Chapter 81 - Christmas Future

(MPOV)

"Optimus wouldn't do that," I smiled at Sarah gently. "He's not the sort to use people. If he decided to leave..."

"I would bring you with me," Optimus murmured behind me, "but only if you wished to come." I turned to look at Optimus in surprise, but caught in his optics I couldn't stop the blush. "Marriage is a frail word," he continued softly, walking toward me with the graceful, predatory stride that was so deeply him, "it's very binding words broken by death.

"Mikaela you are what keeps my spark burning. Everyday you remind me how to be a better Prime, a better person, by each action, every smile. Everything that you are improves us all." I opened my mouth to call him a flatterer and froze in shock as the holoform knelt down in front of me. My heart squeezed and felt as though it were stopping as he laid a gentle hand over our combined marks.

I stared at him in shock as he continued in that same soft, beautiful, hypnotizing voice.

"You accepted me as your guardian, honoured me with your love, your trust. You have been a beacon of light and hope in my darkest hours. Now I kneel before you to beg for one last honour." He held my eyes absolutely as a tiny box revealed itself in his hands. He opened it, and there, there was a ring. Simple, elegant, silvery and beautiful.

"Mikaela Archangel Leanne Banes, will you choose me as your spark-bonded mate." Optimus rumbled softly, looking up at me with hope burning in his eyes... no... his holoform's eyes.

I didn't want to marry a holoform. I leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the holoform's lips before I turned tail and ran.

To hell with shoes, fuck umbrella. I knew my Optimus, he'd think I was rejecting him. I struggled with the front door for a moment... it opens inward... and pelted through the front porch. Friggen screen door, too many obstacles between me and my beloved. Finally, finally I was on the path and running.

Optimus. Dear, sweet-sparked, loving Optimus was sitting parked still, humming discordantly in shock. I threw on every ounce of speed I could coax out of my legs and hurled myself onto him. Not the holoform. Him.

"Yes," I laughed, crying, stroking his metals. "Yes I will, Optimus."

His holoform promptly winked online beside me, gathering me into 'his' arms and holding me tightly. I looked up at him as he beamed at me.

"You will?" he husked.

"I will," I cried, "I will, oh Optimus I will."

"Why do you cry?" Optimus choked, cupping my face.

"Because I love you you daft bot," I laughed, pulling him... well, pulling myself tightly against the holoform's frame.

"And I love you," Optimus rumbled contentedly, nuzzling his face into my hair.

(IPOV)

Humans and holoforms stood dazed around Optimus'.

"But..." Chromia whispered as Optimus' holoform sat on the floor in shock, his face suddenly split into a wide grin.

Ironhide looked at him and burst out laughing, he rose and gestured everyone to follow, snagging the box from Optimus' hand as the holoform winked out. He glanced at the ring and noted that it was made of the Prime's spark chamber metals.

He had to give him that one, Optimus never did anything by half.

A group of soldiers and holoforms stood on the front stoop as a thoroughly soaked Mikaela sprinted to the Peterbilt and scrambled up onto his hood, curling against his windscreen and running her hands lightly over the metals.

"Yes," Mikaela laughed, crying, stroking his metals. "Yes I will, Optimus."

Ironhide straightened with pride for his niece. She had said yes. To him.

"You will?" Optimus husked through his holoform.

"I will," Kae cried, "I will, oh Optimus I will."

"Why do you cry?" Optimus choked, cupping his Kae's face.

"Because I love you you daft bot," Kae laughed, pulling herself tightly against the holoform's frame.

"And I love you," Optimus rumbled contentedly, nuzzling his holo's face into her hair.

"She said yes!" Chromia squealed, echoing Ironhide's thoughts, her holoform ran after Mikaela and climbed up with her, hugging her tightly.

"Then why..." Epps asked quietly.

"She wanted to say yes to him in person," Ironhide rumbled, grinning like a madbot again. "To him, not his avatar."

The femme had scrapping style.

"Does he really feel that way?" Sarah asked in a tear choked voice.

"Marm, that bot has been helmet over heel struts over that little femme since the day he met her." Ironhide rumbled as Chromia's holoform followed Mikaela and Optimus' holo, walking tightly pressed side by side back to the house.

"Well come on!" Sarah called out, "kiss for the humans you tease!"

