My child arrived just the other day,

He came to the world in the usual way.

But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay.

He learned to walk while I was away.

And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew,

He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad.

You know I'm gonna be like you."  

Cat's In The Cradle - Ugly Kid Joe

(A.N.: Just a quick note. I have never been to a baby shower, I am using what little I have seen on tv and read in books. So yeah. If it's wrong then oops. ^.^ So I hope you enjoy the chapter! {C.M.})

Jenny lay on the berth, semi conscious and breathing shakily from the immense pain that had torn through her a mere half hour before. She curled into the blankets and Ratchet gently moved her wing aside, looking to the marred skin. Unfortunately there was nothing he could do to remove the symbol that had been burned into her skin. But he could work with Knockout to create something that may hide the mark better than the synthetic skin did.

"R-Ratch?" Jenny whispered. The medic walked around to look ar her tear stained face. He winced at the sight. There was nothing that could be done when he had been operating. Her grace burned off all of the painkillers within seconds. Her only relief had been the times when she had blacked out. But sadly she was awoken every time they had to to move something.

"Yes Jenny?" He asked lightly.

"C-Can you get Gabe?" He nodded. "And can I have a chocolate bar?" He smiled.

"After what you have just been through Jenny, I insist you have two." The second he stood Gabriel appeared, a tiny, shaking Bell in his hands. She leapt to Jenny and snuggled close to her. The copper girl appeared to be crying as she hugged Jenny.

"Shh, it's okay darling. I'm safe." She spoke as if calming a child. This made Gabriel smile, though his heart longed for an actual child. He noticed Jenny's happy smile and sat, taking her hand in his.

"Jen?" She looked to him and pulled him into a kiss, loving and gentle. He returned it and rest his forehead on hers. He smiled a little.

"Yes my love?" She whispered. Gabriel hesitated and finally shook his head a bit.

"I am glad you're safe." She smiled.

"Hey." He hummed. "Ratch said I could have a chocolate bar."

"Actually I said two. Some sugar in her blood may actually be good for her." Gabriel smiled before looking to Ratchet.

"Is it okay if I take her from the Med Bay?" Ratchet looked to him.

"Fine. But no pressure on her back." Gabriel nodded.

"Don't worry Ratch. I got it." He helped her up, slipping Bell into the pocket of his coat. Jenny frowned at the sight of her ruined dress and Gabriel looked to her. She was crying slightly and he took her into his arms. "It's okay Jen. We'll get you a new dress." She shook her head.

"That's not it. This dress is special. It's the dress you gave me when you first brought me those gifts." She whispered. He looked it over and paused, pulling her into another hug.

"Okay. Then I'll teach you how to fix it. Using your grace." She smiled a little and nodded.

"I think I'd like that." She whispered. He could only grin as he took her hand, walking with her back to their room.

He would teach her everything he knew. That way Nexus could never hurt her again. That way no one could ever hurt her again.

-

Sierra lay on the couch in the Rec Room with Laserbeak on her lap. She chuckled at the femme as she spoke animatedly to the sparkling her danni was carrying.

"And then opi went after Rumble and Frenzy tripped. Rumble jumped right over him but opi tripped and fell too. It scared Ravage so bad her ears were stuck upright for a week!" She fell into fits of giggles and Sierra began laughing a little as well.

"Laserbeak: Having fun?" Soundwave asked, leaning over the couch in his mass-shifted form.

"Oh yes, opi! I was telling the little spark about the time Rumble painted you pink!" Soundwave shook his helm at the memories.

"Soundwave: Remembers Pinpointer wouldn't help. Pinpointer: Claimed it was deserved."

"Sounds?" Sierra asked lightly. He looked to her and walked around, picking up her upper body and sitting before laying her back down across his legs. "Who... Who is Pinpointer?" He turned away and Laserbeak hung her helm.

"She was our danni." Laserbeak sniffled, rubbing at her optics. Sierra sat up carefully and hugged her youngest daughter.

"I'm so sorry Beak." She whispered. Laserbeak moved back and looked to her. "I don't want to feel like I'm replacing your danni but I can't help it. It feels as if I am." Laserbeak shook her helm.

