Saphira walked towards the gondola, hand in hand, with Optimus. She really could not believe that the autobots had decided to do this. She didn't even know where they would have gotten the materials, but this was just wonderful. She did wonder how long they had been planning this, as she knew that the wreckers, Barricade and Ironhide would leave for a couple days in the last few months before they would come back. But Optimus had obviously left to make final touches to this, and she was so glad that she was brought here.

She turned to Optimus as happy tears filled her eyes. "This has to be one of the most amazing gifts you have given me, Optimus. I never thought we would even come back here again. We made so many good memories here, and I am glad that we can come back to create new ones." She kissed him, rubbing his cheeks as she cupped them with her hands. "And I don't know when you decided to do this, but I am glad." She glanced at the emerald pieces that were wrapped around the frame of the gondola. "And you must have spent a long time looking for all those emerald shards to make that. They're not polished, but they're still perfect."

Optimus just chuckled softly with a gentle hum. "I suppose we did. But there were many shards that were easy to find among the grass and in the pond. And yes, they have not been polished to be set in a piece of jewellery, but they don't need to be. Just like you." He kissed her again and she left out a soft moan against his lips. "You are as beautiful as the morning sun."

She grinned at him before she pulled away. "Well, I hope you have some food. I am feeling quite hungry. I don't want to spend the entire day on empty."

She turned her head when she heard a chuckle. She smiled as she saw an overweight, middle-aged man with a brown beard and brown hair walking over with a cigar in his mouth. "You need not worry about breakfast, little lady. Ratchet and I have made sure to bring enough food to feed you for a few days while we camp here." He walked over to a BBQ that was set up by the gondola. "Come on, doc! Let's get cranking! We don't want our birthday girl go without her breakfast."

Saphira giggled, looking at Ratchet as she saw his holoform walking over. He was holding a cooler that contained the food and ingredients they had brought. "Calm your engine, Hound." He looked over at Saphira as he placed the cooler on an empty bench and opened it. "How does chocolate and strawberry pancakes sound?"

Saphira felt her stomach growl immediately in response to the question, and she smiled at him. "My stomach says that sounds wonderful. You might need to put some frozen yogurt on the side with that one…and fruit to make it lighter and not overly sweet."

Ratchet nodded as he and Hound got to work on making her some breakfast. Saphira looked at Optimus with a smile. "And I might go and get changed. Maybe you and I can sit in the water while we wait for them to finish making me breakfast."

Optimus smiled as he nodded in agreement, while his full form transformed suddenly. Saphira looked at his full mode as Optimus reached down to give her the duffle bag. "I suspect you might like to sit on my chassis while we enjoy the early morning."

Saphira nodded as she took the bag from him and walked over to the tent. She looked at the tent with a smile as she really thought it was so nice and romantic to have fairly lights around the top of the tent. And when she opened the tent, she saw there were star shaped lights above the raised mattress. She was also surprised by a small set of drawers that she could use, and she spotted on the table a heart shaped box of chocolates.

She shook her head in amusement as she stepped inside to get herself changed. She felt really special at the moment, even if today was not actually her birthday. The autobots really knew what they were doing, especially Optimus. She smiled as she changed out the clothes she was wearing and slipped on a purple swimsuit that was backless. She thought about slipped a shirt over the top, but she shrugged. She was about to get in the pond with Optimus.

She walked out of the tent, and looked over to the pond to see Optimus standing by the pond. She saw his holoform had been shut off for the moment, and she giggled. She glanced at the gondola as she saw Barricade, Bumblebee and Drift's holoforms helping both Hound and Ratchet prepare her breakfast. She thought it was very sweet that they were going to make sure her breakfast was fresh.

She walked over to the pond, looking up at Optimus with a smile. "I'll never get over how handsome you are." His smile widened at her compliment. "And I am not kidding either. Your true, full form is very attractive to me, Optimus. I know you sometimes doubt, since your holoform is very attractive. But I see it in your true form. But it is your personality that I love a whole lot more."

Optimus was happy to hear that and he began to walk into the pond and sat down slowly once he was deep enough. He looked at Saphira as she took a few steps in the water, only to jump as she felt how cool the water was on her skin. "I am very glad you feel that way. And I feel the same about you. You have matured a lot since we first met. You were a lot more stubborn when you were young." Saphira blushed a little as she knew that was true, taking more steps out into the water and waiting for her body to get used to the new temperature. "You were also a little more blunt. I believe that spending time with us and all the experiences you have gone through has made you mature a lot. I am proud of you, Saphira."