Mikaela's eyes lit as Optimus chuckled, gripping her firmly and bending her into a kiss straight out of the movies. Ironhide's holoform chuckled and threw the box. Optimus caught it and with cerulean eyes locked on his betrothed's face, slid his spark onto her finger.

Chromia ran over to Ironhide and threw herself in his arms.

"About time!" she grinned, hauling herself up by his shoulders to plant a kiss on his lips.

"You know what this means right?" Ironhide grinned.

"New Years Challenge!" Chromia sang, dancing about.

"Oh you guys are going to like this," Ironhide rumbled gleefully, looking at the soldiers, he looked back at Chromia seriously. "We need to get her colours."

"She has 'em already," Chromia grinned at him.

"She what?" Ironhide rumbled curiously.

"Her master's tunic," Chromia sang. "Her colours. Silver with blue and red highlights."

Ironhide grinned and looked at the couple still standing in the rain. Dancing. He caught Chromia and tucked her into the circle of his arms again. She cuddled against him, making him smile.

"It's an incredible thing when you find the one who dances to the same music," Sarah murmured, tucking herself into Will's arms. The Major grinned and pulled her in a bit tighter.

Ironhide looked down at Chromia as she gently pulled away somewhat.

(CPOV)

Optimus simply couldn't let go of his Kae.

His Kae.

The Femme who guarded his spark. Chromia thought for a moment and nodded to herself firmly. She had absolutely no doubt Kae loved her Optimus, but she did need to make sure that she understood what wearing a ring made of a bot's spark-chamber's metals meant.

Decision made, Chromia extracted herself from her lover's arms and looked up at him.

::. Distract Optimus for a moment.:: she told him calmly.

::. Do I get to know why?.:: Ironhide sent back in amusement.

::. I just need to be sure of something.:: she stated firmly. Ironhide's holoform's eyes sharpened somewhat in understanding. He nodded and jogged toward Optimus and Kae.

He threw his arms around the couple.

"If you're not careful, you're gonna get all this sugar in your fuel tank," he drawled gleefully. "And that'll spur one pit of a Ratchet scolding." Chromia onlined a backup processor, devoted entirely to devising ways to make Ironhide one of the happiest bots in the universe for the next couple of days. Just for that, he deserved it.

"I will take the risk," Optimus rumbled with a snort as Chromia bounced her holoform forward and wound her arms around Kae.

"A moment?" she murmured, almost sub-vocally. Kae looked up at her curiously for a second before understanding flashed into her eyes. The dear little femme grinned up at her and moved slightly toward the porch.

One point, Kae. Chromia thought musingly as they walked to the porch.

"I vote," Ironhide rumbled with a grin, "that we get the rest of the presents under that tree and retire relatively soon. Chromia, I've got yours inside already," he added, grinning at her.

'Yep, definitely going to spoil him tonight' Chromia thought with an inward smirk. She shot him a smile as her lover dragged Optimus indoors, Sarah ushering the other menfolk in.

"Kae," Chromia said seriously, looking at the femme. The smile on her face melted instantly into a serious expression.

"What information am I missing?" she asked seriously.

Another point.

"That ring is made from the protoform metals of his spark chamber," Chromia stated seriously. Kae frowned. Chromia opened her mouth to make an indignant statement about that frown until Kae looked up at her in confusion.

"I can't access it," she whispered in a horrified tone. "Chromia, I know the knowledge is there, I can't find it, it feels important, mortally important information and I can't access it..."

Chromia sagged in relief and caught Kae in a crushing hug.

"Stop panicking," she murmured. "I'll tell you, when you have more space you'll be able to find the information. It's okay."

Mikaela shivered slightly and nodded, looking up into Chromia's eyes with desperation in her own.

"Please, please make sure I know how to not hurt my beloved," she whispered.

"Ironhide was right," Chromia murmured in relief. "You are the best thing to have ever happened to Optimus. Alright. You're wearing a ring made of his spark-chamber metals."

Kae nodded.

"You know how he's always calling you his Kae?" Chromia stated with a small smile, relaxing into the chair and winding an arm across her shoulders. Kae cuddled into her, a younger sister. "He is the guardian of your spark. Think of the translations," Chromia coached her sister gently. "He is the guardian of your life force, with each level an increasingly strong connection." Kae was nodding, understanding so far.

"It's a comfort," she murmured, "a sense of belonging with the one who sustains me."

