Disclaimer : I don't own anything but some of my OCs.

(A Month Later, Kendra's POV)

After the revelation of the wish, I thought things would be horribly awkward. I was only partially right.

Most of the bots only seemed to resume how things were. Prowl seemed awkward around me, but it might have been because Moonfrost had called him 'Mommy' once again, though she knew that term was meant more for me. It was like 'Mommy' was a nickame for him. Either that, or she'd taken to calling him 'Owl'.

What was worse? Optimus was 'Timmie' to Sunfire, which was always enough to send me to the ground in hysterics, despite the fact that things were very awkward between himself and I.

And speaking of awkward...

The pain's only getting worse. I guess...the bond is fading. It's not so much tugging as burning hotly. I sighed as I curled up in a large warehouse. The shards still hadn't fused, and now we had two dozen shards gathered, from travelling through the different states. Now, the humans had gone home for a few days, to visit their families, and the rest of us split up to do our own thing. I wish it was....easier...to ask Optimus what he wanted.

The majority of the bots had chosen to stay with me in an abandoned section of the town, in various warehouses. Bumblebee and Jolt had gone with the Witwickys. Jazz was with Mikeala. Ironhide went with Will, and Ratchet had gone with Epps. Rana, myself, the former Decepticons and the rest of the Autobots were all split up.

The sweet tone of dual hums caught my attention and I looked down as the familiar tune sounded through the air slightly. The smile was impossible to ignore as I watched my sparklings humming their twin song together.

I hesitated only a moment, listening to them, before making a rather rash decision I probably shouldn't have. Closing my eyes, I focused on and found the fading bond link between Optimus and myself, once again grateful to Ratchet for teaching me about it. I tugged on my end, trying to ignore the tense pulling sensation, knowing Optimus would recognize it for what it was, a call for him to come to me.

I still didn't have their internal communications, and I knew pulling on the link like that could either strengthen it, or cause it to snap, causing me agony since it was my end that was pressuring it. It was the only way I knew of to get his attention though, without startling or interrupting my twins.

Then I looked back down, trying to pick up the tune, and humming in parts. I felt the love and contentment grow and I felt the happy tears burning in my eyes. God, I'm always crying. I wanted to stroke Sunfire's antennai, but was afraid to interrupt their singing, really wanting Optimus to hear them. This was only the second time I'd heard the tune.

Within moments I heard the quickened, heavy steps and looked up, my heart quickening as I spotted the red and blue flame hunkering down to enter the warehouse. Once he was in the opening, Optimus froze perfectly still, his eyes on the ground. The only real sound in the room was the humming of the twins, their voices in perfect harmony with each other.

Slowly, his head raised, his eyes first finding me, and staring at me a long moment with an unfathomable look, then slowly, they lowered to the twins in my lap, and softened, the blue brightening in emotion as he walked over as quietly as possible. He sat down next to me, and I felt my own body stiffen against my will, feeling his one warm, hard leg pressing against mine, and his arm firmly pressed against mine as he settled down. my heart once again tugged hotly, trying to push me into giving in to my urge to melt against him.

Luckily, he remained quiet, his eyes fixed on the humming sparklings and shining softly.

They continued to hum their little song for a few more moments before giggling quietly and picking at each other, playing around happily. That's about when I felt the tell tale burning in the side of my head that told me he was staring, and my heart lurched again, causing me to double over. Vaguely, I heard a pained grunt.

"I believe we need to talk." Optimus' voice was slightly hesitant and breathless.

Please, no. "About...?" I knew I was playing naive, and I was playing it badly. Closing my eyes, I tried to ignore the longing running through me, even as my mind flashed back to when I'd kissed him. Why do I want what I can't have?

"I believe you know." Hands reached in front of me and took the sparklings. Optimus' carrying chamber for the sparklings was larger, probably because of his frame. They were too big for me to carry now, but they still managed to fit inside him.

"Do we have to?" I froze, stiffening up even more when I realized what I'd just asked and how it might come across. "I just mean... It's...awkward...and kinda..." Well, it's painful. I want him, but I can't... I refused to go there, and took a deep breath to calm my racing heart.

