the kids. Jazz sat next to him, content to simply be. "You said you had some stuff to tell me?"

"I wanted to say that whatever you're hoping to have with Prowl... Be careful with him, and I hope I'm making the right choice to trust you. Prowl and I weren't close at the academy, but we'd talk when we had the chance. I had already moved here when I heard about Prowl's suspension, but when I... I heard about that game that Prowl made, on the radio, a part of me hoped. I hated to think that Prowl ended up as a nanny, but looking at him... He looks happy. And when I saw him with you and yours..." He shook his head.

Jazz hummed, "I have to work on my day off here, and Prowler is havin' to come in on his, but I can probably say this, but y're allowed over. Don' know what it is, but he has my bitties under his thumb." He swallowed and looked down, the signature on his shoulder barely in view. "I know we've only known each other for about a week an' a half, but have ya ever just met someone an' ya know know they're goin' to be a part of your life?"

Smokescreen smiled as Bumblebee sprinkled some 'salt' onto a 'meal' Sideswipe held out. "Yeah. I know what you mean. Prowl's one of those people. You know, when I met him at first, he was kind of an aft, but... He explained to me one night over coffee. He just didn't understand. I gave him some tips, worked through past interactions, practiced apologies... He helped me with some of my weaker points. He's actually the reason I made the full transition to therapist. I had to switch tracks, but it was easy enough, it was still early, but to feel that satisfaction of helping someone with their problems in a way that they could carry forever?"

"It's like a good song," Jazz mused. "Ya just need to hear it once, and you'll be hearin' it for the rest of your life. It'll get ya through thick 'n thin, an' ya might not remember where ya heard it, but it'll be with ya." He huffed in a quiet laugh. "I don't know what I'm goin' to do without him. He's on a one vorn contract right now, but we're talkin' 'bout a five vorn next time. He... We have 30 vorns. It's goin' to destroy the kids, but... I think Prowler's going to get them used to the thought of him leavin' the more time goes on-"

"Let's wait. If you said you had a talk this morning and you both like each other..." Smokescreen started. "See where that goes. Just because Prowl might not be their nanny anymore, doesn't mean that he won't be one of their creators someday."

Jazz winced, "Not that I'm protesting that, but they still need to get used to the fact that... y'know." Smokescreen cringed and nodded. "But y'know, Blaster said the same thing ta me the other day. Get this aft outta Prowler's life, get our lives back on track... and then we'll see." He grinned dumbly, not unlike when he had a crush on his middle school teacher when he was younger, "I coulda sworn Prowler was flirtin' with me earlier. I was challengin' him and-"

Smokescreen burst into laughter, "Oh, that'll do it! If he knows you like him and you were egging him on? Prowl loves a challenge, and his Enforcer coding doesn't help. Suddenly, he's chasing you down and your back is to the wall."

"You get into the action with him once?"

"No, but some Enforcers are similar enough that if you get their engines revving..." Smokescreen grinned, "You should probably take Prowl up on his offer to work out with him. If you want to be able to keep up, that is. Enforcers are built and retrofitted for endurance. Prowl's no exception. If anything, he's the standard."

Jazz froze as it finally settled in what Prowl had been trying to say earlier and some of his cooling fans kicked on in embarrassment. "Really? Even you?"

Smokescreen shrugged, "I've gotten used to sitting in an office, but I can still run five miles in under an hour and drive for 750 without stopping. Prowl's specs are going to be worse."

He gulped, "Nice to know. I... I'll probably take up some exercises."

"You know, couple's yoga is always a good option," He teased. He yelped and laughed when Jazz smacked his shoulder. "But in all seriousness, Jazz... I will always try to be there for your kids, but if you hurt Prowl in any way, I will kill you and they will never find your body. I know the classes, I know what to say." There was a blinding rage in Smokescreen's eyes that deepened the words he spoke. Jazz knew, deep down, it probably wasn't directed at him, but there was always that chance... "You will never be found."

Jazz swallowed as he looked out again to where the five mechs were and his spark calmed. Prowl looked up and saw him staring. He nodded, and got his boys' attention, pointing to him. They both lit up in their own ways, waving. 

"You know what, mech, I think if I ever hurt 'im... I'd ask ya where the nearest smelter was."

"Good, but that won't be necessary. Prowl is able to handle a breakup like anyone else, I just can have you being another Mesothulas," He explained. "And you're not that kind of person. So. I'm going to head to the post office to drop off some important documents, go home, make a few calls, and I'm going to relax. I suggest you do what you need to do before work."

The therapist froze for a moment before he leaned in, "And just so you know, if you want to do something for Prowl... He's not always one for cute nicknames, he's one for romantic gestures. Just keep that in mind. Otherwise... keep doing what you're doing. Prowl would let you know if he doesn't like something. He's never been one for injustices" 

Jazz snorted as he remembered when Prowl had yelled at him earlier, "Don't I know it. He's going to be the best thing that's ever happened to me. Thanks for helpin' him because I think he's honestly doin' more to make this work than I am. I wouldn't have talked about this for weeks, if not longer, but... I feel lighter for it."

"Communication does wonderful things," Smokescreen agreed, but didn't elaborate more. Jazz didn't think to push and they watched the families in silence.

"You know," Prowl started as he left the boys to draw to their spark's content. He leaned on the island, watching them, as Jazz prepared enough warmed energon for all of them. "I... I knew I wasn't alone, but to have it stated plainly like that... I almost cried in front of the boys again."

Jazz laughed as he stirred the soothing blue in the pot, "Yeah, this family tends ta make you do that, Prowler. Ya doin' ok now?"

"I will be. The boys are... they make it easier," He admitted. He looked over his shoulder, "Will you be alright at work? I know it'll be your first day back after you had your speech in the office."

He laughed heartily, "'Speech.' Yeah, that's one way ta put it." He sprinkled in some silver flakes to melt, "But it'll be fine. Oh, and something else. Blaster wants to see if he can get all of his bitties and ours over for a play date. I said you'd be busy today, but I figured I'd let ya get that worked out," Jazz explained.

Prowl didn't respond for a moment and Jazz turned to see him staring with surprise, "What?"

The nanny blinked slowly, "You said 'ours.'"

Jazz's plating fluffed out in embarrassment, "Sorry, it... slipped out, but it's also easier? They're mine, yeah, but... Y're better with 'em. Or better in different ways," He rushed to elaborate.

Prowl hummed as he looked back out to the boys. "I... I do not feel comfortable referring to them as mine, but... if you wish to call them ours, I do not see anything wrong with it. I will not unless it is just me in the park."

"Speaking of... I wouldn't... mind... joining you for exercising," Jazz mumbled. Prowl chuckled and swayed from side to side, still leaning on the island. "And I mentioned this to Smoky, but if ya want to have him over, I'm fine with it. I just want ya to tell me if someone is comin' over, and I'd rather meet 'em first?"

Prowl nodded, "I... see nothing wrong with Blaster and his bitties coming to the park with us tomorrow. I do not feel comfortable looking after at least four bitties-"

"Six. Blaster has four, but he's a carrier bot. They're his cassettes, but they're his bitties first," Jazz explained. He hesitated, "I don't know yer feelings on this, but two of 'em don't have a mech root mode."

He paused and cocked his head, "Beastformers? Do the twins have any experience with mechs such as them?"

Jazz relaxed internally, but that brought up a different issue, "Nah, not yet. They can talk 'n stuff, but..."

"It's still something that could cause an incident," Prowl agreed. He nodded and straightened, "I will work things out with the boys, and when I feel like they understand, I will invite Blaster and his bitties out to the park. It would not be fair to expect him to teach the boys about beastformers."

"'Preaciate ya, Prowler. Blaster's gotten some flack on the fact that half of his bitties are beastformers, but that's his own business," He said.

Prowl frowned, "Is there a history of discrimination in Iacon? I thought it was illegal."

"Now it is, but ya can't change old ideas," Jazz grumbled. "Ramhorm and Steeljaw are perfectly nice. Well, Ramhorn is angry on a good day and Steeljaw is... enthusiastic about everything in a way that makes Sides look like he can hold still, but they're still good kids. They're a little older than the twins, maybe 70, 80 vorns each? Blaster's twins, Eject and Rewind, are a little closer at 50 vorns."

"The carryings were so close together, did he have a safe recovery?" Prowl asked.

Jazz nodded, "He was fine, he just needed someone with 'im. I helped out where I could, but frag, I don't think I woulda been able to take care of that many bitties so close together." He looked closer at the mix and nodded. "Can ya get me out four mugs please?"

"You can do more than you believe," He offered back. He pushed off of the counter to grab the mugs. By now, he knew everyone's favorite and... admittedly brought his own in. 

#1 Radio Host

A small white mug with a pair of yellow handprints on the side, and its matching red twin.

World's Best Trainee 

Jazz smiled at the lineup and pride settled into his spark at the fact that Prowl actually had something in his home. It was no polish, but a mug wasn't nothing.

He poured the drink into the mugs, and called for the twins.

The way they scrambled for their drinks and how Prowl leaned back against the counter again, holding the mug to his lips and smiling at Jazz like he knew a secret...

Jazz had created that moment. 

Maybe he could do more than he believed.

Maybe, with Prowl's help... and without... He could do this.

Chapter Text

Prowl slipped into the apartment like he always did and knew he had a big day. The kids had a chance of meeting other sparklings today, even if they were a little different. It would be a good gauge for Prowl to know if some of what he had been trying to encourage with Bumblebee was paying off or not. If the twins could manage to get along… maybe they could think about the twins going to school in the next decavorn.

It was Thursday, and that meant cereal. It was something simple for him to throw together, but it also gave him a chance to pull the supplies for snacks out. It would need to remain cool, but he could tuck them into a cooler with a few ice packs, so that would be one problem down… He'd need to check in with Blaster at some point if his bitties preferred any kind of snack. For the boys, they were getting sandwiches and–

Jazz slipped out of the hallway and grunted his greeting, "Mornin'. Prowler."

"Good morning, Jazz," He responded gently. "Did you recharge well?"

"Nah, I… I had trouble 'chargin'. Don't worry 'bout it. What about you?" He asked as he headed for the energon press to make his favorite early morning blend.

Prowl hummed quietly as he got the boys' favorite cereals out next, "It was the same as it typically was. I believe the naps over the past few days kept me aware during everything." His doorwings slipped down at the familiar smell of the thick sludge that Jazz was brewing. "Do you know what time Blaster is typically awake?"

Jazz hummed in thought as he leaned on the counter, "I… I think he's awake right now. What do ya need?"

"Just if there are any dietary needs or preferences I need to know about. I am hoping to let the children have a picnic at the park today if the weather holds. It's been getting colder lately. Do you think winter is on its way in?"

"Maybe, weather in Iacon is usually all over. It can be nice 'n sunny one day an' be rainy the next," He explained, but looked over to the nanny. "What snacks are ya bringin'?"

"Sandwiches, gummies, some juice, and I was thinking I could bring some mini waffles from the freezer. Sideswipe likes them cold," Prowl explained. His doorwings bobbed at the amusing memory.

'Cold!' The child demanded, holding his hands up. "I want them cold!"

Prowl blinked as he held the pack in his hands, "They will taste better warm–"

"No, cold! Sire always did them cold and they're better cold!" Sideswipe insisted and stamped his feet. Prowl put the package down and crouched, waiting for the child to stop and look at him. Sideswipe noticed how his nanny acted almost immediately and walked over. Prowl lifted an eyebrow and he pouted. "I want mine cold."

"Alright. You can have yours cold. I'm sorry I did not listen the first time. I just wanted to make sure," Prowl said gently.

Sideswipe nodded and pat his hands, "It's okay, I don't listen always either. Now you know."

Prowl laughed quietly as he stood, going to warm up his and Sunstreaker's only.

"He gets that from his Sire, I think. He was always a little weird," Jazz mused quietly. He watched the energon began to drip into the pot. "Do ya want me to reach out ta Blaster for ya?"

"If you do not mind. I am intending a fast breakfast so I can speak with Sideswipe and Sunstreaker about Blaster's children. Other than two of them being beastformers, is there anything else I need to know about?"

Jazz tipped his head back with a sigh and thought, "…Not really, but I think Blaster's complained about Ramhorn bein' a bit mean, and Steeljaw being a little… much, but I think it's the same way that Sides is."

"I can try to prepare them for Ramhorn. I want them to understand that I don't want them to fight, but if I need them to, they are to come find one of us. It's easier to get them to learn to get help than to learn nuance at their age," Prowl said passively as he began to cut out some of the sandwiches. "Could you- oh."

"Oh?" Jazz asked as he looked over his shoulder. "Ya okay, Prowler?"

The nanny sighed and put his knife down, "Yes. I… I looked at the episode synopsises for the rest of the season and something we need to prepare for is the fact that Tobor's carrier dies in the episode tomorrow."

Jazz let out a long slow breath, "Oh, that's bad."

"Yes. I… Would you be alright if I remained here for a few days? I… I have a fairly certain understanding that Sunstreaker knows, but Sideswipe won't. I want to be here in case he needs me. Pay me for my typical hours during that, this is… I need to know he will be okay," Prowl said slowly. "While I do not doubt the psychologists that the creators of the show employ, this will still be difficult for him."

"Wait, who dies?" Jazz cut in. "If it's Tobor, this is goin' to destroy sparklings all over the city–"

Prowl shook his head, "No, it is Tobor's carrier. She passes away from something unrelated, but it gives Rock 'em and Sock 'em a chance to help their friend through his loss. Additionally, there will be a warning before the episode starts for the viewers to go warn their creators of what will happen while the opening theme plays."

"Smart," Jazz groaned. He sighed, "How 'bout I call Blaster and you ping Smoky that we might need an emergency session later?"

"Agreed. In case he will be busy for similar reasons, I will at least ask for advice. I… Do you think we should reschedule to prepare them?" Prowl asked. He needed to know what the creator wanted. This was not a call he could make, no matter what he wanted to do.

Jazz sighed and ran a hand down his face, "I… I've told them that their creators are dead, but they were pretty tired, and they haven' really asked. I think Sunny's been tellin' Sides to not ask."

"He's trying to protect Sideswipe," Prowl agreed.

He nodded, "Yeah, but it's not doin' us any good. I… is there anyway we could push the episode back?"

"They will not be happy," Prowl warned. "It could make it worse."

"Then what would you do?" Jazz asked as patiently as he could, but he needed to admit, he was frustrated. He didn't want to tell his kids that their creators were dead, that they would just put it together someday, but… he knew he needed to.

Prowl laid one hand on top of the other and he stared at his work, avoiding Jazz's gaze, "I would watch the episode with them, and be there for them when they have questions. I want you to be there, and I will be there as well."

Jazz winced when he saw Prowl's posture, "I… Sorry, I didn't mean ta yell at you, Prowler. I… Alright. I just need to hope that none of Blaster's kids bring it up. Thanks for your input, Prowl."

The nanny only nodded and returned to his work, "It's my job."

He chuckled and began to root around in the cupboard for his mug, "Then lemme rephrase. 'I appreciate your input. You're right.'"

"Noted. Thank you," Prowl mused. His doorwings fluttered again, the action not going unmissed by Jazz. He smiled, pouring his pressed energon.

The boys dug into their cereal with a beloved fervor and were clearly communicating through their bond. Prowl didn't think to be concerned, especially as they were both eating happily. "Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, I have something I want to talk with you about. Can you get to a point where you do not have food in your mouth?" Sunstreaker froze in concern, but Prowl held his gaze patiently, "It is nothing that could be seen as bad, I don't believe."

Sideswipe gulped down his food, "What's going on?"

Prowl waited for Sunstreaker to finish before he explained, "Jazz has a coworker named Blaster. He has some creations of his own. He is hoping that you can have a playdate with them."

"New friends?" Sideswipe perked up, even as Sunstreaker's mood soured slightly.

"Maybe. I want to give you a few things to keep in mind," Prowl said carefully as he eyed Jazz. The radio host nodded and he continued. "The first is that I would at least like you to introduce yourself. I want you to be able to make friends with these children, but I will not force you to. If you want to remain by the adults, that will remain your choice. If you want to play by yourself, please tell us where you are going, and stay within sight."

He swallowed, "Secondly, some of the creations may be a bit… much. There is nothing wrong with that, but you are allowed to want to relax for a little while. But Jazz has heard that one of the creations could be a bit mean. I do not know what that means, but if someone is being mean to you, I want you to find me or Jazz. These kids are going to be bigger than you, and while I trust Blaster in his parenting ability, sometimes, there is only so much a creator can do."

He looked between the boys, "You are good people. You look after those smaller than you, and you look after those you care about. I trust you two to know better than start fights. Right now, you cannot fight back without getting more hurt." He let a wide grin cover his face, "Let the adults fight for you."

Jazz shivered at the look on his face before he nodded, "Prowler's right. When you're a little older, you can pick yer fights, but this isn't one you'd win. Besides, Blaster is a friend of mine. I want ya all to be able to get along."

"But do not force yourselves," Prowl cut in quickly. He gave Jazz a pointed look and Jazz nodded, leaning back. "I want you all to enjoy yourselves. That's all."

Sideswipe nodded happily and bounced in his seat, "Okay! Sounds like fun!"

Sunstreaker looked less enthusiastic and frowned at Prowl. The nanny knew exactly what he was trying to say and nodded, "I only want you to introduce yourself. If they are blocking any way of you getting out, remember what I said about someone doing that you don't want to?"

"Yep! Get away and if you can't, yell!" Sideswipe chirped. Sunstreaker relaxed and nodded silently.

Jazz winced, knowing he was going back to one of his silent times. He put together a message about it to Prowler and got back a quietly acknowledgement. This wasn't going to be good.

They could only hope Bumblebee or Hot Rod weren't going to be there. If they were mean to Bumblebee, all bets on the boys fighting were off. If they were mean to the boys while Hot Rod was there… he wouldn't let 'his best buds' get bullied.

No, they would hope.

Prowl nodded, "And there is another thing. You remember Tinner from Rock 'em Sock 'em?" Oh, thank Primus that he had taken the time to pay attention to the boys' shows.

Sideswipe nodded, "She's the cybercat beastformer! She's smart but a little weird."

"And ya remember how they don't treat her any differently?" Jazz asked slowly. The boys nodded and Jazz smiled, "Two of Blaster's bitties are also beastformers. They're not much different from ya, they just look a little different."

"Yeah, we know," Sideswipe huffed in the most diva tone that either had heard yet.

Jazz laughed and nodded, "Alright, I'm just makin' sure, bitty mine. Well, just go ahead and eat up. Prowler's plannin' a picnic for all of us, so we'll be out fer a little longer, aight?" Sunstreaker nodded sullenly while Sideswipe cheered.

Sunstreaker was not letting go of Prowl once they made it to the park. Sideswipe was jogging ahead with Jazz, but the older twin was pouting and clinging tightly to Prowl. The nanny hummed knowingly and knelt, "Sunstreaker? I will not make you interact more than introducing yourself. Do you want me to carry you?" The child pouted and nodded. He curled into Prowl's plating when he was scooped up and Prowl continued on.

He looked ahead and noticed that an unfamilir mech with bright red and yellow plating was plating with four sparklings. They were all about Sideswipe's size, if not a little smaller. Well, if they were cassettes, it would make sense that they were a little smaller. 

Jazz took Sideswipe by the hand and waved at the mech, earning a grin and a hug that had both slapping the other on the back. Sideswipe looked up at the new mech in wonder and tugged on Jazz's hand, asking something. Jazz grinned and motioned to the mech, clearly introducing himself. He ruffled Sideswipe's head, making Sunstreaker whine and curl up more on himself. "I will not touch you unless you allow it," Prowl whispered in reassurance. Sunstreaker grumbled, but said nothing.

"Prowler, c'mon!" Jazz yelled as he waved him over. "This is Blaster, my best friend from work!" Prowl sighed and picked up the pace, trying not to rock Sunstreaker too much.

It only took a moment, but Prowl was soon joining them, "Hello. It is nice to meet you in the metal."

"Wow, Jazz wasn't kidding," Blaster laughed. "Cool as anything. Well, I'm Blaster, nice to finally meet you too. Jazz has said nothing but good things about you." He nodded to Sunstreaker and smiled, "You must be Sunny."

Sunstreaker glared, but Prowl hummed, "He prefers Sunstreaker. He will be sitting with us today. He's not feeling up to much interaction, but we asked that he come."

"Fair enough," Blaster nodded. He smiled to Sunstreaker and shrugged, "Hey, we all have days like this, Sunstreaker. Sorry about calling you Sunny, it won't happen again. We're probably going to be talking about boring adult things, but you're welcome to stay by us." Sunstreaker's face twitched and he nodded back reluctantly. "Let me call my little mixtapes over and you can come hang out with us, okay?" Sunstreaker nodded again. Prowl put a hand to his back and he sighed, closing his eyes.

Blaster turned and waved his hands, "Ramhorn, Steeljaw! Rewind, Eject! Come here! Meet Jazz's bitties!"

Prowl took a step closer to Jazz, letting Jazz take the brunt of the attention of the unfamiliar children as they came running over. Sideswipe beeped in surprise, but he waved happily as they came up. Blaster knelt and tucked the two beastformers under his arms as the humanoid siblings peeked around his sides. Jazz rubbed Sideswipe's back encouragingly, "Want to say hi, Sides?"

"I'm Sideswipe, I'm 34 vorns, and I like Rock 'em Sock 'em," He said happily, waving.

Ramhorn scoffed, "Rock 'em Sock 'em is stupid."

Blaster's mouth fell open, "Ramhorn!"

"No, it's not!" Sideswipe huffed. He crossed his arms, "It's fun and I like Rock 'em!"

"You look like Rock 'em," One of the younger of Blaster's kids piped up. It was the black mechling with the red face, "I'm Rewind. I'm 56 vorns. I prefer Rescue Bots, but Rock 'em Sock 'em is good too." He pointed around his creator to the other humanoid mechling, "That's my twin Eject."

Sideswipe lit up and pointed to Sunstreaker, "That's my twin! We're both twins!"

Eject looked out, "Do you know how to play soccer? Can we play, Creator?"

Prowl cocked his helm at the term. Typically, it was Sire or Carrier at their age, but... Oh, of course. Some Carrier Hosts produced without a contributing partner when their sparks got too big for their tape deck. He had seen a few cases, but it was rare. If anything, it usually made contacting any available next of kin difficult, but they wouldn't be any different than other mechs.

"Sunstreaker isn't feeling too good today, so he'll be with us, but you'd need to be careful with Sideswipe. He's younger than you all," Blaster said carefully. 

The last of his bitties ruffled his plating, "We'll look after him, Creator! We promise!" He grinned at Sideswipe with all of his teeth, not helping soothe Prowl's nerves, "I'm Steeljaw! I'm Blaster's oldest. I'm 84 vorns. That's Ramhorn, he's the middle child. He's 72 vorns old."

Prowl looked to Sunstreaker, "Can you give them a wave, Sunstreaker? Do you want me to give your introduction for you?" He got a nod and he hummed. Sunstreaker glared down at he others and gave a very short, forceful wave. Blaster laughed at his pout, earning him more of a glare. "Alright, Sunstreaker, you've done what we asked. You don't need to do anything more."

The nanny looked over the others, "He's not having a good day, but we asked him to come out. This is Sunstreaker, Sideswipe's twin. If he does come out, please give him a little bit of space. He doesn't like others touching him."

"Whatever. Creator, can we go play now?" Ramhorn huffed. Steeljaw growled at him, given his tone, and Blaster sighed.

He released them and ruffled their heads, "Go play, you four. Sides will follow you if he wants. Prowl and I packed some things for lunch, so be good, okay?"

His twins nodded in tandem, "Okay!" They came out from behind him and each grabbed one of Sideswipe's hands, pulling him along, "C'mon, Sideswipe! We're going to play soccer!"

The adults waited until they were out of earshot and Jazz laughed nervously, "They're really goin' for the 'speakin' as one' thing, huh?"

"They're just cute like that," Blaster sighed proudly. "Are yours not like that?"

"Nah, Sunstreaker's quieter than that," Jazz smiled as he looked to his older. "But I love them, no matter what they do." He reached a hand out, but didn't make contact, opting to wait. Sunstreaker's gaze flicked to Prowl and his nanny smiled with a nod. With his seeming permission, Sunstreaker reached out, wanting to be carried by Jazz. "Aw, bitty..." He was swept into Jazz's arms snuggling close. "C'mon, let's go complain about the office sludge and ask Prowler if he has any good stories he can share."

Blaster laughed, "Oh, yeah! Everyone's been dying to meet you, Prowl! They heard about what you taught the bitties about renter's rights. Taught them anything else?"

"Not to be questioned by Enforcers without someone else present," Prowl said stiffly. "Preferably a lawyer or a creator present. I have also taught them to scream if someone tries to kidnap them, but we will be discussing other solutions as they get older."

"Any tips about that? Steeljaw would start screaming if anyone comes to get him. It wouldn't matter if he knows them or not," Blaster laughed. He guided them to the nearby picnic table. Jazz sat and let Sunstreaker sit in his lap. Prowl dug through his subspace and pulled out his favorite outside blanket, bundling it around the older twin before he sat himself. "You really anticipate everything before it becomes a problem, don't you?"

"It is my job. Anticipate, analyze, and act. It is basic training," Prowl said as if he were stating the weather. "It helps us all get ready for whatever might be thrown at us. Most problems can be fixed with a snack, a bandaid, a distraction, a hug, or a nap at this age. As they get older, I hope to encourage them that sharing what is making them uncomfortable will help us fix whatever is causing the discomfort in the first place."

Jazz smiled as he let Sunstreaker play with his hand, "He made a sampler of toast to see what the boys liked on it the most. Sides will eat whatever we put in front of him and Sunny... Just bread. I wouldn'ta thought of it."

"Smart," Blaster mused. "If you ever have an opening, let me know? My mixtapes are a handful, but nothing on what I've heard from Jazz. They used to throw all kinds of tantrums and he was always left guessing."

"I was busy with too much at once, Blaster," Jazz cut in. "I don't know how you do it with just you."

Prowl cut in for Blaster, "Cassettes are known to have better behavior for their creators, as well as the fact that they are easier to contain, for lack of a better way of phrasing it." He nodded to Blaster, earning him a surprised look.

"I feel like I just missed somethin'. Mind sharin'?" Jazz asked knowingly, glancing between his friends.

Blaster looked at Prowl hesitantly, "...Not really."

Prowl bobbed his doorwings in acceptance, "Then I have no reason to share."

"C'mon, you two, I'm your friend, right?" Jazz whined. He hissed and looked down to Sunstreaker. "Bitty, why'd ya need to try and rip my finger off?" Sunstreaker, apparently, only stared at him. 

Prowl chuckled, "If I am to guess, he is trying to tell you that everyone is entitled to their secrets. It is not your place to force the issue, remember?"

Jazz sighed, "Yeah, ya did tell 'em that." He kissed the top of Sunstreaker's head, "Thanks for tellin' me off, bitty mine."

Blaster smiled at the pair, "He's smart for a third decade, Jazz. Sides, too. He's friendly."

"Somethin' he's learnin' from me," He mused. "Prowl made sure they knew about secrets, and what to do if someone's forcin' yer hand, so... Sunstreaker's makin' sure I know what Prowl's teachin' them."

Prowl bowed his head at the praise, "They take to the lessons well-"

They froze when Sunstreaker's head snapped to the side, looking in Sideswipe's direction. He whined in concern, but Prowl was already moving. 

"Stay here!" He said as he slipped out of the seat. He already knew where Sideswipe was, thanks to Sunstreaker, so it took him less than a second to identify where Sideswipe was. An instant assessment did wonders. He didn't look injured, but Ramhorn was saying something to him. Rewind and Eject were staring in shock while Steeljaw was trying to push Ramhorn either. 

But Sideswipe was bawling, and Ramhorn didn't look like he was saying anything friendly.

That was enough to have Prowl running like he was on a murderer's tail. 

The cassette twins noticed Prowl first and froze like a baby petrodeer, crumbling and holding each other. Steeljaw was the next to notice him and crouched, watching the new enemy approach his brother and Sideswipe.

Ramhorn was the last and he bristled to see Prowl bearing down on him. He huffed and pawed at the ground, but Prowl glared at him, "Do not try me." He ripped Sideswipe's blanket from his subspace and bundling him into familiar warmth. Sideswipe was wailing, fighting against him, but Prowl revved his engine, shushing him. "I'm here, Sideswipe. You're safe-"

"SIRE! CARRIER!" Sideswipe cried out, throwing his hands out, and Prowl knew exactly what Ramhorn had been telling Sideswipe. "I want my creators!"

"Oh bitty," Prowl crooned softly and opted to let him go enough that he could at least hold Sideswipe upright. He made sure Sideswipe's blanket stayed wrapped around him, but moved it out of his face. Sideswipe blinked through his tears, immediately latching onto Prowl's face. "I want my Jazzy!"

"He's coming," Prowl whispered, not looking to see if Jazz was coming. He needed to trust. "Look at me, Sideswipe. You're okay-"

Sideswipe shook his head and pointed at Ramhorn, "H-He told me t-that Si-Sire and R-Riri aren't coming back- and -and- and that's what dead means-"

He let out a long, slow breath and nodded, "He's right, Sideswipe. They aren't coming back."

"B-But I didn't know!" He continued. Prowl made no move to stop his crying. He simply held his hands out, ready to let Sideswipe take that first step. "I-I want my creators!"

"They might not be here, Sideswipe, but Jazz is coming," Prowl said. He bobbed his doorwings, using their scanners built in and - bless him - Jazz and Blaster were coming. "Jazz loves you very much, as do I-"

Sideswipe dropped to the ground was he screamed his little vents out. He wasn't blabbering anymore, just straight screaming. 

"Prowler, what happened?" Jazz demanded as he knelt. Sunstreaker squirmed out of his arms and ran to his brother. He wiggled into his brother's blanket and held his brother. 

The nanny turned his helplessness to barely contained fury to Ramhorn, "He explained something he should not have."

Ramhorn glared back, "He's being a bitty about it! His creators are dead! They're not coming back!"

"Oh Primus, Ramhorn!" Blaster spat as he came over. "We're going home. We're going to have a talk about this, this isn't okay." He turned to his friend, "Jazz, I am so sorry-"

"Don' worry about that right now, Blaster. Not upset at ya, we'll talk later," Jazz said, floundering for what to do. Blaster winced, but ushered his creations away from the small group, hissing reprimands to Ramhorn as they went.

Prowl waved him over, "Sideswipe needs to cry it out. Right now, we are going to sit nearby where Sideswipe will be able to see us when he is done."

"But shouldn't we comfort him?" Jazz demanded, but Prowl shook his head as he fully sat a few feet away from the sobbing child. He gestured to Sunstreaker. 

The older twin was holding his brother to him and letting his tiny engine purr as he rubbed his brother's plating. If he was saying anything, it was over their bond because his mouth wasn't moving. Either way... He was also crying, but keeping it together better than his brother.

Prowl swallowed thickly, "There's nothing we can do right now. Sunstreaker knows what he needs. Sideswipe needs to grieve."

"I..." Jazz started, but he sighed. He twisted his hands as he knelt next to Prowl. "They saw their parents at the funeral, but no one actually explained-"

"What's happened has happened," Prowl cut him off. He pat the spot next to him. "We are going to let Sideswipe and Sunstreaker cry until they are done, and we will either have lunch here or at home. We will take this as the boys need it. If they need answers, we explain. If they need to sleep, we let them sleep. If they need to cuddle, we stock up on snacks and do not get up until they're ready."

Jazz swallowed thickly, "I'm going to need to get to work, I can't skip today."

Prowl stared him down, "Then you are going to give Sideswipe some kind of sign that you are still there between songs because he needs to know you are still coming home to him."

He nodded shakily and looked back to his charges. Sideswipe was still crying like he had been stabbed, but Sunstreaker was still silent. 

They would be like that for a while. Eventually, Sideswipe cried himself out and he slowly sat up. Sunstreaker was still latched to him, looking over them. Prowl slowly reached out, not to hold them, but to offer them as an indication, "Do you want to go home, Sideswipe?"

He looked to his older brother for help and Sunstreaker nodded to him. He turned to Prowl and pointed to his right hand. "Hungry," He added.

"We can eat when we get home. Whatever you want, you two. I promise," Prowl swore. Sunstreaker nodded and then pointed to Jazz. "He can drive you both, and he'll stay as long as he can, but he needs to go into work."

"Every word I say on the air, bitties, will be with you two in mind," Jazz said. "I want to be with you, but I need to be there."

"You can play their song. They love that song," Prowl added. Jazz nodded and the nanny continued. "He will come home, and I can wake you up when he gets there. But until then... Let's go home."

Sideswipe nodded and whimpered, unusually, but expectedly, quiet.

Prowl took one look at the room and frowned. "Put the twins on the bed. Help me move the spare, we're putting them together," He ordered quietly. He had a suspicion that the twins would need them both for as long as they could, and they would probably do better in the comfort of their own room.

Jazz didn't question him as he put the sleeping pair down on top of their duvet. He adjusted their blankets around them, and joined Prowl in moving their bookshelf off to the side. Luckily, Jazz also knew a tip for moving the spare berth and hit two secret buttons on the underside in tandem. Small wheels popped up and the pair moved the furniture over to combine into a berth that was larger than even Jazz's bed.  

Sunstreaker yawned and looked up, but Jazz cooed, "We're joining you in a moment. Prowler and I will be sleepin' in here tonight, okay? We're not leavin' ya a moment longer than we need."

He looked to his brother in concern and settled back down next to him, "Okay."

"You did good, telling us there was something wrong with Sideswipe. We're proud of you," Prowl whispered as he crawled up the bed to join the boys. He sat next to them, "I have what was supposed to be lunch, so let me know when you're ready, okay?" Sunstreaker nodded, watching Jazz this time.

He still stood at the foot of the bed, looking petrified, but he braced himself. He heaved himself up to join the others and curled against Sideswipe's back. Prowl looked across the boys and smiled weakly. 

Neither of them wanted to be in the position to comfort a grieving 34 vorn old, but it was their reality. They would get through this. 

With a nod, they both set their engines to idle, soaking the room in white noise. Sunstreaker let out a tired huff and settled in with his younger twin, determined to hold it together.

He had hated to be the one who understood more than he needed to. It was something his Riri always said was his strength where his younger brother covered his weak points.

He had hated to be the one who understood what those flashing lights in the dead of night was. His Sire loved watching those crime shows, and while he might not always understand what some of the terms meant, he knew it was never anything good, despite what Rescue Bots showed.

He had hated to be the one who understood what the destroyed wall of their house meant. His brother always played with the blocks, but then again, it was always his brother knocking down his work. He could guess what it meant.

He had hated to be the one who understood that he needed to defend his brother from this. His strength was that he could understand what was going on, and he knew his creators were... 

He had an action figure once, Caplurr as he had been called, when he was much younger. He had accidentally closed a door on it, snapping it into several different pieces. His Sire had tried to fix it, but he held a funeral for him in secret. Sunstreaker knew what death meant. It meant that it was gone, but never gone.

So when he overheard the Enforcers whispering the word while looking at them in pity...

Sunstreaker took a vow to protect Sideswipe as long as he could. Despite their names, Sideswipe was the sun in Sunstreaker's life, his own blinding light. He couldn't imagine life without the other half of his spark.

When the funeral came, and Sideswipe was still clueless about what was going on, Sunstreaker kept his audials open. He heard excuses. 

"Don't have the room."

"Not enough to feed them."

"Won't be able to make them happy."

"Are you all FRAGGIN' KIDDING ME?"

The last one had caught his attention and he turned to face someone he couldn't recognize, but he seemed familiar in some sense. It was a tall-ish mech, at least in their family, with a visor so blue that it reminded Sunstreaker of the stars that their creators had put on their ceiling when they were 25 vorns old.

He seemingly glared at the rest of the adults in the room as their creators laid on slabs, still as death. Sunstreaker could understand where Sideswipe was confused. "They're just sleeping," They were told, as if they would wake up. "You'll see them again in the Well someday," They were cooed to, as if it were that easy. "They've lost their life," They were grunted to, as if they could find it again.

This mech threw his hands up, "You're all arguin' over who isn't takin' 'em when ya should be fightin' over who is-"

"Jazzy, your job-" A mech next to him cut in, with black plating and a yellow visor that matched the yelling mech's. Jazzy, apparently.

'Jazzy?' Sideswipe asked over their bond and Sunstreaker offered back confirmation. It was what he had heard.

The mech threw his hand out to the new speaker, "No, Rico! I'm not standin' for it! I'll figure it out, but I ain't about risk them endin' up in the system an' gettin' separated! They deserve better than this!" He headed over to the kids and knelt in front of them, "Hey, mechs. I'm your big cousin. How would ya like to come stay with me?"

"Jazzy?" Sideswipe asked curiously.

The mech smiled shakily and nodded, "Yeah, lil' guy. I'm Jazzy. C'mon, let's go home. Tell your Sire and Riri goodbye."

Sunstreaker didn't want to say anything. Goodbye, his Carrier had explained once, sometimes meant forever. He didn't want forever. If he didn't tell someone goodbye, maybe it wouldn't be forever. Not again. Not after what happened last time.

So while Sideswipe smiled and waved and said goodbye, Sunstreaker stared at his creators, dedicating them to memory, and cried quietly.

Chapter Text

Sideswipe woke up screaming. 

That shouldn't have been any kind of surprise, but it still jerked Jazz out of his own light doze. He leaned back in alarm as Sideswipe thrashed for a moment, but Prowl revved his engine in a wordless attempt to get his attention.

It managed to break him partially out of it, and Sideswipe looked around desperately before finally spotting Jazz. "Jazzy!" He wailed, reaching forward to cling to his guardian. "Sire and Riri are dead!"

"I know, bitty mine, I know," Jazz whispered and held him close. He rubbed Sideswipe's back, letting him cry it out again.

Primus, he hated this. He wanted to be the one to break the news to Sideswipe. Well, no one wants to tell a child that their parents are dead, but he wanted to do it on their own time. He didn’t hate Blaster, but this was going to need an explanation.

Sunstreaker was watching the pair before he turned to look over his shoulder. He locked eyes with Prowl, who raised his arm. Sunstreaker shuffled underneath it, snuggling close. Prowl used minimal movement to reach into his subspace and pulled out a few energon pouches. The little packs were perfect for sparkling lunches, but they were also perfect to refuel sobbing children.

Sunstreaker accepted the pouch without a word, gulping the energon down gratefully before making grabby hands for another. Prowl just passed the next over. He handed another three over to Jazz for when Sideswipe was ready to having something to drink.

Prowl shuffled down some so he could lean closer to Sunstreaker, "You did good, Sunstreaker. It is ok to mourn. We will look after your brother until you're ready. They would be proud of you."

Sunstreaker's eyes welled up again and his engine hiccuped as he rubbed at his eyes. Prowl knew it wasn't good for him, but knew he needed pressure, so he didn't question it. He only pulled Sunstreaker as close as he dared, letting both of the boys finally have a chance to mourn.

It was only an hour before lunch, surprisingly, but Sideswipe's stomach grumbled. Prowl hummed and used his free arm to rifle through his subspace again. He pulled the basket that was still neatly packed and put it on the bed.

It must have shocked Sideswipe out of his grief long enough for him to stop crying to stare. "Picnic in bed?" He mumbled in confusion.

Jazz smiled, taking the reins, "Yeah, Sides. Picnic in bed. Can ya sit up for me?" Sideswipe tried, but Jazz planted his hand on his back and helped him up. "Now, let's see what Prowler packed, huh?" He opened the basket and leaned past Sideswipe to gasped, pleased.

Prowl internally smiled, knowing just what game he was playing at. He was trying to redirect Sideswipe's attention into something more positive. Hopefully, it would be enough to get him to eat.

It seemed to work as Sideswipe crawled up and looked inside. He hummed quietly and began rooting around. He didn't seem entirely passionate about what he found, but he didn't seem uninterested in it either. Jazz worried that his youngest wasn't as enthusiastic about food as he typically was, but… He was still mourning, not being enthusiastic came with the territory.

Sunstreaker squirmed in Prowl's hold and he was let loose. He wandered next to his brother and began to root through the basket with more intent. Reaching in, he pulled out one of the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches Prowl had made. 

Then another and third. 

Sunstreaker hummed angrily and pulled on his brother's arm, making Sideswipe grumble and pull his arm away. Sunstreaker reached for him again, but Prowl took his wrist in hand before he could touch Sideswipe, "He doesn't want to be touched right now, Sunstreaker. Let's give him some space."

He looked upset, but nodded. He grabbed one of the sandwiches and pushed it towards Prowl. The next sandwich, he looked at Jazz and pulled his arm back. Jazz raised his hands just in time to catch it. "Thanks, buddy. I appreciate it," He said quietly. Sunstreaker grunted and began to dig into his own sandwich.

Sideswipe was starting to get desperate in his search and began crying again. Jazz leaned in, "Sides, what are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for Riri's sandwich. For picnics, he always let me have a sandwich with no crusts and jelly and-and-" He began to cry again. 

Jazz snapped his fingers, "You know what? I think Prowl forgot it in the fridge this morning! I'll be back in a moment!" He kissed Sideswipe wetly on the top of the head and took off. Prowl took a bite of his own sandwich quickly before Sideswipe could ask him to confirm or deny.

The kids took his word as law. They knew he would refuse to lie to them. This would be one instance he wished he could, but... One lie would be enough to break all trust in the moment, even if later, they could all laugh at it.

Sideswipe curled up next to the basket and sniffled, "Prowl? I miss my Riri and Sire."

He nearly choked swallowing, but he managed and cleared his throat, "I know, Sideswipe. If you want, we can spend today writing down stories about them, the things you want to remember, so they'll never leave you?"

"...And if I don't want to remember? What if I don't want to remember that my Sire and Riri are never coming back?" He demanded. He pushed the basket over, but Prowl reached out a hand to him. Sideswipe crumbled, grasping for the hand, "I thought we were having a big sleepover! That- That they were going to come pick us up!"

Prowl swallowed thickly again, holding Sunstreaker close, "Do you have any questions, Sideswipe? I know this is hard, but whatever you're feeling? That's normal. It will hurt and you're going to be mad and sad and scared... That's okay. Let yourself feel that. It's okay, Sideswipe. I know it doesn't feel like it, but Jazz and I will do everything in our power to make sure you're okay,"

Sideswipe's lip quivered, "I-I... Can we have Riri's pasta tonight?"

"With no crunch?" Sunstreaker whispered, looking up.

He nodded, "We can have Riri's pasta, with no crunch this time." He smiled at the children, opting to let his pain show through. He might not have ever known the creators, but they did a pit of a job raising their bitties so far. "I'll ask Jazz to get as many of their recipes as we can, and see if I can get some stories about your Sire and Riri. You do not need to forget them, and you do not need to stop loving them. Just because someone is dead, does not mean we stop loving them."

"Do... Where did they go?" Sideswipe asked, wringing his hands. "Riri's sister said that they went to the Well, but Sire's brother said that they went to the Pit because they drank too much bad stuff. I don't want them to go to the bad place."

Oh, Prowl was going to murder Jazz if he ever looked at engex again. It would need to be cast out of the habsuite immediately.

"What we do know is that all sparks return to the Well once the body has died. What happens afterward is... fought over by religious teachers, but there has never been any evidence of a place we call The Pit. It is a place some use as a warning to live a good life, but in the millions of vorns we have existed, longer than you and me and Jazzy and everyone else you know have lived combined, there has never been a single thing to prove that it exists," Prowl said definitively. "If you would like, we can read on it together so you know that your creators did not go to the bad place."

Sideswipe wept again, but it did not seem entirely in anguish. "S-So they're not in time out for being bad?"

"No, Sideswipe, they're not in time out," Prowl affirmed. He saw something out of the corner of his eye and noticed Jazz hovering behind the door, just out of sight. He looked worried, and Prowl jerked his head, biding him to enter the room.

Jazz swept in with a large smile and held up a plate, "I found it! It was in the fridge, Prowl must have been keeping it there." He showed a sandwich to Sideswipe and Prowl knew it was the sandwich that Sunstreaker had thrown at him. 

Sideswipe melted and grabbed the sandwich, "Thank you, Prowl."

"Jazz was the one to get it. Do you think he should be able to have an extra sandwich for helping me out?" Prowl tempted, eyeing Jazz.

He mouthed 'thank you' as Sideswipe nodded and dug back into the basket. "Do we have a game plan today, Prowl?"

"We do. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are going to tell me stories about their creators and I am going to write them down. I am going to make the pasta and sauce again, and I would like to have that recipe book you mentioned. If you or any of your family have stories about them, I would like to have them written down and shared. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker will not forget their creators," Prowl stated.

Sunstreaker tugged on his hand and he looked down, "Yes, Sunstreaker?"

"Are... are we staying with Jazz forever now? Is... he our new creator?" He asked nervously.

The adults shared a quick look and Prowl took a deep breath in, "In the eyes of others, he is, but you do not need to believe what others do unless there is proof. Do you want Jazz to look after you?" 

Sideswipe whined, "We want you too."

"And I am here," Prowl soothed gently. "But would you want anyone else other than he and I to take care of you?" He noted that he said 'he and I', not 'he or I'. It... was a slip of the tongue.

"No," Sunstreaker stated, sure as anything. 

"Do you want to call Jazz anything but Jazz or Jazzy? You do not need to if you do not want to, but you are always free to change your mind," Prowl continued. 

Sideswipe thought and shook his head, "Just Jazzy."

"Then I'll still be yer Jazzy," His guardian smiled as he kissed Sideswipe's head again. "No one's ever goin' to replace yer Riri and Sire, you two. Never. Not me, not Prowler, no one," He promised. He settled back down on the bed. "I still need to head into work today-"

"No!" Sideswipe begged as he lunged at Jazz, sandwich forgotten. "Please please please don't leave-"

Jazz pulled him close and shuddered his own sigh, "I need to go, bitty mine. I... yeah." He gripped his creation closer and... a few tears slipped out from underneath his visor.

Prowl tensed as he received a ping. 'I can't tell him that if I don't go to work, I don't make money and I risk...'

He could risk losing the kids if it managed to get out that he couldn't provide for them.

It was a feeling anyone looking after children could understand. 

"Sideswipe, I want you to pick a word that Jazz can say. Something like the word 'the' or 'song'. Something he can say a lot without sounding weird," Prowl said. "When we put the radio on, I want you to know that every time Jazz says that word, he is thinking of you and your brother. It has to be something you will remember."

Sideswipe thought for a moment before his eyes lit up.

Coming back to the station like this felt like he was leaving Prowl to handle the disarming of one bomb while he was going to handle his own. 

Everyone was still on edge from when he had blown up at them in the break room, but they could clearly tell that there was some additional tension between the closest pair of friends in the station.

Blaster winced as he filled up his mug with the pressed sludge from the break room as Jazz grabbed his own. The carrier host swallowed, "I had a talk with Ramhorn. It… I’ll explain later. Is Sideswipe doing okay?"

"Prowler’s got him calmed down, but yeah. Look, I’m not angry at you, but I wanna know what the frag that was. I know you’ve said yer bitty has a temper, but that was downright cruel," Jazz stated. He watched his friend from the corner of his visor. "So what happened?"

Blaster sighed and put his mug down, "Ramhorn was angry because Sideswipe stole the ball from him. He overheard him telling my twins that he was staying with you because his creators were dead and he couldn’t wait for them to come pick him up. He… I’m going to look into different therapies for him. I can’t ever undo what he did, but I’m going to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Jazz snorted bitterly as he shook his head, “Are you tellin’ me that your bitty pulled the ‘oh yeah? Well yer creators are dead’ card because Sides was beatin’ him in a game?”

”I think I am,” Blaster laughed weakly and shook his head in disbelief. “I’m not expecting you to want to them to see each other again for a while-"

"No, mech, I don't. Not without an apology." 

"-but I'll see what I can do to get him to apologize,” Blaster finished. He finally turned to Jazz fully, “I’m really sorry about what happened.”

Jazz sighed and shook his head, “Mech, I’m not mad at you. It happens, kids say some weird slag. Pit, I remember that Sides came up ta me a few weeks ago, pulled on his eyelids and said ‘Jazzy, it hurts when I do this.’ And the only thin’ I could tell him was not ta do it!”

Blaster chuckled and smiled wistfully, “Yeah, it takes a while for them to grow out of that. All of mine still do.” He looked back to his best friend, “We still good?” He held out his fist.

”Yeah, mech,” Jazz grinned and tapped his own clenched hand against Blaster’s. “We’re good. But seriously. Prowler’s not goin’ to let Ramhorn near Sides unless he knows that it ain’t gonna happen again. Probably for the kids too. He knows they’ll bite.”

That had been one possibility he and Prowl discussed before Jazz left. Sunstreaker was too protective and too aggressive to not attack Ramhorn unless he felt that the older mechling knew not to mess with his brother again. Nothing would be off limits.

Blaster nodded and rubbed the back of his neck, “Don’t I know it?” He smiled weakly, “I might end up taking my older two for a bit of a thing, if he would be okay to have the twins over? Just throwing that out there, I know you got a lot on your plate.”

Jazz hemmed and hawed for a moment, “I’ll… let him know, but yeah, I’m not sure how long we’re goin’ to need. And Blaster? You’re ok. I know your bitties are precious, and how Ramhorn can be. You can only do so much.”

“Thanks, Jazz. How are they handling you being here?” He asked. He grabbed his mug and waved Jazz out to the his host booth. 

With another sigh, Jazz trailed next to him, “Prowler advised that we pick a word so they know every time I say it, they know I’m still thinkin’ of ‘em.” He let Blaster open the door to his booth and slipped in. “I’ll let ya guess the word, mech. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

Prowl was using one of his note taking apps from his training to get different anecdotes from the twins. With them going all over, he was needing to piece together what he could.

“And then the Prime raised his sword against the Predacon-“

“No, you idiot, he tried to talk it down!”

“Dummy, he tried to fight it!”

Prowl clicked his tongue, silencing the boys as he began to suspect that each were told their own versions. “Perhaps,” He started, “Sideswipe can tell his version first, and then Sunstreaker, you can tell your version. There does not need to be a correct version, just the one that matters to you.”

Sunstreaker pouted, but Prowl set a drawing pad in front of him. “Can you draw me a picture of them? We can put it in a scrapbook,” He suggested. “So we don’t forget.”

The boy nodded and grabbed the notepad to toddle off to the table. Prowl turned to Sideswipe, “So, the brave Prime heard about the village in trouble, and he took with him an old medic, two squires, and a ninja?” Not the group he would have picked, but for Sideswipe, who thrived on funny stories and friendship, it was perfect. 

“No! The ninja was in training too! His teacher died and he wanted to do things right!” Sideswipe corrected. He kicked his feet. “They began this super cool journey to protect the village from the Predacons and they made a lot of friends along the way!” He continued to chatter happily, Prowl taking notes in hopes of putting them in order. It would take a while, but… the framework of a cohesive story began to emerge and Prowl realized…

This was an entire epic. It was an ever growing story that the creators would tell, passing off stories to each other every night to keep things new. It was a work of wonder and… 

Prowl might not be able to do this.

He was structure, he wasn’t the most creative person in the room. He did monotone voices for story time, he could barely put emotion into his own voice.

No, he would need Jazz for this.

”Now remember, listeners, we have a long night ahead of ya! Tune in, get ready, for CIBR, Iacon’s Best Radio! Up next, we have Ballad of the Battle, sung by conjunxes, Ironhide and Chromia! Lookie here! Ironhide has a note for his bonded: ‘This one’s for you, sweet spark!’ Awww, ain’t that the sweetest thing! Now, onto the song!”

Sunstreaker’s story, unsurprisingly, was much different. The characters were still the same old medic and Prime, but instead of the squires being untrained, they were skilled warriors and brawlers, and instead of the ninja, it was a terrifying femme who had lost her partner. It was a testament to the strength and seriousness of an actual battle. It was maybe a bit much, but it had good structure. Even Prowl could digest it in a way that didn’t seem too cutesy.

It felt very real. He could appreciate that.

But it was no less an epic as Sideswipe’s story. It had fewer characters, and it followed a better flow, but… he knew he couldn’t tell the boy about fighting to the death, not like Sideswipe had. 

Given the look in his optic though… Nothing could change. 

So Prowl wrote down the information, understanding the flow a little better than Sideswipe pinging all over the place. 

He only faltered when Sunstreaker described a character similar to one that Sideswipe had brought up, but in more detail. It was a femme with extra limbs and similar to that of a Fate weaver of Eukaris. 

He must have shown something on his face because Sunstreaker pat his leg gently, “Spiders are bad. Can I kill spiders?”

”Let… let me handle the spiders,” Prowl said gently. “Most spiders are good.”

”But not all,” He argued and crossed his arms. “Some spiders, I’ll kill.”

Prowl sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to get anywhere else right now. “Okay, but only if you stomp on them. They can be fast, and they can bite, so you need to be quick.”

”Okay,” Sunstreaker nodded happily and pat Prowl’s leg again. “I’ll kill the spiders for you.”

”Thank you, Sunstreaker,” Prowl smiled gently. “And this spider femme, she had a history with the warrior femme?”

Sunstreaker nodded, “Spider femme killed scary femme’s partner.” He paused and curled up. “Scary femme was angry that her partner died.”

Prowl put the notepad down and leaned down to Sunstreaker’s level, “I believe she would be, yes. She could have wanted revenge. She probably didn’t want to deal with what was making her sad, so she became angry. Did anyone make her feel bad about it?”

”No,” Sunstreaker said. He swallowed and played with his hands. “Sure always said that they had friends die too. They understood. She… She got a new partner and did what she could to keep him safe.”

”She wanted to protect those she cared about, and she had the ability to do that,” Prowl agreed. Oh, this was perfect. He wanted to sing the praises of these virtues’ creators for having adjusted at least one of theirs. It was likely why he was handling this even remotely as well as he was. 

Sunstreaker looked to Sideswipe, playing with the crayons and Prowl followed his line of sight. “You do not need to protect him by yourself, but I know you will be there for him.”

”Yeah,” Sunstreaker whispered. “I love him. Riri told me to keep him safe, and he’ll help me with friends.”

”Sideswipe is very good at that,” He agreed again. “Sunstreaker, the child this morning… I do not know why he was mean, but do you blame the other children?”

Sunstreaker swiveled his head and frowned, “No. You don’t punish me for what Sideswipe does.” 

His logic was weird sometimes, but Prowl knew what he meant. “Good, that’s the right way to think about it. Jazz will talk with Ramhorn’s creator and find out more. If he apologizes, would you be alright to let Sideswipe play with him again without fighting?”

”Only if he means it,” He grumbled. “If he’s not sorry, I’ll bite him.”

”No biting,” Prowl tried to correct. “Remember, avoid the person who makes you feel bad first. Then what do we do if they continue?”

Sunstreaker thought, “Tell them to go away. And yell. Then I can fight.” He nodded to himself, clearly having some kind of plan.

His nanny sighed, but relented, “Please do not go looking for a fight, but… yes. Those are the right steps. Now…” He stood up and gestured to the kitchen, “Who would like to help me with Riri’s pasta?”

The twins’ heads snapped up in sync.

”Hey, all you beautiful bots and bitties out there! We got 'nother tune coming out for ya! It’s Windblade’s ‘Striving for Excellence’ with a singer straight from the opera halls of Vos, Starscream! Remember, we are CIBR, Iacon’s Best Radio!”

Prowl was glad he had put a skewer down the middle so both of the boys could have their own side to arrange the cheese on. The radio was going in the background and… why not? 

“Boys, I’m going to call Jazz at work, okay? Do you both promise to just say hi and you’re making dinner? I won’t say anything, so it will be up to you. Remember, you cannot say my name,” He coached. 

They shared a quick look and Sideswipe nodded seriously, “I’ll talk for us. Sunny doesn’t want his voice on the radio.”

”Alright, but make sure you tell him that Sunstreaker said hello, alright?” Prowl checked. Sideswipe nodded again. 

Prowl had all but recognized the public call line that was mentioned on the radio nearly every hour and dialed.

”Hello, CIBR, Iacon’s Best Radio. How can I help you?” The receptionist asked, using nearly a nasal tone. Prowl winced  as it made his spine shudder at the sound.

He steeled himself, “Hi, I would like to see if Jazz’s sparklings would be able to tell him hello on the line. Sideswipe wishes to tell him something.”

“Sir, this isn’t that kind of show. Can’t you call Jazz directly?”

“Is Jazzy on yet?” Sideswipe asked loudly, pulling on Prowl’s hands. “I want my Jazzy! I want to tell him I’m making dinner!!!”

There was a pause on the line, “One moment.”

On the radio across the room, the song began to draw to a close. “Remember, Iacon, that was Windblade and Starscream’s ‘Strive for Excellence!’ Looks like we have a someone on the line. What’s your name, Caller?”

Prowl leaned in so Sideswipe could be heard on his line without going on speaker. The boy giggled, “Sideswipe.”

Jazz laughed heartily, “Hello there, Sideswipe! Are you being good for your nanny? How’s Sunstreaker doing?”

Sideswipe giggled harder, “We’re being good! We’re making dinner! Riri’s pasta!”

“Am excellent pick, bitty! Looks like I gotta go here, but remember, I’m always just a call away,” Jazz finished, his voice sounding choked for a moment. “Be good for your nanny now, alright? I’ll see you two when I get home, love you!”

Even Sunstreaker leaned in to tell him to be home soon, and they loved him. Prowl hung up a moment later, listening to the radio. 

Jazz needed to clear his throat, “Well, listeners, looks like that was bitty’s first call in! If you were wondering, yes, those were my sparklings back home with their nanny. I’ll see if I can get the recipe published to our website, but until then, remember, you two. Be good for your nanny. Now, coming up, on CIBR, Iacon’s Best Radio…”

Prowl offered more cheese to the boys, “Alright, you two. Let’s get back to work.”

Sideswipe giggled again, but his smile quickly fell. He looked at the handful of cheese and sniffled. “Prowl… I miss my Riri.”

”I know, bitty…” He said gently. “If you want to talk about it, I’m here to listen. Do you want to talk about it, or do you just want to think through it?” 

He considered his options, picking apart the cheese, and pouted, “Can I think about it some more?”

“Of course,” Prowl nodded. He looked over Sideswipe’s side of the casserole dish and hummed. It was nearly done and he pointed to the last spot, “Can you put your last handful there for me? Then you can wash your hands and go back to drawing.”

”Can I take a nap instead?” Sideswipe mumbled. “I want to take a nap in here.” Prowl had a sneaking suspicion that he wanted to be close to him and his brother.

He hummed, “Normally, I’d say no…” Sideswipe looked ready to cry, and Prowl held up a finger. “Sunstreaker, do you want to take a nap as well?”

“I want to think,” He huffed. He pursed his tiny mouth and grumbled some more. “Can I do it next to Sideswipe?”

“Then yes, you two can do it while in here. Let me sweep up a corner for you two,” He said. He reached for the pair and let them settle in an arm before he lowered them to the ground. “Go wash your hands, and then go get two pillows and your blankets. I’ll wake you up when it’s time for dinner.” He sent them both off, opting to ignore the dish for a few minutes so he could sweep the kitchen clean. 

It wouldn't be sparkling clean, but it would be clean enough for them to relax on their pillows, bundled in their blankets, while he finished dinner and did his notes.

"We got another hit for ya. I know it's been played a lot, but I got a special knackerin' for this one tonight. I've got 'Every Side of the Sun.' Remember, it's done by yours truly..."

Dinner was unusually quiet. The boys ate their food, savoring it for the memory. Sunstreaker was crying silently, but he didn't make it a big deal, and Prowl could recognize when his plating would be crawling. Sideswipe wasn't any better, but he was wiping his eyes. Prowl passed him a tissue every time he ran through the last. 

When they were almost done, Prowl put his fork down. "I know we've had a long night, you two, but there's something else I want to talk about," He said gently. He glanced between them and waited until he had their full attention. "I want you to know that Rock 'em Sock 'em has a topic tomorrow that could be a little hard to watch. Tobor's carrier passes away-"

"What?" Sideswipe whimpered in the tiniest voice Prowl had heard from him.

The adult swallowed and took a deep breath. "I would like to watch it with both of you, but I want to watch it because I believe it will be able to help you more than Jazz or I could alone. Remember what I have said when you cannot do something by yourself?"

"Ask for help," The twins echoed out of habit.

Sideswipe shook his head, "But- But- But... That's not fair! She didn't do anything!"

Prowl felt anchored to his seat, so he tucked his hands into his lap, "Sometimes, bad things just happen. But I want you to be able to understand that everyone can go through this. I... There are things I want to be able to tell you, and there are things that I know I don't know what to say. But it would make me feel better to watch the show. I know how important it is to you two, and I know for something like this... I would want someone with me."

He swallowed as his doorwings shuddered lowly in anguish. He needed to sympathize, and he could, but not to the degree the children needed him to. He wasn't good at some things such as this, and he hadn't been particularly good at his sparkling grief classes.

He wanted Jazz's help.

"We need to watch it," Sunstreaker decided. He looked to his brother, "Riri and Sire watched the first episode with us. We watch this episode with Prowl and Jazzy."

Sideswipe sniffled and rubbed his eyes, "I-I'm scared, Sunny."

His brother looked down, "Me too."

Prowl looked between them, "You do not need to do this alone. You do not need to carry these feelings in your spark alone. I will be here for several days. I will be here when you need me." He opened his arms, "If you two need me..." Sideswipe slipped out of his seat, Sunstreaker, a moment later, and they came to look for his comfort. 

He curled around his kids, holding them close and trying desperately to protect them from the agonies of loss and mourning. 

It would not work.

"Well, listeners, that's all I have for ya tonight! I'll be back tomorrow for CIBR, Iacon's Best Radio! Until then, this is Jazz, signin' off! Love you, Iacon!"

Prowl shook the boys awake as he heard the door rattle. He had them bundled up in their room, tucked in and snoozing with the understanding that they would be woken up when Jazz was hime.

Sideswipe jerked awake while Sunstreaker groaned and curled more into Prowl's side. "Sunstreaker, Jazz's back. Let him come say goodnight and you can go back to bed, okay?"

The front door opened and closed and Prowl sat up, hopeful. "Jazz?"

"I'm coming, give me a minute!" Jazz called back. There was a small thump from something getting put down on the table. Footsteps came up the hallway and Jazz peered in the door, "Prowler? Are th-"

"Jazzy! Jazzy! Jazzy!" Sideswipe yelled and practically threw himself out of the bed. Sunstreaker grumbled and tried to bury more into Prowl's stomach, just underneath his bumper.

The radio host laughed as he caught Sideswipe. He propped him up on his hip, "Hey, Bitty mine. You know, you are your brother are now celebrities at the station? Did Prowl let you call in?" He looked over Sideswipe's head to Prowl, who nodded.

Sideswipe threw his hands up, "Yeah! We made Riri's pasta and Prowl made it just like..." He curled up somewhat. "He made it just like Riri used to."

"Just like Riri," Sunstreaker agreed sleepily. Prowl rubbed his back, urging him to sleep.

Jazz smiled sadly and settled onto the connected beds. He put Sideswipe down and crawled underneath the Rescue Bots bedset, "You know, I made some calls earlier in my downtime. I have some stories about your creators, and I can tell them to ya."

Sunstreaker looked over his shoulder to share a look with his twin. Sideswipe nodded and looked back to Jazz. He nodded hopefully, "Please please please?"

He nodded and kissed his forehead, "Of course, Sides. Now... Yer creators met all the way back in school. They were best friends, and you know that your Carrier got your Sire's attention by doodling sparks all over his arms? But they loved ya both so much. When your Carrier was carryin' the both of ya, he wanted nothin' but pickles. Your Sire hated even the smell of 'em, but he loved your Riri, so he would drive all the way across town to the all day store to get a jar if they were out."

Sideswipe wrinked his nose, "I hate pickles."

"I like pickles," Sunstreaker chimed in quietly.

His brother pushed at him, "Ewww, they're gross." Sunstreaker puffed at him, but neither really fought.

Jazz laughed, but Sideswipe looked up again, "Do they know that they used to dance in the kitchen?"

"Or that Sire would give Riri the olives out of his funny drinks?"

"Or that they both told us stories at night?"

"Or that Riri would smile and roll his eyes at Sire when he played games with us?"

"Or that Riri would turn blue when Sire made kissy faces at him?"

The twins' back and forth made the adults' heads spin for a moment, but Jazz wrapped Sideswipe up in a hug. "No, but that can be the kinda think you keep close. You two saw more of 'em than anyone else. We can write that all down for ya so you don't forget. I'm never goin' to replace your creators, but I want to be one of 'em. I'll always be your Jazzy, bitties. Let's start settlin' down for the night and get some recharge."

Prowl rubbed Sunstreaker's back, pulling him closer, "Jazzy is right. We've had a long day. We can get up early tomorrow, make bagels, and all settle down to watch that episode. We'll stay in, and write up some of those stories, alright?"

The children both went still for a moment before they tucked into their respective adult. "...Alright," Sideswipe mumbled while Sunstreaker shrugged his shoulders back in approval. Prowl's spark melted and he smiled, rubbing his thumb over Sunstreaker's shoulder.

Jazz pinged Prowl quietly and he looked over the message. 'Y're a damn miracle worker, Prowl. How'd ya get them to calm down?'

'I let them cry it out, but Jazz, they will continue to have sad moments. It is bouts of anything but sadness and anger more than not right now. They need to feel what they need to. They will be like this for a time. I believe it might have to do with the fact that they have not seen their creators in the weeks since, so they may have had more time to process their feelings about not seeing them for a while. Either way, I have contacted Smokescreen and asked for another session sometime soon. I have wanted them about the upcoming episode and Sideswipe... didn't take it well, but all things considered, I believe it would do him well to watch it. If he wants to go at any point, you will let him go,' Prowl responded.

Jazz chuckled quietly, 'I think ya wrote a small book there, Prowler.' The nanny glared at him and Jazz winced. 'Okay, yeah. I understand. I got the notification from Smoky about the appointment and pushed it through. Y're all set.'

'Thank you,' Prowl sighed. He relaxed into the soft bedding and looked over the small family - maybe less Sunstreaker since he was tucked underneath Prowl's bumper - and smiled. 'Good night, Jazz. Recharge well.'

'Same to you, Prowl. Sweet dreams.'

"You know, sharing the memories of her can help out," Rock 'em said as he pulled Tobor closer to him. Sock 'em stood nearby, glaring at everyone else, daring them to make their lives more difficult. "Bottling up your emotions won't help, but... it's up to you when you're ready to share. Just know that no matter what, we're here for you."

"Th-Thanks," Tobor wailed, clinging to his friend. "I-I miss her and w-what if you guys die too?!"

Sock 'em paused in his guard dog campaign and walked over. He crouched in front of Tobor and waited for his friend to look at him. "We lost our Carrier when we were young. We remember him, just a little, but it's the ways that we remember him that matter. Enjoy the happy parts, Tobor. We've been through this. And if something happens to us..." He shared a look with his brother. "That's a part of life. We need to enjoy what we have. We still have vorns ahead of us, and if we live our lives in fear, we're going to lose them."

Rock 'em frowned at his brother, but went back to comforting his friend, "We'll do what we can to stay safe, Tobs. But we're you're friends-"

"-Family-" Sock 'em corrected.

"-Family, thanks, bro," Rock 'em glared. "But we're going to make sure you're okay and safe while you're sad, okay? And when it starts to get easier, we'll be here too." 

Tobor nodded and sobbed into his friend's shoulder, "A-Alright. I-I'm going to miss her hugs!"

"Her laughs," Rock 'em said quietly as he began to tear up. 

"Her cooking," Sock 'em added. "I think your Sire still has her cook book."

He nodded, "Yeah, he does. Do... Do you think you could help me make her spaghetti and meatballs?"

Rock 'em smiled and rubbed at his eyes, "Of course, bro. How about we share some stories about her?"

The screen faded somewhat, and a plain background showed up. Rock 'em and Sock 'em showed up on screen and they took their usual poses; Sock 'em crossed his arms and Rock 'em leaned on his brother. Rock 'em smiled warmly, "Hey, bitties, sparkies, and bots. Losing someone is hard, and if you or a friend lose someone close to you, you're going to be feeling a lot of different things."

"Scared, lost, confused, angry, like you can't be away from the people close to you," Sock 'em grunted.

"What he said. Loss is something that takes time, and they're going to have good days and bad days. Sometimes, you're going to forget what happened, and that's okay. If you want to play with your toys and try and play your way through it, that's normal! Please, play with your toys. Creators, please don't be worried if your bitties start running through what happened in play. It'll go away eventually."

Sock 'em frowned, "And if you need help too, reach out. You can't help anyone else if you're also hurting."

Rock 'em nodded and poked his brother, "Exactly! So if you're hurting and there are people telling you it's okay to talk, then go ahead! They'll tell you if they can't at the moment, and remember, that's not a no! That's just a statement saying 'in a little bit.' And if your emotions are getting too big for you, know that it's okay to let them out. Ask your creators if you can go outside and play for a while, run around, kick a ball, yell a little!"

"Just not indoors."

"Right," Rock 'em mused. His eyes crinkled. "Talk about the person you lost. It might hurt, but remember, talking about your emotions helps you learn about them. If you talk about the person you or your friend lost, you might feel a little closer to them, even if they aren't there anymore. Get stories about them, pictures, recordings, whatever you can. The hurt will fade in time, and might come back sometimes, but you'll want things to remember them by."

"And if you need help from someone else, there are resources out there," Sock 'em added. He pointed to a comm code and address at the bottom of the screen, "Here is the comm code for resources, no matter where you are on cybertron. Creators, you can go to this website if you want some reading material, list of help you can apply for, or to look for a licensed therapist for whatever you need. They are constantly updating their databanks to make sure that those listed are available. You're not alone in this."

Rock 'em nodded and checked the chronometer on his 'HUD'. "Looks like we have another minute or two, bro. What are some questions we had when Carrier died when we were little?"

"Will I die?" He asked in a monotone.

"Someday," Rock 'em nodded and held up a finger, "But probably not today. Make the right decisions like eating right, getting good sleep, and taking care of your health and you'll like long, happy lives. Bro?"

"Can I die so I can go be with my dead family?"

"We know you miss them, bitty, but if you do that, you won't be able to play with your friends or get hugs or have desserts anymore. There's a lot of stuff you wouldn't be able to do anymore. I know you miss them, we miss them too, but we'd miss you more."

Sock 'em shuffled nervously, "Is this my fault?"

Rock 'em shook his head quickly, "No, bitty, no, it's not. It was never your fault. No matter what anyone says, it's not your fault. I know you're trying to think of whatever you could have done that wouldn't have led to this, but we want you to know, it's not your fault. Death happens, and right now, your job is to grow up and be happy and healthy. You're here, and you're loved, okay?"

Sideswipe looked up to Jazz, "It's not my fault?" The four of them were sat in front of the holoscreen, watching the program. Sideswipe sat in Jazz's lap, watching avidly. Sunstreaker was playing with his blocks between Jazz and Prowl, but they all knew he was listening. 

"No, bitty, never," Jazz confirmed. He hugged Sideswipe to his chest, "Whatever happened, you're not responsible, I promise."

Prowl reached over Sunstreaker and rubbed Sideswipe's cheek, "Your creators made their choices and that will never reflect onto you, Sideswipe. Anyone who tells either of you otherwise is lying." He lifted an eyebrow, waiting.

"And liars aren't telling the truth," Sideswipe parroted. He shrunk down slightly. "Jazzy, do you have any pictures of our creators?" Sunstreaker paused, but went back to his work. Prowl narrowed his optics at the bitty, knowing there was probably something he wasn't telling Prowl.

Jazz lit up, "Yeah, I think your Great Uncle sent some over! Let me go check the mail!" He picked up Sideswipe and Prowl reach for him. He pulled Sideswipe close and the bitty melted into him. Jazz got up to check the mail room for anything.

Sunstreaker shared a look with his twin and Prowl cocked his head. There was something there.

"What is the matter?" He asked.

The golden twin looked down and clashed two of his blocks together. "...Riri didn't like his picture getting taken. Sire would embarrass him and take a picture. It's some of the only ones we saw. He did the same to me sometimes."

"Not me!" Sideswipe perked. "I loved it when he played his games with me!" 

Ah, likely a case of a creator not understanding what kind of coding his creation had. They would be around the age where the coding would be confirmed.

"Then we will find the ones where your Riri seems happy. The rest can hide in a box, but we will not throw them away," He confirmed.

Sideswipe squirmed out of Prowl's lap and went to join his brother playing with the blocks. Sunstreaker tensed, ready for him to destroy his small tower, but... nothing. Sideswipe didn't touch it, opting only to pass Sunstreaker the blocks he wanted.

Everyone believed him to be stupid. He would hear the comparisons to his twin. He knew Sunny was the better artist, but he was praised in the same vent for being good at making people smile. He wasn't the logical one who could think his way through a problem. No, but he always found the right person who could, even if that person was usually Sunny. Like First Aid, or Prowl.

Everyone believed him easy to please. He'd heard the comments before, that he could be given a wire and be happy. He would be, but time after time after time of hearing it, it was getting old.

Everyone believed him able to tune into people's emotions. No, not always. Sometimes he'd blurt out the wrong thing and get frowns. Oh, he hated it when people frowned at him, it made him want to burst into tears. But he was so, so good at making happy people happier.

So if he would put on a happy face to make people happy, they would never think that he was doing it to make them happy. It would always be something easy to mess with and he wouldn't hold back with his noises or words, and earn smiles in piles. 

The only one who really saw through it was Sunstreaker, sometimes. Prowl was getting better at it, but he still needed more time.

No, Jazz on the other hand... the one time Sideswipe had seen his rainbow eyes, he saw that same little show in there. It was always an effort to make others happy, no matter how much it hurt. Jazz understood. Jazz knew.

"Remember. I want you to say the word remember because you remember to come home and you remember that we love you."

Chapter Text

Prowl woke up warm. 

It wasn't the kind of warm that condensed under his plating and made his protoform feel like it was trying to crawl underneath it. It wasn't the kind of warm that threatened to overheat him if he stayed under the blankets for too long.

Well, maybe a little of the second. His processor was already piecing together that the blankets he was under was too thin for that. It was similar to the heat that the children radiated the day they had their therapy session, but... more.

He was warm and whatever was on the other side of his blanket was purring and he couldn't remember the last time he had felt like this. It was comforting and warm and familiar. No, he did remember the last time he had felt like this, but he wasn't about let Mesothulas ruin this as he sought the warmth more. 

A part of him whispered that he knew what was on the other side of his blanket, but he didn't care, he just didn't. It had been too long since he had been selfish like this, and besides, he could always claim that he had moved in his sleep.

Prowl also felt a soft sensation along his back, just between his door wings. It wasn't a bad touch, but whatever it was... it was also covered in a soft, fuzzy material. Whatever it was, it wasn't actually brushing the hinges, but it felt... comforting.

He sighed, trying to curl more into the large warm mass, but the gentle humming of the engine was punctuated by a quiet laugh. Prowl grumbled, letting out another huff. 

"The boys are awake. I told 'em to have some of the snacks in the pantry for breakfast," Jazz whispered, still rubbing Prowl's back. "Not tellin' ya you need to get up, but if ya notice they're not here..."

He didn't want to get up yet, and he was so... Was safe even the right word? He trusted Jazz, knew the apartment was secure, and knew that Mesothulas was nowhere near him-

The boys weren't in the bed with them. No one was watching the twins. Prowl was alone, in bed, with his employer.

"Hey, Prowler, you're good, you're fine, I’m fine, everythin's fine," Jazz cooed, but let the hand petting his back fall. "Nothin' inappropriate happened, y're not in trouble, no scandal's goin' to come from this."

“This is—“ He started, his eyes finally opening. He looked around, trying to find out what was where. He realized that he was cuddled against Jazz, and the boys weren’t in the room. Jazz had an arm wrapped around Prowl and he was waiting for Prowl’s reaction. “I’m so sorry. I-“

”You were asleep,” Jazz cut in softly. He pulled his arm away. “And I woke up first. If anyone’s goin’ to be sorry, it’s me. I didn’t wake ya up and was touchin’ ya in your sleep-“

Prowl held up a finger to interrupt him, “I need a moment, please. I need… I need to process.” Jazz froze where he was, shifting his face so it at least felt like he was looking away from Prowl to stare at the ceiling.

Ok, he was cuddling with his boss… who they both admitted that they like each other. Prowl was okay with cuddling a moment ago, and Jazz said he didn’t mind. He also apologized for touching Prowl in his sleep. Prowl hadn’t minded it, and Jazz had known to at least cover his hand. Smart, good job. He would need to tell Jazz that. Would he be upset if Jazz did it again? Maybe, they hadn’t talked about it, but Prowl wasn’t awake to say if it was ok or not, but… 

No, he didn’t mind.

Prowl took a deep breath in and relaxed again. “It’s fine. I… I slept well and… you mitigated my reaction by using the blanket. Thank you for that, it was a good idea. Additionally, I would not mind getting moved or anything in my sleep, and I am ok with what happened, I just… I am still waking up.”

Jazz smiled and still made sure not to move except to turn back to him, “I figured. If ya want to talk about this more later, that’s fine by me. And it’s somethin’ I learned with Sunny, figured it might work. I’m ok ta stay here for a little while longer, but it’s up to you.”

Prowl swallowed thickly, still waking up. It… Primus, to have the option presented to revisit it in case his feelings changed or to just talk about it and not to be the one to bring it up...

"Thank you," He swallowed. He settled back down next to Jazz, letting his processor relax again. "I still find this... inappropriate, but I..."

"It still feels right?" Jazz mused. Prowl nodded and his boss hummed. "Nah, I get it. It's some of the reason people do this anyway."

Prowl snorted, "As well as the fact that they are usually together for extended periods. I heard a joke once. A boss is ask who he would rather keep: his longstanding partner, but not conjunx yet, or his secretary. The boss laughs and responds that the secretary had been by his side through the last three, despite it not being romantic. Additionally, it is not uncommon for Enforcers to come out of the academy either dating or bonded. We slept together, ate together, lived together, amongst other things." His frown deepened, already thinking of the person he had slept, ate, and lived together with

"So it wouldn'ta been unusual that you were datin' Mesothulas," Jazz noted. Prowl nodded, but Jazz shrugged, "Well, y're sleepin' and eatin' with us, an' you're living by yerself right now, so circumstances are different. Y're allowed ta want contact without datin', and if that's what ya want it to be, that's okay." He held up his pinky finger, "I won't make any kind of romantic touch towards ya unless it's a genuine emergency. You get to make the first move, promise?"

His spark melted in his chest and he smiled, "Promise." He clasped their pinkies together in that oh-so-childish way, relaxing. "Then as a clearer definition, the... the touching you were doing earlier... Only like that. Please do not deviate to the sides any amount." He narrowed his eyes, "You already knew that, didn't you?"

Jazz cringed, answering his question, "I mighta looked at some stuff, but it wasn't all nasty, I promise. I wanted ta make sure if I did need ta reach out, it wouldn't have been anywhere or any way I shouldn't have been grabbin'."

"Oh."

"Eh. You've had yer reasons for being suspicious in the past. I don't blame ya."

"Thank you. That's... very sweet."

"Hey, do you hear that?" Jazz asked. He carefully took his arm back from underneath Prowl to sit up. 

Prowl's audials strained for anything, but... nothing. There was a commercial playing on the holoscreen, but there were no giggles, no crashing, no talking.

With sparklings like Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, silence was terrifying. It was only because of Red Alert's nightly reports that Mesothulas was still in Praxus that Prowl wasn't worried about the kids being kidnapped. No, this was them getting into something they shouldn't.

He sprung out of bed and stopped behind the door. He cast a look to Jazz, "Follow me quietly. I'm going to clear the rooms." He slowly opened the door, looking out... and stopped. 

Jazz blinked as Prowl just stared down. "Listening in on others' conversations is rude, you two."

What?

Opening the door more, Prowl showed off the fact that Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were sitting in front of the door with cups to their audials, a classic trick in the spy movies they watched. Their eyes were wide and they looked like two petro-fish with gapping mouths. 

Jazz couldn't help laughing. "You two... C'mon, I think it's been long enough. Let's go watch some shows, alright? What's on right now?" He crossed his arms cocked a hip. He couldn't fault them, eavesdropping was practically a family pastime.

"Rescue Bots," Sunstreaker answered. He got his bearings and grabbed Sideswipe bolting from the hall. Prowl sighed in his own amused way.

He turned to Jazz and gestured out the door, "After you."

The radio host laughed and slipped out, "You were so ready to treat the apartment like a scene from 'Enforcers'. Ya really don't mess around, do ya?"

