As the Autobots drove away, Ironhide had Will's words playing over and over again in his mind.

That night, they stopped and made camp for the night. Ironhide walked away from the others, and then also activated his holoform.

He then looked at the wedding ring on his finger, wondering if he made the right decision. "Ironhide?" Bee asked. "What, Bumblebee?" Ironhide asked, sharply.

"Look, I know it looks bad, but look on the bright side." Hound stated. Ironhide laughed dryly. "Bright side? Bright side?! What fucking bright side, damn it?!" Ironhide screamed.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, and looked at the distraught black mech. "How do you know that man? And stop lashing out, Ironhide." Cade ordered.

"Cade, I'd do anything for you, trust me, I would, but don't get in this. It's not anyone's damn business!" Ironhide yelled, tears streaming down his faceplates silently and angrily.

"Ironhide, please. Tell me what's going on." Cade pleaded. Ironhide looked at the ground, blocking out his sobs. "Fine. That man was William David Lennox, my old human charge and... husband. We met when he gave us sanctuary at the old NEST base, and then we became part of NEST. Every mission I ever did, I either had Will with me or I would do what you humans call Facetime. It gave me comfort as he was the only human that I liked." Ironhide started.

"Hey!" Sam exclaimed, offended. "Besides Robert Epps and Samuel. I don't know how or why but I fell in love with Will and soon, I asked him to be my mate. He agreed and after we bonded, we were even more inseparable. I um ..When Sentinel shot me..I told Will to run. Before I blacked out, I heard Will screaming for me, getting held back and he was crying. I don't remember what happened during the time I was in a coma. When I woke up, I learned that NEST was shut down and we were on the run. Every day since then, I've done nothing but think of Will, if he was okay, if he was still alive. Now...Part of me is happy that he's still alive, I just... don't know if I made a mistake marrying him. But his facial expression looked like he was against his nickname, will." Ironhide explained.

His knees gave out and he just sobbed quietly, clutching his chest. His spark yearned for his mate, but that was most likely impossible now.

"Why'd he betray us? Betray me? Why'd he do it? Why?" Ironhide asked, managing to get that through his sobs. "Maybe he didn't have a choice." Ratchet offered.

"Oh bullshit, Ratchet! Everyone has a choice! He made his!" Crosshairs yelled. Ironhide felt his remaining self-control leaving him and before he knew it, he was on top of Crosshairs, beating the fuck out of him.

"WHOA! EASY, 'HIDE!" Cade yelled, backing away. Ratchet and Jazz went in to get Ironhide off. "DON'T EVER SPEAK OF HIM POORLY!" Ironhide raged.

" 'Hide, calm down. Calm down." Ratchet soothed as Jazz stroked him. Hound helped Crosshairs up and then shoved him. "Idiot. You shouldn't have said that." Hound snarled.

For the rest of that night, Ironhide stayed away from the others. As he laid there thinking, Sam walked over.

"Samuel, I apologize that you had to see that." Ironhide apologized. "It's fine. Honestly, I would've done the same as you did. I don't think Will's doing this willingly." Sam admitted.