Shorter chapter for now. I set out food for the plot bunnies, but I haven't trapped any yet.

Does anyone like the idea of sparklings?

Also, I swear I was going to post this, like, a week ago, but then life caught up with me! Damn life!

I could hear a pinging in the back of my CPU. Concentrating on it better, I noticed that it was the signal Arcee had made for us to communicate through.

"Hey, Ratchet just stopped me and said that we can go back to our own rooms tonight...So, I was wondering if tonight, when all the others go to their rooms, would you like to hang back and talk in the Rec Room? Er, no, what I mean by talk is-"

"I'd love to. See you later."

I cycled my vents slowly. Tonight would probably decide if Arcee and I should be together, or go our separate ways. We didn't have to share a room anymore, so now I was either staying or leaving.

Hmm, how did I get to this mess again? Oh yeah, damn love.

I began to walk out of the room when a thought hit me. Holy frag! Technically, this was going to be my first date ever!

What a loser. Where did my last few thousand years of life go? Oh yeah, damn war.

I couldn't believe that it was getting late already. Must be these weird Earth-days. So short. On Cybertron, an orn (our qualification of a day) were equivalent to 13 Earth-days. Also that daylight-savings thing didn't help any.

I grabbed my fill of energon and roamed the halls. What could this do to my life, assuming it all went well? Where could I go from this? After some moments of pondering, I knew that I liked all the possibilities.

I rounded a corner, heading towards the Target Range when a distinctive orange and red femme burst out, "BEE!" she ran towards me, kissing me on the cheek. "Is it true? Are you finally out of that room? Are you going to get your voice back?" Firestar asked.

Freedom, freedom, freedom

"Good," she breathed then pressed her lips to mine.

I emitted a surprised whirr, but she only pressed herself tighter to me. I couldn't lie, it felt nice, another spark next to mine, another face close to my own. I automatically rested my hands on her hips as she wound intimately close.

One of the Lambo twins, Sunstreaker, whistled at us as she compacted herself to my shape. She gestured very un-lady-like (as the humans would say) towards the yellow ego mani-mech.

He left, laughing as he did.

She pressed my head down so that her glossa entered my mouth easier. It was an odd sensation at first, but then I quickly joined in. My optics closed and I held her head also. She abruptly pulled back and smiling impishly, yet seductively at me. She took my hand and pulled me. Where did she want to take me?

I learned the answer soon enough as she lightly tugged me to the wing of NEST where all the un-sparkmates femmes lived. A bit dazed at what was happening, she tugged me into her room and shut the door behind us. She led me to her berth where we continued our embrace. This time though, her small fingers fit themselves into the smaller crevices of my armor, touching my protoform. I involuntarily groaned at the great feeling of her warm touch under my armor.

I could feel her smile on my face. The long pressure on my lips dissolved into smaller, individual pecks.

"Do you like me Bumblebee?" she asked, pushing her fingers deeper into my abdomen armor. My breath hitched, I had to tell her that this was going too far.

Took my heart to the limit and this is where I'll stay

I had to remember my commitment to Arcee. I promised Arcee that I would meet her a--

"Oh Primus, you're so strong. I love it." I only noticed then that my hands were clenched on her upper arms. Oh frag, I think she interpreted the song wrong. I released, but she grabbed my wrists, "No, it's okay, I like you near me." Her optics glowed a deeper blue, then very slowly, she brought my hands to her chassis.

My optics snapped open, but my hands refused to move. My spark pulse quickened dramatically within the astro second. Her hot chassis radiated from the heat of the spark lying beneath. Her spark picking up pace.

She brought our faces together again, my servos trapped between us. Now I could feel both our sparks, both rapid, both increasing in temperature.

Now her tiny servos slipped in between us and wove into my chassis, sending small magnetic pulses into the core of my spark. My digits scraped against her chassis plates as the pulses caused my spark to jump and flare.

"Eager aren't you?" she giggled and sent a larger pulse.

Never being treated like this before, my entire body jumped instinctively and I leaned over her, bringing her tank into my waist.

