Chapter Forty-Two – Wait for Me

Tranquility Lake

Darren walked with his hands shoved deep in his jeans pockets, his pale blue eyes watching the beautiful girl beside him, his lovely Nicolette. They smiled at each other, cheeks flushing cherry red as one snuck their hand against the others. They squeezed.

"Darren, thanks for such a wonderful afternoon," she said softly, her bright green eyes seeming to flash in his. "It couldn't have been better."

Darren laughed shyly. "M'glad you had a nice time, Nicolette," he said, flashing his teeth in a wide smile. "Maybe we could…get together sometime later this week?"

She nodded, smiling widely back. "Oh, I'd love that," she giggled. "Absolutely."

Darren grinned. He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her lips, feeling her giggle. He held it there as she gave in, wrapping her arms around his neck. His arms slipped around her middle and they closed their eyes, looking like a classic couple in the sunset. He leaned back with her, both of them laughing.

"I-I…love you, Nicolette," he said, almost afraid.

She blushed. He saw tears of joy in her eyes. "I love you too, Darren."

A massive palm pushed gently against Darren's spine, and the human turned, meeting the blue eyes of the Autobot commander's human form. Optimus smiled at them, slowly easing away strands of blue and red hair from his eyes.

"We need to return to the base," he said softly, not wanting to raise any suspicion with Nicolette. "Before the sun sets."

Darren nodded and turned to plant a quick kiss on his love's nose before drawing his arms away. She giggled.

"I-I guess I'll see you later, then," she said.

"Y-Yeah," Darren replied, grinning. "You know your way home from here?"

She nodded. "Yeah, it's only a few minutes away." She shrugged. "I need a walk anyways."

"Y-Ya sure? He can - "

"Darrennn," she laughed, silencing him with a kiss to his lips. He chuckled, making a face as she pulled away. "I'll be fineee."

"Oh, alright," he sighed in mock disappointment.

"Call me?"

He nodded. "Of course."

With that, he watched as she threw him a quick wave and walked off into the setting sun, disappearing quickly between a few trees. A hand sat on Darren's shoulder. He was too lost in thought to look up.

"Isn't she great, Optimus?" said Darren dazedly. "I love her so much."

Optimus chuckled. "You both seem rather content with each other," he told him, giving Darren another gentle push as they both started walking. "…Can you see you two together in the future?"

Darren nodded too quickly. "Oh, yeah. I really do," he said, smiling. He frowned, a thought crossing his mind. "…Just as I thought…Bumblebee and Arcee would be together forever."

Optimus' expression hardened. "What happened to Bumblebee - "

"Was completely stupid?" Darren cut him off, shifting his optics to the man's slowly. "That asshole's gonna pay. I saw what he did, Prime. I saw it all."

Optimus nodded. "I know. I know you did, Darren," he sighed. "I've already punished those two."

Darren blinked. "Two? You punished Arcee?"

"Yes, Arcee included," the commander responded. "Hot Rod completely corrupted her bond with Bumblebee. What good would she be to him if her spark refuses to feel for him?"

"…B-But can't he - "

"Bumblebee isn't strong enough yet," Optimus answered his question before it was asked. "Someday he will be, but that will be many Earth years from now."

Darren nodded once, looking ahead of them to the grassy trail. "…Yeah," he said quietly. "I just hate seein' him upset though, y'know? He's got such a big heart."

Optimus gave the human a smile, patting his back. "As do you, Darren," he said deeply in a warm tone.

Darren shrugged. "I guess," he said. "But, I wouldn't be anything like this had it not been for Bee." He dropped his gaze. "H-He's…He's done so much for me, Prime."

"Indeed he has."

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Darren shivered as thick fingers walked up his spine to his neck, fondling with locks of his hair. The human chuckled and met the warm blue eyes of the Autobot commander, letting the man slip an arm around his shoulders as they continued to walk together.

"…M'glad I'm away from my old life," Darren said, grinning.

Optimus patted his shoulder. "Yes, what would you be had he not found you?"

Darren set his head against Optimus' shoulder, blue eyes turning off into the sun. "Just another soul hoping to be saved…"

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

"Mmm," Optimus agreed lazily. "But, you and Bumblebee have something special, don't you?" His hand slid to Darren's chest, giving two strong pats against his heart. "That connection…It's unexplainable."

