A/N: So I know it was implied Bush was the president in film one. But rather than portray him, I have created a fictional president for the purposes of this fic. :)

Also been working through the upcoming ROTF arc of this fic. And those of you who dislike that entry will be happy to hear that this is going through some serious changes. (and just rewatched some of it to intake some info I may or may not keep) Though for those who liked it, the basic ideas will still be there. I simply am modifying it to fit more in-line with Trevor's story and his version of events. Since as you well know by now, it's already vastly different from Sam's to begin with.

And speaking of ROTF, in this arc, expect an early re-introduction to a character from it. Yes, my version of Leo Spitz (also quite different from his ROTF version, a la Carly) So get ready for that. (Not this chapter though, gonna make you wait until the next one)

Thanks again to my great beta TFPKOFANGIRL, for her awesome work on this chapter as always! :D

...

CHAPTER 45
Washington D.C.

Trevor slept soundly on the way to Washington DC, his light snoring filling the transport. The others were tied down by nets to keep them from moving, but Trevor himself was simply strapped in, alongside Will Lennox and Robert Epps, and being carefully scanned by either of his grandparents or his guardian once in a while. Nothing seemed to change, but all the same it went without saying they wanted to make sure it stayed that way, given how long the flight was. But when they finally did land, some miles off from DC in order to give the Autobots room to stretch, they were all visibly exhausted. Trevor had taken a seat upon Optimus's shoulder, head gently rested against the crook of his grandfather's shoulder as he fought to stay awake.

From Optimus's shoulder, he could see the city in the distance. It looked massive, but Trevor was, admittedly, itching to go into it and get a good look around. He knew that the Autobots could've waited a lifetime. It meant they'd be in their holoforms for most of the time, and that was of course, very restricting for them. "Ya know I can take Trevor for a bit if ye want a break OP," Jazz spoke up with a smirk. "You've been keeping a closer eye on 'im than any of us," He added.

Optimus peered over at Trevor, who barely seemed to take in the whole conversation. He simply smiled slightly, running a finger gently along his back as he shook his head. He didn't mind Trevor hitching a ride on in him in the least. In fact, he enjoyed having his grandson close to him for longer than usual a great deal. "Of course not," Optimus shook his head. "Trevor is giving me no trouble. As far as I'm concerned, he may sleep on me if he wishes," He added.

From the side, Lennox looked a little jealous, though Trevor couldn't blame him. Although Ironhide was his guardian, and had insisted on coming with them after the incident a month ago, he was not the type to give rides. Even to him, and God knew the two of them were closer these days. "You know we should head out soon," Lennox finally spoke up. "The president is expecting us to meet him at eleven and it's already ten in the morning," He added.

That clicked with Trevor silently, as he had forgotten that detail. It wasn't every day you meet the "leader of the free world" and he could already feel his muscles tensing. He was already just getting used to being in a big family, but this was another thing entirely, at least in his opinion. "Indeed, it would be best not to keep your president waiting," Optimus inclined his head. "Trevor, are you ready to move? Or do I need to help you into my cab?"

"Have to start waking up if I'm meeting the president," Trevor mused, trying to fight to keep awake. "I'm pretty sure given I'm your grandson my impression is gonna make a difference," He noted as Optimus gently picked him up and set him on the ground. "Unless you and Grandma want to handle that while Jazz and I do sightseeing?" He asked.

Elita gave her grandson a look that already told him that wasn't going to happen. She crossed her arms, and spoke with that kind, but stern voice she got when there was a soft scolding involved. "We could let you do that... But then this trip would teach you nothing," She explained, approaching him casually with a smirk. "In case you forget, my young one, you can't avoid political officials in your standing," The femme added.

Trevor knew that was true, without a doubt. He was the grandson of an alien diplomat, and whether he liked it or not that put him standing above most teenagers. "However, if you are tired, I do not think one would mind if you took a nap," Optimus noted, looking over at Jazz silently. "So long as your guardian has no protest about it," He added.

Jazz simply smirked, transforming down into his Pontiac Solstice form. When the door opened, Trevor knew he had his answer and breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Optimus and Elita didn't mind his tiredness when they arrived, he would do what he could. As a result, he carefully climbed into his passengers side as Jazz activated his holoform. "See there ARE advantages to not driving your car," Jazz teased gently. "Sit back and relax, kid. ah'll wake ya when we get there," He added.

