Ratchet is giving Optimus his last check up.

"Follow the light", Ratchet said. Optimus did so and when he was all done he got up and looked at me.

"Layla, may I speak with you?", Optimus asked.

"Sure", I responded, "what do you want to talk to me about?"

"I would like to speak with you in private. We'll go for a drive to ensure privacy", Optimus says.

"Alright", I say as he transforms into a semi-truck. I hop into the passenger seat and we head off.

"So what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?", I ask.

He's silent for a minute as he figures out what he wanted to say.

"You never told me what the name of your best friend was", he started with.

"I can't tell you", I say hiding my face behind my hair to hide the fact that I was blushing.

"Why not?", he asked.

"For a reason that I would not like to share...", I say quietly.

"Alright", Optimus said and we were left in silence for a few minutes before I decided to break it.

"What was Moon Princess like?", I ask.

"She was smart, she was kind. She was stubborn, that's for sure but she was one of the best fighters I ever knew. I taught her how to fight myself. I wish I was able to talk to her more after I became a Prime", he said with a sad sigh. "I miss her a lot."

"Optimus... what if I told you she was a lot closer than you think?", I asked.

"What do you mean by that?", he asked.

"Let's go back to base. It'll be easier to explain it there", I say.

He turned around and we headed back to base.

Once we got there, everyone was waiting.

I hopped out of the passenger seat and went up to where I could be almost the same height as Optimus. I sighed as I heard him transform and I felt him look at me expectantly.

"Optimus. I know a lot about Moon Princess. I know that she was homeless on Cybertron until Bumblebee's family took her in. I know that she was Orion Pax's best friend. I know that she didn't want to leave you in that battle when you told her to run. I know that she crash landed here on Earth a year ago and ended up in stasis. And in that stasis she learned about Earth. I know that she took on a human form and got a job at KO drive in and helps Jack. And most of all I know that she misses you and just wants you to recognize her", I finish holding back tears.

"How do you know all that?", Optimus whispers.

"I know all that because I am her", I say as I gesture over to my alt-mode. I have my human form disappear and then I transform.

I look at Optimus with small smile and he looks at me with a gaze that I identified as shock.

"Wha-? How? How did we not pick up your Autobot signal?", he asked. 

"I shielded it", I said, "it wasn't easy to do but I managed." 

"Why did you hide from me?", he asked. 

"That is for me to know and you to find out", I say.

He looks at me and then transforms and drives out. I watch him with sad eyes as he leaves. I turn to Ratchet and smile softly.

"He's gonna some time to process that I was here with him the entire time and never told him. I still don't know how I'm going to tell him that I lo- like him", I say without thinking.

Arcee smirks at me as the Ratchet, Bulkhead and humans stare at me. "What?", I ask.

"You like the boss bot?", Bulkhead asks. 

"Arcee didn't tell you?", I giggle. Bee buzzes at me and I smile at him. "Of course you knew, you're my adopted brother, you should know these things."

"How long have you liked him", Ratchet asked.

"I started liking him when we became best friends", I say with a sad smile.

"You've liked him for a long time then", Ratchet says.

I nodded and Ratchet turned back to his work while he muttered something.

Suddenly, we received a call from Megatron.

"Hello dear Autobots. I have something you might want back." He turned to reveal Optimus.

"Optimus", I shouted, "What have you done to him, Megatron!?"

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Moon Princess. Do you know who your parental units are?" I glared at him. "I guess not. Well, I happen to know who they is, if you would like to know."

"Oh, I want to know alright but that's not important. Right now, however, I would just like to have my leader back!", I said.

"Very well. But... we do an exchange. You get your leader back for an Autobot of my choosing. And trust me, I already have an Autobot in mind." Megatron smiles at me creepily and I immediately know which autobot he's going to choose. "You have five minutes to agree to my terms", Megatron ends the call.

After a lot of arguing, I finally step in.

"Do it. The Autobots need their leader", I say.

"But we have no way of knowing who he's going to pick", Ratchet says.

"I know who he's going to pick", I whisper.

"How?", Arcee asks.

"I just know...", I whisper.

"Well, then who?", Ratchet demands. I look at the clock and sees that it's been five minutes. "You'll find out in a little bit", I say and just then Megatron calls.

"Have you made a decision?", Megatron asks.

Ratchet looks at me and I nod.

"We have", he says.

"And what will that be?", Megatron asks.

"We will trade an Autobot for our leader", Ratchet answers and sighs.

"Very well. Now remember this Autobot is of my choosing", Megatron states. We all nod and I look straight into Megatron's eyes.

"The Autobot I choose is Moon Princess", Megatron says. I nod, accepting this. "We will trade at these coordinates. Meet us there in five minutes."

"Wait! You have to promise me that I will be able to talk to Optimus before we trade", I say.

"Very well. When you get here, we will allow you five minutes to talk to Optimus", Megatron says, "Remember to be there in five minutes."

"Did you know he was going to pick you?", Arcee asks. I nod solemnly.

"Ratchet, type in the coordinates", I say as I turn to Bee. He buzzes sadly.

"I know Bee. I don't want to go either... but I have to in order to bring Optimus back", I say sadly. Bee pulls me into a hug and buzzes.

"See ya, Bee. I'll miss you too", I smile sadly. I hear the ground bridge open and walk towards it. "See ya, Doc Bot. I know you'll miss me", I say.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm sending Arcee and Bulkhead with you to make sure Megatron does send Optimus over", Ratchet grumbles.

I walk through the ground bridge with Arcee and Bulkhead and see Optimus. I refrain myself from running to him.

"We meet in the middle and you give us five minutes to talk", I say.

"Very well", Megatron agreed.

I walk to the middle and meet Optimus there. 

"Why?", he asked with pain in his voice.

"Because the Autobots need their leader", I say trying to keep the sadness out of my voice.

"There's another reason", Optimus said as he looked into my eyes. I sigh.

"Yes", I say.

"Are you going to tell me the reason?"

"No."

"Who else knows the reason?"

"Everyone back at base. They have my permission to tell you when you guys get back."

"Why can't you tell me?"

"Because I am too embarrassed to and I am scared of what you will say."

"Why?"

"Because I-"

"Time's up!", Megatron says.

I look sadly up at Optimus. He looks down at me and there is pain evident in his eyes.

I walk to Megatron as Optimus walks to the rest of the team. Before I walk into the ground bridge leading to my prison, I look back at Optimus to see him looking back at me.

"Optimus! The reason why is because I've liked you since we became best friends!" I yell loud enough for him to hear me.

I see the shock on his face before I am forced into the ground bridge.

"So. You like Optimus", Megatron grins. I glare at him as some vehicons cuff me.

"Take her to her cell", Megatron growls.

I go to my cell willingly because I already had an escape in my mind.