Author's note: Joors in this story = hours. Remember this, /denotes flashbacks and recalled conversations/.

Chapter 7: Work – life Balance

Prime P.O.V

I looked at the pile of data pads on my makeshift desk in my quarters. Most I had read and signed off on. Duty rosters, medical reports, weapons inventory. Some still sat there almost taunting me, but I just could not bring myself to continue now. I had been sat here for a good few joors already and I was finding it hard to focus. I ex-vented deeply and pinched the bridge of my olfactory sensor. ''I need a break!'' I consulted my internal chronometer and was shocked to discover it was after 7pm in the evening already.

Before I realised it, I found my thoughts turning to Orianna. I had not seen her all day and I began to wonder what she was up to at this time of the evening. She was likely partaking in her evening meal or maybe even deciding to recharge early. She did look tired of late and when I questioned her about it, she just told me the heat made it difficult for her to fall asleep. Though I suspected Orianna had air-conditioning in her domicile, I decided not to press her on the matter as I did not want to upset her. She was once again showing signs of becoming preoccupied and distracted of late, and I did not want to risk offending her and possibly lose her company.

I rose to my pedes and exited my quarters, eager to give myself some much-needed rest. A small amusing snort erupted from my enstrils at the thought of the look of shock on Rachet's face if he were to discover that I was willingly taking a break from work! I tended to bury myself in my work, rarely taking the time to recharge and rest until I had done all I needed to do. A list that seemed never ending at times. It was a habit I had found hard to break for millions of years. /Until Orianna came along/.

I hesitated as I left the Autobot hanger, unsure as to whether I should head to our beach on the off chance Orianna might be there or drive into downtown Diego Garcia and chance calling by her apartment. ''Orianna often says I need to be more spontaneous and stop being so regimented and bound by routine and rules.'' My rumbling voice sounded strange to my own audials having been silent for so long, and a smile formed on my dermas as a conversation we had over a year ago, echoed through my processor.

/''Gees Prime! You really need to get out more and start having more fun. Loosen up a little, you'll burn yourself out!'' Orianna had stopped by my makeshift office and was once again lecturing me on my overzealous work ethic.

I had chuckled at her attempt to coerce me into abandoning my work to go for a drive with her, but in the end, I had chosen to finish my work. ''I seem to have survived millions of years maintaining my work ethic Orianna. I am sure I will be okay.''

She had rolled her eyes at me then. ''There is always a first time for everything Prime. Trust me on this. It is important to have a work-life balance.''

I had stared at her quizzically. ''A what Orianna? What does that expression mean?''

''It means Prime that while it is good to work hard and do your job to the best of your abilities, it is also equally important to find time to rest and relax.'' She had held up her two hands like an equal arm balance. ''Let's say this hand represents work,'' she had held up her left hand, ''and this hand is life. You know, fun and stuff.'' She put her left-hand way up in the air and her right-hand way down low. ''At the moment THIS is how you balance everything!''

''You have portrayed no balance Orianna,'' I had immediately corrected her.

''Ah ha!'' She yelled and clapped her hands together. ''Exactly my bloody point Prime!'' She shook her head, an exasperated look on her face. ''You always prioritise work over life..''

''My Autobots come first Orianna,'' I held a slightly annoyed tone in my voice to think she thought paperwork was more important to me than my team.

Orianna had sighed out loud as she pinched the bridge of her nose. ''I know Prime, I didn't mean to suggest you didn't care about them. I'm sorry.'' She crinkled her almost perfectly shaped eyebrows as she fell silent for a moment, clearly rethinking her explanation. ''However, I was referring to all the work you need to do in ''looking out for your Autobots'. Reading never ending data pads, reviewing reports, inventory, orders, rosters. THAT is what I was referring to as ''work'' Prime.''

I had nodded my understanding. It was starting to dawn on me what she was getting at, though I was loathe to admit it.

