Author's Note: /denotes internal thoughts/.

Thanks again Musical Medli for your continued support and to any new followers or favs... welcome aboard!

Here we go people, this is THE moment!

Chapter 31: Confessions

Orianna P.O.V

/How did I get here?/.

One minute, I was minding my own business laying on a field contemplating what to do with my life having lost my apartment and my job in one day. The next I am drawn into an alien battle with giant sentient robots and end up on a remote Military Island in the Indian Ocean working with the Autobots.

I take a deep breath as I look up the beach towards the tree line, expecting to see a giant red and blue flamed robot walk through them at any minute. ''Trust you to then stuff things up by going ahead and falling in love with their leader - Optimus Prime.'' I fidgeted with the silver and blue Pandora bracelet around my wrist and groaned nervously. That was why I now stood on our beach, dressed in a knee length, midnight blue sweetheart dress. I was going to tell Prime that I loved him. I exhaled in nervous resignation as I recalled my journey to this point and a faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips. ''Have done for some time now.'' I glanced at my watch yet again and then out over the water, hoping the rhythmic motion of the waves might somehow help to soothe my mounting agitation.

The waves lapped languidly at the shore, the moon shone on the water casting a silvery, almost ethereal glow, and the stars, my beautiful stars, shone brightly and silently down upon me. /It was perfect/. As I gazed at the heavens, a shooting star burned brilliantly across the sky and I gasped out loud, closed my eyes and made a fervent wish. /Please.. dear God please!/. I shook my head and scoffed at how cheesy the scene must have looked to a curious passerby.

''Orianna?'' as if on cue, that beloved deep voice and the sound of heavy pede falls interrupted my thoughts. ''What were you doing?'' Prime glanced between me and the sky above as he came to stand a short distance away from me.

I rocked nervously on the spot as I looked up into his handsome face and grinned sheepishly. ''Hey Prime. I ah.. I was making a wish if you must know.''

He tilted his helm as he regarded me curiously. ''Ah yes! I believe I have seen you do that once or twice before.'' He shook his helm as paused momentarily. ''I am not sure why you, and humans in general, would engage in such a practice as the stars are but burning balls of gas tens of millions of miles away, incapable of granting wishes.''

I laughed. /How I loved him/. ''I know Prime! And on some level, I agree with you but,'' I looked back up at the stars. ''There is some comfort to be found in putting your faith and your hopes in the celestial heavens.''

''Perhaps Orianna.'' He took a step closer. ''What did you wish for?''

I shook my head and flipped my long black and red locks behind my shoulders as I turned to face him. ''Ah, see that's part of the tradition Prime. If you tell someone your wish out loud, it won't come true.'' I smiled up at him as I took a few steps closer to him. ''I don't want to jinx myself by confiding in you what it was.''

''I must confess I do not truly understand such a human practice,'' Prime furrowed his optical ridge as he shook his helm, ''but I shall respect your decision and your wish Orianna.'' He knelt before me, his paintwork gleaming in the moonlight, his optics glowing like two azure diamonds. ''My apologies for my late arrival. I had a last-minute issue to clear up with Rachet.''

I nodded. ''That's fine Prime.'' I chuckled nervously as I picked at the blue charms on my bracelet. ''For a minute, I thought you might have decided not to come.''

''Never Orianna!'' Prime shook his helm, a determined look on his face. ''There is nothing that would stop me coming to see you if I promised to do so.''

A wonderful warmth spread through me, and hope surged within me at his words. I broke out into a huge grin as I looked up at him. ''I am so glad to hear you say that Prime.''

He simply shuttered his optics as he stared down at me, that small lop-sided grin tugging at his dermas. ''Well, it is true Orianna. It may have escaped your attention, but I quite enjoy spending time in your company.'' His optics shone brightly as he reached out a digit and placed it under my chin. ''I simply enjoy being near you.''

I bit my lower lip and tore my gaze away from him for a moment. /Fuck! Just tell him already! Band aid. Rip it off like a band aid woman!/. I patted his digit and stepped back out of his reach. Exhaling deeply, I looked up at my dear friend. ''As do I Prime. I enjoy being with you too. More than anyone.''

He nodded, though a teasing smile played on his dermas. ''Except perhaps Major Lennox.'' His optics swept over my face, as if silently seeking confirmation of this fact. ''You seem to have preferred his company to mine of late. Though I believe I know why.'' His tone held a small amount of hurt in it and it gave me the necessary courage to continue.

I shook my head at him slowly as I laughed nervously. ''Oh, I doubt you do Prime!'' I closed my eyes and breathed deeply to calm the raging storm inside me. ''But no, not even Lennox.''

I took a step towards him as he tilted his helm in that manner that indicated he was confused and seeking clarification. I smiled up at him. ''Prime. I ah, I asked you here tonight because well, I have a confession to make.'' I began to pace about nervously. ''I probably should have made it long before now, but I have been scared and I didn't know if I should, and…. your words earlier today about being honest with you, well they helped me make up my mind to...''

''Orianna!'' Prime's voice rumbled above me, and he held his servo out to still my pacing. He smiled kindly down at me. ''Just tell me what it is. Surely nothing you have to say to me is worth you being in such a state. Please,'' he reached out and placed a digit delicately under my chin once more, drawing my gaze to his optics. Optics that shone with care, concern and – love? ''Just tell me what it is.''

I nodded my head slowly and breathed deeply. ''Okay Prime, but first, I need you to do something for me.''

He nodded. ''Anything Orianna. What do you need me to do?''

