CHAPTER 26

Aaron and Bumblebee found a quiet place to take the moment things had calmed down. The Autobots that had searched for Aaron were back, Sam had gone homes with Wheeljack, for the time being until other arrangements could be made, and Optimus had gone back to work. They had settled for Aaron's room, Aaron was on his bed, while Bumblebee sat in Comaro form in a corner. His holoform on the edge of Aaron's bed. The man looked so much like Aaron it was shocking no one had never noticed. Short, dark blond hair, dark blue eyes, tall, muscular, lean, but youthful, at least thirty years old, or perhaps his late twenties. Aaron could only guess that as he grew up, he'd continue to look like a spitting image of his Father. As such, it felt almost as though he was looking into a mirror, or perhaps, into the future.

"This is really awkward." Aaron commented as he stared at Bumblebee "Less then two weeks ago, Optimus was filing for adoption. Now they're working on transferring me into your custody." Aaron shifted, sitting up and looked away for a moment "You do know I'm not going to be calling you 'Dad' or anything for a while, right?" He asked, making sure Bumblebee understood and didn't take offense to it.

"I don't expect it Aaron, you didn't know me up until seven years ago. And even then, I never... Told you." Bumblebee noted, he shifted awkwardly, standing and taking a deep breath "You must hate me. But I promise you I planned to tell you the truth. I never wanted you to learn like this." He added, he stared at Aaron slowly "I only ever kept it a secret from you, Optimus, and the rest of the Autobots for your own safety." He began, he shook his head "You are the only of your kind, Aaron, you are worth a great deal of money. Bounty Hunters would kill to sell you on the black market." He then added "And rest assured, my enemies will soon become yours." He noted.

It was unusual to hear Bumblebee speak so forwardly, but he understood why the mech was doing it. In this situation he had to be forward, to try and explain his reasoning. He sighed a bit, and took a deep breath, staring at Bumblebee. "You know, they didn't even tell me I was adopted." He frowned "That was what hurt the most. Just... Knowing both of you gave me up. And I never even got the chance to search for you." Bumblebee's brow furrowed a bit "I know why you gave me up. The more I think about it, the more I get it." He shifted a bit "But why did she? What was so wrong with me that she..." He fell silent.

Bumblebee had a few ideas as to why she had abandoned Aaron. He was only half human, and likely had some rather unique characteristics. Perhaps that was the problem, she had thought there was something wrong with her child. Perhaps she thought it to be a mutation, or just that he was simply a freak. Either way, the facts were, she had abandoned Aaron, which only made the mech feel worse for leaving them both. It had been for his son's sake, as well as due to his mission, but still he could have returned after finding Sam, after Mission City. Tried to find his son, at the very least, rather then simply move on. "They're going to want to run tests on me now, you know. Dissect me like an insect." Aaron noted.

"They'll want to run tests, yes, this has been discussed." Bumblebee stared at Aaron "But the tests will be humane, simple blood tests and tissue samples. Nothing more, NEST's scientists will not allow any actual physical harm to come to you. Neither will I." He noted, flexing his muscles a bit "And in case you haven't noticed, I have the advantage over any scientist who dares go at you with a knife." Bumblebee stated, he sighed a bit "I'm more worried about the Fathering part of this. Primus I'm barely out of younglinghood myself..." He shook his head a bit.

"You have Optimus to help you out."

Bumblebee nodded in agreement, he did have Optimus, who had done a bang up job raising him so far. Bumblebee knew if he ever had any sort of trouble taking care of Aaron, he could always turn to him. Besides, he was certain Aaron would spend a great deal of time around his Grandfather given the relationship they shared. Running his hand through Aaron's hair, he took a deep breath, and looked him over. "You're right, but as a Father the last thing I want... Is to require the constant assistance of my own Father." He said honestly, but he shook his head a bit "Regardless though, I am thankful you two are so close. I could surely use the help, not going to deny that." He admitted.

"Nothing wrong with accepting help when you need it, is there?" Aaron asked, looking up at Bumblebee who nodded in agreement "So, about this whole private school thing..." Bumblebee gave him a look that he had often gotten from Optimus "It still stands, doesn't it?" Bumblebee only nodded "Figures, that probably a really stupid question." He admitted, deciding to change the subject, he shifted a bit "How long have you known you were my Dad?" He questioned.

"Since the day we met." Bumblebee was very honest with his answer "The moment I set my optics on you, I felt my spark, our bond, tug for you. It was why I was so quick to get to know you I had to know what you were like, that you were okay." He smiled gently "Your parents raised you well, something I am... Grateful for. Although there were days that you'd call Brandon Dad, and I'd just want to correct you there and then." He said honestly "You have no idea how many times I came close to telling you the truth." He admitted.

"Why didn't you?"

"Barricade still being on the loose was my biggest reason. We've had a feud for centuries, and I didn't want him to learn you existed." Bumblebee admitted, he shook his head a bit "He would hurt you, possibly even kill you. And it's one of the many reasons I am nervous at this moment." He admitted "Do me a favor, if a Police Car ever tries to stop you on the side of the road, run." He added "Unless they end up really being cops looking for help. Run as fast and hard as you can and don't look back." He added.

