Last Chapter! T.T

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Kale was dead. There was no changing that. But with him dead, all ties to the past were cut. Susan was no longer an issue. With no rapist or alcoholic hanging over her, Roxy was free to do whatever she wanted to do.

And the first thing she did was kiss Optimus Prime.

That was four months ago. And it was summer, which meant that the Lennox family summer cookout would be underway. Which meant fun for everyone. And Jazz got the pleasure of being the DJ.

"Lets get it started people!" He yelled out, picking out a song from the Black Eyed Peas. The bots didn't have to use the holoforms if they didn't want to, as the Lennox and Witwicky families knew of there existence. It was going to be one hell of a fun day.

Xxx...later...xxX

Roxy was gnawing on a carrot, talking to Sam. Sam was working the grill, pointing a pair of tongs at it. Roxy smiled and waved her free hand as if to say 'No thanks.' and went back to her carrot. She didn't notice the green optics staring at her from the hanger. Barricade's cerebral processor was working overtime. Did she even know how far he went to make her happy? What he did to set her free?

"Barricade." Said someone from behind him. He turned to see Bumblebee. Bumblebee had his hands on his hips, and seemed to be frowning.

"What do you want?" He growled.

"...how many?" Bee asked.

"Excuse me?" He snapped.

"Don't play dumb with me Barricade. How many did you tell?"

"I don't know what you're-"

"You stubborn slagger! I know everything! You took Kale to jail and didn't come back for a full day! Now tell me. How many. Did you. Tell?" Bumblebee was angry.

Barricade was silent for a moment, and then ground out. "...12...I told twelve. I changed my holo to look like an inmate, and told as many of them as I could." He glared at Bee, who glared back. "That man deserved everything he had done to him. Her needed a harsher punishment than a lifetime in some fraggin' cell."

"That wasn't your call to make. Not ours, not mine, and definitely not yours. Any bot, no matter his emotions, would do such a thing."

"I am not an Autobot. I am a neutral. And I did what I thought was right." He growled. "Now what are you going to do? Tell the top bot on me? Tell your ol' buddy Jazz? Tell Roxy that her friend Cade killed the bastard that ripped her apart?"

Bee froze. "...No, Barricade. You have a point. You aren't an Autobot. And I don't think you ever will be. No bot could kill a human. And you know what else?" Barricade's optics narrowed into slits. "She doesn't love you. You think what you did was right? Fine, go on thinking that." Bumblebee walked away. "But it wasn't to her. And you aren't right, either." Barricade's optics closed. The little yellow fragger was right. Roxy didn't love him. She loved that soft-sparked Prime. But that didn't mean he would stop loving her. Oh no.

'I love you, Roxy.' He thought, going into the hanger. He smiled dully, sharp teeth bared. 'And you will learn to love me, too.' He went into the darkness of his quarters. He'd give it time. Optimus Prime wasn't perfect. He was bound to mess up someday. And on that day, however far it would be, he would be ready. Barricade couldn't contain a silent chuckle at the thought of it. 'I know you will.'

Xxx...later...xxxX

The sun had set not long ago, and the party was starting to wind down. Jazz decided that it was a good time for a slow dance. The couples gathered on the dance floor. Optimus turned on his holo and strode over to Roxy. She looked up from her fold-out chair to see a blue eyed man in front of her.

"May I have the honor of dancing with the most gorgeous girl on earth?" He asked, smiling with an extended hand.

"No sir." She said, and then smiled at his surprised look. "But I'm free." She took his hand and stood up. He took her other hand, and they stared at each other for a moment. "Do you know how to dance?"

"Do you?" She nodded, and he followed her feet in a simple waltz, following the rhythm of the song.

All of these lines across my face

Tell you the story of who I am

So many stories of where I've been

And how I got to where I am

But these stories don't mean anything

When you've got no one to tell them to

It's true...I was made for you

"I love this song."

"You love all songs."

"Oh, not so. I can't stand The Beach Boys."

He chuckled. "True." They continued to dance.

You see the smile that's on my mouth

Is hiding the words that don't come out

And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed

They don't know my head is a mess

No, they don't know who I really am

And they don't know what I've been through like you do

And I was made for you...

