All your life you just stood there questioning

Feeling your ambition crumble away

As the power within you began to decay

Never finding what you were searching for

And feeling a longing you couldn't ignore

You felt it ache inside like never before

Take the path that the weak ones demonize

Look around and begin to realize

That you're no longer alone tonight

You're coming into your own tonight

One of the brave and the bold tonight

Brave and The Bold - Disturbed

Mary lay on her back, Silver beside her as they watched the sky. "Tell me again, why are we doing this?"

"Because. Danni always said we should look at the stars when we felt lonely." He explained.

"Silv, that was years ago."

"So? It still applies." He sat up, looking to her. "Do you think she'll be back?"

"I know she will." Mary stated. Both hesitated. "What about aunt Alice? Think she's right?"

"I think she's a few bolts short of a full processor." Both began laughing at this. Mary grinned and stood.

"Come on. Let's go find Alice."

"Alice!" Blue eyes snapped open and focused on a frowning Metallicar. Mary and Silver sat in her lap. And unlike her mini-vision, they were still just babies. She relaxed and smiled.

"Sorry. Got a little... Lost." She glanced down as Russell shifted, yawning. He looked up at her and smiled, babbling to her. "Hey there baby boy." She adjusted his blanket and he giggled, grabbing her hand.

"Yeah, well we landed about an hour ago. Lexi managed to convince us not to wake you until it was safe." She explained, gesturing to the young girl. She was sketching in a notebook, glancing to Jenny as she sketched something as well.

"Remind me to thank her." She said. She stood and followed the others into the base.

-

Metallicar laughed as she wove past Blitzwing, the ball bouncing off the floor and back to her servo. "Come on Blitzy!" She grinned. "Ya could do better!" She turned and threw the ball, watching as it soared clear across the oversized court and into the basket. "Pit yeah!"

The bots had been ecstatic when they learned that the base they were staying in had several lower levels, one designed just for the giant basketball games. There were even stands raised clear up in case the humans ever wanted to watch.

Currently, there was a group of the new soldiers up there, cheering on the Kaonians as they played against each other. It was Metallicar and the twins against Blitzwing, Soundwave and their newest addition to the team.

Moonracer had been allowed into their group when Metallicar had voiced her annoyance with being surrounded by mechs. That and she was one of the best snipers around, able to outshoot even Crosshairs.

She currently had the ball, using her smaller frame to her advantage as she ducked and weaved, passing Metallicar and Sunstreaker. Bee was on the sidelines, cheering loudly and earning chuckles from a few of the humans.

He watched as Moonracer threw the ball in the air, slid under Sideswipe and caught the ball while he was distracted. She threw it the last few feet and whooped when it went through the hoop.

"Goal!" Bumblebee cheered.

"Wrong sport sweetspark." She laughed, walking over to him.

"Alright! Moonracer, ya did well!" Metallicar grinned.

"Jah. Und she von zhe game for us!" Random said, hugging her. They were all laughing as Bumblebee stole her away.

"Alright bots. Get your armor cleaned up and meet me top side the second you're done. Optimus has an announcement for us." Metallicar said, looking at the scratches and transfers on all of them. It had been a rough game in the beginning. All of them had slammed into each of the others at least once. They had all been determined to gain the lead. "And fix your paint or the other bots are gonna be wondering what we were doing."

"Meta!" They all scowled. Well, all but Blitzwing, who was rolling on the ground and cackling like a madman.

"Alright, alright. Come on, go." They all dispersed, the humans leaving when only Metallicar and Soundwave were the only bots remaining.

"Hey, Meta!" She turned, seeing Samuel running up.

"Witwicky!" As the other soldiers watched in surprise she knelt. They had been told not to bother the bots unless absolutely necessary. So why was this guy climbing into her servo like it was an everyday thing.

"So I heard my car's wife is one of the Rogues now." She nodded, setting the man on her shoulder.

"Pit yeah! The femme's a natural. Too bad she hadn't been around much before the war. We coulda used her help in Kaon." Samuel nodded, watching the soldiers as they followed Metallicar and her SIC, all of them heading top side. "So how's college been, Sam?" She asked.

"Pretty good. Keep seeing glimpses of Cybertronian but they're fading."

"Well, you're faring better than my brother in law. He's the only reason we can have sparklings. Seeing as the All Spark is using him as a conductor." She said.

