You sat in a cave, not sure what to do. Maybe... maybe you could contact Bumblebee. No. You couldn't do that. But you wanted to make sure he and Raf were alright.

You groaned in frustration, hitting your head against the wall. A quiet beep ran through the caves and you absent-mindedly answered it.

:(Y/N), are you alright?:

You recognized the whirls of Bumblebee and smiled softly. You missed this.

"I'm fine. How are you and Raf doing?"

:Raf isn't doing so well... Ratchet can't figure out what's wrong with him... I'm really worried.:

"Raf is strong, he'll make it through this", you said confidently.

:You think so?: Bee asked hopefully.

"Bug, I know so", you answered with a smile in your face.

You could imagine Bumblebee's body shaking with laughter. You definitely missed him, and you wanted to be with him so badly. You just hoped he wouldn't bring up-

:(Y/N), why did you kiss me?: Bumblebee asked.

Welp, he brought it up. Now you had to figure out some way to answer.

"Bug, I feel like that should be obvious", you answered, a small smile on your face.

Bumblebee was silent for a moment before you heard him sigh.

:I am afraid of the answer:, he whispers. :I am afraid that you feel the same way I feel about you. Because I know I shouldn't feel this way about you, but that kiss is all I can think about... even when my charge is hurt, the first bot that comes to my mind to comfort me is you. I know you hurt my family, but now my new family is hurt, and I am scared. And all I know is that you make me less scared.:

You voice had caught in your throat as you listened to him. You couldn't believe this. Everything he had said nearly matched with your own thoughts.

"Bug... what are you saying?" you whisper.

:I'm saying that I really need you right now... that's why I called...: he whispers. You were quiet for a moment.

"Would it be alright for me to come to the Autobot base?" you asked. You heard Bumblebee ask someone else something, and him whirling in relief.

:You're free to come here. I can open a ground bridge to your coordinates:, Bumblebee answers. You quickly give him your coordinates and soon, a swirling green portal opens. You smile softly and step through, immediately recognizing the Autobot base. The humans were all at a safe distance, and you noticed a couple blasters pointed at you.

You smile softly and hold up your hands. "If it will make you guys feel better, you are free to remove me of my weapons."

Arcee was quick to grab my sword, and a few of my other weapons before putting them in one of the back hallways. Bulkhead put his blasters away but stayed over by the humans to protect them. You searched through the main room of the base until your optics landed on the yellow and black scout. You smile at him softly and you saw his door wings flutter happily. You smile a bit bigger, having missed him terribly. In an instant, you were standing in front of him, staring up into his optics. He was smiling, though it wasn't visible. However, it disappeared when you heard Ratchet realize that it wasn't energon affecting Raf, it was Dark Energon. Your optics widen.

"I need energon!" Ratchet yells. A new human that you didn't recognize spoke up.

"Wait, you said that energon was devastating to humans", she said, staring up at the orange and white medic.

"Under normal circumstances, quite", Ratchet explains. "But I am relying upon the dark matter currently invading Raf's body to meet it head on."

Bumblebee was about to volunteer to give Ratchet some energon but you stopped him.

"I'll do it", you say. "You can take some of my energon."

Bumblebee whirls at me quizzically. You smile at him.

"You'll need your strength if you're going to be on this team. I'm now technically a neutral and have no reason to keep my energon."

Bee stares at you in sadness but you shake your head at him. You walk over to Ratchet, who gently takes your arm and fills a canister with your energon. Then he starts yelling directions, which everyone obeys.

They had put Raf in a large chamber and Ratchet typed furiously to get it started. A bright light starts to fill the room, and soon it's too bright to even look in Raf's direction. And then... it's over. The door to the chamber opens and the humans and Bumblebee walk over. You watch them silently as they reunite with Raf, who was slowly waking up.

"Bee?" he whispers. You smile at the sound of the small boys voice. You had missed him a lot too. You were glad he was okay.

"Optimus, we did it", Ratchet breathed. It was then that he realized Optimus wasn't with them. He instantly turned on Bulkhead, who explained the situation.

Optimus had stayed behind on the warship to fight Megatron.

Ratchet was quick to go to the computer and triangulate Optimus' coordinates. He soon located them and his eyes widened in fear. He whipped around and started yelling.

"We need to get him out of there, Now!" he opened a ground bridge and Bulkhead went through first. You watched as Arcee and Ratchet jumped through. You stayed behind with Bumblebee. Raf, Miko, and Jack watched you in curiosity, while the newest human watched you with a bit of fear.

They were all distracted, however, when the others came back through the ground bridge with a severely weakened Optimus.

"Easy, Optimus", Ratchet murmurs as he helps the large mech sit down. "From the looks of things, you've been exposed to a massive amount of dark energon."

Optimus' gaze shifts over to the young boy sitting in a hospital bed. "I am not the only one."