''This might sound stupid, but I ah, it would make it much easier for me to ah, tell you what I have to tell you if you were in your holoform,'' I felt myself begin to blush and my voice dropped to an almost indecipherable mumble. I looked down at my toes and scrunched them together, digging them into the cool sand. Whether it was to anchor myself to this moment or try and diffuse some of the anxiety and agitation that was coursing through me, I did not know. ''I mean, only if you want to that is. I don't want you to do it if..''

''Orianna,'' I felt a warm hand once again guiding me to look into two blue eyes that burned brightly, lips that smiled affectionately at me. ''Of course I want to do this for you, why would I not?''

He was dressed in his black jeans and tan combat boots. A black button shirt opened to reveal a white shirt underneath, both clung tightly to his barrel like chest and muscular arms. I bit my lower lip as I took the sight in. He was like some sort of God. /And you know what happens to mere mortals who fall in love with Gods?/. I smiled and reached up, placing my hand on his, squeezing it gratefully.

Prime's eyes flicked down along my body, as if noting my dress for the first time ''Orianna,'' he whispered as he shook his head, ''you look beautiful.'' His thumb caressed my face as he smiled at me, ''my apologies for not commenting on your appearance sooner.'' He chuckled, ''had this been a date, I know I would have lost brownie points for that.'' His eyes lit up mischievously.

I grinned up at him, feeling nauseous and giddy as the words I had wanted to say for so long began to form on the tip of my tongue, and I prepared to leap. ''Now. What was it you needed to confess to me Orianna? Please, tell...''

''I love you.'' A rush of heat coursed through me as I placed both hands either side of his gorgeous face and stared deeply into his eyes, eyes that widened and then blinked rapidly in quick succession. I brushed my fingers tenderly across his cheeks and his body tensed. ''I am in love with you.'' He closed those mesmerising blue eyes tightly, small crinkles forming at the corners. ''I love your selflessness, your courage, your kindness, your keen intelligence, your sense of humour, your voice, your laugh, your beautiful eyes…''

Prime opened his eyes, blinking them and shaking his head as if all I was saying embarrassed him, ''Orianna..''

I would not be silenced. Now I had found my voice, I had to speak for fear I would never find the confidence to do so again. I took a small step towards him. ''I love your strength, I love your sense of honour, I love how fiercely you fight for what is right, to protect those who cannot do so for themselves,'' I laughed as I shook my head and caressed his cheek again, ''I even love your tacky flame decals Prime..''

''Orianna, please..'' his hands moved to my shoulders, grasping me tightly.

I closed the distance between us so our bodies pressed up against each other, that delicious heat burning and building. Prime gasped softly at the contact and I slid my hands behind his neck, pulling him towards me as I tilted my head back. ''I love your spark, I love your soul,'' his lips hovered so very near mine, I could feel his warm, ragged ''breath'' as his eyes darted over my face almost desperately..

''Orianna, I..''

I breathed deeply of his scent as I moved to capture his lips, ''I just love YOU Prime!'' He closed his eyes tightly at my words and his fingers dug into my shoulders almost painfully as he seemed to cling to me. I surged forward, my soft, warm lips covering his as I wrapped my arms around his neck and sought to pull myself into him, to be as close as possible to him.

He tasted as he smelled, and I found myself moaning into his mouth as my lips slid along his. Hands moved to grasp either side of my face in a vice-like grip as his fingers slid into my hair. Grabbing fistfuls of my long, black and red locks, his lips began to move against mine, tentatively at first, before a low rumbling sound tickled my lips as he deepened the kiss.

At the feeling of Prime's lips tasting my own, I groaned out loud, as a throbbing, aching heat erupted within me. I had dreamt of this moment, seemingly forever, yet it paled in comparison to the reality of tasting him, touching him. Emboldened by his reaction, I flicked my tongue against his lips, seeking entrance as I whispered my declaration again. ''I love you..''

His hands in my hair pulled almost painfully tight and a deep growl built within him as his hands flew to my shoulders. ''STOP!'' The words were torn from his lips as he forcefully pushed me away from him, holding me at arm's length. His whole body seemed to be shaking, /or was that me?/.

I stood dumbfounded, bereft of the feeling of his lips against mine, his body against mine. My eyes swept over his form, struggling to make sense of this reaction. ''Prime?'' I felt my brows crease together in utter confusion as a cold coil of fear began to snake its way around my heart.

Though in his holoform, Prime's chest rose and fell in great heaves as he struggled to get his emotions under control. His eyes were a dark midnight blue, like my dress and while moments ago they were filled with concern, tenderness and what I thought was love, they were now filled with sadness, pain, and fear. His mouth moved wordlessly as he struggled to speak.

I shook my head slowly as I closed my eyes, my bottom lip trembling as realisation crashed down upon me like a mountainous wave. ''You.. you…don't…'' my voice hitched, and a mortified, painful sob worked its way free.

''Orianna,'' Prime's voice was thick with emotion as his strong hands squeezed my shoulders and he began to pull me towards his chest. ''I care so very deeply..''

''Care!'' I spat back at him; my face scrunched up in a painfilled grimace at his choice in words. I roughly shook myself free from his grasp, my eyes stung with tears, and I wiped furiously at them to keep them at bay. /Makeup be damned!/. I shook my head slowly in stunned disbelief. ''But you don't love me. Do you?'' as each word passed my lips, a part of me withered and died as I raised tear filled eyes towards him.

Prime simply stared at me, his eyes were dull and almost lifeless, his shoulders were slumped as if a great weight had been placed upon them. He closed his eyes as his lips set in a hard, thin line and his hands were balled into fists by his sides.

''DO YOU?'' I screamed at him accusingly, taking some delight in watching him flinch at the bitterness in my tone.

Prime opened his eyes and exhaled deeply as he slowly shook his head. He looked at the ground before me, unable to hold my gaze. ''No Orianna.'' I had to strain to hear his voice. ''I do not.'''