It had been about a week since Arcce had stormed away and things had been tense between her and Optimus. And by tense, it was really Arcee making things awkward. She would bring up old gripes at inopportune moments, call Optimus out whenever she made to leave when the kids invited her to one of their parties. Soon enough the rest of Team Prime started to notice the strange behavior and, being the busy bodies that they are, they went about finding out what was wrong.

Jack went and asked Arcee what the matter was and she answered in a very hostile manner. They tried to look thru the security tapes from about when they started to notice the hostilities, but Arcee was subtle and this all could have started from days, to even week before they noticed. And so from there it went on. Arcee getting more bold and at times being outright disrespectful to Optimus, who, like the good Prime she is, took the punishment for something the team was pretty sure she hadn't done. So, to find out what this was once and for all, they decided to take rash action. Something that only intelligent people in the movies would do. They were going to ask Optimus.

"What! We can't do that. If she finds out we have been going behind her back to find out a personal problem, well, you remember what happened with the racing incident." All in the room shivered.

"Ya. Bu that's the point. Us lying to her and going behind her back and lying about what we are doing is going to get us in trouble. If we ask, then we will most likely find out whats wrong, and stay out of trouble." Everyone thought on Jacks idea, and then a light seemed to come to Bulkheads eyes. He looked over at Miko who seemed to have that same light of and idea and at the same time they both spoke.

"A party." They both laughed.

"Primus. We are so good."

"I know. And you've seen how she has been acting lately."

"Which means that,"

"She is at a breaking point." The two friends turned from each other and then looked to the others who were left in the dust of Miko's and Bulk's thought proceses. "What?" Ratchet seemed to be the first to snap out of the trance.

"So for those of us who aren't telepathic, why don't you explain." Miko suddenly looked excited.

"Is that how we did it? Are you like half, Miko. Or better. Me half Bulkhead?" Bulk cut her off before she could contine to ramble.

"No. Well, not that I know of. Anyways. Ratchet is just being a scraplet. Now as we were saying. If we through a party and try to invite Optimus, with Arcee in the room,..." Bulk let the rest of the pieces fall into place in his friends heads. It only took a moment before it was all processed. The kids all looked to have excited faces while Ratchet just looked mad.

"You know how Optimus feels whenever you invite her. If making her uncomfortable is the only way to find out what is the matter, then I will live content with the thought that Otimus is a big bot, and can handle herself." He turned and left.

"Well I guess that counts him out." Jack shook his head. "Anyways. I think I can get her into the main room when you guys ask Optimus if its okay to have the party. When she gives the okay, Raf, you ask her if she wants to come. Are we all agreed?" The group nodded there heads. "Good. And you Bulk will be there to make sure that this doesn't get violent. She seems to be ready to punch Optimus so we gotta be careful so we don't end up with a broken jaw." They all ran off to make sure they were ready after planning it all out. They would ask in two hours, when Optimus was scheduled to return from her mission.

Optimus had left the base on the pretenses of going to scout for energon, but really it was to clear her mind. And hopefully relive some of the weight that had settled over her spark. She had been out for about an hour when she found herself on top of a large mountain. She looked around at the vast landscape. She had always found earth a beautiful place, but this view, with the large fields of crops and the small and large rivers running thru the vast valley. She felt her arms fall to her sides and let her eyes shut as her head lull back. For a moment, she felt free. The freedom she had only felt long ago, when she had stood looking over her great city of Iacon and feeling the cool wind of night blow thru her joints and struts. And as the sun would set, the sky would light up with stars and Optimus remembered a young femme laying back on the ledge of a cliff looking up at some of those same stars.

Or she had thought the same. And then this young femme met someone. Someone influential and evil. And then war and her death happened, The thought of the young innocents spark being crushed caused the weight came back to suddenly crush her spark sending her her knee struts in pain. She grabbed at her spark it took her a moment to calm her cooling vents. After she felt certain she could stand, she made to get up. That's when she saw a drop of lubricant fall to the ground. It took her a moment to realize that the tear had fallen from her face and she brought her hand up to wipe away the trail. Primes didn't cry. She stood up straighter and pushed away the pain and emotions.

'Evelyn is gone now. Its time to forget about her and move on. Megatron killed her.'

