This story is almost done, my minions. Like, I can see the ending staring me in the face. I want to say there will be handful of chapters left, like around five maybe, give or take a few. This story is so long! Probably one of the longest that I will ever write...anyways. Thanks to everyone who has been reading and reviewing! I really appreciate it. I'm supposed to go back to college today since Spring Break is over, but, I'm thinking I'm not going to go back until Monday. But no worries! As I mentioned in my other story Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust, I'm taking a leave of absence from school due to personal issues. I should be able to update fairly often.

Chapter 38: Talking to a Ghost

She didn't feel good.

Jessamine struggled to keep back a groan when she woke up hours earlier than what she normally would have, her tanks churning. Her internal clock was screaming that it was 3:30 in the morning, much too early to be getting up. Optimus was beside her and Jessamine listened to him for a couple minutes. His breathing rhythms were deep, smooth, steady, he was clearly still asleep. She went to roll over and cuddle against him in hopes that being in his embrace would help ease the sickness she was feeling, however, she stopped mid-roll, biting her bottom lip hard and quickly bringing her optics offline.

Don't throw up.

Jessamine knew if she moved, she would. She didn't even know it was possible for transformers to purge their tanks. However, she supposed it made sense since they did consume energon. She clenched and unclenched her fists knowing that she had to get up and get to the cleansing room where there was a sink she could at least throw up in. Squishing away her thoughts, she got up from the berth quickly and moved to the cleansing room. She listened as the door closed as she made it to the sink just in time.

Optimus was surprised when he woke up that morning only to see Jessamine wasn't there. He sat up, glancing around the room, but he didn't see her anywhere else. Suspicious and concerned, he looked to the cleansing room where the door was closed. He slowly got up before he went over to the door to the cleansing room and lightly knocked. "Jessamine?" he asked gently, "Are you in there?"

"Yeah," he heard her say, but her voice sounded off.

"Can I…come in?" he asked.

She didn't say anything, but out of concern, he went in anyway only to see her sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, her knees drawn to her chest. "Jessamine," he breathed as he went to her side, "What's wrong?"

"I'm sick."

"How long have you been in here?"

"A few hours."

"Come on; let's get you to the med bay."

She shook her head and squirmed away from him as he tried to help her to her feet. "No," she said, "I don't think I can make it there without throwing up."

"If you throw up, you throw up," he said, "I'll carry you."

She sighed as she relented. Optimus carefully lifted her in his arms and Jessamine leaned against him, feeling better being in his embrace. She admired his strength as he carried her out of his room and towards the med bay. She smiled as she said, "It's a good thing I threw up otherwise you wouldn't have been able to carry me."

He gave a small smile, "You're not heavy at all."

Optimus was able to carry Jessamine down to the med bay without her getting sick. When Red Alert saw them come in, he immediately prepared a berth for Jessamine, which Optimus set her down upon.

"What's going on?" the Autobot medic asked.

"I'm sick," Jessamine replied, "I've been throwing up."

"Alright," Red Alert said, "I'll run some tests to see if I can figure out what's wrong with you." He went to grab some medical equipment.

While he was gone, Optimus looked to Jessamine and asked, "I need to go check on my men. I will be back in an hour or so."

"Okay," she said.

He kissed her cheek before breathing, "I hope you feel better."

She smiled as she looked to him before saying quietly, "I love you, Optimus."

He grinned and kissed her again, "I love you, too. I'll be back."

She watched as he left the room. When he was gone, Red Alert came back with some machinery. "Okay," he said as he began setting up one machine, "Have you been exposed to anyone who may have had a virus?"

"Not that I know of," she replied.

"Are you sexually active?"

"…Yes," she answered, slowly.

Red Alert looked at her, a surprised look on his face. "Really?" he remarked.

She frowned, "Why, is that a big deal?"

"No," he answered, shaking his head, "I'm just trying to figure out who you're sleeping with."

Jessamine sighed heavily. She guessed Optimus hadn't told anyone about his relationship with her. Only a handful of people knew, and those people were Starscream and Alexis and Lori and Megatron. If Optimus hadn't told the medic, she figured there was a reason why. "Just…run the tests before I throw up again," she said.

"Right…"

When she woke up the next morning, Lori felt light, airy, and tingly. Megatron was sleeping quietly beside her, and when her optics fell on him, she felt her spark swell inside her chest. It was he who made her feel like this, it was he that made her feel like someone cared, it was he that made her feel like she mattered.

He was lying on his back as Lori snuggled against him, wrapping an arm around his waist. His optics flickered online and he wrapped an arm around her as he looked over at her. There was a gentle smile on his face. "Morning," she said softly, returning the smile, "How do you feel?"

