Hey, sorry for the long wait. Check out my new poll, I can't update 'After Cybertron' until people vote on it.

I know it's been a while, but I'm back. =.) And I'm ready to update. Hope you like it.

I've recently fixed this chapter and apologize for all the mistakes in it. I was honestly in so much of a hurry I misspelled the simplest words. I'm not actually that bad. Thanks for not commenting on it.


Annabelle stared at the three of us, obviously wondering what 'partly' meant, but didn't ask. After a moment, Will spoke.

"What time is it?"

"Four." Optimus replied.

"Alright, we have a little bit of time before Sarah comes home." he mused. "Tell us how you've been." he insisted.

"We haven't had much luck on tracking Megatron." they had been kicked off Earth a year, almost, after the battle of Egypt and we hadn't seen anything of the Decepticons since. "But we have found individual groups of Decepticons. Most of which had never been on Earth."

"But how have you been?" he asked.

Optimus sighed. "Aside from Bumblebee staying depressed, we all missed you guys. I don't think much time went between the times we each missed Earth, since don't measure time the same on the Ark."

"But it was great to see the others who we hadn't seen since before landing." Bee added, trying to lighten the subject.

"That's nice." Will nodded. There was silence for a moment and I felt Bee's curiosity peak. I glanced up at him to see him looking to Will.

"What have you all been doing?" he asked. Will scratched the back of his head, looking away.

"Well, I've been successful of keeping Annie to know and we've just been living normally, well, I haven't worked. Got enough money when NEST shut down. But Sam, well." he looked up at Optimus before turning to Bee. I remained perfectly content to just sit here, still radiating with happiness to be here again.

"Sam fled his family after about half a year. Since then, he's been living in the base. Only a few days ago I made him stay at my house, he still kept in touch with me. But actually, I thought he was doing well. Well, kind of." he shrugged. Bee shifted me in my spot in his hands in his lap. He looked worriedly down at me, I stayed silent.

"You didn't have to. You should have stayed." he objected.

I shook my head. "I couldn't. I wanted to stay at the base. And mom was worrying. She thought I'd eventually get better, but I wasn't. If she, and dad, realized I would stay like that for longer than any normal life time, they would have gotten unnecessarily upset. And then, I wouldn't have been able to handle it if they got upset with you guys, 'cause it wouldn't be hard to realize it had something to do with you."

"They whole 'not aging for twenty years' thing!" Annabelle realized. Will was willing to wait patiently, knowing we were going to wait until Sarah came home, but his daughter wanted to know. "What happened? I take it there is a reason."

I nodded, "Wait until your mom comes home. It's easier." She frowned, but complied. I suddenly realized the effects are real too. I'd been too overjoyed with their being here to care about the Decepticons, the government's reaction to their being here, and their reaction to my youth. Well, and my living state. I did kinda drop off the face of the earth.

"Fine. But, no. I still don't believe this all." she shook her head. I smiled.

"Yeah know, Sam and Mikayla both took it loads better than you." her dad mused. She glared at him. He smirked. "No, really. Sam first seen an Autobot, or Decepticon, chasing Bumblebee thinking someone was stealing his new car. He watched him transform in a junkyard and freaked out, calling the cops. But he'd only seen him, no forewarning. No talking, no explanation. Then the first time he actually met a Cybertronian, kind of, was when Mikayla first seen a Cybertronian. When he saved them from a Decepticon named Barricade. He watched them fight, still no explanation. And then they actually met the Autobots in an ally."

"And they took it quite well by then. Sam quickly stepped forward to help us." Optimus smiled. I did the same.

"I expected more from the daughter of a Lennox." Bee shook his head teasingly. She turned her glare to him; you know you're comfortable with the Autobots when you can glare at them. Which usually happens quickly.

