TF PJ - The Next Generation C7

Disclaimer: All Transformers characters belong to Hasbro.  Any made up characters were created by me.  This has TF Slash. This is the sequel to It's Now or Never.

Summery: (2007 Movie verse) *sequel to It's Now or Never* Prowl and Jazz get their own sparkling, but can they protect their "baby" from Decepticons?

Parings: ProwlXJazz, RatchetXWheeljack

"blah" – Normal human speak
"blah" – Cybertronian speak
blah – thinking

The Next Generation

Chapter 7

Prowl had decided to check on Gadget for Perceptor.  He decided to look in the most obvious place first.  He went to their quarters and knocked on the door.  "Who's there?"

"It's me Prowl."

"Okay, c'mon in.  It's unlocked."  When Prowl entered he smiled.  Gadget was sitting on their berth, SkyFlyer in her arms.  The little blue femme was sucking on the end of Cuddles, her purple blanket from Melissa.

"Perceptor is going to be okay." he said "He got hit in the shoulder but Ratchet will patch him up."

Gadget was rubbing her helm, keeping her calm.  "That's good.  You hear that, Daddy's going to okay.  He just got a little boo boo."  SkyFlyer just kept sucking on Cuddles.

"She loves that blanket.  I'm sure there's a pacifier of some sort around here.  You think you can look for it?"

"I'll try." Prowl said.

"It's a metallic blue.  It's usually around her play pen."

"Okay."  Gadget smiled, readjusting herself into a comfortable reclining position.  SkyFlyer just sat on her mother's chest, happily sucking on Cuddles.

"You're cute, little one."  She just blinked at her mother and then looked at the white and black cop car.  His noise making search intrigued her.  She watched him search through her toys and playpen.  "That's your Uncle Prowl.  He's looking for your pacifier."  Prowl's door wings twitched as he searched.  She clicked and whirred curiously.  Gadget chuckled a bit.  "You know your Uncle Prowl, silly femme."  She watched him slowly, letting Cuddles fall from her mouth.

"Okay I think I found it." Prowl said.

"Great."  SkyFlyer whined a moment, before putting Cuddles back in her mouth.  Prowl came over with missing pacifier in hand.  Gadget smiled.  SkyFlyer chirped and whirred happily, reaching out for the metal binkie.  Gadget took a hold of it and dusted it off really well.  She made sure Cuddles was all the way out of her mouth and popped in the blue pacifier.  "There, that's much better than Cuddles.  Your blankie is for keeping you warm," she smiled, wrapping the little femme in it.  She smiled happily, sucking on the pacifier.  "Thanks Prowl."

"You're welcome Gadget."  SkyFlyer reached out to Prowl.

"Awww, I think she wants her uncle to hold her."  Prowl smiled.  She blinked happily at him, reaching out with a happy whir.  Prowl smiled again.

"Very well." he said as he gently lifted her up into his arms.  She smiled, still happily sucking on her pacifier.  She studied him before little fingers reached up and started exploring his chevron.

Prowl laughed a bit.  "That tickles little one." he said with a smile.  She smiled and played with it a bit more.  She was happy her uncle was happy.

"Careful, Sky.  It's sensitive just like yours and mommy's."  Prowl smiled again.  She cuddled a bit more against him.  She noticed his door wings and became fascinated by their movements.

Prowl laughed.  "I guess Harmony isn't the only other little femme that is interested in door wings." he said.

"Yes, but she NEEDS to be.  She needs to be aware how sensitive they are.  Sky is just curious.  She knows Mommy has those."  Prowl smiled.  SkyFlyer managed to grab where the junction was.  Prowl winced a bit, trying not to move his wings so her little fingers won't get pinched.  "Sky, your hurting Uncle Prowl.  Let go."  Her little hand withdrew and she stared at Prowl.  Prowl sighed in relief from his intakes.  She pouted a little bit.

"It's okay little one.  I'm okay." Prowl said calmly with a smile.  She blinked at him before cuddling against him.  Prowl smiled.

"Aww, she loves her uncle.  How sweet..."  Her little optics slowly closed, her body wanting to finish her nap.  Gadget smiled and came over, wrapping Cuddles around her.  Prowl smiled.  Gadget walked out of the room.  "Could you watch her for awhile?  I need to get us some energon."

