"But he didn't leave you behind on purpose, he tried to call you," Miko spoke up, she felt awful for the femme.

"I know that now. I heard Bulkhead mentioning it."

"What happened once you came to?" Raf wondered, he was curious to hear more of the story.

"I woke up in a place I didn't expect to be in..."

XXXXXXXXXX

Arcee woke up with a splitting helmache, holding her helm she opened her optics to see where she was. "Where am I?" 

A mech she had never seen before came up to her, "Ah good, you're awake. How are you feeling?" Backing up towards the wall, Arcee glared at the mech unsure if he was a friend or a foe. "Easy, you have nothing to worry about," he assures her calmly. "You're at an Autobot military sight. We found you knocked out on the ground, and once we were sure you were still alive we brought you here."

She looks down in sadness as she remembers everything that had happened. Her family was gone and Wheeljack had left her. She balled her servos into fists and suddenly blades came out. "What in the name of-- What is this?!"

"Your blades, you're also equipped with guns."

"Since when was I able to do this?" She asked as she examined the blades.

"Since we put them in. You're gonna become a soldier, you'll be trained in fighting and stealth."

Glaring at the mech she tried to figure out how to make the blades go away.

"You'll also be taught how to use your weapons, and stop glaring at me I'm not the enemy."

"You put weapons in my body, how did you think I was going to react? But at least I'll be able to protect myself instead of..." She fell silent as she remembered her father and the servants who gave their lives to help her escape.

"Yeah, now you'll be able to fend for yourself."

"How long was I out?"

"About a week."

"A week!?" She echoed in disbelief.

"Yep."

Venting out a sigh she looked to the mech, "When do I start training?"

"As soon as you're fit."

"Alright, thanks for helping me. I'm Arcee."

"I'm Grapple and it's no problem."

"Has anyone found my father's body?" She asked softly.

Grapple frowned, "Yeah, we found his body. Do you want to see him?" Arcee hugged herself, a part of her wanted to see him but she didn't want her last memory of him to be him getting shot. Slowly she nodded, "Alright, we thought you may. We were preparing to smelt him but we thought you may want to say your last farewell to him first."

"Thank you."

Grapple just nodded as Arcee carefully got up. She followed Grapple to see her father for the last time.

XXXXXXXXXX

"So I went to see my father for the last time then I got to my training," Arcee said to the others as she ended the story. The others stayed silent with heavy hearts and sparks. 

Jack slowly approached his guardian, placing his hand on hers. "I'm sorry for what happened to your dad, Arcee," he whispered.

Arcee smiled down at him, "I know. But I've had some good times since, I met Tailgate during a training session and got a partner, then Cliffjumper and now I'm part of Team Prime and have a great friend like you." 

Jack returned her smile, glad that Arcee was able to find some happiness in her life again. "It's time to get you guys home," Arcee said as she stood up.

"Hopefully, we can meet Wheeljack soon, maybe we can get you two back together," Miko spoke up as the guardians transformed.