She was still blushing deeply as she walked further into the pond and she began to swim over to him. She shivered a little, and she watched as he leaned back in the water and extended his hand towards her. "I honestly have not noticed those kind of changes." She reached out to his hand and pulled herself onto his palm. He lifts her out gently before he laid back in the water. Even when he was laying fully in the pond, his face would not be covered by the water. "But I guess…looking back…I kind of can see why you would think that. There are a lot of changes that I definitely have gone through over the last few years." He placed her on his chassis and Saphira smiled, turning her body so she would be facing his face while she hugged her knees. "I suppose I might still be a very stubborn person if you never came into my life, Optimus. You have melted by exterior. I…" Saphira paused as she thought about herself as a teenager. "To be honest, I was angry at the world."

Optimus seemed surprised by her response, and he looked at her curiously. "You were angry at the world? Why?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. But I guess it has a lot to do with the fact that deep down, I really wanted my parents to love properly. When I was much younger, I would watch how my friends at the time would be hugged and kissed by their parents. When I did have sleepovers, before I couldn't stand them, I watched how their parents would help with homework, applaud them when they did something as simple as drawing the family or doing some kind of trick and…I guess I became resentful to just about everyone around me. I shut myself from those friends. It hurt that they had something that I never had." Saphira sighed softly as she knew she was spilling out a lot of her past to him. "But when I found street racing, and that they had a secret place where the cops did not care…even if there were underage people driving those cars, it gave me a sense of belonging. Looking back, I guess it was negative. But the adrenaline was the thing that excited me the most. And I treated the cars that I owned like my own kids, to a point."

Optimus smiled gently at her as he listened to her speak about the past and lifts his hand to rub her back gently to give her comfort. "I see now. You were understandably angry that you did not get the love that you should have had from your parents. But you at least had some from your grandfather."

"I know…and when he died…I was even more resentful." She felt tears in her eyes. "I wish he was still here. I really do." She sniffled a little, feeling Optimus's fingers curl around her and she grabbed onto them to hold them. "I know it was many years ago since he past, but aside from you and the other autobots, he was someone who I truly loved. He…he was special. I wish he was still here. You would have loved him. And he would have been able to see Jetfire again."

"With what you have told me about Everett, I have no doubt he and I would have been good friends. However, as unfortunate as it is to admit, we are not in control of when the end of our time comes. We cannot predict what happens, nor can we prevent it." She knew that. She held his fingers tighter against her as she listened to him. "And while Everett and I would have been friends, it was not our fate. It was yours, it always has been. I have no doubt that he smiles at you every day. He knows about this, and he is proud of you."

She sniffled and smiled, nuzzling his metal fingers gently as she appreciated his kind words. "You are so good to me, Optimus. I don't even know what I did to deserve you. But I guess…it is not every day that I can say that a falling star has fallen in love with me." Optimus let out a chuckle of amusement at her at her description. "Because that's kind of how I feel now about it."

"That is a beautiful way to see my arrival to this planet, Saphira. Very beautiful." He caressed the back of her head gently with his thumb before looking up at the sky. "And now that it seems like we will be at peace for many years to come, I am thankful to know you. The war is over, and while it is strange to not be fighting, it has been nice to slow right down. You taught me how to enjoy the simple things in life." He blinked as some dragonflies flew over his face, and Optimus followed them with his optics. "Even watching the smallest insects has been such a joy to me."

She shifted for a moment to crawl across his chassis towards his face. Optimus lifts his head slightly as he looked down at her. "I guess I did. Because I enjoyed nature more than I did being around people. And I enjoyed it even more…especially since…well…" She sat right in front of Optimus's face and sighed softly. "When my heart stopped beating back in Egypt. Even though I had not realized I died until after I woke up, I saw the world differently. I guess you kind of have to after…almost dying."

Optimus nodded in agreement. "Yes, I agree. I know that I had been dead for a couple days back then, and when the power of the Matrix fuelled my body, it was like a strike of pure energy filled my system. After Egypt, it became clear that not only my love for you was true, but I wanted nothing more than to spend simple times with you. I never cared about just laying in the grass, staring up at the sky like we used to. The sky itself, is a blanket of blue above us, and the clouds move by with the occasional shower on our bodies."

She blushed as she listened to him, feeling her love for him as his happiness with her being as simple as laying in the grass was just always great for her to hear. "I guess you and I both…we both went through moments of realisation." She chuckled softly and crawled closer to his face and rests her arms on his cheeks, looking directly into his optics. His blue optics were soft and gentle as he looked back at her with love. "And we have come so far." He nodded in agreement as she kissed his metal lips and pulled away. "The world just seems to feel correct now. You might be an alien, and much older than me in Earth years…" He grinned as she already knew how old he is. "But I don't think, with how much I resented humans, I would have found someone to love. If I did try, I might have found an abusive partner…especially since I did not know how to love until I met you."