"Yeah, sure."

"Thanks."  He watched Gadget leave and carefully sat down on her berth with SkyFlyer.  She cuddled a little closer to him, but did not wake.  The pacifier hung loosely in her mouth.  Prowl smiled again.  "Perceptor and Gadget got a cute little one such as yourself." he whispered gently to her.  She just hummed a short little happy noise as she slept on.  He smiled and watched her sleep, but he soon felt worry run through his spark.

   "It's okay Jazz.  Gadget just wanted to me watch SkyFlyer for her while she got some Energon."

"You're not hurt?"

"No, I'm fine.  I'll be there as soon as Gadget comes back."

"Okay, Prowler.  No rush.  You just didn't come back after the battle.  I grew worried."</i>

Gadget returned.  "I'm back.  Everything alright?"

"Yes, Jazz was just getting worried."

"Oh.  You haven't been back since the battle.  Watch her while I make a fine grade bottle for when she wakes.  Then you should get back to Jazz."

"Sure Gadget." Prowl said.

"I wish Perceptor was as eager as you are.  You're so patient and focused on SkyFlyer.  He's ready to get back to the lab as soon as possible."

"We are different mechs Gadget.  Perceptor is a scientist so it will take a while to break his habit of being locked in his lab all day."

Gadget sighed.  "Yeah...I guess.  But you used to stay in your office a lot.  Now look how quickly you've broken that habit to be a father.  You're second in command, Prowl.  Perceptor does not have an excuse."

Prowl laughed.  "Not staying in my office all day is mostly because of Jazz being in my lifestream.  But I do see your point."

Gadget sighed heavily.  "I just don't want him to miss her milestones.  Things like her first word, her first big discovery, her first steps.  I feel like he loves his work more than us."

"Gadget that isn't true.  He's just a bit absent minded, that's all."

"Oh?  He's a slaggin scientist!  How would he be absent minded?"  SkyFlyer twitched and whined at her mother's outburst.

"Gadget calm down.  All I'm saying he's a bit like Wheeljack.  Get him started with something is hard to get him to stop."  She growled before taking a deep breath.

"It just gets frustrating sometimes."  She placed the fine grade bottle into storage for later and took a sip of her own cube.  "I wish I was more like Jazz.  I could force Perceptor out of that slaggin' lab."

Prowl laughed again.  "It took Jazz a lot of tries to even get me out of my office the first couple of vorns."

Gadget sighed and sat down next to Prowl.  She smiled at her daughter.  "Sky needs her father.  I can't lose him...  Even if it's just to his work..."

"...Gadget, you won't.  He loves the two of you more than any experiment or scientific discovery.  I know you know that."

"I know," Gadget smiled.  "I do..."  SkyFlyer nuzzled close to Prowl in her sleep, sucking on the pacifier a little.  Prowl smiled again at her.  Gadget sighed with a smile as she watched her daughter sleep in Prowl's arms.  "I just want what's best for her.  Something that cute should be able to drag anybody out of work."

"I bet so." Prowl said.

She smiled at her daughter.  "Oh!  You should get back to Jazz..." she said, quickly setting her cube aside and taking SkyFlyer from him.

"Yes, I guess I should." Prowl said as he slowly sat up.

"Thanks for helping," she said as SkyFlyer cuddled into her mother, wanting to be close to the all familiar spark.

"No problem Gadget." Prowl said.  She smiled and watched him leave.

- - -

Prowl walked down the halls heading towards his quarters.  < b>"I'm coming, Jazz."

"Good.  Harmony was starting to get fussy.  I think she wants her father."

"I'll be there soon."</b>

- - -

Gadget carefully stood, wrapping Cuddles more securely around her sleeping sparkling.  "Let's go see daddy, huh?" she smiled.  She left her room and headed towards Medical Bay.  Gadget noticed Medical Bay was still open so she went on inside.  Ratchet was still working on Perceptor's shoulder.  SkyFlyer stirred when she felt her father's spark coming from the room.  Gadget casually walked up to Perceptor, startling Ratchet.

"Gadget, don't do that." Ratchet said.

"Do what?  I have to announce my presence," she smirked.