"You knew this when you hired me," Prowl said as he stepped out. He overlooked the open kitchen and living room, expecting a disaster from the boys being left without supervision, but it all looked clean. There was the spot in front of the holoscreen that they had their toys out and Prowl acknowledged the doctors and police surrounding a pair of 'fallen' mechs with a passing glance. He had been warned this would happen, and let it be. Instead, he straightened his doorwings, "Let's get started on breakfast. Jazz, can you tell the boys about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow...?" Jazz sucked in a sharp breath as he remembered. Oh. Yeah. He would be working on his day off. He deflated and nodded, "Yeah, I'll tell 'em."

Sideswipe looked up from the screen, "Tell us what?"

Jazz sighed, letting Prowl handle preheating the oven and making breakfast, as he wandered over to the boys, "Do you remember that day that I got sick, you two?" They nodded slowly, but Sideswipe froze in fear. Before he could say anything, Jazz pointed at him, "I'm not dyin'. Nah, I ended up gettin' in trouble at work and I'll be out tomorrow afternoon. Prowler'll be here to cover for me, but-"

"You said you would read to us," Sunstreaker hissed. He gripped his toy very tightly, "You said."

He swallowed and nodded, "Yeah. I... I'm sorry. At the time, I thought-"

"You lied," Sunstreaker snarled. He got up and headed into the kitchen, glaring at Prowl. The nanny finished setting the empty tray down and knelt to Sunstreaker's level, waiting. The child pointed to Jazz, "He lied to us! Put him in time out!"

Prowl warred with himself for a moment, but cast a glance to Jazz before looking back to Sunstreaker. "He will still need to go into work tomorrow if he goes into time out. Do you just want him to learn to not do it again, or do you want him to be punished for not knowing any better?"

Sunstreaker crossed his arms, "He lied! It wasn't right, he needs time out!"

"It sounds like you want him to be punished," Prowl said gently. "Jazz didn't know, Sunstreaker. It's not his fault, and he is telling you before it happens so you can be prepared. I understand you are upset, and you are right, he shouldn't have promised to do that."

"Then he needs to know he can't lie!" He yelled and stamped his foot. He was still gripping his toy, something that both of the adults hadn't missed.

Prowl nodded, "Then how about we tell him together after breakfast? Rescue Bots is still playing right now. We can remind him after so you don't miss more of it." He was trying to redirect Sunstreaker's anger so it could be put off for later. It would make discussing it later easier.

"Bro?" Sideswipe asked quietly and Sunstreaker's head swiveled, anger forgotten. He dropped his toy, storming over to where his brother was. Sideswipe was playing with his own toys again, clearly distressed, but... When he looked up to Prowl... there was understanding in his eyes.

Oh, Sideswipe knew exactly what he was doing. Prowl smiled and nodded his head. 

Perhaps the younger twin was better at conflict de-escalation than he thought.

Jazz just looked confused. That seemed to be his default state when he made the kids upset.

It took a moment for the next commercial to roll around, and it was a chance Prowl couldn't let go. He cleared his throat and Jazz looked up in alarm, "Do ya need somethin', Prowler?"

"I understand that this is a misunderstanding," Prowl said clearly, keeping an eye on the boys. "You are not in trouble, and neither is Sunstreaker for yelling, but please be careful with how you say things in the future. I need you to do better, or I will need you to sit in the corner for ten minutes next time. Am I clear?"

Oh, oh! This was one of his teaching moments! He could do this!

Jazz nodded, "I will. Do you want me to apologize to Sunstreaker?" He knew their boys could hear them and were piecing it together.

"I would. You did not make me upset, but you made him and Sideswipe upset," Prowl continued as he opened the container of cinnamon rolls. "At the same time, I will want the boys to understand that sometimes, things happen that are out of our control and we cannot change. Just as you needed to tell them that your plans changed, someone else had to tell you something else. You told us before it happened. Thank you for letting me know." He bobbed his doorwings in approval. He laid the rolls out one by one in the pan and placed it into the oven.

Jazz swallowed, "I had more time to tell you all. I should have said something earlier."

Sunstreaker wrinkled his nose, "What do you mean, you couldn't control it?"

Prowl stepped out and went to grab some of their blocks. The group watched him grab three different colors blocks in vastly different sizes before coming over. They watched him set them up and he pointed to each of the blocks.

The largest red one was at the end and Prowl spoke, "This is Jazz's boss. His piece is biggest because Jazz needs to listen to him."

He pointed to the blue middle piece, "This is Jazz. His piece is in the middle because he is in charge of you, me, and Sideswipe, but needs to listen to his boss."

He pointed to the last, smallest orange piece at the end, "This is us. We're at the end because we're not in charge of anyone else." Prowl tapped on the smaller block, glad to have gotten a small enough piece that Jazz's wobbled, but didn't fall. "We can affect Jazz, but we can't do much. But if Jazz's boss says Jazz needs to do something..." He fixed the pieces before knocking the biggest block over. It cascaded down, collapsing Jazz's and their tokens. "It falls onto Jazz, and Jazz falls onto us. We cannot do anything about Jazz's boss, but when Jazz's boss made him change his plans, and he couldn't do anything about it affecting us."

Sunstreaker frowned, but Sideswipe squeezed his hand, "He didn't know. And things happens, right?"

Prowl nodded, "They do. I am hoping this is not the new normal, but sometimes, we must take one day at a time. It will not always be easy, but you have people around you to make it easier."

"Like Sunny and Jazzy and Bee and Roddy and you?" Sideswipe asked hopefully. 

"Of course," Prowl smiled. "You all have made my life better. I am happy I know you."

Sideswipe looked down and nodded, "We're glad we got to know you too."

Sunstreaker deflated and looked to Jazz, "There's nothing you can do?"

"Sorry, Sunstreaker," Jazz said. He swallowed thickly and opened his arms for a hug, "But I'm going to ping Prowler around your bedtime. I'll do everything in my power ta ready you a bedtime story, okay? Why don't you and Sides go pick out one you want me to read?"

The pair didn't hesitate or get up to look. They clamored into Jazz's arms, "Goldi-Eyes and the Three Predacons?" It was primarily Sideswipe's favorite story, but Sunstreaker also liked it. He liked it enough that he demanded his own copy, unironically, in a larger book size so he could 'see the pictures better.' According to Sideswipe, he just liked the story because 'it just felt familiar'. Prowl knew why, and he suspected Jazz did as well.

Jazz laughed heartily and kissed his boys on the head, "It's a great pick, you two. Do y'all want ta go grab one of yer books so I don't forget?"

"Get Sideswipe's copy! I'll need to show you both the book tonight!" Prowl called after them. Jazz knew he was turning his intense gaze onto him and swallowed when Prowl spoke again, "You're sure about this? You won't get into trouble?"

"I probably will get a slap on the wrist, but Blurr'll know it's my retaliation. We're both a little petty, and he knows somethin's coming, an' somethin' this small? Not notable," Jazz shrugged, but something itched at him. He tried to ignore it, but he knew he would be eating those words.

"And what would you like, Sir Roddy??" Sideswipe asked as he and Sunstreaker ran the best restaurant in all of Iacon, Twins' Treats. Their primary investor, Mr. Prowl, had helped them open it and asked in occasional amounts of money to pay him back. They had agreed, and it was nice to actually own their space, a little smaller with the sand pit and the line in the sand denoting the sitting area and Sunny's kitchen. Even now, his twin was staring through the window that separated the front and back of store.

Hot Rod hummed as he thought, "Do you have pancakes?"

Sideswipe looked over his shoulder, "Pancakes!" He wrote the order down in his notepad. "Anything else?"

"Can I get it with bacon and eggs? Kup made me that yesterday when we got another kid in the house. I think he's thinking of bringing her over at some point," Hot Rod said. "She's still scared of loud noises."

He nodded sagely, "Don't worry, we are too. We used to have a door in the kitchen that would close really loud-"

Hot Rod reached out and Sideswipe paused. His older friend shook his head, "No, Sideswipe. Like she's scared of loud noises. I can't yell or anything apparently, and Kup brought me here so I could yell some." He thought for a moment, "Is yelling allowed in here?"

"Let me tell Sunny so he can go take the trash out," Sideswipe nodded. He looked behind him, "Is Roddy's food ready?" His twin looked almost done, it just needed to be put on the plate.

"Yeah," Sunstreaker grunted. He handed it through the window and Sideswipe grinned. It looked really good. Not nearly as good as Prowl's, but still good. "Give me a minute. I'll go pay Mr. Prowl. How much was it again?"

Sideswipe thought as he went to the register. They only had seven moneys, and Mr. Prowl said he needed four... Oh well. He got out the amount and passed it over, "Four moneys!"

"Okay," He agreed and took it. He went out the front door so he could go talk to Mr. Prowl and his friend, Mr. Kup.

Kup snorted as he watched the golden twin toddle their way, just enough for his twin and Kup's loveable idiot to start screaming their heads off, "Well, good to know they're doin' what I brought them out here for."

"He's doing well with them," Prowl complimented. He saw Sunstreaker come up to them and waited. Prowl hummed and put on his 'hat', Sideswipe's blanket folded up until it rested perfectly onto his head. "Hello, Mr. Sunstreaker. Are you here with my money?"

"Four moneys," He declared proudly, holding up the four leaves in his hand. "We're doing good. Roddy was telling us about his new sister."

Kup eyed him and his own charge curiously, "Oh? What was he tellin' you?"

Sunstreaker stared him down, but Prowl took the money, "It's important to Kup to know how Hot Rod feels about Arcee, Sunstreaker, but I will not make you tell us."

That got the boy to relax and he nodded, "He said she's scared of loud noises. Scared scared. And Kup might bring her over soon." He toyed with his hands for a moment, "I'm scared of loud noises too. Does she have her special toy?"

Kup's face softened and he nodded, "Yeah, she does. She's quiet too. Not quite like you, Sunstreaker, but I think ya might get along. Next time, would ya like to meet her? She'd probably stay close to me anyway."

"I stayed close to Prowl when Sides was told what death meant," Sunstreaker accused. He looked back to the still screaming pair. "But Sides and Roddy are nice to each other."

He nodded, "Yeah. Yer brother is one of Hot Rod's friends, and Hot Rod wants to make sure you and Sides are okay. They won't hurt each other, not on purpose."

It took Sunstreaker a moment before he looked up and nodded, "Okay. She can play with me and Prowl." 

"I can bring a puzzle or two that day," Prowl tacked on. He added the four leaves to his already-present stack. "Mr. Sunstreaker, how is business going?"

He nodded, "Good. We haven't had any more fires, and Mr. Stick liked his soup. Mrs. Mudpie didn't like her toast, but she's not allowed back here." He faltered and pointed to Prowl's head, "Off."

Oh, he wanted to address Prowl, not Mr. Prowl. His nanny nodded and took the blanket off, "Yes, Sunstreaker? What do you need?"

He looked nervous, but determined. "Prowl, can we get a toy for Arcee too? Jazzy got me and Sides some toys when we came with him and it made us feel better."

"Aw, Bitty, you don't need to-"

"My name is Sunstreaker," Sunstreaker cut off and glared at him. "I want to. She needs to know I want to be friends."

Prowl tipped his head to Kup, "Is this something of her preference, or your personal objections? I am alright to take the boys to the store to find a small toy for her."

"She has expectation problems," He responded quietly. "She might give 'em a pass since they're 34 vorns, but she's scared that you might want somethin' out of it."

"Primus," Prowl hissed weakly. He thought and turned to Sunstreaker, "She might not want a toy, but we can still get one. I think doing some art with her might be a better way to let her know you want to be friends. Then, when we go to leave, you can offer the toy, but if she does not want it?"

Sunstreaker nodded proudly, "She doesn't need to take it." Prowl's doorwings bobbed in approval, and Sunstreaker's shoulders did the same.

"Good. When Jazz gets back from picking us up lunch, we can go to the store while he goes to work, okay?" Prowl explained. Sunstreaker nodded again, pointing to Prowl's head. The nanny placed the blanket back on and he readdressed the restaurant owner, "Thank you for your business today. I hope to continue this working relationship."

The child nodded proudly, bowed his head, and left. Kup let out a quiet whistle, "If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was in his 5th decade. He's too old for his age."

"I think the same can be said for your charges as well," Prowl said. "He's been through a lot, but some of that is just who he is, but I will refuse to let him not be a child."

Kup stared at him for a moment before he huffed a laugh and leaned back in his seat, "You know, maybe I'll have a chance if there are people like you raising the next generation."

"I wouldn't worry. Hot Rod looks up to you. He'll put you in a good nursing home," Prowl mused. Kup threw his head back and laughed heartily, slapping his knee.

"Damn brat," He chuckled, shaking his head. Prowl smiled, focusing back on the kids. Hot Rod was looking up in shock before he lit up. He turned back to Sideswipe and pointed to the adults. Kup snorted, "Maybe I need to laugh more at home if he's findin' it this shocking."

"Perhaps, but it makes it mean more when it's earnest. I need to be careful to not smile at times because I am afraid it will scare the boys off what they're doing. Children can be... incredibly contrarian."

Kup snorted again and looked to his fellow guardian, "Yeah, well, they don't always grow out of it." He sighed and returned his attention to the boys. "I'll ask Arcee if she wants to come next time. Or if you want to have a playdate or whatever they're called these days."

"If you think it would be better to have it be somewhere Arcee considers safe, but I think the park would be better. It wouldn't risk tainting her safe space, and it could be a decent chance to help her trust you if she needs to leave. And should this ever come up, I am able to escort Hot Rod if you need it."

"If I bring her here, I might need to take ya up on it," He agreed. He paused and cocked his head, "You don't think they're going to make him eat that?" Prowl looked at better look at the boys. They had mud pies and sticks and rocks on pieces of bark. Whatever little world they had going, they were enjoying themselves. 

"No, they know not to eat dirt," Prowl said proudly, but he faltered. "Is Hot Rod at risk of eating dirt?"

He grumbled and got up, "Fraggin' idiot kid, you're right." Prowl chuckled, but remained sitting.

"And that's all for now, folks! Thanks for listenin' to CIBR, Iacon's Best Radio! Now, with a special surprise, I'm comin' in tomorrow to cover for my good friends so they can spend some time with their families. I need ta go relieve the nanny for the night and see if there are any leftovers from dinner. I'll see ya tomorrow, Iacon!"

Prowl looked up from his coursework when Jazz knocked on the boys' door and slipped inside. "Hey, Prowler. They down?" He looked over their kids. Sideswipe was clinging to Sunstreaker, further tucked into Prowl's side. There was more than enough room on the more outgoing of his boys so he could snuggle in.

"They have been for the past hour," He reported quietly. "As far as I am aware, we did not have many incidents. Sideswipe cried again, but in his defense, we was helping me write up the stories his creators told him. I... I believe you would do better to read them to the boys. I cannot do the voice as well as you."

Jazz hummed as he settled down onto the bed, "It's a skill, that's all. It's goin' high and stayin' low. I'll... tell ya more about it later. Ya ready for tomorrow?"

He considered it as he looked back over his work, "Not entirely. I am looking at different ways this could go wrong."

Jazz smiled as he tucked their kids in again, "Yeah, well, I know my boss, alright? Trust me, I know what I'm doin'." Again, he was getting nagged with some kind of feeling, but let it be. "Blurr knows he'll never get anyone like me. I'm irreplaceable."

"You don't know that," Prowl retorted sharply, but he deflated a moment later. He refused to meet Jazz's inquisitive gaze and he folded in on himself more. "I thought I was irreplaceable. Praxus still picked him over me," He explained.

His spark broke, but he knew he couldn't offer pity. He was still mourning his city, but Jazz knew there was anger in there. That, he could appeal to. "And we're better off for their mistake. I've had so many call-ins askin' about what you're doin' and how you're teachin' the boys what. I'm telling' stories about you with our bitties that got creators callin' in to say thanks for bringin' light to 'bodily autonomy' and 'twins rights' and 'gentle correction'. Pit, do ya want proof?" He reached into his subspace, pulling out his work datapad. He logged in, going to the most recent social media comments. 

Jazz passed it over and Prowl shakily took it. "Ya got people askin' ya to start a blog. I know ya won't, privacy an' all that and I appreciate it, but people love hearin' about you. Some have already changed some of their parentin' style and their kids are actin' better. I said ya just talk to them like little adults and I got a comment in the hall that suddenly his kid ain't fightin' him on some stuff!"

Prowl was scrolling through the comments in shock and covered his mouth. Jazz stopped his ramble and stared in concern, "Prowler?"

"I... I'm appreciated here?" His voice broke, and suddenly, the dam burst open. He was crying silently, his shoulders shaking, and Jazz got up to be by his bedside. He knelt, waiting. Prowl had to tear his gaze away from the comments, "You've been clearing everything with Red Alert?"

"He encouraged me to keep it up. If Mesothulas thinks he's gettin' steady feed on ya and it matches up with what his guy says, then he trusts his guy even more. I asked everyone ta give you privacy, an' since my bitties were never really in day care, no one really knows what they look like. That, and ya still look like a cop, Prowler," Jazz teased.

Prowl wheezed out a quiet laugh and turned in bed to give Jazz a hug, "Thank you. Thank you. I... I still want to go on to be an Enforcer, but... If I have this kind of support..."

"You'll be fine," Jazz assured him. "Once the bitties get into school, you can take them at the same time the other creators do and build your own little nanny network. What was that thing ya told me 'fore? The beat cops are necessary for the community?"

He laughed and rested his chevron on Jazz's shoulder, "Y-You're going to let me be my own beat cop?" Oh, this would be perfect, if he could get a community outreach established beforehand... if this group could trust him...

"I-Is that a bad thing?" Jazz asked. "I know y're more of a detective-"

"Building that network is incredibly important," Prowl clarified as he pulled back. He still clung to Jazz's datapad and smiled ruefully. "Especially creator networks. If I can get my foot in that door, it would be invaluable."

"Creator politics?" Jazz asked knowingly.

Prowl's mind ground to a halt, "Birthdays, playdates, and if you ignore the incorrect creator, it will be so much worse..." He squared his shoulders, "It is nothing I haven't done before."

Jazz smiled, "I know you can do it, Prowler. If anyone could do it, it would be you. I have faith." The prideful look with a hesitant smile that graced his face was worth everything in the world at that moment. If there was anything he do to make sure it stayed there... he would.

"...And that was Rong's new hit, 'No, Actually, it's Rung, Will You Please Get It Right?' Huh, weird title, but I ain't one ta judge! Now, it's gettin' ta be time for my bitties to be gettin' to bed, and I did promise them a bedtime story. Now, I got called in last minute, so in turn... Here's my new cover of the song 'Goldi-Eyes and the Three Predacons.'"

Prowl watched the boys, arm tucked behind them, as he held the book for them. As Jazz read over the radio, the boys followed along with their words. Prowl kept a running list of words they struggled with in his head, but otherwise... The boys were having a bedtime story read to them by Jazz. 

Given that he managed to get through the entire book, no one stopped him. There was no one bursting in, no yelling, no nothing. 

Just Jazz, doing all of the voices perfectly. Little Goldi-Eyes with her perfectly adorable tone that had just enough flatness that mimicked Sunstreaker. The three Predacons. Predaking, the Sire, with his deep, rumbling voice. Predaqueen, with her gentler voice, even if there was a harsh undertone when she perceived a threat to her creation. Finally, Skylynx, their sole creation with the highest tone of all of them.

It was soothing the twins more than he could hope to.

Sunstreaker looked up to Prowl as the story drew to a close, "He kept his promise."

Prowl smiled warmly, "Jazz does not seem like one to break his promises-"

"So now that I think about it, it reminds me of the first time my nanny made toast for the boys. He didn't know what they all liked, so he cut a piece inta four pieces. He put butter on two, jelly on one without butter, and jelly on one with. So ya had a perfect little groupin' so there was one that had nothin' on it. My youngest didn't even seem ta notice anythin' was wrong, but my older? He barely took a bite out of anythin', but we found out that plain toast worked just right. We haven' gone back since."

He cleared his throat, "I do gotta say though, kids, don't go break into strangers' homes. I do need to give that warnin' 'fore the station's lawyers get ta me. Anyway, that was my cover of 'Goldi-Eyes and the Three Predacons.' Now, next on CIBR, Iacon's Best Radio, your favorite wastes singer, Breakdown, with a dedication to his conjunx, it's '3, 2, 1, You're a Knock Out.' You know, these two are on for the Golden Matrix 'Best Duet' this year! Right up there with Ironhide and Chromia, Starscream and Skyfire, and more of your favorite couples! Now, onto the music!"

"Now, are there any other stories you boys would like to hear?" Prowl asked gently, trying to distract himself.

The boys shared a look and shook their heads. Sideswipe looked up to Prowl, "No, we're ready for bed. Good night, Prowl."

"Good night, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker. Sweet dreams, you two."

Jazz swallowed as he put the song on and flipped his mic off. He knew Blurr was behind his door. What he had told Prowl was the truth, Blurr knew he would pull something like this and given that he hadn't done anything drastic, he wouldn't be in trouble. This, like he had promised, was about the length of an actual song, so it wasn't a total time waster but... for his kids...

'They're asleep. They loved it,' Prowl pinged, making it all worth it. The door opened, cutting his relief in two.

"Are you proud of yourself?" Blurr asked snidely. "Did you get it out of your system?"

Jazz swallowed and looked back, "Yeah, boss. It's out."

Blurr nodded and lifted his chin to look down on Jazz, "Good. Don't do this again, or we will be having a different discussion." He waited for another moment, wanting to watch Jazz squirm. When he decided he had enough, Blurr slipped out of the door. Blaster, hiding behind the corner, slipped in after him.

He laughed in disbelief, "Are you insane?"

"Are ya seriously askin' me that?" Jazz wheezed, folding in half. "Mech, I think I'm going to blow a gasket. Don't tell Prowler I said that, he warned me this woulda been a bad idea."

"Yeah, no slag," Blaster laughed as he rubbed his friend's back. "Only you can get away with something like that."

Jazz laughed weakly as sat back up, "Yeah, 'cause he knows that I always got about three other offers in my subspace if he goes too far."

Blaster shook his head, "Yeah yeah yeah, I know, but it's either further away, or less pay, or working the morning shift."

"And we both know I'm not able to get up before 8 A.M." Jazz shook his head. "My shift's over after this song. Do you want to go out tomorrow night?" Blaster opened his mouth, but Jazz cut him off with a pointed finger, "No drinks. Just greasy bar food and complaining about shift, just like old times?"

"Clear it with Prowl first, and we'll talk tomorrow," Blaster sighed. He shook his head, "I'll see ya later. Good luck tomorrow, yeah?"

Jazz smiled, "Yeah."

Prowl looked up from his data pad at the kitchen counter when Jazz got home and he stared, "Hello, Jazz. Have you look at your station's ratings tonight?"

He faltered, but strode over to meet him. Their shoulders were touching as Jazz leaned over to see. Their social media page was up and usually when he mentioned Prowl, comments were pouring in, but if Prowl was a pour... 

Jazz was a flood.

"'I never managed ta get my kid to bed so easily? Please make this a thing CIBR!!!'" He read slowly.

"'I'm getting that this was probably petty, but this was such a nice bit, CIBR,'" Prowl added the next.

The radio host did the next one, "'Jazz, I wanted ta let you know that today was one of my worst days ever. I work in fast food and had four different families scream at me and another threw their drink at me. I was headin' home and this story took me back to when my Sire used to read me stories. He's still with us, but I'm a little too old to have stories read to me like this without soundin' childish, so... this made my day. Thank you. Please continue to do this or if you could set up a podcast or something to continue this.'"

They read the next one together, "'Jazz, this is Cybertron Public Broadcasting. If you ever need a new job, please reach out to us.'"

The pair looked at each other and Jazz wheezed. He leaned over the counter and felt his knees go weak, "Prowl, that's the broadcasting network for all of Cybertron. That's the boy's favorite station."

"They can't-" Prowl started, but Jazz held up a finger as he was getting a call.

"It's Blurr," Jazz whispered. Prowl nodded and pulled him towards the dining room. They sat next to each other and Prowl offered Jazz a hand. He gladly took it and answered the comm, putting it on speaker. "Go fer Jazz-"

"You must think this is funny, don't you?" Blurr demanded. Jazz opened his mouth and closed it again, not knowing what to say. "Well? Do you know or not?"

Jazz swallowed, "Do you mean about the public lovin' the story readin'-"

"Yes! And the CBS offering you a job. You better not be thinking of going for that," Blurr hissed.

Prowl turned to Jazz with a sharp look in his eye. 'Demand a reason to stay. He is scared.' The message was clear and if Prowl was so sure about this like he was about everything in Jazz's life so far... It would be ok.

Jazz took a deep breath in and forced a grin, forcing his confidence. "Oh yeah, boss? Tell ya what, I do my own bit right before I leave, two stories a night, and a 10 grand pay bump. I keep my schedule, I keep doin' what I'm doing, and ya don't need to worry about me leavin'."

"Fine. Fine. Okay, whatever. The investors are losing their minds. They want this. Who would have known that Alpha Trion would have advocated for a kid's radio bit so badly?" He grumbled. "We'll discuss the details more tomorrow. Don't be late."

"Y-Yeah, sure thing, boss," Jazz choked out and Blurr ended the call.

His vision blurred as stars danced in his eyes, his breaths began to fight him and oh, his head began to ache. He squeezed Prowl's hand more, sputtering, "P-Prowler-"

"You're okay, Jazz. Everything is okay," Prowl tried to sooth, but was clearly fumbling. "Let me get you some coolant pouches and medication, alright? I will be right back."

He managed another laugh, "Y-Yeah, okay. Coolant, pain meds, and bed, yeah? I... Y're goin' to need ta tell me in the mornin' that this wasn't a dream."

Prowl tried to take his hand back, but smiled all the same. "You know, Jazz... Perhaps your boys really were the best thing to ever happen to you. You wouldn't have thought to do that otherwise."

Jazz grinned proudly as his head swam in his excitement, "You know what? I think you're right."

Maybe they were, but in more ways than one. He couldn't just count on the good things to happen to him, but he had to admit. He was happier now. It was the content mornings with the boys and making friends with Orion and Kup... It was more than just helping at his job. No, he was having a family.

Huh.

Maybe family did make you stronger.

Prowl smiled as if he read Jazz's mind, squeezing his hand.

It would be okay.

Prowl would make sure of it.

Chapter Text

Jazz was woken up by two small pairs of hands shaking him awake, "Jazzy! Jazzy! It's time to get up! Prowl said it's time to get up!" He groaned and grabbed the red blur, pinning Sideswipe underneath his weight. "Jaaazzzzy! Get offff!"

"Ya know, this new stuffed animal Prowler got me is so nice and warm... Makes a lot of noise and is a little stinky though," Jazz grumbled playfully. He sniffed in an exaggerated manner, "Yeah, definitely stinky."

"I'm not stinky, you're stinky!" Sideswipe yelled, smacking his plating. "Jazzy, get off, you're heavy!"

Sunstreaker poked Jazz, "Are you joking?"

Jazz lifted his chin a little bit to smile at his oldest, "Yeah, Sunny, I'm jokin' with him. I figured ya wouldn't appreciate it too much." He ignored Sideswipe's flailing still.

He wasn't the only one to as Sunstreaker nodded solemnly, "Okay. But I agree, Sideswipe is very stinky. I think he needs a bath."

"Yeah, me too," Jazz agreed. He sighed and let his head flop back down, "I guess I need to get up."

"Prowl said to," Sunstreaker reminded before he slipped off of the bed. He headed out the door and Jazz snorted as he rolled off of Sideswipe.

The boy took deep, gasping breaths, but Jazz knew most of it was because he was blowing it out of proportion. "You were crushing me!" He accused, but he didn't sound angry.

"You woke me up," Jazz pouted back. "That was mean."

"Prowl told us to!" Sideswipe whined. "Are you going to roll over on him too?" He looked up, almost hopeful.

Jazz threw his head back, "Nah. Besides, he's even bigger than I am, he'd just roll over onto me."

Sideswipe giggled and tried to jump onto Jazz, "Carry me! Please, please, please, Jazzy?" His guardian barely managed to catch him in time, but pulled him close regardless.

"Alright, bitty mine. Let's go see what Prowler's cookin' up," He got up, propping Sideswipe on his hip. 

"It's pancakes! Prowl said something good happened so he made some whipped cream! It was really cool to see it happen. It was like nothing and then poof! Whipped cream!" Sideswipe described as he brought Jazz out.

Prowl was talking with Sunstreaker, who was sitting on the counter. The boy had a spoon in his mouth and was nodding along to... whatever Prowl was telling him. The pair paused when they saw Jazz and Sideswipe. Prowl nodded, "Good morning. I take it that Sideswipe was telling you about the celebratory whipped cream?"

"Yeah, somethin' about good news?" Jazz asked. He strode over and put Sideswipe on Prowl's other side. He saw the hand mixer wasn't going and aimed for a sample-

Prowl grabbed his wrist, stopping him before he had a chance, "Yes. About your new radio bit. You will be signing on it today. Congratulations, Jazz." He looked between their boys, "What do we tell Jazz?"

"Congrats, Jazzy!" They said in sync. Sideswipe smiled as Prowl took out two more spoons and got a sample out. He passed one to Sideswipe and Jazz.

The radio host smiled at the three, "Thanks, it means a lot. If doin' a good job means gettin' homemade whipped cream..." He stuck the spoon in his mouth.

Oh.

Oh no.

He was going to need to 'junx this mech.

Oh no no no.

"Jazzy?" Sideswipe asked, shaking Jazz. "Are you okay? What's wrong, are you choking again?" His voice began to crack, "Please don't-"

Jazz forced himself to snap out of it and took the spoon out of his mouth, "N-No, I'm not dyin', Sides, I promise. Just... That's some of the best sweets I've had in my life, Prowler. Ya sure ya didn't used to be a baker in yer past life?"

"My creators are both bakers," Prowl said. "We don't talk much, but when we do, it's nice." He unplugged the mixer and began to pull the attachments from it. "Before you ask, they do still love me, but they are busy, and with their store, it is not easy to leave. I needed to go visit them and..."

"With yer ex, it makes it hard ta visit," Jazz nodded. "Nah, I get that. My and Rico don' really talk to our creators much anymore. We had a... fallin' out a few decavorns before the twins were born. They're probably off doin'... who knows what, but they're gone."

Sideswipe froze, "Your creators are dead?" Jazz let the wheels turn in his head before he decided it would be easier to explain later. Prowl saw the hesitance, but looked away. This wasn't his battle to fight.

Jazz nodded sadly, hoping his acting skills were enough to convince a child, "Yeah, my Si and Ri are dead. I was grown up, and it still hurts sometimes, but gets easier. We still have a lot of their stuff, but I know if they had been here, they woulda taken to ya two in in a sparkbeat."

"Can you tell us about them?" Sunstreaker asked. He was watching Prowl pull out the griddle to start on the pancakes. "You said talking about them can help."

Jazz smiled ruefully as he leaned next to Sideswipe, "Sure, bitty. Do ya remember Rico?" The pair nodded, but Prowl only gave him a curious look out of the corner of his eye. Jazz would need to tell him about his brother later. "Well, Ricochet is a little younger than I am, but we both got Sire's audial horns, but Rico got some of his colorin'. A lot of blacks and golds, but I got Grandcarrier's white trim from Carrier's side. We both got Carrier's visor, though. Prettiest thing on him, but, Primus, you could tell he was glarin' at ya from across the room, even with it."

"Who did you get your eyes from? They're really pretty," Sideswipe asked, kicking his feet. "I saw them once when you were looking in the mirror."

He faltered somewhat, but put his smile back on, "That, Sides, is all me. Bit of a... hiccup in the forge, you can say. It's not somethin' I like talkin' about, so please don't tell anyone about it."

"Okay!"

Oh, the wonders of being friends with a sparkling...

"Why?"

Or not.

Prowl looked over, "There are things that are hard to talk about sometimes. Either he does not want to, or something has happened in the past that has made it difficult to talk about. Please respect his choices, just like he respects yours."

Sideswipe nodded sagely, but pointed at Jazz. He got the feeling he was about to be ratted out- "Jazz was crushing me in bed."

Prowl gave Jazz a withered look and he tried to defend himself, "They woke me up and I wanted to wrestle!" He was putting on the performance of a lifetime with Jazz being in the doghouse.

"It's okay, I had fun!" Sideswipe chirped. "He didn't wrestle Sunny though."

"I didn’t want to,” Sunstreaker shrugged.

Sideswipe stuck his tongue out, “You’re just mad Jazzy loves me more.” Jazz looked offended, but Sunstreaker crossed his arms.

“And you’re just mad that Prowl loves me more.”

”Nuh uh.”

”Uh huh.”

”Nuh uh!”

”Yeah huh!”

”NUH-“

It was very quickly going to devolve into a greater argument, and Jazz was starting to try and cut in, but he just added to the noise.

Prowl put his hands down flat on the counter, “Boys.” The three froze at the cold word and icier look that he was giving them. “We are better than this. Sideswipe, Jazz loves you both equally. Sunstreaker, I love you both equally. We both love you a great deal, so please do not rip yourselves apart trying to find out who loves who more. It only leads to hurting each other’s feelings and hurting yourselves.” He looked between them again, “Do you understand?”

The pair shared a chastised look and nodded. Jazz put his hands on his hips, “Can ya—“

”One moment, Jazz,” Prowl cut in quietly. He kept his eye on the pair. “Do you know why I am telling you not to do it again?” He had to break up a fight similar to this a few days ago during their learning time, so it was time to see if they learned anything.

Sideswipe nodded, “Because it might hurt Sunny if I say Jazz loves me more?”

”And it might hurt Sides if I say Prowl loves me more…” Sunstreaker agreed quietly.

Prowl nodded again, “Do you feel bad for what you said to each other?” The boys sullenly nodded. “Is there anything you would like to say to each other?”

Sideswipe reached for his brother’s hand, “I’m sorry, Sunny. I know Jazz loves you.”

Sunstreaker met him halfway, “It’s ok. I’m sorry too. I know Prowl loves you too.”

“Do you accept each other’s apologies? You do not ever need to forgive someone, but it is not healthy to hold on to what someone did to you past the time it takes you to heal,” Prowl said.

The boys nodded one last time and Prowl smiled. “Then all is forgiven. Thank you for being patient, you both did good. However, please do not do this in the future. I will be abiding by my timeout warning system.” That earned him happier faces.

Prowl addressed Jazz next, “I’m sorry for interrupting you. I want to make sure they understand what they are apologizing for. I also want to make sure they know they do not need to accept what they feel is a bad apology.”

Jazz grinned, looking over his boys as Prowl let them help him count out ingredients, “Nah, Prowler. Ya thought of that before I ever did.” He reached to see if he could get another fingertip full of whipped cream, but Prowl only smacked his hand.

“So,” Jazz grinned as he leaned forward at the picnic table at the park. Orion Pax was pointedly not looking at him or Prowl, looking at the trio of children instead. “What’s this about Alpha Trion suddenly being all for a sparkling broadcasting bit on the radio?”

Orion still didn’t meet his gaze, “He has always supported the arts and sparkling welfare programs.”

”Prowl, sic ‘em,” Jazz grinned. He had always wanted to do the 'sic 'em' bit and was glad Prowl had brought his research from the night before over breakfast. Jazz wanted to do the bit, and Prowl was happy to oblige.

The nanny pulled out a data pad and began going over the numbers, “Compared to his fellow Council members, Alpha Trion has sponsored a fair number of programs into the arts, but not nearly as many sparkling programs as Perceptor or Hoist. He has not voted against any of them, but he has never truly turned it down. Additionally, he is a supporter of the arts, but more in terms of preservation and less actual commissions. Given his public record, he has commissioned less than half of any other given Council Member-“

”Bumblebee was crying and he wouldn’t stop,” Orion finally broke. He chuckled, “I was going on a date with my conjunx and he offered to watch Bumblebee. Normally, he doesn’t have a problem with Bee, but… He just wouldn’t stop. Bumblebee likes listening to Jazz’s station, but he must have been having a bad day.”

Jazz froze and slowly looked to Bumblebee playing in the sand with his kids, “Mech, your bitty’s not allowed ya know how much power he has over one of the most power mechs on the planet.”

Orion laughed heartily, “Oh, believe me, I know. He gets spoiled enough as it is.” He eyed Jazz, “So, will you be taking that position with CBS? A lot of the parents on the daycare message board is talking about it. I must have mentioned that I knew you once because I have been getting several personal messages about it.”

Prowl paled, but Orion held up his hand, “I have had the security team from my work secretly verify their identities. There seems to be no outgoing messages to Mesothulas, and I am careful not to mention your name, my friend. Calm.”

”Thank you,” He nodded his head. He relaxed, clutching his data pad tightly. He knew Mesothulas was watching, but he wanted it to be on his terms.

Jazz shrugged, “Probably not. Signin’ on for a 10 grand pay bump with my boss fer two stories a night. Not bad, if I do say so myself.” He smiled and talked the table near Prowl, “It’s all thanks ta Prowler, though. I wouldn’t have taken that jump if it wasn’t fer you.”

Prowl dipped his doorwings quickly in dismissal, “Anyone would have done the same. It is a rare opportunity to have this kind of leverage.”

”Besides, I’m a night mech. Before I got our boys, I was staying up until three in the mornin’ and getting up at 1 in the afternoon. Maybe when the boys get a little older, I’ll think about it,” Jazz shrugged.

Orion gave him a mildly scolding look, “Jazz, in a few decavorns, the boys will be in school and the only time you’ll get to see them are on your days off and on the early mornings. You’re heading to work when they’re getting off. I’m come out to the park with Bumblebee because I can work from home later, but I’m going to worry about you if the only time your boys will see you is before school.”

Jazz suddenly looked deeply unsettled by the revelation, but Prowl bobbed his doorwings with a twinkle in his eye. The radio host smiled shakily, “Ya always seem to have some kind of solution. Whatcha got, Prowler?”

”It does not need to be just me helping with the boys’ school,” He said proudly. He pulled out another datapad from his subspace and placed it in front of Jazz, “There were many events that creators contributed to that I saw at Enforcer-visitation days to schools. Bake sales, school events, fundraisers… I fully intend on participating, but I see no reason you could not do the same.”

He pulled the datapad closer to him curiously. It was a spreadsheet of several nearby schools that had events that allowed parents in. It had columns for whether they allowed for naptime, what activities they advertised, satisfaction scores from creators online, and what the employees said on job review message boards. Jazz looked up in shock and awe. Prowl was watching him with an eager look in his eyes and raised doorwings.

Jaz laughed at how adorable he looked, "This looks great, Prowler. I think ya really outdid yerself with this." He looked it over the spreadsheet and he was shaking his head in disbelief. This kind of process must have taken him at least several hours together, if not several dozen. "When did ya have the time ta put this together, Prowler? This is insane..."

"In a good way," Orion chimed in before Prowl and Jazz looked up in confusion.

Prowl's face had barely moved, but there was still something to it that told Jazz he was slowly feeling disappointment. Jazz got up from his side of the bench to take Prowl's side, "Hey, hey, OP's right, I meant it in a good way. Prowler, y're a damn force of nature. Y're lookin' after Sides and Sunny, y're the best damn cook I've ever met in person who wasn't a professional chef, y're studyin' to be an Enforcer - again - and ya still have time to put this together? Prowler, mech, you could probably take down Unicron if ya put your mind to it." He reached out for Prowl's hand, but stopped a few inches away. "Do ya have any idea how much I trust ya?"

The nanny's gaze went to his offered hand, but pulled his own back, "I know, Jazz. I really, truly do. I... can I have some space, please? I-I want to revisit this later."

Jazz scooted away carefully, "Yeah, Prowler. Anytime, okay?" He got up, heading back for his side of the bench. Orion pat his back gently, knowing that Jazz was just as hurt by the interaction. 

"So, um, do we want to change the subject or just watch the kids?" He asked, trying to look back to his creation and his friends.

Prowl looked to Jazz, and the radio host smiled, "So, OP, any interestin' tales you can tell us from work? I got a few, so I'll trade ya..."

Orion didn't look at Prowl as he began talking. The nanny let himself relax and try to work on his meditation. Blocking out the talking pair was never going to work, so he let it become background noise as he worked on his numbers. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, square root is 12, 24, 36, root is 6, 3, 1.5, 0.75, 0.375, 0.1825, 0.09125, 0.045625 to 456 minus 200 is 256 root is 16 plus the 200 is 216 cube root is 6, and the 25 from before is root 5 and 5 plus 6 is 11, 17, 28, 45, 74...

No, it's 73.

Prowl opened his eyes and let his plating flared. He could breathe again without his armor crawling and he was still facing the... not quite rejection, but it felt weak. Jazz was passion incarnate, and that was his reaction? He sounded like a creator who was wincing internally and telling their creation that the painting they did was 'so so soooooo good.'

"Find the people you trust. Trust them to tell you when something is wrong. Sometimes, you'll be right, it's a problem, and sometimes, it's your processor being a room full of cybercats and something small just got knocked over. Wait for it to calm down and realize it was a whole lot of nothing. Address the thing that got knocked over then," Smokescreen's words from the academy echoed through his head.

This was Jazz. They were going to talk about it. Jazz was giving him space like they gave Sunstreaker space after his therapy session. Jazz wouldn't lie to him about something like this. He trusted Jazz.

He swallowed and there was a gentle thunk on the table. Jazz was pulling his arm back, still talking to Orion, but there was a cube of energon in front of him. Next to it... It was a small pastry, a blue raspberry tart that looked like Jazz had gotten it from the bakery two days ago, when he had been talking with Kup. It was blue raspberry, his favorite flavor. He had only told Jazz because of a lollipop. He had remembered.

He smiled weakly and took a bite of the tart..

It crumbled perfectly.

When lunchtime approached and Prowl had long since finished his snack, Jazz finally looked over. "Ya okay to head out, Prowler?"

"Yes. I needed some time. Thank you," He said quietly. It was one thing to have this kind of reaction in front of Jazz, but Orion?

The mech in question raised his hand in an attempt to placate him, "Please, don't worry. We all have times where everything becomes a little too much. I'm just glad you're alright."

Prowl was relieved when Orion reached his field out and - Primus, he was so earnest. He let out a deep sigh and nodded. He turned to Jazz, "Let's get the boys. Did you have any other plans for the day?"

Jazz cocked his head, but perked, "Oh, I was wonderin' if you'd be alright if I went out with Blaster after. No drinks, just bar food and complainin'."

He took a deep breath and nodded slowly, "That is amenable. Please call me when you are on your way home, or if something does happen that makes getting home difficult."

"I learned my lesson, Prowler," Jazz grinned. "I'll go get the boys, you be good, okay?" He got up, leaving Prowl with Orion.

The nanny sighed as soon as Jazz was out of earshot, "You know, sometimes, I feel like everything is going well, and I just... lose ground."

"Hey, Jazz knows that. Neither of you did anything wrong," Orion said. "Don't beat yourself up for something you can't control."

"No, I... I should not have gotten my hopes up so," Prowl choked out. He crossed his hands in front of himself, not wanting to spiral again. He was just about to tell Orion, but-

The large mech smiled and leaned over a little, "Do you know the talent it takes to silence a mech who talks as much as Jazz? You awed him into silence and I think he needed a moment to process everything himself."

That... shifted the interaction a great deal and Prowl straightened slightly. He wanted to feel hope, he wanted to so badly, that he didn't mess up... "You think so?"

"You can talk to him yourself, but ask him to describe his side. You know him, and you trust him. You've heard how he talks to the kids when they give him those little things that make him use the tone," Orion said knowingly. "I am fortunate that Bumblebee does not yet know I am saying thank you in that tone when he hands me a drool-covered toy or a mud pie. The tone he used was not that tone."

Prowl laughed quietly, "Yes, of course. I... Thank you, Orion. I appreciate you."

"And I, you. It's not often I can actually unwind like I do here and... I know your boys will look after Bumblebee to the best of their ability," Orion agreed. He rose and came around to help Prowl, "And forgive me for being selfish, but... I know that when he is with them, and I am not right there, I know you will look after him like he is your own."

The nanny took his hand and let Orion pull him up, "You would leave him in my care and therefore my duty; of course I would look after him." Movement in the corner of his eye alerted him to Jazz kneeling next to the twins and pointing at Prowl. They both turned their heads, Sideswipe in open worry, and Sunstreaker looking at him like a bird of prey. "Oh no. They're going to overreact-"

The pair froze when Jazz got his kids' attention again. He said something, his face clearly serious, and the boys nodded. He tipped his head forward, reaffirming whatever he said and Sideswipe nodded enthusiastically. Sunstreaker nudged him, but nodded himself. Jazz smiled and clapped his hands onto his legs as he stood. He held out a hand to each and... He let them hang from him as he walked over. 

Orion grinned as he leaned over, "He's becoming an amazing Sire, isn't he?"

Prowl smiled proudly to see the twins giggling fiendishly as Jazz swung them back and forth, "I think he already was. He just needed a chance to show it off."

He laughed, knowing the look in Prowl's eye. He was told about it a lot when he started dating Ariel all those vorns ago. His friends never stopped teasing him about it, but they were also the ones who stood by him at his conjunxing ceremony. He never would have asked for it any other way, but now... He could understand his friends.

He could only hope he was invited to the pair's ceremony as well.

When the trio finally got closer, Sideswipe dropped from Jazz's arm and ran over. Prowl knelt to meet him, "Did you have fun-"

"Jazz said you're having a bad day and we need to be extra good today, but is that true? We can be extra extra good, but if you're having a bad day, you can have my stuffie," Sideswipe cut him off, talking a mile a minute. He pulled out his favorite stuffed zap pony from his miniscule subspace and held it out.

Prowl stared in shock for a moment. He knew that at that age, sparklings could only hold a very, very limited amount of small things. This was likely the only thing he carried with him at any given time. And he knew Sideswipe loved his stuffed animal. And here he was-

"Prowlie?" He asked, cocking his head. "Are you okay?"

"Thank you, Sideswipe," Prowl whispered. He reached his arms out, "I... Can I hug you?"

He lit up and still held his toy tight as he jumped into Prowl's arms, "Yeah! You can always hug me! Unless I'm angry. No hugs when I'm angry."

Prowl laughed and nodded, hugging the twin gently as he needed to. "O-Of course, bitty. Thank you." He squeezed Sideswipe for a moment and let him go. The boy forced the zap pony at him again. "I... I will treat him like the majestic steed he is."

Sideswipe giggled, "You can't ride him! He's a stuffie!"

"Well, maybe I would like to pretend he is a planet-wide star that is faster than any zap pony that has existed before," Prowl mused, holding the stuffed animal tightly. "I will keep him safe for you. Thank you." The boy grinned, proud.

Sunstreaker came running over, trying to force his own stuffed animal into Prowl's hands. Prowl smiled and took it as well, "Would you like a hug as well, Sunstreaker?" The golden twin nodded this time and Prowl sighed. He pulled Sunstreaker in for a hug, looking over his shoulder to Jazz with an accusatory look.

Jazz was flabbergasted, lost for words and he facepalmed. Prowl couldn't help it, he laughed, pulling away from Sunstreaker. His laugh was deep and rough, but the entire situation was so absurd, he couldn't help it.

Jazz could never stand those flowery novellas that his Sire had read when he and Rico were younger. They always described the main character's laugh as something light and sweet or a deep chest laugh that boomed in the main lead's chest, drawing them in. 

He hated those laughs. He liked hearing his boys' squeals as he tickled them. He liked hearing his brother's guffaws when he cracked lewd jokes. He liked hearing Blaster's musical rumbling when Jazz said something mean about Blurr behind his back. He liked his own laugh, slightly nasal and warbling, but it was his and he loved it.

But Prowl's laugh was something else. It wasn't neat, it wasn't clean. It was rough, jarring. If he had to pin it down to anything, it sounded like shaking a tin of nails and screws. It wasn't the best sound, but there was something amusing about it that made you want to shake it more.

He wanted to hear that laugh more, no matter how much effort it took to shake the damn tin.

"Hey, Prowler?" Jazz whispered as the boys set to doing their art in the main room while he helped Prowl in the kitchen. "Are... Are you okay to talk about what happened earlier?"

"I can be. I do not want to hear any apologies until we work out what happened. I want to know what was going through your head, and I will explain what was going through mine. Does that sound fair? I only ask that we don't interrupt each other," Prowl said as he cut the boys' fruit into cute shapes. 

Jazz nodded and worked on their sandwiches, "Yeah, that sounds fair. You said ya wanted me ta go first?" Prowl nodded and he took a deep breath, "Alright. So, the school stuff. I was gettin' told about not seein' the boys at any other point in the day if I wanted ta take that CBS job. It... It would probably be a pay cut, it would be further away, but I could see the boys more. It's... not somethin' I want to hear. Then, ya tell me you had plans, and I was expecting a small rundown, and ya gave me an entire analytical write up of all of the schools in the area."

He swallowed as he cut the crusts off of the bread, "I wasn't expectin' it and ya reminded how smart and capable ya are. I couldn't find the words to express it and I musta defaulted to the tone I take with the boys sometimes. Sunstreaker's gettin' so much better with his art and Sides is readin' at a faster rate than I woulda thought, and I just... I'm in awe, Prowler. I-" He cut himself off, "Nope, no apologies until after."

Prowl smiled gently as he cut another watermelon into a bunny. A thought crept into his mind and he bumped his hip into Jazz's, "Focus."

"Yessir," Jazz grinned. He went back to the sandwiches. "I want to have another copy of that list and go over it with ya. We might have a care where we enroll 'em for a little bit and see how they do. I know Sunny would need special help, and if he needs ta be homeschooled, so does Sides. I... you're a damn wonder. I was knocked speechless, and Blaster'll tell ya, that doesn't happen. I don't know how much time ya spent on it, but with yer own coursework, I also worried that you would be focusin' on us more than ya need to. This is something I should be doing." Prowl gave him a look and Jazz waited patiently, but he realized what it was. Prowl was waiting for him to say he was done. "Go for it."

"You can focus on your job for now. Leave the boys' care to me. This is what I would classify as within my bounds. I will still run all final decisions by you,” He answered. Jazz nodded and Prowl’s shoulders slumped, “As for earlier, I suppose I had been expecting a different reaction. Looking back, there was little higher praise than you could have given. It was a misunderstanding, and I-“ He cut himself off.

Jazz laughed quietly and bumped Prowl’s hip back, “Hey, no apologies yet, mech. Keep goin’.”

Prowl smiled and nodded. He took out an apple to shape, “As for after… There are some rejections I do not take well. In average life, I… I am fine, but others…”

Jazz turned to him with a cringe, “Ya really wanted ta see me pleased and excited, didn’t ya?”

“And that is through no fault of your own. This was a bad circumstance that some of my coding interpreted,” He said. His hands were steady, even though his voice wavered somewhat. 

Jazz could practically hear him internally begging to not think any less of him, so he nudged Prowl again. “Hey, it happens. And your coding is fine, it’s what makes you… you. Do ya think regular coding is much better? I’ve seen idiots with regular codin’ do so many stupid things that it’ll make yer head spin. Nah, mech. You’re perfect just the way ya are. Do ya want to keep goin’?”

Prowl put his knife down and braced himself on the counter. “I-I…” His mouth clamped shut and he barely managed the ping to Jazz. ‘Could I have a hug? You do not need to if you don’t want to.’

”Words bein’ stupid?” He asked. He put his own knife down, wiped his hands, and slipped into Prowl’s space. He couldn’t reach over Prowl’s shoulders, so he needed to go around his stomach. Prowl arched over Jazz, doorwings shaking, and barely holding himself together. Instead, he let Jazz hold him together. For every little bit that Prowl squeezed, Jazz returned in kind, and it was nice, even if his plating itched, but he wanted this more and it was good and his brain was slowly chugging through what Jazz had said. 

It took longer than he would have liked, but Prowl’s eyes finally stopped burning from unshed tears and protoform stopped crawling. He started to pull away, and Jazz, patient Jazz, released him. “Ya good, Prowler?”

He only got a nod in return and he smiled. “Do ya want to go sit with the boys for a bit? I can finish up here. You can have a slow day, just turn in and watch movies. I’m ok with that.” Prowl hesitated, but Jazz’s smile shifted to a playful grin, “Hey, I want ya to do what you need to. If ya need a slow day, I am telling ya, as your boss, I want ya to spend a day with the boys in a way that’ll make ya feel better, okay?” Prowl slumped in relief and nodded again. 

Jazz patted his arm in encouragement and quickly shooed him out of the kitchen, “Go on. I’ll let Sides and Sunstreaker know, okay?” The twins looked up at their names and Jazz leaned on the counter, “Boys, Prowl’s still havin’ a bit of a bad day, okay? If he doesn’t want ta talk-“ Sunstreaker immediately got up and went to his school supply cubby, cutting Jazz off.

Prowl covered his smile with his hand as he understood. Sunstreaker found one of the school dry erase boards annd markers and brought it over proudly, “Like for my bad days.”

He toon the board and scribbled a quick message on it, ‘Thank you, Sunstreaker. Looks like we will be practicing our reading today.’

The boy needed to sound the words out as he went, but he bounced up when he read the complete sentence. “Okay!”

’Why don’t you let me and Jazz finish talking and then we can put some movies on, or we can put on the old episodes of Rescue Bots?’ Prowl wrote. It took Sunstreaker longer to read it, but he nodded excitedly and ran back to join his brother. Prowl rose and clutched the board tightly. He flipped to a new pages and scribbled something for Jazz.

“‘Your boys truly are in a league of their own,’” He read aloud and grinned proudly. “Aw, Prowler! That’s so sweet!” He hesitated. “Do ya still want to talk about it later? I can wait.”

Prowl thought and nodded. He wrote out the next set of lines, ’I am fine to write about it now. It may take longer, but I want to get it out.’ He let Jazz read over it and erased it all when he nodded. ‘Thank you for your patience now and earlier. Sometimes these kinds of things can trigger with big emotional swings, so I attempt to regulate expectations when I can. But… thank you for your patience earlier. And now. I deeply appreciate it. I did not understand your reaction was a good one and I will try to keep that in mind in the future. You did nothing wrong, but if you need to have my forgiveness, you have it.’

Jazz smiled and cocked his head, “Hey, and same to you. Ya didn’t do anythin’ wrong. You were just reactin’. And honestly, I wouldn’ta thought to have a conversation like this and… it’s nice. It helped.”

Prowl smiled in amusement, ‘Communication tends to do wonders.’ He looked over the food and stole a slice of bread. He tucked it into his mouth so he could write, ‘Are you sure you’re ok to take over?’

”I think I can handle makin’ lunch. Go get what ya need to ta settle down on the couch. Order a pizza for tonight. Tonight, let someone else handle stuff and take care of yourself,” He rambled. He shooed Prowl out. “Go get a blanket ya like and make yerself a cocoon.”

Prowl smiled weakly and slunk off to the boys’ room. Jazz took the chance when he left to look to the boys. “If I hear a peep about either of ya bein’ bad, I’m goin’ to be disappointed.”

Sideswipe looked up from his coloring, “We’ll be good! We promise, Jazzy!”

“Yeah, Jazzy,” Sunstreaker nodded, his shoulders twitching. He was watching the door that Prowl had disappeared into. “Prowlie ok?”

“He will be. He’s just havin’ a bad time right now. You know those times you don’t wanna talk, bitty mine, and ya want to hide in your room? He’s havin’ one of those times.”

Sunstreaker nodded and got up from his art. He went to the controls for the living room and turned the lights off. Sideswipe looked up and pouted, but managed to keep going from the light in the kitchen. Sunstreaker continued for the kitchen lights but Jazz rushed over. “Not those ones, Sunstreaker. I need those. When I’m done, I’ll turn them off, I promise.” His eldest eyed him for a moment, but he still nodded. He toddled over to the couch.

Sideswipe’s head snapped up and he went to join his brother. Together, they began to rearrange the blankets and pillows into what Jazz knew was one of the most comfortable positions for binging shows. With him on his side, he could hug Sideswipe while Sunstreaker sat in the bend of his knees. 

Would Prowl even be able to sleep on the couch because of his doorwings and bumper? Or his own comfort? He’d find out. 

Prowl returned a moment later with the boy’s spare comforter spread over his shoulders, hands gripping it tightly. Jazz had to hide a laugh at how wide-eyed he was about everything. He remembered the same feeling when he had his monster hangover. 

Sunstreaker perked up and ran over, “Prowlie, come here. You can nap and we can nap too.” He tugged on the comforter, bringing his nanny over to the couch.

Prowl looked over it and rearranged a few things, but he opted to sleep with his stomach supported and bumper down. The boys helped him rearrange the blanket so it sat right below his doorwings and went down to his feet. There wasn’t much more room for him, but the boys snuggled into his back and between his knees as if nothing had changed. The nanny accessed the controls for the holoscreen and pulled up the 24/7 kids’ station. There was an episode of Rescue Bots playing and they all snuggled in.

Jazz brought their food and ruffled his boys’ heads when he passed them their plates, “Remember, eat over your plates so you don’t get anything on the blanket or Prowler.” 

“Yes, Jazzy,” They parroted quietly. Sideswipe squirmed to be laying down, giggling when Prowl shifted underneath him. “We’ll be good for Prowlie,” He promised and put a finger over his mouth in the classic ‘shhh’ motion.

His guardian smiled and knelt to be closer to optic level to Prowl, “Ya think you’re goin’ to be okay, Prowler?” 

His friend slow blinked like a cybercat once, twice, a third time before reaching out. Jazz gave him his hand, and Prowl brought it to cup his face. Jazz smiled and rubbed his thumb over the smooth metal of his cheek. “I’ll be back on time tonight. I’ll tell Blaster I can do it another night.”

Prowl nodded as tears welled up again. When he was hurting, he was more important than hanging out with Blaster.

Mesothulas hadn’t done anything like it, nor had that one femme he dated in high school, but it… Jazz wasn’t going to abandon him just because he had plans. He wasn’t going to abandon Prowl just because he knew Blaster longer and the other radio star clearly mattered to Jazz. He wasn’t going to be pushed out of a place he felt safe and warmth and peace and-

He didn’t dare utter the word that swam in his head out of fear of breaking this fragile illusion. Two bitties that gave him an honorific similar to what they called their guardian, a mech who cared, and a warm ho— 

Prowl needed to get his head on straight. He was hurting, he was in emotional shutdown, and Primus-damnit, he was going to do something he was going to regret—

Jazz’s hand pulled away before he could act on his own. His visor clicked back and Prowl knew that look in his eyes. Jazz understood what Prowl was thinking, what he wanted, but what he also needed. Prowl wanted Jazz to stay, but he needed Jazz to go more.

He didn’t move away just yet, but pulled a set of tissues from his subspace, “I’ll be back, Prowler. I’ll order a pizza for you three around dinner time. The boys have already had it, they’re fine with it, it’s all good, but is cheese okay with you?”

Prowl nodded, popping a grape into his mouth to give him some other kind of stimuli. Jazz chuckled quietly and rose. “Alright, you three. Be good, don’t burn the house down.”

”Love you, Jazzy! Good luck at work!” The twins said in tandem before their show came back on. 

For a moment, it looked like Jazz didn’t want to leave but… He steeled himself, took in his kid’s wishes of good luck, and headed out the door.

The drive into work was a long one, but it gave Jazz time to think. He needed to evaluate different parts of this. Their kids, their happiness, their financial situation… it was a lot.

If he would take the CBS job, there was no way he would be making, even remotely, the same amount of credits. With that in place, he couldn’t afford where he was living, or afford to still pay Prowl. Even if he arranged a pay cut for Prowl - which was a conversation he knew Prowl would be willing to have, he was a grown mech who could out-plan a military strategist - it wasn’t something he was willing to do, and he couldn’t cut Prowl from their lives, nor just ask Prowl to move in. 

But if he did take it, the boys could probably have a chance to meet the real Rock ‘em and Sock ‘em and could maybe come with him now and then… but then again, he had heard plenty of stories about the kids in entertainment and he wasn’t willing to put his boys through that. Additionally, they would more at risk if people knew what they looked like and that… no. Just no. 

He hated that he wouldn’t get to see them as often, but—

Jazz hissed as he nearly swerved with a thought. He had a dinner break. There was nothing stopping Prowl from bringing the boys to have takeout at the station with him once or twice a week. That could work, right?

The more he thought about it, Jazz knew that this  would take much longer for this to pay off, and it would, but it would cut out too many parts of Jazz’s life in the meantime. He couldn’t do it.

He would stay with his aft of a boss and deal with it.

“I hope you’re proud of yourself,” Blirr hissed as he slid the contract in front of Jazz.

He had legal representation from HR on his side of the table, while Jazz had Minimus Ambus from his radio bit ‘Minimalist’s Legalese’ on his side. The shorter mech was the rest of the station’s go-to legal representation whenever he was needed.

He squared his already impressive shoulders, “Please refrain from making such comments to my client, Blurr.”

“I pay your salary,” Blurr hiss back, but leaned back in his seat. “10 grand pay raise, after tax, you’re welcome, in return for your new bit. One 15 minute story or two 7 minute stories. In return for allowing us access to the Archives’ sparkling stories, I’m giving Alpha Trion recordings of these bits. He will not collect any amount of profit for them, but they will fall under the Archives’ copyright. You know what that means,” Blurr said.

Jazz smiled as he nodded, “No one can get any money off of it, but it can be used for non-profit educational purposes only. I don’t mind that, or those recordings gettin’ sent to the Archives. I know their stuff’s open to the public anyway.”

”Good. We’ll have exclusive rights to it, and you’ll continue doing these as long as you work here. You run out of stories to tell, we switch to chapter books. We’ll take on any legal responsibilities so long as you clear the books with legal first,” Blurr explained. He crossed his arms when the HR representative gave him a look. “Fine. There’s an added bonus in your new contract that for every vorn you stay on, you’ll get a raise complimentary to your tenure.”

Jazz grinned as Minimus looked the document over once, then again. “I see there’s a noncompete clause in here.”

Blurr smirked and shrugged, “Of course. He’s not allowed to go to another station and redo the pieces he’s already done. This is partially in accordance with the deal we have with the archives, but I want to cover our own afts here. I’m sure you understand.” 

The musician snorted, “Crystal, mech. Y’re wavin’ a pretty fat carrot in front of me while shuttin’ the gate behind me.”

“And this is why we get along so well,” Blurr bitterly purred. “Any other objections?”

“I want a guaranteed half hour break at 6 P.M. and to have dinner with guests o’ my choosin’ in the break room whenever I’m workin’. I can prerecord ‘fore I get on air or lose the comparable pay for that half hour-“

Minimus held up a hand, “You are not getting a food break?” The HR rep lost the color in his face as he turned to Blurr. For once, the blue mech was speechless.

Jazz blinked in confusion, “I usually eat between songs. I thought this was how most of us handled our food breaks.”

”May we amend the contact to have the guaranteed break be allocated to 6 P.M?” The representative asked. “We will revisit the meal break issue at a later time. I would like to enter a legal, recorded and documented letter that this is a separate matter entirely and signing this documentation will in no way impact Jazz’s part in the future dealings.”

Minimus smiled as much as the mech l could smile. “Agreed. I would like to get this secured first.” He nodded to Jazz, “This is a good deal. It’s an immediate pay raise from now to the end of the fiscal vorn, and then its larger raises every vorn.”

Jazz swallowed thickly at the good news and laughed, “Where do I sign?”

He was pointed to a line and he signed it without a second thought.

Blaster laughed later when he slipped into Jazz’s booth during one of his breaks, “Frag, mech. Blurr’s on a damn war path. Did you know he just fired our head of onboarding? He was talking about cutting off the head of the monster or something. You’d think he would be happy. This deal is going to get him a lot of funding and favor from the High Council.”

Jazz grinned in joy, “That aft finally kicked it?! He was the biggest pain in my aft. Blurr finally find out that that’s who started this fraggin’ mess?” 

“What mess? Blurr won’t say anything,” Blaster demanded as he grabbed ‘his’ chair from next to Jazz. “What do you know?”

He hummed and decided to tease his friend, “Well, I ended up gettin’ a new deal cut ‘cause of this bedtime story thing, right? Well, I got Mins on my team-“

”Good pick,” Blaster mused.”

”Thank you! Love him, would recommend again,” Jazz mused he waved his hand, “Anyway, ‘nother friend of mine said that when the boys get into school, I won’t be able to see them much.”

Blaster knocked on his tape deck, “Trust me, I know how lucky I am.”

”Yeah, well, I said I wanted ya have Prowler and the boys come around for a half hour break everyday and that I’d prerecord so I could leave the booth.”

”Ballsy.”

Jazz grinned and held up a finger, “Turns out, we were supposed to be having a meal break this whole time.”

”But-“

”Yeah,” Jazz snickered. “Blurr’s facin’ a lawsuit ‘cause of this. Mins is takin’ this one and we’ll be kept up ta date, but if ya see him goin’ around and ask in’ how they eat durin’ the day, that’s why.”

Blaster made a sound equivalent to trying to laugh and snort at the same time and he coughed to clear his throat, “Jazz, this is a full class action lawsuit.”

He smiled, clamping his lips closed to try not to laugh again, “Yep. I give Blurr a new money maker and immediately introduce him to a class actions. Kinda reminds me of my first week here, actually.”

Blaster choked again, “No wonder Blurr hated ya, ya stumbled into an untapped market of business mechs who can’t go clubbing anymore and playing it during rush hour, and you accidentally expose his ‘junx for having slumlord properties three days later. You’re insane.”

”Ya know, Prowler actually lives in one of his old properties. Red’s doin’ what he can ya get rid of the landlord treatment still, but he’s got a long way to go,” Jazz agreed.” He shook his head, “Blurr loves me… in his own weird little way. Besides, Swindle just needs ta submit to vornly inspections at his properties. Did ya know he’s now advertisin’ that he has free vornly inspections, quality guaranteed? Still charging an arm and a leg, but at least there’s no one livin’ in the walls this time.”

His friend only laughed harder, knowing exactly what he was talking about.

Prowl was woken up when Sideswipe was picked up off his back. His doorwings shot up, trying to identify the perpetrator, but a familiar hummed tune echoed in his audials. He relaxed and Jazz laughed quietly. “Let me move the boys, and you can go back ta bed,” He whispered.

He groaned and shifted slowly, “… No, I need to get up.” Jazz hesitated, watching him get up. “I am fine. I’ll grab Sunstreaker, go on,” He prompted. 

“Nah, I’ll wait,” Jazz mused. “Got an interestin’ tale from work. I think you’ll get a kick outta it.”

Prowl hummed sleepily, “Please wait until I am no longer holding a sparkling, least of all one of your sparklings.” He bundled Sunstreaker into his arms and let Jazz lead them back to their room. The twins barely twitched through it all, even when they were tucked in.

Jazz slipped behind Sideswipe, as he was wont to do, “Can I tell ya now, Prowler?” The nanny hummed sleepily and Jazz laughed, “I mighta accidentally started a class action lawsuit against my boss.

What.

Prowl stared at him for a moment before he slipped under the covers. He pulled Sunstreaker close to him and shook his head, “I’m not dealing with this right now. Remind me in the morning. I’m not on the clock to deal with this.”

”Yessir,” Jazz giggled and snuggled closer to Sideswipe. “Goodnight, you three.”

”Good night, Jazz, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker,” Prowl replied before he dropped off into recharge.

Chapter Text

Prowl eyed him as he prepared the boys’ toast. Jazz smiled in amusement, waiting. The nanny took a deep breath in, “So let me get this straight. This is not the first time you have accidentally started a class action lawsuit. The first one was against your boss’s conjunx and this one is your boss.”

He bobbed his head happily, “Yep! Because I wanted ta be able to have the option to have a family dinner some nights, even if it’s at work, y’know? I knew I had a work break, but everyone was always told to stay in your booty an’ eat there on the clock.”

“So this might be a form of wage theft as well, if you are supposed to be allocated that time as a break to begin with, regardless of your hours and how long you are needed to work each day,” Prowl hummed bitterly. “So they are likely denying you breaks and committing wage theft… how did you not know about this? It’s typically outlined in the informational sheets provided in the break room.” He loaded up the next batch of bread into the toaster.

Jazz cocked his head slowly, still smiling dumbly, “The what?”

Prowl slammed the lever down and spun around, “Does your workplace have posters and informational documents outlining your rights, yes or no?”

”…No…” Jazz said slowly, almost like he was unsure of himself. “Now that you mention it, all of my other jobs had those signs. Why? Is it illegal not to have ‘em or somethin’?”

The toaster popped.

Prowl raised an eyebrow.

”Frag, you're jokin'," Jazz laughed in disbelief. He shook his head and sighed. "Okay, so this might actually be a big problem."

"This is no longer looking like 'simple wage theft', if such a thing exists," Prowl mused as he took the toast out and began to plate it for the twins. He got another two pieces loaded up. "Any judge that looks at this is going to see that this looks incredibly suspicious." He pressed the lever down and turned to address Jazz fully. "Blurr is going to be on the hook for this and it will likely come down on him unless the board of directors favors him."

Jazz snorted, "He's Blurr, former racin' legend. He had a nasty crash one day and got sucked inta the wrong crowd, but his 'junx pulled him out. Swindle got him clean, put 'im up at the radio ta go over races and what's goin' on in the background in return for a cut of his salary, but... They ended up fallin' for each other. Swindle got away from Blurr's debt and into scrap rentals, and Blurr went on ta head the station with a bit o' help, but yeah. I think Swindle pays 'em off, so Blurr's not goin' anywhere."

Prowl blinked, "You know a great deal about him for saying that you do not like him."

Jazz laughed quietly, "Yeah, well... Swindle likes to brag about his conjunx, but I think he likes to brag about Blurr bein' the station manager more." Prowl thought it over and decided that Swindle was either bragging about being 'junxed to the station manager, or that he was a great conjunx for helping Blurr to get there. The second seemed like the more contextually accurate.

"It is sweet, if Blurr was okay with having Swindle help get him there. Is he a good station manager?" He asked.

"One of the best, I'd 'magine. He's a hardaft, but I know I wouldn't want his job," Jazz winced. "I don' blame him for bein' upset when this took off. He's goin' ta need to deal with all of the other hosts goin' rogue until they know they ain't gonna make it."

Prowl hummed in agreement, "You are one in a billion, Jazz." The radio host preened, but Prowl swallowed. "I mean that honestly. Not... Thank you for yesterday. For leaving when you did. I know I wanted you to stay, but..."

"We didn't talk 'bout it and ya couldn't," Jazz shrugged. He said it so casually, it gave Prowl pause. "'Sides, I really did need ta get to work. But if y're also talkin' about comin' home instead of goin' out with Blaster, I once had a good friend o' mine stay the night and spend the whole night watchin' me so I'd be alright," He teased. "Figured I owed him."

"You're an odd one, but... I appreciate it. You made the right decision," Prowl said. The toaster popped and he was quick to butter it and spread jelly on top. He held it out for Jazz to take, "Kup messaged me, Arcee is coming along today. Can you help me with the boys while I get our supplies put together? I believe Sunstreaker found a toy he and Sideswipe are not fond of to donate to her. We didn't have a chance to go yesterday"

Jazz snorted and took the plate, "It's that hectahog, isn't it? They never really liked that one."

Prowl loaded up the next batch, "I believe so. I... I do not know if buying a new toy would be the right move, but I don't want to make them give up one of their own. Sunstreaker recommended the hectahog when I mentioned going to the store later. I checked with Sideswipe, and he agreed that it was fine." He sighed, watching the toaster.

The radio host hummed as he took a bite of his toast, "Feel bad about givin' 'er a toy that the twins didn't want?"

"Yes. There's... There's so much context there that could be taken wrong," Prowl explained. "While they would be giving her a toy that they didn't go out of the way to get, and something that they picked out, there's still the fact that they're giving her, a child that has trauma with adults expecting things of her, something that they don't want," He stressed. "I don't know which she could take as worse, us going out of our way to purchase something for her, or the boys giving her a toy that they owned and had and potentially cherished. It-"

"Prowler," Jazz said carefully. "Y're overthinkin' it. Do ya want me to call Kup and ask him really quick while ya get the bitties rounded up?" Prowl swallowed and thought when the toasted popped again.

He sighed and nodded, "Yes please. I-"

Jazz smiled and pointed at him, "No apologizin' for that, Prowler. Y're just worryin', and I think y're worryin' for the right reasons. This'll either help or hurt 'er, so it won't hurt ta ask." He took his plate to the table and clearly went to place his call.

Prowl sighed through his nose and set about preparing his own toast. This was looking to become an interesting morning.

It was boring, however, as the boys gobbled down their toast. 

It was boring, however, as Prowl ensured he had extra snacks, the boys' blankets, one for himself, and an extra blanket and the hectahog for Arcee (just in case), and the art supplies. 

It was boring, however, as they loaded in, headed out, and rolled up at the park.

It was still empty, but that didn't stop the twins from running off to the empty swing set. They had been getting better at swinging, but with their body weight, they couldn't get over what was at Prowl's shoulder height. They had been given express order against jumping off from that height but... if Prowl gave them permission to do so from a low height when he was close by, it at least minimized his risk of a spark attack.

Jazz laughed as he strode towards a nearby picnic table, "I remember those days. Do ya know when Kup and his are getting here?"

"As always, Hot Rod will let us know," Prowl mused. He followed after and began pulling the art supplies out of his subspace. Jazz smiled and spread the papers out so that Sunstreaker and Arcee could have room to draw and paint. "So it was Slagella last night, do you know what will be on tonight?"

He hemmed and hawed for a moment before he shrugged, "Blurr's givin' me a selection, but I have a good list. Do ya have one in specific ya want? Nothin' too gory like Blue Helm or The Turbowolf and the Seven Sparklin's."

Prowl cocked his head, and hummed, "I would like to ask for The Squire's Bride, if at all possible. It was a favorite of mine, and I believe the boys would greatly enjoy it, if they could stay away more than 3 minutes." 

"Oh? What's it about?" Jazz asked. "Never heard o' that one."

"It's the story of a rich mech who rents out his land to a poor family: a conjunxed pair and their beautiful, unbonded creation. The rich mech wanted nothing more than to conjunx this mech, as he had outlived his own conjunx long ago. He attempts to appeal to the mech with his wealth and over underhanded methods, but the young mech is not easily fooled. Instead, he pulled his own tricks to humiliate the rich mech out of trying to court him. It worked, and it set the rich mech off of trying to do it to anyone else. Considering that the rich mech was rude, entitled, and several thousand vorns older than the young mech, one could not blame him for trying to get out of it. It... It was one of my favorite stories. Now..."

Jazz looked down, "Hits a little too close ta home?"

"Perhaps. But the young mech gets away in the end. That is what matters," Prowl said quietly. He settled at the table and took some of the pencils in hand. "Would you mind if I drew you? I am afraid it may come out as a police sketch if you agree."

"I'll look good in my mugshot at least," Jazz grinned. He leaned forward and propped his chin into his hand, "Is this okay?" He didn't fidget as Prowl's eyes trailed over him in a way that was purely analytical and he suddenly remembered the signature on his shoulder. Given Prowl's blush... he had the same thought. "It's aight for now, Prowler. It ain't buggin' me, but if ya want it gone, I can leave an' head to a detailer. Pit, it might make Kup's femmelin' feel better-"

"SIDESWIIIIIPE!!! SUNSTREEEEEEAAAAAKKKKER!!!"

"Well, Hot Rod and his group is here," Prowl mused dryly as a familiar maroon frame went shooting over to the swingsets. Hot Rod dove into an empty seat, resting on his stomach, but using his legs to run as far as he could on the chains. He let his legs fall out from under him and he giggled happily as he swung back.

Sunstreaker waved, but hopped off of his swing to go running back to Prowl. He paused when he saw Kup with a pink and white femmeling at his side. She was looking at Jazz and Prowl with distrust, but he remembered being that mech with Prowl. That was before he Knew Prowl was good. He huffed and marched up to Prowl and lifted his arms, "Up. Art time."

"Alright, Sunstreaker," Prowl mused and pulled him next to himself. "I was about to begin sketching Jazzy. Would you like to draw him as well?" He needed to display upmost patience today, and only hoped that Sunstreaker would be on his best behavior today.

His charge nodded in determination, but noticed the girl staring. He pointed, "Art time." Jazz choked on a laugh and Prowl glared at him.

"Maybe I don't want to," She snapped back. Sunstreaker glared at her and she scowled back. "Fine."

"Arcee..." Kup sighed, but we went to sit next to Jazz, letting her sit on the end of the table, nearly across from Sunstreaker. "Prowl, Jazz, Sunny-"

"Sunstreaker," He snipped. "Not Sunny."

Kup snorted and shrugged, "Sunstreaker, right. Anyway, this is Arcee. Arcee, this is Sunstreaker, Jazz's bitty. That one's Prowl, he's the twins' nanny." Prowl nodded to her politely and she scoffed. Kup jabbed his thumb at Jazz. "And this 'ere is Jazz, that radio host who read that story at Hot Rod's bedtime-"

He was cut off as Sideswipe squealed loudly. Prowl looked up sharply, but relaxed to see Hot Rod tickling him. Sunstreaker wrinkled his nose, "Loud."

Prowl hummed and cocked his head, "Would you like your blanket? It can muffle the sound some, but not a lot. We can look into special audial coverings if it comes to be a bother as well." He waited for his charge's response, suddenly glad his patience wasn't normally out of the ordinary.

"Blanket please," Sunstreaker said. He looked over his paints and turned back to Prowl with secure curiousity, "Clean?" Arcee's eyes flicked between them. They all knew she could tell the difference between when someone wasn't sure when asking a question or just double checking.

"We can clean before you go to bed, yes," Prowl nodded, not commenting on Arcee's watchful gaze. He took the blanket out of his subspace and gently wrapped it around him. A quick glance up told Prowl that Sideswipe was tugging on Hot Rod's arm, keeping him from coming over to the table. There was a look of desperation in his eyes, but he said something that had Hot Rod finally stop trying to charge off. He poked Sideswipe in the forehead and took off.

Sunstreaker nodded contently and went back to his art as Hot Rod and Sideswipe played their game of tag, screaming happily. Kup grunted when he noticed Arcee looking at the art supplies on the table and picking at her fingers. "Do ya want your toys?"

"I want my room," She grumbled. "I thought you were going to sit and talk, not... this."

Kup hummed, "Ya don't need to if you don't want to, but Sunstreaker wanted to be friends with you. He's a little... different than his brother-" If the fact that the boys in the background were pretending to be turbohounds were any sign. "-but give 'im a chance?"

She frowned and Prowl flicked his doorwings, "Would it help to have expectations outlined? If I deviate, it will give a clearer case for not coming along for these meetups."

"You can just call it a playdate," Arcee frowned. She narrowed her eyes at Prowl, "You're the nanny who was teaching the twins renter's rights. And how to talk to cops. And what can legally count as defending yourself."

Prowl stared evenly back, "Is there something you have questions about? I have informal agreement with Kup that so long as his charges are nearby, I will help them in terms of ensuring wellbeing, protecting from outside threats, and simply listening."

Sunstreaker nodded, "Prowl's a good listener. He doesn't yell back at Sides when he yells." He didn't look up at her as he grabbed another crayon. "Why don't you like anyone?"

"Sunstreaker, that question is something you can ask when you know someone better. It's mean if you don't know them well," Prowl reprimanded gently.

He frowned, "She's being mean too. She's looking at you mean." He looked up from his art to stare Prowl down. His nanny didn't back down.

"It's not my place to say why she does something, but I am not saying anything because it is not hurting me. Is she hurting you?" 

Sunstreaker looked back to Arcee for a moment before looking back up, "No."

"But you could have hurt her by asking her that question. How would you feel if someone you did not know asked why you don't like them immediately?" He continued.

The child finally broke eye contact and shrunk, "Oh." He looked over at Arcee, "I'm sorry for being mean. It's not okay."

Arcee blinked at being called out and Kup had to cover his mouth. He nudged her gently, "One drawing, that's all I want. After that, if you don't want to stay, Prowl can bring Hot Rod home and we can leave early. That sound okay?"

She nodded and grabbed at a marker in front of her, "Okay." She peered up at Sunstreaker and frowned, "I don't like anyone because no one likes me."

"Kup likes you," He said. "He worries about you." He was more focused on drawing Goldi-Eyes and the Three Predacons. "Sock 'em says you don't worry about people you don't care about."

Arcee frowned, but said nothing about it. Instead, she began drawing, leaving the group in relative silence.

Jazz squirmed and watched Prowl's work, "That's good, mech. Where'd ya learn this again?" He didn't like the quiet, even with his youngest and Kup's kid yelling like they were declaring war on the local birds in the park.

"Police sketches," Prowl said. "It was a mandatory course for the first five vorns, and supplementary courses if you could not accurately sketch three scenes and five different frame types. I took them for extra credit."

"Of course you did," Jazz laughed. "Y'know, that doesn't really look like a mug shot."

"I should hope not. It is easier to illustrate you as an overall suspect," Prowl mused. Jazz stilled, but Kup laughed.

