Chapter Forty-Six – My Sweet Little Honeybee, Epilogue II

"Beautiful just like you, Arcee…"

Beautiful.

Bumblebee, I remember clearly when you uttered those words to me. No, it wasn't the first time a mech had called me beautiful before, Hot Rod had of course. But, there was something about your voice, the way it spoke to me, so light, deep, and gentle, with that mild British accent that made me melt whenever you whispered in my ear. You definitely had a way with words, Bumblebee.

"Arcee, I love you."

I remember the way you said that, it made me shiver. I wish I had said it back to you, but my words halted in my throat, and my spark told me otherwise, that repeating it would be deceiving and rude to Hot Rod. I was going to, baby. I knew I already loved you.

"I've missed you, Arcee."

"And I've missed you, too."

You told me those words on our first date, and you may have thought that you were coming onto me too strong, too quickly, but no, Bumblebee. Everything was perfect. Everything, from the way you held me in your secure embraces to the way your fingers danced against my skin. I conformed to you, I really did. I melted and we both became one.

Rrrrr….Rrrrrr….

I loved it when you purred that gentle, "Rrrrr," in your throat.

Absolutely coaxing.

One of my most fond memories of you is that one night I visited your quarters. You were upset about the disputes you and Darren had been having, and Bumblebee, I never liked to see you with a frown fixed on your lips, your wonderful blue eyes droopy. Your spark was always dropped inside you, like a faint, blue little beacon waiting for another flare to come by it, feed it, and help it hum again. I knew loving you that night, going to the next step beyond the kissing and hugging, would surely delete your sorrow. I didn't want my sweet honeybee sad.

"Arcee, really, I'm fine…But, you know what would really help me out?"

"What?"

"You."

You have a way with words, Bee.

"Arcee…"

"Huh?"

"Pl-Please? J-Just this once?"

I knew what you wanted.

"Only if you want to, Bumblebee…"

"Do you feel it in there?" You tapped my spark. I nodded.

"And I feel it in there." I tapped yours.

It was just about to begin as I slid my hand down your leg.

"B-Bumblebee, go easy please."

"I will, my love."

That night was the first time I had ever engaged in human sexual…reproduction. Primus, the term is far worse than sparkbonding, but Bumblebee, that night, I truly drifted up to the clouds and past that, to Heaven. To the Well of Allsparks.

Every little thing you did sent pleasurous shivers through every nerve and bone in my human protoform's body, and I felt you so close to me, our sparks flirting with each other the entire time. I was surely nervous, afraid almost, but you pushed all of that away by just a simple gesture of whispering in my ear, telling me not to be afraid.

"Don't be scared, Arcee. Don't hold back."

Simple, short, enough to soothe a shaking femme like me. And I listened to you, I didn't hold back the slightest bit. We got lost in each other that late, late night. I remember feeling your spark right under my ear, my hand, under my own. Feeling and hearing it thrum so strongly, Bumblebee, is a feeling irreplaceable.

We went all the way, baby. All the way to twins.

"Primus, Arcee," Ratchet had breathed. "You're not going to believe this."

"Wh-What is it, Ratchet?"

"…It's something good. Very good."

"What is it?"

He grinned. "I'm happy to announce that you two will be having twins."

Twins, Bumblebee. The news are still too good to be true.

"What can ya tell, doc?" Jazz had asked.

"Yes, are they mechs? Femmes?"

Everyone's questions were making the suspense grow.

"…A mech and a femmebot."

You were a father now, and I was a mother; I had never been carrying sparklings before. Hot Rod and I, though we had been together for an uncountable amount of years, chose to hold back our time for sparklings until the war became less heated. But, postponing with you…that didn't feel right in my spark. I knew you would be a wonderful father for our sparklings. And I had no doubt about that.

"Congratulations, Dad. And Arcee…congrats," Darren had said.

"Thank you."

Zaidian and Xylastar were absolutely beautiful, Bumblebee.

"Hello, our precious creations," you cooed. "You don't know me yet, but you will."

Those words were absolutely from your spark.

Oh, it brings tears to my optics whenever I remember Zaidian mumbling his first word to you, "Dada." I'm sure you remember that too. And, Xylastar calling Ironhide, "Dada," too. Primus, our sparklings were amazing, and will be forever. Perhaps we'll be able to see their own creations, their own sparkmates and friends. Primus allowing.

"Daddy. Can you say that, Zaidian?"

Zaidian only stared at you with those wide, baby blue optics.

"Daddy, Zaidian. Daddy."

"D-D…D-Da…"

"C'mon, you've got it…Say, 'Daddy.'"

"D-Dad…D-Da."

"You've got it, son. Keep going."

He was a shy little mechling, starting to cry when he noticed everyone staring at him. But, being the loving mech you are, you cooed at him.

"Daddy's here."

"D-D…D-Dada."

Oh, Zaidian. How quickly he learned.

It seemed our joy would last forever with the blessing of our sparkling twins.

But, there's a downside to everything…

The unexpected happens, and it definitely did take its toll when Hot Rod stole me away from you when you were most unaware, Bumblebee. It was horrible. Hot Rod can be very considerate, but this time, he obviously wasn't.

"You're a traitor, Hot Rod," I snapped. "Wait 'till I tell Optimus. You'll be in detention forever."

He arrogantly didn't take that as a threat.

…Leaving poor Xyla there in the hall by herself, snatching away a fragile human in his fist. I didn't know much about your human friend, but I could tell that he was weak, from causes I still don't know. It hurt me to see him in pain.

"I don't understand why Bumblebee favors you so…Why you in particular to so many other humans."

"Why do you care?"

"Oh, so you talk now?"

"I always have. You're just too greedy to realize anything."

