A/N: Hey guys, it is me ChloeBee. I apologise, as well as AlexisPrime, that we haven't really updated many of our stories recently and here is the main reason why... my computer has broken. The motherboard is fried but the hard-drive is safe, however that does mean I have rare access to a computer and I apologise. Sorry. Primus knows how long it will be until I get a new computer tower or a laptop but what I do know is that it will take AGEs (I'm currently using my dad's laptop... sorry dad!). Also, as ChloeBee901, it is the same reason if any of you actually follow any of my stories.

Still... enjoy!

It had been at least a month after the almost disastrous events of the Medbay and Optimus and Alexis were no closer to getting back together. Many of the Autobots and the NEST soldiers had taken sides with either Alexis or Optimus. Chloe, Ratchet, Lennox and Epps, as well as many of the other soldiers, had sided with Alexis in almost pity and near hate of the accidents that had happened involving the Xyleon, including 'The Break Up'. However, Ironhide, the Twins, Prowl and Red Alert had sided with Optimus because they didn't agree that Alexis should be more protective and spending more time with a human than with the one she had been chosen to spend the rest of her lifecycle with. They also thought that a majority of the incidents and damage done had been mostly Alexis' fault; had the Xyleon not pulled Chloe out of Ironhide's way, perhaps, Red Alert and Prowl had theorised, none of this business with Black Charade may not have occurred and the casualties they had suffered would not have happened.

The mood of the base had become so much colder with the situation between Alexis and Optimus. They were almost avoiding each other, and it was easy to tell when one was approaching just by watching the other. Optimus would trail off in the middle of a sentence or square his shoulders, while Alexis would appear meek and timid or almost bolt from a room. It was truly beginning to tear those around them apart. It was mainly tearing apart Chloe and Jazz; while Chloe was sided with Alexis, Jazz preferred to stay neutral, not wanting to betray either of his friends. Often, Chloe would pursue Alexis if the Xyleon left the room while Jazz would remain. This would, on more than one occasion, lead to fights and arguments between the bondmates. Twice, Chloe refused to sleep near or even with the saboteur, opting to so sleep in separate quarters just down from her original ones.

Chloe and Jazz had just made up after yet another fight when they found Alexis wandering the halls on a rainy afternoon. The Xyleon, just like many of the other inhabitants of the base, wasn't quite a fan of getting soaked, so spending her day in the warehouse Optimus had given her when she arrived on the base was not something she could do... which led to her being in a bad mood and restless when the couple found her.

"Alexis? You ok?" Chloe yawned, stretching her arms and nearly hitting Jazz on the head while balancing on his shoulder.

"No," Alexis responded on a sigh. She looked down at her friend.

"What's the matter?" Jazz said, nearly glaring at his bondmate for almost knocking him on the helm.

"Rain. Something I hated back on Xylia," Alexis responded. She bit her lip gently to avoid smiling at Jazz.

Chloe laughed at Jazz; giving him a comforting pat for an apology. Jazz smiled back, his visor flashing slightly in response to Chloe's own.

"We were headin' to the Rec. Room. Wanna join us?" Jazz asked. Alexis looked uncertain but she nodded with a slight smile.

"Sure, why not? Besides, it beats waiting around dying of boredom!" Alexis said. Chloe laughed as Alexis fell in step behind Jazz once the silver mech began walking again. Jazz jerked his shoulder to jump the human techno-organic.

"Whoa! Jazz!" Chloe exclaimed, gripping Jazz's armour to stop her from sliding off.

"Yes, Cazz?" Jazz teased.

"Oi!" Chloe said, playfully aiming a punch at Jazz's helm.

"Showing off, Jazz?" Alexis asked. Jazz looked back at her with a smirk.

"Perhaps..." Jazz replied, jerking his shoulder again; this time making Chloe slip to her knees on the smooth armour.

