I do not own any part of the Transformers franchise. Transformers belongs to it's sole producers, companies and franchises.

Enjoy! All reviews are welcome!

XOXOX

"Carly?" Optimus quietly asked while he knocked on the door of her room within the first air area.

"It's okay Optimus…I'm awake." Carly told him while she sat up.

"You're looking a lot better then you were this morning. You almost look like your old self." Optimus replied as he sat down next to her and took her into his arms.

"Hm…I'm starting to slowly feel like myself again. The pain is slowly starting to go away…"

"That's a good thing. I'm glad to hear that. However, there's still just a little more you need to endure." Optimus explained as Carly sat back, away from him as she confusingly looked into his blue eyes wondering what he meant.

"I had Ratchet scan your Energon levels while you were sleeping. They were high, however…just not where they need to be…" Optimus began.

While momentarily breaking their conversation, Optimus brought his arms out from around Carly and to the front of his chest. Without saying a word, Optimus brought the Matrix of Leadership out from within him.

"This is the final key to your transformation. This is the Matrix of Leadership, it will complete your transformation. While your Energon levels are high, they're just not high enough…with this, you will be fully transformed." Optimus explained.

Without even holding the Matrix of Leadership, it levitated above Optimus's hand as he controlled it. In bewilderment, Carly looked at the metal object as it levitated above Optimus's hand. He brought it closer to Carly, in which Carly couldn't help but to nervously run her finger down it as she noticed there was a blue glowing crystal inside of it. It was hard for her to even imagine that this metal object was going to give her life…as…a Transformer. She couldn't even begin to imagine, even though Optimus was sitting there explaining it to her.

"The Matrix of Leadership can not be found, it can only be given to someone worthy of its power. It is earned Carly, and by you becoming a Prime because of me…it's the only way to ignite your spark. Because you are now a Prime, because of your courage, compassion and bravery towards me…you have earned this Carly. You must be brave enough for me to use this on you to complete your transformation." Optimus replied as Carly just looked over at him with the same look she had on her face as she first looked at the Matrix of Leadership.

Could she do it? Could she let Optimus use the Matrix to complete her transformation? She didn't know. She had no idea. However, the only thing that she did know was that this had to be done no matter what. With that much Energon flowing inside her now, she knew she had to do something in order to keep her stable. And, she knew she had to let Optimus use the Matrix. She couldn't help but to think to herself as she nervously thought about how this was going to be her last time as a full blooded human being. Was she ready to face Optimus and the Matrix of Leadership?

She wished she could answer that question as she just lovingly stared over into Optimus's blue eyes in search for the right answer of what to do. She knew she loved him, she knew she wanted to be with him…but…did she want to be with him this much…this badly? She couldn't help but to think as she tenderly ran her hand across his arm to where she caressed Optimus's cheek with the palm of her hand. She looked into his blue eyes while she slowly leaned in to kiss him. And within just a few short seconds later, they pulled away as they both knew what had to be done.

"Come on Carly…its time." Optimus told her while he stood up and stuck his hand out for Carly to take. In which she did as she followed Optimus to Ratchet…the only Autobot not in the hanger.

"Ratchet, I'm surprised you are not in the hanger?" Optimus replied.

"Eh…"

"Well, I'm glad you're not. I need you here when I fuse the Matrix within Carly. I'm going to ignite her spark so that she will fully be one of us…and, I might need your medical expertise old friend…if…something should go wrong…"

"You know I will be right here Optimus." Ratchet explained as he looked down at Optimus.

While still holding the Matrix of Leadership in the air above his hand, Optimus turned towards Carly so that he was now facing her. With her hand nervously clutching onto her necklace, Carly looked over to Optimus with an unsure look on her face.

"You could always change your mind Carly…" Optimus sadly replied as Carly looked up at him as she lovingly ran her hand down his chest while she looked into his blue eyes.