Sighing, she relaxed back into my arms allowing my lips to trail down her neck wires. Nearing her spark again, I mentally slapped myself. I stiffened, but before I could say anything she interrupted me.

"I love you Bumblebee." she reached down and-

Frag! It took all my power to let her go and make her look into my optics, my arms trembling slightly. But she thought it was a game and grabbed hold of my waist armor again.

Just this once, just for now I sputtered out. No! Wrong lyrics! She could think I mean something totally different!

She seemed to contemplate a thought. Well, at least she'd think I was a jerk and leave me alo-

"Okay, I can do that." she pushed at my chassis roughly. I slammed against the berth. "Wouldn't be the first time I had a one-night stand." Her body on top of me felt so good. I ran my hands up and down her form without thinking about it.

I clenched my hands. I couldn't do this. Hmmm. Then again, by the way her body was moving on mine...maybe I could-

No. No, I didn't love Firestar. This wasn't love, it was just arousal...right?

I eased her off of me and placed her on the side of the berth. Her excitement began to fade. "What's wrong Bee?"

I had to choose my lyrics carefully, Firestar wasn't good at interpreting my snippets correctly.

You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait

"Are you saying that you want to get to know each other first before we interface?" she said slowly.

I tried again: No, love, love, don't come easy
But I keep on waiting

"Oh," her optics dimmed as she finally understood, "I'm sorry...It's Arcee isn't it?"

I nodded shyly.

"Figures, most mechs like her more. But I know that you must really like her. I've seen the way you've been acting around her lately, your body movements near her... I'm sorry I assumed too much Bee, about us. I, more than anyone, should know the difference between flirting and sincere interest. It's just, you're just so sweet and kind and...I know I won't find another mech like you."

You got to trust, give it time
No matter how long it takes

"You think so? Truly?"

Somewhere out there,
beneath the pale moonlight,
someone's thinking of - and loving – tonight.

She embraced me in a tight hug, but I lightly pushed her away.

"Oops, sorry." she giggled.

I waved and left the room, the sensation of the foreplay slowly egging away. Firestar was a great femme, funny and sweet, but I knew that she'd never be a sparkmate to me. She wasn't good at interpreting my limited speech...and now I realized that Arcee was one of the few that really seemed to understand me. I smiled at the thought.

Only an Earth hour left till Arcee and I had our little 'date.' I decided to relax in the wash racks till then.

-Arcee's POV-

My spark fluttered with joy as I contemplated the new futures I had laid before me. I always had a thing for Bumblebee, but now learning that he was different from other mechs, I was so happy that my secret crush had meant something.

This get-together would show me more of the true Bee. When we're not fighting or tense or locked together. Oh Primus I was so excited! My inner thoughts reminded me of a third-framer, but perhaps that is the way most feel when they're in love... It has been so long that I've had feeling for another that I must have forgotten.

That was it, I couldn't take it anymore. I scanned the halls quickly for Bumblebee. Where could he be?

I saw Sideswipe and Sunstreaker in the Rec Room. They would know.

"Guys, have you seen Bumblebee?"

"Yeah, he and Firestar went into her room last time I saw." Sunny elbowed his brother suggestively.

My servos shook. "Are you sure?" I whispered.

"Um, yes. Arcee, are you okay? You suddenly don't look good."

"I'm fine." it came out willowy. My spark was falling. Down my chassis, through my tank, and dripping out my leg plate where Firestar and her tiny little feet pads crushed any solid remains.

How could he do that?

All my thoughts processed horribly slow.

I thought he was interested in me. I thought he cared for me. Was it all a lie just to get his voice back, him out of the room and (apparently) back to his little whore femme?

I had gone through some betrayals in my lifetime, most have, but could the caring, loving, Bumblebee actually do something so diabolical as to play with my feelings just to get what he wanted.

And he hasn't canceled his plans with me, which means that he still planned to also take me as his mistress for the future! Suddenly my thoughts flew by faster than I could take time to decipher.

But that fragging little glitch! How could he be such an aft? How long did it take him to find a new plaything, an hour? Thanks a lot.

My tilted head saw yellow feet pads. But they were too big to be his. They were-

"Arcee, are you alright?" Springer asked stepping in front of me. He gingerly tilted my face up to look into his optics.

