Hi everyone! So I've wanted to write this chapter for a long time! Now I finally get to share it with all of you! Hope you all enjoy! Please review and tell me what you think! All the pictures for this chapter are now on my profile. Also the movie poll on my profile is being taken down today. Thanks to everyone who voted!As always, I own nothing!
~Mel

The early Friday morning cargo plane was what woke Alise up the 23rd of June. At first she forgot what the date was, her mind trying to start and work. But then it hit her that it was indeed her birthday, and she smiled a little. Due to the date, and that she was surprising not all the tired, she got up, washed, dressed herself (today in a one-shelved red, black, and gray dress), and walked out the door to where Ironhide was instead of going back to sleep like she normally would have. When she got to his location, she was greeted by him with a grunt as he opened the door for her.

"You're awake early," he said to her as she climbed up the side of the Topkick. Sitting down, she laughed.

"Well, I figured I'd start the day early I guess," she told him. He grunted once more.

"Good thing. I've been asked to be your chauffeur to a few events this morning."

"Chauffeur?" she asked with a laugh. "To what exactly?"

"Events to celebrate your coming into the world, I presume. Which reminds me." The glove compartment in the Topkick suddenly opened. Inside was a tiny box with a single red bow on top. "Happy Date of Birth."

"'Hide," Alise said slowly, touched. "You got me something?"

"Isn't that customary on a day such as this?"

"It is, but... I just wasn't excepting anything." Alise felt tears coming to her eyes. She couldn't believe that he had actually put effort into giving her a gift.

"Oh, just open it. And don't leak on me, you'll wreck my upholstery."

Laughing, Alise nodded and opened the box. Inside was a small red container that could fit in the palm of her hand. There was also a sprayer at the top of the bottle. She wasn't certain, but she had an idea of what it was.

"'Hide..." she started."Is this... pepper spray?"

He grunted, and she could almost hear the smirk on his face. "The base of the product is, but Ratchet modified it. Now its effects will last hours longer than originally intended. Burn more, also."

Alise laughed. Of course 'Hide would pick such a gift for her. "Thank you, 'Hide. I love it. Hopefully, I'll never have to use it."

He rumbled in agreement, and then the two started to drive to where he was supposed to first take Alise. Their first stop was the cafeteria. When they arrived, Chief came out of the back kitchen (not something that happened often) and handed Alise a little, red velvet cake for one person on a plate. On the top, written in yellow icing were the words HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALISE. Alise, touched by the man's gesture, gave him a heartfelt thank you and a hug.

"This is because you continue to put up with us," Chief joked, and she laughed. He liked Alise. She was a good kid on an island of misfit soldiers, all of whom he knew. He always warned them to stay away from her whenever he heard them talking about her in the caf. He had seen the way Ironhide and the other bots looked at her like a little sister, and he knew none of them would have a problem reprimanding anyone who would make her feel uncomfortable.

When he went back to the kitchen, Alise sat down at a table next to 'Hide in his Topkick form and started to eat it after obtaining a fork. She determined it was the most delicious cake she had ever eaten. When she was done, she disposed of the trash and climbed back into the Topkick.

The next stop was over to the soldiers' quarters. When they arrived, Wash was standing outside the area, his hands behind his back. Alise stepped out of the Topkick and walked over to him.

"Happy birthday!" he told, giving her a hug. Alise noticed that he had a small black box in his hand.

"Thanks, Wash," she said, laughing. Then he held out the box to her. "Wash, what is this?"

"It's just a little gift from all us soldiers," he said with a chuckle.

"You guys didn't have to do that!" she said. She couldn't believe everyone was actually doing all these special things for her. He only laughed.

"Sure we did! We all chipped in and had it shipped in on the plane. Just open it, see if you like it."

She sighed and shook her head, but opened the box. Inside was a beautiful silver bracelet. It looked like silver lines stacked on top of each other, and it shined in the light. It was a thicker bracelet, and it could slip her wrist through an opening in the back. Alise looked up at Wash, wide eyed.

