Author's Note: A special thanks goes out to Darthishtar for the beta. A migraine hit yesterday afternoon, and so I was in no condition to do my own proofreading. You're a life-saver, girl! :) For the record, updates on this fic will come much more quickly now since I have the next several chapters mostly written. Also, my apologies for not getting this out yesterday, but yeah...migraine. Not so fun. Anyway, enough belly-aching on my part. Hope you enjoy! :)

Song Credits:
"Cleaning This Gun" by Rodney Atkins
"Bad Boys" by Inner Circle

Brian slipped into the driver's seat and appreciatively gripped the leather steering wheel for a second. He wouldn't be so pumped about driving this stupid truck to prom if he knew how that truck felt about him. Still, my date put the key in the ignition and tried to turn over the engine. Surprise, surprise – it wouldn't start.

"Temperamental," I reminded Brian as I reached for my seat belt. Ironhide NEVER drove without us buckled in. As soon as my belt clicked, I said, "Try again."

After another couple of tries, the engine roared to life, and Brian grinned at the obvious power under that hood. He threw 'Hide into reverse to turn us around and then headed back up the gravel drive to the main road, gunning it when we hit the black top.

"Your dad's great," Brian said, taking my hand. "I never expected him to let us borrow this."

"The truck's okay," I mumbled. "He's kind of a lemon, though. He acts up all the time."

"He?" Brian asked, raising an amused eyebrow.

I shrugged. "Do you think this truck would be a 'she'?"

He chuckled, and I couldn't help but grin when those eyes were sparkling with laughter. "Good point." After giving me a quick looking-over, he focused on driving again. "Did I mention you're gorgeous, 'Belle? Seriously. Like…hot. I'm going to be the luckiest guy there tonight, and every other girl is going to be green with envy."

I flushed with pleasure at his compliment and floundered to come up with a compliment of my own. "They're gonna be green with envy anyway – since you're with me."

"That's the plan," he said with a wink. "But who were those other ladies at your house tonight?"

"A couple of Dad's friends from the base. They're kind of my adopted aunts. R.C. was the one who got me this dress. She's a lifesaver."

He checked me out again, reaching over to lightly stroke the satin of my skirt before returning both hands on the wheel. "I'll say."

We hit a bump, and the radio suddenly blared to life.

"She's her daddy's girl, her mama's world.
She deserves respect and that's what she'll get,
Ain't it son?"

"Your dad listens to country?" Brian asked, surprised.

"I'll see you when you get back,
Probably be up all night
Still cleaning this gun."

I thumped the dash with the flat of my fist until the music cut out. Through gritted teeth, I said, "No. The radio's just as glitched as the rest of the truck."

He chuckled again and reached for my hand. "Don't be upset, gorgeous. I want us both to have fun tonight."

"Thanks," I said, finding a smile for him. "I'll just be happier once we're actually at the prom."

"Me, too," he murmured with one more appreciative glance.

We arrived at the dance without any further commentary or misbehavior by Ironhide, and I breathed a sigh of relief when we were inside. Finally, I could enjoy myself!

Brian wrapped an arm around my waist as we walked – first to get a glass of punch and then to join Bing and Michelle near one of the tables that ringed the room. Brian was the one who did most the talking, since I really didn't know what to say, but I didn't mind. Just being here was pure happiness.

When a slow song started, Brian took my glass and put on the table beside his own. "Do you want to dance?"

I beamed and nodded, and he led me onto the dance floor. He held me even closer than he did at Michelle's quinceañera, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, contentedly resting my head on his shoulder. Humming in my ear, he stroked the small of my back while our bodies swayed together to the music. I spent song after song lost in his arms, and when the DJ sped things up again, he led me over toward Bing and Michelle and we danced together as a group. Or, they danced – I just kind of bopped around a little bit. I could shoot straight and talk intelligently to senators and admirals, but I couldn't dance to save my life. I did, however, manage to sneak in a few twirls, and Brian noticed the underskirt. Watching the way his eyes lit up made me just want to hug Arcee.

We spent most of the night that way. Whether it was a slow dance or a fast one, Brian was always close and almost always had a hand on me – on my elbow, my back, around my waist, or holding my own hand. It was like his attention was centered squarely on me and I just ate it up.

About half an hour before the dance was supposed to end, Brian pulled me close and whispered in my ear, "Want to duck out a little early? Go someplace where we can talk?"

I nodded, and we went back outside to Ironhide. Seeing him again made me frown, but I reminded myself that he was just a ride tonight – just my father's truck. Brian opened my door first and helped me in, and as he was walking around to the driver's side, I hissed to 'Hide, "He's polite! See?"

He didn't grace me with an answer.