Ratchet grumbled a bit but didn't make a big deal of it.  He noticed SkyFlyer sleeping in her arms.  "The Medical Bay is not a place for a sparkling.  Unless she's hurt."

"She can't see her father when she wakes up?"

Ratchet sighed.  "There's no getting through to you, is there?"

"Nope," she smiled.  "I'm a mom on a mission."  Ratchet chuckled a bit.

"...Gadget..." Perceptor smiled weakly.

"Yes, dear?" she smiled in return.  He just smiled back in return.  SkyFlyer stirred a bit more.

"You...shouldn't...have brought her..."  Gadget just stuck her tongue out.

"Who am I to deny our daughter the right to see her father?"  SkyFlyer yawned cutely, dropping the pacifier.  She stared at her father.  She clicked happily as she reached out towards him.  Ratchet sighed, moving out of the way.  He would have to finish in a moment, once SkyFlyer was out of the way.  Perceptor reached out his hand on the uninjured side.  SkyFlyer whirred happily as Gadget placed her on his chest.  "See, she missed you." Gadget said with a smile.

She crawled a little and nuzzled against him, curling up against the spark she felt pulsing underneath.  "You're sweet...  You were...worried...weren't you?"  She whined happily.  Ratchet could only smile as she made sure her father was okay.  She noticed his half finished shoulder wound and grew sad.  "It's...okay...Ratchet is fixing...it..."

She whimpered and cuddled against him more.  Gadget came over.  She rubbed her helm.  "It's okay, Sky.  Daddy will be okay.  Ratchet's making it all better."  She still whimpered a bit, gently patting the area.

"...I'll be...alright...I promise..."  SkyFlyer nuzzled against him, happy to be near him and his spark.

"Alright now...  Ratchet needs to finish making daddy better.  Time to go."  SkyFlyer whimpered at first, not wanting to leave.  Gadget sighed.  "C'mon sweetie.  He needs rest too.  We can see daddy later."  Perceptor rubbed her helm with his uninjured arm.

"Go with your mother, little one.  I'll be alright."  SkyFlyer nuzzled into the touch and looked at Gadget, ready to go.  Gadget smiled and picked her up.

She clicked at Perceptor and he waved.  "Now out!"  SkyFlyer pouted and responded with a raspberry.

Gadget laughed outright.  "Sky..."  Ratchet was laughing too.

"She has guts, that one..." he said with chuckle.  Perceptor just smiled.  "Okay now let's get back to fixing your shoulder."  Gadget picked up the discarded pacifier before leaving Medical Bay.

"...S-sorry...about...her..."

"It's fine.  I needed a good laugh.  Besides, she was worried about you.  I see no harm in letting her see you."

- - -

Meanwhile, in Jazz's quarters, Harmony was having a fit.  She wanted Prowl, and she wanted him NOW.  "Calm down baby, ya father is coming." Jazz said gently as he gently rock her in his arms.  She wailed and screeched.  She fought Jazz's hold.  "It's okay baby, he's coming."  Prowl at the moment walked into the room.  "Thank Primus.  Great timing.  Here, take her," Jazz sighed, lifting her out towards Prowl.

Prowl smiled.  "Awww did you miss me sweetspark?" Prowl asked as he took her into his arms.  She still cried and wailed, grasping him tightly.  Prowl hold her close to his chest plates.  She slowly calmed to feel his spark there and his physical presence.

"Jeez...kid really gets separation anxiety..."

"All sparklings are Jazz." Prowl said as he gently rubs one of her wings with a hand.

"Yeah...yer right.  Poor femme."  He sighed, relieved that she was okay.  She nuzzled against Prowl and his touch.  "She just missed ya a lot."

"I can tell." Prowl said.

Jazz smiled as she slowly fell asleep there in Prowl's arms.  Her little door wings fluttered a bit.  "I think she missed her favorite copy cat game too."

"Maybe we should ask Ratchet to weld some door wings on you too." Prowl said with a smile.

"No way, Prowler!  That just ain't cool!  Uh...I mean...I'm cool..." he added.

Prowl just smiled more.  "Are you sure?  You might look even more sexy with them." Prowl said.

"...No...I'm sure..."

"Suit yourself then." Prowl smirked.

Jazz smirked back.  "Don't tease."  Prowl smiled.  Prowl carried the now asleep Harmony over to their berth.  He carefully lied down with her.

