The temple looked so beautiful that Optimus had to stop and stare at it. The younglings had clearly been busy, he thought as he gazed at the painted building. The restoration was going very well, and the colors that shone in the starlight were breathtaking. Silverstorm stood beside him, smiling.

"What do you think?" he asked.

"I think you're doing a marvelous job," Optimus replied. He lowered his optics to the door, hesitating. Silverstorm took his hand and pulled him forward again. When they got there, he lifted their hands and pressed Optimus's to the door. It opened at once and golden light lit up the torches in the wall. Optimus clicked nervously as Silverstorm guided him inside and down the hall toward the silver and gold door. Optimus felt faint with anxiety as they stopped in front of it.

"I can't do this," he whimpered.

Silverstorm stared at Optimus. Before he'd come to Cybertron for the second time, when he was still Silverstreak, he would have given almost anything to see Optimus like this, not perfect, but scared and insecure. It gave him no pleasure to see it now, not to mention he could feel the emotions pulsing off of Optimus. This was not pleasant for him, and the younger Prime was ashamed that at one point, he would have enjoyed this. But not now. After a moment, Silverstorm nodded at Optimus.

"Let's go," he said.

Optimus nodded and reached up a shaking hand to knock gently. Almost at once, the door slid open and what had to be a thousand colors washed across his vision as he saw Primus's spark for the first time since he'd been appointed. The door slid closed behind them, and Optimus realized that he'd come in without thinking about it.

"Welcome, my Primes," Primus greeted, his voice washing over them from his spark. A cloud of golden mist burst from the rainbow spark and Primus formed, smiling and gazing at his two Primes. "I am very glad to see you put aside your differences long enough to combine. Though it is lamentable that we didn't get to do the ceremony."

"Why not do it later?" Silverstorm asked.

"Because that's not how it's done," Primus replied.

"Why not change it?" Silverstorm challenged.

Optimus was unnerved by the free way Silverstorm spoke to Primus. He was unable to speak, and he gazed nervously between the two of them. Primus didn't seem to be offended by the question. He stood there thinking for a few moments before he responded.

"Yes, we are in a time of great change," Primus said. "And the ceremony is for the public more than the Primes. I think an open ceremony broadcast across the planet would work wonders for morale. Yes, that's a good idea. We'll study the ceremony and you two must practice combining until it doesn't hurt. Then we shall perform the ceremony. Any objections?"

"Nope," Silverstorm said.

Optimus didn't respond. His vocalizer wasn't working. Primus turned his attention to the older Prime and studied him.

"I suppose it's been awhile since we spoke face to face."

Optimus suddenly found his voice and he glared at the floor. "No. We didn't speak. You appointed me then left me alone to take on a whole fragging planet. Not to mention I lost my best friend because he was jealous of me for getting what he thought he deserved."

"I've been calling to you to come speak with me," Primus said. "Daily, by this point. And it took quite a bit to get you here. Why is that?"

Optimus didn't want to answer that. Oh, he knew the answer, but it was petty now that he thought about it. What would Primus think of him if he admitted the reason? Glancing around, he tried to find an escape, but there was none. He had to answer. He could sense Silverstorm wanting to know the answer through his spark, and he squirmed. Then he gave in and spoke his mind, figuring if Silverstorm could get away with it, maybe he could, too.

"Because whenever I wanted to talk, you weren't available. So how do you like it?"

Silverstorm's jaw dropped as the bitter emotions from Optimus flooded his consciousness. It wasn't the way he spoke to Primus. Primus could take any amount of yelling and anger and accusations without any reaction. He had been a major help to several of the younglings after the Prime schism. They had needed to vent their frustrations, and Primus had allowed them to do so with him. The only rule was that you could not touch his form or spark. Anything else in the room was considered fair game. So it wasn't Optimus's brazen way of speaking to Primus himself that bothered Silverstorm. It was how painfully lonely Optimus had been for so many years. And there was something else there in the bitter swirl of feelings, something that made Silverstorm blurt out his question before he could stop himself.

"Are you jealous of me?"

Optimus shuttered his optics then turned and glared at him. "Well, you just got everything I wanted with no trouble. And he talks to you. He helps you. I'm supposed to do it alone. And I did. And what do I have to show for it? A war-torn planet with at least three factions fighting for the limited resources of our home after it was destroyed under my watch. So yeah, maybe I'm jealous that he loves you more than me when I've been working my aft off to do what he wanted me to. I never asked for this any more than you did!"

Silverstorm didn't know what to say. Primus gazed at Optimus with a deep sadness. "I am sorry, Optimus," he said. "But it was the middle of my hibernation cycle. I was physically unable to come out of it. I was only online long enough to appoint you. I was recharging for so long, and I am sorry you feel I wasn't there to help you. But the Great One was with you all the way, wasn't He?"

"He doesn't talk like you do, so He might as well be silent," Optimus spat.

"You don't believe that," Primus chided gently. "You're angry and hurt, and you have every right to feel that way. But I promise you it wasn't my choice. I am here now, though, and I am eager to help you if you'll let me. Please forgive me, Optimus. I couldn't help it."

Optimus stood there and glared at Primus, still and silent. Then Primus approached and took his hands. "And for the record? You've done a marvelous job, Optimus, and it is not your fault. Yes, my body isn't doing well, but it's improving now that I'm awake and the younglings have been helping me revitalize myself. Energon is flowing around this area at least, but we have a long way to go. I need both of my Primes to get the planet through this war. I cannot do it without you."