"Ah!" Chloe yelped as she went down, her hands scrabbling at her bondmate's armour, trying desperately to get a grip on the wet armour; it had only been mere minutes since they had got back in from a rather wet patrol and both were still drying off, and were heading to the Rec. Room for a warmer place to dry up in. Jazz caught her before she fell all the way but Chloe still shrieked. Her half organic heart was pumping as she tightly held the metal of his hand with her own much smaller ones. Jazz couldn't help but cringe as his bondmate sent waves of adrenalin and slight terror bombarding his spark through their bond. The silver saboteur gently eased the near-hyperventilating girl back onto his shoulder plating, sending calming messages and emotions over the sparkbond. Alexis could see that her friend visibly relaxed as she almost melted to her knees on Jazz's shoulder, her optics shut tight as she drew deeper breaths.

"Cazzy, you ok?" Jazz asked, deeply concerned. While there had been no more incidents nor 'break outs' with Black Charade, everyone was still all-too-aware of what could cause it and what the consequences were.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," she panted. She forced her optics to open enough for Jazz to see their brilliant blue glow before shutting them again. A faint smile spread across her face. "I'm fine."

"Good, come on then you lot, Rec. Room!" Jazz said, reassuring, not only the two techno-organics, but himself too. Jazz took off at a run; Chloe safely held in his hand after he'd grabbed her off his shoulder. Alexis gave a sound of surprise before following his example and running herself. But not without a shouted complaint first.

"Hey! Wait up!" Jazz acted as if the run was a race; increasing his speed when she got close, slowing when she dropped back further. By the time they arrived at the Rec. Room doors, Alexis was tired out and panting.

"I… don't like… you… for this Jazz…" Alexis panted, her hands on her knees. Jazz laughed at her misery, only earning himself a glare from the rather playful, at the moment at least, giant blue girl.

"When did you ever like me?" Alexis seemed to think it over for a second before smiling.

"Never!"

"Hehe, I didn't think so!" Jazz laughed. Alexis joined in, giggling between gasps for air. Chloe couldn't help but laugh as well as shiver violently.

"Can we go get dry now, sweetspark?" Chloe asked, teasing her bondmate.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're gettin' there," Jazz responded lightly. They, being Alexis once she'd calmed down a little, and Jazz, stepped in the door.

Unfortunately, it was at the exact same time as Ironhide and Optimus exiting the room through the same door. Ironhide stopped in time, but Optimus didn't, smashing directly into Alexis.

"Hey! Watch where you're-"Alexis stopped dead when she saw who it was that had walked into her, "-going…" Her optics went wide and she stepped back, looking for an escape. The only one, the door, was blocked by Jazz. Who she didn't want to knock over because he also held Chloe. Shoot. She was trapped.

"Excuse me?" Optimus nearly growled, attempting to pull rank on the Xyleon.

"Sir," she meekly responded. She dropped her head to avoid looking into his optics. "I thought you were someone else."

"Well, in future, you should be more aware of your actions." Optimus seemed to add a sense of stress on the words 'more aware of your actions.'

"I'm sorry, my lord," she ground out. The words carried more bite as she straightened slightly.

"Primus, lighten up a bit, Prime! Won't do ya harm to live a little!" Chloe joked, faking a harsh tone. Optimus narrowed his optics at her, but before he could say a word, Alexis stepped up.

"Leave her out of this, Prime," the Xyleon hissed.

"You're back to defending her I see."

"Of course! If you have a problem with it, tell me! Don't take it out on her!"

"I am your superior; you will not speak to me like that!" Optimus snarled at the femme, fury blazed in his optics.

"I am not bound to you, Prime; I do not answer to you!" Alexis snapped back to the flamed leader.

"You were chosen for me by my sire, so you DO BELONG TO ME!" Optimus shouted at the Xyleon. Alexis' optics hardened as she seethed. In a surprisingly calm voice she said,

"Is that all I am to you? A possession? Something that you can control or throw away? Fine." She dropped to her knees, bowing at his pedes. "I'm sorry my lord and Prime. I beg for your forgiveness or punishment." Without waiting for another word, she got up with her head bowed and stormed past Jazz, running as soon as it was safe to do so. And only Jazz and Chloe were short enough to see what the others missed. Glistening tears.

"Oh nice one, Optimus!" Chloe said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she was lowered to the ground. The human then took off at a surprisingly quick sprint to catch up with her friend. Optimus looked at Jazz in confusion. The silver mech rolled his optics before dragging a single finger down his face from his optic to the bottom of his chin. He turned and went after Chloe and Alexis.

