Once in a Lifetime

Alone in a corridor, Catriona takes a large breath. Her rib cage pleasantly stretching. Relieved to be away from the day’s events. It had been a trying day. Indeed, she had recently renounced her status as Prime. As her long-time partner had been considered offline and as per her oath to Primus; she would renounce Prime and resume her homeland title of Lady of the Thundercats. Even though she was the last of her people making her Lady of herself she supposed. ‘breath in two, three, four, and repeat’ she thought to herself. So much in such a short few years here from being separated from the team, she viewed as family. Now the death of Optimus made her truth she was alone so blatant to her. As it was her duty to renounce her title, it was also her responsibility to inform the human allies of the change in ranks. Question after question. She fielded them with every bit of ease. The questions lasted for hours. In the end, she had sought some form of solitary. There was a hallway that seemed to offer. Knowing it received very little foot traffic. There was a need to be free of the crowds, which she always hated. She never cared for any spotlight viewings giving this particular hallway nice quiet and best yet alone feel. She sat leaning against the cold wall. ‘breath’ she told herself again and briefly closes her eyes choosing to think about her past.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Catriona come here!” it was the voice of an older male lion blond in his mane and crystal blue eyes soft and gentle, he walked with a staff for balance. She dropped down from her chosen hiding spot in the tree. She was no more than five years old at the time. As to the reason of her hiding was to avoid her grandmother’s obsessive pickings. She is instantly scooped up in her grandfather’s arms. “Your Grandmother is looking for you again,” he chuckles.

“I don’t like the dresses she makes me wear!” the young half-bred cat responds. “Please, Grandfather don’t take me to her. She will make me stand like one of the women she parades in front of father,” she begs to give her best pity me faces earning her only a laugh from the old lion.

“Now if I do that she will make me wear them instead and that my dear granddaughter is not what Kings do.” He carries the kitten to the palace kitchens and offers the child a snack. “Here before Snarf realizes his prized apple and peanut butter is missing.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Breath, two, three, four.” She opens her eyes at a sound at the end of the hallway. Squinting she sees nothing and goes to resume her musings; she remains in this state for about an hour as her memory surfs over her denial of a marriage of the then General Grune at the age of thirteen. As punishment, she was shipped off to train how to fight as a soldier as her last option. She being half cougar half lion and the daughter of the future king of Thundera didn’t leave a whole lot of options in her grandmother’s eyes. This had turned out to be a better fit? No dresses and under the guise that she dresses in male officer regalia hid who she was as a female and as the royal scandal. Of course, this lasted until a few of her and her father’s units soldiers were captured by Grune and the mutants. Ten in number to be exact including her. To make things worse, Grune had just ordered ten flogging lashes per prisoner. As the high ranking officer of the captured group, she took all the lashings one hundred count. One, two, three, and on she counted as each lash felt worse than the one before it. Fifty-seven, fifty-eight. With the shredding of her attire, it became known that she was not male as her soldiers were led to believe, she forced herself to stay standing defiantly against the lashings. She lasts up until the ninety-second lash before passing out.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The sound of pedes fall alerts her, and she looked up to see a broadly shouldered mech holding what appeared to be her worst fear a needle and a large one at that. She could feel the fur on the back of her neck stand on end at the mere thought. And with that, she wasted no time in booking it down the hall. Of course, her size difference to the Autobot behind her was of little use as he caught up with her in two easy strides and cornered her at the end of the hallway; not her smartest move but syringes seemed to have that effect on her. She knew there were only three bots here on base that had access to such a horrible thing, she quickly began ruling them out not Critical Care as that was a femme, and this was a mech. The shoulders were much too broad to be First Aid, which left Ratchet. She watches him and tries to figure out an exit plan.

The mech leans down taking the opportunity to try and talk to the female-cat and offers her what was in his servos which was more fun now that the cat had assumed that he had her worst fear in his hands. “Do I sense a scared kitty.” He makes himself seem menacing as this had turned into some fun for him. Her reply was to be expected “No.... maybe. . . don’t come close with that.” She glared at him ears pinned her for effect. Oh this was just too much fun for the chief medic, and he continues by forcing his optics to turn blood red for effect “come here little kitty.” he sneered.

He had to stop her before she bolted again, so he placed a finger on her shoulder and forced her to look at the object in question. He could feel her shaking, and he revealed a single rose in the same shade of her mane. “For you.” Was all he said.

She looks slowly and cautiously waiting for the poke of a sharp object only to feel foolish when she realizes what it was. Of course, she was grateful that her fur covered the flush of embarrassment on her face. She noted that Ratchet seemed amused by her actions as he hands the rose to her “Thank you! Its beautiful”  was her reply with a sweet voice.

She touches the soft petals and before realizing what she was doing found; she was hugging the offered servo. But before she could pull away in embarrassment, the medic alters his form to his humanized self and pulling her against him and despite his muscular size. He proved to be quite gentle, Then surprising not just her but the medic as well she behaves in a way she never had before, she kisses his cheek only to receive one in return. “Do tell me something. Why the rose?” her feline curiosity once more getting the better of her.

“It matches your beautiful hair,” was his reply. He runs his right hand down the length of her mane still showing how gentle he could be. He watches her reaction to the touch only to be surprised himself when she uses the rose to trace his features. So surprised in fact that he can’t stop himself and kisses her forehead.

She was dumbfounded and thought ‘what's going on with me? He kisses my forehead, and now I am smiling in his arms like an idiot!’ She thinks to herself. To further confuse herself she doesn’t resist moment his hands settle on her waist followed by her kissing him. Wait a minute she just did that? And more shocking to her he was kissing back! She promptly stops and looks at the medic who was in human form, was in fact very good looking. His hair the color of his paint. Surprisingly he was taller than she had thought he was. His cheekbones sharp and gave his face a very masculine appearance. His response to her looking over was almost confident, no he was very confident in himself. She knew she should stop but now, but what might happen, kept her curiosity open.

He could see her curiosity in her eyes and decided to act on it before she had enough time to snap out of it. “Come with me.” He takes her hand and notices just how small her cream colored hands were against his, which seemed to engulf hers. She showed some signs of defiance, but ultimately the charm of this mech lured her in.

• * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Soon started something better than she had imagined, She was now paired off with a mech who loved her unconditionally with all his spark. A mech who made her the happiest kitty in the whole world. A mech who convinced her to trust a male once more as well as a mech who gave her something much more joyous...A new baby child.

Yes, Catriona is now a proud mother of a beautiful boy who caught most of her features and some of his fathers.

This family will remain with smiles on their faces until the end of time.
.