Chapter Text
It was over. Megatron was captured and brought back to Cybertron; they were heroes. But victory was bittersweet. It had taken Jazz's help but they had been able to bring Prowl's body back to Earth for a proper burial.
He was laid to rest at Dinobot Island, Bulkhead explaining as best he could to Grimlock and his siblings. Bumblebee knew this was hard for everyone. He stood with the others, Sari sniffling as Issac hugged her quietly; everyone paying their silent respects.
At the moment Bumblebee silently grits his denta, feeling a tugging on his spark again; chocking it up to grief. The minibot blinks when he feels a familiar huge hand rest on his back causing him to glance up as Bulkhead was struggling to hold it together. Sighing Bumblebee leaned into his friend, offering silent support.
Soon after the bots were set to gathering up what of their stuff they had left on Earth before returning to Cybertron. Sari was sad to see them go, but it was easier to accept now. Plus, she had the remaining All-Spark bots to keep her company.
Bumblebee grunts softly and leans on a nearby wall a moment, spark doing that strange pulling again. "Bumblebee? You okay, lil buddy?"
Bulkhead looks over at Bee with genuine worry. Bumblebee went to just wave the big bot off before the pain became too much. He gasps, pain lancing through his frame before he pitches forward, all he could remember hearing was the other's calling his name and the feel of Bulkhead's large servos grabbing him before he hit the ground.
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Bulkhead, Optimus, Sari and Issac all sat silently as Ratchet had rushed Bumblebee into the medbay aboard the Orion. None of them dared speak, almost afraid that if they did, they would be losing another friend. Eventually, the medbay opened and Ratchet stepped out with a sigh, looking everyone over before locking his tight gaze on Bulkhead.
"He's alive, but you need to come in here; Bulkhead." The green bot looked around nervously but slowly stood. "Um... why me, doc bot?" Ratchet just glared at him, and with a glup, Bulkhead followed the medic. Thankfully, the doc was true to his word. While Bee looked exhausted, he was sitting up in the berth as Bulkhead came in.
Bumblebee seemed relieved to see the other but did frown at Ratchet, "Okay, but seriously, doc. Why does Bulkhead need to be here?" Ratchet was quiet, staring at the two of them with a stern but conflicted look before sighing. "You're carrying Bee; sparked. Considering you both had to be honest with me before about fragging, I'm guessing that Bulkhead is the only option."
You could hear a pin drop in the room, something Ratchet would have never associate with Bumblebee before said minibot finally breathed softly, "Wh...what?" Ratchet's face softened and he rubbed his face, tiredly. "I'll admit I'm partially to blame. I miscalculated how the stasis effected your baffle... not to mention just worrying about staying alive dealing with the decepticons."
The old medic watched the pair of younger bots reactions. Bumblebee rested a servo over were his forge was, optics bright and distant; Bulkhead looked shell shocked, his own servos clenched on his lap. With a gentle tone, knowing this was a big thing, Ratchet spoke again. "At least it's somewhat calm now. You both need to talk this over, and whatever choice you make I'll help." Giving Bumblebee a gentle pat on a shoulder, Ratchet added, "I will say, you would be able to carry to term, but it is your frame. Think about it, you both talk. I'll go tell the others you are fine and nothing else."
Ratchet turned to Bulkhead before patting him as well, a knowing look on his face before stepping out of the medbay, leaving the pair alone.
Bumblebee stared silently down at himself, trying to wrap his processor around the fact there was a whole new little being in there. Sure, Bumblebee always wanted sparklings, but he didn't expect it so suddenly. He and Bulkhead had been fooling around since bootcamp. They had been careful. Of course, they didn't have to actually deal with the threat of death back then however.
Bee sighs and looks up at Bulkhead, the big guy looked distraught, optics flickering. Bumblebee couldn't even begin to guess what was going on in his best friend's processor.
"We... we really fragged up this time, didn't we, Bulk?" The big guy physically flinched at the sound of Bee's voice, looking at him with round optics and seemingly trying to shrink into himself. He was managing that. How a bot that usually towered over him could look so small and helpless baffled Bumblebee.
The minibot carefully reaches over to rest his servo on Bulkhead's only to feel how much the other was trembling, "Oh Bulky... it's okay. I'm... I'm kinda surprised too."
Bulkhead still doesn't speak, and Bee can almost hear how overworked the big guy's processor is and squeezes his servo. "Bulkhead. Vent, buddy. You're overheating." Finally Bulkhead vents, steam puffing out of his audials as his processor cools down with the fresh vented air. He continues venting shakily as he finally focuses on Bumblebee.
"I'm sorry... I... you... I didn't mean..."
Bumblebee stops the other by holding his servo up. "Bulk. As the humans say: 'it takes two to tango.' I'm also a part of this. It's not your fault, bud." Bulkhead looked away before mumbling, "But I know... you aren't into me like this..." It was an unspoken thing between them. They were just best buddies who were also frag buddies. Bumblebee wasn't attracted to Bulkhead in that way. He had been... attracted to Prowl. Both of them were. They had joked once everything was over they'd both ask Prowl out and see who he'd pick. That wasn't an option anymore, and right now that didn't matter to the little blob of their combined CNA currently resting within Bumblebee's forge.
Bumblebee stared before huffing a little laugh. "Well, I could think of worse bots to have and raise a sparkling with... Like Starscream or Megatron. Or can you imagine a sparkling with Blitzwing? Or Sentinel?! Primus, you are a pretty good option Bulk!" That managed to get both of them giggling. Bulkhead's a bit tight, but the tension in his shoulder struts released. Bumblebee rests his helm on the larger bots arm "Really... I'd be happy to have this sparkling with you, big guy. Maybe it's much sooner than I wanted or expected, but part of me... part of me feels after what happened with Prowl... I wouldn't mind bringing a new life in."
Bulkhead fiddled with his digits, quietly glancing away. "I... I just know you have a lot of dreams Bee. The elite guard, your racing... I don't want you to feel like you threw everything away for this." That caused Bumblebee to chuckle softly. "I think I'll be fine. We're young, I have all the time in the universe."
Sitting up Bumblebee squeezes Bulkhead's servo. "What about you? You could really get far with your whole space bridge expertise." Bulkhead rubbed the back of his helm bashfully, blushing. "I really don't think it'll be as big as you think, but at least it should help me with paying for things."
Bulkhead looked back at Bumblebee before looking oddly hopeful. "Do you really want to have this sparkling with me? You... you're sure, you're okay with me being the sire?" Resetting his voicebox, Bulkhead took both of Bumblebee's servos. "Because if you are sure I'll get a habsuite! Anything you want or need, I promise! Anything for you and the sparkling. I will!"
Bumblebee chuckles before leaning over and pressing his forehelm to Bulkhead's.
At least with his best friend he figured this will work out. They could do it.