The hospital was silent for a few minutes as a man quietly walked inside. He looked around then asked if Optimus was there, claiming he was a good friend. The woman nodded and he kindly asked if she could give him a message. She agreed and he gave her a paper. When she left he found a place to stay out of view, but still see what was happening. He didn't wait long until the father came out in a rage looking for someone.

Predaking smiled darkly as he saw murder in the man's eyes. He waited for a moment then left the hospital undetected. He would turn the two men against each other and they would be the others undoing. He chuckled darkly as he went to find Megatron. If he could get the man's children away from him, he would be easier to control. He called Natasha and they discussed their plans.

~

Megatron shivered as he stayed curled up by the pond. He felt lost and didn't know what to do anymore. He felt he was losing himself. He slowly got up and shakily made his way back to the city. Once there he contacted some members of his mafia, as people were putting it, and borrowed a car. He went home and hugged his family tightly.

"What happened?" Beta asked as she walked over with Soundwave. He didn't respond and hugged his children closer. Soundwave glanced at his mother than at the man.

"Sir... I promise no one will ever find them up here. I've been protecting this place for a long time. Shockwave, and I are the only ones that know of this place." He said seriously. "I... suppose you could say I'm protecting my mother." He muttered and looked at her. She smiled the best she could despite the scars.

"I appreciate that." He said as he looked at him. "But does Heatwave know?" He asked quietly. Soundwaves expression became dark and he looked at the floor.

"No." He said seriously. "I can't trust him anymore. Especially after getting Shockwave arrested. I apologize for not thinking about him listening in. We were at the old house to grab a few things. We live there and all my.... brother... knows is mother went missing after dad was arrested by you." He admitted and clenched his fists tightly.

"I was going to tell him when we were there... but then he turned us in." He growled lowly. Beta frowned and gently gripped her sons shoulder.

"Heatwave isn't a bad person sweetie. You remember he protected you most of your life." She rasped. He shrugged her off and walked down the hall.

"Well he doesn't need to worry about me anymore. I'm no longer a child." He muttered bitterly and walked away. She sighed shakily and looked at the floor.

"In my eyes you are..." she whispered than looked at the family they were protecting. "Megatron... I fear my family is falling apart ever since... the accident..." she rasped.

"It wasn't an accident on his part and you know it." Megatron growled angrily. "He tried to kill you on purpose." He reminded her. She didn't respond and sat across from him.

"Promise me no matter what happens... you'll protect my boys." She begged. "All of them." She whispered. He stared at her then smiled a little.

"I promise." He said and looked at his children. "I promise..." he repeated.

~

Megatron snuck into the building in disguise. He shoved his hands in his pockets as guilt washed over him. He felt horrible but didn't feel there was anything he could do. He was simply a monster. The tormented man walked with the crowd and stared blankly at the still woman. Elita looked so peaceful.

He blinked back tears and looked over at Optimus who sat with his children as he held them. Megatron smiled sadly when he saw Bumblebee was alive. The small boy had bandages on his neck and was probably horribly scarred. But he was alive. The man's guilt slowly going away little by little. He hesitated and glanced at Ratchet before he walked over to Optimus. He stood there for a moment then crouched by the children.

"I'm sorry for your loss." He said sincerely as he disguised his voice. Optimus looked at him but seemed dazed and out of it. He was in too much pain and grief to register who the man was.

"My wife..." he rasped as tears fell down his face. "Didn't... deserve this..." he whispered.

"I know..." Megatron said as he looked at the floor. "I truly am sorry... whoever did this... was a monster." He said as he fought back tears of anger and pain. Optimus stared at him then shook his head and gripped his shoulder.

"No... just... hurting inside... I don't understand why he... did this... I... I..." he trailed off and hung his head as he hugged his children close. Megatron's heart broke as he watched them. He slowly stood and gripped his shoulder.

"I'm sorry.... I'm so sorry.... for what happened to you... it wasn't meant to happen..." he rasped then walked out of the room. He later hid as he watched them bury her. He felt horrible and left before the ceremony finished.

~

The time that passed seemed to blur as Megatron's mafia grew. He worked hard on getting rid of the gangs and trying to make the city better in his own way. He grudgingly let a few more join and continued to work on his unintentional empire. After a while though, he told his mafia to go under the radar and go deathly silent. They did and the police started to worry.

The father went home and hugged his children again. They begged for him to let them go to the city. They were a little older now and wanted to go back. He hesitated then looked at Beta who smiled a little.