"Oh Primus, what have I done?" the Prime asked. Ironhide only sighed.

"You just killed it all, Prime. You just killed it." Ironhide replied grimly, showing no sympathy to neither Optimus nor Alexis.

The hanger doors were thrown open, allowing the elements to enter. Within moments of running outside, the sole Xyleon was soaked. Water poured from the dress she'd worn earlier that day. Her vision wasn't clear due to the sheer volume of water assaulting her. Even so, she ran as hard as she could towards the one place where she could hide away from the world. Where she could be free from judgement. Trembling hands fumbled with the thick heavy lock keeping the doors in her way firmly shut. Her sobs kept her from simply slipping the key in. She took a deep breath to steady herself. As soon as the lock clicked to signal that it was open, she removed the lock from the chain and tossed it to the ground. The chain soon joined it, and the doors were flung open. She raced inside, breathing in the scent of drying paint that always lingered. Her spark calmed some, but the empty ache from a blocked bond didn't ease her mood. She hurried through the hanger, choosing a corner near the back to sit in. She continued to sob, even as she allowed the room around her to bring her comfort.

Chloe caught sight of the open doors long before she noticed the discarded chain. It was a relief that Alexis hadn't done anything stupid. And no-one could actually break into the Xyleon's hanger. The lock alone was taller and wider than Chloe was. She entered, but was unable to see her giant friend thanks to all of the tables littering the hanger. Chloe knew the set-up like the back of her hand. After spending countless hours working in there with Alexis, it wasn't surprising.

The first table in front of her was a tall one for someone Jazz's height or higher. It held craft supplies like glue and tape and scissors that Alexis used for larger projects. On the left was a table that was just a bit higher, but smaller, that held paints and brushes. Besides it was a giant easel with a canvas already prepped for a painting. On Chloe's right was a small table, human sized, where small projects were worked on. That was one of the places that Chloe used herself when spending time working with Alexis. Further behind the table in front of her, against the wall, was Alexis' light brown desk. It was stained with paint from use. It even had a human sized table on it for when Chloe wanted to work. Alexis did her drawings there, and the beginning pieces of so many artworks. It was her favourite place to work. On the left of it was a table filled with art supplies, and on the right was a table where different types of paper were laid out. Chloe headed towards the desk and was rewarded by finding the sobbing Xyleon.

"If you're tall, red, and blue, you can just go away." Alexis snapped.

"Well, I'm not tall, red, and blue… would you like me to be?" Chloe said, trying to put a bit of happiness back into her friend. It didn't work. Although the Xyleon did jump a bit at the sound of an almost invisible voice; it wasn't until she looked down did Alexis see an absolutely soaked and shivering Chloe.

"Sorry Chloe! I thought you were…" Alexis stopped, not wanting to say 'her master's' name, "… him."

"Nah, it's ok, besides, I'd say the same thing." Chloe said, trying to bite back the chatter of her teeth and yet failed to hide it. Alexis dried her tears a bit before standing and reaching down to a human-sized shelf that held blankets and towels. She pulled one off, a silver one, and changed back to her human form.

"You seriously ran after me, not a care in the world about that rain, but knowing you'd get soaked?" Alexis half-heartedly scolded her friend as she wrapped the blanket around Chloe's shivering body. Chloe looked up at Alexis and smiled her thanks. "Now, why did you follow me?" Alexis asked, not wishing to put a dampener on things.

"Cos you are my best friend, what prime said was way outta line… whether he's a Prime or not," Chloe almost mumbled, suddenly paranoid of said Prime entering the hanger, "Plus…"

"Plus… what?" Alexis gently coaxed.

"Well, he always bangs on about how 'freedom is the right of all sentient beings' and yet he stands there and calls you a possession! Talk about being a hypocrite!" Chloe said, obviously angry at the way the Autobot leader says one thing and then goes against it. "And you are NOT a possession! It's just not fair!" Chloe almost shouted, but not at the Xyleon. Alexis put an arm around her friend's shoulders, allowing the human to relax and calm down significantly.

