One Month Later…

A month passes by rather quickly. Azura enjoyed going to school every day now that she had made fast friends with Jack Darby. She still had to deal with Vince, but he actually hasn't done anything to her. It seems he either just never got the chance or simply was worried about her adoptive father. Azura knew Fowler never adopted her, but he had come to pick her up with Cliffjumper twice in the month, mostly because he wanted to check in or her and Vince had seen him. So he did believe her. That didn't stop him from making snide comments.

Azura also got the fish she wanted for her tank. She had some rainbow fish, cardinal tetras and glolite tetras, a bristlenose catfish and a corydora. She loved them. When she got them, it was all she talked about all week. She even told Jack and showed him photos of her fish and the tank on her phone. She couldn't show Jack in person, of course, but he was happy.

Optimus had taken her to the aquarium to get the fish, and he has been thrilled about how happy she had been. Seeing the light in her eyes made his spark warm. She was just so happy, and he was happy for her. And he regularly spent time with her when she was feeding the fish and cleaning the tank. She even began to study on how to make fish food from scratch, as the food from the store wasn't the best even though it was convenient.

She and Optimus had bonded a bit more in this time. He also took her to see the beach and the Grand Canyon, something she was absolutely grateful for. Though both times, he tried to say something to her. He had something he wanted to say, but he backed down. Azura never interrupted or pushed him to tell her.

That being said, Azura was starting to feel stressed and anxious. She was feeling the need to be near Optimus regularly, and it was bothering her. And yet she still would go and find him everyday just to spend at least thirty minutes minimum with him. She was starting to think about prompting him on telling her the truth, even though it wasn't her responsibility. She was frustrated that she was left in the dark, and she hoped it would come out soon.

She did find time to be able to practice her abilities though. She managed to convince the autobots to let her go to the top of the base under the pretence of doing yoga. Though she did actually start doing yoga when she found it helped her a lot more. And she was happy with the progress. Especially since she was still having dreams of Primus helping her.

Azura's Dream

Azura stood on the edge of the volcano overlooking the palace below her. Primus stood beside her, and they both were once again the celestial dragons that she has seen them as. Though Azura was getting used to being a dragon in her dream. She was loving it. She still doubted she could actually transform into one outside of her dream, but she could only hope that it was possible and that she would have control over it.

"You are doing wonderfully," Primus comments with a smile as Azura was lifting some of the lava and creating shapes with her ability. "You know, if you ever need to, you'll be able to control the flow of lava and protect people. Along with fires that spread through dry parts of Earth."

Azura was happy she would be able to do that. She felt like she could do anything. But being a superhero was not something she would want to become. Having these abilities just meant she could do things that no one else could, and probably help the autobots as well.

"I think that's amazing, but being a superhero isn't my goal." Azura dropped the magma with a sigh and turned to look at Primus. "I don't mind being able to help…but I feel like these abilities are only going to be used in dire circumstances."

"Yes, they will. But you will not be able to control it. I think you should feel very proud, Azura. You can walk on water now, you can control the wind and create rainbows…and you will be able to get yourself out of situations that may or may not arise." She nodded with a smile and turned away from Primus. "Though when you learn who your family is and accept it, the Matrix will unlock further abilities."

"I don't want anymore power…" Azura walked over to the water and stared at her reflection. "I don't need it…"

"You may find you will. These will only be defensive abilities only, not extreme abilities." The girl rolled her eyes, not really caring that she would have those kinds of abilities. "You may need them to defend yourself against Megatron and Unicron."

Azura shivered at Unicron's name. "I really do not like that I might have to defend myself from them." Primus already told Azura who Unicron was, and that he could come after her due to the fact of her power. "But…I do see it. The decepticons know I exist…so I imagine that they will tell Megatron and he will come after me…if he isn't looking for me already."

"I understand that is what you feel, Azura. You're scared, and you have every right to be. But you have a family around you, and they will protect you."

"But you still won't tell me who my parents are." Azura hits the water in frustration and turned her back to Primus. "I just want to know. I think the autobots know something too, and they won't admit it. Honestly, I feel like I should just run."

Primus widened his eyes in shock. "Run? You can't be serious."

"Why not?" She growled softly as she glared at her reflection in the water. "They're just protecting themselves from hurt, when I'm the one whose been hurting all these years. I wish they told me already!"

