(Here is the next chapter you have been waiting for. Sorry for the long wait.)

"Elita, are you certain that you must leave?" Optimus beseeched Elita 1 as she was preparing to depart from the Autobot headquarters, located at the city of Iacon. It had been nearly a few weeks since they had returned form the recovery at the town of Solarian and after they had returned and became the surrogate parents to a little sparkling named Bumblebee. For a couple of days, everything was alright and nothing unexpected happened, until the base had received reports of the Decepticons attacking the western part of Iacon, just a could miles away. The team of which had been dispersed to handle the Decepticons included most of the female Autobots; including Elita 1.

"I have to, Optimus. I am the leader of the Female Autobots, and it is my duty to lead them." Elita 1 said to her bond mate. "And besides, I can handle Decepticons. Elita 1 knows no fear, remember?"

Optimus nodded. "Yes, I remember. But, the Decepticons are getting much stronger after they had ravaged most of our energy supplies in the neighboring capitols. There is no telling what power they have and are capable of using against us." Optimus Prime then took hold of her hands and cooed. "And, there is a chance that you might not survive. It would bring me great pain to hear you have perished, even more pain for our child."

Elita lowered her head and thought about her decision. She knew that she was risking her life to aid her companions, and she knew that Prime really loved her. However, she had to do what was right for her allegiance, even if it meant that she were to die for her team. "I understand how you feel, Optimus. But, I swear that I will be alright. I am much stronger than most others believe." Elita 1 said.

Optimus smiled sadly for he knew she was strong, both physically and mentally. She was a skilled fighter and a tactful leader. Maybe she would be safe. He and Elita then kissed deeply. "I will pray to Primus that you will make it, Elita 1."

"And I shall do the same for you...and Bumblebee." Elita 1 nodded.

As they kissed, a small cry came form a room right next to theirs. It was a built in nursery that the Autobots had constructed to accommodate the little sparkling. Elita 1 and Optimus went over to find that Bumblebee had awoken from his sleep and was crying after being disturbed by something. What that 'something' was, they didn't know.

"Easy there, child." Elita 1 cooed as she lifted him up, blanket and all, and rocked him side to side. "I don't want to leave either, but I have to help my friends." After a couple of moments Bumblebee had settled down and hiccuped and beeped at his surrogate mother. "There we go. No more sad faces. You be good for Optimus while I am gone, okay?"

The yellow and black sparkling whirred and cooed as he reached up with a hand and touched Elita 1's nose plate. "I take that as a yes." Elita smiled as he laid him back into his cradle, where he instantly went back to sleep. Elita 1 smiled before she turned to Optimus and they hugged each other, whispering their goodbye's, and the pink femme left the room. Prime stood over the crib and watched Bumblebee for a few seconds before he left to his quarters to rest, but he was feeling that Bumblebee was all alone in the nursery. However, he knew that the nursery had a camera and that the camera was also linked to a screen in his quarters; a monitor in which he can check on Bumblebee. However, he didn't realize that this night would be something he would never forget.

The night air was cool and silent; the stars in the Catilina blue sky glistening like rare crystals. All about the city of Iacon the entire population was in rest from a hard day's work. However, the night was an ally to the enemy; for when all optics were dimming and closing shut for sleep, a winged spy flew above them.

Laserbeak.

This Mini-Cassete Con had been sent by the Leader of the Decepticons to spy on the Autobots for any information after some frequent failures to weaken the Autobots the past few weeks. Desperate times did call for desperate measures, and that's what the Decepticons were going to do. Spy on the Autobots and use what they find to their advantage.

Laserbeak saw the tall building of the Autobots base and perched himself unpin a window ledge and peered inside, seeing only an empty storage room. He went over to the next window, and nothing was there. He tried again, and again, and again but could not find anything. Just then he came upon one window that had something very interesting.

As he peered in, his red optics flashing as if he were blinking, he a spotted a little yellow bot in a cradle in a small nursery. Before he could figure out who's quarters it was, the sparkling inside suddenly awoke as if it had sensed Laserbeak's presence, and spotted the black and red bird cassette bot and instantly felt afraid and started to cry.

A light from behind a door went on and Laserbeak saw that he had to retreat so as to not be seen. He manage to hide himself at a distance where he could easily watch the window where the sparkling was.