''What you need to try and start doing is more of this.'' She held her hands up again and brought the right-hand and the left-hand almost level, though the left-hand was still slightly higher. ''You need to find some time, take some time, to do more things that YOU enjoy. Things that you find relaxing and fun.'' She had almost chided me then. ''You expect your team to take time to relax and unwind after a mission or at regular intervals if possible. It's about time you took your own advice.''

I stared at her a moment longer considering her words. After a spark beat my optics shone with my own mischief. ''You had the left-hand still being higher Orianna. You were not following your own advice.'' I folded my arms across my chest in a silent show of defiance.

Orianna had simply mirrored the gesture and raised an eyebrow at me in challenge. ''That Prime, is because I know you. You will always put the needs of others above your own and you will always feel honour and duty bound to complete your work. But perhaps you can make a start in tipping those scales in a more equitable ratio, can't you?''

I had smiled fondly down at the woman before me, shaking my helm in wonder at her audacity to challenge a Prime AND succeed in out arguing him – on this occasion. A rare ability indeed. I had knelt before her and extended my servo placing it gently under her chin. ''You do indeed know me Orianna. Better than I feel I know myself at times. You honour me with your wisdom and your concern. Thank you.''

She had smiled brightly up at me and patted my digit. ''No worries Prime. Anytime.'' After a spark beat, she looked up at me quizzically. ''By the way, what do YOU classify as fun and relaxing?''/

I found myself sighing out loud. A human habit I had started to pick up from Orianna and Lennox. I never did get to tell her as we had been interrupted by Ironhide. We never really broached the subject again.

Looking towards downtown Diego Garcia, I had made my processor up. I would take Orianna's advice and do something spontaneous, something I considered fun. I would drive into downtown Diego Garcia to visit her and see if she wanted to go for that drive, we never took that day. I immediately transformed and began to head the twelve miles to Orianna's place.

As I drove along, I began to feel a sense of excitement and happiness that I rarely felt, save when with her. I also realised it had been about a month since I had shared an enjoyable afternoon with Orianna at the firing range. True to her word, for a time after that chance meeting, Orianna had sought my company and spent more time with me, much to my delight and pleasure.

For a while it was like it had been between us before Orianna had become seemingly preoccupied. We had spent a few more afternoons at the range and Orianna also attended a few Autobot training drills and offered her opinion on how the newest arrivals to Earth, Skids, Mudflap, Jolt and Sideswipe were settling in.

Like most of us, Orianna found the young twins to be exasperating and annoying and when they accidentally damaged her beloved 4WD Relda during one of their immature wrestling matches, Orianna tore strips off them. She threatened to perform whatever surgery was necessary to change them from mechs to femmes with an angle grinder if they ever went near her car again. She then proceeded to chase them around with said grinder for several minutes to validate her threat. I felt the ghost of a smile form on my dermas as I recalled the incident. Needless to say, the twins were on their best behaviour around Orianna ever since and Rachet and Ironhide viewed her with a healthy new respect.

However, my favourite times spent with Orianna had been sitting on our beach, talking about anything and everything for hours. I relished these moments with Orianna and looked forward to them immensely, not only because they provided a welcome distraction from the responsibilities and stresses being a Prime involved, but I got more of a glimpse into Orianna herself. The more I saw and learned about her, the more I felt inclined to spend time in her company.

''Hopefully, she will be happy to see I have listened to her advice and taken the opportunity to create more of a work-life balance.'' A strange feeling in the pit of my tanks made itself known. It was not unlike the feeling before engaging in battle, though why that sensation should apply now, I had utterly no idea. /How odd!/. The closest feeling, I could attach to the emotion I was currently registering, was that of nervous anticipation. /Considering how I enjoyed Orianna's company, I guess that was a logical emotion to feel/.

I engaged my compression brakes as I negotiated the first corner entering the maze of streets. Orianna's apartment block was only several streets away. I noted with both interest and confusion that the feeling of anticipation only seemed to heighten the closer I drew to my destination. It was a thought to consider later as I slowly pulled up out the front of her apartment.