A/N: (shyly sneaks in) H-Heh... hi guys...

Alice: ... STRANGER DANGER (grabs battle ax)

Me: Hey, hey, hey! No stranger! Just...

Alice: A stranger .

Me: Okay so I was gone for a while. I'm sorry. I got depressed and.. y'know what? You can just go check out my profile if you wanna know. You guys, too, okay? Sorry for the long absence and I really should've told you guys or kept you guys updated but... yeah... Go check it out after reading this chapter! :D

Bee fell back onto his butt and shook his head, baby blue eyes wide with shock and disbelief as he stuttered out softly, "N-No... it can't be... You've been dead for -"

"A while, I know," I grin, flicking my bangs out of my face with a soft chuckle as I made my way towards him, crouching down to hold open my arms as Hornet ran towards me.

"Momma!" he squealed, wrapping his small arms around my neck as he buried his face into my collarbone. I wrapped my arms around him and pressed a soft kiss to his hair as I held him close.

"Hey, baby. Did you take care of daddy for me like I asked?" I murmured softly and he pulled away to nod enthusiastically, smiling widely.

"I did, I did!" he said, pointing in the direction in the still-frozen Bee, and I chuckled as I stood, keeping the small boy close to my body as I walked over to my husband.

"Are you just going to sit there and gawk at me or are you going to welcome your wife back to the world of the living?" I quipped with a lopsided grin, making him snap out of it and pretty much leap to his feet before I'm yanked into a firm, broad chest.

"Primus, I've missed you..." he murmured into my ear, voice thick with emotion as he tightens his hold on my waist. I managed to get Hornet from out of the slight person sandwich and he slid down until his feet touched the ground while I slid my arms up to wrap around Bee's neck, pulling him even closer.

"I've missed you, too," I breathed, burying my face into his chest as I fisted the back of his shirt, shaking slightly in his grip, "Purgatory sucks, y'know that?"

"I can imagine," he chuckled, leaning back to stare down at me, eyes glistening with unshed tears as all the emotions he's been penting up shine rather clearly in those baby blues. "Life here has been hell without you."

"You sound more human than when I left," I whisper, my hands sliding up to cup his cheeks, thumbs slowly caressing the apples of his cheeks. Bee turned his head to slowly kiss each of my palms, his eyes never leaving mine.

"I engrossed myself in work to keep myself from going insane - "

"I swear, if you neglected our son..." I threatened half-heartedly and he chuckled quietly, the smile bright in contrast to his tears as he leant down to press his forehead to mine.

"I didn't. If anything, [i]he[/i] neglected [i]me[/i]," he chuckled again, making me smile as I twined my fingers into his hair.

"I've missed you..." I whispered, making him smile in return.

"I missed you, too, Jess..." Bee whispered in return.

"Then why haven't you kissed me yet?" I ask rather bluntly, making him grin and shrug a shoulder playfully.

"Why haven't you?"

"Because you know how those chick flicks go! The boy is supposed to -"

"Oh shut up, Jess," Bee groaned before grinning, slanting his lips over mine in a slow, sweet, spine-tingling kiss and all I could do was shiver and melt against him, eyelids fluttering closed as I kissed him back. It felt like it had been centuries since we had kissed last and this time it wasn't so rushed nor harried; we didn't have a place we needed to be nor a time that was set. It was just us and our own little world we had created, our lips moving slowly, smoothly and perfectly in sync as if I had never gone away.

We kissed like that for a moment until we heard a little throat clearing itself and I pulled away - begrudgingly, may I add, because Bee made the cutest pucker face as he tried to keep our lips together - to look down at my son, who was staring up at us with wide, expectant eyes.

"Well? Is someone gonna pick us up?" he declared, little arms crossing, and I couldn't help but chuckle as I pulled my hands from the trap that was Bee's hair to lean down and pick him up.

"Who taught you the sass? Was it Katy? Or Mikaela?" I ask with a grin, tickling his stomach which made him squirm with a giggle.

"He was born with that sass. You gave that sass to him," Bee said in a complaining tone though his eyes betrayed him, showing the playfulness that I knew and loved, and I could only chuckle as I leaned up to give his cheek a soft kiss.

