A/N: Yep I finally have muse again! God my muse is SO weird lately it just jumps around constantly. But well, nothing wrong with that I hope.

I do hope that some of my readers at least will come back to read more.

NOTE: Yikes, sorry for the repost. But I realized a very big continuity error in the Optimus/Elita/Trevor chat so I have fixed that.

CHAPTER 47
Talks and News

"I'm sorry that we cannot get closer to you without our holoforms."

The voice of Optimus got Trevor out of his thoughts. His eyes traveling to see that indeed, his grandfather's holoform had joined him. Not that it was a surprise, they'd spent most of the day together. He, Optimus, and Elita had already seen many sights in Washington DC, but at the moment they were simply hanging around a large park they'd settled down to hang out in.

Elita was simply watching the humans from a distance, taking in the sights. He had the feeling that she, like him, wasn't sure what to make of Washington so far and was taking the chance to get a good look. "It's fine, gramps. I'm just enjoying spending time with you and grandma somewhere other than a military base." Trevor admitted, crossing his arms. "It's kind of weird though, gotta admit. Last time you and I were in a city you were yelling at me for facing down Megatron."

"Indeed, it is nice to spend time with you among humans in less straining circumstances." Optimus placed a gentle hand on his grandson's shoulder calmly. "I take it you are enjoying your time among humans... Not in the military as well?"

Trevor put his hands in his pockets. He didn't want to say yes on one hand. After all, the Autobots had done so much for him. Saved his life, given him a family, made him feel like he mattered... But on the other hand, being back in civilization did make him yearn quietly for the normal life he left behind.

Shifting the weight on his feet quietly, he looked at Optimus. "I uh... I love it at Diego Garcia. I mean, how can I not? I don't care where home is as long as I'm with you guys." He explained, noting the smile that came over Optimus' face. "But, I mean... Some days I think it would be nice to have friends my own age. As long as I don't have to deal with people like Leo and his conspiracy theories..."

Optimus nodded his head. "Are you lonely, Trevor?"

"Define "lonely". I have plenty of-."

"Do you long for the companionship of children your own age?" Optimus told him in a soft baritone. "It's alright, Trevor. I love you, and no matter your answer that will not change."

Trevor rubbed his prosthetic leg nervously. It was an action he'd taken to doing since he was young - a bit of a tell. And he knew by the way that Optimus was looking at him, his family had noticed. "Yeah, grandpa. I do." Trevor told him as Optimus leaned against the park bench they were sitting at. "Don't make this move because of me though. This has to be about you guys..."

"It's about all of us." Optimus replied. "You're simply making it clear to me this move is for the best. Diego Garcia is a good base. It's served us well... But if the Decepticons are spending more time on the mainland we do have a good reason to relocate..."

Trevor opened his mouth, but set it after a long moment. "So we're moving then...?"

Optimus nodded his head. "This morning, before you woke up. The president, Moreshower, Captain Lennox, and myself had a meeting and decided on the matter." Trevor wanted to hide a smile, but struggled. "Your father and I still need to discuss where your education will take place though."

"Boys. We can talk about that later." Elita surprised Trevor as she made her own way over. "I'm getting bored. And I don't think talking "business" is actually bonding."

Trevor raised a hand, feeling as though he already had a suggestion. Given the fact that they had been around humans for so long that day... "Why don't we go and find somewhere you guys can be in your real forms?" He asked. "We've seen everything I really wanted to see. And this is hardly TLC while you guys are stuck as cars."

Optimus looked thoughtfully at the teen, and then nodded. "I concur, I believe I spotted somewhere that may indeed function for a beautiful place for TLC." He noted as he stood to his feet, placing a arm around his mate's holoform. "I am in dire need to stretch."

Inside, however, Trevor was too busy celebrating the victory he had just been told.

They arrived at the isolated area outside of DC after some time.

It wasn't far outside, but just far enough that both Autobots could get up and stretch. But rather than do anything, they'd immediately seated themselves down and begun to talk. Something that was far more natural to Trevor in their Autobot forms, a fact which almost... Perplexed him.

He was rested on Optimus's knee at the moment as the Autobot leader observed the nature around him. Continuing on speaking as he had. "How did we meet?" Optimus questioned, bringing up the question that Trevor had just asked.

"Well, yeah. I mean... I've heard how you met dad, but not how you met each other." Trevor replied, resting his chin on his knees slightly. "And I'm just curious. I mean, how do you guys even start a romance?"

Elita chuckled, leaning back. "Oh, child. I could tell you many things about romance in our culture. But I doubt you want to learn that much." She explained, answering for Optimus. "As for your question. Optimus and I have known each other since before he was even in office."