Trevor didn't argue as he leaned back and allowed sleep to take him over as Jazz drove on. While he slept, Trevor had a nightmare, but by this time, it didn't surprise him. What did surprise him was the subject of the nightmare: Mission City. He hadn't been back there in a dream in some time, and to be back in the war-torn city almost alarmed him. This time however, unlike the millions of other times, he hadn't died, no. Rather, they had lost, the Autobots bodies strewn everywhere; and he was captured, - and - (solely) at the mercy of the now dead Barricade.

His face matted in dirt and blood, on his knees, and with chains around his wrists. It reminded him too much of his time with Barricade, and it scared him. Even as he tried to remind himself, in vain that he was alive and this was a dream. He watched as Barricade gave him a toothy grin, exposing his fangs. He thought he heard him say something to Megatron who stood beside him, but Trevor could not make out what it was, no matter how hard he tried. Barricade threw him at Megatron's feet, and he was forced to look up upon the now dead tyrant, his great uncle, who looked upon him with nothing but malice in his eyes.

He reached down for him, taking him into his cold talons, Trevor squirmed and screamed, thrashing about. He knew not what fate awaited him as within a few more moments, he was shaken awake by Jazz's holoform. "Trev, Trev wake up," Trevor's eyes shot open more at the words. "Kid ya in the middle of another nightmare," His guardian added lightly. "Ya okay? It ain't about anything ah have to worry about, right?"

Trevor groaned, sitting up as he noticed that close to a half an hour had passed. He rubbed the back of his neck, and eyed the mech's holoform silently. "Nothing, I've been having some nightmares about the 'cons lately is all," He told the mech honestly. "That jerk Barricade's fault, really. But it's okay, I'm okay," He assured the concerned looking mech.

"It's okay. Most of us had the same reactions to our first capture," Jazz noted, Trevor shuddered at the thought of more. "But ya know nothing'll happen to ya in here, bud," He added rather reassuringly. "Just take a deep breath, and relax. Your stress levels have skyrocketed, and you know Prime will throw a fit," He added.

Trevor sighed quietly, trying his best to calm himself down. Jazz was right, he couldn't let these things get to him, it was simply not in his nature. And what's more, he didn't need more stress on top of meeting the president. "You're right," Trevor threw up his hands a little in defeat. "I'll take a deep breath, I promise," He added rather calmly. "How far from where we're heading to are we anyway?"

"This 'Department of Health and Human Services' place should be about," Jazz began to calculate it quietly. "Well, we're only about twenty minutes out. So you might as well wake up, or run the risk of another nightmare," Trevor nodded, sitting up and stretching his legs slightly.

But even though he tried to remain sharp, he couldn't shift the thoughts out of his head. Would he always have nightmares like this? He shuddered at the thought, after all, he already had enough nightmares. These thoughts haunted the deep recesses of his mind as he quietly waited for them to reach their destination, and whatever was to follow.

...

The base that they arrived at was, by most accounts, not exactly as good looking as Diego Garcia. But for the most part, Trevor thought there was a certain charm despite the fact it was much older. For the moment, Trevor felt wonder and exhaustion all at once. He stared around at the massive hangar most of all, however, with great awe. It was even bigger than the one in Diego Garcia, and to his surprise, brightly lit. Though again, it looked like it was in deep need of a makeover, he was beginning to see just how good it would work as a base of operations. "Whoa," Trevor commented as he looked over at Optimus, who was to his direct left, currently transformed inside the confines of the massive structure. "Looks like you may have hit the motherload with this one, gramps," He added.

Optimus chuckled slightly, his optics scanning over the room. "It is indeed a sight to behold, young one," He told him, turning towards the other three Autobots that flanked him. "What are your first impressions?"

"A scan shows more rooms than we currently have," Ironhide noted first, then added. "Clearly not built for military use. But with additions, it would definitely make quite the base," He added, putting his hands on his hips, optics looking over at Optimus. "We definitely will need to build our own weapons vault. Otherwise the twins will break down any door I have easily," He grunted.

Trevor chuckled, imagining the twins being so easily able to do that. He watched Elita next, who took more time to examine and take in a first impression of the building. Trevor had a good feeling that his grandmother wasn't going to be too picky. But the look on her face as she turned to them made him wonder if he was thinking much differently. "I think, as the humans say I think," She looked at Trevor. "That this is a pit of a "fixer-upper"?" Trevor nodded at the use of the word. "But between its current side and the amount of land around it... Well, I think we can deal with that," She explained.