He nudged Jazz again, "He's got you there. I remember when I was in the military-"

"Here we go again," Jazz groaned playfully. Prowl rolled his eyes, but continued.

Sunstreaker peered up at Arcee, "Can I see your paper?"

"No," She said simply. She moved her arm around to block it. Sunstreaker pouted, but he thought. She said no. He wanted to see it, but she said no-

"Sunstreaker," Prowl said quietly. "Do you want to go on a walk in a moment?" Arcee peered at him, but focused back on her own work.

He pulled his blanket around himself tighter. He wanted to see what she drew, but she said no. He opened his mouth and closed it again. He reached his hand out to Prowl and hit his left hand.

Prowl nodded, "Alright. If you need to take a break, we can." Sunstreaker nodded, relaxing. He pulled his arms in and looked over his work. "Can I see your paper?"

Sunstreaker silently slid his paper over and Prowl hummed. He smiled, "You're using good colors for this. I can tell that's Jazz. Is he on the radio here?" Sunstreaker bobbed his shoulders again and Prowl chuckled. "Are you proud of this?" The boy nodded and Prowl peered at Jazz for a moment before he leaned in, "Do you want Jazz to hang it at his work? It's okay to say no." He pulled it closer to himself before he hummed. "Do you want to keep it at home?" Sunstreaker nodded and Prowl allowed another smile, "We can hang it up when we get home."

Arcee watched them sadly before she slowly unfurled her arms. She narrowed her eyes at Kup, who lifted an expecting eyebrow. He smiled easily, "Do ya want me to see it, Arcee?"

"Whatever, old man," She grumbled, but she was leaning back. Kup leaned in and cocked his head. He carefully picked it up, his eyes starting to water. Her gaze flickered to him and then back down, "You don't need to get so upset about it, old man."

"It's me and Hot Rod and... is that Perceptor?" He asked quietly. She nodded and Kup nodded. "Do you want him to come around more?"

She warred with herself, but huffed, "Whatever, old man. I don't care if he comes around or not."

"Yeah, I'll ask him to come by later. You know, he was the first bitty I ever fostered," He said proudly. "He was a little older than you. Mad at everyone 'round him, especially me. I was still dealin' with the aftermath after the war and we both probably yelled at each other too much, but I'd make dinner and he'd clean up the plates and we'd get better. We're better now, but the things you say when you're both angry aren't to be taken too seriously."

Sunstreaker nodded, "Jazz used to yell sometimes before Prowl showed up. He doesn't yell anymore."

"I was... I was frustrated, Sunstreaker," Jazz said slowly. "I think I apologized, but I want to again. You and Sides didn't deserve that. I needed help and... I asked and Prowl agreed to help."

Sunstreaker hummed as he began to work on a new piece of art, "His job. But he loves us anyway."

"Yes," Prowl nodded. He offered a hand to Sunstreaker, but the boy only huffed. "Right, you're working." 

"You're being paid to love him," Arcee accused. She glared at Prowl, "You're getting paid to love them."

Kup tensed, but Sunstreaker shook his head calmly, "I know. I know he loves us anyway. He makes my toast the way I like it and reads us stories and makes my Riri's recipes even though he's dead. He's Prowlie, just like Jazz is Jazzy."

Arcee choked up and Kup got out of his chair to coo, "C'mon, let's go for a walk, okay? We can come back in a little bit."

Prowl looked down to Sunstreaker with wide eyes, "You... You're much smarter than you let on, don't you?"

"No. You tell us that stuff. Didn't you say you didn't want pay to help me and Sides out to have sleepovers?" Sunstreaker asked, without looking up. "You've told us at jobs, you get paid for hours worked, and you're not working during the sleepovers, you said so last night. So why are you with us when you're not being paid. It must be because you love us." He finally did decide to meet Prowl's gaze, "Right?"

He hiccupped and nodded tearfully, "Right. And I am your and Sideswipe's Prowlie." He looked up to Jazz, but paused. Jazz was looking between them with that odd look on his face again.

It was the expression he had worn that first night when Prowl and the boys had made Riri's pasta. It was the expression he wore when Prowl had all but yelled about his plans. It was the look he wore when he waited for Prowl to respond, verbal or otherwise. It was the look he wore when Prowl woke up, bundled in blankets, but still within his arms. It was the look he wore when he bathed Sideswipe in the sink. It was the look that he was giving Prowl now, with Sunstreaker acknowledging him as creator figure.

With those bounds... It didn't take him long to know what that look was.

Prowl smiled weakly, "I believe we need to have another talk when we get home, Jazz." He looked over Jazz's shoulder and saw Hot Rod pushing Sideswipe on the swing. "He's going to be a good big brother to Arcee, if Kup gets to hold custody of them for a while. Given what Kup implied... Do you think he is a foster to adopt guardian?"

"It'd make sense," Jazz mused. "Roddy didn't seem to imply anythin' else." He perked when he saw Kup and Arcee coming back. "Hey you two, get yer steps in for the day?"

"Something like that," Kup grunted as he slipped back into his seat. "Arcee?"

She slipped in next to him and swallowed, "Prowl, I'm sorry for implying you only love the twins because you're being paid. It... It wasn't right."

Prowl bowed his head deeply, "You are forgiven. You were right, in a way. It started off like that, but some people have a way of working into your life, regardless of reasons, regardless of good or bad. If you would like to discuss it more, please let me know. I am usually open to discussing matters."

"Unless you're having a dumb words day. Then you write and curl up on the couch with us," Sunstreaker said. Prowl's cheeks tinged in embarrassment, but Arcee only nodded.

"My... My brother is like that," She said. "He's older now, and couldn't take me, so I'm staying with Kup. I..." She looked at Prowl and frowned, but it wasn't in a mean way. She was clearly looking for something. "You... You're bad at lying, aren't you?"

"I can lie perfectly well. Sometimes, it is not how well you can lie, but how poorly you can tell the truth," He stated. "I am entirely sincere when I say that I hope you can come to these days more often with less emotional turmoil, but to fix something that has been broken for so long, you must break it again to let it heal correctly. I have friends who are willing to help me, Kup and Hot Rod included, and family. I hope we have become that for Hot Rod, and I hope we can be the same for you. Sunstreaker expressed wanting to be your friend because he understands that needing to be strong for yourself is hard, but I know Kup will not let you do it alone."

Sunstreaker paused and passed over his new drawing, "I want you to be my friend. Sideswipe has Roddy, but Roddy's loud and it hurts my ears. You seem a lot quieter and I want to talk to you." His eyes were innocent and trusting and Prowl hoped. "You're kind of mean, but you don't mean to be, and you tell the truth."

Arcee looked at his picture and covered her mouth. It was a picture of her and Sunstreaker in the foreground as their idiotic red blobs played on the swings in the background. Even further back were blobs with red horns, blue visors, and a cygar. Arcee was holding a flaming sword and Sunstreaker was holding a gun, fighting off weird black blobs.

Kup pointed to them, "What're those?"

"Those," Arcee said before Sunstreaker could. "Are the bad thoughts."

Sunstreaker lit up, happy that she understood. He looked up at Prowl and tugged on his arm, "Hog, hog, hog!" Prowl smiled and pulled the hectahog out of his subspace, letting Sunstreaker take it. He held it out to Arcee, "Do you want to be my friend?"

She hesitated and Prowl leaned down before Sunstreaker could take offense, "Perhaps tell her what being her friend means to you, Sunstreaker."

"Doing art with me," He said, as if there was anything else. "Or play restaurant with me and Sides and Roddy. We don't yell then, I promise."

Kup nudged Arcee, "And you can ask for things too, ya know."

She slowly reached out and took ahold of the hectahog, but didn't take it. "...I want to talk about things sometimes. I won't yell."

"Okay. I don't like yelling," Sunstreaker agreed. "And I don't talk while I art, so you can talk." Arcee smiled and happily took the hectahog, hugging it close.

Kup smiled and looked between Prowl and Jazz. He nodded his thanks, looking at the piece of art that Arcee had initially drawn.

It was a picture of him, Hot Rod, and Arcee, all tucked on the same couch, watching the holoscreen. It was one of their nightly rituals when either of them woke up crying or screaming. He would warm them up some energon with melted silver flakes and they would put on the one film or another and watch it until both of them fell asleep. It had gotten to the point that Kup had gotten the pair sleeping mats and they slept there while Kup took the couch. It was... peaceful in their own way.

It would continue to be peaceful when the courts would clear Hot Rod from his creators' trials and he could finally adopt the squirrely brat. It would continue to be peaceful when the courts finished their investigations of Arcee's treatment and he could finally adopt her, with her brother's permission, of course.

His thoughts were interrupted when Hot Rod and Sideswipe ran up to the table, mud pies in hand. Kup sighed, "Alright, what flavors have you brats brought us now?"

"Derby pie?" Jazz asked hopefully. Prowl eyed him with a twinkle in his eye and Kup chuckled, knowing that one would probably be getting made soon.

"Meat pie?" Prowl asked, equally hopeful. Jazz swallowed, looking hungrier. Arcee nudged Kup and he looked down to see her grinning impishly. He winked at her and she giggled. 

"Blueberry?" She asked.

Sunstreaker looked at the pies and snorted, "They're mud pies."

"Man, why'd your brother need to ruin it?" Hot Rod whined but he turned and threw the mud pie out. "Sunstreaker, 'Cee, do you wanna come play restaurant with us? Sides needs his cook and I don't like being the only customer, it's so boring," He groaned.

Arcee clutched her hectahog closer for a moment before she looked down and smiled. She nodded, "Can... Can I be Ms. Fairforged with my turbohound, Buster?"

"Heck yeah! Let's go!" Hot Rod lit up and Prowl's doorwings shot up when he saw an actual spark of fire come out of one of his seams. It was only for a moment, but it was the extent of the effect. 

"Prowlie," Sunstreaker said as he shrugged out of his blanket. "Hold this?"

"Always," Prowl promised. He helped Sunstreaker out and nodded, "Go have fun, and... Sides?"

Sideswipe groaned as he was forced to watch his brother and new friends run off. "Yeah, Prowlie?"

He smiled as he leaned down, "Thank you for hanging out with Hot Rod for a while so Sunstreaker could help Arcee. I know he would have come over here otherwise. You did good."

The boy grinned widely, "Heck yeah! She looked sad, but I knew Sunny could help! Sunny makes me feel better, so he would make her feel better!" He jumped as if stung and turned out to the others. Sunstreaker was glaring at him and Hot Rod was waving his arms like a cheerleader. "You passed, good job, gotta go!" He took off without letting Prowl respond.

Prowl sighed as he straightened, "Jazz, I blame you somehow."

"Why's it always my fault?" Jazz laughed, but he didn't fight the accusation. "Did ya have a talk with the boys before we got here?"

The nanny smiled proudly as he began to work on the next sketch, "No, I didn't. For being as young as they are, they are incredible."

"Ya did well, drilling Sunny as well as ya did," Kup said. He leaned on the table as he watched Prowl trace out three different forms. "He didn't question you for a minute. Or lash out. How'd you do that?"

"Hurt people hurt people," Jazz said quietly. "It was one of the things that Prowler taught the boys. That, and chances are that if an adult yells at them, there's probably somethin' else goin' on in their life. It won't make it hurt any less, but it'll help ta know it ain't actually their fault."

Kup sighed through his nose, "How the frag is it that yer bitties are more adjusted than most adults I know?"

"That depends, we might all just be brats to ya, ya old codger," Jazz teased. Kup sputtered before he pushed Jazz. The radio host laughed, leaving Prowl to his peace. 

He would find out later that the picture was Jazz smiling with his boys, looking more relaxed than ever. That picture... That one, he would take into work and hang up. Even thought he didn't have any pictures of Prowl with the boys, Jazz knew the magic of art. Even if it wasn't remotely the same medium, it still carried the spark of the artist. Even if Prowl wasn't in it, he was in it.

"This is no longer just a crush, is it?"

It was blunt, to the point, and so utterly Prowl.

Jazz hummed as he leaned his hip on the counter. "Is this somethin' we need to address now? I don' think I was expectin' to be called out on it quite yet, so can I have some time ta think about it?"

Prowl nodded as he set about making the family lunch, "It does not need to be addressed right now. I am seeing an increase in the number of looks you are giving me that I recognize as... loving, if nothing short of it. I wanted to bring it to your attention. I see nothing wrong with it, and..." He rested his hands flat on the counter, "I like seeing that look. It makes me feel nice. I still am not in any kind of place to act on the feelings, but that does not mean I will ignore them in the meantime."

"Nah, thanks for lettin' me know. Same bounds still holdin'?" Jazz asked, relieved. He didn't know about all of the looks, but he still could tell he did a few. If he didn't need to be worried about giving them... He might indulge a bit. He trusted Prowl to tell him to lay off if he needed.

"Yes," Prowl said. "I... I meant to bring this up this morning, but thank you for... for leaving me alone the night. I know you needed to get to work, but I was not in my right mind. I know it might be grounds enough to stay, but we had not had this talk by this point. In the event it happens again... I would like to wait until Tarantulas is dealt with before I act on anything."

Jazz smiled, "Got it. I see ya, Prowler, don't worry about it." He watched as Prowl sighed and everything in the nanny sagged. "Do ya trust me?"

"Yes," Prowl answered immediately and Jazz lit up. "Has Red Alert told you when he plans on acting on Taratulas?"

Jazz shook his head and sighed, "Nah, not yet. He's bein' real hush hush about it, but I know he plans to do it around the end of the vorn. It'd make more sense before actual graduation."

Prowl nodded and began digging through their ingredients to make dinobot nuggets again, "Makes sense." He swallowed, "I'm also trying to work out various playdates with Kup and Orion for the future and Kup mentioned that Hot Rod's sparkday is coming up in a few months. It's the first sparkday in our group, so I will want to start preparing. Is there anything else we need to talk about?"

"Nah, mech," Jazz mused as he turned his attention to Sunstreaker and Sideswipe hanging up the artwork they traded with the other pair of foster siblings. They were chattering happily and he smiled to know that they were actually getting along with other kids now. Maybe they had a chance at school... which opened up for 35 vorn olds. Oh, that was going to be fun.

Chapter Text

"Alright, boys. Prowler needs to go back to his apartment for a little while tonight," Jazz said over breakfast. Prowl was working through his waffles, so he couldn't react. The twins, however, could.

Sideswipe froze and stared at Prowl in terror, "W-Why? You've been here and now you're leaving?" He shared a nervous look with his brother, who was shaking.

"Y-You're coming back, right?" Sunstreaker asked. "G-Goodbye?"

Prowl forced himself to swallow and he looked between them, "This is not goodbye. I have not returned to my apartment for a few days and I need to go. There are things I need to pick up, but I will be returning in the morning."

Sunstreaker swallowed, "Can Jazz take us to the park? And you go during that?"

Prowl shared a look with Jazz, but he considered it. It... It could work, and it would give Prowl a chance to talk with Red Alert. That and... the boys' beds were soft. Perfectly soft. It must have been the same kind of mattress that Jazz used, it held his doorwings so perfectly-

"I don't mind either way, Prowler," Jazz said, bursting his thought bubble. Prowl blinked and took in a breath, but Jazz winced, "Ya okay?"

"Yes, I was just... thinking," He said slowly. "I could finish breakfast and meet up with the three of you at the park. I should not be gone longer than an hour."

Jazz smiled weakly, "Prowler, you've been here longer than you've needed to be. Not that I don't appreciate it, but I'm not goin' to make ya rush. So long as y're back for the kids at lunchtime. Take some time fer yourself."

"I... I do not want to be away for too long. I will be back once I am done. I am also planning a lasagna for dinner. Do you have any opposition to me bringing the boys over for dinner?" Prowl asked. "Have you worked that out with Blurr?"

Jazz grinned and leaned back in his chair, "Prowler, I don't think Primus or Unicron could stop ya from comin' into the station and I'll fight 'em both if it means ta get yer cookin'. Come over and I'll make sure I can secure half an hour for us."

"Dinner at work?" Sunstreaker asked and Sideswipe gasped, hopeful. 

"Please please please?" He begged, looking at Prowl.

Their nanny sighed in exaggeration and shrugged, "Looks like I am defeated by the popular vote. I will be coming over then. I will try to be there by 5:55 so that we have time to set up and you can finish your set."

"Just don' let anyone else have any of yer cookin', they're goin' to start beggin' ya for some and I want to be selfish. Yer cookin', all for me and our boys," Jazz said proudly, clutching his hand to his chest. 

Prowl chuckled and dug back into waffles. "All the best for my boys," He agreed. He kept his gaze on his food as he began to carefully wolf his food down, so he missed Jazz's slackjawed look.

Sideswipe grinned impishly with his twin, already counting the quiet win. They were so going to get their Jazzy and Prowlie together.

"I was starting to think you'd moved there permanently," Red Alert said with a straight face when he answered his door. "Smokescreen's contact says he's still in Praxus. He's been trying to find out the best time to come over, but he seems to have too much going on right now with his graduation. There's some big group project he's trying to work on."

Prowl nodded, "Yes, the collective presentation. It is difficult to do on your own and it is supposed to be the last reminder to each unit that we cannot do this alone. When it was he and I, we were planning to have most of it done in the two weeks before the semester's end." He paused, "And like I've said in the messages, the boys needed me-"

"I don't mind. So long as I know where you are during all of this, I don't care. You..." Red Alert hummed happily as he invited Prowl in. The landlord's apartment was still as cluttered as ever, but Prowl knew better than to touch any of it. "You understand the importance of order."

"It does not need to be clean order. It just needs to be understandable to the person utilizing it," Prowl agreed. "Your agent keeping an eye on Mesothulas... You trust him?"

Red Alert smiled almost sweetly, "With my life. He understands discretion. I've been coordinating with First Aid to build you a medical file that reflects patterns in your actual file, but it isn't a 1 to 1 so I don't know what is and isn't in your file." He opened a datapad and passed it over.

Prowl felt like he was picking up his damnation, but... No. Everything in his file was neat, clean, professional. Prowl, 289 vorns old, mech, Praxian. Family history of high oil pressure and always gets his vaccinations one week after the official release date to ensure the most at risk could get theirs first. Traumatic processor injury, but it had been treated by Ratchet. Patient requested no consult with Ratchet, and they were busy enough so there was no appended note with a reach out day. There was one final note that patient showed acute signs of stress and paint picking.

It looked like him. It was him, but it was the him that was running. It was the him who would be trying to hide, but unable to hide anything from his doctors like he had always sworn not to. 

He swallowed and nodded, "It matches. This is it. Do you have a time frame that works?" Red Alert took the datapad back and put it into a new track and stacked it on the desk with nearly a dozen others.

"Right after the project seems to be his best time frame. I'm going to ask First Aid to put some diagnoses in your file about head aches and sleep problems that'll be connected to your removed tac net. He'll need to perform a surgery to resolve them. Then, Jazz will need to put out a radio ad a week after for a temporary nanny because you'll be unavailable for a week for recovery. I'll coordinate with First Aid to transfer you a private room in his office so you can recover there instead of your apartment, and we'll make sure he can be cornered there," Red Alert said. "If some officers serving in Alpha Trion's circle happens to be in the office at the time... Well, that's just a coincidence."

The confidence that he spoke with was grounding and the plan was solid. It had enough information that settled his nerves and the fact that he was paying an incredibly discounted rate for this kind of service... It made him tear up. 

Prowl wiped his eyes, "It... It's sound, and while similar to something I would come up with..."

"It has enough changes. This is counting on the fact that you apparently didn't have many friends back in Praxus. This is the new you, the one who is friends with Jazz, Orion Pax, your landlord, your doctor, your old acquaintance, and several others." He stared Prowl down, "You're not the same Prowl you were. You have people you can rely on now. Even if you need to break your lease early, for whatever reason-" He teased. Prowl coughed in alarm and Red Alert smiled. He shrugged, "You can still always come to me. I just hope you can help me out, should I ever need it."

"Provided you have a private investigator license, then I will have no problem issuing you any information you ask for," Prowl offered. He looked at the walls and noticed the correct licenses for several different city states. "But seeing as you already have those, then I would be more than happy to repay all you have done for me."

Red Alert relaxed back into his chair, "Thank you. Now unless you have anything else to add, I mean this in the politest way possible-"

"I will see myself out. Thank you for your time," Prowl nodded. He headed out and headed straight for his apartment. It was still locked up tight and he made sure to check the records that the door hadn't been opened without his permission. 

Nothing.

He sighed in relief and headed inside, but his apartment felt different.

After a few nights of sleeping in the boys' room... His own felt suffocating. The silence screamed in his audials and the walls felt bare. No doodles, no music posters, no family pictures anywhere. It was a place he could have initially enjoyed the silence, but now, it felt too engulfing. He didn't live there long enough to be able to enjoy it, and now... a part of him was wishing he didn't need to.

It felt like the rented space that it was. It felt nothing but a dusty space he could recharge in - fitfully - and eat a meal he had prepared for himself. It would be a lonely meal for a lonely mech, devoid of laughter and giggles and family talks... 

Prowl sighed, knowing he'd need to go through his refrigerator and just throw must of the ingredients. He had already bought in smaller supplies, but this... This was something else.

"Just get the tools," He mumbled and went to his boxes. He had unpacked, somewhat, but the detailing equipment was still something he hadn't necessarily needed, so... it had stayed packed up. It was still on his desk where he had left it when he first got into his new place. Very little had been moved and he was quickly finding that... he didn't like this.

Prowl suddenly didn't want to be left in his apartment, feeling it both too large and too suffocating at the same time. He swallowed dryly, grabbed his box, and ran, securing his door behind him.

He didn't want to do this alone anymore. He had a taste of something good, and he wanted, but... He needed to get this all handled first. He could wait until Mesothulas was handled and he could wait until Jazz was sure he was ready and... Prowl needed to know he could do this. If he had even an ounce of doubt, he wouldn't just be hurting Jazz. The bitties already considered him family. If he hurt them, he would never forgive himself.

And the thought of leaving the family himself... it hurt himself more than he cared to admit.

He shook his head. He strode out the door of the apartment complex, looking forward to getting back to his boys. Yes, that sounded right. He just needed to not tell anyone else he called them his boys. Primus, that would be embarrassing.

Jazz lit up when Prowl finally joined Orion and Kup, "Prowler! Y're back!" His smile fell somewhat when he saw the strained look on his face, "Hey, are ya okay-"

"I would like a moment to play with the children, please excuse me," He said quietly as he set his box of supplies on the table. "Feel free to go through this while I..." His shoulders fell, but Jazz reached out and slowly took his hand.

"Hey, Prowler. If ya need to recharge your battery a little, do what ya need to. We're not goin' anywhere," Jazz whispered. "I think they're playin' restaurant again." His smile was pained, but understanding. "Wanna talk about it when you get back?"

"If you don't mind," Prowl choked out and all but marched away. He needed the kids to lighten his spark. Not that Jazz couldn't help him, but there was something in the innocence of the boys that helped calm the jaggedness that his apartment had carved into him. 

The five children were all packed into the sandbox and Prowl could see in the sand where they all entered and exited through invisible doors. They all stared at him as he approached and 'ducked' to fit through the door. Sideswipe toddled up, "Hello, sir. How many today?"

"Just one for now, Mr. Sideswipe," Prowl said. Sunstreaker narrowed his eyes but Prowl laughed as he pulled out Sunstreaker's blanket. He folded it up and placed it upon his head, "Apologies, I almost forgot my hat."

Sideswipe perked up, "Mr. Prowl! Thank you for coming! We have your return in-vest-mint." He nodded proudly as he went over to his 'register' a small pit dug with several leaves. "How many moneys was it?"

"Four moneys, but if you will allow it to pay for my meal today, I will let it pass," He mused gently. He let the boy hand him an invisible menu, "I will like to have the... 'I need a hug pancakes and bacon' please."

Sunstreaker's eyes widened and Sideswipe was leaning on him in a moment, "Coming right up, Mr. Prowl." Sunstreaker came out of the kitchen and together, they curled up in his lap. Prowl sighed shakily and bundled them close, trying to relax. 

He had them. He had them, he was okay, they were okay, he had them. They were giggles and screams and smiling and crying and everything he could want in that moment.

Another tiny hand touched his leg and Prowl pulled back enough to see Bumblebee looking up with wide eyes. He beeped, holding his other hand out. Sideswipe giggled quietly and looked up to his guardian, "He wants to make you feel better too, Prowlie. Can he?"

"Would you mind holding him?" Prowl asked. "My arms are a little full of twins at the moment." Sunstreaker huffed silently and moved so he was more propped on Prowl's hip than his shins, giving his brother room to grab and hold Bumblebee.

"And can I get in on this, Mr. Prowl?" Hot Rod teased, but his optics were pained. "I mean, I know I'm not family, but-"

"Family is what you make it," Prowl cut off. "Come up behind Sideswipe, but against my side. I may not have another arm, but that doesn't mean that I don't have doorwings. Just... please be careful," He asked.

Hot Rod smiled and wiggled his own spoiler for emphasis, "Trust me, Mr. Prowl. I get it." He curled at enough of an angle that it almost tickled against Prowl's side, but he stilled. Prowl rested his doorwing against Hot Rod's spoiler and oh, it was warm. It was far from painful, and it almost made him sleepy. 

Arcee frowned at the group, "You're all a bunch of dorks."

Hot Rod flinched, but Prowl's doorwing pat against him gently. Prowl nodded to Arcee, "We would not say no if you would like to join us or sit closer, but you do not need to. It would be by your free will-"

"But I'd like it if you joined me?" Hot Rod said softly, quieter than Prowl had ever heard him. "Like Prowl said, you don't need to, but... You're with us, at least for a little while. I want you to be here for longer, so... please?" He held out his arm, asking her to join him. "I won't yell, I promise."

Her face twisted and she clenched her hands, "And what do you want in return? My dessert?"

"I want to cuddle with my big sister," Hot Rod whispered. She trembled and shook her head. He deflated and Prowl let his engine idle soothingly. "I just..."

"Here. It's the closest I'm getting," She hissed. She held out the end of a stick. "No closer." Hot Rod looked to her and smiled.

He took the other end of the stick in hand, and he could let himself hope that she would be willing to fit into their family more as time went on. Arcee had already fallen asleep holding his hand and her head on Kup's lap a few nights ago and the creator figure and mechling had both shared a look that agreed to not move until she did. Arcee pretended nothing had happened, and when Hot Rod tried to tease her, Kup flicked him gently on the back of the head.

"No teasin' your sister. Now, help me with the bacon ya damn arsonist," Kup ordered.

Hot Rod flipped him off, "Get bent, old man." He turned to Arcee, grinning, and his joy only grew when she flipped him off in turn. He flipped her off back and the three of them spent the morning flipping each other off.

They might not be a normal family, but it was their way of getting to saying their 'I love you's'. 

Hot Rod knew they would get there someday. 

If 'holding hands' with his sister like this was one stepping stone, he could wait to see the next safe one to jump to. The comforting weight of Prowl's doorwing was nice, but it was no grounding hand of Kup. He could deal with this for now, but he wanted his guardian.

Prowl took a deep breath and it nearly shattered the moment. Everyone looked to him and Sideswipe reached up to cup Prowl's face, "Are you feeling better, Mr. Prowlie?"

The mech smiled and nodded, "I'm feeling much better, Sides. I am alright to stay like this for now, but it is up to you all."

"You haven't gotten your pancakes and bacon though!" Hot Rod protested. "We need to do that."

"Keep your mouths shut, I can get it," Arcee grumbled. She let go of the stick to head through the kitchen, but paused to look back at Sunstreaker, "Am I good, Sunny?"

The boy nodded, snuggling more into Prowl, "Just don't use my grill."

Sideswipe smiled painfully, hugging Bumblebee closer, "I thought I was the only one able to call you that, bro." He was trying to hold it together, and Prowl knew that, while Sideswipe was secure in his relationship with his brother… Even he had things he wanted to covet, to keep to himself. 

Sunny was clearly one of them.

Sunstreaker froze, panicking, but Arcee huffed, "Hey, Streaker, which one was yours again?" Prowl smiled proudly as she looked through the 'window' on the divider between the kitchen and the front. Sideswipe was already relaxing again and Sunstreaker squirmed out of Prowl's hold.

"Stay," He ordered before walking back to show Arcee the scratched out square in the kitchen. "My grill." He pointed to a small space next to it and scratched out the new grill. "Yours. Okay, Arcee?"

She snorted and poked his forehead, "Call me 'Cee, you brat. Go back to your Prowlie, I got this."

Sunstreaker nodded and toddled back through the kitchen door. He settled back into Prowl’s arms with a sigh. Prowl smiled and rubbed his knee, making Sunstreaker squirm. The boy grabbed his hand and pouted at Prowl as if he had been personally affronted by the touch. They both knew Prowl was messing around, and both were ok with it.

Sideswipe looked back at Hot Rod, “Wait, I thought you were older than Arcee. How old are you?”

Hot Rod grinned and poked the smaller mech’s side, “Nope! I’m 104! Kup says I’m big for my age, but Arcee’s just short!”

”I’m not short, you’re just freakishly tall,” Arcee shot back. She wrinkled her nose at him. “I just turned 129.”

Prowl hummed, “Only one vorn away from 130. Do you-“

”I swear to Primus, if you ask me if I’m ready for it or if I have any questions, I’m poisoning your fake food with fake poison,” Arcee cut him off. She glared at him.

“I am training to be an Enforcer, Arcee. Do I need to take you to fake prison so your brother and your friends can stage a fake prison break?” Prowl teased. Arcee’s mouth fell open and Hot Rod laughed. 

“You can make jokes?!” She demanded. Prowl smiled in the way that people did that signified that he would not say another word. Arcee pointed at him, “Make another joke, I dare you.”

“Would you laugh if I made another?” He threatened. “If one does not laugh at the joke and it falls flat, does that mean you can use a life alert for it?”

Hot Rod threw his head back and barked a laugh, making the three sparklings giggle, even if they didn’t understand it. Arcee’s mouth opened and closed like a petro-fish. Hot Rod leaned more into Prowl, “Hey, you think the adults would believe us if we told them you were cracking jokes?”

“I’m sure Jazz will believe you, but as for Kup or Orion, I’m unaware. I would back you up if you asked,” Prowl mused. He stretched his doorwings out and fluttered them in an effort to stretch them as well. Sunstreaker watched in amazement.

Bumblebee whined as he decided that he had been held for too long. He squirmed in Sideswipe’s hold and the twin let him down without a fight. Prowl shifted somewhat, understanding the need to move, “I think I need to get up as well. I would like to get my food and go, if you don’t mind.”

One by one, the kids pulled away from Prowl, some more reluctantly than others, and he let himself lean back. It felt better than being curled up like he was. Arcee came around from the kitchen and pushed a slab of sticks, crystals, and dirt into his hands. She playfully frowned, “You have your food. Leave.”

”But I-“ He tried to argue but she pointed to the ‘door.’

”Leave,” She hissed and Prowl bit back his smile. He shuffled up, not letting go of his ‘food’ and headed out. 

Jazz smiled patiently at him, but Kuo chuckled, “Ya got the boot, huh?”

”I did not know I could be scared of a femme of her size, but somehow, I know I wouldn’t be alone in that situation,” Prowl mused as he placed his ‘food’ on the table. “Thank you for waiting, I just…”

”Needed a bit of a recharge?” Jazz asked knowingly. Prowl nodded and the radio host laughed, “Nah, I get it. They’re little wonders.” His smile fell a moment later. “Do ya want to talk about it?”

”I… not here. Home, if you wouldn’t mind,” Prowl said. Jazz nodded simply.

Orion grinned as he looked between the pair, “So, Jazz, ready to get Prowl’s claim off of you? How long has it been now, a week?”

”Just about, yeah,” He grinned, but Prowl frowned when he saw it lacked its usual luster… no, the corners of his mouth weren’t coming in as much as they usually did. He was trying to hide something. 

He wasn’t the only one who picked up on it. Kup snorted as he leaned forward, “Or maybe ya don’t want it off. I won’t lie, Prowl’s pretty, alright. If I was your age, I wouldn’t want that off either.”

Prowl’s doorwings shot up in embarrassment and Jazz knocked on the table, “Hey now. That wasn’t cool, mech. Prowler was tricked into paintin’ this on. It’s more o’ my problem, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t get a say in it either.”

Orion winced, “I… can actually understand a little bit. If Ariel had my name painted on her like that… I wouldn’t mind much, but it could still be a lot to think about, and we’re conjunxed.“

Kup snorted, “ 'M a mech from a different time, then.” He nodded to Prowl, “Didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’m sorry. Wasn’t trying to hit on ya or nothing. More than a few mechs I knew got their sweetspark’s names painted on them during the war, reminded us what we were fighting for.” His proud face turned sour, “Not that it did much good sometimes.” He shook his head, “Sorry. Old memories.”

”All good, mech,” Jazz shrugged. He tilted his head to Prowl, who nodded his own gratitude. Orion had gotten it correct, he didn’t want to stake a claim on Jazz that, for one, he didn’t have, and two, it seemed more possessive than he liked. Similarly, Kup's apology worked enough for him. It had been unexpected and honestly, it would need some time to get over it. “You ok, Prowler?”

”I… yes,” He managed to grind out. He just needed to change the topic. “I’m sorry, I think getting back from my apartment put me more through a loop than I expected.”

Orion laughed and hummed at an old memory, “Ah, going back for the first time in a while? I remember that when Ariel and I were in our back and forth phase at each other’s apartments. We’d spend a few days at one, spend some time at the other… Eventually, we figured we didn’t like doing that back and forth and got a place together.”

Kup nodded, “Or that first day after your kid moves out and the house is just quiet… Messes with ya more than anything else. I never realized it before, but I know now that I need to have another frame in the house. Keeps me grounded, and just seein’ the kids come out of their shells… Nothing like it.” His smile was proud as he looked out to the kids. Sunstreaker and Arcee were working in the kitchen while Sideswipe was walking the food out to Hot Rod and Bumblebee. They all looked happy.

Jazz nodded, “It took Sunny a bit, but Sides took to my place like a speedster to a racetrack.”

”It feels a little odd being the only creator who’s been with theirs their entire life right now,” Orion admitted. He shrugged, "I mean, just watching his personality come out slowly beyond eating and sleeping..." He reached into his subspace and pulled out some pictures. 

Kup groaned, "Not the pictures, Pax, you're going to kill me here."

"Hey, Prowler, do you have that scrapbook you're puttin' together?" Jazz asked knowingly. Prowl smiled proudly as he pulled it out. 

He laid it down, "I understand that you haven't seen it yet, but I try to keep it on me. I've been working on it when the boys are practicing their writing. I'm able to get the pictures printed at the store and I just pick them up." 

Jazz's face went slack as he looked through it. He covered his mouth when he saw pictures of him and his boys watching Rock 'em Sock 'em on the holoscreen, all singing happily. He swallowed painfully when he saw the boys painting his face, followed by the next picture with his face scrunched up as Sideswipe stuck his paint-covered-finger into Jazz's mouth. He needed to wipe his eyes under the visor when he saw the next one with him carrying a twin on each arm, the twins looking at Prowl sleepily, then Jazz turning back and smiling at Prowl in that special way he did, the last being Jazz tucking the boys into bed. He whined when he saw the boys eating the soup he had prepared that day when Prowl and the boys all slept through lunch and Jazz leaving for work.

He did start to cry when he saw several pages carefully tacked in with the same precision as a professional police report. 

"The boys worked for a few days to get that put together for you," Prowl said gently. "I only put it in the book."

"What is it?" Orion asked, but his voice caught. "Oh, is that-"

"It's a story," Kup whispered. He looked to Prowl in wonder and nodded, his own eyes watering. "You're doing something real special for this family, Prowl."

Jazz whimpered before he wiped at his eyes again. "I-I can't- P-Prowler-" He let the book rest on the table as he tried to stem his crying, but the tears were coming too fast. 

Primus, Prowl had warned him, but to actually see this? To see the proof that his kids loved him, that they looked so happy from the outside? To see that he wasn't failing them? And have it all put together so neatly and lovingly, just for him? Oh, Jazz was going to treasure this, but he couldn't deal with the onslaught of emotions as he realized just how much he loved and was loved.

Was this what it was to be a creator? To look at your creations being happy and simply loving? No, there was more than this, there were the bad days and good days, but this moment... It was overwhelmingly sweet.

Prowl got up and came over, pulling tissues from his subspace. He was less panicked about this reaction and smiled as he passed them over. "Sideswipe put the story together while Sunstreaker wrote it down and colored it. It's simple, but compelling." 

"C-Can you-" Jazz sobbed, taking the tissues, but shuddering. Orion put an arm around Jazz and rubbed his back. The sire leaned around Jazz and smiled at Prowl proudly.

"I think the boys would rather read it to you," Orion said gently. He nodded to Prowl, "Do you want to go get the boys?"

"N-No, they-they can read it when we get home," Jazz managed to blubber out. He turned to Prowl, and the nanny pulled him into a proper hug before he could ask. Jazz sniffled and sunk into him. Prowl, for all that he was hard edges and refined power, was nothing but soft and caring in that moment. He idled his engine and rocked Jazz side to side. He supported Jazz and this time, it wasn't from any fault of his own except...

"You love them so much," Prowl whispered. "You're their creator, and you love them, and they love you. Look at them, and know you did good." Jazz hiccupped as he looked at the scrapbook and nodded. "You are worthy of being their creator. You can do this. Do you believe me now?" Jazz nodded, still trying into Prowl's shoulder.

Prowl was right.

He could do this.

He could make his bitties laugh and carry them to bed and keep them fed and spend time with them in the ways that they needed.

He was a creator.

He was Sideswipe and Sunstreaker's creator.

That had him.

And he had his boys.

"You're sure you're okay, Jazzy?" Sideswipe asked as he let Jazz carry him into the living room. Prowl led Sunstreaker by the hand, smiling contently as he used his free hand to carry his detailing tools in.

Jazz kissed his forehead noisily, "I'm sure, bitty mine. Why don't you and Sunstreaker go get your art stuff out while Prowler and I handle lunch? We need to have a talk about gettin' his name off o' me, okay?" Prowl blinked in confusion, but kept quiet in turn for putting the box onto the table. Sunstreaker twitched his shoulders before he ran to get his markers out.

Sideswipe grumbled and leaned up to kiss Jazz on the cheek, "Okay. If you need me or Sunny, we're going to be over here." Jazz chuckled and put him down so he could follow Prowl into the kitchen. "Hey, sorry to throw that at you, I just..." He leaned back on the counter and swallowed nervously. "I... I want to be kind of honest here, Prowler. I know you got some say in this but... I'm not sure I want to remove it entirely. Like. I..." He shook his head, "I don' know how to explain it, I just... I like havin' it there."

"And I don't feel comfortable having my name painted in a visible way. It... it feels possessive for something I don't want," Prowl winced.

Jazz cocked his head and thought, "And if no one else could see it, or if ya do the removal, but don't buff it out right? I know it can leave behind the impression of it if done right. It'll be the... negative of your name. I keep yer name close, and you get the fact that no one can see it?"

Prowl shook his head, "I don't want you being unkempt." He crossed his arms and leaned back, "You truly want something like this? Jazz, we haven't known each other long and there's still Mesothulas. I..." He trailed and held up a hand, asking for time to think. Jazz smiled and hopped onto the counter to sit. Prowl took a deep breath in.

Was it his personal objections to Jazz specifically? No. Was it his feelings about coming off as staking a claim... A little bit. He didn't want to seem possessive, but if Jazz wanted it... He wouldn't feel comfortable with it regardless. To know that others would see it and think that that's what kind of mechs they were-

"Do you need to see it?" Prowl asked. He swallowed, "That's the only compromise I could think of that would stay on you. We're not together, Jazz. I understand that we've agreed that we want to be, but I don't want to do anything until after Mesothulas is dealt with. If you wanted something more temporary like an accessory, I would have less objection to that."

Jazz cocked his head from side to side as he thought. Objectively, Prowl was right about the neat plating and appearance, and the fact that it was only a step above branding Jazz. That made him bawk a little and he shuddered in disgust. He winced, "Can we get this removed and we tag out for clip or magnet or somethin'? I'm still wantin' to revisit this later, but... Yeah. Not sure if I like the idea of it or not yet, but I kinda forgot it was there sometimes."

"A piece of advice my creators always said was to only paint the dead and creation names onto you, if at all. They have been happily bonded for hundreds of vorns, but they refuse to do anything past the bonding stripes," Prowl explained. He took a deep breath in and shot a nervous look to Jazz, "It's also the kind of behavior I've seen from various scenes across Praxus. It's not something I want to show off here."

Scenes... Scenes- Oh Primus.

Jazz choked on his spit and Prowl sucked his lips in and nodded. "Yeah."

"Okay, yeah, let's still to magnets or somethin' for now and get this off. Primus," Jazz laughed nervously. He cast a worried look to his boys, "I'm more concerned about why no one me."

"I believe the 'I was tricked by a pair of sparklings' excuse clears up most things," Prowl mused. He cocked his head and smiled, "And before you ask, I did not personally run in some of those scenes, but some of my leads would end up there. Mostly people who had worked there who had seen things. On another note..." He trailed and shook his head. "I... No."

Jazz leaned forward in concern, "What is it?"

"I... I..." Prowl sighed. He took a deep breath and deflated. Oh, this was going to be incredibly awkward for him. "If you would like me to stay for various nights, I can. Or if I could ask the boys for art pieces to hang up. I... I did not realize how much my situation has changed in the few days and nights I've been here." It all began to rush out. "I didn't know how few belongings I had or how little time I wished to spend at my apartment, but it's... it's..."

"It's haunted," Jazz cut in. He sighed and nodded, "Been there. I usually used my old place for bringin' home dates, but I didn't like it alone." He took a deep breath in, "I... You can have the guest room if Rico's not stayin or if the boys don't try ta drag ya into their room, but I do want ya to have a place to go if you need away from us. The way it stands, today's the longest you've been away from 'em and that was only for an hour, maybe two. If ya do want to stay here... I can't pay ya for overtime more than what we've agreed to."

Prowl nodded. He could also understand Jazz's point of view. He would essentially be staying for free while still charging Jazz for full service. Not that he didn't deserve it, but it was something that could very quickly de-escalate.

"Then could we go back to our old routine slowly until we can think about this more? We may need to revise the contract to include a reduction in pay in return for room and board, but I... I understand the need to have my own space," Prowl admitted. "I've been able to steal time here and there for my studies, but you're right, I need to have my own time."

Jazz smiled and pat the spot on the counter next to him, "This ain't a rejection, Prowler. Just tryin' to bring up other viewpoints, and we don't need to decide this now, in a week, or even after ya set up the trap for your psycho ex. We're runnin' this race together, or not at all."

He relaxed and went to join Jazz on the counter. It creaked, but it held solid. Prowl leaned on Jazz, soaking in his good vibes. "That is a wonderful way to think about it, Jazz. Thank you."

"I'll wait, Prowler. You take the time and space ya need. Nothin' needs to change before then, just let me know, aight?" Jazz mused as he kept his hands tucked into his lap. Prowl hesitated, but let his pinky finger drift to poke him in the leg. Jazz smiled and gave him a hand so they could knit their fingers together.

"Hopefully, you do not need to wait for forever. I want this, I want you, I want this family, but I'm just... scared," He whispered.

Jazz hummed, "I know, Prowler. It's okay to be scared." He lifted their joined hands together, "But ya don't gotta do it alone. And if you don't want to talk to me...?" He smiled as he tried to gently prompt Prowl.

The nanny smiled as he relaxed, "I have friends I can talk to about it. I... I have a life outside of this. Thank you, Jazz."

"Anytime, Prowl."

"Alright, boys," Prowl coached gently as he carefully waddled forward with the casserole in his hands. "What are our rules here?" He asked the boys as the little troublemakers sat on his feet, arms and legs wrapped around his shins like little koala-cons. They were giggling madly as Prowl walked up to the front doors.

"No running off!" Sideswipe chirped as Prowl carefully managed the pull door with his elbow and edged in. The receptionist raised an eyebrow, but her eyes widened as she realized who this was, given the children. She came over and hit the accessibility button, letting the door finish opening on its own.

"Thank you," Prowl sighed in relief as the weight was taken off of his side. Sunstreaker narrowed his eyes at the receptionist, not that she noticed. "Sunstreaker, what's the other rule?"

He frowned more, but pouted as he took his eyes off of the femme, "No bothering others."

"What's your name, Mr...?" The femme asked as she scurried back behind the counter. 

Sideswipe perked up, "Prowlie's not wearing his hat, so he's not Mr. Prowl right now!" He got off of Prowl's leg to try and look over the counter at her. She smiled sweetly at the two small hands and top of the head that peeked out. A second pair of hands joined his a moment later as Sunstreaker successfully looked over the counter. "No fair, you're taller!"

"Am not! I'm just standing on tiptoe-"

"Boys," Prowl reprimanded gently. "I need you to lower your voices right now. I can measure you when we get home, alright?"

The twins nodded dejectedly and stepped back to his side. Prowl sighed and looked back to the amused receptionist, "I'm here for Jazz's 6 P.M. meal break. I believe he left a note?" 

She smiled and showed a sticky note, "Yep! I just needed to verify. I think Blaster has a free moment, if you don't mind an escort?"

"We know him, so we wouldn't mind," Prowl relaxed. "Thank you." She smiled sweetly and snuck one more cooing glance at the boys before she pulled back to make her phone call.

While she was waiting for the call to go through, she covered the talk-piece and smiled, "It's nice to meet the legendary nanny and bitties."

"Legendary...?" Prowl asked himself quietly as the other end of the line went through. He tuned her out, opting to keep an eye on the boys. They were wandering around the lobby and Prowl wandered up behind them as they looked at the big words on the wall. "Do you know what that says, Sides, Sunstreaker?"

Sideswipe tried first, "Cibar? Iacone's Best Rah-deo?" He pouted, but he lit up a moment later, "CIBR! Iacon's Best Radio!"

"Very good, Sideswipe," Prowl complimented. He looked down to Sunstreaker, "Can you read any of the words underneath it?" Sunstreaker looked at the smaller words underneath it: Talk Shows, Call-Ins, Music, and More!

He pouted and tried, but shrunk. Prowl smiled, "Are you shy?" Sunstreaker glared at the receptionist again, making her giggle, but he nodded sadly. Prowl crouched so Sunstreaker could repeat it, quieter.

"T-Talk shoes... Call lins... Music and More?" He tried. Prowl nodded slowly, but he knew Sunstreaker could do better than that.

"Talk Shows, Call-ins, music, and more," He amended gently. "You got some words right on your first try. Nice job, Sunstreaker."

A door leading deeper into the building opened and Blaster grinned, "Prowler! Hey, long time no see! Some of that better be for me."

Prowl snorted, "If you have a free moment, I don't see why not-" He was cut off as Sunstreaker marched up to Blaster and glowered. 

Blaster winced, "Hey, Sunstreaker. Look, I know we didn't have a good first meeting, and I've had a talk with Ramhorn, but he won't be coming out right now. He's still not ready to make an apology yet."

"So he's not sorry," Sideswipe said quietly. He clung to Prowl, shaking the slightest amount. 

"N-No, it's not that-"

"If that is the case, Blaster, then I would like them to know. I'm alright to arrange playdates with your twins and Steeljaw, but I will not allow them with Ramhorn until he apologizes," Prowl cut in. The receptionist watched with wide eyes at Prowl's even speech, clearly shocked that Jazz hadn't been exaggerating for once in his life.

Blaster sighed and readdressed Prowl's twins, "He still thinks he did the right thing, and won't be apologizin' for it. I'm sorry, you two."

Sunstreaker stood in front of Sideswipe protectively, "We're not friends with meanies who mean it. We're okay with Eject and Rewind and Steeljaw! Not Ramhorn!"

"Alright then. I'm not going to make you two play with him," Blaster mused, somewhat relieved. He gestured to the door, "C'mon, let's go find your Jazzy, shall we?"

Sideswipe perked up, "Jazzy?" He reached his hand out and Sunstreaker, proud from having made his point, took it.

Blaster let them go ahead through the door and settled in next to Prowl. "I'm glad they're okay to still have playdates, my twins have been asking about y'all's twins."

Prowl hummed as they began to pass different rooms with people in them. A few others passed them in the hall and eyed Prowl and his boys curiously. One or two seemed to recognize them, but Prowl glared them down, daring them to approach them. Blaster laughed, "Pit, mech, you're scary sometimes."

"And the twins know I'll use all of it to keep them safe," Prowl said proudly. He relaxed as they finally made it to the breakroom. It had several different people around, sipping their sludge and eating their prepacked lunch. They eyed the small group as the twins picked out a table and were already climbing into a few chairs.

They sat down and pat the table happily, "Prowlie, Prowlie, Prowlie! Over here!" The nanny and the creator shared a look, but headed over. Sideswipe was happily slapping the top of the table, grinning widely. Prowl smiled and put the food down and began to pass the plates and forks and everything else out. 

Sunstreaker frowned as he looked around, "Where's Jazzy?" The clock on the wall read as 6:01 P.M. and they were still in the same building, so it should be time for Jazz to be here.

Prowl peered at Blaster, who only shrugged. He turned his attention back to the twins and hummed. "I'm not sure, but if he wants there to be a repeat of this, he will be here." The twins shared a look, but they helped Prowl set the table. He had brought an entire set of six, and glancing again at Blaster, Prowl set the fifth place.

He had started to dish them up when a door opposite of the wall they had come in burst open. Jazz panted and stumbled over, "Prowler, I am so sorry-"

Prowl put the dishing spoon up to turn and catch him, "Look at me. Breathe." He waited until Jazz was staring at him, breaths evening out. "You are still on time enough that I'm not upset. Sit down, and chat with the boys, they've been looking forward to this." The twins perked up, excited and already digging into their food.

"Y-Yeah," Jazz grinned, his voice still breathy. He pulled away from Prowl and went to take his place, "So, Sides, Sunstreaker, how are you liking the station? If ya want, I can take you on a tour or somethin' soon. There's a whole bunch of my coworkers I want ya to meet. You already know Blaster, he does a call-in talk show, but there's also Minimus, he does that legal show. There's Mirage, he does fashion an' dating advice. There's someone I don't want ya to meet. He's a little... abrasive. Likes to introduce himself with a punch-" Jazz froze when he noticed someone coming up behind Prowl, words stopping.

Prowl paused when someone tapped on his shoulder. "Yes?" He asked as he turned around.

There was a set of pincer claws aimed for his face, coming far too quickly to be anything but a punch. The rest of the world closed out around him as he didn't see what was happening, but he simply acted, using the training that had been drilled into him until his joints ached and his doorwings wanted to fall off.

Muscle memory kicked in as he redirected the arm and pulled the target along, wrenching the arm behind his aggressor to force him forward... into his lasagna.

Prowl blinked in surprised as everything came rushing back to him at once. The room was quiet, except for a few who were laughing, the boys included. He reeled back, pulling his hands back to himself, "I am so sorry-"

His aggressor waved his pincers dismissively, "Nah, that was great. Been a while since I got that great of a reaction." He lapped up the sauce on his face with a long... tongue. Prowl allowed his neutral expression to take back over and he cocked his head. "Ya know, I'd let you do that again if it means that I can have more of this."

"I wouldn't worry about his attitude," Someone else behind Prowl commented as he walked up. He was a lanky blue mech that had Jazz tensing even more.

He knew who this was.

This was Blurr.

"I would be more concerned about getting in trouble for throwing him around as I did," Prowl stated, unable to keep the edge out of his voice, "Blurr."

The station owner narrowed his eyes at Prowl and hummed. He said in a clipped tone, "You're the nanny who ripped into Jazz." He looked at the twins who looked excited. "That was a show." 

"I don't take it well to those who threaten my assignment family," He said in the same haughty note. "It is good to finally put a face to a name. Jazz has said a variety of things about you. Some good. Some bad."

Blurr chuckled in honest amusement and cocked his head, almost like a fox, "You truly don't like to lie, do you? Jazz says many things about you as well. Most of them good." His face fell into a deep frown, "Try not to make more trouble, please. I do not have any control over you, but you are still on private property. Throw my employees like that around again, and I will need to take action."

"Nah, Blurr," The mech he had thrown tried to wave him down. "I wanna make a deal. He throws me around like that, and I get some of that food. This slop's great!"

The station owner turned to the blue mech with open disdain, "Whirl, please do not encourage this."

"Please, Prowlie?" Sideswipe begged. "Show us how to do that? Please please please?" Blurr's face melted for half a second before he sobered.

Whirl put his pincers together, "Pleaaaaaase, Boss? I'll only aim for Prowl and not anyone else."

Jazz stood as he looked between all of the parties, "H-Hey, let's slow down-"

"So long as Prowl agrees to it. I want no broken furniture or it will be coming out of yours and Jazz's paychecks," Blurr demanded. He glanced at Prowl, who only frowned.

The nanny squared his shoulders, "According to the Tri-Torus Loop agreements, Code 136B, Section 14, Paragraph 2, an employer is not allowed to deduct wage from an employee's pay without express permission, but within Paragraph 3, it further outlines that broken equipment, furniture, or office supplies may not be an allowable item to be deducted. Violation of that could lead to fines up to 5000 credits for every 100 credits deducted."

Blurr needed to stifle his yawn, but he waved his hand, "Fine. But no worker's comp claims. You're free to go." He looked over the group and stalked out.

Whirl turned his single eye onto Prowl and clasped his hands together, "Where'd you learn to do that, that was so cool."

"Praxian Enforcer Academy," Prowl quipped. "Take the plate you... ended up in. Please return it to Jazz before the end of the day-"

"Forget the food, I want to be thrown around like that again more. Besides, the bitties want to learn, right? Well, you have a perfect person to practice on!" Whirl crowed, not holding still for a moment. 

Sideswipe clapped his hands, "Whirlybird! You look like Whirlybird! Whirlybird! Whirlybird!" Sunstreaker was even smiling, looking at Whirl like he was a character from his favorite show-

Whirlybird was a character in their favorite show. 

He was one of the petty villains in Rock 'em Sock 'em, and one of the kids' favorite villains.

Jazz was grimacing, but he shrugged, looking at Prowl.

The nanny took a deep breath, knowing this was in his hands now. He frowned deeper, "Fine. But we eat first. Sit." Already, he was mapping out ways he could add structured exercises to their outside time to encourage balance, discipline, and movement until they were old enough to actually practice the moves he was teaching them. Besides, he would need to watch the pair more to make sure if they did practice these on each other, they wouldn't hurt the other.

Whirl snickered and sat down, "Yessir." He leaned over the dish he had fallen into and 'smiled' at Sideswipe, "So, did you see how I took down that Quintesson in the last episode? Totally awesome. You know, doing something like that takes skill.

The boys lit up more, sharing a look, and quickly dove into bitty show talk. Jazz, Prowl, and Blaster all shared a surprised look, but they quickly dove into my food before they could miss out on the chance to actually eat.

The boys barely touched their food, but Whirl managed to remind them every now and then, barely touching his own. He was regaling the tales as if he had been the one to fight them, using words that the twins would know and it was almost... spark warming. 

Jazz was certainly surprised. Whirl, the station's primary cause of work harassment claims due to enthusiastic 'bullying' and head of the sports recap station, knew how to hold the attention of sparklings with something only a creator would know that much detail about.

When the kids were finally done eating, Blaster stepped in when he had the chance, "Hey, Jazz. I noticed you missing a little something on your armor. You upset the mister?" He jerked his head to Prowl for emphasis. Prowl glowered at the accusation, making Whirl laugh with a full mouth.

"Nah, Blaster. I was reminded that it'd look unprofessional and I'm pretty sure that Blurr would smelt me if I kept it on for much later," Jazz snorted. The twins shared a sharp look, but Prowl tapped his fork against his plate in warning.

"Boys, I do not want any trouble. Jazz and I had a talk about it and I wasn't comfortable with my name on him anymore," He cut in. He looked between the pair, "If you want to learn how to do these defensive moves, I need you to stay out of trouble. Can you promise me that?"

Sunstreaker pouted but nodded, "I promise."

"I promise," Sideswipe agreed a moment later, looking up hopefully. "Fight?"

Whirl chuckled and wiped his 'mouth'. "Alright, copper, wanna show me those fancy moves?" Blaster laughed nervously, but opted to scoot more out of the way.

Sideswipe pat his arm, "It's okay, Uncle Blaster. Prowl will keep you safe."

"I think it's Prowl I need to be kept safe from," Blaster replied, but his processor caught up with him at the same time as Jazz. The two friends shared a surprised look, but they quickly shifted to happy grins.

Under the table, the twins fist pumped.

They were doing so well at being good. 

They'd have their family together before they knew it. 

They only needed to wait until this 'Mesothulas' was out of the way.

Chapter Text

"Prowl, it's time."

Those three little words had Prowl clutching the datapad that they blinked on. The message title from Red Alert came exactly a week and three days before the last of Prowl's exams came through. It had weighed on Prowl's mind more as his exam dates came up. He had already ensured he remembered all of the material for his exams, was subscribed to Iacon's Enforcer Academy alerts about exam times, and made several dozen different meals so Jazz and the boys could pick what they wanted for dinner with any amount of ingredients Prowl had kept stocked in the house.

He had made sure he had all of their boys toys and school supplies stocked and he was slowly shifting them to fit more of a school schedule and made sure that he was ready for whatever Whirl threw at him and that Jazz was still doing okay and that their boys were still liking their stories and keeping up in their lessons and-

"Hey, Prowler, breathe..." Someone whispered. A heavy hand settled onto his shoulder and it slowly trailed around his front. Prowl flinched, but breathed a sigh of relief as Jazz settled on the floor in front of him. The hand trailed down his arm, leaving tingles, until Jazz's hand reached Prowl's. Their fingers knit together and they began to push and pull to match their breathing.

Mesothulas and his increasingly desperate demands of information from Inferno...

Breathe in.

His exams that loomed...

Breathe out.

Their boys and their playdates... 

Breathe in.

The scrappy, handsome creator of theirs and his never ending patience...

Breathe out.

It took a minute, but Prowl took one last deep breath in before he sighed. He swallowed and opened his eyes, searching Jazz's face. His visor hid the way his eyes crinkled, but Prowl knew they were there. Prowl nodded shakily, "Red Alert contacted you too."

Jazz nodded, keeping his voice down, "He told me that he jus' messaged ya and it would probably be good ta check on ya."

Nodding, Prowl squeezed Jazz's hand gently, "Yes. I... I have not yet looked at the message contents yet." He looked to his datapad, still too full of trepidation to actually read it. 

He knew the plan.

He shouldn't be scared.

Everyone important knew the plan.

But he was terrified-

"Hey, come back to me," Jazz eased. He crooned a soothing song, sticking in several unpredictable tonal upticks that grabbed Prowl's attention every time. It was becoming predictable the more Jazz sung it, but it was more routine. Prowl could enjoy the soothing monotony of it and he slowly pitched himself forward to lean against Jazz, the crest of his forehead pressing into Jazz's shoulder.

They had worked it out that Jazz wouldn't wrap his arms around Prowl until Prowl did the same. It worked for them, and it worked. 

Jazz loved the contact, his spark buzzing happily as he could give something back, but more, it was something that he could do. He liked being able to help Prowl however he could. It made him feel less useless, no matter how much he knew that it wasn't true.

When Prowl finally wrapped his arms over Jazz's shoulders, Jazz smiled and leaned back into embrace. He curled his arms under Prowl's and pushed himself into it so he could sit on the couch, datapad behind him. "Ya feelin' better, Prowler?"

"...Yes. I... I would like you next to me while I read this," Prowl finally got out. He took a deep breath and let Jazz go so he could get the datapad. It hadn't gone into sleep mode yet, so it helped him not needing to get the password from Prowl. There were some things he just didn't need to know.

The file was still there and Jazz hummed as he read over it quickly. He knew Prowl was watching him like a cyberhawk, but he didn't care in that moment. When he finished, Jazz finally looked up. "It's just goin' over the plan and that Mesothulas look is definitely lookin' for when to come over. You're goin' to need ta go to the medic today or tomorrow and Inferno'll have a talk with ya. Y're goin' to need ta pretend you're in pain and-"

"Prowl's hurt?" A tiny voice asked.

The pair looked to see Sideswipe and Sunstreaker looking over the edge of the couch and Prowl cursed internally. He had been hoping the boys were more absorbed in their show, but they must have stopped to listen. They really were scary in the fact that they picked up more than he should give them credit for.

Their nanny sighed and gestured them over, "No, I will need to play pretend with someone who is helping me against Mesothulas. He is pretending to be Mesothulas' friend when he is really my friend so I can be safe." Sideswipe came over and held his arms up. Prowl scooped him up and knew Sunstreaker was already halfway pulling himself up. "Has Red Alert figured out how how this is going to end?"

Jazz looked at the document over again and winced, "He brought Kup into this." He passed the tablet over and pat his leg, "Sunstreaker, come here, let's let Prowler read this really important message." Their oldest pouted, but Prowl bounced his knee.

"Please, Sunstreaker?" He asked nicely. It seemed to be enough and Sunstreaker carefully crawled over to his cousin. Jazz bundled him into his lap and pulled one of the twin's toys out of his subspace to offer to Sunstreaker in an attempt to keep him busy.

Sideswipe had no such reservations and he worked his way under Prowl's arm. Prowl sighed, but opted to let him to keep him from protesting too much. 

Prowl, it's time.

I'm messaging Jazz right after this because I know that's going to make you spiral, but I needed you to get it out of your system. Now that it is, I wanted to outline a few things.

We have a week and three days. Today, I need you to go to First Aid's. He'll be expecting you. Inferno will follow you in after a minute because he would have had Mesothulas bait him into following you and getting a video of talking to you. You will need to keep up your act of trying to stay on the down low. First Aid will call you back and he'll act as though you DO have something wrong with you, and you need to play along. There is no way to know if Medothulas will ask Inferno to follow you and listen in, but we need this to be believable.

You will return home to Jazz and the twins. I know Jazz is likely reading this first, so he knows. You'll tell him as you're heading out and Inferno will capture the conversation. Jazz will need to pretend to be worried and he'll nod. 

Jazz, tonight, you'll need to put out an announcement that Prowl will be required to have a surgery once his exams are over. Make a call if anyone knows any good babysitters. I'll have a fake account created and I'll message that I was picked. Do NOT drop your kids off at my apartment, they'll only cause problems for me. The day before Prowl's 'surgery', ask your audience to send their well wishes because Prowl will be in surgery and will be recovering at his primary care provider's office for monitoring.

Mesothulas has received his notice that he isn't allowed in Iacon and he's working to get a fake identity under the name Tarantulas. We're expecting this and I'm working with some old contacts in border enforcement. They'll keep an eye on him and will have some agents at First Aid's clinic. Prowl will need to spend some time there because we know for a fact that Tarantulas will be watching. 

I hope you forgive me going behind your back, but I've reached out to Kup. He knows your situation and has agreed to be there as well for backup. He served in the Quintesson war before and he still has some of his old tools (Hello Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, whichever of the boys is reading. I know you will read this message, but Prowl will be fine. You have my promise) and he agreed to use any means necessary to ensure your peace of mind. We both understand what that means. I hope it will not come to that, but he is prepared to do what is needed.

Jazz, you will need to arrange to work from home. It is the safest solution I have so your bitties are close. When we give the signal, you give out that Prowl's surgery was successful and he's in recovery. That will be Tarantulas' best chance to strike. 

If everything goes according to plan, and Prowl, it will, I have too many fail-safes, no one will get in trouble for a matter of self defense and Praxus won't be able to make this an international incident because they failed to ensure your safety and the fact that he was actively breaking several laws to do this. 

We will handle this, Prowl. You can breathe safely soon.

"Prowlie?" Sideswipe asked. He reached up and rubbed Prowl's cheek. "You look like you're going to cry. Are you sad? Do we need to be sad?" 

Oh, the innocence of their bitty... Jazz laughed as Prowl nuzzled him gently. "No, bitty. I'm happy and having big emotions."

"Oh, okay. Big emotions are okay if you're being careful," He responded sagely. He leaned into Prowl and hummed, "Do you want blanket time?" His eyes were so wide and innocent that it nearly made Prowl cry all over again. 

Blanket time was something he didn't want to turn down, but he needed to go out and do this. So he shook his head and tucked Sideswipe under his chin in a tight hug, "Sorry, Sideswipe. I... I need to go play doctor with First Aid. Will you and Sunstreaker be good for your Jazzy? I will be back before we need to return for lunch."

"Prowler," Jazz cut in gently. He held his hand out and he smiled gently, "No rush, mech. If ya want to take some time there to study, I can watch the boys. Besides, they still need to do their schoolwork, right?" His boys grumbled, but Jazz tapped on Sunstreaker's foot, "Tell ya what, we can all go out for ice cream after this. Prowler, do ya still want to do dinner at the station tonight? If you want to eat in-"

"No, I need the structure," Prowl cut off. He clung to Sideswipe as plans ran through his head. He knew if he was back in Praxus, he would work through any pain. This was still his job, and he liked coming by the station. Being able to talk with Blaster was nice, and Whirl... Whirl was a surprisingly good story teller and even better babysitter. If he also helped to make sure that Prowl's skills were up to par, Prowl wasn't complaining. It just meant he needed to make an extra serving at times, but it rounded off dinner to four adults and 2 sparklings. Good enough.

Tarantulas wouldn't try for a smear campaign, it could violate his restraining order with an ordinance that went into effect several decavorns ago that Iacon and Praxus had both agreed to. Already, Prowl was suspecting that Alpha Trion was writing up new restraining order treatises so that this kind of situation couldn't happen again.

The fact that it was happening at all hurt, but Prowl would make damn sure that no one would need to suffer like he had.

"I need to structure. I will set on a pot roast and make bread rolls when I get back. Make sure the boys practice their reading again," Prowl stated. He mapped his day out further and deemed everything in order. Turning his attention to Sideswipe, he gave him a nervous smile, "I need to get up now, Sides. This next week and a half is going to be bad for me, but I will do what I can to make sure it will not be mean to you."

Sideswipe reached his arms up and hugged his upper arm gently, "It's okay, Prowlie. Sunny and I will make sure this week isn't bad." He tucked his chin up, "Can you sleep with me and Sunny on the bad nights?"

It was something he still did some nights, but he was spending at least two nights a week in the guest room, two in the boys' room, and the remaining three in his own apartment. He had more decorations in his apartment, mostly from the boys, but it felt more lived in. 

Maybe, this time... He could let himself stay the week again. He needed the support. If Jazz was looking at him with the same hopeful look as their bitties... it only helped sway his decision.

"Yes, I believe I can," He relented and enjoyed the way that Sideswipe lit up. The sparkling buried his face in Prowl's arm, squealing happily. Prowl rested a hand on his back, "But for now, I need to go."

"Prowlie," Sunstreaker cut in with his serious tone. The adults shifted their attention to him and the golden twin nodded seriously, "Be careful. Be safe."

Jazz smiled tightly and pressed in against him carefully, "Prowler is always careful, bitty mine. But remember what we've said when ya can't handle somethin' yourself?"

"Get help," The boys both crowed. Sunstreaker focused on Prowl, his eyes hard as he searched the nanny for any sign of distress. Prowl leveled his gaze back, knowing what Sunstreaker was going to ask. "Are you getting help?"

"From Jazzy, from blue mech, from Hot Rod and Arcee's guardian, from Bumblebee's creator, from First Aid, and from Red Alert and from so many others," He said evenly. He looked down to Sideswipe and then between them, "And from you both, so much more than you could think. You both make my bad days good. You both make my sadness hurt less. You both make me happy."

"And Jazzy?" Sideswipe demanded. He pointed to his caretaker, making the adults laugh.

Prowl nuzzled him, forehead to forehead again. "Yes, bitty. Jazzy too." Sideswipe smiled, a particular twinkle in his eyes and Prowl hummed in bemusement. He tapped Sideswipe's nose and pulled away, "Smart little bitty. You knew what you were doing." The sparkling giggled, not bothering to deny the claim.

Smart little thing.

Prowl swallowed as he crept into the medical clinic. The formerly welcoming plain walls that seemed to be the same shade of white, no matter what clinic you walked into on Cybertron, were now a cage. The check in kiosks were spectators lining the walk to the front desk, daring to judge him.

He needed to act scared for this whole debacle. 

He wouldn’t need to act. He was already terrified of the ramifications.

The receptionist looked up with a smile, “Hello, here to check in?” He seemed pleasant enough, but Prowl couldn’t be sure. He forced himself to the front and shook his head.

”No, I would like to request a walk in? I-“ He froze as the door opened behind him. A tall red mech nodded his head respectfully as he entered, but kept his gaze respectfully low. 

Prowl needed to jolt himself out of it and turned back to the receptionist. The mech smiled patiently and Prowl fiddled with his fingers, “I-I just need a walk-in please. First Aid is my doctor.”

”Of course, we have some availability…” He began to click through the computer in front of him and smiled. “Name?” Prowl pinged him with his information, knowing the mech behind him could likely receive it too. Oh, that was definitely getting back to Mesothulas.

The receptionist nodded like nothing was wrong, “Alright! I got you all booked in. Go ahead and take a seat, and the doctor will call you when he’s ready.” Prowl nodded and stalked to a chair against a wall where he could see the all possible exits. Nothing could approach him without him knowing about it-

“Is this seat taken?”

Prowl jumped as the red mech, Inferno, if he needed to guess, gestured to the seat next to him. He looked around the office that had enough seats to fit 20, but Inferno was looking at the seat two down and across from him, but it would keep Prowl in his line of sight.

It made him uncomfortable. 

That was the point.

Mesothulas was making Inferno do that to attempt to exercise power over Prowl.

It worked, but not nearly as well as his stalker would have wanted. Prowl already knew this was a game. Mesothulas was playing checkers, while Prowl was playing chess.

“I cannot make you do anything,” He forced out all the same. He didn’t know how to tell this mech that he didn’t want anyone sitting near him - especially when there were other seats - to sit anywhere else. 

“Fair enough,” Inferno mused. He settled into the stiff seat and hummed. “One of my coworkers pushed me and made me twist an ankle the other day, so I’m getting that checked out. What about you?”

”I am entitled to my medical privacy,” Prowl hissed lowly. He couldn’t tell if he was curling into himself or puffing himself out, but whatever it was, he probably looked like a damn fool.

Inferno smiled in a disarming way that Prowl knew was well practiced, “There’s no greater friends you’ll make than when you’re both hurting. I’m Inferno. And you’re… Prowl, right? I heard you mention it to the receptionist.” He peered up to see if the front desk worker was paying attention and shot a flirty wink.

It wasn’t as good as Jazz’s meaningless flirts, but they had stopped being meaningless weeks ago. They were used to make Prowl and their boys giggle at his antics and oh, how it warmed the spark. 

His breathing eased at the thought of his boys and he allowed himself to relax. 

“I would like to sit in silence. I am here for a medical issue, not to make friends,” Prowl stressed. He began to bounce his heel, knowing he had been called on his habit for it when he was stressed multiple times. He needed to drive home that he wasn’t okay-

“Look, I didn’t mean anything by it. I just wanted to talk,” Inferno tried to soothe. He paused, as if he were listening to something and his gaze sharpened. “After all, talking is how someone can learn how sharp your mind is-“

Terror seized him and Prowl physically jumped when the door to the back opened. First Aid stuck his head out, “Prowl? I’m ready for you now.” Prowl rushed to him, earning a confused look as he passed his doctor. First Aid closed the door and his clueless look dropped as he offered his hands and whispered, “Breathe, Prowl. You’re okay. You’re doing great. Is there anything-“

”My head hurts,” Prowl said, not accepting First Aid’s attempt to comfort him, not sure if Inferno was listening in. He wanted to hide, he wanted to curl up into his blankets, he wanted to watch sparkling shows with the boys where the stakes were low and everything always turned out okay, he wanted so many things, but he couldn’t have them. 

Just a little longer.

First Aid nodded and ushered him away into a nearby patient room. Prowl sunk onto the stiff bed and knit his fingers together, trying to hold off his panic. The doctor puttered around on a data pad and held it out after a moment. As he spoke, Prowl read what was on the screen.

”So, you had a check up a little while ago, but you seem to be in some pain. How are you feeling today?”

I’m getting HUD pings for if Inferno comes by to eavesdrop. He’s not here yet. If you answer your head, you are ok to proceed. If you say that you just need a quick work up, I’ll refer you out and you can get out.

Prowl sighed in relief, “Just my head. It’s been hurting lately. It… I have concerns that it has to do with the injury I suffered a few vorns ago.”

First Aid nodded as he took the data pad back. He tapped more at it and held it back out. 

“Alright, I’ll need to look at your data load outs. Can I have access to your data port?”

He’s being called back. This should only take ten minutes, and I’m not going to leave you alone. I will walk you out and we’ll stall Inferno as long as we can, but something tells me he won’t try too hard to follow you. Remember, he’s working for Red Alert, not your ex.

”Of course,” Prowl swallowed. He clicked his wrist port back. It would also give him the chance to speak silently with First Aid. “I need to return to my job soon.”

”How are the boys?” The doctor mused as he took out his diagnostic cable. 

Prowl sighed, “They are doing well- Oh, and Sideswipe asked me to tell you something.” He eyed the doctor carefully, “He said to say it exactly like this, but ‘They are doing good good.’” He lifted an eyebrow, “Is there something you wished to share?”

”No, no, it’s nothing bad. He’s just passing along that they’re feeling quite well,” He mused, plugging in a second later. Prowl sighed in relief as First Aid smoothed over his flared coding. ‘So, I want you to take it easy after all of this. This may be a show, but it is still taking a very real toll on you. Can you do that for me?’

’I believe the twins will be sitting on me so we can all watch some of their shows. The plots are predictable, but there is comfort in what is known,’ He mused. He looked towards the door and noticed the shadow near the door cracks. He stiffened, but First Aid hummed a bouncy tune- Sock 'em Rock 'em's tune. He was humming the introduction, and Prowl took the familiarity for what it was. 'Using what I just told you against me. Not the worst tactic.' Prowl let the music flow over him and drag him into a false sense of security.

He trusted Red Alert's judgment. If Red said this mech was fine... Then he would trust him.

The next several minutes went quickly with First Aid occasionally humming to himself and writing down predetermined observations into Prowl's leaked document. It was things that would be indicative of an impeding medical disaster in the next several weeks. 

Outside of the door, someone, likely a nurse, gasped, "Sir! You're not allowed to be there! I'm going to need to ask you to leave."

There was a shuffle and Inferno responded, "Oh, sorry. I thought I had dropped something back this way and-"

"Out," The employee cut off. There were footsteps leading away from their door and Prowl slumped, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding. His spark was pounding and he really was starting to get a head ache.

First Aid smiled and gently disconnected them, "Now that that's over with... Are you okay? Remember to breathe."

"I believe I am beginning to understand what Jazz meant when he said he was getting sick of people telling him to just breathe," Prowl mused. He swallowed and nodded, "Can... Am I alright to go?" He let the wrist panel snap closed, rubbing it nervously. He just hoped he wouldn't start picking at his paint again. He'd need to keep an eye on it.

"One second," First Aid said. "I need to schedule your surgery intake. Does a week and..."

"Three days. I want a day or two after the last of my exams to relax before I even think to go into surgery. And I'll need to inform Jazz." He sucked in a deep breath. "He will need to find a new nanny while I recover."

First Aid pulled his stool closer and plopped into it. He had the gentle smile that only experienced healthcare workers, grandcreators, and teachers could wear, the one that knew the exact outcome before anyone else did. "He's not going to abandon you, Prowl. You two trust each other. Jazz trusted you to hold him together a few months ago, and now, you need to trust him."

"That's the part that scares me," Prowl joked, but his smile fell flat. "No, I... I know I should, and I do, but just because I know I have someone I trust... it doesn't make me any less scared."

"And that's normal. I've seen so many carriers come through my doors, terrified about emergence, even with the sire with them. The ones that are prepared and care for each other and trust each other?" His smile might not have been obvious, but Prowl knew it was there. "The end result is everything they could have wished for. You just need to hold on until this is all over and you can actually live again."

Prowl searched his face and nodded. He had seen the story play out himself plenty of times. Stalker is removed from someone's life and the victim can move on. He would conduct occasional check-ins and he had always enjoyed seeing how well they were doing even a month later.

It made doing what he did worth it.

After a while, he would need to recognize that he wasn't a victim, but he could work past it. He didn't want to survive, he wanted to thrive.

He could do this.

He had enough people behind him.

Prowl was swarmed the moment he entered the home. The twins attached themselves to his legs and crowed for his attention, "Prowlie! Prowlie! Prowlie! Are you okay?"

"Alright, ya little scraplets, let him walk!" Jazz laughed as he walked in from the kitchen. There was ingredients for sandwiches laid out and Jazz flung a cheese slice at Sideswipe. It connected with his forehead with a satisfying slap, but the boy only erupted into giggles. He fell off of Prowl so he could get it off and eat it. Jazz strode up and smiled nervously, "You okay, Prowler?"

"Better, now," He sighed. Even now, he could feel his anxieties and nerves melting away. He was already setting up a message to their group chat that he was home and sent it off without a second thought. "How have the boys been?"

Jazz sighed as they watched Sunstreaker step off of Prowl's leg and tackle his brother, fighting for the cheese, even if it seemed more for the act of wrestling than the cheese. They were making mockeries of the moves that Prowl and Whirl had been teaching them, but Prowl didn't want to correct them. Besides, a little roughhousing with them didn't hurt. They already knew to stop when the other cried uncle, so they left it.

"I see," Prowl hummed contently, even without the spoken response from Jazz. "Do you need help with lunch?"

Jazz waved him into the kitchen, "It's yer territory, Prowler. Feel free ta kick me out whenever ya need." He winked half of his visor and nearly turned around, but Prowl reached for him. Even if he stopped short, Jazz still paused, waiting. "Prowler?"

"Don't ever change. Please. Not for me, not for anyone," Prowl pleaded. "Promise me."

"What brought this on?" Jazz asked, bemused. He didn't wait for Prowl to respond as he leaned in, "I promise, Prowler. I won't ever change. Not for ya, not for the bitties, not fer anyone. Now, I think the kitchen-"

They were both cut off with a group call request from Smokescreen. They shared a nervous look and spared a glance to the boys. They were still wrestling, but they seemed to be putting on more of a story than not. They would need to pay attention to the plot line one of these days.

Jazz gently grabbed Prowl's hand to guide him into the kitchen and answered the call, "Hey, Smoky. I got Prowler next to me, but the boys are close, so I'm goin' to need to talk quietly." He picked up the sandwich bread and lined out enough sandwiches for the four of them.

"I am here," Prowl said as he joined in the call. He picked up the meat of the day and began to line the bottom bread slice. "Is something the matter?"

"It's something I should have thought over earlier," Smokescreen grumbled. Prowl knew he was pacing, he was breathing in that odd way that he did when he stressed. "And normally I would bring this up separately, but I think you two might do okay to hear it together."

The radio host faltered and looked to Prowl, but still addressed Smokescreen, "Look, mech. Y're kinda scarin' us a little? What's up?"

"I was going through an old case file and I remembered something. I'm giving this to you two now so you can hopefully do your thing and talk it out, but Jazz, I'm going to ask you to be careful with Prowl for a little bit after all of this goes down," Smokescreen ground out. 

"I usually try ta be?" He continued, confused. Prowl shrugged, just as unsure, and put the cheese on next.

Their therapist continued as their boys yelled playfully in the background, "No, I mean more than normal. Prowl, something that might come up after all this is you might also feel more emotionally unstable. I'm not saying what you're feeling for Jazz isn't real, but I wouldn't recommend diving straight into a relationship."

The pair both snorted and continued making their sandwiches and Smokescreen paused. "What was that sound?"

"Which sound?" Prowl mused, still quietly laughing.

"That sound. You're making fun of me," He accused. He paused again, "You've already talked about this."

Jazz hummed patronizingly, "Maybe a lil' bit. We maybe didn' factor that into it, but I actually wanted that. Prowler made sure I knew that I wasn't in any spot to make decisions like tha' when I was a lil' out of it, and he's agreed that he'd probably do somethin' stupid too."

"I'm unaware of what that entails yet, but do you remember when I accidentally caught that jewel thief in my 17th vorn?" Prowl said quietly.

Smokescreen was quiet for another moment before he demanded, "Prowl, what did you do?" The nanny clamped his mouth shut in a poor attempt to hide his smile. Jazz was slowly lighting up in unspoken glee as Smokescreen continued to press for the answer. "Prowl! What did you do!"

"I may or may not have gotten tired and... set up that case board with red string and everything with what I knew was the next target. No one believed me and I went to stake it out without my mentor and the thief ended up tripping over me when I took a nap on the floor," Prowl admitted. 