"We were school friends, as you might say." Optimus told his grandson, staring at his mate with a deep, loving look in his optics. "At the time, I was studying to become a Data Clerk in Iacon..."

"That's a joke, right?" Trevor asked, surprised. "You, a data clerk? I thought you were an apprentice?"

"Well, everyone needs to start somewhere. He studied for it, but he grew further in the ranks in the Hall of Records, of course." Elita explained. "Same as me, when I met your grandfather I had originally aspired to be a mechanic. But I decided I'd rather devote my time on the battlefield as a soldier."

Trevor was already enthralled in the story, admittedly. He looked between his grandparents with great curiosity. "So how do a data clerk and a solider decide to fall in love?" He asked.

"We didn't. When your grandsire and I first met, we could not stand each other. He was assigned to tutor me in my studies. And to be frank, I thought he was like most of the upper caste: selfish, elitist, jerks." Elita admitted, poking the boy on the cheek. "It was only after he showed his soft sides that I gave him a second look. You'd be surprised but your grandsire is quite the charmer."

Optimus looked fondly at her, his love showing. "You may not have stood me. But for me, it was love at first sight. I knew from day one you were the one I would bond with." He explained.

Elita simply blushed in the only way a robot could, and nodded. Trevor watched the loving way both were still looking at each other, and smiled. It was nice to know he had grandparents that truly adored each other. Despite their rougher beginnings, as it sounded like.

He sighed quietly, leaning against Elita's shoulder slightly. "We kind of have a crazy family don't we? The more I hear the more I'm starting to figure that out." Both of them nodded in agreement. "I like it though. I can say I had a kind of crazy family... In a good way. If you don't count Megatron."

He then paused a moment, and looked down. "It's nice to have such a big family that really loves each other that way. I mean, mom and dad loved each other... But then there was Michael..." He paused a moment. "And there's a reason I never went to anyone else in my family."

Elita and Optimus looked at each other quietly. To his surprise though, it was Elita who spoke up, and gave her young grandson a smile. "It must have been really something then, entering this family. Even in the darkest of times we've loved each other greatly." She then noted. "Though your parents sounded like lovely individuals. I wish we could have gotten to know them."

Trevor smiled a bit, putting his hands on his knees. "Yeah, my parents were great. They were a lot like you and Optimus, honestly. They loved each other so much... Even when mom was dying." He explained. "It was weird for me when they got together because I wasn't used to it back then..."

Optimus was silent for a long moment before he crouched to where his mate and grandson were seated. "I'm glad that you got to experience that love before they passed..." He told him, trying his best to skate around how they had passed. "A child should know what that kind of love is like."

The boy looked at Optimus in agreement. "Yeah, and now I really know what it's like. Getting adopted into a family that doesn't even have a single bio child does that I guess." He admitted. "If you talked to four year old me about families like this? Well I'd think you were making it up."

"There are many families like ours." Elita replied. "And though I do wish our daughter was with us now... I don't regret taking Bee. I think it was something that was meant to be. As you're learning love can transcend Energon, or even species..."

"Yeah, I'm pretty lucky."

Trevor meant that too - a great deal. He was lucky to have been part of this family, as weird as some people might have found it. After all, whose family wasn't weird? "I guess the only thing I wish is that I could have seen Cybertron." Trevor admitted, somewhat surprising both of his grandparents. "I mean - I get that it's impossible but sometimes it kinda sucks knowing there's a part of my adoptive heritage I'll never know about. I can only hear about it - or see your guys' holographic videos of it."

Optimus and Elita both looked stunned. Realizing that Trevor was speaking from the heart. And they knew it was true, Trevor would probably always be one of the few family members - other than whoever came after him, to never set foot on his family's home world. "Maybe one day - if fate permits it." Optimus mused, surprising his grandson. "The Allspark may be gone but I do have hopes that one day we may find a way to restore Cybertron by another means."

They all thought of the implications of that. The idea might have fueled the teen's imagination, but at the same time what would it mean? Where would they chose to live? Would Trevor really leave his heritage on Earth behind to be with his adopted family among the stars? Would that then mean that he would, inevitably, leave? All were very good questions none of them could answer at the present.

As they processed the thoughts, Elita made note of the growing darkness, and sighed. She carefully picked her young grandson up from her shoulder and placed him in the palm of her hand. "In the meantime. I do believe the hour is growing late. And as much as I have enjoyed this, it's time to get back." She noted, placing Trevor on the ground in front of her. "I think the President is still expecting us back for dinner, is he not?"

"Man, that went by fast." Trevor murmured, putting his hands in his pockets. "I was really enjoying myself, too."

Optimus chuckled, transforming down into his peterbuilt form as he popped the door open for the teenager to climb in. "Indeed. But responsibilities are something we all must get used to." He explained as Trevor climbed into the passenger's seat and his holforom appeared beside him. "I do believe it may be nice to sneak away more often on Diego Garcia like this, however."

