Chapter Text
Arcee drove Jack and June home in the cool evening air.
"A romantic drive with your mother." Arcee said lightly, and the other two sighed, though barely audible. "What did I say?" she asked, followed by another pause.
"That's not quite..." Jack tried to say to her.
"I'm sorry." Arcee voiced, "We don't really understand parents."
"If you don't have parents?" June nervously asked, "How do you?.."
"The Well of All Sparks produces a spark, which is planted in a protoform." Arcee explained.
"So, you don't have children?" June nervously asked her.
"Like Jack?, yes." Arcee replied, "Like Raf and Miko, no."
"And what makes Jack so special?" June asked.
"Oh, so many things." Arcee breathily voiced. "I mean, he's basically an adult. He's not young because his body is young, he's young because of his inexperience. As for what's special about him..." she trailed off.
"I didn't know how deeply you cared about him." June said, just as breathily, then breathed in the cool, evening air.
"Do Humans have sparkmates?" Arcee asked, only to be met with silence. "Someone you love; someone you want to spend your lives with?"
"Boyfriend / girlfriend." Jack replied.
"Or marriage." June stated.
"Marriage is where you declare your love," Arcee asked, "and want to spend your lives together?"
June voiced a positive affirmation.
"Then," Arcee voiced and briefly paused, "I want to marriage your son." Arcee voiced.
The three rode in silence for a moment, until tears started falling from June's eyes.
"What did I say?" Arcee asked.
"Could you... pull over?.." June tearfully asked, and Arcee quickly complied. June quickly slipped off the back, taking her helmet off. Jack jumped off of Arcee, and both turned to look at June. Jack absentmindely found his left-hand grabbing her handle bars while his right-hand started stroking her fuel tank.
"I was - afraid this day was going to come." June tearfully voiced.
"June?" Arcee asked.
"You," she said between tears, "are a lovely girl. And, definitely seem to bring the best out of him." June continued between sniffs.
"June?" Arcee repeated.
"Mom?" Jack asked.
"I'm," she voiced, and wiped away the tears, "I'm," she sniffed, "alright. I just hoped I would have more time with him. But, he's grown up so fast. Especially since he met you."
"I'm sorry." Arcee voiced.
"You," June sniffed, "have nothing to apologize for." she tearfully continued. "You have brought out the best in him. He grew up so selfless and responsible. I'm so proud of you, Jack."
Jack stepped away from Arcee and up to this mother, who quickly pulled him in for a hug, moistening his back with tears. "I love you, mom."
"I wish, "Arcee voiced, "I could do something." Arcee voiced.
"You've done more than enough." June said to her, "Sorry, just please take me home."
"Hop on." Arcee stated.
* * *
Arcee pulled into the garage. As soon as she stopped June dismounted and nearly ran inside. As soon as the garage door closed, Arcee reverted, and sat down, leaning against the wall. Jack walked over and snuggled up in her lap. The two simply laid there for who knows how long.
* * *
June walked into the garage and threw a blanket over Jack as he slept in Arcee's lap. Arcee quietly nodded her head to June, trying her best not to move.
* * *
Jack slowly started to rouse, barely able to move his body. Autobots were a lot softer than they looked, but they still weren't good for sleeping on.
"I'm sorry." Arcee gently voiced, "You just looked so, I don't know, happy?"
Jack made a happy utterance in reply. Arcee gently picked him up and helped him to find his feet. He then stumbled off towards the house.
"Love you." Arcee stated, and Jack, stumbling away waved behind him without turning. After he closed the door to the garage, the sound of a groundbridge being opened was heard.
* * *
"Optimus?" Arcee asked, and he twisted around to look at her.
"Arcee?"
"Is all quiet?" she asked.
"For the time being." Optimus replied, and turned back to his console.
"We... need to talk..."
Optimus turned around to look at her, "Very well."
"In private." Arcee added.
In reply optimus nodded, "If that is what you prefer."
* * *
"Now," Optimus' voice reverberated, echoing off the walls, "what is it you wished to discuss?"
Arcee paused for a moment as she found the words. "I wish to make Jack my sparkmate."
Optimus stared at her for almost a minute before speaking. "I understand. I do not wish to question your decision, but there is a few things we need to speak of. Have you thought of lifespans? Autobot lifespans are measured in aeons."
"I knew, fully well, what I was getting into." Arcee replied. "As soon as I let him through the door."
