Waking up from such a deep sleep was incredibly difficult. The strong feeling of grogginess was enough to make her want to stay asleep. But she was waking up laying in something soft and warm. A familiar presence was beside her, but she did not take notice of who it was just yet. She was still trying to make herself wake up. She heard voices around her. They were speaking quietly to each other as they made sure they did not wake her. But she listened as the recognized some of the voices. And she was confused. She opened her eyes slowly. She had no idea where she was, but she saw the oxygen mask and she knew she was in a hospital. She blinked as her eyes were still blurry. She could see the grey ceiling above her, an IV bag hanging on a stand beside her bed and she could just see some balloons as well. She had been visited.

She blinked some more as her vision cleared up and she saw them. She first saw Bumblebee, his holoform, at the end of the bed talking with Barricade. She at first thought she was dreaming. She saw their ship get blown up. She clenched her eyes shut for a moment and reopened them, and saw they were still there. And as she glanced her eyes around, she saw the others. Ratchet, Ironhide, Sideswipe, Dino, Topspin, Leadfoot, Roadbuster and, she even saw, Wheelie and Brains. They were currently watching Star Trek on the TV while chatting among themselves.

However, she was distracted by the warmth of a familiar presence to her right. She turned her head slightly, and she saw him. Optimus. His holoform with his strong, wide jaw, broad shoulders with a proud, muscular body that she had always enjoyed eyeing. He seemed to be wearing just a blue and red singlet, and she saw new scars that he had not had there before. She did not know if she believed this, but she then she remembered Lennox carrying her out of the tower she viewed as a prison. And Optimus was there. She just vaguely remembered reaching out and grabbing his fingers, not knowing if he was truly alive.

He's alive…he's alive…I can't believe it.

Saphira smiled a little, swallowed as she knew she had to say something. Optimus was staring at Saphira's hand, and she noticed that he looked like he was tired. Guilt and sadness filled his expression, and she could feel his feelings through the bond. She smiled a little before she began to send love through the bond. Optimus blinked and frowned in confusion until he felt Saphira's fingers curl around his hand and he turned his head to look at her face. She smiled weakly at him as his optics lock with her eyes. "Optimus…"

"You're awake!" Optimus sounded so relieved as he moved the chair closer as he leaned forward. All the autobots were quick to look at Saphira as soon as they hear him. Optimus smiled as he placed his hand on her cheek, making her turn her head to press her cheek into his palm gently. "I am so happy you have awoken."

She smiled as she tried to nuzzle him before she lifts her other hand weakly to her face with a frown. "Can I take this off? I can breathe on my own." She swallowed saliva again as she grabbed at the mask. "I am thirsty."

"Wait until we get the doctor in to check," Ratchet said to Saphira as he walked towards the door quickly. "I will inform them that you are awake. These past two days have been so long!" He smiled at her before he walked out of the room quickly.

"Two days?" Saphira had no idea she had been out for two days. She looked at Optimus as he nodded affirmatively, staring at him as she held his hand tightly. She was happy to see him, but she was still not understanding. "But you're alive, Optimus. I stood on the pier…I watched…"

"I am deeply sorry for causing you such pain and grief, Saphira," Optimus purred in a profound, apologetic tone. "I never meant for this to happen. I had wanted to tell you the plan. However…" He placed his hand on her wrist where the watch had been. "I saw what was on your wrist. You had compromised."

Saphira glanced down at her arm, remembering the little parasite wrapped around her wrist. She shivered as she really did not like remembering it. "I am…s-s-surprised you noticed. But I guess you realized what it was, and you told a lie." Optimus nodded as guilt filled his expression. Tears fill her eyes and she let out a light sob. "You hurt me, Optimus."

"I know, and I know that I will never be able to take back what has been done." He kissed her forehead gently, and Saphira wanted to kiss him back. Knowing he was here and alive made her happy. And yet, she was still upset at the same time. "But I want you to know that if I had said something, this might not have gone the way it did. Megatron and Sentinel are both defeated."

She looked at him in surprise as she had no expected that. "They are?" He nodded, smiling at her as he gazed into her eyes. The color of her eyes has returned too, they weren't greyish like they were a couple days ago. And he was happy to see the vibrant green once again. "They're dead?" The autobots all nod and she did not know how to feel. "So the war is over?"

"Yes. Without Megatron, the decepticons have no leader. We were able to pick off the last of the decepticons in Chicago. There might be some left around the world, but the war is over." Optimus himself was having a hard time believing it himself. Megatron was gone, Sentinel was gone, and now there was only a few decepticons to deal with. In essence, the war was over. "I do not know how to feel about it being over. We have been fighting for so long, it became normal. And now it is over."