"I'm fine." I answered repeatedly. It seemed that my well-being was a hot topic of conversation today.

"Do you want to get some energon with me?" he asked kindly. I knew better though. He was a triple changer. You don't trust triple changers... or at least that's my standpoint. I knew his game, I had fallen for it before. He was a master of rebounds (the only way he could get a femme!). He was going to pick me up, dust me off, then throw me onto his berth, like he always did.

I found myself with a cup of energon in my hands and sitting across from him at a table while he chatted on about his own life. I nodded every few sentences, but I really didn't care. I knew what he was doing. I began to count down: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1-

"Would you like to do something? Go take a walk, you seem like you need some space...unless you'd like me to join you," he flashed the shy smile he had used two times on me now, then before I could answer he urged, "Comon." he laughed light spark-ed-ly...hmm, is that a word?

Outside, he held my hand. "You seemed detached. Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.

Wow! No slag Sherlock!

"No, I'm just tired. It's, uh, been crowded lately in my private quarters."

"Would you like to relax in my room? Hound is on a mission, it will be quiet, and I'll make sure no one disturbs you." he offered kindly. Ah, smooth move.

I was about to say 'no,' but a hundred thoughts crammed into my database before I answered. For now, Bee was out of the picture for me...and Springer had gotten me on his berth before, a quick interface many human years ago, and I can't say that it was a total failure....

But looking into his optics and knowing all too well his one-track database, I knew I had no feelings for him whatsoever. Nothing compared to what I used to feel for that-that...afthole! Suddenly my anger rekindled.

"Sure." I mumbled, but he heard me.

All but dragging me, we made it to his place. Then again, I suppose he didn't drag me, but the time from where we were, to getting faces made at us by the Twins, Springer trying to act macho-mech in front of me, and finally arriving to his private quarters felt so rapid. I noticed his servo stayed on my back the entire way, minus the few seconds where he tried to pin Sideswipe onto the floor.

He held the room door open for me. Aw, what a gentle-mech. (gag-gag-choke)

As soon as I sat my aft on the berth, he over-confidently began rubbing my shoulders. I shrugged away. He only increased the pressure. It felt sort of nice. He hands moved lower and lower, I finally said, "Hey, I think I'm just gonna go. I remembered that I have to go do something." Lame, I know, but that was the best I had.

He sprung up and pressed his face to mine.

"Springer!" I shouted shoving him back, causing him to spiral.

He grabbed my forearm, "Make up your mind, Arcee! You're the one who agreed to come here."

I yanked my arm away, "I suppose I changed my mind. I'm leaving!" I left abruptly, my emotions in turmoil. Who was I to believe? I couldn't understand who I wanted or what I wanted right now...Bumblebee...NO! I had to stop thinking that way! To think that I truly cared for him, had feelings for the aft he really was!

I peered in the Rec Room, it was a half hour before we were supposed to meet but...

"I'm sorry. I'm the one who has been an aft. Please forgive me."

"Sure, maybe I came on too strong." Springer said as I entered his room again.

-Bumblebee's POV-

She was 15 minutes late. Arcee wasn't one to be late. I debated going to find her. Is that romantic?

Where is she?

Where is she?

I asked the Twins as I stepped out of the Rec Room.

The duo exchanged glances, "Um, we saw her going into Springer's room. I thought you were with Firestar tonight."

It took me a minute to respond.

- - no more,

no more I played faintly.

Arcee...with Springer?

"I'm confused." Sunny said, not aware of my spark ripping apart inside, the seams of it being carefully plucked out through my chassis, "Does that mean Firestar is still single?"

I used the POV of Arcee a lot in another one of my stories "The Ultimate Battle," (where she is my main character) and I desperately wanted to revisit her attitude, so decided to throw some of her thoughts in there. Hope you liked it!

"Freedom" -George Michael

"Meet Me Halfway" - Black Eyed Peas

"Belle of the Boulevard" -Dashboard Confessional (thanx Quibble!)

"You Can't Hurry Love" -Diana Ross

"Where is She" -The Killers

"I'm Yours" -Jason Miraz