"At least I am not like that, you know it." He leaned forward slightly and they both kiss again. "I would never hurt you, Saphira." He purred gently as she nuzzled his metal cheek gently. "I love you so much. My spark is brighter when you are here with me."

She chuckled softly and she kissed him again. Optimus shifted a little as he got comfortable in the water and she moved away to sit on his chassis again. "I love you too, Optimus." She relaxed on his chassis and sniffed the air as she could smell the pancakes being cooked, and she looked over at the gondola as her stomach growled. "I hope they are almost done." She raised an eyebrow as she heard music being played, and she had not noticed Ironhide and Sideswipe had set up some speakers and turned on some music. "I hope you all brought energon cubes with you. It will be nice to share a meal together."

"We did. Do not worry."

Saphira was very happy to hear that. She still felt awkward whenever the autobots would not have anything while she would eat her food. Optimus eventually developed the habit of ingesting energon when she had breakfast and dinner at least. He usually would drink half a cube each time. He did not need to have a lot of energon when he wasn't burning it like he had been. And Saphira did not pressure him into drinking more than he needed. She did appreciate that he chose to do that just make her comfortable, and spend time with her.

The pancakes were soon finished, and Optimus brought Saphira to the gondola where she was seated at the table. His holoform sat on the opposite side of the table, and Saphira dug into her food. She was always amazed that the autobots were able to cook such delicious food, even though they themselves could not eat it. But she would not complain. She loved their cooking. Hound especially picked up the recipes very quickly. She was surprised by that, since he was both a medic and a weapons specialist.

After she had breakfast, the autobots all decided that they would go swimming. As Saphira was still ordered to not do any kind of rough housing, activities like water volleyball, running, baseball and so on were all off limits. But they did figure out a way to have fun. Well, Saphira figured it out. She knew that swimming was safe to do, so she simply challenged everyone to swim along the bottom of the pond to find as many emerald shards as possible. The person with the highest stack would be the winner. That was the first thing they decided to do.

And surprisingly, Sideswipe was the one who gathered the most emerald shards. Saphira did not know how he found them, but he had a keen eye it would seem. It was a fun activity. After that, they dig play water tag. It wasn't rough housing, as all they would do is tap Saphira on the shoulder. That didn't stop them from rough housing with each other. Especially Ironhide and Hound would really tackle each other. It seemed that having another bulky, autobot like Hound seemed to be something Ironhide enjoyed. He had someone he could tackle and not worry about hurting.

After midday, they stopped swimming, and Saphira opted to spend some one-on-one time with Optimus. He had the autobots leave them alone for the afternoon, and they spent their time just doing small things. Saphira convinced Optimus to make some necklaces and bracelets with the wildflowers in the field like she had done before. And he found that he actually enjoyed the activity a lot. It wasn't as hard as he thought it would be, and they ended up being distracted a large group of butterflies fluttered into the field to drink the nectar and pollinate. It was very beautiful, and Saphira thought it was amusing when some butterflies would land on Optimus's body.

When it was just before sunset, Saphira was wearing a white dress to cover her swimsuit, and she was staring at the emeralds around the frame of the gondola. The other autobots had returned by now, and Ratchet and Hound were currently in charge of cooking up a steak dinner for her. Saphira was feeling very happy. This was enough of a birthday gift to her, she didn't need anything physical. Just spending time with Optimus and the autobots was more than enough for her. She wanted nothing else.

She looked at the speakers for a moment and walked over to Ironhide who was arm wrestling with Bumblebee. "Come on, you little, punk!" Ironhide mocked Bee as they were standing by a boulder. Saphira smiled as she saw Bee frowning as he tried to push Ironhide's hand down. "Are you even trying? You're barely moving my arm an inch!"

"Uggh! Come on!" Bee growled as he focused on pulling the hand down.

Saphira smirked as she watched. Ironhide glanced up when he noticed she was watching, even if they arm wrestling in their holoforms. "What can I do for you, Saphira? I am a little busy for the moment, but if you want something from me, I can maybe assist."

She chuckled softly. "Um…is there a microphone? I kind of…want to sing…" Bee looked at Saphira in surprise before he yelped as Ironhide slammed his hand down on the rock. Saphira grimaced as the young autobot grabbed his hand and grumbled angrily. "Ooh, you shouldn't have let yourself be distracted, Bee."

Ironhide chuckled at Bumblebee as he rubbed his hand. "She's right, Bumblebee. She only asked a simple question." He turned to face her and he nodded. "And yes. We have a hand free microphone, would that suffice?" She nodded as that was good. "Alright." He leaned slightly to see Optimus was watching Ratchet and Hound work on the dinner and he looked at Saphira. "Let's get it set up while Optimus is distracted."