"Wash... this is beautiful," she said. "You guys..." Tears started to lightly cross down her face for the second time that day. Oh god. If the day continues like this, I'll flood the place, she thought to herself. Wash laughed and pulled her into another hug. When they parted, she quickly slipped it on her wrist.

"Glad you like it," he said. "I'll be sure to tell the guys you did. I'll catch you later, okay? You have somewhere to be."

"I do?" she asked, wiping the tears from her face. He laughed.

"Yeah, you'll see in a little. Bye."

"Bye."

After giving him a small wave, she walked back over to Ironhide. "Why did Wash say I needed to be somewhere?" she asked as she climbed into the Topkick.

He grunted. "You'll see." She sighed.

They then drove over to the center of the hangar. The Unity was there, and there were men unloading the supplies that it had just brought back from the states from the belly of the plane. Many of them were carting crates and large boxes. This wasn't anything unusual. She'd seen the normal Friday unloading ritual. But this day, she looked out the window of the Topkick and looked over to see Epps and Lennox standing next to the plane. Talking with them was a man that Alise had never seen before. She couldn't see him very well from the location she was at, but she knew that he was unfamiliar.

"This is your stop," Ironhide grunted when he stopped driving. He then opened his driver's seat door for her to exit. She gingerly climbed down, unsure of what to expect. She stepped away from 'Hide, and looked around the room for whatever was waiting her. She then heard her name being called.

"Alise!"

She turned around. Looking over at her was Lennox, Epps, and the man. Lennox started to wave her over as Epps laughed. Alise chuckled also, and started to walk. As she did, she finally got a good look at the man. He looked to be about her age, maybe a little older. He was about 6'3 and had muscle on him though he wasn't built bulky, and his hair was a darker blond that was short and laid wildly on the top of his head. He had a broad face and tan skin, and Alise couldn't help but mentally comment that he was very handsome. And as she was thinking that, she saw that he was smiling widely at her, a look of happiness etched on his face. It nearly took her breath away. His expression confused her, but that was when she noticed his electric blue eyes...

She walked up to the three, trying to get away from under the man's look, and addressed Lennox and Epps.

"Hey, what's up?" she greeted them happily. Lennox smirked at her, and Epps laughed once.

"Hey, happy birthday, Lise," Epps said, reaching over and giving her a hug and Lennox doing the same. "We wanted you to meet someone." He gestured to him, and Alise then turned towards the man.

"Hello," she greeted him with a smile, holding out her hand. "My name is Alise. And you are?"

The man slowly and gingerly reached out and took her hand, closing it in a firm grasp. It lingered there for a moment longer than necessary when they parted. His blue eyes lit up at her and he smiled, leaving her breathless. What is wrong with me? she asked herself. You have Bee. What more could you possibly want? But there was something about this man that was so familiar, she couldn't shake it.

"Bee," he said, his smile once again making her catch her breath again.

"B?" she asked, not knowing what he was actually saying. "What does that stand for?"

The man smirked.

"Bumblebee."

Alise visibly flinched and took a step back. Not only was what the man said shocking, but his voice was just as surprising. It sounded too much like... his. Impossible, she thought to herself. It can't be...

But then she remembered that it was entirely possible.

The holoform...

In that moment, something caught her eye over the man's shoulder. To her absolute delight, parked in the corner of the base, she saw a familiar yellow Chevy Camaro, hidden away from view. Her heart almost stopped.

Her hand flew to her mouth and she gasped.

"Bee?" she said, tears starting to fall down her face. He laughed and opened his arms.

"Hey, belle," he said lovingly. The words forced a cry from her, and she ran into his arms.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and he wrapped enveloped her in his. She took in his scent of motor oil and leather, a smell she had grown to love and desperately miss, as he started to slowly run his fingers through her long hair, a feeling that he felt lost without. The two of them were so happy to be back in each other's arms that it could not be put into words. Tears were continually running down Alise's cheeks and every few seconds she would let out tiny sobs into his chest. After a moment, she looked up at him and started to touch her hands to his face and through his hair.