She grinned at him, and laid her head on his chest. She could hear a light static buzz the holo gave off, and she closed her eyes. The holo placed it's chin on her head, and they stood there as the song ended. "I think this should be our song." He made no reply but hugging her waist.

Oh yeah, it's true...that I was made for you

Xxx...that night...xxX

The party goers had gone home long ago, and most of the bots had headed to bed as well. The only two that were still up at that time of night were Optimus and Roxy.

"And...over there! That ones Orion's belt, right?"

"Yes, and what is the one to it's right?"

"Uh...Cetus!"

He chuckled. "Very good. Now, what's above Cetus?"

"Oh, that's easy, Pisces."

"That's right...and what is opposite of Pisces?"

"Hmm...that would be...Leo! Yes!"

"Very good. Now, what is your sign?"

"I'm the ram, Aries. Always have been, always will be." She smiled. "You know, when we used to do this back in Oregon, I wondered why you were so bent on me learning about the stars. Then, I remembered that question I asked you."

"You asked me many questions."

"But this was the one that started it all! 'Where's Cybertron?' And, you took me to a field, and had me learn all the stars. I would ask 'Is that it?' And you would tell me 'No, that's Something else.' It was a game, and I learned everything I could about the stars until I saw the one I couldn't name." She smiled, and pointed to a star that could barely be seen, a dark red pinprick between Auriga and Lynx. "And by then, I knew them all."

"There was a reason I wanted you to learn them other than that. I wanted you to know where they were, where they would be, and where you were. So that, one day, If you were lost, you would find your way back."

"But to where?"

"...Back to me..." She stood up and hugged his wrist, smiling.

"I sometimes wonder what the reason was that I fell for a giant metal robot, and now I wonder why a giant metal robot fell for me..."

"I don't think there is a reason..." He said with a smile.

"Oh come on! There has to be a reason..." She said, and then flopped down next to him on the grass. She smiled, and said dreamily, "Maybe it's up there with the stars...it may be under the changing sea...it may not be..." She tapped his chest plate. "...very far at all"

"Maybe this is just how things are supposed to be..." He said, smiling. She giggled, and sat up.

"Oh, I know! It's in a jar!" He raised a brow plate. She smiled sheepishly. "Hell, it could be something that we've seen..." She laid back down. "Maybe...it's no where at all!" She pushed herself backwards into him. "You may be right, big guy. This is probably how it's supposed to be."

"Probably?" He said incredulously.

"Maybe?" She said. She looked up at the sky, seeing Sirius, the dog star. Her favorite star. "Yeah, after looking back at my old life...this is how it will always be."

"Looking back can be a trap Roxy. If you don't want to remember the past, that's fine. Living here is an easy thing to do...if you want it to be..."

"Are you drunk?"

He chuckled. "Not on high grade."

"I do."

"Hmm?"

"If you think living without the past is what I want, you're right. I do...but I can't do that..."

"Why not?"

"The past shaped me into who I am. If I forget my past, I won't know who I am...and I'd hate not knowing..." He picked her up, and saw how serious she was. She climbed up his arm to his head, and sat next to his neck. "You also shaped me. You made me like who I was. And I love that about you. You bring out the best in us all. I love you so much." She pressed her forehead into his antenna, smiling.

"Thank you." He said.

"For what big guy?"

"...for loving me." She smiled, and hugged him.

"I could do this all night."

"Who says we can't?" With that, he laid down, and let her roll off onto the ground. She crawled up onto his chest, feeling his spark warm her. She looked at the sky one more time, and kissed his chestplate. He placed his hand over her, and the two of them went to sleep. That was the thing about love. It is possibly the strongest thing in existence.

And being such an odd couple probably made it even stronger.

Lesson: Never give up.

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That's it! It's finally over. I can't believe it! Well, I know how much you want the sequel up, but it's going to take a while! I also have the prequel to work on, and a few gift fic's for my loyal reviewers!

I want to thank all of you for taking the time to read, fave, and review. With my special thanks to Mrs. Optimus Prime for beta-ing, giving support, and being an awesome friend. I would also like to thank Elita One for being such a sweetie and giving every chapter a review. I also want to thank everyone who stuck by this story even when it got dark.

Thank you all so so much! I hope to see you all at the sequel! Your buddy, EBB.