Hey, I'm back again! Well, I don't have much to say thank you to all of you reviews and readers who've read this story and giving me plenty of feedback. I'm truly grateful for all of the positive feedback from you guys as well as asking me to update asap, so I'm dedicating this chapter to you guys!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Transformers Prime or the extra characters in this story except for my OC's and this story.
The sound of someone of footsteps filled our audio receptors causing us to pull away to see Saturn, Comet, Blaster and Astro standing behind us. I could tell that they wanted to join in the hug with us and I stretched out my arm as a sign to join our family moment. They smiled and ran over towards us as they joined our embrace with bitter smiles. Sighing contentedly, I cringed at the thought of having to go down to Unicron's very dark core and stop him with some power I've got absolute no idea we've got not knowing if we'll make it out of there again.
"So…what are we going to do about our destiny?" Astro asked timidly since he is squashed between all of us. I cringed at being reminded of that, but I knew it was going to come around eventually.
"I think we should head out as soon as possible, preferably tonight, but that's just me." Blaster suggested calmly, but protests soon followed.
"No! I need at least one more day to spend time with Bee before we go. Please, Phoenix!" Saturn begged and she literally begged me on her knees with, as the humans would say 'puppy eyes'.
"I agree with Saturn. We need at least one more day to spend time with our friends before we go." Comet agreed with a nod of his head.
"I guess, but we can't delay otherwise the Matrix might lose its hold on Unicron before we get down to his core to destroy him." Meteor reminded us sternly and I nodded my head in agreement.
"So, it's settled. We'll leave tomorrow at 6 p.m.-" I started, but Saturn interrupted me.
"7:50 p.m." I glared at Saturn in annoyance for interrupting me.
"6:30-"
"8:30."
"7:00."
"8:45."
"7:30."
"9:15."
"How about 8 p.m.? Is that going to work for your schedule, ma'am?" I asked her sarcastically and Saturn thought for a moment.
"Make it 8:15, and then we'll have a deal." Saturn concluded matter-of-factly.
"Deal." I stated exasperatedly, but I knew that she just wanted to spend as much time with Bee and the other Autobots as much as possible.
"Fine with us," the boys responded with shrugs of their shoulders and we all stood up to stretch our limbs, in addition to go tell the others. Silently, we walked back downstairs to tell Optimus about our time for departure. I found Optimus speaking with Ironhide, Ratchet and Jazz in the Common Room in hushed tones, but it looked as if Optimus was blushing the slightest bit. He's so cute when he blushes! I thought with a small smile on my face, but that soon faded away when I realized that I might never get to see him smile or blush again after tomorrow.
"Optimus," I called and all four mechs looked up at the sound of my voice. "We've decided that we'll leave tomorrow at 8:15 p.m." I told him and he nodded his head with an emotionless expression. Jazz elbowed Prime in the ribs who gave him a scathing glare, Ratchet sighed in annoyance as Ironhide shoved Optimus forward in my direction bumping him into me. I nearly fell, but luckily, Optimus kept me from losing my balance and for some reason I had the nagging suspicion that these mechs were up to something.
"Okay, I'll bite. What are you mechs up to?" I asked cutting right to the chase.
"Optimus, here has something he wants to say to you," Ironhide grunted moodily. Optimus just stared at the ground uncomfortably and I looked at him curiously giving him my full attention.
"Yes?" Ratchet growled and threatened Prime with a wrench he seemingly pulled out of nowhere. I swear, where does Ratchet keep all of these wrenches?
"Do you want me to ask her, Prime?" Ratchet asked angrily.
"Phoenix, would you like to…um…go out for a drive tomorrow?" Optimus asked and I nodded my head smiling brightly.
"Sure, what time?" I asked curiously.
"Um…around 6:00?" Optimus asked me shyly and I nodded my head in agreement.
"Okay. It's a date, then." I stated with a giggle at Optimus's flustered faceplates. I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, and then I twirled on my heel to leave the Common Room, which surprisingly became empty while we were talking.
"Phoenix?" Optimus called grabbing my wrist preventing me from leaving. I turned around to ask him what it only to be pulled into a soft embrace from Optimus was. I melted into his warm and gentle embrace resting my head against his chest listening to the strong, but faint hum of his spark. Reluctantly, I pulled away so I could take the children home, but a single tear slide out of my optic catching Optimus's attention and as a response, he gently wiped it away. Sighing shakily, I just stood there and let him caress my faceplate with his large and gentle servos as they wiped away the remaining coolant from my optics.
