Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Things were quieter, now that the year was approaching its end.  The summer holidays were now a distant memory.

Megatron had come to visit Bumblebee.  He was pleased to find him to be on his way to recovery, though he gently reminded him not to get cocky and do too much too soon.

"Dot and Alex wouldn't let me anyway," he retorted.  "They won't even let me outside unless the sun is shining and it's more than fifty degrees outside."

"Good! We need to make sure you keep warm.  Those chest intakes are going to be delicate, now."

"I know that, too – Ratchet keeps on reminding me.  Please, Megatron, relax! I'm taking good care of myself – haven't got much choice.  Why not go play with the Terrans and let me work on this puzzle in peace?"

He nodded and went off to find them, crouching low as he emerged from the dugout and made his way outside.  It was freezing! Ice crystals hung in the air and brushed his frame as he moved.  He could see his own ex-vents as clouds of steam from his chest, nose and mouth intakes.  He shivered and hugged himself, trying to use those chest intakes as a source of warmth and to keep them from stinging.

It was no good, of course.  Covering the vents only made it difficult for him to breathe and the chill in the air was already causing him to feel congested.  The best course of action, he decided, would be to find the Terrans and persuade them to go and shelter in the dugout with him.

They were in the field with the cows, as was their habit, sitting in the frosty grass.  By all appearances, they had just finished an energetic game and were getting their breath back.

"Megatron!" Twitch flew up to him excitedly.  "Are you teaching us today? Mom says Bumblebee can't go outside because it's getting too cold."

It was cold! He could feel the ice crystals hitting his intakes when he inhaled.

"I'll act as your teacher on one condition: we go inside.  It is freezing out here!"

"It's only twenty three degrees," Hashtag argued with him.  "It's not that cold."

He shook his helm and shivered.  "I am not arguing about this.  It is cold – there are ice crystals getting into my chest intakes and it is uncomfortable."

He doubted it would do him any lasting harm, but the Terrans were only younglings.  Besides, the cold was making his nose and chest intakes start to burn.

"Oh," Jawbreaker nodded.  "OK.  Let's go inside, then."

As they made their way towards the barn, Thrash blurted out a question: "Have you ever seen Santa Claus, Megs?"

He stopped in his tracks and stared down at the Terrans.  "Santa what?"

"That's 'Santa who'," Hashtag corrected him.  "He's a fat, jolly old man who gives out presents on Christmas Eve – but only if you've been good."

Thrash huffed impatiently.  "You must've seen Santa, right? All the time you've been on Earth, you must have been flying around after dark on Christmas Eve, sometime!"

He shrugged his shoulders.  "I pay little attention to human aircraft unless it poses a threat."

"Don't you know anything about Christmas?" Thrash asked him, folding his arms in a huff.

Megatron stared down at him guiltily.  Then he shook his helm, gave another shrug and sniffed, rubbing at his cold nose.

"Could we please continue this discussion indoors? Look.  It is a human thing.  I have never been included overly much.  I know that they give presents – I gave your mother one, once.  I had no money or anything of that sort with which to go shopping, but I made her something from some scrap that I salvaged.  I stayed up all night, with a microscope and the kinds of tools usually used in surgery–"

"Why not just ask someone for money?" Thrash asked impatiently.  "Or credit or something? If you work for humans, you should get paid like humans."

"They paid us in energy," he explained.  "Why would we want money? We had a roof over our heads.  I am not saying I agree with their reasoning, Thrash, but... from a human perspective..."

"I bet Mom would've asked if you needed money," Twitch growled, kicking at a stone at her pedes.  "It was wrong of them to not ask."

"Your mother is... special," he replied, waving a servo as he tried to find the best words to describe her.  "She has a thoughtfulness that is hard to find.  Yes, she would have asked us what we needed, instead of assuming that she already knew."

He started to walk again, sniffing quietly.

"Do you like the cow smell too?" Twitch asked him, flying along beside him, just above his shoulder.

"Cow smell?"

"You know," Jawbreaker spoke up.  "The animal smell.  Mom says it's a real countryside smell."

Oh.  The smell of cattle byproduct.  He wrinkled his nose.  "I would not say that it was my favourite of Earth's scents."

"But... you're sniffing," Twitch pointed out.  "It's quiet, but I can still hear you."

He wiped at his nose.  Then wished he hadn't.

"Ugh.  My nose is... uncomfortable.  It feels drippy.  I just need to warm up – I am sure you do, too.  You should never stand (or sit) about in the chill after exercise.  Not through choice.  You get cold fast – far too cold and far too fast.  Your mother would have my skid... uh... your mother would be upset, if I let you get sick the first time I sub."

Thrash shivered.  "I'm not cold."

Megatron chuckled quietly.  "Well, I am.  I have flown a long way in the icy conditions and now I want warmth and shelter.  You must all still be feeling warm from running around."

"I'm not," Nightshade admitted.

"Me neither," seconded Twitch.

"I'm a bit cold, too," Hashtag added.  "But I'll be OK if we run around."

Jawbreaker nodded.  "Uh-huh, me too."

"Yes, but you will get tired eventually and then you will get cold," Megatron told them.  He crouched at the door of the barn, opened it and gestured for them to go in ahead of him.  "And I would prefer not to make your mother mad."

He followed them inside and down into the dugout.  The temperature was much more comfortable here, being underground, in spite of its size.

At his first intake of the warm air, Megatron stifled a sneeze and shook his helm, snuffling noisily.

Jawbreaker handed him something patterned and discolored.  "Mom says we can use old towels for runny eyes and noses."

"Oh.  Snf.  Thank you."

He turned his back and blew his nose as quietly as he was able.

"Feel better?" Jawbreaker asked him.

"Uh, yes.  Thank you.  Where do I put this thing? Leaving it lying around after using it would not be... clean."

"I'll show you," Nightshade volunteered.

He started to follow them, then stopped and turned to the remaining Terrans.  "Go on warming up while you wait for me.  I want you to do lots of stretching and flexing.  I'll be back in a moment."

There was a small bin with a lid, in one of the washracks.  Nightshade half-filled it with solvent and then held it out to him.  He gave his nose another blow, wiped his chest intakes clean (to the best of his ability) and then disposed of the rag with a grimace.

"Apologies.  Ice seems to have this effect on me.  Never did like it, much."

"Do you get snow and ice on Cybertron?"

He shook his helm.  "There were seasons, but nothing like the ones you see on Earth.  Cybertron does not rotate on a tilted axis, you see.  Well, perhaps a slight one, but nothing like Earth."

"That is probably why you're so badly impacted."

He shook his helm again.  "That does not fly, Nightshade.  Optimus is not bothered by the elements."

"Well... we are not all built the same, are we? Perhaps it is different for flight frames.  After all, you did say that you were cold from flying here.  Perhaps the problem was the altitude."

Perhaps...

He turned away and coughed into the crook of his elbow.  "Ice in my chest intakes," he explained apologetically, turning back.

"Do you need anything else?"

"I should be all right now," he replied, clearing his vocaliser.  "Thank you for showing me what to do with the rags – old towels."

"You're welcome," they replied, smiling cheerfully.  "What are you going to teach us?"

That was a good question! He specialised in combat, tactics... thinking and acting under pressure... violence.  He had learnt to thrive on violence! What could he possibly teach them in the dugout, without the risk of breaking something important or (more importantly) someone getting hurt?

"In all honesty, I am not really sure.  What does Bumblebee usually do?"

"I could show you, if you like," Bumblebee volunteered, approaching with a bright smile.

Megatron groaned.  "Apologies.  I intended to let you rest."

"Hey! Just because I can't go outside, it doesn't mean I can't do my job," he retorted.  "You brought them in for me, so now I can train them."

He grinned at Megatron.  "Want to watch? I'm sure they'll love showing you what they can do."

He nodded with a small smile and followed the two back to the Terrans, who were still warming up.  Bumblebee was greeted with enthusiasm.

Megatron took a seat on some boxes and watched carefully as each child showed off their abilities with great enthusiasm.

As he watched, his mind kept returning to the questions about Santa Claus and whether he had ever seen him.  He decided to consult Dot and Alex, before he left.

As he approached the house from the rear, he saw Alex and Dot in the kitchen together.  Alex smiled and waved to him through the window while his wife stepped outside (with a cup that steamed so much in the frosty air that it looked as if it were on fire).

"Megatron! You're making quite a habit of showing up unannounced," she half-scolded.

He hugged himself for warmth and grimaced sheepishly.  "Apologies.  Between the recent sparkeater incident and Bumblebee's illness, I find it difficult to stay away.  I should have called.  I should know that... I should know better."

"I understand," she assured him.  "Besides, you're here now.  Are you OK?"

"Getting old, perhaps," he admitted, crouching in front of her (he didn't much fancy sitting on the icy ground).  "I never did much like the cold, but I seem to feel it a little more keenly every winter."

Or perhaps he simply felt it more with each passing year as his homesickness for Cybertron increased... the other possibility was that he simply forgot how much he felt the chill during the warmth of summer and then was reminded all over again when the seasons changed.

She appraised him carefully.  "I think that's the first time I've heard you call yourself old.  Are you sure you're OK?"

"I think so."

"What's on your mind, Megs? You look as though something's bothering you.  Not just the weather."

He chuckled quietly.  "How well you know me.  Where are Robby and Mo?"

"They've both got extra curriculars," she replied.  "You know.  After school clubs.  Alex will pick them up in a half hour or so.  Why? Are you looking for them?"

He shook his helm.  "It occurred to me that they might have finished with school, seeing as your husband is at home.  I think this discussion might be better without children listening."

"Uh-oh... why? What's happened?"

He blinked and stared at her.  "Nothing! Why do you ask? It is just that Thrash was asking me if I had ever seen Santa Claus and then he became... frustrated... when I had no idea who he even was.  I think they were all disappointed that I know very little about Christmas."

Dot chuckled.  "Well, after all, it is one of the biggest events in the world.  It is celebrated in many countries – some highly religiously, some as distanced from religious belief as is possible and then there are the grey areas in between."

"I am not human."

"No, but you know that some humans believe in a god or gods.  Some of our colleagues over the years were pretty preachy about it.  All you really need to know is that Christmas has to do with one of our major religions. And, I guess, you could say it's about second chances and showing the people you care about some extra love."

"By giving presents.  Like on birthdays."

He was still a little hurt that he had not been told about giving gifts on birthdays.

"And that's where Santa Claus comes in.  He started out as a saint – Saint Nicholas – who gave little gifts to children.  He's... kind of evolved, over time.  You know, I don't even know if Robby and Mo still believe in him, but if they don't they're still hedging their bets."

"What do you mean, 'hedging their bets'?"

She chuckled and took a sip of her drink.  "They still put out milk and cookies for him on Christmas Eve.  And they write a Christmas list every year and hang up their stockings.  They still get excited.  I expect the Terrans will be excited, too."

"I think they already are," he replied, rubbing at his chilled nose.  "How are you going to manage?"

"How do you mean?"

"Well... are you going to celebrate in the dugout? What are your plans?"

She frowned.  "You know, I hadn't really thought about it.  Alex always makes a superb Christmas dinner, but the Terrans can't join in with that..."

Megatron smiled and stood stiffly.  "Send me a list of all the things that the family habitually does at Christmas and I'll see what I can do to help," he suggested.

"Does that mean I'll need to get you something to open?"

He shook his helm.  "I am touched, but I would not expect to receive anything.  Your friendship is quite enough.  Besides, you have already given me something for my birthday, thanks to Starscream and his blabbering."

"You liked being given a little birthday celebration amongst friends," she retorted.

"I did," he admitted.  "But it was still unnecessary.  A lot of trouble."

"Like you're not worth it," she retorted.  "Besides, just a couple of days later, we had what you call the 'Sparkeater Incident'.  I think you more than earned that little shower of affection – probably about ten times over."

He shrugged and averted his gaze.  "Perhaps.  Dorothy, I should go.  I would stay longer, but I am going to be too cold to transform, soon."

"Where are you staying?" Dot asked him.  "Has it got heating?"

He shivered.  "It is an abandoned air base that I have been renovating – with permission, of course."

"Right... and is it comfortable for a robot that feels the cold?"

There was no evading Dot's questions.  She would simply keep pushing until he told her the entire truth – besides, trying to avoid giving an answer would only confirm her suspicions anyway.

"Not particularly," he confessed.  "I intended to install heating, but it is difficult.  It is not a thing that was necessary on Cybertron and I have no idea how to build anything of the sort.  And I have no money.  Oh! Don't worry! I shall work it out."

"Not before spring comes," his friend predicted.  "Stay here, Megs.  I hate to think of you freezing your butt off somewhere, all alone.  I'd worry – you know I would.  If you got sick, who would know? Who would check in on you? At best, you'd be miserable.  At worst, you'd be in danger – don't look like that! We both know you'd be stoic about it and convince yourself you weren't that bad."

She was right and he knew it well enough.

"Stay here," she insisted.  "I'm sure Bumblebee will be glad of the help, now Breakdown's gone travelling, anyhow."

"If I will be of use and not get in the way..."

"Hey! It's Christmas! Time of year to be extra welcoming to family and friends.  Besides, I honestly think Bumblebee will appreciate it."

He smiled and relaxed.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Megs.  Now, go warm up before you catch cold.  I'll come join you in a second and warm you and Bee some energon."

He nodded gratefully and turned back in the direction of the barn.  He had always known that the Maltos were inclined to open their homes to waifs and strays, but he had not stopped to think that he could be considered one.

A thought occurred to him.  He still had no idea what he should have told the Terrans.  Was he expected to lie and claim that he had seen Santa? He was not sure that he could do that.

One thing was certain – he was definitely going to know all about Christmas before long.

Chapter Text

He had never seen the children so excited.  They were busy decorating the dugout with lights and tinsel, chattering and giggling as they worked together.

Megatron was not feeling particularly excited.  The Malto children were constantly talking about the things they hoped that they might get for Christmas and listening to them left him feeling worried and sad.  He would have liked to have given everyone – especially the children – a little something, but he had no money, nowhere to work on a project... and he was fast running out of time.

"Not feeling festive?" Bumblebee asked, sitting down next to him.

"Not especially."

He shrugged.  "Me neither.  I was kind of hoping Breakdown might want to celebrate with us, but he's busy going from one race to another.  Bet he's already forgotten all about me."

Megatron ran a servo over his face.  He had wanted to be alone with his thoughts, not forced to comfort a sick young adult who was frustrated, bored and missing his former emotional support.  He understood and sympathised, of course, but that did not detract from his desire for solitude.

"Your turn.  What's wrong?"

Oh.  Oh, this was even worse than he had anticipated!

"I am staying here because Dorothy is too kind for her own good," he said quietly, "and I have nothing to give in return."

"Seriously? I don't think they'll worry nearly as much about that as you are.  Dot and Alex give them all plenty.  If you want to give them something, maybe invent a few games we can play together or just... just enjoy being here."

He huffed and arched an optic ridge at him.  "Like you are, you mean?"

"I'm sick and restless.  Can't go outside, can't race..." he looked up into Megatron's faceplate.  "What excuse do you have?"

"None at all, but yours is poor," he retorted.  "We both know that you are not feeling unwell – you are moping.  Come on, let's help the Terrans to decorate."

Bumblebee smirked as he let the larger bot gently haul him onto his pedes.  "I'll teach you how to make a paperchain garland.  Then we can split into teams and have a contest.  Longest garland made in 30 minutes wins."

"Why?"

"Because the Terrans are competitive," he chuckled.  "And it'll be fun."

Robby and Mo also knew how to make Christmas decorations.  Their father had taught them how to make traditional Filipino decorations, such as lanterns.  Once the garland contest was over, they started teaching the Terrans and Cybertronians how to how make other things.

Some hours later, the two resumed their seats again.  Each was enjoying a mug of steaming energon.

Bumblebee grinned.  "Feels good, doesn't it?"

The remark caught Megatron, who had been lost in his own thoughts, off guard.  "What does?"

"Being part of something.  Being included like this.  Feeling loved.  You were right, by the way, when I was first sick and didn't want to wake Dot.  You said she'd be upset if I didn't call her.  I told her what you said afterwards and she laughed and said how right you were."

He chuckled.  "Of course I was right.  I've known Dorothy a long time.  We know each other too well."

"Still upset about not being able to give them something?"

He shook his helm.  "Not as much as I was.  You are right – I have been thinking about what you said earlier.  Being present, enjoying myself, joining in with the young ones... that is a sort of a gift."

"Of course it is.  It's a big, important one.  One that gets forgotten about a lot.  Material things mean nothing, if the giver isn't even present."

"Optimus would probably take what you just said and make it into a terrible joke about presence and presents."

Bumblebee laughed.  "He would, too.  I wonder what he'll be doing for Christmas."

"Probably forgetting all about it, like I would have," Megatron muttered.  "This is not a Cybertronian holiday, after all."

"He used to celebrate with our human friends back in the '80s, when we shared the Ark with a few of them," he replied.  "I think it hurt, when GHOST excluded all of us from the festivities, you know? I think that's part of the reason he never really trusted them.  Being treated like you belong matters."

"Hmm..." he started to drink his energon as quickly as the heat would allow.  "I might go over to his place for a bit.  See how he's doing.  Let him enjoy the present of my presence for a while."

"I'd say to call ahead first, but he never answers."

Megatron shook his helm.  "He has a bad habit of putting his communicator on silent during meetings, then either forgetting to turn silent mode back off again or he leaves it off when he is recharging and gets disturbed in the middle of the night by the thing."

"Hey, I don't call him in the middle of the night unless I'm really worried about something!"

"And Optimus has never complained about you disturbing him," he retorted, sipping at his drink.  "Unlike others that I won't bother mentioning."

Bumblebee got to his pedes.  "You know, I think you've just given me an idea for a present Optimus could really use.  I'll have a talk with Nightshade and see if we could build one.  I'll let you know what they think.  Maybe you can help."

"I thought we were not going to worry about gifts...?"

"Well... not giving things for the sake of it.  There's not really any point in that, Megatron.  There's no point in worrying over it, either.  But this is an excuse to give something useful.  You'll understand when I tell you what my idea is, but I want to see if we can do it, first."

"All right, then."

He tried calling Optimus anyway.  He needed to get back into the habit of calling ahead, instead of turning up without warning.

"Optimus Prime speaking."

"Megatron here," he set aside his mug.  "Is now a good time to come over?"

"I'm in the former GHOST HQ," he replied.  "Where are you?"

"I'm staying with Dorothy for a while," he replied.  "My place still lacks a few essentials, like heating."

He heard Prime grunt.  "That is kind of important, this time of year.  Especially with the forecast of snow that's just come up."

He groaned.  "I hate snow."

"I'm willing to bet that the Terrans will feel differently," Optimus chuckled.  "Bumblebee always got excited, if it snowed where we were.  Keeping him out of it was quite a challenge.  Mind you, even some of us older bots liked playing in it, when the excuse was there..."

"Is that a confession, Prime?"

"What? No.  No, I was usually busy with work.  Much like you, I imagine."

He hummed and finished his drink.  "I'll meet you at GHOST HQ."

He explained where he was going to Dot, promising to return before nightfall (he was obviously not the only one who was still uneasy after the Sparkeater Incident) and that he would pass on a message for Optimus to call Dot when he had the chance.

With that, he took to the air and set off into an icy headwind.

Chapter Text

There was no heat within GHOST HQ, but it grew warmer as Megatron left the entrance behind him and made his way deeper underground.

He found Optimus sitting cross-legged on the floor in the dim emergency lighting of the control room.  There was no power and his ex-vents created faint tendrils of steam that snaked about him as they dissipated.  His chin rested in a large palm, while the elbow leant on his knee.  He seemed to be lost in thought.

"Penny for them?"

He jumped and lowered his servo to push himself to his pedes, optics sending blue light sweeping over the floor and wall as he turned in the direction of the voice behind him.

Megatron raised his servos.  "Forgive me.  Perhaps I should have coughed or something."

Prime relaxed visibly and shook his helm.  "I knew you were coming.  Suppose I had become lost in my thoughts."

"It looked that way to me.  What are you doing here alone in the dark?"

"I told you: thinking."

He should have been annoyed.  He hated it when he was shut out like that.  Instead, he approached his friend's side.

"I think you mean that you are worrying.  Come on, talk to me.  Perhaps I can help."

He smiled and patted his arm.  "Maybe.  I am worried about our future, Megatron."

"You know that that is nothing new to me," he retorted quietly.  "Most of our clashes, since we joined GHOST (if not all of the conflict), happened because I was worrying.  About our race, about the way humanity perceives us, about the fate of our planet..."

He nodded and moved his servo to the former warlord's shoulder.  "And I refused to listen to your concerns."

"You're an optimist."

He shook his helm.  "No.  I am not.  I... Megatron, there were cameras everywhere.  Only a small percentage were visible.  I am still finding them.  We never knew who was watching and listening.  I was not being optimistic, I was being careful.  For all we know, we were also bugged.  Those GHOST badges that we were forced to wear..."

"Why did you not tell me of your concerns?"

"Tell you what? That I was paranoid? I had no evidence and did not even know what I suspected GHOST of doing.  Besides, I know you.  One flare of temper and you would have let something slip."

He snorted and then wiped at his nose.

"Oh.  Here..." Optimus found him an oily old rag that had obviously been used for vehicle maintenance and handed it to him.  "Is the cold still disagreeing with you?"

"Thank you.  You could say that," he scrubbed at his nose irritably.  "I miss Cybertron's climate."

He missed Cybertron generally.

His friend patted his shoulder.  "We should go somewhere warmer."

"I am all right here, Optimus.  It is a lot warmer in here than it is outside and I promised Dorothy that I would return before dark, anyway (I think the incident with the sparkeater unnerved her)."

"We had best keep an eye on the time, then."

"I am sorry."

"No, don't be.  I am glad that you have a friend looking out for you."

Did Prime have anyone looking out for him, Megatron wondered.

They refuelled together, chatting quietly.  There was nowhere to sit in the (now empty) vehicle store, to which they had moved in search of energon, so they seated themselves on the floor, cross-legged.  Their shoulders were almost touching.

"You know you can always talk to me," Megatron told his friend.  "I understand your reasons for not doing so when we were working with Croft, but things are different now.  You can tell me anything, Optimus."

He averted his optics.  "I do not like to trouble you."

He spread his servos, almost spilling his measure of energon.  "I want you to trouble me!"

"Oh, Megatron... what can I tell you? I am afraid that Cybertron is gone – and everyone with it that we left behind.  I am sure the Allspark must have been destroyed in the explosion.  It was too close! It... it..."

He nodded, setting aside his half-finished energon and hugging his knees to himself.  "I know.  I was right there.  The Space Bridge all but blew up in my face.  I was watching the Allspark.  Perhaps... perhaps it survived... I could not see – I could not tell.  I keep going over it, trying to review the explosion in slow motion.  I cannot tell whether it was clear or not."

"Why do you torture yourself? It was not your fault."

"It was not yours, either," he rested his chin atop his knees and shivered.  "It was Starscream.  As always.  He was going to retrieve it before it could even reach Cybertron.  You had no choice.  I know that.  Everyone who was there knows it."

"Yes, well..."

"I thought we were going to move forward," Megatron muttered.  "Make friends with the humans, rebuild... form an alliance..."

Optimus tossed his helm with a roll of his optics.  "That did not work out well, did it?"

"Don't do this to me," he begged.  "I am not the upbeat, optimistic one.  I never have been."

"Never? Are you sure about that?"

He shrugged and looked around the empty vehicle store.  "It is difficult to feel optimistic after all that has happened with Croft and Mandroid."

"It is," Optimus agreed, taking a sip of his energon.  "Very difficult.  But we are not alone.  We have the Maltos and Agent Schloder..."

"Jon," he corrected him absently.

"Yes.  Jon."

Megatron shivered again.  He could count his friends on one servo: Dot Malto, perhaps her husband, Optimus.  The Terrans were protégés, not friends.  Bumblebee had always been polite but somewhat shy (though his recent illness had changed their dynamic slightly).  Schloder had been offered support in his bereavement, but (to his knowledge, anyway) he had yet to take anyone up on it.  The former warlord doubted that, of all the Cybertronians that he could reach out to, he would be his last choice – let alone his first.

All the same, he wondered how he was.

"You should head back, Megatron," Optimus reminded him gently.  "It will be getting dark soon.  Dot will no doubt worry, especially if the conditions remain bad."

He nodded and allowed Prime to help him to his pedes.  Then he finished his energon.

"You are all right, aren't you?"

Optimus stared back at him, finials tilting back guiltily as his optics slid away to gaze at a far corner of the room.  "Why do you ask?"

"Because, lately, I can never tell.  You keep to yourself, you answer calls sporadically... Bumblebee feels neglected, I am sure."

"I don't mean-"

He shook his helm and waved a servo dismissively.  "It is not about what you mean.  It is about your actions and what those actions imply.  Bumblebee seemed hurt, when he said that you rarely answer his calls.  Myself, I am concerned.  This is not you, Optimus.  You do not sit alone in the dark with your thoughts.  You take stock, yes, but I have never known you to behave like this."

"What would you have me do?" Prime retorted hotly, finials snapping upright in indignation and then slanting back angrily.  "Invite myself to the Maltos and take up residence, as you have done? I do not feel the cold as you do – I am far hardier."

