Author's note. I've only just realised FF has a new feature where they automatically turn off email alerts, which explains why none of my recently uploaded chapters seemed to be getting any reviews.I've turned it back on but it goes off every 6 months, bit of a weird feature.

Enjoy and please review.

Half an hour later

"And there we are," Knockout announced as he pulled the buffer from Bee and turned it off.

"All done."

Ratchet came over to see Knockouts work and whispered.

"Wow, Bumblebee look at you."

"I can look?" Joked Bee but when he didn't get a reply, he opened his optics and looked down.

"Oh!" He gasped in utter amazement at the smothered, shiny armour that met his gaze.

"Come, look at in the mirror, " encouraged Knockout, gesturing to a large mirror.

Bumblebee ran to the mirror and skid to a stop
In front of it, his mouth hanging open at who stared back him. Slowly he raised his hand and lightly touched the tips of his fingers to his face, amazed and shocked.

"Primus," he exclaimed in awe, still staring at his reflection. "I can't believe it...that's me!"

"It certainly is," Knockout declared, coming over to admire the image. "I always give it my best."

"You look wonderful Bee," Ratchet stayed, also coming over.

"I...I don't know what to say." Bumblebee reared up as he stared at himself, slowly turning himself in different angles to see what all Knockout had done for him.

"No need to thank me darlin. Just wear it proudly and get it scratched within the first 24 hours." Knockout replied with a wink.

"Okay," Bumblebee said slowly, barely hearing as he continued to examine himself.

"That shouldn't be a problem," Ratchet said. "Once we've got some images of you, you'll be able to rest in a comfy berth. How's that sound?"

"Pretty good," Bee said, even though he felt so excited about his new look, tiredness was starting to claw at him.

"Good, now then before you can go rest I need a picture of you first," Ratchet added.

Bee turned with a smile and nodded.

"Sure thing. Where would you like me for the pic?" Bee asked, looking around the room curiously.

Knockout stepped up, pulling a purple cloth out of a box on a shelf.

"You just stay right there. I'll hold this up behind you to be the perfect compliment to your yellow paint while he takes it." The mech medic explained.

Bee looked with interest at the purple cloth, it was a pretty nice colour. Maybe he could get one while living with his new guardian, it would look lovely on a berth. Looking back at Ratchet, he said. "So...I just stand in front of it?"

"Yes, just stand normally," Ratchet said as Knockout added. "With a big smile."

Bee grinned as Ratchet rolled his optics.

Taking a couple holo pictures to be sure to get a really nice one for Bee's profile.

"Thank you. Knockout can you show him to where he will be staying?" The old medic asked.

"No problem, you get those cute pictures uploaded," Knockout said before heading off with his usual swagger.

"See you later Ratchet," Bumblebee said as his old friend waved his off, already busy with Bee's picture.

As Bee and Knockout walked along the corridor, he couldn't help but ask. "Is anybody else staying here?"

"Yes, we do have a couple right now," Knockout confirmed.

"Will...will I get to meet them?"

"I don't see why not. But let's get you well rested before we worry about meeting more faces," Knockout winked.

Bee smiled and blushed.

"Yeah, that sounds pretty good."

"You'll love our berths, they're extremely comfortable," Knockout assured them. "We know this can be quite a difficult transition so we try to make things as good as possible. As my colleague said earlier, the rooms have entertainment but we've also got a common room for everyone to relax in."

"Huh, kind of sounds like how our base used to be set up."

"It is true that Autobot bases were built in mind of keep mechs comfortable more then Decepticon bases did. But now we are no longer fighting we can concentrate on comfort for all," The medic pointed out.

"That's good, there's no point living in stressful conditions when we don't have to," Bee stated as Knockout nodded. "Exactly. And this is one Autobot model I don't mind following."

He gave Bee a wink indicating that he was just teasing. Bee smiled, it would be nice if he and Knockout could be friends, he really wanted to keep in contact with Ratchet after he left.

They walked down the hall for a little while longer until Knockout stopped at one door.

"Here we are, home sweet home," Announcing and opening the door for Bumblebee.