Primus could sense the anger from Azura and he stepped closer. "Azura…"

"No! I'm done! Get out of my head!" Azura shrieked in frustration, closing her eyes and trying to block out Primus. "If you won't help me know who my parents are, I don't want your help for anything else!"

There was the sound of air singing around her and Azura opened her eyes and saw pitch black. At the end of the darkness was a bright light, and she thought she saw the back of Optimus. She was surprised and ran towards him, but it seemed like he was moving further away. That terrified her, and she tried to sprint towards him when he seemed to keep moving further away as she got closer, or tried to get closer to him.

"Optimus!"

Azura gasped as she shot up from her bed. Her breathing was rapid and she was covered in sweat. Tears fill her eyes and she sniffled. She looked around and looked at the time. It was two in the morning and it was Saturday. She held the blanket tightly and reached under her pyjama shirt and held the crystal in her hand, clenching tightly around it. She took deep breaths to try and calm herself down while letting some tears fall from her eyes.

After a few minutes, she decided to try and find one of the autobots. She knew some of them would be in recharge at the moment, but someone would be up. She needed company. She especially wanted Optimus's company. She walked out of her room, wiping the tears from her eyes as she made her way to the lobby. As she approached, she heard the sound of frustrated voices ahead of her. Ratchet, Cliffjumper and Arcee were speaking to someone, and she could hear Optimus's voice as well. It seemed they were the only ones awake, and she decided to eavesdrop on them as she walked to the side of the large archway into the lobby and hid behind the frame.

"Optimus, I know you don't wish to hurt her, but it has been well over a month since we have found Azura. You cannot possibly keep this going." Ratchet had a worried expression as he spoke to Optimus sternly. "Azura needs to know the truth. She needs to know who she is and who you are to her."

Azura peered around from behind the frame and saw that Optimus was looking down with a sad, regretful expression while he responded to a frowning Ratchet. "I am aware…I plan on telling her this weekend when I take her to the island," Optimus responded in a calm, yet still uncertain tone. "I have noticed Azura's becoming more needy too…"

"What did you expect? She's still an infant! She might think she's a teenager, but she is still an infant sparkling, and she needs you. She probably would also benefit to start having low grade energon." Ratchet rubbed his forehead in frustration. "I don't want to upset Azura either, but the longer we wait, the worse is will be."

"Azura's stated to me that she's frustrated. She has spoken to me more than once that she felt like she's known us from day one, and she has told me that she feels a deeper connection with you. And…she actually admitted, she wishes you had told her that she could be your daughter when explaining the story behind the crystal." Optimus frowned a little and looked away as Cliffjumper told him what Azura has been telling him. "She said if the results were false, it would be easier to accept. And to be frank, boss…I am not sure how much longer I can take not telling her the truth."

Arcee placed a hand on Optimus's arm, knowing this was hard for him. "I know you think you are doing what's best…but we all see it is only going to get worse if you say nothing. It's time to let her know, Optimus. We can all be here to tell her."

Optimus shakes his head. "No…it is still something I have to tell her myself. You are right…" He glanced at Cliff with a sad expression. "I understand your frustrations, Cliff. I will tell her this weekend that she is my daughter…and I am her…well, I guess in her term, father would be what she would see me as." He paused for a moment. "And I hope…she will understand why I had to…do I what I did to save her life.

I knew it!

Azura felt tears filling her eyes as she listened to then, covering her mouth to keep her from making a heap of noise. "You had better go through with it, Optimus. You said that the last two times you took Azura to places, and even when she bought those fish. I know you are scared and worried of the reaction, it's understandable." Ratchet placed a supportive hand on Optimus's shoulder. "But you should think of her feelings now. You know that she matters more."

"Yes…I know…" Optimus intakes heavily. "I will not hesitate this time. I have hesitated more than once, and I will tell her the truth…"

Azura could not take it anymore and walked out of the hallway, though they don't notice at first. "So…" All optics were on her as soon as she spoke. She grasps her arms as she trembles with anger and sadness. "You…you are my father?"

