Hello there, again! I'm glad that this chapter has finally come out. It's much longer than the first two, so hopefully this one will be more interesting. :)

Disclaimer: Transformers does not belong to me.

Hot Rod and Kup were both driving on the highway towards Delphine's location when Hot Rod began to ask questions.

"So, Kup, how does Optimus know her in the first place?"

Kup was silent on the COMM link for a moment, before answering softly, "She was his adopted daughter."

Hot Rod never knew about this, and he was surprised. "A femme?"

Kup chuckled. "I guess, in a sense, she is a femme. We used to call her that, anyway."

Hot Rod was, if a little, interested. "Why wasn't she living with the rest of us?"

Kup sighed. "It's a touchy topic, lad. Mixed with Decepticons and Optimus' will to protect what he had for family." There was a pause again. "Basically, the Decepticons had captured her, and Optimus just couldn't have that anymore. So he sent her away."

"But why on Earth? Why didn't he send her to a moon base, like Bumblebee, or Jazz and Cliffjumper?"

There was a bit of static on the line before Kup replied, "Even Prime was reluctant to bring it up. But at the time, he thought it was best to separate her from the war altogether. It was a decision we Autobots were against, but you know Prime always was the decision maker in the most crucial cases. Unfortunately, we all didn't legally adopt her like he had. We had no say in the matter, despite our evident protest against it."

"When did all this happen?!" Hot Rod exclaimed, fascinated as a result of receiving knowledge he never knew about Optimus Prime.

"A few years before you arrived, lad. It happened in 1990. No one was allowed to contact her, and therefore no one really liked to discuss the matter."

"I see." Hot Rod himself had arrived on the planet in 2000, a good ten years after Delphine's banishment from the transformers and their war.

Both Autobots were nearing the exit of the highway. It would be another half hour before they reached Delphine's cottage on the coast.

"The really awful part of all this is that she really cared about ending the war." Kup continued softly on the COMM link. "She was a dedicated Autobot helper. And now, the first time we bring her back in fifteen human years, I have to tell her that Prime and most of the others she grew up with are offline."

Hot Rod was silent. He still felt guilty over Optimus' death, but he couldn't speak of it to anyone. Secretly, it was a burden that was starting to weigh heavily on his shoulders. He dreaded what Delphine's response to all this would be. Her pain would be all his fault, adding more weight to the guilt he already felt in his spark.

He wished Kup hadn't brought him along.

After driving through a small town, Hot Rod followed Kup down a dirt road that was winding towards the coast. There, they came upon a quaint little neighborhood of cottages, the Pacific meeting a clear stretch of beach only about a hundred yards away.

Hot Rod stopped when Kup parked in front of a white cottage. Clay tiles contrasted nicely with the white paint, and the front porch was covered in an arrangement of colorful flowers.

Hot Rod was confused; these homes were too small for a femme to live in.

Optimus had adopted a human girl?

He noticed Kup in his car form scanning the area. Then he transformed into bi-pedal mode.

"Hey," Hot Rod protested, "we'll blow our cover."

"There's no one around for miles except Delphine. She's on the beach right now. Let's go."

Hot Rod transformed and wedged his way like Kup through the side of the house down to the beach.

Delphine hadn't slept well the night before; her excitement had been too great. She decided not to bring too many things with her back to Autobot City. She was certain they had kept some of her old things.

It was eight o'clock in the morning, and Kup still hadn't arrived. So Delphine decided to take a stroll on the beach. She left her suitcases inside the front door and her shoes on the porch.

The sand wasn't hot since the sun wasn't shining its brightest, but Delphine felt a sense of tranquility through her excitement by walking along the water's edge.

She'd been walking around the portion of beach behind her house when she felt the familiar tremor of a heavy metal feet approaching. She turned swiftly around, only to be met with the view of two Autobots making their way towards her. She recognized Kup immediately.

"Kup!"

She ran, as fast as she could and jumped into the arms of Kup, who swung her around in the air like a grandfather would do to his grandchildren.

"Hey there, lass, let me get a good look at you!" he exclaimed, putting her down on the ground but kneeling at the same time to look at her eye level. "You look like you haven't grown since 1990!" he joked, a private jibe.

She grinned; physically she hadn't. She knew he knew why, but she hoped not many others did.

After all, she was actually nearing her thirty-ninth birthday.

"And you look exactly the same! No new paintjob? Or new alternative mode?" she asked teasingly, glancing at the other Autobot behind Kup.

He was almost the same height as Kup (about eighteen feet tall), but Delphine could definitely tell he was a younger Autobot. He had blue optics like a traditional Autobot, but they seemed a lot more concentrated in color than the others'. His paintjob was flawless; a lovely mix of yellow, orange and red. She noticed he had a handsome face. She'd never met this Autobot before.

Kup noticed she was looking. Hot Rod had been staring at her, too. He'd never seen a human like her before, either. He was used to Daniel and Spike, but not so much with female humans. But he was confused. Optimus had adopted her years ago, but she still seemed quite young, not like a middle aged human he expected to meet.

