Mazuiko: I found out from a review asking about the one thought that kept bothering Prime that his thought 'I have failed.' was, for some reason, left out. Oops. Don't worry; I put it in there for you guys to find. Megatron wanted Bumblebee and Barricade to wait for him at his point of arrival so that he could give Bumblebee to Barricade and see how a youngling would react since Bumblebee was the only one left. Yeah, Megatron's cruel like that. By the way, the romance will take a bit since I don't like rushing things. Rushed stories sound corny. Bleh. Quality, not quantity (or in this case, length), makes the story worth reading, and you have all been kind in your reviewing. You deserve a good work from me, so I'm really trying to piece something together that is just dragging me along with it (it just won't stop running so FAST!). Barricade was having a warm, romantic moment with our 'Bee. He got mad when 'Bee said "You don't have a spark!". (How can a mech be afraid of having his spark ripped out by Megatron if he doesn't have one, and is there any such thing as a Decepticon who does not fear having that happen?). I'm thinking of every 5,000 years being equivalent to one human year in age, so Bumblebee is a little over 75,000 Earth years, and Barricade is over 150,000 Earth years. Optimus is just plain old, and Ironhide is ancient! The Autobots need to realize that Decepticons are capable of feeling before they'll ever believe they can love. Poor 'Bee…having never known peace, the sheer cruelty had convinced him that Decepticons aren't capable of such…emotion. Remember, we still have Megatron/Prime and Blackout/Jazz to watch…is a writer supposed to have this much fun? Lol. Enjoy.

Question for reviewers: Does anyone have any idea, or impression, as to how Megatron and Optimus Prime got along before the war? They ruled together, but did they have arguments? Fights? Did they get along, or were their views too different? How did they behave and act with each other before Megatron pulled the rug out from underneath poor Prime?

Reflection

Present

Bumblebee shifted on the seat in Barricade's quarters, still cranky from having to be locked in a Decepticon's room after being forced to endure space travel back to Cybertron. It wasn't that he didn't want to come back; in fact, the circumstances dictated that he did. He just remembered and felt too much. His first encounter with Barricade had drawn an intimate picture onto the canvas of their intertwined lives, two lives that Primus would not allow to be separated. He seemed, no matter how hard he tried, to always fall right back into the arms that took him when he was so young, the equivalent of a human six year old, and Barricade a young, twenty-one year old adult, both of them not ready for an encounter with the other…

Ky-Alexa, about 45,000 Earth years ago

Jazz had been assigned his sitter that shift, although he couldn't say that he minded that much. Bumblebee was busy amusing himself with assaulting Ironhide, grabbing the old mech by the hand and trying to hide them both from Jazz's keen optics. There was nothing like playing Hide and Seek with Ironhide…or, as he liked to call it, 'Hide and Jazz. It was usually fun as long as Jazz didn't get too frustrated with chasing the playful youngling down the halls of Ky-Alexa, the Autobot stronghold that Megatron's army had their optics set on. The first lieutenant had repeatedly told Prime that 'Bee needed to be moved to another location, and Prime agreed, but they realized there were no Autobots apt for the journey. Ironhide, Ratchet, and Jazz were needed to keep the stronghold standing, and Prime was occupied at Tyger Pax. The other Autobots couldn't protect the youngling during the journey if the Decepticons found them and attacked. So, despite the risks involved with keeping 'Bee at the stronghold, he was still safer than if they tried to get him to another location. Jazz knew they had to wait.

"Where are ya, lil fella? I've got some fresh energon waitin' fo' ya."

"Don't listen to 'im. He's just baitin' ya."

Bumblebee giggled, trying not to be too loud and give away their location under a corner in Ironhide's living quarters.

"You think he's going to find us, 'Hide?"

"No way he's gonna find us, 'Bee. That silly 'Bot ain't—"

The vibrations of an explosion rocked their way through his systems, his panicked squeal escaping his voice capacitor. Ironhide wasted no time picking 'Bee up in his left arm and aiming with his right, his cannon prepared for any Decepticon unfortunate enough to lay optics on him.

