2,999 years later . . .

"Can you believe it's almost been 3,000 years since Exillion became Prime?" asked Meter as she took a walk through cyber city with Roadflare.

"Yea," sighed Raodflare bowing her head. "It hasn't been that long, but to me . . . it's been lifetimes. I miss him Meter."

"Yea, I know," smiled Meter turning to her friend. "But like I said before you need to let him go Roadflare. There are other and more mechs out there."

"But none like him," sighed Roadflare cupping her hands and placing them near her chest. "I miss him."

"Do you think this is how Optimus Prime's wife was like when he first became Prime?" asked Meter.

"No," said Roadflare shaking her head. "They met when he was already Prime . . . it was easier like that. I'm just a childhood friend."

"Don't worry Roadflare," tried Meter again to comfort her friend. "Maybe Primus has other plans for you."

"Maybe," sighed Roadflare casting her gaze elsewhere. "But I loved Exillion, and still do . . . and now it feels like he's died. Can I possibly love Exillimus Prime like my old friend Exillion? I keep asking myself that Meter, but I can't come up with an answer."

"Well why don't you ask him?" asked Meter.

"Because he's been gone ever since he became Prime. He's been fighting for our safety," said Roadflare. "It's almost been 3,000 years since I've last seen him. Next year it will be. He hasn't even visited his mother yet. War's been hard on all."

"Yea I heard about our losses," said Meter recalling it. "Exillimus isn't exactly seasoned for this kind of thing. I mean he's just about 20,000. Really, he's too young."

"Optimus was the same way as I recall, but I think he told us he was 16,000 when he became leader. That was just a millennium younger then when Exillion took leadership so maybe he'll be just fine," said Roadflare trying to make herself feel better.

"I don't know," sighed Meter. "I guess time will tell."

"Yea . . . I guess so," sighed Raodflare as they continued their walk through the city.

The decepticons were still as strong as ever. Exillimus really hadn't changed the tides at all, but the lesser and weaker decepticons greatly feared him because of his power. Even though Exillimus didn't use it ever they still feared he would in great distress. Exillimus decided to put that power away and fight like an original transformer with a blaster and plasma cannon.

He wanted Optimus' memory and ways to live on and so he followed what he left off. He acted like the late Optimus very much. He was growing wiser and stronger every year that passed. Soon, when he reached his 20,000th birthday he would probably be even wiser than the high council themselves.

He knew this is what Optimus would have wanted. He would have wanted to not only grow in strength, but in wisdom. At his remembrance Exillimus could only smile knowing how proud his grandfather would have been for him and to see him grow into that mech he always wanted him to be . . . but then the thought occurred that Optimus never wanted to see his grandson have to go through these wretched battles and stress of being the Prime and leader of the autobots. That was one thing Optimus had not wanted for him. He wanted him to live in freedom, but he came up short of that and that was his last regret.

Exillimus was a strong and good leader yes, but he was very unseasoned and so knew little of battle. Jetfire, his right-hand-'bot, helped him through this faze and so he learned much from the old family friend. Every time he got the chance to see Jetfire he always asked how his twins were doing and especially . . . Roadflare. He always told him she was doing fine, but greatly missed him.

Exillimus felt the same way, but couldn't say it. He still loved her and if he wasn't Prime caught up in all these battles he would have married her . . . he would have. Being a Prime always changed everything. This Optimus warned.

"I now know what he meant by that," sighed Exillimus to himself.

He also asked about his mother Override. He missed her dearly. All the news he heard about her told she was doing fine, but she was greatly lonely living all by herself with no one to be around her. She had her friend yes, but no family to love and be with. Exillimus swore in his spark that if they got a break from war those were the two transformers he'd want to go see . . . Override, and Roadflare.

Well . . . that break came. The autobots eventually pushed back the hardest and caused the most damage on the decepticons which gave them all a little down time to spend. Exillimus, at first, wanted to stay with most of his men that had to stay, but Jetfire and Wingsaber convinced him he needed to go home and remember it. They were right and so he went.

Override was sitting all by herself in her home. The Prime home she was forced to live in. At first she didn't want to, but now this was home to her . . . and to her boy. Oh she missed him. She bowed her head and sighed in sadness.

This was the one thing she hated . . . being alone. Sure she had her old friends, but most of them were off in battle because of the decepticon rise and so she had no one to talk to. She'd talk to Lori if she could, but she was long gone . . . humans lived so short. She missed her . . . her little sister.

She looked at the cup of energon she had in her hand for a long while till she decided to get up and take a walk around or perhaps race around for a little while. She always enjoyed that.

She headed to the door, but when she opened it she saw something blocked her way. It was a tall mech that almost brought tears to her optics. She cried out and hugged him so fast and tight it made the mech gasp in surprise.