"I guess we could consider it as retirement, so to speak," Barricade joked lightly, making Bumblebee, Dino and Ironhide chuckle in amusement at him. "Without any good reason to be fighting, we can finally put up our swords and canons, and put up our feet for the rest of our days on this planet. And when all the decepticons are gone, I do see a very quiet life ahead for us."

"We can only hope that will be the case." Sideswipe himself was definitely hoping for that. "And maybe, just maybe, we can all find our own sparkmates." Optimus turned his head slightly to look at him in surprise. "What? Come on, Optimus. Even I have noticed some very pretty and attractive humans. I just have never found time to find someone and try to get their attention. You were lucky she had a pair of glass with coordinates imprinted on the lenses and you were able to meet."

Ironhide playfully elbowed Sideswipe with a playful smirk. "Am I hearing things? Or are you a little jealous that Optimus has a human sparkmate?" Sideswipe just shrugged while rubbing his hands sheepishly. He hits his back playfully with a loud laugh. "HA! But I guess since this world is our home now, I don't see a problem with that. I haven't found any pretty thing who has caught my optics, but there are many years ahead of me to discover that."

Saphira smiled as she listened to them. Hearing that the other autobots were all interested in finding a sparkmate was nice to hear. She glanced at Bee as the young bot walked on the other side of her bed. "What about you, Bee? Are you going to be like them? A few bachelors looking for their bachelorette?"

Bumblebee huffed in amusement. "I am more worried about you, little sister." He sat down on the chair by the bed. "It has been a hard couple nights for us, Saphira." He rubbed the back of his neck and ruffled his black hair as the sadness on his face was clear. "We have barely had any recharge since Chicago. Optimus has not left your side at all since we were able to get here at the base." Bumblebee turned to the table and grabbed something off it. "I was able to convince Lennox to get this for you." Saphira was surprised to see a large, bumble bee plush. It was adorable, as the eyes of the toy were large and glittery. "I…I guess I wanted you to have something to hug while you are still unable to get up."

Saphira smiled at him as that was extremely thoughtful. "You really did not have to do that, Bee. But thank you." She looked at the toy and shook her head. "You guys…I still think this is a dream…but I am glad that you are alive…" She paused as she glanced around for a moment. "But someone is missing. Where is Wheeljack?"

Bumblebee looked away from her for a moment before he looked back, shaking his head. "He's gone." She widened her eyes slightly in surprise. "Soundwave executed him, and he tried to execute Barricade."

She glanced at Barricade in surprise as she had no idea. "Yeah, but not before we ripped their ship apart!" Brains shouted gleefully with a big grin. "We got into their systems and ripped it apart so they would lose control. It caused enough of a distraction to ensure the autobots were freed and able to keep fighting!"

"Hell yeah! Without us, none us would be here right now!" Wheelie added with a big grin. "You should be thanking us!"

"And we have thanked you." Barricade chuckled as he walked over to the two scrap bots and rubbed their heads playfully. "You guys might be small, but that is your advantage. Nobody cares to look for the little guys, so they focus on the big fish until it is too late." The two scrap bots chuckle as they were given more of the recognition. "We haven't forgotten."

"If that is true, well done." Saphira smiled at the two bots. "You guys did a good job." She sighed as she glanced at the oxygen mask in irritation. "I really need water, Optimus." She looked at him. "After all…I need water and food. Especially since…I am not sure if Bee or Barricade have told you about the sparkling." Optimus's optics twitch slightly and he looked away from her, making her frown a little. "Wait, you already know? But why are you reacting like that?"

Optimus knew that this this was going to hurt her. He did not want to tell her yet though. "Um…we will wait for the doctor. He will come in and hopefully have you take the mask off so you can eat and drink. You must be feeling very hungry and thirty."

She nodded, even though she was curious to know why he avoided her question. "Hopefully it won't take long, since Ratchet had left the room a few minutes ago to go looking for him. I don't think I need the mask on any longer."

Optimus nodded in agreement. He could see she was uncomfortable right now, and all he wanted to do was give her the comfort she deserved. He rubbed the back of her hand and kissed it gently before looking back as he heard a knock on the door. He had thought it would be Ratchet, but Dino walked over to the answer the door. To his surprise, Lennox and Robert walk into the room with Mearing behind them.