"You know you love this sass~" I sang with a smile, making him chuckle as he nuzzled my cheek with his nose in return.

"Yes, I do, very much so," he replied, smiling as he looked at Hornet, who was playing with my pendant with rapt interest. Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss to the child's forehead, whom looked up at him with a wide grin.

"I told you Momma was gonna come back to play!" he cried, making Bee chuckle as he nodded, looking at me with a soft smile.

"Yeah... You did, bud," he said quietly, pressing a gentle kiss to my own forehead. I leaned into him, sighing contently as I turned my forehead into the slope of his neck. Primus, did it feel good to be in his arms again.

We stayed like that for who knows how long, me in Bee's arms and Hornet in mine, just watching the little boy play with my pendant or my hair or with Bee's shirt as I basked in the taller's warmth.

That is until the other decided he wanted to pull away slightly to speak quietly, "We should go tell the others."

"If you insist," I say dramatically, grinning cheekily in return to his chuckle and he pulled away fully, keeping an arm wrapped around my waist as he guided me back towards the building. Now that I was actually going back to the place I had called 'home' for the past few years after a "small" reprieve, I was actually kind of scared. What if they didn't want me back? What if they had moved on with their lives and I just couldn't fit into the equation anymore?

I stopped and simply stared ahead of me, making Bee and Hornet both look at me questioningly before the elder removed the younger from my arms and set him on the ground, telling him to go find Katy or Mikaela to play with then turning back to me, in which I had turned my head away to stare at the ground.

"Jess..." Bee began, gently gripping my upper arms to grab ahold of my attention though he never lost it. "Jess... Look at me," he tried again and I shook my head, which made him sigh and gently turn my head manually by gripping my chin slightly. I kept my eyes downcast and he sighed again, tucking a few strands of my hair behind my ear, "Jess... Please tell me what's wrong."

I remain silent for a moment or so, debating whether or not I should tell him, before speaking almost inaudibly, "What if... They don't take me back?"

"I'm sorry?" he asked incredulously, undoubtedly confused as all Hell at my answer. I sigh as I card my hand through my bangs, the rest of my hair being tied back in a low braid, and I shake my head.

"Just... Forget it. I never said anything," I look up at him, smiling weakly and he shook his head as he made a face.

"No, you said something," he said firmly and I shake my head again.

"Just forget it, Bee."

"No, I [i]won't[/i] forget it," he says firmly before cupping my face, stepping close to murmur softly, "Jess... I can feel it. You're distressed. I don't want you to be..."

"Bee," I sigh as I shake my head, smiling weakly, "I just..."

"You just...?"

"I just feel like... I wouldn't belong anymore..." I sigh as I turn my gaze downward again. Bee simply stared at me in disbelief before slowly coiling his arms around me, pulling me into his embrace as he nuzzled his nose against my forehead.

"Is that what this is about? About you feeling as if you wouldn't belong here anymore?" he asked before chuckling as he shook his head, "If only you knew the half of it, Jess! We've all missed you like crazy!"

"But that doesn't mean that I'll fit back in normally into everyday life!" I reply, sharper than intended, as I look at him sternly, "I've been dead for almost [i]five months[/i], Bee!"

"Four," he says bluntly and I can't help but roll my eyes as I pull away.

"Four, five, is there a difference? I sure as hell know that there really wasn't any in Purgatory!" I exclaim as I throw my hands up into the air.

"Well how am I supposed to help? You just came back, for Primus' sake!" he retorted, shaking his head with a sharp exhale.

"I don't know! Maybe actually be encouraging - "

"How am I not being encouraging? !" he cried, gripping my upper arms rather tightly as he stared at me in confusion, his tone slowly lowering, "Tell me..."

"I just..." I shake my head, tears filling my eyes as I pulled away from him. He was persistent, though, and pulled me back into a crushing hug as he whispered into my ear.

"It's okay to be scared, Jess, and it's okay to not want to go back..." he said, "But, Primus, do we need you."

"I..." I couldn't finish my sentence, choking in my own tears as I buried my face into his chest, clinging to his shirt tightly as he kept his hold on me firm and tight.

