Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers

Summary: a familiar face shows up on the Lennox's doorstep, five years later. Set after ROTF, Sam x Lennox slash. Don't like, don't read.

Rating: M

One Last Time

Chapter 1:

The Lennox household was full of screaming seven year olds and two frustrated parents – well, one frustrated parent. Will could not watch the TV in peace. He was happy that Annabelle was having a birthday party – he just wished that they would be quieter.

"Honey, can you take the kids out into the garden?" Will called. "I can't hear the game!"

"They've got to stay in here because it's raining!" Sarah insisted, carrying out a paper plate of crisps.

"Well, I'm trying to watch the game." Will sighed. "Can you at least get them to quieten down?"

"Will – they're seven year old kids." Sarah argued. "They're impossible to quieten down."

"Fine." Will grumbled, turning his attention back to the TV. He had left NEST two years ago because he wanted to be with his family. Will had been absent a lot ever since Mission City, but now he wanted to make it up to Sarah and Annabelle. The truth was that he missed the army. He missed all of the giant robot fighting – most of all, he missed his soldiers and the Autobots. There was a knock at the door.

"Will! Keep an eye on the kids!" Sarah called, hurrying down the wall. Will sighed, getting up off the sofa and walking into the kitchen, where Annabelle and her friends were eating dinner – burgers and chips.

"When are all of you going home?" Will asked, putting on a fake smile.

"They're sleeping over, daddy." Annabelle said. Will's face fell.

"WILL! GET OUT HERE, NOW!" Sarah demanded.

"I'll be back in a minute, kids." Will walked out of the room and over to Sarah. Standing on the doorstep, was Sam Witwicky.

"Oh." Will stared at the young man standing on the doorstep.

"Find out what he wants and get rid of him." Sarah hissed, walking past Will, back into the kitchen. Will just stood staring at Sam – the one aspect of the past he had hoped would never catch up with him.

"Hey." Sam said, stepping forwards. He was stopped in the porch by Will's hand. He wasn't going any further.

"Wait – what are you doing here?" Will asked, trying to make sense of what was going on.

"NEST need you back." Sam replied, taking a small step backwards. Will relaxed slightly.

"I thought you might be working for them." Will sighed, leaning against the doorframe. "They weren't going to let you go – I mean – you were the start of all of this."

"They offered me the job when I finished college." Sam explained. "I had no reason to turn it down."

"What, not even to have a life?" Will asked. "How's Mikaela?"

"She's doing okay." Sam replied. "We're engaged. The wedding is going to be in about three months. I was wondering if you and Sarah wanted to come?"

"Don't change the subject, Sam." Will sighed. "Why do NEST want me back?"

"We're thinking of leading a big assault on the Decepticons." Sam explained. "They're in Europe, but they're weak. A lot happened in those two years after you left. This time, we might be able to wipe them out for good."

"Why did they send you?" Will asked.

"I volunteered." Sam replied. "I wanted to see you again."

"So you thought you would just drag yourself up to my house, where I'm happily married to my wife and I have a seven year old daughter?" Will hissed. "Did you think it was going to be easy for me?"

"No, that's why I came. Epps wanted to do it, but we needed him back at Diego Garcia." Sam answered. "He's taken over your old job – he's in charge of nearly a hundred troops. If you come back, you'll get your old job and your old salary."

"I'm happy here." Will insisted. "I have a new job."

"No you don't."

"What?"

"NEST got you made redundant – they wanted to make sure you came back."

"They're giving me no choice! How am I meant to tell Sarah this? I told her I had given up that life!" Will snarled.

"It wasn't my decision." Sam sighed. "If I had it my way, I would've just left you alone. It wasn't my decision."

"Who wanted me back this badly?" Will demanded, balling his hands into fists. "You need to tell me, Sam. I don't care if you don't want to – I'll make you tell me."

"It... it was Optimus Prime. He thinks you should be there to see the end of this." Sam answered. "It would just be this once – then you can leave for good."

"I'm not going back, Sam." Will insisted.

"Well, I'll just go back and tell them..." Sam turned to go. Annabelle ran over to her father, clinging to his leg.

"Uncle Sam!" Annabelle gasped. "I didn't know you were coming to my birthday sleepover!"

"Oh." Sam turned back to face Annabelle. He hadn't seen her since she was five years old – when Will had left NEST. "Happy birthday, Annabelle."

"Did you get me a present?" She asked, running over to Sam. He picked her up in a hug. Will's face softened. He had forgotten how much Annabelle loved her 'Uncle' Sam.

"Yes, I did." Sam smiled, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small parcel. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you!" Annabelle said, squirming out of Sam's arms and running back over to Will. "Can Uncle Sam stay for my sleepover?"

"I'm not sure..." Sam started to say.

"Yes, he can." Will sighed. "But he has to leave early in the morning. Why don't you go inside and tell mummy to talk to me, okay?"

"Okay daddy." Annabelle ran into the house, clutching the parcel Sam had given her.

"I don't have to stay... you'd probably rather I went home..." Sam started to say.

"Sam, it's pouring with rain and it's getting dark." Will interupted. "Stay here for the night and you can leave in the morning. I'd feel bad about turning you away now."

"Are you really sure?" Sam asked. "I mean... Sarah won't kill you, will she?"

"I'm not going to take the job, so I see no reason for her to kill me." Will replied. "Now get in here – they're probably going to be eating birthday cake soon. Annabelle would love it if you joined us."

"Thanks."

"Get in the house. You're letting all the cold air in."

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Will sat slumped in a kitchen chair whilst Sarah did the washing up and ranted about Sam. He really didn't want to listen to this, but he had to – she was his wife after all.

"Why are you letting him stay here?" Sarah demanded, not looking at her husband. "I mean, this is ridiculous! I thought you said you had left NEST and everything associated behind you... and Sam Witwicky turns up on our doorstep, offering you a job!"

"I'm not going to take the job." Will sighed.

"They're not giving you any other alternative!" Sarah insisted. "They've gotten you fired from your job for God's sake!"

"I'll get a new job." Will groaned. "He's just staying the night because Annabelle wants him to."

"Where's he going to sleep?" Sarah asked, turning to face her husband, drying her hands with a towel. "Answer me that."

"He can sleep on the couch." Will replied. "The kids will just have to sleep upstairs in Annabelle's room. It's big enough."

"Fine." Sarah snapped. "But he better be gone by the time I get out of bed tomorrow morning."

"He will be." Will said. "I promise."

Thanks to DarknessintheCorners for giving me ideas for this fic... and abusing my first draft... I still can't believe you did that! Thanks also to kimmieh-chan for helping me come up with ideas... uou guys are the best XD

Review please!