"I concur." Elita nodded as she transformed as well. "Or maybe a couple of more times before we go home."

"I like the sound of that." Trevor grinned from ear-to-ear.

Even if this felt like a calm between storms in the life of the Autobots, he would still remember this peaceful day for many years to come.

It was like he blinked and they were back on the transport to Diego Garcia.

Trevor sighed and sulked for about a good hour about it. But reminded himself of what Optimus had told him a few nights ago: they'd be back soon. And as much of a hollow victory as that felt like as that meant several months, he still was going to take it as a victory none-the-less.

This time, on the ride, he didn't sleep. Rather he grew restless, perhaps because he was itching to get back to his father, or perhaps because his time schedule was still messed up. Whichever one it was, he couldn't help but relax a bit more as they landed, and disembarked at Diego Garcia.

"So..." Trevor looked up as Jazz spoke up, having nearly forgotten they'd disembarked side-by-side. "What do ya say we do first, shorty? Ah say we go and pull a prank on Galloway. A sort of "we're back"!"

Trevor smirked, because as good as that sounded, he wasn't sure what he wanted to do. So it was the best reply he could settle for, at least at the moment. His eyes traveled around as he looked for Bumblebee, though he didn't have to look far. Of course, the first person he saw was the giant yellow mech.

"Well, I see it went well." Bumblebee noted as Trevor jogged over, allowing him to pick his son up. "You're in one piece. Not bored to death. And you actually managed to convince Prime to bring us to DC."

"Eh, all in a day's work." Trevor hugged his thumb tightly. "I missed you dad."

"I missed you too." Bumblebee replied fondly, though after a moment, his face turned a bit more serious. "Listen, Trevor... I hate to throw this on you right away... But we've had some problems while you were gone."

Trevor frowned, not totally understanding what he was getting at. Why would Bumblebee get so serious right after he got home? Didn't he want to kick back? Maybe even join him and Jazz on that prank? "Dad, what's going on?" Trevor finally asked, his voice tense. "I thought you were going to be like "Yeah! The kid's here! Let's party!"."

"Unfortunately Trevor, we're all a little tense right now." Trevor let Bumblebee set him down in front of Will, who had come to meet them as well. "We've been telling Optimus and Elita to keep quiet about this... Mostly because we wanted you to enjoy the time away."

Trevor looked between the two of them with a face that spelled it all: confusion. But after a long time of deliberation it finally hit him. His and Bumblebee's talk the other day. The talk about Michael. How left-field it had felt for him.

Immediately, Trevor felt his stomach sink as he tried to process what may have been happening. "What did my dad do?" He asked, his voice tense, and his frustration great. "What aren't you telling me?"

Will looked like he was very uncomfortable. His eyes traveling up to Bumblebee's as if he expected the Autobot to interject. After all, as Trevor's father, it was easier that he was the one to explain what had happened. "Trevor, come over here." Bumblebee explained, to which Trevor approached him, slowly, and they moved out of the way of the others around them. "Trevor, while you were gone... Michael started stalking the Witwicky's. Asking for information about you... He was getting erratic."

Trevor's heart leapt out of his chest. Oh God, if something had happened to the Witwicky's... "What happened? He didn't hurt anyone did he?"

"... Trevor, he got way off the rails apparently. And he called them telling him..." Bumblebee paused a long moment. "Trevor, your father tried to commit suicide two days ago."

Trevor didn't know how he felt. On one hand, he hated his father. He hated that man with every fiber of his being for beating his mother, beating him... Being the reason he had to live life without one of his legs and always need a prosthetic... But on the other hand, the compassionate side of Trevor didn't like the thought of that. His father was a cruel man, yes. But even he didn't deserve to take his own life.

He took a few steps back. "Is he dead...?"

"No, they saved him. But he left a suicide note and it ain't pretty. Your dad's in a really bad place Trevor." Bumblebee was silent, he looked at Trevor for a long moment. "I don't like him. I mean that fragger tried to strangle you last time we saw him. But he's still your dad. And if you want to see him... Well, Will and I are willing to take you to Tranquility..."

Trevor looked at Will, then to Bumblebee. A part of him wanted to say "screw him" but the other... The other realized that he needed to be the better person. A part of him wasn't going to forgive himself if he ignored this man and he then went and killed himself... After all, even as a jerk, this was his dad.

And that part of him knew the answer he had to give.

A/N: I know, I know. I come back and leave you with that cliffhanger. But rest assured, we will finally get some closure (or at least partial closure) to what's going on with Trevor and his dad next chapter. All that build-up wasn't for nothing after all!