(Word Count: 1900)

Arcee rolled her optics listening to the horned mech blabber on about his journey to the Sea of Rust when he was partnered with Jazz early in the war on Cybertron. He was so fired up that he couldn't stay put. He paced around the room, gesturing as he spoke from the spark like he was in front of an audience other than the femme before him. 

Despite his over enthusiastic behaviour, Arcee couldn't help but giggle. She covered her mouth as she laughed. She knew he was purposely making stuff up and over exaggerating the highlights of the story, but she enjoyed it nonetheless. The feeling of sheer happiness bloomed in her chassis where her spark beat calmly. As she sat there quietly, she held a servo over her chest where her spark was and drifted into her deep thoughts. She reminisced her and Cliffjumper's first moments together.  

When they first met, Arcee couldn't stand the horned maniac at first. While he was trying to open up to her, she was just getting over her last partner's death. During her withdrawal, she pushed everyone away including those closest to her. Optimus and the others worried she would never be able to escape the pit that she trapped herself in. They feared she would never find happiness again, that Tailgate's passing had broke her to the point of no return.

 Cliffjumper was the only one that managed to push through her denial and see her for who she really was. He stood by her side every step of the way, constantly reminding her that she wasn't alone in this world and that it was okay to let go of the past. She may not have accepted it at first, but as her wounds healed, she gained a better understanding of how important the red mech meant to her. Through the smart aft remarks to the pointless conversations, Cliffjumper was the one bot that got her through it all. She couldn't feel more grateful to of met him.

Nowadays she couldn't live without his company. If they weren't out busting tailpipe together, they would be kicking back at base. Cliffjumper was the main highlight of her day. They were practically inseparable. 

"Arcee? Are you still listening? Or are you put in awe by my darn good looks?", he bragged pounding his fists together. The femme blinked out of her trance and fixated on those wonderful teal optics of his. He wasn't wrong about her being left in awe. She adored every detail of him, the fiery red and grey colour scheme and the way the ridges along his face plate fanned out. Everything about him was perfect, his looks, his charisma, and especially his ability to lighten the mood during the darkest of times.

"Your quiet today, your not going all cold Arcee on me like before are you?", he teased placing his large servo along her shoulder plate. The warmth of his touch relaxed her. All the wonderful memories that were filling herself with cheer had brought a smile on her face.

"No, not at all", she shook her helm still keeping the smile on her face. "In fact, how about we head up to the upper haul and watch the sunset? Now would be the perfect time", she suggested. The larger mech smiled back. That emotion suited him better then anything else. He practically glowed whenever he threw that signature smile at someone. She was lucky to see it with each passing day.

"Sure thing, though I'd much rather be watching you", he flirted as he leaned over to kiss Arcee over the cute pink crown on her forehead. Arcee's spark jumped when she received the random act of affection. Her face went blue from the energon rushing to her cheeks. How could he say that so smoothly with a straight face? The mech grabbed her by the servo and led her onto the lift that would bring them to the top of their base. 

Nearing the end of their incline, the ceiling doors creaked open revealing a golden brown atmosphere. They both covered their optics briefly at beam of light beyond the horizon. Arcee was right. This was the perfect time to come up here. Everywhere the light touched was something to be admired. From up here you could see a wide spread of canyons and rock formations that Nevada had to offer. The sun had a welcoming warmth to the touch. Arcee let out a sigh of comfort. This is where she felt the most at peace.

"No matter how many times I come up here, the view never ceases to amaze me", she spoke happily as she walked towards her favourite spot at the edge of the rock. Cliffjumper followed her and sat himself down next to her, shifting closer so he could wrap his arm around her waist. The fragile femme allowed herself to be taking in by his embrace. She leaned against him to rest her helm along his shoulder. 

"Ah, it doesn't get any better than this Arcee", Cliffjumper spoke gruffly as he took in a deep breath. Arcee looked up at her partner. The sun made his colour scheme a vibrant rust. She could see the light reflecting off of his horns brightly. Looking at him this close up, she fawned over his strong and handsome physique. Cliffjumper caught her peeking at him from the corner of his optic.

