It's been 12 freaken years, but here we are. And with this story, I say goodbye to ffn. I'm not deleting anything, but I'm not posting anything new here. If you'd like to follow me (as I want to write a sequel to this eventually) I'm on Ao3 with the same username! Love you all so much, and I hope you loved this story. It's not perfect, but I love it none the less. Xoxo Divineamaterasu.

Living Legend

Aria lay on the couch, eyes fixed on the window. It was raining.

The weeks had dragged on. Day after day, each getting slightly colder until all the leaves fell from the trees and blew away. Soon there would be snow.

It was quiet. Always quiet. Aside from her parents' occasional visit, there was no one left to talk to.

After that night at the base, she was sent home. They were going to send her with one of the personnel at the base, but she dug her heels in, standing her ground until it was Will who took her.

She explained her plan to him, emphasizing the Autobots agreed.

"You really think it will bring him back?" he had said after a long pause.

"We have to at least try."

He looked at her, eyes glassy. "Okay."

They went to her old house where yellow leaves still clung to rose branches. It was there she dug until she found Jetfire's spark.

It seemed to vibrate in her grasp.

Will looked at it. He had said she was nuts to keep a Transformer's spark when she knew nothing about it.

He wrapped it in his jacket nonetheless.

Then when he took her back home, he promised to give it to Ratchet.

And that was the last she'd heard. From him. From anyone.

Since then, the news revolved around aliens. The secret was well and truly out. No more speculation, no more conspiracies. Aliens were real. Aliens were robots.

Aliens had destroyed Chicago.

Blurry videos long lost, now resurfaced. Her heart ached whenever a black truck appeared, or Ironhide's faint silhouette was caught in the corner of the screen like a ghostly shadow.

Leo appeared a lot, and a friend of his. They were the ones with the biggest conspiracy website.

Simmons was strangely absent, but his book sales hit an all-time high.

The Health and Human Services building was half under construction and half barricaded off. It was perpetually surrounded by a mass of protesters and media, spanning for blocks.

What would it feel like to have found out the Transformers like this? Massive beings that caused nothing but war and chaos. Would she have wanted them off the planet like so many people wanted now?

What would her life be if she hadn't met Jetfire?

She'd have her house and horses and dog. She'd still be working in the museum with the replacement Blackbird. She wouldn't have scars or the slight limp.

She wouldn't have been targeted by Starscream or Eli.

She wouldn't have met the Autobots.

She wouldn't have met Ironhide.

Wouldn't have watched him die.

But if she wasn't in the picture… he may not have died at all.

She was the reason Sentinel had killed him. Because she was a disgusting human and Ironhide stooped so low as to love her.

It was all she could do to bring him back.

Maybe he was already back.

Her severance package arrived in the mail two weeks ago. The condo was in her name, bought and paid for.

She'd called Will more times than she could count. He'd never once answered. He'd warned her of that though. That she wasn't allowed back. Wasn't allowed to say anything.

But that never stopped the Autobots, so it wouldn't stop her either.

She'd found herself in the protesting crowds more often than not. There wasn't much else to do.

Just a glance, that wasn't too much to ask, was it?

Instead, people blocked her view and screamed next to her. Words of baseless hatred.

If she hadn't felt so tired all the time, she would have fought. Anything to stop the words being hollered around her. Deafening wave after wave, like the sea.

Now she found a routine. Wake up, watch the news, eat, watch the news, eat, watch the news, go to bed.

The T.V. stayed on mute. Just a glimpse. That's all she needed.

There was a knock at the door. Her eyes refocused on the clouds.

It wasn't that long ago she would have run to the door. But she could only be let down so many times.

The person knocked again. More quickly this time.

She shifted, slowly sitting upright.

Another knock and a muffled voice.

A familiar voice.

She bolted towards the door, unlocked it, and swung it open.

There, down on the stoop, was Wheelie. A little further back was Brains.

"Bought time." Wheelie grabbed Brains and pushed him past her legs.

Aria closed the door, locking it before turning around and scooping the Autobots into her arms.

She couldn't help the tears that fell down her cheeks. "I'm not letting you leave ever again!"

"Missed you too, Ari," Brains huffed out.

"We tried to come sooner, but we only had one chance," Wheelie said as he gave her a pat.

She finally released them and wiped her eyes. "One chance to sneak out?"

"Once chance to get you in."

"Does that mean it worked?"

Wheelie and Brains looked at each other in some sort of silent exchange. The moment dragged on for far too long.