"It is...difficult, yes. Perhaps it's best to simply ask... What do you want?"

Not that it matters. 'I'm' not the only one this is affecting. "What do you want?" Daring a glance over, I watched as he seemed to look away. "See? Not that easy. Can we not get into a 'What do you want' war, please? Optimus... Tell me what I should do." My eyes burned but these tears were of frustration and pain.

"I cannot. The decision does not affect only you."

"Which is why telling you what I want isn't that easy." I sighed and shook my head. "And vice versa." Looking down at my free hands, I pursed my lips. I guess we're having this out, whether I like it or not. There...may...be an easier way... I closed my eyes and tried to steady my heart with deep, calm breaths as I thought over what I was about to do.

"I understand. I believe the reason I find expressing my own desires may be the same as yours."

Fear of rejection? I raised an eyebrow. Kinda hard to believe. C'mon Ken, it's now or never... I shifted forward until I was on my hands and knees, before twisting and facing Optimus. "I..." Speak, and he has more of a chance to... Funny how my 'simple' answer wasn't quite as simple as I liked. I was mentally kicking myself, even as I looked up, seeing his questioning gaze on my face.

Something about him just drew me. Before I realized what I was doing, my fingers were trailing over seams in his metallic cheek, over his chin, around his lips plates. his face was warm, firm, but his face had a surprising hint of give in it.

"Kendra..." His eyes had softened, and his tone sounded strangely soft.

My heart lurched, but it wasn't as painful this time. Taking a final deep breath, I leaned in. Pressing my lips against his, I felt the warmth and firmness of them, even as his mouth opened in surprise. I caressed his lips with my own, thought it was awkward with the stiffness of my skin. Capturing his top lip, I tugged on it gently with my teeth a little, before returning to kissing him.

My heart hammered in my chest, both in fear and excitement. I didn't feel him breathing or responding, and he just seemed to sit there for so long. He didn't move, and I began to worry that I was violating his personal space in an unwanted way. I was about to pull away when I felt him move.

Arms came up, grasping my own arms tightly, and I was pressed firmly against the warm, hard edges of his armored chest. Lips moved, almost clumsily, against my own. My heart soared, and then skipped a cycle when his fingers danced lightly over my arms, up to my shoulders to cup my neck. The sensation tickled, and sent a pleasant heat through my system.

My chest tightened when I felt I needed to pull away to breathe. Pressing my forehead against his, I closed my eyes, truly frightened to see what was in his eyes. I panted, struggling to catch my breath.

The fingers of one of his hands travelled down my throat, down to the seam of my chest, tickling at the catches there and causing me to shiver. Then he said the one thing I never in my wildest dreams would have hoped for, and I felt my breathing stop.

"I love you."

The words were...blurted out, quiet and almost shaky, and I realized he really was afraid of the same thing as me. All my doubts faded, even though I still felt the nagging insecurity that came with still being haunted by almost killing him. Looking up, I could see the nervousness in his eyes as he watched me, waiting to see my response.

I couldn't help it. The tears fell, and I felt my lips turn up in a shaky smile. "I love you, too." I probably would have babbled on, overwhelmed by everything, my happiness, my sparklings radiating joy, but before I could utter a word, my lips were captured in a searing kiss that left me more or less empty minded. The fingers pressed against the catching, coaxing them open, and causing me to jolt and gasp.

"This is why I would much rather remain here, then having my world returned. We would have lost so much either way, Kendra. But if we returned to our world, Bumblebee would have lost the closest thing to a brother he'd ever had. Sam. Sam and Mikeala might not have fallen for each other, and I... I wouldn't have you. I would like nothing more than for us to complete the bond."

I had to close my eyes as the instinctive pain consumed me. "We'd feel each other's emotions?" I couldn't help the waver in my voice and felt his fingers still immediately. Reaching up, I grasped his hand and squeezed slightly, realizing he'd taken that the wrong way. "I still...can't get past the...nearly killing you thing. It still...really hurts. I don't want you to feel it, too."

The hand cupping my neck moved to the back and I was pulled so I was pressed against his chest. "I felt it when we connected initially. I sincerely doubt your pain now is as bad as it was then, but I survived it. I will always survive it, and it will help, I am certain. Kendra, allow me to share your pain. Bond with me."

