Disclaimer: i own nothing to do with TFPrime, except my OC's: Rex, Alex and Xenoro. Plus possibly more to come.

Episode 4: Alex's Story.

"So this is the Autobot base." Raphael said to Alex.

"This is more like a fortress Raph." Alex replied.

Raphael smiled at the use of his nickname. "True enough. From being here on the ground, it does look like it, but from up there at their height, it's just like a house... or a base."

Alex laughed.

Raphael made a mental note to compliment her smile later on.

"And now we have come back to the main central part of the base, said Raphael, as they walked back into the place where they had began their tour.

"Thanks Raph!" Alex said, giving him a fleeting hug and walking to the balcony to see Ratchet.

Raph closed his eyes and smiled. "Well," he thought, "A hug is better than nothing."

Transformers!

The Autobots will never back down or cower,

And will fight to the end of their darkest hour.

Optimus Prime is the leader, and he is really brave. Ratchet is the doctor, for when you need a save.

Arcee is reliable, she'll help you in a pinch. Bumblebee is the scout, he'll beat 'cons in a sinch.

Rex is the rookie, so we can't forget him!

Transformers!

"Shockwave! Are you prepared to start your work on my little project for you?" Megatron asked.

"Yes Lord Megatron. I assume you would like me to keep my work out of Starscream's clutches, just in case?"

"You assume correctly."

Megatron handed the recording chip with Project Arron-Axis IV on it to Shockwave, who took it and turned.

"Shockwave."

"Yes, my lord?"

"Do not fail me on this. This project is a personal deed to me. I would not like it if it failed. Take extreme caution."

"Of course my lord."

And Shockwave walked out.

*Midnight.*

Alex was lying awake on the couch in front of the tv, watching America's funniest home videos.

*BANG!* Alex jumped up, looking around in shock. "Hello?" She said out loud.

"Hi...Sorry if i scared you." Raphael said. i heard someone laughing, so i assumed Miko had left the tv on again."

"Nope... it's just me. I can't sleep."

"Why not?" Raph said, walking over to join Alex on the couch. They sat down.

"It's just... everything is so different. I came from a poor family. In fact, we didn't even have a house. My mom had left me and my dad when i was 7. My dad started doing drugs and stuff. he stopped paying bills, and eventually we were evicted, lost our car, everything. We lived under a bridge for two years, until he was killed in a fight with a man outside a 7-11 one night. This setting, the people, giant robots, everything... is changing for me." Tears leaked from her eyes. Raph cautiously put his arm around her shoulders. Alex welcomed the warmth.

"Everything is going to be okay Alex." He said. She put her head against his chest tears now flowing fast, soaking into his shirt.

"How can you be so sure?" She asked, her whole body trembling as she held back a sob.

"Because," Raph said, pulling Alex close, and holding her in his arms. "I'm here. i won't let anything happen to you. Same for the Autobots. We are your new family Alex."

Alex looked up into Raph's eyes.

"Thank you."

She leaned up and kissed him on the mouth.

The power went out with a pop a few seconds, maybe minutes later.

Alex pulled away.

"What happened?"

"Power outage?" Raph said.

"I guess so."

"We might have to wait until the power comes back on. i don't know my way around here in the dark." Raphael said.

And without a word between them, Alex leaned down on the couch, pulling Raph with her.

They were both asleep before their heads hit the cushions.

A flash of light woke Raph up. The power had come back on overnight. He looked down, surprised to see Alex wrapped cozily in his arms, fast asleep. He looked up at Miko and Jack, who were standing over them. Miko was holding a camera, from which the flash had obviously come.

"You better delete that!" Raph whispered as loud as he could without waking Alex up.

"Not gonna happen!" Whispered Miko.

Jack suppressed a laugh with difficulty.

"Shut up Jack!" Raph whispered. "It's not funny!"

"You're right Raph... it's not funny. it's HILARIOUS!" Jack laughed loudly.

Alex jerked awake.

"Whazz going on?" She asked in a tired daze.

Raph withdrew his arms slowly.

"What happened?" Alex asked.

"We fell asleep last night when the power went out." Raphael said, blushing.

"Oh..." Alex said.

"This is so going on Google!" Miko said. Jack laughed again.

"If you do... if you put that on Google... I'm going to... going to... going to..." Raph said, furiously.

"Stutter at us?" Jack said.

Raphael stood up. After he had turned 15, he had grown taller than Jack and Miko.

"No. Just..." Raph sighed. "Nevermind."

Alex stood too. She leaned over and whispered in his ear, "It's ok. i want us each to have a copy of the picture, so we can always have eachother with us, even when we are apart."

Raphael smiled. "Okay." He whispered back.

R&R!