"Exillimus!!" she cried so happy to see him again.

"Hhh, hi mom," he smiled embracing her small frame.

When Override finally let go he looked at her and smiled saying-

"You've shrunken just a bit haven't you?"

She just smiled and shook her head. That was her boy alright.

"You mean you've grown," she smiled and then began to poke his chest. "It is that matrix inside you son that makes you so tall."

"That's just an excuse," joked Exillimus.

"Whatever," laughed Override. "It's good to see you again."

"You too mom," smiled Exillimus.

"So . . . how's handling the decepticons?" asked Override.

"Fine, I guess," said Exillimus. "We finally got our break from them and so that is why I'm here."

"That's good," shook Override. "Have you seen the twins lately?"

"No," sighed Exillimus. "I can talk to Opensky, but I'm not too sure about Roadflare. It feels like I hurt her the most from taking the matrix."

"Well . . . you have," said Override. "I haven't spoken with her lately, but I have spoken with her. She misses Exillion."

"Yea I know . . . but I can't bring him back," said Exillimus bowing his head. "I wish I can make it all up to her."

"Well what does your spark tell you?" asked Override.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," chuckled Exillimus.

"Well don't tell me," said Override. "Tell her."

"I can't though!" said Exillimus.

"Well why not?!" asked Override placing her hands on her hips.

"Because it's just too . . . complicated," he said crossing his arms.

"Well you're Prime, make it uncomplicated!" said Override.

"Mom . . . you'd never understand," sighed Exillimus bowing his head.

"Try me," smiled Override with that old 'mother knows best' smile of hers.

Exillimus Prime could only sigh as he got ready to tell her.

Roadflare had just settled in a chair to watch some tv just to find out what was going on when . . .

"Hey little sis!!" came Opensky just ruining her peace and quiet.

"What . . . do you want now?!" she asked trying to calm herself from her annoying twin.

"Well me and mom were gonna go pay dad and Jetstream a visit. They said things have cooled down enough for those. Wanna come?" he asked.

"Hhh, no," she sighed standing up and walking to a window just starring out at the stars. "I'll just stay here."

"But Roadflare we may never get to see them again till-" he started, but she cut him off.

"I know . . . just tell dad and bro I love them," she gave a sad smile at him.

"Oh I see . . . you're still sore about Exillion breaking up with you 3 millenniums ago," said Opensky trying to nail it.

"No I am NOT!" she turned to him so tired of him. "First of all we didn't break up and second . . . he had become Prime and couldn't . . . didn't have anymore time for me."

"Well sucks for you sis," said Opensky not really helping. "I lost a friend too you know."

"Yea I know," sighed Roadflare. "Now are you gonna go now?! I would really like to be left alone for a little while."

"Sheesh, fine," he said backing up and leaving.

And so the rest of her family left her alone in her house. She just sighed and sat there in silence and peace. Quietness always made it easy for your thoughts to wonder. Her thoughts did . . . to so many things.

She was knocked out of her thoughts though as there came a knock on the door. She got up angered someone had disturbed her peace and quiet. Was it Opensky again and if so what'd he forget?! It could have been Meter though so she wasn't going to immediately yell when she opened the door like she normally would at her brother. She did open the door in some haste ready to say 'what?!' but she halted and gasped in surprise to someone she hadn't seen in almost 3 millenniums.

"Exillimus!" she gasped grasping her spark.

"Hi Roadflare," he gave a soft smile.

"W-w-what are you doing here?!" she gasped trying to contain herself.

"Well we got some down time and so I decided to spend it here . . . home," said Exillimus.

Then after a pause of awkward silence Exillimus broke it asking-

"Can I come in?"

"Oh! yes, yes," said Roadflare feeling so stupid for not inviting him in at first.

And so he came in and just looked around. He smiled seeing nothing had really changed . . . just had gotten a little emptier though.

"Things look the same," said Exillimus shaking his head.

"Not much has changed," said Roadflare feeling a little under him to even be talking to him . . . it was hard. "H-how's my dad and brother doing?"

"They're doing good," smiled Exillimus turning to her with a smile. "They're the joksters of the group, especially Jetstream, but none-the-less they are some of my best fighters and very dear friends."

"That's good," smiled Roadflare shaking her head.

Yet another awkward silence passed and so this time Roadflare decided to cut it by saying-

"Why Exillimus?"

"Excuse me?" he turned his attention to her not getting what she had just asked too much.

"Why have you come here?" she asked. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"

"What?" wondered Exillimus. "I thought you've missed me."

"I have," she said turning away from him. "But you haven't kept in touch in years so why start now? It's better if you just go."

