A/N: I wasn't going to continue with this story line, but a few plot bunnies snuck through, including this one, which was brought about by an anniversary, and some deep thinking about what your life would be like without. Grrr. I'm getting irritated that I can't get things to stop double spacing on here -shakes fist-

Synopsis: Our hero and heroine finally get a well deserved and much needed vacation… unfortunately, three nosy mechs follow the couple under the premise of 'keeping them out of trouble'. Rachel ponders about 'paradise'.

101 Things To Do Before You Die – Vacation in a Tropical Paradise

Bamboo chimes sway slow

A lover's touch on green leaves

The waves call to me (1)

I dug my toes into warm sand that was as white as snow while blue green waves lapped at the shore. The slightest breeze ruffled the green foliage behind us and made my over-sized floppy hat flutter. This uninhabited tropical island that we had found was a veritable paradise on Earth. Perfect in every way.

Well, as perfect as it could be with two grouchy and highly irritating mechs complaining loudly about the salty air and sand in their servos.

"Quit moving around, 'Sides! You're flinging sand all over me."

"Quit moving yourself. You're kicking up sand just by complaining."

I sighed and slathered some more sunscreen on my legs. Maybe sand would get into their vocal processors and make them shut up.

Jazz was leaning against a large palm tree, hands behind his head and smiling, looking completely relaxed even with the Twin Terrors grousing just a few feet away.

I took my floppy sun hat off and ran my fingers through my hair before loosely braiding it. That water looked so cool and inviting, it was calling for me to dive right in. I stood up and took my serape off, folding it and dropping it next to my over-sized beach towel. Looking back over my shoulder at Jazz and a blue Ferrari that was mesmerized by the waves, I smiled. "Any chance either of you feel like going for a swim?"

That disarming smile that I will never get tired of seeing spread across Jazz's face. "Nah, I'll jus' watch y' from here."

"You don't know what you're missing." I grinned at him and he laughed giving a 'shooing' wave to me. "I'll take y're word for it."

I turned and took off running across the feather soft sand towards the water. It was wonderfully warm and as clear as glass as I ran through the surf. I dove head first into the closest wave, enjoying the water that washed over me. Rising to the surface, I shook the water out of my face and looked up into the bluest sky I had ever seen. If Eden ever existed on Earth, then this was it.

Treading water as I turned to look back at the shore, I could see that the Twins were still fighting over the sand, and in the shade of the trees I saw the reflection of the azure blue visor. Smiling, I waved to Jazz. He waved and I dove back under the crystal blue waters. There were colorful fish darting around in the water as if they were playing in the currents and a small manta ray flittered into a crevasse in the reef. A brilliant yellow coral, untouched by man, had numerous starfish and sea urchins laced through its willowy fronds. Beautiful and perfect.

I resurfaced for air and let the gentle waves carry me. As I floated along, I could feel the warm sun on my face and the calls of the seagulls over head. Peaceful and serene, as if the world was a million miles away.

And then I realized… it wasn't as peaceful as it seemed.

As a matter of fact, it was rather quite lonely.

I looked back at the beach; I could clearly see the red and gold armor of the Twins in the afternoon sun, and I thought I could see the faint dark blue glimmer of Bluestreak from where he sat in the shade, but I couldn't see Jazz. At all.

I knew he was there. I knew he was just covered by the shadows of the palm trees he rested against. But not being able to see him scared me. It shouldn't have, because I knew he was there; but the fact that I couldn't see him made those horrible icy cold fingers of pain grip my stomach.

I swam closer to the shore until I finally caught sight of his visor glimmering with the reflection of the water. Now that I was reassured that he was there and within my sight I felt better. Yes, it was silly, but it still was a very real feeling of fear over not being able to see him.

And yet…

He was with me; close enough that I could call out to him. Close enough for me to see him. Close enough for me to run to him.

Yet, here I was enjoying this beautiful ocean, on this perfect day, in this absolute paradise… but he really couldn't share this experience. He wasn't close enough; he couldn't be close enough with me to share this. Mechs just weren't made for water.

I let the waves buoy my body and I looked up into a sky that didn't seem so clear and perfect anymore.

We have a unique situation, Jazz and I. I'm sure if anyone outside the Autobots and the few humans that knew about them looked at our relationship… they'd be revolted, even appalled by it. I mean, how could we possible be in love? We've led different lives, we come from different planets… we aren't even the same species. How could we fall in love? I could almost hear the outcries of probably the majority of humans about us. How it was 'unnatural' and 'sinful'. Yet, we did fall in love and I was hopelessly head-over-heels starry-eyed in love with him. And I knew deep down I would never love anyone person as much as I love him. We were soul-mates, or spark-mates depending on how you looked at it. Being human or mech didn't matter.

Or did it?

I started to think about all the things we couldn't share. Little things that I, or any other human for that matter, would take for granted. Simple little things, like going out to dinner and a movie together, or walking hand in hand, or taking a vacation without chaperones…or a kiss.

Granted we've sat together in the Ark while I ate human food and he drank energon, but there were other people around, and it wasn't really sharing a meal together. And movies were watched in the lounge, also with other mechs. Going outside into the human world would require that he stay in his alternate form, and that wasn't really together. As for the walking hand in hand… I'm five-foot-six and he's twenty-five feet tall. My hand inside his was like a snowflake inside my hand. I could touch him while we walked, but it wasn't the same.

