Author's Note: Happy Valentines Day! I hope you all had a great valentines, just as these two Cybertronian lovebirds are having. Enjoy reading, thank you for reviewing, and have a blessed day!

God Bless


Arcee held in the laugh that was just threatening to break forth as she ran. Yet her movements were sloppy and she stumbled. She braced herself up against the wall before pushing off, trying to regain her bearings as she ran. She did not get more than a few feet from the wall when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her close.

Finally, the laugh burst out as Bumblebee ran his fingers up and down her sensitive sides. She twisted around to look at him with a smirk, optics narrowed teasingly. Yet Bumblebee did not seem fazed as he pressed her up against the wall, optics alight with mischief.

"Running from your mate?" he asked, leaning close. He hummed. "Not very nice."

She squirmed, yet made no real effort to escape. "What is not nice is keeping a helpless femme against her will."

"Not helpless," Bumblebee stated with a grin. He leaned in closer till he was whispering into her audio receptors. "Not here against your will."

Her spark stuttered, yet her very outward appearance remained calm. "Yes, but I am not your mate just yet."

Bumblebee sighed before pulling away. "No," he said regretfully, his voice cracking slightly with the strain it took for him to speak. He winced, but a small smile came across his face. "But you will be."

Yes, she will be. In just a few hours, a ceremony would be held to officially bond them as mates. In just a few hours, they would be linked together, their sparks connected as they share each others thoughts and feelings.

But it would also signify a new moment for Cybertron itself when a new order would be established. The two Heirs would unite the factions, and their duties would begin in governing the troubled world. In three days time, those who were in the Selection would be presented to their future mates. In the next three days, they would be bonded to their Selected mates.

Arcee frowned, knowing that Smokescreen and Firestar intended to perform their duties and follow through with the Selection. She knew Bumblebee had told them both, Smokescreen specifically, that they did not have to go through with bonding to someone they did not know, but Smokescreen and Firestar had stayed firm in their decision. Bumblebee, as best as he could, tried to express his worry to them, stating that just because he found love with Arcee, his Selected mate, did not mean they would as well.

It still did not change their minds. Both were loyal to a fault.

Arcee had tried, and failed to find out who their Selected Decepticon mates were, but even that information had been blocked. Her efforts were in vain, no matter how hard she tried. But, Smokescreen and Firestar were going to perform their duties in the courts in governing Cybertron when all was made official, as were the many other Selected Autobots and Decepticons. Even Moonracer, who was no longer a Selected, had a spot in the new Council.

What should have been a simple, memorable event for two Cybertronians, was now a daunting, foreboding task.

Such a thought caused Arcee to frown softly, her gaze becoming thoughtful. Bumblebee noticed her change in demeanor, and though they were not bonded yet, he could sense something was weighing heavily on her mind.

He leaned forward and kissed her helm before tugging on her servo. "Come with me," he said.

"Bumblebee," she protested, yet she allowed him to lead her away. "The ceremony is in a few hours."

"We have time," he said simply as he guided her down the many halls.

"I still have to get ready," she pointed out.

"You are demanding," he replied cheekily. There was no doubt he would have said more, if his voice permitted him to do so.

She huffed, rolling her optics at his statement. "I am not demanding." She looked around with growing confusion, until understanding dawned on her as Bumblebee led her to what appeared to be an abandoned part of the building. The simple, safe rooms brought back memories of comfort and warmth.

Bumblebee silently pulled her up the steep flight of stairs, leading her up to the familiar trap door. Bumblebee firmly pushed it back, the old hinges creaking in protest as light flooded through. Arcee blinked her optics, yet with a small smile, she crawled through the trap door and onto the small, familiar balcony.

She breathed a sigh of relief as she gazed at the bustling city below her. She sat down right next to Bumblebee who settled down right at the edge. Wrapping his arms around her, she leaned into his touch, content and at peace.

"This much better than listening to Knock Out drone on about the different shadings of blue paint I should try on for the ceremony," she said.

"I like you in pink," he said thoughtfully. Here, he looked at her imploringly, optics wide and pleading. It was adorable, but it did not work on her.

She huffed, rolling her optics. "Forget it Bee."

"But I like it!" Bumblebee exclaimed.

"It's not my favorite look," she said.

He pause,d frowning thoughtfully, and she could see him struggling for words. "Compromise?" he asked with pleading optics. "You can wear pink on our anniversary?"

She frowned, actually considering it. "Fine, on our anniversary."

"Holidays of my choice?" he continued with a bright smile, ever so hopeful.

"My choice," she said. "And if I have to wear pink, then you have to change your paint color as well."

Bumblebee hesitated, but one look at Arcee, and he sighed. "Deal," he said finally. "What color?"

