Jack felt funny; he was relieved and sad at the same time, and it made him want to throw up. He was glad, he really was, that the Autobots could go home, but to see his friends leave still hurt. He avoided looking at Optimus for a moment as he looked up at Arcee, while Miko and Raf were saying goodbye to their guardians. "I guess this is it."

"Guess so." Arcee replied and glanced over to the red and blue mech. "There's still time."

"He thinks I'm a child, and I don't think that opinion has changed." Jack replied.

Arcee looked at him critically. "How can you possibly know unless you don't ask him? You won't get another chance like this."

"I know that." Jack said sadly, but he felt a strained smile cross his face. "I'm gonna miss you though."

Arcee smiled slightly back at him. "Back at ya, partner." She said and paused. "Just…don't waste this chance." She added before she, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead walked through the portal.

Given the situation, Jack didn't have a lot of time to think, but he could understand what Arcee meant. Even though he had never really confessed, Optimus had been perceptive enough to pick up on what he was saying, and the answer to his question had stung. It hadn't been that long ago, and it still hurt.

Jack blinked when another mech stepped up to him, as he was surprised Smokescreen didn't go through the portal yet. "Aren't you going too?"

"Yeah," Smokescreen replied, but paused, "we just never got that drive, did we?"

Jack was about to ask if that was it before he realized the drive had been for something deeper. "We didn't, and we haven't really talked about it."

"We haven't." Smokescreen agreed and looked a bit awkward. "It's not the same, is it? I never really stood a chance, huh?"

Jack glanced away guilty, because the words were true. "You…you are a good 'Bot, and maybe…" he trailed off uncertainly. "It's too late for maybes now though."

"Maybe it is." Smokescreen replied and his expression shifted to one of determination. "But maybe I can change your mind someday." He said and Jack looked surprised and was about to reply when the mech held up a servo. "Just…just let me have that someday to look forward too, whatever it may be."

Jack's gaze softened. He was still hung up on Optimus, but Smokescreen had grown on him too. "Green means go, after all." He said and Smokescreen smiled slightly before he walked through the portal.

Sighing
silently, Jack walked over to the other group of humans as Optimus was finished speaking with Ratchet, who had chosen to stay behind. He watched Optimus head towards the portal, his heart racing in his chest and he clenched his palms into fists. Arcee was right; this could very well be his last chance.

He couldn't stand the thought of not knowing.

"Optimus!" he shouted and the mech glanced over his shoulder at him. "You said I was just a child," he said and knew that this was going to be confusing for everyone else to hear, "am I still just one?" he added more softly.

Optimus' answer was cryptic before he walked through the portal. "Yes…and no."

Miko looked strangely at Jack. "What was that about?"

"Just something that's been on my mind lately." Jack replied and smiled once more, but there was still something bittersweet in his expression.

He thought of Smokescreen's words, and had to admit the mech had a good point. There was still that 'someday' to look forward too, and even if it never came, then Jack could be content knowing that Optimus' answer was still a 'maybe.' Things changed after all, and who knew what could happen.