"Hey", Raf says quietly. You smile at the young boy, though that smile quickly disappears.

"He's lucky to be alive." The one human you didn't recognize says dangerously. They were all quiet for a moment before Jack speaks up.

"Megatron found more of the dark stuff?" he asked.

"A volcano full", Arcee answers.

"The question is 'how'?" Bulkhead says, though Ratchey disagreed with him.

"No", Ratchet says firmly. "The question is 'what'. As in, what is the blood of Unicron doing here on Earth?"

You got a bad feeling in your gut as you tried to figure out what it could possibly mean. Taking a deep breath, you walked over to where Bumblebee was standing and gently touched his arm. He glanced at you before focusing back on what the others were saying.

"The cons killed a Unicorn?" Miko asks. You glance at Miko in curiosity, unsure of what she was talking about, especially when she explained what they were. You sigh in exasperation, but let Ratchet explain who Unicron was. Though you could see the confusion.

"So, Unicron is like some sort of boogey man?" the unfamiliar human spoke.

"Boogey man?" Ratchet asks. Miko explained again.

"Make believe creepy guy who hides in your closet."

"No, Nurse Darby", Ratchet starts. "Unicron is very real. Was. That is, well, I do believe that he once existed. I just don't subscribe to the theory that his primordial life force is the substance that-" he paused for a moment. "Harmed Raf."

The unfamiliar human- which you now learned was called Nurse Darby- was visibly not happy about what she was hearing.

"I've heard enough", she said. "Jack, help me get Raf to the car."

Bee immediately moved forward. :But Raf is fine!: You placed a servo on his arm, causing him to look down at you. You saw how sad and worried his optics were and could only give him a small comforting smile.

"But, Mom, I thought he was doing better!" Jack exclaimed.

"Raf needs to be examined by real doctors", Nurse Darby says, putting emphasis on real. You knew that would hurt Ratchet and as you glanced over at him, you saw he was looking down at the ground. Nurse Darby continued. "And Raf's family needs to know what happened to him. His real family." She glared at Bee this time, and you saw him sink down a bit. You moved your servo from his arm to his servo, and gave it a gentle squeeze. He immediately held onto your servo tightly, trying not to show how sad he was, but was failing. His door wings drooped, and his optics were wide as he watched Raf being taken away from him.

"June, it deeply grieves me that I have failed", Optimus said as he stood up. "But I will do everything in my power to ensure that no harm comes to our human friends." He limped forward as he spoke. "Or any human ever again."

June stopped from where she had been walking, turning to look at Optimus.

"Optimus. They're children. They don't belong your world", Nurse Darby's voice had become dangerous and you were slightly afraid of what was going to happen next. "They should be worrying about grades, prom dates, pimples! Not their own survival."

"Mom, dark energon is pouring out of the earth. It doesn't do that. This could be about everyone's survival, not just ours."

"Jack", you spoke up. "She's a mother. She just wants to protect you, and any children she knows could be in danger. It's what mothers do."

Everyone stared at you in surprise, not sure where those words had come from. You weren't about to explain it either, not in front of all of them. That was a part of your past you weren't ready to share with anyone. Not even your own brother knew about it.

Nurse Darby sent you a grateful glance, before turning to the three kids. "You're coming with me, all three of you, and they will not be coming back!"

You watched sadly, but knew that Nurse Darby was doing what she thought was best. You weren't going to argue with her; you knew what a mother's fears and worries and angers were.

"I understand", Optimus says. You glanced at him and saw the sadness in his optics as well. He would miss the human children, just as you all would.

Miko ran up to him. "That's it? After all we've been through together? 'See ya'? What about our freedom to choose?"

"That may fly on their planet, but not here on Earth", Nurse Darby says, before pointing to the car she stood by. "Get in."

"Do you really expect me to ride in a non-transforming vehicle?" Miko scoffs.

"Miko, I'm serious."

"You're not my mother", Miko snipped back at Nurse Darby.

"Miko..." Bulkhead started, only to be surprised when Miko turned on him too.

"Neither are you!"

"Well, I am yours", Nurse Darby says as she turns to Jack. "Let's go, Jack."

You watched as Arcee came up behind Jack. He glanced at her. "She is your mom", Arcee said reluctantly.

Jack took a deep breath and clenched his fists. "I'm staying", he says firmly, before looking to the ground. "I'm sorry."

You saw the look of shock in Nurse Darby's eyes, before her face hardened into one of anger and she stormed to her car. She slammed the car door shut on Raf, who had a look of shock as he stared out the window at Bumblebee. You smiled at him sadly, and made a silent promise to Raf. 'I'll look after him until you get back.'

"Ratchet, activate the groundbridge", Optimus murmurs.

"No, thank you", Nurse Darby says as she backs up and speeds into the tunnel that led out of base. You watched in sadness, before turning to the other Autobots.

