-1Regarding Sideswipe Chapter 7

A/N: You might wanna go back and read the first six chapters again… I know I had to before I wrote this chapter. I know it's been awhile since I last updated and I apologize but my brain got stuck on Can I Have a Refund and I couldn't keep the two apart in my head. However, things have slowed down on that fic, so I'm able to return to this one. Anyway… hope you like this chapter and please review. Thanks.

Prime's POV

It's been almost an earth month since Sideswipe regained his memories and Sunstreaker had been released for active duty once more. I've watched the twins, watched how their recoveries intertwined with one another and, for the first time, came to realize that they really are dependant, one on the other, for all things.

I've also watched Prowl, seen the way he looks at them both; watched as he's had to send them out into two more battles just this week alone, his logical reasoning telling him that he has no choice while his Spark berates him for putting them in harms way. What he feels for them both is tearing him apart. Has been since he walked away from them almost two weeks ago.

I didn't hear the conversation, but I heard about it. It was Sideswipe who came to me, asking me why it had to be this way, why I wouldn't talk with Prowl, tell him he didn't have to make this choice. The thing is, I couldn't do it. I couldn't tell Prowl to go back to them because I hadn't done anything better. Prowl and I have always understood our positions and we have always understood that the fraternization rules are in place for a reason; to protect them as much as ourselves.

Lately, though, Sunstreaker has become more sullen and withdrawn again and the others in the base are staying as far away from him as possible. Sideswipe watches him, his optics sad and haunted as he does so. I know what he's thinking because I'm thinking the same things. If he's pushed too much harder, Sunstreaker's going to break again and nothing will save him.

So I guess it's come down to this; I have no other choice. I have to talk to Prowl. I have to find out why he walked away from them and why he's letting his decision tear him apart so much that he can't see that Sunstreaker is just as miserable as he is, if not more so…

Prowl's POV

It took me seven months before I was ready to admit my feelings to him… and then that night, I just couldn't do it and instead of telling him I loved him, I told him that we couldn't keep doing this, that I had to let him go. I saw the hurt in his optics, saw the pain there but he didn't fight me on it. Instead, he rested his hand on the side of my face, told me he loved me, told me he was sorry, and then walked away. I almost wish he'd fought me instead. It would have hurt less.

I know I broke his spark when I did that to him, but what was I supposed to do? I'd promised myself I wouldn't interfere with him or Sideswipe. No, I hadn't been lying to Sides when I told him I could love him as I loved his twin, but I'd watched them, I knew nothing should ever come between them and I was doing just that. I had no choice but to let them both go.

And I hate myself for it. I send them into battle after battle, because of who they are and what they do, but inside, it's tearing me to pieces to watch them go and come back hurting and bleeding. Sunstreaker more so than his twin because Sunny is the protector, make no mistake. It's why he finds himself in Ratchet's care more often than his twin. And at times, Ratchet, like myself, hates him for it.

But what am I to do now? I see him, a month after I walked away from him, and he's like that old part of himself that we all saw before he broke and killed those 'cons and Cliffjumper. Anything could set him off right now and we'd all be in trouble. Did I cause this? Has my leaving hurt him that much? And if so, why didn't he fight to keep me?

Knock, knock.

I look up from my desk as the door to my office opens and Optimus walks inside, closing the door behind him. He sits across from me and neither of us says a word, the silence more telling than words in that moment.

"He's going to break soon," Optimus tells me quietly after a moment. "I need to understand why you left them."

"Because it was the right thing to do," I tell him. "Nothing should come between them. They are bondmates, they're twins, they belong together and I didn't fit."

"You can't honestly believe that," Optimus replied softly. "Sideswipe begged me to come after you when it first happened, told me to make you see what it was doing to them both and I wouldn't. I told him we had to respect your decision, but now I wonder if in doing so, we haven't made things worse."

"We have rules against this, Optimus. You and I put them in place for this very reason. Yes, I love Sunstreaker. I can admit that to you if nothing else, but I won't put his life or either one of our positions at risk for that. He's a front line warrior and I am an officer. He's under my command. He put his job at risk once to save me and Sideswipe. I won't let him do it again." Optimus is watching me now, and that look he is giving me is both calculating and understanding at the same time. There is silence between us again before he finally speaks.

"There are so few of us left now, and with the destruction of the All Spark, there is no way for us to produce new life. One day, we will be no more. I think, perhaps, it is time for us to take a hint, so to speak, from our human friends."

"What do you mean?" I ask him quietly.

"If you have found love again, Prowl, then do not let anyone or anything stand in the way of keeping it… of keeping them." I am too much in shock to say anything to him as he stands and leaves my office. After a few minutes pass, I realize I'm still sitting there, trying to think of what to say.

But there isn't anything to say… because he's right. I know he's right.

I just have to convince Sunstreaker and Sideswipe of the same…

TBC… Yeah, it's a short chapter but I'm trying to work back into it so please be patient. Thanks and remember to review!