"There are no words to describe how I feel," he replied, "I'd say happy, but that doesn't even begin to cover it."

"I love you."

He kissed her head, but he didn't make any moves to get up. She traced her fingertips around his insignia and Megatron could feel the static fire from her gentle touch igniting his senses. "You know…" she said, "You're really sexy."

He chuckled, "You think so?"

"I think you're beautiful."

He rolled over so that he was facing her and took her in his arms, tickling her in the process, causing her to laugh and lean closer to him. "I think I'm the luckiest mech in the universe to have you," he said.

"Aww, Megs," she said teasingly, but a blush still surfaced on her cheeks, causing the Decepticon leader to smile.

"Shall we go get cleaned up and get back to the others?" he asked, kissing the tip of her nose.

"Okay," she said.

As Lori got up from the berth, Megatron sat up and went to move out of the berth when something caught his optic. Concern flashed through his optics as he said, "Lori, your back…"

"Huh?" she remarked as she stepped in front of a mirror. She turned so that she could see her back. There were very noticeable scratches and dents in her armor around her lower back.

"I was too rough," Megatron said as he came over to her.

"What? No," she replied, "I don't mind…I'm not mad."

"Well, you can't go anywhere with those marks, people will know what we did," he explained, "I'll help you buff them out. But first, let's shower."

Lori smiled as she followed him into the cleansing room.

When Alexis stepped out of the shower, Starscream could see that adventurous look in her eye. He knew she was planning something as he beckoned her to come over to him and sit with him on the berth. Alexis came over and sat beside him.

"I want to go see Carlos' grave," she said as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Why?" he asked softly before kissing her neck.

"Ever since we saw him in the past it's been bugging me," Alexis said as she turned and looked at him.

He smiled and kissed her lips instead. After a few minutes he pulled away and said, "Okay, let's go."

Alexis told him where the cemetery was before Starscream opened a dimension gate to its location. Once the gate was open, they transformed into their human forms before stepping through. Starscream didn't like the feeling he got as Alexis took him by the hand and walked with him along a small path into the cemetery. Something about walking among the dead didn't settle well with the Decepticon second in command.

"What?" Alexis exclaimed suddenly.

"What's wrong?" Starscream asked.

"It isn't here…"

"What do you mean it isn't here?"

"Carlos' grave…it's gone. I used to come here all the time. This doesn't make any sense. Dead people don't just disappear, and neither do their graves."

Starscream was silent for a moment before he said, "You think that maybe things were screwed up here when we traveled to the past?"

Alexis pulled her phone out of her pocket before confessing, "I still have his number…I was never able to get rid of it. Sometimes I believed that he would call me, sometimes I would call his phone for hours and just listen to the recorded message he made when he wasn't available to answer the phone."

"Try calling him," Starscream said, "It's the only way we'll know."

She swallowed hard and dialed his number. She put her phone on speaker and held her breath. One ring, two, three, four—

"Alexis! Mi amiga! What's up?"

Alexis almost dropped the phone. "C-Carlos?" she managed to say.

"Yeah!" he exclaimed, "Everything alright? You sound like you're talking to a ghost." And he laughed.

However, he was supposed to be a ghost. "Y-Yeah," she said, trying to recover from her shock, "Sorry I was just surprised you answered."

"Well, how are you?" he asked, his voice serious this time, "I haven't heard from you since Rad was put in prison for rape and murder. Has he tried to contact you at all since he escaped?"

"I think he should come with us back to base," Starscream whispered in her ear.

"About that…Carlos, can you come over to my house? I'd feel better talking about it there."

"Sure thing!" he said, "I'll be there in about 15 minutes. Later Alexis!" And he hung up.

Alexis looked to Starscream as he opened another dimension gate, this time to her house. Alexis went through, feeling dizzy. If Carlos were alive…she wondered what else was different.

Pregnant…

The news made Jessamine dizzy. She had only been experiencing a nasty round of morning sickness that was cured by a simple injection of an energon booster. The news was terrifying and thrilling all at once.

"Who's…who's the father?" Red Alert asked.

"Optimus," she whispered.

"Optimus is the father?" he repeated, shocked.

"Quiet!" Jessamine remarked knowing that the Autobot leader was due back any second now, "Let me break the news to him."

Red Alert eyed the door before whispering, "Do you know what this means?"

"Uh…no…not really."

"It means Optimus will have an heir!"

"Red Alert quiet!" she hissed.

"You need to tell Optimus right away, don't keep this from him."

"Keep what from me?"

Both Red Alert and Jessamine jumped when they heard the Autobot leader's voice. Jessamine looked over as Optimus reached her bedside. "What's going on?" he asked.

"I'll tell you in a bit," Jessamine said, "Let's go."