"Care to join us Jazz?"
"You don't even haveta ask," he smiled.  He carefully snuggled close to the two, rubbing Harmony's helm as she slept.

"We are lucky to have such a beautiful sparkling." Prowl said gently so to not to wake her.

"Yeah..." Jazz replied.  "She's so sweet too."  Prowl smiled.  Jazz gently kissed her helm.  "Sweet dreams, little lady."

"Have a nice dream-cycle." Prowl said gently.  Prowl fell asleep soon after, unaware how tired he was from the battle.  Jazz smiled and gently kiss Prowl's crest of his helm.

"Sweet dreams, baby..."  He watched them both sleep for awhile.  He smiled to himself.  He was so lucky about everything, to how Prowl wasn't sick anymore, to the beautiful sparkling they had made together.  "...Thank you Primus...for all of it..."  He continued to lie there, watching them sleep.  He smiled and sighed happily as he watched their small, fidgeting movements.

- - -

In Medical Bay, Ironhide was patiently resting on a berth as Ratchet repaired his arm and the badly damaged cannon attached to it.  "Why must you do this Ironhide?" Ratchet asked with a sigh.

"It wasn't MY fault!  It was that slagger, Starscream!  He took a cheap shot!"

"Remind me to personally kill the seeker next time I see him," he quipped irritably.  Ratchet carefully severed a few wires and reconnected them properly.  Ironhide sighed, still upset about letting that whiny seeker get the best of him.  He watched Ratchet disconnect a main power coupling and tinker with some of the neighboring connections.

"Hey!  Be careful with that!"

"Primus Ironhide.  I KNOW what I'm doing.  Don't be so overprotective of your precious cannons.  I know how to fix them better than you."  Ironhide grumbled.

"...I know that...but...it's just..."

Ratchet sighed and took a deep breath.  "You'll have your cannon back when I'm finished.  Just try to relax.  You're stressing me out."  Ironhide sighed and tried to calm himself.  Ratchet shook his head with a smile.  Ironhide could be a sparkling sometimes.  The sound of little human feet echoed down the hall accompanied by girly squeaks of worry.  Two larger pairs of feet were heard a little ways behind.  Sighs of frustration accompanied with them.

"I'onhide!" Annabelle Lennox squeaked as she ran into the Medical Bay.  "I'onhide!  No!!" she cried as she tried to jump up onto the berth.  "I'onhide hurt!" she whimpered.  Ratchet stopped and knelt down to the human sparkling.

"Annabelle!  What are you doing in here?  I told you to stay," Ironhide said warily.

"She's obviously worried about you, 'Hide," Ratchet replied with a smile.  "Annabelle, if I let you sit with Ironhide, do you promise not to get in the way?"

Annabelle stared at Ratchet for a moment.  "You docter?  Make I'onhide better?"

"Yes, little one," he replied with a smile.

"Me not get in yous way.  Me be good."

"Alright," Ratchet said as he extended his hand.  "Up you go."  She slowly climbed into his hand and he slowly raised her up.  He brought her over to Ironhide and let her climb into his huge lap.  She nestled herself against his abdomen, her feet curled up on his thigh.  Ironhide cradled her with his uninjured hand.  He sighed as he looked down at her.

"Annabelle...you should have stayed.  You were safe in my room," he chastised.  Ratchet just smiled and went back to work.

"I's worried about you, I'onhide," Annabelle said.  Ironhide smiled at her.  He patted her head with one of his large fingers.

"I told you not to worry about Old Ironhide," he chuckled.  Will and Sarah ran into the room at that moment.

"Anne, there you are!" Sarah said.

"Mommy!" she replied back.  Both mechs looked to see the Lennox's standing there.  "I come see I'onhide," Annabelle smiled.  "He otay.  I keep company," she giggled.

Ironhide sighed and looked down at her.  "Annabelle..." he growled.  "Don't run off from your parents..."

"Sorry about this, Ratchet." Will said.

"It's alright."

"She just really wanted to see Ironhide."

"Don't scare us by running off like that," Sarah said worriedly.  Annabelle looked from her mother to Ironhide.  He was glaring at her with upset blue optics.

"Me sorry."