How could she say no to him, Optimus Prime? She loved him, she knew that. And, by him coming into her life at a no more perfect time…she knew this is how things were suppose to be. Although as much as she was nervously scared out of her mind…she just somehow knew that she was suppose to be with Optimus. Granted she's never dated anyone else before in her life…but, she almost didn't care. It just sort of seemed like all this time searching, wondering even dreaming about the perfect guy just seemed to be over as she stood there staring at him. Looking into Optimus's eyes now as she stood there with his one arm wrapped around her lower back, she just knew he was the one. Although they were worlds apart, there was more then met the eye.

"Are you alright Carly?" Optimus couldn't help but to question as he noticed that Carly seemed to either be deep in thought, or out in deep space as she just looked like she was in some sort of a trance.

"I am now…now that I realize where I'm suppose to be…and…I know now that, that is with you." She replied.

With her hand pressed against Optimus's chest, she lovingly looked up into his blue eyes to where all he could do was to lean in and press his lips onto hers where he took her in his kiss. And while they kissed, while she was fully concentrating on him, ever so slowly he brought the Matrix closer to Carly. He figured that if she was now concentrating on their kiss, and on him…he figured it might be more of a distraction to her so that Optimus could fuse the Matrix within her.

And…he did just that.

And, as she passed out and nearly hit the floor from the power the Matrix had over her, Optimus caught her after he fused the Matrix within her. After gently lying her on the ground as the final transformation took place, Ratchet was close as he kept an eye on her…and, so was Optimus. He never left her side as she transformed. However, a little while later, Lennox was soon by her side as he passed by the area where Optimus, Ratchet and Carly were and saw what was going on.

"Major Lennox please, don't get too close…" Ratchet advised Lennox as Lennox listened to him.

Bewildered that this was even happening, Lennox stood there as close as he could get to Carly as he dumbfoundidly watched Carly transform into a Transformer. It wasn't seconds later when the transformation was completed and the Matrix of Leadership had ignited her spark within her. However, she was still in human form as she did not know how to change into anything just yet. The only thing that mattered was that her Energon levels were at 100% and that she was now stable, which was a good thing. And as her eyes slowly started to flutter open, the three of them knelt down by Carly's side as they awaited for her to fully gain consciousness.

"Optimus?" Carly softly asked as she finally started to come to.

"I'm here Carly…I'm here." Optimus told her as he laid down over her as his one arm draped across her body as he laid next to her.

"Your Energon levels are where they need to be. You should be fully operational by morning." Ratchet explained as he looked down at her.

She smiled back at Ratchet to acknowledge what Ratchet had just told her. Then, it had just literally hit her what had just happened. Optimus fused the Matrix within her and now, she was a Transformer.

"You couldn't have even let me know what you were doing Optimus!" Carly angrily questioned as she practically shot up from the floor and pinned Optimus underneath her…wondering why he never said anything as to what he was doing.

"I'm sorry Carly! I didn't want you to fight me when I fused the Matrix within you. I only did what I thought was best for you!" Optimus explained as he grabbed her and took her into custody within his arms, in which she no longer fought him.

"Oh, I'm sorry Optimus…it just took me by surprise…that's all." She told him as she brought some hair back behind her ears as she looked into his blue eyes.

"Understandable, and I am sorry for not explaining what I was doing…"

"It's alright Optimus…" She reassured him as she brushed her lips lightly across the skin of his cheek. However, she quickly pulled away as she acted like something was terribly wrong.

"My job…I have to go to work in…8 hours! How am I going to walk into work like this!...as a Transformer!" Carly panicked as she just remembered that she had work in the morning.

"You can still go to work Carly. Nothing physically changed on you on the outside, inside yes…outside no. You can still live your life normally Carly…you are just one of us now…"

"That's going to be impossible!" Carly cried.

"You'll get used to it Carly, I promise." Optimus replied as Carly was still skeptical about how this was all going to work out.

"I know I will, but…I just need to be getting home if I am going to try to keep a normal life…"

"I understand…and, I will drive you home." Optimus told her while standing up from the ground and lending her a helping hand.

"I'm coming home with you Carly." Lennox told her while Optimus transformed into vehicle mode as Carly was kind of surprised by what Lennox just told her.

