A/N this chapter has shipping between June and Fowler. I also kind of rewrote the episode "plus one" since I had already shipped them before I saw this episode. Since I wanted it to tie in with my story I figured it would be nice to rewrite it like I have below. I just hope you readers enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

On board the Harbinger Ultra Magnus prepared a plan. The Autobots were vastly outnumbered against the Decepticon forces and the human military were helpless as long as Megatron had the fusion cannons of his newly built fortress pointed at the capital cities of the world. It was decided that they would infiltrate Darkmount, which had been built next to the old Autobot base, and disable the fusion cannons so that the human forces could help attack and take down Megatron's forces. In order to sneak in they would have to try to thin the Decepticon forces and it just so happened that the human teenagers would play a crucial role.

"Are you sure about this?" Arcee asked Jack once Fowler and Ultra Magnus had explained the plan.

"The fate of my planet depends on this working. I'm sure I can handle it." he smiled at her and she smiled back. "Arcee… in case you don't make it back. There's something I want you to know." Jack took a deep breath. "I might not have another chance to tell you this-"

"Jack," she interrupted. "I'm coming back." then knelt down took his hand in hers. "Promise."

"Alright…"

Arcee placed her finger under his chin and tilted his head upwards so that her optics met with his eyes.

"Promise me you'll make it back too."

Jack was in position at an abandoned petrol station and took out his phone. He sent a message to Miko to let her know he was in position. It also served as the bait that they needed to lure the Decepticons.

Back on the Harbinger Raf and Ratchet were monitoring the screen and could see the Decepticons send out a team of attackers. Ratchet activated the groundbridge and leapt through. It was up to Miko now. She called a pizza delivery company in New York in the hopes that the Decepticons would pick up her cell phone signal too then hopped through the groundbridge.

The next part of the plan was easy. Jack pretended to send out a distress signal to lure the Decepticons to a false location. As soon as they detected the Decepticons leaving the Autobots sprang into action and headed through the groundbridge. Now all the humans could do was wait as the Autobots stormed the Darkmount.

Jack, Miko and Rafael were intently watching the monitor in front of Ratchet. They'd lost track of how long it had been since the team left and as long as the Autobot signals remained strong they still had their hopes up.

"How is that possible?" Ratchet suddenly exclaimed as a light flashed across the screen.

"What?" Said Jack turning to the old 'bot behind him.

"An autobot signal," he tapped the command console. "but it's airborne."

Then they received a transmission they couldn't dream of expecting.

"All units," sounded commander Ultra Magnus' voice "Optimus Prime has returned."

The four of them were stumped.

"Yes!" Jack jumped in the air.

"Awesome!" Miko yelled.

"Thank the Allspark." cried Ratchet.

"Sweet." said Rafael. Hope finally returned in their hearts and sparks.

The news of Optimus' return was repeated over the commlink and the team of Autobots sprang into action fighting through the Decepticon battalion. Above them Optimus fought valiantly against Megatron and in the distance agent Fowler's forces were entering the battlefield. With the cannons successfully disabled the jets were able to launch their nuclear warheads straight into Darkmount. The autobots got to a safe distance and watched as Megatron's fortress crumbled to the ground.

Ratchet sent them a groundbridge and they headed through. Optimus Prime and Smokescreen, who had finally caught up with the others, joined them at the new base at a military training facility. Miko hugged Bulkhead, and Jack ran up to Arcee who simply winked at him and smiled. Both had kept their side of their promise. Rafael bumped fists with Bumblebee. With the team united it seemed like an Autobot victory was in sight.

From up on the scaffold inside the base agent Fowler officially thanked team Prime for their selfless heroism. Jacks mother just smiled and placed an arm around her son, she'd never felt prouder. With that Optimus Prime officially welcomed Ultra Magnus to the team. Despite their victory over Megatron they no longer had the means of rebuilding the Omega Lock. Optimus Prime had used the last of the power of the Forge of Solus Prime to rebuild and upgrade himself so that he could fly. Smokescreen regretted the decision for he knew how much it meant to the others to return home but Ratchet assured him that his spark had been in the right place. Without Optimus they would not have had this victory and most likely perished. The return of their leader had given them the hope they needed that one day there would be peace and it no longer mattered as much if it was peace on Earth or Cybertron. Arcee knelt to the ground.