Darren nodded slowly against the man's shoulder. "You think he was meant to be my other father?" he asked, smiling to himself, locks of hair falling over his eyes. "…My guardian angel?"

Optimus shrugged slightly. "Maybe Primus wanted it that way," he said. "Perhaps Bumblebee was meant to be."

"Sure seems like it," the human sighed. "But, designated or not, I still love him."

"Yes," Optimus' voice resonated warmly. "As do we all."

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

"As do we all…"

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

The Adonis III

Nightfall, Weeks Later

Things at the Adonis III had changed over the course of only a few weeks. Each sparkling received their human forms, a long, tedious process on Ratchet's part. Xylastar was now a beautiful baby girl with short locks of black hair and bright blue eyes, always willing to be on her feet. Zaidian, a handsome baby boy with golden hair and sharp blue eyes, looking like Bumblebee and Darren at the same time.

Yes, all of this was wonderful. But, one piece of the puzzle was missing.

Arcee.

She had not returned, nor had Hot Rod. Ever since Optimus Prime had prohibited their return, they had not been seen lurking the Adonis III grounds. Their obedience to the commander's punishment, good, but in Bumblebee's mind, not seeing Arcee was spark-wrenching. He could only imagine what could have happened to her over those lonely weeks without her.

He tried to forget about it, but the constant nagging pain in his spark kept the worry alive. He tried his best to stay positive, force everything negative from his processor.

But, of course that was a challenge.

Now, Bumblebee's human form sat Zaidian's in his crib, a new piece of furniture he'd been given to his quarters, stroking his little head lightly. He leaned down to push away soft locks of hair from the baby's forehead before he kissed it. His blue optics looked into the tired ones of the baby, and Zaidian raised his little fists, stretching his legs as he opened his mouth in a yawn. Bumblebee chuckled.

"Night, little one," he whispered, planting a gentle kiss beside the bot's mouth. "Sleep tight for Daddy, okay?" He gave the baby's stomach a soft pat.

Zaidian nodded dazedly, closing his eyes before he turned his head to a side, wriggling on his back. Bumblebee smiled wider, shifting his blue eyes to Darren some feet away at his side. He watched as the human cradled Xylastar in his arms, bringing her against his heart.

"How is she, Darren?" Bumblebee asked, leaning away from Zaidian.

Darren nodded, tickling a giggling Xylastar's cheek, making her squeal. "She's great."

Xylastar gazed up into Darren's eyes, watching in awe as they looked back at her. She lifted a tiny hand and squeezed Darren's nose, making him laugh and gently push her hand off. He shook his head.

"No, no, Xyla," he laughed. "Don't do that."

She gurgled happily, fingering over his cheeks with her little hands. Bumblebee chuckled, watching her bring her hands to his mouth and push them inside, giggling as she kicked her legs. Darren's eyes widened and he grinned, letting the little girl explore curiously.

Bumblebee grimaced, laughing. "…M-My apologies, Darren."

The human shook his head, taking her hands from his mouth. "Haha, no, Bee. It's understandable," he smiled. "She's little."

Bumblebee gave his shoulder a few pats. "Yes, well, being little, she needs to sleep." He moved over to a window, his smile gone. "Tuck her in, will you?"

Darren nodded, watching Bumblebee for a few seconds more. "…Y-You okay?"

Bumblebee only nodded. He set a hand against the window, listening to Xylastar gurgle groggily as she was lowered to lie in her crib. Bumblebee shut his eyes.

"Sleep tight, little Xyla," he heard Darren coo. She giggled in return. Darren grinned, and Bumblebee heard him plant a kiss on her forehead. "Love you."

Those words made tears suddenly rise to Bumblebee's eyes and he blinked them away, clenching a fist at his side. He looked to the full moon, his spark heavy.

"…Arcee," he whispered.

As if by magic, a slender form appeared in the shadows outside, slowly walking around through the trees. The outline was unmistakable and when the form turned, Bumblebee saw two neatly fixed cinnamon buns on both sides of their head.

"Arcee…!"

Darren turned, raising an eyebrow.

