"Love is more than a noun - it is a verb; it is more than a feeling - it is caring, sharing, helping, sacrificing."-William Arthur Ward.

I didn't know what to think, it felt like everything was crashing down around me in that moment after I heard the click of the turning off. My witty quotations had dried up in that moment and my thoughts were left bleak.

This might very well be it then. All my careful hiding ruined. And if I didn't show up with Annie, then who knows what would happen to Sarah.

They certainly wouldn't waste their efforts to keep her alive, I know that much if I didn't show up.

So the bottom line seemed to be, everybody loses.

Sarah would lose me and Annie, Ironhide would lose me, and all the trust Prime had placed in me would be compromised. This whole thing sucked, because no matter what, I'd still end up feeling like nothing I did was ever enough.

If I hid my presence better, kept the conversations between Sarah and I more filtered, but I could go on and time was one thing I really didn't have a lot of.

So with a heavy spark, I returned to Ironhide's quarters and took Annie back. I paused a moment before bending down and grabbed his helm with one free servo and mashed our face plates together in a macabre version of a kiss, but the sensors indicated that we both could feel it.

I pulled back and he grabbed my arm. "What…what was that for?" he questioned sounding surprised.

"It's just…" I paused for a second. "Just wanted to remember what a 'kiss' in this body was like." I lied through my denta, but shrugged to make it seem nonchalant. "Didn't do it before 'cause kissing ain't one of the 'romantic' things to be done back on Cybertron. Gonna go out for a flight and clear my processor, thanks for watching Annie for me."

As I turned, 'Hide's voice stopped me. "Don't do anything you can't take back, Will."

It was like he already knew what I was gonna do, but I still needed to do this. I knew full well what I was risking, but I wouldn't allow Sarah to be killed because of me. She didn't deserve that. "I know, but just tell me one thing, this…thing between us; you think it could really go anywhere?"

"What is this about, Will?" Ironhide questioned.

"Just…please answer the question." I replied softly.

I could almost see the confused look on 'Hide's faceplate as he answered. "Yes Will, I believe this could turn into something more, if we are allowed by your wife to let it happen."

Oh, if he only knew that Sarah's approval was suddenly the least of the stack of problems about to occur and are occurring.

And because I need she'd already approved, this made what I had to say so much harder. As a 'Con it was frowned upon to show any romantic feelings, but as a mech, I couldn't help it.

"I certainly think it would have too." I began and continued on my way toward the door and when it slid shut behind me, I felt my whole form shudder. "I'm sorry, but Sarah needs me." I whispered and glanced down at Annie sleeping innocently in my servo and put on my .

:Carrier, I'm going to come to your location, though I want it to be someplace near a town so Sarah can get there easily.: I said through the link and it was quiet before my Carrier spoke.

:Done.: And he pinged me the coordinates.

I walked down the hall and onward to the exit, placing Annie in the cockpit as I felt my form begin shifting to seeker mode and felt her stir.

"Dada, whe're 'Hide?" she questioned groggily.

"Just, just go back to sleep Annie, everything will be okay, I promise." I replied, though if anything that's one thing I am going to make sure happens. Keeping Annie safe in whatever hole the other 'Cons are hiding in.

I felt my thrusters start up and soon take off, the night sky not hindering my 'sight' as I could 'see' quite clearly. No, the thoughts in my processor were of the fact I was essentially branding myself a renegade. Sure, as a Neutral I didn't have to 'call in' as it were, but it'd still seem like I was running-er, flying back to the 'Cons.

So much for trust, but even if I did say something, what would happen? They could just go ahead and kill Sarah anyway, hoping to 'get rid of the problem' they might think. And all things considered, my Sire would do it, though going back on our deal would just give him a reason.

Still, they had to let her live, because if they didn't then trying to get me back would have been for nothing.

I could hear jet engines in the distance and in another moment I saw them landing, so I headed for the ground too and shifted back to bi-pedal mode. "Where is she?" I demanded, not pretending to give a damn about cordials.

My Carrier found this disdainful as he glared at my Sire. "Gets that from you." He muttered before opening his cockpit and picked Sarah up by the back of her shirt. I looked her over for any injuries, but didn't even see a scratch on her. "Here's your little human, all intact." He said before placing her roughly on the ground and looked expectantly at me.

"Run away little squishy before I change my mind about stomping on you." My Sire growled out and Sarah glared back at him before looking over at me with imploring eyes.

It hurt so much to know what she was trying to convey, to make a break for it, but I also knew I wouldn't get far and this really would have been for nothing as the end result was Sarah ending up a red paste on the ground.

Even the image was too unbearable.

"There's a town just west of here, you'll make it there." I said and I could see the change in her eyes. "Please just go, but also know that…" I knew what I was about to say was taboo for any 'Con to mutter aloud, but I was Neutral at the moment. "That I'll always love you, no matter what."

Sarah must have heard the earnest sincerity in my vocalizer because she didn't argue back about me going off with our daughter and trying to be the man and thinking she needed protecting. I knew she didn't, but I hoped she understood why I was doing this.

We had a unique partnership with each other that went beyond that of a normal couple.

"I love you too." She breathed out before touching my armour for a moment and started running off into the direction I told her to go in.

I stood back up and saw that my Creators faceplates had gone somewhat blank, but I could still see the lingering distaste in their optics for what I'd just said. But really, why was that such a bad thing to tell someone you cared?

'Because this situation showed just how exploited it can be.' A little voice in the back of my processor whispered and I steadfastly tried to ignore it.

"Well, where is she?" My Carrier questioned impatiently.

I had no doubt about the 'she' he was talking about and I reluctantly reached into my cockpit and pulled Annie out. "Here she is." I deliberately left her out of the reach of either of my Creators. "She looks human I know, but she does have circuitry in her; energon, my optics-"

"Really?" My Carrier interjected and smirked smugly. "You always did have the most beautiful optics, and I should know as I picked the color out."

"We know that." Sire growled and gave me a dark look. "You really have changed." And apparently not in the way he was hoping for. "Come now, Will, it is time to go home."

Carrier let out a wistful sigh. "Home, it'll finally feel like one again with you back after all this time." He said and let me pass by him as I was sure he wasn't going to hug me with Sire watching, but to make sure I didn't try and bail. "One big happy family."

I bit my glossa to stop a retort from escaping. They had a saying on earth that home was where the heart was, and my family had my heart, my spark, ergo, they were where my home was.

During the last stretch I was with my Creators did not constitute us as 'one big happy family.' And it certainly hadn't been my home. Not for a long time.