"Oh my god," she said through the tears, laughing as he took one of his hands to wipe them away with a wide smile on his face. "This is your holoform?" He laughed and then nodded slowly. She buried her face in his chest again, sniffling. "Oh my god, you're here!"

He chuckled, the sound warming her beating heart, and then placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, resting his against hers. Both of the actions sent waves of electricity through her. They also surprised her. She was used to doing this with normal Bee, not a holoform. She was shaking a little from the excitement, and Bee held her tighter.

"I'm here, belle, I'm here," he said to her. He hadn't felt so elated in months. With her away, a piece of him was missing, and his Spark didn't seem quite right. However, with her there in his arms, the electricity he had been missing had returned, and he felt complete again. His Alise was with him again.

She laughed, looking up at him, into his bright blue eyes. "What are you doing here?" she asked happily, not wanting to let go of him. "Where's Sam?" He pushed a lock of hair that had fallen in her face behind her ear.

"Sam is back home," Bee answered, softly. His voice sounded the same, only it was less mechanical. "Sideswipe arrived yesterday on the cargo plane in South Gate and we traded places. He's going to be with him until I get back."

Something suddenly clicked in Alise's mind. The mission Sides was assigned to was taking care of Sam while Bee was away. Her heart started to fill with affection for everyone who had a hand in this operation, just to get Bee to her. The thought of Sideswipe having to take care of Sam was quite comical to her. She could just picture him driving with Sam well over the speed limit down a long road while performing stunts that would make Evel Knievel cringe.

"Is that safe?" she asked with a laugh.

Bee shrugged, and bit his lip in a very human-like way. "I'm not entirely certain. However, it was either that or not come. And I wasn't about to do that."

She stood on her toes and connected their foreheads once more, smiling so brightly light seemed to be coming from her. She took one of her hands and traced it along his face, graphing it with her fingers. After moment of this, she rested her hand on the side of his head, and he leaned into the touch.

"Your voice sounds good," she commented quietly, her eyes closed.

"The holoform uses a different form of voice communication," he explained, equally as quiet. "It's not the same one that's damaged."

"Okay," she said in understanding. She opened her eyes to see him watching her softly. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, belle," he said fondly, giving her a gentle squeeze in his alright tight hold. "I wanted to come sooner, but this was the only right time. Which reminds me..." Then he took one of his hands pulled something out of his back pocket. It was a small black jewelry box. He handed it to her. "Happy birthday." Alise slowly took the box out of his hand and, after looking up at him wide eyed, opened it. What was inside made her gasp.

Lying gently on the box was a necklace. On a simple gold chain was a charm in the shape of a bumblebee, complete with tiny wings and a striped yellow body. It was so simple and beautiful, that it brought more tears to Alise's already wet face. Running a finger along the charm, she turned it over to see, to her delight, the Autobot insignia engraved at the bottom. She looked up at him with loving eyes.

"Bee, this is beautiful," she told him, sniffling a little. "How did you get this?"

Bee laughed. "I bought it with all the money I won from Sam," he told her. She laughed.

"From Sunday football?" He simply nodded with smile on his face, making her laugh more.

"The necklace has a modification, though," Bee continued. "There's a tracking device inside of it. I had it inserted along with the engraving."

"Why'd you put that in?" she asked curiously, a smile still on her face.

He gave her a hopeful smile. "So I don't lose you again." He gave her a small kiss on the forehead, the action making her knees feel weak. Then he looked at her seriously. "I put it in so I could always find you. You don't mind, do you?"

She shook her head. "No. I absolutely love it, Bee. Thank you so much."

He smiled down at her. "Of course."