"What, why?" She asked as she couldn't help but to step back down after trying to climb into the cab as she wanted to be face to face Lennox.

"Because, you just became one of them! I think you need to have someone with you." Lennox told her as she found it rather odd that he suggested to stay with her.

"I'll be fine…Optimus will be there…"

"I'm afraid I won't be able to stay with you tonight Carly, just let Major Lennox stay with you…its alright." She heard Optimus say from behind her.

Skeptical, Carly looked back towards Optimus wondering why he wasn't able to stay with her tonight. Then, she figured it was important for him not to be able to stay, in which she just decided not to argue about it. At least Lennox was able to stay. She agreed that she needed someone with her and, if Optimus couldn't, then she was glad Lennox was able to. She thought to herself as the drive to Carly's house for some reason was rather quiet as no one really didn't say a word.

Actually, the entire ride was silent as Carly couldn't almost help but to be happy to step out of the cab. There was just an awkward silence for whatever reason that almost felt uncomfortable. Carly didn't know why there was an awkward silence, there just was. She thought to herself as she tried to figure out why the drive to her house was quiet as Optimus changed into his human form to say goodnight to her.

"Are you going to be okay without me?" Optimus questioned as he took her into his arms.

"I'll be fine…I have Will here, everything will be okay." She reassured him while she lovingly laid her head down on his chest, not wanting him to leave her.

"I know it will. I'm just sorry I won't be able to stay with you. There's just somewhere I have to go. However I will be here to pick you up in the morning to take you to work…then, you are mine for the rest of the day so that I can begin the training process with you." Optimus told Carly.

While standing there in his arms, Carly still couldn't believe that she was one of them. But what else she couldn't believe was that she had the Matrix inside of her. In a weird way, she almost felt weird and guilty for having the Matrix. However, it was all Optimus's decision to give Carly the Matrix. It was just that, she wasn't a Prime, hell she wasn't even truly one of them. The only thing that made her one of them was the Energon that Optimus supplied to her and well, the Matrix that gave her life as a Transformer. That was the only reason why and how she was even one of them. And, even still with the Matrix inside of her, even standing there in his arms…she just still couldn't believe any of this was happening.

"I still can't believe any of this happening…" Carly said while she looked up into Optimus's eyes.

"I've had my eye on you for a long time Carly…"

"Why…why me? No one has ever been remotely interested in the least and now, I'm with you and all this is happening. I don't get it Optimus…I've gone this long without being with anyone…now I'm with you and you're the best thing that's ever happened to me…and you're not even from this galaxy! I mean, I have to make myself not want you…or else…you're all I think about." Carly replied as she felt a tear escape from her eye.

"Because, our races are now united by a history long forgotten, and though we can never return life to our planet…fate has yielded its rewards…a new planet to call home. And like us, there's more to you then meets the eye. You honor us with your bravery Carly and…we will face the future together. And no matter what happens from here on out, no matter what happens…I promise you that when you look back, I will always be here." Optimus told her as he brushed his thumb against the skin of her cheeks as she practically melted into his arms.

With that, she didn't know what to say…she didn't even know how to respond to him. She just brushed her lips against his as she took Optimus in a kiss of her own. And not pulling away, he kissed her unconditionally as she felt him press his hand tighter against the small of her back. There was just no one like him on this planet, there was no one…and even though this was never how Carly pictured things…she wouldn't change anything, as fate has yielded a reward from all the bullshit that Carly has lived through…in which she was rewarded with Optimus, Optimus Prime. The best thing, the best gift she could ever hope for.

"I love you Optimus. You will always be my best friend, for you know too much." Carly replied as she pulled away from him while she looked up into his blue eyes.

"As you are with me. You are the only human I will ever trust…and, no matter what happens…I will always love you too. Now, go on and get some rest before work tomorrow." Optimus told her as they finally pulled away from each other.

Even though Major Lennox was already inside, Carly stood at the bottom of the stairs that led up to her front door as she saw Optimus off. After watching him transform back into semi mode, she stood there with her arms folded across her chest while she heard the sound of the engine start. Before finally leaving, he flashed the headlights as she waved goodbye.