It didn't seem like we were actually talking all that much, trying to avoid what we knew we had to wait for, but evidently the pauses in between had been enough to push our conversation for thirty minutes. 'Cause we were all surprised when we heard the motorcycle come up. I suspect Sarah took it because she didn't need to carry much and left the truck for anyone who might need to go somewhere, like the grocery store.

We all looked, again, toward the garage on the other side of the house. After a moment, the engine cut and Will decided we didn't have to scare someone else. He stood and smiled to us weakly, we watched as he went around and waited. After a moment, there was a rather loud scream.

We all looked back to the way he had disappeared to see him holding her in place. She was staring wide eyed at Optimus and Bee, shocked. But then, strangely, she straightened up and calmed down, just staring at the two regularly.

"What in the world is going on?" she asked, calmly.

"The Autobots are here. This is Optimus, as you know. And Bumblebee-" she looked at Bumblebee again, recognizing him from the picture thing I had. She noticed me and smiled, enjoying seeing me happy. No matter the circumstances.

"Ok, aren't you, uh, not supposed to be here?" ok. Yeah. She really is the perfect match for Will. How could she be so calm and relaxed now after just screaming her head off? I glanced at Bee and Optimus, they were confused too. Will had a fond smile and Annabelle was skeptical.

"Yes, but we've spotted Decepticons heading this direction. We figured they were probably aiming here, to finish off the last grudge keeping them here." Optimus glanced at me and Sarah smiled at how happy I was again, could my happiness have anything to do with her quick change in reaction?

"Alright, that wouldn't be a good thing. But you do know even if you hide your being here from the government, you won't be able to hide another battle. They'll know it was you as soon as they see the wreckage." she paused, then sat up. "Who else is here? Is it just you two?"

"Yes." Bee nodded. "But others are coming. Including Ratchet and probably Ironhide." she smiled happily. From what little we'd told her, she wanted to meet him. "I don't know about Arcee, but I would think so." he added, knowing they'd be good friends. Arcee had been a good friend of Mikayla, while Ironhide was Wills friend. Then, of course, I had Bee and Leo seemed to hit it off with the twins, Skids and Mudflap.

Speaking of twins, I always wanted to meet Sunstreaker. Though everyone had always warned it was best not to have them both, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, together around people that could easily distrust them. Not me, of course, but they also said I should feel lucky not to know the Sunny & Sides duo. With the stories told, I'm also glad. Actually, I'll be happy to see them together. Wow, talk about change of topic. I remembered Bee saying I looked tiered earlier. Maybe I kinda am. No, I'm fine.

"Hey, about Sam," she started. Optimus sighed, knowing what was coming next. Bee and I stayed quiet; he never said we would have to say a thing.

"Yes, we were waiting or you before we explained why Sam hasn't aged. Now, please keep an open mind as I explain. It seems I won't be getting much help." He glanced at us, we shook our heads simultaneously. He sighed and the other two suppressed laughs. Bee shifted me closer and I leaned back, relaxing.

Optimus turned back to the other two, pausing. I honestly had no idea what was going to happen.

"Alright, it was an accident, I assure you. Bumblebee had done it subconsciously, knowing he would miss Sam so much. He'd made a link. It connects the two at the sparks. They can share emotions, and many other things come with the link other than that, but that isn't the important part." he paused. Most of it actually related to what the link was, and they don't exactly know what that is yet.

"So, what is the important part?" Will asked.

"The link. There are many different kinds of links. This link, uh, is one that is actually normally, er, frowned upon with us." they watched confused. "It's called the pet link." they stared at him for a moment, then turned to look at us. I shifted backwards and Bee held me closer. They all stared, then after a minute Annabelle shook her head and put it back in her hands. Sarah remained quiet as Will snapped out of it.

"What?" he asked. "What?"

"It's the pet link, so," Bee decided to give in and help Optimus out. How do you explain this to someone without them freaking out? I now see Bee's problem earlier. "It can be severed, but it won't happen."

"What?" he repeated. Maybe he hadn't snapped out of it.