Saphira was very happy that Ironhide would help her with this. She followed him as he walked over to the speaker. It was still playing music at the moment, so there would be no distraction caused for the moment. Bumblebee followed as he was very curious about what song Saphira would even choose to sing. And he hasn't heard her sing. But it didn't matter if she was good or bad, she clearly was going to be singing from the heard. And he was looking forward to it.

Ironhide helped Saphira place the microphone over her ear to ensure it was secure. He did not turn it on just yet though, as he knew her breathing would be heard through the microphone. "Alright…" He walked over to a laptop that was hooked up to the speakers. "Shall I do the honor of playing the song of your choice?"

Saphira nodded, and she quickly typed the name of the song in the search bar for the playlist, and she smiled when she saw it pop up. She gave Ironhide a nod and looked at him. "Don't play it yet. I'm going to speak to everyone. So pause the current song." Ironhide nodded as he did as she was told. Everyone looked towards Ironhide in confusion as Saphira turned the microphone on and she looked at Optimus who was looking at her curiously. She glanced around at all the autobots with a smile. "I just wanted to thank everyone here. You all have made my birthday so special. I know I turn twenty tomorrow, but it feels like it is my birthday today." She looked over to Hound, Crosshairs and Drift. "And while I know there are a few new autobots among us, but I am very glad you three arrived on this planet. I consider everyone here to be my family. And to think, just a few years ago, I thought I was semi-ordinary. I was planning to go to college, and try to work with KSI…but that was never in my future." Optimus smiled as he stepped closer to her, watching her cheeks blush as she looked at him. "And Optimus, I love you so much. This song that I intend to sing, the lyrics may not be exactly how we spent time together, but I still think of us with this song."

Optimus took her hands and held them together as he looked into her eyes. "You deserve such a grand birthday." He lifts her hands to kiss the back of them. "And I will enjoy any song that you choose to sing. As I know you will be singing from your heart, Saphira. And it will be filled with love for me, and I will dance with you here under the darkening sky as the stars come out to watch us."

Saphira looked away with a giggle as her blush deepened. He really had his way with words. She kissed him for a moment before she gestured for Ironhide to play the song. It was one of her favorite songs. She would at times listen to it, and she found herself imagining herself and Optimus in those lyrics. And as far as she was concerned, when they did take those road trips together, it was most certainly a fine and true romance that she has ever felt.

'The summer air was soft and warm,
The feeling right,
The Paris night,
Did it's best to please us.
And strolling down the Élysées,
We had a drink in each café, and you.

You talked of politics, philosophy,
And I smiled like Mona Lisa.
We had our chance,
It was a fine and true romance.'

Optimus's smile softened as he listened to the lyrics of the song as she began to sing. She was right. The lyrics may not be about how they had spent time together, especially in regards to spending time in Paris, he could already see how she could see their time together through this song. And as she began to sing, Optimus began to move into a dance, and she was quick to dance with him. And she realized he was waltzing, although it wasn't the exact dance. He had seen waltzing through movies, but he had not quite memorized the dance enough. But Saphira did not care. The golden sky above them, the glistening of the emeralds around them and the gentle breeze flowing around them made this moment extra special.

'I can still recall our last summer,
I still see it all.
Walks along the Seine,
Laughing in the rain,
Our last summer,
Memories that remain.

We made our way along the river,
And we sat down in the grass,
By the Eiffel tower.
I was so happy we had met,
It was the age of no regret,
Oh yes.

Those crazy years, that was the time of the flower power.
But underneath we had a fear of flying,
Of getting old, a fear of slowly dying,
We took the chance,
Like we were dancing our last dance.'

The autobots were all grinning from ear to ear as they watch Optimus and Saphira dance. Both Optimus and Saphira were clearly in a trance with each other. It was just mesmerizing, and they all were swaying gently as they listen to Saphira's beautiful voice as she sang. None of them really knew she had a melodic voice until now, and they were glad that she chose to sing. Ratchet and Hound did have to focus on the food they were preparing for Saphira though so they wouldn't overcook it, even if they were enjoying the moment.

'I can still recall our last summer,
I still see it all.
In the tourist jam,
'Round the Notre Dame,
Our last summer,
Walking hand in hand.

Paris restaurants,
Our last summer,
Morning croissants,
Living for the day,
Worries far away,
Our last summer,
We could laugh and play.'