"Optimus. Come in." Optimus focused her mind on the present, tapping into the comm link.

"Yes Ratchet."

"Sorry for disturbing you Optimus but Fowler just showed up and he wants to talk. Should I bridge you back?" Optimus had an overwhelming urge to rub her face. But it wouldn't do to be frustrated at the human.

"A bridge would be good at my current location. How is Agent Fowler's mood?" Optimus felt the charge of electricity that came before a round bridge opens. She then heard Ratchet groan.

"Lets just say I will be glade for you to get back. See you shortly."

As the bridge opened, Optimus again felt this pain in her chest, though this time, far worse then any other she had felt before. This one felt like a sharp knife being cut thru her spark. She calmed her racing mind and tied waiting for the pain to stop, but it never did. She waited and breathed again, pushing the pain back to the recesses of her mind and walked thru the bridge.

Optimus walked thru the bridge and was immediately greeted by yelling. Fowler was yelling at some of her team and was saying things about there discretion and needing to be less clumsy. Optimus was surprised at his attitude. He hadn't really acted this way since they had saved him from Starscreem.

"And you Prime, are the worst of all. They fallow you and if they aren't being discrete then it must be you." Optimus took some steps forward but was cut off by the femme leaning up against the far wall.

"Your right Fowler. Optimus here hasn't really been enforcing the whole 'robots in disguise thing'." Everyone but Optimus turned with shocked expressions towards Arcee who looked like she really couldn't care less. Fowler on the other hand just looked like he was about to explode from anger.

"Prime! So you have been lax in this. I knew it. I seem to have given you to much leeway." Before Fowler could continue, Optimus cut him off.

"Agent Fowler please. I have taken all precautions to make sure that my team will stay stealthy. It would not be good for us either if humans found out about us just yet. It is true we could do better and I will start tomorrow on stealth training for the whole team. Now if you will excuse us, Agent Fowler, but I need to debrief my team." Fowler growled and with angry feet stomped to the elevator. Once he left, Optimus turned to her team.

"Now I know how hard it is to stay hidden but we must for the safety of us all."

"Sure Optimus. Being the size you are, I bet you know all about that. Being stealthy. We can hear you from a mile away with your tromping feet. Now if you will excuse me, I have better things to do then be lectured by an, incompetent leader." With that, she transformed and left the base. The turned when they heard Optimus moving down the long hallway and entering the training room. No one spoke for a while, just starring at the empty hallway until Ratchet spoke.

"What the pit was that?" Jack just shook his head.

"I don't think that anything we do will help. I think this is just something that they need to figure out themselves. Or we just need to put them into a room together and let them fight it out." Ratchet just growled.

"Well whatever happens, Arcee is not getting away with this. When she gets back. She is getting a peice of my,..." Suddenly a loud thundering crash was heard from down the hallway. Everyone looked to see the door open to the training room.

"No." Ratchet's words were barely heard as he ran towards the room, the others fallowing close behind.

To be continued.

What the heck is this? Is this a, a plot line. An actual story emerging. What is happening to this story. I mean its not so bad, just that that's not how the story is supposed to go. So you know, tell me what you think guys. You know I love to hear from you. Do you like the idea of a subtle plot line, or should I just call these next (maybe) two chapters for Optimus.

And what is happening to Optimus anyways, and how should we punish Arcee for being so mean to her. If you guys want some say in the ending of all of this, give a review or if you can a PM of your thoughts would be lovely.

Also a side note to all of my reviewers, followers, and those who have favorited (still not a word :): This story is coming to a close and I just wanted to say to say thank you to all of you. It means so much to me. Reading all of the reviews have just made my heart soar and pushed me to write. And whenever I see those wonderful emails and see the number of you who have favorited and fallowed, it just gives me a reason to continue. Thank you.

Side note to all of you who read this and put up with me: Thank you guys. You have encouraged me even when none o those dears up there have had the strength to review. (You all know we have had those chapters.) You silent wonders have made all the difference and kept me writing.

Thank you all, and have a Happy New Year.

P.S. I can't even tell you how painful it is to read these story's over and over again. So I have read it over, but I doubt I got everything. So please tell me is you see anything. And if there are any plot hiccups, please tell me.