Author's Note: This fic was inspired by a short drabble I had done to the song Taking Over Me by Evanescence. A few people liked it, so I decided to expand it into a fic. And so, here it is. I hope you enjoy it! Comments are greatly appreciated.

The Decepticons were defeated. They were gone; their bodies destroyed and scattered to different locations around the world: Antarctica, the Mariana Trench, and other secure locations.

The Autobots suffered their own casualties, and these were dealt with privately within their community. Injuries and missing parts were repaired and replaced. The government provided a large, forested area as a "sanctuary" for them, and gave them permission to stay on Earth, provided they leave if it was deemed too dangerous for them to stay. Optimus Prime, leader of the remaining Autobots agreed.

They were not to harm humans or wildlife, and they were not to reveal themselves to anyone outside of a special sector of the government, including the President himself. They were easy terms to agree to, and so Optimus swore all his people would comply.

Until the final article in the contract was revealed.

"Surely this is not necessary," Optimus said, glancing at the large screen in front of him with the new laws he was required to follow. He narrowed his optics and leaned closer to it and the humans below.

"The President feels that it is. We do not want the truth of your existence to be revealed, and as long as the boy is aware of it that is always a risk. A risk we cannot allow."

"But the Decepticons have been defeated," Ironhide said, gesturing behind him. "There is no risk left on that front."

"No, there isn't," the Ambassador agreed. "However, there is still a risk on the side of humanity. There are countries that would stop at nothing to gain your weaponry and knowledge if they knew you existed."

"And you think the Autobots would allow them to achieve this? You are sadly mistaken."

"We don't doubt that you wouldn't fight them off, however, there are methods of making you comply. You saw what happened to your friend when the Decepticons were after the boy's glasses and the location of your Allspark. There are now Autobots much smaller than Bumblebee that could be easily contained if you were unable to come to their defense."

Ratchet frowned, his metal optical lids clicking loudly as he blinked. "The only reason Bumblebee didn't fight harder is because Sam was there, and he couldn't risk injuring him as well as the other humans."

"Be that as it may, these are the terms that you must agree to if you are to stay on Earth."

The three large Autobots turned to look at their comrades, waiting in another hangar across from the one they currently occupied. Bumblebee sat on the ground, all his attention focused on Sam, who was pacing by his large metal feet. The Twins, now fully repaired, mimicked him and bumped into each other, getting into a shoving match. Arcee stepped in and separated them.

"There is one of us that will not agree to these terms so readily…" Optimus said at last, turning back to the human Ambassador, Wilks.

"You must all agree, or the deal is off and we'll ask you to leave."

"He has been his guardian for so long. Could he not remain with the boy? As his Camaro?"

"No contact." Wilks repeated. He stared up at the large robots and shrugged. "Look, I didn't write the rules. If it were up to me, I wouldn't really care, but you must see the President's point of view."

"Yes, we see it," Optimus said. He hesitated a moment, before nodding. "Fine, I accept your conditions."

"Optimus," Ironhide started, and was stopped with a raised hand.

"Bumblebee will not readily leave this planet while the boy is still here. This is the only other option. He will have to accept it. And he will, with time."

His two companions didn't say anything

~*~

Bumblebee was focusing all of his processors on Sam and didn't notice when his friends arrived. Only when Sam fell into a deep shadow did he look up from his seat on the ground. Sam turned and stared up at Optimus, who knelt down.

"Well? What happened, how did it go? What did they say?"

"We can stay," Optimus began and Sam let out a whoop. Bumblebee mimicked the action, his own cheer coming out as a hoarse screech and whir of gears. Ratchet leveled a laser at him and he coughed.

"Thank… you…" Bumblebee said, with effort. The vocal processors were still damaged, but they were gradually returning to function. Ratchet nodded.

"Great! Then let's get out of here and go home, Bee," Sam said, patting Bee's leg. Bumblebee started to stand and instantly started to shift into a Camaro. Sam put a hand on the door, ready to climb in.

"There's more, Sam. Bumblebee, wait." Optimus stood and paced a distance away, then came back. "Part of the agreement is that we are not to have contact with humans."

"Well, that's how it was before, right? I mean only NEST and me and Mikaela really knew about you guys. So that's cool, right?" He looked up at them, expectant. "Right?"

"No humans, Sam, no contact. That includes you."

"But…"

A second later, Bumblebee was standing in front of him, staring at Optimus. He gestured wildly, agitated. "…why…?" He managed.

"The human President does not want our technology to get into the hands of violent countries. It is a reasonable request."

"No! That's not right!" Sam argued. He looked up at them, pleading. "Come on, guys. You can't just agree to something like that!"

"The threat is over, Sam," Ratchet said, with a small shrug. "There is no longer a need for you to have a guardian. Were you not ready to give him up a few years ago when you went to college?"

"That was different! I couldn't have a car on campus, I couldn't bring him with me! But I can now, so it's cool." Sam looked over at the Twins and Arcee, pleading with them. They had drifted closer and had heard it all. "Come on, you guys agree, right?"

Arcee tilted her head. "If it is necessary for us to remain, I don't see how it can be avoided, Sam."

Bumblebee tried to speak again, but the sound he made was just a frustrated groan of gears grinding against each other.

Sam wanted to argue his point further when he noticed army vehicles pull into the hangar and up to them. Men he didn't know climbed out and advanced towards him. He took a few steps back.

"Bee…" He said, and his guardian was at his side, blocking them.

"Stand aside, Bumblebee. Let them do their job," Optimus ordered. The smaller Autobot glanced up at him and shook his head.

"Samuel Witwicky, come with us."

"Why? Where are we going?" He asked as they finished their approach. One grabbed his arm and he jerked it away. "Hey! You don't have to grab… what the hell is going on? Optimus?"

"I am sorry, Sam. Go with them. It will be all right."

Sam was led to the car where they started to push him in. "Wait, not until you tell me where you're taking me. And let me at least say goodbye to Bee first!" He was ignored and shoved again. He turned to yell at the man when another in a mask came up behind him with a needle. "What? No! NO! BUMBLEBEE!" He yelled, lashing out against those restraining him.

"Sam!" Bee cried out, and rushed to his aid. Ironhide blocked his way.

"It has to be this way, Bumblebee. Let him go."

Bumblebee watched, restrained by the larger Autobots as the needle plunged into Sam's skin. In seconds, he was no longer resisting. The last thing he heard from Sam was a very faint call of his name, barely audible even to his finely tuned processors.

The vehicles pulled away and disappeared. The Autobots were left alone in the hangar.

"Not… fair…" Bumblebee pulled away from his friends and backed up.

"You have to let him go, Bumblebee. It's the only way we can remain here."

Arcee slipped up behind him, resting a hand on his arm. "Would you rather be banned from this planet, without hope of seeing him again, or somewhere you can at least watch over him, even if it is from a distance?"

Bumblebee didn't answer her, but he stopped resisting them. He looked towards the direction they had taken Sam, and let out a long, mournful cry.