"I can take them with Soundwave." She said and he chuckled softly then agreed to let them go. They cheered happily and hugged him tighter then got ready to go on their adventure.

He made sure their jackets were on right then fixed Baylees beanie. She was done with treatment finally and would be growing hair soon.

"Now. Steeljaw and Blitzwing you behave for Beta." He said seriously as he looked at them.

"Yes daddy." Steeljaw grinned as he stood taller. Blitzwing looked at him then at his dad before nodding.

"Baylee keep your hat on and stay with your siblings." He said as he smiled slightly. She nodded quickly and hugged him tightly around the neck. He kissed their foreheads then watched them go before getting some things done.

A few hours later he got a call from Beta and he furrowed his brow. Why was she calling? They were going to be back in a while. Something told him to answer. He sighed forcefully and answered the phone.

"Hello Beta. I was-"

"Daddy!" Blitzwing cried and the father's heart stopped suddenly. He heard Steeljaw yelling in the background and Baylee crying.

"Blitzwing what's happening?" He asked as he jumped up and ran to his car. "Where are you?" He demanded while he drove.

"Mommy is mad and she hurt Soundwave! We went to the park!" He screamed and Steeljaw could be heard fighting. Megatron furrowed his brow as he thought about something.

"Natasha..." he whispered as his eyes widened in horror. "Blitzwing stay with Beta and ran!" He shouted. "Make sure Steeljaw and Baylee are with you!" He yelled. He heard a gun shot followed by his son screaming in horror.

"Daddy!" He screamed and sobbed uncontrollably. "Daddy please!" He yelled and the father heard the other children screaming. They all screamed his name and he drove faster. His heart stopped again as everything fell silent. What was happening?

"Blitzwing." He said but there was no response. "Steeljaw?" He asked louder as tears fell down his face. "Baylee!" He shouted but still nothing. He drove at an unreasonable speed as he swerved in and out of traffic. He heard someone pick up the phone and he narrowed his eyes.

"Do as I say Megatron, and you might see your children again." A man said.

"You don't know who you're dealing with." Megatron seethed angrily through gritted teeth. "I'll kill you if you harm them." He growled angrily. The man laughed darkly which made the father angrier.

"If you don't do as I say, the next time you'll see them, is in a body bag." He threatened then hung up. Megatron yelled angrily and smashed his phone on the dashboard. He was going to kill Soundwave for failing.

Once he got to the park he saw cops and paramedics already there. He narrowed his eyes and stayed hidden then managed to get closer. He saw a few of his men and Barricade among the crowd.

The cop saw him and nodded once then caused a distraction so he could get closer. He snuck into an ambulance and closed the doors then had his men drive off. He looked at Soundwave and narrowed his eyes. The young man stared at him with pain in his eyes.

"You swore to protect them." He growled lowly. Soundwave winced then motioned to the gun shot wounds. He had multiple wounds and it was amazing he was still alive.

"I... did..." he rasped weakly. "Defended them... with... everything I... had..." he whispered and closed his eyes. Megatron's expression softened as he realized this. He sighed shakily and looked at the medic.

"Where is his mother?" He asked as he glared darkly.

"Behind us in the other ambulance. We'll do everything we can for them." The mafia member said seriously.

"You better." He seethed angrily through gritted teeth. "Get me a phone." He muttered and the man handed it to him. He made a call and they soon got to the safe zone in Kaon.

He waited for a long time before he heard word that the two would be alright. He then walked over to Barricade and stared blankly at the wall.

"We need to run Optimus out of town." He muttered and the cop looked at him as he furrowed his brow.

"May I ask why?" He said and leaned against the wall. "Is it because he's a threat?" He asked. Megatron looked at him then gripped his shirt and pinned him against the wall.

"Just do it." He spat. "While you're at it find any rebel gangs." He seethed then shoved him to the floor. The cop got up then grabbed a few men before leaving.

"I can't let him watch me lose my mind..." he rasped quietly to himself. "I don't want to cause more pain to them..." he whispered. He looked out the window at his reflection and narrowed his eyes.

"If it's a monster they want... it's a monster they'll get." He seethed angrily through gritted teeth.

Barricade went to Optimus' house and burned it to the ground. They then went to find any gangs that would oppose Megatron. The mafia leader was glad to hear his friend had left town. He could spare the small family from his insanity he was slowly slipping into.

He was lost. And no one could save him now.