Author's Note: Yay new chapter! ^_^ Finally some romance for a change. I'm usually such a Silverbolt/Blackarachnia fan, but I didn't have much in this story so far, did I? It's all about to change. In any case, this chapter will answer Firebird's question, so enjoy!

Chapter 11

     It was late after 1100 hours before Silverbolt returned from evening patrol. He headed straight for command and entered a brief report on the results of his scout patrol into the main computer. After greeting Rhinox, who had the night shift, he headed for the crew quarters. The night was long, and he was in need of recharge.

     The fuzor opened the door as quietly as possible and stepped inside. The room was bathed in soft moonlight and a hum emitted by the mechanical equipment that was left online made for a strange, but soothing tone. Silverbolt smiled when he saw his beloved's sleeping form on the bed. The covers fell into a puddle at her feet, and there was a book still left open on the side of the bed next to her. Carefully, so as not to wake her, he pulled the covers up to her bare shoulders. She sighed and shifted in her sleep, trying to get comfortable again. Silverbolt smiled and closed the book, placing it on the nightstand next to the bed. Finally he stood up, his golden optics surveying the rest of the room.

     To his surprise, the room was not as ordered as it usually was. Blackarachnia preferred to keep her workspace organized and cleared of loses junk, he knew. Unlike many of the other Maximal quarters, all of her papers and data pads were either neatly stacked on the shelves or on the corner of the desk. This time the laptop terminal was left open and activated on the desk without recharge. Papers and data pads were scattered around the workspace, and some even resided on the chair and floor. Whatever Blackarachnia was working on was obviously very important, or she would have taken the time to clean the mess.

    "Silverbolt?"

     The male turned towards her with another smile. "It is late," he sat down on the edge of the bed stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. "I apologize for waking you, my lady."

     "It's okay," she yawned as he settled next to her, resting his head on the pillow. "I needed to talk to you anyway."

     "Yes?"

     "Do you believe in fate? That some things are meant to happen, and they'll happen no matter what?" she realized that it was the same question she was once asked by Shifter, though this time her answer would have been different.

    "I am not certain as to what you are referring, my lady," he admitted as his golden optics searched her crimson ones for what answer she expected, but found nothing there

    The female chewed on her lower lip for a nanoclick. "Do you believe that we were meant to be together?"

    "Yes, I do," Silverbolt replied honestly without hesitation. "I have never doubted it. Why do you ask?"

    "I've..." she didn't know how to put her thoughts into words. "I remember my past. It's not just random flashes anymore. I remember all of it. All of my adult life, anyway."

    "I see," his tone was much drier than usual, and Blackarachnia frowned.

    "I was hoping you'd be happy for me," she said quietly.

    "I am, but I am also... concerned," he saw that she didn't understand his worry. "Is there someone waiting for Isis Khmer back on Cybertron?"

    For a moment there was complete silence, then the sound of Blackarachnia's laughter filled the air. She sat up in bed, soothing back her loose hair and smiled down at her lover, who looked back at her in question.

    "Bowser, you are one paranoid bot," she scolded him with a gentle kiss. "I'm all yours: past, present, and future."

    Silverbolt released a sigh of relief, but then his ears perked up. "Past?"
Blackarachnia nodded and rested her head back on the pillow facing him. "That's why I asked if you believed that we were meant to be together," she cupped his face in her hands. "We knew each other before the Beast Wars, Silverbolt, on Cybertron."
    The fuzor's optics widened, and he blinked in confusion. "How can you be certain?"
    "Because you're the only bot alive who can say, 'it is against my ethics to cross swords with a female,' or 'happy to oblige, my lady,' with a strait face," she laughed, but then Blackarachnia's tone became more serious as she began to explain. "You were built with the name Anárion."

    "An interesting name," Silverbolt commented.

    "The first time I heard it, I thought it was very poetic. In any case, when you joined the Maximal Air force, some of your teammates started calling you

 Silverbolt in honor of the Aerialbot leader from the Great War."

    "Commander Silverbolt of the Aerialbots? I was named after him?"

    "Yes, but you abandoned it by the time we met, and went back to your original name. If you're wondering how I know all this, the information comes from a mutual friend of ours, Astroburn."

Flashback,

     Astroburn grinned and clapped Anárion on the back. " 'Bolts! How've you been, man? I haven't heard from you in ages. You just dropped of the face of Cybertron. What's up?"

     Anárion visibly tensed, and Isis raised an eyebrow. " 'Bolts,' " she asked, amused.

     "What? Didn't he tell you?" Astroburn looked at her.

     "It is not a good subject," Anárion interrupted.

     "Sure it is," the younger male wouldn't give up. "The hero's just modest, that's all. See, back when we were in our flight training, this bot was the top of our class. I tell you, Isis, he's the best. Even saved some of us from our own stupidity a few times. So everyone, including our instructors, named him after one of the heroes from the early years of the Great War: Commander Silverbolt of the Aerialbots."

End of Flashback,

    The silver fuzor contemplated that, but then sadly shook his head. "I am sorry beloved, I remember none of this."

    "I understand, and it's okay," she cupped his face with her hands. "I'm just glad that you're here. Having all these memories back just made me realize how much I've missed you. I know you've been here all this time, Silverbolt, but it's as if I couldn't see you."

     "I am here now," he turned his head slightly, just enough to press his lips against the palm of her hand, "and I shall never leave you again." They drew closer as the kiss became more involved and full of passion. It was a long time before either of them got any sleep.

Author's End Note: Just as a comment, Silverbolt/Anárion is not the same bot as Commander Silverbolt of the Aerialbots from the Great War. The story of how he got, and later abandoned, his name is told in "Let Fate Decide." More to come so stay tuned.