Chapter Thirty-One – Elation

Two Days Later

Nightfall

Darren took Nicolette's hand in his, clasping it gently as they walked Tranquility Lake's edge, their bare feet soft against the moist dirt. They laughed as they felt their toes sink in sloppy mud puddles, holding onto each other a little tighter whenever they'd tilt and wobble.

Darren looked into her deep green eyes, looking over her softly freckled cheeks and pale pink lips. He smiled and looked up at the full moon, the image of it shining in his pale blue eyes.

"Did I tell you about my dad yet?" He asked, looking back at her quickly. "The news?"

She shook her head, taking a small leap to stay at his side. "N-No, who is your dad anyways? Have I seen 'im?"

Darren nodded, watching his feet as they sploshed in the mud. "Yeah, he was the one…who I caught spying on our first kiss." His cheeks blushed lightly. "Not a great memory."

Nicolette giggled. "Oh, that's your father?" She asked. "He looks rather young…Handsome, too, like you. Now I see where you get your looks."

Darren shrugged, laughing. "Yeah, h-he's not really….W-Well," he cut himself short, not wanting to tell her every detail of his rescue. "…Never mind."

She blinked. "N-No, what is it, Darren?"

He sighed, flashing her a smile with a corner of his mouth. "Well, let me put a long story short."

"Go ahead," she said, smiling back.

"My dad is really a robot too," he said softly.

Nicolette's eyes widened and she froze in mid-stride, her hand dropping from his.

"What…?!"

"You remember when you and I went to Mission City a few months ago, right?" He said, looking to the sky. "…For summer camp, remember? On our last day, we took a ride through the city?"

She nodded slowly. "Oh my, God," she breathed. "They were there weren't they?!"

Darren chuckled, taking her hand again and giving her a small tug. She started walking again. "Yeah, it was all over the news that day," he sighed. "I even saw two of them. Freakin' amazing."

Nicolette was still in shock. "Yeah, I remember now…They had footage of them…Your dad is one of them?"

Darren only nodded with a short, "M'hm."

"Jesus, Darren," Nicolette exclaimed. "That's…awesome. I have to see him in…robot mode, er whatever."

Darren laughed. "You can some day. I'm sure he won't mind."

She giggled. "So, what're the news you were talkin' about."

Darren grinned. "H-His, um, sparkmate, or wife, girlfriend, whatever, is expecting."

Nicolette gasped. "You don't say!"

"I do," he said smoothly.

"Baby girl or boy?"

"They're finding out in a few weeks…maybe a month."

"Ohhh, why so long?"

"Their medical officer doesn't have all of the machines and devices he needs," Darren told her, listening to her feet take a splash right into a puddle. "Y'know…since they're…aliens."

She nodded quickly. "Right, right." Giggling lightly, she squeezed his hand. "Well, Darren, maybe your father and his sparkmate will be you and I some day, huh?"

Darren smiled, revealing his teeth to her, then planted a kiss against her cheek. She smiled widely, resting her head on his shoulder, letting him swing their hands to and fro.

"Of course it will be," he sighed happily. "God willing, we'll still be together."

"Oh, we will, Darren," she said, tucking her head in the crook of his neck. "I love you too much."

Darren rested his head on hers, closing his eyes. "But, I love you more."

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

Adonis III

Bumblebee's Quarters

Bumblebee ran his fingers up and down Arcee's leg, his optics glazed over as he stared ahead of him blankly. Arcee's finger tapped his faceplate twice, and Bumblebee whirred into reality, smiling shyly.

"O-Oh, m'sorry," he said softly, leaning his head back against a cool metal wall.

Arcee blinked, setting her hand on his spark before rubbing it gently.

"Something on your processor, baby?" She cooed, looking at him worriedly.

Bumblebee frowned. "I know you're probably tired of me bringing this up…"

"What is it, honey?"

"Hot Rod, Arcee. I-I'm worried about what he'll do to you."

Arcee sighed. "Baby, do not worry, please."

"When will you tell him?"

"Soon enough…"

Bumblebee sighed. "If he hurts you, please Arcee, contact me," Bumblebee pleaded, his optics drooped in worry. "You know how to…My com channel, our bond…Baby anything."

Arcee nodded with a smile. "I will, Bumblebee."

He nodded back without a smile, but a sigh. "Alright."

Arcee sat in his arms for many moments of silence, listening to his spark hum, feeling his hands slide up every nook and cranny of her frame. She smiled at a thought and tilted her chin up to look at him. He looked down at her.

"Hmm?" He said, smiling some.

"What will be our sparkling's name?" She said softly, looking to a small window.

Bumblebee grinned at her. "Mech or femme?"

Arcee giggled. "Let's start with femme."

Bumblebee leaned his head back and thought, twisting his lip playfully.

"I'm trying to think of…parts of our galaxy," he said in a whisper.

Arcee nodded. "I was thinking we could name her after my mother."

Bumblebee smiled, setting his faceplate close to hers. "And what was your mother's name?"

"Xyla," she said quietly, tucking her head in his neck.

"A beautiful name," he breathed, resting his jaw on her head. "…Xylastar."

Arcee's spark fluttered, as did the second one that grew in the chamber. "I love the sound of it," she said. "Our little baby femmebot…"

Bumblebee purred. "What if the sparkling is a mech?"

"Shall we name him after your father?"

Bumblebee frowned, looking downward. "I-I…don't remember what it was."

Arcee's faceplate flashed to one of worry as she heard the unease in his voice, and she pawed at his spark chamber lightly, shaking her head.

"O-Oh, that's fine," she said quickly, not wanting to make him upset.

Bumblebee nodded, returning his optics to hers. "What was your other creator's name?"

"Zaidian," she said, smiling as he did as well. "Just like that."

Bumblebee nuzzled his head into hers, purring lowly.

"I love it," he breathed. "Zaidian…Xylastar."

"Yes, whichever, mech or femme, they'll be beautiful, won't they baby?"

Bumblebee grinned. "Of course. From such a striking femme like you, of course."

Arcee giggled, letting him run his metal mouth down a side of her head to her neck and shoulder, her frame shuddering as he purred. He laughed with her, then held her tightly against him, feeling not only her spark flutter, but the baby bot's as well. His optics flashed.

"H-Honey, the baby's happy too," Arcee giggled, stroking her chest lovingly.

Bumblebee grinned. "We already have a bond with them…"

As Arcee laid her hand on her spark casing, Bumblebee did the same, setting his over hers. Together, they closed their optics and swayed back and forth, feeling their bond strengthen as the baby's happily interfered, pulsing madly in joy.

A little life was already sprouting.