"What's the matter, Cee?" Jack asked noticing her sorrow.

"I just really hoped we'd be going home." she sighed. "Looks like we're stuck here now that the Forge of Solus Prime is broken."

Jack didn't say anything, he just went over to her and embraced her. She placed her hand on his back and looked down at the human whose arms were tightly wrapped around her waist. Perhaps it wasn't all that bad, she thought. At least she had Jack and didn't have to worry about saying goodbye to him. Could she possibly make Earth her home with Jack?

"Do you think you'd have the space for me in your garage?" she asked him.

"Always," he replied and looked over to his mother who simply smiled. Jack's heart skipped a beat, did this mean that Arcee would be living with him all the time?

When Jack let Arcee go she transformed into her motorcycle form. "Let's got for a ride." and with that, and permission from Optimus and Fowler to leave the base, they headed out for a drive around the base.

It had been a week since they crippled Megatron's spire and tensions were rising. The addition of Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus had changed the group dynamic, especially since Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus didn't get on very well. At one point Wheeljack had thrown the lob-ball, which had been recovered from the ruins former Autobot base, at Bulkhead but missed and had nearly crushed Miko. He'd managed to create a huge dent in agent Fowler's door and was swiftly reprimanded by both Ratchet and Ultra Magnus. A discussion between Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus followed causing Wheeljack to storm off.

Optimus returned from his mission scouting for energon with some grave news, he had uncovered the ancient remains of a Predacon. The Decepticons at the mine he was exploring were excavating it and Ratchet came to the conclusion that, along with the dragon-like Predacon, Decepticons were trying to clone an army of Predacons. Though they didn't know why Predacons were on Earth when they had been extinct on Cybertron long before the other Cybertronians had emerged.

Ratchet pulled up information on the Predacons from the Decepticon database that he had taken from the Harbinger. Jack and the others immediately recognised some of them from Greek mythology and Medieval literature. It became apparent that Predacons had once been on Earth thousands of years ago as they seemed to have been the basis for most of the beasts of humankind's folklore. More evidence that Cybertron and Earth were linked since the dawn of time.

While Jack and the others were sleeping agent Fowler had detected Decepticons in two different locations. Optimus decided to split up the team and send them out to investigate.

"Morning, Smooth Operator," Arcee gently poked Jack awake from the armchair at the base he was resting in.

"Where are the others?" he asked sleepily.

"Out hunting for bones."

Jack stretched and yawned then woke Raf up. The two got washed and dressed then headed for the mess hall on base for breakfast. Not wanting to miss any of the action they ate quickly and headed to hanger E to wait for news from the others.

Rafael was busy on the computer when it suddenly bleeped.

"Incoming groundbridge request from Scotland." he announced. Arcee and Jack turned to where the portal suddenly materialised and were surprised to see Wheeljack.

"Wheeljack, what happened? Where are the others?" Arcee asked him concerned.

"Having a swell time taking the long way home in Ultra Magnus' boat, I'm sure," they could tell he was in a foul mood. "Miko included."

"I wondered where she was this morning." Rafael remarked.

Before they had time to discuss the mission agent Fowler interrupted with more news of Decepticon signals, this time coming from New Mexico. Since Optimus and Ultra Magnus weren't back yet the chain of command fell upon Arcee.

"You, roll with me." she told Wheeljack.

"Not today, all right?" he answered back grumpy as ever.

"If you're all right sending me out there alone." she said brushing past him.

"Alone's how I prefer to roll." he remarked. From behind him Ratchet persuaded him to go along for the work Ratchet was doing was too important for him to leave the base. With a disgruntled "Fine," Wheeljack went along.

"Arcee, do you need me to come along too?" Jack asked.

"We'll be fine, won't we Wheeljack?" she crossed her arms for a moment and shifted her weight onto on leg so that her hip stuck out somewhat.