"Yeah, so far so good," Brains said. Wheelie shrugged in mutual agreement.

She looked between them. "So far so—what does that mean?"

"It means Will thinks it's time you sneak in. Him and the director lady are gone for a few days so now's our chance."

"You know they won't let me through the front gates, let alone into the base. I read the paperwork, I'd go straight to prison."

"Yeah, Aria Normandy would, but not Anna Seller." As Wheelie spoke, he produced a badge from a cavity near his chest.

She took it from him. Other than the name and title, it was identical to her old one. She couldn't suppress the smile. Her picture was the same as her old tag.

Anna Seller. NASA Extraterrestrial Research Department.

"Thanks guys," was all she could manage.

Wheelie hooked a finger into the lanyard and tugged the badge from her. "One condition. We'll need a ride."

Wheelie squawked as he and Brains tried to squeeze into Aria's backpack. She held it open while the pair shoved at each other.

Aria glanced at the clock. "Maybe you could transform Wheelie, and then Brains can sit on top?"

"Like hell!"

It took at least ten minutes before Aria finally got on her motorcycle, Wheelie's head poking out of the backpack and Brains clinging to her stomach like a baby koala. Not like anyone would notice with the speed she was darting through traffic.

She navigated to the one open street that led to the base. Soldiers lined the sidewalks and the road itself was backed up with idling vehicles while security waved them through one by one. Wheelie leaned close to her and told her to pass on the shoulder.

Normally she wouldn't have done it, but Wheelie said Will was on board with whatever plan this was.

It was Calan at the gate, he'd scanned her old badge probably a hundred times by now.

She rode slowly past the questioning gazes through car windows. Many of the people looked familiar, and for the ones that didn't, at least her helmet visor was tinted.

When Calan waved the car through, he walked over to where she parked.

"I'm astonished you two made it!" he said to Wheelie and Brains. Wheelie poked out of the backpack and flipped him the bird.

Aria handed Calan the badge then flipped up her visor.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Seller. Everyone is waiting inside."

"Thanks, Calan."

"Don't be a stranger in there! Lots of people heard what you did for 'Hide." He gave her a pat on the arm as she rode past.

She parked in her usual spot amongst the cars and military vehicles that filled the lot. Had it been intentionally left empty for her?

She took off her helmet and put it on the ground next to the bike. After taking off her gloves, she shoved her hands into her pockets. The rain and the cold penetrated her body to the bone.

Brains walked ahead of her while Wheelie remained in the backpack. According to him, Brains rode on his alt form for most of the trip to her place.

Inside the base was busy as ever, but as she scanned the sea of faces, most were unfamiliar. Many wore military uniforms that lacked the NEST insignia. There were more scientists than ever.

But the thing that stood out most was the amount of people in suits. Most of the base was now government officials. A group passed her on their way out, leaving a heavy scent of cologne in their wake.

"About time you got here, Anne." Amber appeared at her side, extending out a cup of coffee.

Aria thanked her and took it. Amber looked no different than the day she last saw her. "Yeah, looks like a lot has changed."

"I'd tell you everything, but the media's pretty much got that covered. Mostly just know-it-all suits trying to decide the fate of the Autobots." She began to walk and Aria fell into step beside her. "But that's old news. I want to know how've you been. I mean, I heard what you did in Chicago and then there's what you did for Ironhide."

Aria's body involuntarily jerked at the sound of Ironhide's name. Amber stopped beside her.

"You know about Ironhide?"

Amber looked down at her coffee. "About that… I'm sorry about anything I said in the past that may have been insensitive. It was only after Will came back with a spark that anyone told me what was going on between you two. I thought you were just nuts for going to Chicago."

"Don't be sorry, I really was trying not to make it obvious. It's not exactly…normal."

"Aria, you went into a war zone for him. I love my husband, but I draw the line at going into battle for him." She laughed lightly before sobering. "Who cares if he's an Autobot, who cares what anyone thinks. If you guys love each other, that's all that matters. I can't think of anything worse than being made to feel bad about something that should bring you joy."

Before Amber could see her cry, Aria gave her a hug. "Thanks," was all she managed to say.

Amber let her go and gestured for Aria to follow. "Come on, let's go see the 'Bots."

They were headed towards a newly constructed area of the base. Once a part of the main hangar was now two more rooms with Autobot-sized doors.

Amber led her into the closer room of the two. They walked through the open overhead door and were greeted by eight Autobots.