"Oh! So I am weak and a burden, am I?"

"If that is what you want to take from this, then-"

"Good bye, Optimus," he turned on his heel and marched out, back straight and fists clenched.

He wished he had said nothing.

Why did they have to constantly argue?

Why could he not make Optimus understand that he cared?

Chapter Text

With the wind now at his back, Megatron made good time.  He arrived at the Malto Family's farm almost before he knew it and changed back into his root mode gratefully.  He approached the barn as quickly as he was able, eager to escape the icy blast of the building gale.

He had started to shiver the moment he transformed – before he had so much as set his pedes on the frozen ground.

Upon entering the barn, he found Alex and Dot manhandling a large, net-wrapped fir tree towards the hatch to the dugout and approached them quickly.

"That must be heavy! Here, let me help you with that."

Dot smiled at him gratefully as he took it from them.

"Megs! Made it back in one piece, I see."

He nodded and sniffled.  "I promised to return by nightfall – I did not want you to worry."

Alex opened the hatch for him.  "Let me help you, Megatron.  I know the tree isn't too heavy for you, but it is awkward and it must be difficult for you to see where you are stepping."

"Thank you.  Lead the way, Doctor Malto.  Don't worry, I am not going to step on you."

He did so cheerfully, while Dot followed behind.

"Where did you want this? In the entertainment area?"

"I think so," Dot confirmed.  "We've got two in the house – a 4ft one in the hall, to welcome callers, and a 6ft one in the lounge.  We thought the kids might want an even bigger one in here, though, seeing as the ceiling is high enough to stand it.  This is a 9ft.  You're welcome to help decorate it, by the way, Megs."

He held the tree steady while Alex and Dot eagerly unwrapped it and fluffed it out, restoring it to all its glory.

"Pines have a strange scent," he remarked, sniffing.  "It is... warm, somehow."

"Kind of like spices," Dot nodded.  "It's the sap – gives them distinctive scents.  Some types even smell a little like oranges."

"Is that why humans like to use dried oranges in their Christmas decorations? I seem to recall seeing them used in garlands and... perhaps on a wreath or something, a few years back.  I believe Croft had the person or persons responsible remove them because she felt that they would attract pests..."

"Sounds about right," Dot remarked.  "Megs, could you help us put the tree trunk in the stand, here? If you lift it slightly and hold it steady... that's it.  Just a little to the left.  Woah! Now a little to the right... little more.  Perfect! Hold it there while I tighten the screws in the stand, please."

He shivered slightly but was careful to keep the tree in place while his friend worked.

"Nearly done, Megs.  You OK?"

"Of course.  Just a bit of ice in my... in... takes.  Ksschhh!"

"Bless you," she patted his pede before scrambling back out from beneath the tree.  "OK, we're done.  You can let go, now.  Want a blanket?"

He released the tree and took a step back to admire it, whilst rubbing at his nose.  "No, thank you.  I shall be all right – just warming up."

His optics swept over the new addition to the dugout and he smiled with approval.  "It is a beautiful tree."

"Certainly is."

Twitch flew around it, shaking balled fists in poorly-contained excitement.  "Now we can decorate it! Right, Mom?"

"I think you'll want Alex and I to put the lights on it," she replied.  "They are awkward – always tangle up."

"Let me help," Megatron volunteered.  "Seeing as I have intruded upon your celebrations, I should make myself useful where I can."

Dot and Alex smiled up at him.

"You are our guest," Alex assured him.  "You are not intruding."

"But your help would certainly be appreciated, Megs," Dot added.  "If you do want to join in, that is.  Don't feel obligated, if you're tired after travelling in the bad weather.  And don't think I haven't noticed you trying not to shiver, either."

He sniffled and rubbed at his nose again.  "No, I really do want to be helpful.  Besides, I was never invited to join in, at GHOST Headquarters.  I rarely even had the opportunity to watch our colleagues decorate."

"If you put it that way, you can come and join in every year," Alex told him, grinning.  "I'll go and fetch down the lights and tinsel."

"And I'll get us some mulled juice.  Want a little mulled energon, Megs? I'm sure adding a few Earth spices won't hurt you.  It's just dried plant matter.  Besides, I'll sift the large particles out before serving.  Not got any sensitivities, have you?"

"Not that I know of," he replied.  "I only had a problem with the hay because some of the particles became caught in my intakes.  I was not allergic, merely..." he waved a servo, trying to find the right word or phrase.  "Irritated."

Dot chuckled quietly.  "'Irritated' kind of implies an allergy, usually.  I think I know what you mean, though.  Anyway, I'll be right back.  Kids? Want to try some mulled cave water?"

Jawbreaker jumped up and down.  "You can mull cave water, too?"

"Well, yeah.  It's just warmed, with spices added to it.  I'll make some and you can see if you kiddos like it."

"We get to try a grown-up drink!" Thrash cheered after Dot had gone.

Mo chuckled.  "It's just a winter thing, T.  Hot, spiced drinks are nice and warming.  Mom especially likes hot chocolate with chilli and ginger in it.  And me and Robby like warm milk, with honey and pumpkin spice before bed on Christmas Eve.  Mmm! It's a cosy, sleepy kind of drink."

"Does warm milk help you to recharge?" Megatron asked.  "That is interesting.  I would have thought it would have the opposite effect.  Milk is all fat, isn't it? I thought that was where humans got your energy."

Robby tilted his head to one side and rubbed his chin.  "I don't really know," he admitted.  "But milk helps most humans feel sleepy.  Unless they're lactose intolerant, I guess.  That means milk makes them sick."

"Oh.  Ugh," Megatron shuddered at the thought.  "Fuel sensitivities are horrible.  I was lucky and never had any (besides the obvious – inability to process the stuff all younglings are unable to process before their chassis mature enough), but I had a few friends who struggled horribly, when they were young."

Alex came back with the lights and tinsel in a large, semi-transparent box with a hinged lid.  "I'm going to give Dottie some help with the drinks," he told them.  "You can take a look at the lights and decide which ones you like best, but please don't plug any in to test them.  They might get damaged.  Just look at the boxes and talk it out, OK?"

"Why does it have to take so long?" Thrash grumbled when they were alone again.

"Yeah, I want to hurry up and get to the bit we can all do together," Jawbreaker added.

Megatron dragged over a large, empty crate and sat on it.  "The lights are fiddly and get tangled easily," he told them.  "The big, strung outdoor bulbs are bad enough – I have had to help to hang those often enough to know all about them! Ha! If you watch us, you will probably soon be glad that you are not helping with that part."

"Why don't I put on a little Christmas music, to get us in the mood?" Hashtag asked.

"Not the screamy one again, please," Megatron requested.  "It hurts my helm."

"What screamy one?" Mo asked him.

He groaned.  "Oh, you know.  The noisy one.  It says something about not wanting the festivities to end or... something."

"Oh! The Darkness," Hashtag grinned and then looked disappointed.  "I like that one."

"I am not saying that you cannot play it at all," he assured her.  "But I have been outside in the cold and my helm and intakes are a little painful.  Let me finish thawing and then you can listen to anything you like."

Jawbreaker frowned at him, suddenly worried.  "Maybe you should've let Mom give you that blanket.  Are you sick?"

"No.  Just... my chassis does not like the cold, much.  My intakes freeze up and then I get helmaches.  Sometimes.  When it is really bad outside or I have been out in the cold for too long.  I'll be all right after some... wwwwarrr... ksssschhh! Ksshoooooosssch-sschoossschh! Eeugh.  Forgive me.  I shall be all right after some warm energon.  Ugh! Did this come out of me?"

He picked up a piece of rapidly-melting ice from off the floor with a grimace.

"I'll be right back – better dispose of this stuff before someone slips on it."

He tossed what was left of the ice into the nearest washrack's waste collection point.  Then he took a quick, hot solvent shower before he could make any more mess.  He had not realised that his chest intakes had been so caked with ice until he had sneezed a chunk of the stuff onto the floor.  He hardly wanted a repeat of that.

While he was enjoying his warming shower, he heard the music come on.  It was loud enough for him to hear it clearly over the running solvent and – for a moment – he thought he could hear it all the way from the entertainment area.  Then he noticed that a Bluetooth speaker was sitting on top of the waste collection point's cistern, beneath what looked like an air freshener.  Well... perhaps it was not as loud as he had first thought.

He emerged less than two minutes later, warm and refreshed (and smelling of chocolate and vanilla, which he hoped was a good choice for the season).

When he returned to the group, he found them arguing over which lights were best.  He sighed and prepared to act as referee.

"Why don't we all stop talking over each other, sit down and take turns listening?"

Twitch pointed an angry digit at Thrash.  "He always has to argue over something! I bet he only picked a different set of lights because I like these!"

She held up a tub containing 750 colour-changing berry lights.

Megatron took the tiny box by its handle with a single digit and squinted at it, moving it nearer to and further from his optics as he attempted to read it.  "I think I need a magnifying lens to make this out.  What are these, Little Bird?"

"They change colour all by themselves," she explained.  "They're rainbow berry lights.  There are seven hundred and fifty of them, so they should cover the tree OK."

He gave them back.  "And what have you got for us, Thrash?"

"Twinkling white lights," he replied, holding them up.  "They have more than a hundred functions, including 'slow fade', 'rapid chase' and 'lightning strike'.  I like the sound of 'lightning strike'! I wonder what it does!"

"They had those at GHOST one year.  Everywhere.  They left them on the demo setting, which meant they looped through short samples of all one hundred and something functions.  I believe 'lightning strike' is the one that shuts them all off and then has them flash in a strobe effect.  I doubt your parents will appreciate that one – in any case, it can be dangerous.  It does not give the optics sufficient time to adjust to the darkness nor the brightness."

"Megs, you're no fun!" Thrash grumbled.

He rubbed a servo over his faceplate.  "If you agree to keep to a more... gentle setting, I see no reason why we could not use both sets of lights.  Twitch, your choice is static, but colour-changing, am I right?"

She nodded, grinning.

"That will reduce the... uh... effect... that the twinkling will have on the room," Megatron mused, rubbing his chin.  "Trust me, twinkling can become too much after a while.  But a little moving light on a tree looks good – it can really show off the things you hang on it."

"A compromise, then," Nightshade remarked, coming from the lab to join them.  "That sounds like a good idea to me."

Hashtag ran up.  "Robby! The printer's finished.  Go and see!"

"Printer?" Megatron queried, as the two human children dashed off.

"Mom and Dad gave us a 3D printer, to design and make our own decorations with," Nightshade explained.

Twitch nodded.  "We've got silver, gold, copper, red and green stuff to try out in it.  So far, we've tried the green and the gold."

She held up a green... thing.  He squinted at it.  "What is it?"

"It's a Christmas tree," Thrash told him impatiently.  "Look.  It's a sort of a modern take on one, see? It's twisty."

It was too small for him to make out, not helped by it being a dark colour with a matt finish. 

"Oh, I see," he said, still trying to make it out.

Mo and Robby rejoined the group and Mo held up their latest creation.  It was another twisted Christmas tree, still in green, but with a gold edge this time.

Megatron peered at it and smiled.  "Ah! I can see this one, all right.  The gold makes a big difference."

A chill draught made him shiver and he looked up to see Dot and Alex making their way down from the barn with drinks.  Bumblebee, who was on his way to the entertainment area from the medbay, hurried to offer assistance and Megatron was quick to follow suit.

Before long, everyone was sitting together with warm, spiced drinks.

"I didn't know you could add flavourings to energon," Bumblebee remarked.  "It's pretty good."

"Makes it sweeter," Megatron agreed, licking his lips.  "I like it."

"Me too."

"It makes the cave water taste sweet, too," Jawbreaker said.  "It's nice."

"Just the thing on a cold day," Dot agreed.  Then she set aside her cup of mulled juice.  "Well, those lights aren't gonna put themselves on the tree.  Let's give them a quick test and then get started.  What d'you think, Alex? Start with the twinkling ones first?"

He shrugged.  "You're the boss," he retorted playfully.

She rolled her eyes.  "You can stop saying that, you know.  Decorating is a team effort."

"And every team needs a leader – you're it."

"Look, I'm sorry we didn't get to decorate in September as usual, this year, but it has been hectic and-"

"Wait!" Jawbreaker interrupted.  "September?"

The other Terrans were all staring at their parents in a combination of surprise, hurt and anger.

"You mean, we could've decorated in September?" Hashtag asked.

"Why weren't we allowed?" Thrash asked.

Dot groaned and clapped a hand to her forehead.  "Because we didn't want you getting too excited too early, for one thing.  This is your first Christmas and we wanted to go about this one... gently.  And Bee was really sick, back in September.  He still needed lots of rest and quiet, remember?"

Bumblebee squirmed, looking guilty.  "Sorry."

"It's not your fault," Dot assured him.  "Next year will be different, I'm sure.  This time, we just thought it was best to introduce the Terrans to our family traditions a little delicately, anyhow.  It's a lot when it's all new."

Megatron cleared his vocaliser and hauled himself to his pedes before downing what remained of his energon.  "Alex, why don't you tell them about your Christmas traditions while I assist Dorothy with the lights? I am sure your young ones would like to know all about them."

"I'll help too," Bumblebee volunteered.  "But I'll still listen.  I like to hear about traditions from the Philippines."

Megatron took the starting end of the lights and helped to unwind and spread them, untangling them as required (why did string lights always do that?) and waited for Dot to test them and ensure that they were set up appropriately.  Then he started to put them on the tree, starting at the top.  He could hear Alex explaining why festivities started in September in the Philippines.

Alex described setting up a Nativity scene, referred to as a 'Belen' in Filipino.  He said that, before moving to the farm, they had had to make do with a small one, which was beautifully carved from wood and had been in the Malto Family for no less than five generations.

"But this year, we can have a big one in the garden," he said excitedly.  "Like my grandparents always had, when I visited them over the Christmas season."

"Are you going to buy one or make one?" Megatron asked him.  "If you want help making something, I would be happy to help.  I like to be creative."

"I already bought one," he replied.  "I got it online, back in July.  What? I thought we were going to need it for September, so I made sure it arrived in plenty of time.  I was excited!"

Dot shook her head.  "You get more excited than the kids, I swear."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Bumblebee interjected.

Megatron agreed.  "I think it's good.  Why not get as excited as the children? It seems to me that this is a special time of year.  What else do you do in the Philippines, Doctor Malto?"

"Call me Alex, Megatron, please.  I am only Doctor Malto when I'm in class."

"Apologies, Alex."

He cleared his throat.  "Well, let me see... there are the traditional dishes that I love to make... but you aren't going to be able to enjoy those, so I'll skip over that.  Oh! There is a special decoration that we use, called the 'parol'.  It's traditionally a circle with a star in its centre, but some people use a flower instead.  Bee and I already put some on the side of the house, before the weather turned too cold for him."

"Oh! Yes, I saw those.  I wondered what they were."

He almost said that they would help to deter sparkeaters, but he caught himself in time.  That was not a thing that should be brought up with younglings listening – he did not even want Bumblebee to hear about it.

Alex then described the Christmases of his childhood, when he would visit his grandparents.  Waking up at Midnight to celebrate Christmas Day with a special feast, called 'Noche Buena' and exchanging gifts.

Megatron suddenly felt homesick for Cybertron.  While it was true that they had nothing that was much like Christmas (at least, not as far as he knew.  Perhaps the wealthier Cybertronians, who were able to afford feasting, might have had something like it?), there were traditions that he missed.  Friends and family that he desperately would have liked to have seen, too.

"Are you all right, Megs?" Dot asked him, noticing that his posture had changed and his shoulders were sagging.

"He wasn't feeling too well after being outside," Hashtag told her mother.  "He sneezed ice all over the floor."

He grimaced and turned to look his friend in the eye.  As anticipated, she did not look best pleased. 

"I cleaned it up," he told her quickly.  "And I showered and warmed up.  I am all right.  Now."

She raised an eyebrow at him.  "Uh-huh.  So, why didn't you tell me you'd iced up?"

He shrugged and averted his gaze sheepishly.  "I failed to notice until the ice melted enough to begin to dislodge itself.  I suppose I was too sore and numb to feel it.  Apologies."

"Megs, 'I couldn't feel it' is a legitimate enough excuse for humans, but you have warning messages and stuff.  You should have known that something was wrong.  Why didn't you?"

It was true – and a good question.  He put it down to still being upset with Optimus – he had been distracted the entire flight back.

"I... I have no explanation to give.  Perhaps I was colder than I realised.  I feel all right now, however, aside from the remainder of the helmache I came back with (also from the chill in the air, no doubt).  Please, Dorothy, stop looking at me like that."

She sighed and shook her head.  "As long as you're OK.  Tell me if you start feeling bad or if you need anything right away."

He gave his word that he would.

Her eyes swept over him once more and she frowned.  Then she shook her head, finished her mulled apple juice and returned to work on the tree, dropping the subject.

Megatron gave a silent sigh of relief and turned his attention to the lights in his servos.

Best put Optimus and Cybertron both to the back of his mind, for now.

Chapter Text

It really is amazing just how quickly a tree can become something spectacular.  Even without the tinsel, the Christmas tree drew the optic.

Megatron shook himself, realising that he had been staring at it.

"You OK?" Dot asked him.

He blinked and knelt beside her.  "I think the lights hypnotised me.  I found myself lost in thought."

"As long as you're all right.  You haven't seemed yourself since you got back."

He covered his fuel intake and pretended to yawn.  "I think the cold wind tired me a little."

She touched his servo.  "Do you want to go lie down for a bit? I'll call you before we run out of decorations."

He smiled and shook his helm.  "No.  I am all right, Dorothy.  I just need an early night, perhaps."

She patted his servo and smiled back.  "OK.  So long as you're sure.  You do look pretty tired, though."

The yawn must have been a convincing one! He would have to remember that and use it again.  It seemed a good way to deflect unwarranted concern.  After all, what was he supposed to do? Tell everyone that he was worried about Optimus? Admit that he had made things worse by getting into a fight with him and storming out? What would that achieve?

He helped to put the tinsel on the tree and then – finally – it was time to put the hanging decorations ('baubles') on the tree.

Instead of hanging the (incredibly fiddly) tiny decorations himself, he took a selection of them in one servo and lifted Dot into the other.  Then he positioned himself as close to the tree as he could without knocking it over.

"Can you reach?"

She turned to smile at him over her shoulder.  "Thanks, Megs.  Yes, I can reach – you make a very fine cherry picker."

Twitch flew around to the other side and started to hang baubles near the top, humming along with the music that was playing.

"This is a nice song," Megatron remarked.

"This one is called 'Rocking Around the Christmas Tree'," Alex told him.

He smiled to himself, listening to the words.  They conjured up a cosy scene.  Home cooking, singing...

"Megs? Megs?"

He blinked his optics and met Dot's gaze.  "Hm? Oh.  Apologies, Dorothy.  Did you want to get down?"

"No, I just asked if you could let me take another bauble from your other hand.  Are you OK?"

He smiled at her sheepishly.  "I was lost in the music.  It made me think of... home.  What home could be.  It is difficult to explain."

She stared up at him sadly.  "I understand," she assured him.  "Megs, you're with family and you're loved, OK? I know this isn't Cybertron and I know you get homesick in the wintertime.  I wish you'd told me that you still feel that way, but I get it.  Now, do you want to join in, or do you need some time to yourself?"

What did he want? He straightened up.  "I want to join in.  I'll buck up."

"No, you're not gonna just pretend you're happy and make yourself feel worse.  Join in and have fun, but take time for yourself when you need to.  It's OK to feel sad – even at Christmas.  Even when everyone else is happy and having fun.  OK?"

He nodded and gave her a grateful smile.

"That's better! That's the smile I know and love."

His smile broadened and he drew his servos together, allowing her to select the next decoration to hang on the tree.

When the top was finished, he set Dot down and knelt on the floor, watching everyone decorate the tree.

Bumblebee took a step back to assess the progress and almost tripped over him.  He righted himself before he could land in his lap.

"Sorry, Megatron!"

"Apologies, Bumblebee."

They gazed at each other for a long moment.  Then Megatron stood.

"I should have realised that I would be in the way, sitting here like this."

The scout tilted his helm to one side.  "Have you put anything on the tree?"

"I am too big and they are too small.  I would not be able to see – I would probably drop the bauble I was trying to hang or something."

Bumblebee handed him a paper star.  "Here.  Come on.  I'll help you."

He – very gently – isolated a branch for him and helped him to hang the star on it.  Then he smiled up at him.

He smiled back.  "Thank you."

"Do you want to hang any more?"

He shook his helm.  "I actually am starting to feel quite tired now," he confessed.  "Flying out to Optimus, I was battling a strong, icy headwind.  It meant that I had it behind me all the way back here, but it was building into a gale by then and it was even colder."

"Maybe you should get some rest, Megs," Dot suggested.  "I'll bring you some more warmed energon when we're done here."

He nodded and left them to it, gazing at the glittering tree once more before making his way to the room he had used on previous visits.

"I hope he's all right," he heard Bumblebee say.  "He hasn't seemed like his usual self since he got back."

He didn't go into recharge.  Instead, he alternated between staring at the bare walls and tossing and turning upon the berth.

A knock came at the door and he sat up with his blanket draped around his shoulders.  "Come in."

Dot entered with the warmed energon she had promised, plus some extra blankets.  He took the energon gratefully and started to drink.

"Megs, I didn't want to push in front of everyone, but I'm worried about you.  Did something happen while you were out?"

He sniffed and pressed the palms of his servos to his mug one after the other, warming them gratefully.  "Like what?"

"I don't know! I wasn't there," she waved her arms.  "But you're acting the way you do when you're sick or injured.  I know you better than to think you'd hide a sickness from me, so... did you get hurt, while you were out? Did you get into an accident?"

"No."

She huffed and folded her arms.  "Are you really going to make me guess?"

"Apologies, Dorothy," he shook his helm and gave a sigh.  "I am worried about Optimus.  I found him sitting alone in the dark.  In the cold.  There is no power at GHOST Headquarters.  Admittedly, it was warmer in there than it was outside and I don't think he has anywhere else to go for shelter that would be any better, but I could see his vents puffing steam, so it was not my imagination when I thought that it seemed... chilly."

He groaned and set aside his mug to hide his face in his servos.  "When I tried to voice my concerns, he started an argument and I played right into his servos and stormed out.  As I always do, when we disagree."

She patted his knee.  "Would you like me to invite him to stay here?"

"I could not ask you to do that."

"You didn't ask.  I'm offering.  Besides, he can cook for you all – Bumblebee, the Terrans, you... Nightshade and Alex have been building a kitchen down here.  I think it's ready, now."

He stared at her.  "Dorothy... you are wonderful!"

She laughed and grinned at him.  "It's Christmas, Megs.  Nobody should be alone at Christmas – especially not in the dark and cold.  I'll drive out to him and invite him here myself – I need to check on the animals, anyway.  I should put out some food, before too many critters start dying."

"Need any help? I don't like the thought of you going out alone.  Not after dark."

Her eyes swept over him.  "OK, come with me if you want to.  But if you start suffering, I want you to say so."

"I promise."

"Good."

He finished his energon and hauled himself to his pedes.  "Ready when you are."

She laughed again.  "OK, well, I should use the little ranger's room and then I have to load up my truck with animal feed.  If you need to make any last-minute preparations before we get going, now's your chance."

He nodded with a smile.  "I'll meet you outside and help to load the truck."

"OK, Megs.  See you in a couple of minutes."

Seeing her comment about freshening up as the concealed prompt that it was, he made use of the washrack.  Then he made his way to the ramp and gazed at the now complete Christmas tree.  It looked spectacular – he was convinced that he had never seen such a beautiful, welcoming sight.

It would be pleasant to return to it, after venturing out into the cold and dark.

Chapter Text

Megatron helped Dot to load up the truck while Alex looked on with concern.

"Dottie? Don't you think you should wait and go out in the morning?"

She shook her head.  "I need to check on the cows and make sure the wild animals are doing OK.  I noticed the berries were nearly all gone, when we were heading back with the trees.  I need to put food out now, before the natural resources run out.  Besides, I think we should get Optimus to come back with us as soon as possible – I don't like the way he sounded when Megs described him."

"Do you need me with you?"

"No, I need you to help Bumblebee look after the kids.  He's still recovering, remember."

He nodded and embraced her tightly.  "Be safe, Dottie."

Megatron knelt in front of them and offered the doctor a servo.  "I promise to keep Dorothy safe.  If necessary, I shall guard her with my life.  I will not return without her."

"It won't be necessary," Dot cut in.  "We're just going to make sure the animals are OK and fetch Optimus.  We'll be back before you know it, Alex."

She hopped into her truck and revved the engine.  Megatron gave Alex a nod and transformed, keeping pace with the slow vehicle as it took to the road.

Dot called him up.  "Let's keep in touch the whole way.  I want to know you're all right."

He would have argued, but he knew that doing so would cause her to put her foot down and insist that he go back.

"First stop: the cows?"

"That's right, Megs.  Then we'll stop along the way and hang feeders in the trees that used to be thick with berries."

"And... what? We'll just happen to end up at GHOST Headquarters?"

"You're going to stay outside a fair distance away and hang feeders.  Leave Optimus to me."

"Should I pity him?"

They both laughed.

"Just keep out of the way.  I don't want him to decide you put me up to this.  I decided to go check the animals, you wanted to tag along."