And then there was a kiss.

A kiss.

I started to tread water and turned to look back to the shore at him. There had been only one kiss. Sure, I had kissed him on the cheek numerous times, and he kissed me on the top of my head…but the only kiss we shared together was right before he left the Ark to go fight the horde.

We had shared hugs and so many romantic words to make Shakespeare want to eat his quill, but sometimes…

Sometimes I just wanted to show how much I loved him without words. And I don't mean jumping into the sack together. I mean pulling him close to me, wrapping my arms around him and pressing my lips to his.

And I'm sure there are things that a mech would take for granted that I could never do for Jazz. I'm sure he would love to hold me in his arms without having to worry about crushing me. I bet he would love to be able to kiss me, too. But he would never say that out loud. Even as mischievous as he could be, he would never say anything to hurt or belittle me. And then there was the whole bonding issue, and that was totally impossible. I wanted to be so much for Jazz and I couldn't, and that hurt.

That really hurt.

There were other things that we could never do, like get married, start a family or even grow old together. I never had really given thought to marriage or kids; my work was my life, plain and simple, so that wasn't a big deal. But then we come to the growing old together piece, and that's the one that still bothers me.

A lot.

Yes, I know I had talked this over and over with Jazz and I even got advice about just enjoying life with him now from a certain red Lamborghini, but that didn't mean that I was 'okay' with it. I would grow old in front of him and he wouldn't change at all. And that scares me. Why? Because I overheard a conversation between Jazz and Ratchet back when I was sick from the nanite exposure about how Ratchet didn't want to deactivate him because of a broken spark. That scares me. It isn't about my death; I'm not scared of my death. I'm scared that I'd hurt this perfect being. It scares me that I'd cause him pain in any way.

And then I can't help but think back to the battle against Megatron and the horde. He nearly got himself killed in the battle because he thought I was dead. It hurt him that much that he was willing to throw the rest of his life away into a battle that he wished he would not survive. He had given up after Megatron shot him; he was prepared to die and join me in the Matrix. If I hadn't found him when I did… even the warm water around me can't stop me from shuddering.

Maybe Primus, or God, or whatever deity was looking down that day made sure that we found each other. I mean, the entire city was destroyed. We could have been anywhere, but we ended up just feet away. By some stroke of fate or heavenly intervention, we were able to find each other.

I am not a religious person and philosophy was always too vague for my tastes, but thinking back to that moment in the battle… that's when it really sinks in that everything else doesn't matter; we are together and in love for a reason. We were always meant to be together. No matter what the odds. Our love is universal and pure. What we share is perfect just the way it is. So what if there are some things in life that we can't do together or have no real control over. It doesn't really matter in the entire scheme of things. We are together on a different level; we would always be together. Yes, some of those things would be nice to share, but do they really matter?

And as I look back to the beach with the love of my life sitting in the shade, I get the entire irony of the situation. No man is an island. Paradise isn't a place to share alone.

I dive under the waves and swim back to the beach. So what if Jazz can't come out here to swim with me. I can share the experience by telling him about it.

As I wade out of the surf, I shake my head ruefully; the Twins are still complaining about the sand. It will be difficult to tell Jazz about the fish and the coral with their bickering in the background…

I smirk as I'm pleasantly surprised to find the perfect white sand packs together easily. Now if only my aim was on par with Ratchet's…

The bickering stops completely as the first sand ball hits Sideswipe in the chest, a little lower than I had aimed for, while the second one catches Sunstreaker's arm. Two sets of shocked optics turn and stare at me as I brush the sand off of my hands and clear my throat. "This is supposed to be a peaceful and relaxing place, and if I have to listen to one more complaint from the vacation-crashers, I will personally help Ratchet turn you two into household appliances."

I smiled as the beach is now completely quiet except for the sound of the surf and the gulls, and walk over to Jazz, who is grinning madly and trying to keep from giggling. I pick up my beach towel and start to dry myself off. "Were you able to relax at all with Sunflower and Roses?"

"I didn't notice 'em."

I spread the towel out on the sand next to him and sat down. "How could you not notice them?"

He reached out and pulled me closer to him. "I was thinkin' about stuff."

I rested my head against him, looking out across the water as the sun started to set. "What about?"

There was the soft click as he turned his radio on.

Maybe it's intuition

But some things you just don't question

Like in your eyes

I see my future in an instant

And there it goes

I think I've found my best friend

I know that it might sound more than a little crazy

But I believe

I knew I loved you before I met you

I think I dreamed you into life

I knew I loved you before I met you

I have been waiting all my life

A thousand angels dance around you

I am complete now that I've found you

There's just no rhyme or reason

Only this sense of completion

And in your eyes

I see the missing pieces

I'm searching for

I think I've found my way home (2)

I turned and looked up at him in wonder. He couldn't have known what I was thinking about…

Jazz just gave a soft chuckle. "It isn't paradise unless y're around, Rach."

----

Poem and Song used:

(1) Haiku by Dreamchylde circa 1998

(2) Savage Garden – I Knew I Loved You