"We've missed you so much, Jess," he crooned into my ear, his nose pressing against my temple as I trembled in his grip, "We've been a mess. Optimus has been keeping us together pretty well but it's just not the same. Please..."

I could only shake my head, sobbing quietly into his chest as my fingers curled tighter in to his shirt. He wouldn't understand. He would never be able to see the things I've seen. Know the pain I've been through by seeing my friends grieve then move on with their lives. It was not a pain I would ever wish on anyone else.

After a few moments of him crooning and whispering sweet things into my ear, I finally recollected myself and pulled away with a nod, taking a deep breath before smiling. Bee smiled softly at me as he cupped my slightly flushed cheeks, gently caressing the apple of them with his thumbs as he pressed his forehead to mine.

"You feel better now?" he asked in a joking tone and I could only gently push him in the chest, a grin playing out on my lips.

"I do in fact," I quipped and he chuckled.

"Then let me do this, then..." he murmured before slanting his lips over mine in a deep, dizzying kiss. I could only grin as I slid my arms around his neck, kissing him slowly for only a moment before pulling away with a teasing grin.

"I have to go meet everyone else, remember?" I hum as I turn, pretty much sashaying my way down the walkway towards the main building. I heard Bee laugh behind me and his footsteps jogging up so that he could slip his hand into mine, fingers easily dipping between the crevices between my own. We walked only a few minutes before we passed through the doors through the main building and past the man at the counter, who sat there and gaped just slightly in disbelief. Me and Bee made small talk as we wound our way through the maze of hallways before he pulled me towards another hallway and up a flight of stairs.

"Let's keep this on the downlow for now," he said with a grin, knocking on a door that had a gold plate on it engraved with the words "Colonel Lennox" and I could only arch a brow as the door slowly opened.

"Didn't I tell you guys to not interrupt me today?" Lennox said with a groan, rubbing his left temple as his head hung down. Bee chuckled as he stood in front of me subtly, his hand still in mine.

"Something wrong, Lennox?" he asked.

"Anna's been crying for me and I can't go back home and the Autobots are wreaking havoc and we still haven't found anything and [i]Jesus[/i] is this a disaster of a day..." the other groaned and I heard a faint thump, thinking he had hit his head on the door frame or something.

"Well I think I have something that may cheer you up," Bee replied and I could practically hear the smile in his voice.

"I doubt anything you show or do, Bee, will cheer me up," Lennox replied gloomily and all the other could do was chuckle and pull me out slowly from behind his back.

"Hey Lennox," I said almost shyly, smiling slightly as I raised my free hand to wiggle my fingers. Lennox froze his forehead bumping and he slowly turned his head to stare at me with wide eyes before looking at Bee with just as wide-eyes.

"J-Jess...?" he stuttered out as he looked back at me and I nod with a wider smile.

"Long time, no see, eh?" was all I could get out before I was pulled into a crushing hug.

"Jesus, don't fucking do that!" Lennox said before pushing me back, gaining a rather childish pout, "We've been running around like chickens with their damned heads cut off around here without you, y'know."

"I don't know why. It's not like I run the place," I replied with a shrug, honestly curious as to why they've been "falling to ruin" without me here.

"Because you're the glue, Jess. You're the reason, the mind behind half of these missions," Bee piped up as he slid an arm around my waist, pulling me into his side, 'You play a bigger role than you think."

"Oh..." I said quietly as I looked down, making Lennox chuckle.

"Well in any case, you're back and that's all that matters. Now let's give you a proper reintroducing," he said with a grin, Bee suddenly gaining a mischievous grin himself before both of them ran off to create some hairbrained scheme while I was left in the hall.

"Lennox?" I called out, pouting as I stared down in the direction that they ran off in, "Bee...?"

I huffed when I was met with no answer, crossing my arms with a pout.

"Well damn."

I was playing with the stupid ball sets on Lennox's desk after an hour or so waiting when I heard some ridiculously loud music being played from down the hall and I looked out the door, a brow arched. With my interest piqued, I, of course, had to go and investigate. Down the stairs and hall I went towards the main building, where all the lights were shut off except for a few streaming lights that I could see peeking out from under the doors. Slowly opening the said door, I peeked my head inside and blinked; the place was freaking packed! From what I could see, all the soldiers in NEST were in this one building watching Bee and Lennox declaring something up on the overhang.