Slowly the mini stepped in and saw a berth up against the far back wall, a night stand next to it, and a holo projector on the opposite wall.

"Wow, this is perfect."

"Glad you think so," Knockout said proudly, looking pleased. "I'll leave you to your rest, if you need anything, there's a button by your berth that'll summon one of us."

"Thanks," Bee said gratefully as he stepped inside.

After essentially living on the streets, to be in a place like this was amazing.

It was like a Paradise compared to little dirty hole he had been staying in the so called shelter. He can already tell he's going to have the best recharge he's had since the war.

Bee headed for the berth and stop beside it. Leaning down he pressed his servos into it and felt how soft it was.

"Oh Primus," he whispered, he almost felt like crying at how nice it was.

Fighting back his emotions, he carefully climbed onto the berth and collapsed onto his front, marvelling at how well his body was supported. He grabbed onto a pillow to bury his face in, needing something to hold onto so he didn't start bawling his optics out. If this was what he got for swallowing his pride, he'd definitely made the right choice.

At this precise moment, he wasn't in a hurry to be chosen.

Nuzzling his face deeper into the softness and letting himself relax and melt into the comfort of the berth, host body slowly slipping into recharge until he was offline.

Bee was so exhausted that he slept through the night into the next day.

No loud noises disturbed him, no horrible liquids splashed him, no flashing lights, none of the unpleasant things he'd experienced living rough. Just a beautifully comfy berth in a quiet room with the lights dimmed right down. He only woke up when his tanks started to complain of being hungry.

"Hmm?" he mumbled blearily as he started to wake up, he felt completely limp and warm.

He didn't want to get up, just wanting to wrap himself up in the blanket on the berth and never leave it's warmth and comfort.

But another rumble from his tank demanding for fuel made him sigh in defeat and sit up.

"Urgh," he groaned, somehow, he felt extra hungry despite having some really good fuel as his last meal.

He looked sleepily around his room, he wasn't sure how to get Energon. Then he remembered that Knockout had said there was a call button, he could ask where to go. He glanced about and soon spotted it, leaning over to press it. The button flashed a few times before a voice asked.

"Everything okay Bumblebee?"

"Um yeah, yeah. I was just wondering where do I go to get Energon?" He asked the voice.

"Oh Primus I'm sorry, I forgot to show. I'll be right down to escort you," The voice replied and before Bee could anything else the call ended.

"Uh, okay," he mumbled to himself, very tempted to lay back down again but then he probably wouldn't be able to get up again. So instead, he got off the berth and looked for a light switch. He found one and was pleased to find that it just gradually brightened the lights, meaning his optics didn't get dazzled.

His tanks gave another rumble and he rubbed it ruefully, he'd have to be careful not to guzzle his fuel when he got it.

Suddenly there was a knock at his door that made him squeak and jump. Realizing what it was Bee scolded himself for being so scared before walking over to answer it, on the other side stood Knockout.

"Good morning sweet little Bumblebee, did you have a nice recharge?"

"It was the best I've ever had," Bee said earnestly. "I've just woken up."

"Good, you needed it," Knockout said with a nod. "Now, you're needing some fuel?"

"Yes please," Bee said before blushing as his tanks gave another rumble.

Knockout chuckled softly at the sound and gestured for him to follow. They followed the way back they came when he was showing him to his room but at the last corridor they took a turn.

"You know where the medbay is so it'll be easy to remember which way to go to get Energon. It's located across from it," Knockout said.

"Yeah, that's easy," Bee agreed, wondering where Ratchet was.

"Here we are, our little common room," Knockout announced as they entered. "We've just got an energon dispenser but it's good stuff and we've got some extras you can sprinkle onto your fuel."

Bee would definitely do that, it had been ages since he'd been able to get hold of additives or anything like that. There were already some bots here who he didn't recognise and he was a little disappointed Ratchet wasn't here.

"Well I'm must get back to work. If you need anything don't be afraid to give me a buzz," The red mech handed Bee a small piece of paper that held a frequency number and he figured it was Knockout.

"I will, thank you."

"My pleasure," Knockout smiled before departing.