"That is more or less the truth."

"How're you doing, by the way?" Dot asked.

"Getting a bit cold," he admitted.  "We can't shiver while we are in our alt modes, so we tend to feel the chill beneath our plating a little keener."

She frowned.  "Do you need to go back?"

"No, Dorothy," he quickly assured her.  "I am all right."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am.  It is not even as cold as it was earlier.  I distinctly remember my readouts telling me that it was exactly fourteen degrees Fahrenheit – now it is almost 23."

They stopped to give the cows some hay and to fill their trough with a nutritious feed.

Next, Megatron was tasked with hanging some feeders on the nearby fruit bushes and trees.  He used his height to his advantage, selecting the branches that were as far above the ground as possible.

"Nice job," Dot remarked.  "You carry on and I'll check in with Optimus."

He started to nod, then stopped still, chest intakes sputtering.

"Megs...?"

He held up a digit and then pitched forward into a raised servo.  "Ksssch-ssschoooooschhh! Oh...! Snf.  Excuse me."

"Bless you! Are you OK? I thought you said you're not feeling so cold."

He shook his helm.  "I'm fine.  It's just that I can't sneeze when I'm in my alt mode.  I suppose I must have had that lurking for a while.  Apologies for worrying you."

"I really hope you're not going down with something," she remarked, concerned.

"I feel fine, Dorothy," he assured her.

"Well... we'll be heading back soon, anyway.  Call me if you need me, OK?"

He nodded.  "Likewise."

He watched her hop inside her truck and pull away with a sudden feeling of unease.

Dot had been gone for almost twenty minutes, with Megatron still hanging bird feeders and setting up salt licks and other such resources for the wildlife, when he felt something cold touch the back of his neck.  Then another touched his helm.

He looked up from his work to find that it was starting to snow – the flakes were large and falling lazily in the still air.  At some point, the wind had dropped completely.

He finished his task and then crept to the entrance of GHOST HQ for shelter.  He sat down and hugged his knees to himself, doing his best to keep himself warm.

"Megatron?" Optimus approached him on quiet pedes and crouched to touch his shoulder.  "Ranger Malto failed to mention that you were here."

"I was looking for Dorothy, when it started to snow," he explained.  "I thought I'd shelter here and wait it out."

Dot scrambled out of her truck and came to his side to stare out at the weather.  The flakes were falling in earnest, now.  She touched his ankle and stared up into his faceplate with obvious concern.

"Megs, will you be OK flying in this?"

He nodded.  "I will be better moving than staying here."

"Then let's go," she said with a decisive nod.  "Are you OK, Optimus?"

"Me?" Prime smiled at her, apparently surprised and touched by her concern.  "I don't feel the cold like Megatron."

She rolled her eyes.  "I still should ask.  Come on, then, let's get home.  I'll heat the two of you up some energon and then you can take an early night."

That sounded good! Megatron transformed eagerly and took to the air.  He waited for his friends to emerge onto the road and then kept pace with them.

The journey back was uncomfortable.  As the wind had blown itself out with the onset of the snowstorm, the flakes were able to fall thick and fast, with no sign of the clouds moving on.

As the snow began to pile up on the road, so Dot and Optimus were forced to reduce their speed.  Megatron had to choose between leaving them behind and taking to his pedes.  It was not a difficult decision.  In an instant, he had transformed and was busy doing his best to kick the snow from their path.

"Thanks, Megs," Dot acknowledged.  "How are you doing?"

For an answer, he gave a half-stifled sneeze: "Ksch!"

"Bless you.  Do you want to go on ahead?"

"No," he answered curtly.  "I want to ensure that we all get back in one piece.  Snf.  Besides, I promised your conjunx that I would not return without you and I meant that with all my spark."

"OK," she replied.  "Let's go, then.  You OK, Optimus?"

"The cold does not bother me," he responded, "but I am concerned for Megatron.  He looks as if he is suffering."

"I heard that," he snapped.  "I'm fine.  Why don't you help me clear this snow, Optimus?"

He grumbled and transformed, hugging his arms close to his chassis as he approached Megatron's side and started to work with him.

"I thought you said the cold was not bothering you?"

He grumbled.  "I feel it more in my root mode, as I am sure you do, too," he then lowered his voice: "If you really want to know, Megatron, I am beginning to want to use the washrack and it is easier to ignore that when I am in my alt mode."

He almost asked him why he had not taken care of that before heading out, but changed his mind.  Optimus had a habit of ignoring his discomforts and would probably not have wanted to keep Dot waiting.

"Oh.  Right.  Well, change back, then.  I'll clear a path as fast as I can."

He nodded.  "Thank you."

Megatron worked in earnest, kicking at the piling snow for all he was worth, until the work had him feeling quite warm.  Before long, the lights on the Malto Family's farmhouse became visible through the trees.  He redoubled his efforts.

As they neared the house, he saw Alex out, busily clearing their driveway and piling the snow to one side.  Megatron was quick to join him, while his friends pulled in behind them.

Dot emerged from her truck and embraced her husband at a run.  Optimus quickly transformed and entered the barn unnoticed.

"Did Optimus sneak inside before I could even welcome him?" Alex asked, when he and his wife had parted.

Megatron shuffled awkwardly on his pedes, not knowing exactly how to explain.

"I think the cold was bothering him more than he wanted to admit," Dot explained.  "Optimus tried helping Megatron to clear the snow, but he ended up having to transform back into his alt mode and leave the work to Megs."

That explanation would do.  The former warlord was about to nod but then froze, fuel intake hanging open and optics half-shuttering themselves as his chest intakes and nose burned.  He raised his servo towards his faceplate with a shiver and then pitched into it with one of his harsh, double sneezes:

"Ksssch-ssschoooooschhh!"

"Bless you," Alex touched his pede and stared up at him.  "Thank you for keeping your word and bringing Dottie home to us safely.  I think you'd best get inside, now."

He nodded gratefully and made his way to the dugout.  He could hear his friends following behind, with their heavy boots crunching on the new snow.

As he descended the ramp, he was greeted by the tree that he had helped to decorate.  He smiled to himself as he stopped to admire it.

"Go and warm up, Megs," Dot called to him.  "The tree isn't going anywhere."

He turned to give her a sheepish smile, before heading for his room and the pile of blankets which he knew would be waiting for him.

In no time at all, he was curled on his berth, huddled beneath four heavy blankets.  He could barely keep his optics open – the battle to keep the road clear had been much more tiring than he had realised.

A knock came at the door and he sat up quickly – a little too quickly, tired as he was.  He swayed, vision dimming for a moment.  Then he shivered and pulled his blankets about himself.

Dot poked her head around the door and smiled at him.  She had brought some warmed energon – it had a bitter taste, which she had clearly tried to disguise by mulling it.  He grimaced at the flavour.

"Dorothy?"

"Yes, Megs?"

"Did you mean to give me medgrade fuel?"

She grimaced.  "I thought it was better to be safe than sorry.  You've been out in the cold a lot today and I didn't like the sound of those sneezes.  Besides, I'd be a pretty lousy friend if I let you get sick without even trying to take care of you, wouldn't I?"

He grumbled.  "I suppose so, Dorothy.  Thank you for your concern, but I feel all right."

"Glad to hear it.  Sorry if I overstepped, but you were working hard clearing the snow, when you could've been back here and in the warm within minutes."

He smiled at her and swallowed a large gulp of the energon.  Ugh! Mulling it did nothing to improve the flavour!

"Sorry, Megs.  Want some oil or something, to wash it down with?"

He nodded gratefully.  Then he smirked.  "Has Optimus been dosed with medgrade too?"

"Yes.  He wasn't happy about it, but I told him he can take it without a fuss or else I'd call Ratchet in.  He's been staying at GHOST for weeks, in the dark and cold."

Megatron sobered at the words.  "Poor Optimus.  He must have felt neglected."

"Maybe, but he has lots of friends that he could've reached out to," she said.  "There was no reason for anyone to think he was alone like that."

He started to respond, but was forced to stop and yawn.

"I'll get you that oil," Dot said, turning to open the door.  "Get all the rest you need.  See you tomorrow."

Did she expect to return and find him already in recharge? Ha! He was made of sterner stuff than that!

He finished his energon and set aside the mug.  Then, before he had had time to so much as lie back down, his optics shuttered themselves and his weary body sagged and stilled.

Chapter Text

All was still and quiet.  Megatron stretched on his berth and unshuttered his optics.

His mood was lazy.  That was unusual, because he rarely even permitted himself to slow down when recovering from an injury, but he knew with certainty that he had nowhere to be and nothing that he had to do.  In fact, he knew with certainty that he would be encouraged to rest up.

He couldn't bring himself to check – or to care – what the time was.

He was content beneath his warm blankets, in his dimly-lit room, and he had no inclination to move.

It felt nice to have no pressures or obligations, after battling the elements so much the day before.  It was nice to be warm and comfortable, come to that.

He yawned and curled up, covering his faceplate with his gun arm and idly wondering if he could manage to go back into recharge for a little longer.

He was just on the edge of recharge when someone tapped on his door.  He thought for a moment about answering it, but he was still tired from the events of the previous day and his berth was comfortable.  Instead, he ensured that he was in a convincing 'sleeping' position and powered himself down completely.

The tap came again, a little louder.  He muffled an irate growl and refused to move.  Just this once, he wanted to get up when he chose.

He heard his door open a crack.  For spark's sake! Why couldn't he just be allowed to rest? He was enjoying the peace and warmth!

"Megatron, I hate to do this to you, but..." Bumblebee gave a strangled yelp of alarm.

He almost fell for it and unshuttered his optics – almost.

He heard the scout sigh.  "Guess you still sleep with that cannon of yours on your arm," he muttered.  "Gave me a fright, for a moment."

Megatron groaned and finally forced his optics open.  He realised that he was sprawled comfortably, with his fusion cannon poking out from under his pile of blankets.  It was pointing at Bumblebee's faceplate, right between his optics, as if he had intended to threaten him.

He cleared his vocaliser and sat up slowly, rubbing dried fluid from his right optic.  "Forgive me.  Must have been too tired to remember about my gun, last night.  I usually recharge with it within easy reach.  Leaving it where it is can be uncomfortable.  Impractical, too (tends to get tangled in the covers)."

He was glad he had been too exhausted for nightmares, because the other (main) reason that he took the thing off was that he had a tendency to blast holes in walls, whilst fighting foes that only he was able to see, or trying to clear away debris from a cave-in.  Bumblebee did not need to know about that.

"That's OK," Bumblebee replied, optics sweeping over him.  "You turned in pretty early, yesterday.  Are you OK?"

Was it early? He frowned, trying to remember.

"Megatron? Do you feel OK?"

He nodded and permitted himself a wide yawn.  He was in berth and had just been disturbed – to blazes with manners!

"I do not believe I did turn in particularly early," he corrected the scout, just a little grumpily.  "I went to berth in an attempt to warm up (not to recharge), Dorothy sat with me for a short time and then the two of us decided to venture out together to check on the cattle and wildlife.  And then we met Optimus and the three of us battled through a snowstorm together.  So... excuse me if I'm tired this morning.  Getting cold for extended periods saps my energy to begin with, without-"

"Wait! Did you already know that it snowed last night?"

Of course he knew! "I had the pleasure of being forced to clear a path through the miserable stuff, so that Optimus and Dorothy were able to make the journey back."

Bumblebee's faceplate lit up.  "Optimus is here?"

He sniffed and scratched his nose.  "Next door, I believe.  That sounds like his snore."

Bumblebee grinned at him.  "Is he staying for Christmas?"

"No idea," he replied.  "Dorothy talked with him privately.  Now... why did you disturb me?"

"Oh.  Right," he shuffled guiltily.  "The kids are all out in the snow and I'm not allowed to join them.  Much as I want to.  Can half an hour really hurt? It's fairly mild – I mean, it's still snowing, but there is no ice and-"

Megatron shivered at the thought of the weather and pulled his blankets around him.

"Maybe you caught a chill yesterday," the scout mumbled.  "Perhaps you should stay inside after all.  I'll go out for a few minutes.  I love snow!"

"No, no, I am fine.  Just tired.  Let me... tend to myself and then I'll go and round them up.  I am not the one recovering from pneumonia."

He used the washrack and then stared at his reflection.  He looked miserable.  Sulky.  He glared into his own optics and straightened up.  So what if he hated winter weather? Too bad! His own actions had caused him to be exiled on this uncomfortable planet, so he would just have to take the consequences like everyone else.  He gave a nod of approval and made his way outside.

He crawled out into the snow on his servos and knees, kicking the barn door shut behind himself.  He had not taken a step yet and he was already shivering!

As he straightened to stand, a projectile hit his shoulder and splattered his faceplate, sending slush into his optic and up his nose.

He spluttered in shock and coughed, almost falling on his skidplate.  The sound of mocking laughter filled his audials and he looked around, squinting in the brightness.

"Starscream! Megatron hasn't even been invited to join in the game, yet," he heard Twitch protest from somewhere above him.

He looked up, but could see only swirling snow.  He suddenly felt disorientated – the falling snow making him feel as if he were flying upwards – and his equilibrium destabilised itself, sending him slipping sideways into a drift.

More mocking laughter assailed him.

"Megatron, sir?" Jawbreaker approached his side nervously.  "Are you OK?"

He shuttered his optics and shook his helm, trying to clear it.

"Are you sick?"

He shook his helm again.  "No.  Not ill, young one.  It is too bright out here.  I cannot see."

"Do you need Mom?"

"No," he rumbled, attempting and failing to regain his balance, "don't trouble Dorothy.  I... my optics need time to adjust."

Jawbreaker offered him his servo.  "You're sitting in a snowdrift, sir.  You said you shouldn't ever sit about like that in cold weather."

He let the youngling help him to his pedes and shivered, doing his best to shake off the slush that clung to him and clogged his chest intakes.

"I did say that, didn't I? It was good of you to remember."

"Are you OK now?"

He nodded and squinted at their surroundings.  The sky was white, the ground was white and the snow was falling so thick and fast that everything else looked indistinct and grey.  His helm ached as his optics struggled.

He heard a scrunching sound above him.  Then something hit him on the back of the helm and slid down his back.  Something cold and wet.  He shivered and stifled a sneeze into his servo.

"Hey! No fair," he heard Twitch call out.  "Megatron isn't playing!"

Jawbreaker turned to frown up at the roof of the barn.  "He can't see.  The snow is too bright, or something.  I think he might be sick."

"Oh, please," he heard the voice of the last mech he would want to discover to be behind him whilst vulnerable drawl.  "He's not sick! He was built to be a miner, that's all.  He is designed for the constant temperature parameters and darkness that you find deep underground – there is nothing wrong with him.  At least, not in that sense."

"If you know all that, then tossing snowballs at him when he can't even see you and the cold is really going to bother him isn't very nice," Jawbreaker told him, touching Megatron's arm.

Starscream snorted.  "Nice? Nice? He isn't nice!"

"He's nice to us," Twitch said.  "Jawbreaker's right.  What you did was unkind."

"Fine," he grumbled.  "I won't throw anything else at him, tempting though it is."

Megatron hugged himself for warmth and turned carefully, optics sweeping the roof of the barn.  "What are you doing here, anyway? Aside from encouraging the Terrans to put their health at risk, apparently..."

Starscream snorted and stepped closer to the edge of the barn's roof.  They stood, almost optic to optic.  "I was in the area and thought I should make sure the younglings were all right.  I heard that Bumblebee is recovering from pneumonia – how is he?"

"Sorely tempted to come out and play," Megatron grumbled.  "But I thought you hated snow."

"I had never been given the opportunity to fully appreciate it before," he replied, spreading his arms dramatically.  "We have been building snow forts and defending them with snow-projectiles! It is fun!"

"Huh.  Child!"

"At least I'm not a grumpy old mech," he retorted, wiggling his wings mockingly.  "Why don't you go and sit by the fire with your pipe and slippers, old man? Maybe someone will be nice and make you some hot cocoa if you complain enough."

He wrinkled his nose at him.  "Do you even know what cocoa is?"

"Do you?"

"Snf.  Yes.  Hot drink, made from chocolate and milk.  Dorothy likes to put chilli and ginger in hers."

Starscream rolled his optics and tossed his helm.  "I really needed that piece of useless trivia about your human conjunx.  Thank you."

"Dorothy is my friend.  Do not insult her.  She has a mate, to whom she is faithful."

"I didn't need to know about that, either."

"Actually," he growled, "you do.  If you insult Dorothy, you insult her younglings.  Keep a civil glossa, or I shall rip it out of your helm."

"Why don't we show you our game?" Twitch suggested, coming to his side.  "We'll be careful not to hit you – right, Starscream?"

He grumbled and tossed his helm.  "Fine! I promise not to accidentally hit Megatron."

He raised an optic ridge at the seeker but decided not to give an answer.

The snow forts were in the field occupied by the cows.  Megatron was surprised to see that a shelter had also been constructed for the cattle, far away from the designated battleground.

He walked around each of them, admiring the work that had gone into them.  "Who made the snow forts?"

"All of us," Hashtag told him.

Nightshade grinned.  "Robby and Mo showed us how and we worked together on them.  Would you like to join in? Mo's team is Jawbreaker, Thrash and myself.  Robby's team is Twitch, Hashtag and Starscream."

He grimaced.  "I think I am a bit too big,  My snowballs might hurt someone and I would not easily be able to take cover.  But I would be happy to watch."

They needed no further encouragement.  In an instant, the snowballs started to fly and he hurriedly withdrew from the line of fire.

Starscream, unsurprisingly, was a cheat.  He took to the air and dropped his projectiles like bombs, pelting the opposition without mercy while he cackled.

Thrash used his third wheel in an effort to shield himself and his team.  "Hey! No fair!"

Megatron was just about to shout at the seeker when Nightshade took to the air at speed.  They smashed an oversized ball of snow – which would have made a decent base for a snowman – into his faceplate, causing him to cough and splutter.

"That is what you get for cheating," Megatron told him severely.  "It is a game, not a battle – play properly.  Fairly."

For an answer, the seeker tossed as much of the remaining slush in his direction as he was able.  It fell to the ground a good two feet away.

The game continued for what felt like an eternity.  The snow fell relentlessly in huge, lazy flakes, while the children laughed merrily.

"That looks like fun!"

Megatron whirled and planted himself skidplate-first in a fresh snowdrift.

"Oops," Bumblebee reached out a servo to help him up.  "Sorry."

"You are supposed to be indoors."

He shrugged and kicked at the snow.  "Dot is wrapping presents and Optimus and Alex are cooking.  There's only so many Christmas music videos and annoying adverts I can take, so I thought... what's five minutes outside?"

"Too long," he replied.  "It is dangerous."

He sagged dejectedly.  "Seriously? I mean..."

"I have matters well in hand.  Go inside, before you ruin your recovery.  Please.  Unless you want to risk being forced to do without your races even longer?"

"Is that Starscream, playing with them?"

Megatron frowned at him, repeating his statement: "I have matters well in hand.  Go inside, Bumblebee, or I shall call Optimus and make him drag you back in there."

"But... but... Starscream!"

"Oh, for spark's sake! He came over to check up on the Terrans and was already here before I came outside.  They had already built snow forts and started a battle.  There, now you know as much as I do – go inside."

He grumbled and turned to go back.  "I only came out to tell you that we'll be eating soon," he called over his shoulder.  "And I think Dot said something about a Christmas movie, to encourage everyone to stay indoors."

"You could have used our communication channel and stayed safe and warm inside yourself," he replied.  "That is a poor excuse and you know it as well as I do."

He waved a servo grumpily in response as he trudged away.

Megatron felt a little sorry for the young scout.  It must have been horrible, being forced to stay inside while everyone else was enjoying themselves.  He knew that the hardest part of recovery was feeling well and still being forced to follow rules to ensure that the recovery process continued as it should, too.  Still, what could he do? He could hardly permit him to put his health at risk, could he?

"Right, that's it," he called to the children (and Starscream).  "Use up your ammunition and do not make any more.  Food is being prepared."

"Who's cooking?" Starscream asked, the battle suddenly forgotten.  "Bumblebee? Has Prime been giving him lessons?"

That might not be a bad idea.  He might suggest that to Optimus.

"No, Optimus is cooking," he told him.  "He arrived last night.  Dorothy invited him."

Hashtag threw her armful of projectiles blindly and then ran to him.  "Really? Do you think Starscream could stay for lunch?"

He frowned and huffed a sigh.  "That is not my decision to make, young one.  You know that.  Why not go on ahead and ask your mother?"

"It's fine," Starscream interjected.  "I have probably more than overstayed my welcome.  I should go."

Hashtag looked sad, as did Twitch and Jawbreaker.

"Perhaps Starscream could visit another day," Megatron found himself suggesting, before his processor could catch up with his glossa.  "We might be able to arrange a Christmas dinner that could include you and your trine, if you would like..."

Jawbreaker started to run in circles, yelling and waving his arms.  "Christmas dinner! Yeah! Maybe with everyone who came to Robby's party? Huh? Like Mr. Grimlock?"

He felt his faceplate soften and chuckled.  "If he is not busy, I am sure he would like to come.  But I will have to discuss this with your parents, first.  It would not be right to arrange this without asking them first.  And Optimus should be asked too, if he is going to be tasked with cooking this huge feast."

"Feast?" Starscream repeated.

He groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezing his optics tightly shuttered.

"Megatron, you just said 'feast' – not 'meal', 'feast'!"

"I know what I said," he retorted.  "Yes, Christmas dinner is apparently a big meal, shared with family and friends.  It is special.  More than just a dinner, as I understand it."

He smiled.  "I will come if I am invited," he said.  "If not for a feast, then for more games in the snow, followed by something warming and nutritious.  That would be fine by me."

"Oh, I am sure it would be," he retorted.

Starscream ignored him and said his goodbyes to each of the children in turn, starting with Robby and Mo and ending with Hashtag.  He then turned to Megatron and stared at him for a long moment.

"It has been weird," he told him.  "This is the first time I have felt able to ignore your presence and fully relax."

Megatron held out his servo to him.  "I would like to think that this means that we might be able to put the past behind us, for the sake of our future," he said, quietly.

"I have considerably more to forgive than you do."

He opened his mouth to argue, but stopped himself.  What good would that do?

"I am not going to discuss our history.  I admit that I did you evil that I will never be able to take back or undo, no matter how much I might wish it.  However... perhaps you could at least try to consider why I might have reacted and behaved as I did, Starscream.  You want to perceive me as evil because my actions were.  However, we are none of us entirely good or bad."

He snarled.  "Oh, please! You sound like your Prime!"

He shrugged.  "I have learnt a great deal, since I left the Decepticons.   I have learnt about forgiveness and second chances.  And that those of us who are hurting the most are inclined to lash out and hurt others.  We cannot continue in this cycle, Starscream – it can only lead to ruin.  I started a war because I was hurt and angry.  Now, we have to do better."

He scoffed and turned his back.  "Good luck with that."

Megatron watched him fly away, quickly disappearing in the swirling white.

"Do you think he'll think about the stuff you said?" Twitch asked him.

He shook his helm and shivered.  "With Starscream, you never can tell.  I thought I knew him... I am coming to see that I have never known him.  I know his actions.  I know what he is capable of in his darkest moments.  But he is no more a monster than I am.  I have to face that.  Either we are both monsters, or nobody is."

Robby approached his side.  "I don't think there's any such thing as monsters," he said, smiling.

"Thank you."

"Besides," Mo added, "Mom wouldn't be your friend if you were a bad person, Mr. Megatron."

He used the reassuring words to ground himself gratefully.  He needed to hear it.  Starscream had a horrible way of getting under his plating.

"Let's go inside," he said, turning to face the direction of the barn.  "Bumblebee will no doubt want to come out into the snow and we should not give him the excuse to do so.  The longer we remain out here, the more tempted he is likely to become."

The children joined him and they fell into step together.

"There was talk of watching a film," Megatron noted.  "Perhaps a Christmas movie.  Do you have a favourite?"

"We saw the Grinch, last week," Robby told him.

"How about the Muppet Christmas Carol?" Mo suggested.  "It's a lot like the book."

"Dickens?" Megatron asked, surprised.

Robby nodded.  "Uh-huh.  But it's done with live human actors and puppets.  There are lots of songs and stuff, too."

"Puppets? How do you have human actors with puppets? How does that work?"

Twitch laughed.  "I think Megatron wants to see it!"

"I will happily watch anything once," he promised.  "As ridiculous as you like."

"Good," Robby said, "because Christmas is the season for silly plays and movies.  It's the season for pantomimes."

"What is a pantomime?"

"I'll find out!" Hashtag volunteered.

"Not while you are walking on a slippery surface, you won't," Megatron told her firmly.  "You need both optics to see with.  Look it up later and tell me all about it.  Optimus and Bumblebee might be interested, too, if they are not already familiar with it."

He went on ahead and opened the door of the barn, holding it open for them and watching them enter in ones and twos, while smiling at them fondly.

Just as he got to his servos and knees to prepare to follow behind them, a boobytrap that Starscream had rigged for him hours before was sprung and a gigantic ball of snow crashed down onto his helm.

He leapt to his pedes and roared at the dimming white sky above him: "Starscream!"

Chapter Text

The children were happily chatting with Dot and Bumblebee about their game.  For a moment.