"Hey, Phoenix-wow, oops, um, am I interrupting something?" Bulkhead asked flustered from walking with very bad timing. As soon as Bulkhead accidently announced his presence, Optimus pulled his hands away from my face and blushed furiously as he looked away from me. I sighed sadly, as I turned my attention towards Bulkhead who wore an apologetic expression.
"Yeah, Bulkhead?" I asked softly and I tried to give him at least a weak smile, but it looked more like a grimace, instead. He rubbed the back of his head and I could tell that he was very sorry about interrupting our little moment.
"Um…well, since its Friday the kids wanted to know if they could have a sleepover here at base. They all called their parents and they said they were all going to stay at Mrs. Darby's house. We wanted to know if you'd like to join us along with Karina and Cathy would like to join us," Bulkhead stated sheepishly. I thought about it and nodded in response as I turned to Optimus, who had finally managed to get himself under control, if we could stay as well.
"I believe that is a good idea, Bulkhead. They may stay as well," Optimus answered impassively.
"Yeah, well, where are they all going to sleep, Optimus? The base is already crowded as it is." Ratchet demanded Optimus causing me to jump, since I was pretty sure it was just me, Optimus and Bulkhead in the room.
":I'll share my room with Saturn if that's okay with you Optimus and Phoenix.:" Bumblebee suggested nervously and I stared deep into his optics to see that his intentions are pure.
"It's fine with me," I said with a shrug of my shoulders and then all optics were on Optimus. Wait a minute…
"Were you eavesdropping on us, Bee?" I asked with a raised optic ridge and Bee scratched the back of his head in embarrassment as his wings twitched nervously.
":A little, but it was the children's idea!:" Bumblebee exclaimed pointing towards the hallway where they were most likely hiding.
"Bumblebee, I trust that no harm will come from you sharing a room with Saturn, but you must be careful not to harm her." Optimus warned him sternly and Bumblebee's optics lit up with happiness at his decision. Optimus watched as Bee ran off to tell Saturn with worried optics and I placed a hand on his arm to get his attention.
"Hey, don't worry, I'm sure Bee wouldn't do anything to Saturn at night. I'm more worried about him than Saturn since Bee is so full of innocence and there are moments when Saturn can get a little carried away." I reassured him and he tensed at that last part. I face palmed and sighed in frustration.
"Your brothers, Astro and Blazer can share a room with the Twins if they want," Optimus suggested and I nodded my head in agreement because for some reason, the Terror Twins and those two somehow managed to be close friends.
"Comet and Meteor can bunk in with me if it's okay with Optimus." Bulkhead exclaimed with excitement and at Optimus's nod, ran off to go tell them.
"So…where am I bunking with tonight?" I asked curiously and Optimus stiffened as he thought for a while.
"Did I hear that you're letting all of the youngster's sleepover, tonight is that correct?" Ironhide demanded angrily and wearily with a pouting Chromia by his side.
"Yes, is that a problem?" Optimus asked confusedly and Chromia looked at me sympathetically.
"Where's Phoenix going to sleep? All the other rooms are taken along with roommates already," Ironhide asked with a devious smirk and I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.
"I'm still deciding, Ironhide," Optimus retorted with his optics narrowed dangerously.
"I've got a suggestion. Why not let her bunk in with you for the night?" Ironhide asked smugly and my cheeks heated up at the thought of sharing a room with him. Optimus's face changed many different shades of red and pink at Ironhide's 'suggestion'.
"Well, there's really no other place she can recharge in, Optimus, unless you want her to recharge on the floor, that is." Chromia put in gently and Optimus nodded.
"Would you like to recharge in my quarters with me tonight, Phoenix?" Optimus asked shyly.
"Sure, I don't mind." I told him gently and he lead me towards his quarters leaving behind a snickering Ironhide and a giggling Chromia. We stopped at a massive door as Optimus punched in a few keys onto a padlock allowing us to enter into his gray one berth room. Optimus and I locked eyes with each other, and if we were humans, we would've 'sweat dropped' as they say. Slowly, we walked into the room and stared at the bed for a few minutes.
"W-W-Would you m-m-mind sharing the b-b-berth w-w-with m-m-me tonight, Phoenix?" Optimus stuttered terribly and I nodded my head. Carefully, Optimus took the left side of the berth and I cautiously lay on the right side of the berth with my back to him.
"Good night, Optimus." I whispered sadly and I drifted off into a sad slumber, barely hearing "Sweet dreams, Phoenix…" coming from Optimus.
To be continued...