Bumblebee watched him go before turning back to the room at large. He could see the Energon dispenser at the other end of the room, before that there were some large sofa chairs which could fit several Mechs at once. There was also a bookshelf filled with various data pads and next to it appeared to be a game board.

But what really caught his attention were the bots already in the room. Unless they also worked here, they were Charges waiting for their guardian to show up.

None of them seem to have looked up when he and Knockout had walked in, either drinking their fuel, talking among each other, or reading. Swallowing down his nerves, Bee walked further into the room towards the Energon dispenser.

He guessed his presence wasn't very surprising, new bots must come and go all the time. Hopefully, he might be able to make some new friends but for now, he really needed to get some fuel before his tanks gave off another loud rumble. Grabbing a cube as soon as he reached the dispenser, he saw a jar of rust flakes and decided he'd sprinkle a few on.

Seeing the pink fluid flow into his cube was very satisfying to watch and he licked his lips hungrily at the sight. As soon as it was fully, he put the rust flakes on and quickly went over to a table to consume. there was another bot already there reading.

"Is it okay if I sit here?" Bee asked.

The bot glanced up and smiled.

"Sure, go right ahead," The mech replied with a friendly smile.

Bumblebee smiled back and took the seat while taking a sip of his Energon.

It tasted just as delicious as he'd expected it to be and he sighed happily before taking another sip. This was just what he needed. The Mech opposite him smiled and said. "New here?"

"Yeah," Bumblebee said with a shy smile. "My name is Bumblebee, what's yours?"

"Mine's Hotshot," the other greeted.

Bumblebee's optics widened.

"Wait, Hotshot? You mean the same Hotshot who was apart of Rodimus Prime's team?"

Hotshot smiled and nodded. "Yep, that's me."

"Wow, you guys were amazing," Bumblebee exclaimed excitedly. "We heard all about you."

"Thanks," Hotshot laughed lightly before looking more closely at Bumblebee. "Weren't you part of a Prime team too?"

"Uh yeah," Bee acknowledged shyly. "Optimus Prime was my leader."

"Wow the Optimus Prime? The one who convinced old bucket head to finally stop fighting?" Hotshot breathed in amazement.

Bee smiled and nodded proudly.

"Yep and working with Megatron to make things better."

"He's certainly done a good job," Hotshot said in awe. "Bots and Cons are actually working together, like Medics Ratchet and Knockout."

"Yeah, it's great," Bee grinned. "The boss bots' done so well."

"He sure is. Say why are you here is you were apart of the team that helped end the war?" Hotshot questioned with a raised brow.

Bumblebee frowned and ducked down his helm.

"It's...it's complicated. During that time I got really hurt. My team helped me and I was with them all until we returned to Cybertron and we then... went our separate ways."

Embarrassed, he mumbled.

"I thought I could sort myself out. I didn't ask any of them for help and they've been pretty busy. Ratchet was one of our team and you can see what he's been up to."

Hotshot nodded.

"I've been suffering from the Rust virus," he explained. "Doesn't look so bad now but I need to live with someone who'll take care of me."

Bees optics widened. "Wow really?" Breathing in amazement to meeting a mech whose survived the rust.

Hotshot bowed his helm and nodded.

"Almost my entire team we're affected by it during the war. We were captured and one of Cons had a sick humour and infected us with it to watch us suffer."

"Primus," exclaimed Bee, Hotshot was right, you wouldn't know to look at him that he'd been infected.

"Yeah," agreed the other Mech. "But like you, we had a medic on our team and she did what she could to alleviate the symptoms."

"Wow, you and your team are really lucky," Bee whistled.

"Yep, we sure were. Most of the team pulled through except me. I guess because I was so injured during the infection that my systems were working a lot harder then everyone else's. Even though I'm cured it still left it's damage."

"I'm sure," Bee said sympathetically. "I hope you place with someone good."

Hotshot chuckled.

"I hope so because Rodimus has promised to kick up a fuss if I don't," he said wryly.

"He knows?"

"Yeah, he offered to take me in but I refused. He's a Prime and has better things to look after then me. I told him I'll be fine, I haven't really been here for long. Actually had a couple interests," Hotshot explained.