Optimus looked to Red Alert, "Is she alright to leave?"

Red Alert nodded before saying, "Yes, but I will need to see her again a few months."

"Why?" he asked, suspicion heavy in his voice.

"Um…come with me," Jessamine said as she took the Autobot leader by the hand and led him out of the med bay. However, they didn't get very far.

Optimus stopped when they were a little ways away from the med bay, forcing Jessamine to stop with him. He took her in his arms and turned her to face him, concern heavy in his golden optics. "Jessamine," he said, "What's going on?"

She was quiet for a moment before she mumbled, "I'm pregnant."

"What?" he said surprised.

"I'm sorry!" she exclaimed, "Don't be mad…I know we haven't been together that long and if you don't want it—

"Jessamine!" he remarked, a grin stretching across his face, "Of course I want it."

She looked at him surprised, "Y-You do?"

"Yes, Jessamine," he said, his optics seemed like they were radiating happiness, "I've always wanted a family of my own, but as leader of the Autobots I never got time to settle down and have one."

"Optimus," she breathed, tears forming in her optics.

"Don't be scared," he said gently, pressing his forehead to hers and cupping her face in his hands, "I love you; I'm never going to let you go. We'll get through this together, okay?"

"Okay," she replied quietly.

He gave her a quick kiss before he said, "Shall we go to the command center?"

She nodded and together they walked hand in hand to the command center. They entered just as Lori and Megatron arrived. Optimus couldn't stop smiling. He felt high on happiness.

"Morning Megatron, Lori," he said as he walked past them.

Megatron gave him a suspicious look before whispering to Lori, "He seems extra happy this morning…"

"Maybe he got laid…" she whispered.

The Decepticon leader could barely bite back his laughter. Instead, he turned to the Autobot leader and asked, "Well Optimus, what's on the agenda for today?"

"Our top priority at the moment is recovering Vector Prime and Jolt," Optimus said.

"Want to split up?" Megatron asked, "I can take my men and pursue the Omega Lock and Cyber Planet Keys while you recover Vector Prime and Jolt. We could hit two birds with one stone."

He hadn't more than said that when the doors to the command center suddenly burst open. Optimus could hardly believe his optics when he saw who walked in. Megatron didn't recognize the mech, but even though he had an Autobot insignia on his chest, he pulled Lori closer to him just in case.

"Wing-Saber?" Optimus remarked, completely surprised to see him, "Who let you in?"

"Optimus, that's no way to greet an old friend! I got a hold of Scattershot, he gave me the coordinates to the base," Wing-Saber replied, "Wait…you got femmes here? Why you old pimp, why didn't you tell me?"

The Autobot leader frowned. "Wing-Saber…" he said sternly.

"Did he just call Optimus a pimp?" Lori asked.

"I think I like him," Megatron said.

"Sorry, I'm not into mechs," Wing-Saber said as he turned, only to meet the Decepticon leader's glare, "Whoa! Megatron? What are you doing here? Wait a minute…" He then exchanged glances between the two leaders before asking Optimus, "Are you guys dating now?"

"I'm going to kill him," Megatron remarked.

"Wing-Saber," Optimus said, "Get out!" And he pointed to the door.

"Come on, Optimus, I just got here," he said and then smiled as he wrapped his arm around Jessamine, "By the way, who is this lovely femme and why haven't you introduced us?"

"My mate," Optimus answered, clearly annoyed.

"Ohhhh," Wing-Saber replied as he quickly removed his arm from Jessamine.

"What are you doing here?" Optimus asked him.

"I thought you guys could use a little more help."

"I had you working as a look out, punishment for—

"Punishment for challenging your authority, yeah, yeah, I know," Wing-Saber said as he subtly made his way over to Lori, "So what, I'm an Autobot with a bad streak. You always knew that. Do you want my help or do you want to lose the universe to this black hole? Remember Char? We could do that again."

"I don't think the situation is that dire," Optimus said.

"Who's to say that it won't get that way?" Wing-Saber asked as he suddenly pushed his way between Megatron and Lori. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him, "Let me guess, you're with Megatron?"

"You guessed right," Megatron said, clearly angry.

"Sweet stuff, do you know ol' Megs' motto?"

"No…" Lori replied, "But if you don't get your arm off me, I have a feeling I'll get a demonstration of what it is."

Wing-Saber's radio suddenly began blaring song as he said, "This is it, babe."

Now listen to me baby, before I love and leave you
They call me heartbreaker, I don't want to deceive you
If you fall for me, I'm not easy to please
I might tear you apart, told you from the start
Baby from the start

I'm only gonna break break your break break your heart
I'm only gonna break—

Megatron punched him, hard.