Optimus stared at her with wide optics as she looked back at him with teary eyes. "A-Azura…" He stepped towards her and she tensed visibly. He saw there was no denying it now. "Yes…I am." She sniffled and looked away from him. "I am deeply sorry, Azura. I have been trying to figure out the tight words to say…"

"You could have told me weeks ago!" Azura snapped as she let out a sob. "How long did you even know? You couldn't even tell me that you suspected based on the crystal around my neck!" She grasped her pyjama shirt tightly, feeling the crystal that was hiding underneath the shirt. Her throat felt like it was going to tighten as she glared at them. "How long did you know?!"

"We took the blood samples from the doctors before they left," Ratchet explained calmly as he watched her with sad eyes. "And we matched Optimus's CNA with yours, and it was a match. We found out after you got out of that wheelchair."

Azura clenched her hands tightly around her arms. "Why didn't you tell me then? Why wait?" She sniffled and Optimus opened his mouth, but she interrupted him. "Let me guess, you could find the right words to say. Or you were afraid of my reaction. You didn't want to see me hurt. Well congratulations! You've done it anyway by waiting!"

"Azura, please…"

"I am not going to pretend to be understanding why you waited, Optimus. You were simply worried about yourself and not me!" Azura grits her teeth and turned on her heel. "And I just had a bad dream, and I wanted to come to you…and this is even worse than the nightmare."

She heard Optimus step closer to her. "I am really sorry for not telling you sooner…"

"Save it! I don't want to hear it!" Azura ran out of the lobby back towards her room. "Leave me alone!"

Not one of them tried to call out to her, and Azura was happy with that. She ran into the room and rushed over to the door controls to lock them, not wanting any of the autobots to come in and disturb her. She threw herself on the bed and hugged the pillow over her face and sobbed loudly. She felt hurt, and she was relieved to know the truth, but it still hurt. She wished they told her sooner instead of lying to her. She did not know what to do anymore.

Meanwhile…

Watching Azura turn and run made Optimus's spark hurt. He never mea t for her to hear the truth like that. None of them even knew she was there until she stepped out. And be did not know what exactly she heard as well. Nonetheless, watching her crumble in pain made him regret not telling her sooner. He wanted to hold her and let her cry it out, but it was best to leave her alone and he knew it.

"Sorry, boss…" Cliff looked very sad about the recent event. "I know I was frustrated that she was hurting…but this isn't how she should have found out…and I know you know that too."

"This is not your fault, Cliff…" Arcee walked over to him and placed a hand on his arm and looked at Optimus as he stood with a glum, regretful expression. "In fact, there is point in pointing blame. What's done is done…Azura knows now. Even though there is no way of knowing how long she had been listening to us, she knows." Arcee looked at Ratchet as he nodded in agreement. "Now that she knows, she might try to flee."

"I suspect that too, Arcee." Ratchet turned away and walked over to the monitor. "However, as much as she might feel the need to run, the crystal she has around her neck does emit a very low, but very unique signal. I was able to detect sometime after she arrived, and being able to track her is not going to be hard."

"I am surprised you never mentioned that until now, doc." Cliff stared at the medic in shock before glancing down the hallway. "Just hope that Azura never heard you say that. I think she would really dislike knowing that." He glanced at Optimus to see he was just staring silently at the dark hallway. "Give her some space, Optimus. She…she is still very young."

"This is not the first time Optimus has dealt with a sparkling, Cliffjumper. However, she is his one and only sparkling, so the circumstances is different. Although, she is not yet at an age where she can control her emotions, despite the fact she believes she is a human teenager." Ratchet glanced over his shoulder and sighed as he saw Optimus said nothing. "Go and recharge, Optimus. Azura is in her room. I do not need recharge. I think she would want to hear from someone who is not you for a while. I know that is painful to hear, but Azura needs time."

Optimus knew that, but he still extremely horrible. "I…I really hope I don't lose her again." He placed a hand on his chassis, remembering exactly the moment the blast had impacted him and feeling of her spark being created. "I wish things were not as they are now." He wanted to go and hold her, let her cry and put her back to bed. He often imagined what it would have been like to have his sparkling with him, and how he would have cared for it. It gave him a sense of comfort, and pain at the same time. "I am not sure if I can recharge right now, Ratchet…not while I know she is crying."

The medic walked over to Optimus and placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. "Give her sometime, Optimus. Azura is going to need it. She will likely come out of her room on Monday…" He glanced at Cliffjumper. "For the time being, I think Azura is going to take refuge with you and Bumblebee, Cliff. So I want you to be there to help her through this. She likely knows that you wanted to tell her."

