"There is no definite timeline," he says. "They are very good children, and strong, but they have experienced excessive trauma, and I was absent from the Nexus for months not long ago. We need to re-align our bonds properly before introducing a new person into the mix, but I am a better parent when I take some joy for myself, as well. And people are not meant to be secrets, or lies. So I told them a bit about you."

"It'd be best if I have a talk with Thor, as well," he adds. "He's their uncle and he's been caring for them; he deserves some forthcoming behavior from me at this point."

"But it won't be too terribly long to wait, I assure you."

He is not privy to Megatron's mixed thoughts regarding innocent children and his own clouded past, but he would be able to identify with some of them. In the dark hours, he has often looked into the mirror and accused himself of claiming peace and tenderness he denied to so many others on so many worlds. He has satisfied himself as best he could with the knowledge that what he does not deserve, the children certainly do, and he will give them what he can.

He's struck by both the presence of the tears and the towel he gave him, and his smile is all soft amusement. "Just be patient with them. Agnarr, the oldest, is the most uncertain, but I don't think that's personal. He is nearing adolescence and torn between clinging to his parent and asserting his individuality apart from him. He may be mercurial. But the others, I think, will take to you well enough. Eindrid would be more interested if your alternate shape was a boat, but he'll cope."

He offers his hand. "Come. We should talk a little as we walk. There are many things we don't know about one another yet."