AN: This took way longer than I wanted it to, but I was working on both Windows to the Soul and dealing with the holiday madness. If you'll excuse me for the lateness, I hope everyone had happy and safe holidays. I wanted so badly to give this to you on Christmas day, but that's how it goes. Now, regarding WttS, I have put up an insignificant prologue, compared to the actual story. The first chapter is not up, but it will be before the week is over. I hope everyone thinks that the wait is worth it, because it's a long chapter to me. Over 5,000 words so far... When it is posted, and if you care about this story, please check it out and go to the poll that will be on my profile afterwards.

This chapter was beyond hard. It was like trying to put a shattered Picasso back together. I hope, hope, hope everyone likes it. I know my writing style is not as good as it should be, but I'm just practicing, as I may have said in an earlier AN.

In his office, William Lennox put the report he had just finished into a folder. He pushed back his chair and stood up. The door was just two steps from his desk, a distance to short for his liking. He reached for the handle and the door opened suddenly, nearly smacking his face. Robert Epps peeked in and bounced to Will's side.

"Will, I need to tell you something."

"What are you doing? I have a report to hand in. Whatever it is can wait."

Epps bit his lip. "I think you want to hear this now. This is big. I wouldn't have believed it if someone told me, but I saw them."

Will paused. "Saw who?"

"Marissa and Ironhide!"

Will raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me Ironhide stepped on her."

Epps leaned on Will's desk and scuffed his boots on the linoleum. "No, it's worse than that. Do you...remember April and Jazz?"

"Of course," Will said suspiciously.

"OK. Well, hypothetically, if Ironhide was...seeing Marissa, how would you feel?"

Will frowned. "Hypothetically, I'd support them. If they're really seeing each other, you'd better spill. Now."

Epps wiped his brow. "I saw Ironhide and Marissa in the shooting range and I heard them making plans to go on a date tonight," he blurted out.

Will kept his face stony. He opened the door and marched out. Epps called after him, unsure of whether to follow. "What about being supportive?!"

"It's not hypothetical anymore," Will called back.

Optimus Prime stood inside the Operations hangar, speaking to the techs on the catwalk. He looked down at Will as he passed and turned to watch him go.

Will knew from experience that Prime would follow him and ask what was wrong. He was right.

"Captain Lennox. A moment?"

Will turned around. "I'm sort of busy Prime."

Optimus bent down. "Perhaps I can take you to your destination. Would that be permissible?"

Will let his face relax. "Alright Prime."

Optimus transformed into his Peterbilt alt mode and popped open the passenger side door.

Will climbed in and the seat buckle automatically wrapped around him and clicked.

Optimus formed his holoform and the truck started, but headed toward the base's gate. Optimus' brown hair was cut military- style. He wore a plaid shirt with buttons running down the middle and light, slightly worn blue jeans. Cowboy boots that reached only about mid-shin were decorated with an engraved metal Autobot insignia. If Will shook his hand, he knew he would feel callouses. His eyes were the same shade of blue as his optics. Handsome, yes. Muscular, yes-but not as much as Ironhide. Will knew that Elita was considered a very lucky femme. Sarah had agreed after the first time she had seen Optimus' holoform.

When they were out of sight of the base, Optimus asked, "Will you tell me what has angered you so much?"

Will sighed. "Epps came in to my office a little bit ago. Can you guess what he told me about your weapons specialist and my sister?"

Optimus frowned and looked pensively at Will. "I'm sorry that no one told you about this sooner, Captain. I have explained to Ironhide that he must stay out of Marissa 's private life-"

Will cut in and asked incredulously, "private life? They are going on a date tonight. That's all I've heard about them. Are you telling me that what happened this morning is because they are dating? How long has this been going on Prime?"

Optimus raised an eyebrow. "A date?"

~~ Elita One stared at Marissa with her mouth open. "What?!"

Marissa frowned. "Elita, I know you knew about Ironhide. Did you honestly think I couldn't love him?"