"That's why Sam hasn't aged. This link made it so Sam can't die until, well multiple things, except the only one that will, hopefully, happen is when Bumblebee's spark eventually goes out." Optimus said. Others, I could probably guess. I only realized I was learning more about the link with them, shouldn't I already know this stuff? Well, I would have if I asked. Yet I didn't, because I don't care too much. At least, not the discouraging parts.

"What other ways?" Sarah asked cautiously.

"Well, one can always be murdered. But we all know under Bumblebee's protection, that's very unlikely. Even with how much we all care for him and the Decepticons grudge against him." They want to hurt me to get to the Autobots, and I did kill their leader along with finding the object they'd been searching for centuries within three days. And I brought their worst enemy back to life after finally killing him, which resulted in their downfall. Yeah, I'm pretty high up there on their hit list.

"And?" Will asked, Annabelle was still looking at her lap, taking it the worst having not known Bee and I as long as her dad, and not quite as, uh, quick, as her mother.

"First, know that the link has in the past only been used by Decepticons, who had suppressed the parts like the emotion part. And remember how much Bumblebee cares for Sam."

"Let me guess, it's another part of the link." Will said calmly. I'm not sure if he's ok with it or not. Actually, I don't think he knows if he's ok with this or not.

"Yes. Bumblebee is given direct access to the boy's spark, which means stopping it isn't the only thing he can do there. Should Sam get injured so that his heart can no longer sustain him," he seemed to remember I was human and had a heart, not a spark. "Bumblebee can pull his life force out so he lives of Bumblebee's spark too. And, he can keep the boy's heart beating if it struggles, or keep him conscious should he faint."Isn't that more to do with my brain? Oh well.

They nodded slowly. "What else? This is just too weird." Will sighed and leaned back, seeming to decide he trusted Bumblebee enough to be alright with it. Sarah looked at him and back to us, deciding she trusted her husband's judgment.

"What?" Annabelle interrupted, looking at them both. "You seriously accept this so easily? He's a freakin pet!"

"Uh, yeah." her dad looked uncomfortable being the one to get his daughter to understand. "Bumblebee will take good care of him, he has in the past." He hesitated, yet no one came to his rescue. "And Sam trusts Bumblebee greatly. If neither of them have a problem, if Optimus doesn't even have a problem you know it's alright." Annabelle just stared at him skeptically. He stared back, the sighed. "You were so much easier when you were three."

"Well, I'm not. And I'm still confused on how you can just sit back and say, 'Oh, hey, that kid's a giant, alien, robot's pet. Cool.' Yeah, ok, maybe there really isn't anything bad about it, but what the heck?" she ranted. Well, at least she knows it isn't.

"Annie, just, how about you wait to save your judgment until you watch them for a little while?" her mother suggested. She stared at said woman for a moment before sighing and looking to us. I yawned, it was only about five, yet I was quite tired. It's strange.

Bee shifted me and I was closer to lying down than sitting now. She watched and sighed again when we were still again. She turned back to her parents, glancing between them.

"Yeah, alright." she said quietly, agreeing to hold off on her judgment for a little while. Everyone smiled, happy with her decision.

"Good, now, as long as we're done here, I have tests to grade." Sarah glanced to her over-sized purse, which she had secured to the back of the motorcycle when driving. I knew there was more everyone wanted to discuss, but I also knew it was best to leave it at that for now. We could all do with a break from our reunion, at least, they all do. I just need to sleep. I'm not going to complain, cause if I take a short nap now, then I'll stay up longer with these two later. When it really counts.

"Goodbye." We all looked to Annabelle quickly as she bolted to the back door, eager to get away from what was surely impossible yet here. After half a second, we recovered.

"Uh, she'll come around." Will tried, scratching his head.

"She is a Lennox." Optimus agreed. "And if she's anything like her mother-" he started, again getting that lost look we all had when Sarah had changed her position so quickly.