"Whatever," he replied as the groundbridge materialised. "but just so you know…" he trailed off as the headed through the portal. Jack watched them leave, feeling a little unsure about Wheeljack. He was known to be a loose cannon and he wasn't sure he was the best choice for Arcee to pair up with then again who was he to decide who Arcee selected to go on missions with.

June had finished her shift at the nearby medical hospital of the base and was heading towards agent Fowler's office. She wasn't in a particularly good mood today. Jack was keeping himself busy playing a video game and Rafael was helping Ratchet by keeping an eye on any incoming groundbridge requests and doing research on Predacons.

"Nice shooting, Tex," Jack's mother said as she came over.

"Hey, mom, what's up?"

"June, what brings you here?" Fowler asked coming over. He was pleased to see her as always. She informed him that she was here about the medical supplies and from where Jack was sitting he could see the pair flirting, and he gave a little sigh. Why did they have to flirt so obviously in his presence, they seemed especially flirty today. He was about to get up and leave them to it when Rafael informed them that he'd managed to locate a Predacon talon in a museum. The three of them went over to him as he explained how it had been hidden away in the museum since 1922. Unfortunately, all bots except their medic were out on missions.

Ratchet groaned, he really didn't want to be away from his research into synthetic energon, not now he was so close to perfecting the formula. With their energon supply running low it was of the utmost importance that he try to get the formula stable and working but with the rudimentary tools he was stuck with progress was slow. He needn't of worried about leaving the base as Fowler immediately volunteered to retrieve the item.

"Maybe you should all just wait for Optimus." Jack's mother suggested. Instead of waiting though Fowler decided to try to impress June by telling her how he'd been an Army Ranger and federal agent and that he was more that equipped to handle a 'milk run'. He even invited her along.

"Absolutely not." Jack said to his mother. "Mom, I don't want you anywhere near anything 'Con. It's not-"

"Safe?" she placed her hands on her hips. "Is my teenage son seriously going to tell me that it's fine for him to travel all the way to Cybertron but his mother can't be trust to go on a... on... "

"A milk run." Fowler whispered in her ear.

"A milk run?" she scoffed.

"No, I- it's just… You're lactose intolerant, and I-" Jack stopped, it was no use convincing his mother. She's obviously made up her mind.

"Come on, Bill." she turned head and agent Fowler followed her. In his pocket he fumbled with a small blue trinket box.

The trip to the museum went without a hitch and agent Fowler was carrying the box containing the Predacon claw back to his car. Next to him June held his arm and complimented him on how he'd handled the situation. He smiled at her.

"June, I'd say that puts you one step ahead of my ex."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"What about you. You still haven't told me what's the story with Mr. Darby?"

"Well it's more like a saga, but one I'm sure you've heard before." her ex had been in and out of her life many times. Drunk and abusive she'd finally had enough of him and kicked him out as she only wanted what was best for Jack. She gave Fowler's arm a slight squeeze as a red sports car approached. The headlights were turned up really high and she used her free arm to shield her eyes from the light.

"I have a bone to pick with both of you." said a voice and a weapon appeared from the side of the car.

"Run!" yelled Fowler and tried to shield June from the blast. When they awoke they found themselves tied up and in the back of the car. From in the back they heard Knockout contact Megatron to let him know that he had secured the Predacon talon and two of the Autobot's pets.

Back at base Jack was pacing back and forth while Rafael was playing a video game.

"It's really taking them a while."

"Arcee and Wheeljack?" Rafael asked looking up from his game.

It was true that Jack was worried about them but not as much as his mother and Agent Fowler.

"My mom and agent Fowler," he replied somewhat short tempered. "Maybe they stopped for dinner," he sighed. It wouldn't be the first time they had gone on a date but usually not during a mission.

"Isn't that what grown-ups do when they're dating?" the younger teen asked. Only Jack was aware.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

Jack's phone suddenly rang and he picked it up.

"Mom?"

"Guess again, Jack Rabbit." It was Miko on the phone. She was telling him that she'd bought back something way cooler than soda.