"It's okay, Anne sweetie.  Just tell us where you're going next time, okay?" Will said.  She nodded profusely.  Ironhide smiled and patted her on the head.  Ratchet smiled again as he went back to work.

- - -

That night Harmony woke up crying.  She was hungry and she wanted food now.  She held on tight to her dad's armor.  Prowl woke up a bit, looking down at his sparkling crying in his arms.  Prowl looked over at his mate. Jazz was still a sleep.  Prowl sighed as he slowly sat up.  "Shh." He said softly to her "It's okay sweetspark.  Daddy's here."  Harmony just cried harder, she was still hungry.  Prowl tried calming her a little bit more.  When she threatened to wake Jazz with her crying, he went through the possibilities in his mind.  "Are you hungry, Harmony?"  Harmony clicked a "yes" and then cried even more.  "Alright...  C'mon then..." he said soothingly as he carried her over to where their private energon was stored.  She cried more, holding on tight to Prowl's chest armor.  "Ssshhhh, calm down, little one.  I'm getting it," he said as he got out a clean bottle.  Harmony seems to calm down a bit but was still whimpering.  Prowl smiled a bit as he got out a special cube of fine grade.  He shifted Harmony a little bit so he could pour the cube into the bottle.  She still clung to him whimpering.    He put the top on and repositioned her again.  He offered her the bottle.  "Here, Harmony."  She happily took the bottle and started to suck on it gratefully.  Prowl chuckled a bit.  Jazz at the moment startled awake and practically ran over.  "Did we wake you Jazz?" Prowl asked.

"Thank Primus she's alright.  Just worried me is all."

"She was just hungry Jazz." Prowl said with a smile.

"Oh, alright."  She looked at Jazz cutely, drinking the sweet fine grade in contentment.  "Did Daddy fix you a bottle?" Jazz asked with a smile.

Prowl laughed a bit.  "She couldn't have fixed it herself." he said.  Jazz laughed a bit at Prowl's attempt to be funny.  Harmony just giggled, stopping for a moment.  Prowl smiled.

"Who's my little cutie?" Jazz cooed.  Harmony giggled and clicked happily.  "That's right, you are," Jazz smiled.

"I think she's done with her bottle now." Prowl said as he went to take said bottle.  Harmony cried and held tightly.  Prowl smiled.  "Okay then." he said as he let go of the bottle.

She began to drink from it again.  "Babe knows what she wants," laughed Jazz.

Prowl smiled again.  "Yes she does." he said "Must be from you."

Jazz smirked.  "You gettin at somethin Prowler?"

"Maybe."

"You're lucky you're holdin Harmony right now," Jazz smirked, visor lighting up.

"Oh really?" Prowl said with a smirk.

Jazz just laughed.  "I love you both so much..." he said, switching to a gentler tone.  "You're both my whole world."

Prowl smiled.  "We love you too, don't we little one?"  Harmony just blinked, finishing her bottle.  Prowl laughed.  Jazz laughed too.  Prowl nuzzled the top of Harmony's helm.  She moaned happily and let go of the empty bottle.  "Okay now I think she's done." Prowl said as he took the bottle.  Harmony just blinked at him.  Jazz took the empty bottle and set it down on the counter.  Then, he gently took Harmony from Prowl.  Prowl smiled.  Harmony nuzzled into her mother and slowly started to fall back asleep.  "I think she has a good idea." Prowl said starting to yawn.

Jazz smiled and kissed Harmony tenderly on the helm, rubbing her forehead in a soothing motion.  "Sleep now, little one."  He smiled and walked over to the berth.  "C'mon Prowler."

"I'm right behind you, Jazz." Prowl said.  Jazz smiled as he carefully climbed back onto their berth.  He nestled Harmony against him as she fell into a deep recharge.  Prowl climb in after, moving a bit so his door wings won't be in odd positions.  Jazz watched as Prowl immediately fell asleep.  It wasn't long until he fell asleep too.