Arcee started laughing from across the room. Marissa had come to their quarters with news of her and Ironhide's date, and truly, Elita was not dealing well.

Marissa walked across the floor to Elita's wheel. She crossed her arms and stared upwards at Elita. "I promise you, that I will not make any decisions that would be for the worse. Trust me and help me."

Elita vented deeply and smiled. "Alright. If you're going to be on a date, I suppose you should wear something flattering."

Marissa winked. "I've already got that covered."

"Good, I'm not about to stick around here forever, you know," 'Cee said and mimed smoothing imaginary hair. "You're not the only one with a hot date tonight."

Rolling her optics, Elita bent down to Marissa's level. "Don't let her fool you into thinking that she's got all the mechs wrapped around her digit. Ratch only asked for her help with the twins. They've cut an energon line again."

Arcee sent Elita a death glare. "You two will see. I don't think this is the third time Ratchet has requested my assistance with something just because my hands are steady and I'm good with half-wits."

Marissa raised an eyebrow. "Hey," she growled teasingly. "One of those half-wits you helped Ratch with are mine." She recalled Ironhide's session with Ratchet and Arcee from a few weeks after she'd been with NEST. Who knew that such a seemingly tough mech could squeal that loudly?

~~ Ironhide stared at the ceiling of his quarters. How long had it been, since he had last gone out for something fun? Not since he was on Cybertron. That was with Chromia.

He smacked the back of his helm on to the wall. Don't think about her right now, or else you'll never go through with this. She would encourage it.

The door slid open and Jazz entered. "Sorry 'bout this, I have all of da door codes, but is it true you're goin' on a date lata'?"

"Yes. I guess we are all aware of this by now?"

Jazz nodded. "Uh-huh. Prime tol' me and now I'm tellin' you."

Ironhide grunted. "Sure you didn't mention it to anyone else?"

"Not that ah recall," Jazz replied, grinning.

"Rust in the Pit, Jazz."

"Been there, done that."

Ironhide raised an optic brow. "In the Pit?"

Jazz frowned. "You know what I meant," he said warningly.

"Sorry." Ironhide rubbed the back of his neck cables uncomfortably. He did know what Jazz had meant. April was not the only love that Jazz had lost. We've been in the same situation before.

"Jus' don't get her hurt, 'Hide."

"You think I'd let that happen again? I know how it feels Jazz. I'm glad I'm getting another chance."

"Ah already had my second chance. It didn't end tha well."

Ironhide's optics hardened. "You don't know if Prowl survived or not, Jazz."

"Ah know. Ah think abou' tha all tha time."

Jazz reached out and patted Ironhide's shoulder armor. "Ah gotta go. Don't screw up, tonight."

He left and Ironhide grunted at his remark. That was all too likely.

~~ Will, after inquiring about her to Jolt, found Marissa in the femme's quarters. She was sitting in a chair, wrapped in a towel and Elita, in holoform, was drying her hair.

Marissa exclaimed, "I just took the biggest shower in the world!" when Arcee let him in.

"That's great, 'Rissa. I came to tell you that it's been okay'd for you to leave for an hour and a half, tonight."

"Thanks, but how did you know I was planning on leaving," Marissa asked.

Will shrugged. "Maybe I just have some insight."

"Sure," Marissa said, heavy on the sarcasm. "'Cee, 'Lita? Can you guys go get my dress? I left it hanging in the wash racks."

Elita nodded and her holoform flickered out. The sisters walked to the wash racks and closed the door behind themselves. Will figured they would stay in there long enough for what Marissa wanted to say.

She stood up and Will hugged her.

"I know where you are going tonight. I just want you to know that I will be here, 'Rissa. I will always be here," he said.

Marissa hugged him tighter and said, "I love Ironhide. I haven't told him yet, I can never say it. I wanted to go out with him tonight so I could tell him."