"Ouch," Wing-Saber moaned from the floor where he had fallen. "Come on Megs," he said, "I was going to ask you if we could share. Wait…never mind that. You're the leader of the Decepticons; you don't share anything, especially women." He slowly got up and looked at Optimus.

"Don't expect any sympathy from me," Optimus said just as a dimension gate opened and Starscream and Alexis came through in their robot forms.

"Lori," Alexis said, "You need to get a hold of your family."

"Why?" Lori asked feeling panic suddenly bubble in her spark, "Is something wrong?"

Alexis held out her palm, revealing Carlos. "We were wrong when we thought things hadn't changed," Alexis said.

"I'll be…I'll be right back," Lori said before leaving the command center.

Megatron exchanged glances with Optimus before following after her. He caught up with her quickly and walked with her to her room in the base. She proceeded to transform into her human form and go inside. Megatron was quick to do the same.

"Lori, what are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm going to call home and see if anything is different," she said as she grabbed her phone off of her nightstand. She dialed a number and put the phone on speaker.

"Hello?" a male voice answered.

"Javier!" she exclaimed, completely shocked, "Hermano, you're home?"

"Can I ask who this is?"

"It's me, Lori."

"Lori?" he asked.

"You know, you're sister…"

"No…that's impossible. Lori is dead."

"D-Dead?"

"She was killed by some guy named Bradley White."

"Javier I'm not dead!"

"You're creeping me out," he said and the line went dead.

Lori looked to Megatron as she put her phone away. He saw the tears in her eyes and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. "You still have me," he breathed, "We'll get Vector Prime back and get this mess cleaned up."

She sighed heavily before asking, "Do you think Rad will…kill me?"

"No," he growled, "Don't even say that!"

"We should get back to the others…"

He nodded, kissing the top of her head. They proceeded to leave the room and transform back into their robot forms. When they arrived back at the command center, Starscream and Alexis had been filled in on Wing-Saber's arrival. They also explained how Carlos was alive. Apparently when Rad explained what became of him in the past, Carlos took extra precaution in his safety. Rad, however, had been unable to deal with the burden of what he would become. He had become a terrible alcoholic and spiraled out of control from there. Alexis noticed when they came back in and asked Lori, "Did you get a hold of your family?"

"Yeah," she said, "Apparently my brother isn't a criminal and I'm dead."

"Wait, you're Lori?" Carlos asked, "Rad rapes and kills you."

She sighed heavily, "That's wonderful news."

Optimus sighed as well before saying, "We really need to get Vector Prime back. If there's anyone who can fix the past, it's him."

"Let's hope so," Alexis said.

"Hey now," Carlos remarked, "I don't want to be dead!"

Bud suddenly burst into the command center shouting, "Guys! Guys! Look who's back!" and he pointed to the doors as Jolt came in.

"Jolt," Optimus exclaimed, "What happened?"

"Rad let me go," he said.

"Are you alright?" Lori asked.

"I'm fine, Rad just wanted to know where the last Cyber Key was, but I wouldn't tell him, so he took the information from me."

"He let you go?" Optimus said.

"He said he didn't need me anymore…" Jolt replied but trailed off, "He wanted me to warn you guys that The Bringer of Chaos is coming."

"The Bringer of Chaos?" Megatron repeated, "...Unicron?"

Alexis, Starscream, Carlos, and Optimus noticeably stiffened as Megatron made that observation. "No," Alexis breathed, "He wouldn't do that…"

"Who is Unicron?" Lori asked.

"He's a planet sized transformer…and he eats planets," Optimus remarked.

"Well, if you defeated him once, you can defeat him again can't you?" Bud asked.

"I lost my life to Unicron," Starscream said angrily, "I won't have that happen again."

"Well, how'd you end up defeating him?" Bud persisted.

All optics fell on Megatron. The Decepticon leader solemnly confessed, "Unicron fed off of evil. I sacrificed myself in order to destroy him."

"No," Lori said, tears rushing to her optics, "You won't do it again, I won't let you! And besides, you're not evil anymore. It's Rad—

"I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe Lori, even if I have to lay down my life."

She looked away from him, angry.

"Why don't we storm Rad's place and get either him or Vector Prime that way we can prevent a whole bunch of drama?" Wing-Saber suggested.

"Let's get to work on some sort of plan," Optimus said, "We don't have much time."

Everyone agreed.

Rad grinned as a new idea came to mind.

He didn't need anyone anymore, now that he had Vector Prime. He didn't need Sideways and Soundwave. He didn't even need the Omega Lock and Cyber Keys. He would wait. He would allow the Autobots and Decepticons save the universe from the black hole. He would lie low and wait in the meantime, no matter how many months it took.

Time really was key to everything.

Break Your Heart belongs to Taio Cruz and Ludacris, not me. Please review!