"I hit Thrash at least five times," Twitch said, laughing.

"And I hit you about fifty!"

Twitch flew at her brother and hovered so close to his faceplate that their noses were almost touching. 

"No, you didn't!"

"Yeah, I did! Our team totally beat you!"

Megatron groaned as he descended the ramp.  He looked about him, trying to find somewhere quiet to sit.  Why did younglings always have to be so loud?

"Kids, that's enough.  I'm glad you had fun out there, but you need to settle down now and get ready for lunch.  Why don't you go wash your servos?"

They went off together, with Twitch and Thrash still loudly squabbling about who made the most hits.

Dot shook her head and turned her attention to her friend.  "Megs? What's wrong?"

He hugged himself for warmth and shook his helm, growling under his breath.

"What happened?" Bumblebee asked him, approaching his side with a towel.  "You're wetter than the kids were! Are you OK?"

He stifled a sneeze and sniffed, accepting the towel with a nod of thanks.

"What do you think happened? After I tried to apologise to him and start over, he rigged up a... ksch! Ksschhhh! Eeugh... he set a trap on the roof of the barn, to dump a heaped tonne of snow on me.  And he knows! He knows that I am vulnerable to the cold."

"Who did?"

"Starscream!"

Optimus set down a large pot on the table that had been set for everyone.  He sighed and shook his helm.

"Perhaps if you did not make such a fuss..."

"Oh! So you think this is my fault, do you?"

"I did not say that, Megatron."

Bumblebee frowned.  "Seriously? It kind of sounded that way.  From what I've seen, Megatron doesn't make a fuss, he just... struggles.  And Starscream likes to feel like he's got the upper hand.  Dumping a load of snow on someone that you know is vulnerable is cruel."

Megatron coughed into his servo.  "To think that I actually suggested that it might be pleasant if he were to spend more time with the Terrans – under supervision, of course.  Had I known..."

Optimus approached his side to touch his shoulder.  Then he frowned and pressed his servos to his friend's cheeks.

"You are frozen! You should go and warm up."

"Megatron needs hot food, heavy blankets and a foot soak," Dot prescribed.  "I'll get the blankets.  Bumblebee, there's the tin bath we used for apple bobbing on Hallowe'en in the barn – if you fetch that and Alex goes on boiling some water..."

"And I'll bring out the rest of the food," Optimus declared.

Dot nodded.  "My thought exactly.  Megs, go and sit down."

He did as he was told, trying hard to dry himself with slow, stiff servos.

"Let's get you warmed up," Dot murmured, bringing him blankets on a trolley.  "Here.  Wrap yourself up.  Bumblebee, bring the bath over here.  Thanks."

"At least he's not that cold," the scout remarked.  "I mean, he's not shivering."

Optimus hummed thoughtfully as he set down another covered pot.

"I noticed that he was not shivering, myself," he said.  "That is odd, because he is like ice if you touch him."

Dot nodded.  "He's gotten too cold – and maybe too tired.  I'd say he needs to shiver and can't.  Megs, put your feet in this.  I'm gonna go and get some room-temperature water."

"No, I'll get it," Bumblebee volunteered.  "You and Optimus look after Megatron."

"Thanks.  We'll need to warm the water gradually – we don't want to hurt or shock Megatron, OK?"

He nodded.  "I understand."

Optimus cleared his vocaliser as he set down another large pot.  "There is just one pot of Cybertronian food remaining, Dot.  Should I let Megatron go on eating?"

She shook her head, while Bumblebee set down the bucket of water he had fetched and went to retrieve the remaining dish of food for Optimus.

"He needs to warm up first.  Optimus, do you know how to treat hypothermia in a Cybertronian?"

"Normally, I would send for Ratchet."

"Well, could you call and talk to him? Tell him that Megatron is ice cold to the touch and not shivering."

He nodded.  "Right away."

"I know what to give a human," she explained.  "Something warm, with plenty of sugar.  Really sweet hot chocolate, maybe.  There's lots of energy in chocolate and sugar.  I'd guess that the thing to give Megs would be heated highgrade, but... I don't know.  That might be as dangerous as giving a cold human alcohol.  Or it might just make him throw up."

Optimus grimaced as his optics swept over their friend.  Megatron was huddled in his seat beneath the blankets with his optics shuttered.  He went to his side and placed a servo on his shoulder.

"Ratchet? We have a suspected case of hypothermia.  No, not the Terrans.  Megatron."

He paused, optics once again sweeping over his friend.

"Well, he has been outside, keeping an eye on the children while they played and apparently Starscream decided to dump a lot of snow over his head while he was already struggling due to the temperatures.  He is ice cold to the touch and not shivering.  So far, we have given him blankets and Ranger Malto and her husband are preparing him a warm pede soak, but Dot asked me to check with you because she only knows how to treat hypothermia in humans.  Warm medgrade, not too hot.  Right.  Thank you."

He turned to Dot, who nodded.

"Warm medgrade.  See, I would've given him the wrong stuff."

"And he said not to heat his pedes too much.  What he really needs is for his body to be warmed, not his extremities.  Do you have any hot water bottles?"

"Only human-sized ones.  I've got an electric blanket, though.  I'll go and get that.  Poor Megs...!"

Bumblebee put down the pot of food he had collected and then emptied the tepid bucket of water into the tin bath.

"Did I hear you say he needs some medgrade? Come with me, Optimus.  I know where it's kept – I'll show you."

Dot returned with the heated blanket and put it on its highest setting.

"Dorothy?"

She turned her attention to Megatron.  He looked utterly miserable.

"I am sorry.  For the trouble."

"Don't you dare," she told him firmly, going to his side.  "This isn't your fault, Megs.  Now, put those blankets aside for a moment and wrap this one around you.  Put it around your torso, under your arms.  That's it.  Now wrap the other blankets around you.  Better?"

"A little.  Thank you.  Optimus thinks it is – my fault, I mean."

She frowned at him.  "I don't really think he meant it like that.  What I think he meant was that... Starscream wouldn't do this kind of thing if he didn't know it'd hurt you.  But that's on him, not you.  Like Bumblebee said, Starscream was cruel."

He nodded and silenced a sneeze.

"Bless you.  How are you feeling?"

"Tired.  Exhausted.  Armour feels too heavy.  So does my cannon."

"OK, well, take the cannon off.  That's it.  Just put it down anywhere.  Optimus can put it somewhere safe when he gets back.  Bless you.  Does it hurt to sneeze without making a sound?"

He frowned as he struggled to disconnect his fusion cannon.  Usually, it was straightforward, but today he could not seem to be able to hold down the lock button and unclip it at the same time.

"A bit."

"Then stop doing it.  Be as loud as you need to be, OK?"

"If you insist.  Snf.  Dorothy, I think my gun is frozen in place.  It will not come off."

She gently stroked his shin.  "OK.  Leave it for now.  I'll ask Optimus to help you."

Doctor Malto called out from the ramp: "I've brought plenty of hot water, Dottie.  I thought maybe it would be better to fill a bucket and bring as much from the house as possible, so that it didn't cool too much along the way."

"That was a good idea, Alex.  OK.  We need to pour the water in a little at a time.  Like this."

Megatron gasped suddenly and gave a convulsive shiver.

"Too hot?"

He shook his helm.  "No.  But... Ksssch-ssschoooooschhh! Oh...! It is strange.  I suddenly feel colder."

"That means you're starting to warm up, I think," Dot told him.  "OK, Alex, give him a little more.  Now stop. Good.  Bit more.  Woah! Megs? You OK?"

"Kshoooooosch! Think so.  Wish the sneezing would stop."

"Is the water hurting you?"

He shook his helm.  "My plating still feels quite cold."

"Oh.  Of course.  Your armour is going to heat up a lot slower than bare skin would.  OK, Alex, give him some more – but keep talking to him and checking that he's OK as you go.  I'm gonna get Megs something to blow his nose with."

The kids made their way back, still arguing between themselves about which team had won their snow battle.  Some of them were jostling each other roughly.

Alex cleared his throat.  "Kids, Megatron isn't feeling so well.  Could you keep it down, please?"

Twitch frowned and approached her father, optics bright with concern.  "Can I help, Dad? What's wrong?"

"He got too cold out there," Doctor Malto explained.  "He can't regulate his temperature properly.  He's cold to the touch and unable to shiver."

"Would it help if I cuddle with him? I'm warm."

Jawbreaker grinned.  "Me too! I'm really warm."

Megatron shook his helm.  "I have been coughing and sneezing.  I might have a cold or something even worse coming on, that I could give to you.  I would not want that, young ones."

"He's right," Alex told them gently.  "The best thing to do is to let him rest and warm up gently.  How does this feel, Megatron?"

"Pedes are starting to feel a bit warmer, now.  Schnf! Snf.  Ugh..."

Dot came back and offered him an old, faded tea towel.  "Here you are, Megs.  Do you feel any better?"

He whined and wiped at his nose, giving another shiver.  "I think I actually feel colder – especially my back strut and shoulders.  Kssssh-kssschoooooooschhh!"

"Aw, bless you.  Feeling colder is good – it means you're starting to recognise that you're too cold and need to get warm.  It's OK."

"Here, Megatron," Optimus called, approaching with a cube of medgrade.  "Warm your servos on this and try taking a small sip.  It might be too hot, so be careful."

He took it gratefully and tried a sip.  "It is not too bad.  Thank you."

"It is all right.  May I sit beside you? You are welcome to lean on me."

He yawned loudly, obviously caught off guard.  "Have you drugged me?"

"No.  You are tired after using too much energy trying to keep warm, I think.  Drink your energon up and then perhaps we should put you to berth."

Megatron stared sadly at the food on the table.  "That all looks so good..."

"Are you hungry?" Optimus asked him.  "That's a good sign."

He drank his (disgusting) heated medgrade while everyone else ate and chatted together.  Then the children helped to clear away the plates.

Optimus remained at Megatron's side, cuddled up close.

"Do you think you could eat if I were to feed you?"

He jumped and turned his helm to stare at him.  "I think I misheard you."

"We are alone.  You are exhausted.  Are you still feeling hungry? Yes? Well, tell me which dish you would like to try and I shall feed you."

"The pancakes look good.  Maybe with the sweet oil sauce?"

"Yes, OK.  Pity we can't get hold of Cybertronian fruit."

He shrugged and shuttered his optics with another yawn.  "Didn't get much access to fruit.  Not until I was in a position to steal what I wanted, anyway.  Those things that looked something like watermelon tasted good."

Optimus squeezed his shoulder.  "Fruit is an important thing to have access to.  Lots of goodness.  We are lucky that all we need can be found as raw materials here, so that we can create the things we need from scratch."

He hummed and allowed his mind to wander as he finished his energon.

"I should like to get Starscream back," he grumbled, watching as Optimus cut up a pancake into small slices and then dipped one in oil sauce.

"Here.  Try this," he slipped the first piece of the food into his mouth and watched him chew for a moment.  "Don't you think that that might be the problem? One of you does something, the other retaliates... where does it end?"

Megatron shivered and pressed himself close to Prime.  "Easy for you to say.  He would probably call what he did a harmless prank, but this does not feel very harmless to me.  Perhaps I should return the gesture with a childish prank of my own..."

"If it will make you feel better," Optimus muttered.

"It would.  And I think I know exactly how to best get beneath his plating!"

Optimus shook his helm and groaned.  "Great."

Chapter Text

Optimus was behaving quite strangely.  He had yet to leave Megatron's side, even after the table had been cleared and everyone had moved to sit down and enjoy a film together.

Prime was pressed up close to the former warlord's side on a comfortable twin-seater that Nightshade had made.  His arm was wrapped around Megatron's shoulders.  Occasionally, he would turn to him with his mouth open, as if he were about to speak, but then he would turn his attention back to the screen in front of them.

Megatron decided after a while to ignore him.  If he wanted to say something that badly, he would do so.  In the meantime, he was content to watch 'Dickens with Puppets' and wonder at how the production team had managed it.  The puppets seemed real, somehow.  The more he watched them, the more he felt that he could tell how they felt and what they thought.  No more so than the human cast, but certainly no less.  The voice acting was excellent and that certainly helped, but the movements played a big part, too.  They seemed alive.

And then the tale came to the part where Tiny Tim died.  He had read the book long ago, before Christmas was more than an event that the Decepticons could potentially attack and weaponise against the humans who dared oppose them.  It had had no effect on him, back then.

Somehow, watching the film, hearing the believable – real – grief in those voices... it impacted him more than he could have ever anticipated.  His vision swam and his right optic started to leak.

Optimus, of course, had seated himself to his right.  He had an uncanny knack for being in just the right place to see something that Megatron would have preferred to conceal from him.  Prime did not even move his helm and he said nothing.  However, his grip tightened around him and he patted the servo that was still holding the tea towel that Dot had given to him earlier.

"Are you OK, Mr. Megatron, sir?" Jawbreaker asked, suddenly.

And then all optics were on him, scrutinising.

"It is the cold that Megatron seems to be going down with," Optimus said quickly, squeezing his friend's shoulder.  "I think it is making his optics a bit sore and leaky.  Let him alone – he is all right."

He nodded gratefully, though he could hear from Prime's tone that he was lying.  He had obviously seen more than he intended to let on.

The scene moved on and he brought himself under control again.  He watched as Scrooge was shown his own grave and then awoke cringing and crying for a second chance in his berth.  And then the transformation began.  The transformation that came from the spark and not the T-cog.  He felt his vocaliser constrict again when it was confirmed that Tiny Tim would not die and the story ended with a final, cheerful song about showing love to one another.  The story was sentimental nonsense, yet it somehow had touched his spark.  Twice.

Optimus smiled at him and gave his shoulder another squeeze.

"That is a story I am not familiar with," he said.  "But I have heard it referred to everywhere."

He nodded and then attempted to work the stiffness from his neck.  He had obviously hunched up when he had started to feel chilled.  "Yes, very famous story.  Probably the most famous Dickens tale."

"Are you familiar with the tradition of mistletoe?" Prime asked him suddenly.

"I do not even know what 'missile toe' is."

Optimus chuckled softly.  "Mistletoe.  It is a plant with white berries that grows from the branches of trees.  The tradition is that if two people were to meet beneath it, they should kiss."

"Why?"

"No idea.  Never thought to ask."

"And you have decided to mention it now because...?"

Dot smirked at him and then raised her eyes to the railing above his helm.  Suspended from it was a plant bundle, tied with a silver ribbon.  The plant had white berries.

"Oh.  I see.  I had not noticed that there before."

Optimus shrugged.  Then he kissed Megatron's cheek.  "You are warmer, now," he noted.  "How are you feeling?"

"Better.  Thank you.  I think your pancake helped."

"Good! I am glad you feel better.  Your sneezes seem to have stopped, too."

He yawned.  "Yes.  I hope so.  I do cough and sneeze when my air intakes are too cold – I hope that was all the problem was.  Dorothy and Alex have enough to do, without me adding-"

"Stop that right now," Dot interrupted, wagging a warning finger at him.  "You're our friend, Megs.  I won't have you talking like that."

He averted his gaze.  "Apologies."

"Do you want to take an early night?" Alex asked him.  "We were going to play some games and they can get a little competitive and noisy."

"I think I would like to join in for a while," he replied, rubbing at his optic.  "If Optimus does not mind."

"Me? Well... what sort of game are we talking about?"

"Grown-ups vs. kids?" Bumblebee suggested.  "That should reduce the rivalry and squabbles."

Dot smiled.  "Not a bad suggestion.  Why don't you pick the first game, Bee?"

One game became two... which then became three.  Megatron found himself laughing along with the family, while Optimus slowly familiarised himself with human games and their rules.

"You're really good at the games that need a steady hand," Mo said, watching Megatron carefully extract a rubber band from inside of the model of a man supposedly undergoing surgery.

He smiled and set down the rubber band, flexing his neck.  "Not bad, considering how fiddly it is.  I should have brought along my magnifying stand."

"Isn't that cheating?" Hashtag asked him.

Optimus frowned at her.  "Being able to see is not cheating, young one.  Especially if not being able to see gives everyone else an unfair advantage."

"It's fine," he retorted.  "I've got steady servos – that evens the cube field."

Hashtag grumbled, having failed to extract the piece she had chosen.  "Grrrhh! It's not fair! Megatron makes it look so easy!"

"Everyone is good at different things," Alex told her.  "That is why it is important that we work together.  Everybody brings their own skills and attributes to a team – the more diverse a group, the stronger it is."

"That is true," Optimus agreed.  "There.  I have extracted the last piece.  What are we playing next?"

Megatron stood with a groan.  "Tell the truth, I am beginning to feel quite tired.  Would it be all right if I mixed myself up a quick drink and went to bed?"

"Of course, Megs.  I hope you have a good night," Dot told him.  "Call me if you need anything, OK?"

He nodded, trying his best to conceal a yawn.  "Good night."

He smiled to himself as everyone wished him a good recharge in return.  It was nice.  He could not remember ever being a part of so loving a group before.  He could get used to it.

Would that be such a stupid thing to do?

It probably would.

Chapter Text

Bumblebee started to yawn and shiver soon after Megatron turned in and Optimus was quick to send him off to his berth.  That put paid to any further games.

"I'm not tired, yet," Hashtag complained.  "Can we watch something else?"

Dot shook her head.  "Sorry, kiddo.  Bumblebee and Megatron both need rest and watching something now might disturb their sleep.  You can either read a book or go off to bed."

"I think I might do both," Nightshade declared, standing.  "Good night, all."

One by one, the children went off to bed.  Alex escorted Robby and Mo back to the house, leaving Optimus alone with his wife.

Dot took a breath through her nose and slowly released it through her mouth.  Then she frowned at Prime, folding her arms and cocking her hip.

"What happened earlier?"

He frowned.  "What do you mean, Ranger Malto?"

"OP, I'm talking about the whole mistletoe thing.  If I was single and someone made it as clear as you did that they were only gonna kiss me because some old tradition dictated it, I'd be pretty upset.  Why even bother?"

"Oh," he laughed nervously.  "Oh, that.  I was only... the dermas are the most temperature-sensitive part of the Cybertronian chassis.  He had been dangerously chilled.  He... I did not think that he would appreciate having me fussing over him and checking his temperature with my servos, let alone a thermometer, so I used the mistletoe as an excuse.  I thought it was quite clever."

She clapped a hand to her face and groaned.

"Why? Did I do wrong?"

"Well... it kind of sounded like you don't like him much.  If I were Megs, I'd have been pretty hurt."

"Why?"

She shook her head, becoming angry.  "Do I have to spell it out to you? Haven't you even noticed how he is when he's around you?"

He stared back at her.  "Now, I don't know what you think you might have noticed, but-"

"What if it's more than that? What if he's actually confided in me?"

"Ranger Malto, please.  Why would Megatron be even remotely interested in me? I... I care about him.  I even checked on him last night and put him to berth, after he went into recharge still sitting up.  He was so exhausted..."

"You put him to bed?"

He shrugged and looked away.  "He probably would have awoke in the middle of the night, cold and aching.  I hardly wanted him to suffer, after all the trouble he went to to get you and I back here safely."

"OK, well, I'm glad he's got someone looking out for him at least.  But you really need to start... I mean... wait! Hold up.  What do you mean, why would he be interested in you?"

He groaned, turning away completely and hanging his helm.

"OP.  Talk to me.  I can't understand if you don't use your words.  I'm not telepathic, I haven't got a Cybersleeve and you aren't a Terran."

He sighed and turned back.  Then he sat on the floor in front of her.

"I have caused the likely destruction of our race and planet.  It was I that destroyed the Space Bridge.  You know as well as I do that Megatron has not been the same mech since that day.  The efforts that he made to save our planet and all the people on it and... and I threw it all away! Right in front of him."

Dot felt her eyes prickle.  The anger she had been feeling left her and she climbed up onto his knee.

"All this time, you've been blaming and punishing yourself," she realised.

He shuddered and rubbed at his arms.  "Who else is there to blame? I should have given the Allspark more time to get clear."

"If you had, Starscream would've gotten it back," she argued.  "You did what you had to do.  Megatron knows that.  Everyone who was there knows that.  He gets upset – he definitely gets homesick – but I've never heard him blame you.  He admires you!"

"He... what?"

"You know what? The two of you really need to sit down and talk about this stuff.  He blames himself, OP.  Of course he blames himself! His war, his faction, his mess.  Why would he blame you for doing the best you could to save Earth and Cybertron?"

He hid his faceplate in his servos.

"He's told me more than once that he admires you.  Although, anyone with eyes can see it, anyway.  The way he looks at you, when he thinks nobody can see him... the way he talks about you..."

He lowered his servos, shaking his helm.  Apparently, he still couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze.

"No, there has to be some mistake! He told me weeks ago that he had feelings for someone and that they repeatedly push him away and ignore his advances.  I asked him who it was that was treating him so cruelly and..."

She raised an eyebrow at him.  "Did he give you a name?"

"Well... no."

"He told me it was you.  He thinks he was being subtle, I'm sure, but the way he described you, he couldn't have been talking about anyone else."

He looked away.  "Are you sure? I mean..."

"Oh, I'm sure.  Even if he hadn't told me, I'd know.  Whenever you're apart, he's looking for an excuse to talk about you."

"Oh.  Really?"

"What? You think I'd lie to you?"

"Well, no.  It's just..."

She shook her head and frowned at him.  "Maybe you need to start paying closer attention, Optimus.  Open your eyes! He couldn't be more obvious if he commissioned a banner, fixed it to his alt mode's tail end and flew loops around you playing love songs.  How have you been so oblivious?"

"I... I suppose I was afraid that I was mistaken."

"Well, the way you act, you must confuse the Hell out of him.  I know you confuse me! One minute, you're cuddling him.  Next minute, you're making out that he's so repulsive you're only kissing his cheek because some old tradition that doesn't even apply to you says so.  For God's sake, OP! At least have a little thought for his feelings."

He nodded, sagging somewhat.  "Should I explain? Should I tell him what that kiss was really about?"

"Not if you think it'll offend him, no.  But you could maybe tell him you feel awkward when everyone can see, or something.  You come over as being socially anxious.  I think Megs would understand, if you said something like that."

"That... would not be a fabrication," he confessed.  "I do feel... awkward... in a group.  Especially around humans.  Especially where shows of affection are concerned."

"Because of the way GHOST treated you?"

"Partly.  Not entirely.  Humans are so... so open in their mating rituals.  We are... not so much.  It makes it feel... awkward."

She raised an eyebrow at him.  "OK, so our habits as a species are different to yours.  So what? Either change and meet us midway or go on as you always have.  You don't have to openly show Megs affection with me watching.  Just... just don't be cruel to him, OK? Try to think about how he feels, now and then."

He sighed, shuttering his optics.  "It is the young ones that I am not comfortable expressing affection around.  Bumblebee included.  He would not understand."

"Sure about that? He and Breakdown seem to get pretty cosy, when they're together – and that's while Bumblebee has been sick.  Mind you, the way Breakdown let himself get captured, so Bee could get away..."

"Hmm, I heard something about that.  It seemed to convince Schloder that Bumblebee had switched sides, for a time."

"Huh, yeah, I think that was just a ploy to make his sister use GHOST resources looking for him – he's like Alex.  A Bumblebee fan.  If he'd known what she was really up to, he'd have made a good ally, keeping bots like Bumblebee and my Terran babies hidden."

Prime nodded.  "I believe you're right."

"Yeah, and I believe you deliberately tried to change the subject.  We were talking about you and Megs."

He rubbed at the back of his helm.  "Is... is there really anything more to discuss?"

"All I want is a promise."

"Oh dear.  I mean... right.  I mean... what sort of a promise?"

She glared at him.  "You are going to think a bit more about Megatron's feelings, or so help me, I will make you sorry.  You are going to sit down with him somewhere quiet and you are going to talk out the issues you both have, because I swear to God, you have more in common than you realise – including survivor guilt and a Hell of a lot of trauma."

"What if he does not want to talk to me? After the... the incident... back in November..."

"You can say 'sparkeater', you know.  This isn't 'An American Tale' – they aren't gonna hear you talk about them and attack us, OK? So, come on, after the sparkeater turned up on the farm...?"

He shivered at the memory of the brute.  She understood his reaction well enough because that thing had looked monstrous and frightening, even in death.

He cleared his vocaliser.  "Megatron told me that he had to talk about it right away or he would not talk at all."

"Well, yeah, it's hard to make him talk about his traumas and, let's face it, he was in a bad way.  He must've been terrified!"

"Well, then how am I supposed to sit down and talk with him?"

She shook her head and rolled her eyes.  "I said it's hard, not impossible.  I find he opens up to me after I open up to him.  Tell him how you feel about something honestly and he'll listen and confide right back.  Why would he feel safe confiding in you, Optimus? Whether you do it on purpose or not, you can be pretty cruel to him."

"I am not-"

"Oh, no? What about the 'incident' with the mistletoe, earlier? That was pretty callous.  You blow hot and cold and he gets confused."

He tilted his helm to one side.  "Hot and cold?"

"Yeah.  One minute you're friendly, next you're pushing him away.  That's what I mean – it's cruel.  Then there's the victim blaming – I mean, come on! 'Maybe if you didn't make such a fuss'? Do you ever stop and think about the things you say to him? Megs is one of the most stoic people I know – how dare you accuse him of 'making a fuss'!"