Will stepped back from Marissa and smiled. "I hope things work out."

"Thanks. I was actually expecting you to be angry."

The femmes bustled back into the room, with a sky blue dress.

Arcee was frowning and Elita swatted at her to make her paste on a fake smile.

Will raised an eyebrow at them and waved to Marissa. "See ya later sis," he said, and ducked through the man door.

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At exactly 0600, Ironhide knocked on the femme's door. Arcee had helpfully informed him where Marissa was. He had to say that this was a better idea than pulling up to the barracks. Now he waited anxiously to see his date.

Marissa surprised him by appearing at the third knock. Well, she surprised him anyway with her dress. It was sky blue, with straps instead of sleeves. It ended at her knees and had a plain but regal look. She was gorgeous even before he got to her hair that was curled and put up, with ringlets hanging down to her shoulders.

She hung a small purse on her shoulder and grinned. "If you could see your own face, Ironhide."

He winked at her."If you could see yourself."

Marissa groaned in mock distress. "Please, that's all I've been doing for hours."

They laughed together, comfortably at first, then as it died down they became nervous again.

Ironhide cleared his processor and bent down to offer his hand to Marissa. She stepped onto it and held onto his fingers.

"Where're we going tonight?"

Ironhide looked ahead as he answered. "I'm hoping to surprise you."

Marissa gasped. "You are one of them!"

Frowning, Ironhide asked, "one of who?"

"One of those romantic-types. Arcee told me to watch out for you."

Ironhide made a mental note to ask Arcee what else she had told Marissa. They were outside now, and Ironhide put Marissa down to transform. His armor and inner workings jammed around to fit into place and a Topkick was soon sitting in front of Marissa with a door hanging open.

She gingerly climbed in and sat in the passenger seat. Ironhide buckled her in, careful not to dwell to much on how she felt there, wrapped up snugly, and leaning back into the seat.

He started his monstrous engine and set himself on the route he had downloaded on to his systems.

~~Marissa watched the window, not really seeing anything but her reflection. She had allowed herself to gussy up for Ironhide. It was nice the way his optics had lit up and how his engine had purred quietly. He probably hadn't even realized what he was doing.

She looked at the empty seat next to her. She had to make sure that Ironhide knew she loved him, and not just how his holoform looked. She figured that he would probably take her to some nice restaurant, but she didn't want to sit across from the holoform the whole time. How could she break it to him that she didn't want him to try to be human for her?

"I could turn on the radio if you don't want to talk," Ironhide said, interrupting her thoughts.

"Sorry 'Hide, I was just thinking, you know."

Ironhide grunted. "Well, as the humans say, 'penny for your thoughts?'

"Okay, I thought that instead of going to a place where we have to go inside, why don't we go to a place where we can stay outside?" Marissa could feel the change in Ironhide's speed as she asked.

He hesitated before saying, "Marissa, you do know that the holoform is a real form of myself? Its like my bipedal form and my alt mode, only organic and a projection from my processor."

"Yeah, but what if your holoform is not what I want right now? What if this is what I want? I can go on a date with some normal guy, or I can go with the most amazing alien truck in the world," Marissa replied slightly exasperated.

Ironhide stopped abruptly and Marissa was suddenly glad for the snug seatbelt. She quickly looked to see if any cars had been behind them, and for the first time, realized that they were on Will's road. Corn stalks that had the tufts of 'hair' growing out of the ears of corn surrounded them. The wind blew right on target and rustled the stalks together.

"What are we doing here?"

Ironhide started up again and drove into a path cutting into the corn. "I never planned on going anywhere but here."

The end of the path came to a cluster of huge boulders that Will had to plant the corn around.

Marissa jumped out when Ironhide stopped and spun back around to watch him transform.

When he was back to his bipedal form, he picked her up in his hand and they looked around, in awe of the beauty of the world around them.

The stars were so bright there that they illuminated everything, like soft spotlights. A half moon hung low in the sky, giving the corn stalks a strange, alluring glow.