"Colonel Lennox, Robert," Optimus addressed the men politely before he looked at Mearing. "Director Mearing…this is a surprise. I guess Ratchet has informed you that Saphira is awake."

Lennox nodded as he walked over to the bed, looking at Saphira with a smile. "You are one tough cookie, Saphira." He stopped by the bed as she smiled back at him. "You look a lot better than you did a couple days ago. Seems like the doctors are working their magic." She nodded weakly and Lennox took a deep breath. "I am sure Optimus has told you, but we were able to defeat Sentinel and Megatron. Both of them are dead and gone. Their bodies are being disposed of currently while a massive clean up and rebuild of the city is taking place. And there are still at least a dozen decepticons around the world we need to hunt down."

"But nothing we can't handle. But you won't need to be taking in any part of that." Robert smiled at Saphira as she listened to the two men. "When you get discharged from the hospital, you are free to return to your farm in Texas. I am sure you would want that."

"Really?" Saphira was surprised. "I would have thought I would be watched by the government."

"Well…" Mearing shrugged as she stood at the end of the bed. "I am not really sure what they plan on doing. At the moment, I am dealing with so many people right now and everyone seems to have conflicted feelings about the autobots currently." Saphira did not really like what she was saying, but she listened to her anyway. "I am siding with the autobots, as is the military. But the people in higher places are not so sure. There were a lot of casualties in Chicago, Saphira. A lot, and because of the weapons the decepticons have used, finding the remains of the victims is proving to be difficult."

Lennox nodded. "Yeah. We are having to pull out so many dental records just to identify the victims of the city. So it is proving to be quite a mess. Which is why there is a big commotion in the government." The autobots glance at each other as they did not like what they were hearing. "But for the moment, you guys can just lay low for a while. You'll be able to move around the country without being blocked. Any decisions that might be made, won't be settled on for a long time."

Mearing nodded in agreement. "I am afraid Lennox is correct. We are looking at months, and months of mind-numbing meetings. I will do my best to ensure that there is a good outcome. But I cannot promise that at all." She knew the news they had brought was not good or bad, but it was the only news they had. She looked at Saphira with a sympathetic expression. "I have been informed the government does not wish to assist in protecting you anymore. Now with the major threats gone, they believe you won't need their protection. And to be honest, you should keep away for a while anyway. I think you've had your fill for now."

"Thank you." Saphira was actually happy to hear she would not be protected under the government. She didn't exactly trust them anymore. "I hope they don't intend on freezing my assets and bank account." Mearing shook her head. "Good. I don't exactly want to leave this hospital and not be able to afford any future medical bills. I would not be happy about that at all."

"I don't think that should be a concern to keep. But I understand." Mearing smiled at Saphira before she took a deep breath. "I was about to leave when Ratchet informed us you were awake. You really had everyone worried for a while, but the doctors have told us you will make a full recovery. I wish you and Optimus the best for the future." She bowed politely before she walked towards the door. "And I am sorry as well. I hope you will still be able to grow your family."

Saphira frowned a little as she watched Mearing leave and looked at Optimus. "What did she mean by that?" She saw Lennox and Robert seem to be surprised as they glance at each. "You guys are not telling me something. Please tell. I need to know!"

Lennox opened his mouth to speak when Doctor Liam walked through the door quickly with Ratchet behind him. "I am so sorry that I took so long. I was in the middle of a consultation with another patient when Ratchet came and told me you were awake, Saphira. I am Doctor Liam, I have been the one treating you over the last two days." He walked over to the bed as Bee moved away to give him space. "How are you feeling? Any pain?"

"A little." She grimaced as he shines at light at her eyes to check her pupils. "I am mostly sore in my stomach…and um…there is a really strong stinging between my legs…" Her face turned red with embarrassment as she spoke about it. "But I am just mostly groggy and I need water. Can this come off my face?"

She points to the oxygen mask, and Liam nodded before he gently removed the mask from her face. She was relieved as she was now more comfortable, and he grabbed out a blood pressure patch and wrapped it around her arm. "That's good. You do have some pain relief in your system, so it must be starting to wear off a bit. So I'll get you another dose soon." He activated the blood pressure patch, and she grimaced a little as the patch tightened around her arm. "The wounds on your back, shoulders and face have healed nicely. The swelling on your cheek has gone down. Though I will tell you now that we had to do surgery." She widened her eyes and glanced down at her stomach in shock. "I am afraid the violation of your body resulted in tears in your birth canal and uterus."