"Jazz, get your aft in 'ere!"

Jazz arrived only a moment after hearing Ironhide's voice, the stronghold's alarm system blaring around them.

"I'm 'ere. It must be a 'Con attack, 'Hide."

"I know. Get 'Bee out of 'ere, now!"

Bumblebee found himself in Jazz's arms, the other Autobot running as fast as his legs would allow towards the nearest escape exit.

"Ya just keep cool, 'Bee. I'll get ya outta 'ere."

"That will not happen, Autobot."

Jazz cursed as Barricade entered through the same escape exit he was planning to use, the next one too far for him to make it. Jazz was faster, but Barricade was stronger. The halls had become too busy for him to make a run for it. The Decepticon's melee weapons spun and tore at Jazz's shield, the Autobot keeping Bumblebee out of the way in his left arm as his right struggled to keep Barricade at bay. He had to use his shield to keep Barricade's swiping hands from grabbing the whimpering youngling who had buried himself into Jazz's left shoulder.

"For Primus' sake, Barricade, he's just a younglin'!"

Jazz blasted heat and cold shots from his shield, but Barricade seemed relentless. He had to keep his shield moving almost constantly, the Decepticon circling, grabbing, and swinging vicious whirling blades that were slowly wearing away his protective shield. 'I gotta get 'im outta 'ere!' Before Jazz could think of a solution, though, Bumblebee's yelp caught his attention.

"They're here…it's another bad one!"

The youngling's cry came too late, the blast from behind him sending Bumblebee flying out of his left arm…and into Barricade's clutches. The black shock trooper ran back out the escape exit with the golden Autobot crying for help in his arms, struggling as much as he could to break free. Bumblebee saw the second Decepticon leap upon Jazz just before he lost sight of him, his cries for help no longer within hearing range of any Autobot. Barricade continued to run as the youngling continued to struggle, both of them stopping only when Megatron was in sight.

"I do believe that is a youngling you are carrying, Barricade. I was sure there were none left."

"Jazz was trying to move him out of the stronghold when I entered. I retrieved him after Blackout arrived."

"I see…and just what is your name, little one?"

The little Autobot was shaking, clutched tightly against Barricade's chest, too afraid to continue struggling.

"My n-name is B-Bum-mblebee."

Megatron leaned in closer to Bumblebee's face, the closing distance causing him to shake even harder.

"Do you know who I am?"

"You…you're M-Megas…Megatron. You're in charge of th-the b-bad ones…"

Megatron chuckled at the youngling's use of nicknames and immature vocabulary.

"I am the leader of the Decepticons, or the 'bad ones', as you call us. Are you injured?"

"N-no."

"Barricade, take him back to the base. Don't put him in a holding cell; keep him with you. We'll keep him alive if he's useful."

"Yes, my lord."

Barricade took off towards the Decepticon base, the youngling in his arms paralyzed with fear. Starscream, Bonecrusher, Blackout, and Brawl had already arrived, and though he wanted to avoid them, the moving body he was carrying caught Starscream's attention.

"Barricade, what is that thing you are carrying?"

He allowed Bumblebee to fall in the middle of the room, surrounded by Decepticons and still shaking from the terror that gripped the Autobot's spark. His fear was abated, however, when every mech in the room besides Barricade and Bumblebee stepped back in shock. Starscream fidgeted with one of his weapons, Brawl and Bonecrusher looked at each other in surprise, and Blackout stepped a bit closer, all of them speaking in the same order as their reactions.

"You brought a youngling here?"

"I thought they were all gone…"

"Yeah, me too."

"What's your name?"

Bumblebee's baby blue optics met Blackout's red ones as the Decepticon came close to inspect him. The difference in size caused Blackout to lean down, bending over the small body as Bumblebee answered.

"My name's Bumblebee."

Blackout looked at Barricade for a moment, who simply shrugged because he had nothing to say, before the youngling surprised them again.

"So what are your names?"

"Starscream, not that it's any of your business."

"He's a youngling, Starscream, what'd you expect? Mine's Brawl."

"Bonecrusher here, and you can just ignore Starscream since everyone else does."