"I can't talk, Miko. I need to leave this line free."

Miko begged to for him not to hang up and asked if Wheeljack had returned to base. He told her Wheeljack was fine and that he was out on a mission with Arcee. She made a joke about the two lone wolves hooking up. Jack felt a pang of jealously and hung up with annoyance. He hoped Miko wasn't right but then again, he thought, if Arcee wanted to be with Wheeljack then who was he to stop her. What was he thinking anyway, it's not like she'd ever feel for him what he felt for her. He sat down with a sigh.

"Is everything okay, Jack?" Rafael asked.

"Miko and the others are on their way back."

Rafael nodded with acknowledgement.

In the back of Knockout's trunk June and agent Fowler were quarrelling.

"I told you we should have waited for Optimus." she said.

"There it is, the 'I told you so'," he retorted.

Their tiff was interrupted by Knockout.

"Hello? How long have you two been dating? Because you bicker like an old married couple."

"What?" said Fowler.

"We're not married." June snapped at the cheeky Decepticon.

"Fankly, I find it repulsive, the whole idea of you fleshies interfacing." Knockout made a disgusting gagging sound.

"Actually, June." Fowler said softly. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you for a while."

"I don't think now's the right time," she said trying to turn around to face him. "Let's concentrate on getting out of here first. Then you can ask me whatever you want, Bill."

"Sure thing," he said finally managing to shift around and face her. In the back of the car they whispered coming up with a plan to stop Knockout from getting back to the Decepticon warship. Agent Fowler had lost his weapon but luckily June had pepper spray with her. They weren't sure if it would work on a 'bot though they didn't have much choice except to try.

June kissed Fowler. "Good luck," she said as they put their plan in motion. Agent Fowler kicked at the back seat and managed to force his way through into the passenger seat then to the front of the car catching Knockout off guard. He grabbed the wheel and forced the Decepticon to pull over. June had managed to climb through too and take hold of the Predacon talon.

"Now!" yelled Fowler as both exited the vehicle and ran in opposite directions. Behind them they heard the shifting of metal as Knock out transformed into his bipedal form. He reached for Fowler who was the closest and Fowler sprayed a blast of pepper spray into Knockout's optics. He was surprised that it actually worked on the metal titan and he was able to wriggled free from Knockout's grasp.

They found themselves at an abandoned train depot. Fowler and June had split up and were making clanging noises to try and mislead Knockout as he chased the pair. They ran amongst the empty railway wagons.

"June, June, where are you?" Fowler called out. He didn't realise how close Knockout was until the 'bot was right on top of him and he was able to scoop the human male up with ease. Knockout called out to June telling her if she didn't give herself up he would kill her boyfriend. From between the railway wagons June was coming up with a plan of her own. If only she could find a way to distract the 'Con long enough to free agent Fowler. Then she had an idea.

Jack was trying agent Fowler's cell phone and just like his mother's it went straight to voicemail.

"Maybe they went to a movie?" Rafael suggested. "They've only been gone two hours."

"They would have let us know. Something is wrong, I can sense it." said Jack. "Look, Raf, can you get me a groundbridge to their last known coordinates? I just want to be sure."

"If you insist." said Rafael tapping the keys on his computer and within seconds the green portal of the groundbridge materialised.

When he got to the parking of the museum he found his mother's cell phone crushed and on the floor.

"I knew it." he said to himself and grabbed his phone. Hopefully Arcee was nearly done with her mission.

"Arcee, I need your help." he picking up the broken phone and observing the skid marks on the ground. "My mom and Fowler may be in serious trouble."

June managed to work one of the trains loose and it started to slowly move out of the depot. The train moved out of her way and she came face to face with Knockout.

"Okay, first. Put down my boyfriend and second, you're not laying a metal digit on him." she threw the box containing the Predacon talon to the ground and it shattered. "Not if you ever want to see your precious talon again."

Knockout reached forwards and grabbed June. "Where is it?" he yelled.

"Leave her alone." cried Fowler. They were like small dolls in his hands.

