When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Chapter 17

"I suppose...you went through that teenage rebellious stage," She said with a slight smile and Optimus nodded. "I don't think there is a lot that can be said, Optimus. I do know, from my experience, the psychological pain that we feel from not having our parents seems to be a universal thing. I know the other orphans felt the same as me. So while you cannot blame their death as the reason, the pain that lingers would be partial to the reason."

Optimus nodded in agreement. "I agree. But that does not change the fact that I still regret a lot of decisions, Azura. I look back and realize there were many things that I could have changed, but I did not. I can only look back and reflect now, and learn from those mistakes." She finished drinking the low-grade and he let her drink the last of the low-grade from the line before pushing the line back into the slot and closed the panel. "And...three years ago...when I did not come clean, I reflect on that as well. I knew what it was like to be an orphan, and yet...I didn't come out and tell you when I should have."

Azura clasped her hands together. She knew he regretted his decisions from three years ago. But she still needed to even accept the fact she was his daughter. "I...had no idea you knew what it is like to be an orphan, Optimus...it never really crossed my mind. I would have assumed your parents might have passed peacefully, but...at least you were able to bond with them from birth."

Optimus nodded slightly and smiled at her. "I hope you will understand that I will not waste any time that we have together, Azura. At least you are fine with starting this again, and I hope that...with time...we will have a great relationship."

Azura did not really know how to respond to that. She glanced over at the statue and decided she was okay with it now. It was definitely a great reminder that she would never be alone again. That concept itself was something she was having trouble believing. She has been alone for so long, that being told she would never be alone again was still hard for her to believe. She had a fear, deep down, that she would wake up one day and find that the base is empty and all of the bots are gone. Now that would terrify her the most.

"Do you think we could do some of the plans that we didn't get to do three years ago?" Azura asked curiously and Optimus gave her a confused expression. "We never got to go to a beach or a tropical island...so do you think we could do that? I...I still want to do that. I've never been able to build sandcastles before, and I would not mind collecting shells too."

"I believe that is something I can definitely promise to do," Optimus said with a smile. "But..." She looked up at him with a frown. "I have a fear that Megatron will be back soon. And that might mean that...we cannot do those plans as soon as we would like." Azura was immediately disappointed and sighed. "I will do everything in my power to ensure we do have a good time like that, Azura. But understand this, the war is not ended unfortunately. And Megatron could come back at anytime, which is why I believe the decepticons are targeting us."

"Well...at least you're honest about it," Azura said with a smile. "I am disappointed that we can't go when we want to...but I guess I...ruined it by leaving when I did."

"And to be fair, I think you had the right to leave." Now that surprised Azura. She did not think he would feel that way about her leaving. "I know I was told a lot of things after you had left, but you were overwhelmed and needed space from me. While I did not expect that you would be gone for three years, I understand why you left. In my younger years, I used to that with Alpha Trion. I used to run to try and find my sire and carrier, but of course, that never happened. Though the longest I was ever away from Alpha Trion as a youngling was two weeks."

"But you were feeling similar pain, I suppose." Optimus did not nod or react, because he knew their experiences were different. "At least I am back, Optimus. I don't think I...well...um..."