"My name is Blackout, youngling."

Bumblebee looked at Barricade, though he wasn't really expecting an answer.

"You already know my name."

He nodded, his optics fixated on those that belonged to his kidnapper.

"Your name is…Barricade."

Present

Barricade's processor worked through the memory of his first meeting with Bumblebee, and he considered it strange that the youngling regarded him with such emotions. He wasn't sure why he remembered that moment so fondly, when the Autobot had said his name with the slightest amount of wonder and fear. He would never have asked Megatron for Bumblebee specifically if it weren't for what had happened…and the fact that he was just a bit possessive. Bumblebee had become his long before the war ended…the golden youngling just wasn't aware of it.

Cybertron Decepticon Base, about 45,000 Earth years ago

Bumblebee soon met other Decepticons, like Shockwave, Frenzy, and Scorponok, but he learned quickly that staying near Barricade meant survival. Most of the other mechs were too impatient when dealing with his bubbly clicks to keep themselves from either blasting him to scrap or tearing him to pieces, so he kept himself occupied with whatever Barricade was doing. Barricade was not a kind mech, though, constantly beating various teachings into the little Autobot, forcing Bumblebee to call him 'master' and do small tasks like bringing him fresh energon. Barricade had to learn too, as more than once he found that being too rough with the youngling had more pitfalls than benefits. He had been lugging Bumblebee around for at least one Earth month after he captured him; he wasn't aware that he would be so affected by the youngling following him.

"Um…Barricade…?"

He quickly turned on Bumblebee, his red optics glowing with a quiet but threatening reprimand. The Autobot cowered and started rubbing his right arm, certainly remembering the last time he was punished for calling Barricade by his name. He was too young for any pride to overcome his fear, so he quickly corrected himself before his mistake could earn him another beating.

"M-master…"

Barricade relaxed his posture, letting the youngling know he had done well in correcting himself.

"What is it?"

Bumblebee fidgeted with his feet, tracing small circles on the floor while he continued to rub his right arm. He whimpered slightly when Barricade lowered his body to keep his optics at level with Bumblebee's, his larger form causing the Autobot to back away in fear. The Decepticon was already a bit more patient than the others, allowing the small mech the time needed to muster up enough courage to speak. Bumblebee put his hands on his chest, looking down at the floor as though it were interesting.

"It hurts…it hurts a lot."

Barricade scanned the small youngling for injuries, but his diagnostics indicated that there were none.

"My scanners do not indicate that you are injured."

"I-it's not like that…"

"Then what are you speaking of?"

"I want…to go back…it hurts so much…"

Before Barricade could recognize it, Bumblebee threw his head back and wailed. The sound was so sudden and piercing that Barricade stepped back from shock, watching the small Autobot let out a sound he thought would permanently damage his auditory system. Decepticons definitely had no patience or knowledge in dealing with younglings, and upon hearing the sound carry itself throughout the base, every mech whose auditory system could catch it was running into the room. Barricade and Bumblebee soon found themselves surrounded by Decepticons like Blackout, Shockwave, Brawl, Bonecrusher, Starscream, and even Scorponok and Frenzy. Only when Megatron's footsteps came pounding into the room did Bumblebee stop, the Decepticon leader looming over him as he sat crouched on the floor, his fear silencing him except for a few slight whimpers.

"What was that all about, hmm? Care to explain yourself?"

Bumblebee stood up, but he couldn't look Megatron in the optics. The difference in size made Megatron even more imposing, and his optics made Bumblebee feel awful.

"H-hurts…a lot…"

Younglings did not usually last long in the Decepticon army, their sparks and processors being too sensitive to handle the vicious cruelty and hatred that emanated from Megatron's followers. Megatron could already see the effects it was having on Bumblebee; younglings needed to play and socialize to function properly. Bumblebee had already lasted longer than the other younglings had ever lasted; they could put him to use in the future, but that would be impossible if the youngling overloaded from receiving too much at once.

"Do something with him, Barricade. I don't care what it is as long as you keep him quiet."