"I hid it on a train car." she spat back at the 'Con. "Let us go, and I'll tell you which one."

Knockout growled at her and looked around. He noticed the moving train.

"Try as you might, you can't con a 'Con." he said before transforming into a car and forcing them into his seat belts. Now they had no chance of escape as he pursued the train.

Behind Knockout Wheeljack and Arcee were gaining on him. Thanks to Rafael and Jack they had managed to track down the location of agent Fowler using his cell phone signal. Arcee raced ahead and behind her an enemy groundbridge materialised. A horde of insecticons came flying through. She narrowly avoided their shots. Wheeljack transformed and took down at least two of them. Arcee transformed and fired her weapons at the Insecticons taking down another two then switching back into her vehicular mode and continued to speed towards Knockout. Suddenly a stray shot hit her and she swerved to steady herself then transformed back and rolled to a halt.

"Get Fowler and June!" she commanded Wheeljack. She knew Jack would never forgive her if something happened to his mother and she would never forgive herself if something happened to one of her best friends. Arcee dealt with the final insecticon and rushed to catch up with Wheeljack. Knockout was gaining on the Predacon talon, which June had hidden in the back of a coal wagon. Nearly at his goal he transformed and threw the pair out but luckily Wheeljack was right behind them and caught them. The streamlined motorcycle sped ahead gaining on Knockout, she almost had him when a groundbridge materialised and he disappeared through it. She transformed back and yelled with frustration. They were so close to stopping the Decepticons from getting the talon.

"Scrap." she cursed then turned her attention to Wheeljack who pulled up behind her. "Where are they?" she looked through his windows trying to see where June and Fowler were.

"In back." Wheeljack said popping his hood. Fowler and June sighed with relief.

"June, do you think I could ask you that question right now?" he said getting out of Wheeljack's trunk and helping June out. Arcee looked puzzled what were the humans up to. Fowler got down on one knee and pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it up.

"June Darby, would you make me the happiest man on Earth by accepting this ring?"

"What's going on?" Wheeljack asked Arcee as he transformed.

"I dunno but I've seen this in films I've watched with Jack. It's some kind of Earth pre-bonding ritual between humans." she whispered intently watching them.

"Bill, seriously at a time like this?" June raised her eyebrow.

"Well things turned out a little differently this evening than I had expected."

"You can say that again."

"If it's a bad time… I can always ask anoth-" before he could finish his sentence she kissed him. "So I guess that's a yes?" he said when they broke apart. She nodded and he took the ring from its box and placed it on her ring finger then they kissed some more.

"Do they always do that much… whatever is it they do with their mouth parts?" Wheeljack asked.

Arcee nodded. "It's called a kiss. Humans kiss for various reasons, the most common being to show affection for someone they really like."

"Strange creatures." he commented.

The groundbridge materialised and Fowler and June walked through holding hands.

"Mom," said Jack feeling relived and running over and hugging her. "Are you all right?"

"The milk run turned a little sour, but Bill and I are more than just fine." she showed him the ring on her finger.

"Engaged?"

"Come on, June, sit down." said Fowler leading her away.

"You're engaged!" he couldn't quite get his head around it. They'd gone from getting a Predacon talon to getting engaged and they didn't even think to ask him how he felt.

"Looks like you've been jacked, Jack." Miko said coming over and pointing at Wheeljack and Arcee. "By another 'Jack."

He turned and saw Arcee with her hand on Wheeljack's arm. Should've known, he thought, it's been the worst day today. First mom and Fowler get engaged and now Arcee who seemed rather flirty with Wheeljack. He watched Wheeljack walk past and head toward Bulkhead. They shook hands and smiled at each other then hugged.

"Bro-mance trumps romance." he sighed as Miko leaned on his shoulder.

"Glad to be your bro, bro." said Miko then left to find Rafael. Lately the two had been hanging out more than usual.

"So, do you think they'd let me be a bridesmaid?" Arcee asked Jack teasingly referring to his mother and agent Fowler. He rolled his eyes with annoyance, his boss was going to become his step-father. That's all he needed.