Hope's Return

Pint-sized Mischief

Unknown by Hope, the betting pool had taken on a life of it's own. Several times she had walked by chattering groups of Cybertronians and base personnel only for them to disperse quickly. She found their behavior perplexing but since no one seemed angry, she dismissed it as simply good team morale.

Walking into Ratchet's office, she found a slightly flustered mech who was quickly putting his tools away. He had avoided her the past few days and she worried that he was still feeling awkward after their night together.

"Ratchet, are you well? I haven't seen you out of your office in awhile."

Her innocent question was almost his undoing and he quickly turned to hide his nervousness.  Primus,  he felt like a fumbling sparkling around a crush. He jerked away as she attempted to touch his shoulder.

"Yes, yes I'm fine. I've just been busy."

"Busy? With what? There hasn't been any injuries...are you upset about the other night? I was simply tired of you overworking yourself."

He turned to see her twisting her servo's with a worried expression on her face plate. Hurrying over to her, he gently pried her servos apart.

"Now stop that. You'll damage sensitive circuits if you keep tying your servo's in knots!"

"Then you're not angry and avoiding me?"

Ratchet sputtered in surprise at her question and met her optics.

"Of course I'm not! I've simply been catching up on a few things."

They stood in silence for a moment before Hope started to chuckle and he joined in at the absurdity of their conversation.  Finally they stopped and she smiled at him.

"Hey Ratchet?"

"Yes?"

"You're still holding my servo..."

Blushing fiercely,  he dropped her servo and started to turn away but was stopped by a touch on his arm.

"Would you like to take a break and go for a walk?"

The grumpy mech turned back and nodded in agreement.  Hope laughed and hooked her arm through his.

"Oh, and Ratchet? I enjoyed holding your servo."

With a grin on his face plate and Hope's laughter ringing in his audio receptors,  Ratchet allowed himself to be lead out the door.

*******

A few weeks passed and it became common place to see their commander and medic together. Hope still puzzled over who had sent her the flower but decided seeing Ratchet happy was more important.  Still...she wondered and hoped her suspicions were correct.

Ratchet looked over to where Hope stood lost in thought and smiled quietly to himself. Several times she had walked in his office unexpectedly,  barely giving him time to hide what he was working on. The intervals they spent together were precious to him but it was difficult to find the time he needed to finish her gift.

He wondered if she was thinking about her brother. Blurr had returned to Griffin Rock a few days earlier and the base seemed quieter now. While they didn't cause as much trouble as the twins did, Sunstreaker had wasted little time enlisting him as an accomplice in the prank wars.

From the shadows, 5 sets of optics watched Hope and Ratchet.  There was some speculation between them over their bond if it was really her. Unnoticed by the rest, the smallest left the group and flitted towards her. His absence was quickly noted by the oldest of the four remaining in the dark. Ignoring his older sibling's hiss to come back, he continued on bravely.

Hope was brought out of her thoughts by something landing on her helm. Reaching up, she cupped her servo's around a small metal bat and brought it up to optic level.  Softly she stroked its metal skin as it nuzzled into her servo.

"Hello little one, now who do you belong too?"

Turning to Ratchet, she held out the small creature. His optics widened as he saw who she held before groaning.  So much for the base being quiet. Hope was puzzled by his response until he pointed behind her.

As she turned, a solid weight hit her chest plate and knocked her on her aft. Looking up at the metal panther sitting on her, she let out a squeal of delight before wrapping her arms around him.

"Ravage!"

The panther narrowed his optics at her but allowed himself to be held for a minute then motioned for her to put him down. Circling her while she watched in amusement,  he finally settled back on his haunches and met her optics.

"So, it's true then, you've returned to us. The rest will be pleased to know it's really you."

Voice raised on the last few words, his optics turned towards the dark corner behind them. Within seconds there was a flurry of motion as two mini cons and a hawk left the shadows and hurtled towards them.

Hope knelt to the floor as the two mini cons launched into her arms with a clang of metal. The hawk landed lightly on Ratchet's shoulder and snorted with irritation at her siblings antics. Ratchet hid a smirk as he watched Hope greet the cassettes with excitement before remembering something.

"Wait a second,  if you're all here, then where is Soundwave?"

All five cassettes hung their helms before Ravage spoke up.

"We heard a human yelling about Autobots over an unsecured channel and Hope's name was mentioned.  Sire didn't believe it so we kind of snuck out while he was in recharge."

His voice dropped to a whisper as a shout was heard on the other side of the hanger. Hope and Ratchet glanced at each other as the cassettes shuffled uneasily. One of the mini cons shoved his twin.

"I thought you left him a note."

"Me?! You were supposed to leave him one!"

"Rumble. Frenzy. Enough!"

Ravage's sharp retort silenced their bickering as he stepped in front of them. A low flying jet shot through the hanger doors and transformed into a tall purple mech who stood there in an angry silence.

Hope stepped around the trembling mini cons and moved within arms length of the furious mech.

"Soundwave?"

He studied her in silence, his helm cocked to the side as he took in her appearance.  Behind her the cassettes began to calm down as the mech appeared to compose itself and relax its defensive stance.

Breaking from his stance, Soundwave reached out a clawed servo and touched Hope's face plate lightly before speaking in clips of different voices.

"Hope...returned to Earth...blasted dragon..."

Hope recognized the voice as Galloway's and face palmed in annoyance. The little man apparently still held a grudge. Sighing a little, she vowed to have him reassigned to somewhere he couldn't cause trouble. Perhaps the dark side of the moon would work...

Turning her attention back to the silent mech, she held out her servos in welcome.

"It's really me Soundwave. I apologize if the disappearance of your mini cons worried you. They were curious if the rumors of my return were true."

Soundwave shifted his visor towards the cassettes and took in their guilty expressions before venting.

"Forgiven. We will remain for...a visit."

Ratchet groaned as Hope was once again swarmed by the mini cons while Soundwave looked on. Shaking his helm in resignation, he thought that now would be a good time to lock himself in his office. That bunch made the twins pranks seem tame!