- - -

In Gadget's quarters, SkyFlyer awoke in much the same way.  Gadget was in a deep recharge, worn out from the day's duties as well as caring for her sparkling.  SkyFlyer cried a bit.  Gadget didn't budge, her audios on such low power the noise didn't register.  SkyFlyer patted her chest, her cries growing more agitated and urgent.  Gadget moaned a bit, moving her arm.  SkyFlyer clicked and whined.  Couldn't her mother tell she was hungry?  Perceptor yawned as he headed down the hall to their shared quarters.  He was a bit tense, knowing he had worked well into the night.  Gadget would be mad at him for sure.  SkyFlyer was still upset and hungry.  He sighed and winced, picturing one of her fits about him loving work more than her.  As he came into the room, he sighed in relief to see Gadget fast asleep.  Worry immediately pulsed through his spark bond as he heard SkyFlyer's distressed cries.  Perceptor let the door silently hiss closed behind him.  He quietly came over.  He watched sadly as SkyFlyer tried to wake Gadget, sobbing and clicking.  Perceptor picked her up and cradled her in his arms.  She stopped for a moment, surprised by the sudden attention.  "There there, little one.  What's wrong?  Can't wake Mama up?"  SkyFlyer started to click and cry again, cuddling into Perceptor.  He smiled.  "What's wrong, SkyFlyer?" he cooed, rubbing her back soothingly.  SkyFlyer cried even more.  "You can tell Dad.  What's wrong, little one?"  He soothed her by speaking sparkling and continuing to rub her back.  He scanned her for injuries to make sure she wasn't hurt.  "Ah...I see now.  Poor little femme..." he soothed, carrying her over to their energon stores.  He carefully sat her on the counter with a kiss to her helm.  "Dad's going to make you a bottle, okay?  Be good and sit tight."  SkyFlyer calmed to whimpers, watching Perceptor pour a cube of fine grade into a clean bottle.  "Curious, aren't you Sky?" he smiled.  SkyFlyer clicked, whimpering a bit but still watch her father.  Perceptor smiled as he picked her up again.  "Here, sweetie," he said as he offered her the bottle.  Her little optics lit up as she grabbed hold of the bottle.  She drank it thankfully and slowly.  Perceptor smiled, rubbing her helm as she drank.  "That's better, huh Sky?"  The sparkling just nuzzled against him affectionately, drinking from the bottle.  He smiled at her.  "I love you so much..."

"She's a cute one, isn't she?" smirked a familiar sleepy voice.  Perceptor slowly turned and saw Gadget looking at him.

He gulped.  "Uh...y-yeah...she is...  H-hi, darling..." he stammered.

"You're back late, Percie..." she pouted a bit, nuzzling into him.  SkyFlyer's optics followed her mother as he she nursed the bottle.  "Mmmm, I'm glad you're here.  Sky appreciates you feeding her," Gadget smiled.  Perceptor only blinked, surprised he wasn't getting yelled at.

"...W-Well...I couldn't j-just let her cry...c-could I?" he gulped.

"Of course not, Percie," she smiled, happily nestling into his shoulder.  "We love Daddy, don't we little one?" Gadget smiled, watching SkyFlyer look between her mother and father.

"...Y-you're...  I-I'm not...going to suffer for this...l-later, am I?" Perceptor asked shakily.

"Perice dear, what ARE you talking about?"

"I...I c-came back l-..."  He was hushed by her hand over his mouth.  "Mmffgh?"

"Shush!  Don't worry about it.  I know you love me.  That's all that matters.  I know you love her because I can see it in your actions.  You took care of her before even thinking of waking me."

Perceptor sighed in relief, glad he was no longer "in the dog house" as the humans would say.  He waited until she moved her hand to take the empty bottle from SkyFlyer.  "Gadget...  I will ALWAYS love you.  SkyFlyer...she's my everything, my entire world.  I would DIE if anything happened to either of you.  My spark would go out..."

"I know that, Percie.  I do.  Now if I could just take some pointers from Jazz..." she smirked.  Perceptor pushed her away and moved to face her.  SkyFlyer nestled close to Perceptor, comforted by the strong pulse of his spark so close to hers.  She fought to keep little optics open.

Perceptor smiled at her.  "Go to sleep, Sky.  Dad is here now," he soothed.  "You know," he whispered to Gadget.  "I'll start taking less shifts and stop working on projects so much.  It's time this little one had more time with me."

"Well, looks like I DON'T have to get tips from Jazz, AFTER all."  Gadget smiled happily as she kissed Perceptor's helm.