"Ah think it's charming," Jazz commented without even really giving it a through look. "Give it a good paint job, expand it a bit. And ah think it'll make a great base. Kinda reminds meh of Iacon - post war," He added.

Trevor smirked, already imagining in the back of his mind what the building could look like as a NEST Base. It was definitely in need of work, that much had been true. But he could also feel excitement at the thought of a bigger base, and one that was in a city (albeit on the outskirts) was even more exciting. "I'm glad to hear that both you and your team find it good, Optimus Prime," He heard.

Trevor recognized the president's voice from the television almost instantly. As he swung around to look at him, he took in the tall, handsome man calmly. With his rugged beard, and greying hair Adam Conner looked almost like Optimus in holoform, down to his taller height of six foot three. He had a smile on his face, and a bright look in his eyes that Trevor, admittedly hadn't expected. Trevor grew stiff after a moment, and stood straight at attention. But it was Optimus that greeted the leader of the free world in a friendly way, having met him before. "Mr. President," Optimus spoke warmly. "It is always a pleasure," He added.

"Same to you, Optimus Prime," Conner told him in greeting, then went down the line to greet each Autobot before coming upon Trevor. "And you, young man. I've waited a long time for you to be brought along," He gripped Trevor's hand in a handshake so firm, it surprised him. "I've wanted to shake your hand for some time. And thank you for what you've done for our country," He added.

Trevor blinked, his eyes staring blankly into Conner's own ones. The President was thanking him? It was almost surreal, though he knew why. At the end of the day, if it hadn't been for him buying Bumblebee, things would have undoubtedly went much different when the Decepticons arrived. "I uh... Thank you Mr. President," Trevor breathed out slightly. "But I didn't really do anything, I just bought a car from a junk yard," He added.

"You have a modest grandson," Conner told Optimus with a smirk. "Young man, I know everything you did during and before Mission City. Most fifteen year olds would be too traumatized to even comprehend what you did. Especially after losing your parents. Didn't I even hear you faced down Megatron yourself?" Trevor's face grew red as a tomato as the president patted him on the shoulder. "This country owes you a debt of gratitude at the end of the day, young man. Just as much as it owes the men and woman who fought that day, and the Autobots," He added.

Trevor had never seen it in the way the man spoke, and in some ways, he still didn't. But at the same time, it was nice to know what he did was appreciated by more than the Autobots and those in NEST all the same. "Thank you, Mr. President," Trevor nodded once again, a smile creeping over his face. "That means a lot coming from you," He breathed.

Trevor turned to look at Optimus and Elita, hoping for confirmation, which he got. Elita simply gave a thumbs up, while Optimus inclined his head, and used his optics to convey his approval. "Now," Trevor looked at the President, yet again at attention. "As far as this choice of base goes, if this became your main base of operations it is ideal. Plenty of room to expand, and already several rooms. Big enough to fit barracks for soldiers, living quarters for Autobots, and probably a few small rooms that could work as living quarters for Trevor, of course," He then added, rather calmly. "There are two massive main areas like this that could serve as primary hangars. This one, and the second building beside it that you may have noticed on your way in. That one is smaller, but it also contains more rooms," He added.

Trevor nodded two buildings, that was definitely a good idea. It meant room for when more troops joined their ranks, as well as Autobots. On top of the room already there for expansion. Optimus nodded his head, seemingly pleased with the assessment. "That is quite helpful," He spoke affirmatively. "Now as for the location of the base..." He began.

"You're not far from anything," Conner told him immediately. "Getting into the city is only about a twenty minute drive. And it's only another ten to both a public and private high school," He looked between Trevor and Optimus. "Given your standing I wasn't quite sure which you'd want Trevor enrolled in. But they're both great, my own daughter goes to the private school. But she has friends who attend the public one and from what I know their academic records are high," He explained.