I was able to slip inside the room without being noticed - aside from Bee looking at me and winking like the cheeky little shit he is - and I hung out in the back as I tried to catch on to what they were trying to say through the bullhorns. Next thing I knew...

"Everyone! Please welcome back a good friend of ours!" Lennox said through his bullhorn, gesturing towards me as Bee smiled.

"Jessica Witwicky," he finished as some of the spotlights turned to fix on me. I blinked at the sudden bright lights and squinted as I tried to see, raising a hand to block out a little of the light as the room went completely silent.

"Err... Hi," I said as I waved a hand, smiling slightly. No one said anything until I heard a faint "Jess?" and turned, staring at Katy, whom was staring right back at me with wide eyes. She really hadn't changed much - 4 months really doesn't change a person - other than the dark circles she had acquired under eyes. "Hey," I said with a soft smile and she surged forward, wrapping me in a tight hug. What is with the people on base and tight ass hugs?

"'Hey'? Is that all I get?" she cried in defiance as she pushed me away, "A simple 'Hey'? How about an explanation! Or an 'I'm sorry'?"

"I'm sorry," I laughed as I shook my head, "But I really can't tell you what happened. It's kinda a secret~"

"Well shit," she pouted as she crossed her arms and I simply held out mine with a grin.

"C'mon Rocky Road, I see that grin begging to be on your lips," I grinned wider and she finally caved, chuckling as she wrapped her arms back around me.

"I've missed you, Strawberry," she said softly once she pulled away and I was about to say something when I was pretty much tackled to the floor, landing with a dull thud as something squealed above me. It took me a moment to realize that thing was a person and it was squealing my name and it took another moment to realize that it was specifically [i]Mikaela[/i] squealing my name.

"Hey, Mikaela," I chuckled as I wrapped my arms around her, making her slap my side.

"You total bitch! How dare you leave us like that? !" she cried as she pulled away, pouting as she sat on top of me.

"'Cause I could totally help the whole dying thing!" I laughed as I shook my head, waving so that she could get off me. She got the memo and stood up, helping me to my feet just as the lights went up, an immediate murmur passing over the crowd like an incessant buzzing from a bee.

As soon as I was dusted off, the crowd parted and a simple group walked forward and all I could do was smile at them. It was the Autobots.

"Good to have you back, Jess," Optimus said with a smile and I stood up straight with a nod, squeaking when he pulled me into a hug. Out of all the people in the entire NEST base, Optimus was definitely the last person I expected a hug from. Seriously. I accepted it gladly, however, and I leaned against him as I felt another body press against my back; it was Bee. Soon enough, all the Autobots had engulfed me in a massive hug and I turned in Optimus' arms to bury my face into Bee's chest to keep them from seeing my tears. This is what I wanted.

Acceptance.

Love.

Truth.

The knowledge that though I had been away, they still accepted me with open arms and loving hearts, wanting me back more than wanting me gone, was enough to have me in tears of thankfulness. They missed me but had gained so much when I was gone. They had learned lessons I know they never would've learned when I was here.

The mass slowly pulled away one by one until it was just me and Bee, curled in on each other, in our own little world. That is until a buzzing little baby boy came running up and he attacked our legs, giggling as he looked up with a wide grin.

"See, daddy?" Hornet said with a cheeky expression, "I told you I wouldn't tell no one!"

"That's a double negative, dear," I chuckled as I reached down to pick up the little boy and he simply blinked owlishly at me.

"What's a double negative?" he asked.

"Just something your mama is picky about, apparently," Bee all but rolled his eyes with a chuckle, keeping his arms wrapped around me.

"Oh... Well then I don't wanna do it if Momma doesn't like it!" Hornet replied defiantly, crossing his little arms as I looked on in amusement.