Jazz snickered and bumped him with his hip, "Y're just that cool, Prowler. But nah, Smoky. We're keepin' up with each other and Prowler has the rights ta make the first move, but it takes two ta tango and I know he won't do anythin' I won't want him to. If he still wants this, I'll wait as long as I need ta, and if not... We'll deal with it if that happens." He smiled hopefully at Prowl, "But know that I want this."

Prowl relaxed and stepped closer so he could let the temples of their heads touch, "I... I know I want this. I want this." He looked around the apartment, soaking in the paintings on the walls, the warmth of the home, the boys' war cries, Jazz's polish that smelled just perfect, and... He snuck a piece of a cheese slice, noting how even something so simple could taste like home.

He was home.

"Thanks fer the concern, Smoky. I'm glad we got ya lookin' out for us," Jazz responded earnestly. He pressed his side into Prowl's and idled his engine in companionship.

Prowl chuckled and pressed back, careful not to push back too hard, "I agree with him. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. If I do begin not notice any emotions cropping up, I appreciate knowing that it is not unexpected and I will address them with Jazz as they come. Is there anything else?"

"Other than the fact that I completely forgot my manners? Hello, Prowl, Jazz," Smokescreen huffed. There was a thump and a relieved groan as he apparently plopped back into his favorite chair.

"Hello, Smokescreen," Prowl replied. He looked over the counter and winced when he saw Sunstreaker sitting proudly on his brother. "Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, can you two pick up your toys? It's almost time for lunch."

Sunstreaker looked up and was off like a shot. Jazz sighed as Sideswipe yelled after him, chasing him down. "Hey, Prowler? What're the odds that they just start fightin' again?"

"Fairly likely."

"Damn."

"They're having fun. But anyway..." Prowl continued. "Was there anything else, Smokescreen? If you also called to check in, I'm doing... okay. I'll be staying in tonight with the boys."

Jazz plated the sandwiches, "An' he has a full invitation ta stay with us until this whole thing blows over. We got 'im, Smoky. Breathe."

Smokescreen grumbled, "You know, I think I get what you mean about being told to breathe. It does feel patronizing."

Prowl cut in, "We need to go, it's time for lunch. Thank you for checking in Smokescreen. Please let me know when you hear anything from Nightbeat."

"Of course. Good luck with everything. I'll see you both soon." 

They finished their goodbyes and Prowl sighed again. He loved his friend, he truly did, but he just wanted to forget about this for a while.

Jazz leaned on the counter next to him, "Hey, let's all have some lunch for now and then watch some Rescue Bots? I'll make the boys' bed up for all of us again, if ya want?"

"That would be perfect," Prowl agreed without a fight. "Thank you, Jazz. I know this can't be easy."

"And dealin' with a family of strangers, one of the bitties who had somethin' undiagnosed, me comin' home drunk off my axle, and not knowin' how to handle any of it, was easy?" Jazz retorted. He offered a hand, something Prowl indulged in immediately. "We're goin' to have good times and bad. Datin' or not, we're in this together until y're done, and I won't ever hold that against ya. But until that point... I want to enjoy ya here. We're in this together."

Prowl squeezed his hand at the soft affirmations and leaned into him again, "Yes, we are. I... I want this. I want this family, I want our boys, and I want you. But until then... we'll handle it."

"Jazzy, Sunny hit me!"

"Prowlie, Sides hit me!"

The adults shared a knowing look and set off to handle their own terrible twos.

Chapter Text

Prowl woke up, as he did about a third of the week these days, warm and bundled in blankets. They were covering strong arms that curled around him just right, a soft hand rubbing the spot between his doorwings just right. It had been forever since he woken up with his engine purring this often, but it was perfection. 

"Ya alright, Prowler?" Jazz whispered into his crest, his breath ghosting over his helm. 

The only reply he got was Prowl's engine rumbling louder. Jazz laughed and squeezed Prowl tighter. "I know ya don't want ta get up, Prowler, but ya got your exams in two hours and ya need to get somethin' to eat. I need ta get up to make breakfast."

Prowl grumbled and squeezed him, "If you get up right now, I will have you arrested on four counts of disturbing the peace."

"Eh, I think I'll be fine. I know the arresting officer, he's a nice guy," Jazz smiled. He took his hand away and Prowl opened an eye to glare at him. "Ya know I'm right, Prowler. 'Sides, do you hear that?"

The pair went quiet as Prowl listened for whatever Jazz has heard- 

Silence.

Jazz had heard silence.

Prowl sprung out of bed, already halfway down the hall by the time Jazz was wrestling out of the blankets. The radio host could hear a small crash from the kitchen and he cursed, chasing after Prowl.

He stepped through the hallway door to find his boys standing on the other side of the island, a bowl shattered in front of the oven, and Prowl looking over the mess with a tired smile on his face.

Sideswipe looked up to Jazz and pointed to his brother, "Sunny did it."

"Sides did it," Sunstreaker retorted, pointing back at him.

Jazz sighed as he turned to Prowl, "Everythin' okay, Prowler?"

"The boys were trying to bake something, and a bowl dropped, which was no one's fault," He tacked on. The boys giggled at his playful teasing, but they knew they still had to be careful with the broken pieces. "Jazz, can you put on their show while I clean this up?"

"Or," Jazz stressed as he scooped up his boys and brought them over to Prowl. He pushed them into the nanny's arms, "Or, you could go watch their show, I clean this up, and make breakfast. You're taking your exams this week, remember? That means you get no more stress from us when you could be taking it easy."

Sunstreaker nodded sagely and tried to pull on Prowl's collar plating, "Prowlie, please?"

"What's a test?" Sideswipe asked as he snuggled happily into Prowl's side. He wouldn't be letting Prowl go anytime soon, everyone knew that. Prowl frowned at Jazz, who only responded with a grin and a gesture to the holoscreen.

"Tell Prowlie you love him and wish him good luck at his tests today."

Jazz's words echoed in his head as he climbed the steps with his younger peers. They were only younger by nearly 30 vorns, but it still made him one of the eldest amongst them. It earned him some looks, but it was more likely that it was because he was a new face when most of them knew each other for the past several months. 

A flash of red had his head snapping over to a mech across the street. Inferno stood there, hands clasped in front of him, and he nodded. With slow, well-practiced, well-used motions, he raised his hands and used Enforcer hand signals. 

Ally. No surveillance. Support present. Target safe. Acknowledge.

Prowl's doorwings shot up in surprise and he nearly stumbled, but he couldn't help the shock melt into relief. He smiled and gave the responding 'Acknowledged' hand sign. Inferno smiled and turned around so he could watch the park across from the Iaconian Enforcer Academy. 

Emboldened by the show of support, Prowl turned back to the grand building that would decide his future, and continued through the heavy doors that stood guard over the next generation of Enforcers.

"Gooood afternoon, Iacon! Lookin' bright and sunny out there! Traffic seems to be goin' pretty slow, though, but as always, our dear station manager'll be doin' the traffic report here shortly! So remember when I said that Nanny was takin' his tests today? Well, he said they went well, and there's still the rest of the week, so best of luck to him and all of our wonderful citizens in all of their exams, because I know it's more than just our cops out there. 

Now, this is CIBR, Iacon's Best Radio! From my new album Swiping Sunset Shades, this is Bedtime Stories!"

“Good mornin’, Prowler,” Jazz crooned. Prowl hummed quietly as he fluttered his doorwings, content. 

Primus, he was going to need to bond to Jazz, wasn’t he? He was going to need to… eventually… if he wanted to wake up like this more. Warm, comfortable, at peace… Nothing would be able to break the moment…

Until their door creaked open and two small heads peaked in. Sunstreaker looked nervous, which was never a good sign, but Sideswipe was a little bolder. “Prowlie, can we have pancakes and whipped cream today? You said last night that you did good on your tests, and we’re going to celebrate and celebrate means whipped cream.”

Prowl lifted his head, still clearly waking up from how gently Jazz usually tried to wake him, “Do you both agree to this?”

Sunsteaker nodded and clung to his brother’s back, "We want whipped cream."

"Can we do whipped cream at the end of the week? I'll add chocolate drizzle and make the pancakes extra fluffy," Prowl asked, trying to prolong his time in bed.

Jazz laughed as the twins took a moment to talk amongst themselves. He whispered across Prowl's head, "I thought you don't negotiate with terrorists."

Pulling his head back to tuck onto Jazz's bumper, Prowl gave him a playful stink eye, "34 vorn olds are not terrorists."

"Mine are," Jazz grinned. He enjoyed the eyeroll that Prowl gave him and he gently pinched the spot between Prowl's doorwings. Not enough to hurt, baerly enough to notice, but Prowl still jumped, glaring playfully. He took a deep breath before he pulled back, slipping out of the blankets.

"You know what, boys? I'll make sure the whipped cream is extra sweet this morning," He mused as he slipped out of the bed. Jazz whined, reaching for him. While the boys ran off cheering, Prowl leaned in, intent in his eyes. "34 vorn olds? No. 289 vorn olds? Very much terrorist material. I hope you enjoy your boys on a sugar rush." He swept out of the room, leaving Jazz with a dropped jaw.

He scrambled after him, "Prowler, wait!"

Inferno was again waiting, but the stiff way he sat in the bench across from the Academy indicated... something. Prowl stared for a moment, but Inferno shrugged. Suspect not present. No trouble expected.

Understood, Prowl motioned back, but he paused. The motion he was about to use was unofficial Officer's Cant, and he understood that some of it was regional, but this should be universal. It was a two finger swipe across the mouth, an Enforcer's smile. Inferno's lip quirked up, and he bowed his head and moved his head to keep an eye on the building once again.

Feeling safe with his guard, Prowl marched into the building, ready for the second of five days of exams. The worst test of all would come the day after them.

"Hey there, listeners! So I got some bad news fer those of ya who love to hear about my boys. Nanny's goin' to be our fer a while. For those of ya who haven't been followin' or can't remember, he's got some of his exams comin' up and he's goin' to nail 'em, but there's been another problem. He's goin' to be out fer a little longer 'cause a health thing's come up. He's goin' the be havin' a surgery after it, but he'll be better comin' out. Now, if any of you know any good babysitters for the time bein', be sure to leave a message in my application box on our Net page! I'll be sure to keep everyone' posted, but fer now, let's get back to the music, this is right here on CIBR, Iacon's Best Radio!" 

"From my new album, Swiping Sunset Shades, this is Mudpie Plate!"

It was Prowl who woke up in the middle of the night this time. His systems were all keyed up to 11 and he held his breath as he listened to the silence in the room. The twins were tangled in a pile between Jazz and Prowl, their legal creator curled over them protectively, then Prowl as the last layer. That added to Prowl's theory that he didn't baselessly cuddle into Jazz. Well, he did, but that was besides the point.

Had something caused him to wake up? Did a door open somewhere? Did a window make a noise? Did-

"Prowler?" Jazz whispered into the dark. Prowl clapped a hand over his mouth to stop from screaming and Jazz propped himself up. "Did ya have a nightmare?"

It took all of his willpower to pry hand hand away from his face to whisper, "I don't know. I just woke up like this. I..."

Jazz reached out to rub his arm, "Do ya want one or both of us to do a sweep? The windows are all taped and you can check yer checklist. I'm hopin' it was a nightmare, but I'd rather ya get back to bed knowin' nothin' got in."

That sounded like a perfect idea. He was going to be terrified until he checked, and he couldn't imagine going back into recharge like this.

"I... I will do one. Will you have emergency service's comm code pulled up, just in case?" Prowl whispered. He clutched at Jazz, petrified.

"Aight, Prowler. Ya still got yer tracker from Red?" He replied. Prowl pulled up the code and slumped to see it still active. It was something he had a say in, something that he could monitor himself. He relaxed in the knowledge that if something did happen, if he was taken, then he could be found.

He nodded and slipped from the bed, "Lock the door after me. I'll ping you to let me back in." Jazz nodded and Prowl knew he would use the remote controls. Quiet as a petromouse's breath, he slipped out of the room.

The heavy clunk of the lock behind him eased his nerves that if someone did want to get in, they'd need to make a lot of noise to do so.

He wouldn't let anyone touch his family.

The house was quiet and Prowl opted to do a sweep of Jazz's studio first. He didn't go in there often, but there was enough ambient light from the equipment that Prowl didn't need to turn on any lights. He flicked his doorwings, looking for any abnormal movement, but... nothing. The room had no windows and the vents were all too small for anything to get through. Jazz lamented once that he needed to clean the filters on them often because anything bigger could risk other things coming through and if they ever did get any kind of infestation, they wouldn't get in through there. 

When Prowl left the room, he activated the locks on it. He didn't want to risk any potential intruder slipping into a room he had already checked when he had an entire home to clear.

The hallway didn't have anything of notice, so the next room of note was the guest bedroom. Like the last room, the vents were too small to slip through, and there was enough light coming in from the windows to cast the darkness away. 

The bed was neatly made, Enforcer corners on the sheets clean and crisp. The space under the berth wasn't enough for anything but the twins to hide under it, but he would check the windows first. The duct tape hadn't been moved or pried open, and the never-dying ink showed no signs of tampering. It would be a pain to remove, but for the proof that no one had touched it was enough for the adults. With nothing in the closet, Prowl steeled himself to look under the bed.

He held his breath and crouched, terrified, but...

Nothing.

Prowl heaved a sigh of relief and pressed his head to the cool flooring. He knew he would need help for his paranoia, but he had an excuse right now. It was the same thing he told some of the victims of break-ins and assaults. 

It was a fear that had a basis, and it would take time to resolve, but it was something that could keep them alive while they investigated. He always lamented that there wasn't much he could do, but if one of the victims called him in the middle of the night to do a sweep of their house like he was doing now, he would always be happy to.

Especially when it wasn't paranoia on one case. The victim's ex was hiding in his vents, stealing small knickknacks and making a nest of stolen blankets. It had been enough to get an arrest. Prowl let the victim sleep at the Enforcer's quarters that night, and spent the next in their apartment, just for their combined peace of mind.

After, he advised the victim get therapy, and he was still...

He had been getting Festival of Crystals cards.

Maybe the academy would forward his cards for him? Prowl could hope.

Getting up, Prowl took a deep breath in. Would he check the rest of the house, or... Was it making it all up? He didn't often wake from a dead recharge for nothing, but... He was under a lot of stress at the moment. No, he would never forgive himself if he didn't finish his sweep and something happened.

The rest of the sweep brought up nothing. The exterior door was locked, the windows all sealed, the vents all still in place. Nothing in the dark corners of the rooms, nothing hiding under the furniture, nothing but the glaring fact that he was being haunted by a mech an entire city-state away.

Sighing, Prowl slunk back to the boys' room and pinged Jazz, 'Everything is clear. I think it was just a nightmare.'

The door unlocked and slipped open. Jazz hadn't moved, he couldn't risk waking the boys, but he was smiling gently. 'Hey, it's all good, Prowler. Do ya feel better?'

'I don't know. I... I feel relief that I know there's no one here, but there's still the fact that I'm living like this. I... I'm sorry for waking you,' Prowl lamented as he slipped back into bed. He curled over the boys and soaked in their engines quietly purring. 

Jazz held his hand, 'Hey, none of that. I'd rather know ya told me if somethin' was wrong because if there was, and ya didn't tell me? I'd worry a lot more. 'Sides, I'd kinda expect ya to do the same, y'know?'

Prowl allowed the smile as he gazed at Jazz, knowing that Jazz trusted him so much. 'If you ever need me, Jazz, I'll be a call away.' He sighed when he saw the mischievous smile on Jazz's face and rolled his eyes, 'You can say it. I am in need of a laugh.'

'Thanks for being my booty call, Prowler,' Jazz snickered. 'I'll make sure ta call ya when I really need ya, you know?' Given how his visor twitched, he was waggling his eyebrows.

Prowl snorted aloud and it moved to quiet laughs. 'Perhaps when we get there. I...'

'Not ready yet. I know. You know I'm just playin' with you, right? I like to think I was raised right,' Jazz explained. His smile had slipped and he was more serious than he usually was.

The nanny squeezed his hand, 'I trust you. Now, let's get back to bed. I need to be up in... four hours. Would you be alright if I made breakfast? I want to cook my anxieties off.' Or bake. Oh, that one day he had gotten the baking itch and made enough cookies and treats to fuel the radio station... He got requests for his recipes, but he needed to throw them off. His creators would be devastated if he gave away his secret family recipes.

'I just want ta make sure you're not goin' to exhaust yourself before your exam. If ya want to, I'm not goin' to push,' Jazz agreed. He smiled again, 'Sleep. We both need it.'

Those four hours should have left him groggy in the morning, but Prowl woke feeling more refreshed than ever.

Inferno had a sign next to him that day.

He's cheering you on.

Prowl paled and all but stumbled into the conference hall.

He still nailed his exam, but that didn't mean he didn't join the three other trainees in the hall once they were over, vomiting from stress.

“Goooood afternoon, listeners! So I got some good news this afternoon! Traffic is low, and tomorrow, it’ll be even lower! Tomorrow is the Trainee practical period! That means to be extra patient with our test takers, they'll be the ones pointin' ya where to go if the streetlights ever go out. And Nanny wanted me ta remind some of ya who want to mess with our officers-in-trainin' tomorrow, it's illegal to purposefully interfere with a training period that isn't cleared with their supervisor first. So, if ya think y're helpin' by messin' with our new guys, y're not. Don't do it. Anyway... Remeber, as always, we're CIBR, Iacon's Best Radio!"

"Today, from my new album Swiping Sunset Shades, this is Swingset Soarin'!"

"And then, he asked us to throw him! Sunny tested it for himself first, and then we threw Bumblebee!" Sideswipe recounted from their play date with Bumblebee. Orion had been instrumental in babysitting the twins in the few hours that Prowl still had his tests and Jazz needed to leave for work, but he still needed a day off from the twins on occasion. He hadn't mentioned the boys pushing his 23 vorn old sparkling off of a coffee table and onto a large pile of pillows, but then again, he must have been supervising, right?

Jazz shared an anxious look at Prowl anyway, "Just make sure ya don't to that ta anyone who doesn't like it, alright? No means-"

"I don't want that," The boys parroted together. They stabbed into their breakfast and chewed happily. 

Prowl nodded proudly, "Good. Did Bumblebee enjoy himself?"

"He told us to do it again," Sideswipe said after he swallowed. "Uncle Orion told us to be careful because he went to go get snacks and they were really good, but not as good as yours, Prowlie."

Oh no.

"He smiled when we said that and said it was okay, he was better at other things. He tells stories better than you, but don't-" Sideswipe froze and looked up to Prowl with wide eyes. Tears began to build up, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to tell you that!"

Prowl cocked his head, "I'm not upset, Sideswipe. I accept your apology. Uncle Orion is right, everyone is better and worse than other things than other people, but you don't need to tell them that. It's a little mean, but I'm okay. Uncle Orion is okay, but maybe you can apologize to him later, or write a letter to him."

"Y're 34 vorns, bitty mine. You're allowed ta mess up things. There's never an age that ya just know things. Remember that mean old mech at the store last week? He was yellin' at the worker and Prowler told him off? What'd he say again?" Jazz grinned. Prowl's cheeks tinted blue in embarrassment, but took another bite of his breakfast. He felt no particular shame over the matter, but he still went outside his comfort zone for it.

They boys looked confused, and Prowl sighed. "'I have two bitlets with me and how am I supposed to teach them how to be kind to others when you don't want to admit you have a bad coupon? Now I need to teach them that bullying isn't okay.'"

"And we got lollipops for telling that man he wasn't being nice!" Sideswipe chirped happily.

"You mentioned it on your show," Sunstreaker nodded. "You were happy."

"I was prouder than anythin', bitty mine. You two know better than ta be mean to others, and I love it when ya stand up fer people who need it. You're doin' great things," Jazz mused. He smiled at Prowl, the softness on the edges of his face portraying exactly how much he was endeared by the other.

Prowl's eyes crinkled with his own smile, going back to his breakfast. "I need to be going to the exam hall soon. Be good for Kup today, alright?"

"Yes, Prowlie," The twins crowed together, digging happily back into their food. Jazz laughed at his boys, enjoying the early morning as much as he could before he would need to take the boys to the park.

He bought his tickets. Monday, early morning. Be ready

The poster struck a deep fear in Prowl, but there was a relief in the confirmation. This was his last day of tests, and he would have one full day, and most of another to relax until he'd need to go in for an appointment with Ratchet. It was hell, but First Aid would transport him to the clinic in the morning. Kup would be there and he would have one of his former fosters-now-adopted looking after Hot Rod and Arcee. He would have his concealed carry on him, he had a registered license for it.

If this went sideways... Kup had already agreed to do whatever it took to protect one of his friends, because a threat to any of them could inevitably lead to an impact on the children, especially when someone had gotten as close to his kids as they had, such as Prowl.

"My kids would never forgive me if something happened to ya and I didn't do anything," Kup admitted during one pickup. They watched as Arcee slipped a picture of the twins to Sunstreaker. "She's opened up more. Not putting all of it on you, but your boys have helped. If Hot Rod can get his energy out here, but still be quiet for your boys, he'll do the same for her without asking." He took a deep breath in and sighed. "Her brother's agreed to allow me to adopt her, but I made sure to stipulate that he's allowed to visit whenever he wants. Any advice on keepin' them together?"

"Keep a schedule. It makes it easier on the both of them because if anything comes up, it can be arranged beforehand, but it also helps with his plans. It will allow him fewer emergencies at work, and leave more time to make it," Prowl said. "Do what feels natural, maybe let them work it out. Allow for holidays, if you can."

Kup nodded, "Already got it planned out that she's going to spend a good part of Festival of Crystals with him. I'm not going to bring him into my home, not when some of my kids, even grown, feel like they're always welcome. That means, to us, always having their rooms available, even if they don't come home for tens of vorns. They've all come back, one way, or another. But that also means that unless Arcee wants to bring someone new in, she's going to need to introduce him. It's why my oldest is allowed to bring over his conjunx. Arcee still needs to meet him, but I think she'll be able to beat him in monopoly. If her trauma's done anything for her, it's made her a hard businesswoman."

Prowl chuckled quietly, "If all goes well... if she wants... I still know have some people back in Praxus who may or may not have offices here in Iacon who would be happy to set her up with an internship. I can put a call in."

"What, like Cybertron Central Bank?" Kup scoffed, but Prowl wasn't laughing. "Wait..."

"There was a bank manager of the Praxian branch whose best friend was murdered. He swore to me that if I ever needed any favors, I am to merely call. If she is sure that that is the route she is willing to take, I can pull some of my favors to get it lined up for her. Hot Rod still has a few more hundred vorns to figure himself out before I'm willing to offer anything, but if you want..."

Kup leaned forward to knit his fingers together, tipping his head down. "This could put her name in front of a lot of important people. You're sure about this?"

"She still has time to decide," Prowl responded. "Those favors will not be going away for several hundred vorns yet. I'm not withholding similar offers from Hot Rod or any future wards you have either but it is merely what came up." He smiled weakly, "They are our future. If I can help her grow, I will do whatever I can. You are her guardian, just say the word."

"And when you need me and my big guns, let me know, Prowl. Just don't let this bastard get to you. I think Arcee will actually try to kill me in my sleep if I let anything happen to you."

"Well, well, well, would ya look at that beautiful traffic! Other than one poor mech who got reamed by his testing proctor and a bent wheel, everything's goin' well! We had a great day, and an even better night ahead of us! I don't have any fun stories today, but that doesn't mean we can't have fun!"

"Coming straight from Swiping Sunset Shades, this is Baking Batches! Remember, this is CIBR, Iacon's Best Radio! And onto the music!"

Prowl was baking his third batch of cookies, and their boys were loving it. Jazz sat at the table, watching Prowl, elbow deep in batter, expertly maneuver the twins around the kitchen so they wouldn't sneak any sweets. They were all turning it into a game and, if Jazz knew from experience, they were going to become experts at sleight of hand.

Luckily for him, Prowl was more than experienced to deal with pickpockets and thieves.

For every reaching hand, it was a gentle redirect. For every distraction to sneak behind his back, Prowl bobbed his doorwings to get a sense for where the boys were. For every time they tried to rush him, Prowl clutched the bowl close and blocked them with his legs.

The air was permeated with childish giggles and laughing reprimands and Jazz did his best to cement it all in his head.

Monday, it would all change. Monday, Prowl could either breathe for the first time in vorns. For the first time, Prowl would be able to focus on his career, and if anyone tried to stop him, may the wastes open up and swallow them into The Pit-

Prowl gasped in mock surprise as the boys each managed to 'steal' a cookie. They giggled and ran away like the little rascals they were, leaving Prowl to his peace. The nanny smiled and shook his head.

Primus, Prowl really did really look good with that tender love on his face. It just made his spark race, and Jazz wanted to do nothing more than to enjoy that look for the rest of his life. He'd do nearly anything to have the honor of that.

He was doing almost anything to get the chance of that honor.

He just hoped Prowl would be willing to tell him that he did want a relationship, but even if he wanted them to be platonic, even if he wanted them to be something else... They'd have a talk about it. He knew they could always have a talk. After what they had talked about... very little was off the table.

Prowl would probably want to know if Jazz was too scared to bring something up, but so far, nothing was off the table because some of the things weren't even on the table yet. Hell, they hadn't even bought the table yet! They were talking about buying a table.

Either way... Jazz knew those 'turbopuppy feelings' he had been having were no longer just that.

Did he love Prowl?

Maybe not right now, but he was certainly on the way there. Or... maybe when he was already there and just didn't know.

This time, Inferno was missing. Instead, all that was there was... was a single cupcake, the icing a deep purple that trailed down the sides in four lines on each side. Well, it had been, if it wasn't for the fact it was getting boiled by the acid rain, but it was still clear what it was.

It was a spider.

Prowl didn't know whether or not he was glad or terrified that Inferno wasn't there. On one hand, he could celebrate the fact that Inferno wasn't here to spy on him, but on the other...

Where was he?

He wouldn't get ambushed- No. They didn't allow anyone but registered proctors and students into the hall. They all had been verified and double checked and he would be safe inside.

But only when he was inside.

When he was coming back out, he would find a familiar red and blue convoy with a yellow sparkling waving his tiny fists outside the window, both waiting for him. They would drive him all the way home and, not once in the entire trip back, would they see a red fire engine anywhere. That didn't mean that he or Tarantulas weren't watching, but the escort home meant a lot.

Especially when his bitties that had been hiding in Orion's back seat ran out, ready to start their real day with Prowlie. If he opted to do nothing but watch the holoscreen with the boys until it was enough time to bake and frost a cake when Jazz could get home... That was neither here nor there.

"I'd say good afternoon, listeners, but we're all feeling the rain right now. You know, it's the last day of training fer our Iaconian Enforcers, and for those who passed, I wish to convey the fact that I look forward ta seein' you out on the streets. Maybe not tonight, it's rainin' cogs and bolts out there. But that also means our favorite nanny just finished the last of his tests too. Now, for those of ya who remember, he's been havin' some headaches, and he's havin' surgery on Sunday night. If y'all can send him your good vibes, I'm sure he'd appreciate it. We're not lookin' to get flooded with cards or nothin', but messages on my page, I'll share 'em when he gets better.

Now then, onto the music. From my latest album, Swiping Sunset Shades, this is Morning Cuddles! This is CIBR, Iacon's Best Radio!"

"Jazz, hold on a moment."

The radio host looked up from his pressed crystal sludge, "Yeah, Boss?"

Blurr frowned at him for a moment before he sighed, "I need to ask you to be on your best behavior on Monday. My creator is going out with a friend and needs me to look out for my siblings. I'm going to be completely unavailable, so if anything happens... I'm leaving Minimus in charge, but I would like to know you're not going to give him any problems."

"Have ya asked the other hosts that too?" He joked knowingly. 

He flared his armor on accident, "After that little stunt you did with 'Jazzy's Sleepy Stories', I've needed to stop eight different hosts from trying something too. I had to let go of Ballpoint after he tried to start a celebrity fan club during his 2 A.M. segment." Blurr grumbled as he crossed his arms, "Are you going to give Minimus problems? I need to look after my siblings and one of my little brothers is out that day, so he can't look after them and I swear, if I need to drag them down here, I'd suspend you so quickly, your t-cog is going to be spinning for vorns."

Jazz grinned and kicked back in his chair, "Trust me, I won't give Mins any problems. I'll save all of 'em for you."

Blurr rolled his eyes, almost fondly. "Yes yes yes, I'm not looking forward to them, no matter what you and your bedtime stories may think. Now, back to work with you, you miscreant."

"Love ya too, Boss!" Jazz laughed as he raised his cup. He hummed contently to himself and settled back into his seat.

Jazz slipped into his home, not wanting to bother his boys if they were all still up but... The lights were all still on, the holoscreen still blasting children's tunes, and the spell coming from the kitchen... Th twins came running at him from behind the island. "Jazzy Jazzy Jazzy! Prowler made cake!"

"I can smell that," He smiled as he knelt to pick them up. Sunstreaker clung to Jazz's collar as Sideswipe babbled happily.

"We spent the day with Uncle Orion and Bee and we made mud pies and played on the swings and we had a really nice lunch! And he drove Prowlie home and he watched out shows with us and then he made a cake and us some small ones and we already had some, but it was super good, better than those ones Sire and Riri got us for our sparkdays! He said we need to wait for you to show up before we have more, but he's been on the comms with his Riri and Sire for a while!"

He peered up to see Prowl pacing in the hallway. He was smiling in a way that Jazz hadn't truly seen yet, but he looked relieved. There was definitely pride there, but he froze when he saw Jazz staring at him. The nanny gave an indulgent widening of his smile before it slipped back and he spun on his heel.

He was still talking with his creators and Jazz knew they would probably be talking for a while, so this was due for a distraction. "Let's leave Prowler alone for a little bit. Let's go watch some holoscreen, yeah?"

"Yeah!" The boys crowed. Jazz brought them over to the couch and he settled in. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe both settled on his knees, trusting their guardian to hold them upright as they focused in on their show. This one, Jazz didn't even know the name of. It was later than he usually dealt with, so it was unfamiliar.

Eventually, a hand with a plate of cake was lowered into his view. Jazz jolted, but looked up to see Prowl smiling at him. "Sorry, my creators wanted to talk with me. They were just getting up to start the bakery, so I could talk to them for a little longer. They wanted me to know they were proud I did well on my exams and they wished for me to pass along their greetings. They hope to meet you all someday." Jazz took the plate and his mouth watered at the vanilla sponge cake with chocolate frosting that was topped with whipped cream and strawberries.

It was perfection on a plate.

"We can meet your creators?!" Sideswipe exclaimed. He nearly jarred Jazz just enough to knock the plate over, but Prowl's hand shot out to steady it.

He nodded, "Careful, Sideswipe, but yet. They would like to meet you all someday, I have quite the stories. After all of this blows over... I believe they may want to make a trip... Or I hope so."

"Hey, we'll make somethin' work. If ya want some time to go visit them, ya can. I won't mind." Jazz reshuffled the boys so he could properly take his cake and Prowl passed on another two places for the boys.

Prowl settled into the spot next to Jazz and finally relaxed, "Perhaps, but this is something that I want. But they do want to meet my boys."

Jazz's EM field was practically overflowing with elation, but without the words, he opted to fill his mouth instead. He took a bite of his cake and moaned. "Prowler, Primus, 'junx me already, this is so good." He froze when he realized what he had said and tried to walk it back, "Sorry, I didn't- This is so good-"

"My carrier proposed to my sire with this cake, so I don't blame you. Perhaps we can work something out in a few decavorns? Or would you like to recommend another bitty?" Prowl teased knowingly. He fluttered his doorwings, "I know you didn't mean it in that matter. I'm not worried, Jazz. It's the highest compliment."

"Thank Primus. I'm so sorry, it just slipped out-"

"And I said it was alright. If you keep apologizing, I'm going to think you have something else to be worried about," Prowl chuckled. His eyes crinkled in that special way and Jazz leaned against him more. If they simply basked in each others' presence and didn't notice the twins offer each other a fist bump, well...

No one was the wiser.

Chapter Text

Prowl clung to Jazz that morning, even moreso than normal. Jazz rubbed Prowl's back, more than content to enjoy the time before everything changed, starting tomorrow night. If Prowl was like this now, then he could only imagine what he would be like tomorrow, the day after that. Well...

Prowl wouldn't be here in two mornings. He would be at the First Aid's clinic. He would be needing to deal with the fact that some point during the night or morning, Mesothulas would be arriving in Iacon and would be coming to... do something. Jazz knew that Prowl would be thinking over every possibility of what his ex would be planning. Kidnapping, killing, just a talk... it could be anything. 

But this would be over soon. 

It had to be.

For now, Jazz would let Prowl cling as long as he needed to. For now, Jazz would keep an arm wrapped around Prowl, comforting him however he could. For now... Jazz could only hope that Prowl considered them as much family as they did for him, that he would seek comfort in them as he needed.

The door opened and two sets of eyes peered in. Prowl tightened his grip and Jazz grunted at the uncomfortable pinch as some of his armor was compressed. It was enough of a noise to have Prowl loosen up enough and he peeked through a barely open eye.

"Prowlie?" Sunstreaker asked as he came up onto Prowl's side of the bed. "Are you okay?"

"He's going to be having a bad two days, bitty mine," Jazz said gently. "Be careful with him, okay?" He looked down to his barnacle and leaned in as much as he comfortably could. "Prowler? I'll make breakfast, but would ya be willin' to move it to the couch with the boys?"

The doorwing that hung more in the air lowered and pinned itself back in obvious discomfort, but Prowl took a deep breath in. "Alright. I... Okay." Sunstreaker's eyes sharpened as he recognized the tone for what it was and was already going to grab Prowl's new 'special blanket' that rested on top of the boys' toy box. Since most of their toys lived outside of it anyway, it was generally a safe place to leave it, short of emergencies.

It was also kept with the boys because, and Prowl admitted the sentiment almost reluctantly, he hadn't needed a special blanket since he was he was past his 15th sparkday. It felt childish, no matter how much Jazz reassured him, but Prowl agreed to at least keep it at their place. 

After all, he would rather be near them if he was having a bad day, even if it was shut up inside the guest room. The boys appreciated the responsibility to keep it safe from harm, and Prowl knew it was something easy to introduce greater responsibility to them. If they could manage to keep it clean, not let it leave the top of the toy box, and make sure Prowl had it when he needed... It was perfect for the job.

Jazz was joking about getting them a pet rock for their sparkday, but Prowl knew that it would be putting a rock in the hands of a sparkling. That was a good way to get a window broken but... Then again, it would be a different opportunity to teach them not to throw things inside, and to be more careful with their 'pets'. If they decided to get an actual pet someday...

Prowl had to admit, it would need to be before he graduated, but after he started actually dating Jazz. It would be a thing he would need to take care of and it would need to be a round-the-clock kind of affair so he couldn't be getting paid for it.

Primus, he was already thinking about having a pet with the family. He was, as some of his old classmates would have said, so down bad for them that his spark was melting-

He jumped when his special blanket, a soft grey piece with an agreeable texture and small fibers that wouldn't irritate his plating, was awkwardly thrown on top of him. It was still folded up, but Sunstreaker huffed as if he had succeeded in his mission. In some small way, he had.

Jazz chuckled and helped to rearrange it over his crush, "Well, looks like they're takin' care of ya today, Prowler. Mind if I carry ya out?"

"...You can't carry me," Prowl mumbled into Jazz's hood, but he removed an arm to shuffle the blanket over better. He took another deep breath in and peeked over his shoulder to the proud golden child. "Alright. You have convinced me, I'll get up. Jazzy will get breakfast made today, alright?"

"Actually," Jazz grinned as he sat up, "I'll be cookin' all today and tomorrow. How's that sound?"

Sideswipe clamored onto his side of the bed and pounced onto the radio host, "Can I help? Please Please Please? I wanna pour the icing on the cinnamon rolls today!"

Jazz grinned knowingly, cocking his head in place of raising an eyebrow, "And lemme guess, pour only a little on the rolls and keep the rest fer yourself?" Sideswipe giggled as Jazz bundled him into his arms and rolled them so he could pin his squirming toddler to the bed, "And who'd ya learn that from?"

"Yoooou!" The boy squealed and thrashed against him. Jazz nosed into his neck, making him scream at the tickles. "Jazzy! Lemme goooo!"

A tug on Prowl's blanket drew his attention and he turned to Sunstreaker. The pair both seemed thoroughly unamused and Prowl nodded, "Let's get out of here. They're being loud."

"Yes, please," Sunstreaker agreed and used the blanket to drag Prowl out. The adult chuckled, but didn't put up a protest as he was led out forcefully. 

Even as they settled onto the couch, and Sunstreaker climbed on top of Prowl and his special blanket, they could hear Jazz teasing and tickling Sideswipe and the younger twin's vigorous laughter. Sunstreaker huffed, "Annoying."

Prowl hummed, "I would tell you not to call your brother annoying, but I call Jazz annoying too. I would be a hypocrite. Someone who does the same thing they are complaining about with another person." Sunstreaker gave him a long, slow blink of confusion and Prowl nodded. He would lead them through the phonetic exercise. "Hip."

"Hip."

"Oh."

"Oh."

"Crit."

"Crit."

"Hippo."

"Hippo."

"Crit."

"So?"

"Hypocrite?"

"Yes, very good. Now, let's see what's on..."

Prowl was watching the show, but not watching it. Anyone could see that. Sunstreaker was already wise to Prowl's mood, and given how intensely he and Sideswipe had stared at each other for a few moments on his return, and how Sideswipe had brought Prowl the biggest and fluffiest of their stuffed animals, the little brother knew too. Jazz as busy singing in the kitchen, the soon to be 'secret release' of the last song of his new album, 'Secret Symphonies', using the same beat pattern that he used for Prowl's song. It was sweet and Prowl had signed off on it, especially considering that it was using a tune that Jazz had made specifically for him.

Besides, it would be nice to have a copy available if Prowl was ever spiraling. 

Like right now.

Well, maybe spiraling wasn't the right word. 

Coping was closer.

He was coping with all of the ways that the next 72 hours could go. Kup could get hit by a bus and be unable to help him out. The border agents could fail to do their job correctly upon his recognition of false identity. The boys might end up slipping away from... Who was supposed to watch them again? 

Right. Jazz was.

Prowl looked over his shoulder, "Jazz, you remembered to tell Blurr that you would be working from home on Sunday and Monday, correct?"

"Sunday's my day off, but Monday... I'm not sure. He said he'd be out because his creator needed him to watch his siblings. I can give him a quick ring, just in case," Jazz mused. 

"You can do that later, it's still fairly early," Prowl dismissed. "Besides, didn't he complain that his only day to sleep in is on Saturdays?" He relaxed with the fact that he could at least access his 'mental profiles' of the people he knew in Iacon. Personal favorites, specific schedules, off-the-shoulder remarks. He was constantly running mental comparisons between the most common ones, and he churned something over in his head. 

Prowl frowned in confusion, "Blurr is going to be out on Monday? Did he say what time?"

"I think he meant in general, but I can ask Minimus. Blurr's leavin' him in charge," Jazz shrugged. "He's goin' to be up."

"Right, he is very firm in the fact that he gets up at 6 on the dot," Prowl nodded slowly.

Sideswipe giggled as he looked up, "On the dash?"

"On the run," Sunstreaker hummed.

"Runnin' home," Jazz piped up.

Prowl chuckled, "Home run." The toddlers cheered quietly, but Sunstreaker nudged Sideswipe and shushed him quickly. Prowl smiled at the pair of boys strewn across him and relaxed. 

They were going to be excellent people someday.

Almost as excellent as the cinnamon rolls smelled. Well, that would be an unfair comparison, but the food was manufactured. No, their boys were just like that. They were perfect.

"Prowlie, are we going outside today?" Sideswipe asked as he took the last bite of his cinnamon roll. The adults paused and he looked to Sunstreaker for help.

"We want to do art today. And watch movies. And stay here. Please?" Sunstreaker said carefully. He played with the last parts of his cinnamon roll and his caretakers both knew he was done eating for the moment.

Jazz peered at Prowl, who nodded minutely. The radio host smiled, "I don' see why not. Let's pick out some movies, aight?" He rose and the boys slipped out of their chair to follow him. Sunstreaker turned back to look at Prowl, but the nanny only waved him on.

He wanted to take some time for himself and get the dishes done. It was methodical, it was calming, and it was something he was in control of. He just needed one thing he could control at that moment.

"Hey, Boss, sorry to call ya so early, but Prowl wanted me to double check somethin' with ya," Jazz began as he paced in the kitchen. From here, he could see one of the Rescue Bots movies playing, but this was one of the times he knew he would be able to place the call. He just hoped that Blurr wouldn't mind too much.

Blurr sighed, "No, it's alright, I was already up. My creator asked us over early so my conjunx could meet my siblings, so I may need to work from home this weekend. I'll be back in the office on Tuesday."

Jazz faltered, "Actually, I was goin' to say the same. Prowler's goin' to be doin' a thing overnight and since he won't be able to look after the boys, I'm goin' to need to look after them."

"Okay, fine," He groaned dramatically, but he was cut off, "Swindle, I've told you, please stop trying to cheat at Monopoly. If she decides to kick you again for taking an extra 500, I'm taking her side."

Jazz chuckled, "One of the boys' friends is like that. She's a vicious little thing, but she's one of Sunstreaker's best friends. Maybe we can try to put together a playdate sometime?"

"I can ask my creator- Yes, Arcee, you can kick him-"

"Arcee?!" Jazz sputtered. "Pink and white little femme?" He looked up and saw Prowl looking up in shock. He held up a hand, but he was more in shock than not.

"Jazz, how do you know my little sister?" Blurr demanded, but he grunted a moment later. He must have been addressing someone else, "No, I'm on the phone, Arcee, give me- You know Jazz?" Distantly, he hear Arcee yelling at his boss. "What-"

The radio host barked a laugh, "Small world, huh? You're one of Kup's?" Prowl rose from the couch and came to join Jazz's side, knowing this was now an adult conversation.

Blurr sighed and Jazz knew he was pinching the bridge of his nose, "Yes, I... I'd rather this not get out. I want to keep this private."

"Hey, boss, I get it. 'Cee and Roddy get touchy 'bout it too. It won't be my business ta share," Jazz swore. "Ya ever need a cover, lemme know."

"I... Thank you. I was not expecting this from you, but I suspect your bitties have done something good to you- Yes, Arcee, I'll tell Jazz to tell Streaker you said hi, may I please go back to my phone call now?" Blurr grumbled. 

Jazz grinned, "Hey, Sunstreaker! Arcee said hi!"

"Hi Arcee!" Sunstreaker yelled from the couch. "We're watching Rescue Bots, Fires and Friends!"

The radio host grinned and mentally shifted back to the comm call, "Sunstreaker said-"

"I heard," Blurr snapped. "Mind telling me what's really going on? Kup's been cagier than he normally is and that's saying something."

Jazz took a deep breath, "That's somethin' I can't talk about, Blurr. Sorry, mech, but it ain't my business to talk about." He reached for Prowl's hand and he gladly took it, squeezing Jazz's tightly in gratitude.

"Fine. Look, if you want to do a..." He sounded like he wanted to gag, but Jazz suspected it was played up a little more than he actually felt, but only a little. "Play date," He forced out. "I don't see why not. Would Monday morning sound alright?"

"The boys are goin' to be nervous without Prowler, but I think yer siblings'll do them well," Jazz agreed. Prowl slowly leaned into him and Jazz braced himself to take Prowl's weight. "I'm not sure how long Kup an' Prowler'll be out, but we used ta go to the park between 9 and 11:30. We're tryin' to work the boys to a school schedule, but I'm sure we can break it, just this once."

Blurr hummed, "Alright then. I'm sure the park hasn't changed, so I'll meet you then. And whatever is going on, tell Prowl that I wish him luck." There was a pause and he sighed, "Yes, Arcee, Sunstreaker said hello. He is watching some movie at the moment. You will see him soon."

"Fine, Mr. Grumpy," Jazz heard and he smiled at the open petulance. It was so her. Prowl chuckled quietly at her annoyed tone.

But Blurr could do little but return it in kind, "Go back to trying to beat my conjunx in Monopoly, Ms. Grouchy." He sighed before he cleared his throat. "Anyway, I'll see you at work today-"He was cut off by something else again, "No, you are not coming to work with me- Jazz, I need to go. Goodbye and don't make me regret this."

"Kup's family is our family," Jazz said easily. "Don't worry 'bout it. Good luck, Boss." The call cut and Jazz shook his head. "It's a small world, ain't it?"

"I never would have thought that Kup fostered or adopted Blurr, so yes," Prowl agreed. "Are we going to go back to the movie?"

Jazz smiled and nodded, "I don' see why not, Prowler."

"Hey hey hey, listeners! So, I know everyone knows that I don' work tomorrow, so I want ta let you know that my nanny's still got his surgery tonight. I hope y'all can send your well wishes, and just lettin' y'all know, we did manage ta find a temporary replacement, but remember, our favorite'll be back before ya know it!"

"Now, I know y'all remember these two, but this is Breakdown and Knock Out's 'Make a Break for it, Wild Spark.' Now, I don' know about y'all, but I've been hearin' so rumors out and around, and if I'm right, this is their carryin' announcement song! They'll be welcomin' their new bitty, Wildbreak, in the next vorn, so congrats you two! I know you'll do great!"

If Jazz thought Prowl was clingy the morning before, it was nothing on this. 

Prowl tangled their legs together, his bumper slotted right under Jazz's and it seemed, if Jazz needed to guess, like he was trying to hide. He had his special blanket curled over him and his face was hidden from sight and his engine was sputtering in stress. It was a choked sound and Jazz knew that this couldn't last.

He did one of the only things he could and held Prowl as close as he dared and was glad for Prowl's foresight. The boys sat on the floor, munching on prepared bananas and bundles of cereal loops and sweet cheeses. It alleviated the need to get out of bed to prepare food for as long as they could, and it meant that the boys could keep an eye on Prowl as long as they needed to.

It also meant that Prowl knew exactly where everyone was, and he was determined to live in the safety of his little bubble... only as long as he could let himself.

He couldn't let this fear rule his life forever. He needed to be able to stand up and reclaim his courage again. He needed to do this, if not for himself...

Not, Prowl couldn't do this for anyone else. He only needed to do this for himself and he wanted to have a future he could dictate. He wanted Jazz and he wanted the twins and he wanted his job and he wanted his friends and he wanted to live again and that meant not panicking whenever he entered a building just because someone was standing outside of it.

Prowl took a deep breath in and started to untangle himself from Jazz. He looked at the face that he wanted to do nothing but commit to memory so strongly that even if he forget everything else, he would still know. 

The boys paused in their play and they looked up, waiting. Sunstreaker cocked his head and Prowl nodded, not needing the words to explain that he would be okay.

The golden twin lifted his chin proudly and flicked his shoulders back before dragging his brother back into their play.

They would be okay.

Prowl wouldn't allow any other future than one where Tarantulas was unable to torment him any further.

"Are you sure about this?" Ratchet asked as he crossed his arms. 

The medical examination room was remarkably similar to the one that Prowl had sat in before he had gotten the tacnet both implanted and subsequently removed. Its drab walls had posters about various medical conditions and treatments and preventions. Even now, Prowl had the official document for high oil pressure practically memorized-

"Prowl," Ratchet hissed, cutting his train of thought in half. "I need an answer and I can't have you actually going into spark failure right now. That could put everything at risk and I will cancel your surgery and keep ya locked in my office for the next week if I need to-"

"Ratchet, please, I... I need this. I need to deal with him. I need to make sure that he's not coming back," Prowl pleaded. "Just... please. Get me 'prepped' and send me in for a little while?"

His doctor frowned, looking him over. His look worsened, "Mestothulas isn't leaving Iacon, is he?" Prowl paled, but Ratchet held up a hand, "Hey, this is doctor-patient confidentiality. This isn't getting written down anywhere and if I'm being honest, I need to know that he's getting killed because this kind of behavior won't just go away. I need to know he's dying so that I know you're living."

Prowl swallowed deeply and nodded. "Red Alert said that he's boarding his plane. Inferno is waiting out in the hall right now, and he'll leave when Mesothulas lands, so we have about six hours. Red Alert is also going to pull some strings to have him held up a little so we'll have about seven."

"That'll be enough," Ratchet huffed. He grinned viciously, "And with me as your surgeron, let's cut that in half. You'll be out of here in three." Prowl looked at him with so much hope that it made Ratchet falter. "Anyway, let's go ahead and get this out of the way," He started and pulled out his folder. "Please confirm that all of this information is correct and sign that you understand the procedure that I am about to not perform so that if there is somehow medical malpractice, you will not hold me in a court of your bitties to be sentenced to jail."

Prowl sputtered at the sheer seriousness of his statement and ended up laughing. He took the datapad and looked the document over for a moment. It was full of genuinely nonsense medical terms that related to... "I think I understand. Is this paperwork for a turbohound surgery? What-" 

"One skill I have learned over the years is to be able to tell what kind of patient needs what kind of joke in what kind of moment. Prowl, when I say you'll be fine, you'll be fine. Now, be a good little hound and sign," Ratchet huffed. 

He could see the irony of an Enforcer, a turbohound of the government, being given surgery paperwork for exactly that.

He signed without a second thought.

"Good boy. Now, pretend to be asleep, I'll be wheeling you out shortly. I just need to send some notes out and this'll be over before you know it. Does Kup understand his part?" Ratchet asked.

Prowl shuffled himself further up onto the medical berth and presented his arm, "Yes. He is already at First Aid's and waiting for me."

"If only I had a team that coordinated this well," Ratchet lamented as he began to prep the line. Prowl watched patiently as Ratchet prepared the needle. "Honestly, Prowl, if you wanted a nap, this would be the time to do it. I'll wake you up if anything happens."

He flinched when Ratchet stuck him and he took a deep breath in, "I... actually, I think I will." He pat a hand over his nearest subspace pocket. "I have two very special friends with me who will be keeping me safe."

Ratchet paused, but he smiled fondly, "Those bitties gave you their special stuffies, didn't they?"

"They demanded that I be the one to return them, when the time comes to return home," Prowl mused. He couldn't stop the smile on his face, "I believe Jazz has had a great impact on their symbolism. It is very sweet."

"They'll be something. Make sure to invite me to the ceremony," Ratchet teased. Prowl chuckled and the doctor barked a laugh, "You two really have been talking things out, huh?"

"We're... hoping. I want this. He wants this. I just... I'm scared that I've wanted him because I'm trying to get away from Mesothulas. If I have ever developed a fawn response, I am unaware, but I don't want to rush into this," Prowl admitted. "I just... I need to know."

Ratchet hummed, "It took my conjunx nearly three decavorns to get me to agree to a date with him, but after my own ex torpedoed my career... I get it. But you can't let it weigh too much on you. You do what you need to, and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. When you're both ready, you'll both be ready. But right now?"

"I'm not," He agreed. He knit his digits together and let his head fall back. "Thank you, Ratchet. I... I missed you."

"You'd be one of the few, Prowl. Now, arms by your side, eyes closed, mouth just a little bit open. You're nor just asleep, you're having some medical code applied to knock you out," His doctor ordered. "Just like they taught you in a fire fight."

Oh, those days. Those days when he drilled with his class as a unit. Those days when he knew his class as his family. Those days when he should have been assigned one or two additional unit members, but he just had to meet Mesothulas on one of those days. He just had to call out his professor for his double-sided views on some problem that was fundamentally flawed. He just had to make that handshake. He just had to accept that damned professor's experiment to have a team with only a detective and their tech support.

But these days, he was cooking meals for a wonderful pair of sparklings. These days, he woke up the arms of an amazing mech who loved him, and he knew Jazz loved him, he saw that every time Jazz looked at him. These days, he came home to people who wanted nothing but the best for him. He just had to accept that job posting. He just had to have that philosophical debate with the younger of the twins and asking for his respect instead of demanding it. He just had to have endeared himself to the elder of the pair by teaching him to draw his Jazzy.

So he would use what he had learned from those days to save himself in these days.

Prowl went limp on the table, easing his breaths to the practiced pace of an unconscious mech. Ratchet rearranged some of his position, but Prowl closed his eyes. He kept his panic down. He had to. He felt for his spark and felt the pulsing of it. With every measured breath, he fought to calm it. He couldn't risk a panic attack right now. Even if Inferno would only be taking a video, it had to feel real.

Ratchet waited until Prowl was no more than an unconscious form on the hospital bed and began to wheel him out. The doors clicked open and Prowl knew there was no going back.

Prowl paced in the clinic room. He clenched and unclenched his hands, breathing hard. 

It was happening. Three people would ever enter this room in the next six hours, and only one or two would leave. In six hours, either Prowl or Mesothulas would be walking out of there of their free will. In six hours, Prowl's life would be changed forever. He might actually be able to have a life, but if Kup couldn't do anything about his ex, then-

"Mechling," Kup snapped. He grunted as he got up and marched over to Prowl. He grabbed Prowl by the shoulders, despite being shorter, "Look at me. You’re going to run yourself into the ground. Red Alert’s already said that he’ll tell us when he gets here, but you’re just going to work yourself into a panic.” His words were harsh, but Prowl knew they were objectively true. 

He also knew that it would do nothing to actually calm him.

Kup must have seen it in his face because he pulled Prowl in for a hug that only someone well versed in caring for younglings could. Prowl’s breath shuddered out as he was wrapped in comfort and love and warmth that didn’t necessarily belong to him, but his processor was fooled enough anyway. He clung, finally letting some of his tears escape. For a little while, Prowl would be able to pretend that this was going to be okay. For a little while, he would be able to breathe. For a little while… he could just be.

Kup rocked him side to side for several minutes, rubbing his back, just underneath his doorwings. It was comforting to have a creator hug, even at his age, but Kup was well practiced. 

After those several minutes were up, Prowl allowed himself to pull away. “Thank you, I… I needed that. My apologies,” He whispered bashfully.

His friend grinned proudly, “You reminded me of some of my kids before they need to go in for court. I’ll tell you the same thing I tell them. Whatever happens in there, I’ll be right there. I’m always going to do what I need to do to keep you safe. I’m not exactly offering to adopt you, Prowl, but you’re family. Remember, Roddy and Arcee’d kill me in my sleep if something were to happen to you.”

”I suspect Blurr as well,” Prowl mused. Kup went quiet and the nanny nodded, “Jazz nearly forgot to call Blurr that he would be working from home tonight and Blurr was commentating on his conjunx beating Arcee in Monopoly. Arcee must have heard Jazz’s name and came running over. We’ve already promised not to bring it up unless Blurr or one of your family does. I just wanted you to know.”

Kup sighed and pat Prowl’s arm before they went to sit at the chairs on the back wall, “Yeah, he’s my second foster to adopt and we don’t always get on the best, but we tried. I tried to set him straight after his accident, but you know how tough love goes if you don’t know what you’re doing. Never liked Swindle, but… He’s good for Blurr. He seemed to appreciate the fact that I promised to saw his spike off if he ever did something to my son that he didn’t like, and Blurr’s happier now. But yeah. Perceptor, I think he turned out ok, he’s a council member now, then Blurr. I took in another brat for a little while but after nearly a decavorn, he went back to his creators and turned out well. Blurr did me a favor and really helped him out in life too. And after there was Roddy a little while before Blurr healed all the way up, but then again, 100 vorns ain’t much these days. And Arcee. I think I got one more in me, but these old joints are starting to protest.”

”You’re a mech among titans,” Prowl mused gently.

His friend barked at the praise and nudged him again, “It’s hard, but maybe you could be something to someone someday. Well, you already are to your boys, but… you know.”

Prowl hummed, “Once I get my job as an Enforcer, I will be working in the early mornings so I can spend the afternoons with the boys, while Jazz will cover the mornings and working in the afternoons, if our prospect of a relationship works out. If it does not, we will need to introduce a different caretaker to the boys once my schooling draws to a close. It…” He fidgeted with his fingers and smiled, “I care for them all very deeply. Would you consider that odd, after only a few months?”

Kup snorted, “Arcee has lived with me for less, and she knows that she’s my bitty.” He sounded so sure of himself and despite his gruff nature… he sounded like a proud father with a soft nature. 

”Did something happen?” He asked. Prowl knew his friend, Kup didn’t get all ooey-gooey for nothing.

The proud creator puffed his chest out, “She yelled at Swindle for me because he put his feet up on my coffee table and she started to say Sire, but she cut herself off and then punched him.” He wiped away a fake tear and sniffled, “She’s going to be a hell of a femme some day and I’ll be so proud of her.” He saw the judgmental look on Prowl’s face and snorted, “She didn’t punch him super hard, just until he got his feet off the table. Blurr didn’t come to his rescue, he knows how to pick his fights.”

”You have a wonderful family,” Prowl agreed gently.

He sighed in relief and looked around the room that his life was going to fall apart in. The drab walls lined the room and the tiles were as clean as they could be, but there would always be a small layer of grime on them from repeated use. Abstract paintings lined the walls, giving it the feel of a therapist’s office, if the therapist was a mech from the dark ages and a taste for out-of -focus images of fruit. With a little more light, it would feel like a room to recover in.

As it stood, it felt like the room that he could die in.

Prowl opted to focus on the painting of a field in front of him and tried to pick it apart. Was it a fertile field, ready to shed the fruits of its labor and start again, or was it a field getting ready to be harvested before being set out to fallow? Would it come again, or would it be laid barren for the next season, dreaming of life once more? 

He was never very good with the philosophical questions, so he cocked his head and asked, “Do you think that field will be planted again next season, Kup? Or will it be laid to rest for the upcoming vorn?”

Kup smiled as he looked at it, “I think it’s just a nice painting, Prowl. It doesn’t need to worry about next season, it just needs to worry about this one.”

He hadn’t thought about it like that. 

Just focus on the now, huh?

He could do that.

”Thank you, Kup, for being here for me.”

”You can repay me by hosting Roddy’s birthday. It’s in two weeks and he wants it in the park. Can you make that happen?”

”I am on a school break at the moment,” Prowl mused. He smirked at the old mech, “I will have all the time in the world.”

He just needed to ensure that the field would be planted again for next season. One cannot sow a sunken field.

They spoke in hushed tones for the next two hours when Red Alert gave them the notice they had been waiting for. 

He’s landed. He didn’t pack any luggage, so he’ll be heading straight there. ETA 15 minutes. Prowl, stay behind Kup at all costs. They scanned his bag but he made it through under Tarantulas, so they had no reason to search him. Be prepared, be calm. I still have your tracker on, so no matter what, we will be able to find you.

”Easy for him to say,” Prowl grumbled, but took comfort in the last part of the message. 

This time, he knew about the tracker. 

This time, he wanted it on him.

This time, he decided.

This time…

Kup nudged him again, “Hey, are you going to be ok? You’ve faced worse than him.”

”I knew going into situations like this… I was a bystander acting towards a party. It feels different when you’re the target,” Prowl grumbled. He got up and began to pace again. “Do you think Red Alert has eyes on him? Or some kind of tracker himself? I… I would like to be able to know when he is going to come through that door.”

Kup shrugged, “First Aid said he gave surveillance permissions to Red for a short time. He’ll let us know. Now, come sit back down, and think about whatever tools he could bring with him that could make this all harder.”

Prowl sighed like an annoyed teenager and slid back into his seat and thought. Most of Mesothulas’ tools needed specialized cases and support equipment, so the echolocation gear needed to stay home. Any grenades couldn’t have made it through security, even if he broke them down to pieces. The same went for any weapons he brought with him, but the chances were greater that he kept them on his person, but if he was also leaning into his ‘spider’ aesthetic more now, then it might make sense to get the tranquilizer poison that the Fate Weavers on Eukaris used to stun their prey.

”Likely… he would most likely attempt to give me a kind of sedative. Whether his intent is to kidnap or kill me, I wouldn’t know but… I would like some answers. Do… Do you think I would be able to get some?” Prowl whispered, asking his protector to grant him some time to talk to his tormentor.

Kup took a deep breath in as he took out his blaster. It was a simple piece, able to fit several rounds of acid pellets. Even if he missed his direct target, it would do devastating damage. Given how little Kup’s hands shook as he looked it over… he knew his way around the pistol.

”Yeah, Prowl. I think I can do that,” He finally answered

Prowl felt like he could breathe again.

He would lose the feeling when Red Alert sent another ping 13 minutes later.

He is approaching the building. Be ready.

Memories unbidden entered Prowl’s mind.

It was one of their date nights, if one could call it that. They had been pouring over the evidence of another murder and Mesothulas tried to coax Prowl into exposing his thoughts. “You know I love it when you talk to me, my love. Talking is how someone can learn how sharp your mind is, and your mind is sharper than that of any weapon I can think of.” Prowl had snorted, but gone on to explain his thought process. The murderer was caught three days later.

It was waking up in Mesothulas’ arms, cocooned safely inside. He always woke up to soft kisses and warm, fuzzy blankets and Prowl would know that nothing would ever be able to get to him when he was next to Tarantulas.

It was their last talk before what Prowl would classify as ‘when Tarantulas started going mad’. They sat at their desks in the training section of their precinct and they had been working on their serial killer case. It had been Tarantulas who brought it up. “What about sparklings someday? I think they would be very charming with my technological know-how and your brilliance, my love.” Prowl had scoffed at him and tried to brush the thought away, they were both in the same team, and usually when there was a child introduced, they would have the rest of the unit to help them raise it. They only had the two of them.

”It would be life coming from difficult conditions, my love,” Tarantulas had pressed. “There is a myth from the olden days when Primes weren’t the only ones with Primus’ grace. A mech god of spring. I would think… Ostaros would be a wonderful name.”

”Why entertain such a thought when I have stated that there is no future in which we would be able to manage a bitlet?” Prowl retorted. He smacked his data file onto the table and frowned. “I do not want to hear about this again. If you want a bitlet, I suggest you look elsewhere because you will not get one from me.”

The way that Tarantulas looked at him, dejected, but a new spark in his eye… Prowl should have seen what was coming, but hindsight had been 20/20. 

Things were never the same after that.

Kup kicked his ankle carefully, “You back with me?” 

“Yes,” Prowl stated. He shocked himself with how steady his voice was. “I just… didn’t anticipate…”

”Yeah, it happens. Look, are we doing this, or not?” Kup demanded. Even now, Prowl could practically imagine Tarantulas stalking down the hall. Even now, he could feel his hands on Prowl’s plating. Even now-

The door slowly creaked open and in stepped a terrifyingly familiar shade of purple. 

Tarantulas had gotten some work done. He was taller now, more eyes, more arms, more… everything. He was fuzzy now, but Prowl knew that it would never be the plush softness of his blanket back in his boys’ room. He was silent, but not in the way that Sunstreaker was. He was clearly driven, but not in the way that Sideswipe was.

He was in love, but not in the way that Jazz was.

Tarantulas closed the door behind him, and Kup raised his weapon. “Freeze, dirtbag." The mech froze and slowly raised his hands. He began to turn, began to walk towards them, and Kup shot his knee out. There was no way that Kup would be taking any chances with his friend's safety.

"Frag!" Tarantulas screamed as he collapsed. He looked to Prowl pleadingly, "My love, please. Help me!" 

Prowl stared in shock, but he took half a step behind Kup. The effort it took to shake his head was monumental. Kup grunted as he kept his weapon trained on Tarantulas. "If you have any questions, Bit, this is the time to ask them. Those agents will be here in a few minutes," He grunted.

"Prowl! Help me!" Tarantulas begged. "I love you, please! I just wanted to bring you home!" He tried to crawl forward, but Kup shot at his hand. The smell... It would be boiled into their memories for the rest of the life. Prowl would be smelling it in his nightmares.

"I am home!" Prowl yelled back. He clenched his fists, "You made me leave my family, my friends, my future! I left everything behind because you ruined my life!"

"I came to bring you home to Ostaros. Please, he misses his creator-" Tarantulas tried to beg, but Prowl cut him off.

He stepped out from behind Kup and trembled in fear and rage, "I never created, Tarantulas! You weren't carrying! I wasn't carrying! What did you do?!" There were more footsteps storming down the hall and Prowl knew that this was almost over.

Tarantulas's eyes, all eight of them, widened in glee, seemingly unable to hear the heavy footfalls, "I made him! I made Ostaros! He's yours, just as much as he is mine! He has our CNA! I will bring you back, and we'll be a family! We can work it out! I just need one more semester and we can be a full family and I'll pull some strings for you, you can be an Enforcer again!"

The door burst open and Enforcers wearing badges, ones that Prowl knew deep in his spark, stormed the room. They surrounded Tarantulas, but a few raised their weapons at Kup. He pointed his weapon down and tucked it back into his subspace. Prowl knew that he would be able to get it out in a second, but the others didn't need to know.

"Officers! Please, I was just visiting my partner recovering from an intensive surgery! This mech shot me!" Tarantulas begged, but Prowl tensed. Kup grabbed at his hand, squeezing it. He silently urged Prowl to calm. 

Hysterics never worked in these situations.

"This mech is banned from Iacon so he bought a ticket under an alias. I have a restraining order against him in Praxus and he has a history of stalking. His presence here was a threat to me and he approached, causing my friend to disable him," Prowl stated clearly.

The nearest Enforcer gave him another once-over before he straightened, "Cohort Brother. Do you have any evidence of this?"

Another Enforcer looked up, "Chase, we're getting a call from our favorite little PI. He says he has records of everything and video. He was hired to prevent this kind of situation, or to put him into a situation like this."

Tarantulas looked up to Prowl in shock, "...You planned this? This... This isn't your usual MO, my love. This was almost sloppy, I-I never would have thought... You worked with others, yet you'd never work with me?" His face twisted in rage and he surged up faster than Prowl could even think.

But sometimes, instinct and habits work faster than one can think. Kup drew his weapon.

The shot would be the one that changed Prowl's life forever.

"Boys, I need to let you know somethin'," Jazz said as he sat the twins down at the couch. Prowl was already sitting at the single chair and he looked more scared than anyone had ever seen him. 

Sideswipe's eyes widened, "Prowlie? Are you okay?" He tried to get up, but Jazz gently pushed him back down into the couch. Sunstreaker looked just as alarmed, but Prowl sighed.

"I will be. I... I have told you both that I have a bad mech coming after me. He is going to come to try and find me, and I am going to do everything I can to get away from him. This is not goodbye. I... I want to come back. I want you both to trust that I will come back." He smiled weakly. "I am leaving my blanket here. I will need to come back for it."

"Are you scared?" Sideswipe asked quietly. Prowl nodded and the twins shared a look.

Sunstreaker poked his legal creator's hand, "Let us down? We want to get something for Prowlie." The adults shared a look and Prowl nodded reluctantly. Jazz swallowed and let them go. The boys both ran off to their room and returned a moment later with their favorite stuffed animals. Sideswipe got to Prowl first and forced his zap pony into Prowl's hands.

"Keep him safe for me. He keeps me safe," He said happily. Prowl's eyes began to water and he began to sob when Sunstreaker gave him his petrobat. He crumbled and pulled the boys into his arms.

Jazz leaned back and watched his boys sadly. He knew how badly Prowl needed this, and to know that the boys were willing to risk their favorite stuffies... It meant a lot. It was their way of making sure Prowl would come back. They knew that he knew how much they loved their toys and they knew from experience that whenever Prowl was feeling sad, giving him their animals usually helped.

All the same, he needed to trust that Prowl would come back. He trusted in Prowl's capabilities. He trusted in Kup. 

He just needed to trust.

Jazz was tense as he watched the kids play in their imaginary restaurant as they always did. Blurr was sitting pretty like he usually did, but this time, he was leaning into a shorter, boxy mech with enough embellishments that would make a kingpin nervous. Swindle was someone that Jazz had wronged in the past, but he admitted that it was probably for the best, and he needed to put it behind them "for the sake of the kids." He hadn't minded the argument.

"So, I'll ask you again," Blurr started. He peered out of the corner of his eye, "What's really going on?"

The radio host sighed and deflated into his seat, "It's Prowler's business, Blurr, I told ya."

"Illegal?" Swindle guessed and Blurr smacked him in the fuel tank without looking. "What?! Usually when people say that, it's either a crime or some moral issue! So, which is it?" Blurr stared him down and his conjunx sighed, "Sorry, Babe. You know I don't like that face."

Blurr cracked a smirk and kissed his cheek. "I know. You're sweet on me."

"Anything for you, Babe," Swindle glowed, pulling one of Blurr's hands closer to him to kiss his knuckles. Blurr flushed, settling back into his side.

Jazz opted to tease them and gagged quietly. Blurr glared, but Swindle chuckled, "A mech after my own spark. Y'know, since Roddy and 'Cee haven't shut up about your bitties, it's nice to actually meet 'em. And you, but seriously, where's the legendary nanny of the hottest bachelor of Iacon? And don't lie to me with no scrap about some surgery. My brother's a doctor and he's said-"

"Vortex is not a doctor," Blurr cut him off. He narrowed his eyes at Jazz, "If there's something going on with Prowl, I would like to know. Incidents involving Whirl have dropped considerably since those two began their 'training sessions.' I'd like to keep it that way."

"He's... He has an ex he's been tryin' to get away from. We have a plan," Jazz said carefully. He looked between the pair, "I'd prefer this stay away from the kids as much as possible."

Swindle shrugged, "Do you need him disappeared? Gimme a name and he'll be gone in three days." Blurr pinched the bridge of his nose, but Jazz sputtered a terrified laugh. "Hey, I'm not dangerous, but I know people. We both know you don't get to be our kinda famous without pulling some favors," Swindle grunted. "You lend a gutters doc a building to have his clinic, you suddenly have your own doctor. You give someone enough credits to put their kid through art school and they graduate, you suddenly have a new artist under your patronage. You just so happen to get your hands on an ancient radio station that's on the brink of bankruptcy and hire the right team..."

He grinned and his gold tooth glinted, "Ya suddenly have Iacon's Best Radio put together." Jazz paled but Swindle waved his hand, "It's all legit, I promise. Blurr owns it through and through, even if I'm the most prominent investor. Don't worry, Babes would have my aft if I stuck my nose in his business."

"It was my gift for getting clean and getting through school," Blurr preened and kissed his conjunx. Jazz's spark was melting at how sweet it was, but his tank was twisting in discomfort to see his prickly boss flirting so openly. "I'll make sure to honor her right."

"That's all I want," Swindle preened. "You know, maybe some day, we can celebrate our first with a business of their own?" Blurr rolled his eyes fondly, but he didn't seem upset by it all. Swindle chuckled and kissed his hand again before his smile dropped. 

The air around Jazz chilled for a moment and he knew that this wasn't some happy-go-lucky mech at the moment. This was Swindle, one of Iacon's main criminal bosses. He had begun to distance himself from his darker ventures - around the same time Blurr began to get himself cleaned up, if Jazz was remembering the news correctly - and began to settle into real estate and investing. 

Clearly, he had never lost his old contacts.

Jazz opened his mouth, but he froze when he received a call from Kup. He rose and lifted a hand to his comms, "Kup, Primus, is everything ok? Is Prowler-"

"He's at your place. He's fine, he... He's going to need some time to recover emotionally," Kup said quietly. "He's never going to need to worry again."

Jazz sighed and fell to his knees, sighing in relief. It was over. Prowl could breathe now. He would be able to go on with his life without needing to look over his shoulder every waking moment of the day. He would actually be able to get therapy about his experiences how.

He would be able to live.

Kup wasn't done, "He needs you, Jazz. The Enforcers are labeling it as self defense right now. Red's dealing with them, but do you know any lawyers?" There was only one lawyer he trusted with anything and Minimus would be glad to join in as whatever defense they'd need.

"Yeah, mech. I know one. His name's Minimus. Here's his comm code, tell him Prowler needs help," He breathed and wiped his eyes under his visor. "Are you still with Prowl?"

Kup grunted, "I'm making him a cup of sweet energon right now. I'm leaving when you all get here. Tell Blurr and Swindle I'll be home a little after they get back."

"Done. I... Thanks, Kup... for everything," He swallowed heavily. Their friend had killed for them. How do you repay that kind of thing?

"You two are made for each other, you know that?" The old mech retorted. Before Jazz could ask what he meant, Kup sighed. "I need to go. Be here in 15."

There was a tug at his armor and Jazz looked down to see Sideswipe staring at him with terror, "How's Prowlie?"

"I'll make it ten," Jazz stated as he smiled at his sparkling. He scooped Sideswipe into his arms, "Tell Prowler we'll be there soon. Make sure he had that grey blanket on him please. It'll help."

"Alright, alright. Just don't get pulled over," He huffed and the line cut out.

Sideswipe smacked at Jazz's armor, "Prowlie's home?" His tiny voice, so so quiet and hopeful, was wavering.

He smiled as tears poured down his face, "He's home, Bitty. We're going home." Sideswipe's eyes widened before he began to sob. Jazz laughed and kissed his forehead, "He's okay, sweetspark, I promise. Let's get your brother and go." He turned his attention to the restaurant and already saw Sunstreaker trying to run on his tiny little legs, but he wasn't going fast enough for his liking.

Arcee and Hot Rod, in their infinite wisdom of knowing when a child was hurting and needed to get to a trusted adult fast, nodded to each other. They burst out of the sandbox and ran over to Sunstreaker. They each grabbed underneath an armpit and ran him over to Jazz faster than he could have on his own. "How's Prowl?" Arcee demanded. "He better be okay, I'm going to kill his stalker myself if I need to-"

"Prowler doesn't..." Jazz trailed. He bundled his other bitlet into his arms. "Ever need to worry about his stalker again. Kup took care of him and is lookin' after Prowl right now. We need to go, be good for your brother, aight?"

"Alright," Hot Rod nodded seriously. He looked down, "We'll make sure Kup's okay too. He has nightmares himself sometimes."

Jazz nodded and took a step back, "Thank you, you two. Y're goin' to do him proud, but I-"

"Go. You're wasting time with us," Arcee huffed. "We'll tell Mr. Grumpy and Mr. Greedy." She was smiling when she said it, so maybe the hatred wasn't as real as she thought. Hot Rod rolled his eyes and ran over to his brother and brother-in-law.

With that, Jazz saw no other reason to stay and he took off.

Kup was waiting in the living room for them when they got there. He pulled his blaster on Jazz, but he was lowering it a nano-second later, "Sorry, just making sure. He's not drinking his energon, but it's there. He needs sleep."

"Trust me, I think we all do," Jazz winced. He reshuffled the boys in his arms, "Sorry, but-"

He held up his hand, "Nope, go. Prowl needs you. Blurr called me, he's already home. I'll see myself out." Jazz nodded shakily and oh, he wanted to go running to Prowl, but he needed to wait...

Kup dusted himself off, nodded to the family one more time, and slipped out the door. Jazz locked it after him immediately and rushed to the boys' bedroom. Sunstreaker glared at Sideswipe, who nodded.

He began to sing Secret Symphonies as they neared the door and Jazz cocked his head in surprise. Sunstreaker pat his cheek, "So Prowlie knows it's us. I get scared when people burst into my room too until Prowl started knocking on my door funny."

Primus, these kids were too smart for him. He kissed the both of them on their smart little heads and let himself sing as well.

"Hold them tight."

The door opened.

"Don't let go."

Prowl laid on the bed, bundled in his blanket.

"This I know."

The Praxian's head rose, eyes wide in raw hope.

"Because it's true."

Jazz stepped into the room.

"I'll say it so."

Prowl sobbed.

"I love you too."

Jazz stumbled to the bed.

"There's no other like you."

Prowl let himself be pulled into a tight hug by his boys.

"So listen to this tune."

Jazz pressed their foreheads together, crying openly.

"I'll play it just for you."

Prowl pushed against him, wanting the contact.

"My secret symphony."

They pulled themselves further up the bed, getting ready for the nap to end all naps.

"So I'll hold you tight."

The boys clung to Prowl tightly.

"And I won't let go."

Jazz curled into Prowl, having no intention to get up before it was time for dinner.

"Not until you want me to."

Prowl tucked his head into Jazz's bumper, the same place he usually woke so many mornings.

"I love you so."

Jazz let his eyes drift closed, knowing that his love would be safe.

"My secret symphony."

Chapter Text

Just like the morning before, and the morning before that, and the morning before that, Prowl cuddled in close to Jazz. It would have felt normal if Jazz removed his thoughts from the situation, but things felt off. 

Prowl was curled in close as always, but his hands clutched in subconscious terror. His engine was rumbling, but it wasn’t the content purr that it always was. He was still asleep, but his face was twisted almost painfully, clearly having a nightmare. 

Jazz made sure that Prowl would be able to unfurl himself if he woke up poorly, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t not rub the same spot between his doorwings that he always did. It eased his suffering, no matter how minutely.

He couldn’t help but think about what could have happened in that room. Kup hadn’t told him anything more, and Prowl was in too bad of a state to explain anything. All he knew was that Tarantulas was dead and Red Alert was handling all of the police. Hopefully Minimus wouldn’t hate him for throwing the Enforcers his way. 

Sunstreaker peeked over the side of the bed, “Jazzy, we’re getting hungry.”

Oh, to not have to worry about anyone but yourself again. Jazz sighed and slowly moved out of Prowl’s grasp. Part of him hoped that Prowl would stay asleep, but a larger part of his quietly hoped that Prowl would wake up so that he wouldn’t have to wake up alone.

Sideswipe appeared next to his brother, trying hard to keep his volume down, “Is Prowlie ok?”

”Prowlie’s goin’ to be okay, bitties mine. He just had to deal with a bully and he was tired,” Jazz explained quietly. He finally slipped off of the bed, but froze when Prowl groaned. “Hey, Prowler. You’re home, you’re safe, he’s not here,” Jazz cooed gently, not wanting to break his early morning reverie, but not wanting to leave him alone with his thoughts, whatever they may be.

Prowl’s eyes cracked open for a moment, but squinted in the bright light. Jazz could see the cogs turning in his head as he processed what was said and grunting again. The radio host chuckled and reached to fix his blanket, tucking him back in, “I’m going to go make…” A quick check to his chronometer had him wincing, “…dinner. I’ll make ya a plate, but just go back ta bed, mech. I’ll have the radio goin’, no one’s comin’ to visit yet.”

He grunted again and curled up into a tight ball. His breathing evened out again and Jazz sighed in relief. With a quick motion, he scooped up Sideswipe and let Sunstreaker drag him out.

Dinner would be one of the three casseroles that Prowl had premade in the event that he couldn’t, and didn’t want to risk Jazz burning dinner or ordering takeout. It wasn’t that he was a bad cook but… There were reasons that he and Sideswipe got along so well and not paying attention was definitely one of them.

The boys would eat dinner in front of the holoscreen while Jazz ate in their room, staying within arm’s reach of Prowl in case he was needed. Prowl didn’t wake, but he did slowly gravitate towards Jazz, just as he always did.

Jazz pet the blanket that laid over Prowl’s head, hoping that it was comforting. If the whining of Prowl’s engine shifted to a quiet purr was anything… he could take relief in the fact that he was doing something right.

It was the middle of the night when Jazz noticed something was off.

The boys were both sleeping soundly, but Prowl wasn’t in bed. Momentary panic seized Jazz, but a quick check to his HUD showed a silent message had been sent. In living room. Safe. Needed some space. If you wake up before I’m back, I’m fine. I want to talk.

Oh, this couldn’t be good. He swallowed and sent back a silent thumbs up and slipped away from the boys. They didn’t make a sound as he climbed out of bed and crept out of the room. 

There was a single light on from the kitchen, but Prowl sat in the living room, staring at the turned-off holoscreen. When Jazz came through, his gaze slipped onto him with haunted eyes. “I-I…” He struggled to get his words out, but Jazz smiled, leaning on the hallway door.

”Do ya want your whiteboard, Prowler? I’m already up, ain’t no thing,” He mused gently. Prowl nodded and wiped at his eyes almost pathetically… not that anyone would blame him. He had been through hell. Jazz pushed himself off of the doorway and went to the boys’ cubbies and pulled out one of their dry erase boards and markers. He didn’t bother to check, Prowl always made sure the markers were in tip top shape.

He came back around and presented them to Prowl, but took a step back, “Just startin’ off… are you okay right now, Prowler? Is there anythin’ you need me to do or not do?”

Prowl swallowed thickly and uncapped the marker and began to scrawl. Jazz made sure to look away and not stare. Prowl wasn’t some circus animal to be gawked at, and he was rewarded a few moments later. ‘I’ll be fine, but I’m going to need time. I might need some space, but please pretend nothing is wrong unless I’m crying. Then just give me my blanket and space. And please don’t ever call me ‘my love.’ That was one of his nicknames.’

Jazz was going to kill Tarantulas again, but he couldn’t do anything about it now. He only nodded and passed the board back, “Done. Ya said there was some stuff you wanted to talk about? Do ya want to do it now? I got time-“

Prowl glared for a moment, but he viciously wiped away at the board before going back to writing. Jazz clicked his mouth shut and waited until the board was presented again. ‘I don’t know when I’ll be able to bring it up without the boys overhearing and I don’t want to hide this. Tarantulas is dead, but before he died, he mentioned a name that shouldn’t be. Ostaros was what he wanted to name our bitlet if we ever had one. I said I didn’t want one, not with our careers on the line, but he had taken samples while I slept or something, but he said that he MADE Ostaros.’ The lines underneath some words were violent, making Jazz flinch at a few of them.

