I own nothing. Filler chapter is filler. Anywho, had a b! of a time trying to get this to work how I wanted it to, and I'm still not totally satisfied, but, yeah, this is definitely an in between, explanation, fluffy, cream tasting filler chapter. Please don't hate me…

Time units;

Astroseconds = 8.33 sec

Klicks = 33.2 sec

Breems = 9.96 min

Joors = 13.44 hr

Cycles =3.486 days

Orns =20.916 days

Deca-cycles = 34.86 days

Vorns = 194.700616016427 years

Mega-Vorns = 194,700.6160164271 years

--

(Autobot base, Two Orns and Two Days Later)

"Thank you."

The words startled Bella so badly she toppled off the stool she was standing on. Landing on her bottom, she turned to see who had spoken only to find Sunstreaker staring down at her with a spark of something unreadable in his optics.

"Wha--?" she asked intelligently.

"You did say you were going with me to rescue my brother, correct?" While the question was seemingly innocent, the darker tone in which it was asked betrayed the truth of what would happen were she to back out now.

"Yes, I'll help. Wheeljack showed me how to unlock the doors." Searching for something to say, she continued, "What's Sideswipe like?"

The sorrowful god's optics softened, then seemed to stare at something not quite there as he replied, "Sideswipe is good. He's an irresponsible, relentless, unapologetic prankster who, more often that not, gets me blamed for his games. He's funny as Pit, slightly retarded, and able to sweet-talk walls to move. He's a demon in the berth, and whomever he brings back to our quarters, we share. He is my brother."

Bella watched as he seemed to tremble, afraid of this, afraid of that, and said the only thing she could, "We'll get your brother back. It'll be okay."

The softness, the slight sorrow that she had heard ('Was it really only eight days ago?') when Sunstreaker woke her after their long drive had risen to his voice as he thanked her, and this time she had the pleasure of watching it spread across her face like a streak of sunlight

"Sunstreaker?" Bella began, cocking her head to the side slightly as she continued, "You said Sideswipe is a, um, a 'demon in the berth'. Do you and your brother...?"

"Interface?" finished an amused Sunstreaker, "Yes. Frequently. Why?"

"Well," Bella wracked her brain for an excuse and thanked whatever deity was listening as she queried, "I was just wondering if your relationship with him is more of a sibling relationship or a --"

"You want advice on what to do with Edward," guessed Sunstreaker.

Bella nodded dumbly.

Sunstreaker sighed, but answered, "He's an aft. He doesn't respect you. Maybe he really does love you, and maybe you even love him, and maybe he would give everything he is for you, but he doesn't respect you. He thinks you need all the protection you can get, and maybe you do. Maybe he's right. Maybe you will die without his help, however, the fact of the matter is that his methods of going about protecting you are beyond an insult to your Earthling intelligence. They are an insult to who you are, to what you are, and to where you come from. If I was you, I'd leave him."

Bella looked down at the table, Sunstreaker's answer squashing any thoughts she had of getting back with Edward. Sunstreaker was right. He didn't respect her. He didn't trust her to know what to do, and to ask for help if she didn't. He didn't --

"However," Sunstreaker continued, sighing as he seemed to look right through her, "if Sideswipe ever acted like that, I'd give him one Pit of a beat down, probably smash his cranial unit against a wall a few times, and then... give him another chance."

"Wha--?" Bella's eyes connected with Sunstreaker's aqua optics, searching for the answer she hoped and prayed was there.

"You do love him. I can see it when you talk about leaving him. The idea hurts. You're angry, and rightfully so, but you love him."

Sunstreaker, lifted Bella to his face, cupping her body gently in a golden palm, and murmured, "Bella, you'll regret it for the rest of your life if you let him go now. Don't make the same mistake I did. Don't ever let him go."

Bella smiled softly, then giggled, "I think that's the first time you've ever called me Bella."

Sunstreaker grinned sadly, petting her head and back, and promised, "It's a one-time thing, so don't read too much into it, 'La."

