GUEST: It will not be done for quite a while. We haven't gotten to ROTF yet, for example. So we still have quite a ways to go. ;) Glad you're enjoying it so much however! :D
A/N: So I know last chapter was supposed to end the Tranquility arc. But I decided that there was still some stuff to wrap up and bring closure to. So this is technically "the end" of that arc.
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CHAPTER 31
Closure
"I'm gonna miss having you around again, man."
"Yeah, me too." Trevor muttered, as he pulled away from Sam's hug.
They were on the porch of the Witwicky home, saying their thank you's and goodbyes. It was going to be hard leaving Tranquility again, but he knew he had to. Just as he had missed his friends in Tranquility, he missed his friends and family at Diego Garcia. And for that matter, though they could have easily spared more time, he also needed to do one last thing before he left. The very last thing that he had on his list, and that he avoided all things considered. He had to go back to his father's garage, and see how things were going.
He sighed slightly, and looked at Sam. "Look man, it'll probably be a while before I come back," Trevor told him quietly. "So promise me, y'know, that we'll keep staying in touch," He explained. "I miss hanging out like this, and I think-."
"Of course," Sam patted him on the back. "Dude, you're coming to my graduation. And plus, I would never just cut you out like that. Who else am I going to come to when," He leaned in. "They're driving me crazy," He pointed over at his parents as he whispered quietly. "But yeah, man, we're going to stay in touch." He then added, his eyes turning towards Bumblebee. "I'm glad you're happy man... And that you have a family that loves you as much as they did."
Trevor smiled as he looked over at Bumblebee too. He was definitely just as glad, especially after this week. Who knew what might have happened if he was in foster care in Tranquility when Michael had shown up. "Yeah, Dad and the others are pretty awesome," Sam nodded his head at Trevor's words as the boy moved to take a pair of hugs from Judy and Ron. "Thanks for letting us come, guys. I really enjoyed seeing you again."
"Hey, our doors are always open for you, Trev," Ron ran a hand on the boy's head, rubbing his hair slightly. "We love you, kiddo. We may not be your family, but you know that, right?" Trevor nodded his head. "Good, now come back and visit when you can."
Judy threw her arms around him, and broke into a fit of tears. A sight which Trevor could feel Bumblebee sadden at, but sent reassurance through the bond. He knew the Witwicky's loved him like a son themselves, but he was his son now. And he was happy for that, something he knew Bumblebee needed reassurance about. "You need to call more!" Judy told him. "It feels so weird here without you that seeing you leave is making me cry. And you aren't even my baby mister!" She turned to Bumblebee. "And you'd better keep taking care of him. I don't want to hear you're mistreating him."
"Mrs. Witwicky," Trevor pulled her into a hug. "We're going to be fine, I promise to call more."
"And he's in great hands," Bumblebee placed an arm around his shoulder as Trevor finally pulled away. "After all, he's got an awesome dad."
"And a modest one," Trevor chuckled.
Judy only nodded her head, she was clearly worried, but he knew she'd be okay. He told himself that as they finally descended the steps to the Witwicky home, and Trevor climbed into Bumblebee's passengers seat. He waved slowly as they pulled out of the driveway, the family waving as well. And before Trevor knew it, they were off, with a pair of Corvette's tailing them. "We'll be back before you know it," Bumblebee assured him. "So do you still want to visit the old garage or...?"
"Yeah," Trevor nodded. "I need to see it, and make sure Nick's doing good. I mean, I know he is... Because he was my dad's best friend," He explained. "But, just... I need to make sure it's still there and all."
"I get it," Bumblebee replied. "We should have about two hours to visit."
Trevor nodded, his eyes still looking through the rear view mirror. How could he handle leaving the garage again if this was so hard? He didn't know the answer, but he did know it had to be done. He tapped his fingers against the window pane quietly as most of Tranquility moved by him in a blur. After a long time of driving, Bumblebee came upon the old garage calmly. Trevor smiled a little at the sight, as the sign above the garage now clearly read: "JOSEPH A. RIDLEY MEMORIAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP". It'd been fixed up, and looked nicer now, a sight which would have made Joseph more than happy.
He put his hand on the door handle, trying to open the door as best he could. Unfortunately, he felt his intensity build, and removed his hand steadily. Could he really do this? Could he face Nick and the others? More importantly, could he face the very place where he saw his father murdered before his very eyes? Suddenly, he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder, and turned as Bumblebee looked down at him. "I'll come in with you," He told him gently. "Come on, Sides and Sunny will be right there if anything happens."
Trevor nodded his head, popping open the door slowly. It took a great deal of courage, as he looked up silently at the auto shop. But slowly, surely, he took steps towards it, breathing in. It was now or never, he knew that for a fact, and it was looking more and more like it would be the former option.
...
Trevor thought the Witwicky's hugs were bone crushing, but he'd almost forgotten Nick's. Nicholas Massey was a tall African American man, built with a great deal of muscle, but with a big friendly smile on his face at all times. "Trevor! You have no idea how much I've missed ye, kid," He told him when he finally released Trevor from his grip. "No phone calls, no nothing for several months. I was a little hurt, thought you'd forgotten all about your uncle Nick."