"Oh, that's good," Bee said, it was far too early for him to have any interest. "Do either of them look good?"

"They're not bad," Hotshot admitted. "It's not instant placement, we have to make sure we're suited to each other. Ones a bot, the others are con."

"A Con!?"

"Yeah a Con, I think his name was Hook I believe," Hotshot replied.

"Wow, that's crazy. Why would a Con be interested in helping bots?" Bee questioned.

"Things have changed Bumblebee. There are Bots and Cons that want to work together and help unite us so that means helping each other in any way they can."

Bee sat back in his seat.

"It's weird to think that, " he mumbled.

"I know," Hotshot said kindly. "But it's a good thing even if it takes a bit of getting used to"

"Yeah I guess," Bee muttered, crossing his arms on the table to rest his helm on, in deep thought as went over the possibilities who may want to take him as a charge.

Hotshot smiled and went back to his data pads, giving Bee some space to think. The yellow bot was suddenly feeling nervous, what if some huge intimidating Decepticon wanted to take him on? He couldn't imagine living with someone like that.

But surely Ratchet wouldn't let him go with someone too scary. As long as Sentinel Prime didn't volunteer to take him on, that Mech was a pain in the aft.

Bee shivered at the thought and had to shake his helm to chase away the unpleasant image. That mech was nothing but a nightmare.

Suddenly the door to the room they sat in opened. Looking up he spotted Knockout.

"Greetings," he said with a flamboyant wave to general chuckles.

Hotshot waved back and Knockout smiled at him before his gaze fell on Bumblebee. Quickly coming over, he asked. "Are you feeling okay, Bumblebee?"

"Yeah, just a little tired," Bee assured him.

"Really? But you just woke up. Do I need to call Ratchet to have a look at you?" Knockout questioned in concern for the young mech.

Bumblebee smiled sheepishly and shrugged.

"I'm feeling the best I have in ages," he told the worried Medic. "I don't want to bother Ratchet."

"It's no bother for him, he'd grumble if a Mech went without treatment," Knockout told him, making Bee grin, that sounded exactly like his old friend.

"Well, maybe it'd be nice to see him for a little bit," he mused.

"Good mech," Knockout praises, patting Bee's back as he got up from his chair and walked off to find Ratchet.

On his way, he overheard Knockout beginning to talk to Hotshot and by the tone of his voice, it sounded good.

Since the Med Bay was opposite the Common Room, it was no distance to walk and Bumblebee walked into the room to find his friend mixing up some Energon. The older Mech looked around at the sound of his footsteps and instantly brightened.

"Hey Bee," he greeted warmly. "How are you doing?"

"Good, I was talking to a Mech named Hotshot," Bee told him.

"Oh Hotshot, how's he doing? I haven't had the chance to go see him for a couple days," Ratchet asked, placing a couple tools back into their designated drawer.

"He's doing okay. I met him in the common room while I was getting my Energon."

"That's good, so you've made a friend?" Ratchet questioned and Bee nodded.

"Yeah, he's pretty friendly. Told me a bit about myself, said he's suffering from the Rust Virus."

Ratchet's face darkened at that.

"Yeah, that made mine and Knockout's life force boil," he stated. "He should never have been put through that."

"No he shouldn't. Did they ever get the mech who did it?"

"I believe Megatron did. He knew all the mechs under his command that had that sick sense of humour and was easily able to get him to confess."

"That's good," Bee said. "So Megatron was willing to go after him?"

"Yep, once he set his mind on peace, he was determined to go through with it," explained Ratchet. "And that includes bringing to justice those who abused others for their own twisted pleasure. Hotshot and the others were prisoners, there was no point in infecting them except to make them suffer for the sake of it."

Ratchet paused before adding. "It wasn't just Cons who abused power, there were also Autobots."

Bumbelbee's face grinned and didn't even try to argue with the medic. He witnessed first hand who cruel bots could be, judge mental and single minded. Ratchet sighed at the look Bee was making and frowned.

"I wish things could be like how they use to have been back before the war. Where class, credits, and fractions didn't matter."

"That must have been good," Bee said softly, most of his life had been the War. "Maybe we can get that again."