"Other than that." Optimus stated, "I am concerned about physical compatibility. I'm afraid I do not know much about Human biology, other than how fragile they are compared with us. Even if their sparks are as strong as the strongest Autobots."
With this Arcee sighed. "Jack fell asleep on me, and could barely move when he got up."
"I know you would never do anything to bring him harm..." Optimus trailed off.
"But?" Arcee asked, "How can I be his sparkmate if I cannot even show him Human intimacy?"
"I suggest you speak with Ratchet about this, and perhaps Nurse Darby." Optimus said to her, and Arcee reluctantly nodded her head.
* * *
"Ratchet?" Arcee asked.
"What is it?" Ratchet replied.
"Could we talk," Arcee asked, "in private?"
"I am far too busy."
"Old friend?" Optimus asked, and Ratchet slowly nodded his head.
* * *
"So," Ratchet asked her, "what did you want to talk about?" Arcee looked about nervously. "As a physician, I can assure you about my discretion in any medical matters."
"I wish to make Jack my sparkmate."
With this, Ratchet simply stared at her for a moment. "That is both overwhelming and unsurprising. I am curious why you would need my advice?"
"That," Arcee voiced, "is the tricky part. Humans..." she said, and paused, "Jack is just so fragile."
With this Ratchet nodded his head. "Since the incident with Rafael, I have been studying Human biology, but mostly for critical care. I really know very little of Human intimacy. I recommend consulting with Nurse Darby. I will pledge to help you - any way I can, but I fear even I know very little about our young friends."
* * *
Arcee as her motorcycle, with Sadie on her back, approached the Darby household, turning to face June's window. She then began to flash her headlights on and off. June's head appeared at the window, and after a few moments recognized Arcee, nodding her head.
* * *
June stepped out of the house and locked the door. Arcee had pulled up in front, and June walked over to her. "Care for a ride?" Arcee asked, and June gently took hold of the handlebars. "You'll have to hold on tighter than that."
"I," June said, and paused, "don't think this is a good idea. How about I get my car?"
With this Arcee sighed. "Thank you." she voiced.
* * *
Arcee and June had pulled off in the middle of nowhere. June exited her car, and then awkwardly stood in front of Arcee, who was balancing on her kickstand. June shifted back and forth a few times, completely unsure of how to stand.
"I was hoping you were still awake from your nightshift." Arcee said to her.
"The clock doesn't just reset on your days off. So, Arcee, what can I do for you?"
"I really don't know how to say this," Arcee asked, "but Humans are normally physically intimate, aren't they?"
With this, June couldn't really reply. She stopped moving, but that didn't mean she had the slightest idea what to do. The only thing she could do is to try and be non-judgemental.
"I mean," Arcee continued, Jack fell asleep on me, and - when he woke up, he could barely move. The last thing I want to do is hurt him, but Humans need intimacy, don't they? If I'm going to be his sparkmate, I have to..."
June held up her hand, causing Arcee to stop. June then rubbed her head as she thought this over, breathing in and out several times to keep herself calm.
"Yes, Humans need physical intimacy." June finally said, trying to be as neutral as she could, "Sometimes just physical contact can bring people back from critical condition."
"And how are you physically intimate with Jack?" Arcee asked.
"Sadly, not as much as I used to..."
"But?," Arcee asked, "Humans who love each other are physically intimate? And Humans need physical intimacy?"
"It's not," June tried to reply as mechanically as she could, "that simple. Jack has reached the stage where he doesn't want it from his mother, but a... but someone else."
"But you just said..." Arcee voiced.
June breathed in a out a few times. "I think I know the best way to explain it, Humans form reproductive pairbonds."
"That," Arcee quietly stated, "is not something that I can help Jack with."
"How?," June asked, and paused, "can I explain this?" She then turned to slowly start pacing, "Humans have a sex drive, a biological need to fulfill their reproductive instincts. It doesn't actually have to lead to reproduction."
"Then," Arcee asked, "what does it lead to?" June looked more agitated than she had been before, but more pensive. She once again took a moment to collect herself.
"The reproductive act is good enough." June voiced.
"Could I..." Arcee quietly asked.
"If you are careful. I can't believe I'm doing this!"
"I'm sorry... if... Human intimacy is... If I'm going to be his sparkmate."
"I know." June voiced, "I know. I'm really going to have to think this over."