"Got something on your mind or are you just checking me out?", he asked as he rubbed her back with his servo. Arcee blushed when she noticed she had been staring at him this whole time and looked away, shifting her pedes against each other nervously. She was just thinking how much she wanted to kiss him, to feel the warm of his dermas on hers. The flustered femme was never good at this type of thing. She never had the bolts like he did. Luckly for her, he seemed to of already caught on. Cliffjumper's optics dimmed and his expression softened.

"Arcee", he called her softly. When their optics met once more, Arcee saw the same thing in him that she had hoped for. She felt the mech's servo graze over hers in a delicate manner. Her spark began to swell up, beating faster against her chassis. Everything that surrounded them appeared to drift away as they became lost in their own world. They both moved towards each other at the same time. As their dermas were about to connect, there was a disturbance coming from the direction of where the lift was.

"Arcee?", a powerful voice cut through the silence. Arcee jumped at her leader's sudden appearance and straightened herself.

"Optimus!", she spoke out of surprise. He barely even heard the sound of the lift doors opening before he showed up. The tall mech approached her, glancing to the left and right of her.

"What are you doing up here at this hour?", he questioned.

"I wanted to spend some time with Cliffjumper", she replied. There was a moment of silence from the Prime before he spoke.

"I see. Perhaps I could pay my respects as well at this time", he spoke soulfully before approaching a pile of rocks nearby her. He dropped to one knee before the grave that read Cliffjumper. There was a deep sense of sorrow in his chassis. He looked over at the femme sitting alone at the edge of the cliff. He knew she wasn't talking about the grave when she told him she was spending time with him up here.

"Arcee, I know you've had to let go of many things in the past, but don't you think it would do more harm than good to keep holding on to Cliffjumper like this?", he asked with concern. He knew of Arcee's attachment towards the mech, that even though he had passed she was still seeing him in her mind. Ratchet had always worried about her and her sickness over the loss of another partner. He did his best to monitor her health and even offered counselling to help her accept his death, but she never did. She continued to believe that he was still alive and has been by her side all this time. 

"Optimus, I know you and the others don't believe me. Even I would call myself crazy. But being able to see Cliffjumper everyday is what has gotten me this far. Without the connection I still have with him, I would be lost. I wouldn't know how to live with myself if I were to wake up in the morning knowing Cliffjumper wouldn't be the first thing I see". Her optics began to swell up. 

"It's okay Arcee. Everyone really cares about you. It's why they're worried", she heard Cliffjumper's voice ring in her audials. She looked over at the mech who was still sitting beside her. He reached out his servo again, feeling the top of her palm. She felt it. It was real. Optimus watched her in sympathy. He didn't want to pressure her anymore than he needed to. He knew with given time, she would eventually come to the realisation that Cliffjumper was gone. What kind of mech would he be to take away what she held onto so dearly?

"I understand. You can take all the time that you need. And when that time comes when you learn to accept reality in what is real and what is not", he glanced to the direction that Arcee was looking earlier. "We will be here for you". With a short bow at the grave, he stood up and made his exit. Arcee watched as he looked back at her with sorrowful optics before he descended back into the base. Her gaze dropped. 

Nobody believed her. Nobody could see Cliffjumper who was clearly sitting right beside her. Her servo formed into a fist. Cliffjumper rubbed his servo along her arm in attempt to relieve the tension in her body. He could sense the mixed feelings she was experiencing at the moment. 

"Hey, it's okay", he whispered in her audio receptor. Arcee let out a sigh before she finally relaxed. His voice was so soft and soothing. He always knew how to calm her down when she got worked up. He leaned in close to her face making her look at him. They met optic to optic, sharing the same moment they experienced before.

"I will always be here for you", he said with the most deepest feeling. Arcee smiled and she laughed softly wiping the tears from the corner of her optics.

"I know Cliffjumper". The mech pulled her into his arms, holding onto her like his life depended on it. Arcee melted into his strong embrace. She breathed in his scent. He smelt so nice, just like the other times when she had been this close to him. It flooded her with those memories she cherished so much. She hoped she could continue making more of them as time went on. All of her problems seemed to of drifted away. Never had she felt this safe than within her partner's arms. She never wanted him to let her go. She wanted to stay like this forever. As long as Cliffjumper was with her, she would be okay. Everything would be okay.

"I love you".

"I love you too".