The rest of the week passes by slowly for both Saphira and Optimus. They revel in each other's company and a couple times they both came close to admitting their feelings, and even kissing. Well, Saphira almost kissed his lips while they were in the pond together and she had slipped onto his neck when climbing onto his chest. It was almost an impulse moment on her behalf and she was embarrassed with herself. Saphira realized her feelings for Optimus were growing. How he has been treating her was the main reason she felt an attraction to him. He is so gentle, understanding and they both have gone through life with pain that they seem to relate to, even if it was very different.

They decide to return to the home a day early, Saphira and Optimus had agreed that Bumblebee should return to NEST with Optimus to work with the military alongside the other autobots. Saphira didn't really want to break it to Bee, but she knew he was suffocating just babysitting her…at least that is what it felt like. Optimus had been reluctant at first, but Barricade had left LA while they were at the field, so his presence was no longer a concern at the time. Though it could change if the decepticon returned.

"I have to admit, leaving the field felt like I was leaving home," Saphira said softly as she stared out the window as Optimus drives along the road. "I miss it already and want to go back."

Optimus chuckled through the speakers gently. "I feel the same way, Saphira. This entire week has been a blessing for the two of us. I hope that we are able to return to the emerald field soon. I will miss it terribly while I go on my missions."

Saphira was glad he felt that way too. She thought about the emerald heart she had in the home, she decided she would give it to Optimus before he left so he had something of her and the field with him. "At least you have the memories. That is something you can enjoy when you have a quiet time…if there is ever such thing as a quiet moment as a soldier."

"There is, it is far and few between, but it is well cherished among warriors." Optimus did wish he had longer with Saphira, but he was a warrior. There were other decepticons to track down and kill, to keep her safe meant he had to leave. As much as it pained him. "I suppose it will be the same when you go off to college."

"Yeah…pretty much…" Saphira nodded slowly. "I'll be buried in my studies that thinking about the field and you autobots will be in the small, spare moments. I guess I will just wonder what you guys are doing in the moments I think about you. And if we are nearly rid of the decepticons in the world."

"Those are definitely reasonable thoughts. At least I know you will be safe. The decepticons don't know where you will be studying, so they won't be able to find you." Saphira was not so sure about that as it was pretty easy to locate people these days, but she wasn't going to let Optimus know that. "I hope I will be able to visit you at some point."

"You would need to be in your holoform to do that," Saphira said with a chuckle.

"I suppose that is true…" Optimus knew she would keep asking about his holoform until he shows her. He has only used it a few times on Earth, he has been reluctant to use his holoform since Elita's death. "We shall see when the time comes."

The Peterbilt turned onto the dirt road leading into the property up to the house. Saphira smiled as she saw the two-story building. "At least Bee hasn't destroyed anything."

Optimus chuckled softly through the speakers. "That is a definite positive. Of course, Bee would not do anything to cause you grief, so I expect he simply has been recharging this whole time or going out on patrols in the city. He probably has been bored ever since we left. Coming to NEST will do him some good, even if he will miss you terribly."

Saphira would miss him too. It has been great having a big brother around. "I will miss him too. The house is going to feel a bit lonely until I move to Princeton."

"You'll probably go to more races, right?" Optimus asked in a sarcastic tone.

She chuckled softly. "Maybe. I only go twice a week now, I don't need to go as often as I used to. But…that is how I feel."

Optimus guessed maybe her interest and priorities were shifting as the reason why she was going to races less and less. But Saphira really felt happier with Bee which was the reason why she had been going to races less. She might go to them a little more until she heads to Princeton, although she wanted organize shifting her Daytona and Nissan to a rented garage in Princeton to continue going to races even while studying. She did not think she would have any trouble studying like when she was in school.

Optimus comes to a stop and Saphira climbed out of the cab. "You're early," Bumblebee said through the radio as he transformed. "Did you have a good time?"

"We have a marvellous time!" Saphira responded happily as Optimus transformed and hands her the duffle bag and cooler to take inside. "We just came back a day early because it will give me a chance to spend time with you."

"With me?" Bumblebee looked at her and Optimus in surprise. "I am not going anywhere."

Optimus exhaled deeply through the vents as Saphira took the bag and cooler inside. "We will discuss that with you soon. Do you have anything to report while you have been here alone?"

Bee shakes his head. "Not really. I have been quite bored…although I have kept an eye on her garden as the last thing she has growing in the garden is squash. It is growing well."