"He is the guardian of your spark, and that ring on your finger means that now, he is not only your guardian, but you are his as well. Rightfully, you may now call him your Optimus. Yours is the spark that sustains his."

Kae paled beside her. Chromia jumped slightly, Kae's spark had flared.

"He..." she choked, she looked ready to cry. Chromia watched at the girl, patiently waiting for her to speak.

"He has entrusted his spark, his heart, his life, his soul to my care. He..." Kae looked up at her, wide eyed. "is there anything else I need to know before I go sob into his shoulder and cling to him without ever letting go?" she whispered.

Chromia beamed down at her young sister and pulled her into a hug.

(WPOV)

Will watched in amusement as Ironhide dragged Optimus' holoform back indoors.

"What?" he demanded with a snort.

"Chromia needs Kae for some femme things," Ironhide rumbled cheerfully.

"Huh?" Jacobs asked curiously. Optimus looked rather petulant at having been dragged away from his brand new fiancee.

"Stop that," Ironhide snorted, lightly cuffing him. "You'll get her back in a minute or ten, interspecies union, Chrome's probably making sure they both have the translations down pat. If you'd done it like a regular human you'd still have her wound around you."

That was confusing.

"What what now?" Epps asked blankly.

"That ring Optimus got onto her finger is made of his spark-chamber's metals," Ironhide grinned. "You never did do anything by half, youngling."

Optimus was smirking now.

"Translation?" Sarah asked with a smile. Will beamed at his wife.

"Well, if for example, I gave Chromia a ring, or anything really, made of my spark-chamber metals for her to wear, by our tradition it means that she would become my spark's guardian. Her spark would be the one that sustains my own." Ironhide explained calmly.

That. That was intense.

"So..." Sarah asked, her eyes were shining. Will smiled and pulled her into his arms again.

"It's one of the stages we go through to become fully bonded spark-mates," Ironhide explained with a smile. "A bond that need not be broken by death, may I borrow a towel, Sarah? Kae's not a holoform yet, she's drenched."

"I've got it," Sarah beamed. "Story to continue, by the way."

"You got it," Ironhide chuckled.

(MPOV)

"He is the guardian of your spark, and that ring on your finger, means that now, he is not only your guardian, but you are his as well. Rightfully, you may now call him your Optimus. Yours is the spark that sustains his."

My heart stopped, then thudded to life, pounding into my throat, my stomach. A tiny flush of knowledge indicated that it was my spark flaring, that was immediately and unceremoniously shunted to the side.

I was too busy trying to come to terms with the bomb Chromia had just so gently dropped on me. He was my Optimus.

My Optimus.

"He..." I choked, I felt just about ready to cry. Chromia remained silent, watching me. "He has entrusted his spark, his heart, his life, his soul to my care. He..." I babbled softly. My Optimus. My sweet, gentle, loving, trusting Optimus. The beloved spark that sustained my own. There was nothing I wanted so much that second but to hurl myself against him, to... "is there anything else I need to know before I go sob into his shoulder and cling to him without ever letting go?" I whispered up to her.

"No, but pull yourself together for a minute, come say goodnight and get ready for bed. Which, by the way, you're using the present I got you. Tonight." Chromia grinned at me. "And if you're a truly dutiful sister you're going to let Optimus connect to Ironhide and I so that we get to enjoy how much Optimus is going to enjoy those gifts you got for him. Go change." she smirked. "I'll stall. They're in your bag."

"You, are the best, most wonderful gorgeous creature in the universe," I moaned softly, pulling Chromia's holoform into a crushing hug before scampering off. I made it to the door and realized something.

I was absolutely drenched. Sarah was at the door the next second, handing me a towel with a bright smile.

"Bathroom is this way, I know you're staying in your Optimus' sleeper, but I do believe you're going to want a shower first." she murmured, smiling.

"You're a lifesaver, Sarah, you know that right?" I murmured. "I'd hug you but I don't want to get you wet."

"Hug goodnight after shower," Sarah commanded with a grin.

"Bag!" Chromia stated gleefully, handing me a pretty canvas bag and giving me a light shove. I laughed as her holoform immediately caught Optimus'. "No!" she said with a smirk.

"What are you doing with my fiancee?" Optimus demanded. The look on his face was priceless, torn between a smirk and irritation.

"They're doing femme things," Ironhide rumbled with a snort.

