I DO NOT OWN TRANSFORMERS

Optimus couldn't believe his audio receptors.

"Did Lumina really just say goodbye?!" his mind raced.

He hadn't had a chance to speak before Lumina had left and so Optimus remained rooted to the spot, staring into empty space. He felt a feeling of emptiness and yearned so much to go after her, but his thoughts were interrupted when the others came home, battered and weary.

"You alright Prime?" Ratchet asked the despondent mech.

Optimus didn't say a word, let alone look at the medabot. The silence crept on until the boss bot had everyone's attention.

"Optimus, where's Lumina?" Bumblebee asked.

Hearing her name Prime heaved a heavy sigh and said, "She's gone..." "Gone?!" everyone gasped.

"Yes, she left only a short while ago."

The others stared with widened optics at their leader who started to cross the room.

"Well then, we need to go after her!!!" BB declared, but Prime stopped him.

"No! She needs time...just leave her alone."

Bee's spirit sank and the yellow mech lowered his head.

The effect of Lumina's absence was evident among the autobots. Bumblebee wasn't even very cheery, Ratchet griped less, Bulkhead's paintings were sad, and even Prowl seemed more silent than before. Optimus was the one bot taking it the worst. He was always in either a depressed mood or in his self-accusatory mode. Things seemed grim and nothing could lift Prime's mood.

Days turned into weeks and the weather got cooler as the months progressed. Soon the first snow fell and things hadn't changed much, except now the autobots could cope with their loss. It was early November and Sari was all hyped up about the coming holidays.

"I can't wait!!! Thanskgiving, and then Christmas isn't too far off either," Sari squealed in excitement.

Bumblebee let out a hollow chuckle and switched lanes. Sari was puzzled by BB's response. He usually was excited at the mere mention of Christmas.

"Sorry, Sari. Just not in much of a festive mood, if ya get what I mean."

The yellow vehicle pulled into the lot in front of the Autobot base. Sari jumped out and slipped on a patch of ice and hit the ground sliding. Bee transformed and ran to her.

"You ok?" he asked, trying to stifle a laugh. It seemed that the old Bumblebee was still in there somewhere.

Prowl walked among the icy sidewalks, looking at all the shops filled with Thanksgiving items and other things soon to come.

"Such strange customs here," he mumbled.

The ninja bot peered inside a side street cafe window and near the front counter stood a giant stuffed turkey handing out flyers.

"This only further proves my point." Prowl looked one last time and went towards a different store.

Bulkhead was almost back to his original self and now spent most of his time trying to cheer up Optimus.

"C'mon Prime, just at least try and watch the movie. It's supposed to be a comedy on Thanksgiving," Bulkster pleaded to the silent red and blue mech.

"Sorry, Bulkhead. I'm just not in the comical mood. Maybe some other time," Optimus announced, before heading out the door.

Walking through the quiet streets, Prime remembered times when they were happier.

*Flashback*

Lumina laughed at the sight before her. Optimus stood before the kids of Blackriver Elementary School, being bombarded with questions on this event called "Career Day". The red and blue mech was flustered at all the questions and Lumina could tell, which made it all the more funnier. She stood off to the side, just really listening and waiting for the moment she was needed. Optimus looked at her pleadingly and she smiled and came over to calm the crowd down.

"Hey, lady bot. Are you an autobot like him?" one little boy asked.

"What's your name?!" another child called.

"Can we see you transform?" a girl chimed in.

Silence loomed and there was a series of, "Yeah! Transform, transform!!!"

Lumina frowned at all the hyperactive kids, but reluctantly transformed into her alt. mode.

"Ooh," the childeren gushed.

They swarmed around her begging for rides and getting a closer look. Lumina inwardly groaned an opened he passenger car door, where several kids tried to fit in one at a time.

"This is going to be a long day..." she sighed. Optimus chuckled and continued to watch the jamboree.

*End of Flashback*

Optimus half-smiled at the memory and continued on his way. Cars passed by and people as well, but the boss bot was distracted by his own thoughts. "Why can't I make this empty feeling inside go away? Do I really miss her that much? The others have coped with it, but I seem wrapped up in my own little cocoon of depression. I just wish it would stop!!!" Prime mentally screamed.

Sighing again, Optimus ignored the feeling and tried to bury it with other thoughts, but all was lost because the only things that came to mind were memories of her. "Aughh, this just won't stop...*sigh* I can't stop myself and if this keeps up, I'll go crazy..."