Saphira walked out of the house and glanced at the garden beds with a smile. "And it is growing very well." She approached Optimus and he gives her the tent and sleeping bag. "I at least can have a shower now that I am here."

"Indeed. Although, I am sure spending time in the pond helped to keep you clean." She giggled at Optimus as she knew he was not completely familiar with human hygiene methods. "Though I am sure you will want to give that hair a wash. It probably needs it."

"Oh, you have no idea how much it needs it," Saphira said with another chuckle. "I'm going to unpack the cooler and duffle bag, then I'll have a shower. So you and Bee can chat if you want, or recharge."

Optimus chuckled as Saphira disappeared into the house. She didn't have much left in the cooler, but there was some potatoes and meat left that she had to put away, she would likely use them tonight for herself anyway. She finished clearing out the cooler and carried her duffle bag to the laundry to put a load on. She threw into her dirty clothes and underwear before adding the detergent and starting the machine. She left her swimsuit out and hung it on a clothes line right outside the laundry to dry, it was still damp as Saphira and Optimus had an early morning swim before returning to the house.

With that, she ran upstairs to grab a fresh pair of clothes and underwear before heading into the shower where she would be for thirty minutes scrubbing her body and hair to ensure it was clean. It felt really, really nice. Sure, it was really nice to be at the field for a whole week. But her hair was greasy, her skin felt a little dry and it was just nice to wash all of that away. Once that was done, she spent another fifteen minutes hair drying her hair, she smiled as the strands once again were shiny and soft. She knew Optimus loved her hair and taking proper care of it had become important to her.

Once that was done, she put on a white blouse and light, blue, denim jeans and put the white, flower clip in her hair after brushing her hair with a right-side part. She felt beautiful, and she was almost tempted to put on a light amount of makeup. Though, she decided against it. She knew it would be too much if she put makeup on, but wanting to make herself beautiful seemed to be something she wanted to do. Especially with Optimus around. She made her way down the stairs and walked out of the house, she saw both Optimus and Bee sitting and talking together.

"Did I miss anything interesting?" Saphira asked sarcastically as she approached with a grin.

Optimus turned his head and he smiled gently when he saw her outfit, freshly washed hair and the hairclip. "Nothing that would interest you. I think it would have made you rather bored."

Saphira chuckled softly as she stood by them. "I don't know, I haven't been bored with you lot so far. So I think I will be okay."

"If you really want to know, I was just letting him know the route Barricade is taking," Bumblebee said through the radio and Saphira was surprised.

"You have been able to figure that out?" She asked curiously, glancing between the two autobots.

"Yes, he is heading towards the east coast," Optimus responded, sounding a little worried as he spoke. "It seems Princeton is his destination, although we cannot know for sure. It just seems strange."

"Yeah…it does…" Saphira shrugged, she was not going there for a few weeks so for the moment, it was not an issue. "Are there any other decepticons that I should be concerned about?"

"Not really. Grindor's remained where he is at the moment. He's in Florida currently sitting at an air museum and has not moved for several months. He could be waiting for something, we do not know. But Barricade is the only one making movements." She still didn't think it was a call to be concerned though. She understood Optimus's concern about Barricade heading to Princeton. "Are you sure you can't get into a different college?"

"I could, but it would be late to try for the next semester," Saphira responded calmly. "I could be stuck here another six months if I did that."

"That would be better than facing Barricade in Princeton," Optimus said to her gently.

"We still don't even know of his intentions. Personally, I do not want to get into a discussion on whether or not I am going because there is no discussion. Plus, I've wanted to get into that college for a long time, and now I am." Saphira took a deep breath and turned to face Bumblebee. "And that is what I wanted to talk to you about today, Bee. I need to talk to you about this college thing too."

"Ooh yeah!" Bumblebee cheered as he began to dance where he sat and played I'm So Excited to show how excited he was. "We are going to rock the campus down!"

Saphira smiled slightly, feeling very bad about what she was about to say. "I'm sorry, Bee…but I'm not taking you with me." The song came to a screeching halt as Bee looked at her in shock. "I'm sorry…"

"If Barricade is there, you need me for protection," Bumblebee interrupts with a concerned expression.

"He has a point…" Optimus said with a low hum while he listened to them both.