"Maybe." Though I doubt the feelings will still be there after all these years.

~~~~~~~~~~

Once the kids were safely escorted home the Autobots had all gone into recharge, except for Arcee. Hearing Bulkhead tell the others her and Wheeljack's story made her remember what her life was like, and her father. She still missed him, as well as the servants who had bravely given their lives to save her.

She wasn't that weak femme anymore, she was stronger now, and she wasn't alone anymore. However, the story also made her think of the sparkache Wheeljack had left. Why didn't he stay and wait for her, or at least try to contact her?

"Arcee?"

Looking up she saw Bulkhead, "Hey, can't sleep?"

"Not really. You okay?"

"I will be," she replied softly with a sigh as she looked down at the floor.

"Arcee, Wheeljack really was trying to contact you but couldn't get through."

"Then why didn't he wait for me?"

"He wanted to but he had to follow commands from our commander. We got orders to go to another side of Cybertron and we had to leave quickly."

Arcee looks up at him, "Did he even try to contact me?"

"Didn't you listen to anything I said, Arcee?"

"I was out for a week, Bulkhead. Did he try after that?"

"He tried a few times but got nothing. He was mostly busy trying to stay alive and keep his friends alive. Roadbuster, Springer, and Kup were all killed so he was suffering from grief from their loss as well as others he met on the way. But he never forgot about you, he thought about you all the time and has been longing to be with you again. We heard about Halogen and you won't believe how sparkbroken he felt to hear it, how much he wanted to see you again and comfort you. He nearly had a spark attack thinking something had happened to you. He asked about you but none of the bots knew what had become of you."

Staring at Bulkhead she felt her optics sting and her spark breaking, Wheeljack was in the same situation as she was. Staying alive and trying to keep others safe, they lost comrades and felt so much sparkbreak. "I miss him so much, and now that he's so close... I'm a little nervous about seeing him again after so long."

"I know you are and I'm sure he's nervous too."

"We should get some recharge. We have company coming tomorrow."

"You're right. Good night, Arcee," Bulkhead said as he headed to his room. 

Heading back to her room, Arcee started thinking about the next day. With a smile, she slipped into recharge.

The next morning they all woke up and got ready for Wheeljack's arrival. Later that afternoon, the kids had arrived from school, and Miko was running all around the base looking for the newcomer. "Wheeljack isn't here yet?" She asked with disappointment.

"Not yet, Miko. But he'll be here."

"Aww, I even managed not to get into trouble today just so I could meet him," she whined.

"She should try that every day," Jack whispered to Raf.

"He'll be here, Miko. Don't worry, you'll still get to meet him."

"Got any ideas of when he might get here?" She asked with excitement.

"No, I don't, he just said he'll be here today."

Jack looks over at Arcee in worry, he wishes there was something that he could do to help. "How are you doing, Arcee?"

"Doing as good as can be," Arcee responded. She didn't want to admit it but she was beyond nervous about seeing Wheeljack again. Would he still be the same mech she had known back then or had the war changed him to someone she wouldn't recognize?

"He's coming in," Ratchet spoke up.

Arcee stiffened a little but then took a moment to calm herself down before looking at the monitors again, she saw some 'Cons gaining on him. "He's got bogeys on his tail."

"Open the Ground Bridge," Bulkhead ordered.

"I'll prepare Med Bay," Ratchet replied, ignoring Bulkhead's attitude.

"Who for, the 'Cons? This is Wheeljack we're talking about," the Wrecker chuckled as he, Bumblebee, and Arcee took off. The three go through in time to see Wheeljack take out the last Vehicon.

"You missed one," Arcee smirked. Wheeljack casually shot the remaining one without even looking over as he walked toward the three.

"I taught him that," Bulkhead chuckled.

"If this is all you got then this planet is in big trouble," Wheeljack teased. Bulkhead ran over to Wheeljack and lifted him off the ground with a bear hug. Arcee looked on with a smile, happy that the two were reunited once again. The four then quickly made their way back to the base. Now that he was here Arcee wasn't sure of what to say to him.

"Wheeljack, I want you to meet my other best friend, Miko," Bulkhead said introducing the human child.

"Hiya," the girl greeted.

"You keeping Bulkhead out of trouble?" Wheeljack asked her.

"I try, but trouble always ends up finding us."

"I think we'll get along just fine."

A moment later, Optimus came in, "Optimus Prime, it's a privilege."

"Likewise soldier. We heard a great deal about you."

"All good things I hope."

"Bulkhead told us about your past with Arcee. Now that you're here, are you gonna talk with her and start things back up again?" Miko asked excitedly.

"Uhh, sure," Wheeljack replied with uncertainty. I don't remember Lord Starscream or Soundwave mentioning that Wheeljack knew this femme. I'll have to play along as best as I can.

"What are you waiting for? Go talk to her and get her back," Bulkhead said as he nudged him towards Arcee.

"Um... Hi," he greeted. He still wasn't sure of what to do.

"Hi..."

"I guess they've been away from each other for so long that they forgot how to talk to each other," Miko whispered to Bulkhead.

"Probably. But this is their first time seeing each other again after millions of years, especially since Wheeljack left the way he did."

Makeshift looked over Arcee's body. How on Cybertron did that Wrecker score a babe like her? I see why Lord Megatron has been obsessed with finding her. "What do you say we head somewhere a little more private so we can talk?" He asked her as he wiggled his brows.

"Sure," she replied as she walked off to lead him to a place where they could be alone.

"So, how have you been?"

"How do you think I've been?" Arcee snapped.

Makeshift flinched at her question, "What did I do?"

"You know exactly what you did! Did you honestly think I wouldn't be upset with you for doing that?"

What in the Pit did he do?!

"Do you really not remember?"

"It has been a long time, Arcee."

"You don't seem like the mech that would forget something, especially something like that no matter how long it's been!"

Makeshift suddenly remembered that Halogen was Arcee's father. Maybe she's referring to that? "You're right. I'm sorry for what happened to Halogen," he spoke sincerely.

"What? I'm not referring to that, I'm talking about how you left me when you were supposed to wait for me so I could go with you!"

"Ohh." What do I say!?

Arcee vented out a sigh, "But Bulkhead told me you did try to contact me, I just wish you had tried harder. I really missed you."

"I'm sorry, I was a little busy staying alive with my fellow Wreckers. I'm sure you were doing the same thing," he replied as he hesitantly placed a servo on her cheek. Lord Megatron, please forgive me.

"I know," she says as she leans in to kiss him. 

Makeshift quickly took a step back, "Uhh, what's that, Bulk? Coming," the mech took off to get some distance between him and Megatron's femme.

"Seriously?" This isn't Wheeljack.  Arcee thought as she narrowed her optics. If this guy wasn't Wheeljack, then where was he? She was going to keep an optic on this imposter.