Hi everybody! Sorry about the wait for an update. I have been trying to decide how I want this next chapter to go, and I keep changing my mind! My poor addled brain can't take it! On with the show!

Italics : Thinking

It had been a few earth weeks since Optimus had taken Elita on their date. He had been away on a mission to stop some Cons and had been gone over a week. Elita spent the time going on a few drives with Bee (Optimus had asked him to stay behind and keep an optic on her), relaxing in the rec room, or just thinking. More often than not, her thoughts turned to a certain red and blue mech. She didn't know what it was about him, but it seemed that every time she was near him, or even thought about him, her spark would flutter; but when she kissed his cheek plate, her spark actually jumped. She was seriously beginning to wonder if there was something wrong with her spark. "Maybe I should go see Ratchet"; she thought. Her processor made up, she made her way to Ratchet's medbay. The door hissed open, and Elita saw Ratchet across the room, back plates turned to her.

"If you two processor challenged pit spawned imbeciles don't leave my medbay this instant, I'll-" Ratchet turned around, wrench in hand, to throw at the offending bots, only to see Elita standing there, mouth plates agape, fear in her optics. "I am so sorry, Elita. I thought it was Sunstreaker and Sideswipe again. They have been in here several times today, wanting me to fix whatever dent or scratch they get on their precious armor! It's enough to drive me crazier than Blitzwing! Anyway, what brings you to see me today?" He helped Elita get on the berth nearest him.

"I think something might be wrong with my spark, Ratchet. It's been fluttering a lot, recently," she said. She felt a slight tingle as Ratchet scanned her.

"Open your breastplates for me, please. I would like to check your spark chamber, just to make sure nothing is wrong inside", he said. Elita obliged, and soon her bright blue spark shone from within her chassis. "Nothing seems out of order here", Ratchet said. "What exactly are you doing when you feel the fluttering?

Elita blushed a little, turning her helm away from Ratchet. "I was thinking…" she whispered.

Ratchet raised a brow ridge. "Oh? And what were you thinking about?" He asked, hiding a knowing smile.

"Optimus" Elita whispered shyly.

"Well Elita; there is absolutely nothing wrong with you that I can see. Just make sure you are getting enough recharge and energon, and you will be fine. Now if there is nothing else, I have work I need to finish", he said turning quickly so she couldn't see him smile. It wouldn't be long now, and his leader would have his spark mate back. He was sure of it.

"Thanks Ratchet", Elita said as she closed her breastplates and hopped off the berth. She left the medbay and began to walk to her quarters. As she rounded a corner, she hit something hard, knocking her back a few feet onto her backside. "Owww" she moaned, rubbing her helm. She looked up, and once the blurriness in her optics cleared, she saw a very familiar pair of blue legs.

"Elita! I'm so sorry! Are you all right?" Optimus asked worriedly as he helped her to her feet.

"Y-yes, Optimus, I-I'm fine"; she stammered, feeling the familiar fluttering in her spark again.

"My crew and I just got back from our mission, and I wanted to see if you would like to have some energon with me this evening. You weren't in your quarters, and Bee said he saw you heading toward the medbay. Is everything all right? Why did you need to see Ratchet?" he asked worriedly.

"N-nothing's wrong, Optimus, I-I just had a checkup, that's all." She whispered. Her spark was fluttering so much she thought it would jump right out of her chassis! What was going on? Why does this only happen around him?

"Elita? Will you join me for some energon?" Optimus asked softly, shaking Elita from her thoughts.

"Yes, I-I would like that"; she said softly, taking the arm Optimus offered her. They made their way through the corridors until they stopped outside Optimus' quarters. "What are we doing here?" she squeaked. "I thought we were going to the rec room".

"Some of my men are relaxing after a difficult mission, and they can get a bit rowdy. Nothing a lady like you should be exposed to. Besides, I thought you might like a more….intimate setting" he rumbled lowly. Optimus keyed in his access code and escorted Elita inside. He led her to his enormous couch, and quickly procured a bottle of high-grade given to him by Wheeljack (If Prowl knew he had it he would glitch!), and two empty cubes. Sitting beside Elita, he poured some into a cube and handed it to her. After he poured some for himself, he set the bottle down and, after taking a sip, turned to face Elita. In the few moments before he spoke, the events of the past few weeks replayed themselves in his processor.

That one evening I shared with Elita was wonderful. I haven't felt like that since I was a young bot on Cybertron, courting her the first time! She was so beautiful! The setting sunlight reflecting in her armor was almost enough to still my spark. I wished we could stay there forever, just the two of us. When she kissed my cheek plate that night, I thought I was going to pull a Prowl, and glitch, right there in the hall! I hated to have to leave her for the mission, but those blasted Cons had to be stopped. I must admit, though, I had to use every bit of my self control to focus on the mission, when all my fool processor wanted to focus on was her! Once we finished, I wasted no time in getting back to base, and my Elita. Several of my men were constantly yelling for me to slow down; the loudest being Ironhide! Once back at base, I headed straight for her quarters, despite being tired from the mission and long drive back. When she didn't answer her door, I searched the rest of the base for her. I was becoming frantic with worry because I couldn't find her. I wondered if the mission was just a front to get me away from the base so the Cons could get to Elita again. I was just about to com Prowl to ask him to check the cameras for anything suspicious, when I ran into Bumblebee in the hall. He told me he had seen Elita go towards the medbay. Feeling like the weight of Cybertron lifted off my shoulders, I ran for the medbay, wondering why Elita would have gone there.

"Please don't think me too forward, Elita, but I must say this. I missed you while I was gone" he said quietly.

"It's alright, Optimus. I-I missed you, too", she whispered.

Just then, an idea pricked at the back of Optimus' processor. She had kissed him on the cheek plates. Should he return the gesture? He wanted to, he knew that, but how would she feel about it? He didn't want to frighten her away, but having her this close it was hard to resist! Optimus made up his processor. He was going to try it, and hopefully she wouldn't be upset with him. He looked over at her, and seeing she was looking away from him, he saw his chance. Leaning over, he was just about to kiss her cheek plate when Elita turned her helm quickly.

"Optimus, I- mmph!" Their lips met unexpectedly, and all thoughts were forgotten at that moment. Optimus reached over and gently caressed her cheek plate as the kiss continued for just a brief moment more. He used all of his legendary willpower and forced himself to pull away. Optimus was a bit worried. He hadn't meant for this to happen, and he only hoped he didn't frighten poor Elita. What must she think of him? Would she walk away from him? Would he lose her all over again, all because of an accident?

A/N: Sorry this is so short. I'll try to make the next chapter longer. So, what do you guys think? How will Elita react to the kiss? You'll find out in the next chapter!