"Yeah, I think he told me once. Hey, when do I get to meet your little ones?"

"They're with their opiluck in the main room. They wanted to see their uncle but he's busy." She stepped out of the elevator and transformed, the soldier's jumping back in shock. Samuel laughed as he landed in the back seat. Her holoform appeared in the driver's seat and she revved her engine.

"Danni!!" She drove over as Mary and Silver grinned.

"Hey babies!" Her holoform hopped out and walked over, scooping up Silver. "Come on Samuel, they don't bite. Well, I take that back. They're teething so they tend to bite once in a while." Samuel nodded and took Mary as Dean carefully passed her to him.

"I didn't think you guys did anything like that." Dean said.

"Normally we don't. But Mary and Silver are different. They're probably going to go through things human children do."

"Which makes me fear next year."

"Why?" She asked.

"Terrible twos."

"Oh, slag."

-

Jenny sat on a large table, carefully assembling an object with care. Wheeljack and Lexi were sitting towards the corner, both passed out with the latter curled up in the former's lap. And Gabriel, as he had been ever since she returned, was at Jenny's back. She never minded, given what had happened. He made her feel safe.

A low groan left her as the archangel began massaging her wings, helping her relax. "Gabe." She looked up at him and he smirked, dipping down to kiss her lovingly.

"Enjoying it?" She hummed.

"So much. I- Ah!" Her wings pressed into his touch and she quickly covered her mouth, eyes wide. She felt his lips on her neck as he growled.

"I think we should move this away from our daughter and your father. Don't you think?" She kissed him, reaching back and dragging her hand through his wings. He growled against her lips and she smirked.

"I have to finish this Gabe. It's for Prime." He wrapped his arms around her.

"But I'm more important." He whispered. She smirked.

"That you are." She purred and he attempted to kiss her again. She simply turned back, working on weaving the wires through.

"Jen." The archangel said, his voice strained. Jenny glanced up at him from under her eyelashes.

"Hmmm?" She played the innocent card. "What is it, Gabriel?" He looked to her.

"You are such a tease." His kiss was once again rejected, causing him to collide with the back of her head. He growled low as she held up the object, a note attached. "Is it done?"

"Yes but I have to get it to-"

"Nope!" He grabbed her and vanished, the object cluttering softly to the table. She was in for a long night.

-

Metallicar looked up as her team entered, holding themselves high as they walked forwards. She smiled at her old friends and stood. Soundwave and Blitzwing, though it wasn't required anymore, fell into step at her sides.

"Metallicar. There you are." The femme turned and saw her uncle walking over, Russell cradled in his arms. She and the rest of her team mass-shifted and stood before him. "Good, you are all here."

"Yes, sir. Now, what'd ya need us for?" She asked.

"I wish to ask for you to lead your Rouges as scouts and warriors. As you once did so many vorns ago in Kaon." They were all silent before Metallicar grinned, saluting.

"Ya have my word, sir. We'll do the Autobots proud!" He smiled.

"I know you will Metallicar. That is all for now. Go. Get settled in. While I try to find my bonded." He chuckled. The group dispersed as Optimus walked away, heading down the hall.

He stopped by the lab first, finding Jenny's experiment with a note attached. 'Optimus. I would have delivered this in person but Gabe decided to drag me to bed. It should work, but I recommend testing it soon. I'll make any adjustments tomorrow morning. - Jenny' He looked to the device and set it up not far from Wheeljack. With that, the test began and he turned to go find his bonded.

He ended up finding Alice standing with Jo outside of the smallest Rec Room, both stifling giggles. He walked up behind them.

"What are you two-"

"Shhh!" They quickly quieted him, Russell giggling. They pointed to the door and Optimus looked. Bobby and Ellen sat beside each other in front of the tv, a movie playing quietly. He had his arm wrapped around her as she leaned against his side.

"I can't believe my dad is watching a RomCom." Alice giggled.

"I can't believe my mom is either." Jo whispered. Optimus shook his head and dragged the two women away.

"Awww, come on Op." Alice pouted.

"Leave them be. I promised your father he could have the room to himself tonight for his date." He said. He continued to pull them away, even as they grinned at each other.

Meanwhile, Ellen turned to Bobby. "Told you it'd be Optimus who dragged them away." She chuckled. Bobby smiled a bit to her. She pulled him into a kiss, making his arm slip around her waist. They parted a moment later and Ellen smiled. "So when are we going to tell the girls?" Two loud shrieks of excitement sounded from down the hall and Bobby laughed.

