Beta didn't know what to say nor how to respond. Tears filled her eyes and slowly fell down her scarred face. So many questions ran through her head and she slowly felt numb.

"W... why?" She rasped weakly and looked at him as he pulled back.

"Shh don't cry yet." He said as he brushed her tears away with his thumb. She shuddered and tried to move away as she looked to the back room. Where was Megatron?

She wanted to call out to him for help, but she also knew he was trying to stay hidden from the world. She felt so torn on what to do. Unfortunately for her, Megatron had stepped out for the night.

"What are you looking for?" Tarn asked as he narrowed his eyes. She hesitated and looked at him again but didn't say anything. He gripped her neck tightly and shoved her head back. A strained cry escaped her and tears fell down her face.

"You're already terrified." He chuckled and smirked darkly as he watched her struggle to breathe. He tightened his grip and she gasped, or tried to, as she clawed at him.

"Don't fight " He growled lowly and shoved her head against the wall. He tightened his grip more then started kissing her neck that was still exposed. She was terrified and disgusted as she fought.

Her strength was fading fast and her movements slowed as she clawed at him. In a desperate attempted to get free she scratched his face across one eye. He yelled angrily and pulled away as he let go of her.

Beta fell to the ground and lay there as she coughed and gasped for air. She had to get away, but couldn't even breathe. She looked around and frantically scanned for a way out. Tarn growled lowly and wiped the blood off his face. He looked at her as she gripped the floor and tried to pull herself away. He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her up then threw her into some shelves. Beta curled up as the shelf fell and hit the other one. It didn't fall on top of her, but the pots and plants did. She weakly covered her face as the clay pots hit her. The woman was soon covered in dirt, plants and broken piece of clay.

Tarn looked around then grabbed a lighter from his pockets and set some things on fire. Paper on the desk or anything else nearby that would burn. He then grabbed the broom and walked over to her as he broke the head of the broom off. Leaving a long wooden rod with a sharp end.

Beta grunted weakly as she tried to get up, but the fallen shelf stopped her. She slowly looked up at him as her hair covered part of her face. Dirt and plants tangled in her long, thick hair. She whimpered quietly as she shook with fear and watched him approach. She noticed the fire that was quickly growing and climbing the walls.

"I'm going to break every bone in your hideous body." He seethed angrily and gripped the the edge of the shelf. She grabbed a broken piece of the pot then stabbed his hand. He cried out in pain as it went through and stuck in the wood.

She wasn't quick enough to get away and he grabbed her ankle. She cried out as he dragged her from hiding and across the sharp pots. She hit him and managed to grab the broom handle then smashed it into his face a few times.

"Stop fighting me!" He yelled angrily and grabbed her by the throat again. He lifted her up and her feet dangled as she gripped his hand. She gasped for air again as he squeezed, intending to snap her neck.

"Tarn!" A man shouted angrily and the intruder stopped as he blinked in surprise. He knew that voice. He slowly turned as he lowered her to the ground but kept his hold. Megatron glared darkly as he clenched his fists.

"Y... you're alive?" He asked in disbelief and looked at Beta then him. "I hope you don't mind, but I have some business to attend to." He said seriously and threw Beta into another set of shelves. She didn't move this time as she hit the floor.

Tarn turned to finish her off when something big and heavy hit him then broke. Megatron had thrown a pot at him, making the man stumble. The mafia leader then started punching him repeatedly. He shoved the intruder to the ground and kept hitting him harder.

He gripped his shirt and smacked him into the floor a few times. Tarn had to admit he was impressed with how Megatron fought. He didn't give his opponent a chance to do anything. He'd disorient them then hit them before continuing the method. It worked wonderfully. Tarn managed to get him off then stumbled to his feet.

"I'm surprised you... don't recognize me." He panted a little and stood straighter as he watched the leader. "Though... I and my team... always had kept our faces hidden..." Megatron growled lowly as he grabbed a hand shovel.

"I know who you are!" He shouted and threw the tool at him, barely missing his head as he dodged. "You're the leader of the Decepticon Justice Division! The DJD as my men called you!" He yelled angrily and swung at him then backhanded him when he tried to dodge again.

"I never would have hired you if I knew who you actually were!" He said and Tarn caught his fist finally.