"So... am I going to have to go to my cell? I only came because I was worried about Raf... and Bug..." you whispered. Optimus looked at you, before a small smile appears on his face.

"(Y/N), you've been through a lot in the past, and if I recall correctly, you just recently left the Decepticons."

You nod nervously, unsure of where this was going.

"Would you like to join the Autobot cause and fight against Megatron?" Optimus asked, earning several surprised murmurs from not just you, but from the other Autobots. Bumblebee was the only one who didn't react, though he was quick to bolt out of base.

You instantly knew that something was wrong outside of base. Bumblebee would only leave that quickly of he was worried Raf was in danger.

"Can I answer that question once Bumblebee comes back?" you ask quietly. "I want him to hear my answer."

Surprise shined in all of the Autobots faces, and you realize that it was because you didn't call Bumblebee 'bug'. You chuckle quietly, waiting for them to go back to what they were originally doing. It wasn't long before Bumblebee returned with two familiar humans.

"We're back", Rad called as he got out of Bumblebee's alt mode.

"And we are glad", Optimus says with a smile. Bumblebee transformed and walked over to me, hesitantly taking my servo in his again. You freeze for a moment in surprise before smiling at him.

"Hey, Optimus, I'm ready to answer your question now", you say, just loud enough for Optimus to hear. He turns to face you, and you smile nervously at him. You were honestly afraid of what Bumblebee's reaction would be.

"I would love to join the Autobot cause. You guys have become much more of a family to me than the Decepticons ever were", you say, your optics sparkling with the many emotions you never would be able to show on the warship.

You felt Bumblebee freeze for a second before he turns you to face him. He pulls you into a hug that surprises you, but you didn't hesitate to hug him back. This felt amazing. This felt right. You were glad to be part of the Autobot cause.

"Then Ratchet shall see to having your symbol changed", Optimus murmurs. You don't do or say anything, you just continue holding onto Bumblebee like your life depended on it. At least, you did until you heard your name being called.

"(Y/N), was it?" You turned and saw Nurse Darby. She smiled hesitantly, a bit nervous. "Can I speak with you for a moment?"

You hesitate before nodding. "Come with me. I know a place where we can talk without being interrupted."

Nurse Darby nods, and follows you to your old cell. You sit on the berth and watch as Nurse Darby hesitantly enters the room.

"What is this place?" she wonders. "I've never seen it before."

You chuckle quietly. "This is... where I stayed the past two times I was here. I... was a prisoner of war for a while and this was my cell. But... I'm glad I stayed here. Otherwise I would have never met Bug."

"Bug?" Nurse Darby asks. You smile sheepishly.

"Bumblebee. I call him Bug because that's what I've always called him. It's sort of become my nickname for him."

Nurse Darby smiles. "You sound like you love him."

"I do love him. Much more than-" you cut yourself off, wincing at the memories.

"Does this have something to do with your child?" Nurse Darby asks. You stare at her in shock.

"How did you..." you trail off. She smiles.

"The way you spoke about how a mother would do anything to protect her child or any children for that matter. It's a tone only a mother would use."

You smile softly. "Yeah, I had a child. A long time ago. Before I joined the Decepticons. Usually I keep that part of me well hidden. Not even my brother knows what happened. He just knows that I hate Megatron much more than he does."

"Megatron wasn't the father, was he?" Nurse Darby asks in horror.

"No, he wasn't. But he killed my sweet little femmeling", your voice grew dark. "He doesn't know I was watching when he did shoved his blade through her spark... he thinks I think she was killed by an Autobot. But I saw him. And I will get my revenge."

Nurse Darby had a look of shock on her face. "Megatron killed your daughter?"

"Yes. That's why when I saw he had harmed Raf... I attacked him... he almost killed that one person who reminds me of my sweet little femme. She was so smart, and willing to help anyone. She probably could have rivalled Soundwave in how smart she was."

Nurse Darby smiles. "Does Bumblebee know about your daughter?"

You shake your head. "How am I supposed to tell him...? He already knows that I'm the one who killed his parents, how am I supposed to tell him I had a daughter with another mech?"

"He'll understand", Nurse Darby says. "He's a very understanding mech."

"I know... I'm just... scared..." you whisper, staring at the ground. Nurse Darby came over and placed her hand on your leg.

"Everyone gets scared sometimes. Bit you have to face your fears if you're ever going to get over them."

You smile at her. "Jack's lucky to have you as his mother."

"Thank you. I think you would have been an amazing mother to your daughter as well."

You laugh before offering your hand to her. "Shall we head back out?"

Nurse Darby nods, cautiously stepping onto your hand. She held onto one of your digits as you stood up, and walked out to the main room.

You set her down with the other humans, before walking over to Bumblebee. You were extremely nervous, but gently got his attention by placing your servo on his arm. He looked at you, and his door wings moved upward. You could tell he was smiling at you, and you smiled gently in return.

"Bug... can I talk to you about something?"