"I know, and I agree with you on that, Chloe." Alexis said, wrapping the shivering girl into a hug, using her body warmth to slowly warm her companion up. Chloe squirmed under her friend's much stronger hold - not just out of discomfort - after being painfully reminded of that day when everything went wrong. The human techno-organic felt a soft hand lift her head up, once again she tried to squirm out of the grip, to face Alexis. She saw Alexis' optics widen in surprise. In the Xyleon's optics was reflected her own face, and, pouring down it, were tears.

"I'm sorry Alexis," Chloe cried into the blanket, ashamed of her friend seeing her cry like this, "I-I did it again, I made everything worse." Alexis was shocked at the human's words.

"No, no, Chloe, you didn't." Alexis tried to comfort her friend, slowly returning to her Xyleon form. Although it was barely noon, Chloe couldn't help but yawn – the poor girl had been woken up ridiculously early today. Alexis smiled warmly at the drowsy child and, now in her original form, gently picked her up and sat her on the paint-stained light brown table, not quite at Chloe's own desk but just beside it. Alexis then sat at the desk too but not before gathering a few pencils, coloured pencils and other such drawing stationary.

"What should I draw, Chloe?" Alexis asked softly. Chloe smiled, stood up and attempted to lift one of the much larger pencils that lay near her.

"A… sunny… day – oof!" Chloe huffed as she tried to lift the pencil, suddenly finding herself in the air as Alexis picked it up. The Xyleon held her hand out for the human to safely drop onto. Chloe released the pencil and landed with a soft thump on the palm of Alexis' hand.

"A sunny day, huh?" Alexis said, "I think I can do that easily!" Chloe nodded and started to climb off the blue hand when Alexis slowly lowered her back to where the silver blanket was on the desk. As soon as Chloe's feet touched the ground, she picked up the blanket and wrapped herself in it again.

Almost two hours had passed when Alexis had finally completed the drawing and Chloe had toppled over, asleep, and wrapped up in the blanket. Alexis, however, had only looked up once during those two hours and she had seen Chloe readjusting the blanket. Now her friend was asleep, the blanket almost entangled around her legs, her hands scrunching the blanket up into her fists and a look of complete peace on her face. Alexis sighed contently, finally happy that Chloe was now at peace and was no longer troubled by the constant fights and tense atmosphere of the base… for now. Her thoughts quickly turned from the human techno-organic to the situation with Optimus. They couldn't continue like that. Fighting every moment of the day. Or leaving a room, usually the Rec Room, the second the other entered. Each time that happened, she left her Energon behind. It had been two full days since she'd last refueled or eaten properly.

"I have gotta sort this…" Alexis muttered, packing away her at supplies. Chloe stirred slightly, drawing the Xyleon's attention back to her. Alexis smiled, almost sadly, and soon began to feel a bit tired herself. That was, until, Jazz knocked on the hanger door, coming in soon afterwards.

"Alexis? Have you seen Chloe?" Jazz asked, concern etched deep into his voice for his bondmate.

"Yeah, she's here." Alexis replied softly, putting a finger to her mouth to signal to the silver mech to be quiet. She then moved aside to allow Jazz to get to Chloe; a smile threatened to tear his poker face apart, succeeding not long after he saw Chloe mumble something and turn over.

"Thanks for takin' care of her for meh," Jazz said.

"No problem. It was my pleasure," Alexis responded. She placed the supplies in the drawer before turning back to Jazz. "If you're going to leave, put the chain back on please. I… have someone I need to talk to."

"Sure t'ing, thanks again." Jazz said, gently scooping up the girl in his cold metal hands; Chloe stirred again and fidgeted on the sudden cold sensation beneath her. When her optics opened, she briefly caught sight of her friend's retreating form, just as the Xyleon stepped back out into the rain.

William Lennox, who was fully aware of what certain aliens disliked solely for his own sanity, was extremely surprised to watch a literally soaked female alien approach. Her dark brown hair, which reached her waist, was black and plastered to her body. Her hazel eyes were tired, and her face was pale. Her arms were tightly around herself to try and warm her body back up. Lennox, being who he was, draped his army jacket over her with a gentle smile.