"Maybe," Ratchet said, not wanting to sound to cynical. "Anyway, how are you feeling? Any issues?"

"Well, I'm feeling a little tired," Bee admitted. "Knockout said I should see you about it."

Ratchet nodded and went to a cabinet and opened it to reveal multiple bottles of medications, vitamins, and Primus knows what else.

"Nothing to be concerned with. Just need a little pick me up. You're so at ease and relaxed here, your body wants nothing but to catch up on all that recharge you lost for so long," Ratchet explained as he pulled out a tiny Energon cube and begun to put stuff from the cabinet into it.

Bee grinned in relief.

"Knockout was worried there might be a problem," he said conversationally.

"Hmm, he does like to fuss," Ratchet mused as he selected another vial to add to Bee's drink.

"Has he always been like that? I mean for as long as you've known him?"

"In a way yes. He's very watchful over his patients. He has a very unique way of showing it now and then but all the time he means well and keeps their best interest in mind. And also I think he's taken a liking to you," Ratchet explained with a playful tease.

"Oh," Bee blushed, he didn't know how to feel about that.

After being injured and living on the streets, a lot of bots had ignored him but some had made advances. That hadn't been pleasant, it was clear they just wanted to use him. He'd almost forgotten what it was like to have someone find him attractive.

"It's okay," Ratchet chuckled. "He's harmless."

Bumblebee chuckled along with Ratchet and watched him mix up the Energon to make sure everything he had added had dissolved.

"Here we go, this will give you the little boost you need for the rest of the day," Walking over and handing the small cube of Energon to the minibot.

"Thanks," Bee said gratefully, he didn't want to fall asleep in the middle of the day.

He drank it down in two gulps, blinking a little at the slightly sour taste.

"Need a sweet?" Ratchet asked teasingly.

Bumblebee pulled the cube away and scrunched up his optics and shook his helm as a shiver ran through his frame.

"Eh, what was that?" The little bot whined, looking down at the empty cube before back at the medic who was laughing at him now.

"The extra nutrients I put in," he chuckled. "I'm afraid they don't taste very nice, especially with the pick me up I added."

Bumblebee shuddered before complaining. "You need to change the recipe."

"Where's the fun in that?" Ratchet asked with an evil grin.

Bumblebee flared at Ratchet and threw the cube at the medic, aiming for his helm but became even more frustrated when the target caught it before it could connect.

"Now I remember why I never liked being alone with you," Bee grumped with a pout.

Ratchet laughed, throwing away the cube before pulling something out of his subspace.

"Yeah and you also forgot I always say sorry in my own way for making fun," Holding his servo out to Bumblebee to show a Energon candy.

Bumblebee pouted at him before taking the candy, he really needed something to get rid of that aftertaste. Ratchet just smirked at his mulish expression as he chewed it up, it was very nice.

"You always had a sweet tooth," Ratchet laughed. "You'll feel better in a while."

Bumblebee humphed and crossed his arms over his chest. Again Ratchet chuckled at him and went about cleaning and organizing again before he showed up. Bumblebee watched him work before a thought crossed his processor.

"Hey Hatchet?"

"Hm?"

"Have you...you put up my profile yet?"

Ratchet paused before turning to look at him.

"Not yet," he admitted. "I wanted you to get settled in before we put it up. Do you want to wait longer?"

"N-no," Bee stammered, now hugging himself slightly. "I don't want to worry about it, you can just put it up today."

Ratchet raised a brow and turned to himself to face Bumblebee fully.

"Bee you don't have to force yourself to do this so soon. The right Guardian for you will still be out there if you wait a day or two," He cautioned.

"What if I miss them?' Bee questioned. "What if someone big and scary wants to take me..."

"If you are afraid of any of the Guardians, then we will not let them take you, " Ratchet said firmly. "You have to feel comfortable with them or it won't work."

"But...But what if that's all who's interested in me? I can only say no so many times Ratchet. Sooner or later I'll have to suck it up and..."

"Bumblebee, breathe," Ratchet snapped Bee out of his rambling.