Saphira shook her head and looked at him as he removed the patch. "Huh? My uterus too?" Saphira was confused before she realized. Dread filled her soul as she realized why everyone was dancing around the issue regarding the sparkling. "Wait…you are telling me that Megatron damaged my womb that much?" Liam nodded as he wrote down some notes. "No…oh no…and I felt it too…" Tears fill her eyes as she realized. "Oh no…" She looked at Optimus as he looked at her sadly. "Does this mean I might never have kids?"

"No. When you are healed, your uterus will be able to carry babies to full term," Liam explained to the girl gently as Optimus tightened his grip on her hand gently as Saphira listened. Though she began to let tears fall from her eyes as she realized. "However, I am sorry. I am sorry to tell you that…the child you were carrying before. The damage that was done to your womb likely penetrated the weak body of the sparkling."

Saphira shook her head as she was shocked. Barricade was glaring at the doctor with his hands on his hips. "Why did you have to tell her like that so bluntly?" The man jumped and looked at him in shock. "Come on! I know you're a doctor, and apparently, unborn babies dying seems to be normal to you. But I thought doctors were sympathetic!" He scoffed as he folded his arms as he glared at the doctor in disgust. "Pathetic!"

"I am in agreement." Ratchet was very unhappy with how the doctor was handling this, and Liam glanced around at them nervously. "You broke the news differently to us…but I guess Saphira can't exactly break you in half, so you just went back to your old ways. Well done, doctor."

Liam was a bit intimidated for the moment and he cleared his throat. "Um…you're right. I'm sorry." He looked down at Saphira as the girl was crying softly. "I am very sorry, Saphira. I know you were probably hoping that your body would protect your offspring. But even if it survived, you would likely miscarry. The damage to your womb made it unsafe."

Saphira sniffled and she looked at the doctor. "Were you…able to at least…get the remains?"

Liam shook his head. "No. I am afraid there was nothing in your uterus when we performed an ultrasound. My guess is, the sparkling was already expelled from your body by the time Lennox found you. There is nothing, I am sorry."

Saphira's bottom lip trembled as she thought about her sparkling. She placed her hand on her stomach as the feeling of guilt knowing she could not protect her sparkling grew. "This can't be…"

Lennox knelt by the bed as he looked at her sadly. "I am so sorry. I had hoped we would have reached you in time." She looked at him as he spoke. "But I am not sure if we could have done anything…and that frustrates me." He swallowed some saliva and she saw he had tears in his eyes. "And now…I can only look at my daughter, and I cannot even imagine what it is like to lose a child that I would never meet. It's painful to think."

She appreciated the sympathy from the man. Lennox really has shown how sympathetic he was. "Thank you…" She managed to say weakly. She sniffled as she was trying to stay strong. "How long will I be here?"

"Uh…" Liam looked at the notes that he had in his hand. "Well, we need to keep you here on bedrest until your stitches have healed. That could take a couple weeks, a month at the most. After that, we will likely discharge you and we can transfer the details over to another hospital of your choice so you can continue with treatments and they can make sure that you are healing properly. Which could take at least another six to eight months."

Saphira understood what he had said. She swallowed nervously and closed her eyes for a moment before looking at Liam. "Is there anything else?" Liam looked at his folder for a moment before he shook his head. "Good. Get out."

Liam nodded before he put the folder down and walked out of the room. Robert and Lennox were frowning at the man for how blunt he was, as were the autobots. Robert shook his head and sighed. "Sometimes I really hate doctors. They get so desensitized to all this, and forget their job of being sympathetic."

Lennox nodded. "Yeah…kind of like us when it comes to a fight." The man took a deep breath and looked at Saphira as she was sobbing. "I suppose you want us to leave you alone too?" She nodded. "I am so sorry, Saphira. I wish the best for you for your future. I am sure you and Optimus will find happiness."

He and Lennox both leave the room so Saphira was alone, but she looked at the other autobots. "Please…I want to be alone…" They all glance at each other, and she tightened her grip on Optimus's hand. "Except for you, Optimus…I want you to stay. Will you stay?"

He nodded and he kissed the back of her hand. "Of course I will. I am not going anywhere, Saphira." He turned his head, looking at the autobots. "I know you all want to support her, but she needs a moment. That foolish doctor has shattered Saphira's heart for being so cold."

"We understand." Ratchet stepped closer to the bed, looking at Saphira kindly. "I wish I was there to help you, Saphira. But I will make sure to be there for you from now on." He turned to make his way out of the room.

"We will be outside if you need us, Saphira." Barricade glanced at the bumble bee plush and looked at her with a smile. "And hug that little bumble bee if you need more comfort."