Delphine was smaller than the average human (5'4.), with long hair that was a strange, but rather flattering color for her pale skin. It seemed black, but in the sun it was obvious that her hair had tints of dark cherry plum to it.

"Delphine, this is Hot Rod. He arrived on Earth in 2000."

Delphine smiled; she automatically liked the Autobot for his friendly expression. "Hi, I'm Delphine." She outstretched her hand.

Hot Rod took her small hand between his and shook it gently. "Nice to meet you Delphine, I'm very glad to meet you." He sincerely was; she seemed very different from other humans.

Her smile broadened; the excitement was overpowering. Compliments, to her, were best given by mechs. Heck, why not?

"Where are your things?" Kup asked as all of them head back to her cottage.

"Just inside the house. It's not much. I'll get it." Delphine ran ahead to retrieve her luggage (and shoes), as well as to lock the house up.

When Hot Rod and Kup had transformed into their alternative modes, Kup insisted on taking the two small suitcases while Delphine rode in Hot Rod.

Hot Rod knew that Kup was stalling to tell Delphine the bad news. He'd play along.

Delphine obliged willingly to riding with Hot Rod. "I love your alternative mode!" she exclaimed as he opened the top for her to get in.

"Why thank you, little lady." He replied, letting her seat herself next to the steering wheel. The sincere compliment flattered him. No one had ever expressed such interest in his alternative mode before (a Cybertronian Pontiac firebird).

"All set there?" Kup asked through his COMM link.

"Yup!" both Hot Rod and Delphine responded at the same time. This led to Delphine softly laughing as both Autobots pulled away from her home for the past fifteen years.

They were on the highway when Kup started a conversation.

"So, Delphine, how have you been?"

"Alright, I guess, Kup. You know it wasn't the best not being at the Ark."

"I do, lass, I do. But it's been many years since we've seen you. No husband or sparklings?"

Delphine laughed, but Hot Rod was interested. Was she old enough to have a mate or sparklings? She looked even younger than Spike had been when Daniel was born.

"No, no mate or sparklings, Kup." Delphine nonchalantly responded, deciding to use Cybertronian terms rather than her own race's. "Just wasn't interested. You know my main concern was contributing to your cause."

For the past fifteen years of her banishment, the only contact Optimus allowed was to send old Cybertronian texts for her to translate. She had asked for this, as she strongly believed in the Autobot cause and wished to help in any way she could despite Optimus' decision to send her away.

"Your contributions have helped us discover more about the history of our race." Kup replied, sounding proud. "Not many can read the ancient Cybertronian language like you."

"You can read ancient Cybertronian?!" Hot Rod exclaimed, amazed at Delphine's personal complexity.

"A gift from Primus, I always assumed." Delphine answered. She felt she shouldn't be praised for the special gift she had as an interpreter. She couldn't fight against Decepticons, which was, in her opinion, one of the main problems.

But then again, the reason Optimus had sent her away was even more complicated than just the hindrance of her physical capabilities.

"What else can you do?" Hot Rod asked her intently, changing lanes behind Kup.

Delphine smiled slyly. "I can fly."

"Really? We should have just given you our coordinates then."

Delphine laughed, and Hot Rod joined her, as they got closer to Autobot City.

Kup and Hot Rod had been driving for most of the day, stopping only a few times to let Delphine grab a bite to eat or head into the bathroom. She had eaten her small meals outside in front of the parked Autobots, and refused politely when Hot Rod asked if she wanted to eat while they continued to drive to Autobot City.

"One thing she'll never do is eat inside an Autobot," was what Kup had responded with after Hot Rod had asked. "Not after what happened with Prowl a few years ago."

Delphine had told Hot Rod many stories about her time living with the Autobots, describing the life she had loved sharing with them. Even before the sun had gone down that day, Hot Rod was certain that he and the human girl would be close friends.

And he feared the worst when they returned.

It was past midnight when Kup and Hot Rod returned to Autobot City.

Delphine had fallen asleep in Hot Rod's front seat as the sun had set, so both Autobots had driven back to their base in complete silence, only listening to the soft breathing of the human girl.

When both Autobots were secure inside Autobot City, Kup transformed and gently lifted Delphine out of Hot Rod's left seat. As Hot Rod transformed back into his robot mode, Kup began to lull her out of her dreams.

Kup didn't want to tell Delphine the news at that moment. It was merely four o'clock in the morning, too early for grief. Yet he knew that everyone was expecting her to know everything before another Decepticon ambush could take place.

None of them wanted more deaths among their ranks.

"Delphine, we're here." He informed her softly, jostling her so gently that it took her a moment before she woke from her light sleep.

"We're here?" she asked groggily, rubbing her eyes like a small child before glancing around at the spacious area underground. To her, it looked almost like the inside of the Ark. A warm, nostalgic feeling swept through her. She was home.

"Kup, Hot Rod, you're here!" an unfamiliar voice called out from up ahead. Delphine glanced up from Kup's arms to see Daniel approaching them wearing his pajamas.

"Who…?" Delphine trailed off as Kup set her down on the ground.