Saphira let out a little giggle as Optimus twirled her around as she sang. He than pulled her in to hug her as they dance around slowly in a circle. She rests her cheek on his chest with a smile, breathing in his unique scent from his holoform. This honestly made her feel as though they were alone. That is how magical it was feeling right now. And when it came to next set of lyrics, she knew that he did not work in a bank. But it could be seen as a metaphor for Optimus no longer needing to fight. And it was just a beautiful thing to think about.

'And now you're working in a bank.
The family man, the football fan,
And your name is Harry.
How dull it seems,
Yet you're the hero of my dreams.

I can still recall our last summer,
I still see it all.
Walks along the Seine,
Laughing in the rain,
Our last summer,
Memories that remain.

I can still recall our last summer,
I still see it all.
In the tourist jam,
'Round the Notre Dame,
Our last summer,
Walking hand in hand.

I can still recall our last summer,
I still see it all.
Walks along the Seine,
Laughing in the rain,
Our last summer,
Memories that remain.'

Saphira had ended the song with a slight change of lyrics, but she felt as though they seemed better as she came to end of the song. Happy tears fall from her eyes and she wrapped her arms around Optimus's shoulders as he wrapped his around her waist, pulling her close as they kiss passionately. They both feel the pulse of their love pushing through their bonds to each other, and Saphira felt so happy in this very moment. She was going to cherish this, as she has cherished so many other memories.

"I love you, sweet gem," Optimus purred gently, looking into her eyes as she looked back at his optics. "That was a beautiful choice of song. Thank you for singing it with your beautiful." He kissed her again, moving his hand up her back to her cheek to wipe away a tear. "I also recall our last summer. Just you and I, and nothing stopping us." She nodded as she remembered as well. "Sharing this lifetime with you is the best thing to ever happen to me."

Lifetime…right.

Saphira didn't want to feel sad all of a sudden, but knowing that while for her, this lifetime would be the best thing for her. When she did eventually grow old, and pass away, Optimus would be left alone. A part of her really did not want to think about that. But she vaguely remembers Megatron mentioning that there was a way of extending her life. She did wonder if that was possible. But she knew it was best to not ask such questions now.

Ratchet and Hound eventually made Optimus and Saphira take a moment to separate so that she made enjoy some braised beef with vegetables, followed by some ice cream and fruit salad. It was a wonderful meal to end the day. And after she had dinner, the autobots brought out sparklers. She was surprised, and yet, she was elated. Bumblebee told her it was his idea. He wanted it to be a representation of their lost sparkling, as a symbol in a way, to show that their sparkling was still there is spirit. And it really made her emotional as she watched them wave the sparklers gently.

When it did finally get late at night, Saphira grew tired. She did wake up rather early after all. Optimus walked with her to her tent, with a stern reminder that Saphira is to rest from Ratchet. Optimus was amused as while he knew that both he and Saphira would have wanted to be intimate, he knew better than to encourage it. She was not physically ready, and he would never force her in that way. It was not something he would ever do.

He watched her get changed into her pyjamas as the air grew cool, and when she climbed into the bed, Optimus lay down beside her and they both look at each other. Saphira stared into his beautiful, blue optics with a smile. "You know, I am starting to think I should buy a house near this place. As much as I love living in Texas, I also love coming here. And now that you have modified this place, made it more beautiful without impacting the land too much, I just want to be close. So you and I can come here whenever we want."

Optimus smiled and kissed her, rubbing her cheek gently. "That sounds like a good idea. But I think we should keep this place as something special…something we should do only every now and then. After all, we could come here when it is Christmas, for example. There was plenty of pine trees that we can use for a Christmas tree."

"That is nice, but I would rather we use a fake tree. I want to keep this place untouched as much as possible. Your tyres will be the only impact on the ground." She did appreciate the idea though, and the idea of spending Christmas here sounded great. It may not snow, and she wouldn't be able to swim due to the temperature, but she would love to spend Christmas here. "We could also come here with it is New Years Eve, and celebrate the next year." He nodded in agreement as they could do a lot here. "I am glad to be here." She yawned softly and shuffled closer to him, wrapping her arms around him to hold him as she closed her eyes. "I love you, Optimus. I look forward to waking up to your optics in the morning."

Optimus rubbed her cheek gently as he watched as she fell asleep next to him. He kissed her forehead, hoping for nothing more than sweet dreams in her sleep. He was happy that she was happy. Her smile always seemed to make his spark skip a pulse, and he would do anything for her. He kissed her forehead again as he stayed beside her during the night. He could only hope that their future would be bright, and beautiful like it was today. Hearing her sing that song, it was just perfect to him. And maybe they might get a chance to go to Paris. Though that was probably wishful thinking. Regardless, it would be a good dream to have.