"Roadflare," started Exillimus touching her lightly on the shoulder.

"Just leave!" she said flicking his hand off her.

He saw he wasn't wanted, but what he saw more was how broken she was. He sighed and bowed his head telling her the truth.

"The truth is Roadflare is that I've asked about you every day to find out how you were doing . . . and when I got some down time I didn't want to spend it here 'cause I knew I'd have to face you. I went to my mother's first and had no intention on coming to you . . . but . . ."

Roadflare turned to him with tears in her optics. She's missed him so much and it felt like she hadn't seen him in an eternity. She looked at Exillimus as if she gazed at Exillion once again. At least she remembered.

"I still love you," finished Exillimus. "And I had always hoped . . . being a Prime . . . wouldn't change anything . . . but apparently . . . it has. I'm sorry."

Roadflare placed her hands over her face and just wept. Her emotions were getting the best of her now and she couldn't do or say anything about it.

"This is who I am Roadflare," said Exillimus. "I was born to be Prime . . . you deserve better."

"But I don't want better," gagged Roadflare through her tears trying to wipe them away and look at him clearly. "I want that young boy who always got in trouble for sticking up for what was right even though it was wrong to others."

"That young boy is still here Roadflare," said Exillimus. "But he is getting older . . . and the older I get . . . the more I change. Everyone changes . . . even you."

"Why must you?" she gasped.

"I want that best friend of mine that accepted me for who I was," smiled Exillimus cocking his head to the left and smiling that old smile of his.

"She's still here," she said straightening. "She's just . . . broken."

"Then let me help put her back together," said Exillimus as he came closer to her and softly caressed the side of her face.

Roadflare shut off her optics for a second and let out a sigh relieving all sorrow and stress. She could feel him. She could feel Exillion. He was still there . . . the matrix changed nothing, only his body and name . . . nothing more and for that she was glad.

"Exillimus!" she cried as she fell into his arms and wept over him. "I'm so sorry!"

"Don't be," he whispered to her softly rubbing the back of her head. "I should be the one who is sorry. I didn't want to come here in the first place. My mom convinced me."

They both let out some chuckles, but still clung to one another. There was yet more silence, but this time it wasn't awkward. Both let their thoughts wonder as they held each other again for the first time in years. Roadflare took in Exillimus' soft touch and just fell in to him more.

She let out a sigh and as soon as she did that she felt Exillimus' hand come down to her chin and lift it up to meet his lips. She was caught off-guard by this and so didn't have much or anything to respond to it. He kissed her soft and tenderly and as soon as she figured this out she kissed him back. For a moment there Exillimus thought she wasn't going to, but he had to just give her time.

She placed her arms around his neck as he placed his arm around her back and hand on the side of her face. They stayed in that position for a long while till they stopped and just gazed at each other. Their love for each other renewed and now known by both. Roadflare smiled and leaned up to kiss him again, but he pulled back.

She stood there in confusion seeing him do this and so feared he was going to leave. He still held her hand as he backed away from her, but she held onto him even tighter fearing he was going to leave again. This was seen in her eyes and so Exillimus just smiled. He only stepped away from her some feet, but just far enough to bend down and get on his knee leaving Roadflare's optics even wider.

She covered her mouth with her free hand and was about in tears again.

"Roadflare," he started with a smile looking up to her.

She began to cry as he spoke and squeals of shock and surprise crept out as he did this.

"Will you marry me?" he asked.

Roadflare shook her head as the tears fell in disbelief. 'This wasn't happening' was all she could think of. Exillimus waited for her answer though and when she had let most of her emotions out she cried-

"Yes!"

He then stood up and embraced her letting her know he wasn't going anywhere for a long time. She cried for so long and this brought slight tears in Exillimus' optics. They were both just so happy. Their joy was so strong and no matter what happened later on nothing could amount up to that joy.

Many things happened when Exillimus visited home. Many happy things. He was indeed called back to war after their announcement, but he fought his hardest to make sure he could wed her. Nothing stopped or prolonged their wedding day, it came according to plan.

On that day Exillimus won a great battle and many more autobots received down time. Many came to his wedding and that wedding was something to see. It showed hope in those dark days. It showed that even though there was war and death there could always be life and new beginnings.

Override couldn't have been more happy, but being related to Thunderblast was going to be a challenge. Thunderblast was excited to be related to the Primes and so was Jetfire, couldn't say it was what he always wanted 'cause he didn't know he'd actually have a daughter, but never-the-less he was a very proud father and gladly gave her away to the right mech to love and protect his daughter till the day she died. Opensky was exited being Exillimus' brother-in-law. They were like brothers as it was and now, according to marriage, they were.

There couldn't have been a happier day. They needed some happiness in those dark times.