Trevor frowned, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Nick," He admitted. "I missed you too, but y'know, dad, he..." He watched as Nick's eyes grew soft in understanding. "I barely worked up the courage to come here because dad," He nodded to Bumblebee. "Convinced me that it would be good for me," He explained.
Nick looked Bumblebee up-and-down, his eyes flashing a bit. It was clear to the Autobot that even moreso than the Witwicky's, this "Nick" was rather close to, and protective of his son. "Ah, Ben, right?" Nick took Bumblebee's hand for a shake. "Good to see he's calling you "dad" now. Eases my fears about some new guy coming in and taking him away," He admitted. "It took me a while to warm up to the idea when they told me about it. I mean, there was never an "official" godfather. But I was best friends with his dad since they moved here."
Bumblebee nodded his head slowly, and put a hand on Trevor's shoulder. "I'm sorry," Bumblebee replied. "If I had known how close you two were, I would have arranged a visit earlier than now," He smiled a little. "It's nice to see you again though, Nick. I know we only briefly spoke at the funeral. But I assure you things are going well." He explained.
Trevor looked at Nick, and thought quietly of a way to ease the tension. Taking a deep breath, he looked at Nick, and smiled. "So, are things going okay here too? I see you renovated thanks to the money the government gave you guys," He then added. "Demarco must hate that."
"If you see him, you can ask him for us."
Trevor tensed slightly, his eyes moving towards a figure under a car. That voice. He knew it, but for a moment, he couldn't believe he'd heard it until he watched Trent Demarco roll out from under the car. "What are YOU doing here?" Trevor commented. "Don't you have some place to be trashing for daddy?" He asked, frustrated.
"Trevor," Nick held a hand out.
"No, Nick," Trent held a hand of his own out. "I deserved that. I mean, really... I had it coming,"
Trevor watched as Nick gave Trevor an apologetic glance. But Bumblebee himself looked like he understood what was going on. "At the funeral I was telling your new... Grandpa about the shady crap that happens here because of his dad," He explained, shaking his head. "Next thing we know, there's some government suits over at Demarco's place. Must not have liked hearing about all the trouble they gave you and your old man... They found everything out, and..."
"Shut my dad down," Trent explained. "But instead of facing prison time or anything... He bailed," He looked down at the floor. "He took the money, his car, his savings, everything... But my mom and I," Trevor winced. "Don't, it's not your fault. In fact, I should be thanking you and Nick," He then added. "It was like it just opened my eyes to how much he was using me. My own dad was making me more and more like him," He explained. "Shit like that opens your eyes to a lot of things."
Trevor stared at him, grimacing a bit. He didn't forgive Trent for the way he treated him and his dad, but he did have to admit, he felt pity for his former bully. "I gave Trent a job here so that he could make ends meet," Nick told Trevor calmly. "It's what your dad would have done, y'know. Everyone deserves a second chance," He added.
Trevor took steps towards Trent, and crouched where he was sitting. "If you're looking for the car from that night, it's gone," Trevor shook his head. "But if you're for real about this..."
"Look at me," Trevor noticed how Trent was covered in soot. "Do I look like I'm not being real?" He then lowered his voice. "And besides, that car? I always figured that it was your dad in it," He explained. "Though that car that pulled up I noticed... Has the same color scheme," He eyed him slightly. "Do I want to know?"
Bumblebee heard the question he asked through the bond quickly. But Trevor had the answer before that, his eyes locking with him. "Another perk of the government. They gave me a brand new one to replace the one that kinda... Blew up," Trent looked at him, bewildered. "Yeah, I did some awesome crap, but if I told you," He stood to his feet. "I'd have to kill you."
Trent frowned, standing to his own feet, and crossing his arms. "Right," Trent narrowed his eyes. "Look, I'm not going to give you an apology. Because I know that won't mean jack," He explained. "After all the crap I put you through for my dad's approval. I wouldn't forgive me either," He admitted. "But for what it's worth, it was the only way I even got a little recognition from him," Trevor's eyes softened. "But I don't want to end up like him. So that's why I'm here, to start to at least TRY and be a better person."
Trevor put his hands in his pockets, and looked him over, trying to see if Trent was sincere. "For what it's worth?" Bumblebee told him over the bond. "His stress levels and body movements show he's being honest," That last part made Trevor feel a sense of relief as he looked him in the eyes.
He had to wonder what Optimus would tell him in this situation, given the wisdom he always carried. Could he find it in himself to honestly forgive a boy who had tormented him for years? The answer was obvious, and though Trevor hated it in a way, he knew it was the right thing to do. He knew what it was like to have a jerk for a dad, and to feel small when it came to him. And therefore, he simply took his hand out of his pocket. "I forgive you, Trent," Trevor told him. "If you really mean that. Maybe we can just, start over?" He explained.
Trent watched in surprise as Trevor held out a hand to him. It was as though he was speaking a foreign language, perhaps given it was not the reaction Trent had been anticipating. "Yeah, we can definitely start over," Trent replied, taking his hand and shaking it. "Well, when you're in town again, at least. We won't have much time now."
"It's still a start."
