Prowl lay awake in his berth with Jazz right next to him. He was busily pondering the day's revelations and events to determine if there was anything that might have been done differently. The problem was, every possible scenario that he came up with ended much the same. Regardless of how or when, Stephanie would still have needed to be informed of exactly how her family had been killed. Stephanie's emotional attachment to her family would never lessen, and thus, she would have experienced the same trauma no matter what method had been used to inform her.

"Jazz? Are you awake?" Prowl heard Stephanie whisper.

"Yeah Steph. Ah am." Jazz replied heavily as he left the berth.

The numerous sensors in his doorwings told Prowl that Jazz was kneeling next to the small bed that Stephanie was sleeping in just beneath their own.

"Jazz… I'm… I'm sorry."

'What? For what possible reason could Stephanie be issuing an apology?' Prowl wondered as soon as he heard the whisper.

"Why ya apologizin Steph? Ya aint done nothin."

"Be… because you didn't have a choice. You didn't know that was going to kill my family. All you knew was that Mr. Lennox and a bunch of others were going to get killed if you didn't do anything… so you made sure it didn't happen. I'm blind but not stupid Jazz. If you knew we were there, you… you would do something else." Even though she was whispering, Prowl still heard the sincerity in Stephanie's voice.

"Yer right Steph. Ah woulda done somethin diffrent. Ah don' know what, but Ah'd a done somethin!" Jazz said with heavy anguish that Prowl was able to sense through his spark bond with Jazz.

"I know. All he wanted to do was kill a whole bunch of people and you made sure he didn't get to. You did what you could. My… my family is still dead, but a lot of other people are still alive. I… I even met one of 'em. I… I can't wish for them to be dead so my family could still be alive because Annabelle's dad is one of those people. I… I couldn't do that to her." Stephanie whispered as she fought back tears and sobs.

"Ah know ya can't Steph. Tha's cause ya ain't like that. Ah cain't change the past Steph… if Ah could… Ah'd find a way ta make sure your family wasn't killed." Jazz whispered heavily.

"I know. That's why I don't want you to think that you killed them… because you didn't… he did!" Stephanie whispered firmly.

"You're right Steph, but it ain't easy knowin Ah was da one who pointed that cannon at you and your family." Jazz said sadly.

"I know." Stephanie replied just as sadly. "But you shouldn't blame yourself… he should get all the blame."

"Maybe he should Steph, but Colonel Lennox and his men killed 'im. From what Ah been told Colonel Lennox was tha one who finally did 'im in and fired tha last shot. From start ta finish, tha whole battle didn't even last a half hour." Jazz whispered seriously.

'Mr. Lennox killed him? Then if Brawl had killed Mr. Lennox and those people with him, Mr. Lennox wouldn't have been alive to kill him and he would have killed a lot of more people.' Stephanie realized quickly.

"You did the right thing Jazz." Stephanie whispered softly but very seriously. "Brawl was going to kill Mr. Lennox. If he had then Mr. Lennox wouldn't have been there to kill him and stop him from killing a lot of other people. With no one to stop him, he could have killed a lot of people plus my family! You helped stop that Jazz. You didn't start this war, you didn't bring it here, and you didn't fire the shot that killed my family. That's all there is to it."

"Maybe Ah didn' do any o' those things… but Ah gotta be honest with ya Steph… Ah feel like Ah'm tha one ta blame." Jazz said morosely.

"I know. My Mommy told me one time that when something isn't your fault, and you still fell bad and guilty about it, it just shows that you're a good person. You are a good person Jazz. You saved my life, and I'm glad you did. So… thank you… for everything." Stephanie whispered with tears in her eyes.

Jazz, the mech who always had an instant comeback, fast rebuttal, and snide remark, for once had no idea what to say. He didn't know if there was anything he could say to that. What he did know for certain, was that this girl who had lost everything was now thanking him. He didn't feel that he deserved that thanks because he didn't think he'd earned it. Despite what she said, he knew that he had been the one who was irresponsible enough to take everything from her.