Megatron left with Starscream close behind him, leaving the rest of the Decepticons baffled as to what they needed to do next. Bumblebee looked just as confused, standing in the middle of a room full of clueless mechs with absolutely nothing to do. Scorponok, to the surprise of every mech, was the first to move, stopping right in front of the youngling. He started slowly swinging his tail in front of Bumblebee, the little Autobot optics soon fixated on the motion, until he decided to grab it. Scorponok reached up to pull him off, but Bumblebee would raise his legs up out of Scorponok's reach over and over again. It was amusing to see the youngling's body swinging back and forth as his legs kicked and moved, trying to stay out of reach of Scorponok's desperate swipes, until Blackout determined it had gone far enough.

"Scorponok, do not harm him. It is time for him to recharge."

Present

Blackout was amused with Jazz's complaints and protests, the Autobot's struggles ignored as Blackout dropped Jazz in his quarters. He still remembered how Bumblebee gradually softened the sparks of even the most hardened Decepticons, especially Blackout himself. Jazz interrupted his silent musings, still irritated after their encounter with Barricade.

"I know you know he's a younglin', so tell me somethin'. That 'Cade's gonna hurt 'im. If ya plannin' on doin' the same, then ya wrong."

"I don't plan on harming you. All harm you receive is dependent upon your behavior."

"Poor 'Bee and I ain't gonna be too well off if that's what ya think. He and I ain't gonna listen, and I won't let 'Cade hurt 'im again."

"Barricade will not harm the youngling. Their first encounter was indeed difficult, but that has changed."

Jazz scoffed, unwilling to believe Blackout's information.

"Nothin's changed. He's just as cruel now as he was then. Time ain't made a difference in 'im."

Blackout slowly shook his head.

"He has changed. He will not harm the youngling now."

"Ya say he won't, but what makes 'im so different from before?"

"He is no longer capable of causing Bumblebee harm."

"Not capable? 'Cade's capable of anythin'."

Blackout walked closer to his Autobot, putting Jazz on edge as the Decepticon closed the distance between them.

"Barricade is not capable of ripping out his own spark."

Cybertron Decepticon Base, about 45,000 Earth years ago

Bumblebee ran yet another circle around Blackout, the larger Decepticon forced to watch the youngling as Barricade was ordered by Megatron to do carry out another attack on a small Autobot base. Megatron wanted the nuisance eliminated immediately, and Barricade's hunting skills were needed. Bumblebee, oblivious to the battle Barricade had entered, had decided to entertain himself with Blackout. He knew the mech didn't really mind; there wasn't much to do without Megatron or Starscream to give orders, and Blackout was less willing to blow him up than the other Decepticons that were left in the base. Blackout was sure some scheming mech had given the youngling one too many energon cubes in the many Earth hours he'd been watching the youngling; he had not seen Bumblebee so energetic in the three Earth months they had kept the little Autobot. 'I don't know how Barricade handles him, but I'm sure he's earned himself a few beatings.' He didn't want to hurt the golden mech if he didn't have to; he knew Barricade was vicious enough.

"Blackout, can I have another energon cube?"

The youngling was attached to his right leg, the baby blue optics silently begging him to grant his wish. Blackout didn't know if he could handle any more energy from Bumblebee.

"No. You don't need any more than what you've already gotten."

Bumblebee stomped on the floor, putting his hands on his hips for emphasis.

"No fair. I'm bored."

Blackout offered Bumblebee his right hand, the youngling tilting his head up at the large mech.

"Go on. Take it."

Bumblebee was scooped up just as he grabbed the hand, quickly thrown up into the air as he squealed in surprise. His surprise soon turned into delight as he was tossed up again, giggles joining squeals and laughter when he was caught. It went on that way until Barricade returned about two Earth hours later, unharmed except for a few minor gashes to his armature. Blackout watched as the youngling optics stared into Barricade's, both mechs still as he held the youngling up in his hands as he would just before tossing him. He put Bumblebee down, allowing the little Autobot to walk towards Barricade, small hands ghosting over gashes as bright optics looked on with concern.

"Does it...hurt? It looks like it hurts."