"I apologise, Ranger Malto."

She tossed her head and then shook it.  "You're apologising to the wrong person, OP."

"Well, naturally, I will apologise to Megatron as well.  But not tonight – he should be allowed to rest.  Incidentally, it is almost eleven thirty.  I should... probably... check on Megatron and Bumblebee and then turn in for the night.  Uh... good night, Ranger Malto – Dot.  Good recharge.  See you tomorrow."

"Good night, Optimus," she replied, turning to leave.

She hoped that she had made her point effectively.

Chapter Text

The Terrans had already got up, had a snack and were ready for more fun in the snow.  Dot watched them from the kitchen and stood to go out and greet them, taking her second mug of morning coffee with her.

"Morning, kiddos," she called.  "What do you have planned for today?"

"More snow battles!" Twitch cried excitedly.

"We're gonna check our snow forts and then get Robby and Mo to join in with us," Jawbreaker said.

Hashtag nodded.  "And, this time, I'm gonna record the whole thing."

"I think Optimus and Megatron should join in, seeing as Bumblebee can't," Thrash added.  "Could you ask them, Mom?"

She frowned and shook her head.  "After yesterday, Megatron probably wants to spend at least the whole morning inside, resting in the warm.  I expect Ratchet would tell him it would be a good idea, too.  You don't want him to get sick, do you?"

"No, that would be awful," Twitch said.  "Mom... Starscream said that Megatron doesn't cope well with snow because he was built for mining.  But... but he's a flight frame! Was Starscream just being mean?"

Dot nodded.  "Yes, I expect he was trying to be very mean.  Did he say that in front of Megatron, while he was listening?"

Nightshade nodded.  "He did, yes.  But Megatron did not seem to react at all."

"Yeah, well, that doesn't mean it didn't hurt his feelings.  Poor Megs..."

Hashtag frowned.  "Well, Megatron hasn't been kind to Starscream, either.  He even admitted it yesterday.  Sort of."

"And was Megatron mean to Starscream yesterday?" Dot asked her.  "I'm not making excuses for him, Hashtag, but I won't have you talking as if Starscream is blameless, either.  Especially if one of them is trying to do better while the other still wants to take nasty swipes and cheap pot-shots, every chance he gets."

"Starscream was only playing," she mumbled, hanging her helm.

Twitch frowned at her sister.  "I don't know... he made Megatron pretty sick, yesterday, even if he did get better again when he warmed up.  Starscream knows the cold weather hurts him.  That seems like pretty mean 'playing' to me."

"It's done now," Dot said.  "I'm gonna have a talk with Starscream and I'll set some rules for guests – him included – when I do.  If I can't trust him to set a good example, he won't be welcome here.  But I think he can be persuaded to toe the line."

"I hope so," said Jawbreaker.  "We had fun, yesterday.  I think he enjoyed the snowball war."

Dot chuckled.  "I'm sure he did.  Hey, tell you what, why don't you make some snowmen as a welcoming party, to greet guests? Your dad piled lots of snow up next to the drive, when he was clearing it.  You could help out by taking more snow off the drive to work with, too.  That should give you a good head start."

The children raced away and she chuckled again to herself, shaking her head fondly.

She found Bumblebee in the entertainment area of the dugout, playing dominoes by himself.  He smiled at her and chirped a friendly greeting when she sat beside him.

"Good morning, Dot.  How are you?"

"Morning, Bumblebee.  Feeling good.  How are you?"

He shook his head, looking glum.  "I want to play in the snow.  Just for a bit, you know? If I'm careful..."

"Optimus says that it's hard to get you back in, once you start playing in it."

"That was ages ago! I was a kid, back then.  I'm an adult, now."

She gazed at him thoughtfully.  "OK, let me see if I can work something out.  No promises, though.  I'll have to talk with Ratchet."

He slumped in his seat, staring down at his game miserably.  "He'll say I'm not allowed outside."

"He probably will, yes.  If he does, we'll just have to find things for you to occupy yourself with indoors.  I'll try to find you some fun stuff to do."

"Thanks, Dot."

She glanced around the otherwise deserted dugout.

"No Optimus, this morning? I thought he's usually up like a lark."

"Lark? Isn't that a word for... fooling around or something?"

She laughed.  "It's a small bird.  The phrase just means that he gets up early, though.  Like saying he gets up with the rooster's crow."

"Maybe he's caught Megatron's cold and doesn't feel like moving," he guessed.

"I'll go check on them," she decided, finishing her coffee.  "I hope they're both OK."

Bumblebee frowned.  "You know, I don't think I've ever really seen Megatron sick, before yesterday.  And Optimus usually gets over a cold in a couple of days.  Nothing would usually slow either of them down."

"No, but it could be dangerous for you if you catch it, so they might hide away if they feel sick.  That was how I persuaded Optimus to take his medgrade, when I dosed him with it the other night."

He blinked at her.  "You did what?"

She smirked at him.  "What did he expect? Sitting alone in the dark and cold, in a base that had no power... of course I was gonna make sure he was OK.  I told him you're high risk right now, so he can be sensible and listen to me or else I'd bring Ratchet in.  He decided it was easier to co-operate with me."

"Heh, yeah," he laughed.  "Funny, that.  Think I'd do the same."

She patted his arm and stood up.  "I'll see you later."

Optimus was not in his room.  His berth was neat and tidy, the room also very much untouched.  Perhaps he had gone off to start breakfast.

She went to Megatron's door and knocked.

There was a shuffling sound from within and then the door opened a crack.  Her friend peeked around it and slowly lowered his optics until he was looking her in the eye.

"Dorothy."

"Good morning, Megs.  How are you feeling?"

"Uh... Good.  Pretty good.  Better than good, actually.  How are you?"

"Fine, thanks.  Did I disturb you?"

"Huh? Oh.  No.  Just making my bed.  Making sure everything is as it should be."

She cocked her head to one side.  "What's going on in there? You can't tell me the room is untidy – you didn't even bring any luggage!"

"Uh... well... uh..." he opened the door wider, ignoring a squawk of protest from behind him.  "Optimus spent the night with me – nothing happened," he added quickly, eliciting another protest from Prime, "I just... we're taking things slowly."

"I wanted to keep quiet about it, until we work things out," Optimus grumbled, scrambling off the berth as Dot was ushered inside.

She shook her head.  "What do you think I'll do? Put a picture of you both up on Instagram? Rush to update Facebook? Come on! This is your business.  I'm happy for you, though.  Both of you.  You look happier than I've seen you in ages."

In fact, that was an understatement.  Both bots were smiling and their postures were relaxed.  Their optics seemed brighter than usual too – was that her imagination?

"It was... pleasant," Optimus said.  "All we did was share blankets and cuddle.  Megatron went into recharge as soon as I rested my helm against his.  He snored in my audial receptor all night, but even that was quite soothing."

"Snf! I don't snore."

"You do when you're really worn out," Dot told him.  "And when you're feeling stuffy."

"I must have been tired, then.  I would not have let Optimus stay if I was feeling 'stuffy'."

Prime patted his shoulder and grinned at him.  Then he cocked his helm, listening.

"What is it?" Megatron asked him.

"I can't hear the Terrans.  Are they already outside?"

Dot nodded.  "Building snowmen.  Want to watch?"

"So long as Starscream is not out there, I might join in," Megatron said.  "Come on, Optimus."

"I thought you'd want to stay indoors?"

He shook his helm.  "I want to spend time with the kids.  I wanted to have fun with them yesterday, but..."

"Starscream."

"Exactly."

Dot went along with them.  "I'm going to give Starscream a talking to.  Set some rules."

They found Robby helping Twitch and Hashtag, while Mo worked with Jawbreaker and Thrash.  Nightshade was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is your sibling?" Optimus asked them, looking around.

"They went to talk to Dad about something," Robby answered.  "He's in the barn's attic – I think he's getting ready to set up the Belen."

Megatron smiled.  "I'll go and see if he needs any help.  Coming, Optimus?"

"I thought we were going to build a snowmech," he protested, as Megatron dragged him away by the servo.

"We can do that later! Come on, Optimus, I have never seen a Belen before.  I want to know what it is."

Mo grinned at her mother.  "I think Megatron is feeling a little better."

"I think he's feeling a lot better," she chuckled.  "I expect he'll want a warming drink, though.  I'll go mull some fuel.  Want some hot chocolate?"

Robby stopped his work.  "Hot chocolate would be great!"

"OK.  Hot chocolate it is."

Thrash tilted his helm to one side.  "Can we have hot chocolate too? I mean... would it hurt, if you mixed it with our cave water?"

"I don't think drinking it would do you much good," she said.  "It's thick and sticky.  It might hurt your insides.  But... I'll ask Optimus.  Maybe there's something you could have instead."

"Oh.  OK."

"I'll mull you some cave water, OK?"

Meanwhile, Nightshade had seen Optimus and Megatron approaching the barn and seemed to want to leave in a hurry, thanking their father as they rushed down into the dugout.

Megatron frowned.  "Is Nightshade avoiding us?"

Alex laughed.  "Why would they do that? Now, what can I do for you both?"

"Megatron would like to see your Belen," Optimus told him.  "What is it?"

"And can we help you with it?" Megatron added.

"Of course! I'll just finish getting all of the pieces down and then I'll unwrap them and bring them out.  I'll have to use the sack truck.  They're heavy!"

They waited patiently, while a lot of bumping and thumping came from inside the barn.

"I think we should clear this snow," Megatron suggested, shoving at the pile that had been dumped on his helm the previous day.  "Alex will struggle to bring anything out with this miserable stuff everywhere."

"I thought we were going to have fun with it," Optimus retorted.

He wrinkled his nose.  "When it's fun, it's fun.  The rest of the time, it is annoying, miserable-"

"Fair enough.  Come on, then.  Let's clear some space."

The first thing that Alex brought out was a structure that needed to be assembled.

Megatron held it steady, while Optimus read out the instructions and Alex used the tools.

When the structure had been assembled, Alex had Megatron stand it in front of the house, so that it could be seen from the window.  It stood a short distance from the flamingoes.

"Optimus, why don't you hang the star at the front of the stable?" Alex suggested.  "It is solar powered, so you need to put the panel somewhere where it will get sunlight but not look too out of place."

"Yes, OK."

"Stars seem to come up a lot in Christmas decorations," Megatron noted.

Alex nodded.  "Do you want to know why? Do you know the story of Christmas?"

"I would like to hear it," he said, offering his servo to his friend.  "When we were watching the film yesterday, it occurred to me that I know very little about Christmas.  When Scrooge said that he had never understood it... well... neither have I."

He stepped onto the waiting servo and smiled.  "Scrooge was an abandoned child, neglected.  He could not understand a celebration of love because he had never known love."

"That is sad."

"It is.  But the Belen is about the original Christmas story.  Why we celebrate in the first place.  There are three travellers in this story and three gifts, but no ghosts.  I'll tell you what: I'll tell the story as I get the pieces out of the barn."

He told of Mary and Joseph, finding out that they were to have a baby.  The forced journey to Bethlehem... that they were forced to stay in a stable...

Megatron wrinkled his nose.  "A very sanitary place to bear a sparkling... That poor new mother!"

Alex continued the story, telling of the angels appearing to the shepherds and telling them of the birth and how to find him.  The shepherds were added to the structure, with a couple of sheep.

Optimus joined in, describing the wise men, with their opulent gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

"They studied the stars and knew what was happening – they found the stable by following the star."

"Which is why stars are so important," Megatron realised.

Alex grinned and nodded.  "Exactly."

"So... this is all about the son of your god, who was born at Christmas."

Optimus nodded.  "Do you understand now?"

"Do you understand it?" Megatron retorted.  "How does a god have a flesh and blood son?"

"It is not a part of our culture, Megatron.  You wanted to know what a Belen was and why they are important.  Now you know."

"Yes... but now I have even more questions!"

Optimus groaned.  "Megatron likes to understand."

Alex spread his hands.  "If you want to fit in with us, understanding us will go a long way.  Well, the Belen looks wonderful – what are you going to do now?"

"Build a snowmech," Optimus decided.  "I have never had an opportunity to enjoy snow before and it looks like fun.  Bedsides, Megatron likes to be creative."

Megatron grumbled.  "When will I learn to keep quiet?"

"Don't be so grumpy," Prime laughed, grabbing him by the servo.  "Come on! It will be fun!"

As the two raced away, Megatron heard Alex's merry laughter behind him.

Chapter Text

"You're making that helm too big, Optimus," Megatron complained.  "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking I would like to carve it.  Now, is the body firm?"

He huffed with annoyance.  "I am sure of it.  Hurry up, would you? My servos are turning to ice!"

Optimus put a large ball on top of the body (which Megatron was holding steady) and started to use his servos to chisel out features.

"Why not carve the body?" Prime suggested.

"Snf.  Because my servos are cold and... would you mind if I stretch my legs?"

He shrugged.  "If you need to walk around a bit and warm up, you really don't need to ask for permission to do so."

"I need to go inside.  For a bit.  I shall come straight back."

"Warming up and then getting cold again would probably not do you much good."

"Maybe I intend to look for a tool to carve the snowmech with," he retorted.  "Is this thing going to collapse if I let go?"

Optimus stopped his work and tested the body.  "As you already said, it feels sturdy enough.  Are you all right?"

"Cold and irritated," he replied.  "I will be back in a moment."

"I think we should talk to Alex and Dot about tools that you could use," Prime called after him as he started to walk away.  "Megatron? What are you going to take from the dugout? Not the kitchen utensils, surely? Megatron!"

He growled under his breath and then turned to face him.  "For crying out loud! I just want to wash my servos! Is that all right with you? Are you intentionally obtuse, or have you never heard anyone use 'stretching the legs' as a euphemism before?"

"I'm sorry."

He snarled impatiently and walked away, grumbling under his breath as he went.

When he returned, he found Optimus consulting with Alex and Dot.

"It's very fine," Dot was saying.  "Impressive, considering neither of you have built a snowman before.  Hi, Megs! Feeling OK?"

He nodded and gave a shiver.  "Getting cold, now."

"Pity we don't have a coat in your size," Alex said.  "You always look as though you're really suffering in the winter."

"We should avoid covering the vents on our torsos anyway," he replied, rubbing at his nose.  "But it is a kind thought."

Dot narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.  "Anyway, you need something to save your servos from frostbite.  Let's see... I've got some scrapers – large one you could use for smoothing, a smaller one for details..."

Alex grinned.  "And I have a chisel that you can use.  Just be careful to wipe it off between uses, to keep it from rusting."

"You're very kind," Optimus said.  "Thank you.  That would be perfect for very fine details.  Oh! Do you have any outdoor lights, which can reach from the house and that will not get hot enough to melt the snow?"

"I think I can manage that, yes," Alex told him.

"And we need something to make a sign with," Megatron added.  "Paint, a post and something to nail to the post.  Please."

"On it," Dot told him with a nod.

Megatron smiled as husband and wife both raced away, snowboots crunching on the snow.

Optimus raised an optic ridge at him.  "Signage? Saying what?"

"You'll see."

Megatron and Optimus were still hard at work long after the Terrans returned to the dugout to keep Bumblebee company.

Dot decided to go out and check on them when the light started to fade.

At the sight that greeted her, she couldn't help but grin.  A short distance from the entrance to the barn stood a transformer, made of snow.  He was a good head taller than Bumblebee and had optics that changed colour.  He was holding a notice, which had been written in Megatron's best cursive.

The notice said: Santa! Please stop here.

"What a lovely idea," she said to herself, whipping out her phone to take a photograph.

She turned to Optimus and Megatron, who were in the process of tidying away the tools they had used.

"OP, Megs! Go stand either side of your snowman – I want to get a picture with you in it, after all your work.  Come on! Don't be shy."

They exchanged a glance and then did as she urged them.

Dot took two pictures, then laughed and took more of the two of them together – Optimus having decided to take the initiative and play up to the camera.

There was one with Optimus posing behind Megatron with a gigantic ball of snow in his servos.  Another of the two with their arms around each other's shoulders.  Another of them in an open embrace.  A final one of Optimus kissing Megatron on the cheek.

"OK, you two," Dot laughed.  "I think that's enough.  Megs looks pretty cold and you've got some mulled energon waiting for you both in the dugout.  Come on."

As they followed her back to the barn, Optimus took Megatron's servo and squeezed it.

Chapter Text

The Terrans were watching a film with Bumblebee, Mo, Robby and Alex when Dot, Optimus and Megatron joined them in the dugout.

The two Cybertronians took a seat together, while Dot joined her husband.

Optimus pulled Megatron in close to him.  "Let's warm you up," he whispered in his audial receptor.

He rested his helm against Prime's finial and smiled, wiggling his shoulders as he settled down.

"Tired?"

"A bit," he admitted, squinting his optics at the screen as he felt his plating slowly begin to warm up.

"What are we watching?" Optimus asked the children.

"This is 'Miracle on 34th Street'," Robby answered.  "Thrash thought you and Megatron might want to learn a little about Santa."

Bumblebee cleared his vocaliser.  "Me too," he added.  "I want to learn about this stuff as well."

"Why don't we go back, so Megatron and Optimus can see it from the beginning?" Alex suggested.

Thrash scoffed.  "I don't think Megs is gonna be awake long enough to see it all anyway."

"My fault," Optimus answered him.  "I let him get too cold.  It wears him down."

Megatron started to argue that he was fine, but was interrupted by his hitching intakes.  He vented two stifled sneezes and moaned under his breath.  When he unshuttered his optics again, he found that Optimus was staring at him with concern.

"I am fine," he insisted.  "Just warming up.  Do not allow me to go into recharge, Optimus.  I – uhh... ksschh! Kssschhh! Kshoooooosch! Snf – I want to watch."

"Bless you, five times over.  I'll make no promises – if you need to recharge, you should do so."

He growled under his breath and did his best to focus on the screen.

He learnt the following from the film:

1. Many children found it difficult to believe in a god that gave something for nothing (humans are a cynical race).  Adults apparently considered this to be a sign of growing up.
2. Santa had a sleigh that flew around the world on Christmas Eve.
3. The sleigh was pulled by a team of reindeer.
4. Letters to Santa, including a list of desires, were written out on the lead up to Christmas.
5. Milk and cookies were left out on Christmas Eve.
6. Santa could achieve anything, including arranging a marriage and giving a house and a new child.

As the film reached its conclusion, Megatron met Optimus's gaze.  "Interesting.  Very interesting."

"What's interesting, Megs?" Dot asked him.

He stifled a yawn and sat up straight.  "Why do you find it so hard to believe in Santa Claus, as a species? Back on Cybertron, everyone knew that all our myths and legends held ample truth.  And here's something you should know about gods: they evolve.  They can't exist without belief, so they change their names and roles and pop up somewhere else.  If you ask me, Santa is an older god, with a new image.  It would explain how he gets around the whole world in a single night – and how he gets into modern buildings that don't have chimneys."

"Santa is not a god," Alex told him, frowning.

Megatron shivered and gave a yawn.  "Oh no? Then why does he only visit his believers? And why does he expect tribute, in return? Do your saints do that? To my knowledge, that is a god thing – as is clairvoyance, usually."

Dot shook her head.  "Megs, giving a little something as a way of saying 'thank you' is good manners.  I don't think milk and cookies can really be called 'tribute'."

Hashtag had started doing some research of her own.  "Most of the world seems to leave out a substance containing alcohol," she said.  "In England, they leave out sherry (they say it keeps out the cold) and in Ireland they leave out a black drink with a foam top, called 'Guiness', which is meant to be really good for you.  And Australia has its Christmas in the summertime, so they leave out cold beer there."

Megatron smirked.  "See? Highgrade sounds much more like a tribute for a god, if you ask me."

Dot laughed.  "OK, maybe you're right and Santa is a lot older than we realise.  What if he is an old god, who has decided to change his image?"

He shrugged.  "I simply find it strange that you humans are so cynical.  You think the gifts are 'something for nothing', as if being kind, charitable, compassionate, etc. all year long was easy."

"Megs..."

"No, listen.  It seems to me that, as a race, you find it so difficult to believe in goodness in return for goodness that it is impossible for almost anyone over three years of age to believe in Santa Claus without hesitation."

"Megatron!"

He realised that the four humans looked hurt.  Oh.  He had not included them in that conclusion! Surely, they knew that? He found it impossible to imagine that Dot or Alex could be counted amongst the cold and cynical, let alone their children.

"Did I speak out of turn?"

Dot frowned at him.  "You could say that."

"But... but... I meant no offence! I merely meant to say... that is... I find the human race difficult to understand! I mean... Anyway, you were not... I did not mean... After all, how could you and your family possibly find it hard to believe in goodness in return for goodness? I have yet to meet kinder people! You showed me what goodness is, Dorothy.  Not my own race.  I was always treated badly by my own."

He felt Optimus wrap an arm around him and pull him in closer.  He was warm and Megatron still felt chilled beneath his plating, so he gave no protest.

"I apologise for saying too much and insulting you," he said after a long moment.  "That was not my intention."

Alex approached him.  "You look worn out," he said.  "Perhaps you should get some rest.  We can discuss this later."

Optimus nodded and stood, helping the former warlord to his pedes as he did so.  "Good idea.  Come along, Megatron."

He was dragged away to his room and put to berth.  Optimus sighed and cuddled up next to him when he shivered and pulled the blankets around them both.

"Are you well covered?"

He nodded and pressed himself close to the warm, red plating at his side with a violent shiver.

"Why did you not think before you spoke?"

"Hmm?"

Optimus sighed.  "I think it would have been better if you had permitted yourself to recharge before you decided to say your piece.  Rest now.  We can discuss how to mend your 'faux pas' later."

Megatron yawned loudly and fell into recharge with a shudder.

Chapter Text

Optimus unshuttered his optics and looked about him.  For a moment, he wondered where he was.

Someone was pressed to his side.  Someone with a rumbling snore.  Ah.  Yes.  Now he remembered.

He had only intended to watch over Megatron and keep him warm.  He had not expected to fall into recharge.  He must have been tired.

The former warlord snuffled and rubbed at his nose, but didn't wake.  Instead, he rolled over, taking up the space Optimus vacated when he extracted himself and stood.

"You are going to be hungry," he remarked quietly.  "I should make something.  Something warming, I think.  Looks like you're still cold."

He pressed his servo to Megatron's forehelm and then each cheek.  He was glad to find that he was neither too hot nor too cold to the touch.

"Rest well," he murmured, before leaving the room, intending to make his way to the kitchen.

"You bloody hypocrite!"

Optimus jumped and whirled around, finials lowering slightly.

Bumblebee was directly behind him.  He was frowning and his arms were crossed.

"All the fuss you made about Breakdown staying here with me..."

"Yes, well... Megatron and I are most definitely consenting adults-"

"What d'you think we are? Sparklings?"

He cleared his vocaliser.  "I was merely watching over Megatron.  He was cold and pretty tired.  I was concerned.  Naturally."

"And I was sick with pneumonia! I can't believe this! How come you get to stay with Megatron, when you made such a fuss when Breakdown wanted to take care of me?"

Optimus groaned.  "Let's... talk this over mech to mech.  Come on.  I'll show you how to make Cybertronian pancakes and maybe we can make some candies, too."

He grumbled, but went along without an argument.

It turned out that a few words of encouragement (and allowing Bumblebee to eat the first pancake) soon calmed the scout down.  For good measure, they measured out and mixed the raw materials that Cybertronian apples were made of.  Once the flavour was right, Optimus set that aside and started to make a Cybertronian sweet that was a little like cinder toffee.

"I am going to make popping apple candies," he explained.  "Want to learn how it is done?"

Meanwhile, Megatron had awoken.  He was cold and beginning to feel hungry (now that solid rations had started to become a regular thing, his tanks were beginning to expect it), so he decided to go and see if there was anything that he could snack on.

There was another film playing.  Dot, Alex and their children were watching it together.  He cleared his vocaliser.

"Dorothy, I would like to apologise about earlier.  I... I behaved very badly.  I am your guest and I should not... I mean..."

She waved it away.  "Is fine, Megs.  You weren't yourself.  Feeling better?"

"A bit, yes.  But I am still cold."

She frowned.  "Come and sit down.  I'll turn up the heating a little.  Do you feel OK?"

He nodded with a smile.  "I am hungry, though."

"Hm.  Maybe you need some fuel.  I'll get you some energon."

"No, please do not trouble yourself.  I think Optimus is in the kitchen – I shall go and see if I can scrounge something."

Dot laughed.  "OK, then.  See you later, Megs."

He hummed to himself as he made his way to the new kitchen.  Upon entering, he found Optimus teaching Bumblebee how to make something that looked a little like a hamburger.

"Am I interrupting?"

"Yes," the scout retorted.  "But now you're here, how about squishing some burgers? Great way of working out frustration!"

He grimaced at the sticky-looking mess in his servos.  "No thanks.  That's what my training sessions are for.  Besides, I'm starving! Is there anything I can snack on?"

Optimus tossed a cracker at him.  "Try this.  They taste great when you dip them in rust sauce, but they're fine on their own."

He tried a taste.  Then he ate it eagerly.  "Mm! That was delicious! Any more?"

Prime sighed.  "We will be eating soon.  Be patient, Megatron."

Bumblebee snorted but made no remark.

"But I am hungry – starving!"

"Then go and wash your servos and set the table," Optimus retorted.  "Go on!"