"What can I do for you?" He asked once he had her sitting down in front of his desk. He was leaning against the wooden piece of furniture while he spoke with her.

"G-get me off of this b-base without a trace. T-that's all I can ask," Alexis replied, Lennox gave her a surprised, confused look. "I can't do this anymore."

"Do what?" Lennox asked. Alexis flinched away, as if he'd slapped her. The confusion on his face only increased, along with concern.

"I'm weak, Will. I've failed my real family. This one as well. Xyleons are known for their ability to hide their emotions as well as change their shape and their beauty. Have you seen me do that once?" Lennox remained silent, he could think of nothing to say but to nod slightly in agreement. "Exactly. And it leads to me making mistakes. I hurt those around me by being me! I can't watch them suffer. Optimus has his princess bonded to him. Chloe's not fighting with Jazz. Everything is perfect besides one glaring problem. Me! It was my fault that Optimus and I broke up. And now… it's led to fighting among the Autobots and soldiers. We've forced you all to take sides! And you wouldn't have to if I wasn't so… stupid! Get me off of base. Please. That's all I ask. I can blend in, disappear without a trace. Decepticons can't track me. Nor can the Autobots. Just let me go. So I don't ruin anything else," Alexis pleaded. Once again, she was quickly in tears as passion flooded her words. It was clear that she meant every one.

Lennox was left speechless. He took the girl into his arms, holding her as she cried. But her words echoed though his mind. She wasn't acting like a normal Xyleon? It didn't matter though. He couldn't leave her to suffer like this. He rubbed her back, running his other hand through her hair.

"If that is what you want… but consider this: what will Chloe do when she finds out you're gone?" Will asked. It was obvious that Alexis hadn't told Chloe… or anyone else for that matter.

"Why do you think I haven't told her? I'm not going to tell her… I'm trying to protect her… Can you do that for me?" Alexis practically whispered in his ear.

"Alexis, this is probably gonna sound really cliché, but Chloe is better protected when you're around. She doesn't trust anyone like she trusts you. And the fact that you two are friends means more to her than almost anything else in the world." Lennox replied, his voice just as quiet as Alexis', "She cherishes your friendship and, if you go, it will shatter her."

"What CAN I do then? Honestly, she's shattered no matter what I do! Slag it," Alexis moaned. She pulled in on herself; her nails digging into the skin of her arm. "I will not be simply something Prime can own. But I'm miserable here. I'm tired, I'm cold, I'm hungry. I just want to be somewhere safe. I want those I care about safe." Lennox sighed, knowing he was fighting, not just an impossible one, but an uphill battle, one that he couldn't possible win.

"Alexis, moving you off-base with no one noticing isn't a simple matter. If anyone is going to notice the most it will be Chloe." Lennox warned the trembling girl, "I will try to sort something out but allow me to sleep on it first. I'll give you my decision in the morning. That ok?"

"Yeah, I think I can wait for a bit." Alexis replied, frowning slightly at Will's answer. No sooner than the soldier had turned back to the paperwork on the desk, Alexis bolted out of the office and straight towards Chloe's quarters, slowing her pace so she didn't draw unwanted attention to herself and the decision she had just made.

'For better or for worse...' Alexis thought darkly as she slowly approached her friend's quarters. Her hands began to feel cold yet sweaty as she keyed in the passcode. Alexis took a deep breath to steady herself and opened the door at the sound of the code acceptance. Nerves began to take over the Xyleon as she cautiously entered Chloe's room; her ears were greeted with the sound of soft breathing.

"Oh Chloe, I wish I could stay but..." Alexis whispered as she saw the peacefully slumbering form of her friend. She carefully crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed, gently brushing aside a stray strand of jet black hair that stroked the human's neck. Chloe murmured something inaudible and pulled her legs in slightly closer to her body. Alexis sighed, allowing herself to relax slightly. She looked around the dark room before standing. She only paused briefly when she reached the door. She opened it quietly and disappeared down the hallway. The only question in her mind was where would she stay? She avoided her quarters since they branched on Optimus'. And spending time with Chloe would only hurt. Just before the door had closed, the human techno-organic's optics flickered online slightly and a very groggy Chloe sat up. Her brow furrowed as she saw the door click shut.