"You didn't... Shockwave hired us from under your nose. He gave us the list of people to take out. People you wanted taken out, and you let him make the list knowing he'd kill the targets. We met you a few times for you to strike fear into my men's hearts. But you had no idea who I was." He growled lowly but seemed amused as well. Megatron narrowed his eyes and headbutt him hard. Tarn stumbled back and growled angrily as his head started bleeding.

"Beta was your first victim. It was some kind of twisted test, which you failed! Who were you working for before you found my mafia?!" He shouted and punched him hard as he dodged a blow from the man.

"I only failed- oof!" He said as Megatron kneed him in the gut. "Because... of my pathetic excuse for a son. I would-" He grunted before the man tossed him out the burning window.

Megatron climbed out the window as Tarn groaned and tried to focus. The former yelled angrily and picked him up then tossed him into the neighboring wall. He picked him up again and slammed him into the ground. He kept picking him up and slamming him into the wall or ground.

He finally got tired and stumbled back as he panted heavily. Tarn didn't move as he lay on the cold cement. He was bleeding but Megatron didn't care. The mafia leader heard sirens and he paled as he turned around and saw the burning shop.

"Beta!" He cried in despair as tears filled his eyes. "No!" He screamed then ran to the front to find a way in. He managed to get the door open and avoided the flames on the walls.

"Beta! Beta!" He shouted as he looked around frantically. He coughed violently from the smoke he inhaled but didn't care. He quickly got down and tried to see through the smoke. He felt like a failure for losing her.

He avoided falling debris and looked up at the ceiling as it fell apart. The beams groaned in protest and he quickly moved away. The sirens got closer and he knew he was running out of time. It wouldn't be safe for her to go to the hospital. Tarn or his team could easily get to her. He looked around frantically then saw her hand.

"Beta." He said as he quickly went to her side. Another shelf was just above her as it had fallen over, and a burning beam lay on top of the wooden shelves. She seemed safe for the most part. Megatron grabbed her wrist and tried to pull her out. She was stuck, something had pinned her leg.

He grabbed some debris and used it as leverage to lift the shelf. He then quickly grabbed the woman and pulled her out. He moved away as the shelves fell to the ground. He shielded her from any sparks or flames, then tied a bandana around her mouth and nose, so she wouldn't inhale anymore smoke. He put her on his back then made his way outside away from the street. He got out of the building using the back door and fell to his knees as he coughed violently. He held her close as he coughed then picked her up and took her to the car.

She woke up half way and started to freak out. She screamed hoarsely and started hitting him. He grunted as he sat in the dirt and leaned against his car while he held her.

"Stop..." he rasped as he gripped her hands. She pulled the bandana off her face and coughed as she looked at the shop. She winced in pain and glanced at her bruised body. Her leg was broken and she gasped quietly.

"Shh shh shh..." Megatron whispered and hugged her gently. "Come... we have to go back into hiding and take care of you..." he rasped.

"M... my boys..." she choked as he picked her up and she held on to him. She weakly reached for the shop as tears fell down her face. She wouldn't miss the shop as much as she would miss having her boys come back to her.

"M... m... my little... boys..." she gasped in pain as she held on to him. He didn't respond and carefully put her into the car then headed back to the mountain cabin. He was silent as he drove away from the scene and managed to keep clear of the firetrucks and police cars.

He listened to Beta as she lay on the back seat and breathed shakily. He started to worry and called Dr Scalpel then told him to meet him at their hiding place. She seemed to be in shock which he hoped lasted for a while. He didn't want her to be in pain.

They got to the home then he quickly got her inside. He was careful as he carried her and she rested her head against his shoulder. Baylee and Blitzwing looked up when they came in and their eyes widened in surprise. Blitzwing ran to get some medical supplies while Baylee asked a bunch of questions as quickly as she could.

"Baylee please..." Megatron said as he looked at her. "Let me help Beta first then I'll answer your questions." He said seriously. She nodded and went to get the injured woman's room ready. Megatron carefully laid Beta on her bed and she winced in pain as she held on to him tighter. She whimpered quietly and tried not to scream.

"Shh shh shh... Beta... I'm right here." He whispered to comfort her. "Don't be scared... he won't hurt you again." He promised as he narrowed his eyes. He realized he hadn't made sure the man was dead. He silently cursed himself for being careless.

