This chapter would've been so much longer, but I'm really sick. Everything hurts, and it hurts to even type. (Sigh) Sorry I didn't get this chapter up last night. But, anyways, enjoy it and do except yet another chapter. x3
Chapter Forty-Eight – Fathers and Sons
The Lomeli Residence
Darren sat alone on the bed, his back against the wooden part of its frame, his arms cradling his son ever so easily against his heart. Jonathan watched him with wide, green eyes, his soft locks of blonde hair tussled lazily by his father's fingers, back and forth, back and forth, to and fro against his little forehead. Jonathan hummed, watching his father's fingers.
I love those quiet hours so much,
And cherish every one.
Store memories up inside my heart,
For lonely nights to come.
Jonathan giggled, both of his tiny hands grabbing one of his father's fingers. "Daddy…"
Darren grinned. "Hmm?"
Before Jonathan could speak again, his head turned toward the door, eyes wide as he heard voices from behind it. Darren sighed and lifted the baby to his shoulder, feeling a tiny head tuck itself in the crook of his neck, nuzzling. Darren let his jaw run up and down the baby's head, and Jonathan let his hand run across the hard bone. Darren patted his back lightly, then rubbed little circles into the soft skin.
His little head is feather-light,
Tucked up against my chin.
I hold his tiny hand in mine,
And stroke his baby skin.
"Shhh," he cooed.
"M-Mommy?"
"Outside, John," answered Darren, tilting his head toward the door. "She'll be back with us soon."
Jonathan whimpered, tiny hands digging into his father's shoulder. Darren couldn't help, but grin, then lowered the infant back to his chest, lifting his knees as he leaned back. Darren closed his eyes, feeling Jonathan set his cheek against his chest, humming to himself. The man stroked the baby's body.
"Daddy loves you, Johnny," whispered Darren.
"Mmm," the baby hummed. "Daddy…"
Jonathan smiled as he swayed back and forth against his dad's heart, listening to it, his tiny hands clawing at it.
"Mmmm…"
No one's here to see.
As we rock slowly back and forth,
My baby boy and me.
Jonathan nuzzled deeper, loving the way his father's strong, warm chest felt nearby him, and the heart that beat under his tiny ear, calming him to a collection of tiny gurgles and hums, the innocent smile never disappearing from his face.
Darren grinned, his eyes still closed, feeling that tiny head against his skin.
"M'here, Jonathan," he yawned. His large hand fell over the back of the baby's head, fingers stroking. "Rest, baby…"
Jonathan yawned too and nodded his little head. His small hand lifted and Darren instinctively took it, concealing it completely within his own.
And yet I know the day will come,
When this tiny little hand,
Will be much bigger than my own.
He'll grow to be a man.
But, until then he's mine to love,
With no one here to see .
As we rock slowly back and forth,
My baby boy and me.
Darren's eyelids lifted and he saw the little baby sleeping in his arms, cheek against his chest, quiet snores from his mouth. The man grinned and leaned down, planting his soft lips against the top of the baby's head in a tender kiss. He leaned back only slightly, droopy blue eyes watching as Jonathan's opened, wide, green, and innocent in his.
Darren smiled. "Love you, Jonathan."
//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\
Outside the Bedroom
Bumblebee's eyes drooped as they looked into Nicolette's, his arms crossing across his chest as he made a face, listening to the human's words.
"…A-And, after what I saw those many years ago at Mission City," she was saying. "I-I've just been…apprehensive about you robots." Her eyes quickly sized Bumblebee up, nervous, wide. "Sir, it's not only you - "
"No, I understand that much," he cut her off, eyes dropping to the floor. "I'm just wondering how I could gain the trust I need from you." His imploring eyes lifted to hers. "…Since you're not taking my word about me being completely harmless, when I am."
She blinked. "…Well, you could try and convince me a bit more," she put plainly.
Bumblebee twisted his lip. "I was the one who even found your husband when he was a teenager," he said quietly. "…When he was running away from his home. I found him, took him to our base not too far from here. Nicolette, had I not found him, who knows where Darren could be?"
Nicolette dropped her gaze, listening to Bumblebee's words.
"Mrs. Lomeli," Bumblebee took a step forward. "I practically raised Darren from the horrible life he used to be a part of. I saved him from that." He sighed. "If he were still in that life, with all of the abuse…" he dropped his gaze. "Nicolette, do you think he would be here right now?"
She looked at him.
"Alive, at least?"
The woman winced and shook her head. "…N-No, I don't."
"Exactly," Bumblebee said. "I deeply care for him and I support your family more than one hundred percent."
Nicolette smiled. "Thank you, Sir."
"Please, call me, 'Bumblebee,'" he told her with a smile. "Or, 'Bee.' Whatever you want."
She nodded, flashing him a wider grin. "Alright," she giggled. "Bumblebee. That's an…interesting name."
He blushed. "Well, as a robot," he explained. "My armor is yellow and black." He shrugged. "Hence the name."
She laughed. "Ah', I see." Her form rotated towards the door. "Will you be visiting us more often, Bumblebee?"
He nodded. "I was wondering if…your family could see mine some time," he said. "Since, my sparkmate couldn't join us today."
"You're married?"
"Yeah," he laughed.
"Oh, that's right," she said, shaking her head. "You're the one with the twins!"
"Yes, I am," Bumblebee smiled.
"They're eleven, you said."
"They are."
Nicolette nodded to herself. "I would definitely love to see them some time." She grinned. "Later this week perhaps?"
Bumblebee nodded. "Yeah, sounds nice." He held his hand out between them, remembering the proper human salutation for when you had just met someone. He smiled. "It was nice meeting you, Nicolette."
She giggled, taking his hand and giving it a small squeeze. "Likewise, Bumblebee."
Bumblebee started for the stairs. "Tell Darren and Jonathan I said, 'Goodbye.'"
"Oh, I will," she called back at him. "You take care."
"You too."
With that, Bumblebee descended down the small flight of stairs, the memories of Jonathan and Darren still fresh in his mind, flashing. Pictures of them played themselves over and over through his processor, making his spark flutter happily inside him.
Darren, a father.
The sound of that was almost too good to be true.
A teen brought up, raised from an abusive lifestyle, a childhood spent in fear and loneliness with no proper role models at all, and the longing for a change to set him away from it all. Now, look at him. When Bumblebee looked into Darren's blue eyes, he didn't see any of that anymore. He saw desire, youth, understanding, and most importantly, love.
But, the scars on his body were a completely different story.
Stepping outside, Bumblebee transformed himself into his robot form before transitioning smoothly into his Camaro figure, revving his engine in a final goodbye before he drove down the driveway, and headed for the Adonis III.
Back to the base to hold the sparkmate of his dreams and his younglings once again. They'd be his forever, there forever with their unbreakable bond, always until they had their own little ones.
Picture that in his processor? Primus, the image was too great to bear.
But, again, he couldn't believe where Darren stood today, compared to the many years ago when they first laid eyes on each other. Darren's corrupted soul, the one twisted heart that held so much anguish, was healed.
"I'm never letting this happen to you again," Bumblebee had said as Darren fought through his tears of pain.
And look, the promise had been kept.
No more pain came in Darren's way.
Only an uncountable amount of blessings.
Bumblebee smiled to himself, his engine revving.
Thank you, Primus.
I watched you grow into a man,
You have brought me so much joy.
In everything we have gone through,
I know that I am blessed;
No matter what the circumstance,
God sent His very best.
Everything I longed for,
And made all my dreams come true.
If God had given me the chance,
To search the world for a son;
My search would end when I found you,
For you are the perfect one.