Aria's eyes flicked across each of their faces. Optimus, Rachet, Sideswipe, Skidz, Mudflap, Jolt, Mirage, and Bee. Then her gaze wandered to the rest of the room. Other than a few objects here or there, it was empty.

"She's a little one track minded at the moment, but here's Anne!" Amber called out.

The Autobots ceased their conversations and suddenly many pairs of glowing blue eyes looked down at her.

Then there was a course of greetings. They looked… happy.

It was such a stark contrast to Chicago when they were battered and dented. Their eyes had been dim with fatigue and their shoulders slumped with the weight of battle. She often dreamed of them when she could sleep.

But here they were, looking just as well as she'd seen them a hundred times before.

"Well if it isn't the little lady of the hour," Sideswipe said as he rolled over to her. He'd always reminded her of Wheelie, but his movements were much more graceful.

Wheelie, on the other hand, was clattering out of her backpack. She took it off and helped him out of it. He let out a huff and told Brains to keep his mouth shut.

"You two have done well," Optimus said to the small Autobots who abruptly stopped bickering and straightened. Then he turned to Aria and nodded.

"Nice to finally see you guys, too."

Bee played a tune that he and the twins danced to.

Ratchet and Jolt gave her an approving smile.

"You have given us a gift, Aria. One that few Cybertronians are bestowed. For thousands of years, we have fought in the name of those we have lost, learnt from them, told stories to preserve their memory. We mourn for them and become stronger to keep others from the same fate. This is the life we live. The life of war and loss.

"Though you did not ask for this life, it has become yours too. In spite of that, you have shown us nothing but compassion from the very beginning. It is because of this, Jetfire reached out to you when you needed him most, and gave you his spark. And that was only after you received a different gift. One that none of us ever expected." His eyes rose to something behind her. "The unconditional love of an old Cybertronian."

A strange feeling overcame her. Like all the cold ebbed from her veins and every synapse in her body sparked with electricity.

"Boo."

The coffee cup slid from her fingers. The room went quiet. The Earth stopped spinning.

And then she turned.

He was there. Perfect as the day she met him. Whole. Shining ebony.

Ironhide.

Amber went to catch her, but her legs already buckled.

He kneeled in front of her, touching fingertips to her arm. "Not going to run this time?" he asked softly.

Everything was blurred by tears. But his eyes were so bright. So blue.

"You're face," she crocked.

He gave her his usual grin, no longer marred by the scar that covered the right half of his face.

He leaned closer to her and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her face to his cheek. The metal felt warm and alive, like the Energon that came alive inside her.

He was here. He was alive. Perfect. Real. Solid.

How could she ever leave him again? Ever let go?

It wasn't until the overhead door closed that she realized that all except for Ratchet left the room. Only the sound of her sobs echoed off the concrete walls.

Ironhide stroked her back, low sounds reminiscent of Cybertronian reverberated from his lips.

Finally, her eyes ran dry and a bit of her strength returned. She let go of his neck only to grasp his face.

She looked straight into his eyes. "Don't you ever leave me again."

"Aria."

He said it in the way he always had. It made her heart melt. Every intonation of it. Happiness, sadness, joy, or anger. It was her name he spoke.

There was nothing greater than to be loved by him.

"I know. It's just—I've never felt like that before, and I never want to feel that way again. I couldn't do anything—just watch you—"

Ironhide pulled her close again. "We didn't know."

Heavy footfalls came towards them. "I apologize for the intrusion."

Ironhide straightened and Aria turned. Ratchet looked almost timid.

"I wondered how you two got so close with so little time together. Yes, you left the base frequently at first, but then all of your interactions were only small and only here and there. It was only a week ago, when your body almost completed forming, that I finally figured it out." Ratchet held out a device that fit in the palm of his hand.

Ironhide looked at it for a long time before turning his gaze back on Ratchet. He did not take the part. "Have you told anyone?"

"I have not. Yours was destroyed with your body. This was an old broken one I found in Wheeljack's room. I tested it briefly, so it should work. And I daresay with a Seeker's spark, it should be easier than ever to use."

Ironhide stood and took the device. He pulled aside one of his chest plates and held it near his spark chamber. There, it clicked into place. "Thank you, Ratchet," he said with a nod.

Ratchet returned the gesture and resumed his place further away in the room. There was no doubt he wanted to see Ironhide's holoform.

"Shall we?" Ironhide said.

Without waiting for an answer, he transformed into the Black GMC. Slow and methodical, perhaps having to get used to transforming again.

The door opened and Ironhide's holoform stepped out. Unlike his Autobot self, his holoform still had the scar. Tall, short black hair, deep blue eyes. The perfect human reflection of his true form.