The doctor soon arrived and looked her over. He gave her some pain medication then set her leg straight. She screamed in agony as tears fell down her face and Megatron was tempted to punch the doctor in the nose. He restrained himself, though it was hard, and just held on to her. Doctor Scalpel finished with her leg and worked on her other injuries.

She had several cracked ribs and her shoulder was dislocated but otherwise was fine. He soon had everything set and told him what to do for her. He said he'd check in with them then gave him what he needed before leaving. Megatron stared blankly at nothing in particular then looked at her as he held her in his arms.

"I... I'm so sorry..." he whispered quietly and gently set a hand on her dirty cheek. She didn't respond as she wheezed weakly and rested in his arms. "I... I never should have... gone back to the city... or had you come..." he mumbled. She stared at him then smiled a little as she set her good hand on his shoot covered face.

"No... thank you..." she rasped and blinked back tears. "You gave... me something... wonderful..." she whispered. "A... chance to... see my boys... I... can never fully... thank you for that...." she rasped and smiled a little.

He stared at her blankly for a few minutes then gently set his hand on the base of her neck by her shoulder, as he looked at the bruise. She tensed and winced in pain as her mind automatically decided he was going to choke her.

"Shh shh I don't want to hurt you." He whispered as he very gently rubbed the bruise with his thumb. It surprisingly didn't hurt her. "Beta... I... I realized something... when I saw the shop and knew you were inside... I... I think... I..." he trailed off and looked to the side. She blinked tiredly and slowly closed her eyes.

"You... don't have to... tell me... if... you don't want to..." she rasped as her hand slowly slid down his face before it dropped. He watched her sleep and sighed shakily as his hand went to her cheek. He wanted to tell her. He wanted her to know.

"Beta... I'm such a coward... I can't express how... I..." he trailed off again and looked down. He sighed shakily and stared at her again. He smiled a little and gently rubbed her cheek with his thumb.

"Even though you can't see it some days... and people tell you otherwise..." he whispered quietly. "You're beautiful to me." He admitted then hesitantly kissed her while she slept. "You always will be..." he said quietly. "Always..." he repeated as he rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes.

He didn't let her leave the house after that, and couldn't bring himself to admit how he felt when she was awake. Baylee and Blitzwing had caught him talking to her when she slept, the former not being able to contain her excitement when she saw her father kiss Beta. She encouraged him to tell her, but he couldn't.

He managed to get a letter written to Heatwave and Soundwave to let them know their mother was alive. He felt they should at least know that. He had Baylee and Blitzwing deliver them but told them not to get caught. They left them under the doors for the men to find when they got home.

Megatron caught word that Optimus was alive and went to find him. He was angry and sad when he found his friend in the mental hospital. He wasn't sure what to do and decided to inform Soundwave to see if he could help. He again simply left instructions at his door and had told him it was extremely important in the letter.

Megatron did visit his old friend though and kept him company. He thought about telling his family but felt it would make Starscream target them.

Time passed and Beta made a full recovery. The two of them were sitting outside in the garden talking as they sat in the grass. Blitzwing had gone into town but didn't say when he'd be back. Baylee was hanging out at the house getting ready to visit her friend at the hospital. Steeljaw was off doing something but Megatron didn't know what his oldest son doing.

The said man paused as he pulled out a few weeds. He blinked a couple times then looked to the darkening sky. It dawned on him that it had been a little over ten years since he technically died. He closed his eyes as he felt the last rays of sunlight disappear. He and Beta decided to stay outside since it was a full moon and it lit up the garden.

They talked for a while before they heard an explosion in the distance. They could see the city from their hiding place but were far enough away no one could see them. Megatron got up and ran down the path that went into the woods. Beta watched knowing he feared for his sons, she feared for hers.

The man ran down the dark path until he stopped by the cliff. He panted quietly as he stared at the smoke that rose into the sky and blocked the moon. He had a feeling his boys were involved and that terrified him. His chest hurt and he looked at the old bullet wound as he thought about that day. His eyes narrowed as he was reminded of who shot him.

He had a horrible feeling that Shockwave had been in charge of this particular attack. He felt he had to stop them somehow before more people died.