Bumblebee chuckled quietly as Megatron turned and walked away, looking disappointed.

"I think he was hoping to get 'first dibs' on the food."

"Well, he should know better.  Now... how are those burgers coming along?"

"They're all ready, now – just need to go in the oven.  Uh... Optimus...?"

"Yeah?"

"Has something changed between you and Megatron?"

He shook his helm and assured him that all was as it had always been.

A little too quickly and insistent, perhaps.

Chapter Text

Optimus was becoming more adventurous. Megatron suspected that he had used his sense of smell to guess at the flavours in Alex's delicious creations and had then worked out how to replicate them.  Although, the burgers were obviously an idea he had obtained from his favourite 'hideout' (the nearby truck stop).

Every dish was wonderful!

The Terrans enjoyed their meal and then started to argue about what they should do next.

"How about we go snowboarding?" Robby proposed.

Megatron shook his helm.  "It will be dark out, by now.  That is something to do in daylight."

"But it's so bright out, with all the snow, that it's never really dark out," Jawbreaker argued.

"Maybe," Optimus replied.  "But it is still dangerous.  Megatron is right – have fun outside in the daytime."

There was a chorus of groans and protests.

"Will you come with us, tomorrow?" Twitch asked.

"I can, for a bit," Bumblebee announced.  "Right, Optimus?"

"No," Optimus and Megatron answered together.

Dot cleared her throat.  "How would you guys like to open an early Christmas present each? Would that make up for not being able to play in the snow after dark?"

Megatron and Optimus smiled at each other, as the younglings excitedly agreed to open a present each.

"Right," Alex grinned at his children.  "We'll go get them.  But you have to wait and then open them together, OK?"

Each child was given a brightly coloured parcel.  They were just about to rip them open when Alex told them to wait.  Then Bumblebee, Optimus and Megatron were also given a package each.

"But... I have nothing to give any of you," Megatron protested.

Dot sighed and shook her head.  "Just open it, Megs."

"One, two, three... go!" Alex encouraged them, new camcorder in hand.

The wrapping paper was ripped away to reveal...

Bumblebee gasped and then clapped his servos excitedly.  "You guys are the best! Hoho! Look at this!"

Megatron was too busy staring down at his own gift.

It was made from purple fabric.

It had vent areas, which would most assuredly correspond with his concealed chest intakes.

It had sleeves.

"You... made me a ski jacket?"

"We had them commissioned," Dot told him.  "You accidentally reminded us that you don't cope well with the cold on Robby's birthday, when Bumblebee got too wet and cold."

Alex smiled.  "We thought you could probably all use something to keep you warm, this winter."

Optimus was already trying his on.  It was red, with blue details and reflective panels here and there.

"This is perfect," he said, twirling around as he tried his best to get a good look at his first ever item of clothing.  "So thoughtful!"

The Terrans were busy getting into their new coats, too.  Twitch had one in red and yellow, Thrash's was a pale blue, Jawbreaker had an orange one, Hashtag's was purple and Nightshade's was green.  Robby's was silver and Mo's was red.

"You haven't tried yours on, Megs," Dot pointed out to him.  "What's the matter? Don't you like it?"

He pulled himself together with a shake of his helm.  "It is not that," he assured her as he pulled his own coat on.  "It was just... you really are full of surprises! Oh... it is perfect! How did you...?"

"Teletraan-1 has your measurements on it," Dot reminded him with a chuckle.

"Oh! Of course it does."

"Mom told us we had to be measured because you needed to know how big we are, Mr. Optimus," Jawbreaker said.

Optimus grinned.  "Your mother is very clever."

"Can you all breathe OK?" Dot asked them, changing the subject.

"I can!" Bumblebee cheered, spinning around.

His coat was bright yellow, with three black triangles on either side, between the armpits and hips at the front, and an identical set on the back.  There were further triangular stripes on the sleeves.

"Alex, Dot... what can I say? I love it! Now I can play outside, right?"

"So long as you don't stay out too long and you agree to come in the moment you start feeling cold, yes," Alex told him.  "And the same goes for all of you – your coats will help to keep you warmer for longer, but you will still get cold after a while.  Please be sensible."

"You know I will," Megatron retorted.  "Oh! But this feels so good! It is like wearing a blanket!"

Optimus frowned at him.  "Do you have a chill, Megatron?"

"I feel all right.  I just like being warm.  I've been feeling cold all day."

Dot nodded.  "That's what a chill is – not being able to feel warm."

He shook his helm.  "To my knowledge, chills are a symptom and do not arrive on their own.  I feel fine, if a little tired.  Maybe I simply need an early night.  You said yourself that fatigue can make a person feel chilled."

Optimus helped him out of his coat.  "Then let's get you into berth."

"Not that early! It is not yet seven thirty!"

"Why not?" Alex asked him.  "You could listen to some music or read a book..."

Optimus smirked and touched noses with him.  "See? We can keep each other amused.  Go and get ready for bed – I shall heat some energon.  Uhh... if that is all right with you, Ranger Malto?"

"Yes, that's fine."

"I'll give you some help," Bumblebee volunteered.  "I'd like some too and I bet the Terrans would like some mulled cave water."

He shrugged off his yellow coat and ran an admiring servo over it after hanging it on the back of his chair.

"I'll be back in a few," he said.  "I don't know if I already thanked you, so... Thanks! I really didn't expect to get anything, but you sure knew what I needed – better than I did! I can't wait to try it out!"

"I'm glad you like them," Dot said, as everyone else chimed in with thanks.

Alex nodded.  "I'm also glad we didn't make you wait until Christmas morning.  It seems we made the right decision in giving them to you now."

"I'd say so," Optimus agreed.  "Oh! I forgot to take mine off.  There.  You know, I cannot quite get over how well the fabric matches my paintwork! But... why is Megatron's not silver or black?"

Dot chuckled.  "I know that Megatron's favourite colour is purple.  Even the gift he made me is purple."

Megatron felt his faceplate flush slightly and cleared his vocaliser.  "Have you still got it?"

"Of course I have! Did you think I'd have gotten rid of it?"

"Well... no... I just... it was a long time ago, that's all."

Optimus patted his shoulder and grinned at him.

He smiled back and then shook his helm.  "I really don't feel that tired.  Let's play a game – maybe the one they were playing in the Muppet Christmas Carol? What was it called?"

"Animal Vegetable Mineral," Alex told him.  "The rules are pretty straightforward: someone thinks of a... something.  Then everyone takes turns asking yes/no questions until the thing can be guessed."

"Could I pick anything from off the periodic table for 'mineral'?"

Dot raised an eyebrow.  "To clarify: anything with fur, feathers or scales is an animal.  Creatures from planets we have never visited don't count.  Any plant is counted as a vegetable – it doesn't have to be a thing we eat.  Anything else is mineral – you can call a boulder a mineral."

"So... does that make Cybertronians and Terrans 'animals' or 'minerals'?" Thrash asked her.  "I mean, Scrooge was an 'unwanted animal', wasn't he?"

"Cybertronians and Terrans are people," Alex replied, frowning.  "And people are always 'animals'."

"But I don't feel comfortable, including people in this game," Dot told them.  "Stick to things like farm and zoo animals."

"I have one," Megatron said, thinking of a strange creature he had once encountered during a mission with Dot.

"Is it a mineral?" Optimus asked, frowning.

"It is not."

"Is it a dog?" Jawbreaker asked.

"No."

"Hold up," Dot waved a hand.  "We don't know that it's an animal, yet.  Megs, is it an animal?"

"It is."

"OK, good."

"Is it a local animal?" Twitch asked him.

"I have never seen one on this continent."

"We'll call that a 'no', I think," Optimus said.  "Does it have lots of legs?"

"Define 'lots'," Megatron retorted.  "And you are cheating! You already asked a question."

He frowned.  "Oh, I don't know! More than six.  And I got a bit carried away."

"Do it again and we'll make you sit this game out.  And, no.  It does not have 'lots of legs' "

"Is it bigger than a car?" Bumblebee asked.

"That is a good one! Yes.  It would not fit inside a car."

"Does it have four legs?" Thrash asked.

"It does."

"What does it eat?" Hashtag asked.

He frowned at her.  "I cannot answer that with 'yes' or 'no'."

"Oh.  Right.  Um... does it eat meat?"

"No."

Dot cleared her throat.  "OK, so, quick recap: this is an animal.  Not a dog.  Not found locally.  Four legs.  Bigger than a car.  Not carnivorous – that means it doesn't eat meat."

"Cows aren't bigger than cars," Twitch noted.

"And they're found here," Optimus reminded her.

"I think I know!" Robby said.  "Is it a giraffe, Megatron?"

He smiled and nodded.  "That's right.  I saw some once, when I was on a mission with Dorothy.  We were dispatched to Africa on what turned out to be a wild goose chase."

"I remember that," she grinned.  "I'm surprised you remember the wildlife."

"I remember it all.  Trying to keep cool in the midday sun... then trying to keep warm after the sunset.  The animals were the best part – I had never seen anything like a giraffe before.  The long necks and legs, the unusual markings..."

"What do they look like?" Optimus asked.

Hashtag found a video clip and put it through to the projector.  "These are giraffes.  Aren't they funny looking?"

"I like them," Megatron said.  "If I could ever keep a pet, that's what I want."

"Are they easy to keep?" Optimus asked him. 

"How hard can it be? They eat leaves off of trees.  No meat to prepare.  No fuss or bother."

"Until it gets sick and you have to find a vet that can take care of exotic pets," Dot remarked.  "I had trouble enough finding a vet for Mr. Slithers.  Anyway, are we still playing? I think it's Robby's turn."

It was a good game.  It lasted for hours! Robby's was fool's gold, which was eventually guessed by Alex.  Alex chose an apple tree, which Twitch guessed extremely quickly.  Hers was Fluffy Ears, guessed by Thrash.  Thrash decided on a tiger, which Hashtag guessed.

"No cheating and looking things up, kiddo," Dot warned her.

"OK, let's see... yep, I've got one."

"Is it an animal?" Megatron asked.

"Nope!"

"A vegetable?" Twitch asked.

"Yup."

"Is it a vegetable that humans can eat?" Thrash asked.

"Yes."

"Does it grow underground?" Optimus asked.

"It's a plant," she answered.  "All plants grow under the ground."

"He means the edible part," Alex clarified.  "Carrots grow beneath the soil.  So do potatoes."

"Oh.  Right.  No, it doesn't grow underground."

"Is it colourful, like a carrot?" Jawbreaker asked.

"Yes."

"Is it a sort of berry?" Bumblebee asked.

"It's not called a berry.  I don't think so."

"Oh! Is it a tomato or a tomato plant?" Nightshade asked.  "Those are sort of like berries, but not called berries."

"Yes!"

"Very clever, Nightshade," Megatron congratulated them.

Nightshade picked an owl, which Dot guessed.  She gave her turn to Jawbreaker, however, and went off to make drinks.

It was at that point that Megatron noticed that Optimus was watching over him.

"I feel all right," he assured him.  "I have even stopped feeling cold.  I probably just needed some fun that did not involve snow."

"Good," he replied, "I am glad that you are feeling all right.  All the same, you could probably use an early night and we have been playing for quite some time."

"It is fun!"

He nodded.  "And we can play again another time.  Go on.  I'll bring the hot drinks."

"Snf! Bossy bot.  Fine, I'm going.  Good night, all.  Tell Dorothy I wish her a good rest, too."

Optimus watched him go and fondly shook his helm.

Chapter Text

After enjoying a warming drink and then going through his evening routine, Optimus climbed into berth beside Megatron.

"I thought you were tired," he remarked.

The former warlord grumbled.  The menu on the television in their room was too small for him to see without straining his optics and he was beginning to give himself a helmache.

"Trying to find an audio book to listen to."

Optimus took the remote control from his servos.  "Let's see... what kind of thing did you have in mind?"

"Oh, I don't know.  Something relaxing.  Maybe a Terry Pratchett story – Dorothy told me that he is said to be a lot like Dickens, only with things like dragons and goblins thrown in.  Might be interesting."

"Terry Pratchett... ah! Here we are.  Recommended for Christmas: the 'Hogfather'.  All right, let's try it."

Optimus turned the story on and dimmed the lights until he could just see Megatron's profile against the paint on the wall behind him.  He drew him in close and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Any warmer?"

"A bit.  Optimus, please don't worry about me – I am like this every year.  Even when I led the Decepticons, the cold bothered me and I would eventually struggle to feel warm enough.  I just seem to find it a little worse each year.  Old age creeping up on me, maybe."

"We are not that old," he argued.

"I am older than you."

"Not that much older! You make it sound as if you are halfway to becoming one with the Allspark!"

Megatron shrugged.

"Do you think you should see Ratchet?"

"No, Prime, I do not.  I mean, what do you expect him to say? That I feel the cold and that I am not hardy enough? I already know that."

"He could tell us if there is an ongoing problem that is causing it."

Megatron frowned at him.  "Such as...?"

"I am not a medic – I don't know! The point is that... well... if there was something wrong, he would be able to tell us.  I would want to know.  Especially if you require any special care."

"What I 'require' is to be permitted to only remain outside in any inclement conditions for as long as strictly necessary and to be allowed to rest and warm up when I come inside afterwards.  That is it.  I should not require a diagnosis to have those requirements taken seriously – or for Starscream to be forced to leave off the stupid 'pranks'."

"You are right.  I apologise, Megatron, about the comment I made."

He sniffed.  "Which one?"

"That you 'make a fuss' about the cold.  Bumblebee was right – being unable to conceal just how badly you are impacted by the elements at this time of year is not 'making a fuss'.  I am sorry."

"It did sting," he admitted.  "But it is all forgiven now."

Optimus wrapped his arms around him.

"What are you doing?"

"Sharing warmth," he replied, nuzzling him.  "I can feel you shivering."

They remained silent for a few moments.

"Thank you for forgiving me," Optimus murmured.  "I am sorry I upset you.  I shall try to have more thought, in future.  Now... let me restart this story.  Is there anything you need, before I start it back up?"

"A sip of oil would be appreciated.  Thank you.  It is warm! Did Dorothy heat this as well?"

He hummed an affirmation.  "She thought you might appreciate it.  Oil stays warm for quite a while."

"It does."

He finished it in a series of gulps and then wiped his dermas on the back of his servo.

Optimus took his now empty cup and set it aside for him.  "Ready? We should recharge."

He nodded, chest intakes whirring as he did his utmost to conceal a yawn.

"What's wrong?"

"I am tired, Optimus, but trying to be polite."

Prime nuzzled him again.  "There is no need to be polite in my company, Megatron.  Not to extremes, anyway.  Be who you are."

He shrugged and permitted the next yawn to do as it wanted.  It was long and louder than he would ever have allowed.

"Excuse me."

"Good grief! You are tired.  Was that a shiver?"

"Only a slight one.  Fatigue symptom."

Optimus kissed his cheek, temple and brow.

"Rest.  We can chat all you like in the morning."

"Good night, mother hen."

Optimus chuckled and clucked in his audial receptor.

"Good night, Megatron.  Sleep well."

He kissed his brow again.  It felt nice – soothing.

Megatron wiggled his shoulders as he pressed his back to Prime's warm chassis and then fell into recharge with a shudder.

Chapter Text

The day dawned bright, clear and bitter.  The snowmen had gained a new layer of frost overnight and the air was so cold that tiny flakes of snow fell from the cloudless sky.

Bumblebee stepped out into the weather and grinned, spreading his arms above his helm excitedly.

"Hey hey! I've been waiting for this!"

"Remember," Optimus said, clearing his vocaliser, "you are to be careful.  No getting wet or cold."

"Yes, I know.  I know, OK?"

Megatron crawled out into the sunshine and shivered.  "Even with the jacket on, I feel the chill," he muttered to himself.

"What was that, Megs?" Dot asked, eyeing him with concern.

"Nothing of importance," he assured her smoothly, before deftly changing the subject: "I got up early, this morning, to make use of Nightshade's bench.  I thought the Terrans might like their own snowboards.  One for Twitch..."

Twitch stepped forward and accepted her snowboard.  "Thank you! I love it!"

"One for Thrash."

"Nice! Thanks, Megs!"

"Nightshade, I have one for you."

"Thank you."

"Hashtag..."

"Great! Now I can join in with Robby.  Woohoo!"

"And last but not least, we have one for Jawbreaker."

"Ooh!" Jawbreaker jumped up and down excitedly as he took the snowboard that Megatron offered to him.  "Oh, wow! Look at this! My very own snowboard! Hoho!"

His bouncing dislodged some snow on the roof of the barn.  A sheet of it slid down on top of Megatron and Optimus.

Megatron gave a yelp, while Optimus chuckled and shook the snow from his helm and shoulders.

"Sorry," Jawbreaker said, helm bowed.

"No harm done, young one," Megatron reassured him with a gentle smile.  "Go on, go and have some fun.  Bumblebee, I made a sledge for you – more stability."

"Thanks, Megatron! What about you and Optimus?"

They exchanged glances.

"Megatron and I will be watching over you all, until you get the hang of the snowboards," Optimus explained.  "Perhaps we could have a go on a sledge or snowboard tomorrow.  Come along, young ones."

Dot waved them off with a smile.  "Have fun, kiddos! Listen to Bumblebee, Megatron and Optimus, OK?"

Optimus climbed the hill that Robby selected as the best slope while Megatron stayed at the bottom.  Both kept watch, ready to spring into action should anything go wrong.

"Nice jacket, Megs."

Megatron gave a start and turned sharply, almost losing his footing.

"Easy," Grimlock chuckled and steadied him.  "Oh! You look cold!"

He sniffed and rubbed at his nose.  "Standing around, watching the young ones snowboarding.  I am glad they are enjoying themselves but... but... ksssssschh! Snf.  Excuse me.  This is not my idea of fun."

"Heh, maybe you need a hat, scarf and glove set, to go with that jac... ket... Hold on a second! Is that Bumblebee up there?"

Megatron nodded.  "It is.  This is his third and final run, though he doesn't know as much yet."

"He won't like that."

"Too bad.  He has had pneumonia – he must be kept warm."

"I heard he had been sick recently," the dinobot said.  "But pneumonia!"

"I know.  That is why I am concerned."

Bumblebee skidded to a halt and grinned at the two larger bots.

"I'm getting good at steering this," he declared, grinning.  "Atchoo! Snf.  And stopping, too!"

"I believe you are," Megatron agreed.  "But it is time you went back to the dugout, now."

"Why? Because of one little sneeze? That's just the ice getting at my nose – my chest intakes are the things I have to be careful with and they are fine."

He folded his arms and frowned.  "I believe the agreement was that you come quietly when time got called, or else this would be the only fun in the snow you get, this year."

He bowed his helm and rubbed at his nose.  "OK.  I'm sorry."

Grimlock touched his shoulder.  "Come on, Bee.  I'll go with you.  I had a long walk in the snow and I haven't got a coat."

"Yeah.  Right.  OK."

Megatron watched the two head back together, with Grimlock carrying the sledge.  He couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy – he definitely was more than ready for the warmth of the dugout.

"Look out!"

Megatron's helm whipped back to the slope.  Hashtag was approaching him at speed, arms flailing as she panicked.

He ran backwards, not knowing what else to do.  Hashtag still had yet to master turning, slowing or stopping – and she was on a collision course.

Calming himself enough to think quickly, he stepped out of her path and watched her pass him, arms still flailing.  Then she toppled over, landing in a drift of snow.

He helped her to her pedes and dusted her off.  "Are you hurt, young one?"

She shook her helm, grinning.  "It's fun! You should have a go."

"I am getting too cold as it is.  Thanks all the same."

"Oh.  Well, that's probably because you're standing around.  Optimus is looking a bit cold, too."

He looked up at the bot at the crest of the hill.  Prime had his shoulders hunched and was stepping from one pede to the other.

Megatron sighed and contacted him.  "Are you all right?"

"I... uh... I could do with heading back inside, soon."

He pinched the bridge of his nose and shuttered his optics, only just keeping himself from groaning.

"Optimus, you are in charge up there.  Tell them this is their last run.  I believe everyone has had an equal amount of turns? Three, right? Well, I'll send Hashtag back up, if she has not had enough, and they can all make that four.  When the last one gets underway, follow them down."

"Roger that."

He grumbled and shook his helm, looking to the Terran standing in front of him with a grin on her faceplate.

"I heard," she said.  "See you in a minute!"

Mo was the first down.  Her sledge skidded to a halt at Megatron's pedes and she jumped off with a big smile.

"I think I'm getting faster!"

He nodded with a fond chuckle.  "I believe you are.  Just be careful not to go too fast – bones take longer to mend than plating."

Jawbreaker was next.  He was no better at steering than Hashtag and was faster due to being a little heavier.  Megatron watched him rush past and land in the snow, pedes still attached to the board.

"Up you get," he said, helping him upright.  "Are you hurt?"

"I'm OK, Mr. Megatron, sir."

"Glad to hear it.  Why not go on inside with Mo? I think you might have a surprise waiting for you."

Megatron was able to persuade Nightshade and Thrash to join Bumblebee, Mo and Jawbreaker, but the others all wanted to wait until they were together and Prime joined them.

When Optimus reached his side, the former warlord took him by the arm and the two led the remaining youngsters back in the direction of the barn. 

"Are you all right?"

He nodded.  "It is a little warmer down here.  Up there, I was just a touch too exposed to the elements – which is exactly why I volunteered to go up there in the first place."

He nodded and rested his helm against Prime's shoulder.

"So thoughtful."

"Naturally, Megatron.  You are affected more than I am.  All the same, I shall be glad to get back inside – the air has quite a bite to it, today.  It stings!"

"It does indeed."

He felt Optimus bounce slightly on his pedes between steps.  "I think I'll wash my servos so I can get on and start making lunch.  Anything in particular you would like?"

"Tarn fryup?"

"I think I can manage that, yes.  Come on, let's get inside!"

They increased their speed eagerly, overtaking Robby, Hashtag and Twitch.

Chapter Text

Christmas Eve arrived bright and clear, though snow clouds were gathering, thick and fast, on the far horizon.

The Terrans were helping Megatron to clear away the breakfast things when Dot called.

Megatron let Jawbreaker take charge of the dishwasher and answered.

"Is everything all right, Dorothy?"

He heard her chuckle.  "Everything is just fine, Megs.  Get the kids up here – and you'll want to go with them.  All of you.  Just don't overreact, OK? It's a really lovely gesture."

Lovely gesture? "What do you mean?"

"Just... look.  Get everyone into their coats and tell them to go outside.  And get Grimlock, Optimus and Bumblebee to join – you'll all want to see this."

He did as directed, urging everyone into coats and finding Grimlock a piece of tarp large enough for him to use as a makeshift cape.

"Right.  Come on then.  Optimus, you get the hatch.  No, I have no idea what is going on, so don't bother asking.  We will just have to wait and see – sounds as if your mother has a surprise waiting for us all."

As he scrambled out of the bunker's hatch and crawled in the direction of the door of the barn, he heard music begin to play.  Then voices lifted in song.  Some were considerably more tuneful than others – and one was so loud that the owner could be heard over the others.

"For once in your life, make it matter," the voices sang.  
"For once in your life, let it be,
"Why don't you hand it all over?
"And sing it out loudly with me?
"Soon we will all be forgotten,
"But while we're all still here on Earth,
"Sing about love and forget about loss,
"And shout for whatever you're worth."

He made his way out into the snow to find a gathering standing in front of the farmhouse.  Frenzy was holding Soundwave's servo, while Laserbeak sat perched on Soundwave's free arm.  Ravage stood in front of them.  Behind them, Starscream and his trine were singing for all they were worth, arms around each other.  Breakdown was to their left with Shockwave.  Swindle and Hardtop were to the right of the seekers, holding servos and swaying.

Soundwave was playing the music, while everyone else sang.  It must have taken them ages to rehearse the song – it was not one that Megatron recognised.

"Christmas time," came the chorus.
"C'mon, spread the word,
"Christmas time,
"Doesn't everyone hurt?
"Do you remember the good old days,
"When all the children would cheer?
"Well, the time's around, my friends,
"Santa's nearly here,
"Christmas time, Christmas time, merry Christmas,
"And a happy new year!
"Seasons come, seasons go, winter song,
"A time for change is here."

He was sure he saw Starscream smirk at him when he sang those words.  Perhaps that was what Dot had meant, when she told him not to "overreact".

"Mom's got a lot to get together,
"And dad, he provides what he can,
"They've been saving up forever and ever and ever,
"Just to do it all over again."

Starscream gestured for everyone to sing with them as the music signaled the oncoming chorus.  He cleared his vocaliser and tried his best to follow along, while every human, Terran and Autobot did the same:

"Christmas time,
"C'mon, spread the word,
"Christmas time,
"Doesn't everyone hurt?
"Do you remember the good old days,
"When all the children would cheer?
"Well, the time's around, my friends,
"Santa's nearly here,
"Christmas time, Christmas time, merry Christmas,
"And a happy new year!
"Seasons come, seasons go, winter song,
"A time for change is here."

It was not exactly beautiful and a few of them got the words and/or tune wrong, but the spirit of the thing was there.

Starscream stepped forward and sang the final verse alone: "A time for a change must be here, so send all your loving out into the world.  It's your gift."