That's when Hot Rod got angry, squeezing Darren when he knows damn well that humans are to be unharmed.

"…S-Stop…!" Darren had cried.

Hot Rod kept going.

His anger was overpowering him; he was becoming greedy, willing to do anything to get me back. I can't believe he went so far as to bond with me, without my granted permission…

That night still frightens me.

"So, tell me what I want, Arcee…" he had told me.

"I love you, Hot Rod."

When he overrid our sparkmate bond, everything felt as if I had been brainwashed for the time being. When you looked at me, after Optimus took Hot Rod aside, I didn't recognize you; I was based entirely on my spark. The bond being gone, it saw yours as a stranger, unknown…foreign. I saw the tears in your eyes, but I couldn't sympathize.

I just didn't know you.

"…A-Arcee?"

I didn't know you… "Bumblebee…?"

"…A-Arcee, you're…Our bond."

"Our bond cannot be renewed."

Tears poured from your eyes.

"Bumblebee…"

"Don't even say it, Arcee."

You held Darren, crying the entire time.

"Goodbye, Arcee."

Remembering, this brings tears to my optics. Then, it was as if you were simply a dream, a movie on a holoscreen even, just a scene.

I would never let that scene play itself again.

In the course of a few days, my processor cleared and time gave my spark time to settle. Feelings for you returned and I did sympathize, remembering not what I had left behind, but who; The sparklings, Optimus, Jazz, Ironhide, Ratchet, Darren…Everyone who loved and supported our family. I had left that all behind, and I had to escape to the one my spark knew would give me the best future.

You.

"…Th-The bond needs to be restored, Bumblebee. I-I can't…I-I can't…"

"Hot Rod. I'm not strong enough, Arcee. I can't override what he's established."

"Th-Then how can we…Bumblebee, the sparklings. I-I can't do this to them."

"Without the bond overridden, the sparklings won't feel your spark, nor will I. The bond will still seem as if it's only between three."

Bumblebee, you didn't have the strength yet to override a bond established by a mech like Hot Rod. You're young.

"Baby, what're we gonna do…? I-I can't just leave you…or Zaidian, or Xylastar."

"We'll have to wait until my spark matures…C-Could you wait for me, Arcee?"

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

"And I love you too, Arcee."

I gladly waited for you, because I love you.

Time would tell when you were ready, and it took you a decade, a good amount of time. Being prohibited from Adonis III grounds, I couldn't see you, which wrenched my spark. I was in Hot Rod's hands until one night, I broke free and ran to you, him unaware.

Primus, being in your arms that night after an entire decade was amazing…

"Primus Almighty…A-Arcee? H-How did you - "

"How did I sneak in? Optimus just returned from outside. I snuck in right before the doors closed. Bumblebee, you see how much I'd go through just to come to you?"

"You could've been caught. Don't scare me like that again…" You smiled.

"Maybe I just will."

My hands brushed over your heart.

"Such a strong spark…"

It had matured.

"Strong for you, love," you cooed.

"You remember what you told me to do?"

A whole decade ago.

"How could I forget?"

"Wait for me, Arcee…," were the words.

Moments later, we were outside…About to begin the most intense event I had ever been through.

The most intense ride of my life.

Magical, it was.

And that night, Primus, that night…Bumblebee, it was incredible. Our first sparkbonding experience. Feeling your heart beating madly under mine, in mine…Sensational. Your hands working magic, the noises that chirped from your modulators made me want to scream out in pleasure.

Magical.

After that experience, I knew you were the one. I absolutely knew it. The pulses in our bond were so strong, so unfailing. I had yours, Optimus', Ironhide's, Ratchet's, Jazz's, Zaidian's, Xyla's, and even Darren's…Could it have been any stronger?

Our foundation was powerful. And no one could override this bond.

Making me yours forever.

"W-We did it, baby. Th-The bond's established. Bumblebee, I can return to you now. Hot Rod has to let me leave."

"How in Primus' name is he going to do that? He won't be doing that easily."

You were still worried.

"He has to. My spark can't turn back to him. Our bond is too solid, non-interfereable. Being stronger has nothing to do with anything anymore. The bond is set for good. Bumblebee, don't you get it? I'm yours, baby."

I saw the tears of joy in your optics.

"Y-You're mine…"

"Yours, Bumblebee."

"…How is it that I could override his bond, but he can't do the same to mine?"

I patted your chest. "This connection is far stronger. We not only have this one established, but we've got the Primus given sparkmate bond, pulsations from our sparklings, from your little human friend…From every member of the squad here. Every spark supports us. Hot Rod and I didn't have that foundation."

"…W-We have done it."

"We have. We'll be together forever."

"Forever…Together."

You held me against you, letting the calmed beats of your spark relax me, sending tears of joy spilling from my optics.

"I'll love you until the end of it all," you murmured. "I love you more than anything.""A-And I love you too, Bumblebee. Don't ever leave me, baby. I don't want to lose you ever again."

"Arcee, you won't lose me. I promise you. I'll be here for as long as you need me."

"And I, you."

.:"Even if you lose me," his voice was quiet beside the boy's ear. "I'll always be right here..." He tapped Darren's chest:.

.:"In my heart," Darren finished for him. Chuckling, he tapped Bumblebee's mighty chest with both of his small palms. "A-And, I'll always be right here...":.

.:"In my spark.":.

Those same words to Darren.

Primus.

"And, baby, you know…" You said, touching my spark. "…Even if you lose me, I'll always be right here."

"In my spark," I said. "And, Bumblebee, you know I'll always be right there." I gave your yellow chestplate a few rubs.

You pulled me in this most passionate kiss, then murmured, "You'll be in my spark. Always."

I love you, Bumblebee.

Sweet little honeybee.