"I think they already know." Ellen chuckled and leaned against him once more, focusing on the movie.

"I hate romantic comedies."

-

Metallicar sat with Mary in her holoform's lap, watching her brother as Dean tickled him, making him squeal with laughter. Metallicar was chuckling gently, watching her son and beloved as they played.

She didn't notice Mary carefully climbing off her lap and sitting in front of her legs. At least not until the little girl put a hand on her leg. She looked down at her as she grinned.

"Opi!" She chirped. "Siwver now!" He grinned and they used their parents to drag themselves into a standing position. The two adults stared in awe as their children began to move forwards, stumbling slightly.

They made it about two feet before Silver stumbled and fell, Dean lunging to catch him. Mary made it a little further before she too fell. Metallicar caught her and stood, hugging her tightly.

"You two were walking! Oh, this is amazing!" She cheered, holding her daughter up. "I am so proud of both of you!" She hugged Mary while Dean grinned, laying on his back with Silver sitting on his chest.

"You did great buddy!" He sat up, hugging the boy as the twins giggled.

"Wuv oo danni an' opi!" they chorused. The parents melted at that and decided to celebrate. Naturally, the two infants chose pie.

Metallicar and Dean learned quickly that pie and sparklings were not a good combination. But, they figured, such were the joys of parenting. And after a nice long bath that involved the adults as much as the children, they were finally settled into Metallicar's alt. And all four fell asleep to 'Hey Jude' flowing gently from the speakers.

-

Jenny lay on her bed, whimpering in her sleep. Unfortunately, Gabriel was dead to the world, his wings sprawled out across the bed and Jenny's torso.

"No... No, not my wings please. I'm begging." She whimpered. "Please. No!" She dug her nails into Gabriel's wing and he yelped in pain. He woke quickly and turned to Jenny, gathering her in his arms.

"Jen! Jenny! Wake up!" She stilled and groaned, her eyes opening as she looked up at him.

"G-Gabe?" He relaxed and kissed her forehead. "S-sorry for waking you up." She whispered.

"It's okay Jen. You're alright." She nodded and leaned against him.

"Gabe?"

"Yes, Jenjen?" She looked up at him.

"Put some clothes on, you're very distracting." She muttered and he laughed.

"You have no room to talk. Now come on. Let's get to bed." With a nod from her, they lay back down, Gabriel wrapping his arms securely around her. Her wings wrapped around him before his did the same with her, cocooning them in a feathery ball of warmth.

-

Alexandria was excited. Her presence had been requested by Zachariah and Raphael. Which was a very very big deal. Even for the older angels. In truth, she was still only young and trying to find her place among the other angels. Her best friend and older brother Castiel had been helping before he left to go save Dean Winchester. She was saddened over his disappearance but she'd make due for now.

Her vessel's silvery pink hair bounced around her face as she walked forwards. Green eyes skimmed over everyone as she walked swiftly. It wouldn't due at all to be late to such an important meeting. Especially if she wanted to make a good impression.

She paused outside of the doors and knocked, soon hearing the enter.

Sure enough, as she entered, her eyes fell on the archangel and his companion. "Ah, Alexandria. Come here please." She nodded and walked over. She saw a glint of silver and paused. Seconds later she realized it was simply a metal feather, blowing gently in a wind that was not there.

"You called for me?" Zachariah smiled.

"Yes. Stand right there." She looked confused as the feather suddenly stiffened, Zachariah plunging it into her chest. She gasped and choked, looking down at the wound. The feather was slowly removed, a blue trail following with it.

"Cassie?" She whispered, her brother's face filling her mind as she reached up to the wound. She fell to the floor, her wings hitting the ground and already beginning to burn.

And in her last seconds, all Alexandria could see was the feather absorbing her grace. "Very well, bring me this Jenny. Or at least her wings. And take care of that corpse." Her vision faded as a scream echoed through angel radio....

-

Castiel fell to his knees, eyes locked on nothing as everyone surrounded him, worry plain on their features. He only managed to say three words.

"Alexandria is dead." There he fell. And for the first time since saving him, Castiel found himself cursing Dean Winchester. For if he hadn't needed to be saved then Alexandria would still be alive. Castiel curled in on himself. And there he remained for weeks to come.

End Part One