Optimus Prime had the lights turned off after all the Autobots were all safety in their quarters and that all was well in the base the moment he heard Bumblebee's startled and fearful cries. He turned the lights back on and raced over to the nursery and went inside, immediately taking the sparkling into his arms and rocked him gently.

"Shh, shh. What's wrong, little one. What's the matter?" Optimus quietly asked as he wiped away the tears. Bumblebee could not answer because he was still a baby, and could only express his current emotion by his voice. Bumblebee kept crying as he grabbed onto Prime's chest and buried his head into the chest; he wanted the scary black bird from outside to not get him and he wanted his father to keep him safe.

"Oh, Bumblebee. Easy now. Don't cry. I am right here." Prime felt a great deal of pain in his spark as he watched Bumblebee weeped against him. He had to find a way to comfort Bumblebee and cease his crying; but how?

That's when he remembered something that he remembered seeing Elita 1 do whenever Bumblebee was in one of his crying spell; she would hold him close to her and pat his head gently while she would carefully nuzzle him with her cheek plate and nose.

That was exactly what Prime did at that moment. He left the nursery and went to his quarters while still keeping the sparkling with him, moved Bumblebee up to his shoulder so that Bumblebee could wrap his small arms around Optimus's neck, held him there and began patting the sparklings head soothingly and tenderly, rubbing his smooth face mask against Bee's cheek plate.

"I'm right here. Come now, Bumblebee. No need to be afraid." he cooed, his voice almost as gentle and strong as pure gold. Bumblebee's infant CPU could not understand the meaning of his guardians words, but he did understand that whenever Prime was speaking in that tone it would mean that Prime would not leave him; he would protect him from any harm.

As Optimus had suspected Bumblebee's weeping was gone and the sparkling cooed and hiccuped. With a sigh of relief, Optimus decided that Bumblebee could sleep with him since that Elita 1 was gone at the time being. Before Prime could rest himself onto the berth Bumblebee started to make some bubbly noises and he looked at the yellow sparkling. Bumblebee was making little bubbles from his own saliva; about five little bubbles sticking onto the lip plates as Bee burbled and warbled. Bumblebee then looked at Optimus and smiled.

Bumblebee opened his mouth to emit a sound; but as he did the bubbles suddenly popped one by one, startling Bumblebee and Prime, although he was more in control of his reaction. Instead of crying Bumblebee then looked back at Optimus and saw that his fathers face was once again blocked by the mask and placed his tiny hands onto the mask ash traced it around. "Oh, I see. Here," Optimus cooed as he retracted his face mask, catching Bumblebee by surprise again, but the sparkling giggled slightly because he was happy that Prime's face place was back.

Just then, Optimus saw that the sparklings attention was drawn to his blue hand and he lifted it up to Bumblebee. To his astonishment Bumblebee placed his own tiny hand right in the middle of Primes palm. Bumblebee babbled in wonder at how big his fathers hands were, but Prime smiled warmly at the sight. It was amazing at how much Bumblebee was almost the same as him; despite being a small mini bot the sparkling was not showing any fear or hesitance to him.

After a few moments of this, Optimus finally took the sparkling up to his face and laid a loving kiss on Bumblebee's forehead and laid himself down on his back on the berth, keeping Bumblebee close to his chest. As if the sleepiness was starting to spread, Bumblebee yawned a big yawn and snuggled Optimus, grabbing his chest plate with one hand, his grip tight.

Optimus felt the hand and looked at Bumblebee again, smiled, and carefully wrapped both arms around the sparkling in a warm hug. "I love you, too." he whispered, and fell asleep.

Laserbeak had watched the entire scene with amazement. However, he also knew that his master would be even more amazed when he returned. Seeing that his goal was complete, Laserbeak took to the air and returned to the Decepticons, ready to show his finding to his tyrant leader: Megatron.

The next day was quiet and neutral as Mirage awoke and had his energon before he started his work at a small shop in Iacon. He and his father, Rooter, were relocated to Iacon after the recent attacks so as to be safe from any harm, and Mirage had taken it upon himself to run two shifts at the repair shop he and his rathe enow owned. Rooter had been an expert welder in his prime, but his health at the moment was starting to decline. So, out of his father's gratitude, Mirage had taken both his job and Rooters position as repair bot and welder. Even though it was straining him to the point of having a occasional sprain or cramp in his joints, Mirage managed to earn enough income for him and Rooter.

