Author's Note: MM Prime IS indeed playing a dangerous game, one he may well lose... but we can only hope that both characters have learned something along the way and they don't make the same mistakes as last time... Maybe they make all NEW ones! :-) Glad you enjoyed the last chapter.

BTW, this story was never meant to be this long! I guess I was having too much fun writing it but I promise you, we are getting to the pointy end of it... How will it end?

Just have to keep reading to find out ;-)

Chapter 86: Enlightening

Prime P.O.V

I watched as the colour drained from her face and she closed her eyes so tightly, small lines puckered around the corners. A single tear escaped from her right eye, rolling slowly down her cheek. She raised a hand to briskly wipe it away as she took a step away from me, withdrawing emotionally and physically from the source of her pain.

I wanted to be happy, indeed a small part of me felt ecstatic. It would seem I had an answer I desperately sought to the question I could not bring myself to ask. /But at what price?/. I took a small step towards her, though I had learned better than to reach for her.

All at once, the storm that had been brewing on her features dissipated, replaced by a strange smile. Orianna exhaled roughly, rubbing her hands up and down her arms as she made some noise with her lips. ''Well, it's getting cold Optimus.'' She sent me a cursory glance before she hurriedly bent down to pick up her towel and few belongings.

It was a balmy seventy-eight degrees. ''Orianna?'' I addressed her quietly.

She turned and smiled up at me. ''Well,'' her voice was cheerful and bright. ''I'm happy for you Optimus. Liv is a great person.'' A saccharine sweet smile that did not reach her eyes was plastered on her lips. ''I hope you have a great time on your date.'' She began to walk briskly back up the beach towards the tree line.

I narrowed my eyes at the exasperating and mercurial woman before me. Falling into step behind her, I growled in frustration at her retreating form. ''Contrary to what you have just implied Orianna, I have not agreed to anything with Miss Winters yet.''

Orianna whipped around, her chest rising and falling rapidly as her eyes bored into mine.

''For a variety of reasons,'' my voice dropped to a whisper as Orianna held my gaze silently.

''I can't for the life of me understand why Optimus.'' Orianna's words were dripping in sarcasm. I suppressed a snarl of exasperation as I stared back at her. She smiled sweetly. ''Liv is a great gal. You'd be hard pressed to find one better.'' Orianna laughed out loud, a bizarre, overly cheerful laugh as she began walking once more, turning back briefly she called out, ''Hopefully, present company excluded of course Prime!''

I ground my denta together as I placed my hands on my hips and sent her a withering glare. ''Well, that depends, Orianna.''

She halted in her tracks. Turning back slowly to face me, Orianna licked her lips as she jutted a hip out defiantly. ''Oh yeah? On what exactly Optimus?''

''Her level of maturity for one thing!'' I snapped back spitefully.

Orianna stood stunned for a moment, her mouth agape at my very brutal and blatant insult. Her head shook from side to side slowly as her mouth worked silently, processing how to respond to my very uncharacteristic barb. The silence between us grew until all that could be heard were the waves crashing in the distance. I held my ground.

Hefting her belongings in her arm, Orianna stared at me. That strange, unreadable smile once more graced her lips as she took a step back away from me. ''You know what Optimus; I say go for it! Do whatever makes you happy.'' She waved her free hand before her, as if dismissing me, ''I have no claim on YOU either, so knock yourself out!'' With a loud huff, she turned on her heels and strode once more back up the beach.

I tried to remain emotionless. /How on Cybertron did I lose control of that situation?/. I had done what Ironhide had suggested and created a scenario in which Orianna might become jealous so I could ascertain if she still harbored feelings for me. And it had worked – to a point. Now Orianna was acting in a manner that suggested she did not mind in the least, if I began a romantic attachment with Miss Winters. /Will I ever understand humans – this one in particular?!/.

I was about to follow her when she whirled back around. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. ''You know, at the risk of sounding immature,'' I bristled at her mocking tone, clenching my fists as I let the wave of anger roll off me. ''Maybe spending time with another woman such as Liv might be a good thing Prime.'' She held my gaze for a beat before she began to turn back around. ''Just what you need,'' she called out over her shoulder.

''Perhaps you are right Orianna!'' I found myself shouting back tauntingly in reply before I had analyzed whether I should.

At my unexpected response, Orianna stumbled in the sand. A very un-Prime like sense of satisfaction coursed through me at her reaction. For once, I did not try to dismiss it or suppress it. She spun around again; her lips were twisted in a painful sneer and her chest rose and fell rapidly as she sucked in great gasps of air.

I did not need my sensors to know she was furious. And jealous. And deeply hurt.