"The pain is bearable. The Autobots are coming for the youngling, Blackout. We must be ready for an attack."

"I will inform Megatron immediately."

The youngling was attached to his leg, still looking over his gashes with a mix of awe, fascination, and anxiety. A small part of him didn't want Bumblebee to let go; the concern was comforting, though Barricade would never admit it, even to himself.

"Master?"

He looked down at Bumblebee, wondering what else there could be to say.

"What is it now?"

Bright baby blue optics gazed up at him as small arms tightened their grip around his leg in a hug, a gesture Barricade could not remember ever receiving before.

"I'm glad you're okay."

Present

Prime sat miserably in Megatron's private quarters, all hopes of retrieving the Allspark lost from his spark. The Decepticon leader was careful always to keep the Allspark in his grasp to keep any Autobot, and even some Decepticons, from taking his long sought power away from him. Prime had no clue as to where the Allspark was kept when Megatron was around him; Megatron knew better than to have the life giving source around him. All of his fighting had ultimately led him to defeat, to slavery at the hands of a cruel, merciless tyrant. Bumblebee and all of his fellow Autobots were either being hunted down or enslaved under the rule of the Decepticons, forever forced to endure torture at their hands. 'It seems that despite the best of my efforts, I cannot keep our little one out of Barricade's reach.'

Cybertron Decepticon Base, about 45,000 Earth years ago

After five Earth months of planning and gathering Autobots, Prime managed to penetrate the walls of the Decepticon base to save the last surviving youngling from corruption and possible destruction. He had chosen his best Autobots to go with him; Ironhide, Ratchet, and Jazz were to personally accompany him to Bumblebee's location. The other Autobots were to try and keep the many Decepticons busy, and take them out if possible, while they searched for the small mech throughout the halls of the fairly large base. Finally Jazz heard Bumblebee's cries from inside of a wrecked room; Ratchet quickly came to the conclusion that the room had collapsed from stray gunfire.

"Hey 'Bee, it's Jazz! We're comin' to get ya little buddy, ya just hold on!"

Ratchet cut his way through torn metal to reveal a slightly battered but intact youngling, slightly quivering from the shock and fear of intense battle and danger.

"Optimus, it's you! I...I thought I'd never see you again..."

Prime picked up the small golden mech, soothing Bumblebee with his touch and voice as he held the youngling in his arms.

"I will always protect you, Bumblebee. We all will. Now, we must go. We cannot stay and fight them all off."

He gave Bumblebee to Ratchet, the other Autobots needed to battle their way out of the base. Gunfire sprayed everywhere, Ratchet careful to keep the youngling protected from any damage.

"Optimus, we have to find 'Cade. I haven't seen him, and he could be really hurt!"

Jazz looked confused as they continued to fight their way through the Decepticon ranks.

"I ain't never heard of a 'Bot by that name, 'Bee. Who ya talkin' about?"

Bumblebee vigorously shook his head, becoming more anxious as time passed.

"We have to find him. We can't just leave him here!"

Prime silenced the little Autobot, not willing to spend precious time looking for a mech they knew nothing about.

"We don't have time to find him, Bumblebee. We must leave immediately."

They were coming close to leaving when they passed an unexpected sight; Barricade was severely damaged, and Bumblebee started to scream after laying optics upon the gruesome sight. Ratchet was caught by surprise as the youngling struggled to break free of his grasp, having stayed quiet and still until that moment.

"Optimus, that's him! We have to help 'Cade!"

Ratchet let out a frustrated grumble as he let Bumblebee run over to Barricade's side.

"He calls him 'Cade, as in Barricade. He looks like he's close to offlining...for good."

"You have to help him. He's hurt real bad...we can' just leave him here! Optimus, come on!"

Prime turned to his medical officer, Ratchet, for advice. Personally, he didn't believe in allowing any mechs to die, but Barricade was still a Decepticon who had hurt Bumblebee, and they still had to leave the base before more Decepticons arrived.

"You know what to do, Ratchet. We must leave quickly."

"Optimus, he's a Decepticon. We shouldn't be helping him at all!"

