(Please see all previous disclaimers)

Optimus took Jazz's advice and headed out of the earthly headquarters of the Autobots. Optimus didn't even notice the beautiful scenery around him. He was too focused on finding his mate and bringing her aft home, where he thought she belonged to stay safe. His semi mode rumbled on, unaware that he had sent his feelings about this across the bond.

Meanwhile, enjoying herself in the deep lake she was in, Aquaformer suddenly felt the intense emotions that her mate had unwittingly pulsed across their bond. She sighed at feeling them. She felt smothered by the way he wanted to "keep her safe." She knew it wouldn't make a difference if she moved, as he would just find her following the spark bond, so she stayed where she was, hoping Optimus would be confused when he arrived where her spark led him. She hoped that he would come to his senses before he found her.

Back with Optimus, the Autobot leader kept pushing on, only now noticing that the area his was driving in was more nature preserve and less human habitat. This made no sense to him, as he didn't realize his mate enjoyed nature, no matter what planet she was on. He kept moving slowly, as the hilly area was hard on his vehicle form. He just hoped she was somewhere nearby and safe.

Aquaformer knew her mate was close, as she could feel his presence. She stayed below, as she knew her mate was angry with her. She wanted to pulse many things to her mate, but feared he would just be more mad. She didn't like being trapped and locked away. She needed to be free.

Finally, Optimus reached what appeared to be a gigantic lake, deep blue in color. He saw no one around and so he was confused that his sparkbond had led him here. He could still feel his mate was online and nearby, but she was nowhere in sight. He gazed around, trying to see if he could see an energy signature, as like Mirage, Aquaformer also had an ability to hide in plain sight, but Optimus saw nothing.

Figuring she should just get this over with, Aquaformer emerged from the water, head held high and looking like she was ready to ream someone a new one. She was sick and tired of feeling trapped and she wasn't going to take it any longer. And just as she fully emerged, Optimus noticed her. And for as mad as he felt, she looked even more pissed off.

"Why are you here?" She asked, demanding to know and her hurt coming out as anger.

"You left our room" Optimus stated, his own anger showing.

"Yeah, so? I can take care of myself. I do it most of the time anyways" Aquaformer retorted.

"You were banned from leaving the safety of our room and the safety of the base" Optimus yelled back.

"Don't you know it's not good to cage a femme, or don't you care?" Aquaformer bit back.

"You are carrying my sparklings and if the rogue cons got a hold of you, we'd both go" Optimus replied with venom.

"First off, these are our sparklings. It takes two to make them. And secondly, Jazz is sparked and had tons more freedom than I do. Are you so busy and ignorant that you can't even tell when you are trying to kill off your mate" Aquaformer yelled, her hurt coming forth. "I love you, Optimus, but you act like you don't trust me or any of the other Autobots to help me out. You act like I am some possession you can lock away until you need it again. I'm sick of it!"

Optimus was still angered, but he listened to what his mate had to say. Optimus let off "you aren't capable of being careful. You got caught by the cons before after running off."

Aquaformer grew really angry at that. "You failed to support me, you went after me when I needed your support. You're at fault, not me. Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to leave" Aquaformer bit back.

"Oh no you don't" Optimus stated, grabbing his mate. He knew she couldn't transform into her ground mode. He forgot she had an aerial mode. And so, before he realized it, Aquaformer was in her aerial mode and dragging Optimus high in the air. Only now did he remember she had more than one vehicle mode.

Aquaformer was angry enough she could have dumped him off, but she knew she couldn't do that. She just wanted him to stop being over protective of her. Optimus was just holding on, knowing if his mate dropped him, it may not end well. He just hoped she wouldn't drop him from this height. Aquaformer noticed Optimus didn't like this. "Would you like to be suspended in air all night and all day like this?" She asked, hoping to make a point.

"No, I want on the ground and I command you do it now" Optimus answered.

"And if I said no?" Aquaformer asked.

"Don't make me take you down" Optimus replied.

"You'd hurt our sparklings just to get down?" Aquaformer asked.

Optimus sighed. "No, I just want down."

"Now you know I feel trapped in our stupid room all the time" Aquaformer answered.

Optimus sighed again. Once again he had messed up. "Please, Love, take us home" Optimus stated, anger gone from his voice.

"I will return one one condition" Aquaformer replied.

"What is that?" Optimus asked worried.

"You release me from being trapped in our room at the base all the time" Aquaformer stated. After all, all she wanted was a little more freedom to be who she was.

"Granted, now take us home" Optimus answered, and Aquaformer flew the pair home. She hoped he would stay true to his word.