"No. You aren't, danni. You're just picking up where she left off. Even though she didn't want to. My danni was brave and strong but the Autobots..." Sierra hugged her a little tighter.

"They didn't realize the only reason she had a Decepticon logo was because she was bonded to our opi." Rumble said, joining the group. Frenzy was behind him, as always. "She was trying to get Beak to safety. She'd already gotten us there but when she was coming back-"

"They saw the symbol and attacked." Frenzy continued. "We watched them, they had attacked that close to us. And by the time they realized she was holding a sparkling it was too late." Sierra looked to Laserbeak, seeing the scarring on her protoform.

"Doc Knock saved me. But opi never let me go far from his side after that." Laserbeak added.

"At least not until recently." Ravage said, walking up behind the couch. "Because of you danni. Because he knows you'd protect his sparklings. No matter what." She walked around and sat by her brothers.

"That's why we started calling you danni from the get go." Rumble grinned.

"Because we could sense how much opi trusted you." Frenzy agreed.

"He hadn't let anyone into his spark since she was offlined. Barely let us." Ravage smiled.

"She'll always be our danni in our sparks. But opi loves you. And so do we!" Laserbeak grinned. All of this was bringing tears to Sierra's eyes.

"We love you danni!" They all cheered together. Sierra began crying and knelt on the floor, carefully hugging them all.

"My little sparklets." She whispered. They hugged back, all sounding near tears as well. A moment later Soundwave stole her from the huddle. He rest a hand protectively over her and smiled.

"Sierra: Family." He whispered. "Soundwave: Lucky mech to have such a family." The sparklings all grinned and bounced up, hugging their parents and remaining careful of Sierra.

"I love you all too." She smiled. "And I am so very lucky to have you all." They simply grinned.

In the doorway stood Jason, smiling as he watched the whole scene unfold. A soft chuckle left him. His sister was safe and loved. And he knew for a fact that it wasn't going to change any time soon. With a gentle smile directed at his sister and her family he turned, leaving to search for Juliet.

-

Rachel laughed with Juliet as they set up one of of the abandoned meeting rooms, preparing for the baby showers. "And that, dear vamp, is how you keep a demon from slaughtering an innocent child with nothing but charm and a toothpick dipped in holy water."

"Shifter, you're insane!" Juliet laughed.

"I know. Have you taken a look at my boyfriends?" She teased.

"So you three are officially together then?" Rachel nodded.

"We are. And you and the psycho king?" Juliet smiled a bit.

"He keeps calling me his queen but we're really just dating." Rachel smirked.

"Give him time Jules. He may surprise you." Juliet eyed her warily. She knew something the vampire didn't. And she was determined to get an answer. "Oh no!" She said, though a bit fakely. "I'm late for my date with Sunny!"

"Just Sunny?" Juliet asked.

"Yeah. They started taking turns spending time with me. That way one doesn't feel more left out then the other. Though they're constantly trying to outdo each other. Bye!" Rachel bolted out the door and Juliet sighed, turning to work on the remaining decorations.

Due to the demon attack the party had been postponed until that night. Which left Juliet more than enough time to finish the decorations while Alice made the two cakes.

"Juliet?" She turned, smiling as she saw Jason. "How go the decorations?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her waist as she turned back around.

"Almost done." He grinned.

"Good. When you're done I need to speak with you." She glanced to him and he simply smirked, sitting in a chair and waiting. Juliet merely shrugged and went to finishing the room. Though she moved a little slower to tease the demon king. Once she had put the last decoration up Jason caught her, growling slightly. "You tease me too much." He whispered.

"Yes I do, my king." She smirked. "Now. What did you want to speak with me about?" She felt Jason take her left hand in his, a small weight falling on it.

"About becoming my queen. Officially." She froze as he brought her hand up, a gleaming ring on her finger. She spun and stared at him with wide eyes.

"Yes." She breathed. "Yes!" She tackled him, surprising him and knocking him over, kissing him happily. She heard chuckling from the door and looked up to see Rachel holding a camera, grinning.