I relaxed my stance, exhaling the anger and hurt I had been holding onto myself. I loved this woman and, despite the way she was staring at me right now, her reactions this evening gave me reason to believe that maybe, she still loved me too. ''Orianna,'' I exhaled roughly as I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. I let them rest atop my head for a moment, before I brought them down and folded my arms across my chest. ''Perhaps we should refrain from speaking anymore tonight, before we both say something we truly regret.'' I looked imploringly at her.

Her bottom lip quivered, and she looked as though she were about to make some sort of snide remark, but to her credit, she refrained. She exhaled loudly; her eyes glancing up at my lifeless bi-pedal form before fixing firmly on the ground before her. ''Bit too late for that Optimus.''

My spark ceased pulsing for a moment. /What does she mean by that?/. Memories of that four months apart from her, of thinking she was lost to me forever when I died, flashed through my processor and a cold stab of fear lanced through me. /What have you done - again?/.

Another tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another. She sniffed and wiped at her eyes, smiling at me through her tears. A genuine smile of regret and apology which took me by surprise. ''At least, on my behalf anyway.''

I moved, taking a tentative step towards her. ''Orianna. I'm sorry I didn't mean...''

''NO,'' she replied emphatically, biting her lip as she shook her head. I remained where I stood. ''You don't need to apologise and - you were right. I deserved that.'' She looked away, sniffing back tears. ''It's just I...'' She released a shaky breath as she looked to the heavens above and whispered something so softly I couldn't hear.

''What is it Orianna?'' I took several large strides, coming to stand just before her. Her lips parted as she took a shallow breath, her eyes drawn to my face. She simply stared at me. I wanted to reach out to her, to hold her, but I did not want to run the risk of scaring her off. My eyes darted over her face, searching for, coaxing an answer as my hands hung awkwardly by my sides. ''What did you want to say just now?'' I stood there, a useless, frozen statue - waiting. /Hoping/.

Orianna seemed to lean slowly towards me, her mouth working silently as those mesmerising eyes of hers travelled down my face, coming to rest on my lips. I felt myself leaning towards her, seeking to close the gap between us in every way. My spark pulsed wildly in my chest demanding the one it sought. Orianna licked her lips, lips that curved into a sad, wistful smile as she reached out and placed a hand on my chest. I closed my eyes at her touch, reaching my hand up to cover hers.

She hissed softly at the feel of my hand enveloping hers, and I opened my eyes, only to see her shake her head, her voice but a whisper. ''That's just the thing.'' She rolled her bottom lip as if swallowing her words. ''It's not so much a case of what I wanted to say, but rather if I should say it.''

I felt my shoulders slump in what should have been relief, but felt more like bitter disappointment. 'Say what exactly Orianna? I don't understand why you feel you can't just tell me?''

She smiled weakly up at me as she patted my chest softly. ''It doesn't matter Optimus.'' Her fingers gently slid away from under my hand before they were withdrawn completely. ''See,'' she teased lightly as she stepped back away from my reach, ''maybe I'm not so immature after all?''

I wanted to scream at her, demand she answer my question and reef her hand back into my possession. But I did not. ''Good night, Optimus.'' Tilting her head, she snorted softly into the evening air. ''It's ah, been enlightening talking to you tonight.'' For the first time this evening, her smile reached her eyes.

I stood there dumbfounded for a moment at yet another turn during our interactions this evening. In the relatively short time I had come to know this woman, she had fascinated me, infuriated me, endeared herself to me, and surprised me in equal measure. /And now she was standing there looking expectantly at me/. Recalling it was my turn to engage in our verbal discourse, I smiled warmly at her and made a small bow. ''Good evening, Orianna. It's been - enlightening - conversing with you too.''

Orianna held my gaze a moment longer, a strange expression crossing her features before she nodded and quietly turned, walking up the beach alone.

Watching her leave, I was greatly tempted to follow her and confess how I truly felt towards her. But I stopped myself, recalling the night right here on this very beach when I had kissed her in desperation to try and prove how much I cared for her. I closed my eyes as the painful memory washed over me and sunk into me – in more ways than one! /I will not make that mistake again/. I disengaged my holoform.

Rising to my pedes, I continued to watch her until she reached the tree line and moved to pass through the branches. Before she did, she turned to look back at me. From this distance I could see the pained smile as it quivered on her lips and the fresh track of tears that coursed unchecked down her cheeks, even though she waved at me.

In that moment, I made yet another decision. I would continue to put into action Ironhide's advice. I could not interfere directly, but I would find ways to make her question what it was she thought I felt for her, and what it is she herself truly feels for me. Through my actions, Orianna would hopefully come to learn, come to understand, how I truly felt for her.

I waved back, and she disappeared through the branches. Turning to look out over the bay, a satisfying, devious smile spread slowly across my dermas as I raised a servo to my chest. I could still feel the warmth of her touch lingering.

/Enlightening indeed/.