"Ironhide, Ratchet knows what is best in this situation."

Ratchet shook his head and picked up Barricade after Ironhide got a hold of Bumblebee, following close behind Prime as they made their way out of the base and into the depths of Cybertron.

"Ratchet, how could ya help 'im? We wouldn't be 'ere if it weren't for that 'Con in the first place!"

"Jazz, we have no choice but to help him if we want to save Bumblebee from damage even I can't repair."

The Autobots then continued on in silence until they reached Tyger Pax, Ky-Alexa already having fallen to the Decepticons when Bumblebee was taken. Jazz had barely made it out alive, and Ironhide was left with a very long hit list of Decepticons to blow to bits. Ratchet got to work on fixing Barricade and fighting to keep him from going offline, which Ratchet wasn't sure he could do. Prime entered the room to speak to him quickly as Ratchet needed concentration to save the Decepticon's spark, and Ironhide was kept busy with a wailing Bumblebee that insisted on entering the room with Prime.

"Ratchet, I know you made the best decision you could considering the circumstances surrounding Bumblebee's rescue, but I still need to know why you chose to try saving Barricade when we had already obtained Bumblebee."

Prime did not push for an answer, knowing that Ratchet was still busy trying to stabilize the Decepticon. The medic took no breaks and no pauses, giving no time for a fatal mistake or error to take place on his table. He never looked up as he worked, but his answer came slowly to the Autobot leader.

"Do you know what System Dependency is?"

Prime knew what System Dependency was. The humans even had an equivalent to the condition called Stockholm Syndrome. A youngling's processor could only take so much information in at once, especially torture to the mech's systems. Once the youngling's processor reached its limit, its systems worked to find a solution; dependency on the support of another mech was usually the result. The youngling's systems would reach out for the nearest mech in order to relieve the processor of excess information, torture, pain, and anything else seen as a deficiency by the youngling's systems.

"Yes, I do. Is that what you were suspecting?"

"Yes. Bumblebee, after being in the Decepticon's grasp for so long, must have had his systems come into this condition in order to deal with his situation. I don't know what Barricade did to him, but it was enough to cause Bumblebee to develop System Dependency."

"How can you be sure of this?"

"Optimus, he refuses to leave Barricade's side for even a moment, and no amount of reasoning will convince him to do otherwise. He called Barricade his master, for Primus' sake, and Barricade's safety is the only thing that matters to him now. He doesn't care what the Decepticon did to him; it's like Barricade has become his whole world."

System Dependency wasn't unusual among younglings, but Prime knew how harmful it could be when developed around a Decepticon. Older mechs were not immune to the condition, and it was not easy to get rid of.

"If Barricade goes offline, it will damage Bumblebee beyond what I can repair, Optimus. A body I can fix, but a spark..."

"I have faith in your abilities, Ratchet. I know you'll do the best you can to help him. Bumblebee would like to see how Barricade is doing."

"He can as long as he doesn't interfere."

Bumblebee had been fighting Ironhide's hold since they arrived at Tyger Pax, demanding that he be allowed to see the Decepticon currently in Ratchet's care. Only when Prime said it was okay did Ironhide let go, and with plenty of reluctance. He still insisted on watching the youngling with Jazz; better to have them all watching Bumblebee with Barricade around. The golden Autobot ran to Barricade's side, his optics barely looking over the top of the table to see the shock trooper's flickering optics. The black Decepticon's left arm hung loosely over the edge of the table, the younger mech holding onto it as he watched Ratchet work. A timid voice startled all of the Autobots in the room, breaking the eerie tension that sometimes accompanied the sounds of Ratchet's tools.

"Master...can you hear me?"

Jazz saw Barricade's left hand twitch just before the Decepticon spoke, causing every mech except Ratchet to look at the black mech's face.

"My auditory system is still functional, youngling."

"Are you going to be okay?"

