Cobalt sniffed the air and detected the scent of his brother. He skidded to a halt and looked around at the borderline of the Decepticon and Autobot territory. The Autobot territory was becoming smaller and smaller everyday but it wasn't Cobalt's concern right now. Right now he needed to talk to his brother.

Cobalt used to be very close with his brother before the war waged between them. They had picked different sides and now brothers had turned into enemies. Now they couldn't speak to each other before it turned into a fight or argument. Lumber must really need something if he was coming to Cobalt for something.

Cobalt froze as he heard the hum of an engine. The only other Cybertronian crazy enough to be out this time of night at the Decepticon border beside Cobalt was Lumber. He turned his head and watched his brother transform back into his wolf like Cybertronian figure. Breath bellowed from his nostrils and time seemed to freeze as they faced each other.

"Lumber," breathed Cobalt with a respectful dip of his head. If his brother wasn't going to cut through the silence then he would.

"Cobalt," Lumber returned the greeting as he whiskered his tail a bit. "Thank you for meeting me here on such short notice."

Cobalt's optics gleamed. "Of course. You're my brother," he pointed out with such a hard gaze that Lumber was afraid that he could see right through him. He shivered a bit but mantained his composure and leaned forward. "However I do have to admit that I was a bit shocked to hear that you needed to talk to me about something."

Lumber nodded. He had to get close to Cobalt, not just physically close but also emotionally. He needed to get Cobalt to believe that he could trust him. It would be difficult since they had a long history of trust issues but it wasn't impossible. He just would have to try even harder than any time before.

"I wanted to apologize for the death of your sparkmate," started Lumber as he took a step forward.

Cobalt snarled and took a step back. "Get away from me! It was your kind that killed her!"

"You know who killed her," Lumber pointed out as his optics lit in rage. "Shocksurge was the murder. I just knew and didn't do anything."

"And that makes it better," asked Cobalt as he snapped at the air, the spikes on his back beginning to bristle.

"No it doesn't," barked Lumber as he shook his head. This wasn't going as he had planned. "She wasn't meant to kill her, just chased off but you know Shocksurge. She kills for enjoyment. She's a Decepticon to the core."

"And are you," inquired Cobalt as he looked up. His optics showed grief. He wanted to fogive his brother but he just couldn't. He had loved his sparkmate more than anything and she had been taken away from him. He would never be able to truly forgive anyone for that.

Lumber shuffled his paws. "I-I don't know," he confessed as he kinked his tail over his back and sighed deeply. "Cobalt I didn't come here to argue with you."

"Then what did you come here for," challenged Cobalt as he turned his muzzle up at at his brother. "Every time we talk it turns into an argument."

Lumber dipped his head. He needed Cobalt's trust. "I know but I'm trying to be sincere," he barked. "I really want to sincerely apologize for you sparkmate's death."

Cobalt narrowed his optics. "Why would you care," he snapped. "If you really cared then you would have stopped it from happening!"

"I told you I couldn't do anything," repeated Lumber as he struggled with his patience. "I'm terribly sorry for your loss. You must have really loved her."

"I did," cried Cobalt as he lowered his head in his shoulders and more liquid fell from his optics. "I've never felt anything like this before. My spark kept pulling me toward her and when I was finally around her my spark thumped in my chest and I felt at ease. I know now that that feeling is longing."

"I never understood that emotion," confessed Lumber as he shuffled his paws. He suddenly took in a breath as he took a step forward. "Did you ever think about er maybe becoming a sire?"

Something flickered in Cobalt's optics, something that Lumber had never seen before. However he didn't know why Cobalt looked like that so he didn't press. "I-I never thought about it," he stammered as he shook his head madly. "I never got to discuss it with her but I wish I had."

Lumber saw Cobalt slump a bit and whimper. "She was my everything and I promised to keep her safe and I failed. I failed her and I failed as her sparkmate!" He sat down heavily and more lubrication dripped from his optics and Lumber wondered if that was normal for some Cybertronians.

He saw his chance. He padded up to him and pressed against his brother's side, providing comfort. He stretched out his servo and Virus seemed to spark to life. It crept from Lumber's servo before it leaped onto Cobalt's back and blended in with it's hologram. Cobalt lifted his head. He thought something tapped him but realized it was probably just Lumber.

"I am sorry Cobalt and I promise that it won't happen again if you take another sparkmate," vowed Lumber as he wagged his tail.

Cobalt strode away from his brother and narrowed his eyes. "It'll never happen again because I'll never take another sparkmate. Moon was my one and only."

Lumber dipped his head, ready to get out of there since he had accomplished his mission. "Please forgive me." He hated acting this weak but he needed Cobalt to think he had called him because he really cared about him. Not that he didn't but not this much.

"I can't," growled Cobalt as he lashed his tail. "I'll see you around Lumber but I have to go. Optimus told me I only had until the cycle of the moon and that's almost up. Thanks for asking me to come but don't ask me again."

Lumber watched as Cobalt turned and surged forward before he transformed into his two wheeled vehicle. Lumber shook his head gravely. "There won't be a next time, don't worry," he assured although there was no way Cobalt could hear him.

He had no idea how Virus would effect Cobalt. He didn't know if it would make him severely ill or just kill him quickly. He had to act like he didn't care but secretly in his spark he did. He cared for his brother but he couldn't let the Decepticons know that or he would be put offline.

He turned, ready to bolt before he looked up. He saw stars glittering overhead and let out a sigh that made his chest rattle. "I'm sorry Moon. I'm so sorry."