Bee quickly took the necklace and helped Alise put it on when she asked. Adjusting it slightly and putting it in a location for all to see, she turned to him and smiled. He then took her hand and interlocked their fingers. The feeling of his hand in hers was electrifying, and the two smiled at one another fondly. Then, for the first time in a while, the two turned away from each other and towards the rest of the room.

Epps and Lennox had walked over to Ironhide, who was currently in his bipedal form. The three were discussing something when the two walked up behind them. 'Hide was the first to notice their presence, and the large bot bent down in front of them.

"You got smaller," he said to Bee, which made him laugh.

"Good seeing you, too, 'Hide," he answered. "Thank you, for everything."

'Hide nodded at him in response. Then Alise addressed the two other soldiers.

"I can't believe you two!" she said happily. "Thank you so much!"

"Of course, Lise," Lennox replied for the two of them, smiles on both their faces. "You both missed each other, and this seemed like the perfect time."

"Thank you for everything you've done," Bee told them, and he gave Alise's hand a squeeze. The two soldiers nodded at them.

"You two have a good week," Epps told them. "We'll see you guys later."

Goodbyes were exchanged, and after a moment, the two reunited ones were left alone. They stood there for a moment in the quiet, which was interrupted by some mumbling from behind them. Alise looked behind Bee. It was a small group of soldiers looking over at the two. She recognized them as some of the soldiers who didn't take Ironhide's threat to heart and continued to try and to ask her out.

"He doesn't look that big," one of them commented to the group. Alise rolled her eyes. She knew they were trying to figure out why Epps and Ironhide had made such a threat to them over some human that wasn't much different than them. She then turned back to Bee, only to see him glaring at the group himself.

"Bee...," she started to warn him.

"Is that them?" he asked her roughly, not turning away from them. She noticed that the group now had their backs turned towards them.

"Bee, please," she asked him, touching the side of his face. He looked down at her, his eyes softening. "Forget about them, okay? How about I give you a tour?"

After a moment, he smiled. "That sounds good."

"Good."

Bee started to walk, but Alise stayed in place. Confused, he turned around and looked at her.

"Is something wrong?" he asked her, and she shook her head.

"There's still someone I haven't seen," she told him, a smirk on her face.

"Who?" She smiled.

"The real you. The one I've been missing for the past three months."

Bee's confusion melted away at her words. He was a little shocked at first, but then his face turned into a bright smile. He walked closer to her and placed his hands on the sides of her face, connecting their foreheads again. He couldn't believe her request. He thought she'd want the holoform more than his bipedal self. But hearing which part of him she really wanted to see, the real him and not some illusion, made him feel completely content inside. He knew his Spark wanted this girl.

Closing his eyes, he stayed in that position for a moment, before he suddenly disappeared in a cloud of sparks. Alise jumped a little, not expecting his sudden exit, but she wasn't the only one. The group that had been watching them all let out a simultaneous gasp, none of them of them knowing that he wasn't human. Suddenly, there were the sounds of turning gears and Alise looked over to where the Camaro was sitting. However, it was now morphing into her favorite yellow bot.

When Bee was fully in his bipedal form, he quickly walked over to Alise and set his hand in front of her. She quickly got on, the action so familiar even after so many weeks of being apart. He brought her up to his face, and when they were making eye contact, she reached over and embraced his face. As she did this, he started running one of his massive fingers along her along her back, giving her chills. After a moment of this, she reluctantly let go, and he moved her to his shoulder. Burying herself in the crook of his neck, she started to trace circles along his armor, making him sigh. It had been too long.

Alise looked over the side of his shoulder and down at the group as Bee started to pass them. All their mouths were hanging over in disbelief, and the sight of them made Alise chuckle. As they passed, Bee looked down at the soldiers, giving them a look that made them all cringe. His message was clear: stay away. They all started to disperse immediately. After another moment of staring them down, Bee turned back to Alise with a smile on his face.

"'Where to ma lady?'" he voiced and she laughed contently. It was going to be a very good week.