"Oh, you don't, do you?" I grinned with a chuckle before someone cleared their throat and I looked towards the open end of the small parting in the human sea, arching a brow at Lennox. Setting Hornet in Bee's arms, I straightened out before walking down the space towards him, ignoring the blatant stares and not-so-quiet whispers I was receiving. "What's up, Lennox?" I asked once I reached the end and he turned towards the crowd.

"Alright, that's enough excitement for one day. Time to go back to your duties!" he called out, his brow twitching when no one made a really big move to actually get back to work, "Do I need to put you people through Ironhide's training? !"

Suddenly, everyone was shuffling around like cockroaches trying to find a dark spot when the light was suddenly shined down on them.

"Well that got them to move," I chuckled in amusement as Lennox wrapped his fingers around my wrist, pulling me up the stairs onto the overhang.

"It always does," he grins as he pulls me into a different office, where three people were sitting there.

"There you are, Lennox!" one of them said as he stood and I arched a brow at his voice, "What took you so - "

"Sammy?" I ask, blinking in surprise at the fact that my [i]brother[/i] was standing in the office I was just pulled into. Sam slowly turned to stare at me with wide eyes - a look I had come to know far too well today - just as my parents whirled around so fast in their chairs, I was sure one of them had gotten whiplash.

"J-Jessy...?" my mom stuttered out as my father slowly got to his feet, walking over to look me over.

"Jess, you're... you're alive..." he said softly as I smiled, tears welling up in my eyes.

"I'm alive, daddy..." I said softly, holding my arms out for a hug. He happily obliged, pulling me into a crushing hug as I clung to his shirt.

"God, Jess, you're [i]alive[/i].." he repeated, shaking his head as he pulled away to kiss my forehead softly.

"I know, dad," I said with a smile, blinking in surprise when he was suddenly yanked away and I was pulled forward into a hug that I was sure that bruised my ribs.

"What do you think you're doing, scaring your mother like that, young lady? !" my mother all but screeched as she shook me by the shoulders and I was pretty sure my eyes rolled a little in their sockets with how much force she was shaking me.

"Alright, Judy, I think that's enough," my dad finally stepped in, pulling my near-hysterics mother away from me and I swayed slightly, rather unbalanced, before a pair of arms gingerly wrapped around me and I shook my head before looking up at my brother.

"It's... good to have you back, Jess," he whispered, eyes shiny with tears. I smiled softly and slid my arms around him, burying my face into his shoulder as I pulled him closer.

"It's good to be back," I inhaled his all-too-familiar clean scent and pulled away with a smile, chuckling as I reached up to thumb away a few tears that had trailed down his cheeks, "Aww... is my little Sammy getting emotional?"

"N-No, I'm just sweating through my eyes. It's hot in here," he sniffled as he reached up to wipe his eyes with the back of his wrist, pouting slightly.

"Stop trying to act like a man, Sammy," I chuckled and pulled him back into a hug only to be pulled back into another group hug courtesy of my parents.

"We've missed you like crazy, Jess," my mom said with a smile, kissing my temple gently as she squeezed me.

"I've missed you guys, too," I replied once everyone pulled away and they all gave me a quizzical look.

"What, you were seriously alive this whole time?" Now it was my dad who was asking questions.

"Yeah," I nod as I flick a piece of hair over my shoulder nonchalantly, "Purgatory's a bitch. They make you watch everything that happens on Earth after you've passed."

"They what?" Sam's eyes widened impossibly and he shook his head, "That sounds like Hell."

"It's worse," I chuckle as I shake my head., making them all shake their head in return.

"I couldn't imagine..." my mother said, her hand to her cheek as she stared at me, "And you still look so damned young! My bald spot's getting bigger!"

"Judy," my dad groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose as Same looked away with a gagging expression. I could only laugh as I shake my head.

"Primus, I've missed you guys!" I said with a bright grin before a knock was heard on the door and we looked towards it, my lips curling into a smile when I saw that it was Katy.

"Hey guys, we're going to need you all to scram. We're heading in early," she says with an apologetic smile and they all nod just as my mom wrapped me up in her arms.

"Ooooh, can't we take her with us?" she asked as if I was a teddy bear instead of a human being, "I finally get my baby back, I don't want to let her go!"