Those gentle words broke something inside Optimus, and Silverstorm could feel it. He almost felt like an intruder as Optimus broke down and began to spit static and sob. Primus kept a firm hold on him, and Silverstorm looked away, giving them the illusion of privacy. There was far less of that between himself and Optimus now, though, and he felt every painful throb of Optimus's spark as his doubts and worries seemed to pour out of him. Silverstorm didn't know what to do, so he tried to busy himself with something. He was soon drawn back by Primus.

"Come here, Silverstorm."

Silverstorm obeyed at once, and he tried to keep his gaze on Primus. "Yes?"

"It is very important for the two of you to support each other, especially when one of you is like this. Even if nobody else sees it, you will know. Use this well, but do not abuse it. Both of you. Am I understood? This is not to be thrown back in his face during a fight, and it's the same way if your positions are switched. You will respect this bond. It is very precious and sacred."

Silverstorm nodded, hesitated a moment, then wrapped his arm around Optimus's shoulders. "It's okay, Optimus," he said gently. "Just let it out. Guess it's been awhile."

"I can't break down," Optimus moaned, the words almost lost in the static. "I can't. Everybody is depending on me."

"Not just you. I'm here, too," Silverstorm said. "You don't have to do this alone."

That set Optimus off again and it was awhile before he could pull himself together. Primus and Silverstorm didn't mind, and they stayed beside him until he calmed down. When he did, Silverstorm sensed that he was much lighter. Optimus glanced at Primus then down at the floor.

"I'm sorry I didn't come when you called me."

"I understand," Primus said.

That was all he said, but that was all that he needed to say. Optimus brightened at once, and Silverstorm relaxed as the pain radiating from his spark changed to relief and joy. Optimus turned to admire the rainbow spark. Primus smiled.

"Like it?"

"Very much so," Optimus said. "I'd like to paint it, if you'd allow me to."

"Oh, that's a lovely idea!" Primus said. "Not quite a story glyph, but a nice project that will test your artistic skill. We'll plan something out so you can have time to paint."

"Thanks, sir."

"Primus will do," Primus said. "I don't require mechs to call me 'sir' anymore unless they have done wrong. Times have changed since I was last awake and we are in another relaxed era."

"Okay, Primus," Optimus said. "Is there something in particular you'd like to talk about?"

"Well, now that you mention it," Primus said. "There is still the need to deal with Ratchet for his disrespect of Silverstorm and his disobedience to his orders."

Optimus wilted a little. Then sighed. "Yes. I'm just not quite sure what to do with him."

"Give him to me," Primus said. "I've got several tedious projects that will make him think twice, or even thrice, before he disobeys Silverstorm again. And it will serve as a good lesson for the rest of the team."

"We'll let him know once we get back," Silverstorm said. "Anything else?"

"Not today. You two need to recharge. Combining takes it out of you the first hundred or so times. It takes awhile to get used to." Primus smiled at them. "And any of you are welcome almost any time. If the door doesn't open, come back later. If it opens, come on in. Please tell that to everybody. Only Ironhide and Bumblebee have visited from your old team, Optimus."

Optimus nodded. "We'll remedy that. It's because of the priests and the way they changed things after you started your hibernation."

"Yes, I know, and it happens every time," Primus said, his voice flat. Then he brightened. "But it will be easier to fix this time."

"Really?" Optimus asked.

"Oh yes," Primus replied. "Almost all the old priests are dead, and those that aren't are scattered across the planet. There's no fight this time. Usually I have to strip authority from almost everybody and reset the whole order. But this time? No priests and plenty of normal mechs. I am glad. Coming out of hibernation was brutally painful this time."

"I know," Silverstorm said. "And now that Optimus is here, we can clear out more tubing and get your energon flowing again. We'll focus on that while we're getting ready for the ceremony."

Primus nodded and reached out. Grabbing their hands, he pulled them close. He pressed his forehead against Optimus first then Silverstorm, sending a warm pulse down to their sparks. "I give you my blessing, Optimus and Silverstorm. You are what Cybertron needs right now. Use your authority well."

Optimus was the one who knew the appropriate response, but his spark was so insistent on it that both of them performed the action. They both stepped back and bowed, almost as one. When they straightened, Primus was grinning.

"Mirroring," he said. "It's a good sign that it's already started. Your bond is a very strong one. Now, you two go recharge. Bring Ratchet to me when you're rested."

With that, he burst into golden mist, which was absorbed into his spark, leaving the two Primes standing there, bathed in the ethereal rainbow glow of Primus's swirling spark. They stared at each other, then Optimus gestured to the door.

"I don't know about you, but I need some energon before recharge."

"Oh, there's that, but there's something else that's going to happen before we get to lay down," Silverstorm said.

"What's that?" Optimus asked.

"We have to get past the medics and their exams."

Optimus burst out laughing, his deep tone echoing in the chamber. "Better get to it then," he said. "After you, Storm."

"Sure thing, Optimum," Silverstorm replied.

They were both grinning as they left Primus's chamber and headed back toward the shield. The Prime schism was over, and they were both glad it hadn't lasted that long. It just wasn't right when they were fighting. But after what had happened on the battlefield and with Primus had changed them. They were bound together now, bonded as leaders of Cybertron. It was a scary proposition, but they had each other, Primus, and both of their teams, not to mention the Great One. And there would be others later, once mechs started arriving and the war picked back up. In the meantime, the two Primes would work to restore Cybertron together and prepare for the ceremony that would mark a new era in history. Both of them agreed without even looking at each other that Primus had been right. It was a time for change, and they would face it together.