"Care to explain what happened?" Bumblebee asked Sideswipe sternly.

"Strongarm and I were talking then I got this strange sensation and I just had to kiss her, so I did."

"Not a wise move kid," Thunderhoof says starting to feel scared for the youngster.

"I'm sorry, OK! I don't know why I did it," he growled holding his helm in confusion.

"It's because you're jealous bit-brain," Metalsound huffed.

"You're lucky he didn't kill you. Wolf-Cons are very protective of their mates, they will kill any bot or anything that hurts or even makes a move on their mate," Thunderhoof adds.

"It's like you're challenging him to see who will be her mate," Metalsound added.

"Really? I didn't know that."

"I thought you guys researched this after you found out about Steeljaw and Strongarm."

"I did but I didn't see anything about that. Can one change their mates?"

Metalsound slapped Sideswipe on the back of his helm, "No, they can't! We only have one mate, unless something happens to that mate."

"Was just asking," Sideswipe says as he rubs the back of his helm.

"It doesn't matter, you pretty much just challenged Steeljaw to see who will take Strongarm as their mate, but since it doesn't apply to you as a Cybertronian I'm not sure how that would work," Metalsound informs the young mech.

"Steeljaw is already cruel, vicious, and dominant but when it comes to protecting his mate or having to fight for claim over her, he will be even more so. He will most likely tear you to scrap and then use your pieces as a chew toy," Thunderhoof adds.

"OK you two, that's enough," Bumblebee warned them as Sideswipe started looking like he was about to lubricate himself.

"We're just telling the kid how it is."

"I know, but can you tone it down a little?"

"Eh, I said what I wanted to already," Thunderhoof replies while shrugging his shoulders.

Bumblebee looked over to Sideswipe, "You owe both of them an apology."

"Do I have to? I'm afraid to go anywhere near Steeljaw now."

"Whenever he's calmed down enough to listen, and with myself present. Strongarm will also be there so she can calm him down if he starts getting riled up again."

"Alright."

"I'm still in amazement that Strongarm was able to calm him down as she did," stated Grimlock

"That's what a Wolf-Con's mate can do. We can calm each other down if we're scared or upset, we can sense if something's wrong or if something exciting is happening," Metalsound explained.

"Yeah, we could see that as he was getting ready to attack the rest of us but settled down for Strongarm and melted right into her arms," Bumblebee says still in amazement himself. "Just don't tick him off like that again. We were lucky Strongarm was there and was able to calm him down."

"Yeah, I'm not doing anything to tick him off ever again," Sideswipe states still feeling scared out of his armor.

"What do we do if she isn't there the next time he gets like that?" Grimlock asked.

"Not sure, call her I suppose. I honestly doubt any of us could get him to calm down, he does still despise us after all."

"I agree," Drift pipes in.

"Is there anything else, Denny?" Metalsound asked the older human.

"No, Russell and I will take care of the rest."

"OK. Got anything else for me, Bumblebee?"

"How about you and Sideswipe go on patrol."

"Are you sure that's a good idea? I'm sure seeing a giant winged metal wolf would scare anyone," Sideswipe stated.

"Just stay away from the human population."

"I can stay in the sky, just high enough for the humans to think I'm a bird," Metalsound countered.

"Or you could do that if some humans do cross your path."

"Right. Come on, kid," Metalsound transformed and took off.

"Don't call me kid!" He called after her as he followed her.

"I think I'll go check on Steeljaw, and see how he's holding up," Thunderhoof says as he walks off.

"I'll come too," Bumblebee says following him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Steeljaw was lying on Strongarm's lap, sighing as she scratched him behind his ears. "I'm sorry for my behavior earlier," he said to her softly.

"Don't be, it's understandable. As I said, it's to be expected by mates, especially a Wolf-Con. Never be sorry for following your instincts and protecting me."

"I just hope your lieutenant won't hold this against me."

"I'll talk to him and make sure he doesn't."

"I won't."

Steeljaw stiffened as he quickly sat up to see Bumblebee and Thunderhoof standing in the doorway. Thunderhoof looked like he was trying to hold back from laughing. "How long have you been standing there?" Steeljaw asked as he glared at the two mechs.

"Just a minute," Bumblebee responds, "Steeljaw, I came to apologize for Sideswipe, that was wrong what he did and he shouldn't have done it. I don't blame you for your actions I know it was a natural reaction against one who seemed to be trying to take your mate from you."

"If he wants to apologize then he should do it himself."

"He wants to apologize but he's a bit scared of you at the moment, especially after what Thunderhoof and Metalsound had told him."

"And what did they say?" He asked as he hardened his glare at Thunderhoof.

"What? Just told the kid the truth about how you would tear him to scrap and then use his pieces as a chew toy if he was challenging you to see who would get Strongarm. Metalsound told him that what he did was like he was challenging you so I just told him what to expect."

"Now he's really not going to want to be anywhere near Steeljaw," Strongarm groaned in annoyance.

"I don't think I'd use his dead body as a chew toy," Steeljaw added, "But I did feel like tearing him to scrap there on the spot after he kissed Strongarm and I most likely will if he does it again."

"Let's hope that it doesn't come to that," Bumblebee responded, "If you're up for it, Steeljaw, I would like for you to come on a patrol with me."

"Sure, I guess."

Bumblebee walked out as he transformed, driving out of the scrapyard. Going at a slow pace he waited for Steeljaw.

"Just get along with him and try not to tear him apart if he says something wrong," Strongarm tells Steeljaw as she kisses him. Thunderhoof chuckled before leaving to help Fixit.

"I'll try not to," the Wolf-Con responded as he kissed her back. Transforming he followed after the lieutenant.

~~~~~~~~~~

Metalsound was leaping through the trees just as she had that morning, she and Sideswipe had been quiet the whole time and the silence was starting to drive her nuts. "For the record, I don't think Steeljaw should scare you that much."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"You should be more concerned when or if Ultra Magnus hears about your little smooch."

"Why would Ultra Magnus care?"

"You don't know? He's her sire."

"What!?" Sideswipe yells as he looks up at her perched on a branch, "I didn't know he was her sire! Now I'm gonna have her mate and her sire on my aft!" He says as he slaps a servo over his face.

"You sure do. Also, I thought you liked Windblade," Metalsound says as she starts leaping through the trees again.

"I do, but I just recently realized how much I liked Strongarm, but I'm too late," Sideswipe says with a sad expression as he starts walking again.

"These things happen, but all you can do is try to be happy for her. Even if you don't approve of her mate."

"Yeah, I know."

"When did you realize it?"

"When we got back and I saw how much she had grown and improved, it just hit me that I have a crush on her and always have. I just didn't want to accept it until I started doing some growing up myself, but Steeljaw got her first."

"That's life. But do you like Windblade? You already have little nicknames for each other."

"Yes. But she went back to Cybertron."

"And you stayed because you wanted to be with Strongarm."

"Partly. Mostly because on Cybertron I'm considered a criminal and will be at risk of being locked up or something, whereas here I can be free."

"I figured you were nothing but a delinquent, but I understand where you're coming from. Cybertron just didn't feel like home to me. I've made so many memories here, good and bad. Earth is my home now, and I think it will be for a long time."

"Yeah, I think Earth will be my home from now on."

"I think we should head back, it's getting late."

"Yeah, let's go."