In the back of his processor, Bumblebee felt overwhelming pride in his son. It only lasted a few seconds before he heard Nick clear his throat. "So Trevor, you said over the phone that you wanted to talk to me about some things?" Trevor nodded his head slowly at Nick. "Well, since Trent's got a lot of work... I say we go and have that chat right now," He then explained. "I think I have an idea of what this is about though."
Trevor smiled as he bid Trent goodbye and made his way towards Nick, who led him into the back. Bumblebee had a hard time not scowling at the boy after remembering that night in that exact spot. "Any reason you look like you want to punt me after that?" Trent questioned suspiciously.
"... Not at all," Bumblebee faked a smile. "Just wondering what you're working on there."
He really hoped he wasn't about to screw this up.
...
"We'll be landing at Diego Garcia in t-minus three hours."
Bumblebee nodded at the pilot of the airship they were riding before seating himself beside Trevor. Bumblebee looked down at his son, watching as he inspected an object in his hands. He had seen it when they left the garage, though he wasn't sure what it was. "So you asked him for part-ownership, huh?" Trevor nodded his head. "You sure you can do that while you're in a different country entirely?"
"He'll call me when he wants to make decisions," Trevor replied, shaking his head. "But I'd been thinking about it a lot while we were in Diego Garcia. That place is still my dad's legacy. I want to have a say in what happens to it," He then added. "Nick told me he'd send the paperwork over to Diego Garcia for me to fill out. Once I sign that I'll have legal and official say in everything to do with it."
Bumblebee nodded, smiling a little. "You sure you're ready to handle that?" He nodded again. "Good," He then added. "So, what's that you have in your hands anyway? Something Nick gave you?"
Trevor now moved the object enough that he could see it. It was a small picture, which at first confused him. But upon further inspection, he realized what it was a picture of. The widely smiling toddler in it was unmistakably Trevor, even though he was only about five in the picture, he'd know him anywhere. To his left, was Joseph, smiling proudly, with an arm around his shoulders. And beside him was a beautiful woman with blue eyes, blonde hair, and a smile on her face as well. Bumblebee instantly knew that it was his mother, Marie.
"Dad had it in his office," Trevor smiled, pushing a tear from his eye. "I must have missed it when we went through his stuff. But luckily, Nick saved it for me," He explained. "We took this the first day I met him. He and mom had been dating a while, and she took me to meet him at a carnival," Bumblebee now noticed the big top in the background. "I never knew he kept this picture," He explained.
Bumblebee thought back to his own, albeit small office. Where he kept the picture of himself, Optimus, and Trevor that Sarah had taken last when they were in their robot forms. He knew the answer as to why Joseph would have kept such a picture on his own desk within seconds. "Of course he did. It was the first time he met his son," He explained. "I mean, I don't have a picture of the day we met. But I do have one sitting on my desk of the day I adopted you," Trevor smiled. "Things like that become pretty important when you have a kid."
Trevor smiled, leaning against his father's armored plating. He felt tears sting his eyes again, but took a deep breath. It made him feel good to think that he had held that day in such high regard. And for that matter that Bumblebee held his adoption day in such a regard as well. "I don't know why, but it makes me feel... Closure," He explained. "Like... I don't know, I no longer doubt that he was proud of me."
"You worried about that?"
"Sometimes," Trevor nodded. "We fought so much at the end. And I wasn't his son..."
"You were," Bumblebee told him calmly. "I saw the way he looked at you the few days I spent with you two. You may have fought, but you were his baby boy. Just like you're mine now," Trevor stared up at the mech with surprise. "And though I never had the pleasure of meeting your mom, I know she loved you too," He watched as the boy sniffled slightly. "And I know somewhere out there they're probably smiling at you and continuing to be proud."
He felt two sets of arms wrap around his shoulders, in a way that nearly startled him. But even as he didn't see anyone near him, he knew... He knew that it was Joseph and Marie, telling him Bumblebee was right. And that, at the end of the day, they would always be there, just as Bumblebee was. "You know.. I think for the first time, I believe that," Trevor smiled, letting the arms be replaced by Bumblebee's gentle fingers running along his back.
"Then I'd say this trip was a success," Bumblebee purred. "Hopefully, they're happy with how you're being raised too," He then added. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing the job the way they'd approve," He chuckled to himself.
In his heart, Trevor felt that the answer to that was obvious. His parents would have loved Bumblebee, his dad would have loved how fun he was, and his mom, how gentle and caring he was. They would have been happy to know that he'd gone into the hands of someone who loved him unconditionally, and supported him through everything. And what's more, he knew in the back of his mind that up in Heaven, his father was more than happy that Bumblebee had kept his promise of protecting him, in the best way possible.
"They do, Bee," Trevor replied. "Trust me, they do."
Bumblebee only smiled, gently rubbing Trevor's back some more. The boy sighed quietly as he looked out the window, and watched the sunset from there. Knowing now that the next time he went back to Tranquility would be easier, after all of this. And hopefully, his next trip would be one in which he would no longer face any fear, or nervousness at all.
...
A/N: Alright! Back to Diego Garcia and the rest of the 'Bots next chapter! For real this time. XD