Jazz's spark ached as he watched Stephanie close her eyes to sleep. He couldn't help but feel a strong admiration for this girl. She had lost everything that she'd ever had, her home, her family, the use of her left arm, her sight, and even people to simply care about her; yet still she pressed on. Somehow in spite of all that she'd lost, this girl seemed to see him as some kind of hero who'd saved her life and that of many others. She found reasons to justify not blaming him for the deaths of her family, so that she could also justify her continued friendship with him. It was with a very heavy spark that ached more than he'd ever thought possible, that Jazz climbed back into the berth he shared with Prowl.

BREAK

Stephanie roused into wakefulness all at once. She remembered the talk she'd had with Jazz before going to sleep. She knew exactly what she'd said to the mech and she also knew that she had sincerely meant every single word! She knew that her family was dead, that they wouldn't be coming back because the world didn't work that way, but she was sure that her Mommy and Daddy wouldn't want her to spend the rest of her life crying for something she could never have. It was time for her to stop crying and once again be the kind of strong young lady who had gone to live in the sewers when there was no other option. She could do that… she needed to do that! She needed it, Jazz needed it, and she felt that her family needed it too. She remembered her Mommy telling her that as long as she remembered someone who had died that they would never really be gone. That meant that she needed to stop wasting time and get ready to do something with her life. An education would probably be a good place to start. A better place to start; would be proving that she didn't hold anything against Jazz. Yes, that really would be the best place to start.

"Good morning Jazz! Good morning Prowl!" Stephanie called out in a cheery voice.

Prowl turned his head and fixed Stephanie with a speculative stare. He knew the conversation that had taken place just prior to Stephanie going to sleep. While he had sustained very little hope that the girl could overcome the incredible grief which he knew plagued her; it appeared that somehow, she had in fact done so. He would need to be extremely subtle in any approach to discover whether or not that was indeed the situation.

"I would like to inquire about your reasons for the stated belief that this morning is in fact 'good' as you say." Prowl said politely.

Stephanie started laughing. "I only understood part of that Prowl! But I'm pretty sure you just asked me why I think it's a good morning. I'll tell you. It's a good morning because this is a new day, and it's gonna be the start of a whole new life for me! I'm not living in the sewers anymore, and if I could scrape up a life there, then I'm sure I can do a lot better with you and Jazz as my friends to help me! So this is the first day of the rest of my life!" She said firmly in a cheerful tone.

Jazz spun to gape at the girl sitting in her bed beneath the berth he shared with Prowl. He saw a smile on that face and a sparkle in those sightless grey eyes, but underneath that, he saw a determination that he wasn't familiar with. That realization disturbed him because after everything that had been revealed yesterday, Stephanie somehow still proclaimed him to be her friend! After what he'd done to her, he knew that he didn't deserve her friendship, and he sure as pit didn't deserve to have her call him a friend.

"That would appear to be a very logical perspective Stephanie, as well as a very commendable one. However I feel it necessary to inquire as to your intention regarding your future." Prowl replied.

"Wow! I think I figured that one out all by myself!" Stephanie exclaimed proudly. "My Mommy and Daddy told me that I have to do good in school or I can't take Ballet classes, so I made good grades even though I had to try really hard. Now that I can't see, and can't use my left arm very much, I don't know what I'm gonna do when I grow up."

"Discovering your possible options would seem to be appropriate in this case, since you will have to choose what occupation you wish to achieve." Prowl told her.

"Huh?" Stephanie asked in confusion. "Jazz, will you please tell me what he said?"

"He said ya need ta find out everythin ya can do, an then pick something so's ya can work for it." Jazz replied smoothly.

"Thanks Jazz! I can do that, but I might need some help with it though. I have no idea what kind of job I could get, and I know I have a lot of work to do because I'll have to learn how to read all over again." Stephanie replied.

"Ah tol ya that Ah'd teach ya that stuff an Ah meant it." Jazz stated stoically.

"I know you did Jazz… and I know you'll keep that promise too. I'm sure it won't be easy, but I promise I'll try to learn as much as I can." Stephanie answered.

"I find this perspective of yours to be quite commendable Stephanie. I believe that donning appropriate apparel would be an excellent way to initialize your endeavors." Prowl stated.

"Okay, you told me that you like my attitude on life... but I have no idea what the rest of what you said was." Stephanie replied with a shake of her head.

Jazz couldn't stop the light chuckle he gave. "He said gettin dressed would be a great start."