Saphira rolled her eyes a little and shakes her head at both of them. "I know I should have told you this sooner, but I did not know how. Here's the thing, freshmen aren't allowed to have cars on the campus." Bumblebee's frowned slightly before turning sad as he realized Saphira couldn't take him because of the rules. "If it were up to me, I'd take you with me, Bee. I would…you have been my biggest support this whole year and I am grateful that you have been here for me."

Bumblebee smiled slightly at her. "I would do it all again for you."

"I know you would…" Saphira felt tears threatening to form in her eyes and she took a deep breath to continue speaking to him. "But…you're an autobot…a warrior autobot. You shouldn't be stuck doing garden chores, helping with cleaning and looking out for any little thing that might try to hurt me. I can tell you're suffocating, you've been suffocating for months."

Bumblebee shakes his head at her. "I haven't been suffering at all, little sister."

"I am sure you want me to believe that, Bee. But…" Saphira glanced away from him for a moment before looking back at him. "You deserve better than to babysit me when I am not in danger. When I go to college, I will be safe. The decepticons probably won't even come after me. This Fallen that has been repeated, I doubt it is anything I can do something about."

"Perhaps not yet, but we may still need you," Bee said sadly through the radio. "You're breaking my heart, you know that?"

Saphira clenched her eyes and sniffled a little, wiping away a couple tears that finally spilled. "This is hard enough already, don't make this harder. Please don't." Saphira stepped closer to him as Bee looked down and gently grabbed his cheek to make him look at her. "The guardian thing is done, Bee. I'm moving on with my life. You did your job, I have been safer than I ever have been in my life. Tomorrow, you will go with Optimus to go on missions with him, the others and the military. I am sure Lennox will welcome you with open arms." Bumblebee's eyes glance away from her as he listened to her. "I just…I just want to try and be normal. That is why I am going to college…but also to get more education. I don't know what will happen once I turn eighteen, things might change a lot for me. That is why I feel I need to be prepared for what that happens."

"Sometimes all the preparation in the world will never make you fully prepared for what will happen," Optimus said gently, Saphira glanced at him as a he. "I understand your grandfather has left behind a job for you to fill when you turn eighteen. You do not know yet what that involves. I am sure you understand that trying to prepare may not even be enough when the time comes."

"I suppose you are right…" Saphira sighed, glancing back at Bee with a smile. "For all I know, this big secret might actually have something to do with transformers. That is my gut feeling on this."

"Then why go to college without me?" Bumblebee asked gently. "Let me come with you."

"I am sorry Bee, this is just a normal thing for people my age," Saphira responded with a shake of her head. "I am sorry, I just want to continue my education. I can't do that with you, I am sorry."

To Saphira's surprise, Bumblebee began to cry suddenly and real tears spill out of his eyes. She felt her throat tighten up when she saw that because she did not know the transformers could cry. "Aw, Bee…" Optimus lifts his arm to place his hand on the bot's shoulder to comfort him.

"This will not be the last time I'll see you, Bee," Saphira said to him gently, rubbing her thumb on his cheek gently. "Bee…" Bumblebee turned his head away, sniffling and wiping away his tears. "You are making this way harder than it needs to be. I am sorry…you'll always be my first car. And…" She stepped closer and kissed his cheek gently. "You'll always be the first, true, best friend I ever had. And a brother. I love you, and don't forget that."

"You got that right," Bee responded affirmatively through the radio. He glanced up at Optimus sadly. "That is why you are here early?"

Optimus nodded to him. "Yes, so you and Saphira can spend today and tomorrow together before we leave. I suggest you and Saphira figure out something to do."

"We still need to finish our Gran Turismo race," Saphira said to Bee in a teasing tone. "After all, I was winning…"

Bumblebee blinked and scoffed at her. "Oh sure you were! Challenge accepted!"

Saphira giggled and stepped away from him excitedly. "I'll go and set it all up!" She spun around and ran towards the house to get the PlayStation set up.

"Gran Turismo?" Optimus asked curiously, glancing at Bee as the bot transformed into his alt form.

Bee's holoform stepped out of the vehicle and he looked up at Optimus with a grin. "It is a car racing video game. Of course, it is not like the real thing, but Saphira and I have often challenged each other on it."

"Ooh, I see." Optimus smirked slightly with a chuckle. "Is it something I can watch?"

"Sure, the window to the living room is over there, I'll open it so you can lean your head in and watch us play. Though…not sure whose side you'll choose because we will need some cheering on." Bee giggled as he jogged towards the house.

