229

The next morning, I awoke and felt like my head was in the beginning stages of a headache. I gave a slight scowl, feeling a little uncomfortable. On top of that, my stomach was feeling a little flippy and I felt a little warmer.

I knew the Autobots were probably long gone by now, and I felt a little helpless. Sure, I had the Yeagers and Drift to keep my company. I even had Saoirse and Eden with me, safe and sound and away from danger. Placing my hands on my stomach, I sighed. Ratchet was gone, and if I were to be in any kind of pain or discomfort, I wouldn't know which medications would be OK to take. Ratchet had a whole stash of medicines that would be appropriate for anything that was going on with me. None of them I was entirely familiar with, so if I took the wrong one, I could possibly cause irreversible damage to the baby and myself.

A soft knock on the bedroom door took me from my thoughts. I looked at the bedroom door with a slight frown.

Drift's Holoform poked his head in, looking almost hesitant.

"Morning, Drift," I murmured.

The Holoform hesitantly opened the door wider and stood by the doorway, studying the bedroom closely. His lips pursed as he gave me a firm look.

"Good morning." Drift gave a nod, his vivid blue eyes looking almost distant. "Are you feeling well?"

I shrugged. "I've had better days," I answered quietly.

Drift nodded slightly.

There was an awkward silence that hung between us, thick and way too noticeable.

"Drift?" I shifted a little on my bed. "Is there something you need? Something that's...wrong?"

"No, there's nothing wrong," he answered, shaking his head.

"Then...?" I gave him an uncertain look. "I'm sorry, Drift, I'm just unsure on what's happening."

"I..." Drift gave a slight frown, as if he were struggling for his words. His fists clenched for a second as he gave a sigh. "I want to understand."

"Understand what?"

"Your relationship with Optimus." Drift's eyes widened just a fraction. I felt my heart skip a beat. My relationship with Optimus? Why was Drift suddenly so curious with my relationship with Optimus? I mean...I guess he'd have a right to be curious, but asking now of all times...

"My...relationship?" I looked at Drift, feeling more uncomfortable with his question than the beginning-headache and the flippiness of my stomach. "Care to elaborate, please?"

Drift sighed. "I want to understand your relationship with Optimus," he said. "It's...different, almost pure."

"Pure?"

Drift came in, making me sink deeper into my bed.

"The way he looks at you, the way he speaks of you...it's filled with the purest form of love. I see that with Bumblebee and the others."

"I wouldn't say our relationship is 'pure', Drift," I corrected. "Our relationship has been through a lot of crap. It's been through thick and thin, every little bump in the road. Optimus and I have fought, we have gone through so many difficulties, it's not even close to being 'pure'."

Those vivid blue eyes studied me carefully.

"I've seen differently," Drift said slowly. "Despite every little thing that has happened in your life, I have seen Optimus look at you. It's something I just don't understand."

"Love? Are you thinking that...love is pure?" I looked at Drift carefully. "Sometimes, love can be considered pure. But, I suppose it depends on how one interprets it."

Drift looked conflicted. He sighed, shaking his head.

"Is there any reason you brought this up?" I asked softly.

The Holoform's eyes looked at me, almost as if he were unsure what to say.

"I won't get upset," I said, "I promise."

"Seeing Bumblebee and the others...with families of their own." Drift looked slightly embarrassed. "It makes me wonder...will I be able to do such a thing here?"

"Have a family?" I asked.

"Have what you all have," Drift exclaimed. "Something to fight for."

"Drift..." I looked at him, sympathetically. "I'm sorry. But here me out; you have us. If you really feel some sort of attraction to someone here, you shouldn't feel ashamed than to pursue those feelings."

The Holoform looked at me for a moment, his lips pursed in a thin line. I tried for my best smile, a reassuring smile. He sighed, gathering his composure before he dismissed the Holoform, an eruption of bright blue sparks scattering on the ground.

Optimus POV

The Prime and the Autobots were driving as quickly as they could to Memphis. The Prime cursed, wishing that (if it truly was) Galvatron had some kind of Energon Signature. It would easier if there was an Energon Signature!

One other thing that filled his processors was whether or not Desirée was doing well. It had only been a few hours since their departure, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that something would happen while he was gone and he wouldn't be able to make it back to her in time. And Ratchet was traveling with them.

Yes, Optimus trusted Drift to watch over Desirée while he was gone - even while Ratchet was gone - but Drift didn't have any medical experience. He was a warrior. An ex-Decepticon. The Prime didn't hold Drift's past over his head, but he found it nerve-wracking knowing that if something severe ever happened to his Sparkmate, then the only solution that could be put to mind is possibly a hospital. In Desirée's condition, a hospital was the last place she needed to be. The human doctors wouldn't be able to understand her condition.

The last thing Optimus wanted was being separated from Desirée and his unborn Sparkling.

Optimus swore that he would protect his family from any kind of human rejection. But, in a way, those five years on the run was like an extreme form of human rejection.

Optimus realized that so many of the humans didn't want them; even the Creators, whoever they were, didn't want them.

That made Optimus's frame rattle in fear and frustration.

QUICKY A/N:

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~SMITHY