Changed some stuff. Bee's gonna be a man, not a boy. FYI.

Enjoyyy.

Chapter Nineteen –In Your Arms Again, I am Safe

Darren's Point of View

11:58pm, Adonis III, Bumblebee's Quarters

Bumblebee giggled as he tossed my hair with his slender fingers, making my bangs fall over my eyes and get caught with my eyelashes. I laughed with him, reaching up to wiggle my fingers through his hair. He nuzzled his head into my palm, hugging me tighter against him.

"Darrennnn," he told me playfully. He revealed his white teeth in a perfect smile.

I grinned widely, wrapping my arms around his neck. Our eyes looked into each other's. "What? I'm only getting you back," I shot at him, smiling even wider. "S'fair, you know."

His eyes flashed as he pressed his nose against mine, making me laugh. I pushed my head into his neck, feeling his arms willingly hug my waistline. I closed my eyes.

"Let's stay like this forever," I chuckled. "What'do ya say?"

"I wish we could," he cooed. I felt his mouth against my cheek, his fingers on my spine. My cheeks flushed and I hugged him tighter.

"Wouldn't trade ya for the world," I sighed.

Fingers dug into my leg as I slept and palms pressed against my skin, trying to wake me from my pleasant dream. Whoever was doing this shook me back and forth gently, but enough to make me groan in my dream that I didn't want to end quite yet. I swatted the hands away, turning onto the other side. I snuggled into the metal berth that used to be Bumblebee's, remembering how it felt to be in his arms, remembering that night I shared with him.

"…S-Stop it," I whined. "Five more minutes…"

I dreamed again, but the hands returned. I sighed.

"Quit it…!" I turned over and my eyes instantly widened. Before me stood a man, well over six feet tall, his eyes a piercing electric blue that glowed in the dark. His hair was neat and somewhat long, reaching the middle of his neck, but not hanging loose. His face was hard and angular, handsome. He wore a yellow collared shirt and black pants…

So familiar.

I scrambled back.

"Who're you?!" I demanded, his eyes frightening me.

He just stared, and his perfectly shaped lips curled up into a smile. His big hand reached out for me. I ignored, pressing against the wall. I just stared.

"C'mere," he encouraged me. His voice was gentle and deep. He waved me over.

I swallowed, stalling, then reached my hand out to his. My hand could almost completely fit in his palm. His fingers held it tenderly and he eased me from the wall, soon sitting by my side. I stared at him, he stared back. His eyes…still scared me.

"Don't be afraid," he whispered. His hand patted my back and I tensed. "I wouldn't harm you."

"W-Who are you?" I asked again, shivering at his hand. "Really…"

He smiled wider. "How could you forget this face?"

I arched an eyebrow. "I've never seen you before."

He chuckled at me and lifted a hand to his hair, taking the black accented bangs in between his fingers. He waved them at me, grinning.

Black accented bangs…sort of like…

Bumblebee's.

"Darren…" His voice said smoothly.

My eyes widened at him and stared, unblinking. My ears had to be deceiving me.

"Wh-What?" I breathed. "N-No…"

He let go of his hair. "You heard me," his eyes flashed as he said this. "My precious human."

My words were caught in my throat. I just could not stop staring.

"…Bumblebee?!" I nearly gasped.

He nodded.

I froze. He was back?!

"Y-You can't be him," I stuttered. "B-Bumblebee was my age…fifteen."

He twisted his lip, his smile gone.

"It is me, Darren," he said calmly. "I wouldn't lie."

"Well, prove it. I'm not convinced," I stammered, looking him over nervously. "G-Go."

His lightning blue eyes turned away to the floor and I saw him thinking, his handsome face hardened as he did. He looked back at me after many seconds.

"Give me your hand," he told me, his eyes looking to mine.

I blinked. "Wh-What? Why?"

"Darren, please," he said, taking my wrist. He set my palm against his chest, over where his heart would be. I tried tugging my hand away, but he kept it there.

"What're you doin'?" I shot, nervous.

"Shh," he silenced me, looking away. "What do you feel, Darren?"

I swallowed. I didn't feel a heartbeat, but gentle hums that shook and vibrated under my palm. I furrowed my brow slowly, staring at my hand. He titled his head down, looking to my eyes. I looked to him and he smiled.

"Ya'see?" he asked me. "It is me."

I pulled my hand away. "…Y-You can't be 'im…"

Clicking his tongue, becoming bothered, he pulled my head over to his chest, pressing my ear down over his heart.

"Stop! What're you…"

"Shh, just listen, please…"

I shut my mouth.

I heard humming, steady, a little fast…

He had a spark.

I looked up at him as his hand lifted away from my head. I stared at him as if he were God himself.

"No way…" I breathed. I shook my head…

He nodded.

I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him tight, tears pouring from my eyes. My body started shuddering and he drew his arms around me, holding me.