He took the smaller Mech firmly but gently by the shoulders. Making sure he had the others attention, he said seriously.

"We don't let just anyone sign up to become a Guardian who rolls off the street. We interview them, ask them why they want to do this, ensure they can support a Charge, examine their home. We want you and your Guardian to be happy with each other."

Bumblebee panted and he worked to calm himself, having not realized he had begun to hyperventilate of possibly being given to a monster.

Ratchet pulled Bee against his chest and wrapped his arms around him protectively.

"It's okay," Ratchet murmured. "It's natural to be worried but no one is gonna hurt you."

Bumblebee cuddled into the embrace, shaking as he tried to prevent himself falling into a panic. He'd thought he'd gotten over his nerves about joining the programme but evidently, he hadn't.

Ratchet held Bumblebee, sensing if he didn't do it to help ground him from going into another panic. Suddenly an idea crossed his processor. Without letting go of Bee, the medic reached over for a tablet that had been laid down on a nearby counter.

He scrolled through its contents before finding what he was looking for before showing it to him.

"Bee, take a look at this. These are files on other mechs who had the same fear as you did before they were chosen."

Bumblebee looked up in amazement, he hadn't thought about the others who had gone before him. He could see various different files and leaned forward to tap one, bringing up the relevant details on a bot called named Mirage, a sleek racer model who had suffered from ptsd from his war experiences, he had no lasting physical injuries. He had gone to a large mech named Hound and one of the first things Bee noticed was an update saying how much happier Mirage was.

There were even pictures, one of Mirage before he left the clinic where he looked utterly haunted which broke Bee's spark. But the one from an updated visit showed him gently smiling as he held some sort of creature.

"Wow, he...he looks so much better and happy," Bumblebee whispered in awe.

Ratchet nodded and reached down to tap on another file to open. "And take a look at this one," He whispered.

Bumblebee looked and his optics nearly popped out of his helm.

"W...Wasp?!"

"That's him," Ratchet said quietly. "I'm sure I don't need to explain his situation."

Bee nodded, he certainly didn't. With a heavy spark, he remembered how the poor Mech had been falsely accused of being a Decepticon spy and been locked up in the stockades where he'd suffered greatly. Then he'd escaped and things had not gotten any better.

"I can't believe this," Bee mumbled but there was another reason Ratchet had selected this file. Because Wasp had not ended up with a bot.

He had in fact ended up with a Con named Breakdown. And like with Mirage he looked so happy. His before picture, he looked so haunted and angry. His latest was of him being held by a very large blue mech with bright yellow optics and both looked to be laughing when the picture was taken.

"Oh my Primus, Wasp...Wasp is apart of the Guardianship too?"

Ratchet nodded. "He was so messed up from the stockades that he couldn't really be expected to properly care for himself. So skiddish and jumpy like some bot was going to attack him. I was actually really surprised to hear Breakdown want to be his guardian. Never took the mech as the type."

"You know him?" Bee asked, referring to the Decepticon.

"Yeah, he's a friend of Knockout's," Ratchet explained. "It was Knockout who recommended Breakdown join as a Guardian, he's a very caring Mech. And patient enough to deal with Wasp, the bot kept lashing out at everyone, trying to start fights..."

"Eh, yeah that sounds like Wasp." Bee muttered before looking back at the picture.

"I wonder how Breakdown got him to trust him?"

"I'm not sure but I have a feeling if you ask Knockout he'd know."

"I'd like that," Bee murmured, he definitely wanted to know more.

"So you see," Ratchet said kindly. "We have Autobots who have done very well with Decepticon Guardians. "

"Well yeah but..."

"Bumblebee please trust us. I promise we have never had a single charge go with a guardian and it end horribly," Ratchet cut in to stop Bee from scaring himself again.

"You haven't?"

"No," Ratchet said firmly. "Because we always do our research and we look carefully at Charges and Guardian before we allow them to go together. We will find a good bot for you."

Bee bowed his head and snuggled up closer to the medic.

"Th...thanks Ratchet," Whispering softly.

"Any time," murmured the old Medic.

Author's note. Bumblebee settles in and makes new friends. Find out how that goes, until then.