Jazz froze as Prowl had run out of room to write and he handed the board back. Prowl searched Jazz’s face in terror, waiting. Jazz swallowed and took a deep breath. “Ya didn’t consent to a bitty. Is… are they okay? Was he lyin?”

’He was found in the care of a neighbor, and no. Since Tarantulas was able to make a record of his ‘birth’, I’m listed as a creator, carrier specifically. I will be the first option for his care from here, and likely the only option, that the Praxian Enforcers will turn to because I’m the next of kin. Some of my old cohort are running tests from some of my CNA samples from when I served. They will get back to me on whether he actually is mine.’

Jazz nodded and took a deep breath. Prowl probably had a bitlet. One he didn’t know about and didn’t create of his own free will out of some gross delusion by his stalker, but…

He had a decision to make, and it was one that he had thought about a lot in the past few months. It might not have been what he intended, but... He was already taking care of bitties that weren't his in the strictest sense, and if Prowl wanted him...

”Prowler, I am goin’ to tell you right now. If you want him, I’m alright with him bein’ here. No matter what happens 'tween us, he’ll have a place, an’ we can talk about it more if that’s what ya want. But if ya don’t, I’ll support ya the entire way, okay? I want what you want with this,” He stressed gently. Prowl sobbed quietly and hiccupped, but still managed his nod. “Do ya want a hug right now?” Prowl shook his head, but only bundled his blanket tighter around himself. “I’ll wait for ya, okay? We can talk when you’re ready.”

Prowl shook his head and shakily wiped at the board through his tears. Jazz rummaged through his subspace for a moment before he pulled out a box of tissues. The nanny smiled wetly as he took two and wiped at his eyes with the less abrasive material. He began to write, ‘I don’t want to rush any decisions because I’m still processing. Kup knows and has offered to be here when the Enforcers show up because he knows the process better than I do and… he’s offered to be the primary foster if I don’t want him. Tarantulas didn’t have any family, so it’s only me or my family, and my parents are both so busy. Would I be a bad person if I didn’t want him?’

”Primus, Prowler, of course ya wouldn’t. Would ya blame any victim of assault who ended up sparked?” Jazz asked gently. Prowl sniffled and shook his head. Jazz grabbed another two tissues and forced them into his hands, “I don’t blame ya. If you want to love ‘im, you can love him as much as ya love the twins and they’d love ta be big brothers, but if ya don’t… don’t force yourself. Kup offered and that bitty would have the best big brothers and sister. ‘Sides, you’d still see ‘im, you’d know ya made the right choice if ya see him grow up happy, and if ya don’t want to see him… we can look somewhere else. Prowler, what happened was not your fault. You were defendin’ yourself and he dragged someone else into this. That ain’t yer fault. You met the wrong person at the wrong time, that’s all. None of this is yer fault. It just ain’t.”

Prowl sobbed again and motioned for Jazz to come closer. Jazz shifted to join him at the couch and Prowl shifted so he could sit sideways across Jazz’s lap. Jazz rested an arm around Prowl’s knees and back and just held him as he let Prowl wail without a sound.

Oh, it would hurt for a long time, and they were just starting, but Prowl had said something once. 

Sometimes, to fix something that has been broken for so long, you must break it again to let it heal correctly.

And Prowl was breaking into pieces.

But he had people to help out him back together.

Jazz held him together as best as he could, knowing that whatever the future held, they would be there for each other, hand in hand.

It was warm when Prowl woke. Warm blankets, an idling engine under his audial, and the sound of the holoscreen playing Rock ‘em Sock ‘em told him all that he needed to know that he was fine, he was safe. He stretched his legs out and flexed his arms in place before deflating back into his relaxed puddle of morning cuddles.

Jazz laughed in his ear and Prowl pointed, looking up, “What are you laughing at?” His doorwings bobbed as Jazz brushed over the spot he always did, the spot that Prowl was beginning to realize he attributed with safety. Jazz wouldn’t touch him there any other time unless he was safe.

”You, Prowler. You’re so cute,” He chuckled. “Ya want to stay in bed for a little while longer? I think we got about 10 minutes before the boys come in, askin’ for breakfast.”

The nanny stared for a moment, thinking it over. “What day is it?”

”Pancake day. I can handle it, if ya want,” Jazz smiled. “I learned from the best.” 

Prowl propped his chin onto Jazz’s bumper, searching his visor. In a rare moment, Jazz clicked it back, letting Prowl look into his rainbow optics. His breath hitched as he could see the dedication and affection there and it felt… purer than most of what Prowl had ever remembered feeling, but the Tacnet had taken a lot from him and his relationships.

But this? This was worth everything.

Prowl smiled snuggled into Jazz a bit more, “The best, hmmm? Maybe you should let the best do what they’re best at. It would probably do him well to do something he knows.”

Jazz reached a hand up slowly, giving Prowl plenty of time to pull away, before finally resting it against Prowl’s cheek. He rubbed his thumb gently against his face plate, smiling fondly. “Okay. I think he knows what he needs. I’ll go keep our boys distracted.” Prowl twitched and Jazz needed to keep his composure to not cringe. “Too close?”

His face fell somewhat, “A little. I’ll get over it. I think I just need to see them. Can… Can you let the others know that I’m okay? I don’t want anyone else knowing about…” He trailed, sucking his lips in.

”Tarantulas or your other concern?” Jazz asked knowingly. Prowl shrugged and he nodded, “Of course, Prowler.” He smiled weakly, “We need to get up.”

Prowl squeezed him, “I know.”

”The boys are goin’ to be hungry.”

”I know.”

A knock on the door had Prowl tensing as the family ate their breakfast. Jazz didn’t know if they were going to risk going outside yet or not, but for an unexpected visitor to show up…

”Prowl, Jazz, it’s me,” Smokescreen called through the door. “I know I should have called, but I was worried.”

Sideswipe lit up and started to squirm out of his chair, but Jazz stopped him. “Sure thing, Smokes. Quick question, what do the boys call ya?” He wasn't going to put it above Tarantulas to have had one more trick up his sleeve, and he needed to know that this was actually who he thought it was.

Smokescreen snorted, “Well, I can see how Prowl is doing. I’m Blue Mech.”

Jazz turned back to Prowl and cocked his head, asking for his state. Prowl put his fork down and nodded. He got a nod back and Jazz opened the door.

Their favorite therapist flittered into the room nervously and immediately focused on Prowl, “Red Alert called me. Do you want to wait until breakfast or do you want to step in the back?”

Sunstreaker frowned, “Its breakfast. No work at breakfast.”

”He’s right,” Prowl said. He rose and headed for the kitchen without looking back. “Have you had any breakfast yet?”

Watching his friend’s doorwings jerk around violently, Smokescreen winced to know his friend was barely holding back his rage, “I had something to eat earlier, but I think I could go for something else.”

”Good. You’re getting eggs for breakfast,” Prowl quipped angrily. 

Sunstreaker wrinkled his nose in disgust, “Ew, eggs.”

“Sunstreaker doesn’t like ‘em. Prowler makes some fine eggs,” Jazz offered. He rose so he could grab Smokescreen a chair. He positioned Smokescreen between Jazz and Sideswipe, but across from Sunstreaker and Prowl. He gestured to the seat with some amount of tension. “We woulda appreciated a call, Smoky.” His tone was also strained, but he was definitely more open than Prowl or Sunstreaker.

He sat and nodded nervously, “No, I… I know. I got a call from Nightbeat earlier.” He looked to Prowl, "I'm going to need you to take a deep breath, Prowl. It's bad news. Really bad news."

Prowl faltered as he pulled a couple of eggs out of the fridge and set them down onto the counter. He turned and pursed his lips, "Smokescreen, Jazz knows about Ostaros, but I would like the boys..." He slowed and knit his fingers together, turning to lean his forearms onto the cool steel. "Jazz, they're going to find out, aren't they?"

Jazz froze and hesitated, "...Yeah. They probably will, Prowler. I... can we talk about this in the studio?" 

He knew the boys remembered the fight in the funeral hall. They would demand to know why Prowl wouldn't want to take in a bitlet that was his. They might not understand that that bitlet was a result of a maniac and an unconsenting party. They might only understand that Ostaros was a newspark what was innocent, hadn't done anything wrong, and what could be said for how they could react if they thought that Prowler could abandon them?

Given the look that Prowl was weighing on him, he knew it all too well as well.

Smokescreen winced as he realized what he did. He'd need to carefully go over his words and the adults all know that, "I'll keep it short. They're performing an Sparkling Transfer for the next of kin. They believe you'll have an idea of where to find them. They just took off from Praxus about an hour ago. I came straight here. They're expected in about 5 hours." His masked words had their intended effect, letting Prowl and Jazz know what was goin on without alerting the boys.

Prowl looked to have stopped breathing and he slowly fell to his knees. Jazz rushed over, but he remembered what Prowl had requested and ran for the mech's blanket instead. When he came back, the boys were glaring at Smokescreen, but they kept shooting worried looks at Prowl. "Boys, keep eatin'. Prowler'll be fine."

"They're moving him this quickly," Prowl whispered as Jazz bundled him up. "They must have confirmed his CNA. They're coming to Iacon."

Jazz grappled for him and shook him just a little, "Hey, Prowler, look at me." He tried to give Prowl his space, but they didn't have the luxury of it. "Look at me," He pressed. Prowl jerked like he had been shocked and he turned to his crush. "Alright, we don't got a lotta options, but we gotta work fast. You with me?" Prowl stared, but Jazz swallowed, "I can help ya with this, Prowler, but I need to know you're with me on this-"

"Yes," He cut off. He nodded, still shaken, but he needed to pull it together. He swallowed, "Can you call Kup? I... I'll tell the boys with Smokescreen's help. I..." He took a deep breath, "I chose to be Sunstreaker and Sideswipe's nanny. I didn't... I didn't ask for this, but... he's just a bitty, but..."

Jazz clasped his hands over Prowl's through the blanket, "Prowler, we got some time. We got time. Time ta think, time ta get Kup over here, and time ta go shoppin' with 'im. If he doesn't have what he needs-"

"Actually," Smokescreen pipped up, visibly trying not to shrink into his seat. "That was... another thing. Ostaros, despite the timeline only being since Prowl left, looks to be about 15 vorns old. He's crawling around and acting appropriate to someone of his age. The medics are... concerned, but other than having been developed recently, he's perfectly healthy."

"Bitty?" Sunstreaker asked, focusing on Prowl. Their nanny held his breath for a moment before he left out a pained keen. Jazz let him collapse against his side, even as Smokescreen winced. "What's happening?"

Smokescreen swallowed, "Sunstreaker, Sideswipe... Have you ever been painting and you have your paints and you know you have your paints and they're no one else's?" The boys both nodded and Sideswipe pointed at Sunstreaker.

"Sunny has more paints and I have the big containers of paint! I use a lot!" He chirped happily. Sunstreaker nodded, grumbling under his breath.

"Yes, I can imagine," Their therapist said sadly. "Now... imagine you ask your brother if you can use some of his paints to make a very nice picture, you are sure he will love it." The boys shared a look with each other and cocked their heads. "But you don't want him to use your paints, and you don't want that picture. You would feel very bad if he took things from you, right? Even if you thought it was for a good cause?"

"But Sunny loves the things I make... most of the time," Sideswipe said sadly. He pouted and frowned, "And Sunny said no. No means no."

Smokescreen sagged in relief to know that Prowl had worked hard to get that across. Across the kitchen, the adults were watching Smokescreen very closely, but Jazz nodded, urging him to continue. "Very good, you two. No does mean no, but not everyone always listens to the word no. They sometimes decide to take that decision away from you. That's not good. But if, just in this case, this is a story, your brother decides to paint that picture anyway. It is a very good picture, but when you look at it, you also see the paint he stole. Could you still love the painting?"

Sideswipe nodded, "Yeah, Sunny made it! I don't like him using my colors, but I'd like the painting!"

Sunstreaker twitched and clenched his hands, "No, Sides stole my things and I didn't want him to. I don't want the painting."

"And you both are correct to feel these things. It's okay to feel different things at the same time, but you need to find the best way that doesn't hurt you or others in the long run. If you tore up the painting, it would hurt your brother's feelings. You could keep it, but you could be reminded of the theft when you look at it, but you can also love it. You could let someone else have the picture, so it doesn't end up destroyed, so you know someone else has it and likes it. There are sometimes no correct answers, but it's reasons like that that you need to be mindful of others and if they say no..."

"They mean no," The twins finished. 

Smokescreen clapped his hands together quietly, "Very good, you two! The story is over, and your brother has not stolen your paints. This painting does not exist. But Prowl's bad mech did a very bad thing and did something when Prowl said no. He needs to make a decision and things will be hard because he needs to decide whether he wants the painting that his ex made, or if it would be better off in someone else's hands. No matter what, it is Prowl's decision, okay?"

The twins nodded before Sideswipe looked to Jazz, "Are we your painting?"

Jazz smiled wistfully, "Wrong story, bitty mine. I'll tell it to ya later, okay? Promise." He turned his attention to Smokescreen, "Seriously, mech. You enforcers keep those speeches on post cards or somethin'?"

"We are drilled for 30 vorns, Jazz," Prowl whispered weakly. He still clutched as Jazz's armor, but it wasn't as desperate. "We are taught how to broach difficult topics with mechs of all ages. Painting is the easiest analogy as there is no way to 'unpaint' a piece. It is up to the Enforcer to identify what story to use," He took a deep breath and gripped his blanket harder.

He needed to deal with this.

He didn't want to.

He needed to.

Jazz and Smokescreen could handle it.

This was his problem.

They were willing to help.

Thoughts of Jazz holding a sparkling Tarantulas hit a deep note of rage in him and he heard a notation one of his old teachers had told their class once.

"If you are in a difficult spot and all you have is your rage, you need to channel it into something productive. Use it to drive you, to make the decision to walk away, but anger has no place in the field. Use it to your advantage, but if I ever hear about..."

Prowl needed to send that mech a card after this.

"I'm calling Kup. We're going to see what supplies he has, and ensure that... He has enough and to get a set for the...?" He slowed and peered out from under his blanket nervously.

Jazz smiled and rubbed his back through the blanket. When Prowl didn't pull away, he relaxed, continuing with the moment, "We can set up in the boys' room, or we can move to the guest room. He'll be welcome here, Prowler, so long as ya want him here. I promise. We're goin' to need to talk about this but... Any bitty of yours is a bitty I'd like ta help with." 

Oh, he wanted to cry at Jazz's sweet words. They were said so earnestly, but the angry visage of Tarantulas has sunk its claws deeply into his mind. He swallowed and nodded, "W-We'll see. I... Either way, I want to be prepared." Prowl slowly reached out and placed his hand onto Jazz's free arm. "Thank you, Jazz. I... I would like a conversation about this later."

Smokescreen cleared his throat again, "And Prowl, I know this goes without saying, but the incoming Enforcers could be trying to ask questions."

Jazz grinned proudly and Prowl allowed himself a more withdrawn version of it. "Boys, what do we tell Enforcers that start askin' questions?" Jazz asked.

The boys perked up like they were sleeper agents, "I won't speak without my guardian and lawyer present." Their rehearsed line cuddled around the adults in the room, securing them in the knowledge that if something were to happen, they would be okay.

"Good boys," He praised and they glowed. Smokescreen could only laugh under his breath. Only these four.

Kup grumbled as he met the family at the sparkling goods market. Hot Rod and Arcee were next to him and Prowl hesitated. Kup put a hand on each of their shoulders and looked at him with an exhausted look. "They wanted to talk with you, Prowl. Are you okay if I look through some toys and things with Jazz and your boys? We'll make sure to leave some choices for you."

Prowl swallowed, but Arcee crossed her arms, "Hey, we're not going to yell at you. We just..." She shared a look with Hot Rod.

He nodded and played with his fingers nervously, "We want you to know about what we want in this. Kup told us you'd want him to go with us." Prowl reached out for Jazz's hand nervously and relaxed when they laced their fingers together.

"Or we can let the boys go with Kup to pick out a stuff or a blanket for him. You know Sunstreaker would pick out a good one and Sides would pick out somethin' cute," Jazz suggested quietly. Prowl nodded weakly and Jazz knelt, not letting go of Prowl's hand. "Boys, I want ya to be good for Uncle Kup, okay? He's goin' to be gettin' a new bitty and-"

"The one that's related to Prowl's bad mech?" Sunstreaker cut off. His eyes were biting, but there was a difficult edge in his voice. He was still clearly trying to reconcile everything he had heard. He knew better, but he also knew that the sparkling's existence hurt Prowl.

Jazz swallowed nervously, but Hot Rod came over and crouched next to him, "Remember how I told you my Sire bullied me a lot? And treated me bad? What did you say to that?"

"That it wasn't your fault," Sunstreaker whispered. "But-"

"You can't blame that bitty. He didn't ask for this. And if he's going to be joining us, he's going to be family," Hot Rod whispered. "I want him to be more than the bitty of the mech who hurt Prowlie. Let's help Kup, please?" The golden twin bit his lip nervously.

Sideswipe took Sunstreaker's hand and nodded in firm determination, "Yeah. You can count on us, Roddy." He looked to his brother, waiting. Sunstreaker nodded slowly and Kup grunted.

"We're wastin' time, boys. C'mon," He urged. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe each grabbed one of his hands and practically dragged him into the store.

Hot Rod swallowed as he watched them go, but Jazz hummed. The youngling's head snapped over and Jazz smiled, "Thanks, Hot Rod. It's nice ta have one of his friends say that. I dunno if you wanted it to just be Prowler, but he wants me here for support. Is that okay? I won't say anythin'."

"Whatever," Arcee grunted. She stormed over and glared at Prowl, "Do you know if you want him or not yet." It wasn't a question. It was a demand.

Prowl froze, but he took a deep breath. He needed to compartmentalize more.

Deep breath in, and feel your emotions, one by one. Hold them in his mind's eye, and analyze them, without fear or prejudice. 

Oh, there were so much anger there, and fea- one thing at a time. Anger at his situation, anger at Tarantulas for doing this to him, but... some very small amount of anger towards the bitty. He knew it wasn't Ostaros' fault, but just... he was allowed to feel the emotion. He just wasn't allowed to do anything with it. 

Fear... Not so much of the bitty, other than if he would turn out like his designated Sire, but that was something that could be taught to him. Ostaros would know of Tarantulas, and he would be raised to be better with less judgment, and...

Oh, there was a part of his answer. Prowl doubted he would be able to raise him without impossible standards being put on him. That... He was afraid of doing that to the bitty. He so desperately wanted to be able to raise him right, but if all he saw was Tarantulas and his incredible need to raise him without any sign of him... He couldn't do that.

Prowl still held no small amount of awe at the great things Tarantulas did, the innovations he made. One of them was an actual creator-less artificial sparkling, but... Prowl would not accept that he was creator-less. He would do everything in his power to make sure he had people who cared about him because all sparklings deserved to be loved.

Love... He couldn't not acknowledge the chance of it. Right now... he was having a problem picturing it, but he could not discredit the possibility. He could love the bitty (his bitty) and he would need to digest that fact. But now was not the time.

Package those emotions one by one into an impenetrable box and seal it tight. Do whatever he needed to to make sure that they couldn't come loose before he was ready.

Finally, Prowl opened his eyes to look at the girl in front of him, "I am ready for what you have to say."

Arcee scoffed, "Finally. Look, I could see you struggling. I know you want to love him, but if you dare get his hopes up as he's growing up, that you'd adopt him and back out, Kup will kill you. I will kill you. Blurr will make Swindle kill you. Roddy's too weak to kill you but he'd pretend to. That bitty doesn't deserve anything less than perfection and we're going to make sure that either you do everything right, or we'll do everything we can to do it for you. If he's coming home with us, fine. If he spends the weekend with you, fine. If he stays permanently with you, fine. But you don't get to do to him what happened to us."

"While I have no intention of it," Prowl started. Hot Rod swallowed nervously, but Jazz offered a comforting smile. "I know that it is not intention alone that makes a good parent. My judgment will be clouded, and I understand that you know what is happening from a different angle. I will hold you to your word, and I will have a word with Kup, hopefully with you present, that if you or any of your brothers notice any kind of behavior that you know is dangerous to his wellbeing, I want you to have the power to be believed the first time. Kup has powers above what I do, and by the time he will not, O-Ostaros will be old enough to begin to speak for himself."

"Change his name," Hot Rod said quietly. He reached for his older sister and she tucked him behind her. She nodded to him, urging him to finish his piece. "You need to distance him from it. He can learn as he gets older that he had a name from the bad mech, but you gave him a better chance with a new one. It happened with me. I..." Arcee squeezed his hand in understanding and he took a deep breath, "I didn't like the name Rodimus that my Sire gave me. It felt like too much. Kup gave me Hot Rod. It's nicer, less formal and more... me. It's who I am. Give him that choice for later."

Prowl swallowed and looked to Jazz. Sweet, brave Jazz who gave him a nickname that separated him out far enough from 'my love'. Prowl. Prowler. Ostaros derived from spring, life derived from the cold, dead depths of winter. Life, sprung anew. Spring, but he couldn't name the his bitty Spring. No... A nickname, separated from Tarantulas.

Springer.

"That's a nice name," Jazz whispered and Prowl jerked as he realized he said it aloud.

Arcee nodded, "Good. Springer is good. I want the fact that you'll have us be taken seriously by Kup in writing, with everyone signing it. If I need to go to Jazz for concerns, I need to trust him."

"I'm goin' to be a little biased, but I trust ya, Arcee," Jazz admitted. She gave him a moment of side-eye but grumbled. Good enough, it seemed. "Is there anythin' else?"

"If he can't go to you or Kup, where is he going?" She demanded. "Kup said that if Springer" - Prowl didn't flinch at the name that plagued him so - "can't remain in Iacon due to your personal mental health, he'd need to be sent back to Praxus. Is that true?"

It would make the greatest sense. He was 'born' in Praxus, and the only reason he'd be in Iacon would be because of Prowl. It...

"Yes," He said. "He would be likely put into the system there. But until I see him for myself... I don't see myself letting that happen. I trust Kup far more than I trust any of my old cohort in Praxus." Oh, if any of them continued to side with Taranulas through the whole thing again? His ex had far more friends and the tacnet hadn't done him any favors with his already abrasive personality any better. Nightbeat was more Smokescreen's friend, he probably hadn't even realized that he had been helping Prowl all of this time. Granted, Prowl had once called him a poor excuse of an Enforcer who would do what it took to secure an arrest, even if it meant burning every bridge he had ever built.

She sighed, "Yeah, stupid cops."

Prowl's lip twitched the barest amount, "I am training to become an Enforcer, you know."

"Stupid cop," Hot Rod nodded sagely and his big sister grinned. "C'mon, we need to go! I want to pick out a new stuffed animal for Springer! And tell S-Kup about the bitty's new name!" He grabbed her hand and began to drag her off, leaving the pair still standing in front of the store.

Jazz looked up to Prowl, "I wasn't lying. It is a good name. Are ya ready for this?"

"...I got the idea from you," Prowl admitted. He kept his head down, "Springer and Prowler. It." He struggled with his words for a moment but managed to force them out. "I don't know. I know we haven't had a talk or anything but... I wanted it to just be the four of us, and we could have thought about more later." Jazz's breath caught and Prowl squeezed his hand. "The Tacnet did not make me a good person, and it's different to be able to... slow down an amount. I'm able to look at my situation differently. I think back then, I realized that I would not have been a good creator, but..."

He smiled sweetly and leaned in to whisper into Jazz's audial, "In you, all things are possible." He pulled away, still nervous, but Jazz swallowed.

"Prowler, ya can't just say things like that, not when I'm still tryin' to hold by my promise ta let you make the first move. Y're killin' me," He groaned playfully. Prowl hummed, looking away, but Jazz squeezed his hand. "Hey, but I'll wait as long as I need to, or until you tell me no. When ya want to talk, I'm here to listen. Promise. Do you?"

Prowl nodded and squeezed his hand back, "I promise. Let's get going. I want to be able to make sure that Sideswipe and Hot Rod don't end up climbing the shelves... again." Jazz's jovial laughter lightened his spark and together, they strode into a store that they both were beginning to dream of walking into seriously someday, but just... far too early for the both of them.

Prowl had asked Kup to allow him to pay for his purchases to be sent to his place, where Blurr and Swindle could set it up, while Jazz would haul the rest back to his place. Kup barely agreed, but he knew that they only had another hour left to get everything ready. The twins had picked out two nice blankets and while the older kids picked out some nice stuffed animals, the twins voted on their favorite few, and Prowl only needed to veto the fuzzy spider with the adjustable legs. 

He wouldn't have it.

Everything else, he discussed with Jazz and Kup, and they left with nearly two of everything. Two beds, two sets of sheets and bed sets for each house, two sets of developmental toys, two sets of play tables. There was everything they needed to get ready.

So when they piled into the house, Kup ushered Jazz to play with the kids so he could set up the extra berth in the boys' room and Prowl could make lunch for everyone. He made extra snacks, but it didn't escape Jazz's notice that he only made enough lunch for the two families and Springer. Their guests would be getting served a cold breakfast, if that. Prowl did not want them sticking around.

The knock at the door thundered like a cannon going off in the home and Prowl froze as he stirred the large pot of macaroni and cheese. Jazz swept in to take over, and Hot Rod came in to take Prowl's side. The boy smiled nervously, but shrugged, "It looks like you need a helping hand."

"Thank you," Prowl whispered as he let Hot Rod drag him to the door. It opened with the same amount of gravitas as it usually did, but to see the familiar faces...

Nightbeat, Smokescreen's trusted contact back in Praxus, shiny new Enforcer tags and a finely polished bull bar on his bumper stood in the front. He smiled and waved, "Heya, you old stick in the mud. How have you been?" His cheer was false and Hot Rod tensed as he recognized the tone.

"You haven't lost your inability to read a room," Prowl ground out. He looked over Nightbeat's shoulder to find a cadet in training. He had seen some amount of promise in her, if she held any tact. "Cadet Strongarm. I was not expecting you here."

She awkwardly tried to pop into a salute when facing with an upperclassmech, "My professor believed it would be a worthy training experience, Sir!"

"Stand down," Prowl hissed as a small wail erupted from out of view. Strongarm winced and shifted to the side so that Prowl could see a... It looked almost like a protoform, but... it looked wrong. Something panged in him and he pushed Nightbeat aside to lean down, getting onto his bitty's level, "Shhh, shhh, you're safe, bitty. I promise."

Springer's wailed quieted and he looked to Prowl with wide, owlish eyes. He croaked and tried to reach out, and Prowl took him gently. His spark was melting, even as his plating crawled with how wrong it felt and Prowl bounced him on his hip gently, "Shhh, shhh, you're okay, bitty, I promise."

Nightbeat cleared his throat, "Sir-"

"Do not call me Sir. The heads of the academy made their positions painfully clear," Prowl snapped as he turned to them. He frowned when he looked back into the house and saw the families staring out at him. He sighed, "Please, come in. We were about to have lunch, but I didn't know how many were coming. I made snacks."

"But not for us-" Strongarm started, but Nightbeat elbowed her. She sputtered and nodded, "Right, thank you. We appreciate it." They followed their old cohort into the open living room and looked around in quiet judgment. The walls were covered in drawings, the boys school supplies were neatly organized, the kitchen was in a reasonable state for having made as much food as they did and...

Kup stepped forward, "Do you need me to take him, Prowl?"

"Please," He whispered. He was dying inside. He loved the sparkling, he truly did. There was something in those eyes that was so him, the unbridled ambition, but... There was a curiousness in there somewhere and Prowl knew exactly where he had gotten that. 

His bitty was wrong somehow, and while he loved Springer, he couldn't deny the fact that his plating itched and he wanted to purge and he felt like screaming.

The elder mech bundled Springer into his arms and cooed happily. He tickled Prowl's bitty in a way that had the sparkling squealing gleefully and squirming away. Prowl stepped away. Given how uncomfortable Prowl seemed, Kup went ahead and stepped into the back hallway. He cast Jazz a warning look as the door closed behind him and everyone seemed to miss the nod that he sent back.

Jazz offered his hand in a moment, "How're ya holdin', Prowler?"

"Prowler?" Nightbeat asked curiously. He cocked his head, "You never let anyone call you nicknames back home, Si-Prowl."

"I never felt any reason to," Prowl hissed. He squeezed Jazz's hand, "Can you help the kids set the table?" Strongarm cocked her head in mirror to Nightbeat's, watching the interaction closely.

Jazz nodded quietly and squeezed his hand back before pulling away. He grinned and clapped, "Boys, Arcee, Roddy, ya want to help me set the table? You four can sit at the holoscreen today!"

"Table," Sunstreaker insisted.

Sideswipe pouted in disagreement, "We can watch cartoons!"

"Table," Sunstreaker hissed back, looking to their nanny. "Prowlie, table?" Nightbeat's eyebrows rose.

Prowl sighed, "If you're quiet, Sunstreaker, you can sit at the table. Please help your Jazzy get the table set." The boys both cheered and ran to pull Jazz away into the kitchen.

Nightbeat attempted a smile, "So what are you doing these days?" It was an innocent enough question, but it had Prowl bristling.

Arcee came running over and tugged at Prowl's arm, "Mr. Prowl, can you tell us more Enforcer stories later?" Her voice was uncharacteristically young, still believable, but Prowl knew exactly what her game was. Oh, he owed her so much after this.

He bobbed his doorwings in assent and bowed his head, "Of course. I'm on break at the moment, but I believe there are some old reports I have that I think you will like."

"You're starting over?" Strongarm asked. She scoffed, "Iacon is nothing compared to Praxus-"

"They didn't blame the victim," Prowl cut off. "I invited you in because there are still things we need to talk about with regards to Springer-"

"His recorded name is Ostaros," Nightbeat cut off. He took the Proud Praxian Enforcer stance, signifying he was on official duty. Arcee flinched and ducked behind Prowl. He laid a hand on her back, both comforting her, and ensuring she stayed behind him. "There are some papers we need you to sign, sir." This time, the honorific carried none of the weight that it had a few minutes ago. "The chairmech of the board wished to express his condolences on failing to stop Mesothulas in a timely manner, and that you would be welcome back into Praxus at any time. You would be started back where you left off and welcomed home-"

Oh, they were going to do this? 

Jazz fumbled with the dishes, but Prowl didn't turn. He only lifted his chin and strode closer, leaving Arcee behind. "And they made their decision when they opted to ship me literally anywhere else. They chose him when they had clear evidence of what he had done, and made it clear that the rules they implemented are not to be waved for anyone, so I see no reason for them to do so now. As far as I am aware, I am home. This city is one that has opted to help me when I needed it the most."

"Is that your official statement regarding Mesothulas?" Nightbeat shot back.

Prowl narrowed his eyes, "This city took me in and provided me work and friends. I make no such statement about Mesothulas. Boys, what do we say to Enforcers who ask questions?"

The twins peeked the heads up over the counter to chirp, "I won't speak without my guardian and lawyer present!" Strongarm cooed quietly, but Nigthbeat jerked a single doorwing, urging her to toughen up. She snapped back into position and Prowl scoffed. Behind his back, Sunstreaker glared at the strangers in his home.

Nightbeat finally relaxed from his position and raised his hands, "My apologies. The board simply wished for me to ask about the incident, that's all." He reached into his subspace and pulled out several datapads. "I need your signature on these so that you may take final custody of your creation."

"I had no part in his creation and we both know that," Prowl hissed. He took the datapads and made sure to read them over as carefully as he could. He knew Nightbeat was clearly trying to rush him, but he knew Nightbeat's tricks. Luckily, everything was in order, and Prowl signed everything. He passed them back and crossed his arms. "Is there anything I need to know about Springer from the doctor?"

Strongarm stepped forward and presented approximately six datapads. Three of them looked beaten up in a way that Prowl knew intimately. They were Tarantulas' datapads. He glared at her training officer and took them. He would need to look through them later. "Thank you. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Nightbeat shook his head, but he snapped his fingers as if he had forgotten something, "Oh, right! I wanted to ask you something." His easy grin was calculating and Prowl knew this was going to burn. "Witnesses at the scene noted that you were there, and we've put together several... coincidences... What was it that you called them?"

"Statistical improbabilities," Prowl ground out. "Are you insinuating-"

"Oh, I'm not insinuating anything," Nightbeat chirped. If he said what Prowl thought he was going to say… An accusation was one step before arresting someone on the suspicion of a crime. "I'm accusing you of-"

He was cut off as the fire alarm began to go off. Prowl jumped and Arcee groaned. "Roddy! Knock it off!"

"What? I was cold!" Hot Rod whined. The adults looked to where Hot Rod was and... his hands were on fire. He was rubbing his arms like he was freezing, but... he wasn't getting hurt. His polish wasn't curdling, his paint wasn't melting, nothing. This was a regular thing for him.

His sheer lack of panic didn't go amiss of the Enforcers and Prowl knew he needed to take control of the scene. He frowned, "I do not enjoy being accused of anything. You have no jurisdiction here, and you have neither read me my rights, nor presented any kind of warrant for my extradition. Nightbeat, I will raise a question to you: was there any way that I purchased whatever ticket or pass Mesothulas used to arrive in Iacon?"

His face twisted, "Well, no-"

"Did I tell him where I was going to be?" Prowl snapped.

Nightbeat took a step back, "Well, no-"

"Do you have anything to prove that I did anything but defend myself to the best of my ability, despite Praxus' failure to One: Protect me from the mech who had a known stalking record; Two: Stand by me when said mech with a stalking record and a restraining order ruined my chances of becoming an Enforcer; Three: Prevent him from leaving the city whilst knowing that statistically, stalkers are not likely to stop pursuing until a physical barrier is placed in his way; Four: Creating a sparkling without my knowledge, permission, or consent; and Five: Accusing me of crimes in front of my friends and family like we are trained not to do." Prowl's engine was roaring and his fists were clenched. "Get out of this house."

"Are you threatening us?" Strongarm demanded, but there was another knock at the door. Prowl's head snapped over and his engine roared again.

Kup stepped back into the room, calm as a gentle breeze, and strong over to the door. There were Enforcers again, Iaconian Enforcers, and Kup nodded, "Thank you for coming. I thought you were just running late."

"No, thank you for calling us," The first of the pair noted as he stepped inside. He looked over the pair of Praxian Enforcers, "We wanted to ensure our neighborly cohorts had the escorts they needed to do the Iacon-Praxus Sparkling Transfer as outlined in the Treaty of Lunge 1066 vorns ago." He frowned when he seemed to connect the bitlet in Kup's arms was the one most out of place, to the enraged look on Prowl, to the stricken looking foreigners. "Were you attempting to do a Sparkling Transfer without notifying the local authorities, Brother?"

Nightbeat swallowed, "I was given strict orders-"

"Orders of a commander do not supersede that of the treaty. I will need you to come with us," The Enforcer said. He nodded to Prowl, "I am glad to see that you are recovering from your ordeal last night. I apologize for not coming sooner, Sir." Prowl recognized something in his voice and jerked to realize that this was Chase from the previous night.

"Have you been assigned to my case?" Prowl inquired. "If so, I would like to file a complaint to be registered under Iacon-Praxus Enforcer Code Article 18, section 9.3. The training officer was about to accuse me of at least one charge before he was interrupted."

Nightbeat paled further, "Now hold on-"

"Witnesses at the scene noted that you were there, and we've put together several... coincidences... What was it that you called them?"

"Statistical improbabilities," Prowl ground out. "Are you insinuating-"

"Oh, I'm not insinuating anything," Nightbeat chirped. "I'm accusing you of-"

Those in the room turned to Jazz, who leaned on the counter, letting his speakers click off. "Good monrin', officers. Do I need ta introduce myself?"

"Jazz, of CIBR," Chase noted. "Modifications for recording songs?" Nightbeat and Strongarm shared a nervous look.

"Yep, got 'em registered an' everythin'. Prowler mentioned one-party consent laws in the comfort o' my own home before?" He grinned.

Chase lifted his chin, "I would like a copy of that, if you do not mind. As it stands, I will need to take these two in for questioning." He nodded to Kup, "Will you be taking custody of the sparkling?"

"Maybe," He said. He bobbed the bitlet on his him again, "It depends on how Prowl feels 'bout him, but I'm most likely going to me. I have copies of the paperwork back at my place. I'll get them filled out with Prowl and we'll file with you all and City Hall. This is a domestic affair."

He nodded his head, "Comment filed. Thank you for the help and please tell your son that we continue to appreciate the hard work he does. Perceptor is a gift to the world of forensic science."

Kup puffed his chest out proudly, "And I don't let him forget it." 

Chase and his own trainee ushered Nightbeat and Strongarm out of the home and the moment the door closed, Prowl collapsed to the floor. His breath came out in heaves, trying to hold in his tears. 

Jazz rushed around to him, digging his blanket out of his subspace. Wrapping it around Prowl, Jazz sat nearby, "Hey, Prowler, you're fine, they're gone. Praxus is goin' to be done with ya."

"Nightbeat had been cohort. He was a vorn ahead, but he was cohort," He gasped for breath. Two small weights settled against him and Prowl knew that the twins were trying to offer their support.

Sideswipe peered into the blanket and blinked innocently, "Is he going to be our brother?"

Arcee swept in before he could respond and knelt before the group, "He'll be all of our brothers. He'll have three awesome Sires... when he's ready. Right now... I think Prowl needs some time."

He paused for a moment before he nodded. He turned to Kup, "Can we play with him? He looks funny, but if anyone else says that about our little brother, Sunny and I are going to kick their butts!"

Kup smiled weakly and nodded, "I'll handle the rest of lunch while Jazz can look after Prowl. Arcee, I'm sorry, but-"

"No, it's fine. He needs help right now, and besides, it's not like he's any grosser than Roddy," She teased. 

Her little brother pouted and stuck his tongue out, "Well, well, well-! You're stinky and mean and pink!"

"Better than your burnt polish again, idiot. You're lucky Kup told you to do what you needed to and to put it on!" Arcee shot back. She got up to head over to Springer and held out her arms, "Lemme have him!"

Carefully crouching, Kup put Springer onto the ground, letting him stand. Arcee took his hands in hers and began to walk backwards, helping him over to the kids' area. Prowl watched, tears in his eyes, as he watched his bitty walk for the first time since he had seen him.

They were tender, plodding little stomps, but oh, there was determination in him.

He captivated Prowl.

He sickened Prowl.

Deep down, he knew he could feel both things at once and it made his spark ache, but he knew giving him to Kup was the best choice. It would be Springer's best chance at growing up without the horrors of what his Sire had been and without the weight of Prowl's terrified gaze holding him down his entire life.

The twins got up from Prowl's sides and Jazz replaced them.

He held out his hands for Prowl to take, ready to pull Prowl up and into the next part of his life. While most of it was thrust upon him, this... Reaching out for help was a choice.

Prowl latched on and let Jazz pull him up. The arms that caught him might not have been the strongest, or the comfiest, but they felt right. Prowl pulled him in for a hug, relaxing.

Signing over Springer felt almost too easy. Their informal agreement was easy to write up into something more solid with preference going to Kup until they both agreed on it, with Springer's input gaining more weight when he turned 70, increasing with every 10 vorns. They would communicate any medic visits, participate in pre-arranged holidays, and in any significant school events. Until then... Springer would remain with Kup with Prowl having the option for sleepovers as Kup felt appropriate.

Ratchet took one look at Tarantulas' record of him and cursed violently. "He's going to need specialized care. His spark appears natural, but it's artificial. While I'm not going to treat it more one way or another, it's something that his doctor is going to need to be aware of." He sighed and brought First Aid into the call, seeing as that was both families' preferred doctor. 

It was also where he received his first set of armor. Both Ratchet and First Aid reassured that it was specialized to adapt to a mech in need of armor repairs and it would bind to whatever coding he had in his CNA, not necessarily his spark. Everyone watched with bated breath as his nanites came in mild shades of green, silver, and tan.

It was the first buds of a spring crystal breaking through a rust wasteland.

The irony of it wasn't lost on Prowl.

His tank churned when both of the medics pulled up estimations on his alt mode and they carefully broke the news that he would likely be a triple changer. It had been carefully, artificially programmed in.

Prowl and Kup were both angry at that, but Kup won the metaphorical fight that he had been the one to kill Tarantulas. Prowl grumbled on the unfairness of it, but relented that it was for the best. Instead, they knew that they would need to find a suitable instructor to help them teach Springer how to do… whatever his alt modes were. They were ground vehicles, not boats or jets or ships. 

“Even after his death, he still is finding ways to screw us over,” Prowl grumbled as he made it home. Kup grunted in agreement and followed him into Jazz’s house, Springer balanced on his hip in a well practiced hold. Oddly, he had been quiet for the most part and the only time Prowl had heard him cry was in Strongarm's hold. Maybe that said more about her than the rest of them, but he knew he and Kup would need to keep an eye on it.

The moment they swept into the house, the four other kids were on them in a moment, either just standing nearby or demanding attention, but Jazz laughed, stepping in. "What'd I say? They just got back, down ya little space barnacles!"

Sideswipe reached up to Prowl, demanding to be let up. His nanny sighed and picked him up, "Yes, Sideswipe?"

"Can Springer come watch our shows with us? We wanna give him his blanket and I want to be a big brother this time," He said nervously. Prowl took a deep breath in and noticed that Sunstreaker and Jazz were both holding their breath. He knew that they didn't have reason to do so, but not any reason not to.

He sighed long and slow, turning to Kup, "He's your creation as well now. Would you be alright with it?" He kept his field and tone light, trying to cast his approval.

Kup saw the boys both looking at him with hope and he smiled to his newest bitlet, "So, little mech. Do you want to watch a show with your brothers?" Springer tried to stick some of his hand into his mouth, sucking on it in comfort. He nodded and Kup's smile widened. "Alright, let's get you settled."

Sideswipe cheered quietly and clapped his hands, "Yay!" Prowl put him down and let the boys lead Kup over to the holoscreen.

Jazz stayed by Prowl and offered a hand. He took it and leaned against him, "Thank you."

"Y're doin' fine, Prowler. He'll know love," Jazz whispered and Prowl nodded weakly. His eyes teared up, but he tried to wipe them away. "Hey, y're allowed ta feel things. Everyone here knows that."

"I know, I just... I don't want the boys to worry," He whispered back.

Hot Rod and Arcee had hung back and they shared a look. Arcee looked up at Prowl finally, "You're doing the right thing. I don't know if you need to hear that, but it's true."

"Yeah. And he looks like a real mech now, ow!" He winced when his sister hit him.

Arcee glared at him and crossed her arms, "You can't just say that,  Hot Rod. He's a real mech, he's not a drone!"

"Don't hit your brother, Arcee," Prowl said carefully. He let go of Jazz to crouch in front of Hot Rod, "But you're right, he does look less odd now. Can I trust you two to... look after him when I can't?"

"We still need that talk with Kup that he'll take our concerns seriously," Arcee snipped, but it wasn't bitter. She knew who she was dealing with and Prowl was never so glad for her.

"Anyone under Kup's roof is family," Hot Rod nodded. He played with his fingers again, "That's what he said. We'll look after him for you."

Jazz crouched next to Prowl and smiled, "Don't think we didn' miss what ya did earlier with the fire. Is that a mod or…?”

Hot Rod held up his hand and let it catch fire again, “Nope! Kup said I’m an outlier, it’s apparently something that runs in my family. My... spark family." He let the fire go out, revealing no damage. "My… My CNA donor could fly around without mods or transforming, and he wasn’t a jet or anything either. He’s actually kind of cool like that, until, you know… you get close to him. After that, it’s what use you can be to him, you know?” He was shriveling up, but Jazz reached a hand out to the hand that hadn't caught fire.

“Well, forget him. You got one kick-aft old mech lookin’ out for ya and I think he’s a better sire than your donor is. I think he’s goin’ to tell ya too, after I tell ‘im, but ya did a good thing fer Prowler today, and I’m thankful and proud ya did. You’re goin’ ta grow up into a hell of a mech, Roddy,” Jazz praised and ruffled his head.

Hot Rod laughed and slapped his hands away. After a moment, he relaxed and leaned into Jazz, “You’re crazy too, but the good crazy. I hope Sideswipe grows up to be like you.”

Jazz laughed and pulled him closer against his side, “Mech, lemme tell ya a secret. It’s a great honor to be told that, but as ya grow up… Ya realize you’re a little screwed up. Ya want to do everything ya can to make sure the next group after you comes out better, so it scares us old folk to be told that.”

“It’s ok, we’re all already a little messed up,” Hot Rod chirped. He smiled and leaned into his uncle’s side, “I still think you’re really cool.”

“I think you’re pretty hot scrap yourself, kid.”

Arcee rolled her eyes, but shared a bemused look with Prowl. He smiled back and rose. He paused when he saw Kup sitting back on the couch, the twins sitting with their blankets around them, and Springer between them. He was drowning in his own blanket, but they all looked so happy. Arcee and Hot Rod slipped away to go join the twins, sitting at their preferred twin's side. Sunstreaker let Arcee wrap an arm over his shoulders while Sideswipe stood, threw his blanket over Hot Rod, and crawled into his lap. The pair shuffled closer and Springer beeped happily.

Jazz rose next to Prowl again and his spark melted at the scene. "Are ya goin' to be okay, Prowler?"

"I think so. I just... need time. He needs someone who won't be constantly trying to compare him to Tarantulas, and that person isn't me. I... I think loving from afar would be better," He whispered. He looked down at Jazz, evaluating him. 

The shorter mech looked at peace. He looked like he hadn't nearly had an illegal arrest in his home earlier, or his crush's surprise bitlet in his living room... He looked like a proud mech who loved life and everyone around him... Even moreso... when Jazz looked up at Prowl. He hummed in confusion, but Prowl simply leaned down to press their crests together. His engine rumbled happily and his eyes drifted closed.

The sounds of the holoscreen, the five children singing or babbling along, Kup laughing at them... Jazz's surprised gasp... It was all so perfect. Prowl enjoyed the moment before him, letting the tears slip down his face. 

For once, they were happy.

Jazz hummed and wiped them away, not expecting anything else from the moment. He knew Prowl would kiss him when the time was right, but he needed to walk the road first. This tender moment felt like a perfect first step.

Chapter Text

Two weeks. 

Prowl had two weeks to throw the party. 

He tapped his stylus against the data pad  as he thought about what Hot Rod would want. 

He would do the basics. Presents, cake, family, friends. He needed location, theme, and favorites. He needed to talk with Kup.

The entire fiasco the previous day had emotionally drained Prowl, but he knew that he needed a distraction. He needed to put together something that would keep his mind occupied, and have an end result that would have a well-received reaction. A sparkday party was the perfect idea. Kup would know the best way to handle what Hot Rod wanted, or he would know if Hot Rod would want to be consulted himself. 

He just… needed to call the mech that saved his life twice over in the past two days.

Easy.

”Are ya doin’ okay, Prowler?” Jazz asked as he spilled into the seat next to him. They watched their boys go through their early morning art routine that would be carried over into their school in the next vorn.

He hummed quietly, “Yes, I just… Need to call Kup. I’m finding it more difficult than I thought.”

Jazz shrugged in agreement and watched Sideswipe dabbing happily with his paints in what they both knew was an updated family picture. “I meant… not just that. How’re you doin’?”

”…It is better when I no longer have things out of my control being sprung on me constantly,” He admitted. He eyed Jazz, “Do not think I have forgotten your comments yesterday about having a sparkling.”

Jazz burst into a bright blush, but brought his arms in. Prowl winced when he realized that it was a defensive pose, “I apologize-“

”Nah, just… didn’t know we were goin’ to be havin’ a talk. I… I know havin’ a sparkling probably ain’ in the picture right now, and I won’t ever try ya force one on ya, but… I wouldn’t be… opposed… to havin’ a bigger family. But if nothin’ else, we have the twins,” He said slowly. “If you had asked me, I woulda loved Springer all the same.”

”Then he will have three happy creators,” Prowl acquiesced. Jazz physically perked up in his seat and Prowl smiled for a brief moment. “I… I had been opposed back in Praxus for several reasons. The first was simply that I was near the end of my graduation. If I had been asked after I had become established, or if Tarantulas had been the one to carry, that would have been different conditions. I do not want to discuss further ideas for how it could work with us but… perhaps… someday…” His throat began to close, but Jazz knocked on the table to get his attention.

”Hey, an’ I won’t push. Remember, we already got the boys. Let’s focus on them ‘fore we even think about anythin’ else and if the day comes… We can talk about it more then. My job would make it hard ta carry, but so would yours. I’m not goin’ to hold any of this against ya, I promise.”

Prowl sagged in his chair, “Thank you, Jazz. I appreciate it.” He slowly reached out and took Jazz’s hand in his. Jazz let him move his fingers as he wanted and Prowl hummed quietly. 

Perhaps this would be alright.

”I got some stuff put together for you,” Kup grunted as he heaved into the unyielding wooden chair. A datapad was placed before Prowl and Kup grunted as Springer whined, trying to reach out to Prowl. “He’s been a little fussy, but nothing I’m not used to,” He said. He bobbed Springer up and down a few times, relaxing as Springer’s fussing stopped. 

“If you would like me to hold him, I… I need to get over some of my feelings, and I would like to do so before he gets older,” Prowl said quietly. He waved gently to his bitlet, earning a happy babble and a wave back.

Kup grunted, “Not for a while, if that’s okay. I want him to get used to just seeing you without getting physically attached either. I might be willing to let him go this weekend, maybe on a Saturday night?”

It was Wednesday, so about three days. Three days and Prowl woukd… no, could, be left with his creation. The thought both concerned him, and pacified him.

”If it would help… I would need to talk with Jazz about having a sleepover then. I think it might help yours know that he is alright with me,” Prowl said slowly.

Kup grinned and shook his head in amusement, “Damn, now I owe Arcee five credits. She knew you’d say that.”

”Smart femme. I don’t know whether to be concerned that she knows how to read people so well at her age,” He admitted. He pulled the datapad that Kup had given him closer. Hopefully, it would help him with his planning.

He was turning 105 vorns old, he wanted a racing themed party, and he liked chocolate and strawberry ‘but not the mushy strawberries’. Oh, a mechling after his own heart.

Prowl nodded as he read some of the work, “I can handle this. Would you be alright if I handled the cake?”

”Where are you getting it? We need to stay away from some bakeries because they remember him, and if Sentinel hears, he’ll try to pay extra to make the cake more… him. He’s not allowed to visit either. He knows that, but if he gets wind, he’ll try to weasel his way in,” Kup admitted.

So that would require a bouncer, and someone who was not afraid to square up with a Prime.

”You think I’m afraid of going to jail again? I miss my old buddies, they sure knew how to throw a punch! Not as good as you, of course but WOW, they were good. I mean, I got you to throw me into walls so I’m not immediately trying to go back, but I’m not afraid to! Try me!”

”I know a person,” Prowl mused. “I will probably be able to pay him off with some of the cake. He’ll be willing to make sure no one gets close.”

”Close to what?” Orion asked as he slipped in next to Prowl. His doorwings jerked up and he flinched, but Orion winced. “My apologies, I thought you would have noticed me…” He froze when he saw Springer cuddled up with Kup, watching Orion closely, “Oh hello, who are you?”

”One of my new fosters,” Kup said immediately. He offered the sparkling a finger and smiled as Springer latched on. “Not able to share too many details-“

”Tarantulas made an artificial sparkling and used some of my CNA to create him. I am having feelings about him that are conflicting and figured Kup was the most capable person I knew,” Prowl offered up. 

Kup frowned at him, “I wouldn’t have told him, youngling.”

”I know, but I felt like it was pertinent information,” He countered. “Besides, I do not like keeping important information from my friends.” 

Orion smiled proudly, “I will take your confidence in me as a compliment. And I understand that this is difficult situation, my condolences. I am glad it is working out thus far.”

Kup nodded, “It’ll take some time. Oh, and before I forget, Hot Rod wants Bee at his sparkday party.”

”Is there anyone other than our usual crowd?” Prowl asked. He got a head shake as an answer and nodded. Another quick scribble and he nodded again, “Good. I’ll take care of it. Is there anything else I need to know?”

The foster parent took a deep breath in and slowly let it out.

And dropped a bombshell.

Prowl’s doorwings shot up in surprise before he quickly lowered them again, “How long have you had him again?”

”Less than a vorn, but I’m sure about this. I already have the courts’ permission,” Kup smiled as he bounced Springer again. The butler squealed in delight. “I would like Springer to be there, but I’ll bring a blanket for him to play on.”

”I can assign rotating shifts to monitor him and the others,” Prowl agreed. It only took a moment to add the plan in. “Will you be planning to ask alone or in public? He could go for either.”

”But if I’m not careful, he’d either want to share it with his friends immediately, or he’d feel like he was being pressured,” Kup agreed. He sighed as he thought. “Do you think asking Arcee to help would work?”

”Are you planning to adopt her as well at some point in the future? I would recommend that you do not have her ask unless you are positive because you will be making her an active participant,” Prowl asked. 

Kup scoffed, “Of course I will. She knows I’m a foster to adopt. I know she’ll also tell me what she wants when she comes back to me, but that was always the intention.”

“Then I don’t think there will be any problem,” Orion agreed. He faltered, “Would it be alright if I brought Ariel? She has heard stories but I would like to introduce you all.”

Kup took a deep breath in, “I… Will need to ask him in some weird way-“

”He is getting a party. He knows he is, correct?” Prowl cut off. “We allowed our creations as much autonomy as we can, and it is his sparkday. He should be allowed to say who is and isn’t allowed to come. If that is the case, I would like to introduce Hot Rod to who the bouncer will be, since I highly doubt that Whirl will be able to-“

”You know Whirl?” Kup demanded. He laughed quietly and shook his head. Prowl blinked in confusion, but he waved his hand, “Nah, he can come. I think they’d get on like a house on fire.”

”I’m beginning to wonder if you mean literally,” Prowl mumbled, making Kup bark in laughter. “How do you know each other, if I may ask?”

”We served together in the war. He was a young thing then. He took a hit to the head a few too many times and his hands got destroyed, and in war, you use what you can. He’s not an empurata because he messed up or anything, but it’s what the surgeons needed to do. Honestly, we weren’t sure he was going to make it,” Kup grunted. “The other mech in our small unit, Drift, promised to keep an eye out for him if he ever needed it. His conjunx thinks it’s all nonsense, that meditative scrap, but when he manages to get Whirl to calm down? Totally different mech. And Roadbuster?” He whistled lowly. “He worked in HR at some of the places Whirl worked at and managed to get some of his charges lowered.”

He still narrowed his eyes at Prowl, “You trust him to look over the venue?”

Prowl lifted an eyebrow, “Do you trust anyone else to threaten Sentinel if it comes down to it? Especially when it’s one of your kids’ sparkdays?”

”Fair enough,” Kup grunted. “I think he might enjoy learning a move or two from Whirl. How’d you get him to calm down anyway?”

Prowl flushed and focused back on his planning, “I… May or may not have shoved his face into a plate of lasagna. He hasn’t left me alone since. Besides, the boys love learning new moves and Whirl is an acceptable babysitter. He tells grand stories because he apparently looks ‘just like Whirlybird.’”

Kup laughed again, deep in his chest and booming. Springer looked up with wide eyes and Prowl knew there was wonderment in them. He knew a part of him wanted to be on the other end of that look someday. On the other…

”Please excuse me. I am going to go ask Hot Rod some questions,” He said quietly, slipping out of his chair. Orion and Kup shared a knowing look and only nodded in solidarity. There would be no judgment from them.

Jazz’s eyebrows rose as he saw the whirlwind mess in his kitchen. The twins were smashing up cubes of butter between layers of parchment paper as Prowl carefully measured dry ingredients as a warm smell permeated from the oven. Next to him, Hot Rod was sitting on the counter, kicking his legs and watching as he licked at a serving spoon. Arcee was watching a nature documentary in the living room with Springer, quietly explaining different things to him.

It was a mess of children and ingredients, and Prowl looked like he was thriving.

He whistled lowly as he slipped into the kitchen, “Damn, Prowler. You look like you’re trying to bake for an army.” Prowl cast him a look and smiled.

Hot Rod grinned and kicked out especially hard, nearly clipping Jazz, “He is! He’s making cupcakes for us so we know what we all like! The chocolate is in the oven right now and… 2 minutes.”

”Two minutes,” Prowl echoed and nodded. He looked over to their boys for a moment, “Baker Sunstreaker, Baker Sideswipe, how is the butter coming along?”

Sideswipe giggled as he held up his slips of parchment paper, letting it bend over like a wet paper towel, “It’s floppy!”

”I can see that!” Jazz laughed. He stood on tip toe so he could try to look over Prowl’s shoulder. “Mind if I have a bit of kitchen tax?”

Prowl chuckled quietly, “Get me a spoon from the drawer, a small one. This batch only makes about 10, and we have some hungry soldiers here.”

”I want three!” Hot Rod grinned and took another lick of his spoon. “Why are you doing all of this if you know my favorite flavor?”

”Because it’s a good chance to know Arcee’s and the twins’ and Springer’s. He just gets a little bit. Too much sugar isn’t good for sparklings,” He said. 

Arcee looked up from the floor, “You could just ask what I like.”

Prowl straightened to smile gently, “Maybe. But maybe I want to be selfish and see how you like my cupcakes.”

”Prowler’s creators are bakers,” Jazz clarified and Arcee blinked.

”You know what, that actually… makes a lot of sense. My Carrier used to measure everything down to the granulate.”

Prowl chuckled at an old memory, “I remember when I was about 72, I told my carrier that sugar cubes weren’t the same in the same weight as regular sugar. She dared me to bust one up and count it out like that. She was joking. I was not. She opted to tell my Sire that I was their official ‘Sugar Sergeant.’ Made a badge from sugar shards and everything. Then, after we had one customer who kept coming in with different colored nanites and I caught him, they told me I should go on to be a detective.” His smile softened, “They made me who I am.”

”They did a pit of a job, Prowler. Y’re a mech among titans,” Jazz mused. Prowl smiled, but it shifted when the oven alarm beeped. He whirled around in a practiced movement and was quick to take them out. 

It was only a batch of 6, but Primus, it smelled like he was in a bakery from when he was little. It was one of the few times his creators were nice and let him and his brother get whatever they wanted. It was one of his most guarded memories and it hurt to think about…trying the little watermelon desserts again, but maybe…

“H-Hey, Prowler? Do you know what kind of dessert is shaped kind of like two cookies sandwiches together?” Jazz asked.

He hummed in thought, “That can be a lot of things. Do you remember the flavor or the color or anything?”

He swallowed as he sat back down, “They were designed to look like little watermelons. The bakery closed down decavorns ago, but… they were green and smooth, but the baker had painted the tops red and with little seeds, and if you held them too hard, they crumbled and it was the best thing I ever had…” Jazz whispered. 

Prowl froze and he nodded, “Macarons. Probably watermelon flavored. I… Let me make a call. My creators have a recipe somewhere, I think.” He went back to the next batch of cupcakes, slowly adding in a strawberry syrup. Hot Rod watched, enthralled, as Prowl strained all of the strawberry too big to fit through the fine mesh.

Jazz realized a moment too late that Prowl had very much meant ‘Make that call right now.’

”Hi, Carrier- Yes, Carri, I’m fine. Yes, I-- He’s dead, Carri, I’m fine. No, I-- Carri, please. I wanted to-- Yes, I’m still eating healthy. I wanted to ask you for your-- Yes, I passed with flying colors, as always, I told you last week. I wanted--Carrier, can I please speak?” He demanded in bemused impatience. “Do you still have that watermelon macaron recipe? Someone I-- I’m sorry, I meant to call a few days ago, but so far, alive had to deal with Nightbeat coming to accuse me of murder while dropping off Springer-- Yes, Carri, he’s… yeah. I’m sharing custody with a friend at the moment because of everything. I… I-Carri-Wait--“ He sighed in more genuinely, but very much loving, annoyance.

He focused on Jazz and sighed. “That was my Carrier who is now demanding to come visit after the Festival of Crystals so she can  meet my boys. You, the twins, and…” His gaze drifted down. “Her first grandcreation.”

”Oh,” He winced. “Did ya tell her that he’s with Kup?”

Prowl sighed again in annoyance and continued to beat the mixture, “I tried, but it seems like I’ll need to send an actual message this time so I’m not interrupted. I love them dearly, but they get very… enthusiastic.”

Jazz eyed Sunstreaker for a moment, “Are they…?”

”They won’t be a problem. I’ll let them know about them and they’ll let him make the first move. I didn’t learn all of this in my adulthood, after all.” Prowl’s smile returned, “They were patient and helped me with my coping mechanisms. They were just excitable because I haven’t spoken to them in a few days and they complain whenever I go more than two hours without calling them. They know I get caught up in things and send messages when they can.” He nodded to Hot Rod, “Could you write some things down for me? I want Jazz to make a run to the store. There are some writing things at the table.”

”You can just tell me, I’ll remember,” Jazz shrugged. He as already pulling out a notation program he had found a while ago, dedicating the list to memory. 

Prowl frowned, but sighed, “I need a bag of finely sifted almond flour, not just chopped because I'll need to bring out a food processor, a container of prechopped watermelon or some watermelon syrup, we don’t need much, and more eggs. I'll still need some time to prepare them, but they should be ready before you go off to work." When Jazz didn't respond, Prowl peered up. 

He was froze in place and Prowl blinked, "The more you stand there, the longer you'll need to wait for them, Jazz." That seemed to snap him out of his revere and he was gone before Prowl could think about it.

Sideswipe looked up from his butter mashing, "It's gooey now!" He held up his parchment paper, the butter barely staying contained.

Prowl chuckled as he nodded to Hot Rod, "I can see that! Hot Rod's going to get it, and we'll make the frosting made."

When Jazz returned, he needed to be careful to not slam the ingredients down. He was clearly antsy and Prowl knew he was going to be dying until he got his hands on the deserts.

Prowl turned to the twins, "Boys, can you help Jazz with the chain decorations?"

"The what?" Jazz asked, but Hot Rod appeared from behind him and grabbed his hand. He was dragged over to the kids' area and saw the kids had all been moved to the small craft table. Arcee was cutting out papers, and given the mess next to her, Hot Rod had been the one measuring. The twins were both making the chains and Springer was happily flapping around a dedicated chain of three in his hands. "Why're we doin' this?"

"Decorations! For my sparkday!" Hot Rod exclaimed as he went back to measuring the strips by folding them several times. Arcee nodded in approval as she continued cutting.

Sideswipe waved a hand, covered in dried bits of glue, "Jazzy! Prowlie said we can have dessert when he's done with the cupcakes! Sunny and I get to split one of each!"

"Oh?" He asked, leaving Prowl to handle everything in the kitchen as asked. "What flavors are there so far?"

"Brown and pink and yellow and orange?" Sideswipe said, partially unsure. He looked to his brother for help.

Sunstreaker nodded, "Choccy, stawbey, villy and carrot." The older kids snorted and he glared at them.

Arcee worked to rein her giggle in, "Sorry, Streaker. It was chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, and carrot cake."

"Heck yeah, strawberry and chocolate," Hot Rod grinned.

Jazz looked over his shoulder, "Do ya need help, Prowler?"

"I could use a hand with the dishes as I'm done with them, if you don't mind?" Prowl called back. 

Arcee looked up sharply, "When I asked if you needed help, you said no!"

"I needed you to hand the scissors more. Would you trust Hot Rod with them?" He asked. Hot Rod looked offended for all of two seconds before he paused and shrugged. "If you and Jazz want to talk about it, I'm okay if you want to help with the dishes and Jazz take over."

Jazz turned to her and shrugged, "Up to you, 'Cee."

She chewed on her lip for a moment before she nodded, "I want to go help Prowl. It's getting a bit much."

"Hey, if ya need to take a moment fer yourself or a nap, there's a guest bedroom you can chill in for a little bit. We'll leave ya alone," Jazz offered. Arcee looked to Prowl for permission and he nodded.

"I'll make sure to save you a cupcake of each," Prowl said. "I'll do what I can to make sure the boys don't steal them." Arcee nodded and Jazz pointed out the direction for her. 

Sunstreaker got up before she could leave and dug through his subspace to bring out his stuffed animal, presenting it to her. She smiled as she took his petrobat and held it close. "Thanks, Streaker." She hesitated as she looked at Jazz and Prowl.

"The door locks," Jazz offered, "and we'll ping ya if we need ya. Nap well." She nodded and headed to the back hall. Both of the adults got the notice that the room locked from the inside and they knew she'd have her space.

Hot Rod got up again to drag Jazz to where Arcee had sat and passed him the scissors, with wide eyes. "Prowl says that if we make this big enough, he'll hang it up for my party! It'll look maybe a little goofy, but I think it's cool to have stuff from my friends." He paused and looked up, "Is it weird that some of my friends are sparklings?"

"Hey, I'm not a sparkling!" Sideswipe protested.

Jazz chuckled and ruffled his head, "Nah, Sides. You'll be a sparklin' until you're bigger."

"How big?"

"As big as me."

"But Jazzy! That'll take for-ev-ver!" Sideswipe whined. Sunstreaker tapped him with the bottom of the glue stick, asking him to quiet down. Sideswipe grumbled, but did as he asked.

Springer just waved his little chain of pretty paper around like a tiny cheerleader.

Hot Rod stared at the spread before him in awe and he poked the orange cupcake, "Why does it look like that?"

"The carrot does get cooked some. Use your fork please, whatever you do not eat, I'll have later," Prowl explained. He had his own set of four cupcakes spread before him. The chocolate and carrot both had cream cheese frosting while the vanilla and strawberry both had strawberry frosting, and if there was a 'healthy' dollop of chocolate frosting on the side, that was neither here nor there. While Hot Rod, Jazz, and Prowl all had their own plates, the twins shared one, and Prowl was cutting a small portion of his cupcakes out for Springer to try. 

"What about Arcee?" Jazz asked. "Have ya pinged her?"

"I have. I think she's recharging, so I left her a silent note. Her cupcakes are in the fridge, top shelf," He said. He looked over the table, "What is everyone waiting for? You can try some."

Hot Rod whooped happily and shoved some of the chocolate cupcake into his mouth. He hummed happily, "This ish sho good!"

Jazz cocked his head and took a bite of his chocolate cupcake. Oh, frag, he was going to be dreaming about these for weeks. It was the perfect mix of rich and light, and the frosting wasn't too sweet, only adding to how balanced it was... Oh, he was going to lose his mind.

Prowl chuckled at the nearly obscene sounds that Jazz made, stashing them away for... later. He focused more on taking a small portion of his cupcake off and gently feeding it to Springer with one of the boys' plastic utensils. The spar- 

He sighed internally as he realized that he had messed up again. Springer was his sparkling, even if... he wasn't directly in his care anymore.

"Hey," Hot Rod said quietly. "Do you need me or Jazz to help you out? I think the twins need a hand." He had that knowing look in his eyes and Jazz chewed patiently.

"I... I'm sorry, if... If you don't mind," Prowl whispered. He put the utensil down and gouged out a similar portion from his cupcakes before moving on to make sure the twins each got half of a cupcake. Jazz moved in to take over, and Prowl was never so thankful.

He barely missed the notification about the guestroom door unlocking, but he paused when he did. He looked up and saw Arcee standing in the doorway. He straightened and nodded to her, "Did you sleep well?" 

She squeezed Sunstreaker's bat plushie more and stepped into the room. She headed for the kitchen, putting the island between her and the rest of the group. Prowl cocked his head, "Are you okay?" She hesitated, but shrugged. Prowl shared a quick look with Jazz, but turned back to her. "Do you not want to talk?" Arcee shook her head quickly and Prowl nodded, "Alright. I have your cupcakes ready if you would like them now, but they're in the fridge if not."

Arcee shook her head again, but Hot Rod tugged on Prowl's arm, "She wants a hug, but she doesn't know how to ask. Kup's been working on it with her."

"Jazz gives better hugs than I do," Prowl said and nodded to him. 

The mech in question hesitated and turned to Arcee, "Are ya okay if I give ya a hug?" She hesitated and slowly nodded. He smiled and walked over, trying not to startle her more. She sank into his arms as he wrapped himself around her, holding her gently. "I don' know what happened, bitty, but it'll be aight. Nothin's goin' to get to ya, and we'll make sure everythin' goes okay." She cried quietly as he just held her, whispering the same few things to her as he rocked her side to side.

Hot Rod poked at Prowl, "She has nightmares. Kup usually makes some energon with gold flakes for her. Can I do that?"

That mean boiling the energon, and that wasn't something Prowl entirely trusted to the 104 vorn old quite yet, but... there was hope in those eyes.

He swallowed and nodded, "There's a pot in the dishwasher, it has a lip for pouring things. Energon is on the counter, and the gold flakes are in the drawer next to the stove. Please use the pot holders."

"Prowl, my hands catch on fire. I think I'll be fine," Hot Rod scoffed. 

He moved so that he stepped beside Hot Rod, "I'm not sure if it works like that, so do this for my ease of mind?"

"Whatever, you're not my Old Man," Hot Rod grumbled. He headed off and Prowl shared a look with Jazz. Jazz nodded and gestured back to the twins. They were in for a time.

Jazz was looking back through the glass of the bakery. Ricochet's nose was pressed to it, and their carrier was too busy to actually care about pulling them back. 

Behind the counter, the warm-eyed baker was smiling at them, but returned to tapping a tray of small green and red pucks on a tray. Giving a glance to his carrier, the baker slid two finished treats from behind the glass. He desperately tried to hush them, and Jazz was already stuffing the treat into his mouth. Oh, it had tasted so good and sweet and crunch and... It reminded him of actual watermelon.

His carrier hadn't noticed the treats, and Jazz and Ricochet had rushed to brush each other off of any crumbs and made sure to go back to being their little perfect selves to not get screamed at later.

He was staring at those same green and red pucks, pressed into their little sandwiches. They smelled just like they had back then and his hand shook as he took one. Taking a bite, it crumbled perfect and he was back there, with his brother, smiling devilishly as he would keep a secret that would always be between him, his brother, and that baker. 

It was perfect and joy and sweetness wrapped into one and he was crying.

Jazz hiccupped, trying not to inhale the macaron, but he needed to put it down, "Pr-Prowler, t-this is it, Primus, I-"

"What do you need?" Prowl asked gently as he took in the reaction. This wasn't exactly what he had been looking for, but it was something close enough that it melted his spark. 

"I just-" He cut himself off as he tried to take another bite. "I love 'em, I really do, I just need some time." He needed time to not inhale the ones that Prowl had set aside for him, he needed time to not break into deeper sobs, he needed time to not beg Prowl to stay in his life again. He needed, but he didn't know what, and so he asked for the only thing he could in that moment.

"I need time, 'cause I don' want to say somethin' stupid," Jazz whispered as he cried into a memory of his childhood. "They taste just like it. How...?"

Prowl smiled and rubbed some of the tears from his cheeks, the tip of his thumb just barely grazing underneath his visor, "There are some treats that bakers make that taste to the spark of their craft. Whoever that baker was, they loved what they did, and who they were making it for." He pressed their foreheads together again, but he couldn't help but laugh as Jazz snuck his hand up to take the last bite of the macaron. 

"Well, I can taste it," He whispered back. He could taste the love.

Prowl and Jazz leaned on each other in the door of the hallway, looking over Arcee sleeping on the couch and Hot Rod on the ground in front of her. The twins were sleeping next to him, and Springer was tucked between them. The holoscreen was on, turned on low, but the young children were already asleep. Hot Rod was on his way out, but Arcee wasn't watching the holoscreen. Her eyes reflected the light almost eerily, but she only watched the adults.

She looked down at the other younglings and let out a deep breath that seemed to let all of the tension out of her body. The message was clear. She would look after them, but right now, she felt nothing but safe.

Prowl focused on his bitlet tucked between his sparklings and his spark twisted in two different ways. 

"When will it get easier?" He asked Jazz quietly, making sure no one else could hear him.

Jazz wrapped an arm around his waist, but it was more just a place to put his arm, "When it stops hurtin'. Remember, one day at a time."

"One day at a time," He agreed, leaning more into Jazz. Oh, to have quiet nights like this, hosting sleepovers and listening to the five small frames sleeping quietly, five small engines purring out of sync but it sounded almost like a song. Jazz knew he wouldn't be able to get the quality of a true recording, so he opted to just enjoy the moment.

"Alright, boys, do you have the presents?" Prowl asked as he began to round up all of the supplies. It was finally the day of Hot Rod's sparkday, and he had spent the first part of the evening baking, molding, and coloring the cake into the estimated shape of what Hot Rod's alt mode would be when he would finally be big enough to transform properly. It was perfect and even Jazz was having a difficult time looking away from it. 

Sunstreaker held up his carefully wrapped (for a sparkling) gift that held an action figure that Hot Rod had talked about wanting and Sideswipe held up a much messier-wrapped box. It was a data-chip collection of the first season from the action show, and Sideswipe was very proud of find. 

Prowl was just glad that he had coordinated what everyone was getting Hot Rod to prevent duplicates. It also meant that Orion was able to get the second season, and Blurr, the third. Prowl tried not to think about the fact that the third season wasn't fully released yet. Jazz agreed to keep his mouth shut about it and they all moved on with their lives.

The decorations, the cake, their food for lunch were boxed up in heat carriers and cool carriers and it was only a matter of getting everything to the park. That section of the park already had been marked as private for the event, so if anyone tried to bother them, Prowl would have a permit to show that they were being harassed. Jazz would bring everyone there and back, Orion and his would help get everything set up, and Whirl would patrol the area to ensure no unknowns came to bother them.

Prowl just hoped that everything would go well. There was only so much planning could be made to mitigate risks, and he wouldn't brother with a time table. The kids would let them know when they wanted something. 

Whirl would be waiting for them when they rolled up and Jazz let the boys out before transforming. The former soldier strutted over to them, "Small cadets! Are you ready for today?"

"Yeah!" They cheered and he placed his hands on his hips.

"Are you ready to celebrate a sparkday?"

"Yeah!"

"Are you ready to consume cake?"

"Yeah!"

"Are you going to throw it around?"

"Yea- Wait no!" They giggled and Whirl scooped up Sideswipe as he protested.

He got his face in close, making Sideswipe giggle harder, "Are you backtalking me? Huh? Huh?"

"Y-Yes," Sideswipe struggled to get out between his squeals of laughter.

Whirl reeled back for a moment, "Huh. Hadn't considered there wouldn't be any food fights." He peered at Sunstreaker, "What about any fight-fights? You knoooow I loooove those."

Sunstreaker crossed his arms, "No fighting on Roddy's sparkday. He said so."

He groaned loudly as he swiveled his head around in a way that looked nearly painful, "Fiiiiiiine, if you say so." He looked over to Jazz, "Permission to kidnap your bitlets and spin them around by their ankles?"

"Yes to the botnappin', not to the spinnin'. I think Prowler's got today planned down to the amount of dirt the kids're gonna get on 'em, so let's not get too crazy," Jazz chuckled. He got the cart out of Prowl's back seat so he could get everything else out. "Thanks again fer the help, Whirl."

"Are you joking? When there's even the remote chance I'll be able to hit that pompous aft....terthought in the face? Never! Not after what he did to my nephew!" Whirl huffed. He held a hand out to Sunstreaker, "Well, I'm apparently not allowed to spin you, but your Jazzy never said anything about throwing you little scraplets, so I'm sending you into orbit!" Sideswipe cheered, but Sunstreaker only rolled his eyes as he grabbed onto Whirl's clawed hand tightly. He was raised up until he could sit on his shoulder plating. "Alright, Rock 'em, Sock 'em, let's go kick some Quinty butt!" He took off, leaving Jazz and Prowl to handle the unloading.

Jazz shook his head, "I have no idea how he manages it all of the time."

"He's just a little... odd," Prowl agreed, but didn't complain. "He's good for the children though." Jazz clicked his tongue, but didn't disagree. They wheeled everthing over the a nearby set of picnic tables and Prowl began to lay tablecloths down that looked like racing flags. They were secured with a little bit of table and between the four tables, they had one for presents, another for food, and the last two for sitting. 

From there, it was just arranging everything. Other than the twins' presents, Prowl had made and gotten Hot Rod a scrapbook similar to the one he had prepared for Jazz, and the radio host had gotten him a few items with his favorite racer's signature. The presents were secured on the table and the food stayed in their containers to preserve the temperature. Prowl checked on the cake to make sure it hadn't gotten messed up and relaxed that it hadn't shifted.

"'Id'ipe! 'Un'teakr!" Prowl turned at the familiar call and saw Orion Pax with a squirming Bumblebee in his arms, a bright pink femme right next to him. She looked just as peaceful and nice as Orion and Prowl understood that Bumblebee's kind and carefree attitude was just a result of happy creators. 

Whirl froze at the call and spun on his heel. Sideswipe squealed in delight and Sunstreaker pointed Whirl to the trio. "That way," He said simply and Whirl whooped. He charged forward and Ariel took a step forward, but Orion glanced at Prowl and Jazz. They weren't alarmed, so he whispered something to his conjunx. Ariel turned back to look at him, but when she looked back at Whirl... He was already skidding to a stop. 

Sideswipe cheered, "Again! Again! Again!" He clapped his hands and Whirl shifted his grip to have a better hold on him. "Bee! Bee! Bee! This is Uncle Whirl! He's really funny!"

"I'm not funny! I'm scaaaary!" Whirl grumbled as he moved his neck down in an impossible way to be closer to Sideswipe's face. "Aaaaaagh! I'm scary! Scream! Scream, darn you!" Sideswipe only giggled more and Prowl knew he needed to step in.

He walked up, "Orion, Bumblebee. Thank you for coming. You must be Ariel?" He held out a hand, "It's nice to meet you, I've heard many things about you. All of them good, don't worry."

Ariel chuckled as she shook his hand, a delicate but firm grip, "And you must be Prowl. Many things as well, most of them good. The only downside I've heard is the fact that Orion can't bring you home to look after our sparkling."

"Yes, well-"

Sunstreaker glared at her, "Our Prowlie. Mine and Sides' and Jazzy's. Ours."

Whirl nodded sagely, "Don't worry, Sock 'em, I'll protect your Prowlie for you." He was rewarded with head pats and his single optic perked up at the praise. "So, is it time for the Whirlybird to pick up one more passenger?"

Orion and Ariel hesitated, so Prowl shook his head, "Could you do another sweep, just in case? This might be the last chance to have fun with the boys before the party."

"Welp!" Whirl crowed again. "You heard the scary boss-mech! Team Whirlybird, blasting off again!" He bolted around their designated area, acting goofy, but Prowl knew he was lookin all around for any threats or sign of Sentinel. They were going to be taking zero chances.

"He's... a character," Orion said carefully. "Your boys love him though."

Prowl hummed and waved at Bumblebee, "Considering the first time I met him, I planted his face into a plate of lasagna, I will agree he's a character, but he's a good babysitter. He's another host at CIBR, so he understands the need to have a close eye out for any threats to the kids of celebrities. He was additionally in Kup's unit when he was younger, and has... rather avidly stated he would be happy to protect Hot Rod at the expense of Sentinel."

"He wants to beat up the Prime," Ariel revised with a knowing look. Prowl shrugged and she looked out at the empurata as he put Sunstreaker down so he could spin with Sideswipe held close to him. "Have you used him as a babysitter?"

"A few times. He doesn't necessarily hold to 'no sweets before dinner' or bedtimes, but he is excellent at tiring them out, and Blurr would never allow an actual danger to children to work at his station, family friend or not," Prowl agreed. "I've looked at his record and it's nothing but assault charges. I've looked into it further and he was largely stepping in for those in unfavorable conditions against a larger aggressor. I would not let him near them otherwise."

Orion finally relaxed, "So he is violent, but he'd be more likely to assault someone coming after the boys."

"Correct. Given his... enthusiasm about handling the Prime and how close he is to Hot Rod's case, I would see no better guard to the sparkday party," Prowl mused. He gestured to the tables, "We have one for gifts and another for food. If the seating is not enough, I have picnic blankets for the children to use."

Ariel looked around as Jazz hung some of the decorations, including the chain, various racing flags, and some games for the kids to play later. "I am going to assume you're the one that arranged this?"

He nodded and Orion smiled at her proudly. "I told you he was good," He kissed her cheek before he slipped away. Ariel lifted an eyebrow and Prowl shrugged. He gestured her forward and relaxed some as she brought out a dish of their own, macaroni and cheese, and three other presents. Those, he knew, were more action figures and posters and small race track. 

Jazz noticed the new arrivals and hopped down from hanging a racing flag to introduce himself. The pair laughed at something he said, and Prowl took the chance to look out over the road for any sign of Kup and his kids. Nothing yet. Good. They still had things they needed to do.