"She'd have already accepted everything and was wondering when she could meet Ironhide." Will said, shooting the same look Optimus wore to his wife, who sat staring up at Optimus ignorantly. I'm sure I had the look to; how does someone do that? Is it even possible, or is she going to explode later?

"Yeah know, I hope whoever gets here first, whether it be the Decepticons or the government, I hope they can hold off for a while." Sarah started, standing up and lifting her bag. "At least until the others get here. I'd like to meet them without it being in the middle of a battle, or under the disappointed eye of the suits." I stared at her. I've only really heard NEST use that term, it was part of their slang.

"Will? You're a bad influence." I turned to him. He looked confused at first, then realized what I was talking about. "I thought that slang died with the division."

"Naw," he shook his head, joining his wife. "It's still up and going. Which brings me to think, are the Epps' going to be told?"

"I think it's for the best. We need as much allies as possible, and former NEST members are our best option. Besides, it would be nice to see him again too." Optimus smiled. Will nodded. His wife waved and headed indoors, he glanced after her. "Well, everyone else is going in, I'm sure I'll find something to do with them." he said, shrugging. "Maybe I'll go 'help' Sarah." I heard him mutter, I rolled my eyes. He walked after them and I marveled at how quickly everyone had left. Well, everyone of the Lennox's. I doubt I'll really ever be anywhere without some sort of Cybertronian again. Let's just hope it'll always be an Autobot.

"It seems it's just the tree of us." Optimus sighed, glancing at us. He noticed my drooping eyes too and smiled. "Or just Bumblebee and I. When did you wake up?" he asked me.

"Around seven." I replied, remembering earlier today when I was at the base I had thought that since I had slept about eleven hours I wouldn't be tired for a long while. Yet here I was now, ready for a short, hopefully, nap. My excuse for sleeping so long was my body taking advantage of my strange relaxation and catching up on some rest. Now, if I go along the same lines, now that I'm completely relaxed and everything, my body would want to take advantage again. After all, I had spent twenty years all stressed and mourning, and I need to relax farther than I am already, if it's possible. At least, it's a theory.

I glanced up at Bee, remembering the 'strange' relaxation last night. "Just ask Bee." He smiled like a kid caught with a hand in the cookie jar. I glanced at Optimus, he was shaking his head, he had known. I decided not to bring it up as an issue, I appreciated it. I did need the sleep, and any contact with Bee, conscious or not, or better, partly conscious, is best sooner. And I knew Optimus wanted to speak with me before Bee got to me, so I knew he couldn't reveal himself.

Really what it came down to was; which is worse? Knowing Bee had found me last night and not woken me or anything, or just him not even being here today at all? Honestly, I'd rather be grateful for what I have. Cheesy as it is, it's true, and what I have is wonderful.

"Why don't we return to the base for now?" Optimus suggested after a minute. "We can return later. There's less of a chance of the government somehow finding us if we remain indoors." with my mind half off, I pictured a conspiracy kid when he said that. He looked a lot like Leo, and he had on a foil hat. I chuckled quietly, they looked at me questioningly.

"It's a conspiracy." I said tiredly. They smiled, matching his words to my image.

"Go to sleep Sam." Optimus shook his head.

"You're the one that said it, not me." I said, rolling over and situating myself close to Bee's spark after they stood. They hesitated, then Bee sighed.

"Driving is out of the question." he said, though I knew he was smiling. He couldn't put me down to transform like this, and I wasn't about to move, or stand for that matter.

"Darn right." I muttered as he started to walk. I didn't hear any response, whether it be they didn't respond, or I was already gone. But, in my defense, if I fell asleep now, I'd wake sooner. It's common sense. But, then again, if a few hours' night sleep was turned into eleven hours, a nap could go from about an hour to a couple, and not a few-couple. A lot-couple.


Hey, I know there are allot of spelling mistakes, but I didn't have time to spell check and I wanted to give you guys something before I left. R&R, I got to go.