Aaron wasn't even sure he wanted to know why, but he did remember Barricade, having been one of the mechs that captured him. He decided not to tell Bumblebee about that, for fear that it would enrage him, or worse. "No stopping for strange police cars, got it." Aaron commented, though he couldn't help but chuckle a little "Though can I just say that's the last thing I'd think I'd have to worry about." He commented.

Bumblebee rolled his eyes at his son's somewhat-immaturity, he supposed it was his fault, he had been the same way growing up. Not only did the boy seem to strongly resemble him, but apparently, he was just as much of a smart-ass as he had been as well. "Strange as it is, I'm serious son. Barricade chose that as his alternate mode. And of all the Decepticons other then Megatron I fear getting their hands on you... Barricade takes the cake." He shook his head, and stood up a bit "If even he got his hands on you, I can tell you right now... I would not be breathing by the end of it. He force me to choose your life or mine." He noted.

"Sounds like a real friendly guy."

Bumblebee chuckled, watching as Aaron climbed into the covers of his bed, it was only then that Bumblebee realized how late it was. Taking a deep breath, Bumblebee carefully moved the blankets over Aaron, who looked surprised. Bumblebee only smiled however, he brushed Aaron's blond hair from his blue eyes, and smiled. Sitting on the bed yet again, he thought for a moment of what to say. "I know I've never had the chance to say this... Aaron. But, even though I gave you up, and I've never been around like I should have been. I do love you." He commented, figuring Aaron needed to hear that, to be assured of it "And I hope you'll give me the chance to show you that." He added.

He left quietly, transforming and closing the door as he did so, and took a deep breath. It had been a difficult day, but he had always known this day would have come, it had just been a matter of time. Though he now wondered just how much his life would change, he was a young, single father, barely twenty-eight by human standards, raising a fourteen year old son. Of course, he had been this age when he was conceived as well, after all, Cybertronians only aged every century. That was a whole different ballpark, this was a living, breathing creature that was now his responsibility.

He hoped for both Aaron's and his sake that he knew exactly what he was getting himself into.

...

The tests they did on Aaron were humane, painless, but extremely long. He was sure it was tough for Bumblebee to watch, considering what Sector Seven had done to him when he first met Sam. But at the same time, it was the reason Bumblebee and Optimus were supervising, to make sure they kept to their word and did no harm to him. He saw the yellow mech actually flinch when they drew the blood and energon mixture from Aaron, clearly he didn't like watching this. But at the same time, they were all, Autobot and human, curious as to how Aaron's systems and the like worked. Clearly he was more human then Transformer, but his biology was a very curious thing, regardless. As the first of his kind, even the Autobots couldn't be too sure.

Finally after taking a fourth tissue sample, the lead scientist took a deep breath and smiled. "That's all we'll need to go by. We should have some answers within a month, maybe more, maybe less." He stared at Aaron who nodded his head "Thank you, Mr. Pax, for allowing us the chance to study you. We know it was not easy, i do believe it is something we'd all like more answers for." He added.

"Hey, at least you didn't dissect me, right?"

The scientist chuckled at Aaron's comment, a common misbelief. Sure, they might do something such as that when he was dead, with the right papers. But otherwise, they wouldn't dissect any living being no matter how fascinating they may be. Most movies overplayed 'tests' they did on living aliens, though, had Sector 7 been still a part of the government, that would have been an entirely different story. "Nah, we don't dissect living creatures. I'd feel like I was dissecting my own son." The scientist explained "Any dizziness? We drew blood so I have to be sure you're not weak." He added.

"Just a little dizzy, not too bad though." Aaron smiled a bit "Can I go now?"

The scientist nodded his head a bit, allowing Aaron to stand from the berth he had been laying on. Bumblebee visibly relaxed more when it was all over, and he knew they would do no more to Aaron. Of course, he had known they wouldn't but a part of him couldn't get past what Sector Seven had done to him. He sighed in relief, scooping his son into his hand and resting him on his shoulder. "You okay big guy?" Aaron questioned.

"Now that it's over, I'm much better." Bumblebee nodded his head a bit, then turned to Optimus "They really won't need any more tests, correct?" He questioned.

"Galloway wanted more done, I refused it, as did the President." Optimus noted, looking at Bumblebee, then at Aaron "I'd rather not deal with my Grandson undergoing any more of that. He is not a lab rat, as the President put it. They got what samples they needed to deduce how he works." He shook his head a bit, and looked at Bumblebee.

"Hearing the word Grandson still feels weird." Aaron noted.

Optimus smiled a bit, knowing exactly how to fix that, at least for the moment. "Being my Grandson does have its perks." He noted, he winked at Aaron "It means I get to spoil you more then I would have if you had been my son." Aaron's eyes brightened up while Bumblebee simply chuckled.

"Careful Prime, he is mine. You might end up regretting saying that."

As the three exited the lab, Aaron let his thoughts quietly stray. Perhaps this wasn't all bad, awkward perhaps, but not bad. He could only hope that this was the end of the surprises, he wasn't sure he could handle any more unexpected surprises.

...

Wow three chapters in one day, I was certainly on a roll tonight. Won't update again until tomorrow most likely. But at least I'm now more caught up after my break. :) We'll get to see how Robbie's handling all of this next chapter.