They still needed to set out the plates and forks. They still needed to set up the yard games. They still needed to... Huh.

Running everything over in his head, Prowl noticed that most of the party was setting up quickly. He joined the other adults and helped them set out the places. Orion and Ariel traded off Bumblebee now and again, but they were humming happily the whole time. Jazz and Prowl worked on the same table and when they met halfway, their hands met and Prowl realized that the party was missing something.

"Music."

"What's up?" Jazz asked, but he caught on immediately. He smacked his forehead, "Of course! Prowler! I forgot!" He reached into his subspace and pulled out a sizeable radio. It wouldn't be enough to cause a noise disturbance, but it would be enough to keep the vibe of the party going. "I thought ta grab this 'fore we left earlier. Thought we'd all do better with some jams," He grinned.

Prowl smiled, "I am glad you did. I do not think Hot Rod would have appreciated silence at his sparkday party." He wanted to reach out, to hug him, but he choked. He flinched back, "Thank you, Jazz. I appreciate it."

Jazz cocked his head knowingly, "Trauma actin' up?"

"A little bit," He admitted and Jazz only nodded in response. "I... I will not apologize, but I do want to express my gratitude later when... I am not..."

He smiled and gave Prowl finger guns, "Hey, ain't no thing. I know what ya mean. Hugs later?"

"Hugs later," Prowl relaxed. Oh, he wanted to shower this mech in praise and gratitude, but... not at this moment.

"SIDESWIIIIPE! SUNSTREAAAAAAAKEERRRRRRRR!"

Prowl and Jazz shared a knowing look. "Hot Rod's here."

Ariel lifted an eyebrow as a red blur raced across the park to head for Whirl. The adult braced when he saw Hot Rod, but he cackled as he turned and ran instead. Hot Rod let out another war cry, bolting after them.

"How have we managed to find someone louder than Roddy?" Arcee grumbled as she walked over to Prowl. She had a large box in her arms and he took it from her.

Prowl snorted in agreement, "You'll need to ask Blurr, Whirl is his employee." He brought it to the present table and lifted an eyebrow, "Are you ready for today? If you need to excuse yourself, we'll try to find a place for you to do so."

She shrugged, "It's all good." She eyed the decorations, "Could you do my next sparkday? I'll be turning 130 next summer."

He smiled and reached out to put a hand on her shoulder, "It would be my pleasure. When we have more time, I would like to go through the kind of decorations you would like and what presents would be a good idea for you."

"Just like that?" She pressed.

"Just like that," He said. "Hot Rod wanted a surprise, but if you want to go over it all, I'm okay to do that. No surprises."

Arcee groaned and wrapped him into a hug, "Thank you. I hate those stupid surprise sparkday parties on the holoscreen."

"Trust me, I hate them as well. Especially when everyone pretends they forgot. That does nothing but hurt their friends' feelings," He agreed. He pat her back, "We should go help Kup. I never got an answer, but is-"

"And you must be the legendary nanny!" Someone in gold and purple exclaimed happily as he rushed in.

Arcee rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out at the mech, "Go away, Swindle. I'm having my Prowl time."

"Aw, c'mon, Ms. Grouchy, I just wanna talk!" Swindle protested gently. He rubbed his hands together in a placating manner, but Prowl only raised an eyebrow. "Fine, I wanted to know how you wanted my help."

Prowl suspected that it could be a setup for later, but he knew he didn't need any help, "You brought the children, that is help enough. Everything else is set up, but if you wish to talk, I am open to do so-"

"Love, please give Prowl some space until we have everything set up," Blurr brushed int. He had a large dish in a foil container and set it out at the table. When he dropped it off, he came back, "Prowl, it is good to know you're doing well. Jazz can finally get back into his usual... rhythm, and Whirl can stop harassing my other employees. He missed you."

He sighed, "It has only been a week."

"A week and a half," Blurr mused as he settled over his conjunx's shoulders. "You know, I think I heard that Perceptor could be making a stop by."

Prowl frowned and pulled out his datapad. He opened his guest list and frowned, "I was not expecting anyone else. I have the exact number of places-"

"He's a busy mech and he doesn't usually leave his office or his home," Blurr shrugged. "It will likely to just drop off Roddy's present, to say hello, and leave."

"He's... one of our brothers, right?" Arcee asked quietly.

Blurr's eyes softened as he nodded, "He is. I think you two would get along. You're both no nonsense and straight to the point.

"Speaking of getting to the point," Swindle cut in, but Arcee frowned. She grabbed onto Prowl to put all of her weight on him so she could swing her legs out to kick him. Swindle laughed like he expected it and bat her feet away, "Down, down! I just wanted to tell him that I think the look of the place! And that cake!" He gestured to the cake, now open to the elements. Prowl tensed and tapped Arcee to let him go. She did and watched him rush over to cover it up again, "Prowl, darling! What are you doing! That thing deserves to be seen!"

"It will also melt if we are not careful. Winter is approaching, but I will not risk the sun bearing down on it," Prowl responded. He looked it over and his doorwings sagged in relief. "What are you looking for?"

Swindle shared a look with Blurr before he burst into laughter, "It's not often I get that kind of bluntness!" Prowl's frown deepened, but so did Swindle's laughter. "Alright, alright! I wanted to know if you would be interested in cooking me and Blurr a meal or baking a cake every now and then. Blurr says your cooking's something special, and the last time he said something like that, I put Swerve in at my most prized hotel's bar. You want to know what happened? He got so popular that you need to have a three vorn reservation to have one of his drinks."

"I already have a job," Prowl said smoothly. "And nothing you will pay or offer with get me to change my mind." He wouldn't be leaving Jazz and the boys for anything. No amount of money and no amount of anything else. Given that Swindle was in Kup's family and brought on Blurr's authority, he wouldn't do anything stupid.

Swindle raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Well, I happen to know you want to go on to be an Enforcer later, right?" Blurr twitched and gave his conjunx a warning look.

"We are at a sparkday party for your brother-in-law. If you want to threaten me or make offers, you can help clean. That is my price for listening," Prowl ground out. He bowed his head, "Excuse me. I need to help Kup and make sure everything goes smoothly." He slipped away, speedwalking to join Kup.

Blurr sighed and looked to his conjunx, "You know, this is why Arcee kicks you."

"Yeah, I earned that one," Swindle winced. "I'll apologize later."

Prowl relaxed as they finally got to the cake part of the sparkday. Hot Rod blew out the candles and was practically foaming at the mouth to bite into the cake. Everyone managed to get a slice and Prowl waited to take a bite. Instead, he watched the crowd with a proud look.

Orion and Ariel were equally delighted and they carefully fed some of their cake to Bumblebee, but he, like most sparklings his age, still made a small mess. Springer wasn't doing much better as Kup tried to help him, but he eventually just let Springer have a plate of his own so he could grip it in his small hands. Arcee was kicking her feet as she sat across from Blurr and Swindle, her kicks sometimes flying out to kick Swindle in the shin. Given Swindle's look, he was slowly getting used to it.

Jazz was laughing as their boys dug into their own cake, and Prowl froze when Jazz looked up to him. He flushed and shoved his fork into his mouth, thinking about how well the party was going. The games were well liked, the presents were next to be opened, and Hot Rod was flying on pure joy. 

Kup looked up to Prowl and winked knowingly. Prowl hid a smirk, knowing he was probably going to get the reaction to his present that he wanted. It wasn't one with a lot of effort or one that was particularly expensive, but it would mean so much more than any of the presents that he got beforehand.

The cake went faster than Prowl thought and as he rounded up all of the trash. Swindle got up to help and Prowl eyed him, but said nothing. Whirl came to join them for a quick moment to throw away his own plate of cake, point at Prowl, and declare, "If you ever need me to, I'll kill a mech in return for that recipe."

"No massacring," Prowl had responded. Whirl threw a punch his way, and as always, Prowl dodged it and they began their impromptu dance of fighting. It ended when Prowl pinned Whirl to the ground, a knee in his back before letting Whirl up. The children whooped in victory and Whirl brushed himself off. Prowl smiled, "Get another piece of cake if you would like. I don't think Hot Rod would mind."

"Frag yeah," Whirl whispered back before he ran off.

Hot Rod ripped through all of the presents with as much enthusiasm as he typically did. He laughed as he held up his new action figures and race track and posters, and cocked his head in confusion at the scrapbook. He gave a forced out '...Thanks.' If he had finished the statement with 'Old people these days', Prowl pretended not to hear it. He cheered at the sets of his favorite show, but he paused when he counted through everything. "Hey, where's Kup's thing?" He looked up and frowned in confusion, "You said that you got me something I'm going to love, but I haven't seen it."

Kup grunted as he stood. Making sure Springer was secure with Blurr, he waved Hot Rod over, "I got it stashed behind that tree over there. I figured it would be a surprise, and don't worry, no one took it." He held out his hand. Hot Rod nodded nervously and gingerly took it, letting Kup bring him over.

Prowl smirked as he leaned against Jazz, "Did you get the camera's put up?"

"You know it, Prowler," He whispered back. "So what...?"

"You'll see," Arcee grinned. She leaned forward over the picnic table, "Prowl and Kup asked for my help with this. To keep it secret."

Jazz frowned in confusion, "I thought ya didn' like secrets."

"There are some that have their worth," Prowl mused back.

"Hey, Arcee. Prowl wanted me to ask for your help with something for Hot Rod's sparkday. I know this is a loaded question, and I promise you'll have your day too, but I need you to ask him something... sneakily," Kup said, well over a week prior. She cocked her head in confusion, and waited.

"So, Roddy," Kup grunted as he found the spot outlined by several small white rocks. He planted Hot Rod in their circle and crouched in front of him. "I got a question for ya. I don't need an answer now, but I think it's about time I asked."

Hot Rod's breath caught as he took in his foster Sire's serious tone.

Arcee leaned against her little brother's doorway, watching him play racers with Springer. Granted, the bitlet was more waving the cars around, but that didn't mean Hot Rod didn't try. "Hey, I... You've been in this a lot longer than I have."

Hot Rod looked up in confusion, "What? You mean cars?"

She deflated and entered, taking a seat next to Springer. She put a finger on one of the cars, rocking it back and forth, "I mean... being here. Or in a different home. You've been at this longer than I have."

"Only by a few months," Hot Rod whispered, his good mood falling. "Why are you asking?"

"I just... I was wondering, that's all. I remembered I used to watch those videos of kids taking on their creator's new conjunx as their new creator. You know, not... not like us," She whispered. Hot Rod didn't respond. "If... If you had to pick, if you were given the option, would you want to have the question asked in front of others, or more in private?"

"What question?"

Kup smiled as he held out a datapad with the header of the document clear as day. "You're important to me, and we all know that I'm a foster to adopt creator, brat. I... Would you want to be one of my creations? Legally? I don't want to lose you to some-" He laughed as Hot Rod lunged forward, hugging him tightly. Hot Rod sobbed, clinging to him tightly.

"Y-Yeah. I... I want you to be my Sire. L-Legally. You're not going to lose me, Old Man. Everyone else can go frag themselves," He whispered, crying into his sire's neck.

He laughed wetly, tears starting to pour down his cheeks, "Language, brat. I can discipline you now. I-I can short sheet your bed and slap magnets on your back when you're not looking."

Hot Rod rubbed his eyes as he pulled back, "You wouldn't do that, Old Man." Kup lifted an eyebrow and Hot Rod pulled back to try and get whatever was on his back off. It took a moment, but he finally managed to get it off and...

Just adopted.

Arcee slung back to Kup after getting her answer. He was in the kitchen, making dinner, and he looked up when she entered. She tucked herself into his side and Kup wordlessly put an arm around her.

"He wants to be asked away from everyone else, but he's ok if it's at a bigger thing. Just... if he says no, he wants to have people there, but not be embarrassed," She said. She watched the spaghetti noodles boil and held on tighter. "Are you going to adopt me someday?"

"I'd like to," Kup murmured and she sniffled. "Would you be okay waiting for a little bit? I can make it your sparkday present too. It'll be your big day, and no one else will be more important than you."

"Y-Yeah. Sounds good," She whispered, but managed a dry swallow. "I want it like Roddy. Big event, but private. Can... Can I trust you with that?"

Kup smiled and rubbed her back, "I'd like to think so, 'Cee. You think your brother would be okay with that?"

"Galvy can suck a sour spike, I want this," Arcee declared. "Just don't frag it up, Old Man."

"Never."

Prowl waved the main family off, but his breath caught when Springer waved back. Everyone did, but his eyes only tracked him. He swallowed and looked away as tears welled up. Jazz looked up from where he was unsecuring a table, "Prowler? Ya good?"

"Just... Uncomfortable when he's here, but uncomfortable when he's leaving, that's all," Prowl responded. "I just need time."

Jazz bumped the side of his hip into Prowl's, "One day at a time. Until then... I think Swindle's been trying to stare a hole into your back for the past 15 minutes. Slag, even Whirl's gone home." And Bumblebee's family. Blurr was sitting at a stripped table waiting for... something, but given how much Swindle was eyeing Prowl as he cleaned up the ladder toss, it must have been him. "What's going on?"

"He would like to make some kind of deal in return for my cooking skills. I told him that I already have a job and I have no interest in switching," Prowl huffed. Jazz froze and he looked up in confusion. "What?"

"He could pay ya at least double what I pay ya," Jazz said, absolutely confused.

"He could. I have no interest in it," Prowl countered.

"He could give ya benefits."

"I am good friends with my doctor and I am an Enforcer-in-Training, I have a basic healthcare plan."

"He's mob."

"I used to track down serial killers."

"He's Kup's creation-in-law."

"Kup would understand."

"He has connections."

"I will make my own."

Jazz swallowed as he looked down, "Is it because of us?"

Prowl reached out and placed his hand over Jazz's clenched fist. "He does not have you, and he does not have our boys. He does not have what I now consider home. No amount of money could buy that, and he's Kup's creation-in-law. I doubt Kup would let Blurr let him get away with anything."

"He wouldn't, nor would I," Blurr added in from the next table. He sighed and gave Prowl a tired look, "He just wants you to prepare some food for our anniversary every vorn until you're ready to stop. He still has old connections to his former... business partners. He knows the innerworks, with is more than some have. You help him, he gives you one person you ask about. If you ask too high, he asks for more dinners. It'll all be very official."

Prowl hesitated, but Jazz narrowed his eyes, "What do you know about this?"

"I know enough," Blurr grumbled. "Only an idiot would hide their business dealings from their conjunx, especially in his line of work. He did what he needed to to get out, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have little rats scurrying about to keep an eye on things. I know where and who to avoid and I know what deals to make in his stead if I need to." He leaned in, "Swindle might be the mob boss, but I'm the chair. He doesn't make any decisions without checking with me first. If we're a family, we talk." He focused on Prowl, "A few beat cops know the works, but not as well as him. You want an in this early in your Enforcer career, you cook and bake, once a vorn. You don't need to start this vorn, or even this decavorn. I just want to have a decadent meal from someone who I know won't try to kill us or stiff us."

"You could have just asked instead of turning it into a business meeting," Prowl huffed. He sighed and shared a look with Jazz. "Should I do this?"

"It's intel only a few would have," He countered. "They could tell ya more than some others could. But would ya do it for free?"

Prowl chewed his lip and nodded. He glanced up and sighed, "Yes. They're family. I get provided the ingredients and a few favors, and I wouldn't mind it."

"Perfect!" Blurr clapped his hands. He looked over his shoulder and practically purred, "See, darling? This is why you leave the business with outsiders to me. The wee folk just want to have discussions without feeling like they're signing their sparks away!"

Swindle laughed and came up behind him, curling around his back, "I shoulda trusted you, love. What would I do without you?" He leaned over the top of his conjunx to kiss him like Spidermech.

"Eww!" Sideswipe cringed. He ran up to Jazz and Prowl, tucking his face into their legs. He pouted, "Prowlie, Jazzy, they're kissing!" He said it like it was some grand secret and the adults chuckled. 

A moment of bravery on a good day. 

Prowl decided to seize his good mood and smiled mischievously. "Like this?" He carefully pinched the tip of Jazz's chin between his thumb and side of his forefinger so he could dot a kiss just under the lip of Jazz's visor without needing to worry about missing.

Jazz's mouth feel open and he flushed a deep blue, "P-Prowler! I wasn't ready for that!" Prowl's face fell, but Jazz pouted. "No, do over! I wasn't prepared! I want another one!"

"No, I think that was enough for now," Prowl teased, a generous blue dusting over his own cheeks. His tank tingled happily and oh, he needed his spark to stop fluttering like this. 

His crush continued to protest, jokingly pulling on him with no real strength behind it, "Prowl-ler! Please! Pretty please?" If he silently pinged Prowl a message, stating that he was joking and not actually demanding another, and he would continue to let Prowl make the first moves until he stated otherwise... that was neither here. And it was neither there if Prowl responded back that behind-the-back cuddles and forehead kisses were alright.

Behind their backs, the twins shared victorious smiles and they gave thumbs up to Blurr and Swindle. the business couple winked at the pair, already happy to have confirmed playdates for the newspark currently orbitting Blurr's own.

Chapter Text

Okay, he wasn’t in heaven, but this was a very close second. Jazz’s engine was rumbling the same amount it usually did, or he hoped so, but to be able to hold Prowl and be able to press tiny kisses to his chevron and crest… It was bliss. 

This was one thing he had been looking forward to, even if it wasn’t normal early morning kisses, but it certainly was close enough. Jazz just wanted to have the day where he could leave butterfly soft kisses all over Prowl’s face. Oh, there were mornings he wanted to be woken up to that, and part of him wanted Prowl to find that out himself… He knew he’d need to share it. As closely as Prowl guarded his personal space, he stood up for the sanctity of others’ as well. 

Primus, he loved this mech.

Prowl’s nose twitched and he slowly opened his eyes. “Jazz?” The groan was deep and rough and Jazz wanted to melt into it. Instead, he placed another kiss onto Prowl’s forehead, his engine still rumbling away. The nanny chuckled and leaned into him, “You’re taking advantage of the permissions, aren’t you?” He sounded anything but mad or displeased or uncomfortable and Jazz reveled in it. He had earned that much of Prowl’s trust at least.

”A very handsome mech told me I could, and until he changes the terms of the agreement…” He dotted another kiss into the tip of a chevron. “…I will indulge.”

Prowl smiled sweetly and he leaned into it, but his face dropped a moment later. “Pause, please? Just… for now?”

”A bit much?” Jazz asked knowingly and uncoiled himself. Prowl pulled back and he watched in barely masked concern as Prowl rearranged some of his plating in the same way someone would after a creep touched them. He winced, but Prowl looked back up.

”This is not your fault, I promise. I just… need to get used to this. I want this, I do,” He promised. He reached and ran a thumb over the face of one of Jazz’s audial’s horns. “I will not lie to spare your feelings, I promise. This is a… thing.”

Jazz leaned into the touch and hummed happily, “I trust ya, Prowler. It’s goin’ to take some time for me ta really get that it’s not somethin’ I did, so… give me some time too?”

That was the right thing to say because Prowl smiled, “Of course. I will repeat it as many times as I need-“

He was cut off as Sunstreaker ran into the room, eyes wide with panic. The adults sat up sharply and Prowl’s doorwings twitched as they picked up a sound from the wash racks next door. 

Sunstreaker spoke over the sounds of what Prowl already suspected. “Sides threw up,” He managed to choke out and Prowl was already throwing himself out of bed to rush to his second youngest’s side. 

He ran in and found Sideswipe kneeling in the shower racks, trembling over the drain and crying. He looked up with pained eyes, "Prowlie, my tank hurts."

Prowl instantly put a hand on his forehead and bundled him into his lap, ignoring the vomit. Damn, he had a fever. Not very high, but with a low fever, Prowl's nerves jumped up. They also jumped up for a different reason. 

Looking over his shoulder, he saw Jazz standing in the doorway, looking helpless, "What do we do?"

He lifted his chin and let his training take over, "I want you to contact First Aid. Let him know that Sideswipe woke up with a low fever and just vomited. I'm going to be monitoring and be providing sips. I also want you to contact Kup and Orion to check their own bitties. I will not risk this spreading more than we need to." He rubbed Sideswipe's back. "Do you need to purge again? It is alright if you-"

His mouth clicked shut as Sideswipe shivered and threw up all over Prowl's front. He looked up nervously and winced, "Sorry, Prowlie."

"It's alright, Sideswipe. You are ill. Just please aim for the drain if you can," Prowl sighed. He knew he would need to wash himself and Sideswipe off.

Sunstreaker gagged, and Jazz grabbed him under the arms, bringing him closer, "No no no no-"

"Jazz," Prowl cut in. He waited for Jazz to stop and watch him. "There is a chance that Sunstreaker is not technically ill, but he is feeling the rebound from Sideswipe's symptoms."

"So... he's not actually sick, he just feels what Sides does?" Jazz asked slowly. Prowl nodded and he sighed. He slumped and knelt in front of his eldest, "Sorry, Sunstreaker. Are ya okay to stay here with Prowlie while I make some calls and get some energon and snacks fer Sides?"

Sunstreaker squirmed in his spot and cast a look at Prowl, sitting in his brother's sickness and wrinkled his nose, "Ew."

"It's alright, Sunstreaker. You can go with Jazzy, but Jazz, make sure he has a bucket nearby. Trust me, he will be feeling ill. If he begins to run an actual fever instead of just feeling sick, then we'll take him to First Aid," Prowl said. He gently picked Sideswipe up and turned on the shower to a warm temperature that shouldn't burn the bitlet, but it shouldn't make his fever worse.

Jazz swallowed as Prowl took the detachable part of the showerhead down to wash the waste away, "A-Alright. Comm me if ya need anythin', Prowl. I'm here." He earned a smile and a nod, and he headed off with Sunstreaker at his heels. The bitty kept the the walls, shivering, and Jazz took pity on him. He tried to reach for him, but Sunstreaker bit out at the incoming hand. Jazz flinched and frowned, "Hey, we don't bite-"

"No touch," Sunstreaker fought back as he continued to squirm. "Icky."

Oh. Yeah, okay, that was on him for trying to reach out before asking. Jazz nodded and unbundled Sunstreaker's blanket out of his subspace, "Blankie?"

"No, hot," He shot back. "Don't like."

Jazz chuckled weakly and knelt down, "Yeah, bein' sick ain't great. We'll try ta find somethin' to help with the icky feeling, but can ya describe y're problem? Is it platin', inside, or the fuzzies? I know it's quiet, but how're we on sound?"

Sunstreaker rubbed a finger on some of his plating and shook his head. It wasn't his plating that was adding to this. He tried scrunching in onto himself and whined in protest. Okay, he probably wanted to crawl out of his skin, so he couldn't be compressed too much. The last test, he held his arms out to Jazz. This time, he wasn't grabbed, but Jazz just held his open hands underneath his arms, just a little bit. Sunstreaker pulled his arms back and whined again. Jazz rubbed his fingertips together next to Sunstreaker's ears, but Sunstreaker shook his head. He tried to talk, but his mouth clicked shut. Tears started to well in his eyes, but Jazz shushed him.

The fuzzies were usually the worst and Prowl had once explained that they felt like there were thick streakmarks on his plating, small imperfections that tickled at most mechs' minds, but easy for most to ignore, but for those with alternative coding... it was hell, leaving behind feelings that buzzed all of the wrong ways. Smokescreen had added on that some equated it to bare metal on a road, screeching some unholy sound, but the sound as a physical feeling. 

No wonder they couldn't stand it, the sound made Jazz cringe just thinking about it.

"Okay, hey, hey, it's okay. No talkin' time," He tried to soothe. "It's the insides and the fuzzies. And no warm things, I can work with that..." Maybe, he left unsaid. He instead opted to ping Prowl, 'We got a case of no talking, the fuzzies, and inside problems, and he doesn't like warm things right now. Any recommendations?'

'Make up the hammock for him and put a fan underneath. Put enough padding down that he shouldn't get too cold, and leave his blanket, some juice boxes and apple-sauce pouches nearby, and his bucket in easy reach. Stay in the room with him and put on a documentary. I don't want you to leave him alone. He still feels sick, he still needs comfort,' Prowl stated. 'Do you want me to contact First Aid while you make some soup instead?'

'If you don't mind,' Jazz said as he ushered Sunstreaker into the living room. Sunstreaker waited in the doorway as Jazz began getting out the things to make his sensory hammock by the holoscreen. It would be suspended to whatever slack Jazz wanted, and he opted for a slight dip, but not enough to cave in when Sunstreaker sat in it. Jazz swallowed as he looked back to his oldest, "Sunstreaker, I need to go get some sheets. I'll be right back, but don't get on here yet. I'll be back in less than three minutes, aight?"

Sunstreaker nodded and played with his fingers. Jazz took a deep breath and began the mental countdown.

"...takes down the petrorabbit. It just wasn't fast enough," The calming voice of Hound curled around the living room. Jazz was less watching it, and more keeping an eye on Sunstreaker. He was enjoying the sensory hammock, sprawled out and taking occasional sips of his juice, but still keeping his bucket nearby. 

The times he grabbed for it matched up with the same time that he could hear Sideswipe throwing up into the trash can that Prowl had pilfered from the washracks. It wasn't often, but Jazz was beginning to get worried. 'Is he still not-'

'Jazz,' Prowl stressed gently. 'Sideswipe is doing fine. I am following First Aid's instructions and he is keeping his medicine and soup down. His fever is starting to fall and he should be alright in the next few days. I'll stay with him, but I'd like you and Sunny to stay in a different room. There is a chance that Sunstreaker may still get it, but I'd like to limit his exposure as much as I can. Did anyone else say that their creations were sick?'

'Roddy's got an upset stomach, but Kup's taken Springer to Aid too. Accordin' to him, he's got a system strong enough ta take down a scraplet. Arcee's doin' fine, and Bumblebee is too. Orion and Ariel kept him away from a lot of the activities. Blurr's feelin' a little sick, but he said that he's... well... he's got some mornin' sickness. He asked me to keep it on the down low, but I could tell ya if it came up,' Jazz smiled. 'I think it makes a bit more sense why he'd want ya to be around to cook. I've heard some cravings are a nightmare.'

'Yes, well, I refuse to be at their beck and call, but I don't see why I can't make some treats now and then. If it earns me intel, all the better,' Prowl mused bitterly. 'But well wishes will be in order. Are they trying to wait on announcements until the spark settles more?'

'Sounds like it. Can't really blame 'em either. Ya know how sensitive newsparks are at this stage.'

'More than most,' Prowl agreed. 'I've needed to break up a few fights because of it. Well, if you wish to tell them that I know, you may. Additionally, if or when they find out what his main craving is, I will do what I can.'

Jazz smiled, despite the insecticon on the screen bringing the slaughtered petrorabbit back to its little pitlings. 'Well, ya know what I'm always cravin', Prowler.'

'This is hardly the time for an innuendo, Jazz,' Prowl sighed, but Jazz needed to cover his mouth to hide the laugh.

He snickered anyway, 'Prowler, I was talkin' about those macaroons. What kind of mech are ya? Do ya think about ravagin' me often?' He knew Prowl was going to kill him for that one later.

'Yet it is often you who proposes to me so easily. How am I supposed to know when you're actually going to mean it when you do it so often?' Prowl countered.

Jazz couldn't help his reply, 'Who says I don't mean it each time?' When Prowl shut the line, he almost panicked, but Sunstreaker looked over.

He played with one of the sheets, "Jazzy, Sides thinks Prowlie's sick too. He's turning blue and he's got a fever." Oh bless the twins, those sweet little bitties.

"No, Sunstreaker, I think I just sent him a message that made 'im blush," Jazz responded. He tried to relax, knowing that Sideswipe was feeling better. Still, he didn't like it when his sparklings suffered. If waiting and letting Prowl handle it was the best he could do... so be it. He was just glad that he and Prowl were staying on top of the boys' malware injections with First Aid. "Hey, Sunstreaker. We got about a month or two 'fore the Festival of Crystals. What'd your Sire and Riri do for 'em last year?"

Sunstreaker shrugged, "I don't remember. I remember the tree. We carved faces into the bottom. Sire did something at the top that made Riri hit him in the chest. Not a real hit. Like the ones that you do with Uncle Blaster."

Ah, he probably carved somethin' lewd then. Jazz woulda smacked him too.

"Well, we'll get our own tree, and we'll hang things up. So, when Rico and I were growin' up, we'd carve one side of the tree's sides until it was filled, and when it was all done, we'd open presents," Jazz mused, but his smile fell a small amount. "We'd usually get the best presents when we went ta family ones, but we had fun either way. Would you and Sides want ta carve the bottom of the tree we get?"

Sunstreaker thought about it and nodded, "And do you hang old carvings?"

"Sometimes, but me an' Rico don't have too many. They got lost over the vorns," Or destroyed, "but I think me an' Prowlie would be happy ta have one with you two. Would that be okay with you?"

"And Springer? He's our brother too, right?" He pressed. His eyes were wide, but knowing. "Or would that hurt Prowlie too much?"

Jazz hesitated, "I can ask Prowler, but I can ask Kup if he'd want to do one together. I know you kids like to have sleepovers."

Sunstreaker nodded once and looked back to the holoscreen, "Yeah. We want to do that." 

Okay, one problem solved, but now there was the problem of how he was going to ask Prowl if he was willing to host a Festival party with Springer there. Well... As he always said. One day at a time, and this one was not looking up.

Prowl alternated between reading his datapad for the upcoming semester, planning the boys' school career and looking through creators' reviews of various teachers, meal planning, and putting together a plan for a few different Festival parties. He'd need to clear some of them with Jazz, depending on who he'd want attending, but... Prowl wanted to be there for Springer. It was still hard and his tank still twisted, but he refused to not be a part of his life. He would not miss any major holiday if he could help it, he would always try to be there for his bitlet's sparkdays, and whatever else Kup allowed.

Even if he had issues with his emotions, he wanted to make Springer know he's loved-

"Riri..." Sideswipe whined in his half asleep state.  "I don't feel good..."

Prowl froze as the bitlet tried to cling to his armor before he sighed again and went back into recharge. 'Jazz, what did Sideswipe's Carrier call him?'

'...Swiper, why?' Jazz asked. 

'I need you to not come running back, but Sideswipe called me that. I don't believe he knew who I was, but he is ill and tired. I am not going to bring it up and I ask that you do not either, but if he or Sunstreaker say anything, I need you to not immediately react poorly.'

Prowl rubbed Sideswipe's back and shushed him gently, "You're fine, Swiper. I'm sorry it hurts, but it will soon, bitty." Sideswipe sighed deeply and melted into Prowl's side, his little engine hiccupping on occasion.

'...Got it. Are you alright with them callin' ya their carrier? They haven't called me their Sire, and I'm not complainin' about not gettin' called Sisi or nothin', but...'

'No, I understand that. Like I said, I believe it is just because he is sick and sleepy. He seems to me settling down a little bit, so it looks like it's the right move,' Prowl replied, thinking on the first part of the question. 'I... I see nothing wrong with them calling me their Carrier, if it comes up. Would you define us as that point?'

'We're in that awkward stage of datin', if ya ask me, where we're not actually datin', but in a... coparentin', is that the right word? In a coparentin' sense, I'd say yeah.'

Prowl relaxed and continued to pet the backs of his fingers over Sideswipe's back as he thought, '...And would you? Want to go on a date at some point?' He was in control here. He had thought about it, and Jazz was giving him total control with the general assumed response being a yes. It was reassuring to know that he wouldn't suffer a rejection so easily, and that Jazz was going his pace.

'Prowler, weren't ya teasin' me about proposin' so often? What makes ya think I'll turn down a date?' Jazz laughed into the line. 

He smiled and scrolled through his datapad with his free hand, 'I would just like to make sure. It might not be much but... maybe we can ask Kup or Orion to watch the twins the next time we go to the park and go to grab a cube or something? Or maybe the park can be the date?'

'That's one thing I want ta keep separate, the park? Not sayin' no to the cube, but that's special family time and when y're more... on the clock, I guess? I want this ta be somethin' we can either do with the boys but not our usual stuff, or just the two of us. Thoughts?'

That... made sense. He stared into space for a moment as he thought it over more. The park was... definitely more of their family location, so they'd need somewhere else. He didn't want to rush to say another park, so he wouldn't. They wouldn't always have anywhere else they could just drop everything and go to, so it would need to be somewhere child friendly so their boys could play. Additionally, Prowl didn't know how the boys reacted to places with a quieter setting yet and he wasn't about to unleash the twins on a fine dining restaurant. 

He also knew he wasn't above counting fast food as a date because it had all of the qualifications of what he'd need: Food, a place to sit and relax and talk, a partner, and a place that he could safely watch and unleash the kids on a play center.

Or...

'We could have a dine-in night. I make dinner and you make some music... I have seen you play the electro-bass at the station. It... The...'

'Feels better live, huh?' Jazz mused knowingly. 'I think I saw yer doorwings spreadin' out somethin' pretty. Tryin' to get more of the input?'

'Yes. It wasn't anything lewd, I promise, but it has a new kind of vibrancy and it was nice. I would be alright with nearly anything as a date, so long as it is not horrifically overstimulating. Admittedly, it's another reason I went with a detective branch. I do not need to work crowds unless it is an emergency, so please keep that in mind if you would like to plan one.'

'I'll do the next one. I'll try ta find somethin', but I'll let ya handle this one. And... if we're bein' open, can... I can talk for a little bit? I'm goin' to be embarrassed and goin' to be strugglin' to get this out 'cause I'm not usually this open or don't really talk about how ta ask fer this so can I kinda just blurt it out and we deal with it after?'

Prowl chuckled outside of the line, but quieted himself when Sideswipe groaned. 'Of course. I believe I am able to deal with needs being blurted out. I can see where your boys get it.' Jazz sputtered and laughed back at him and Prowl smiled.

'First of all, rude. Second of all... I like morning kisses all over my face, okay? I know I wake up before ya, but some of my past relationships taught me that I like that kinda thing and you're... You're helpin' me understand that it's okay ta ask fer things. I want that if you wake up 'fore I do.'

Oh, that was adorable. Prowl put his datapad down to cover his mouth and hide his smile. 'Thank you for letting me know. If... I would like to do that for you. Would you want to do parts of the week where I make more of an effort to wake up early? It is no hardship and it is easy enough to trade off days when we need to.'

'Prowler, ya don't-'

'Please do not tell me that I don't need to. This is something I want to do. I do not want this to be a special gift that you only get once in a while. This is giving. You gave me morning kisses this morning. Let me do the same,' Prowl pleaded. 'Please.'

'...It really hard ta fight with that. And y're okay with it?'

'I will always let you know when I am not alright with something. I do not plan on making a step without talking to you first. I am alright with the touches you have been providing thus far, but I... I do not want wandering hands quite yet. I will let you know if I am not in a cuddling mood, but I am alright if you come up behind me while I am stationary in the kitchen and in the mornings. I ask that you do the same.'

'Prowler, I'm just about on board with anythin' right now. I'm not super used ta takin' it slow, but I'm learnin' to appreciate it. When ya want to kiss me, so long as I'm not angry or sobbin', I'm alright with ya kissin' me. I'd crack a joke about more, but I know that's not on the board, and I don't think that's what ya need to hear so... I'm takin' ya seriously, Prowler. You can ask me in the moment, but I'm alright with it. You're a damn wonder and I ain't goin' to get sick of waiting. I promise.'

Prowl didn't realize he was tearing up until after something on his hood itched. He looked down and noticed the trail where a tear had raced down it and he sniffled. 'You have my thanks. I will always take you seriously except when I know you are not. I want this. I just... need time. I will do morning kisses tomorrow. Is... Is there anything else?'

'Nah, not for right now, Prowler. Is Sides doin' okay?'

'For now, yes. I would ask that you take a nap while you can. Ill sparklings are renowned for keeping everyone in a household awake. I will keep you updated on his condition. Would you be able to put a can of soup on for the twins? Sunstreaker will want whatever Sides is having.'

'I can do that, yeah. Sunny's sleepin' right now, so I think a nap is in the cards. I'll put the soup on when I'm up.'

'Thank you, Jazz. Sleep well.'

Prowl woke immediately to the sound of vomiting and he lifted his head. Sideswipe whined and clung to his bucket on the floor. "P-Prowlie, I don't feel good."

He sighed through his nose and sat up, "I know, bitty. C'mon, let's get you some energon to swish out the taste and something to eat and your medicine." Sideswipe held his arms op pathetically and Prowl smiled. He got up and pulled the bitlet up to prop him onto his hip. He grabbed the trash can in the other and smiled. "You did a good job making it to the trash can, Sides. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks..." He whispered. He tucked his head onto Prowl's bumper, still whining pitifully. Prowl kissed his forehead absentmindedly. The kitchen had the pot from the soup sitting in the sink, but otherwise, it was still clean. Prowl's dooriwngs fluttered happily that Jazz picked up. Setting Sideswipe down, he turned to dump the can down the sink, washing it down with the solvent. His nose wrinkled at the smell, but he kept his expression from Sideswipe. He thought for a moment and pulled out his small radio and turned it to the classical music section. 

The soothing music wound around the room, but Sideswipe hummed, "Can we change it to Jazz's music?"

"Of course," Prowl mused, knowing exactly what he meant. Sideswipe wanted the popular music station. It was a quick flip and soon, Sideswipe and Prowl were swaying to Jazz's Bedtime Stories. 

Prowl moved Sideswipe closer to the sink and provided him a cup of energon, "Remember, swish it around your mouth, but don't swallow. Spit it out into the sink."

"Okay, Prowlie," He pouted but did as he was told. Mentally, Prowl compared to their first day and how Sideswipe had stuck the paintbrush into his mouth. He had gulped the energon then and now? He followed Prowl's directions perfectly. He leaned over and spit the fluid out and wrinkled his nose. "Do I need to eat something? I don't feel hungry."

"Just a little snack?" Prowl asked. He looked back and forth like he was trying to find someone who would snitch on him. He leaned in, making Sideswipe giggle weakly, "I'll let you have a popsicle if you try to have a little bit of soup, okay?"

Sideswipe's face twisted and he shook his head, "No, just the popsicle. I'm sick of soup."

Prowl tapped his chin for a moment. He did have the healthy popsicles, but there were also chicken soup cups that he had gotten for emergencies like this. His bigger concern was just getting Sideswipe to keep something down. That could work... But he also had something that would be easier to consume.

"Alright, Sides. But you need to take your medicine too," He tried. He held up a finger, "And if you want, I can give you a sherbet cup instead."

Sideswipe's eyes widened and he nodded, "Sherby cup." Prowl smiled and nodded. He swept around the kitchen and brought the medicine and the sherbet out. Sideswipe tapped his fingers against the counter as he waited. He took the medicine with only a nasty look and wrinkled nose, but Prowl smiled and kissed the top of his head.

"You'll feel better in no time, bitty. Let's get you that Sherby cup and we can go back to bed," Prowl mused. He gave him the spoon and cup, and went to go make himself one of the soup cups. If all went well...

Sideswipe was soon watching Prowl enjoying the warm food soon enough, humming and nodding in appreciation. Prowl tried not to look at him, but he knew Sideswipe was looking at the soup with temptation in his eyes. "Can I have some of your soup?"

Prowl looked up in fake surprise, "I thought you said you didn't want any." The bitlet pouted, but Prowl chuckled and went to get a small bowl for him. He poured out some of his chicken noodle soup out for Sideswipe and set it before him. He pet over the sparkling's head and kissed his forehead again, enjoying the tactile love he could bestow upon him. Sunstreaker took love in gestures and the respect of his space and Prowl understood that, but he also understood that was not how Sideswipe needed it.

The bitlet smiled, but his face twisted a second before he sneezed into Prowl's bowl of soup. 

The adult sighed and shook his head in bemusement, making sure that Sideswipe could see the smile on his face. He was already looking to Prowl like he had ruined one of Prowl's reports. "You're alright, Sideswipe. I wasn't very hungry anyway. Please make sure to sneeze into your elbow in the future," Prowl said. He brought his arm up to demonstrate and pretended to cough and sneeze. "It keeps your germs close to you so they don't hurt anyone else."

"But it keeps them with me. I want them out of me," Sideswipe whimpered.

Prowl smiled, he could deal with this. "And you have a very strong anti-viral system. Your plating is like one big castle gate, keeping you safe. Then, in case something gets through your plating, you have little soldiers fighting off the problem. Depending on the problem, your body can recognize what kind of enemy is trying to hurt you, and it'll send out special forces-"

"-Like Rock 'em and Sock 'em?" Sideswipe cut off. He thought before he gasped, "We learned about this! Tobor got sick and their friend Jackie shrunk them down and they went in to fight the Virus-sons! Like that!" He winced as he got too excited and propped his chin onto the table.

"Exactly like that. So your body is fighting the sickness, but it hasn't made anyone else sick yet. So what I'm going to do now is I'm going to put your blanket down and put you and your can on it and I'm going to wipe down the kitchen so Jazz and Sunstreaker don't get sick, and we'll keep this midnight snack a secret."

Sideswipe paused and frowned, "But I thought you didn't want us keeping secrets from you and Jazzy."

Prowl smiled and picked him up gently and held him close, "And I'm going to tell you a little secret that adults like to tell bitlets. Sometimes, little nighttime snacks like this are special." He held a finger up to his lips and gestured around, "It's quiet, it's peaceful, and you're sleepy. You just had a yummy snack, and the rest of the world is asleep." He looked around the room and his smile was wistful, "These moments are rare, so you want to hold them close. It's a different look at the world and it's just something that feels special." 

He looked down at the sparkling, "You might not remember this when you're growing up, Sideswipe, but sometimes, there are times when you pause and look around and you realize that this is the last time you will ever see a spot exactly like that. They anchor into your mind and it's one of your little safe spaces."

"Do you have them?" Sideswipe asked. He looked sleepy and a little ill, but he looked like he was ready to snuggle in for a good story.

Prowl hummed and thought back to his own secret memories. He was always a restless sleeper and he wouldn't want to bother his creators, so he would go into the living room to curl up by the window overlooking the street. The winter was always the worst for him for some reason. He would creep onto the couch and look at the crystals that hung from lamp post to lamp post, glittering in the nearly sickly green lights. The snow on the ground shone in rainbows across the silent night and it crept through the windows somehow, making his plating ache in the way only a winter night could. Prowl could sometimes hold his breath, feeling himself melting into the stillness of the night.

His creators would find him curled up with a blanket and drooling on the couch, and it took him far too long to realize that his creators carried him to bed. He lamented the age that he realized that one night, they had picked him up, and he had never known, and never was picked up again.

Prowl sniffled and just held Sideswipe close. "Yeah, Sideswipe. I have them. And I'm going to remember this one. For now... go ahead and get some sleep, Sides. I love you."

Sideswipe nodded and wiped at his own tears, "I love you too, Prowlie. Good night." He didn't fight Prowl as his nanny took out his blanket and set him down in it. He didn't curl around his can, but just watched as Prowl set about cleaning off the kitchen. The bowls of soup, both forgotten, were dumped and rinsed out. Prowl left them to deal with in the morning, and he began sanitizing the kitchen.

He would be asleep by the time Prowl was done, but he would remember that night for decavorns to come. He would know exactly the kind of moments that Prowl mentioned, and if his twin would find him staring out of a window during the Festival of Crystals with a long-since cold mug of coco, he would know and not mention it. They both had their quiet moments where the world held still and they were the only ones to notice.

But those days weren't coming for a long time yet. 

For now, Prowl made up the kitchen, listening to his bitlet's slow, nasty breathing. It wasn't quite winter yet, but the chill was beginning to settle into his struts and he eventually sighed, leaning on the counter.

Somewhere in the room, a clock ticked.

Somewhere in the house, Sunstreaker coughed in his sleep. 

Somewhere down the street, a turbohound barked.

Somewhere in another city... Prowl's creators would be waking up.

He swallowed and pulled up his messages and put something together for the pair of them, "I can't really talk right now, but having another one of my nights, plus Sides is sick right now, so I'm up. We're okay, I just wanted to tell you I love you both."

Prowl laughed weakly when he got a reply back nearly instantly. His creators were in the process of kicking on their ovens and they were waving in the reflection of the metal. There were still heat-proof stickers that he had put on them when he was too small to know better, but they had never bothered to scratch them off. "We love you too, Bitty. Make sure to get some rest and feel free to give Jazz our recipe for a good soup. It's the one we made you when you were sick. We hope Sideswipe feels better and we'll make sure to rush delivery some desserts over there."

"Frag, I miss you..." Prowl whispered and let himself feel. 

He couldn't wait for the next two months when he could finally see them.

Jazz groaned as a small weight landed on him, "Oh!" He grunted and looked up to see Sideswipe looking better. He still looked a little bendable around the edges, but he was looking better. "Hey, bitty mine, how're ya feelin'?"

"My head still hurts, but I'm better! Prowl wanted me to go get you!" Sideswipe said and began trying to pull on his arm.

"What's goin' on?" Jazz asked, but he froze when he heard a familiar sound, but coming from the wrong place. Jazz nudged Sideswipe to the side and ran into the bathroom. He stopped in the doorway and stared.

Prowl was hunched over the trash can, retching into it in the middle of the shower. His doorwings were shaking in their lowest position and it wouldn't take a genius to know that it meant he was aching and in pain. He looked up for a moment and Jazz made a pained nose as he realized that Prowl's optics were fogged over from overheating. "Oh, Prowler..." He whispered and came over, just in time for Prowl to heave into the can again, but it was turning into dry heaving. Spit still hung from his mouth and Jazz reached for a nearby towel that he knew was Prowl's.

Passing it over, Prowl dabbed at his mouth and sighed, "L-Leave me alone, I-I don't want to get you sick too-"

"Frankly, Prowler, I don' give a scrap right now," Jazz huffed. They heard a noise behind them and Jazz they looked into the doorway. The boys were there, Sideswipe half hanging off of Sunstreaker, both watching with wide eyes. Prowl shuddered and Jazz shuffled so he was between the three, "Hey, boys. Can ya go get me one of the soft pink sheets from my room? Just this once, you can climb the shelves-"

"Jazz-" Prowl tried to cut off, but Jazz held out a hand to stop him. 

"Okay!" Sideswipe chirped and ran off, Sunstreaker trailing behind him.

Jazz sighed and turned back around, "I'm not goin' to leave ya here to suffer, Prowler. Are ya okay to be touched?"

Prowl hesitated, but shook his head, "No, I-" He cut himself off as he went to heave again. Nothing still came out and Jazz hated himself for a moment. He wanted to help, but knew better than to touch Prowl yet. He just hoped that the silky sheet he had the boys go to get would be enough buffer. 

"I'm goin' ta call First Aid, and we're goin' ta get you moved to the twins' room, and y're goin' to rest, aight?" Jazz stated in a way that he hoped left no room for argument. Prowl stared for a moment before he nodded shakily. "Good. Y're goin' to get some rest, Prowler," He said gently. 

But how would he help Prowl? He barely knew how to take care of Sunstreaker, who hadn't even been sick. Prowl was still a workable source, but he was halfway to sleep and Jazz could tell he was in pain.

"Have ya had any medicine yet?" Jazz asked, already looking through the shelves for the boxes. He had panic seize him as he realized that all of the medications he needed were gone, "Frag-"

"Jazz," Prowl whispered and slowly reached a hand into his subspace. One box of medication after another tumbled out and Jazz sighed in relief. "I'll need to take a new dose in half an hour, just to be safe."

He nodded and there was a small crash from up the hall. Jazz's head shot up, but Sideswipe immediately yelled back, "We're fine!"

"They're goin' to give me a spark attack one of these days," Jazz grunted, making Prowl snort. He was swaying and Jazz wanted to help him, but not yet-

The twins came charging in a second later and Jazz sighed in relief to get the silky sheet. He held it out to Prowl for a touch test and Prowl frowned. He sighed and let Jazz baby him as he approved the texture and was wrapped up in it. He still whined as Jazz helped him up. "Are ya goin' to be okay while I get the can washed out and brought back?"

"I think so," He replied and Jazz tried to move them as fast as he could without hurting Prowl more. The boys followed them as Jazz finally got Prowl onto the bed. "B-Before you ask, i-it's plating, inside, a-and fuzzies. C-Can I have the fan?"

"Of course," Jazz nodded. He looked to the twins, "Sunstreaker, can ya go get your fan from the other night?" The bitlet nodded and took off, leaving Sideswipe behind. "Sides..." Jazz faltered, not sure what else to do other than to make sure Prowl was comfortable and nothing was touching him more than what was needed. If only he had someone who knew...

His creators. Prowl's creators' would know what to do. He didn't have their number, but... maybe Red Alert would.

He was pulling up a line to the security mech before he could think and sent off a request for the information, sharing that Prowl wasn't feeling well and his creators would know what to do.

He got the frequency back in less time than he could blink.

"Prowler, I don't want to go behind yer back here. Can I comm yer parents?" He asked as he rose, preparing to go clean out the trash can.

His crush twitched and he looked away, "If you want. Tell them not to call me until I do them." His voice was pained and Jazz looked down. He hoped me was doing the right thing. 

With that, he slipped out of the room and hit the 'Call Frequency' button in his HUD.

The line rang for all of three dials before it was picked up, "Hello there! Quantum Baking, What's your Glossa Receptor's craving?"

"Nautica, you said you weren't going to use that after the first hour open," Someone else said on the line. "How can we... Are you calling from Iacon?" The second voice took on a harder edge. "What happened?"

"Nothin', I got your number from Prowler's landlord and he knows I'm callin', but he's sick. I... I don't know how to help him and I could barely help Sunny without his help and-"

"Hey, hey, hey, listen to me, okay?" Nautica cut in gently and Jazz's mouth clicked shut. "Did he tell ya what he couldn't stand? I take it this is Jazz?"

"Y-Yeah, this is Jazz. I'm cleanin' out the trash can before he can purge again, but he's got all of it. Platin', internals, and the fuzzies," He ran through. "We got him onto the bed and he said he needs ta wait another half hour before he can try ta take another dose, so I'm lost until then."

Nautica hummed for a split second, "Okay then. I want you to listen and I know this isn't going to make you feel great, but it's what he needs. I want you to take off his plating down to his protoform. He doesn't like anything touching him. Does he have a hammock his size there?"

"Not yet? He hasn't mentioned it, but he might have added it to the..." Jazz shut his mouth as he realized he was about to say 'the move-in list'. He didn't know how open Prowl was with his creators, no matter how close he was with them.

"One of his lists?" The mech on the line guessed gently. Nautica laughed and Jazz flushed. "He's mentioned you, Jazz. A lot. You're giving him space he needs and you make him happy and we know you're not going to go anything he won't like. We need to know what's going on to be able to help."

There was a loud beeping from Nautica's side and she grunted, "Crosscut, can you get that? I'm going into the office."

"As you wish," Crosscut chuckled.

Jazz's optics softened as he dumped the waste down the shower drain. The pipes were extra wide to deal with wastes like rocks and mud, and yes, purge too. "You are your 'junx raised a pit of a mech, Ma'am."

She laughed jovially, "Oh, we're amica. We'll need to tell you the story when we come over there after the Festival, but that's something for another time. Alright, so Prowl's going to be in pain, and this next half hour is going to suck. You have his trash can for him and make sure that he knows you're taking his plating off. Do you have a fan going?"

"Yeah, we have it pointed at his helm," Jazz said as he washed the inside out. 

"Nope, no can do. Get a large bowl of ice so so the ice sticks out over the top. Prop the fan up so that the breeze will bounce out of the bowl, and if you have it on a beside table, align it so it runs parallel of Prowl. He won't want a direct breeze, but anything to keep him cool without freezing the rest of you," She instructed and Jazz was suddenly under the impression that 'Quantum Bakery' wasn't just a quirky nickname.

"...You're an actual scientist, aren't you?" Jazz asked.

Nautica made a wounded noise, "Prowl never mentioned us? Well, looks like he'll need to go without my choclate pretzel reindeers this year!"

Jazz laughed, "He didn't mention ya like that, but he told us about the sergeant sugar thing an' how ya both shaped 'im into the mech he is today, how ya encouraged him to be an Enforcer."

"Oh, he's too sweet," She cooed and Jazz could practically see her waving her hands. "Now, where was I... Oh! Prowl trusts you, so I'm going to trust you with his favorite sick recipe. What position were his doorwings in, if you could see them? High, normal, or low?"

"Lowest I've seen 'em," He provided. 

"Okay, shoot. That's not good, but if you follow the recipe to the microdot, he'll be fine. The reason I asked it because the higher his doorwings, the more diverse the textures can be. Right now, it's broth with nothing in it or just-above-creamy mashed potatoes. And applesauce. And bananas. Stuff like that. I'm sure your own little alternative coded bitty can help you out," She instructed. "Did he say anything about noise?"

Jazz thought back and shook his head, "No, he didn't."

"Well, it can go either way, but he's mentioned that he really likes that song ya did for him. Secret..." She faltered and Jazz chuckled.

"Symphonies. I put in a beat ta try and help throw him off enough ta help calm 'im down," He explained. "Should I put that on loop, low?"

"We used a low reverb metronome. He can't stand white noise, it makes his teeth hurt," Nautica said. "I mean, it works for Crosscut and not me, so he must get that from me. Anywho, just go ahead and put on that song. It's lovely, by the way. Would you be okay if we played some of your songs in the store? Crosscut and I love the new album, there's something in them that's just so... nostalgic." Her voice trailed, content, pleased, but... there was an echo of pain in it. 

Jazz leaned on the shower wall, "Yeah, I don't mind. Do you need some of the copies? I'll send over some stuff if ya need it."

She laughed nervously, "Okay, well... I'm going to be honest, we've been playing them. Prowl sent us a copy that he bought at a store so we've been playing those at least three times a day, and I'm going to be honest, a lot of our patrons love them too. They've been asking where they can get copies."

"I'll ask my producer ta send some over. If ya want to hash somethin' out, I'm alright to, but this would need to be outside of what Prowler and I got, if that's okay?" He winced at how awkward it sounded. Primus, he was on the comm with Prowl's carrier and he was already making a business deal. 

"Oh, for sure. Now, have him with the fruits in the morning, the mashed potatoes at noon, and the broth in the evening. If he tries to get up in the middle of the night, give him some shaved frozen or some kind of shaved popsicle or something like that. It gives him control over how much fluid is in his mouth without going overboard because he'll be too tired to gauge how much he's actually pouring. As for your boys... Prowl won't want them nearby, he's awkward about not being seen without his plating and they'll set off the fuzzies, even from across the room. Do you need some advice for them?"

Jazz faltered and she continued, "You'll get no judgment from me, young mech. This is just coming from an old femme who's three big hugs, a baked hot dish, and a love confession away from adopting your bitties as my grandbitties. Do you want some advice?"

"I-If you don't mind, ma'am," He laughed. He could see where Prowl got some of his attitude from, double checking before reiterating his point. 

"Drop the ma'am and call me Carri, you became family when Prowl asked for my watermelon macaron recipe. Or just Nautica, if you're not there yet. I do want to be called Carri at some point, but anywho. Go ahead and make a sleepover in the living room. Snacks, junk food, movies, the whole shebang. Keep them happy and have Prowl ping you whenever he's up. Tell him that his Carri-ree told him to do it, he'll roll over faster than a turbohound with a scraplet infestation. Are you going to be okay, Jazz?"

"If I'm going to call you Carri, call me Jazzy, it's what my family calls me," He insisted and Nautica smacked her lips in pleased surprise. "I think that's it, and... Prowler asked me to tell ya not to call him until he calls you?" He winced at the brunt request, even if he was getting the sense that the family was very straight forward.

"I was expecting that, but thank you for telling me. You know, back when he first introduced that awful ex of his to us, he asked him to pass along that he wouldn't be along for dinner until his exams were over. That blasted mech only thought to tell us the day before his last exam, and we were already upset with Prowl! Well, when we found out, we were so upset with that mech that we contacted all of the other bakeries in the area and had him blacklisted!"

Jazz laughed quietly, "Well, I hope it'll never come to that. Prowler has yer touch when it comes to bakin' and he's a force in the kitchen. I can't wait to see what he'll do when he becomes a detective." Nautica was quiet on the other end for a moment and Jazz needed to check his connection to see that it hadn't dropped out when she responded. 

"I like you, Jazz. I'm goin' to tell you this once. If you break Prowl's spark, I will hunt you down and they will never find all of the pieces of you. They'll be finding parts of you in over realities. Do you understand me?" She hissed. "Bu I don't think it'll come to that."

"No, Ma'am, it won't," He said carefully. "I know ya probably got this speech 'fore, but Prowler's the best thing that's ever happened to me. He rescued me an' the bitties when we needed 'im, and I want ta wake up next to him for the rest of my life. I don't know if he's ready ta hear that yet, so I'm keepin' it to myself fer now until he's expressed a deeper care than what he has, but I will do everythin' in my power to help him achieve his dreams. If I ever do somethin' bad, I'll pay fer that ticket ta get you here, and for the best lawyer shanix can buy."

Nautica cooed, "Alright, I can't stay mad forever. You're a fine young mech and I think you'll do my bitty a lot of good. Now, go help Prowl and tell him that we'll call him when he says the bread's all proofed. Keep us updated. Love ya, Jazzy." The words slipped out so easily for her that Jazz couldn't help but respond in kind.

"Love ya too, Carri. Talk to you soon," He whispered and ended the call. He took a deep breath, slightly raw from the goodbyes, but knew he had work to do.

The boys hovered in the hallway as Jazz brought in the trash can and a large bowl of ice. Prowl peered up and his plating clicked rapidly as it was both trying to close to preserve heat but also open to get off of his protoform. He kept his voice low as he set up the ice like Nautica had said, "Your carrier said that they'll call when you say the bread's all proofed, whatever that means."

Prowl tried a smile, but it came out more like a grimace, "Baking thing. Wanted to make sure you weren't just going... to say you called them." He relaxed as the breeze washed over the room, but not directly on his face. "She remembered."

"Somethin' about your Carri tells me that she doesn' forget much 'bout ya, mech," Jazz mused, but his face dropped. "She told me that ya prefer to have your platin' off when y're sick. Would ya be comfortable with me helpin' ya take that off?"

He winced and swallowed. Finally, he managed to spit out a quiet, "Yes. I trust you." He held up his nearest arm, "Arms, legs, chest, back, head?"

"As ya say, Prowler," Jazz said quietly. He looked over his shoulder to see the boys still watching them. "Sides, Sunstreaker, can you go put on yer show? I got Prowlie taken care of."

Sideswipe opened his mouth, but Sunstreaker pushed him. They nodded without a word and took off, closing the door behind them. Jazz sighed and turned back to Prowl. The forearm plating clicked and the two halves broke away. The protoform underneath was smooth and finely cabled, but Jazz made it a point not to stare and was careful not to touch it once it was visible. Prowl relaxed when he noticed it.

Piece by piece, the plating came off and it was getting harder to help Prowl without touching the protoform. Jazz covered his hands in the sheets when he could, and covered Prowl's pelvis when he flushed. Even if nothing was out, Jazz understood his need for privacy and made sure to secure it so even if the kids did come in, they wouldn't see anything they wouldn't need to.

Prowl's head didn't have much plating on it, but the smooth grey protoform was pulsing with an unspoken headache as Jazz gently slipped the while helmet off. Prowl sighed in relief as Jazz put it aside with the rest of his armor. "Thank you," He breathed in relief and Jazz so badly wanted to put a kiss to his forehead, but knew it would only make it worse.

Instead, he made eye contact with Prowl and pressed two fingers to his own lips and turned his wrist out, as if presenting Prowl with the kiss. His crush smiled and slow blinked back, not unlike a large cyberkitten. Just like that night that the rejection had turned him upside down for the day... 

"You too, Prowler," Jazz mused, suspecting that Prowl knew what the slow blink meant. Prowl's eyes crinkled in tired, pained joy as he knew that Jazz understood. "I'm goin' to go get ya some applesauce and some bananas. Do ya want some crushed frozen energon?"

"Please," He whispered. "I'll comm you if I need anything."

"You better ping me. Your Carri-ree said so," Jazz teased and Prowl huffed, but it devolved into a cough. Jazz winced, "How much time left?"

"Ten minutes. I'll take it with the energon," Prowl responded. Jazz nodded and was about to head out but he took one of his personal recording devices out of his subspace. Turning it on, he made sure it was set to loop on Prowl's song. The mech in question sighed and a tension Jazz didn't know he was holding melted away. With one final smile, Jazz slipped out of the room.

The twins were sitting in the living room, the lights turned low and the volume on the holoscreen turned even lower as they watched Jazz get out a plastic bowl and spoon. Sideswipe asked first, "Is Prowlie okay? Did I make him sick?"

"Prowlie's doin' just fine, he'll be better in a few days. We just need to be careful with him again, okay? And ya didn' make him sick," Jazz mused.

Sideswipe shook his head, "Prowlie said that I need to keep my germs to myself and I can make other people sick with them. I think this is my fault."

Jazz understood the thought process and nodded, "Well, you were doin' your best. Whenever someone looks after someone else who's sick, there's a chance they'll get sick. As the adult, Prowlie recognized that and took that risk. Is it yer fault if you couldn't do anythin' about it, but he could?"

He nodded slowly, "Okay. It's Prowlie's fault he's sick?"

"Fault has nothin' ta do with this right now. With this... Sickness just happens, but there's things you can do to try an' not make others sick. Sides, Prowlie kept ya away from me and Sunstreaker when you were sick to try an' keep us safe. We're goin' to give him some space, okay? And we're goin' to camp out here for a while. You two can watch all of the movies and shows and anything ya want until Prowlie gets better," Jazz said carefully. "We want him to get better, right?"

"Right," The boys crowed back and they went back to their show a while later. Jazz looked over the show and it was another nature documentary about... insecticons. Huh, they seemed to be really getting into those things lately. The vermin were annoyingly smart, and some kept them as pets, but they had more of a habit of getting into trash cans and scaring drunks at night with their beady eyes.

Jazz shrugged and returned to Prowl with the snacks. Already, Prowl was sleeping, and Jazz knew better than to wake him up. He left everything on the bedside and slipped from the room again. He'd need to trust Prowl to comm him when he was needed.

It took a few days of care and calling out to work from home. It took careful measuring of fresh ingredients to make broth from scratch and mashing potatoes by hand. It was bringing in new bowls of ice and holding the sheet around Prowl's waist and his own shoulders to prevent contact so Prowl could walk around the room and not mope around in the bed all day. It was care that Jazz knew Prowl would have given without a second thought, so he barely thought on it in the first place.

It was worth it all when Jazz wrinkled his nose in the early morning light in his room. Something tickled his face and... something else touched his face, a featherlight touch, just on his cheek. Another, on his forehead. Again, on his other cheek. Another on his opposite vent. Another on the tip of his nose.

Jazz slowly opened his eyes and he smiled to see Prowl, decked out in all of his plating and wrapped around the other side of the twins. He kicked his visor back to let Prowl see his optics. His vision wasn't great, but even this close, he could see the tender, budding love there. "Mornin', Prowler," He whispered.

Prowl leaned forward, continuing to drop soft kisses all over his face. He had more room now so he could kiss the bridge of Jazz's nose. He could reach his upper cheeks without catching his eyelids. He couldn't quite reach his eyebrows, but that didn't matter as he redirected those lips in other places. "Good morning, Jazz. Are you feeling okay?"

"I think that's my line," He responded. He caught Prowl's cheek in a soft hold and moved his head so he could give back a forehead kiss of his own. Prowl's engine kicked up to a low purr, making Jazz laugh quietly. "But logic tells me that y're feelin' better."

"I would not be here if I felt like I was a threat to you or the boys," He agreed. Prowl leaned into his hand and wriggled more into the bed, running a hand over the sleeping twins. "I missed this."

"And we missed you," was what he got back. Jazz reached for his hand and brought it up to his mouth. Prowl watched with quiet intensity as Jazz placed a kiss on the back of his knuckles. "It wasn't the same without ya."

Prowl hummed quietly, "This isn't going to be another proposal, is it?"

Jazz snorted and opened Prowl's hand to place a kiss to the center of his palm, "I know you're just goin' to say not yet, but I can keep proposin' until ya say yes. It'll be one of our little jokes, if you want?" Prowl's eyes crinkled more into that soft smile. "Then I will. Will ya bond with me, Prowler?"

"Not today," He whispered, but leaned forward to kiss Jazz on the cheek again. "But that's not what you were going to ask."

"No. I... Would ya want to do a real date? A proper one. I can ask Kup ta take the kids and I can take us to a nice restaurant. Quiet, low lightin', live music... Food probably won' be as good as yours, but I've heard food usually tastes better when it's not you who prepares it," Jazz suggested. He wanted so badly to treat Prowl. He didn't want him to have to work on their first date. He didn't want to be the one to recommend that they stay in and Prowl cook while Jazz serenaded him. Not that he would have minded, of course, but that would have been unspeakably rude.

Prowl seemed to think about it and took a deep breath in, "Let's work out the semantics of it, but I..." He focused back on Jazz, onto that beautiful smile that he wanted to wake up to for the rest of his life. "I would love to go on a date with you, Jazz."

Jazz's smile split into an ecstatic grin, "I think I'm goin' to be flyin' for the rest of the week, Prowler."

"Then I shall be in orbit, waiting for you," His lover responded, taking Jazz's hand to kiss the knuckles back.

Between them, the twins slept, oblivious to the joy that their creators shared, but they would not be forever ignorant to it. No, they would be there, cheering them along.

Chapter Text

Monday

"Sunday?" 

"Ariel and Orion only have the weekend off and they like to keep that free unless there's an emergency. Kup is dealing with Arcee's extreme emotional teenager phase, and he doesn't want to add the twins to that when he's already needing to mitigate for Hot Rod. Whirl is dealing with Scrappy and will be unavailable-"

"Scrappy?"

"He refused to elaborate."

"What about Blurr and Swindle?"

"Mild offense intended, but I don't trust Swindle to handle Sunstreaker if he gets overstimulated, and I'm not sure if Blurr would know what to do. I would rather it not get to that point."

"And leavin' them home is outta the question."

"That better be a statement and not a suggestion."

"I'm not doin' that. There's too much that could go wrong."

Prowl hummed as he continued to pour the batter, "Why not Friday night? We could trade a date night with Orion and Ariel. Orion's mentioned that he's wanted to have a night alone with her."

Jazz pressed his face deeper into Prowl's back, enjoying the contact as he hugged him from behind, "Friday night is super busy in most places and the place I wanna take ya doesn't get loud, but it's a constant low buzz."

"I... can see how that would be an issue," Prowl agreed quietly. He looked over his shoulder to peer at the radio host, "We do not need to rush this. I am still amenable to having a night in or going somewhere easier to manage."

"I know, but... I want this ta be memorable. I want ta treat you like you're worth it," Jazz pouted as he propped his chin onto Prowl's shoulder. His nose was brushing the edge of Prowl's jawline and he stood on tiptoe to kiss it. "It's not the price point, but I want to be able to sit down and focus on you and not some bright lights or where we're goin' next or anythin' and I want to make new memories. Somethin' I can plan, y'know? You do a lot fer me."

Prowl's usual stiff body posture melted and he hummed happily, but he turned back to flip the pancakes, "Do you want me to leave it all to you? I understand that my input is important, but I also understand that your desire to impress me with how well you know me is very important to you as well. I would like to see what you come up with."

"Yeah," Jazz murmured. "Would ya let me do that? I'll still ask ya some questions, but I have a few others I can ask, right? Would ya be alright if I asked Smoky and yer creators?"

He faltered at that, but nodded, "Only in terms of preferences. I don't want you getting stories from them."

"So I'd probably need ta talk to yer Sire, right?" Jazz guessed. Prowl hummed, but he tensed again. Jazz backed off and moved around so he was on the adjacent corner of the island and well within Prowl's view, "Talk to me, Prowler. Do ya need to take your answer back?"

"Please. I would like you to ask me if you have questions, but I don't want them knowing yet," Prowl whispered as he flipped another pancake.

Jazz nodded, "Alright. I won't bring it up, even if they ask. I don't expect yer creators callin' me, or Smoky-" He smacked his forehead, "Smokescreen! We forgot about Smokescreen!"

"That is... a violation of ethics," Prowl explained. He reached a hand out to place over Jazz's. "Thank you. For understanding."

"O' course, Prowler. Thanks fer tellin' me before it got to that point," He smiled. He gently took the hand in his and raised it up slowly, giving him time. That rainbow rare smile shone again and Jazz kissed across the back of his knuckles. "I'll listen, Prowler. Hard limits, soft limits, I'll listen," He promised.

Even if that meant saying to pit with the fancy restaurant that wouldn't set off Prowl into a bout of overstimulation on accident. Even if it meant saying yes to Si and Ri shoppe that had cheap burgers and they would chow down in a cramped booth. Or if they-

Jazz froze as he came up with an idea and grinned. "I think I got it. I do want ta ask you a question 'fore I go off and start plannin'. It'll give away some of the surprise, but I can also ask 'Raj for advice, this is the kind of thing he lives for."

"The dating and fashion host?" Prowl asked with a raised eyebrow. He thought about it and shook his head, "I would like for it to be a surprise. I want to trust you, but I will always be open for your questions on my opinion. I do not want this to stress you out, Jazz. Promise me you will be kind to yourself."

He smiled and let Prowl's hand go so he could focus on breakfast, "I promise. I just want to make you happy and to have a good time. I..." His gaze fell to the pancakes, "I just want to know that I know you as well as I think I do."

Prowl cocked his head at the thought for a moment. He counted the pancakes and figured he had enough for another bit of pancakes. He didn't turn the griddle off as he instead walked to shift Jazz until they were facing each other and Prowl lifted Jazz's chin. "Look at me. Jazz, what is my favorite flavor of anything sweet?"

"Blue raspberry," He answered easily.

"And dinners?"

"Pasta."

"What are my hobbies?"

"Readin', plannin', and exercisin', even if it's liftin' the boys as weights."

"And what sets me off if I make something?"

"If the person ya gave somethin' to doesn' like it."

"And my reaction?"

"Shutdown. Give ya a whiteboard, marker, a blanket, time, and somethin' to eat that's okay to sit out for a while."

"And that was my next question; how to help me," Prowl said proudly. He smiled and kissed Jazz's forehead, "You know the important things about me, Jazz. You know what I like to eat, you know how to help me when I need it, and you know what I enjoy. You respect my boundaries and you understand my body language and you care about me. For me, that is enough. I want you to have fun and be excited about planning this. So long as it is not in the middle of a sports crowd, it will be fine." He raised a hand to caress Jazz's cheek, "I trust you. I do not mean for that statement to give you more stress, but take it as a blanket statement that I understand that you know me, and I want you to think of something we will both enjoy."

Jazz rested his hand over Prowl's and kissed his palm, "I know, Prowler. I know, I just... I'm havin' first date panic. I know y're goin' to love this, I'm goin' to love puttin' it together, I'm just nervous. Keep tellin' me that stuff until we get it sorted?"

Prowl nodded and tried to ignore his flush at the soft kiss to his hand, "Of course. As many times as you need to hear it." He looked back to the griddle and hummed, "I think I'm done for now. Unless you would like another pancake this morning?"

"I'll always eat whatever ya put in front of me," He declared happily and let Prowl break away from him. "But would ya happen to have the comm frequency of that Enforcer that took away those two jokes? Pursuit?"

"Chase," Prowl nodded, eyeing Jzz carefully. "Maybe I am reconsidering this wanting to be a surprise. Why would you need to contact an Enforcer?"

Jazz grinned and winked half of his visor off and on again, "Nothin', Prowler. Just makin' sure I got everythin' in order and I don't break any laws."

"Jazz..." Prowl warned, but his crush was already sneaking around him to steal and pancake off the top of the large stack. "Jazz!" He began to chase him through the living room, wielding nothing but the spatula and a sharp glint in his eye. 

He still made it back in time to flip that last pancake, Jazz sulking with his stolen pancake reclaimed from him. He would get it back when they were all served, bite marks still gouged out of it.

Tuesday

Jazz slipped into Mirage's booth near the end of his shift, "Hey, 'Raj. I got a question for ya-"

"If you want to use me to practice pick up lines again, the answer is no," The socialite huffed as he began to set up for his own call-in show. 

He winced, remembering the several vorns he did that to have some fun with his stuck up coworker, "Nah, it ain't that. I'm havin' my first date with Prowler and ya know I have the food habits of a freshman college brat on a good day." Mirage smirked at that and Jazz opted to lean into it. "Look, I don't want ta mess this up, you know how much Prowler means to me and I trust you. I just need help findin' out how to handle a late night picnic."

"How late?" Mirage asked. "If it's on one of your days off, you can handle it yourself, but if it's on an on week-"

"My last workin' day," Jazz cut off. "So I wouldn't have time ta make anythin' and I'm not about to ask him to make somethin' when I ask him if I could dazzle him."

Mirage sighed and looked up. He gave Jazz a flat stare, "Jazz. We all know Prowl thinks you're the one for him. You could get him a corndog from the trash and he'd begrudgingly eat it." Jazz flinched in disgust and his coworker lifted an eyebrow, "You tell me how the date goes when you're done doing... whatever you're doing, or call me around lunchtime the day after, and not a second sooner. You cheat me on this, I will work to sabotage you every chance I have and you will never see him again. Am I clear?"

Jazz swallowed and he knew Mirage was serious. They had practically grown up together, Jazz had seen him put together and rip apart more couples in their school days than he had seen in all 50 vorns of doing his show. There had even been a point that he had stuck his nose into Jazz's love life, some relationships good, some bad, but every time, he had been there to help Jazz pick up the pieces. After Mirage got bonded, they ended up drifting.

"Saturday mornin', after noon, and not a secon' before," Jazz agreed. "I was thinkin'-"

"Whatever you're planning is a good idea, but don't do all cold food. Get take-out from his favorite restaurant or some food he likes," He explained. He narrowed his eyes as Jazz, "You do know what he likes, right?"

He nodded, "Yeah, of course! He likes pasta and fresh fruit, but nothin' citrus-y, and bread an-"

Mirage held up his hand, "I get your point. And his favorite dessert?"

"Sweet things, but especially blue raspberries. I was thinkin' of that one cheesecake place. Gettin' us some pasta, that cheesecake with all of the fruit on it or gettin' a pack from the store on my way home an' dress it up all nice when we get there-"

"Before you get to work, get cooler unit and get a few desserts from the local bakery. Does he have a place he likes?" Mirage asked as he leaned back in his chair. "He must get those desserts from somewhere." His tank grumbled at the thought of the few times that Prowl had deliberately baked too many good for the small family to consume themselves, so it had to be up to the office to clear the cookies and cupcakes and pastries away.

Jazz smiled and scratched the back of his neck, "He, uh, he makes those."

Mirage blinked in shock before he schooled his expression back into a more neutral look, "Then how did you manage to land him? No offense, Jazz, but you're a mess."

"Not as much anymore, mech. C'mon, I've been doin' better. It's because of him. I want to make this special. Do ya have any recommendations?" His friend begged. "Please, 'Raj?"

He sighed and pulled out a marker and wrote the name of a bakery onto Jazz's arm, "Here. Hound gets me pastries that remind me of Prowl's work from here. There. Now, remember, food only from that restaurant, dessert from the bakery. I need to get started for my show, now shoo."

Jazz bowed deeply and scuttled out of the room. Looking back, he grinned to see the 'On Air' light click on, knowing he had just made it without his secret getting dumped.

Wednesday

"So what do you usually speak about when Orion is here?" Ariel asked on the one day that she was there instead of Orion. He apparently had some last minute work and Alpha Trion was keeping him. Instead, Ariel had agreed to come instead, and she was suffering suspicious looks from the twins as they flanked Bumblebee and Springer. Behind them, Arcee and Hot Rod were holding sticks as if they were Primal guards.

Jazz shrugged as he glanced at Prowl, "Usually just whatever's happened in the last few days with the boys or if Prowler decides a new recipe."

"Or brainstorming music lyrics," Prowl mused back.

Kup snorted and nudged Jazz with a large grin, "Or I just rag on these two lovebirds. So, any new developments?"

"Other than I got ta help Prowler with the flu? Nothin' much, but I am tryin' to plan something fer Friday night after work," Jazz said. He propped his chin into his hand and smiled sweetly at his crush, "We're tryin' to work out plans."

Prowl tapped him on the nose, "You are trying to work out the plans. You wanted this to be a surprise."

"I know," Jazz whispered. He took Prowl's hand and lowered it, but didn't let go. "Prowler, I don't want ta ask ya to go so I can talk to these two, but can we have some space?"

"Only if I reserve the right to do the same," Prowl mused and rose. He dipped his head respectfully to Ariel, "Please do not let him bully you too badly, Ariel. He can be overly familiar at times."

Jazz stuck his tongue out, "I'm plenty familiar! We've had her bitty over for sleepovers, Prowler!" He only got a raised eyebrow in return before Prowl went to join the children. He grabbed his own stick and prepared to duel the older kids. Kup shook his head in amusement.

The oldest among them pointed at Jazz, "I already told Prowl, I can't do it. Arcee's starting her slamming doors and backtalk phase-"

"I thought she already backtalked?" He cut in.

Kup pursed his lips and Jazz lifted his hands. "Nah, this is something else."

"She's growing up, Kup. She and Hot Rod are probably nervous about school. Didn't you say they are starting after the Festival or Crystals? That's in the middle of the school vorn, that won't be easy," Ariel said gently. She laid her hands out in front of her delicately, but Jazz lifted an unseen eyebrow at her hands. They might look frail, but they had vorns of work hiding in them, he could tell. She wasn't as soft as she was giving herself away as. "But if you think she could do with another femme's words, I am willing to give it a try."

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, "I mean... it can't hurt. I've only raised boys. Not saying that mechs and femmes are different, but I wasn't there for her upbringing. I still have a long time until she unlearns some of the stuff her family taught her..." He waved his hand, "Go ahead."

Ariel looked over her shoulder and smiled in bemusement, "Maybe after she's done trying to take down Prowl." The other creators followed her gaze and grinned in tandem.

Arcee was scrambling on Prowl's back, trying to squirm out of his hold as he held in place. With his free arm, he was advancing on Hot Rod, getting cheered on by the other children. It was clear that they were wrestling, and Arcee was having fun, despite her outraged yells.

"While we're waitin'..." Jazz started. "Ariel, I don't know ya as well, so I'm sorry ta ask-"

"You would like us to host a sleepover for your boys so that you may take Prowl on a proper date?" She guessed. She took a deep breath, "Orion mentioned something like this would come up. He trusts my judgment, and I wanted to ask if you would be willing to do the same for us on Saturday night. We would like to have our own date night and if that means hosting your children so you can have ours, I see nothing wrong with it."

Jazz thought it over and nodded, "Sunday mornin's Prowler's day off, so I'll look after him when he wakes up. Prowl usually handles breakfast anyway, but I don't like askin' him to do anythin' like that when he doesn't need to, so until you come get 'im, that'll be on me."

Ariel raised an eyebrow but relaxed, "Alright. I trust you. I'll have Orion come to pick up the boys before your shift is over.”

”Thank you thank you thank you!” Jazz cheered. He looked over Ariel’s shoulder again and paused to see Prowl with Arcee and Hot Rod sitting on his shoulders, holding their legs in place with an arm as they commanded him around to chase the twins. Sideswipe squealed in delight when Prowl got closer, but inevitably changed course for Sunstreaker. 

Their eldest was less impressed, but he was still having fun nonetheless as he tried to throw his brother under the bus again and again and again and again. 

Kup chuckled, “You sure either of you aren’t going to try and give your bitties a new best friend?”

”That is crude,” Ariel huffed, but she didn’t deny it with a twinkle in her eye. Oh, Orion was going to be in for it when he found out.

Jazz, on the other hand, waved his hand, “Nah, not what I was here. I just want to make Prowler happy. ‘Sides, he’s gotten me hooked on easin’ into things and not rushing right for others.” Getting to know Prowl well enough to be trusted with that part of him… he loved giving and getting their morning kisses and cuddles. 

The newest addition to the group hummed happily, “It’s about the journey, not the finish line.”

”Yeah, and I’ll be glad ta keep runnin’ it as long as I can,” Jazz sighed. He wanted to bond with Prowl, sure, but he liked finding out about Prowl more. What he liked, what he didn’t like… He didn’t think he was going to end up as one of the kinds of mech that wanted to be so close to a mech to be metaphorically in their plating, and he hoped he would never be. 

That would be one step too close to what Prowl had fought so hard to get away from.

”Are we still taking about dating or is this how you young people talk about interfacing these days?”

”Kup.”

Thursday

This was a bad idea. This was a very bad, very not good idea. Even if he had locked himself into a closet before the start of his shift, he was never going to live this down.

His spark nearly stopped when the comm went through.

”Enforcer Chase of Iacon Precinct 4. If this is an emergency, please hang up and redial for emergency services, how may I help you?” 

Primus, no wonder Prowl felt at ease speaking to him.