Daniel approached her, his eyes wide. He looked up at Kup. "Is that her?"

Kup nodded, "Yes, Daniel. This is Delphine."

Kup turned to Delphine. "Delphine, this is Daniel. Spike's son."

Delphine's eyes widened as she took a good look at the boy. The Spike she had known was older than her by a few years, yet now…he had a son.

Daniel looked very similar to his father. He had the same shade of brown, lightly curled hair and tanned skin. She smiled, though inside she felt abandoned for not knowing anything about old friends she had considered family.

"You know my Dad?" Daniel asked, thoroughly interested. After all, he had gotten up early from bed to meet her. She looked too young to have known his father before he was born.

"Yes, your Dad and I worked together a long time ago." Delphine replied, taking a look around. She grinned. "I'm very pleased to meet you. You remind me of him a lot."

Daniel smiled back, pleased that she thought he resembled his father.

Hot Rod smiled as well, glad that they were getting along.

Daniel then looked up at both Hot Rod and Kup, before asking, "What are we going to do about Optimus, then?"

Both Autobots stiffened. Daniel must have suspected they told her everything before they had arrived.

Delphine's face twisted in confusion. She looked around the halls, observing her new home.

Wait- the ceilings were cracked. Optimus usually kept everything in order.

…

Something wasn't right…

"What's going on, guys?" Delphine asked suspiciously, turning to look at the two large Autobots behind her.

Hot Rod was silent, but Kup finally answered, "There was an attack, lass."

Delphine looked around slowly. "How long…?"

"Three days ago."

She looked at Daniel, who seemed to comprehend that she hadn't been told anything yet. His looked like he was about to cry.

"You didn't tell her." he affirmed, his voice barely audible to the Autobots' audio receivers.

"Tell me what?" Delphine asked, her eyes narrowing. She glared up at Kup. "What happened Kup? Where's Optimus?"

When Kup didn't answer her, she turned to Daniel. "Well?" she asked, "Where is my dad?"

Daniel's chin quivered. He didn't expect her to come all the way without knowing. He felt so awful for introducing the situation. He looked up to Kup and Hot Rod for help.

Hot Rod's optics were cast down, as both him and Kup took on sorrowful expressions.

Delphine looked up at Hot Rod, asking him with her expression.

He sucked in air even though he didn't need it. Tried to form letters into words. "I-I…h-he's…"

When he couldn't go any further, Delphine paused her interrogation and glanced at the floor. She developed an awful, terrible feeling.

A feeling that she used to receive when she felt like the world was going to end.

Almost automatically she dropped the luggage she was carrying and ran down the hallway.

Kup reacted first, following immediately behind her to stop her from running somewhere she shouldn't.

Hot Rod transformed into car mode, zooming after Delphine as she stopped in front of place she suspected was the medical lab. He transformed back into robot mode, trying to hold her back from entering the room…

…but it was too late…

She'd seen Optimus on the operating table.

She drew both of her hands to her face in shock and heaved a dry sob.

"N-No…"

Kup came up behind Hot Rod. "Let her go, lad." He said quietly, putting his hand gently on the younger Autobot's shoulder.

Reluctantly, Hot Rod let go of Delphine's small shoulders, allowing her to run to the side of the operating table where the body of Optimus Prime had been laid.

"O-Optimus…" she whimpered, extending her hand shakily to his limp one on the table. She collapsed were Daniel had been three days ago, sobbing heavily as she clutched her foster father's hand.

Daniel began to cry again from the door.

Delphine pressed her cheek to Optimus' metallic digits, but unlike years ago, the metal did not hum with unexpected warmth. Now it was frozen cold, as if the essence of Optimus' personality had left the body long ago.

Hot Rod's spark felt as if it would rip into thousands of puny pieces.

Kup had picked up the crying Daniel, trying to soothe him quietly with soft words. He stood with Hot Rod behind Delphine as she cried her soul out to mourn the loss of her Autobot father.

"He wanted to tell you he was sorry…for bringing you back now…" Kup told her softly.

Both Autobots stood there for what seemed hours, until Delphine could sob no more. Wearily, she wiped away some of her tears before hollowly asking Kup, "Who else…?"

Kup still held Daniel, who had fallen asleep while crying. Hot Rod himself was still too traumatized to speak.

"Ironhide, Prowl, Ratchet, Brawn, Windcharger and Wheeljack."

Delphine closed her eyes and shook her head. More tears came, dribbling down her cheeks. Her eyes were so sore…

Hot Rod believed she was going to begin sobbing some more when she simply folded her hands and began to pray silently at Optimus' side.

Her mouth moved in silent prayer as single tears dripped down her face.

It was much later when she finally stood up, turning to the two Autobots and Daniel, who by now was in deep sleep despite it being near six thirty in the morning.

"And on their side?" she asked tiredly, albeit with malice.

Hot Rod glared intensely at nothing in particular. Kup tiredly shook his head.

Delphine closed her eyes, her brow furrowing in anger and pain as she shook her head in disbelief.

"Lead me to my room, please." She choked out, and then said nothing more.