"Thank you Rachel, for your help." Jason said as she handed the camera to him.

"No problem." She smiled. "Always happy to help a friend." She waved before leaving. Juliet turned back to look at Jason.

"How long have you been planning this?" He smirked.

"Ever since that party I threw in your honor." He wrapped an arm around her lower back. She smirked and kissed him again. With that they vanished, leaving the decorated room empty and awaiting the party later.

-

Optimus walked into the main room, seeing that the liaison, Blicks, had called on General Morshower to resolve the situation and convince them all to leave then and there. He was ready to agree, as she clearly hadn't told them why the bots had hesitated.

"General." Optimus spoke, unseen but heard by the man.

"Optimus. Ms. Blicks was just telling me that she planned to move you to D.C. and I find it a good idea." He said.

"We will be happy to move. In three months, after Alice has her baby and Sierra has hers." He stated. Morshower looked to the liaison as she glared at Optimus.

"It is dangerous to move her now by plane or by boat." Morshower agreed. "And Optimus?" He glanced to the screen.

"Yes, general?" He saw Morshower grin.

"Congratulations to you and Alice. And don't be afraid to bring the little one to come see me once in a while." Optimus smiled.

"Thank you sir. And I will." The call ended then and Optimus looked to Blicks triumphantly. A little childish, he'd admit, but his son was safe. Blicks merely scowled and turned.

"Then at least allow me to move some personnel and their belongings to the new base?" She looked up at him, seeing that she had lost.

"That I will permit. After their party of course." She nodded.

"Of course."

-

Alice and Sierra walked into the room, placing the cakes on the table. Sierra looked to Alice excitedly and the older woman hugged her. "Oh Alice, I simply cannot wait." She smiled. Alice chuckled and looked to the shorter woman.

"Neither can I." She smiled and sat to rest her aching feet. "But It'll be worth the wait in the end."

"Yes, it will." Sierra agreed, looking up as Optimus walked in. He wore an almost smug smirk as he sat beside his beloved. "Ummm, Alice? Why does he look like the cat who ate the canary?" Optimus chuckled, casting a glance to Soundwave as he entered before looking back to Alice and Sierra.

"Because, Sierra, I have won. Blicks is not allowed to move us entirely until after the sparklings are born." Alice grinned and hugged him.

"Op that's wonderful news!" She smiled. Sierra nodded in agreement as Soundwave looked to the mech.

"Soundwave: Thanks Optimus Prime." Optimus looked to him.

"It was no trouble Soundwave. I would never put any carrying bot in the line of danger." He stated. "Especially not family."

Soundwave bowed his head in respect and looked up as Metallicar and the others walked in. "Well." Alice smirked. "Looks like the party all beat you here." She smirked, moving to stand. Optimus, however didn't allow it.

"No. You are to stay off your feet for a while." She pouted, looking to him.

"Is that an order?" He smirked.

"Well seeing as you do not follow orders, no. It is a request from the one who loves you more than life itself." She looked to him as he kissed her quickly. She sighed and relented.

"Fine." She muttered. "But I have a request too."

"Yes, my love?"

"Can we start with the cakes?" He chuckled and nodded.

Everyone cheered as they cut into their cake, exposing the blue for all to see. It was followed by just as much as Soundwave and Sierra cut into theirs. It was a marbled pink and blue, as she had no clue the gender of hers. After that came the gifts for the little ones.

All in all it was one of the most relaxed days on base in a long time.

-

After everything had ended the others went back to their rooms, ready to sleep as some of them prepared to leave the next day.

Dean, however, was staring at a phone of his dad's in confusion. Sam looked to him. "Is that dad's phone?" He simply nodded and answered it.

"Hello?"

"Uh, is this John?" Dean could easily identify the voice as belonging to a younger man.

"He can't come to the phone, can I help you?"

"Uh, no no no, I need to talk to John, this is Adam Milligan. He knows me." He spoke, sounding worried.

"Well sorry to be the one to break this to you, pal, but John died. A while ago." Sam looked to him in confusion. "Who is this?"

"I... I'm his son."