I leaned in and pressed the side of my face against his chest. I pressed his hand more firmly to my armored chest plates, even as my heart hummed so hotly, they were already pulling apart on their own. I allowed myself the moment to simply feel his presence. The heat emanating from his body warmed me, I could feel the breaths brushing against the side of my head as I nuzzled his throat, and I felt his body shiver ever so slightly when my own fingers pressed against his own chest.

The large, armored 'windshield' chest plates parted, showing the large protected chamber. As my eyes took in the rune-covered chamber, I trailed my fingers over it. It was hotter than his body, and seemed to vibrate with energy. My fingers trailed over the edge of the cover, and I jumped a little when Optimus gasped sharply and his body jolted, arching towards me. Light blue electricity tingled in my fingers as it danced along the chamber, and as I watched, the cover slowly slid back, revealing the stunning bright blue heart within.

Then he returned the favor, his fingers dancing over my covered chamber. The pleasure was indescribable, and all thought fled my mind as I leaned up and in, kissing him deeply.

(Normal POV)

Sideswipe swung at his brother rolling as he dodged a mimicked swing from Sunny. He snickered as they sparred a little distance from the small group of abandoned warehouses, only glancing briefly at the former Decepticons watching them. Maybe she's right. He found it hard to believe he'd ever call Barricade a friend, but despite his grouching, the glitch had been surprisingly loyal.

'Whatever you're thinking, stop.' Sunstreaker's dark voice cut his thoughts short, before he grabbed one of his blades and swung again, catching Sides' attention as the sparring escalated.

Over at one of the warehouses, Barricade rolled his eyes at the twins, more than aware of Sideswipe's glance, and ignoring it, even if he found himself grudgingly thinking about the priestess' words. He paused a moment, before sighing. "There's still a lot'a shards out there. We can go and collect one or two while the flesh bags are busy and be back to meet them." He got up. "I'm sure Kendra agrees."

He didn't call her by name often, but he was warming up to her. Not that he'd ever admit it. Calling her by name was his way of showing his respect. Turning on his heel, he began towards a large warehouse a good distance away, when his arm was grabbed. He turned a snarl on Soundwave, raising an optic ridge.

"Leave them."

"Them? I'm just going to see the femme."

"Optimus Prime and the priestess are together."

"I'm sure they won't mind-"

"I am certain they would."

It could have been his imagination, but Barricade was fairly certain he'd just heard a tell tale tremor of amusement in the large bot's voice, even as he watched the corner of his lips twitch. "What am I missing?"

"We will need to watch over the priestess even more now." Was the only response he got, even as he raised an eyebrow. "Let us spar, Barricade. We must keep our skills sharpened."

Blackout arrived, his own optic ridge raised a little. At the sound of the word 'spar', however, his lips turned up in the corner in a smirk. "Sparring? I'm definitely in!" He cracked his metallic knuckles as he sneered down at Barricade. "Though I'm not sure he's up to the task." He eyed the smaller bot critically.

"Oh really?" Shooting the helicopter a look, Barricade's own lips turned up in a smirk. "Wanna bet, fragger? C'mon!" He dashed away through the warehouses, keeping a wide berth from the one the two 'leaders' of the group were supposed to be in and towards another area just big enough to spar in. "You guys coming or not?!" He called over his shoulder.

Exchanging a look with Soundwave, Blackout shook his head. "So tell me, should we be worried about her?"

"If all goes well, there may soon be another sparkling joining the other two." Was the only thing Soundwave stated as he looked down at Rana who ran across in front of them, chasing Star and being chased by Ravage. For a moment, he tilted his head, contemplating the possibility of sparklings from the two animalistic Cybertronians, and then started off after the taunting cruiser.

"Another one?" Blackout's jaw dropped, before he suddenly grinned widely. "Primus! Well I guess we don't need to worry about our race going extinct after all." With a low laugh, he followed the larger bot, his processors suddenly on Barricade and taking the cruiser down a peg or two.

Shard Tally :

Good Guys = 24

Bad Guys = 6

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Tenshi