It was late…again. Four earth hours to be exact that she has been waiting; but being a femme of great patience she continued to stay for him.

It seemed like cycles went by as she tried to keep herself awake long enough for him to come home. After a while she would just stare up into the ceiling counting the tiles, then after; would watch the busy Cybertronian streets down below through the window, while drinking the mid-grade energon. At first it was from the glass, then eventually the bottle itself. Finally she came to thumb-wrestling herself then resumed to counting the tiles again being to tipsy to stand any longer.

Dressed in only lingerie for their 'special' night she began to feel the cold, and her 'buzz' slipping away. Sighing, she finally decided it was time to give up waiting. All the melted candles were blown out, the bottle thrown into the trash and her armour was put back on as she climbed onto the berth and gave another deep sigh in disappointment before drifting into stasis.

"Phinny…Phinny…" a voice whispered into her audio sensor. Her optics fluttered open to a grey faceplate with a blue visor smiling down at her. "I'm home"

Unfortunately the smile wasn't returned, all that was received was an annoyed glare as she turned onto her side away from him. "Please do not be mad. Understanding working is something I must be doing!"

"5th time"

"Pardon?"

"This is the 5th time in a row you've been late on our date night!" She cried without looking back at him.

"I know and sorry I am being. I know not seeing much of each other lately, but you must understand…"

"That you must work, ya…..I get it."

"But I'm here now" he rubbed her arm lovingly "We can still…." She scuffed her arm away from his servo twisting closer to the berth.

"I'm really not in the mood Storm." Her voice had suddenly gone groggy, with her head pounding from the effects of her drinking binge. "It's late anyway."

Trying to ignore the slight hurt feeling Jetstorm deeply sighed and nodded, "yes…your right; late it is." He sat down on the side of the berth, "At least I can be doing is dropping you off home on way to work in the morning." She said nothing in return. He laid down, at first gazing upward, then deciding to take the chance; rolled to his side snuggling up against her, wrapping his free arm around the upper half of her body.

She gave a small hint of resistance, but let him have his way. This was the first time in orbital cycles that he has touched her, and who knows when the next time would be? She couldn't truly blame him, but she still couldn't help but be slightly miffed; it seemed like whenever they had day planned just for them Jetstorm would always be called back to the guard and would never arrive back until late into the night. At first she though it was because they might have been shorthanded but as it continued they came to see less and less of each other. It even came to a point where she actually started to think that he was just trying to avoid her.

It was always one thing or another; too busy to talk to her in the hallway because he was in rush to a meeting, coming home too drained to have a decent conversation or to share a small drink.

She didn't understand, they both worked at the same place. No; she wasn't as high in status in the Elite as he was but one hello, one simple gesture to show that she was somehow visible to him was all she that she would ask for. She would constantly explain to him about it but it as usual it seemed it just would not sink in; as he would always reply "I need to be doing my job right now. Cannot multitask being too busy." Apparently, it was asking too much.

The walk back home early that morning was a silent one; nether said or neither made a gesture to start a conversation, nor seemed to be in the mood for one. He through a glance her way, but she continuously stared at the ground, as they walked the busy streets. He had to say something, and he knew sorry was not going to cut it this time. Too many times had he said that word that its meaning had eventually become...well… meaningless. He shifted the small pile of datapads held in his one arm though he wished more than anything just to drop them on the ground and to forget about them.

They came to the bottom of stairs the small building; he walked a few steps ahead before turning to his bird femme.

"So…" He flinched at the sudden small voice, looking straight into Phoenix's blank stare. "When are you done tonight?"

"Uh, not sure but it is probably…."

"Late?" Wanting to slap himself for walking right into that one he just gave her a small, nervous smile and shrugged.

"Most likely." She gave a small nod of her helm, feeling slightly bad for leading him into that answer.

"It's alright…its business first." she returned the same weak smile "We'll just have to wait until the next time were both off." She glanced to the ground. "As usual" she thought. She felt his servo slip under and cupping her chin, and raising her optics into contact with his. His face hardened; under his visor she could feel his optics had turned stern.

"And I swear on spark that it will be different this time." Removing the servo from her faceplate he took her own servo in his and held it up, "That is spark promise."

"Well…." She did not want to say no, but she had heard of this speech so many times before; it couldn't possibly mean anything different now. But deciding to remain optimistic she nodded. You never know; it really could be different this time right? Perhaps?...maybe?..."Alright, just let me know ok?"

His expression softens and smiled, "Will be doing." Releasing her, he tilted forward, lip components puckered out. Feeling slightly moved by the gesture (which had been lacking of late) she responded in the same manor. Finally a sign! As they inched closer only moments away; a distant voice called out to them. He turned away in time to avoid the disappointing and impatient sigh from Phoenix; who returned to looking back to the ground. He cried and waved back to the bot across from him until they left. "Well I better get…." He turned back; but only to empty space. "Going?" the sound of automatic doors closing above the stairway gave the hint. Sighing, he set off on his way.

She watched him from behind the lobby curtain; crossing the street until he was completely out of view. Helm hung low, she made her way to her own apartment ignoring the other patrons as they walked by.

Entering the furnished apartment she sat herself upon the 'living room' windowsill that overlooked the ever busy streets; wrapping her arms around her legs, and keeping them close to her chest as she watched the passer-byes down below. There could have been lots of things she could be doing today, but she had no motivation. It was just the usual empty feeling inside.

The one that she had been lately filling with high or mid-grade energon, depending on how much the emptiness would hurt. And as of right now; it was more overwhelming than ever. A trip to the fridge was made; a fresh bottle of hi-grade energon was taken out and opened as she sank into the couch. Raising the bottle inches from her lip components, a shimmer caught the side of her optic. Removing the energon away she looked over to the couch side table and realized it was the sun bouncing off the glass of a picture frame. She placed the bottle down onto the table and picked up the frame; the bots behind the panel of glass were almost unrecognizable to her.

A tall, handsome, blue mech was smiling to her, as his arms were wrapped around, hugging a smiling, happy femme who… has seemed to have disappeared. Her servo rubbed over the glass of the happy couple, envying them. Holding back tears she huddled her legs up into the couch, hugging the frame tightly to her chest with both arms.