He crossed the distance between them and held her like he would never let go. His lips found hers. Everything else washed away. There was nothing but this moment. Nobody on the planet but them.

Nothing would ever come between them again.

"I love you," she said when they finally parted.

"And I love you."

It was then he released her and slipped something over her neck.

She lifted the pendant of the necklace.

"A shard of my new spark."

Her fingers closed around it as she brought it up to the scar on her chest.

Ironhide's eyes followed, lingering on the sport despite her jacket covering it.

"Optimus told me everything," he said, putting a hand over hers. "I should have known about Eli. There was something off about him that I couldn't figure out. The way he looked at me when we met."

"He fooled me too. What he did…at least he can never do it to anyone else."

"You promised me you'd stay safe."

"There was no point anymore. You were gone. All I felt was anger. I wanted to kill Sentinel or…" her voice grew distant, "die trying."

Ironhide pulled her close. "Is that how Jetfire found you?"

She nodded against his chest. "You were there too, on the other side of the river."

"I just wanted you to be safe, Aria. Promise me that you will, with or without me."

Aria leaned away and shook her head. "I promise to use my discretion, and only fight when I feel I must."

Ironhide frowned, an intense look in his eye. Here it came. He would say that she wasn't a warrior, and fighting for him wasn't worth the risk and—

"Then I must respect your decision. I never wanted you to follow my path, but here we are. Now all I can do is continue beside you wherever it leads."

Warmth filled her chest as if Ironhide's spark was still there. "I'm glad to see you didn't lose your flare for poetry."

He gave her his usual lopsided smile and ran his thumb across her cheek.

A knock interrupted them. Aria craned her neck and kissed him before he disappeared.

Ironhide finished transforming as the overhead door rose. The Autobots filed back in. Sideswipe winked, and Bee gave a double thumbs up.

"It's time then?" Ratchet asked Optimus.

"It is."

Aria looked to Amber who once again was beside her, now with a fresh cup of coffee. "Didn't get the memo?"

Wheelie scoffed. "I think it would have ruined the surprise."

The Autobots looked giddy. Even Mirage, who usually stood off to the side with his arms crossed, was tapping his foot and glancing around.

"We're going into hiding," Optimus said.

Aria spun towards him. "What, what?"

"We are going our separate ways for the time being. Colonel Lennox believes things are not going well with your government."

"You think they'll make you move to a new secret base? Try to keep you away from everything?" Aria glanced between the Autobots.

A few of them shook their heads. It was Sideswipe who brought his thumb across his neck.

"No…there's no way."

The Autobots in the room looked away from her.

"You should too," Amber said. "Sam and Carly already went abroad. I'm going north."

"You think they're going to come after us too?"

Amber shrugged casually. "Loose ends and all that."

"But how? I don't know how to just—" she threw her hands up. "—go into hiding!"

"We got you covered," Brains said, giving Wheelie a nudge.

Wheelie pulled out an ID card, holding it up to her. Like the badge, it had her picture. Beside it was the name Julia Summers.

"Did you come up with this name?" It was the least important thing to focus on, but her eyes would not leave it.

The name reminded her of all those times sitting with Ironhide on the porch looking at old poetry books.

Wheelie looked away and shrugged.

"Julia Summers? Awe why didn't you give me a pretty one? Do I look like an Elizabeth Martin to you?"

"I think Wheelie was getting his ideas from my books. I think you make a great Ms. Martin."

Amber took a swing of coffee in lieu of an answer.

Aria turned to the Wheelie and Brains. "Are you two coming with us?"

Wheelie raised the bit of metal above his buggy eye. "Us?"

"Yeah, "Hide and I."

Around them, the Autobots began to move. They really were going to break out.

"Aria," Ironhide called over the noise of the others. He was next to her in a second, the others moving out of the way while still talking amongst themselves.

"Where are we going to go?"

Ironhide kneeled to her level. "It will be more dangerous for you to stay with me, I want to be sure that you understand that."

"I don't agree with Will. I don't believe the government would go after you like that. The Decepticons are gone, the war is over."

"Another may start if we do not leave."

There was something about the tone of his voice that sent a cold shiver down her spine. "That's…no, I don't believe that. Just—can we stop at my place first? I need to pack."