Brian climbed into the driver's seat, and we headed south, out of the main 'town' on Diego Garcia. Again he held my hand, stroking my skin with his thumb.

"Where are we going?" I wondered.

"Turtle Cove, if you want," he answered, his warm eyes inviting.

Oh, I wanted all right! "Sounds nice."

The moon was bright on the lagoon as we drove. The island was u-shaped, with the town and airport and docks all on the northwest corner of the U, the restricted area with Boom Town and all that at the bottom of the U and the R&R cabins on northeastern section of the U. Turtle Cove was at the bottom of the U and just a few minutes' drive away from the restricted area check-point. I'd driven past it several times with the Autobots, and Dad had taken me down there to skip stones or go fishing sometimes. I'd never been there at night though. With the full moon and the stars and the glass-smooth water of the lagoon, Turtle Cove would be about the most romantic place on the island.

Brian put Ironhide in park and hopped out. I tried to open my door but it wouldn't budge. "Let him be a gentleman," Ironhide prompted in a whisper.

I folded my arms in annoyance. "Who elected you chaperone?"

He didn't answer, though, because Brian had reached my door and opened it for me. Offering me his hand, he helped me out of the monster truck, and I did my best to ignore the Autobot after that. My heels sank in the sand, and I frowned, looking down.

With a chuckle, Brian said, "Better walk on your tiptoes."

I laughed, slogging through the sand beside him as ambled along the shore.

"Tonight's been really nice," Brian said after a second. "You're amazing, you know that?"

I flushed with pleasure and bumped his hip with my own. "Thanks. You're not too bad yourself." An annoying mosquito buzzed nearby and I absentmindedly swatted at it.

He chuckled, bumping me back. "Do you want to be my girl?"

I stopped, blinking in total surprise. "Huh?"

"Girl. You know?"

"Girlfriend?" I squeaked.

"Girlfriend…" he confirmed fighting a grin. He stepped closer – so close I could almost feel his body warmth. "…and boyfriend." His hands cupped my face, his expression almost serious now, and he pressed his lips to mine. "There are some benefits to that," he whispered, lightly kissing me. "Gotta thank you somehow."

"Thank me?" I murmured, trying to keep my wits about me and happily failing.

"For putting up with…ugh!" Brian jerked back and slapped at his face, squishing a mosquito.

I burst out laughing as he grimaced at the smooshed bug on his hand. Sniggering, I said, "Maybe we should head indoors."

"How 'bout back to the truck?" he offered instead, wiping the bug on his pant leg.

I slipped my hand into his (clean) one. "I guess I could live with that." Maybe Ironhide would be less of a pain if he knew Brian was serious about me.

We walked back – well, I tiptoed and he walked – and again Brian remembered to open my door without 'Hide having to glitch about it. I was starting to feel at least two more mosquito bites on my arms, so even though Brian and I would be having this conversation under Autobot surveillance, I was grateful to be back in the cab. Slagging mosquitoes!

"Yes," I said, when Brian was behind the wheel again.

"Huh?"

"I never answered your question," I explained. "Yes, I'll be your girlfriend."

His grin lit up his entire face, and I sighed at little. He was strikingly handsome. Leaning closer, he kissed me again, much more confidently this time. I melted a little with each kiss, each caress as he stroked me – my face, my hair, my arms.

With a breathless chuckle, he leaned away, but I followed him, my lips still seeking his. He sighed a soft, totally-sexy moan and I felt his tongue…

Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do?
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

I growled in frustration. Lifting my Chromia-selected, steel-spiked stiletto sandal, I kicked as hard as I could, driving the heel through Ironhide's radio console.

Brian jerked upright. "What the hell, 'Belle? Your dad's gonna kill me!"

I blushed scarlet, realizing I had no way to explain that it was just a love-tap for an Autobot. Drawing on my junior ambassador training, I tried to shrug it off. "Some guy on the base will fix it. No big deal. Dad takes this thing into some pretty dicey situations, and it won't be the first time the repair team would have to fix something cosmetic like this."

Brian was still looking shocked, so I tried to kiss him, but he gently pushed me away. "If I'm going to get you home on time, we have to leave now." He turned the key in the ignition and the engine reluctantly grumbled to life. Ironhide was feeling cranky.

Something told me Brian was much more concerned about keeping curfew now than he had been a couple of minutes ago. Probably he was terrified of what my dad's reaction would be to his truck coming home damaged and wanted to be extra-sure to stay on Dad's good side. I fleetingly wondered if it would help to tell him that Dad would laugh. Probably not, since I couldn't explain what the joke would be.

I wistfully stared out the passenger-side window at the gorgeous moon over the romantic lagoon and sighed.