They attempted the chorus one final time and then the Decepticons started to mingle and greet everyone.

Starscream approached Megatron.  "I thought I owed you an apology, after the last time I was here.  I set up that trap when you first came out and then I forgot all about it.  Ranger Malto said it hurt you."

He shrugged and looked away.  "No lasting damage done."

"All the same, I am sorry.  I hope our little performance shows that I – we all – want to do better."

Megatron stared at him, astonished.  "You arranged this?"

"Oh, don't be so surprised! You know I like the British musicians – the Who, in particular.  I found this song on Spotify and I thought... well... I thought that maybe Mr. Williams has a point.  You know?"

"Mr. Williams?"

He rolled his optics with a toss of his helm.  "Oh, don't you know anything about music? Robbie Williams! You know – from Take That? Eesh! You need to get with the times! What was the last musician you really listened to?"

"The Tarnished Sparks."

"Seriously? Their last album came out more than a hundred vorns ago! And what's wrong with Earth music? You should listen to the Who! You'd like them.  Madness, too.  Real music, about real people: the outcasts and the ordinary.  The working classes."

Megatron snorted and folded his arms.  "Have you learnt nothing? I care about people, not classes."

"Which is why you won't like the ones that come from privileged backgrounds – you know you won't! What can they talk about? Nothing of any substance or experience."

He raised an optic ridge at the smaller mech.  "You do have a point."

"Thank you."

Dot had mulled some energon and cave water.  She and Alex passed the drinks around, before joining them with mulled apple juice.

"That was quite a surprise," Alex remarked, smiling.  "You should have warned us to make sure we were in good voice, this morning."

"And ruin the surprise?" Nova Storm retorted.  "Pfft! No way!"

Optimus chuckled.  "It was a wonderful surprise.  Thank you all.  Whose idea was it?"

"Starscream," Soundwave said.  "He made us rehearse day and night for the last eleven days."

Frenzy started to sway.  "Christmas time... C'mon spread the word.  Christmas time... Doesn't everyone hurt? D'you remember the good old days, when all the children would cheer?"

"That is enough, now," Ravage growled, lashing his tail.

Frenzy shrugged, digits flying over the keys of the keytar in her servos.  "I like the song.  Can we sing another song?"

"Don't look at me," Megatron grumbled.  "My taste in music is a hundred vorns out of date, apparently."

"And also on the wrong planet," Starscream added.  "If you want to get along with the humans, you have to try and fit in.  Take an interest in their cultures! Movies, music, sports, all that stuff! Right, Ranger Malto?"

"I guess it might help, where the more... short-sighted of us are concerned," she said, slowly.  "But if you ask me, it works both ways and we should take an interest in you guys, too.  It's like when a human visits a different country – real acceptance comes from sharing cultures, not one person giving all of themselves and getting nothing in return.  Megs, why don't you share a song from Cybertron?"

His optics widened.  "Now?"

"Only if you're comfortable."

"Uh... well... my vocaliser is a little scratchy.  It does not take well to being made to sing in this frost-filled air.  Another time? Besides, we have no Christmas songs on Cybertron."

"It's fine," she assured him quickly.  "I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that."

Alex cleared his throat.  "Why don't we all go down to the dugout? Optimus, is the buffet that you and Bumblebee were working on yesterday ready?"

He nodded.  "It is.  I shall go on ahead and set it up."

"I'll help," Bumblebee volunteered.

Breakdown came to the scout's side and snaked an arm around him.  "Me too.  How are you, Bee? I missed you!"

"You... you did?"

"'Course I did! I came back ages ago and I was going to come straight here, only Starscream reached out and told me about his idea.  I thought carol singing would be a nice surprise for everyone, so I agreed to stay at their hideout and practice."

Megatron grinned at Starscream.  "It was a very good idea."

The seeker bowed playfully.  "Thank you."

"It was very nice," Hashtag agreed, going to his side.  "I really loved the song.  What made you pick it?"

He shrugged and looked away.  "We get homesick for Cybertron, sometimes.  Even before the space bridge got destroyed, Megatron would get homesick and start prattling on about the 'good old days' on Cybertron, where the temperatures were constant and we could steal all the fuel we wanted."

"Thank you, Starscream."

"Well... you did.  You were a different mech, back then.  We all know it.  Why not acknowledge it?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned.  "Because the young ones do not need to hear about that stuff.  I am trying to be a better role model."

Starscream shrugged.  "So? Admit that everyone makes mistakes and move on.  We are not one of us perfect, are we?"

Megatron groaned.  "Let's just go and eat."

They made their way down to the dugout together, along with their human friends.

Dot turned on the party music and started to discuss party games with the Cassettes.

Twitch grinned at her siblings as they took a moment to watch everyone else enjoy themselves.

"See? We Terrans bring everyone together – Autobot, Decepticon, Terran, Human... who we are isn't going to matter for too much longer, if things carry on the way they're going."

Nightshade smiled.  "That is a nice thought.  Do you think Mom and Dad invited Tarantulas?"

"Ratchet isn't here, either," Thrash noted.  "Or Agent Schloder."

"Or Dad2," Twitch added.  "Maybe they're busy.  There's still tomorrow, anyway.  And New Year's Eve.  Maybe they'll visit later."

Jawbreaker nodded.  "Besides, the dugout is pretty full.  Can we really fit anyone else in?"

"Elita and Arcee are missing, too," Hashtag added.  "There are quite a few people missing, aren't there?"

"Maybe we need to make more space in here, ready for next year," Nightshade murmured thoughtfully.  "Then we can invite everyone.  We should probably make that kitchen bigger, too, and get Optimus to teach us to cook.  Then we can work together on the meals and let him be our guest, next Christmas."

Thrash shook his head.  "Bet you he'd argue about that.  He likes cooking!"

Dot called to them to come and eat, so they split up and made their way to the buffet.

Starscream and the seekers immediately started recommending dishes to Hashtag, while Grimlock took to Jawbreaker's side.

Nightshade was joined by Shockwave, who struck up a friendly conversation and introduced them to Soundwave and his Cassettes.

Thrash grabbed a handful of anything and everything that appealed to him, poured himself a drink and then went to sit with Mo.

Bumblebee and Breakdown were sitting with Optimus, chatting quietly.

Twitch joined Megatron, who was looking a little glum.

"Are you OK?"

"Yes, Little Bird, I am all right.  Starscream never fails to get beneath my plating, that is all."

She touched his servo.  "I don't think he meant it, this time."

"No.  It is merely a habit, now.  I wish he would stop."

"Maybe if you don't let it bother you, he'll get bored," she suggested.  "Why not forget about the stuff he said and enjoy yourself? Listen! They're playing 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree'! You like this one."

He nodded and started to move his pede in time to the music.  "I do.  It has a cheerful tune."

Twitch transformed and started to dance in the air in her drone mode.

Megatron smiled at her antics and clapped his servos in time to the music, swaying slightly.

Just like that, the barbs were forgotten.

Chapter Text

While everyone was eating, Twitch asked if everyone had written their letters and lists for Santa.

"I don't even know who Santa is," Hardtop told her.

Megatron looked around the room at the blank faceplates of the gathered Cybertronians.  He was going to have to explain.

"He is a god.  He visits all who have tried to be 'good' (compassionate, kind, so on and so forth) all the year with presents.  But you have to believe in him.  You have to tell him what you want in a letter and you have to leave him out some tribute, in the form of human fuel – children leave out milk and cookies, while adults leave out human highgrade."

Hashtag grinned.  "Oh! That makes sense! Yes, the parents would never allow their children to pour out alcohol, so it must be the adults that leave out the offerings for Santa in other countries."

"Exactly.  That is exactly what I think."

"Dad says he's not a god," Thrash argued.  "He says that Christmas is about one god – Jesus.  You can't celebrate one god and ask another one for presents."

Starscream frowned.  "I don't even know who Jesus is."

"He's the son of Father God," Bumblebee told him.  "From what Alex told me, Father God is Primus with a different name."

Everyone began to talk at once.

Megatron cleared his vocaliser.  "The point is, he comes tonight.  We could ask him for something, but we would have to leave out an offering and write a letter.  But, if he doesn't think we've been good enough, we won't get anything."

"What are you going to ask for?" Starscream asked him.

"Me?"

He nodded.  "There must be something that you want."

"I want world peace," Optimus said.

"Bleugh! Of course you do.  I was asking Megatron."

The former warlord stared down at his knees.  "My wish is a simple one: working heating and waste disposal systems at my place, so that I do not have to intrude on Dorothy and use her family's resources.  And some way to reward her kindness, obviously."

Starscream stared at him.  "Who are you and what have you done with Megatron?"

"What do you mean?"

He wiggled his wings and averted his gaze.  "I mean... I mean that you needn't waste your Christmas wish on facilities.  I could design and build a heating system and I know about plumbing and washrack facilities."

"I have a washrack that works, to a point," Megatron explained.  "But the drains connect to the human sewage systems.  Using it will pollute the planet.  I need something... better."

"I created something that works here," Nightshade announced.  "I could do the same at your home."

Shockwave raised a servo.  "I could help."

Dot had been standing on the ramp, where she had stopped to observe the discussion while on her way down to the dugout to check on everyone.  She made her way back to the house, wiping at her eye.

"Dottie?" Alex rushed to her side when she entered the kitchen.  "What's wrong? What happened?"

She sniffed.  "I just saw the sweetest thing... Megatron feels bad about having to stay here.  He said he was gonna ask Santa for working heating and stuff.  The Cybertronians are all talking about saving his Christmas wish by helping him out."

"You told him it's unnecessary, right?"

She shook her head.  "It was so sweet, I couldn't find it in me to interrupt them.  I'll talk to him later and reassure him that he's appreciated here, but... oh, Alex! I wish you'd been there – it was Starscream who started it! Starscream! He said he knows how to install a heating system and he'd help."

"Really?"

She nodded.  "And then others started volunteering, too.  It was just... it was wonderful! We're gonna have to get them all a little something from Santa, just so they know they're seen, you know? They're all trying to do better.  If we let them think it's not seen and appreciated..."

"Dottie, what can we get them? What would they want?"

"I'll ask them to give me their letters when they're done," she said, kissing his cheek.  "And then I guess we'll have to move fast."

He nodded.  "But how can we...? I mean... it's Christmas Eve!"

"I know.  We'll have to move really fast – and somehow make sure they don't suspect anything."

He hummed pensively.  "Somehow.  Yes."

Chapter Text

Dot consulted the lists, reading the items out as her husband drove into town and creating a list of desires on her clipboard.

"Optimus wants world peace," she complained, groaning.  "And to know if Cybertron is OK.  How does he expect Santa to manage that?"

Alex sighed and shook his head.  "We should never have let them watch Miracle on 34th Street.  It's given them ideas."

"I didn't think they'd take it so literally! They're not kids and they aren't usually gullible."

"What does Bumblebee want?"

"Let's see..." Dot rummaged through the papers.  Then she gasped.  "I feel bad for reading this – it's really personal.  He has two requests: that he fully recover from pneumonia so he gets to race in the New Year... and that Breakdown becomes his conjunx.  I thought he told me he was like a brother..."

Alex cleared his throat.  "I'm guessing he meant that Breakdown is his amica – American language and culture don't really have a term that works as a perfect equivalent, so he probably just did his best with the words he can use."

"And Cybertronians believe all myths and legends to be true..."

"So it would seem, yes."

She sniffed.  "Megatron breaks my heart.  He just wants extra presents for us, 'in return for our kindness' and for Cybertron to have survived the war.  I feel bad reading this, too.  He says he doesn't deserve anything for himself, but his wish is that the Allspark survived 'his stupidity'."

Alex frowned.  "I think he needs therapy."

"I'm sure he does, but try getting him to go."

"Optimus seems to need it, too," Alex remarked.  "Did you manage to get them talking to each other?"

"Huh, no idea.  If I did, they haven't said anything about it to me.  It's not really any of my business, anyway."

"I guess not.  OK, what does Starscream want?"

Dot groaned.  "A new space bridge and for Cybertron to be OK."

"Sounds like it's a running theme."

"Yeah... I guess it would be.  I wish we could do something."

Alex nodded.  "Me too.  OK.  Well, we'll just have to find material things for them and hope they get their Christmas miracle, I guess.  I think I know what we can give Megatron... not sure about the others, though."

Chapter Text

Back at the dugout, sleeping arrangements were being made.  Soundwave and the Seekers had offered to take the lounge area, but Mo argued that Santa might not come if they stayed there.

"If Optimus and I share a room, that would free up a large berth that a few close friends could share," Megatron suggested, clearing his vocaliser and staring fixedly at the Christmas tree as if it were a superior officer that had asked an awkward question.

Optimus patted his shoulder.  "Good idea, Megatron."

"Breakdown and I could share too," Bumblebee added.  "If that's OK with you, Breakdown?"

"Works for me."

Slowly but surely, the arrangements were made.  Shockwave, Soundwave and Starscream were staying in one room (the Cassettes were going to have to stay inside of Soundwave overnight).  Nova Storm and Skywarp were staying next door.  Hardtop and Swindle were next to Bumblebee.

Megatron and Optimus helped Bumblebee to ensure that everyone would be warm and comfortable.  Then the guests regrouped to watch films and pick at the refreshments with their hosts.

At 8.00 PM, Robby and Mo announced that they had to go and take baths and start getting ready for an early night.

"Can you come back afterwards?" Twitch asked.

"They'll get too cold, walking through all the snow and ice after taking baths," Megatron predicted.  "I get too cold and I do not have hair.  I believe hair acts like a sponge and can be difficult to properly dry."

"Oh.  I see."

Robby grinned.  "We'll come over early tomorrow morning – promise.  Mo usually wakes up before 6 and gets everyone else up, so make sure you guys get plenty of sleep, too."

An early night sounded like a good idea.  Megatron nodded with a smile.

"I think we can manage that.  Good night, young ones."

Starscream watched him pour himself some oil and frowned at him as he knocked it back as if it were a shot.

"Is your vocaliser really sore? I thought you were just making excuses, earlier."

"It is just the weather," he assured him.  "You are not my medic anymore – what do you care? You never did before."

He snorted.  "Oh, so you are feeling sick.  You always did get touchy, when I tried being direct with you."

He shuttered his optics with an impatient grimace.  "No, Starscream.  I feel fine.  The weather hurt my vocaliser, that is all.  If I thought for a moment I might be ailing, I would say as much – and stay well away from everyone.  Do you think I would have suggested that Optimus and I share a room? Do you think I am so stupid?"

"Stupid, no," Starscream smirked at him unpleasantly.  "Selfish, yes.  If you want comfort, you tend to seek it without even considering the consequences."

He turned with a silent snarl.  "Maybe I did, once.  That was a long time ago."

"Was it?"

"Let's watch another movie!" Twitch suggested quickly, flying between them.  "You'll just love 'Santa Who' – I know you will! Come and sit down."

Megatron started to yawn midway through the film, though he was able to stifle them well enough.  Optimus seemed to notice, however, as he first put an arm around him and then gradually guided his helm onto his shoulder.

When he eventually noticed what had happened (he really must have been tired), he looked up into his faceplate with a weary smirk.

Optimus chuckled softly and whispered to him that he could rest all he wanted.

"What's that noise?" Starscream asked, suddenly.

Thrash paused the film, which was momentarily forgotten.

Frenzy giggled and pointed.  "Megatron is snoring!"

Optimus frowned at her.  "He has been stretching himself too thin, lately.  Let him rest."

"If he wants to make a racket like that, he can go to berth and do it," Starscream retorted.

"Fine," Prime lifted him into his arms carefully as he stood.  "Good night, all."

"Don't you want to finish the movie?" Bumblebee asked him.

He shook his helm.  "I am tired, myself."

The truth was that he had no idea how to remove that cannon from his friend's arm and he had had the importance of doing so at night explained to him.  Now, he was going to have to ensure that Megatron felt safe and secure enough to sleep restfully the whole night through.

The film was resumed behind his turned back, but he didn't mind.  He had seen a lot of Christmas films now – missing the end of one wouldn't hurt.

Chapter Text

Megatron surfaced from recharge with a jolt, optics unshuttering themselves and fusion cannon whirring before he was even half aware of his surroundings.  He heard Optimus groan beside him and started to apologise, but the words died on his dermas.

He had a strange feeling that someone had been in their room.

The door was ajar, allowing light to spill in from the corridor outside.  There was something else amiss as well, but he was unable to work out what it was.

"Optimus?"

"... Uh-huh?"

"Did you leave the door open? You know how much I hate having the light shining in my face."

He moaned and rubbed at his optics.  "Don't think so.  Maybe I just didn't close it properly.  Sorry.  Had you in my arms... maybe I just kicked the door shut behind me.  Can't remember.  Sorry, Megatron."

"I... needed to wake up, anyway.  Sooner or later."

"Maybe I should have woken you up," Prime muttered.  "But you looked so tired... besides, when I disturbed you, you protested and cuddled up closer to me, so I thought you might get mad if I did wake you up."

"My apologies," he groaned and got out of the berth.  "I'll be back in a minute."

"I might as well go along with you," Optimus said, rubbing at his optics again.  "I didn't visit the washrack before turning in, either."

They took turns waiting outside of the washrack and then made their way back to berth, neither of them really in the mood for starting the day.  They entered their room and stopped short.

At the end of the berth, there were two stockings.

They were larger than a human pillowcase.

They were bright red.

They had their names embroidered on them in gold thread.

Megatron picked his up as if he were in a trance and stared at it.

It was bulging.

"I don't understand.  I did not ask for anything.  Not for myself."

Optimus met his gaze and cleared his vocaliser.

"Neither did I."

Megatron coughed awkwardly and stepped from one pede to the other.  "What should we do?"

"What do you mean?"

He grumbled impatiently.  "What are we expected to do? Open them here and now? Wait until everyone else is up and do it together? What is the etiquette, where gifts are concerned?"

"No idea," Optimus admitted.  "We should probably assume that we are supposed to wait and open them together, I guess.  What time is it?"

Megatron yawned as he checked.  "3.36.  Definitely early.  Let's put these under the berth, so we don't knock them onto the floor.  Then we can go back to recharge for a while."

"Mmm.  Sounds like a plan."

He first removed his fusion cannon, setting that on the floor, then put the stockings with it.  Finally, he scrambled into the berth and curled up with his companion (he was not quite sure, even now, of what exactly they were.  'Companions' would have to do, for now), yawning widely as he settled down once more.

Optimus yawned in turn and held him close, caressing the armoured plating on his back as an encouragement to settle.

After what seemed like mere seconds later, there was a knock at the door.

"Mr. Optimus?" Mo's voice called.  "Mr. Megatron? It's 6.30 and everyone else is up.  There are presents under the tree, waiting.  Mom has mulled energon for you."

Optimus scrambled out of the berth and pulled out the stockings.

"Morgan?"

"Yes, Mr. Optimus?"

"Did anyone else wake up to find a stocking at the end of their berth?"

He heard her chuckle.  "Everybody had stockings.  Have you opened yours?"

"Not yet," Megatron replied.  "Should we do that before we go and join everyone by the tree?"

"No, bring them with you," Robby answered.  "I think everyone else is waiting to open theirs, too."

Soundwave and Starscream watched them as they entered the entertainment area and took to the large, two-seater sofa.  They might have remarked on how close Prime and the former warlord were, but they were soon distracted by Christmas stockings and presents.

"Cybertronian chocolates!" Megatron gasped, having unwrapped the first parcel he pulled from his stocking.  "These are a special kind of treasure! How...? Where did...? Dorothy, have you ever seen anything like these before?"

She shook her head, staring at the box of chocolates in his servo.  "No.  I haven't."

"They must've come from Santa," Twitch said.  "Ooh, look! I've got some, too! And a new mug.  Can I use this today, please, Mom?"

"Yes, OK.  I'll make sure it's clean, first.  What've you got, Optimus?"

He held up a fruit that just fitted the palm of his servo.  It was blue with purple stripes and looked a little like a watermelon.  "A hydrafruit! But... how? They only grow on Cybertron!"

"Those taste amazing," Megatron remarked.  "May I have half? Oh, don't bother.  I seem to have one of my own.  That is breakfast sorted out for me!"

He twisted the stalk and peeled away the outer skin.  Then he bit off the top, slurped out as much of the juice as he was able, and ate the remainder of the flesh.

"Mmm! Oh, that was delicious! I hope there are more."

Swindle hummed thoughtfully.  "You can have too much of a good thing.  Someone I used to know almost flooded his engine, eating too many hydrafruit at once.  It's not a thing to get greedy with."

"Point taken," Megatron rumbled.

Soundwave was brandishing a box.  "I have 'Travel Clue: a fun game for the family'.  Frenzy might never complain about boredom again."

"Doubtful," Starscream muttered.  "Oh, look, I've got a hydrafruit, too."

"I've got a cuddly toy," Frenzy announced.  "A soft bear in a Santa outfit."

Soundwave admired the bear.  "Very soft.  What will you call it?"

"Santa, I guess.  Santa Bear? Not very creative.  I like him, though.  Never owned anything so soft."

"I have one as well," Ravage said.  "Can I rip it?"

Megatron frowned at him.  "Not if you want more presents next year, I should think.  If you don't want it, why not ask if anyone else wants it?"

"I was only testing you," he snapped, holding the bear between his paws and nuzzling it.

"You were trying to act the tough guy, you mean," Frenzy argued.

Eventually, the stockings were finished with and Alex and Dot moved on to pulling the presents out from beneath the tree.

To everyone gathered, the presents from the Maltos were obvious.  They were small, kind gestures.  Nobody had been left out or forgotten.

There were also gifts, left extravagantly wrapped, with labels that had been written in fancy cursive that put even Megatron's servo-writing to shame.  These presents were as unlikely as those in the stockings: a new arm for Hardtop, Cybertronian tools for Shockwave and Nightshade...

"OK, I have to believe in Santa Claus after this," Dot remarked.

Megatron gave her a sad smile.  "I only wish he had let us know whether Cybertron still survives or not."

"It is probably gone," Starscream said mournfully, before his expression hardened and he pointed an accusing digit at the former warlord's faceplate, scowling.  "And it is all your fault, you stupid, selfish traitor!"

Optimus frowned at him.  "Just you hold on a minute!"

"Starscream: correct," Soundwave interjected.

He shook his helm.  "No.  He is not.  You can blame Megatron all you like but, sooner or later, you are going to have to face the fact that we each carry an equal share of the guilt and blame.  I destroyed the space bridge – too soon, probably – but I had no choice.  Starscream was about to go after the Allspark and retrieve it again.  Cybertron needed it to be returned and to remain.  I had to destroy the only way to bring it back here.  The situation was desperate."

All optics were on Starscream, now.  He shrugged miserably.

"I just wanted to see the Autobots defeated," he growled.  "I wanted Megatron to regret defecting."

"Well, I only regret not joining the Autobots sooner," he snapped back at him, frame beginning to shake.  "Had you only asked me why... had you only accepted my offers to sit down with me and talk, our world might have been spared.  Optimus is right – we each carry an equal share of the blame, in the end.  But you are also right, Starscream – my guilt is still greater than everybody else's.  Had I listened to Optimus sooner... had I had more compassion, empathy..." he shook his helm and then hid his faceplate in his servos.

Shockwave went to his side and touched his arm.  "What is done is done," he said softly.  "There is no going back.  No point in blaming ourselves or each other."

Starscream snorted.

"You disagree, Seeker?"

All was silent for a long time.

"What you say is true," Skywarp said softly, finding her voice at last.  "Blaming each other for stuff that happened is pointless.  If we're all that's left of Cybertron, there's no point in going on fighting with each other.  The planet is already lost.  We've already lost – all of us."

Megatron nodded and pulled himself together.  It took a lot of effort.

"Forgive me.  My apologies.  For the... indisposition."

He felt Optimus and Soundwave each give their silent support.  It was pleasant and far from deserved.

Dot started to say something – most likely to ask him if he was all right – when the ground shook.

"What was that?" Megatron leapt to his pedes.  "Everyone stay here and keep the young ones safe.  I had better... I shall be back soon."

"I'm going too," Optimus had also stood instantly.  "Everyone else, wait here.  Keep each other safe.  We have no idea what we might find."

They were too big to exit together.  Megatron went first, shaking with terror as his mind replayed the frightening nighttime encounter with the sparkeater, that had only taken place the previous month.

He crawled out into the snow on his servos and knees, trembling.

He crouched, looking around him through narrowed, snow-blind optics.

He heard Optimus scramble clear of the barn behind him.

"Omega!"

"Optimus."

The world spun.  Then darkness replaced the bright white.

Chapter Text

There were voices, all talking at once.  Too many.  It was impossible to make sense of them all.  Impossible to make sense of anything.

He was shivering.  There was a horrible cold, wet feeling beneath his plating and in his chest intakes.  He coughed weakly, turning onto his side to help whatever it was that threatened to drown him to be expelled.

"Ksssssschoooooooooooooooschhh!"

The sneeze was wet and painful.  He groaned and unshuttered his optics, but the light was too bright and everything was blurry.

"You gave me quite a scare," Optimus's voice told him, squeezing his servo gently.  "Are you all right? How are you feeling? Oh! Your servos are like ice!"

"Gave me a scare, too," Dot added, as her face swam into focus for a brief moment.  "What happened? Can you tell us?"