"Oh! Good point!" Stephanie exclaimed as she jumped out of bed and made her way over to her dresser. She got out some clothes and went into her bathroom to get dressed.

Prowl watched as Stephanie went into her bathroom to get dressed. Then he turned to face Jazz. "I am aware of the conversation the two of you participated in last evening. I believe that Stephanie was, and is fully intent on what she stated. She does not wish to hold any animosity towards you, and she is correct. Had other actions been taken, the number of human deaths would have been far more numerous. Your actions were necessary to prevent Brawl from causing further death and destruction. Yes, Stephanie's family was indeed killed in that battle… but then… so were you! You took what you perceived to be the correct course of action. Three lives might have come to an end, but there are many others who are alive and well because of the actions you took that day. You are responsible for preserving those lives Jazz, and not even Optimus Prime was capable of preventing the deaths of the innocent. There is a very high probability that Stephanie is aware of this. To be as young as she is, Stephanie is painfully aware of a brutal truth. Three lives in exchange for more than twenty others is a legitimate trade, and it is a logical one as well. That knowledge however, does not lessen the pain of having lost her family that day. It does however mean that she can appreciate those lives you were able to save, those deaths that you were successful in preventing. Because of you, Stephanie has spoken with two of those who would otherwise have been killed that day. Because of your actions, there are several children… human sparklings who are able to greet their father today. As much as Stephanie grieves the loss of her family, she would refuse to reverse the situation if given the opportunity." He said in a kind tone.

Jazz retracted his visor and looked at his sparkmate with pain evident in his blue optics. "Prowler… Jus cause she accepts what happened, don't make it right. Ya know tha an so do Ah."

"That is entirely correct Jazz. However, there is nothing that can be done to alter the past and Stephanie knows this. Therefore, actions must be taken to ensure that the future is far more preferable." Prowl stated sincerely.

"Yer right Prowler, Ah gotta stop thinkin about tha an figure out what Ah'm gonna do from here on out. Ah think Ah owe Steph that much." Jazz replied heavily.

Prowl might have said more, but at that moment, Stephanie exited the bathroom fully dressed and smiling.

"Now that you are displaying proper attire, I believe that sustenance is in order." Prowl stated with a fair amount of non-chalance.

"Huh?" Stephanie muttered in confusion. "Jazz… what'd he say?"

"He said… an Ah quote 'Now that ya dressed, let's get some breakfast.' An Ah think Ah can agree with that." Jazz told her.

"So can I! Something to eat sounds really good right now. A nice hot cup of coffee would be great too." Stephanie said excitedly.

Jazz leaned down to place his hand on the floor so he could carry Stephanie to the rec room.

Stephanie heard the soft minute sound of a bot leaning down for her. She knew that it was Jazz because he was closer to her than Prowl.

"Jazz… will you put me on your left shoulder, please?" Stephanie asked nicely though a little nervously. "I think I need to start getting used to it."

"Sure. Ah think Ah can handle that." Jazz answered.

Prowl watched in silence as Jazz lifted Stephanie to his left shoulder and held her steady while she found a secure hold with her right hand.

"Are ya ready now Steph?" Jazz asked after a moment.

Stephanie nodded her head. "Yeah, I think so."

As Jazz headed to the rec room so they could all get breakfast, Stephanie held on to the armor of Jazz's shoulder rather tightly until she realized that his walk was perfectly smooth with no jerking or bouncing at all. Once she learned how steady Jazz's walking was, Stephanie slowly eased up on her tight grip until she was barely holding on at all. She knew that Jazz wouldn't drop her and she began to relax because she also became sure that he wouldn't let her fall either.

The trip to the rec room took no time at all, and Stephanie could soon smell something that she had come to enjoy… coffee.

"Ohh… that coffee smells good!" Stephanie said with a smile.

"Ya really like tha stuff don't ya Steph?" Jazz asked with a curious grin.

"You bet! Coffee and donuts go together like biscuits and butter, or milk and cereal!" Stephanie exclaimed happily.

"I believe that there are a variety of donuts available here, if you wish to partake of them." Prowl stated casually.

"Really?" Stephanie asked loudly. "I can get some donuts here? That's awesome! Thanks Prowl!"