Trevor really hoped he didn't have to go to private school, despite the fact Optimus had insisted it would be a private school. He hoped that somewhere along the line, he would change his tune. He'd never been big on uniforms, and he'd likely feel out of place among the kids who had possibly been raised in the lap of luxury. After all, Trevor may have had money now, but he still grew up in poverty, something that couldn't be erased. But he knew, given the protection it would probably provide, it was probably where he was headed. And to that end, he understood why he had to go there, but that didn't mean he was going to like it. "We can talk about that if and when the time comes," Optimus explained. "For the moment, I would like to look over more of the base to better take a look at its specifications," He added.

Inside, Trevor was getting antsy, and for good reason. He was on the mainland (out of Decepticon hands) for the first time in a while. And he was itching to be anywhere but a possible military base, regardless of how interested he was to see it. Or the fact that the President of the United States himself was with them. He felt a nudge from Jazz as he realized that the group had already started to make their way deeper into the base. "We'd better keep up with the rest of the tour," Jazz told him. "Ah know, this part's borin'. But think about it, after this, we can go sight-seeing," He encouraged.

Trevor did like the sound of that, especially with the thought of going to see what could be his new hometown. And so he nodded his head, forcing himself to follow the others. The President spoke the most out of anyone, pointing out the different places of interest as they walked by. Trevor could already tell that they were going to like it there if they moved, because the more they walked, the deeper the building seemed to go. His first assumption, and everyone's was right, and wrong. Given it was even bigger than he had initially thought.

All the same, he only half paid attention to what the President was saying. After all, most of it boiled down to things that he didn't need to bother himself with. But before long, his legs were sore, and his body tired from simply walking through the hangar, and room to room. He hadn't wanted to go into the second building by that time, but he still forced himself to anyway. It too, was more of the same, in desperate need of a make-over, but exactly what they would need. Trevor also got a better idea of where his room would be, as they entered the smaller rooms through there, and by "small" the man had clearly meant the size of a small house. Trevor wasn't sure he'd get used to that, but he digressed, he already had a big room back at Diego Garcia anyway.

When they were finally done, they returned to the first building. And Conner simply clapped his hands together, turning around. "So tell me, Optimus Prime, what do you think?"

Optimus was of course not prepared to fully answer there and then, but all the same eyed the rest of them. Trevor could tell by the look in everyone's optics that they liked it, but only time would tell if they liked it enough to move in. "We have a few days in the city to make our decision," Optimus told the President calmly. "Allow my team and I time to discuss it."

"Of course, of course," Conner nodded. "Until then you are all welcome to stay at the White House. We've prepared somewhere for you to park your vehicular forms. But of course, those... 'Holoforms'?" He asked, and got a nod in response. "Will have to be used in order to keep this as low profile as possible," He then looked at Trevor. "We've prepared the Lincoln bedroom for you. I hope you don't mind, bed's the comfiest we have," He added.

"You kidding?" Trevor laughed. "I'm sleeping at the White House, Mr. President. Wherever I am is an honor."

He turned to Optimus with a look that seemed to question if they could take off now. He knew Optimus and Elita would not be taking that day off, unfortunately. But had promised that tomorrow would be a day the three of them spent together, alone. Just as they had planned the first time until so many complications had come into play. After all, part of this trip was so that Trevor could properly bond with his grandparents away from base. Even if, without a doubt, there was work to be done as well. "In the meantime, I suppose you and Jazz want to do sightseeing?" Optimus chuckled knowingly, to which Trevor nodded. "Will they require anything to get into the White House, Mr. President?"

Conner turned to a member of his secret service, who had flanked him from the beginning. And Trevor was soon handed a guest identification card, which read his name. He grinned widely, oh yes, this would make an awesome souvenir. "Just show that to the guard, he'll know where to direct you," Conner told him with a nod. "Dinner should be served by seven though, so I hope to see you back by then."

"Of course Mr. President," Trevor saluted, then turned to the others. "We'll be back."

"Be safe!" Elita shouted to him as Jazz transformed down, opening his drivers side door.

"Don't cause any trouble," Ironhide warned him.

Optimus, however, simply sent a comm to Jazz. :Take good care of him Jazz,: He said, before speaking out loud. "Have fun and stay safe," He commented.

Trevor only gave a thumbs up as he climbed in, an eager looking smile on his face. He was ready to greet what he hoped to be his new stomping grounds. And hopefully, have a lot of fun in the process.

...

A/N: Whew that chapter ended up being longer than I expected! Hope it turned out good though! :D Also, grandparent bonding (well more of it) is to come soon! :D