The medical bay was quiet, save for the soft hum of machinery. Optimus stirred on the berth, his optics flickering online. Pain coursed through his frame, but his thoughts were consumed by the battlefield—the crushing defeat, the darkness closing in—and the memory of you.

As his optics adjusted, the first thing he saw was you. You stood at his side, frame battered and trembling but alive. Your optics shimmered, tears threatening to spill as you met his gaze. Relief and exhaustion washed over you.

“You’re awake,” you whispered, voice shaking. You took a hesitant step forward, unsure if this moment was real.

Optimus blinked slowly, his processor struggling to catch up. “You…” His voice, hoarse and weak, was heavy with disbelief. “You were the one… who saved me.”

You nodded, your fists clenched at your sides. “I couldn’t let you go. Not after finding you again.”

The words hit Optimus like a blast to the spark. He’d thought this part of his life was gone forever, that he didn’t deserve to have a family—not after the countless lives lost under his watch. Guilt clawed at him as his voice cracked. “I’ve lost too many, failed too many… I have no right to call myself your father.”

Your optics widened, and you stepped closer. “You don’t get to decide that,” you said, voice firm despite the tears. “You might think you don’t deserve me, but I chose you. I fought for you because you’re my father, and I love you—no matter what.”

Optimus’s frame trembled, his resolve shattering. He reached out, pulling you into a fierce embrace. His arms held you tightly, desperation in his touch. “I thought I’d lost everything,” he whispered, voice thick with emotion.

“You didn’t lose me,” you murmured, wrapping your arms around him. “I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

His shoulders shook as he held you, the weight of centuries finally lifting. For the first time in eons, Optimus allowed himself to believe—he wasn’t alone anymore.