Barricade's optics flickered again, taking longer and longer each time to come back on. Ratchet called for Wheeljack, the only other Autobot that could help him keep Barricade functioning. He couldn't help but think that he knew what the outcome would be; the Decepticon was so badly damaged, he was almost sure that Barricade wouldn't last much longer. Knowing that the Decepticon was probably going to go offline still didn't prepare Ratchet and Wheeljack for it; Barricade's left arm reached out towards the youngling, a slow word creeping out of his voice capacitor.

"Bumblebee..."

Prime picked up Bumblebee as the youngling reached out with both arms for Barricade, the Decepticons red optics flickering off with a mechanical hum.

"Primus, he's offlining! Wheeljack, hurry!"

The golden Autobot cried out as Barricade's left arm collapsed against the table, hanging limply over the side. Ratchet could see that, one by one, Barricade's systems were starting to shut down...for good. His body had become still and cold; it was a sight even Ironhide with his temper wasn't glad to see. The old, battle hardened mech's spark ached as he listened to Bumblebee's pain filled cries, the Autobots all backing away from the table except Prime. He put Bumblebee down as the youngling gently gripped one of Barricade's limp fingers as though he were trying to pull the Decepticon to him.

"Is he...gone? He can't be gone...no...you need to stay, Master...please..."

Prime helped Bumblebee climb onto the table, unsure as the other Autobots were as to what he could do to comfort the youngling. Barricade's systems were still shutting down, his spark fading until Bumblebee could barely see the light of it shining through. He looked down at where the Decepticon's optics should have been red, where an angry glare should have been waiting for him.

"We're always supposed to stay together, remember? You're supposed to watch me..."

Jazz and Wheeljack were the first to turn their heads away; the quiet, affectionate voice of the youngling was tearing at their sparks.

"...under Megatron's orders. You never go against Megatron's orders; it's not like you. How are you supposed to follow Megatron's orders and watch me if you leave?"

Ratchet could only look down at the fading mech's body, unable to look at the suffering Autobot. He had seen more than enough deaths in his time, but to just hear the youngling's desperation was too much.

"I can't follow you where you're going..."

The small, golden body wrapped itself around Barricade's head and shoulders, shaking terribly as Bumblebee spoke.

"...so come back."

Every mech including Bumblebee jumped as Barricade's optics flared, shining with an intensity like Prime had not seen in eons. The light of the Decepticon's spark shone beneath Bumblebee's body as Barricade's systems and machinery hummed with life. His left arm was no longer dangling over the side of the table; instead, it came to wrap itself around the small Autobot still hugging him. The youngling gazed in relief at the shock trooper, unable to find the right words to express himself. He settled for a smile and giggled, his happiness too great to hold in.

"Hi!"

Barricade's optics blinked quickly, his face missing its usual ruthless expression, and Jazz was willing to bet he had never heard Barricade's voice sound as soft and purposely slow as it did then.

"Hello little one."

Present

Bumblebee let out a few clicks at the memory, not sure whether it was fond or something totally different. He had found himself grateful that Barricade had made it; the other Autobots were relieved as well, though he was sure that Ironhide would shoot anyone who dared to say so. He continued to wait for Barricade's return, silently thankful that Primus was a bit pushy when it came to binding fates together. He was still angry, still scared and nervous at the seemingly inevitable future of the Autobot army, but he found himself strangely content with his past. Barricade had left, had gone back to the Decepticon army to fight against him in the future, but Bumblebee always had the nerve to think that they were never enemies afterwards. They were two mechs on opposite sides in a war, both longing for something they didn't know and were too afraid to find out, and Bumblebee promised himself that the next time they saw each other, they would stop acting like sparklings and face the shared fate Primus had given them.

Mazuiko: YES! I'm finally done with this chapter. Just a quick note for readers: I made it so that a mech isn't his full size when created, so Bumblebee was not his full size when Barricade snatched him up. It just doesn't make sense to me to have Megatron running around at thirty-five feet tall when he was a youngling. Can you imagine the mechs watching him having to deal with him at full size? I can't, so I made it that younglings start off small, then grow to whatever size they're made to grow to. To survive a war, they need to heal, and if they can heal, they can grow. Don't kill me guys, cause the next chapter has what you want: Megatron/Optimus Prime! Woot! On to chapter 5!!!