Marissa glanced at Ironhide. He was still gazing at the stars. "Have you ever seen anything like this, on Cybertron?"

He turned his helm back down to her. He looked like he was going to smile, but the corners of his mouth plates slowly fell. "The crystal gardens of Praxus."

Intrigued, Marissa sat down in his palm. "Tell me about them."

"The crystal gardens are sacred to the city. Cybertronians from all over used to visit them. They would hang little ornaments, either made by themselves or bought, on the crystals and whisper things to them," he said, like he had been there before. He walked to the boulders and gingerly placed his charge on top of flat-topped one.

"They thought that the crystals could grant wishes if they liked your ornament. The ornaments were offerings. The spirits of the first thirteen Cybertronians were supposed to live inside of the crystals."

Marissa looked at the sky. She imagined the sparkling garden of crystals and the homemade ornaments that she thought a Cybertronian would make. Had Ironhide hung an ornament on the crystals before? She leaned backwards and rested on her hands. "What did you whisper to them?"

Ironhide narrowed his optics. "Why do you think I've been there?"

"You haven't?"

He frowned. "No," he said bluntly, though his faceplates twitched and Marissa suspected he had lied to her.

She almost laughed aloud. Seems I've been paying more attention to him then I realized. Though she knew that Ironhide was like a gun safe. If you had the key to his lock you could get to what was hidden inside. But, you had to be able to handle whatever you discovered with care and responsibility. Marissa was determined to find Ironhide's key, and to know what he kept inside.

Smiling, she asked him, "you remember when you tore through this field that first day?"

"Mhmm," he replied.

"I really wanted to knock you on your ass. What would you have done if I had?"

Ironhide chuckled. Really chuckled. "You mean, if you'd tried to."

Marissa nodded. "True," she said.

Resting an elbow on the rock Marissa sat on, Ironhide folded his arms. "I guess I would've just had to take it, but you'd drive me crazy. As if you don't do that even now."

"Sorry."

"No, its not a bad thing," Ironhide sputtered. He unfolded his arms and lightly touched the top of her head and gazed down at her. "I'm crazy about you. I've said it before, and I'll say it however many times you need to hear it."

Marissa reached out to touch Ironhide's arm. "I love you," she said.

~~Ironhide half closed his optics and vented. Marissa surprised him by climbing into his hand and he gently brought her to his faceplates. This creature had confessed love to him, and he was so relieved-so flustered, that he didn't know what to do. Embarrassed, he lowered his helm.

Unexpectedly, he felt Marissa's cool forehead press against his. A wave of emotions washed over his spark.

"I love you."

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Ironhide collapsed onto his berth. His processor buzzed with images of Marissa. Marissa in his hand, staring up at him, stars reflecting in her wide eyes. Marissa in his holoform's arms. Marissa about to pull him into a kiss. Ironhide had never felt that powerfully before. The world had shrunk suddenly and it was like he was back on Cybertron, before the war, just being happy. But he wasn't. He was on Earth, where things were not as safe and calm as he tricked himself to believe. He knew that, practically breathed awareness of the situation. The need for release was too strong, though. He wanted to be able to defy Primus, and find happiness where he wasn't meant too. He felt hopeful that finally, his suffering would come to an end.

He prepared to shut down his processor for recharge. Tomorrow, he would talk to William. He should've him a long time ago, and Ironhide couldn't imagine what William would do. He didn't think Marissa had told him yet. If she had, Ironhide figured that he would have heard from him by now.

Dream:

He was back in the wreckage where he found Chromia buried under the rubble. This time, it felt different. He knew that he would see the flash of blue, and discover 'Mia. And he knew that he would fail to save her, like always. Something else had changed too. Everything was silent. No explosions, no blasters firing, not a thing except for his pedes and the shifting of the rubble as he searched through it.

