*I don't own Transformers or anything affiliated with Transformers. I only own my original characters and plots. All rights go to Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg.*

Honestly, I didn't know how I was supposed to go about this. I didn't want to do it, but I knew that I needed to for the sake of my mentality. I just couldn't handle it anymore. And who knows, he could very well be better off without me. We couldn't possibly have the life we wanted anyways. Ironhide and I were two completely different species. It never bothered me before, but like I said, I was worried about my mentality. I did find it fairly strange though how just yesterday I was asking him not to leave me, yet here I was about to be the biggest bitch in the world.

He has been the best part of my life these past four years, but I just needed a break. There was just too much stress in my life right now and all I wanted was to get rid of it. This may not be the right way to do it, but it was worth a try. I didn't even count on this being permanent though. And like the books and all those dumb quotes on Tumblr say, "fate will find a way" or "if it's meant to be, it will be". If that was the case, I guess we'd find out if it proved to be true.

With a deep breath, I opened up my apartment door and looked around my hallway to see if I could spot Ironhide anywhere. Once I spotted him by the window at the end of the hall, I stepped out onto the carpeted floor and shut my apartment door. I padded down the corridor, hoping to go as undetected as possible, but he heard me.

"Why?" he spoke, his tone dry.

I stopped in my tracks. "Huh?"

He turned around to face me; the sad look still hadn't left his face. The sight made me want to hug him, but I refrained from doing so.

"Why do you not want to be with me anymore? Have I done something wrong?" he inquired.

He sounded so hurt. I could already tell that I was going to be crying my fucking eyes out before this was over.

"No. Of course not. Why do you think that?" I took a step closer to him and placed a hand on his arm. The small gesture sent a dozen different emotions into my body and I quickly snatched my hand away, this causing him to frown.

"I believe that the situation speaks for itself, Azalea."

It was my turn to frown. "How much of my little rant did you hear?" I asked him.

He raised a brow. "The only thing I could hear walking to the door was you yelling and after that all I could hear was you telling your father and Adalyn how your mother and sister would still be living had he not brought home the truck. After that you proceeded to not blame me for the death of your loved ones, but my species. I can only assume that you had quite a lot more to say beforehand," he answered.

It would be just my luck for him to walk in when I was in the midst of ranting about shit I didn't mean all for the sake of my anger towards my dad and my best friend. I was just glad he hadn't heard the whole thing. This was part of the reason I despised being impulsive when angered.

"I didn't mean any of it. I was angry. And of course I still want to be with you. I want nothing more than to be with you," I responded as I looked out the window. The rain was coming down harder and harder. I was actually quite surprised it hadn't begun to storm yet.

"Then what is the meaning of this?" I sighed and turned to face him. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around his waist. He was slightly startled by the action at first, but soon relaxed and hugged me back.

"All I need is some time to think, Hide. I just can't take this anymore. All I'm asking for is a break from this hectic commodity I call life," I answered quietly.

"If that is what you wish."

I pulled away from him and gave him a small smile. "You know I love you, don't you?"

He placed a hand on my cheek and I reached up to grab it, bringing it down by my side; I didn't release the hold I had on his hand though.

"I've known that for quite some time now, little girl. But, I love you with all my spark, Azalea. Never forget that," he said as he pulled me to him again.

I smiled. "How could I? You remind me every day," I teased.

He only grunted and pulled away from me, his transcendent blue eyes boring into my dull blue ones. He placed his hands on either side of my face and before I knew it, he was planting a very loving kiss onto my forehead. He held it for about three seconds before pulling away.

"I truly hope this won't be forever though. I could barely last three months without you by my side," he said to me.

Well, so much for him being better off without me. .

"I know. And it won't be. I promise, Hide."

He only smiled at me. "I believe I'll head off to Chicago to aid Optimus and the Wreckers with clean up," he informed me.

I frowned. "Please be careful," I remarked.

"I always am. I'll see you soon, Lea."

He smiled at me again before turning around to walk away. I bit my lip, my temptations getting the better of me. This was about to turn into one of the most fucked up break-ups ever, but I didn't care; I couldn't let him leave like this.

