When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Chapter 17

Azura giggled at him. "I am sure I will. Bulkhead's hulky body is keeping your little project hidden." Bulkhead glanced over his shoulder with a grin. "Which is a good thing, Bulk. That way you don't have to act like you're trying to hide something."

Arcee chuckled softly. "She's right, Bulk."

The large bot chuckled and rolled his optics as he looked back. "I am not mad by the comment, I found it pretty amusing actually. Besides, we were almost done before you were told to leave." He glanced at Bee as the yellow bot transformed and revved his camaro engine. "There's only a bit of touching up and it will be done."

"Just don't break it. I know you are pretty good at that. Let's go for a drive around the town, Arcee." Bumblebee sped away and Arcee transformed and followed him.

Azura watched them leave, feeling a little sad she could not go with them. She had no idea how Jack and Raf were today. She had no doubt that they have been shaken by the whole experience, and she wished she would be there to help them get through it. But now they were about to find themselves back with the bots, and she had no idea how they were going to react. She knew Jack would be resistant, since he was responsible for a lot of things at home since it was just him and his mother.

Azura felt her stomach growling and she sighed, knowing she would need to get some low-grade from Optimus. She wasn't entirely happy as she was already wishing to have an egg caesar salad. That sounded rather nice, as she had the lettuce, cheese, eggs, bacon and dressing for the salad back in her unit that she could not go to. She hoped that she could get food here somehow, even if she didn't actually need food.

"I am not even sure what I am going to say to Jack and Raf when they arrive...considering I've known about you guys for three years." Optimus and Ratchet glance at her as the girl spoke as she stared at the driveway. "They are...going to ask questions...I am not sure if...I will want to admit that..." She looked at Optimus and grasped her hands nervously. "I am not sure if I want to tell them that...that I am...your..." Azura was struggling to say it and she saw in Optimus's optics it hurt him that she couldn't say it. "Well...you know..."

"Azura, there is no shame in the fact that you're still scared about all of this," Ratchet said gently with a smile. "This is still very new to you. And you have to get used to entirely different life that you are not accustomed to." He looked at Optimus sympathetically. "And we are all patient, and we will ensure you will be happy." Optimus nodded in agreement.

"I know." She took a deep breath and looked at Optimus hesitantly. "Um...I am also...uh...kind of...hungry..."

Optimus smiled a little and stepped closer to her. "I hope you have not been hungry for too long."

"No...but I had been thinking about something to eat...but I'll have to settle with low-grade." She watched as he opened the panel on his chassis before picking her up for her to feed. "Do you mind not feeding me out here?"

Optimus chuckled as he held her against him. "I won't put that pressure on you, Azura."

"Before you go..." Optimus and Azura look over at Bulkhead and he moved away from the metal sculpture he and Bee had made. "I hope this is good." Azura was surprised when she saw it was an image of her and Optimus. More specifically, Optimus holding her and she felt some tears in her eyes. "I figured you might like it..."

"It's fine," Azura said curtly as she held back the tears. "It can be brought into my room."

Bulkhead smiled, happy to hear that what he made was good. That made her smile again, even though the felt like it was just a small reminder of who she was to Optimus, even though she herself has yet to accept it. "I can bring it to your room right now!" He carefully picked up the sculpture. "Although, we can take the pieces apart and make something else too. But I will make some smaller pieces for you, Azura."