When we got home, I took preemptive measures and grabbed Dad by the hand, hauling him out to the front yard before Brian could protest. "See," I proudly said, pointing to the radio. "I fixed that glitch for you!"

He busted out in guffaws so loud that Mia, RC, and Mom all found their way to the front porch to see what was going on. And then they laughed – especially Chromia. Brian hastily shook hands with Dad and left.

So even though Prom ended with Brian running away and everyone laughing, at least it wasn't at me. That, and Brian was now my boyfriend. I squealed and grabbed RC by the arm when I remembered that. "He asked me to be his steady!"

And of course, I spent the next hour in my room with Mom and Arcee telling them all about it. (Chromia had slipped away murmuring something about Ironhide. I wasn't sure if she was going to kick him some more or kiss his boo-boos better, and frankly, I didn't want to know.)

All things considered, the night definitely could have been worse!

…

Monday morning Brian was waiting for me at school. He casually slung his arm over my shoulders and we walked together through the front doors, declaring to the whole world that we were boyfriend and girlfriend.

I don't think I heard a single thing said that day by the teachers or my classmates, I was flying that high. Nothing but the sound of Brian's laugh or his whispered words – "beautiful," "happy," and (my favorite of all) "mine." When classes let out for the day, he kissed me on the sidewalk for everyone to see.

I don't think I've ever been so excited to go to school in my life. Tuesday was pure bliss again. In the back of my mind, I knew the Autobots would come down on me like a ton of bricks if I flunked my finals, so I tried to focus. It didn't work very well, but I told myself that was probably okay because it was still only the first week of May, so I had some time to catch up.

On Wednesday, Brian and I got our first official warning on the whole PDA thing at lunch. I should have been embarrassed to death, but Brian winked at me, and it was all I could do to not giggle right in front of the vice-principal.

Thursday we were more discreet, taking bathroom passes at the same time so we could meet in a corner down by the gym for a couple minutes of kissing and giddy rebellion. And we actually got away with it! Mom told me that afternoon when she picked me up that I looked like the cat that ate the canary. "Who says I didn't?" I retorted with a grin.

Friday was early out, but I guess Mom forgot because she never showed up. It wasn't a super-long walk, so Brian and I set out hand-in-hand. It was heading into winter here in the Southern Hemisphere, but all that meant on Diego Garcia was that we had sweltering-hot afternoons instead of the blistering-hot kind. It was only polite to invite Brian in to the air conditioning when we got home. I had absolutely no ulterior motive whatsoever. (And if you believe that, I have a solar harvester in Egypt for sale.) And it was through no conniving on my part that we ended up snug and horizontal on the couch exploring this new and interesting world of French kissing. Nope. I was just along for the ride. Riiiight.

That night we went to the movies. Once a month, the base hosted a movie night in the open-air amphitheater just south of town and my parents 'just happened' to come along, too. So…double-date with my folks. Yeah. As if that was enough of a dampener, we spread our blankets and pillows out on the grass right in front of Ironhide.

Not much kissing went on that night, but I discovered just how sensuous holding hands could be. Brian stroked my palm with his thumb or caressed the back of my hand with his fingertips until I had shivers running up and down my arm. And that's not counting what it did to me when he trailed his fingernails along the inside of my wrist. I was melting right there in the middle of the crowd with my parents on the blanket right next to ours. Before parting ways that night, Brian kissed my hand, and I swear I felt that shiver all the way to my toes.

I spent most of Saturday at home catching up on home work and chores, but Sunday Brian took me to the west beach of the lagoon and we spent a couple of hours there windsurfing and soaking up the sun. And kissing. I did mention the kissing, right? Playful little pecks on the cheek, slow serious kisses, hungry open-mouthed ones – I got a little bit of every kind of bliss. When Hyde showed up to bring me home, I felt like it had been ten minutes instead of two and a half hours.

And Monday, we began it all over again!

My second weekend as Brian's girlfriend, we went back to Turtle Cove, but this time we were smart and stayed in the cab, partly because of the mosquitoes but mostly because it was raining. I never knew before then that the whole fogging up the windows thing was literal.

The third weekend we went for variety and watched the sunset from the bed of Ironhide's alt-form out on Cannon Point. (I figured the location might make Ironhide a little more bearable.) But the bed of a truck isn't the most comfortable place for making out, so after it was dark we ended up in the cab again. The comfy, spacious cab.

We'd spent plenty of time hand-holding and sharing little kisses in the gathering dusk, so once we were settled in, we went straight for fogging up the windows again. It was harder without the rain, but we still made a valiant effort. I was sprawled across Brian, running my fingers through his hair and reveling in the feel of his hungry mouth and wandering hands.