It was like a dream…Like the one I had just been engulfed in. I had just seen me in his arms, just seen me with my arms around his neck. And, now, here he was. In the flesh. Living, breathing, talking, smiling…

I shivered as his soft lips pressed against my forehead.

"Darren…" He said it so smoothly.

"Bumblebee," I sighed in a sob. "God, I can't believe it…I-I thought you were…"

He silenced me with a calming purr. "Darren, I don't go down that easily."

Hearing the humor in his voice made me smile. I chuckled. I lifted my hand to his cheeks, letting my fingertips brush over his skin and feel the corners of his mouth lift as he smiled at me. I traced his jawline and his muscular neck, my vision blurring with tears.

He was alive again.

"God damnit, Bee, you had me so miserable," I whispered, looking into his eyes. "How did you come back?"

Bumblebee gave me the entire story of how he met his own God, and was granted another life, the one of a human man. The whole story sounded surreal, and I watched him as he told me, making face at every strange detail.

"Wow." I said without hesitation. "You met your God?"

He grinned. "Yes, it's not taken to such a high degree by us Cybertronians. I think you humans become too amazed by these sorts of things."

I blinked, smiling as I sighed. "Whatever, Bee," I said playfully. "Whatever you say."

He took my hand and started to stand.

"How about we go outside? Just you and me," He suggested.

"Right now?" I asked. I wanted to go back to bed. "What about everyone else? You gonna tell 'em?"

"Yes, I will. But, later. You're my main priority right now, my friend," he answered in a smile, pulling me to my feet. "Now, c'mon while the night's still young."

//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\

Bumblebee's Point of View

Behind the Adonis III

I lay in the soft grass with Darren, at my side, both of our eyes looking up into the night sky. I scanned over the Earth's moon and stars, fascinated by these solar bodies. A gentle breeze made him shiver and hug himself, and I reached out a hand to touch his shoulder. He grinned in appreciation, nodding.

"So, you miss Cybertron?" Darren's soft voice said.

I sighed, raising my knees. "Yes, I do. I'd lived there for so many years. Of course I'm homesick," I answered quietly. "But I'll never be able to return to my home planet."

Darren turned my head to look at him. "Why can't you go back?"

"The Allspark is destroyed," I told him, tucking my hands under my head. "I can't return home without it." I felt Darren's eyes still on me, so I turned my head to look at him. "But, Earth is a wonderful planet. I don't mind life here." I smiled. He grinned and chuckled.

"M'glad you like it here," he said softly.

I nodded slowly and pulled an arm around his shoulders, pulling him against my side. I felt his hand slip under my back and hold my side, his other one lying on top of my stomach, its fingers clawing into my skin gently. His pale blue eyes looked into mine as he lifted his head, then laid his ear on my chest, probably listening to my spark that always comforted him. I brushed my fingers up and down his spine, feeling the hard bone beneath my fingertips.

"Yes, being here with you makes everything even greater, Darren," I sighed.

He closed his eyes with a small laugh.

"Yeah, Bee, you're pretty awesome."

I smiled.

Silence for a few moments.

"S-So, can I ask you a question?"

I hesitated. "Of course you can. Go on."

"Do you got a girl er anything?"

I stared down at him, he turned his head to look at me. I blinked.

"Do I what?"

He laughed. "Do you have a girl? Y'know…Girlfriend, wife…anything?"

I squinted my eyes in confusion. "I-I'm not…familiar with those t-terms."

Darren chuckled, turning on his side to face me, his cheek now on my stomach. "You don't know what that is? A girlfriend?"

I shook my head. Human terminology always made my processor jumbled.

"Well, it's like," he started, breaking his eyes away for a few moments to think. "…Like someone of the other gender that…you love." He looked at me. "Y'know?"

I felt my cheeks redden, what humans called blushing. I cleared my throat and broke the gaze of our eyes. "O-Oh, yeah…I know."

He smiled. "So, do you have one?"

I twisted my lip and looked away, blushing even harder. "N-No, but…" I paused.

Darren blinked and lifted his head, waiting for me to continue.

"But, what?"

I swallowed. "Th-There's one femme I'm practically…interested in."

"A what?"

"Femme, Darren. Female Cybertronians."

"Oh…You like her?"

I looked at him, smiling a little. "Yes, I do."

"What's 'er name?"

"Arcee."

Darren grinned. "That's a nice name, huh?"

I chuckled. "Y-Yes, it is a nice name."

Silence for a couple seconds.

"You should ask her out."

My eyes flashed, and I blushed even more. "I-I can't just…do that."

"Well, why not?"

"I-I'm too nervous," I chuckled weakly.

Darren made a face. "Awhh', Bee, c'mon now."

I made a sound, looking away.

"You're a freakin' sex god, you idiot!" He shot at me playfully, slapping my stomach lightly.

I stared and tilted my head. "Human females find my body attractive?"

"Hell, yeah, they do."