Before he could take another step down the hallway, I reached out to grab his hand. He turned to look at me, but he couldn't even get a word out before I pressed my lips against his, one of my hands resting on the base of his neck while my other held on tightly to the fabric of his shirt. He seemed surprised at my sudden action, but wasted no time at all to wrap his arms around my waist. Soon enough, I felt my back come into contact with a hard structure and I didn't need to open my eyes to know that I was now up against the wall. The kiss was passionate, full of nothing but love and maybe even a little lust. Sadly, it had to come to an end though. Hide and I had had far more intense moments than this, but we were in the middle of a hallway and I did not need one of my neighbors to catch me like this. It would be truly embarrassing. I placed my hand on his chest, and gently pushed him away from me, looking down at the floor as I did so.

"I believe that'll do it for me," I whispered.

I heard him chuckle and I looked up at him. He placed his hand on my cheek and just stared at me before leaning down to kiss me one last time. He pulled away only after a few seconds and I smiled at him.

"I love you so much, Azalea Grace. I'll be seeing you soon," he told me before pushing himself off of the wall.

"I love you, Ironhide."

He smiled and rubbed my cheek before turning around and walking away, his form soon disappearing around the corner. I only sighed and headed back into my apartment, the smoke from earlier burning my nostrils.

"So, how is everything?" my dad asked me from his spot on the couch.

I shrugged and sat down beside him. "Are you and Ironhide okay?"

"Yeah, but my relationship status is technically single," I answered him.

He raised a brow at me. "Technically?"

I chuckled. "Yes. Technically as in I may be single, but Ironhide will forever have my heart. I don't see myself with anyone else but him."

My dad smiled. "I don't see you with anyone else either. I'm actually glad you chose him instead of some normal human boy," he mused.

"Yeah, there's not many males out there that have more guns than a small-world country ingrained into their organic armor," I laughed.

"Are you sure you can get through this without Hide though? I know you needed him to help you get through Braelynn's death and no offense, but I just don't think you're going to be able to do this without him," my dad remarked.

I frowned. I had totally forgotten about that little issue. .

"I don't know. I guess I can only try."

He sighed and leaned forward to pick up an envelope off the coffee table. He handed it to me and I saw that it was addressed to me from Hotchkiss Gould Investments. The name almost made me want to puke.

"I got your mail for you this morning. That's not all of it, of course, but the rest was just junk," my dad said to me.

I chuckled. He was always so nosy. I quickly ripped the envelope open and took out the multiple papers inside. There was a long letter enfolded into the envelope and I grimaced before tossing it aside. I may have been unofficially unemployed, but I didn't want to read what that shitty company had to say to me. Instead, I picked up the smaller piece of paper, my eyes widening when they came across the print. This was a check for $100,000 and I had no clue why I even had it. Had I read the letter, I would probably know, but oh well.

"One-hundred grand, dad," I exclaimed.

He only laughed and I remembered what I had been thinking about yesterday at the hospital. I smiled and handed it to him, a confused look coming onto his face as he looked at the slip of paper.

"Why are you giving me this?" he inquired.

"Because. I don't want you to have to pay for all these bills by yourself. It's the least I could do for you after you took care of me for nineteen years and helped put me through the school that got me that check in the first place. think of it as me paying you back. Plus, I've got quite a bit saved up. Whatever you don't use, do something nice for yourself," I answered him.

He almost looked ready to cry. He immediately pulled me to him and I laughed, hugging my dad as tightly as I could. "Thank you."

"Don't you dare thank me. If anything, I should be thanking you for taking care of me for all these years and this is my way of doing it. I love you so much, daddy."

He pulled away from me and smiled.

"I love you too, Azalea Grace. But this is perfect timing. I had a meeting with the funeral director anyway," he chuckled as he got up from the couch.

I laughed knowing that he would need to use my car. "The keys to my car are somewhere in my purse. Don't wreck my baby now," I baited as I stood up to hug him.

"Thank you, baby girl."

"You're welcome, daddy. Now be careful please," I said softly.

He pulled away from me and walked over to dig for my keys. "I promise you that I will. I love you," he assured me as he finally grabbed my keys.

"I love you. Bye."

He only smiled at me before disappearing out the door.

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