Transformers Book of One-Shots Book 3 (REQUESTS CLOSED)

TFP | Ironhide X Ratchet: Change of Heart

Request by; @Emo_girl3365

Arcee cheats on Ironhide while he's sparked. After finding Ironhide about to end his life, Ratchet helps him right through to delivery. Ironhide's labor is long, and delivery is challenging.
Warning: talk of Abortion and suicide.

Ironhide was supposed to be happy being two months sparked, but he found out Arcee had been cheating on him with Optimus. He heard her tell Optimus that they split up. Which Optimus would question if he knew Ironhidecwas sparked. Which Arcee didn't tell him.

"I never loved you, and I never wanted a sparkling!" Arcee argues, "get rid of it! And off yourself, too, while you're at it!"
She walks out of their berthroom. Leaving Ironhide shocked.

A few hours later, Ratchet is looking for Ironhide. Concerned he missed his appointment. Ironhide wouldn't miss any appointments or meetings.
Arcee adds to his worry, saying she doesn't care where Ironhide is and hopes he's gone.

Ratchet hears crying as he runs by a small hangar. Unprepared to see Ironhide holding a gun.
"Ironhide, stop!"
Ironhide quickly tells him why he wants to die. Ratchet can't believe what Arcee did, but he has to point out that what Ironhide is doing is technically Abortion since the sparkling wouldn't survive being born at this point.
"...you can stay in my berthroom," Ratchet finishes and removes the gun from Ironhide's servo, "away from her. We'll figure things out when we need to."
That told Ironhide he's staying in Ratchet's berthroom longer than tonight.

At four months sparked, Ironhide started showing.
"Ugh, you didn't kill it?" Arcee asks in disgust, "you look hideous."
Arcee sees Ratchet's optics turn red and walks away.
Ratchet takes Ironhide to their berthroom to watch Ironhide's favorite movies.

Arce was spoken to about her behavior and left Ironhide alone. For the next seven months, he and Ratchet got close.
Ironhide was in the early stages of labor when he decided to go to the medbay with Ratchet.
Ratchet is so occupied with organizing his tools that he doesn't notice that Ironhide went into a medbay room.

Until Ratchet's concentration is broken by Ironhide's crying in pain. He knows immediately that Ironhide is in labor.
He rushes into the room, finding Ironhide leaning on the medical berth.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Ratchet asks.
"I didn't want to bother you," Ironhide cries.
"I'm a medic and your friend; you're not a bother."

With no other patients, Ratchet lies with Ironhide, who struggles with labor. Crying in Ratchet's chassis while Ratchet tries to comfort him.
Even though labor was twenty-seven hours, Ratchet wasn't concerned. He's worried about how tired Ironhide is and if the sparkling can tolerate a long delivery.
Even Ironhide worries as he's been pushing for a half-hour, and the sparkling isn't even crowning. Worry turns into cursing as he finally feels the burning. Because he's tired, it's taking longer to get past the burning. As much as he hates hearing Ironhide in pain, Ratchet doesn't think he needs to assist the delivery.
Twenty more agonizing minutes pass before Ironhide hears a sparkling crying.
"It's a (mech/femme)," Ratchet tells Ironhide as he puts the sparkling on Ironhide's chassis.
The sparkling looked like Ironhide, without evidence that Arcee was their other parent. After a little time with his sparkling, Ironhide goes into recharge.

Soon, Ratchet becomes more than Ironhide's friend. Even with a sparkling to care for, the two mechs begin dating.
Even with a young sparkling to care for, Ironhide and Ratchet find time to have a little fun, but neither could believe Ironhide is sparked again and that there won't be that big of an age difference between their two kids. Ironhide's only hope is next labor and delivery will be easier than the first.