Brian slipped his hand under the hem of my shirt. With sudden clarity I understood what was happening, where this was headed. Maybe not right this second, maybe not for days or weeks, but this path Brian and I were on lead to only one destination – sex. Was I ready for that?

Ironhide shuddered. I jerked back.

Brian didn't seem to notice my shock, instead asking, "Was that an earthquake?"

"I don't know," I lied.

"Huh. Must have just been the tires settling in the sand." He leaned in, pressing his lips to mine.

I was too shaken, and Ironhide's reminder that he was still here was a total mood killer. I broke off the kiss. "Brian, I...I really don't want my first time to be in the cab of a pickup, you know?" Especially not this pickup.

"I understand, Belle." His hands moved through my hair, pulling me close for another, lingering kiss. "What do you want? On a beach under the stars?"

"I don't know." I hadn't thought about this. Hadn't anticipated it. We'd only officially been boyfriend and girlfriend for less than a month.

"Does it sound good to you, though? The sound of the water on the shore. Our bodies moving –"

Ironhide shifted again. SLAG! Why couldn't he be like Bumblebee and encourage me? This dating thing was scary enough without a meddling, overprotective Autobot electing himself chaperone.

"Please, Brian. Not right now."

His warm eyes glowed in the white moonlight. "Then when, Belle? Why not tonight?"

"I'm just...not ready, okay? Maybe we could talk about it tomorrow?"

He sat up straighter and slid over behind the steering wheel again. Still running one hand over my upper arm, he playfully said, "But I want to talk about it now. I want to talk about how beautiful you are. Really, you're gorgeous. Do you have any idea what it did to me to see you in that bikini on our first date? I've never been so –"

Ironhide started rolling forward, and with a shout of surprise, Brian stood on the brake. "What the hell?" Reaching for the emergency brake, he locked us down. "There. You need to tell your Dad this thing almost put us in the ocean. He really got a lemon with this truck, I'm telling you."

Really not helping here, boyfriend. Don't tick off the one with the cannons. "Maybe we should just head home."

His breath whooshed out, and he rested his forehead on the steering wheel. "You know what? Fine. I'll take you home."

"It's just the truck," I mumbled out in apology. "Like you said. It's a lemon."

"Of all the stupid…" Angrily, he released the brake. "Stop using the damn truck as an excuse, Belle. You're just not attracted to me; there's no chemistry." He turned the key in the ignition, and miracle of miracles, it worked on the first try for him this time. He threw it in gear, making a half-donut in the sand before pulling up onto the blacktop.

"That's not it, Brian. That's not it at all."

"Then what's the problem? I'll be good to you, Belle. You'll like it, I promise. You'll be begging for more, even if we are in the back seat of a truck."

How could he promise that, unless this wasn't his first time? Unless he'd had sex with other girls, too? Other girls like Heather.

The engine suddenly revved with fury, and I could almost hear the choice words Ironhide would have for Brian, if he was allowed to talk right now. "Brian...I mean this in the kindest possible way. If you value your life, you won't say another word the rest of the way home."

Ironhide squealed to a stop. Brian got out and slammed the door. "That's it!"

"What? What's wrong?"

His eyes, so enticing before, now blazed in anger. "I've had it with you and the way you keep throwing your daddy and his rank in my face."

"WHAT?"

"All you had to say was no, Belle! That's all you had to say. N.O. Simple! I'm not a rapist. But that's not good enough for the Colonel's drama queen. You have to show off that you're Rambo's daughter and threaten my life. The rest of us gave up pretending we were superheroes years ago! Cutting class with a military escort. Putting your foot through the dashboard with your ninja skillz. I've had it!"

Stunned, I could only stare as tears welled up in my eyes. "I never," I breathed.

Brian half-turned, already edging away from me. "You know, the high-maintenance girls are only worth it if they give me something in return. I've been with you for two months, Belle, and the only ride I got was a pickup."

I tried to breathe, but my lungs wouldn't work right. His words knocked the wind right out of me.

"You're a snob, Belle. First and foremost, the colonel's daughter. Always. Rank is more important to you than anything else because it makes you better than everyone else. You're a snob and a bitch of a military brat."

He turned his back and walked away, leaving the engine running in the middle of the road. Tears rolling down my cheeks, I leaned back in my seat, still trying to catch my breath. I didn't notice my hands were balled into fists until my fingernails were biting into my palms. I wasn't! I didn't obsess about rank, not that way! No, no, no, no! Breathe!

A hand touched my arm and I startled. It was Hyde, a heartbroken apology in his blue eyes. My breathing hitched into a sob, and he gathered me into his arms, letting me cry. "I didn't mean for him to break up with you," he whispered, stroking my hair. "I just wanted him to stop talking about you like that."

I knew that. Didn't change what happened. Through my sobs, I ordered him, "Take me home."