Bumblebee rolled his optics as they walk out of the room. He glanced back at Saphira sadly. "Just remember, little sister, I love you. And we will stand by you through all this pain. You always have a family with us."

Saphira watched as the autobots leave the room. Once the door was closed, she began to sob loudly. She had really been controlling her emotions before, but she needed to let them out. Especially now that she knew that her sparkling was gone. She had hoped terribly that her sparkling had survived, but she remembered the feeling of something snapping or ripping within her womb. It made her sick to her stomach to think that she probably felt the sparkling die. And Megatron was the one who performed the act.

She looked at Optimus before she began to shift. He widened his optics in shock. "Should you be moving, Saphira?" She did not respond as she was moving away from him, making him sad as he thought she was trying to move away from him. "Do you want me to leave the room, too? I will do that, Saphira…"

She shook her head, pulled the blanket and lifting to show she had moved to make room. "I want you to hold me. I can't sit up right now, since my stomach still hurts. And the stitches are still in place. But you can slip beside me, and hold me. Please."

Optimus hesitated at first as he did not wish for her to be harmed. But he complied. He could sense just how badly she wanted him. She now had something new to grieve for, just like him. Optimus gently climbed onto the bed, taking great care in not accidentally pressing against Saphira's body too hard that it would make her cry in pain. He slipped his legs under the blanket and she lowered it over them. Optimus shuffled closer and wrapped his arm under her back to lift her slightly before laying her on the side of his chest.

He held her against him and she wrapped her arm around him tightly as she sobbed into his chest. Optimus rubbed her arm gently and kissed the top of her head. He watched as she buried her face into his chest and cried loudly. He closed his optics as he too was grieving for the loss of his sparkling. Hearing her cries, and feeling her pain that they both were now sharing hurt his spark. All he could do was hold her against him and comfort her. He knew there was nothing else in this world that mattered so deeply to him. The one thing he would never regret was the night he met Saphira.

And while the voice he heard just before Cybertron had been sucked back into the void disturbed him, he hoped he would not hear the voice again. He has pushed that concern to the side so far deep in his mind so that concern would not distract him from comforting his sparkmate. And it was something he intended to keep for himself as he knew that it would only create new concerns that were not warranted.

Saphira sniffled and looked up at him. "Optimus…" He opened his optics and looked down at her. "If I fall asleep, you will still be here, right? I-I won't have to worry that this was just a dream…or…I won't have to worry about actually being dead…right?"

Optimus smiled and leaned down, planting his lips of hers as they both kiss finally. She kissed back in desperation, wanting to make sure she could feel his lips on hers. "Of course, I will. I will not leave you alone again, Saphira." He kissed her again as his voice purred gently while he spoke. "I love you with all my spark. I want you to know that. I will be here, every day. And I will be here beside you all the time. I will not allow your leaders to keep us apart."

Saphira believed him. She smiled as they kiss again. "I love you, Optimus…I love you so much." She sniffled and sobbed. "Just don't scare me again. And…" She glanced down to her stomach and looked back at him. "We owe it to our sparkling to stay together…and to…remember him or her forever." He nodded in agreement. "When I am out of the hospital, I am going to make a garden at home in Texas…and fill it with white flowers as a representation of their lost spark."

Optimus's smile widened as that was a beautiful way to remember their sparkling. "And I will help you create this memory we share." They kiss again and Saphira relaxed her cheek against his chest, closing her eyes and breathing in his scent. "I love you, Saphira. I will be here. I promise."

Optimus remained sitting on the bed, holding Saphira as she cried into his chest. There was nothing that the two wanted more than to hold each other tightly, mourn the loss of their sparkling and just stay with each other. They both have almost lost each other again, and they did not want to ever lose the feeling of their comfort. And Optimus kept his promise. He remained on the bed even after she fell asleep. He was warned to get off when Liam came back an hour later, but he wouldn't force him to get off. Not while Optimus knew he had a promise to keep. And Liam wasn't about to fight him either.

And Optimus would keep his promise for the following days in Saphira's recovery. She didn't last a whole day without crying. Optimus refused to take a break from using his holoform, even when he was advised by Ratchet. While he did fall into recharge, he kept using his holoform. Saphira needed him. And it didn't matter if he was tired all the time because of it. Saphira's health and well being mattered to him more than his need for recharge. But it would be worth it as Saphira's stitches would be healed by the end of the month, and she would be discharged, allowing her to return home to Texas with all the autobots in tow.