She smirked. "Brown."

He recoiled as if he had been stung, optics wide with horror. "No! Never mind! No pink, no pink!"

She chuckled before silencing him with a kiss. "Good idea," she said, smirking at the befuddled expression on his face. Her servos dropped down to the scarring on his chassis, worry filling her as she stared at the deformities that had robbed him of so much. His armor, still rather beast like almost, was a new form of who he was now. Not only an Autobot Heir, and not just her soon to be spark mate, but a predacon as well.

Despite all that Ratchet and dozens of other medics efforts, Bumblebee still struggled to speak. Even to form simple words caused him pain, though he still made an effort to use his voice, and he refused to use the alternative means of communication when he spoke to her. It concerned her, and she saw how much it frustrated Bumblebee with his limitations. Her spark burned with anger as she thought of the witch, and she wished it had been her who had killed Antagony, not the predacon as Ark had informed her.

Bumblebee watched her with a soft expression and gently grabbed her servos, rubbing them carefully. "Arcee," he said, her name a pleasant sound when he said it. Despite it all, he still made an effort to say her name.

She looked up into his optics, her spark reaching out to his as the intended bond between them reacted to the feelings that surged between them. She leaned in close before kissing him once more, this time slowly as they cherished the moment they had stolen.

She did not need to worry about being caught. There was no more hiding, no more secrets. She did not need to sneak around with him, she did not have to worry. This, what was between her and Bumblebee, was not tainted by the fear of being discovered; just as it should be.

They broke apart, and Arcee smiled as her memories stirred with the recollection of when she had revealed to him that she knew he was the Heir.

Bumblebee stared at her at her as her smile grew. "What's funny?" he asked.

She chuckled. "Remember when I told you who I was? Who I truly was?"

He rolled his optics as he snorted in amusement. "I still thought the drugs Ratchet pumped through me addled my brain!"

She laughed. "I think Ratchet was more flustered when he found me asleep in your arms in the med bay."

He shook his helm. "He was just startled when I specifically told him not to...kick out my sparkmate in my moment of distress," Bumblebee said, wincing at the stutter that was in his tone.

"Yep," she agreed with a firm nod, tracing his scars thoughtfully, causing him to shiver at her touch. He enjoyed it when she did that, just as she suspected. "Definitely the drugs."

"But it was true," he said.

"The drugs?" she asked with a smirk, eyeing him with amusement.

He rolled his optics at her teasing. "You being my sparkmate," he said honestly.

"But bold for you, wouldn't you say?" she said wryly.

He shrugged, leaning forward to nuzzle her neck. "Bold for a pilot," he said.

She sighed as she remembered the fantasy they had created, the one they so desperately wanted. But if she could have Bumblebee at her side, she would gladly accept any life.

"We should go," she said softly.

He nodded. "We should."

But they didn't. Not for another hour. They just stayed in each others embrace until the pressure of time urged them to leave the small balcony. Bumblebee went first and helped Arcee down through the trapdoor. She did not need help at all, but she enjoyed the feeling of Bumblebee's servos on her waist.

They walked down the halls, servos connected as their steps became unhurried and calm. Both knew that the chaos of the next few days would leave them with little time to themselves, so they seized whatever moment of peace they had together.

Bumblebee let go of Arcee's servo before he put his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into his touch, closing her optics briefly as she sighed.

"There you are!" a sudden voice shrieked.

Arcee stiffened up as she turned to glare at Starscream who was striding toward them with a scowl. His very appearance seemed irritated as he noticed Bumblebee. "Do you have any idea how many Cybertronians are looking for you two!"

"Really?" Arcee asked icly. "Did you miss me already, Starscream?"

His scowl deepened. "Hardly!" he snorted. "But Lord Megatron is demanding your presence." His optics flickered over to Bumblebee. "And I know your Prime is beginning to wonder where you have been as well."

Bumblebee sighed, though he did not remove his arm from Arcee's shoulders. "Best not to keep him waiting," Arcee admitted reluctantly.

"Best hurry up!" Starscream exclaimed. "You wasted two hours frolicking around with your intended, and we only have half an hour left to get you both ready for the ceremony!"

Arcee brightened up, and she could see Bumblebee beaming. "Half an hour?" he asked.

"We can see each other much sooner now!" Arcee said with a smirk, knowing her comment was grating on Starscream's nerves. She reached up and placed a quick kiss on Bumblebee's cheek. "I shall see you soon," she said with a wink before leaving quickly with Starscream scampering after her.