Bella felt tears well up in her eyes, and made no attempt to stop them as she hugged Sunstreaker's thumb, whispering her thanks to him. In this way they comforted each other until Bella finally fell asleep, her body no more willing to move than her mind was ready to think.

Sunstreaker smiled, returned Bella to her quarters, and tucked her into her bed, sighing, "Sleep well, little sister. Tomorrow, we attack."

--

(Somewhere at the Bottom of the Atlantic Ocean)

"Lord Megatron," began Shockwave, approaching his master.

"Yes, my pet?" came the purred reply, Megatron not bothering to stand from his throne, a seat made of Cybertronian metals whose back was a simple, yet elegant Decepticon insignia. Twelve steps led up to the pedestal upon which sat the warlord's throne. Shockwave remained at the bottom.

"I received a warning from the Fort Skyk Mental Institution. It seems some cannibalistic mech by the name of Cybertock has escaped and was last seen stealing an Autobot ship from the station in Kaon. While no coordinates could be garnered, it seemed he was headed in Earth's general direction. Having left Kaon almost an orn ago, Cybertron Command finally deemed it fitting to inform us of the situation," Shockwave growled, wanting to see that someone was punished for this grievous oversight. "My Lord, what do we do?"

Megatron sat, contemplating, then replied, "We wait. And protect ourselves. All patrols are to be done in trines. All mechs are to COM in once a breem at minimum. All mechs are to be alerted immediately of this... development."

"Yes, my Lord," agreed Shockwave, bowing to his leader.

"And Shockwave?" continued Megatron, undeterred by his general's apparent readiness to leave.

"My Lord?" For a faceless mech, he managed to convey an astounding amount of confusion.

"You, my precious pet, are not to leave my side until this problem has been dealt with."

Had he been able to, Shockwave would have been grinning from audio to audio. As it was, he mentally patted himself on the back for bringing this to Megatron's attention, and climbed up to stand beside his master, answering, "Yes, my Lord."

--

(The Northern Pole of Neptune)

A small, metallic, meteor-like object sailed unnoticed by, the creature within grinning madly.

"I'll be home soon, my love."

--

(The Autobot Base, The Next Day)

Bella stood in the doorway, watching Edward check the readouts on various screens. He didn't look like he knew she was there, but she knew he did.

"I love you," Bella began, walking in.

Edward's head shot up, amber eyes meeting her own in a pleading gaze.

"Bella, I'm so so-"

"Don't. Not until I'm done. Just listen, okay?" requested Bella, watching him nod silently.

She sighed, continuing, "I love you. I would do anything to protect you. Anything in the world, in any world, in any universe, to protect you. And I know you'd do the same. However, I'm an adult, Edward, and whether you like it or not, I am going to make my own decisions. This isn't nineteen eighteen, and I'm not a submissive woman. I know my rights, and I know how to ask for help if and when I need it."

She strode forward, approaching Edward as she walked down the small set of twelve stairs that had been installed by Wheeljack at the side of the door to let the humans walk freely in and out.

Standing nearly face-to-face, she reached out and cupped his marble cheek, whispering, "Right now, what I really need is for you to respect that, and to respect me. I'm not as fragile as you seem to think I am. I'm not a Cybertronically advanced superhuman, but I'm not weak. I'm not stupid. I'm not afraid, not anymore. Edward, I love you, I really do, with everything I am, but I need time. I... I feel like we had one date and all of a sudden we're too deeply in love to notice anything else."

She brought his face closer to hers, he gave no resistance to her tugging, and breathed, "We need to restart. To take it slow, get to know each other first, as friends, as people, and then we can get back together. Now you can talk."

He felt the familiar burning in the back of his throat, but ignored it as he answered, "You're right. You're absolutely right, and you always have been. I... I never even realized that I was making your decisions for you. I never asked if you wanted to meet my family. I never asked if you wanted to go to the dance. I never even asked your favorite color. I'm... so sorry, Bella. Please, I can't exist without you. Give me one more chance, please?"

Bella smiled, kissed his forehead, and replied, "It's turquoise."

And, for the first time in a long time, Edward smiled, too.