He shook his helm and sniffed, rubbing another urge to sneeze away from his nose.  "I feel wet under my armour."

"That must be the snow you fell into," Optimus groaned.  "It had been tossed in all directions and half-melted by the thrusters on landing."

What was he talking about?

"I think I feel unwell."

"Right, let me deal with him," the voice of Starscream grumbled.  "Stop crowding him – if he is harbouring some bug, you don't want to catch it.  Megatron only gets set back by the especially nasty things."

"He has been through a lot, lately," Optimus argued.  "It would probably not take anything particularly strong or aggressive to get through his defenses.  I hope he's not going to catch anything right on Christmas, though.  Especially not the first time he is included in the celebrations."

"Poor Megs," Dot muttered.

Starscream growled impatiently.  "One thing at a time.  Prime, pick him up and help me get him to the washracks.  We'll have to warm him gradually."

"I think I'd sooner do that by myself, if you don't mind," he argued.  "He trusts me.  I could remove his plating and get the slush out.  Hopefully, before he catches a cold or worse."

He was lifted, carried, set down and stripped.  Water – no, solvent – started to run over his exposed chassis.  It was almost a comfortable temperature, just shy of being warm.  He shivered and attempted to cover his private region.

"I am not paying that any attention," Optimus assured him gently.  "I just want to warm you up and make sure you're clean.  I'm sorry about doing this without your consent, but you seemed a little out of it and I thought you'd prefer me over Starscream."

He couldn't decide what he would have preferred.

"Starscream was my medic," he said after what felt like a long moment of contemplation.  Why was thinking so difficult?

"Would you prefer for him to tend you?"

"No."

Optimus gave a quiet huff of laughter.  "OK, then."

"Apologies.  For the trouble."

"It is no trouble at all.  Can you tell me what you remember?"

He started to shiver, dentae plates chattering in his helm.  The solvent temperature was adjusted.  It returned to being almost warm enough.

"Ksch! Ksssch! Ksschooooschhh!"

"Poor Megatron! Are you able to recall what happened?"

He shivered again.  "Sparkeater.  Outside.  Children must be protected.  Went outside.  Blind.  Too bright.  Too much snow."

"The snow blinded you, after the dimness of the barn?"

"Snow is always too bright in daylight.  Hurts my optics.  Makes me dizzy."

"I had no idea.  I am sorry, Megatron."

He shrugged.  "Weakness must be powered through."

"No, not anymore," Optimus told him gently.  "You can tell me, if you need allowances to be made.  I am beginning to think you only tell me about the things you are unable to conceal," he sighed quietly.  "That is probably my fault.  I have been somewhat dismissive about your problems with cold weather... why would you tell me about anything more? I apologise, Megatron."

He sniffed and rubbed at his nose.

"Do you know what happened next?"

He shook his helm.

Prime took his servo and squeezed it.  "I am going to have to be gentle, because I think you went into shock.  Little wonder, if you were expecting a sparkeater and were momentarily blinded.  Megatron, listen to me: there was no sparkeater out there.  You were lucky – really lucky – you didn't go out there alone, all the same."

He waited patiently.

"The thud we all heard... that was Omega Supreme.  He has come all the way from Cybertron.  The planet is a mess – they're rebuilding everything.  No communications, yet.  He volunteered to come and see how things are on Earth."

"Then... all is not lost..."

Optimus gave a jubilant cry.  "We get our Christmas miracle."

Megatron sniffed and turned his faceplate away, feeling tears mingle with the solvent falling onto his face.

"I know," Prime said quietly.  Gently.  "We all reacted in the same way."

Eventually, the solvent shower was turned off and Optimus gently dried him and 'helped' him back into his armour (in actual fact, he dressed him as if he were a sparkling).

At some point, Megatron apparently fell into recharge, because he next became aware to find himself stretched upon the two-seater settee, wrapped in a generous heap of blankets, using Optimus's lap as a pillow.

He was given a cube of medgrade and helped to sit up and take it.

"Feeling any better?" Dot asked him.

"Snf.  A little.  Medgrade is disgusting."

"So I gather," she retorted.  "But it's also the easiest fuel on the tanks and it has a lot of goodness in it.  If you take it now, you might be able to enjoy your Christmas dinner."

He stifled a sneeze into his servo and shivered as a chill crept over his frame, starting at his neck and crawling in the direction of his pedes.

"Bless you.  Is there anything you need?"

He shook his helm and swallowed a mouthful of medgrade with a grimace.  Then he changed his mind and asked for a rag.

By dinnertime, he felt quite a bit better.  He learnt that Omega had gone to stay with Ratchet and Drift at the place they had been busy renovating.  He was unsurprised to learn that it was spacious enough to shelter the titan and had heat, power and all the other appropriate facilities.  He wondered why Optimus had not gone there, instead of staying at GHOST Headquarters in discomfort, but decided against asking him.

Starscream was surprisingly kind and gentle, checking on him frequently and ensuring (as best as anyone could) that he was not unwell.

Megatron eventually sat up and started to check his emails.  There were a number of messages from humans (and also human companies), that wished him a pleasant Christmas.  There was also one from Spotify.

"Dorothy?"

"Uh-oh," she scrambled up beside him, with some assistance from Optimus.  "What's wrong, Megs?"

"Spotify is asking me to provide a payment method and I cannot understand why.  It is true that their advertisements irritate me unmercifully, but I have never once complained to them."

She frowned and peered at the message that he had open, reading it through carefully.  Then she read it through again.

"It says you've got music available on there.  Is that right?"

He nodded.  "Yes.  Cybertron was dying and the thought of losing everything – our history, our culture, everything – was keeping me from my recharge.  So, I saved all I could.  I transferred all the music that I was able to access onto Spotify.  I sent poetry, scientific documents... anything and everything I could access... all of that went to your online libraries.  I preserved as much as I could."

Starscream frowned at him.  "Why didn't you tell us?"

He shrugged and looked away.  "It did nothing to make me feel better.  I saved our culture and history from being lost, but I was unable to save the planet."

The Seeker started to laugh.

Confused, Megatron turned back to stare at him.  "Why are you laughing?"

"You still don't know what you did, do you?" Starscream shook his helm and grinned at him.  "Where do you think Omega Supreme came from, you old fool? He has been on Cybertron!"

The former warlord stared at him, fuel intake hanging open.

"You and Optimus saved Cybertron," Starscream reiterated.  "So you can stop grieving and feeling guilty.  We can stop blaming ourselves and each other."

He nodded mutely.

Starscream turned and knelt beside the tree with Hashtag.

"Do you want to go and lie down?" Optimus asked, when he shivered.

"No.  No, I just... I think I need to process that."

"Of course."

Dot patted his servo and smiled at him.  "Leave the Spotify email, for now.  It's Christmas Day – I doubt anyone's going to be there to answer you, anyway.  Before you think about responding, you'll have to try to find out who should own the rights for the music and... that's gonna be quite a headache for you, but I'll help with it.  Let's just enjoy the holiday, for now."

Chapter Text

"Megatron, would you help me set this up?"

He sighed and set aside the book that he had had in his stocking and removed the reading glasses that had been wrapped with them.

Twitch was excitedly holding up a box, fidgeting slightly as she resisted the urge to jump up and down.

He frowned.  "Dominoes? They don't need setting up, Little Bird.  I have played with your mother.  Each domino has a set of dots on them, like dice, and you have to match them and..."

"I think that's a different type of dominoes, Megs," Dot told him.  "Here, I'll show you."

Between them, they set up a domino run.  It took ages! He mostly held structures still while Dot and Twitch stood the brightly coloured pieces of plastic on them.

At last, Twitch set it all off.  It was over in seconds.

Megatron watched as all their hard work was undone with growing fatigue.

"Are you OK, Megs?"

He nodded and resumed his seat with a weary sigh.  "So much effort, undone so quickly."

She chuckled.  "But it's fun to watch, right?"

"Well, yes.  I suppose so."

"That's the point of it.  Megs, you need to get used to the idea of play that isn't just training.  Although, setting up a domino run without knocking it all flying is good practice for those steady hands of yours."

He smiled back at her.  "You are right, of course."

"Could you help set up my present next?" Bumblebee asked him.  "It's a race track, with remote controlled racing cars.  If you help, I'll give you the first race.  OK?"

He was about to set aside his reading glasses again, having just picked them up, but one look at the pieces of track made him realise that he would need them – there were a lot of small, delicate sections.

The race, when the track was finally ready, was a lot more fun than watching the dominoes fall over.  All the same, he really wanted to return to his book.

"Megs?"

Now what? He turned weary optics on his best friend.

"Hmm?"

She smiled at him.  "I think we've all heard enough Christmas music.  Could you help me find some music from Cybertron?"

He talked her through where to look, feeling somewhat uncomfortable about it, now that he knew that he would be receiving the royalties.  He was going to have to do a lot of explaining and apologising, later.

They listened to the Tarnished Sparks, a little classical Cybertronian music, some recent pop and the music that Soundwave liked, which Dot told them sounded a lot like Dubstep.

"I want to show you something," Optimus said softly, when he resumed his seat at his side.

Megatron felt his plating start to heat up of its own accord and his chest fans started to work harder.

"Are you all right? I hope you have not caught a fever.  I spent so long, calming Omega Supreme, so that he would not try to murder you... I would have – should have – revived you and sent you back inside, but he was so angry... so fixated on revenge..."

He shivered, realising only now just how fortunate he was that he had not been alone.  He had gone out, scared and blind, brandishing his cannon.  Had Optimus not been there...

His... companion... pulled him in close to him.  "Ratchet should take a look at you.  You said yourself that he is the best medic on Earth."

"I am well enough," he grumbled.  "What was it that you wanted to show me?"

Optimus gave him a subtle kiss on the bridge of his nose and then took what looked like an oversize mobile phone from the table.  It was designed to clip onto his armour at his hip.

"It was made for me by Nightshade and Bumblebee," he said, handing it over.  "What do you think?"

"It is an electronic calendar."

Optimus nodded.  "It connects to my communicator and electronic messaging and... all of it.  Everything.  I can use a date and time in a missive to set a meeting in this calendar.  And the calendar automatically puts my communicator on Meeting Mode – all calls are redirected to an answering machine, which explains that I am in a meeting and should be free again at the time it is scheduled to finish.  At that time, I will not get any indication at all that someone is calling, but the caller will know why I am not answering.  What do you think?"

Megatron was staring at it, reverently turning it over in his servos.  "It is excellent! When do I get mine?"

He laughed and patted his shoulder.  "You gave them the idea, apparently.  Thank you."

He shrugged and gave it back.  "I don't even know what I did."

Jawbreaker was playing with the train set he had been given.  For some reason, it was a realistic steam train, with lights that came on in the carriages and cab and smoke that came from a funnel.  Megatron stood, deciding to go and admire it, even though he wondered why the toy was a steam train, when the things that rattled past the farm at all hours were electric.

"Isn't this great?" Jawbreaker asked him.  "I really wanted this – it's a model of a really famous engine I saw on TV when I was keeping Bumblebee company."

That explained a lot.  Megatron smiled and patted his helm.  "It is quite a beauty."

"Mom got me something special, too," he said, holding up a stuffed toy.  It was large and soft.  Green and brown.

"Is this a dinosaur?"

He nodded, grinning.  "It's a diplodocus.  It's like a jurassic giraffe."

Megatron chuckled.  "Yes, I suppose it does look a bit like one."

"I mean it lived like one.  It ate leaves off of trees and it could see predators coming for miles."

"That is very interesting," he said, staring at the toy.

Thrash was busy with something.  He went to take a look.

"I got Lego! Look! I'm building a house," he grinned.

Megatron knelt carefully beside him after ensuring that he wouldn't break any of the pieces.

"That is an impressive house, young one."

"Thanks, Megs."

"I got a Lego set as well," Starscream announced.  "I don't see the point, though, in playing with toy building bricks."

Megatron turned to frown at him.  "That is because you lack imagination, Starscream.  You always have.  Perhaps you might learn something, by 'playing with toy bricks'.  You could design something, you know.  I believe some criminals have even been known to use it to plan a heist – not that I encourage that, obviously."

Thrash grinned at him.  "Criminals plan robberies with this stuff? Cool!"

He shuttered his optics and pinched the bridge of his nose. 

"Students!" Optimus said, with that forced grin of his.  "Students often use it to plan prototypes and things.  Lots of people use it – it is so much more than a toy."

Megatron was impressed.  "How do you know that?"

He shrugged.  "I like the education channels.  I take it you still like the crime channels?"

"I like mystery fiction," he retorted.  "I am reading one now."

"Fictional crime?" Starscream rolled his optics with a toss of his helm.  "Seriously?"

"I like the ones that are about the characters, Starscream," he retorted.  "The mysteries are just a fragment of the drama."

"Oh! You like drama," he sneered.  "You'll never change."

Megatron shook his helm and turned his back.  It would be better if he simply refused to engage with him while he was in that mood.

Hashtag called Starscream back to whatever it was that they had been doing together.  He wanted to take a look, but decided he would do so later.

Nightshade was working on something with Shockwave at their workbench.  He decided to go and watch.

"Optimus likes his calendar," he called as he approached.

Shockwave turned to regard him.  "Do you have to disturb us? We are busy."

He turned to continue towards the washracks, as if he had only stopped a moment to speak.  He tried to keep the disappointment from showing, but Nightshade seemed to notice.

"Would you like to see what we've been working on?"

He turned with a smile.  "Yes, please show me."

They set down their tools and explained the project.  Shockwave had brought parts of the space bridge that had been built at GHOST Headquarters and they were working together to understand the technology.

"I did not want to get your hopes up," Shockwave told him.  "I know how homesick you get."

He nodded, thoughts whirling.  He would miss so much! Cybertron needed rebuilding and there was much that he and Optimus could do and yet... he would miss Dot and her family.  He felt he already had missed a lot – younglings grow so fast!

He sat down on the floor.

"Megatron?" Shockwave took to his side.  "This is not the reaction I expected."

"I... would it be selfish of me, to return to Cybertron? I... I have a family here."

Nightshade stood beside him and looked into his optics.  "We could always take winter holidays to Cybertron together," they suggested.

"That might work," Shockwave agreed.  "Cybertron needs to rebuild, somehow.  Perhaps creating a tourism industry would help."

"Perhaps," he mumbled.  He could discuss it with Optimus, anyway.

He used the washrack and then returned to the tree.  He watched the lights twinkle and change colour until his swirling thoughts eventually calmed and melted away.

"What did you get, Hashtag?" Megatron asked her, when she came to watch the tree with him.

She grinned at him.  "My own movie camera! Do you think we could maybe make a movie about how you saved Cybertron and Earth?"

He groaned and shuttered his optics.  "I'm not sure."

"But... if everyone knew about why the war started and how you ended it and everything, wouldn't that help to make sure nothing like that ever happened again?"

He forced a sigh through his vents and frowned at her.  "If I were to give an answer right away, that answer would be a resounding 'no'.  Let me consider it in my own time and give an answer when I am ready."

"Right.  OK.  Sorry."

She went off to join Starscream and his trine.  Megatron decided to return to his book.

Chapter Text

After the Christmas feast, the guests started to disperse.

Starscream kissed Hashtag's helm and promised to see in the New Year with everyone.  "I'll bring some noiseless fireworks," he told Dot with a grin.  "Your children should be allowed to enjoy them, animals or not."

"Or, you could all go out and watch the fireworks in the city," Bumblebee said, with just a little envy in his tone.

Optimus touched his arm.  "I shall stay here with you, Bee," he promised.  "We could play your racing game together, hmm?"

"I might stay in, as well," Megatron added.  "I really do not enjoy going out in the cold and I have had more than my fair share of snow and ice."

Starscream snorted.  "Wimp!"

Skywarp came to her trinemate's side and smirked at their former leader.  "We'll come and visit you in your new place as soon as the weather is warm enough for you to bear it," she told him.  "What do you need first?"

He grimaced.  "Washracks that do not connect with the human sewage system.  The solvent is bad enough for the environment, without..."

"Say no more," she said, the smirk becoming a friendly grin.  "If we all work together, it'll all be sorted before you know it."

He shook servos first with her and then with Nova Storm.  Starscream backed away and took to the air before he could so much as offer a servo to him, however.

Soundwave, Swindle and Hardtop were the next to leave.

Hardtop was proudly sporting his new arm, given by Santa and implanted by Shockwave.  He gave Breakdown a hug, then pulled Bumblebee in for good measure.  Optimus offered the two brothers peace, along with the promise that they would never be imprisoned on Earth ever again.

Soundwave approached Megatron and stared into his faceplate.  Then he called to his Cassettes and put them away, ignoring their protests.

Megatron cleared his vocaliser nervously.  "Can we start again, do you think?"

"Doubtful.  Megatron: still traitor."

He bowed his helm and shuttered his optics.  "If that is the way you feel, then... I shall have to accept it."

"You will," he stalked past him and then took to the air, following in the wake of the Seekers.

Shockwave had asked Dot if he could stay longer, explaining in detail the project that he and Nightshade had undertaken.

Ratchet arrived almost two hours later.  He was given presents for himself and Drift (Dot explained that she had not been able to get anything for their gigantic guest).

"I doubt Omega will care all that much," he replied.  "He didn't even know it was Christmas.  You know, he only landed here to get his bearings – he was aiming for GHOST HQ, but the snow put him off.  He was lucky he didn't get lost.  His comm. link was on the fritz."

Dot raised an eyebrow.  "That's so weird! Imagine him finding us by accident!"

"It is strange," he agreed.  "Anyway, I'm here to do the routine stuff.  Bee! You know the drill, come on."

They went off to the medbay together and everyone else found themselves waiting impatiently to hear what Ratchet's findings were to be.  Though they all knew that pneumonia took a lot of recovery time, each wished that he could at least be deemed well enough to spend longer outside in the winter weather.

Bumblebee raced back, twenty minutes later, beaming gleefully.  "Breakdown! Dot! Alex! Optimus! Megatron!"

"What's all the excitement?" Dot asked him, watching him grab hold of Breakdown and start an improvised dance.

He cheered.  "Ratchet says I'm well! Better than I should be! Intakes functioning as normal, that kind of well.  It's like I was never sick!"

Ratchet joined them, shaking his helm.  "All I can think of is that it's because he's young, has always been active and healthy and that the Maltos have really taken good care of him," he said.  "But, even then, I would still have expected a longer recovery time."

"Another Christmas miracle," Alex said, smiling happily.  "I'm glad you're OK, Bee.  I know you've been bored, stuck in here."

Dot agreed.  "I guess that means you can start training, once the snow melts," she said.  "Will he still have to ease back in, Ratchet?"

The medic nodded.  "Not as much, but yes.  He has still had to rest and coddle those intakes.  Bumblebee, you should not expect to return to your previous level of fitness – you will have to be patient and gentle with yourself.  Breakdown, I expect you to be supportive and not draw him into any competitive crap.  Do I make myself clear?"

Megatron offered help and support with physio and training, which made Ratchet arch an optic ridge at him.  Still, he received no contention.

The medic stayed for refreshment, played at the racing game with Bumblebee and Breakdown, watched Jawbreaker play with his train set... and laughed at Megatron, when he heard about the Spotify debacle.  Then he stepped out into yet another snowstorm, transformed and waited while the Maltos loaded him up with gifts and snacks.

Everyone gathered outside to wave him on his way.

"Call, when you arrive back," Megatron requested.  "This weather worries me."

"I've been out in far worse."

He hummed and nodded his helm.  "Yes, I know.  Humour me."

Ratchet laughed, told Optimus that he was hanging around with a 'bigger worrywart than Red Alert', and drove away.

He was the last guest to arrive and – for the time being, at least – the last one due to leave.

Optimus, apparently, had been advised by Alex to stay until he and Megatron were able to move into the new place together.  It seemed that Alex and Dot knew that their relationship was... developing... and were all in favour (and actively encouraging it).

Breakdown was also staying with Bumblebee.  That seemed to bother Optimus, but Megatron could not understand why it should.

Ratchet called an hour after leaving, confirming that he was back safely and (grudgingly) admitting that the road and weather was 'pretty bad'.

That night, when Optimus curled himself around him in the berth, intending to use himself to keep his sleeping companion warm, Megatron cleared his vocaliser and pushed aside his desire for recharge.  It could wait a while.

"Optimus?"

"Mm? I thought you were tired."

"I am, but there are things I need to discuss.  Privately."

Optimus chuckled and ran his servo over him.  "What is on your mind?"

He cleared his vocaliser again as he tried to decide upon the best phrasing.

"You sound as though you are catching a cold.  Do you need anything?"

"Yes," he grumbled.  "I need you to focus.  For spark's sake, Prime! Just... just listen.  You can fuss all you want afterwards."

What had he wanted to say? Curses! He was tired, feeling winter's chill in his struts and he wanted... oh, he wanted...

"What am I, to you? A friend? A companion?"

His blue optics stared at him for a long moment in the gloom.  "Did we not discuss this?"

"No.  I have no idea, at all, what you mean to me – I mean, no, other way around.  What I am to you.  What you want.  A cuddle partner? I would be happy with that."

He hummed.  "I want to make you happy."

"That has to be the most half-afted... Optimus! I want to know what it is that you want, because what I want is... I do not want to expect or ask too much of you and you are forever giving me mixed messages.  If all you want is a cuddle partner, I can be satisfied with that, but I... I... I need to know what is going on inside of your helm and your spark."

He fidgeted slightly and looked away.  "Cuddling is... nice," he said, after a long moment.  "I like cuddling.  And coming out of recharge beside you.  And... and..."

"Then you are happy with things as they are," Megatron nodded and rested his helm on his shoulder.  He tried not to feel disappointed.

"I am if you are."

"You are still as annoying as ever! What is it that you want?"

Optimus sighed and ran his servo over him again.  "This is really not how I wanted to go about talking to you about it, but I would like, one day, to become your conjunx endura.  Like Alex and Dot.  With little ones of our own, one day (or, perhaps, not so little, what with our sizes)."

He stared at him.  "What, really?"

"If I am not too abhorrent, Megatron, yes."

Megatron snuggled in close to him.  "I would like that, myself.  We could spend the warm months here, close to the Maltos, and the cold months on Cybertron.  In the – kssch! – warm."

"Are you all right? Sure? Very well, then.  So... how would you want the ceremony to go?"

He frowned, rubbing at his nose.  Then he smirked.  "I would want Alpha Trion to preside over the ceremony."

"He would never agree-"

"Could he refuse the request of a prime?"

"He would have a good time trying!"

Megatron chuckled darkly.  "People like him caused the war, Optimus.  Had I not started it, someone else would have.  It could have been Soundwave, Shockwave, Tarn..." he shivered slightly.  "There are far worse out there than I – and far worse.  I want him to know that he has lost.  I want him to know, too, that the world is better for it.  The Decepticons lost, too, and he should be extra glad of that, because Soundwave, Shockwave, Tarn... they would not be satisfied with merely rubbing his nose in it.  They would want far, far worse."

"Yes, OK, I suppose you're right.  So, then, you want to return to Cybertron, get married – I take it we're inviting the Maltos? Are we going to make the ceremony something like the kind you get on Earth? I mean, Twitch would no doubt love to be a bridesmaid."

"Which of us would have the bridal party? We are both mechs!"

"Does that matter?"

He considered the question for a long moment.  "I suppose we can do this our own way.  She and Hashtag could be called... something else.  I take it Bumblebee will be your best mech?"

"Bee? He is my adopted son.  Didn't you know?"

"That explains a lot..."

He chuckled.  "My best friends (excluding you) were always Ironhide and Ratchet.  I have no idea who I would ask.  Perhaps it would be better to simply have guests and not pick any favourite people to share in it with us in any special way."

Megatron yawned and sniffled, starting to settle down.  Then he sat up again with another chuckle.  "There is one thing... we cannot create life without the Allspark, so you and I can do as we like before our ceremony without fear of any consequences."

"I thought you said that you wanted-"

"I thought the ceremony was still supposed to come first.  The couple's devotion must be confirmed and declared before... uh... how is the stupid law phrased? You should know – you're the keeper of them all."

Optimus sighed and caressed him soothingly.  "It is not a stupid law, Megatron.  It exists to ensure (as well as such things can be) that the youngling will be supported, nurtured and cared for.  Obviously, that does not always work out, but that is what it is for.  It is about safeguarding."

He opened his mouth and closed it again.  "You really do not know."

"Know what?"

"How the other half lived.  'Safeguarding', ha!"

The servo caressed him again.  It felt good.

"Things will be different, now.  As you rightly said, we have won.  The young ones of the future will all be safeguarded.  Everyone will be."

He wanted to believe that with all his spark.  Truly, he did.  He knew that Optimus meant it and would do all in his power – which was great – to ensure that Cybertron would be a better place for all.

"Good rest, Optimus."

"And you, Megatron.  Wake me if you need anything."

He yawned and then chuckled under his breath.  "Don't tempt me."

"... What was that?"

"I said... I will.  If I feel unwell, I will wake you.  I promise."

He seemed to be satisfied with that. 

Megatron felt him begin to power down beside him and followed suit, cuddling in closer to his mate.

There was still a lot to discuss – and people to tell.  No way of knowing when they would actually set foot on Cybertron next, either.  But they had made a start.

Above ground, outside of the barn, the wind howled and a blizzard raged.  It mattered not at all.