"Get used to it," Will added from the couch, laughing.

I chuckled softly and scurried to the bathroom, locked the door and immediately laid out everything Chromia had packed into the bag.

Sexy lingerie, perfume, pyjamas, and my toiletries kit.

I made a mental note to spoil her rotten when we got back to base... headquarters. It was a matter of moments to shake my hair loose, I stepped into a warm shower and did a rapid, thorough scrub. Shampoo, conditioner, rinsed out absolutely. I spritzed a light mist of the perfume into the air and stepped through it before lightly tugging on the lingerie Chromia had decided on. I pulled the pyjamas overtop and shook my hair out, packed everything away and spritzed another mist of the perfume before it went back into the bag.

I walked out and caught Chromia's eyes. She nodded with a broad grin.

"Showered, bed," I smiled at Sarah. She grinned and hugged me goodnight.

"Night Kae!" Jacobs called out quietly, Epps waved at me from the stairs.

"Night boys, see you in the morning," I laughed softly. Chromia met me at the door, flourishing an umbrella as Ironhide and Optimus winked their holoforms out.

"Should I walk through the rain to get some off?" I whispered the second the door closed.

"No, you're perfect," Chromia whispered, she caught my eye and winked. "'Night' Kae." she smirked.

"You know," I murmured, lightly catching her wrist before the holoform offlined. "That electric blanket I have on you?" Chromia scowled somewhat. "You realize I built it out of neural fibres, right?" I asked innocently.

Chromia's expression was priceless as she worked her way through the meaning behind that statement. Warmth certainly. Warmth, protection and a perfect storage unit for energon. For her own use.

"Night Chrome," I murmured cheerfully, pecking a kiss to the holoform's cheek.

"Just how much did you know you little shit?" she asked me with a low laugh.

"Just enough to know that you'd enjoy a neural-cloak, however you chose to use it." I murmured, grinning impishly at her. She bent down gravely and kissed my cheeks before her holoform winked out. I climbed up into Optimus' cab and smiled.

(OPOV)

Optimus was beginning to get rather irritated at his Weapons Master as he and Chromia continued to play keep-away with he and his betrothed.

True, it was only twenty minutes, but it was his first hour of having a betrothed again.

He had his Kae.

And now, now she was finally walking toward him beside her newest sister, they were murmuring to each other again.

Curiosity finally overcame him and he focused his hearing on them.

"Just how much did you know you little shit?" Chromia asked with a low laugh.

"Just enough to know that you'd enjoy a neural-cloak, however you chose to use it," his Kae murmured, grinning at the holoform impishly. Chromia bent down gravely and kissed her sister's cheeks. Which of course left Optimus wondering what the Femme would decide to do with that cloak, until of course, his Kae was standing in his sleeper.

Then his circuits were fizzing with the sensory input.

She was wearing a perfume, just the lightest touch of the fragrance adding to her own scent.

She smelled like the guardians falls. Before the war, before destruction, she smelled of peace, tranquility, safety, healing. She smiled. That beautiful, loving smile that was meant for him, and him alone. He onlined his holoform the next second, reaching to pull his Kae into a tight hug, she held her hand out and lightly touched his chest.

A silent commandment. Stay.

Optimus watched with a contented smile as she carefully opened the front of the silken red shirt draped gently over her shoulders.

A processor promptly popped as it slid down the satin of her shoulders. The scent was stronger. His Kae and his home. He could die then and there and be content.

Stripped of her armour, she walked toward him and ran gentle hands up his chest.

"Chromia explained what wearing your spark-chamber metals means," she whispered, her arms twining around the holoform, pulling him close.

Optimus pulled her closer as he felt her spark flare. He pulled her toward her hammock and laid his beautiful Kae down, holding her close.

"Are you alright?" he asked her softly, cupping her cheek as tears began to stream from her eyes.

"You dear, gentle, perfect, loving, trusting bot," she whimpered. "I love you. I love you so much..." she began to cry softly, clinging to him and Optimus suddenly understood why.

Her concept of bonding to another had just been redefined. She had been redefined.

"My Kae," he rumbled softly, nuzzling her neck gently. She stretched slightly and caught his lips with her own. A gentle hand reached up and cupped his cheek, the sweetest words whispering around and through him. Her voice burned forever into his memories.

ΩMy Optimus.Ω