Jazz rubbed the back of his neck as he paced back and forth, “Hello, Enforcer Chase. It’s Jazz, from the Mesothulas case? This has nothin’ to do with that, but I wanted ta call and ask for your professional opinion on how I’d go about settin’ up a racin’ activity for me and a mech I’d like to take out for a surprise date. Off road, and if ya know any good spots, I’d appreciate it? I want to do this by the book.”

There was a beat of silence and when the Enforcer spoke again, it was much slower, “I would like to confirm. You would like to take a mech out onto an off road location, presumably without them knowing where they are immediately going, to perform a dangerous activity for the sake of a date.”

Jazz pressed the heel of his palm to his forehead, he knew this was stupid. “It’s for Prowl. I- He. I want to take him out somewhere that he won’t need to worry about restrictin’ his speed, and I figured you’d know some of the safest spots, and if I’d need to get any kind of permit. If you’d want me to give ya a timeline so you can reach out to him, I can, I just… I want to plan a good first date and he doesn’t get ya go full throttle often.”

”Ah,” Chase hummed in understanding. “If that is the case, I would like for him to contact me. I will attempt to keep your surprise, but he is also training to be an Enforcer, he will know the questions I am asking for his Off Road racing permit. There is a track near the outskirts that the Enforcers use on occasion. I will book you all for a time, but I would like to emphasize: I am only aiding you in this as I understand that Prowl is a dedicated Enforcer in training. I pulled his record from Praxus and I know he is a mech of honor. He will not leave that track in poor condition. Do not make me regret this.”

Jazz swallowed nervously, “I want ta do everything I can to make sure he has everythin’ he needs to be the best Enforcer Iacon’s ever seen…” He stalled as he remembered who he was talking to. “Uh, no offense.”

”None taken. It is a valiant attitude to possess. Is there any other information I should need to know? If you wish to clear the activities from an Enforcer perspective, I am happy to serve however I may be needed,” Chase said. Jazz blinked as the mech seemed… proud? His tone took a happier lilt if possible, but Jazz didn’t want to question it. 

He relaxed, but continued to pace, “I was goin’ to get off of work on Friday night and go pick up some food from a restaurant so we can have a picnic. I’d meet him at the house before we head out for a park I know for a star gazin’ lookout before headin’ for the track. We’re not plannin’ anythin’ bad and we’ll clean up when we’re done. Will you need ta be there since y’re signin’ off on it? It’s okay if ya do.”

Chase hummed, “I would like to meet you both at the entrance and I will lock the gate after you all, but I will not actively be present. Do you have a time estimate on when you will be there?”

”Um, probably from 11 P.M. to 1 A.M. at the latest, if that’s be alright? I know it’s the middle of the night, but it’s the only time that worker fer us right now. Our bitlets will be havin’ a sleepover at a family friend’s place,” He explained. 

“Alright. I will have you marked as a guest. For the racing permit, I will need your specs and I will contact Prowl for his. Again, I will do my best to not reveal your operation and I appreciate your candidness to do this by the book and I know Prowl will feel the same. I will be in touch.”

Jazz relaxed and nodded, “Thank ya, Officer. You have been a great help today and you are a service to Iacon.”

Chase didn’t respond for a moment before Jazz swore he heard a sniffle, “Thank you, citizen. I endeavor to protect and serve. Until we speak again.” He cut the line and Jazz wondered what he’d gotten himself into.

Prowl smiled knowingly when Jazz finally stepped back into the home. The boys were asleep and as always, Prowl was waiting for Jazz to walk through the door while he did his schoolwork. “So I received a very interesting comm while you were at work,” He mused as he put his datapad down. “I nearly had to request an Information from Questioning release from some of the questions he was asking.” 

Jazz swallowed nervously as Prowl got up and stalked his way, “Have ya put it together?” He was tense, but he wasn't scared. Never scared. Only worried that his plans would be revealed before the actual date.

The Praxian was a step away from towering over him, but his smile, his smile, put Jazz’s fears to rest. “I might have an idea. If it is what I think it is… I can’t wait.”

He sighed in relief and took that step forward, “I hope ya like it, Prowler. I really do.” He let Prowl circle his arms around him and he leaned into his comforting embrace. “Thanks fer lettin’ me do this, Prowler.”

”Only if I get to spoil you just as much, Jazz. I don't want this to be a back and forth of surprises. I don't want this to devolve into a case where we try to subconsciously one up the other. I want there to be times to surprise each other, but I..."

Jazz smiled as Prowl continued to try and find his words, "I'll try not ta surprise ya after this. Not without clearin' it with ya. Small things." Prowl rested his forehead onto Jazz's, letting Jazz sway him from side to side in a song that only they could hear. "Breakfast in bed... Little songs... Kisses when you're okay for 'em... Bringin' ya treats or crystal flowers..." He let his visor turn off, wanting to notice anything but Prowl. "I want ta exist in yer space, if you'll let me."

"I want to cook meals that you'll love... I want to make lists and everything I can to make your life easier... I want to plead with my processor and everything in me so that I can hold you whenever I want... I want to make you desserts..." Prowl let his breath ghost over Jazz's lips. His optics looked over the offline visor, knowing Jazz wouldn't move.

He could kiss Jazz right now if he wanted. It would take one small tilt of his head. Their noses were already touching and he wanted, but... He wanted something else more.

Prowl shifted his head back, not taking his forehead off of Jazz's, but it gave them space. Jazz let out a small puff of air, clearly having been holding his breath. 

"I want to be in your space as long as you will allow me, Jazz," Prowl whispered. He pulled back more completely to put a kiss on Jazz's cheek and crossed over to kiss his other. "I want you to surprise me tomorrow."

"Bond with me," Jazz pleaded, onlining his visor again. He blinked underneath it, taking in Prowl's tender gaze. He would do anything to keep this mech in his life. He would do whatever Prowl wanted, he would enroll the boys in whatever school Prowl though best, he would eat whatever Prowl set in front of him. 

But he also knew that this kind of thing would take time.

Prowl only smiled and kissed the tip of his nose, "Not today."

Friday

Jazz was ticking off his list every 15 minutes. 

He had called the bakery, and checked the time stamp and the receipt sent to him as confirmation with the correct day and time.

He made sure the restaurant was going to have their food ready by the time his shift was over and only just.

He double checked Chase's message that the request for the race track were cleared for the requested time.

He looked over Blurr's signed statement that Jazz will be getting out on time. 

He looked at the image capture that Orion sent him that the twins were playing insecticons and pitling with him and Prowl.

Everything was in order. 

Prowl would meet him at the house, and they'd take off for a hidden spot that Jazz had found several decavorns ago for their picnic. After that, they'd head for the race track, and Jazz would be willing to push his engine to the red so Prowl could run him down properly. He would make Prowl know that he wasn't expecting anything to come out of the adrenaline rush, he just wanted to give Prowl the chance to chase in a way that he wouldn't be able to for another several vorns. 

It was about giving Prowl a chance to do something that his coding demanded, a chance to do something that he used to do and take pride in. It would be a cheap imitation, but Jazz also wanted to just spend time with him. He wanted to do this the right way, and Primus, if this wasn't the right way, then he didn't know what was.

So he suffered through his shift. 

So he caught himself stuck between smiling, rubbing his chin in worry, and staring out into space.

So he bounced his leg so much that Mirage shared a knowing look with Blaster.

He winked as Jazz rushed out of the main doors, silently wishing his friend well in that way he always did back in the day. 

Jazz was glad that he checked his lists a million times. The bakery had the order right and it came out just as he was rushing into the building, cooling unit "On the house," as the owner insisted. He didn't protest the large tip Jazz gave him. The restaurant had the pasta dishes ready with enough breadsticks to feed an army. The waiter lit up at the shanix thrust into his hands. 

He was glad that traffic was light, despite the late hour, as he rolled up to their home, Prowl waiting by the door. He looked cleaned up, well polished, and Jazz froze in his alt mode, soaking in the look of this miracle glowing in the outdoor light by the front door. He looked perfect.

Primus, he was perfect.

He started to feel a little shabby, but Jazz reminded himself that Prowl knew what he was getting into. He knew that Jazz wouldn't have any time to get polished up. He wouldn't have time past the half hour he had spent in the shower to buff out his paint. He knew Jazz, and that was fine.

Prowl's gaze landed on Jazz and oh, to say that he lit up was an understatement. His doorwings rose and his face broke into the happiest he had been since Jazz had met him. His stride was slow, measured, as he came out to meet Jazz and the radio host needed to kick himself into remembering to transform. 

"I was beginning to wonder when this date was going to begin," Prowl teased, but Jazz smiled and bowed at the waist.

He rose and held out a hand, "It'll start when you're ready. How're you feelin'?"

Prowl considered the question for a moment, but he accepted Jazz's hand, "Good. Good enough for a race, but I'm not sure about the rest. Will we come into contact with others?"

"We're only goin' to be takin' backroads once we're outta the city main," Jazz reassured. He kissed the back of Prowl's hand, "And I want ya to know, Prowler. I'm not expectin' anything to come out of tonight. I just want ta show you a good time. Anythin' we do, that's on yer terms and yer terms only. You'll get no judgment from me, yeah?"

His date sagged in relief and he nodded. He pulled Jazz close and nuzzled their temples together, "Thank you. I expected that, but it is nice to hear it. I know those holovids like to... cast Enforcers in a specific light after a good chase and they are not wrong at times, but there are others when it's just overplayed."

"I figured, but honestly..." Jazz took a deep breath, "If ya offered, I'd probably say no. I ain't riskin' what we got on a snap call. I'm goin' ta ask ya right now, would ya want interfacin' to be a part of the night tonight?" Jazz waited patiently, still in Prowl's space, but he tried not to move. He didn't want to give any kind of stimuli that could make Prowl upset.

Prowl smiled and shook his head, "You said it yourself, if I offered, you would say no. But even if you had not said that, I would not want it to be a part of tonight. Thank you for telling me, it... helps set expectations." He cocked his head, "Are kisses off the table?"

Jazz tapped his chin as he thought, "Those... I think I can fit 'em into my schedule tonight, but only if ya want to." He noticed he still had Prowl's hand in his other and brought it up to kiss the back of his crush's hand. "Are you ready to go?"

"I am," He mused and he pulled Jazz towards the road so that they could take off.

Prowl stared at the sky in amazement as Jazz led the way up the old, worn path. It was an ancient scenic overlook with some light pollution, but it was nothing on the rest of the city. Out where they were... "You can almost see the buildings on Luna One from here," Prowl breathed. His eyes scanned the night sky and he trusted Jazz to not let him trip.

Jazz laughed quietly and nudged Prowl so that he wouldn't step into a hole, "I used to sneak out at night ta get away from my creators whenever I could, and I found this place one night. It was outside of the range of where they'd look, and I'd fall asleep to watchin' shootin' stars. The number o' wishes I made was probably more than I'd like ta think about, but..." He smiled at Prowl, seeing those same stars he'd make wishes on reflected in his optics. "I like ta think at least one of 'em is comin' true. I wanted to bring out a mech that meant a lot to me out here and... well..." 

He stepped aside to show a small space that was clearly an old pathway, but most of it was so overgrown that there was only a small patch at the end of the foot path. Prowl cocked his head, but Jazz took out two blankets from his subspace. He passed the smaller, nicer of the blankets to Prowl, "Hold this for me, Prowler?" It was taken without a comment and he took the chance to unfurl the large tablecloth he had packed. It was made to handle spilled drinks, but the damp ground was comparable enough. 

Prowl smiled as he unfurled the nicer blanket on top, "I can't tell if this is to help keep us warm, or to help me specifically, but I can tell you planned ahead."

"I ain't a complete dunce, no matter what Blaster says," Jazz mused. He held out his hand, "For you, Prowler." The nanny smiled and allowed Jazz to help him down before getting followed onto the blanket. "And, for the main courses..." He went through his subspace and pulled out their individual dishes. Prowl's baked ziti was set in front of him, and the breadsticks came out next. Jazz's mouth watered as he took out his own spaghetti, but he could see how Prowl's optics trailed behind the raspberry tart and the cup with watermelon, cantaloupe, and strawberries.

Prowl covered his mouth to very clearly hide his growing smile, but he glanced up to Jazz, "You know, I wondered how you would handle this part of the date. I wasn't expecting a full meal like this."

"Did ya eat before?" Jazz asked, eyes wide.

He laughed and shook his head, "I had a snack, but this? I'm starving." Prowl took the top off of his dish and he sighed, "I must give chain establishments a hand, they are consistent, no matter where they are. I used to order this dish when I would eat out with my family on a few occasions. How did you know?"

Jazz smiled as he popped the top on his own, "Yer ziti's one of the only pasta noodles you've made this many times, and I know you've made this dish a few times since ya started cookin' fer us. You only made it after a long day, so I figured it was a comfort food."

Prowl stared in shock before he looked down at his dish, "Betrayed by my baked ziti..." He shook his head in amusement and his hand shot out to rub Jazz's cheek, "I didn't think you noticed."

"Y're kiddin', right?" He asked incredulously. "I might not remember what day you've ever made a specific dish, Prowler, but I notice when ya like to make a dish a few times in the few months I've known ya." Jazz smiled and took Prowl's hand in his to kiss his palm, "I'll take it that as a success." He released Prowl to pick up his food, "And I hate ta rush us, but we have about 45 minutes ta eat before we need ta get moving again."

"I think I can do that," Prowl agreed, picking up his own food. His gaze drifted up again, watching the stars. Jazz couldn't help but take an image capture of him, but he laughed to himself when he found that one had a single noodle sticking out of Prowl's mouth like a straw. 

Prowl was so cute.

"And what did ya call that one?" Jazz asked as he pointed to another constellation. 

Prowl considered the stars as he nibbled on his part of the tart before he nodded, "We attributed that one to Onyx Prime. Do you see how it forms legs closer to the horizon, and the wings that are stretching above it?" He pointed with his fork and Jazz leaned in to follow his gesture. "My carrier enjoys cartography and she has several dozen star maps that I grew up learning about. It's how I know that if you follow his right wing..." His hand traveled and Jazz adjusted accordingly. "...You'll see he's trying to protect The Lovers. Solus and Megatronus both have their own constellations, but this was one from before Sentinel took over and undid some of the maps. He doesn't like that city states such as Tarn and Kaon don't view Megatronus as the just The Fallen, but as a lover who had been manipulated into killing his lover."

"A damn shame if ya ask me," Jazz grumbled as he stared at the constellation. "She was brilliant, and Maximo just... had ta ruin that. Not sayin' Megatronus is completely innocent, but he was..." Jazz shook his head. He turned to Prowl and smiled weakly, "Do ya think anyone'd ever try ta do that to us, Prowler?"

"...I see now explicit reason that anyone would, but I hope I have construed this correctly, but I believe that we trust each other explicitly. I do not see many arguments ever getting to the point of yelling, but I also understand that emotions will have the potential of boiling over." He frowned and twitched his doorwings, "Please recall that my tacnet made me difficult to get along with. I have not yet had an argument since yet, but even before, I... was told I could be quite vicious." He looked to Jazz nervously. "I know you have seen me scared, but you have not seen me angry, nor do I ever wish you to."

Jazz leaned back and watched him for a moment before he shrugged, "Prowler, I go with the flow. But if it makes ya feel better, we can make an agreement ta not make any big decisions in the middle of a big fight, but what's ta say we can't just talk it out? Pros and cons and all that?"

Prowl relaxed and looked back to the stars, "I believe I can agree to that. Or pausing arguments until we both have had time to clear our heads?"

"Yeah. I like the sound o' that," Jazz agreed. 

They both saw a shooting star and whether they knew it or not, they made the same wish.

Please, make this work out. 

Chase transformed out of his alt mode when he saw the pair approaching. "You are approximately 2 minutes, 54 seconds late," He stated as he stood stiffly. Jazz winced as he spun out of his alt mode, dusting himself off.

"Sorry, sorry, officer. We were tryin' to make sure we had the area cleaned up and-"

"I may or may not have dragged Jazz into cleaning up several abandoned cubes of engex nearby our dinner spot. They are all long dry and empty. We will be disposing of them within the appropriate disposal receptacle at our earliest convenience," Prowl took over. He reached into his subspace and pulled out the large trashbag he usually carried in case of emergencies. In this case, it was full, and Chase held his hand out.

Prowl handed the bag over and the Enforcer looked through it. He nodded in approval, but kept the bag at his side, "There is a waste disposal unit near my office, I will take care of it. Thank you for your efforts to keep Iacon clean. Until then, I would recommend that you engage in your racing." He reached his hand into his subspace to pull out two shiny magnets, "Here are your temporary passes. Please keep them on while you are on the track, they will mark you as guests. Please refrain from any dangerous behavior such as PIT maneuvers, forced side crashes, and anything that would require a medic. You are responsible for your own wellbeing on the track, but I will be forced to step in if necessary. Please do not engage in any form of interfacing on the track. This is for training, not for salacious vids. Am I clear?"

Jazz flushed at the lecture, but Prowl dipped his head, "Your notices are heard and understood, Sir. Thank you for your reminders and advice. Estimated run time?"

"This rink is booked out until 1 A.M," Chase stated, but he paused. "And I would make sure to thank your date. He is very kind and did his best to ensure that this was well within regulations. He is an outstanding citizen for this endeavor."

Prowl's doorwings rose in surprise as he glanced at Jazz, "Did he?" 

Oooh, Prowl was going to be in trouble if he ever took that tone with Jazz in private. The purr sent chills down Jazz's spine and he instinctively stood straighter.

Chase nodded and stepped aside, "He did. I would advise you not waste anymore time. This is an older facility, so it is primarily used for racing. Is that amenable?"

Jazz looked to Prowl for his opinion and relaxed subconsciously when Prowl nodded, "Yes." He looked back to Jazz and lifted an eyebrow, "Would you like to race or chase?"

"I thought you'd be chasin' me, Prowler," Jazz joked, but Prowl's doorwings hiked aggressively- no, not aggressively. He wasn't an aggressor. He was a predator. Given how Prowl took half a step back, Prowl was silently directing him to start moving and it would be the only head start he would get.

Jazz grinned and took off. He leapt into his transformation, and his spark began to pound as he let his speedometer run higher and higher-

Sirens. Prowl had fraggin' sirens.

'When did ya get those, Officer?' Jazz pinged to Prowl, shaking his wheels enough to wiggle his back bumper at him.

Prowl's voice was sharper, more dangerous, 'Chase allowed me to reactivate some of my old coding and provided me with a training set of stasis cuffs. I will not use them unless you express you are alright with them-'

'You're feedin' me ideas, Prowler. I know ya got lists fer lists, so add this to mine: fragit- yes. Hot hot hot, Prowler,' Jazz teased as he swung himself around the curve. 'Ya got my ok for it. This ain't just racin' fer me, this is ta let you indulge. So, if ya want a takedown, I'll give ya a run, sound good?'

Prowl was silent and Jazz nearly began slowing down, but the pursuit engine behind him roared and began to creep up on him. 'Then I suggest you run, Jazz. Run fast, run far.' It sounded like a prayer, a plea, permission.

Jazz laughed and wiggled his back end again before he put on that extra speed. He wasn't quite in the red yet, but he was getting there, but Prowl was nearly meeting him rpm for rpm. The only leeway Jazz was able to get was immediately after the turn, since he was smaller, lighter, but Prowl's endurance build was made for longer stretches, and he would run the distance down again until they hit the next turn.

Until Prowl smacked into his back bumper and Jazz was in the beginning of a spinout. Prowl met him skid for skid and kept him centered into the move and before he knew it... Prowl was forcing a transformation and pressing Jazz into the asphalt. "Good run?" Jazz asked, but he choked on his words as Prowl quickly, but carefully, pulled his arms back to slap the cuffs on him. They numbed his arms slightly, but Jazz was too busy laughing. "I'll take that as a yeah."

Prowl took a step back and crouched to look Jazz over in appreciation. He was barely running a sweat, and here was Jazz, his engine still revving and trying to slow his spark. Oh, he was definitely in trouble if Prowl wasn't even looking winded. 

"You look good like this," Prowl mused and Jazz's eyes widened. He bit his lip, whining pathetically. Primus, he wanted this mech and wanted him now, screw propriety, he wanted to screw Prowler! "We're not doing that here, Jazz," He was reminded and Jazz whined again, but let himself fall lax. "Do you want to go another round?"

"Yeah, I wanna see how long I can outrun ya again. How long was that run?" He asked.

Prowl lifted an eyebrow, "5 minutes."

Jazz's head shot up again, "What? No way, it had ta be longer than that."

"It was five minutes," Prowl mused as he unlocked the cuffs. He stuffed them back into his subspace and helped his date up. Jazz dusted himself off, his engine still running hot. "I will give you another 15 second head start." He leaned in to whisper into Jazz's audial, "Please do try to last a little longer this time."

He made a choked noise as Prowl pulled back, but he shook himself out enough to take off. It'd been a while since he got to see sexy Prowl, but damn! He'd need to do this more often.

This time, he managed to last 7, but his engine was running harder and Jazz coughed. Prowl shook his head in bemusement as he needed to help Jazz up, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Y-Yeah, just... really out of shape," He whined. He swallowed, "Sorry, I meant fer this ta be somethin' bette-"

"If you finish that, you are showering alone," Prowl commanded and Jazz's mouth clicked closed. Prowl pulled Jazz close and stared deep into his visor, "Jazz. This is the best date I've ever been on. You have put more thought into this than I expected and I love the date so far. I got to chase someone again. I wouldn't think I would get to do that for another 15 vorns. You remembered my favorite food. You took me stargazing and listened to me ramble about the Praxian version of constellations. You applied for permits to go racing on a legitimate track and in one where we could be alone." 

He smiled sweetly and kissed Jazz's visor, "We can go again, if you'd like, or we can head home. I wouldn't be opposed to... needing a hand in the shower?"

"Y're treadin' on dangerous ground," Jazz mused, but didn't argue. 

Prowl's optics crinkled and he dotted another kiss to Jazz's temple, "I've handled more dangerous than you, I think I'll be fine." He gazed at Jazz with such trust, "Besides, I know you will not do anything to hurt me."

"Never," Jazz promised. "One more go." Prowl's smile turned to something more arrogant and let Jazz take off, giving him another 15 second headstart.

Jazz sighed in relief as he stepped in under the hot solvent, "I think I'm goin' to be a little sore in the mornin', Prowler." Familiar arms wrapped around his waist and he hummed, wondering what Prowl was going to do.

His fingers traced small patterns across his waist, "Do you think a massage would help?"

"Only if I get ta get my fingers in your seams too," Jazz mused. Prowl snorted and kissed his shoulder. "It's gettin' late, Prowler. I do want ta enjoy this, but..."

"I understand. I had a nice time tonight," He sighed contently before pulling away. He took out Jazz's favorite wash and began to lather up a washcloth. He spun them around so his doorwings took the brunt of the water and Jazz shivered as he was removed from the direct heat, the steam being the only thing keeping him warm. "I hope you had fun as well."

Jazz relaxed as Prowl began to move him around, washing as he went. It wasn't anything other than caring, so Prowl didn't seem to mind as Jazz let his eyes close and he relaxed into the soft touches. From arm to chest to other arm, over Jazz's back, and Prowl had him move back into the spray so he could do Jazz's legs. Seeing Prowl kneeling before him made Jazz's tanks twist and he shook his head, "Nah, mech. I can get my legs, get up, please?"

Prowl looked up with wide eyes, and Jazz smiled gently, "Hey, nothin' on ya, just... I don't like ya kneelin' when I'm standin'. It doesn't sit right with me."

"I..." Prowl swallowed and he cocked his head as he tried to think it over. "Interfacing connotations or something else?"

"I think somethin' else. It feels like... worship? I think?" Jazz hazarded. He took Prowl's hands in his and looked them over. "I care about ya, Prowler, but I don't want ta be somethin' ya worship, not to the point of kneelin' for me. Please?"

Prowl's eyes were practically glowing and he pulled Jazz in for a tight hug. "Okay, Jazz. I won't. I won't kneel, but I want to still look after you in ways that I can. Will you let me do that?"

"Yeah, mech. Just... I don' know," He admitted. He pulled back to look into Prowl's starstruck gaze, "I want to love ya, not ta put you on a pedestal, Prowler. Y're a damn wonder, but I don't want to pretend that ya don't have flaws. I want to know and love 'em and not ignore 'em, y'know?"

Jazz wouldn't see it, but there were tears building in Prowl's eyes and he nodded, unable to form words for a moment. 

Without his voice or any way to get his feelings across, Prowl did the only thing he could think of.

He crashed his lips to Jazz's, begging him to understand just how much he did know, how much he wanted that.

He didn't want to be a god, he wanted to be a mech. 

Jazz gasped in surprise, but he took the fervent act in stride, reaching up to cup Prowl's face. It wasn't a perfect kiss like he always heard about in stories. Their teeth crash together and their noses were pressing into each others' a little too much for comfort, but it was them. It was never going to be absolutely perfect on the first try, but on the second...

They separated for a moment, Prowl's eyes wide. He was trying to mouth words of apology, but Jazz laughed and reached up slowly, wanting to cup Prowl's face. Prowl watched the hand warily, but he knew that hand. It never hurt, only healed. He searched Jazz's face for a moment before he sunk into the familiar touch.

"Hey, y're okay, Prowl. Remember, we talked about this. I was okay for a kiss. Can I try this time? We ain't in any rush," He asked gently, keeping that warm smile on. This wasn't some wild animal, this was Prowl, this was his friend, his bitlets' nanny, his crush. They trusted each other, they talked things out, they asked for permission.

They granted that permission. 

Prowl nodded and Jazz stood on tiptoe to reach him. He tilted his head just a little bit, using his leverage on Prowl's jawline to align him as needed and they slotted together like they were meant for each other. There wasn't clashing teeth, their noses hugged each other instead of trying to mash together, their lips soft and unsurprised. It was slow, gentle, a dance that both had learned from others, but had to learn to do together.

The warmth of the shower encompassed them as they finally separated. Prowl's eyes fluttered and he looked down at Jazz and the love-dumb grin on his face. "Just fer tonight, Prowler. We can talk more about this in the mornin' yeah?"

His nod was slow, but he took Jazz's hand in his pulling on it carefully. Jazz smiled knowingly, "Another?"

"Please," He managed to get out, and Jazz entered his space again. 

Neither had been lying when they said that they wanted to exist in each other's orbit. They understood they needed their own time, and that they wouldn't always be by the other's side, but in that moment, underneath the hot spray of the showers, time ceased to exist.

Prowl hummed happily as soft lips left a trail of kisses over his chevron. He was warm as always, swaddled in his favorite blanket, and a covered hand rubbing that perfect spot between his doorwings. A soft hum caressed his exposed plating and kept him in that soft state of dozing. He clung tighter to Jazz, knowing that everything was okay.

It was perfect.

Chapter Text

Prowl was counting the weeks, feeling the familiar, familial chill seeping into his struts. The Festival of Crystals was coming, he could feel it. It was one of his family's proudest holidays and one of their busiest, with the store. The fact that the Academy always was out around that time usually helped, and Prowl spent his time helping his parents in the bakery. They were well and able to handle it, but...

The large decorative box - of what he knew to be cookies - that sat on the kitchen island made that fact more difficult to ignore.

Jazz was putting the boys to bed, Bumblebee tucked in with them. Prowl must have been more zoned out than he thought because Jazz slipped into his space behind Prowl, his face fitting perfectly between Prowl's doorwings, "Prowler?"

"Thank you for getting them off of my back but that does not dismiss the fact that... This will be my first Festival without my parents," He said gently. He reached out and slowly lifted the lid.

A soft tune filled the air as the music box began to play, surrounded by dozens of perfectly identical bite-sized snickerdoodles cookies. Prowl took in the tune, his doorwings bobbing in time to the music, and reached out for one of the snickerdoodles. 

It snapped perfectly in his mouth and he let out a shaky sigh. "Even if it's been several days, they still taste fresh. I don't know how Carri does it, but I suspect her studies in quantum physics makes some of her ingredients a bit more adventurous than most."

"What do ya mean?" Jazz asked. Shifting to the side, he eyed the cookies and Primus, they smelled good. They smelled like what he imagined a perfect Festival would have been like growing up.

Prowl took one and turned so he could feed it to Jazz. Under his visor, Jazz's eyes widened at just how... they made him yearn for a memory he didn't have. "Holy frag, Prowl, these... How long ago were these made?"

"About 4 days. Mine taste similar when they're just made, but hers... hers are something special. My Sire is better with the business dealings and people, but Carri could bake anyone under the table. For every batch I can make, she can make four," Prowl whispered proudly. He swallowed and hit the button on the music box again, asking it start its tune again. "This is the song that plays first thing in the morning in the shop during the Festival. It... It has good memories linked to it." 

He leaned forward on the counter and his doorwings sagged, "Jazz, I have several things I would like to bring up to you, and I would like us to discuss it at further length sometime before our next date. It does not need to be now."

Jazz propped his hip on the counter, "Shoot." He eyed the cookies, wanting one, but not knowing how to ask. Apparently, his hungry gaze didn't go unnoticed.

Prowl went to a drawer that had various resealable containers and grabbed a red one, a yellow one, and a blue one. When he returned, he put 15 cookies into each of the boys' boxes and 15 into Jazz's, leaving 20 for himself, "I am not asking anything, I just... I need to air some of my concerns." He closed the box and braced himself. "I would like to discuss the fact that as the boys' nanny and the fact we are dating are two facts that will need to come into conflict at some point. One such conflicting point is when my lease will run out at my apartment. I understand that you want me to still have a place for myself- Please let me finish."

"Please," He needed to cut Jazz off when he saw the shorter mech getting ready to protest. Jazz nodded and waved him on. "I spend more time here than in my own apartment. It is to the point where I am almost never at my apartment." He chuckled weakly, "There is no food there because I know I am never there long enough to actually eat it. If you would like me to keep it as a back-up, then I will, but the fact remains that I should, theoretically, be paying you rent."

"I am not asking to formally move in at this moment, that is a large step that cannot be undone easily," Prowl acknowledged, tapping his fingers on the countertop. "No matter how much time I spend here, no matter how many mornings I wake up in bed with you and the boys."

Jazz reached out slowly to tap Prowl's hand, "Can I ask a question, Prowl?"

"You just did, but you may ask another," He said gently, teasing. Jazz's lip quirked, but it fell a second later. He tapped his fingers on the counter aimlessly, trying to compose his thoughts.

"How much does this matter to ya? Because yeah, your lease is goin' to be up in, what, six... seven months? If ya want to move most of yer stuff here and keep the option open ta return there, ya can. But... I don't like chargin' ya rent. Not when ya feel like family, not when ya... technically work fer me."

Prowl nodded, "Which was going to lead me into my next point. I like to plan ahead. You know this. I need you to know what my expectations are for how I plan things to go if all goes well, and if it doesn't." Jazz gestured for him to continue, waiting. "If all goes well... My lease runs out or I cancel it and I begin to live here permanently. I either move my things into your room or the guest room, and to offset 'rent', you switch to paying me a more standard fare. Not 35 an hour, perhaps 20 or 25. That will be money that I use towards the boys, as well as for my own savings. That price difference would more than cover my potential rent, and it would alleviate a substantial part of my guilt regarding my pay whilst living here, eating your food, and using your showers."

Jazz chuckled, but he still waited for Prowl to continue. "That could continue until I am able to graduate from the Academy in 29.5 vorns, and you would stop paying me altogether. I... I have thought about if we were to become... bonded during that time, even in the slightest chance, and if that were the case, you would stop paying me and we would share a bank account. I would still look after the boys until my schooling is done, and we proceed from there, but it is a minimal chance. As that would not be the case... I would like to have my own savings until we are to become irrevocably linked. It is nothing against you, I just..."

"Nah, Prowler, I get it. It's stability," Jazz shrugged. "It'd give ya a safety net if somethin' happened to me. I'd ask ya to keep a personal emergency fund, and I'd like us ta each keep a rainy day fund. I don't think we'll ever need to worry about the other goin' like him, but... for peace of mind. I want ta know that if ya need to, you can go without needin' to check with me fer money. My creators argued 'bout money a lot and it messed up me 'n Rico a bit."

Prowl melted in relief, "I would not mind that either. But either way... The outcome is more or less the same. I continue to look after the boys until my training is over, we find a way to work out our lives in shifts, and I am able to supplement my income with my Enforcer salary."

"Wait, ya don't get paid durin' yer trainin'? Didn't ya take down that one mech... Overload or somethin'?" The joke wasn't lost on Prowl and he snorted.

"Overlord. And no, I didn't get paid. I was paid in exposure, experience, and the academy fed us, housed us, and gave us a minor allowance, but it could not be considered a salary," Prowl corrected. "But if we do... get bonded, we will join our salaries for the household income and a small separate one for each of us. But that is the... good ending in all of this."

Jazz swallowed thickly, "And the bad one?" The tempo of his finger tapping increased and Prowl reached to cover his hand, but Jazz slipped his hands out. He just needed to tap. Prowl smiled in understanding and left it.

"We don't work out. Something happens, and I put in my 60 day notice or you give me one to fire me, we break it off, and I look for employment elsewhere or I go to stay at the Academy again," Prowl shrugged, but Jazz could tell it weighed on him a great deal. "I do not want that to happen. I feel... I feel safe here. I feel at home, and I would like to make this work, and I know you want it to as well." He finally met Jazz's gaze. "What do you want out of this?"

He lowered his head as he thought, "I mean - and I'm jokin' when I say this - ya keep turnin' me down ta bond with me, so I think that leaves us datin' for a while. But I ain't... Prowler, I ain't used ta this. I'm not used to plannin' stuff out long term because nothin' has ever worked out fer me long term. If ya told me, 20 vorns ago, that I'd be lookin' out fer my twin bitty cousins like they were my own and I was actually considerin' a long term relationship with a cop, I woulda laughed at ya. The only good thin' I had in my life was my job, and I already told ya, that was always on the rocks because I was more a pain in Blurr's side than not. I thought he hated me. He probably did, probably still hates me, but he likes me more. But I go with the flow."

Prowl blinked, trying not to panic, begging Jazz to work with him, "B-But if you could plan-"

"I... It ain't my style, Prowler, it'll crash and burn, but..." He took a deep breath and hoped. For the first time in a long time, he let himself look more than a week, a month, six months out. What did he want out of this? Truly?

He chewed his lip. "I'd want ta be bonded, fer real. I know we're still gonna have the boys, and... this ain't a requirement, but just a thought fer ya to chew on, but I'd like another bitty. I want ta go through what we missed with the boys, and I'd want ta give 'em another bitty siblin' to grow up with. They'll have..." He paused. "I don't know how Springer's goin' to fit into things, and I'm not goin' to pin a hope and future on him that we don't know, but I don't want ta rip him from Kup if that's how he grows up. But I want somethin' special with ya. I don't care who carries, I don't care who sires, none of that. I just..."

Prowl reached out and Jazz finally let him lace their fingers together, "I... I will think on it. I will try and estimate outcomes and... see what could work. For all situations. With or without Springer having a more-than-or-equal-to 50% participation in our lives. If I carry. If you carry. If we don't have another. I'll look at it all and... I'll get back to you. I..." He wilted before Jazz, but continued. "I don't know what I want. I turn 290 in 5 months, and I had the tacnet installed when I was 265. It could not compute having a bitty. I was going through my education before that. I have a master's in applied mathematics and graduated at the top of my class before moving onto getting a career with the Enforcers. While I was in college, I did not consider becoming a creator because I wasn't interested in anyone like that, I-"

Jazz put his other  hand on top of Prowl's, "Hey, ya said this was a time ta let things air. I'm lettin' ya know what I want, but it ain't a deal breaker, Prowl. That's a whole other person we'd be bringing in, that's a lot. I ain't ignorin' that, and I think I'd worry if you'd say yes right off that bat." He tried a weak smile and Prowl relaxed. He continued on.

"But as for the rest of what I want... I want my boys ta grow up happy and healthy. I want ta be bonded to a very handsome Enforcer who turned my life upside down, and I'd want ta stay doin' what I'm doin'. I don't have much else I want ta aspire to. I love bein' a radio host and recording those stories fer kids. I love writin' songs and tellin' the traffic and the weather and all of the little things. I ain't always a fan of it, 'cause I got songs that I know don't fit my image, but it's nothin', I'm still happy. It ain't complicated fer me because I'm used to goin' with the flow."

He smiled and bumped his shoulder into Prowl's, "And if it's yer flow I gotta follow, that's okay. But fer now, I do want ya to have a space. I ain't sure how ya want to handle yer parents comin' over, but if ya want to offer them the guest bedroom and ya either take my bed, if they stay in yer apartment, or we keep on like we have in the boys' room, that's fine too. But as fer the rest, taking the pay cut fer ya livin' here... I'm alright with that. I would want ta find a point fer you that's no longer you payin' rent, and you contributin' like y're just livin' here. I buy some groceries, you buy some groceries. Not you just giving me a receipt so I can reimburse ya. I want there ta be a line that you bein' my boyfriend overcomes the fact that y're someone who works for me and is rentin' space from me, y'know?"

"At what point could we agree on that?" Prowl asked, but Jazz took a deep breath, thinking. "Maybe... just when it feels right?" It was a weak attempt to appeal to Jazz's blasé attitude. 

Jazz shook his head, "Nah, I'd stop chargin' ya now if that was the case, but... How about ya pick a vorn milestone. 10 vorns, 20, somethin' like that? Maybe look into when couples usually move in together?"

"That depends on the couple, but I can do some research," Prowl agreed. He was slowly relaxing and he gently took Jazz's hand and brought it up to kiss his knuckles. "Thank you. I know that life will not always go as expected, but I would prefer to know how you want things to go. I know you are not pressuring me, so I will give everything the same consideration. If my feelings on what we've talked about change over time, I will let you know."

Jazz smiled and leaned into him, "'Ey, same here, mech." He looked at the music box again and his smile turned nostalgic. "Ya know, if you're plannin' on stickin' around... we might need ta start on new family traditions." Prowl raised an eyebrow and Jazz propped his chin onto his shoulder, "Why not give the boys what you were given? I ain't sure how much I'll be able ta help, but if you had magical Festivals growin' up, I want ta help give them that. It's still a little early for Festival music, we still got time. But I can do that, I can help decorate, I can put on the old movies..."

Prowl turned so that he could wrap his arms around Jazz loosely, just gazing down with overwhelming fondness, "You'd let me do that? We've only went on one date."

"There are more ta come," Jazz promised. His smile twitched, "Are kisses on the table, Prowler?" The nanny leaned down to answer his question and Jazz stood on tiptoe, humming happily into the kiss. It was a small peck, but Jazz's plating rippled in satisfaction. "I like kisses. A lot. Good mornin' kisses and 'see ya later' kisses and kitchen kisses and... I just like kissin' ya."

"Then I will let you know when I do not feel like them. I may not instinctively know when it is a good time, but would you be willing to help me learn?" Prowl teased. Jazz laughed and stood on tiptoe again to kiss him. "Thank you, Jazz."

Jazz swayed them side to side, "Of course, Prowler. Are ya alright enough with the nickname for me ta keep callin' ya that? I like my nicknames too. I'm not askin' fer one, but I'd like ta call you other ones. Pretty, handsome, sweetspark... Ya ain't mine for me ta call you mine yet, but what're your feelings on it?"

Prowl thought about it for a moment, letting the dance take him over. He licked his lips and spoke slowly, "I am alright with nicknames, but I am unsure how I feel about being called yours yet. It may be a case by case until I am more... I will just need time." Or it may be never. They both fully understood that Tarantulas left a deep mark on Prowl. Already, Prowl was needing to ground himself in the moment.

"Okay then," Jazz confirmed on the nicknames. Prowl relaxed at his tone. It was an agreement, an acknowledgement, not a challenge. 

"Would... I am not good at assigning nicknames, and I do not believe I should use Jazzy, since that is what the twins call you..."

His nose wrinkled, "Yeah, that'd be a bit weird... I'd like one, but I'm alright if it takes ya a while. Or never. I can just be Jazz."

Prowl leaned down so he could rest his forehead against Jazz's, "You'll never just be Jazz. If I had to think of something... I would say Sweetness. You remind me of some desserts. You're warm and sweet and remind me of a good day and being around you is enough to make me feel better."

Jazz smiled and hummed happily, "Sweetness... I like that. I like that a lot." He tipped his head back just enough to give Prowl a quick peck, "It's perfect, Prowler."

"You won't hear it often, but understand that I say your name with as much care as I would the nickname," Prowl whispered across his lips. Jazz shivered in glee and leaned more into it.

Without much else to talk about, there they danced in the kitchen with no music, nothing existing in their orbit except each other.

"Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, I think I have told you about my carrier before," Prowl started the next day when the boys got up for breakfast. Instead of going to watch their shows, Jazz ushered them into the kitchen. The boys peered over the counter at the decorative box and Prowl knew he had exactly 13 seconds before they were reaching for the box. "She and my sire are coming to visit in about a month and a half."

"What?" Sunstreaker asked, tensing. "Your creators?" His attention was successfully grabbed from the cookies and Prowl knew he had one down, one to go.

Sideswipe was slowly breaking his gaze away, but not in a way that spoke to his attention on Prowl. "Huh?"

"My Carri and Sire would like to meet the both of you. They want to bake things with you," He tried, knowing both boys liked helping with dinner." He grabbed two of his own cookies and presented them to the twins. "They taught me everything I know."

"Everything? Like how to make pasta and sauce?" Sideswipe asked before he shoved the entire cookie into his mouth. His eyes bugged enormously wide and he looked to his brother in shock. Sunstreaker cocked his head in confusion and he nibbled on his cookie. His expression opened in the exact same fashion as Sideswipe and he promptly stuck the rest of the cookie into his mouth.

"More! Please!" Sunstreaker demanded, but Prowl chuckled.

He knelt before them and smiled, "Not until after breakfast, but the cookies won't last long. I want you to know the kind of Festivals I had growing up and... Would you both be alright if I was a part of it this vorn? And... maybe future ones?"

Sideswipe squealed and threw his arms around Prowl, trying to squirm into his arms, "Please please please! I love you, Prowlie!"

Sunstreaker nodded and slipped to Prowl's side so he could simply press himself into his nanny, "We want you here."

"Does Jazzy know?" Sideswipe asked, looking up hopefully. "Sire and Riri used to watch a bunch of gross movies with a lot of kissing." He wrinkled his nose, but he paused, "But they usually added a kid to their family. Like Roddy."

Oh, okay, those were most likely those gushy, lovey-dovey movies from that one company that followed the same script every time. An uptight mech would go back to their home city-state for some tragedy or holiday and fall back in love with their first love and be reminded of their home and opt to stay, turning down the new life they had made for themselves and everything that made them... them. 

Prowl only liked them for their illogical natures.

"Jazzy wanted me to know I was invited, but..." He looked over his shoulder to see Jazz sitting at the table, reading at a datapad. He noticed that Prowl wasn't talking any longer and he looked up. "Can I tell them?"

"I don't see why not," He mused and got up so he could crouch next to their boys. Jazz cocked his head, "May I give ya a lil' somethin', Prowler?"

He had a sneaking suspicion that he knew what it was, but he lifted an amused eyebrow, "Only since you asked."

Jazz leaned in and pecked Prowl on the lips very quickly. The twins' eyes widened in shock and they shared a confused, but hopeful, look. 

"Do ya have an idea on when ya want our next date to be?" Jazz laughed, lacing his fingers with Prowl's. He was carefully watching the boys, knowing that Prowl was doing the same. They were trying to gauge their reactions. 

"Kup has mentioned that Hot Rod is wanting another sleepover next week. I see nothing wrong with it," Prowl agreed. He saw Sideswipe light up and he nodded, swinging his arms back and forth.

He was practically dancing in place, "Are you two in love?" Jazz sputtered as he didn't know whether to laugh or not. "Does that mean that you'll be bonded?"

"Maybe," Prowl said. He swallowed, trying to keep his composure. "Bonding isn't something to rush into. I care deeply for Jazz, but your spark is something you should guard carefully. You two are split-spark twins. You each are connected deeply to the other, and any decisions you make with your sparks has a substantial chance of affecting your bond. It is not something that should be ignored, but it is something to just remember when you go to date when you are older. Some twins' bonds are weak enough that they can date two unlinked people, or some need to date another set of twins, or just no one at all."

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker shared a look and wrinkled their noses, "And what if we don't want to get bonded?"

"Then ya don't need to," Jazz smiled. He turned to Prowl and his look softened, "If ya find someone who makes ya happy and ya want to spend the rest of your life with them, and ya love 'em in a romantic way, you can get bonded as Endura. If ya just like 'em like they're yer friend, we'll teach ya about the amica bond when you're older. But don't ever let anyone push ya into datin' if ya don't want to."

Sideswipe nodded slowly, "But what if I want to date and Sunny doesn't?" Sunstreaker pouted and nudged his brother, but neither pushed it any further.

Prowl took a deep breath, "At the end of the day, you two will always be brothers, family. As I said, some twins are incredibly close to the point that they identify first as a twin, and a singular person second. You are allowed to be your own person. Should your bond fade as time goes on, that is okay. That will not make you any less family. You will still always be brothers. And something like that would not happen until you're as old as we are."

Jazz nodded, "And we're old, right?"

"Yeah," Sideswipe giggled. Sunstreaker still looked worried and Prowl guessed what the problem was.

He reached his free hand out to the boy, "Are you worried that you'll be left behind?" Sunstreaker glanced at Sideswipe and nodded.

"He's better at making friends than me," He said quietly.

Jazz cooed, "Aw, bitty! Sides is just more outgoin'! You made friends with Arcee, right? And so long as y're happy with the friends ya got, it's okay! And sometimes, ya just gotta not fight as hard when someone comes to be friends with you! I made a lotta friends growin' up by bein' like Sides! A lot of 'em are still kinda angry and shy, but we're friends! And y're both allowed to have yer own friends, and y're allowed to share friends, ain't nothing wrong with it!"

Prowl nodded and looked between them, "What it comes down to, you two, is that you will always come back to each other, but that does not mean you need to be each other's everything if you don't want to. If you want to be just Sideswipe and just Sunstreaker, or Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, that will be up to you, and you will not need to decide now, or ever. We just want you two to live your lives."

"Just... be careful with yer spark. We'll talk ta Blue Mech about it too fer help about bondin' for split sparks," Jazz added.

Sunstreaker looked back to his twin and he held his free hand out, "Sides."

Sideswipe lit up and jumped at him next, "Sunny!" They collapsed to the ground and wrestled for a moment, leaving the adults to watch them.

Jazz leaned over, not taking his eyes off of them, "I think they're goin' to be fine, Prowler."

The nanny nodded in agreement, carefully putting the cookies away again. "I think they will. Now, we need to go ahead and get them fed, and I would like to start planning for the holidays. I will need to ask my creators what they want to do, but..." He took a deep breath, "If they see that I see the boys as mine or ours, they are going to react in kind."

Jazz tensed in surprise and he looked at the pair, "They'll have a pair of grandcreators... if y're okay with it."

"I... I want to be sure about this," Prowl said slowly. "Perhaps we get through the actual holidays, and when they show up, we find out more. But you have a say in this, Jazz. If you do not want them coming in with promises, you are allowed to let me know and I will ask them to back off. You are still their legal sire, you're allowed to dictate what a pair of sparklings is allowed and is not allowed."

He nodded again, thinking. "I... might want some time to think about it. Like I'm not sayin' that I don't care 'bout ya, but meeting yer folks puts a different spin on it."

Prowl snorted, not unkindly, and stood, "It's because it feels more real. You are asking to have a place in my life. That means to be involved in all of my life. I will defend you if my creators don't like you, but I do believe that they like you. Now..." He helped Jazz up and kissed his forehead. "I do believe it is time for breakfast. Can you get the boys to set the table, please?"

He barely finished before their boys came running over, pulling Jazz deeper into the kitchen and demanding their table-setting-song.

At least the boys took the news of their dating well. 

Sideswipe giggled happily as warm hands pushed him on the swings, "Higher! Higher!"

"Uncle Prowl told me not to let you go higher than his head!" Hot Rod protested, but he still pushed Sideswipe higher. "And what's going on with him and Uncle Jazz? They seem... weird."

"I think they're going to be getting bonded. They kissed in the kitchen and my Riri used to say that you can only kiss if you're bonded or getting bonded," He chirped as he swung his legs out like he had learned to. "Do you think they got bonded without me and Sunny? Riri also used to say that there are big parties for bonding."

"Yeah, there are. My old Sire would go to a lot of parties and I would need to go and dress in polish that he said made me look good, but it would make my paint start to bubble after a while so I hated using it, but he always made me. I think Jazz and Prowl would have a nice bonding ceremony though. Since you're their creations, they'd probably-"

Sideswipe tried to turn in his seat, but he screamed as he started to slip off. Hot Rod froze as he panicked, but a familiar stomping sound had him relaxing. With all of the incoming force of a runaway tank, Prowl stormed into the scene and plucked Sideswipe off of the chains that he clung to dear life on. "You're safe, it's okay. I'm here," Prowl soothed. He rubbed Sideswipe's back gently and smiled, "Are you okay, Sideswipe? You looked like you were swinging around a little bit."

The boy was panting, but looking over Prowl. Seeing the unbothered look, he nodded shakily, "Y-Yeah, just playing. Can I come back with Roddy over to you and Jazzy?"

"I'm sure we have room at the table," Prowl mused. He nodded to Hot Rod, "If you would like to join us?"

"S-Sure. Hey, I'm sorry about Sideswipe-"

Prowl's smile didn't falter as he pulled an arm away to offer a spot at his side, "It's not your fault. Sideswipe made a decision and I hope he learns from it. You're welcome with us, Hot Rod. We want you at the table."

The boy blinked and nodded, eagerly ducking into Prowl's side for a quick hug before he took off for the table. Sideswipe tucked his chin onto Prowl's shoulder, "Are me and Sunny your creations?"

Prowl faltered for a moment as he continued forward, "I love you as if I had created you, yes, but that does not mean that I am taking your Riri and Sire. Do you see yourself as my bitty?"

It was a question that Sideswipe had brief flashes of, but he never put much thought into it. "What does me being your bitty mean?"

"It means that I am in charge of your welfare and making sure you grow into a good person. I make sure you are happy and healthy and that you are loved," He said and he was so sure of himself. Sideswipe hummed as he tried to think.

Prowl made them their favorite foods and made sure that they didn't have problems and he played games with them and he kissed their scrapes and dents before pulling them. His hugs were stiff, but they were warm, and they reminded Sideswipe of his Sire's hugs. He could be bundled up and fall asleep, but he could also end up squealing when raspberries were blown into his neck. 

He missed his Sire's hugs. They were the safest place he could think of. But Prowlie's were good too. But Jazzy's were the best. He was the best. 

Sideswipe knew he was loved by Prowlie and Jazzy. That was never a question.

Sunny?

What? Across the park, Sunstreaker looked up from where he was drawing in the dirt with Arcee. She was having one of her bad days and just wanted to talk. She was still talking, even though Sunstreaker wasn't paying attention to her.

Sideswipe watched as the table with Kup, Jazzy, Hot Rod, and Springer. Jazzy was bobbing Springer up and down, making the bitty squeal happily. There was a joyful look on his face, and Sideswipe knew that look well. Jazz wore it every time he read them to bed and when he held his boys, and Sideswipe knew that he was related to his Sire, so it made sense that they looked alike, but...

Do you think Jazz is kind of like our Sire? Sideswipe asked, locking eyes with Sunstreaker across the park. He could feel Sunstreaker chugging through the information before he wiggled his shoulders in that weird way he did.

It's not weird. Prowlie does it!

He has those doors! It's less weird!

It's not weird. And Jazzy is better than our Sire. He doesn't just grab at me, Sunstreaker pouted. He looked at Arcee and asked her something. Her head shot up in alarm before she needed to take several deep breaths. She nodded and explained something very quickly and the golden twin nodded before he looked back in Sideswipe's direction. 'Cee says Kup isn't Roddy's sire, but he still calls him Sire. And that if we want to call Jazzy Sire or Rere or Sisi or something else, that's up to us. 

She looks upset.

She's scared about school. Kup hasn't asked to adopt her yet, so she's still not technically his.

Sideswipe cocked his head and looked up, "Hey, Prowlie?"

"Yes, Sides?" Prowl asked as they finally rejoined the group. Springer looked up and reached out for Prowl. Sideswipe watched as Prowl still hesitated, but ultimately put him on his other knee.

"When is Kup going to ask Arcee to adopt her?" He asked. He put on his most innocent look, the one his Carrier would always tell him would get him in trouble someday. He didn't know why she said that, it got him more out of trouble than not.

Kup froze and narrowed his eyes at the boy, "Why are you asking? I'm going to adopt her, but I wanted to surprise her for her sparkday."

"Ain't ya worried about her first Festival with ya bein' spent as a foster and not an adoptee?" Jazz asked.

The old mech shook his head and sighed, "Her brother wants to spend one more holiday with 'just family', and court dictates that his wishes override mine in stuff like this. I'll give her the paperwork on her sparkday." He narrowed his eyes as Sideswipe, "You better not share that, bitty."

"He's 34, Kup. He ain't sharin' anythin'," Jazz mused, but Prowl cast a warning look at Sideswipe. Not that the bitty saw, of course. He was already tapping into the bond he had with Sunstreaker to plot.

She's getting asked on her sparkday. Her brother wants something with the Festival, He reported. Sunstreaker said something to Arcee and she slumped. She nodded and went back to talking. After a moment, she paused and said something again. 

She says thanks, Sunstreaker provided, dipping his shoulders to make a point. Sideswipe mentally stuck his tongue out, but he beeped in surprise when someone pinched an audial horn.

Jazz smiled, "Whatcha thinkin' about, Sides?"

"The Festival," He said before he could really think. He looked at Springer and held his hands out, wanting to play. "Is Springer going to spend the Festival with us or no?"

Prowl took a deep breath in and stared his bitlet down with a mix of anticipation, worry, and loss. He wanted desperately to spend the holiday with him, but... he also wanted to spend the holiday alone with his boys. And his parents. And-

"We can have two separate Festivals," Jazz offered and looked up. "One separately and one together?"

Kup rubbed his chin, "We could do that, yeah." He sent a ping to Jazz and Prowl, I can do one present for everyone in your family, but the kids would need to get something from me, and I'm already trying to make sure we have enough. The two nodded in understanding, planning to work around it.

Hot Rod perked up, "More presents?!"

Prowl smiled gently as he continued to bounce Springer on his knee, "Perhaps we can either do one gift to each person from the opposite family?" He nodded to Kup, "And if you would like something for your family collective in lieu of a second creator, we can do that. Would it be just the four of you?"

"Blurr and Swindle and Perceptor and his conjunx will come around for the personal one," Kup nodded. He eyed Springer, "Prowl, how're you going to handle your bitty?"

The relation didn't make him itch this time, so Prowl allowed a shaky smile. "If it were possible... Could I leave some gifts for him? I will leave an additional for Arcee and Hot Rod so that they do not feel left out while Springer may have a few extra presents."

"Hey, I'm a big kid!" Hot Rod protested. "I know he's your bitty and it's okay to get him stuff! He doesn't have a court order against you!" Jazz couldn't help his laugh and Prowl gave him a deadpan stare. It only made Jazz laugh harder and Prowl sighed. 

"Fine. I'd appreciate it if Arcee knew beforehand so she isn't surprised," He stressed.

Kup nodded and ruffled his creation's head, "Damn brat. Go back to having fun with your friend. And leave your sister and her friend alone unless they want you there."

Hot Rod grinned and ran around to Prowl's side, "Can we play restaurant again? I want some burgers!"

"Okay!" Sideswipe chirped and he squirmed in Prowl's hold, "Prowl, let me go!"

"Okay, okay. Go have fun," He mused and put Sideswipe down. He sighed again as he was left with the other two adults and his bitty. Prowl curled around him and Springer's tiny engine hummed happily as he snuggled in more. "So, Festival?"

Kup shrugged, "We can both have early mornings and meet up later in the day, if you'd want?"

Prowl nodded, "I can focus on a fair amount of dinner, but if you would like to bring a casserole, I won't say no to extra food."

Next to him, Jazz's tank grumbled and he chuckled, covering it with his hand, "Sorry, all of this talk is making me hungry. Is there goin' to be anythin' I can do?"

"Decorations. You have a better eye for it than me. I can find ways for the boys to contribute, but my sire was always the one to put everything up," Prowl mused. "I got my spatial composition from my carrier."

"Decor, got it," Jazz grinned. "Kup, you bring your kids over?"

He grinned and looked over his shoulder to seeing his kids all moving over to their usual sandbox, "I think they'll be trying to drag me out the door. I'll keep you posted on it. Are you arranging everything again, Prowl?"

The mech puffed up proudly, "If everyone follows the plan, I'll be happy to. Please let me know what you intend to get your creations. I'll ask them what they want separately so we don't have any repeats."

Jazz only smiled to see his lover looking so happy. 

Chapter Text

"Goooooood evening listeners! It is a lovely Tuesday afternoon, and while the traffic is flowin' smooth, there is some road construction out on Old Mortilus, so be ready to go around if ya need! Now, I know it's been a while since I mentioned anythin' about Nanny, but got somethin' for ya - with his permission, o' course.

"So, we've all seen those magical Festival movies where the family goes all out with all kinds-a decorations and traditions and everythin' like that, yeah? Well, he grew up in a house like that. And guess who is fully onboard with him turnin' my life upside down again? Well, the reason I'm bringin' all of this up is 'cause we wanted to get a head start on our Festival shoppin', and I'm goin' to be honest, the kids we're shoppin' for listen to this station, so ya won't be gettin' any hints outta me, you two.

"But anyway, remember when I told ya that Nanny taught the boys about investin' with their sandbox restaurant? He had also told 'em about the buyin' power of shanix and credits. We know it's early but we wanted ya get our shoppin' in. He gave 'em a healthy sum to practice with for buyin' things fer their friends and others, and helped 'em budget. Granted, they're not in kindergarten yet, but I think they got it. Nanny insists it's patient repetition or somethin', but I think he's humble. If the boys went a little over, he helped 'em out, but they managed ya get everythin' on our list. Don't ask me how he managed ya keep my terror twins in line, but he's a miracle worker.

"I also got a bit of a request fer everyone: If ya see me out in public, leave them alone. It's one thing if we're at an event, but if ya want to talk to me, leave them out of it. To the listener from earlier today, Nanny wanted me to share that he feels bad fer the way he handled that, but his obligation is to the kids first.

"Anyway, let's get onto the music! Remember, this is CIBR, Iacon's Best Radio, and this is Chromia, singin' "Sword through my Spark" and- ah, it looks like she left a note- 'For the only one who ever tried to get close. Love you, Snookums.' Aww, you two. Now, onto the music!"

"Okay, you two," Prowl started as he took them to the side of the store. "Who are you all shopping for?"

Sideswipe held tight to Sunstreaker's hand and he grinned happily, "You and Jazzy and Bee and Roddy and 'Cee and Springer!"

"And I am giving you 10 credits for each person. The more you save for one person, the more you have for another, okay?" Prowl explained. "But I want you to find something you think they would like."

Sunstreaker nodded and held tight to Sideswipe, "And if no find?" They were having a moderate day, and Prowl made sure that the sparkling's fin and audial covers were in his subspace.

Prowl smiled, "In the chance that we can't find anything, then we will go somewhere else next week, alright?"

"Okay!" Sideswipe chirped and reached for Prowl's hand. "Where's Jazzy?"

Prowl looked up in confusion, "He was just getting a cart…" He hummed as he realized that Jazz got caught talking to someone. Given the starstruck look and datapad in their hands, it was a fan. "He is talking with someone else. We'll head inside and let him catch up," He said gently and took Sideswipe by the hand so he could lead them all inside.

As they got closer to Jazz, they could hear him chatting happily and signing the data pad. Prowl smiled as they strode past. This was what Jazz was, and what he enjoyed doing. He loved meeting people and talking to them, engaging with them on a level Prowl couldn't truly understand and, in some ways, he didn't want to-

"-are those your bitties? Oh my god, is that Nanny?"

The question made Prowl tense and he looked back at the boys, staring up at him with trust in their eyes.

He didn't want this. He didn't want attention for this. He wanted it on his terms, he wanted it in a controlled setting, he wanted it only if he was releasing a statement.

This was an interaction with a stranger he didn't know, when he was on the job. His job was to keep his boys safe.

The fan, a young adult, by the looks of it, surged past Jazz to rush at Prowl, "Oh my gosh, you are the Nanny! I love hearing about you! Are these the boys? They're so cute-"

"Stop," Prowl snarled as he pushed forward in front of the twins. He glared down at the poor mech. The fan froze, staring up at him with wide eyes. "You do not have my or Jazz's permission to approach his underaged children. I do not know you, and I would ask that you give us space."

The mech shrunk under his harsh gaze, but Jazz snuck between them, "Nanny, get the boys inside. I'll handle this." He looked over his shoulder to Prowl. He was leaving no room for argument, and Prowl dipped his wings back in shame and understanding. He knew he had overreacted, but at the moment, he didn't much care.

Prowl turned and picked up the boys, cradling them close, "Let's get inside, you two."

Sideswipe looked over Prowl's shoulder to see Jazz comforting the upset fan, "Bad mech?"

"Strange mech we don't know," Prowl corrected. He continued on, "If there is ever an unknown adult running at you or trying to take you somewhere, I want you to scream. There are good mechs, but mists will not run at you. We don't know if they want to do good or bad. They wanted to do good, but they scared me."

"Scared for us?" Sunstreaker asked knowingly. He was gripping Prowl's plating, glaring over his shoulder. "He scared me."

"My job is to keep you safe. I will always do whatever I can to protect you," Prowl swore. The kids hummed and settled back into his arms.

It was the truth, and they would never doubt that.

Prowl relaxed when they made it inside and he grabbed a cart. "Alright, you two. Remember the rules for shopping?"

"Never in front of the cart, no leaving without telling you, and if we get bad feelings, tell you," They parroted and Prowl nodded.

Sunstreaker curled in on himself, "Can I have blanket?"

"Yes, Sunstreaker," Prowl smiled. He pulled it out and bundled the boy up. "Thank you for letting me know. Do you want the audial coverings?" The boy thought about it for a moment and rubbed his fingers together next to his audials. He cringed and nodded vigorously. Prowl got them out next and offered them up.

He needed to know Sunstreaker could put them on himself. When it came time for school, he wouldn't be able to help him. He wanted Sunny to be self sufficient enough that he could recognize what he needed and how to handle it.

Sunstreaker relaxed as he got them out on and tied, looking up, "Up." Prowl nodded and picked him up to put him into the larger part of the cart. He curled up happily and simply stuck his head out of the top to look around.

Sideswipe whined and began to pull on the cart, "C'mon, Prowlie, let's goooooo."

"Alright, alright," Prowl mused. He began to push the cart forward, going through the second set of sliding doors…

…Into Festival hell.

There were crystal trees for sale with fake bushes on a central display, all precarved, that made Prowl wrinkle his nose at the impersonality of it. Along the left half of the store were toys, books, and general gift ideas for most newsparks, sparklings, kids, and teenagers, and the right half of the store were more for adults, along with the decorations. There were aisle markers in the left half, designating specific aisles for specific age ranges, but after 15 decavorns, it described more of what was in each aisle.

It towered above all of their heads, and Prowl took a deep breath.

They could do this-

"Prowlie! Let's go!" Sideswipe cried again and dragged the cart over to the 'funner' side of the store. There were clearly things that he saw and wanted, but Prowl saw the way his eyes roamed. He was looking for things for his friends too.

He took mercy on the sparkling and pushed the cart along to where Sideswipe so desperately wanted to go. "So, who are you shopping for first?"

He thought and pulled them towards the toys for newsparks, "Bee and Springer!"

"They're a little too old for some of this stuff, Sides," Prowl corrected gently. Bumblebee and Springer were both too old for the baby block and peg games. He knew from experience that cooking toys, interactive toys with stories, things that they could move around like various mini alt modes… things that reacted, not just educational toys.

Sideswipe nodded sagely and let Prowl lead them an aisle down to where the '2-3 decavorn toys were. There were miniature race tracks with different iconic racers to play with, there were different prime dolls with picture books to explain their history in sparkling-safe ways, there were different ingredients with stick material so the sparkling could cook along to Carrier or Sire.

Prowl knew from his spreadsheet that Orion and Ariel had gotten Bumblebee a few different racing sets already, along with a few different books. He was personally eyeing different magnetic building blocks, and given how Sideswipe kept dragging him, he agreed too.

Sideswipe stopped in front of the section and looked around. He paused as he tried to remember something, counting on his fingers. After a moment, he stared at Sunstreaker, who held up ten fingers. They both nodded and Sideswipe reached for a reasonably-sized kit that had enough blocks to make a small castle. He held it up proudly, "Can we get this for Bee? It's only 9 moneys."

"Credits," Prowl corrected gently and double checked the price. It was only 9 credits, and he nodded contently. "I think he would like that. Let's go ahead and put it in the cart." Sideswipe came back and passed it to his brother. Sunstreaker whined as he was pulled out of his cocoon, but as soon as the box was away from him, he shuddered back into it. "And what would you want to get Springer?"

Sunstreaker looked around and he ended up looking at something on Prowl's eye level. He pointed and…

It was an Enforcer play set. One of many different occupations, but this one specifically was for Enforcers.

Prowl swallowed thickly, "I-I-" Oh, Primus, not now.

"You can get that for Springer! You're going to be an Enforcer, and he's your bitty too-"

"Sideswipe," Prowl cut off. The child clammed up and waited. "I… I will get it for him. Thank you for the idea, but you need to get him something as well. I think he might appreciate it if it came from you instead."

Sunstreaker narrowed his eyes at him, "You want or he want?"

Curse these kids for being too smart.

"I want this to come from you two. There… there are other things I want to get him," Prowl said gently. It wasn't the complete truth, but the fact of the matter was…

This was a primary reason he couldn't care for Springer in the way he needed to.

He didn't want Springer to have a toy that looked like him, to hold and keep with him. It made his plating itch and his spark shake, and-

"Hey hey hey, you're safe," A warm croon echoed and Prowl realized he needed to breathe. He took a deep gulp of air and looked next to him.

Jazz.

Jazz was standing next to him patiently, waiting for him to respond. Prowl swallowed and nodded, slowly untensing. "Ya good, Prowler?"

"Slowly," He choked out. Before anything more could be said or he changed his mind, he grabbed the box off of the wall. With only a mind to not hit Sunstreaker, he dropped it into the cart unceremoniously and took another del breath. "I'll be fine."

"Do ya need me to take over?" Jazz whispered. He held back, even if he clearly didn't want to.

"I-I'm fine. Can we continue?" He asked desperately. He just needed to pretend everything was okay-

"Aight," Jazz replied carefully. "Boys, who do we have already?"

Sideswipe perked up and ran around the other side of the cart to point things out, "We got Bee some buildy things and Prowl said we should let the Enforcer be from us to Springer, not from Prowl!" He held up the toy for emphasis.

"Oh bitty…" He trailed, suddenly understanding. He shared a look with Prowl, and the nanny nodded.

It would be okay.

"Alright," Jazz sighed quietly. He looked around, "So, Prowler, do ya know how much stuff ya want to get Springer?"

He held up two fingers and he looked over the other shelves. He wanted to get Springer something more personal. He already had stuffed animals and blankets and other soft things, but a deeper, creation-level urge wanted to get him something personal and-

"Oh."

Jazz cocked his head, "Prowler?"

"I need to get a small recorder unit. I… I want to give Springer something that plays that song from my creators' cookie box," He explained. He gripped the side of the cart tightly, "Something from my side of the family."

"I think that'd be perfect," Jazz whispered. He looked around, trying to find anything like that and he smiled when he did.

It was a dragonfly with an option to have a recorded message inside.

Jazz reached for it and held it out, "He's a triple changer, right? A helicopter?"

Prowl took it gently and he nodded, "I… it's perfect." He placed it into the cart and something about seeing the stuffed animal on top of the Enforcer toy made him relax. He was doing this on his terms. He could do this.

The twins shared a relieved look when Prowl's doorwings lost their tense flutter and slumped as he relaxed further. Jazz smiled, but it fell a moment later. "Boys, we need ta keep movin'. Who's next?"

Sideswipe grabbed the side of the cart again, "Let's go look for Roddy!"

"Alright, but how about we go the long way?" Jazz mused. He pinged Prowl quietly, You peek for what they like? Let me know and I'll stop back in after work.

They close after 9. If you can look after the boys tomorrow after breakfast, I can pop back in, Prowl volunteered. Jazz nodded and he began to push the cart. I assume you're going to want to talk about my reaction at your fan?

Can ya handle the talk right now? I got a few differen' things goin' through my head right now, but I can wait until you're alright, He offered. They dipped around the corner into the 3-4 decavorn-old section.

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker looked around in amazement, and their caretakers were watching them closely for if there was anything they wanted specifically. There were more building things, but where Sunstreaker was drawn to art kits, Sideswipe looked at the action figures and dolls and playsets. That came as no surprise, and Sideswipe reached out for a specific set. He bit his lip and struggled with himself.

Jazz nudged him gently, "You've been good, Sides. Go ahead and grab it." He smiled as Sideswipe lit up and grabbed it, throwing it carefully into the cart.

Sunstreaker pouted and looked back at the art stuff. He looked around and his attention was drawn by a set of markers. They had a soft grip and Prowl knew he would enjoy them. He grabbed them and handed them to Sunstreaker. He didn't smile at his new art supplies, but his EM field betrayed that he was deeply satisfied.

I think we got where their interests are, Jazz mused as he continued them along. But seriously, are you okay?

I'll be fine. I… I know I overreacted to the fan, but I wasn't expecting them. If you could pass along that I apologize for snapping, I-

Prowl, I'm goin' ta cut ya off there, Jazz said slowly as he let Sideswipe lead them to the age group for Hot Rod. Ya did the right thing. Ya defended the boys and more of my annoyance is at the fan fer approachin' you three. I chose this, you didn't.

But you do have some amount of ire towards me, Prowl guessed. He clutched the side of the cart, his protoform curling in again.

A little, He admitted. It comes back on me when ya do something like that, but you were fully in yer rights ta do that. The fan understands they messed up and they wanted me ta pass along that they were sorry. Just… can ya do a different method of deescalation? Talk to 'em and more gently ask 'em to back off?

I… I will need some help. When we going through training, I am trained to identify two main causes for rushing: concerned relations or angry ones. We are trained to allow concerned friends and family through for comfort, and to stop anyone going to attack a target, whether ourselves or otherwise. The only other time we would have a reaction like that fan's would be during a press conference and they are typically only during press conferences.

So ya didn't know what to do so ya defaulted to what ya identified as the most dangerous risk.

Yes. I want to make sure what happened doesn't happen again. I would like to apologize to you as well.

Am I ok to touch ya, Prowl?

I… no hugs or kisses. Please.

Jazz stopped the cart and reached out to take Prowl's wrist, pulling him back an amount. He stared Prowl down for a moment before he sighed, "Ya did the right thing. I will always appreciate ya for looking out for our boys, Prowler. That's what this comes down to. You let me handle the people first, and if they get past me, then… I'll ask Blaster ta help ya with dealin' with the public, if ya want. But I'm not angry. I ain't disappointed. I don't like how it happened, but. I appreciate what ya did."

Prowl tensed and let Jazz's hands ground him.

He did the right thing, but he could have handled it differently.

He reacted in a marginally appropriate way, but he had the chance to learn and do better in the future.

He didn't do anything wrong.

Jazz wasn't mad.

Everyone was okay.

Prowl took a deep breath and let his anxiety build up for a moment before he let the breath out, draining it away. It was fine.

Jazz rubbed small circles into the middle of his wrists, waiting, and he offered a weak smile when Prowl focused back on him. "If it makes ya feel better, I still cringe about my first bad fan interaction. He was tryin' ta take a picture with me and I flipped him off 'cause I was exhausted and didn't want ta deal with anyone."

Prowl laughed quietly, "How long ago was that?"

"Three vorns after I started. I was startin' ta make a name fer myself and didn't make any boundaries yet," He mused.

Sideswipe whined and pulled on the cart again, "Jaz~zy, we need to go! Go go go!" With each word, he pulled on the cart more and Sunstreaker whirled around to glare at him. Sideswipe winced and switched to slowly pulling the cart instead of yanking it. Sunstreaker settled back down and glared at his caretakers.

Prowl sighed in bemusement and opted to take his arms back. He lifted a hand to press the tips of his fingers to his lips. Pulling them back, he let his hand fall back over Jazz's chassis, right over the seam that would peel back to reveal his spark. Jazz grinned, opting to blow him a kiss instead. Prowl chuckled, and pulled back so they could get back to their shopping trip.

Hot Rod was given another racing toy and Arcee got a data pad that could only be opened to her specific EM field signature or to Enforcer credentials. Prowl would provide a note to her that he wouldn't have access to it until he officially graduated. Hopefully, it would give her another chance to work her feelings out in a healthy manner.

The next part was going to be a little… trickier…

Prowl looked over the group, "Alright, we can do this for shopping for both Jazz and I, and for each other. Jazz, you can go with Sideswipe, and I can take Sunstreaker. We can both check out, and we'll meet up outside, or Jazz can go ahead and head to home so he can hide the presents. When Sunstreaker and I get home, we can get the rest of the presents put away. Is that acceptable?"

"But what if I want Jazz to get me something, or if Sunny wants to get you something?" Sideswipe protested. Sunstreaker nodded in agreement and stared at Prowl like he was caught in a paradox.

He lifted an eyebrow, "You two can communicate with each other, can't you? If you see something I might like or Jazzy might like, can't you talk to each other?"

The twins shared a startled look, as if they had forgotten they were twins with a bond. "Oh. Yeah. We can do that," Sideswipe ended up agreeing and Sunstreaker nodded. Jazz covered his mouth to hide his amused smile and Prowl nudged him.

"Alright. Sideswipe, go with Jazzy to the adults' area and see if you can find something for me. Jazz, keep him away from that section. Sunstreaker, we're going to see if we can find something for Sides and Jazzy. Then, we can trade off," Prowl ordered. He gave a glance to Jazz. We can also come back separately to find things for the boys.

I getcha. You can take off on Sunday and I'll keep 'em busy at the park, Jazz replied. He grinned and picked up Sideswipe, "Alright, Bitty Mine, you ready?" The boy cheered and they strode off, ready to look for the things they wanted.

Sunstreaker looked up at Prowl as the pair left and blinked owlishly. "Present time?"

"Present time," Prowl smiled. They both dipped their shoulders in agreement. Prowl, in a rare display, did a deep dip with his doorwings and fluttered them on their way back up. Sunstreaker watched with wide eyes, staring at Prowl, trying to confirm if Prowl meant what he thought the action meant.

Prowl's eyes crinkled as he pushed the cart forward, knowing that his bitty understood the deep pride and love he held for the little mechling he came to see as his own.

Ariel and Orion cuddled into each other as they watched Sunstreaker and Sideswipe play restaurant with their bitty. Bumblebee was watching Sideswipe rip up his 'pancake' leaves to make it easier for him. Sunstreaker glared through their little 'kitchen window', but it only made the adults laugh.

"Are you two having Festival together?" Ariel asked gently, knitting her fingers together with Orion's. He smiled and kissed her temple, enjoying the cooler air.

Jazz nodded, "Yep. We got our main groups' presents handled and we'll be passin' our gifts over soon. I think Prowler wants to teach the boys to wrap presents."

Prowl grumbled as he went through a data pad. A quick glance showed the logistics for their 'perfect' holiday, and Jazz opted to leave him to it. "It is never too early to introduce them to wrapping a perfect present."

"Prowler, they're 34, not 340," Jazz mused, but he only got an annoyed glance.

"Are you two doing okay?" Orion asked. He cast another look out to their kids as Sideswipe carefully pried the leaves from Bumblebee's fingers, stopping him from eating the pieces. "I heard the broadcast the other day."

Jazz winced as Prowl flinched. "Yeah, I think we're doin' okay. The community understands not to approach 'em while I'm out an' about, but there's a few…"

"They're the ones that I need to worry about," Prowl grumbled. "But otherwise, yes. We're doing alright. Jazz and I had a small discussion about it and while I could have handled it better, Blaster is alright to help me run through various situations as practice. The boys understand the situation and they understand that if an unknown adult runs up to them, they're to begin screaming for help and doing whatever they can to get away."

Orion and Ariel both nodded, but the femme offered a smile, "Sometimes, I wish that Bumblebee was a bit more careful. He could be facing down a Predacon and try to play fetch with it. It's more concerned he's going to be hit with the stick, but…"

Orion shook his head, "He's a sweet boy. He gets it from his carrier~"

Jazz leaned closer to Prowl, "We're not like that, are we?" Ariel and Orion chuckled quietly, but the radio host was silenced when Prowl barely looked up from his datapad to give him a quick kiss.

He turned a faint shade of blue and cuddled into Prowl's side, "Prowler, you're supposed to agree with me, not kiss me!"

"If you don't want anymore kisses, I can make that happen," He said plainly as he continued to work on his datapad.

Jazz's visor glimmered in faux panic, "No! Nope! I'm okay, please keep givin' me kisses! Ya know I love 'em!" He cocked his head and cooed pleadingly, "Prowler, lover, mech o' my dreams, please? Kisses please?"

Prowl rolled his optics at the overplayed antics and leaned in, "Only because you said please." Jazz's engine idled for a moment when Prowl let their noses brush, their lips dancing over each other before they finally met again. It was soft, sweet, and Jazz was loving it. He hummed happily, knowing it was all Prowl was willing to do in the moment, but Primus, he loved his kisses.

Ariel laughed quietly, turning away from the pair to lean into her conjunx, "Were we like that, Orion?"

"I like to think we're still like that, dear," Orion mused. He nuzzled the top of her head. His spark swelled, enjoying his bonded's presence, but also the fields of his friends. It was far from the nervous energy that Prowl had once carried, or the nanocarbon thin thread that Jazz was desperately holding onto.

"Ariel, I'm afraid I don't know you well enough to know what you would like for the Festival. I refuse to get you a generic polish, so I figured I would ask if you had a preferred item," Prowl stated.

She smiled gently, "I am a fan of fruity teas. My favorites have orange, peach, and strawberries."

"Thank you, Ariel. I apologize if you will not be getting a surprise," Prowl said.

She waved her hand dismissively, "I understand that we're not super close and I know that I'll be getting something I appreciate. That's enough, Prowl. Thank you. And what about you?"

"I enjoy murder mystery novels. I like trying to see how long it takes for me to understand who the killer is," He said as he returned to his datapad. "My record is 3 chapters in. Granted, they were long chapters, but all the same. One of my favorite authors actually turned out to be one of my old cohort, Barricade. He was in the same graduating class as Smokescreen, but that class was always exceptional. "

Jazz reached behind him to place a hand on that spot between Prowl's doorwings. They raised, giving him better access,"Hey, you're exceptional, Prowler. Ya brought so many to justice."

"You've had a big case?" Orion asked in surprise.

Prowl nodded, his attention getting dragged between Jazz's hand and his own planning, "Yes. Overlord was a-"

"You took down Overlord?" Orion asked as he turned around sharply. His eyes were wide and Prowl couldn't tell if he was full of feat or full of awe. "I watched a documentary on him."

"It was most likely Andromeda. She did a good job covering the murders without harassing the officers that worked the investigation. She left me number in case I ever had another story," Prowl said. He rooted through his subspace before he pulled out here holocard and set it on the table.

Jazz slowly picked it up, "Prowler, you've been holdin' out on us! Just how many people do ya know?"

"You make a lot of acquaintances when you are dedicated to the truth and not letting it rest. Two of the murdered were distance cousins of hers," Prowl said gently.

Orion nodded, "Spin-out and… I can't remember his name."

"That was actually not one of Overlord's. That was done at his… urging, but he was tortured and murdered by two of his cronies. They were later killed by Overlord, but no, I was talking about Shock and Ore. They were…" He hummed. "I can discuss this later, but it was not pretty."

Ariel nodded and pat Orion's hand sadly, "You're going to give yourself nightmares, Orion. Please be careful."

"Are ya okay, Prowler?" Jazz asked gently. "Was it a bad memory?"

"No, you get used to that kind of scene after a while, but he was a special kind of twisted. Not much will be able to surprise me. I hope I just do not need to ever do that again," Prowl said gently. He took the holocard back and tucked it back into his subspace. "I told her what I could and asked that she keep me out of it otherwise. She abided by my wishes and said if I ever had a story for her, I just needed to call."

Ariel's eyes twinkled as she turned back to her bitlet and his friends, "You know, Prowl, that's the kind of honesty that I need on my side. Being on the council, or even an advisor, is dangerous work. There are too many corrupt Enforcers. We have a team that we can trust, but I would like to ask that you be our first call. Once you graduate, that is."