"Judy, she's needed here," my father said with a chuckle, making her pout and let go. I smile as I wrapped my arms around the both of them, kissing their cheeks as I pulled away.

"Don't worry, ma," I say as I walk over to Sam to give him his own hug, "We'll meet up for the weekend and have lunch, okay?"

"Well... okay... but you need to keep up to your promise!" she said as she wagged a finger towards me, Sam and dad leading her out, "Or so help me, Jessica, your ass is grass and I'm the lawn mower!"

"Copy that, ma!" I called out before chuckling as I looked at Katy in amusement, "So why does everyone need to head in early? Some super secret mission?"

"No, they just haven't left base and now we can finally get them off," Katy sighed deeply once they were out of hearing range, making a face before giggling, "Sorry, Jessy, but your parents are a bit much some times."

"Don't apologize! I know! At least they're not your parents," I chuckle as I shake my head, "But I most certainly would never trade them for the world.

"Amen to that. Now let's get you to bed. I bet it's been a long day for you," she said, waving for me to walk over.

"Though it's only been an hour or so on Earth," I quipped with a chuckle, walking over, "But I am feeling quite exhausted..."

"Traveling between planes will do that to you, silly," she stuck her tongue out as she guided me onto the overhang, where Bee and Hornet were hanging out with Dino, Mikaela and Elita-1, the first two smiling at me as I walked out. "Bee, mind taking Jess to her room?" Katy asked and everyone 'Aww'ed.

"But I wanted to talk to Jess!" Mikaela pouted, crossing her arms as she leaned into Dino.

"And I wanted to analyze her systems," Ratchet spoke up from beneath us.

"Maybe go over a few combat moves with her," Ironhide then piped up and all of them began talking at once as Bee walked over. Soon enough, that talking became arguing over who got to do what with me first and I could only sigh as I leaned into him, shaking my head.

"I'm not going to rest for the next few days, am I?" I asked and he chuckled as he shook his head.

"Nope so you better get your rest tonight," he said, wrapping an arm around me to guide me off the overhang as the Autobots - and Mikaela - continued to argue, humming softly to keep the dozing Hornet asleep. I ended up leaning into him heavily as we walked, his lullaby lulling [i]me[/i] to sleep as I walked. Once we had arrived upon my old room, Bee opened the door and walked inside first to walk through another, relatively new door. I peeked inside and smiled sleepily when I saw that it was a nursery, painted blue with little bumbling bees flitting across the walls. There wasn't much furniture in the room, just a bed with some toys scattered about but I supposed when you lived on a giant Autobot base, you didn't spend much time in your room.

"Let's go to sleep," Bee said quietly after he tucked in Hornet and kissed his forehead softly, closing the door till only a sliver was left open and he guided me towards the bed, taking off my shoes once he made me sit down.

"Bee, you don't have to do that..." I yawned, pulling my hair out of the low ponytail it was in before falling onto my back on the bed once he turned my body and pulled my legs up onto the bed.

"I haven't had you for four months," he says as he crawls into bed beside me, pulling my body into his after wrapping his arms around my waist. I buried my face into his chest as I slid my own arms around his torso, tangling our legs together to press closer, "I lost you four months ago and I just got you back, let me have this."

"That's where you're wrong, baby," I yawned against his chest and he cocked a brow.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, you never really lost me. I was always here," I murmured, nosing against his chest where his Spark was and he chuckled with a nod, kissing the top of my head before tucking it beneath his chin.

"Yeah, I always have had you there, haven't I?" he asked and I nodded with a sleepy grin.

"Yes, now let me sleep, you dunderhead," I mumbled and Bee chuckled with a nod.

"Of course. I love you Jess," he cooed into my ear as I began to doze off and I smiled softly as I snuggled into him more.

"And I love you, Bee. Always and forever," I whispered before dozing off, finally content with being in my one and only's arms once again.

A/N: So I'm sorry if it was a shit chapter. I am exhausted, I pulled an all nighter and quite frankly, I could go for fried chicken right now.

Alice: How does that -

Me: That does not relate to the situation at all.

Alice: .. okay. So!

Were your guys' assumptions correct or did you see this coming?

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