Optimus was curious about this game, he stood up and walked around to the side of the house. He saw Bee open the window and he approached carefully, laying down on his stomach to peer into the living room properly. He saw the widescreen in front of him and the loading screen of the game, which had an image of a car and the game name on the screen. Optimus watched as Saphira and Bee grab a controller each and she sets up the multiplayer mode to race against each other. Optimus did not quite understand it, however it intrigued him a lot. When the game started, both Bee and Saphira took turns in insulting each other sarcastically as they race each other in the first game. Optimus was amused by this, watching the two enjoy their time together was a blessing.

Saphira ended up beating Bee in the end and she cooked up the mince and potatoes she didn't use at the field. She stayed up late with both of autobots just chatting and letting them know how long she would be in college exactly. They were surprised Saphira was looking at several years of study, although Saphira assured them it was necessary to get the degree. The following day didn't involve any Gran Turismo, in fact Saphira and the autobots just end up having a slow day. Especially as Saphira slept in due to staying up late. However, when the afternoon finally rolled around, that was when the emotions began getting to her.

Saphira held a white box with black ribbons on it and walked down the stairs. She felt very sad she had to say goodbye to Optimus again…and she did not know when she would see him again. She just hoped she would be given a chance of being in college with no issue. She walked out of the house towards Optimus and Bee, they both were sad too, but it was time.

"It has been a real gift being here with you these past couple weeks, Saphira," Optimus said to her kindly as he watched her approach them. "Thank you for welcoming us into your life…even if it was not by choice."

Saphira smiled at him. "Right back at you. And speaking of gifts…" She glanced at the box in her hand and took a deep breath. "I have something for you. But don't open it yet. Open it when you think about me."

Optimus looked at the box curiously, wondering what was inside. "You did not have to give me anything."

"It is okay. I wanted to give you something to allow you to think about me, and the field at the same time." Saphira caressed the box gently with her thumb. "I'll put it in the glove compartment when you transform into your alt form."

"I don't suppose there is one for me?" Bumblebee asked curiously, he was also curious about the box.

"Sorry Bee…I couldn't really think of something for you." Saphira smiled at him with a small smile on her face. "I hope you are not mad."

"I am okay. I know you and him are special to each other, giving gifts is just part of it." Bee smiled at them before he transformed, the engine of the Camaro roared to life as he waited for Optimus. "Time is getting away."

Saphira walked over to Bee and kissed the hood gently. "I will see you again, Bee. Hopefully at Christmas."

"You can count on it!" Bee responded through the radio.

She heard Optimus transform and looked at him with a smile, the Peterbilt cab door was open for her to climb in. She placed the box up onto the seat before climbing in and opening the glove compartment to slide the box into it. She closed it gently and placed a hand on the dash in front of her. She was almost tempted to ask him to take her along with him.

"I guess…this is where we part for now," Saphira said in a slow, sad voice. "Thanks for being here, even for just a short time. I'll send Lennox a message if I need something."

"I hope that will not happen. We won't be far if something does happen, I can assure you." Optimus himself was tempted to close the door and keep her there while he went to NEST and force them to let her stay on the base, but he knew it would be unwise. "I will make sure we are there for you at Christmas, even if I have to force someone to give us the time."

Saphira sniffled a little as tears fall and she leaned forward, kissing the dash in front of her. It wasn't like a quick kiss like she gave Bee though, it was a drawn-out kiss and she leaned back, shifting her legs towards the door. "At least I know you will try." She climbed down from the truck and stepped back, glancing between both autobots. "Alright, go on and get out of here."

She smiled at them with her bottom lip trembling, she was trying her hardest not to cry so suddenly. Optimus suddenly reached out his arm from the side of the Peterbilt, she was surprised and felt the fingers gently wiping away the tears from her cheeks. "I hope those tears do not fall for long. It makes me sad when I see you cry. Farewell, Saphira."

His arm retracts back into his alt form, setting back into place before he drives away with Bee behind him. Saphira watched them leave, waving as they drive away as she knew they could see her in the sideview mirrors. She stood there as they drive down the driveway as the sun was setting. She wished it was not at this time, but it was necessary. She let more tears fall and she finally broke out into sobs as the taillights reach the end of the driveway and turn onto the road as they leave. She already missed them. Or really, she already missed Optimus. She didn't know if she would regret not telling him her feelings or not, but she would find that out very soon.