Prowl's doorwings twitched up as he understood. He hummed and focused back on his datapad after a moment, "I already have the same agreement in place for Red Alert. I see nothing wrong with helping out a friend in ways that are within my purview."

"Then I am glad to know you, my friend."

Jazz leaned over the table so he was closer to Orion, "Why do I feel like Prowl is collectin' dangerous mechs?"

Orion chuckled, "Believe me, Ariel does the same. You get used to it."

"Don't worry, I'm not planning anyone else's downfall… yet," Prowl teased, glancing at Jazz. His eyes promised a ruination that had Jazz swallowing. "Let me plan things, Jazz. It's the path of least resistance."

Oh, the instinctual need to be a brat.

"If you two start giving each other bedroom eyes, I will bring out the spray bottle," Ariel threatened over her shoulder. Orion laughed deep in his chest and Jazz joined in weakly.

Prowl only looked proud of himself.

Jazz trailed behind the pack as Prowl led the way through the aisles of the hardware store. There were several lines of dozens of crystals trees, all lined up perfectly. He still hemmed and hawed over several options, even if Jazz didn't completely understand it.

They were all crystal trees with 6, 8, or 10 sides, each about Prowl's height, each varying shades of clear to opaque white with blips of color, but Prowl was looking for… something.

Sideswipe ran forward, past Prowl to go look at a specific tree, cocking his head, "This one's shiny." He touched one of the corners, smiling faintly before he looked up, "Prowlie, can we get this one?"

The nanny strode over and looked it over. It was a little shorter than the others, barely, Jazz's height, but it was fatter than the others. Light glittered through the flat sides, sharing a rainbow of colors on the ground. It would be thicker, harder to carve, but Jazz knew that it would be able to hold more detail and it would be easier to scratch our mistakes, a key trait when carving with younglings.

Prowl's eyes were glittering and he smiled in that beautiful way again. He crouched closer to Sideswipe and put a hand on his back, "It's perfect, Sideswipe. Can you and Sunstreaker help Jazzy guard it while I go to get a salesmech and a convoy to transport it?"

He nodded proudly and gave a quick pose that he had clearly learned from one of his new shows… Armada or something. Prowl chuckled and let them be.

Sunstreaker looked the tree over and peered up at Jazz, "Are we going to get to keep some of the ornaments this vorn?"

"Of course, bitty mine. I don't think Prowlie would throw away any of the old tree shavings we get outta this, even if he wanted to. We'll start making memories, perfect ones, from this Festival on," Jazz promised.

He had to admit, this was the exprience he had growing up, but… without any other reason to celebrate it at home, he usually just let his home go undecorated. Now, Prowl was bringing hanging crystals in beautiful geometric patterns and leaving small pouches of spices around and…

Home had never felt more like one of those stereotypical holovids where the couple gets together with a happy ending.

Jazz would never be able to go back.

It also gave him a chance to earnestly redecorate his home a little and Prowl urged him to decorate how he wanted to. This time, Jazz was the one to plan. This time, Prowl went with whatever Jazz wanted and Jazz could understand his need for control. With all of the decorations, he could now have the Festival he always wanted and it was going to go how he wanted… for the most part.

The twins had their own concessions in the winter war, and Sunstreaker was decorating the walls with taped-up drawings of crystal trees and Sideswipe was setting up increasingly elaborate setups of his toys in old Primal Festival scenes on the windowsills.

Luckily for everyone involved, Jazz and Prowl found it adorable and worked around the new installations. They became part of the scenery. Jazz found Prowl taking image captures when the boys worked on their own decorations. Prowl found Jazz making sure Sunstreaker's pictures wouldn't fall.

It was going to be perfect.

"Now, roll the gift around in the foil," Prowl instructed carefully. He took the boxed scrapbook that would be Kup's and rolled it over gently so it was covered on four sides, and took the cutter to slice a little extra.

Sunstreaker grumbled as he tried to follow Prowl's directions, even if it came out crooked. Sideswipe hummed happily as he loosely rolled the Enforcer toy over and began to rip at the foil with his bare hands. Jazz winced at the violent action, but he was at least getting clean corners. "Sides, hold- no, gimme a sec, bitty," He sighed. He got up to get the other cutter and made a new line for his younger creation and fixed the other side of the roll so it would be clean for the next present.

Prowl chuckled, "It isn't going to be perfect, Sweetness. They're only 34-" He was cut off as Jazz got into his space and pulled him in for a desperate kiss. He gasped at the sudden motion, but it only caused his lover to laugh and pull back. Prowl whined and started to follow after him, but he needed to stop himself.

"Primus, I love that nickname," Jazz purred. He kissed Prowl on the bridge of his nose, "Sorry, I-"

"No, you're fine," He replied. He touched his lips, "I wasn't expecting it, but I would have stopped you if I didn't want it."

Jazz smiled happily at the faint blush on Prowl's cheeks, "That's a good look on you, Prowler. I'll need to encourage it more often."

"Oh, you-" Prowl grumbled, but he grabbed Jazz's collar flaring to pull him closer. Their lips clashed again, but another tearing noise made the freeze.

The radio host pulled back and winced to see Sideswipe tearing at the trashed sheet that JAzz had just cut off. "It makes a funny noise!"

Sunstreaker nodded, "I like it. It's a funny noise." He reached for a piece that Sideswipe had dropped and began to rip it up himself.

Prowl sighed in relief, knowing he had more to show them if he wanted to get the presents all wrapped before the actual Festival in two weeks. It hadn't snowed yet, but it was going to, he could feel it.

He just hoped he could have one of the magical nights he had used to, like all those vorns ago…

"No, don't tape yer brother!"

"But Jazzy!"

"Don't you 'but Jazzy!' me!"

Oh, the life of a nanny.

Jazz woke up slowly, and his breath came in long drags as he tried to piece together why he was awake. The night was still, his boys were sleeping soundly, their tiny engines rumbling, and Prowl-

Prowl wasn't in bed.

A quick check of his messages showed a silent ping. 'It's snowing outside. I wanted a little while to just watch it fall. I didn't want to wake you or the boys. Ignore this if it's morning.'

Given that it was barely 1 A.M., it wasn't quite morning yet, but Jazz still made sure his boys were both tucked snuggly under their warm comforter before he slipped out of their room. The lights were off in the hallway and the kitchen, but he could see the outdoor light on.

He strode forward and knocked on it quietly before he slipped outside. Prowl looked up from where he sat on the stoop, just watching the night. "Hey, Prowler. What're you doin' out here? It's the middle of the night."

"I know," He whispered and pat the spot next to him. Jazz winced, knowing it was going to be cold, but shuffled next to his lover anyway. He paused when he realized that Prowl was warm. Something was huffing out heat from under his plating and Jazz was absolutely going to take advantage of his personal space heater.

He purred as he snuggled closer to Prowl, content to enjoy the warmth, "This is new. I didn't know ya had a mod for this."

Prowl wrapped an arm around him, opting to pull Jazz into his lap instead, "It's less a mod and just running my engine a little harder, but… I hardly noticed." He wasn't looking at Jazz but, rather, the street. "I used to do this back home, but it was usually at 3… 4 in the morning back home? We would start to open the bakery, but if it was just starting to snow, my Sire would bring me out under the awning and sit us at the tables and just… watch."

Jazz looked out over the street, not quite seeing it, but… He froze when something seemed to click.

It was quiet. Not the kind of 'hear a screw drop' kind of quiet, but it was like the world was set on pause. The snow falling offset the dark shade of the road and the other houses on the block were completely unlit, save for a few outdoor lights and the streetlamps.

He was watching a world blanket itself before it would wake in the morning to a new season.

"And you'd just watch?"

"And we'd just watch. I wanted to get you and the boys but… I thought you wouldn't want to get up," Prowl admitted. He squeezed Jazz and tucked his chin onto his shoulder, "Thank you for letting me do this. I know it's a lot and a big change. It means a lot to me that you're letting me celebrate how I normally would."

Jazz snuggled in closer and closed his eyes, "Of course, Prowler. I mean, I like this, but not…"

"Not enough to stay up or get up with me?" Prowl mused. Jazz kept his mouth shut, but Prowl didn't need an answer. He pressed a kiss to Jazz's temple and held him for several more seconds before he picked Jazz up and headed back inside. "We will both need our times. This is one of mine. I have an idea for our next date, if you would allow me to surprise you a little?"

"I thought we weren't goin' to surprise each other anymore," Jazz teased, but he hummed happily as he was maneuvered back into the boys' room. He let Prowl set him down, but he tucked himself in.

Sideswipe whined as he was jostled and he blinked wearily, "Jazzy? What's going on?"

"It's a quiet night, Sides," Prowl said quietly. "Sunstreaker is still asleep. I'm going to go back outside, but go back to bed."

"Can I come with?" He whispered back. He rubbed his eyes, "Like the sick night, right?"

Prowl nodded and reached down for him, "Just like the sick night. Let's get you bundled up, and you can come out with me."

"Prowler-" Jazz started, but he cut himself off. No. He wouldn't fight this. Not now.

He was tired, he was a little cold still… He might now want Sideswipe outside, but if this was a special moment for them… He would let it happen.

So he resigned himself to watching as Prowl wrapped Sideswipe in his blanket until all that was visible was his face. As he worked, he spoke quietly. "I would like to surprise you on location and activity, but if you want me to share, I can. It would not be until after the holiday, however."

Jazz hummed as he shuffled deeper under the cartoon-covered duvet, "What's the date?"

"Maybe I take you to a nice little cafe, a little hole in the wall… A place with live performances. We replace your color scheme a little or change the color of your visor, and have you play under the name Meister, master of his craft," Prowl smiled. He looked up in the darkness of the room, "You could be anyone else for the night. You could play anything you wanted. You could play polkas or jigs or heavy metal or alternative punk or some smooth improv."

He chuckled quietly and reached a hand out, "Y'know… I think I'd like that, Prowler. Could… Could ya put that together?"

"It wouldn't be a problem, but if you could handle the visor, that would be enough. And maybe… the date after…" Prowl's hand brushed gently over Jazz's cheek and he pressed into the warmth. "We stay at home… I cook us some nice steak and we pull out some light engex and you serenade me with your favorite songs… and we stay in…"

He leaned down to kiss Jazz delicately. His lips ghosted over Jazz's, and it was the last thing he'd remember as he fell asleep.

Prowl chuckled in amusement as he realized that Jazz had fallen into recharge, "Sleep well, Jazz." He felt Sideswipe squirm and smiled again. "Alright, bitty. Let's go out and watch the snow fall, alright?"

"Okay, Prowlie…" Sideswipe mumbled, trying hard to stay awake. He would fall asleep after another five minutes outside, but to have a small idling engine in his arms as the world held its breath around them…

It was home.

Jazz stared at the small army in his kitchen.

Prowl was ordering the troops as he wielded his weapon of choice, a rolling pin. The twins were gleefully stamping out shapes from the rolled out dough and Hot Rod and Arcee were prying the crystal trees and dough mechs and present shapes off of the counter. Bumblebee and Springer were being their taste testers and babbling happily to each other.

The kitchen table was already completely covered with chocolate cookies. Snickerdoodles were overflowing onto nearby side tables in the living room. The counters were all occupied with sugar cookies. The couch had several large trays with peanut butter blossoms on them.

"Uh, Prowler?" Jazz asked nervously as he stepped around everything. "…Are ya okay?"

"I AM THE COOKIE PRIME!" Hot Rod yelled as he held up two handfuls of raw dough, making his sister throw one in her hand at him. It smacked against his face, but he only laughed harder and worked it into his mouth to eat it.

She wrinkled her nose, "You're so gross."

"Arcee, no throwing cookie dough at Hot Rod. Hot Rod, no yelling in the kitchen," Prowl said dully. He finally looked up from where he was mixing the next batch of cookies.

Primus save them, they were going to drown in cookies.

"Are you okay?" Jazz asked again. "It looks like we're trying to open a bakery."

"I have worked out the exact amount needed so that everyone is about to get three of each kind. Everyone being the three families, Blurr and Swindle, Red Alert and Inferno, Smokescreen, Blaster and his bunch and Whirl," He elaborated. 'There are also a few extra, just in case. I don't trust any of the kids to not eat at least a dozen today at least.'

Jazz looked around in horror, "Prowler, that's like… 22 people. What the slag?"

He shrugged and kept on, "This is how I've done it. We're a family of bakers, we take it seriously."

"Can… we reel it in a little next year?" He asked nervously, trying to find somewhere to sit or stand that wouldn't risk breaking a cookie or upsetting a tray. "Like one cookie, but a lot of 'em? I ain't used to the logistics of this."

Sunstreaker huffed, "It's not hard, Jazzy. We clean when the cookies are cool."

"Yeah, it's not super bad. Prowl already had most of the stuff weighed out last night, we just clean out the bowl and throw everything in," Arcee explained.

Hot Rod moved over the next cookie and nodded, "Yeah! And it's actually pretty fun!"

Jazz took a deep breath, secretly enjoying everything… The sight of the crystals hanging around their home, the smell of a warm oven with decadent cookies, and the sounds of children's laughter. He'd bed anything that the desserts would taste amazing, and he gave into temptation, picking up a nearby chocolate cookie.

It tasted perfect.

It tasted like the Festival of Crystals.

Just 3 more days, and it would be time.

The tree was half-carved, with Rescue Bots and Rock'em Sock 'em and stick figures decorating the bottom halves of the tree and measures of music dancing around the upper halves and geometric patterns branched out across the top-most part.

The presents lined the bottom of the tree, with three presents each for the twins and two for the adults, and a further two for all of Kup's kids. Bumblebee's had already been dropped off and his family had provided an additional present for each of them.

Outside the window, frost covered the panes of glass and snow-mechs lined the yard in defensive positions. There had clearly been a snowball fight earlier and, if Jazz had to guess from the mess in the sink, they had come back inside after for some hot chocolate.

Springer smiled as he waved around a small piece of dough at Prowl. The nanny smiled and took it from him, popping it into his mouth. He bowed his head in gratitude and kissed his bitlet on the forehead, "Thank you, little one."

His creation gurgled, still not used to talking yet, and clapped his hands against Prowl's cheeks.

Prowl relaxed into the small hits. Oh, how he loved his bitty.

Chapter Text

It was perfect. 

It was the night before the big morning, the twins were sitting on the floor next to the tree with their Jazzy. He was reading one of the classics, doing all kinds of voices and the kids were eating it up. The holoscreen had the big Iaconian festival going on with intricate carvings done by their largest art college. It glittered and there were dancers twirling around it, their frames covered in thin crystal ornaments that clinked together as they spun. The reflected light cast rainbows onto the surrounding buildings, painting pictures that spoke to the citizens that wore the same colors.

Prowl sat on the couch, taking it in while sipping on his warmed energon. It was peaceful and reminiscent of his own childhood while still having their own little spin on it. He could close his eyes and almost imagine his creators there in the kitchen, arguing the same damned argument about whether checking the oven with the light on would ruin the convection it had going, but if they had the light going while opening the door to check could help offset that, but that argument was always wrong, and-

His thoughts were interrupted as the broadcast switched to a commercial for sparkling toys and he chuckled weakly. 

Some things just never changed, hmm?

"Hey, Prowlie?" Sideswipe asked as Jazz finished the story. The nanny looked over and he rocked back and forth on his bottom, "Can we stay up to see Primus delivering presents?"

Prowl blinked owlishly and Jazz laughed gently, "Sorry, bitty mine. He won't show up if you don't try to get ta bed."

"How does he know?" Sunstreaker asked. He was focused solely on Prowl, the speaker of truth and who would never lie to them. Jazz was also staring in desperation, begging him not to tell the truth.

Prowl took a deep breath in and leaned forward, "How about we let them stay up, Jazz? If they stay up all night, they will be too tired to open their presents in the morning, and Primus will not have come." The boys' eyes lit up and they shared a hopeful look. 

"Primus is real!" They crowed. 

Jazz winced, "Prowl..."

"Boys, how about you go make sure your toys are all put away in your room? If you're going to stay up for him, you need to watch for him," Prowl urged them along. Sideswipe nodded and dragged his brother behind him as they ran to their room. When they finally disappeared, Prowl turned to Jazz, "We have both seen them try to stay up all night. They will not last two hours. Either way, I'll come out here to double check everything is set up for 'Primus' while you tuck them in, if that is acceptable?"

His boyfriend laughed and leaned forward to prop himself on the coffee table, "Y'know, Prowler... I never woulda thought about that. Yeah. That's good. So just... read ta them as many stories as I can?"

"Just to keep them busy," Prowl mused. His smile grew as Jazz laughed quietly and leaned in to kiss him. "Happy Festival Eve, Sweetness."

"Happy Festival Eve, Prowler," Jazz rumbled back, but had to pry himself away when Sideswipe stuck his head out of the door and yelled for him. "He's lucky I love 'im."

"We're all lucky you have a big spark," Prowl agreed and jokingly pushed Jazz away. He pretended to swoon, but kept the momentum going to head down the hall.

The radio host cackled and exaggerated a tiptoe walk from the boys' cartoons, "I'm gonna getcha! I'm gonna getcha! Ya better be in bed before I getcha or Sunny gets ta pick the first story!" Sideswipe squealed, but babbled something incoherent from where Prowl sat on the couch. 

If this was what he would have gotten for leaving Praxus... It was a worthy... not consolation prize, but not a full, proper prize. Consequence didn't fit, but... No matter what word was to be applied, it would be worth it. 

The squeals of two bitties that he loved more than anything, a mech who Prowl knew respected and loved him - in that order - and whom Prowl respected and loved back, even if they hadn't said anything, and a carefully crafted atmosphere that was different from his past Festivals, but felt right...

It was perfection.

Prowl waited for a ping from Jazz to actually get up to prepare everything. He needed to know that the doors were closed, the boys had their preferred stuffed animal and spare energon in case they got thirsty. He didn't want the boys coming out, and by Primus, nothing was going to ruin the holiday for them.

He went to close the door, smiling at the drawings and Festivity scenes that lined the walls. It was a quick trip into the kitchen to grab the plate that the boys had previously arranged, along with a glass of energon with silver flakes, and setting it on the coffee table. He'd wait for a little while until he'd bite into a few and drink some of the energon, just in case.

Since the majority of the presents were already sitting around the tree, all that really mattered was the empty polish jars. There would be a new jar place underneath it every vorn and while it would never really last long, it was designed to be a 'just in case' someone wouldn't have one for the next vorn. As the vorn would go on, the polish would be used and the jar emptied, cleaned, and set aside for the next Festival. Then, it would be filled with plenty of little gifts as a 'Present from Primus'.

While the pair had already discussed it, Prowl still worried about the fact that he wouldn't be setting out his this vorn. He and his creators had long since worked it out that he would set theirs out the night before and they would do his when they rose to start the bakery late. They would see his, but it also meant that they could all still act surprised in the morning. This vorn, Prowl set out the relatives', but Jazz would be waking up early to handle Prowl's in the middle of the night.

Jazz had asked about waking up the boys to check the jars in the middle of the night and Prowl had agreed, granted that he brought them back to bed. While Prowl had sworn never to lie to them, Jazzy was the 'fun' creator who wasn't above telling the twins that they needed to go back to bed or else Primus would take their presents back. That would be one little tradition he wouldn't mind making.

His attention shifted slowly to the message in his inbox. 

His creators would be setting out first thing in the morning, day after the Festival. The time that they would be arriving, they would be arriving in Iacon just before the sun came up. They had all agreed that his creators would be staying in the spare room while the four would be staying in the boys' room like they had been for the past several weeks. If Prowl needed to admit that they needed to begin weaning the boys out of co-sleeping, he would.

But Prowl had more pressing matters.

He carefully pulled out the three new jars from his subspace and tucked them under the old jars, his own untouched. Into the twins', he put sweets and race cars and a new storybook for each. Sunstreaker got washable armor paint while Sideswipe had gotten several small fidget toys that Prowl wouldn't need to worry about Bumblebee or Springer swallowing on accident. 

Jazz... Jazz had gotten significantly better polish than the twins, and he had gotten a signed agreement from a cafe owner across the city. It was an agreement to let a mech named 'Meister' play at his café. His café was well known for having a privacy screen for the performers who suffered from stage fright or just wanted to play anonymously. He hadn't forgotten what Jazz had said that he had wanted to be able to play some songs that didn't necessarily fit his image, and the owner just needed a sample to know what time to best assign 'Meister'.

He had also gotten more of his favorite watermelon macarons, packed neatly into a small box with 'tickets' for up to three more batches. It wasn't that Prowl minded making them, but it was hopefully an easier way for Jazz to ask for them without feeling bad about doing so. There were more little tickets in it as well. Breakfast in bed, massages, letting Jazz plan more surprise dates. It was things that they already did, but... Prowl wanted Jazz to know he was okay with doing those kinds of things.

Prowl wasn't sure what Jazz had gotten him, but... he trusted Jazz.

He took a moment to look around and remind himself that... he had earned this. He earned having a Festival with people who loved him in a city that cared about him. His boyfriend and his adoptive bitlets were here. Kup and his family, Prowl's own bitlet included, would be joining them for lunch. His creators would be coming for a few days for their own celebration. 

It might not have been where he was sparked, but... This was home, and there would be nowhere he would rather be.

So he went about locking the doors and turning off the lights. Moonlight pooled in from the windows and the snow outside glittered. There were snow mechs and forts and dropped snowballs and... at least one empty mug from where Sideswipe had forgotten it outside. Prowl sighed and headed out to grab it. 

The breeze was cool, but it held less bite to it than Praxus. It curled around him like a wispy blanket, the inverse to his own blanket that laid inside, still probably on his side of the bed, but it still held all of the feeling. The comfort of knowing that there was a barrier between him and the world. The tingle on his plating as the temperature sat at right what he needed it. The memories that hung with it were a comfort in and of themselves, whispering in his audial that he was home. 

Yes.

He was home.

And he turned around, walked back into the warmth of his lover's house, and closed the door behind him, trading the memory of a past life for the reality of the present one.

Sideswipe whined as his shoulder was shaken, "Sire, I don't wanna get up..." A part of his processor was screaming at him that there was something big going on and-

"Shhh, shhh, Prowler's still sleepin', it's the middle of the night, Primus came," Jazzy whispered. "Do ya want to go take a peek?"

He sat up sharply and nodded, "Please please please?" Next to him, Sunny whined and turned over, crawling deeper under Prowlie's bumper and arm. Knowing him, it would be impossible to get him out of there without waking Prowlie. 

Jazzy smiled and carefully picked up Sideswipe. He was practically vibrating, but he didn't care! He wanted to see what Primus left him! Jazzy got them out into the hall and quietly let the door close behind them, "Aight, bitty mine, ya need to promise me somethin'."

Sideswipe nodded curiously and Jazzy smiled that patient smile he did when he wasn't entirely sure if Sideswipe could do a thing. Well, shows up, he could do anything! 

"So ya know how Primus only comes fer bitties who've been good? Well, if ya see what ya got, but ya try ta sneak out here again before mornin', he'll come back before you can get out here and take all of your presents," Jazzy warned and Sideswipe froze. That... No way! Primus was magical and all seeing, but... to take his presents? No!

He nodded, "I just can't come out here before morning?"

"Me or Prowler need ta be out here with ya, or Primus'll think y're bein' naughty," Jazzy said seriously as he carried Sideswipe into the living room. The lights were dark, but Jazzy flipped on his headlights. It was just enough to light the area and Sideswipe's eyes widened to see his jar was full of new little toys. "If ya want all of this to stay, we can't have ya sneakin' around, okay?"

"Okay," Sideswipe whispered, but he reached out to touch some of his toys. "He really came..."

Jazzy smiled as he looked over his own jar and paused when he saw something. It took a moment, but he broke out of his revere. "...We need ta get back to bed. But don't tell Prowler about this, okay? He'll be mad I brought ya out here."

"Okay, Jazzy," He whispered back and yawned. He let himself latch onto Jazz as he was carried back into their room. He hummed happily as he was tucked into bed. 

He would dream of race cars and cookies and his family.

Jazz was woken up by a sharp pain in his gut as two squealing bodies jumped on top of him. “Jazzy! Jazzy! Jazzy! It’s Festival morning!” Sideswipe crowed happily. 

He groaned as he grabbed Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, rolling over the both of them. Sideswipe squealed and Sunstreaker giggled happily, not protesting so far. Jazz allowed a private smile as he ignored them in favor of Prowl. The mech was smiling at him fondly, even if there was a bit of mischief in there. Jazz narrowed his eyes, “You knew and you just let them.”

Prowl leaned in to kiss him, “Maybe. Maybe they wanted to be the ones to wake you.”

”Jazzy! You’re hea-vy!” Sideswipe protested as he managed to get an arm out and smack his guardian. 

“Did you hear somethin’ Prowler?” Jazz laughed. Prowl rolled his eyes, but he reached a hand out to rest along Jazz’s jaw. Jazz smiled and kissed the palm presented to him. Taking a moment to enjoy the way Prowl’s optics burned, he finally pulled back and off of the kids. “Sorry, I didn’ quite catch that. Was there somethin’ special about today?”

Sunstreaker smacked his tiny fists against Jazz’s chest, “It’s the Festival! You know it is! Present time!”

”Alright, alright. Prowl, you heard the little scraplets. I think it’s present time. Why don’ you two go on ahead to look at your jars?” Jazz mused. The twins cheered and rocketed themselves off of the bed to go rip into their jars.

Prowl laughed and slowly swung himself out of bed, “We should go watch them to make sure they don’t get into anything they’re not supposed to.”

Jazz followed him out, but grabbed his wrist. Prowl paused, but he melted into Jazz as arms circled around his waist. He wrapped himself around Jazz for a moment, just gazing into his eyes. “Couldn’ta done this without ya, Prowl. Thank you.”

”It was my pleasure,” Prowl whispered back. He smiled and kissed Jazz again. “Thank you for giving me the chance.”

”Easiest choice I ever made,” Jazz agreed. He stood on tiptoe to kiss Prowl again, but they were interrupted by a frustrated yell from the living room. 

“Jazzy! Prowlie! Come oooooon!” Sideswipe yelled and apparently stamped his little feet.

The couple laughed, still wrapped up in each other. Prowl hummed, “We need to go. I want to see what you got me.”

”I didn’t get ya anythin’. Primus got ya some nice stuff, I hope,” Jazz teased. Prowl rolled his eyes and gave him one more peck before they separated. 

Jazz took up behind Prowl, and he smiled to see his boyfriend’s doorwings rise in surprise and delight. Already, he could hear the twins upturning their jars and 'ooing' and 'ahing' over their new toys. Sunstreaker was flipping through his book in rapt attention and Sideswipe was running a toy car over the floor and over his brother. Sunstreaker beeped in protest and the red twin honked in reply. They quickly got into a 'traffic accident' if the sounds were anything to go by.

Prowl laughed all the same and stepped into the room properly and Jazz could now appreciate his work in the light. The crystal tree had been covered in a fine tinsel with tiny lights scattered throughout, bouncing off the perfect facets that Prowl and Jazz had painstakingly cut into the crystal. The way the rainbow of lights bounced around the room made everything glimmer as if the room had been covered in a very fine blanket of snow inside the living room.

"Did... Did you do this?" Prowl asked slowly as he turned back to Jazz. He recognized the idea. It was something his Sire did every vorn, even to this day. He couldn't remember any Festival where the lights hadn't been there.

Jazz winced and scratched the back of his head, "Yeah, um... Yer Sire called me last week to talk about how you were doin' and he mentioned this. I know I went behind yer back again but..."

"No, this is..." Prowl looked around the room in awe, "This is... Perfect. Thank you." He focused back on Jazz and strode up to him, all of the confidence in the world. The way he pulled Jazz close and captured his lips... Jazz gasped into it, arching into the move. He was no blushing virgin, not by a long shot, and neither was Prowl, if he had to guess, but when he wanted to show off...

Woof.

Prowl laughed quietly as Jazz's engine revved and pulled back to kiss his forehead, "I have said before, in you, all things are possible. You are... a marvel."

"Y'know, the last time ya said that, I couldn't do this," Jazz whispered back and gently grabbed at Prowl's collar flaring to return the deep kiss that he had been given. It was Prowl's turn for his engine to rev and Jazz found himself pleasantly surprised when Prowl's lips began to part-

"Ew!"

He needed to remind himself that he loved his kids, but damn. 

Prowl pulled back with a blue tint to his cheeks and rubbed his mouth, "Yes, um, sorry-"

"Nah, that was hot as slag, mech," Jazz laughed. He took Prowl's other hand to kiss at his knuckles. "C'mon, we have what, four hours until Kup's get here?"

"About, and with cleanup and lunch preparation..." Prowl agreed. He tapped his lip with his free hand, knitting his fingers with Jazz's in the other. "Let's set up and do youngest to oldest, shall we?"

The twins shared a quick look and Sunstreaker's face twisted, "Riri used to let us open our presents all at once!"

"I would like to take a moment to appreciate each gift opened. You and Sideswipe worked hard to pick out something for me and Jazzy, right? Don't you want to make sure we like it?" Prowl argued. "I would like to appreciate your reactions."

Sideswipe got up to get his first present, "So I go, right?"

"Prowler?" Jazz said quietly. Prowl cocked his head and the radio hose chimed in, "Can they each open one at the same time?" It... would be more efficient and it would help with any jealousy that Sunstreaker might have about it.

"I... don't see why not. But they can wait while you and I open ours," Prowl agreed. He gestured for Sunstreaker to grab one of his four toys and let him dig into it. He raced to catch up to his brother and they ripped into both.

Their faces went slack as they both looked at their presents. Sideswipe got a small music kit that could record small tunes that he compiled that could be exported for later (if he actually made something he was proud of. And the couple could stand to listen to) while Sunstreaker had gotten a book on insecticons. Sideswipe looked over and he pouted, almost abandoning his own present in favor of Sunstreaker's. The golden twin growled at him and pulled it closer to his chest.

Jazz winced, "Hey, Sides, that's Sunny's. You got yer own thing, remember? Besides, I can read it ta both of ya."

Sunstreaker pouted and held it tighter, "I read it first."

"Of course. And if Sideswipe gets any books, he gets to read it first. Is that alright?" Prowl handled carefully. "You are allowed to have your own toys, but that does not mean you can try and take each other's things. It is a bad and mean thing to do. You don't steal."

"Okay, Prowlie," Sideswipe said sullenly. Sunstreaker was still riding his high of having the 'better' present and only nodded happily.

The couple shared a look, knowing that they would need to keep this in mind for next year. All the same, Jazz tapped his chin, "Hey, Sunstreaker, why don't ya pick one out for me?"

"And Sides, you can pick mine," Prowl added on. The toys were quickly forgotten as the brother set to picking through the adults' three presents each. They finally found something and brought it over.

Jazz smiled at the elegant script on his small box, "'To Sweetness, from Prowler.' Aw, Prowl. That's so sweet." 

"I have been told I need to be a little more... creative when it comes to my gift tags," He mused, but he looked at his own small box. "'To Prowler, from the best radio host on Cybertron.' Huh, I didn't know that Blaster sent me something." The boys giggled at the joke and Jazz pouted. They both shrugged it off and dug in. 

Jazz froze as he pulled out a small set of magnets. It was a set of eight, two of which were clearly drawn by the boys, another two being their signatures, and three being various pictures that others had taken of the four of them. 

The last was an elegant scrawl that matched the faded mark that rested on Jazz's shoulder. 'Prowl' was painted in elegant blue that matched Jazz's nanites down his chassis.

He looked up in shock and Prowl smiled, nodding. Jazz's lips twitched up hopefully and he set it back into 'its' spot. It fit just right and Jazz's plating rippled, pleased. "I love it, Prowler."

The mech in question preened in pride, but turned back to his own box. He opened the sloppy wrapping paper and cocked his head when he saw own magnet, this one boxy and a vibrant orange. 

'IACONION ENFORCER ACADEMY TRAINEE. PERMENANT TRACK PERMIT. ONE GUEST ALLOWED.'

Prowl's eyes widened and he looked up to Jazz, "You-"

"I saw ya really enjoyed racin', Prowler. I want ya to be able to let loose when ya need to," Jazz explained. He smiled knowingly, "It'll be valid as long as y're a trainee. Do ya like it?"

"Like it? Jazz, I-" His words trailed, but his doorwings were vibrating in excitement. He covered his smile with his hand, but he couldn't do anything about the smile in his eyes. "Jazz, I-"

"Our turn!" Sunstreaker chirped happily, cutting into the moment again. The couple laughed awkwardly and Prowl shuffled closer to Jazz so that they could cuddle better. Jazz's engine purred proudly as Prowl's EM field coiled around him like a large cat.

Sideswipe went to grab his own that was roughly the same shape as the one Sunstreaker had opened before, leaving Sunstreaker with an unknown. He eventually decided on a medium sized box that Prowl knew held a reusable painting tablet. It would collect data and allow it to be exported, or just wiped clean. It was his ‘expensive’ gift for the vorn, just like Sideswipe’s racetrack set. The couple had pitched in evenly for the twins, making sure it was a joint venture. 

They wouldn't be holding anything over each other's heads.

When the pair tore into the presents, Jazz nudged Prowl, "Ya haven't checked yer jar yet either, Prowler."

"I will when it's our turn. nd have you checked yours, Mr. 'I'm going to take a sneak peek in the middle of the night'?" He teased. In front of them, Sideswipe squealed in his excitement as he also got a book on Insecticons. It wasn't as technical as Sunstreaker's, but it would be different enough that they could read both without getting bored.

Jazz smiled and wrapped his arm around Prowl's waist, "Nope. It was just ta get yer thin'. We can wait until they're done, or it can count as our last present." Sunstreaker cocked his head in confusion when he saw the box underneath and tried to rip into it. "Hey, Sunstreaker, can we hold off real quick? That's a nice little drawin' pad fer someone your age, but I'd like ta keep it rollin'. Can ya wait to open it later?"

He thought for a moment and nodded, putting it aside. "Can we pick for you two again?"

"I don't see why not," Prowl mused. He turned to Jazz, almost nose to nose, and cocked his head, "Are you okay with that?" If he bat his lashes jokingly, Jazz didn't call him out for it. Yet.

"Yeah. Go ahead, ya little scraplets," He laughed. While they rooted around, Jazz kissed him again. "Y're a damn minx sometimes, Prowler."

"I know, but you love it," Prowl chuckled, kissing him back. They pulled back in time to have two presents dropped into their laps. "Alright, who is this one from... 'To Prowlie, from Sideswip and Sunstreaker.'"

Sideswipe giggled, "It's 'Sideswipe', not 'Sideswip'!" Prowl made a quiet sound as if to say 'of course.' He opened it all the same.

It was a framed image capture of the four of them. It must have been taken by either Kup or Orion, but they all looked unabashedly happy. There were additional data chips with it, 'For sharing' in Jazz's inelegant scrawl.

"Ya know, so yer creators can have copy too," Jazz said nervously. "Ain't sure if they'd want it, but I figured you would. You're a part of us, so... I figured that it was time that ya got a place in the picture book."

"I love it," Prowl whispered, holding it close. He looked to the hopeful twins and smiled, "Thank you, you two. It's perfect." They puffed their chests out proudly.

He looked at the box that Jazz had, also from the boys, and smiled. Jazz lifted an eyebrow and opened it carefully. He paused when he pulled out a small, handsized cube with a bunch of different pieces sticking off of it. Buttons, switches, wheels... "Ya got me a fidget toy?"

Sunstreaker leveled him with a look, "So you can stop stealing Sideswipe's. He steals mine." Prowl had to hide his laugh with a cough as Sideswipe nodded in offense. Jazz looked scandalized.

"I- Okay, ya know what, fair. Thank you, you two. I'm goin' to use this thing a lot," Jazz said diplomatically. 

Prowl leaned in, "We also double checked that it wouldn't make a lot of noises so it shouldn't set off me or Sunstreaker. You can use it whenever."

"Oh thank Primus," He whispered back. It was a battle sometimes, getting Sideswipe to either use his cube at a different time or place or to as Sunstreaker to move so Sides could use it. They'd need to get a smaller one for Sideswipe.

"Our turn?" Sideswipe asked again, already getting up to grab their second to last presents. Sunstreaker got up behind them and they realized that Sideswipe had a bigger present than Sunstreaker. Oh, the couple hoped that this wouldn't go poorly. 

Sideswipe set upon the larger box with gusto and Sunstreaker pitifully picked up another present, a smaller one and he shook it. He opened it and his eyes widened to see the small insecticon keychain. He looked up to Jazz and Prowl in shock and they smiled, but Sideswipe's squeal cut off their thoughts. He realized that it was a race track for his toys and was trying to open it. 

This time, Jazz got up, "Hey, Sides, let's keep it in its box fer now. You can play with it after all the other presents are opened. Does that sound okay?"

"One more present?" Sideswipe double checked. Jazz nodded and he scrunched up his face as he thought, "Alright. Then I can play with this!"

Jazz sighed in relief, and he grabbed the last of the wrapped presents for him and Prowl. They weren't very large, so he grabbed the jars while he still could. He paused when he saw the slips of flimsy and the box, but he kept on going. He handed Prowl his jar and settled down next to him, "Do we just wanna do these right now?"

"I don't see why not," Prowl agreed. He put the present down in favor for the polish tin and he smiled to see more pictures of the family lining the sides. There were some sweet candies that he liked to suck on that Prowl knew his creators had snitched about to Jazz - not that he was complaining - and a gift card to a bookstore that he didn't know about. He hummed as he looked it over. It would be enough to get him two, maybe three books if he played his cards right. It was thoughtful that he didn't have the books bought for him and it gave him the freedom to find something he would definitely like.

Prowl nodded in approval.

He turned his attention to Jazz and realized that Jazz had been watching him and offered a nod, "I appreciate the pictures. I will be putting them into a new scrapbook for myself and I will put the gift card to good use. Thank you, Jazz."

"It's my pleasure, Prowler," He said gently, be dug into his own jar. He made a quiet noise when he opened his box of macarons and immediately popped one into his mouth, "Love these, Prowler. Y're a damn legend."

"You're welcome," Prowl laughed, but gestured for him to look at the other two things. 

Jazz nodded and put the box down to reach in and- His face fell as he read the paper. He swallowed thickly and his face trailed away from the page to his boyfriend, "What...?"

"You said once that you wanted to be able to perform some songs without carrying the mantle of Jazz. I... found a café owner who is willing to let you play under a pseudonym. He doesn't know your name, or who I am, but... I wanted you to be able to enjoy the reactions of others. You just need to submit samples," Prowl said.

Jazz nodded slowly, swallowing again, "I... I mentioned that once, Prowler. I..." He laughed and ran a hand over his head, "Frag, I feel bad. I... I feel like I don't listen to ya enough-"

"Jazz, I need you to listen to me," Prowl said gently. He reached out, "I have a very good memory and a very good processing system for filing away information. My mental folder on you is extensive. I cannot hold others to that same standard. I love everything you have done for me thus far and I know I can trust you with small things. That is more than some couples I have met. You are exactly who I need you to be and you listen when it matters. Do not feel bad. This is..." He clenched his fists and took a deep breath, "This is me giving you what I cannot yet say."

"Oh, Prowler," Jazz whispered. He reaced for Prowl's hand and kissed the back of it. "If it makes ya feel better... This is amazin'. I love it. And... I feel the same."

Prowl laughed wetly and nodded, but pointed to the last thing in the jar, "You still have one thing left, Jazz."

"Mech, I'm havin' an emotional moment, ya can't just ask me to keep it movin'," Jazz teased, but he did take his hand back to look through the last thing. The twins squirmed as they pulled their last present in front of them, more boxes of matching sizes. They wanted him to hurry up, but he was going to take his sweet time.

He laughed when he picked up the coupon book, "I haven't seen one o' these since I was in school, makin' these for my creators..." He went quiet as he began to flip through the booklet, stopping on the breakfast in bed section. "You'd do breakfast in bed?"

"Those are things I'm already willing to do, Jazz. I just know it's easier for you to know that you're okay to ask me for some of these things," Prowl admitted.

"How're ya so..." Jazz trailed, but Prowl hoped he understood correctly.

"I'm an officer in training, Jazz. I am incredibly good at setting up profiles of people and listening to clues-"

Jazz cut him off with a loud laugh, "Prowler! Y're using your detective skills to woo me!"

Prowl couldn't help his own chuckled, "I guess I am. Does that answer your question?"

"Yes," He smiled back. 

"Our turn!" The twins shouted as they dug into their boxes. Wrapping paper flew as they ripped into them like savages and they both gasped in delight. They held their respective action figures of Rock 'em and Sock 'em. The toys color matched to the twins, Rock 'em for Sideswipe and Sock 'em for Sunstreaker. 

Prowl smiled, "That was Jazz's idea."

The boys got up and ran over to their guardian and crawled into his lap to hug him. "Thanks, Jazzy!" The radio host looked over their heads to Prowl and smiled. The nanny nodded and took the moment to get up so he could grab a trash bag from the kitchen. Jazz kept the bitlets close as he began to pick up the ripped wrapping paper, leaving the boxes.

Sunstreaker stared and he whined, getting Prowl's attention. His shoulders lowered and wiggled back and forth for a moment. One of Prowl's doorwings raised curiously and Sunstreaker bobbed his shoulders once in response. The nanny chuckled and gestured him over, "Of course you can help, Sunstreaker."

The child wriggled out of Jazz's hold and came over to help. Jazz hummed in bemusement, "I didn't know he could speak doorwing."

"There are rules to it that are easy to follow, and he pays attention," Prowl mused thoughtfully as he held the bag open for Sunstreaker to awkwardly throw small handfuls of tiny scraps into the bag. "It's pattern recognition."

"That easy, huh?" Jazz asked as he kept Sideswipe close to him. The child wasn't really fighting him, instead just watching Sunstreaker and Prowl. "We still got one more ta open, Prowler."

Prowl hummed and he nodded as he got the worst of it picked up. "Alright, I'll get the rest later. I just wanted to get some of it cleaned up when I had a moment."

"We're in the middle of presents, Prowl. You can clean up after," Jazz reminded him gently. Prowl nodded and took Sunstreaker by the hand, bringing him back. "Alright, last present. This is from all of you?" He settled onto the couch and pulled Sunstreaker into his lap, mirroring Sideswipe in Jazz's lap.

"Yep!" Sideswipe chirped. "It was Sunny's idea!" His brother nodded and Prowl smiled. "C'mon, Jazzy! Open it, open it!" Jazz peered at him for a moment. He knew, from this point on, that Sideswipe was going to be one of the kinds of people who preferred to watch people open their presents just as much, if not a little more than, opening their own.

He slooooooowly opened the present and Sideswipe whined, squirming. "Jaz~zy! C'mon! Open it!" 

Jazz laughed and kissed his forehead, "Alright, bitty mine. If ya say so." He opened it faster this time and his breath caught as he opened the box. It was a drink mug with World's Best Jazzy written on it. "Oh, boys..."

"You already had a #1 Radio Host mug, so we had this one ordered," Prowl explained. "He got the idea when I made some hot coco for them, and Sideswipe came up with the words."

Jazz grinned as he rolled it over in his free hand, "It's perfect, Prowler. Now I'm goin' to feel less bad about what I got you."

"Jazz, what did you do?" Prowl immediately demanded. He reached for his present and began to open it with one hand. "Jazz, what did you do?" He demanded again as he got to the box. Opening it... his breath caught. 

It was an unofficially released book, the 27th book of a long running murder mystery book, done under a pen name A.C. It had been one of Prowl's favorite books to read year after year, and this one had been long since awaited. It was taking longer to release, but the word was that it was undergoing its final revisions.

Taken at the Flood

A.C.

Final Revisions Draft 7

Prowl's eyes widened, "Jazz, what did you do?"

"I... might know someone at the publishin' house. That can't be shared anywhere, not until it's set ta release in the summer, but I figured... why not? I've seen ya readin' them after the boys are in bed," He shrugged, but he swallowed, "Do... Do ya like it? Did I overstep?"

"I don't... Please try not to use too much of your influence for me, but... Oh Primus, Jazz," He breathed. He ran his thumb over the cover, "I love it. I-I..." He laughed nervously, "I don't know how I'm going to be able to wait to read it."

Sideswipe crossed his arms, "You can wait to play until your chores are done!"

The adults shared a quick look before they both snickered. Prowl wiped at his eyes and nodded, still laughing quietly, "O-Of course, Sides. I'll make sure my chores are done first." He set the book aside and wiped his eyes. "Alright. I... I need to get started on lunch. Boys, do we have any thoughts on breakfast?"

The twins paused in thought before they turned to Prowl, "Cinnamon rolls and warm energon?"

"I think I can manage that," Jazz said gently. I'll get started on that so you can clean an' help the boys get their toys set up? Then you can start on lunch when we're done eatin'?"

"Thank you," Prowl whispered and kissed Jazz again. He wanted to have a chance to relax with his boys before he needed to truly dive in. 

He knew, objectively, that Jazz didn't 'put in the same amount of effort' that he did, but some of it was that looking after the boys was his job, but that didn't mean that Jazz got to have only the good parts of parenting. No, he pulled his weight where he could and Prowl loved him for it.

He loves him.

Prowl paused as he considered the thought again. 

He... loves... Jazz...

He did. He understood that he still needed time to experience different situations with Jazz. He needed to be sure that Jazz wasn't going to turn around and turn into either someone useless or someone actively malicious. He didn't anticipate it, but he needed to know that Jazz was going to keep up with the parenting style he had put in place and help with the chores and keep Prowl's wellbeing in mind. He couldn't rush into anything but... He also couldn't deny how he felt around Jazz.

Prowl enjoyed his time around the family and he wanted to be a part of it and to have the twins trying to pull him along so they could have their race track set up and their art tablet set up... It felt like he was part of the family. When Jazz laughed at his bewildered look and got up so he could kiss Prowl's cheek, it felt like an approval stamp on a permit.

He was family.

There was no doubting that.

"Wooooah," Hot Rod whispered as the other family filed into the room. "This looks like something out of a Cybertronian Theater vid..." He reached a hand up to try and 'grab' a brilliant glimmer of refracted light. "This is so cool!"

Kup whistled lowly, "I'm going agree with him, you two, you outdid yourselves." He held Springer close to him and smiled when the bitlet squealed happily and tried to grab a glimmer of light that bounced onto Kup's chestplate. "I think lil' bit here agrees."

"I'm glad. Prowler put in a lotta work, but it's amazin'," Jazz mused. He came up and held out his arms, "Can I...?"

"'Course." The foster creator handed Springer over and Jazz cooed happily as he bounced Springer in his grip. Kup turned his attention to Arcee, "Prowler, do ya have anyplace to put a casserole? Arcee's been holding it the whole way over."

Prowl looked up from the kitchen where he was getting cranberry sauce out of a can, "Yes, one second..." He put the can down on the plate and rushed to get her two more pot holders and put them down on the table. "Right here. Lunch is almost done, I'm just waiting for the turkey to finish." Arcee came over to put the casserole down, and her eyes looked over the home. "Do you want to look around? I'm sure Sunstreaker would love to hang something you draw up on the wall. I think he and Jazz saved a space for each of you to draw something."

"You're not going to make me help?" She asked suspiciously.

He scoffed and shooed her away, "No, you'll get in the way. Unless you plan on helping me in the future, it'll take a while to teach you in the ways I'll need you. Now, go have fun in other places."

Jazz came up beside her, "If it makes ya feel better, 'Cee, he's kicked me and the boys outta the kitchen." He winked at her and Springer gurgled happily, clapping his hands.

She smiled weakly and held a finger up to her little brother for him to grab onto, "Yeah, well, they're 34 and you're the adult who needs to look after them." She looked past Jazz to see Sideswipe showing Hot Rod his new race track. They were playing on it while Sunstreaker was painting in the corner with a radio next to him. Kup was standing by the door, looking around with a peaceful look. "You know what, I think I'm going to make the old man show us how bad he is at art."

"That sounds like a great idea, 'Cee. Go have fun," Jazz mused and swept into the living room to join the more exuberant of the kids at the race. Springer watched in quiet awe and Hot Rod grinned, holding up a small helicopter to him.

"Here, lil' bro! This is gonna be you someday! Hey, Uncle Jazz, you think that he'll be able to give us rides someday?" He asked. Springer squealed and took the helicopter and waved it around.

Jazz hummed and lifted his... step creation? He and Prowl hadn't talked about it, but oh, he loved the bitlet. "By the time he's big enough to be givin' ya rides, Roddy, ya might be too big to want 'em."

"'Sides," Kup grunted as he walked by, "you need to make sure you keep treating him nice or he won't want anything to do with you."

"That's a lie," Jazz snorted. "The twins get 'long fine and me an' my bro might not always like each other, but we know we love each other. I mean, how often does Arcee threaten ya?"

Hot Rod laughed, "She threatened to use me to cook smores the next time I flamed out!"

Kup shook his head as he continued to the island and leaned on the far side of it. He looked around the room again and hummed, "This is a real good thing you got going right now, Prowl."

"All good things take work. Most of this is in no small part due to you. You allowed this peace by helping me and your kids," He said without looking up from the fruit cake he was about to start cutting. "Go relax. I thought you were going to draw with Arcee and Sunstreaker."

He sighed and let his gaze fall to the floor, "It... I ain't sayin' that we can't make our own Festival but this... They'd maybe get a few presents, a quick rotisserie chicken or lasagna and a mac and cheese dish and some bread rolls while watching the classics. It... It feels cheap compared to this."

"Get your bumper into the kitchen," Prowl huffed and whirled around when the oven screamed. He pulled on his mitts and went to re-baste the turkey. "Don't cheapen the love you give your children, Kup. They love you and did they wake up excited?"

Kup slipped into the kitchen and leaned his hip on the counter, but well out of the way, "Yeah, I know, I just..." He spun a finger around, "It ain't this."

"My family are practically experts when it comes to preparing for this holiday. I got them all involved, but I also asked Jazz to help. This was an effort with many people involved, and I apologize for saying it like this, but do you have anyone to help you with the kids?"

Kup was silent.

"Do you have the time available to create this look?"

He stayed quiet.

"Did you want this look?" Prowl finally asked as he shut the oven again and set a new timer. He went into the fridge and pulled out two different pies. 

Kup rubbed his chin, "I mean, not really-"

"Then stop comparing us," Prowl stated as he began to scuttle back and forth from the kitchen to the table. Extra leaves had been added to give it extra length. He set about laying the most basic of dishes out. "This is a lot of work to set up and it's a lot of work to maintain. You have two energetic children in your home and a sparkling, and you're managing it alone. Are they happy?"

"Yeah," Kup whispered and began to help out more. "I just... I don't know." He grabbed a still warm corn casserole from the counter and passed it with the pot holders.

Prowl hummed as he took it, "Then next Festival, if you would like some help, please reach out to me. I want you to know that I am here for you as much as you are for me. Our creations have sleepovers together, they play at the same park, and they eat at the same table. You're family. Besides, look at Hot Rod and Arcee. They're having fun. Arcee isn't even bothering to try and look miserable and Hot Rod is actually able to relax a bit right now. And Springer..."

His voice trailed as he watched his bitlet chew on one of the race cars. Sideswipe was half-heartedly pleading with him, but he was more amused than anything. Hot Rod was too busy trying to find out how fast he could get some of the cars could go and Jazz...

He had such a soft look on his face, holding Springer in his lap. Prowl could tell he loved Springer like his own and he lingered in his spot for a moment. He so badly wanted to have that with Jazz and... 

He loved Springer, he truly did, but he knew that the moments he couldn't stand to be in the same room as him were still too frequent and he would never forgive himself if he took him away from Kup. He had been thinking it over since he had seen how well Springer had done with Kup, but this solidifed it. It would kill him to take that choice from Jazz, but... Jazz always said that he'd stand behind whatever choice Prowl would make.

"I want to give you the option to adopt him," Prowl whispered. "Formally. I... I would like to be in his life, but I love him. I... I know that I can't be what he needs, not consistently enough for it to be healthy for either of us. He's better with you, Kup."

A caring hand settled on his shoulder and Kup offered a soft smile, "Stop comparing our families, Prowl. We both love him. If you need help, let me know. Have you talked about this with Jazz?"

"He wants what I want. I want this," Prowl lamented. He raised his hand to lay over Kup's, just watching the other mech and their bitty.

Kup hummed again and gently moved Prowl back and forth to rock him soothingly, "I want you to have a proper talk with him. He loves Springer something bad too. My decision is that I could be primary and you and Jazz be secondary guardians. I will never take him from you, not permanently. He will be raised with love, not by just one or two of us, but all three."

A tear traced down Prowl's cheek as something settled into his spark, a kind of finality. 

Yes, this was what felt right. 

It was right.

He took a deep breath in and nodded, "Thank you, Kup."

The older mech laughed and laid a hand over Prowl's head, rubbing it fondly, "Call me Old Man, bit. We all need a helping hand sometimes. Family especially." Warm tingles erupted over Prowl's head and he sucked in a sharp breath. Kup seemed to recognize that something was wrong and pulled away. "Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah, just... Can you go get Jazz please?" Prowl whispered. He took a step back and forced a nod, "Thank you, Kup. I... I will, someday. I just-" He cut himself off.

Kup looked him over for a moment before he nodded. He slipped away and Prowl took several deep breaths. He tried to run through his checklist. Plating... No, not that. Internal... not really. Fuzzies... He didn't know. Noise... No, not that.

"Hey, Prowler?"

A familiar field knit with the edges of his own for a brief moment before it slipped back. "Do ya need help with the fuzzies?"

"Please?" He squeaked out and Jazz held out his hands. Prowl waved his arms over those loving hands, but... His plating didn't itch. "I-I don't-" His throat was tightening again and Jazz took a step back. Instead, he knelt, just inside of Prowl's view and offered a soft smile.

"Hey, it'll be okay, Prowler. Do ya want to go get some air in the room? I might not be as great as you, but I think I can manage the last of it. Do ya want a few minutes?" He asked gently.

Prowl shook his head and he pawed at Jazz's shoulders, trying to pull him up. Jazz let himself be manipulated as needed and hummed in understanding as Prowl wrapped himself around Jazz. "Hug me," He whispered, needing something to hold him together. 

"As long as ya need," Jazz murmured back and used just the right amount of pressure to hold Prowl together. His plating rattled for a moment, but Jazz, perfect Jazz, didn't say anything as he swayed them side to side. "Do ya want me to sing?" Prowl nodded weakly and his boyfriend laughed quietly. 

"Hold them tight, don't let go..." He crooned gently. It took a moment, but he heard the twins go quiet. Prowl's systems were going to take a moment to wind down, they usually did. "This I know because it's true..." Arcee and Hot Rod looked up, their eyes wide. Springer squealed and clashed two race cars together, ignoring the silence. "I'll say it so, I love you too..." The bitlet stopped his small rampage, staring with wide eyed wonder. "There's no other like you..."

Jazz let the song trail off when Prowl slouched against him. "Ya good, copbot?"

"Mm-hmm..." Prowl hummed contently and practically slumped over Jazz. "Thank you."

Before anything else could be said, the oven screamed. Prowl laughed and pulled back, wiping his eyes. "I think dinner is done, Jazz. Could you go grab the children?"

Jazz smiled and kissed Prowl on the tip of his nose, "'Course, lovely. Do what ya need to, I'll have afts in seats in a three clicks of yer heels." Prowl rolled his eyes fondly, but he couldn't fight the smile on his face.

Hot Rod was practically ripping into his meat and Kup stared at him in mild horror. "Brat, I told you to cut your food up. Pit, even Sideswipe is sitting still for Jazz to cut his up!"

"Well, you didn't cut mine up, Old Man!" Hot Rod shot back with a mouth full of food. Sideswipe wrinkled his nose and poked his best friend. Hot Rod turned to him and grinned, "Yeah, Sides?"

"Don't talk with your mouth full! It hurts Prowlie's audials!" He whined, pointing at Prowl. The nanny looked dignified as ever as he took a regal bite of his turkey. He might have peered out of the side of his eye to smile proudly at Sideswipe, but that might have been a trick of the light.

Hot Rod scoffed, "That's a thing nannies tell you to not do it! It doesn't hurt his audials!"

"It's still gross!" Arcee hissed as she spooned up some of her mashed potatoes. "Your food is flying everywhere and I don't want to have something in my mouth that you had in yours!" 

Sunstreaker shrunk in on himself and shivered, "It sounds nasty. Mushy. Bad." He glared at Hot Rod and gripped his fork like a threat, "Stop."

Kup leaned closer to Jazz on his right, "This is why we have a bitty table." Jazz have to cover his mouth to hide his smile, but he cleared his throat a moment later before Prowl could say anything.

He leaned past Kup, "Hey, Roddy? Can ya stop please? We're goin' to be the ones cleanin' up since Prowler made all of this good food, and I don't think y're appreciatin' it when ya do that."

Hot Rod grumbled, but he let his mouth close. He chewed quieter and waited until he was done to talk. "Do we need to follow the rules? It's not like etiquette does anything."

"It's a matter of respect," Prowl said as he gently set his fork down. He had that patient tone he took when he was going to teach the twins something. Already, the brothers were straightening in their seats and watching intently. "We don't put our elbows on the table because if the table only has a center leg on it, it could upend. Additionally, if you put your elbows up, it places you into others' space. You are smaller now, but when you're older, it could be a problem. We don't talk with our mouth full because you are at an increased risk of choking, it makes it more difficult to understand you, small pieces of food are likely to go everywhere, and, quite honestly, it sounds disgusting and it does make my plating itch and audials ache. You don't reach across the table because your kibble could get into the food."

He cocked his head knowingly, "And you know what you need to ask for something nicely?"

"Please!"

It was a quiet little chirp, barely heard across the table, but the entire group went quiet as they slowly turned their heads to the perpetrator. Springer kicked his legs happily as he nibbled on a piece of bread. He noticed everyone's wide eyed looks and smiled widely. He kicked his legs harder and pointed to the bread basket, "Please!" 

Arcee nodded and grabbed a bread roll for him, "Y-Yeah, Springer. Anything you want." He clapped his hands happily and went back to eating his dinner. 

Kup laughed and raised his glass of spiced energon, "To a Festival blessing!" The couple raised their own glass in a cheers and the children weren't far behind to raise their own. 

But Hot Rod did even up spilling his drink on his plate when he clacked his cup against Sideswipe's. He grumbled, but didn't say anything at Kup's "I told you so" and let his Sire make him a new plate.

The kids were bundled onto the floor and the adults sat behind their own respective children. Sideswipe was picking at the wrapping paper on Hot Rod's present eagerly and Sunstreaker held Arcee's present tightly. Prowl had two gifts for Springer and Jazz held the last one for Kup. Across from them, each of the older kids had two presents, ready to be passed over.

Arcee frowned, "Springer first. He tried to open my presents earlier, but he'll take a few vorns to really learn." She jerked her thumb as her youngest brother, "Besides, we can start and end with him."

Prowl took a deep breath and nodded. He got up and slipped past the twins to head over. He passed the misshapen toy to Springer and smiled, "Jazzy helped me pick this one out, bitlet. I hope you like it." His bitlet squealed in delight and ripped into the toy, yanking out total fistful until he accidentally grabbed the dragonfly's wings with it and he swung it around. His eyes widened in shock and he put the toy down to reevaluate it.

Prowl's breath caught as his bitlet looked over the present like it was a puzzle before he dove at it again. This time, he was successful and he held his new stuffed animal up proudly. Springer looked at the dragonfly with wonder and fiddled with its crinkly wings. He squealed again and held it tight, babbling incoherently. Oh well, Prowl couldn't ask for him to understand everything. He had technically been created less than a vorn ago, it was a miracle he was on track for someone his age. 

But when Springer looked to him and Jazz with that glimmer in his eyes... Prowl knew he understood. 

He knelt and pressed a small kiss to his bitty's crest, "Happy first Festival, bitty mine." Behind him, Jazz's breath caught, but Prowl flicked his doorwings in acknowledgement. Springer buried his face into the new plushie and cooed happily, peeking up over the fabric playfully. Oh, he was perfect. If the music from his family's shop decided to start playing at that moment when his hold loosened, it just made the moment even sweeter.

Prowl pulled away and returned to his spot. Hot Rod squirmed happily. He looked over his shoulder, "Is it my turn, Old Man?"

"Get on with it before you burn a hole in their flooring, brat," Kup grunted happily.

Hot Rod shot to his feet and practically skidded into a crouch in front of Sunstreaker, "I saw this and thought you'd like it! Arcee got something for Sides, don't worry, but I hope you like it!" He was practically vibrating as Sunstreaker looked it over. The sparkling hummed and pushed the present in his arms to Hot Rod before he looked at his new present. He picked it open carefully and his face twisted between several different emotions before he looked up to Hot Rod in shock.

He smiled weakly, "I remember that one sleepover you couldn't talk and I know Uncle Prowl carries your blanket on him, but in case you need it... I thought you might like to have a little magnetic dry erase board-" His sentence was cut off as Sunstreaker lunged at him. Sideswipe joined in on the dog pile as the older boy laughed in shock, but let it all be.

"Sunny wants you to open yours," Sideswipe chirped. He sat on his friend's chest and grinned, "He picked it out himself!"

Hot Rod wriggled to reach for the box and he awkwardly tried to open it above his head. Arcee and Kup ended up face palming and Jazz snickered. "Sides, Sunstreaker, get off yer friend, let him open his present like a regular person."

"Okay!" Sideswipe chirped. He dragged his brother off of his friend and both squirmed as they waited. Hot Rod grinned as he properly sat up and ripped into the box. It was a race set nearly identical to the one that Sideswipe had gotten and it had taken up nearly half of their little budget in shopping for their friends, but it was worth it.

He shouted in excitement and spun on his heel, "Kup! Kup! Look at it!" He was looking it over happily and Kup grinned. Over their children's heads, the adults all shared a respected nod. 

Arcee rolled her eyes again and got up. She walked past Hot Rod to hold Sideswipe's present out, "Careful with it. It's fragile." Sideswipe blinked in shock and gently took it. Behind him, Jazz and Prowl shared a concerned look, but Arcee crossed her arms, "Don't worry, it'll be fine."

Sideswipe picked it open and his mouth gleefully fell open as he found a carefully wrapped snow globe. Inside of it, there was a carefully drawn picture of Sideswipe making a snowman. He shook it and he lit up to see the snow particles fall. He shook it again and held it up, "It's me!"

"It's you, Sides," She agreed without her normal annoyance. "It's got a space for a music thing, but I didn't know what Sideswipe would like. Maybe you two can figure it out?"

Prowl's eyes widened in shock and he dug out an old box from his subspace. It was the cookie box from his creators and he carefully removed the music box from the center of it. Sideswipe looked at it with wide eyes and he held it out hopefully, "Prowlie, help?"

"Of course, bitty," Prowl whispered. He gently opened the box and turned the snow globe over so he could place the music box in.

It was a perfect fit. 

Sideswipe clapped his hands eagerly as Prowl hit the button and let the music play around the room. Springer clapped his hands at the now familiar tune, babbling along.

"Your turn!" Sideswipe chirped. He carefully put the globe down so he could pass Arcee's over. "Prowlie helped me pick it out!"

"Before you open that," Prowl mused. Arcee's gaze turned to him, suspicious. "I want you to understand that I will not be able to open that until I get my credentials at the end of my Enforcer training. Even then, I would not unless I have reasonable suspicion to."

She hard blinked and took a deep breath in, "Prowl, what are you- You know what, whatever." She ripped into her present and froze when she saw the main piece. "What..."

"What'd you get, 'Cee?" Hot Rod asked, picking at some of the tape on his box. 

"I got a journal."

"A diary?"

"No, a journal. I'm not some fragile femme."

"It's a diary!"

"It's somewhere where she can plot against ya and the only ones who can read it are her an' Enforcers," Jazz cut in. "It reads her EM field and won't let little brothers read 'em."

Arcee crouched in front of Sideswipe, "Hey, little brat. I like this, I'm going to use it a lot."

"Awesome!" He yelled and lunged to grab her in a hug. She sighed in mock annoyance, but they all knew she leaned into it.

Jazz leaned forward, "Hey, can one of ya little scraplets run an' pass this ta Kup? It's his present."

Hot Rod groaned and pried himself up, "Fiiiine." He took the box and walked it over. "This thing's solid," He complained and passed it over to Kup. He sat next to his sire and watched him carefully open it.

"This better not be what I think it is or I'm going to be crying," Kup grunted, but he finally got the box open. His words got caught in his throat. He pulled the scrapbook out of the box and ran a hand down the side. "Oh, Prowl..."

"I would like to apologize for taking pictures without permission, but there is a data chip in the back of the book. It is the only other copy of the image captures. If you would like me to continue to update it next vorn, please return it to me before the start of winter," Prowl explained. He reached for Jazz's hand and squeezed nervously.

Jazz smiled and leaned over, "He likes it, Prowler, don't worry. Just give 'im a minute." Prowl relaxed and nodded, squeezing Jazz's hand again. 

Kup took a deep breath and opened the cover and laughed to see some pictures of Hot Rod and the twins a few days after they had formally met. They were playing in the sandbox, clearly getting used to playing restaurant. Then there were some of the boys all huddled together in front of the holoscreen, watching a kid's show. There was another of Hot Rod drawing with Sunstreaker while Sideswipe posed heroically.

But there was a clear line when Arcee joined the family. They still played restaurant, but now, Hot Rod and Arcee would sit close to each other. She was still clearly trying to get used to him, but he shined so brightly. Then there were pictures of Arcee standing with her arms crossed, Sunstreaker copying her pose right next to her, glaring at the louder pair as they wrestled in front of the holoscreen. The next picture was one where the siblings had come over for a sleepover, but Arcee demanded that Kup come pick her up after she had a nightmare. Kup had bundled her up and was carrying her like she was the most precious thing.

There were a few with Springer. There were a few at the park, always with Hot Rod or Arcee nearby, but he always looked like the happiest sparkling. There were a few of him stuffing his face messily at the dinner table and one of Kup smiling and wiping his face of the mashed potatoes. Some had Kup just cradling  Springer on his shoulder, looking sleepy himself, but he had so much love in his eyes.

The mech looked up and swallowed thickly, "Primus, Prowl, I... This is... It's perfect." He sniffled and his children immediately froze, rushing to his side. Hot Rod clung to his arm while Arcee hung back, going to pick up Springer. She came back and pressed herself into Kup's side in worry. "Aw, brats, don't... I'm fine. Just... I'm goin' to see you all grow up. Arcee, I know it's not final, but I promise, I want to adopt you. I'm getting the paperwork all worked out."

"It's okay. I know you want to surprise me," She whispered. Kup snorted and gave the twins the stink eye for a moment before he put the book down to bundle his kids into his lap. "Love you, Old Man. Happy Festival," Arcee whispered.

"Happy Festival, Sire," Hot Rod added.

"'Py Fetival, Bup," Springer babbled. The family all laughed, huddling in closer.

Jazz saw the melancholy look on Prowl's face and leaned in, "What are you thinking?"

Prowl swallowed and looked down to the last present by his side, "That I'm making the right choice. I want Kup to adopt Springer. He said he'd have us both on as secondary guardians. I know you said you'd support me, but..."

Jazz kissed his shoulder and leaned against the spot, "I know. I'd love 'im no matter what, Prowler."

"I know, Sweetness," He whispered back and finally broke his focus from the family across the room to the dazzling mech next to him. "I love you."

Jazz froze before a large grin covered his face, "I know. I love you too, Lovely." They shared a small kiss, but Prowl would swear he would remember that kiss being longer than it was. 

They wouldn't find out until later, but Kup had gotten an image capture of the moment. The twins were sharing a triumphant smile with each other while their guardians kissed in the background. 

It would be Prowl's favorite Festival for decavorns to come.

Prowl paced in the hall as the rest of the family watched another Festival vid. Kup's family had long-since gone home. Kup had ended up explaining that Arcee's brother had something come up and he wouldn't be able to have a Festival with her. "This Festival meant a lot to her, Prowl. Thank you." Prowl assured him that they would be likely doing it again next vorn, and for many vorns to come. Kup put a hand on his shoulder in lieu of a hug, and then they all swept out the door.

Now, he was calling his creators. It was the middle of the night for them, but he knew they would always pick up the call for him. 

"Prowl bitty?" Nautica yawned as she answered. "How did your Festival go?"

"It was perfect, Carri," Prowl said gently. He turned over a small crystal shard in his hand. It had been Kup's gift to him and it shone a vibrant blue that fit perfectly with Jazz's brilliant red shard. Together, they would form a perfect spark shape that would fuse together over time. It was a classic gift for couples as it was a sign of devotion. The longer the couple was together, the more entwined the crystals would get. "Jazz says hi, and I can't wait to see you. I just... Hapy Festival of Crystals, Carri. Is Sire...?"

"He's making sure all of the ovens are off and the flour is stored away properly. We'll only be gone a few days, but you know how flour can be," Nautica laughed quietly.

Prowl hummed in agreement, "Boom."

"Boom," She mused. There was a moment of silence before her voice lilted slightly, "Prowl, did something happen? You sound... happy."

"I told Jazz I love him," He admitted and covered his lips. "I... I don't regret it."

Nautica gasped happily, "Oh, Prowl! I'm so happy for you! Now, he just needs to make it past your Sire and I and he'll be home free." She faltered again and Prowl could hear the hesitance in her voice, "Will... Will he be there...?"

Prowl took a deep breath in, "If you would like, Kup is alright with us all going to the park. You could meet Springer there. I am alright with it. I... I'm going to allow Kup to adopt him formally. He's agreed to let me and Jazz be secondary guardians. Technically, he will have three creators on file if he needs."

"It sounds like he'll have three creators regardless," She mused gently but ended up yawning. "Bitlet, I'm sorry, I love you, but-"

"It's late and you need to get up early," Prowl agreed. He bowed his head forward and allowed his smile, "I can't wait to see you, Carri-ree. I love you."

"Love you too, bitlet. I'll see you in a while," She responded before she hung up. Prowl swallowed and let himself lean on a wall in the dark hallway. Sideswipe's Primal scenes still glittered in the low light, but they were a comfort. 

He stayed there for another moment when Jazz knocked on the hallway door. "Prowler?" He whispered as he stuck his head into the doorway. "Ya good?"

"I'm fine, Jazz," He said gently. He held a hand out for Jazz and the radio host smiled. He came forward to pull Prowl into a soft hug, rocking them side to side again. "I think this is the best Festival I've had in a long time."

Jazz tucked his chin on Prowl's bumper, smiling lovingly, "Me too. I love you."

"I love you too," Prowl whispered. He paused when he saw an odd reflection in Jazz's visor and looked up. 

The shorter of the pair laughed when he saw the small bundle of crystals overhead, "Is that...?"

"I believe Kup put it there," Prowl grumbled, but he cocked his head in thought. "You know, it is a Festival tradition my family never participated in..."

"But mine did," Jazz rumbled happily. His smile was sweet and Prowl wanted to do nothing more than to stop seeing it and start feeling it. "You good if I bring in one of my family's traditions?"

Prowl lowered his head so their foreheads supported each other, their breaths dancing together. "I wouldn't mind a bit."

Jazz stood on tiptoe and finally brought them together for a deep kiss. There was something about the kiss in the dark, underneath the misted crystal bundle that dictated that a pair of lovers kiss whilst standing below it. It was a feeling that echoed in their sparks and both had never felt more sure of something in their life.

They loved each other and felt that love. 

There would be no going back now.

Prowl's engine purred quietly as he and the small family settled into bed. Sunstreaker had already drifted off and Sideswipe was well on his way out. Jazz was already tucking himself in behind them, ready to call it a day just as much.

"Jazzy? Prowlie?" Sideswipe whispered as he looked between them. "I liked today. Are we going to do that again?"

"Next vorn, bitty mine," Jazz promised. "I'm glad ya had fun. Your Prowlie and I love ya both very much and I can't wait ta do it again."

"And the vorn after that, and the vorn after that," Prowl promised. He reached over Sunstreaker to take Jazz's hand. He got a squeeze in return and he smiled. "Good night, you three. Sleep well."

"Nini, Jazzy. Nini, Prowlie. Nini, Sunny," Sideswipe murmured as he finally fell asleep.

Jazz laughed quietly. He loved his hyperactive little bitlets so much. "Did ya mean it, Prowler? Ya want to do this again?"

"I don't plan on going anywhere, Sweetness. So long as you will have me, I will stay," Prowl promised. "I love you. Sleep well."

"Sleep well, Prowler. Love ya too."

Arcee yawned as she pulled her bed covers back. The cartoonish picture of Chromia and Ironhide smiled on the soft comforter, and it rumpled further as Hot Rod climbed into her bed to cuddle next to her. "Thanks, Sis," He whispered, clinging to her side. "Did you like today?"

"It... I… Yeah. I did. I'm glad Kup didn't wake us up, but…" Her voice wobbled as she began to tear up and clung to him just as much. "Why didn't my brother come to get me today?"

"I dunno. It's a slagged thing to do," Hot Rod whispered, rubbing her back. "I'll kick him next time I see him, just for you." She made a quiet laugh and let him comfort her. "Or I can find a scraplet and put it in his coffee. Kup still doesn't know that I'm the one who put that rock in his iced coffee."

"Iced mocha coffee," Arcee joked. She sniffled and wiped her eyes. "He's a crazy old man."

"He's our crazy old man," Hot Rod agreed. He relaxed against her. "Iced mocha coffee with extra whipped cream."

"Iced mocha coffee with extra whipped cream, extra drizzle."

"Iced mocha coffee with extra whipped cream, extra drizzle, twice blended."

"You're an idiot."

"Am not!"

"Are two!"

"You're both idiots."

The pair froze when they saw Kup standing in the doorway. His arms were crossed, but he looked anything but cross. He was smiling and shaking his head fondly, "We're all idiots in a big idiotic world, but we're in this together." He pushed himself off of the doorframe and came over to sit on the floor at their bedside.

He grunted as his knees clicked, "Frag, I'm getting too old for this slag."

"Not our fault you came over here," Arcee quipped, but she was smiling.

So long as she was smiling and Hot Rod felt safe, that was all that mattered.

"Did you have a good Festival, other than your brother getting snowed in?" Kup whispered. He reached a hand out and began to rub Hot Rod's head gently with the tips of his fingers. His kid hummed sleepily and snuggled into his sister's bed more, warm and content.

"He… He didn't forget?" Arcee asked weakly.

Kup took a deep breath, "I don't know, but I was keeping an eye on the news. His apartment got snowed in a bit and rescue forces have been trying to clear the building all day. If he doesn't call or show up tomorrow, I'll drive you there so you can kick his door yourself."

She sniffled again and nodded, "T-Thanks. I… Thanks for being here and not… crazy. Love you, Re."

Kup grumbled again and wiped at his eyes again, "Damn kids, making me feel things." His children laughed and he got up. He leaned over both to put a kiss on each of their foreheads, "Go the frag to sleep, you little sparkeaters. I love you both. Don't wake me up unless the house is on fire or someone broke something, alright? I'm tired."

"Soooo… Jump and wake him up at sunrise?"Hot Rod joking asked his sister.

She nodded, "I'll bring the metal spoon and pot."

Kup could only laugh. He loved his little terrors so much.

Swindle hummed happily as he rubbed small circles into his conjunx's hips. Blurr was sound sleep, curled in close. Their short little tree was illuminated by some of the only lights in the room, but the view from the world outside brought in only so much more light. It was snowing again and he knew that, if his brother's conjunx was correct, then they would have their own bitlet in two and a half vorns.

A summer newspark.

Born under warm rays and happy days.

His gaze fell down to the invisble weld marks on his lover that only he knew were there. The memory of the crash and subsequent addictions that Blurr had fallen into weighed heavily on Swindle, but he knew that the once glorious racer was someone he wanted to have.

And Swindle wanted to be wanted just as much.

Sliding into Blurr's life was something out of a slagging holovid, but they didn't care. Blurr had found Swindle cleaning spilt energon from his frame one too many times and they had set a goal for each other.

They would both get clean. As much as they could.

That didn't mean that they didn't still have their connections. Vortex would always be happy to disappear another frame for him, and Blurr had sent his former dealer a Festival card with updates. Swindle might not have liked the puny mech and planned out his murder a few times, but when the dealer had found out that Blurr wanted to get clean, he stopped selling. He had other dealers in the area blacklist him.

It was the only reason he still had all of his pieces.

But to see them now…

"We did it, Babe. We've made it," He whispered, still holding Blurr close. If he imagined, he could feel the tiny little blip of light under his conjunx's spark chamber, growing until it would be ready to descend into his forge.

A glance outside into the dark world felt anything but reassuring. He would be bringing a new life into the world with Blurr, and if so much as anyone dared to think about hurting them, he would do everything in his power to make the problem disappear.

Whirl's rotors spun happily in place as he entertained his little girl. She squealed and clapped her hands, "Again, again!"

"C'mon, ya little scraplets, it's time for bed!" He protested. All the same, he did the same funny poses he had been doing for the past 15 minutes. "You knoooooow, if you're feeling up for it, I might be able to convince my old brother in arms to bring his little bitties."

"Munchies?" She asked playfully, but she squealed at her own joke. "New friends, new friends!"

Whirl's head lowered on his long long neck to dot a small 'kiss' on her forehead, "Yeah! New friends! But it's time for bed. You guys need to go ahead and get back into your tank for the night!"

Scrappy groaned, but did as he asked. She got up and did her own quick spin, flinging off small parts of herself until all that remained was a small colony of flying scraplets. They bounded in the air towards their enclosure and slipped into the large tank. There, they settled into their own individual cells, content to exist as themselves until they wanted to become a mass again.

Whirl gently shut the tank top, leaving just enough of a crack if they needed to get out again, "Good night, girls."

"Good night, Sisi…" The tiny bugs chittered back. "Love you."

"Love you too." He slipped away, but made sure that they still have their lights on their fake crystal tree on. It glittered in the small apartment, but Whirl loved it anyway. His girls just loved it more.

He hoped that he wouldn't have another night terror, but two of the reasons he even allowed his little girl to live with him and not give her away would be that no one else would be insane enough to adopt an experimental swarm of scraplets, but… It would be hard for him to hurt them. For every little bit he slashed at her, the scraplets would break away and reform. For every lunge, they would disperse. For every…

He was tired, but he loved his girls.

After all, they were the best things to ever happen to him.

Smokescreen raised his glass of engex in cheers, visiting with his old cohort. Nightbeat and Strongarm had just gotten off of administrative leave, and they were happy to party. The various homeless and displaced and lost mechs, femmes, and bitlets were cheering alongside them, happy for a cube of mulled energon and a place to sleep, and making it through another vorn.

He chugged the high grade slowly and let out a content noise when he finally drained it. A quick look around reminded Smokescreen that… He might not have the same family that he used to. His carrier and sire had long since passed in an accident and having the Enforcers take him in, the therapists on site helping him after it all… It was as good as being home.

But there was something to be said about the warmer nature of Iacon. It was friendlier and while he had family in Praxus, he had people he enjoyed spending time with in Iacon. It was nice seeing Prowl on the occasions that he brought the boys through for their sessions. Mostly everyone else were clients, but he had his own friends.

Home was allowed to be more than one place.

Another cheer went out as something happened across the room. Grabbing a third cube of engex, he let his own voice join and carry.

"He's down," Ariel whispered as she crept out of Bumblebee's room. It had been a hyperactive day and it was just going to get worse as her sparkling was going to be able to show off his new toys to his friends.

Orion sighed in relief and gently pulled her into his arms, "Good. He's had a good Festival. Thank you for the wonderful meal earlier, my love."

She laughed as she tucked her chin onto his chest, "Well, there's another one for you~ In the berthroom~"

"You tempt me so," He rumbled. He leaned down to kiss her and he let their noses lay against each other, "Will there be dessert?"

"Maaaybe," She giggled. She loved how he made it so easy to feel like they were young again. Before Bumblebee, before Alpha Trion brought Orion into the world of the High Council. Before… Back when they were just two dumb, young kids who fought bullies on the playground and swore to protect anyone who needed it.

Orion laughed his deep, sultry laugh, "Then I would not want to let my food get cold, would I?" He picked her up, making her squeak and laugh.

Their door closed behind them, leaving the rest of the apartment in relative silence. They were a quiet family, after all.

"Red, please come to bed," Inferno whispered into Red Alert's ear. The surveillance specialist had stopped jumping to him a long time ago, and now was no different.

"I need to run one more check," Red Alert grumbled. "Then I'll come to bed. I promise."

Inferno grabbed a nearby chair and dragged it over to him, "Then I can wait for you." He curled up into the chair, ready to watch Red Alert work. "Besides, it's always one more check."

Red Alert looked away from his screen for a moment to playfully glare at his conjunx, "There is always one more check. My renters trust me to keep them safe. I need to know that we're both safe."

"And we are," Inferno soothed. He smiled gently, "You have a state of the art system. It can stand to not be watched for one night. It has passive scans enabled-"