I chuckled. "And what about you?"

He paused, his mouth open. "…I suppose." He laughed.

"Have you gotten a…'girl,' as you call it?"

"Nah, not yet."

"Do you have your eye on anyone?"

Now, he blushed. "Y-Yeah."

I chuckled and pat his back with my hand. "You'll get her soon enough," I grinned.

Darren shrugged. "I hope so."

"You will."

He turned onto his other side, his back facing me, and his ear returning over my stomach. I turned my head to a side into the sharp blades of grass, my hair falling across my eyelids. Darren shifted under my arm and I let my fingers brush over his stomach. He laughed and I closed my eyes.

"H-Hey, Bee?" he whispered into the night.

"Hmm?" I answered groggily.

"How old are you now?"

"Twenty-five."

He nodded.

It was silent for a long moment after, and then he said…

"You're the best dad ever."

I felt my heart skip a beat as I grinned, opening my eyes to look at him. He turned his head, bright blue eyes ablaze behind locks of golden blonde hair. I thumbed over his cheeks.

"And you, Darren, are the best son I'll ever have."

//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\

The Next Morning

Bumblebee's Point of View

Knock, knock, knock.

I was laying on top of my now greatly oversized metal berth attached to one wall of my quarters, when someone knocked thrice on the door quickly, my eyelids slowly lifting as I turned my head, letting hair fall. I had to always keep my door unlocked now, since I was too short to reach the door's handle, being almost seven feet when I needed to be eighteen. I slowly opened my mouth in a deep yawn, and shut my eyes again as I stretched my stiff limbs.

"Come in," I mumbled groggily.

I opened my eyes as the lever twisted as the door hissed, granting access to my visitor. It slid away into the wall and revealed to me my respected commander Optimus Prime, cradling Darren in the palm of his hand. As I smiled, the human returned my greeting, waving his little hand at me. Optimus' optics locked on me in surprise, his mighty footsteps reverberating through the metal ground as he moved over and sat beside me. He shook his head in disbelief, his mouth hanging open some ways. I smiled at him.

"Bumblebee…?" He whispered, lowering down to set his faceplate inches away from my body. He looked me over, his deep blue optics drooping, then he lifted a finger, prodding my side with such caution and tender care. I set my small hand on his fingertip, and he almost withdrew it at my tiny touch. I heard him release a breath in shock.

"I hadn't believed Darren when he told me you had returned," spoke my commander, his gallant voice echoing around me in its deep tone, even as he whispered. "You're back, my little one." He ran his finger down my cheek and neck.

A smile tugged at a corner of my mouth, brightening my already electric blue eyes. I let my palm rest on a facet of his handsome metal face, feeling them lift as he too, smiled.

"I don't go down that easily, Sir," I told him. He chuckled, leaning away.

"I must go tell the others," he said, lowering Darren to my side.

"Yes, Sir," I said as he departed from my quarters. I looked down to Darren with a smile, moving an arm around his waist to draw him near to me. His pale blue eyes looked up into mine and he twisted, lying his back across my lap. I playfully stroked his stomach, feeling the muscle draw in as I tickled him. He laughed, smiling at me, almost like a child. I grinned.

"How're you this morning?" I asked him, tussling his blonde hair. He nuzzled.

Darren nodded, letting my fingers slip under his tee shirt and brush over his bare skin.

"Fine, you?"

"Wonderful," I grinned wider.

He laughed, then ended it with a sigh.

"Hey, I was thinkin' about…what we were talkin' about last night."

I blinked at him, still smiling. "Oh? You have a question?"

He shook his head. "Well, Bee, I just think you should go ask out that girl...er femme."

My cheeks flushed as my eyes widened. "Darren, I-I…"

"C'mon! You know what base she's stationed at right?"

I swallowed. "N-No."

"Well, you could find out, right? Optimus'll know."

I looked away. "I suppose I could…"

"Yeah, you gotta take some chances in life. I mean, seeing her could be the best decision you've ever made, right?"
I frowned, blinking. "Or the worse."

Darren made a face, making me chuckle. "Stay positive."

"I was only kidding," I said halfheartedly.

He grinned. "So, what'do ya say? Let's go find 'er, huh?"

I shrugged. I couldn't bring myself to agree. Nervousness was taking over my mind.

"I 'unno…" I muttered. I fidgeted with my hands.

"Bee! C'mon!" He slapped my shoulder. "Every dad needs a wife."

Dad…

I smiled at him. "I guess you're right."

"I am," he chuckled. He hopped off the berth and tugged me to my feet with a strength I didn't even know he had. He pulled me towards the door. "Now, let's go."

Without a word, I let the human pull me along to his side. He was right. I could be making the best decision of my whole life, or the worst one ever. How would Arcee react when she saw me in my human form? How would she respond if I told her I was fond of another human? I grimaced, gripping Darren's hand.

Well, I could only wait.