I wake up to the sound of a door opening. I look over at the door to see Ratchet standing there, his mouth wide open as he looked at me in shock. I was confused at first but soon understood. Optimus' arm was around my waist, keeping me from moving. I smile softly as I gently move his arm and stand up.

I go over to Ratchet and motion for him to leave, which he did so, me following, taking a final glance back at Optimus' sleeping form.

I close the door and Ratchet immediately starts bugging me with questions.

"Okay, what happened? Something obviously happened last night, otherwise you wouldn't be in his room...", his optics widen with realization. "Did you guys bond?"

I smile softly before leading Ratchet to my room, where our conversation could be a little more private.

"Yes, we bonded. That happened when we were out last night however. When I came back with Arcee, he was having a nightmare. I comforted him enough to get him to wake up and tell me that is was not just a dream, it was a memory. His memory of the day I died. I comforted him some more and he asked me to sing my song. I did so and was about to leave when he asked me to stay. So I did", I say.

Ratchet blinks before he grins. "So my little sis has a sparkmate now, huh?"

I groan at his teasing tone of voice and was about to leave when he caught my attention.

"Arcee would like to talk to you", he says, solemnly. I nod once before going to the main room, where I found Arcee standing to the side. She saw me come in and she looked away. I smile softly before going over to her.

"Arcee", I say, my voice quiet yet powerful. She sighs before looking up at me about to say something. I cut her off though. "I forgive you."

She looks surprised and I chuckle before going serious. "You weren't in control of yourself. You had a mind-controlling parasite on you."

She sighs softly before speaking. "And yet, it made me speak truth. I have liked Optimus for a long time and I once thought he could be the one for me. But as time wore on, I could see that he was still attached to a femme. And then you came along in your human form. All of us bots could see that Optimus was attracted to you, though none of us knew why. It made me angry but I hid it well, seeing as none of you picked up on it. And then... then Wheeljack came along... I refuse to admit it and tried to avoid him as best as possible, to the best of my abilities at least, but my spark pulls to him. And I don't even know why!" She was quiet but I could see the pain in her optics.

"He's most compatible with you that's why. When he comes back, try getting to know him a little. And maybe, when he comes back, I'll try to see if his spark pulls to you", I say with a smile. She looks up at me, hope in her optics.

"You will?" She asks happily. I smile before resting my hand on her shoulder.

"Anything for a teammate", I say. She smiles before her optics dim again.

"What about Cliffjumper?" I could see her sadness.

"You would want you to move on, you know that. And even if you liked each other back then, doesn't mean that this is now. Did your spark pull to Cliffjumper like it does to Wheeljack?" I smile as she thinks about.

"No... but, Cliff... would want me to move on. He would want me to go to my sparkmate. We may have liked each other but we weren't sparkmates. Thanks, Venus", she says.

"No problem, Arcee", I say before remembering something. "If you don't mind me asking... what all do you remember from last night?"

She sighs. "Everything", she says before realizing something. "This has to do with you and Optimus doesn't it."

I nod. "I would prefer for you to keep mine and Optimus bond a secret. I don't want the Decepticons to know because if they did, they would use it as a weakness for me or Optimus or both."

Arcee nods. "I understand. Bonds can be a dangerous things in a war."

I smile before clapping her on the back. "How bout you get some more rest. Parasites can take a lot outta you."

Arcee nods before stretching slightly and heading off to her room. I smile softly until I feel a wave of panic hit me.

I send reassurance through the bond and I feel Optimus relax as he realized I was okay.

(Italiziced means they are talking through the bond)

"Where are you?" I felt the question come through the bond, not necessarily hearing it as if it were a private comm-link.

"Main room." I smile as I feel a wave of love come through the bond.

Soon, Optimus comes into the main room and I smile at him. He smiles back and I could feel him questioning why I was up so earlier. I just point to the back of a certain orange and white medic. Optimus chuckles before speaking through the bond.

"I take it you explained things to him?" I nod once before walking over to him, allowing us to speak quietly to each other. I told him of the parasite and that Arcee knew of our bond. I didn't tell him what she told me however because that was a personal matter than I knew Arcee would not want Optimus to know about. We all have our secrets and I'm not about to share hers.

Optimus could tell I was deep in thought but he let me, for which I was grateful, though soon he left.

As the day worn on however, it was a little disconcerting to find that there was not much going on. By the end of the day, everyone was relaxed, including Optimus. Soon enough, the bots left to go take their charges home and so it was just me, Optimus, and Ratchet left in base.

Optimus soon goes bed but not without giving me a goodnight kiss. I smile as he leaves before going over to Ratchet.

"Come on. You need the most rest out of all of us", I say. He shakes his head, turning to face me, going to say something but I cut him off.

"You are not going to pull this slag with me, Ratchet. You need the most rest out of all of us." He looked like he was about protest but I spoke right over him. "I don't care if you have to "work"! You need to rest. It's bad enough that you don't get enough energon, but working yourself to the point of no sleep? You of all bots know how bad that is!!"

By his look of surprise, I knew I had just revealed a secret he had hoped to keep.

"I scanned all of you when I first got here, as a chance to see what you were. It was a something I could do in both forms. I saw that your energon level was way below what it needed to be. So, I kept tabs on you. While all the bots are fully functional, you aren't. And you are one of the most important bots on this team. We can't lose you. So, please... go get some rest", I explained to him, before pleading. He sighs.

"I suppose it could wait until tomorrow", he mutters before heading off to his room. I sigh before going to head to my room until Optimus sent me a message through the bond.

"Stay with me tonight?" I could just imagine his pleading optics, causing me to chuckle.

"Of course, my love." I could feel his happiness over the bond and it honestly felt like I was bonded to a child.

I make my way to Optimus' room and I see him sitting on the berth, waiting for me. I smile and sit next to him. He smiles at me before pulling me close.

"How was your day, if you don't mind me asking?", he asks, politeness filling his voice.

I laugh before lightly punching him. "Oh, drop the act. You already know how my day went. You were there for most of it."

He grins before nuzzling my face. I laugh before pushing his face away. I smile before leaning up a kissing him. It was short and sweet but we both could feel the love in just that one kiss.

Suddenly, Optimus grins playfully, causing me to be cautious.

"What are you planning?", I asks, cautiously.

"Oh, nothing. Just ways to make my femme laugh", he says with a grin, causing me to smile.

"Your femme? Who said I was your femme?", I say, a teasing smile on my face. He pulled me closer and I smile softly, leaning my helm against his chassis. He looks down at me before leaning down.

"I'm pretty sure you did, when you agreed to be my sparkmate", he whispers as our dermas get closer. I smile a little as he kisses me. I smile into the kiss and he pulls away.

"We should get some rest", I whisper, not moving from my position. He frowns but agrees, laying us both down so that we're pressed close to each other. I smile and snuggle up to him, causing his deep resonating chuckle to fill the room. I feel him rest his arm across my waist and I smile, letting my servo find his. I feel myself falling asleep rather quickly and I could tell Optimus was too.

"Goodnight, Optimus. I love you", I whisper.

I just barely hear him before falling into a much needed rest.

"Goodnight, Sweetspark", he had said, causing me to smile.