Cliff nodded affirmatively. "Of course, I'll be there. I know it was not my place to tell, but I almost wish it was. I am not sure how she would have reacted if I had told her, but at least she would know." He glanced at Optimus as he glanced at him as he listened to him. "But I promise I'll be there for Azura. She sees me and Bee like older brothers. And with good reason. Be patient. She has already become clingy with you, and I think she will get that way again. Just give her a bit of time."

Optimus intakes heavily and turned to walk away, knowing there was nothing more that he could do now. Azura was crying, hurt and likely would be angry at him for many days. He hoped they could have a close relationship. It was one of the most important things to him, was to have a close relationship with her. He knew he has missed out a lot. It was true, at this point, sparklings could talk, walk and were rather independent, but they were still infants and needed guidance and they still required to be with their sires and carriers for many years. Bumblebee himself is a little over ten thousand Earth years, and he is still considered young by Cybertronian standards.

Though Azura's appearance may make things different, though Optimus could not be a hundred percent sure on that. She may yet still grow into a full Cybertronian, though he did not know if he should even hope for that. Azura never had the chance to develop probably within his own body. A part of him yearned for that, even though he himself would not have been in the right position to carry a sparkling. Especially since he was the leader of the autobots and Megatron would have taken advantage of his condition once he knew of it. It was likely why the med bay was attacked by the decepticons because he had known Optimus had a sparkling, and wanted to take it from him to twist and turn into his own minion.

Optimus returned to his berth room and walked inside, looking around the room and closed the door behind him. He thought about locking it, but it would not be something he would usually do. It was not normal when Optimus's emotions were conflicted, however, this was a special case. Optimus wanted nothing more than to just let out tears of his own pain. He made his way into his private shower and turned it on before he sat down and let the water run over his body.

He knew for a fact he was going to cherish the memories he has made with Azura so far. Discovering the girl for the first time in many years felt like a Primus miracle. He remembered not even believing Cliffjumper at first until he sent them a picture, showing them the girl with the crystal. Optimus actually did fear that his sparkling lost it, and Azura just happened to acquire it by accident. But when it was revealed after saving her from the decepticons that she had been found on the side of the road with no significant sign of her birth parents, he and Ratchet had become suspicious.

When Optimus had noticed that Azura seemed to recognize him when she saw him for the first time, his suspicions that she was his sparkling had grown immensely. He almost wanted to have no doubt that she was his daughter at the time. And telling her the story behind the crystal allowed him to observe her. She seemed to take it all in and there was a part of him that wanted to tell her that she could be his daughter. In fact, she was definitely hoping to be told that.

He regretted not saying that it was a possibility. Things actually might have gone easier for her, and it would have even been easier for Optimus to tell her who he was to her. Now their relationship was rocky. Optimus did not want to believe it will ever be fully shattered. Their bond would never fade. He knew it might not have been set in stone, but it would never fade. It was why she had said she had dreamt of him before. It was that small spark of their bond speaking to her.

As Optimus sat there, he thought about checking on Azura. He had not realized he had already been sitting for a whole hour and he wondered if she was still crying. It was possible she cried herself to sleep, and he was somewhat hoping for that. Rest was important, even if she was upset. But he had a feeling that checking on her would be difficult. She likely has locked the door and no one will be able to get in until she unlocked it…even though Ratchet would be able to override the controls from the outside. He wouldn't make her feel unsafe in her own room though. That was the last thing that he wanted, especially since she has really made that room her own.

He knew that he had a lot of work to do in terms of building a strong relationship. Before, he knew it was all due to him not telling her the truth. Now it was different. He had to work on rebuilding their relationship. And he knew it had to be on her terms, there was no other way to go about it. And he had every intention of working with her, no matter how long it would take. He was willing to work years until their bond was strong again.

And he was happy that Ratchet could track the signal from the crystal, but that had also got him worried. What if the decepticons also work out how to track the crystal? The signal might be weak, but it was also unique enough to track all the time with Ratchet's instrument. If the decepticons were to discover it, they would figure out where Azura was. Along with their base. He knew he would not be able to ask Azura to leave the crystal here, though he also did not know how she felt about have the Cybertronian crystal around her neck now that she knew. That would remain to be seen, but it was a concern of his. For now, he could only sit and wallow in his own guilt and sorrow, hoping that things will change for the better in the near future.