"Shhh, they're sleeping," he said, giving him a skeptical look. "A-And what'd you say?"

Bumblebee took steps away from the window, not meeting Darren's eyes as he set a hand on the door handle, ready to leave.

"D-Darren, stay here," he ordered. "Stay with the sparklings."

Darren shook his head. "What? Bee, where're you - "

"Outside. Do not follow me."

And before the human could render a response, Bumblebee was out the door.

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

Outside the Adonis III

A Few Minutes Later

Bumblebee crept between trees, wide blue eyes scanning around the base's exterior intently. He turned swiftly, walking backwards in small, quiet steps, looking at the path he had covered. Gulping down a lump in his throat, his eyes shifted to where the form had last been seen.

He saw no one.

"Arcee where could you have - "

He gasped as his back crashed into something. No, it wasn't something, but someone. The form cried out and scrambled away from him, making him turn, his spark thudding. Bumblebee met the panic-stricken eyes of Arcee, her face a pale white as she took a few nervous steps away.

"How in Primus' name did you get there?" she breathed.

Bumblebee took a step forward. "Arcee…"

As he came closer, she moved away as if he were a stranger, farther and farther until her back hit a tree. He shook his head at her, refusing to look away from her wide eyes that seemed to burn a wrenching hole through his spark.

She blinked at him. "Wh-What…?"

"What're you doing here? You're forbidden."

"No one has to know I'm here," she said back too quickly. "A-And I came to see you…"

"I came to see you…" Those words sent a shiver up Bumblebee's spine, making his eyes widened and his spark beat quicker. The words were there, yes, but the connection…it wasn't. It was almost as if the words had a meaning, but it couldn't shine through.

She took a step closer and set her hand over his spark, watching it as she clawed her fingers into his skin. Bumblebee watched her, feeling his cheeks flush, his widened blue eyes shifting down to her hand on his spark. He took it with both of his.

"Arcee, what is it?" he murmured, looking over her face until he met her eyes.

She looked up at him. "…Th-The bond needs to be restored, Bumblebee," she said, almost in a groan. "I-I can't…I-I can't - "

"Hot Rod," he cut her off gently, shaking his head. "I-I'm not strong enough, Arcee. I can't override what he's established."

Tears welled up in her eyes, glistening. She shook her head. "Th-Then how can we…Bumblebee, the sparklings. I-I can't do this to them."

He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. "Without the bond overridden," he whispered. "The sparklings won't feel your spark, nor will I." He shook his head. "The bond will still seem as if it's only between three."

A thin trickle of tears rolled down her cheeks, dropping off her quivering chin. He pressed her hand deeper into his chest, tears glazing over his own eyes. She looked up at him through the locks of hair that swept across his forehead, reaching up to push them aside. He moved one of his hands away, easing her palm on his spark.

"Baby, what're we gonna do…?" she murmured, looking to her hand as she felt the beats of his spark. "I-I can't just leave you…or Zaidian, or Xylastar."

He gave her a weak, lopsided smile, blinking tears down his cheeks. "We'll have to wait until my spark matures," he said softly. "…C-Could you wait for me, Arcee?"

Wait for me. There's so much more of life for us to see.
You must believe…

She gave him a faint smile in return. She nodded slowly. "…I think I could." She sat her ear on his chest, letting him draw her into his arms. Arcee closed her eyes, listening to that strong heart that beat, gave life to him. She smiled.

"For you, Bumblebee, I will. I love you."

Just hold on a little bit longer.
Thoughts and memories will be enough.
My need for you is only growing stronger.

Bumblebee purred gently, rattling her. Gentle fingers fiddled with her hair, as they always did, then grazed across her cheek. She giggled, he purred again.

"And I love you too, Arcee," he whispered.

Wait for me. There's so much more of life for us to see.
You must believe, it's not because of you I've had to leave.
Wait for me. I only hope that you'll remember me.

She grinned and looked to his imploring blue eyes. "The bond will be restored, won't it baby?"

There's so much more of life for us to see.
You must believe…

He nodded, smiling. "Yes," he told her. "Wait for me, Arcee."

Hahaha, this WAS actually meant to be the last chapter. Butttt, I don't think I can end it quite yet. x3