There it was, Chromia's helm peeking out from under a wall. He ran to it and pushed the wall away.

End Dream

"Marissa!"

Ironhide sat up in his berth with a trembling hand placed over his spark. Pain arrested his limbs and he felt like purging.

"Marissa," he mumbled.

Instead of seeing Chromia's broken frame, he had...had seen... Marissa.

In battles they fought with the humans, there was always a human casualty. Once, there was a human Ratchet couldn't have repaired. A piece of shrapnel had gone through their midsection.

Ratchet had asked Ironhide to share a bit of High Grade with him that night.

What Ironhide had seen done to Marissa made him weak. The only clue to her identity was the dress, tattered and torn as it was. Primus.

Ironhide keened quietly. It must have been a message from Primus. He understood what it meant. Never would he allow Marissa to end up like that. He wouldn't let her throw away her safety. He wouldn't let himself do that to her.

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~~ "Optimus!"

Prime turned to the bot who had called out to him across the lit Tarmac. It was barely past midnight.

It was Jazz. His SIC trotted up to him. "Ah've found somethin' that you'll want ta see fo' yourself."

Nodding, Prime silently followed Jazz to the Operations hanger.

A human femme named Maggie and her friend Glenn stood by a computer. Maggie and Glenn, Optimus had been told, had been given jobs in NEST to help locate Decepticons after assisting in the Battle of Mission City.

Jazz looked pointedly at the two humans. "Alrigh'," he said.

Maggie nodded affirmatively and addressed the Prime. "Sir, approximately six minutes ago, three signatures were discovered outside of Earth's atmosphere."

Optimus glanced at the computer's monitor, where Glenn was typing away. "When are the signatures expected to make touchdown?"

Glenn turned away from the screen. "Less then eight hours. It's mostly just guess work though," he replied shakily.

Maggie beckoned to the bots at another computer.

"We do know where they are going to be landing though." She stated as she pulled up a map. With her finger, she drew an imaginary circle around a point on the map. "Within a fifty-mile radius of these coordinates."

Optimus looked at Jazz. "Tell the others to prepare for departure. We leave at 0200. I will inform Captain Lennox and Secretary Keller."

Jazz nodded in response.

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~Marissa woke up in her bunk and hissed when her covers were pulled off. Will stood over her and yelled: "Get up Sunshine!"

He pulled her out of the bed by her feet until she fell on her butt. "What time is it?!"

Will grinned like a Cheshire cat. "Two in the morning."

"What?!" Marissa stood up and grabbed his arms. "Why would you wake me up so early?! Did something happen?!"

Will pried her hands off and pointed to the other empty bunks and she formed her mouth into a silent "Oh."

"You always were a heavy sleeper," Will said, grinning.

He led her out of the barracks and she saw a number of soldiers boarding a plane. She gave Will a questioning look and he pointed to the plane on the tarmac.

"Some new Cybertronians are entering Earth's atmosphere. We don't know if its they're Autobots, Decepticons, or both yet. Optimus and the others are going to meet the "meteors" when they land. I'll be going with them," he said hurriedly.

Marissa bit her lip. If there were Decepticons, her friends would be in danger. She noticed the twins and the femmes in their alt-modes rolling toward the plane. She ran in a blind panic to the vehicles and yelled "wait!"

The Bots slammed on their breaks and she stopped running, seeing soldiers turning to stare at her. The twins smoothly formed their holoforms and ran over to her in concern. Will caught up and stood close to her, with a hand at her shoulder, and looked at her sideways.

Sideswipe held her shoulders gently. "What is it?" He asked, ignoring his twin, who glanced around suspiciously (and stupidly, his brother might add) for anyone who looked guilty of harming his sister. Needless to say, the present soldiers went back to their own business.

Marissa could feel panicky, tears welling in her eyes. "Don't go. The Cons..." The femmes transformed and pulled her close to their frames. Elita lightly rested her helm on Marissa's shoulder and crooned.