She endured Megatron's disapproved glare, and Soundwave's sympathetic glances as well as Ark's smirk's of amusement. In truth, it all became a blur to her as she allowed Knock Out to touch up her paint job. As an after thought, she told Knock Out to highlight the pink, just to make it a bit brighter so that it would stand out.

Who knows? She might wear pink for the one week getaway that had been organized for her and Bumblebee once they became mates.

Bumblebee was not facing the same disapproved looks from Optimus that Arcee was experiencing from Megatron. In fact, he was feeling incredibly nervous know that he had a moment to think and dwell on the event that was coming up.

Arcee and he were to become mates. It was almost unreal.

When Arcee had whispered to him when he was resting on that med bay table that she was the Decepticon Heir, he had thought he was hallucinating. Then, she had teasingly told him that she knew who he truly was.

He hadn't been able to believe it. Primus, he was still trying to believe that such a wonderful chance like that had occurred to him.

His injured voice box had been unable to express the shock and joy he had felt when she revealed her lineage. So instead, in that moment, he had kissed her almost senseless.

Now, as his thoughts wandered, he was reminded of all they had been through that brought them to this moment. Secrecy, death, violence, triumph; it had shaped who they were and made them stronger in themselves and in each other in the end. Instead of driving them apart with grief and rage, it had brought them closer together.

Thinking of his damaged voice, he reached up to gently touched his throat. He winced, lowering his servo down. He let out a deep breath as he straightened up. He was determined to use his voice to this day properly. Though Arcee did not see a blemish when she saw his scars. She did not hear a flaw when he struggled to speak. If anything, it changed nothing. She touched his scars carefully and tenderly, only interested in him and him alone when she saw him. His appearance and ability to transform into a predacon meant nothing to her as well, as long as he was with her.

These thoughts followed him as he prepared to walk down the dimly lit hallway alone. But before he crossed that threshold, Optimus Prime stopped him gently. Bumblebee looked up at Optimus to see the Prime smiling encouragingly at him, and Bumblebee smiled back. No words needed to be said between them; a look was all it took.

Reassured and with barely controlled eagerness, Bumblebee walked down the hallway, his steps brisk and full of purpose. Not too far ahead, he saw Arcee emerge, fierce and mighty as the Decepticon Heir. It seemed to take an eternity for him to reach her, and when he did, he took her face in his servos and kissed her tenderly.

When he pulled away reluctantly, he noticed with faint amusement how her pink highlights were significantly brighter.

With a wordless smile, Arcee took his arm and they both walked down the hall that was beginning to light up. The large windows were open, and Bumblebee slowed when he saw the crowd awaiting below. Though it was not the size that caught his attention, but the Cybertronians at the front.

He caught sight of Smokescreen standing tall and pristine, his blue optics searching, yet bright. Not too far away was Firestar, a lethal grace like she belonged there. Indeed, Bumblebee could see where some would mistake her for the Autobot Heir. He could see Prowl standing not too far from Smokescreen and the other Selectedes, with Jazz, Ultra Magnus and many other dignitaries nearby. Not too far was Moonracer, her armor bright and easy to spot as she leaned into the embrace of her mate, Mirage, who had indeed met Bumblebee's standards, as reluctant as he was to admit it.

His optics flickered over to where Elita-One's soldiers and fellow femme comrades resided, and his optics were drawn to Chromia who was heading toward Ironhide, not caring about decorum at all. Red Alert stood upright and relaxed with a bright smile, her expression light. Bumblebee grinned knowingly as he noticed a large Decepticon mech make his way toward her detirmidly. Apparently he did not care about decorum either as he took Red Alert's servos into his own.

A shadow of movement up ahead caught his gaze, and Bumblebee looked up with a frown as he scanned the skies. His frown deepened as he wondered what he had seen. The being was too large to be a seeker.

His spark stilled as a forbidden thought occurred. Could it have been the predacons?

Another flash caught his attention, and he knew without a doubt that it was a predacon. Which one, he did not know, but it served to remind him of his promise to Predaking: to make things right for the face of the predacons.

He would not forget his promise to them. How could he when a part of him was a predacon as well?

Arcee came to stand at his side, gently touching him. "What is it?" she asked.

He tore his gaze away from the window to look at her, and his worries eased somewhat. No, he would worry about the predacons later. Today was to be a momentous occasion for him, for them.

Instead, he allowed Arcee to lead him before the large doors that would take them out to the balcony for all to see. They stopped before it, both nervous with anticipation.

He looked at her with a smile, expression bright. "Almost there," he said, kissing her servo.

She smiled up at him, his warrior mate ever so strong and passionate. "Almost," she agreed.

Servos clasped together and with a promise ahead of them, they both stepped forward when the doors were opened for them and out to greet the awaiting crowd of Cybertronians.