Here it is guys! The conclusion to All That We Need In Our Lives! But don't say goodbye to Kate and Optimus just yet! The next story will be called "I'll Be" – so look for it in the New Year.

I can't even say this enough: THANK YOU for all of your support! WOW. That alone has made my year! I'm so excited to continue this journey with you guys!

I hope you all have a happy 2015! See you soon!

Note: As of September 2019, I've removed the sex scenes between Optimus and Kate. It was brought to my attention that policy actually doesn't allow smut on their website and I don't want their story taken down. So, here we are. Sorry for any trouble this may cause you readers! Thanks so much!

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers, or Optimus. I only own Kate.

Transmissions are in bold/italic

Speech + Tranmissions are in "bold/italic"

Epilogue: All That We Need in Our Lives

Optimus carried Kate out of the medical wing, the doors swung shut gracefully. They stood in a large hallway. Fluorescent lights flickered. The brown tiled floor was scratched. The plaster ceiling had holes in it. And the tan walls needed new paint. It was a fixer-upper, but to Kate, it felt like home. She smiled and looked around, taking in as much of the base as she could.

Optimus watched the femme in his hands. He smiled, his spark soared with joy. Yes, they had gotten a home that needed quite a few repairs. But the government had promised that they would help, and fund, whatever equipment the Autobots needed. It was the least they could do for saving the world. And the price the Autobots paid.

As if reading the mech's mind, Kate voiced her question.

"Optimus, where's Jazz?"

She didn't remember seeing his holoform around her when she woke up. He hadn't visited her at all. She wanted to see the second-in-command. Especially after that dream she had.

The Autobot leader sighed. He didn't know how to tell her… one aspect of her dream had come true. Kate had missed the funeral.

"He's—" Optimus started, "Before we got there, Kate, Megatron had already—"

Kate's stomach lurched. She gripped tighter to Optimus's thumb.

"He didn't make it."

"No."

Kate let a tear fall for the fallen comrade. The fallen brother she had known. There would be no more laughter between them, no more jokes. The light-hearted bot she loved was lost.

Somewhere in their conversation, Optimus had walked outside. He carried Kate across pavement and away from bright lights.

They were silent, remembering their own memories of Jazz. They remembered the happiness and joy he had brought the group. He had been a beacon of hope for the Autobots, especially when they seemed most lost. Especially when their comrades had been lost in battle. Especially when the search for the Allspark seemed most futile.

Kate herself remembered a time that she had been depressed after a bad day at school. The popular girls had picked on her, shoved her hair into a locker. She had to wait for a teacher to get the janitor, so they could free her from her prison. But when the janitor found Kate, she wasn't crying because of the situation – like the adults had thought. She had tears running down her face from Jazz's jokes. Well, that, and how he had commented that a buzz cut on her wouldn't look so bad. You know, just in case they couldn't get the locker open.

Straight face, girl! The warden's coming! Don't laugh! Do. Not. Laugh!

She had to hold her breath from laughing right then and there. They had been best friends ever since.

"He was a good lieutenant – a good friend." Optimus whispered.

"Primus is taking care of him now."

"Yes. The battle is over. For him."

And, somehow, that made it all right. The hope that there was a place where everyone went once they died. Once their sparks – or the spark of their hearts – were extinguished.