"We'll come back 'Rissa, don't worry." She pulled back to look at Marrisa. "The first time is harder than the second, the second harder than the third, and so on. You will see," she said softly.

Marissa nodded and grasped the offered hand from Sunstreaker. He dried her tears with his jacket sleeve, and looked her in the eye. "I know you're made of tougher stuff than that 'Rissa. Do you really believe that anything could touch us?" He said sternly.

She let him go and looked away from him ashamedly. "I'm sorry, I just thought about you guys getting hurt and I saw you leaving...I thought you were leaving without saying goodbye." Sideswipe snorted and dragged the human into an embrace.

"Aw 'Ris, we couldn't do that, we figured you'd meet us on the plane. Will did say he was going to wake you up," he said smiling.

Marissa's brother-by-blood held up his hands in surrender. "Hey, she saw you guys before I could explain it to her." He shrugged, but Marissa knew that he was tying to hide his fear. She felt her ears turn red for causing such a big nothing.

She wiggled away from Sides and over to Will. She hugged him tightly and stepped back, addressing the group. "You all just come back to me in one piece, got it?" She commanded lightly, easing back into her normal-self.

Arcee laughed and laid a hand on top of Marissa's head. "Good femme. Now, we've got to board the plane, okay?"

The femmes transformed back down into their alt-modes and the twins' holoforms disappeared. Will gave his sister one last, lingering hug and he followed the Bots onto the plane.

"Stay safe..." She whispered after them. Then she remembered one, very important bot that she had not seen yet.

An engine growled behind her and she turned to Ironhide's alt-mode. He pulled up beside her and formed his holoform in the passenger seat.

Resting his arm on the door, he looked at her. He appeared...indifferent. With a nod of his head, he gestured toward the plane. "I'll make sure Lennox comes back unharmed," he said sincerely. Then, without a second glance, he drove forward.

Marissa was at loss for what to say. Mercifully, Optimus, Ratchet and Jazz didn't question her as they drove past. Jazz did flash his headlights playfully though.

She followed the rest of the NEST personnel that had came to see the plane off, feeling like a ghost. Seeing Graham, she wandered over to where he stood watching the plane prepare for takeoff. "Why aren't you going?"

He looked at her and sighed, obviously regretful that he had not boarded with the others. "I need a couple days of rest before I can go on a mission again," he said angrily.

Marissa leaned against the wall behind her. "Ah, Ratchet got to you,did he," she said, but she was only half-listening to him.

Graham watched the plane start down the runway as he spoke. "Yes, he is serious about taking care of us, isn't he?" He said, with slightly less agitation.

Marissa didn't answer, but instead closed her eyes. What was that? Ironhide had completely blown her off. Was last night even real? No one could tell her that it wasn't, but this was so unlike "new Ironhide." This was something that "old Ironhide" would do. But they were different now, weren't they? Weren't they? Did she miss something?

"Hello, Marissa. Are you okay?"

She opened her eyes. "I'm fine Graham. I need to go back to sleep."

Graham nodded. "I can agree with that. You're looking like the undead."

They said goodnight and Marissa crept back to her bunk. Upon laying down she realized that she would not be able to fall back asleep. Annoyed with this bout of insomnia, Marissa turned her thoughts to Ironhide's statement from before. It made sense that he would protect Will. Being his guardian, it was required of him. It was thoughtful, but did not excuse his coldness with her. Did it have something to do with going into battle and not knowing whether they would be greeting friends or foes? She could only hope that it was something that trivial.

Thinking about being in battle caused her to worry again. What if..? No, Sunny said they would be okay, Prime's got the femme's backs, and 'Hide has Will's; Ratchet and Jazz are good fighters too. They'll all come back safely. Including Epps, Figs, and the other soldiers. They have to come back. Maybe they'll bring some new Bots. Unless, of course, the new arrivals are Cons.

Marissa shivered, suddenly more aware of the empty barracks.