It still pained him that his father did not allow him to join the Autobots, but now that his father was ill he knew that he had to stay and care for him.

That morning, Mirage was finishing up three repairs for five of his clients when he heard a bell at the door. The bell was a sign that another customer had arrived. "Coming!" he called out as he managed to reconnect some piping and redirected some wiring in a buffer. He then stood up, wiped some oil off his armor, took the three appliances and returned them to one of his clients and turned his attention to the new customer. "Good morning, sir. How may I-"

He stopped at mid-sentence when he saw who it was. It was one of the Autobots who had been around to help him and his father in the attack many weeks ago. "Hey there, squirt. It's been a long while, ain't it?" said the red bot with a southern accent.

"Has it. Oh, I'm glad to see you, mister.."

"Ironhide. Ironhide's my designation, kiddo." Ironhide chuckled as he offered his hand to the youngling, and Mirage took it, feeling the strong mechs grip tighten on his hand but it wasn't meant to cause pain. "I have heard about your starting business and decided to stop and check it out, and-" He pulled out his heavy gun and place don the stand. "...I may need this old buddy of mine readjusted. It's been having some stalls in mid-fire and I was wondering if you could fix it up for me."

"Oh, I can do it, but I have some other orders I need to take care of. I'll try to fit your gun into my schedule." Mirage answered. Just then a bot who had been sitting down spoke up, asking Mirage what was taking so long and that he needed to get his detachable shield now, for the bot in question needed to get to his occupation as soon as possible. "It's coming, sir." Mirage answered and excused himself from Ironhide as he left to the back room to get the shield in question as well as Ironhide's gun.

Ironhide was curious and decided to sneak into the back room; Mirage was unaware that Ironhide had followed him until he turned around and came face to face with the red mech. Mirage jumped, startled. "Oh!"

"Sorry, kiddo," said the red mech kindly. "I was simply wondering what kind of work you did here."

The youngling looked a little shy at that. "Well, just whatever projects come in," he said. "My father's taught me everything I know about guns and the orders that come in." Mirage then looked sad, which Ironhide noticed and placed a gentle hand on the youngling's shoulder in encouragement. Mirage looked up at him. "Father is very ill and not getting better."

Ironhide gave him a sympathetic look. "Rooter is a good mech," he said comfortingly. "I'm sorry to hear he is not doing well."

"Thank you," said Mirage, grateful for the comfort and the kind words.

"Have you considered having someone come to take care of your father while you run the shop?"

The question was gentle, instead of harsh, but Mirage shook his head all the same. "We can't afford it," he said. "I make enough for my father and I, but that's pretty much it." He then sighed. "If only I could afford someone to watch Father," he said. "It would be good for him and I could join the Autobots knowing my father is well cared for."

Ironhide saw the determination in the youngling's optics to join the Autobots, but also the loyalty to his father and was proud the youngling was choosing to take care of his father over his dreams. That was a sacrifice in itself. "You sure are a dedicated mech, and you sure gained yourself a loyal customer." Ironhide chuckled, making Mirage smile.

Just then, Irohide heard a transmission come in from his com link; he excused Mirage for a sec to answer it. It was Ratchet calling to see if Ironhide could return to base and aid him in some things that needed Ironhide's bulk. After signing off his com link, Ironhide turned to Mirage and said he had to leave. "Alright. I'll be sure to have your gun ready sometime by tomorrow," Mirage said and the two shook hands. Watching the Autobot leave the back room, Mirage sighed once again before he got back to work on both the gun and shield. Little had he known that his loyalty and dedication would be put to the test in later time, and it was coming much sooner that he had expected.

*Authors Note*

(Holy moly! I apologize in advance to all of those who have been waiting for almost an ENTIRE YEAR for this chapter to come! I have been so busy this lately, but I have finally managed to reward your patience with the continuation of Discovery, but, however, I am starting to feel that there have been many stories of how Bumblebee was found and raised. I feel like I am just adding another addition to the collection. I am not sure whether or not if I should discontinue or go on. What do you think? Spaklring Lover out. Also, special thanks to GoldGuardian2418 for helping me out in this chapter.)