"And cash," Amber added, coming back over to them. "I've got to go now. Mr. Martin is waiting outside with a rental so we can get out of here." She took a final swig of her coffee, put the cup on the floor and squeezed Aria in a hug. "Ugh, I can't believe this is happening. We just bought a house too." She released her and wiped her eyes. "Hated the stupid mortgage payments anyway. Good luck, Aria. Don't go putting yourself in danger anymore. And maybe, one day we'll see each other again."

"I'll miss you too, Amber. At least you won't have to wear any more suits."

"Yes, and no more stupid suits." Amber let out a sob, gave her another hug, and left the room without a backward glance.

Sideswipe almost followed her.

"You're really alright leaving everything behind?" Ironhide asked.

Aria walked closer to him. "Everything I have left is right here."

It was true.

Starscream had destroyed everything she ever had. Sirius, Azimuth, and Zennith were happy and safe with her parents who were off living their own lives.

Ironhide, Sideswipe, the Autobots, Will, Amber… they were what she had left. They had become her other family. One that was saying their goodbyes to one another.

She and Ironhide joined in the course of goodbyes.

"I'll probably run into you and 'Hide sometime. I'm going to cruise the country as every sportscar I can find. Going to find Amber too. Convince her that Cybertronians make the best spark mates."

"You don't have to tell me that," Aria said as she released Sideswipe from the embrace. "Who knows, you might find another human. Plenty of fish in the sea, as we say."

Sideswipe made a face.

Bee kneeled for a hug as well.

"You'll find Sam again someday," she told him.

"I trust you will keep Ironhide out of trouble," Ratchet said as he came up to her.

"He's not allowed to lift a cannon ever again."

Ratchet laughed at that.

"—We follow the plan," Optimus spoke, "We leave together. Do not stop until you are clear of the crowd. Then transform and," He looked to each of them, "Roll out."

The Autobots cheered. Jolt pressed the switch that opened the door.

Ironhide held out his hand. "We will have to hurry. They'll go to your home as soon as they figure out what we're doing."

Aria pulled herself up and sat on his palm. "Well, what are you waiting for then."

Ironhide gave a final nod to the others as they passed.

Some of the base personnel panicked as the Autobots marched, some merely stepped to the side, some saluted, some shouted, some cheered.

No one dared stand in their way.

Someone opened the hangar doors. Slowly, bright sunlight streamed into the base. Up the light rose with the door until it glinted off the metal bodies of the Autobots.

All sound from the endless crowd ceased at once.

Then gasps and screams.

The crowd shifted like a massive tide. Chaos erupted.

And then Optimus spoke.

"People of Earth, we are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron."

The crowd stilled as if transfixed by Optimus's voice.

"I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots. We have fought alongside your military in order to defeat the Decepticons. Though we have accomplished our goal, many were lost, human and Cybertronian alike. Our time has come to leave the military and live peacefully among you in secret. All we ask of you is to step aside."

Again, the sea of protesters shifted, this time separating down the middle like a seam coming undone.

The Autobots looked at each other one last time. Wheelie and Brains gave Aria a wave from Sideswipe's shoulder.

Then they marched.

People parted as the Autobots approached and rejoined when they passed. No more than whispers and the faint sound of the base personnel attempting to go after them could be heard.

It was finally happening. The Autobots were finally free.

Free to make their own choices. Free to go where they pleased. Free to be themselves.

There would always be people like her and Sam, like Amber and Will. People who they could confide in, who they could hide with.

They could speak any language, transform into any car. They could go far and wide, anywhere in the world and thrive.

The Autobots drifted apart, headed towards different streets.

Sideswipe disappeared as he transformed into a nearby car. The twins vanished. Ratchet gave a final look at the others before turning into one of the many ambulances parked along the edge of the crowd. Bee was next, then Jolt, Mirage, and the twins. Finally, it was only her, Ironhide and Optimus remaining.

"Keep each other safe. I am honored to have met both of you." And with a nod, Optimus too, disappeared.

Now it was just them and the thousands of eyes upon them.

"Ready?"

Aria nodded and a moment later she was in the passenger seat. She shifted to look out the rear window at the people's bewildered faces.

How many times had she watched Ironhide transform with the very same expression?

She turned around, eyes on the street ahead. "Where should we go?"

"I was hoping you would know. It's your planet."

"Well, I've always wanted to go west to the mountains, or maybe south, away from the cold."

"Just name the place."

"How about Yosemite? It's in California."

An affirmative hum came from the speakers.

It was like he never left. Like everything that happened was a nightmare.

Leaving the base. Hiding. Wanted criminals. It didn't matter. With him, it would be an adventure.

And this time, she would keep him safe.