This is not how he wanted to spend his evening. Sitting on a military style bed, tending to his stupid ass cousin. Originally, the plan was for him to watch Cinderella with Anabelle then spend a romantic evening with his darling Sarah.

But no! Magnolia just had to go on and get herself in trouble. So where does that leave him? Talking to his gorgeous soulmate on the phone trying to explain why dear old dad wouldn't make it.

"Hey honey, I'm going to be a little late. Having some issues with Magnolia."

William sighed as he heard his very understanding wife assure him that both she and their daughter would be alright until he arrived. She also asked about Magnolia's health and what happened. His wife and cousin were good friends, naturally.

"Yeah, the little brat is fine. Totally freaked out though but then again who-"

The soldier stopped mid sentence as he felt something slightly shift next to him. Looking down, he smiled at the sleeping form of his cousin. Her face had been cleaned from the smudged makeup and those contacts had been removed but of course that was the extent he could do to help her out. A NEST doctor managed to tend to her wounds.

"She's waking up now. See you at home, love you."

Hearing Sarah give her goodbye, Will sadly hung up the phone. He loved his wife.

"Mmmmm."

"Mag?"

Moving eyelids finally opened, revealing a slightly dazed hazel color. A groan of sleepiness and a sloppy swipe to his face allowed the woman to finally wake up.

"Uhmygod….Will?"

"Hey drama."

"Don't start. What happened? Where am I?"

He raised a brow, "You passed out, we're in my quarters."

Sitting up, Magnolia took in the state of her attire and frowned. "So, it wasn't a dream."

"Nope."

"How long?"

"How long what?"

"How long have you been doing all of this?"

"For a while now. We can talk about it later, get cleaned up."

"Right."

Magnolia was feeling better after that nice hot shower. Her hair was washed and was feeling fresh. Now she was in the process of getting changed. Coming to terms everything going on was difficult and dwelling on it was making it worse but how could she not? So many questions were swirling upstairs. Though, one that had been nagging her at this moment...

"Does Sarah know you're lying to her?"

Lennox casually sat down on his mattress with his head resting in his hands. Of course, Sarah knew about the Autobots! She and Ironhide were pretty much inseparable.

"I never lie to Sarah. She knows everything."

Magnolia scoffed from behind the dressing screen that seemed to add a woman's touch. Guess Sarah was here after all. Lennox wouldn't dare have something this in his room.

"Great! Sure, tell your wife but not the cousin who even got you two together...perfect. Can't even trust family nowadays."

Lennox snapped his head to the screen, preparing to scold her but upon seeing the hourglass shadow, he silenced himself.

"Will?"

The talented soldier let out a breath and looked back down to his shoes, trying to forget about what he just saw. "You can always trust us Mag."

"Then why wasn't I told about this insanity?"

"To keep you safe, there is a lot more than what is presented. It's complicated alright?"

The woman put on an oversized sweatshirt that acted more like a mini dress but shrugged. She looked down at the baggy pants and facepalmed.

"You have a belt?"

"Duh. Why?"

"Because your muscle military pants are just going to fall!"

"Right, hold on."

As Will went for his drawers his thoughts went back to the Allspark fragment Magnolia had on her. I mean he had seen her wear it every day since her mom made it and never questioned what it was all about. It was an ugly piece of mental strapped to this satin piece of ribbon. Why didn't he pay attention to it before?

Grabbing a random black belt, he walked back over to the singer and tossed it over the top. The woman thanked him and proceeded to put on the heavy pants.

"You ready?"

Magnolia adjusted her hair for the last time before stepping from around the screen with a frown. She looked like some drugged up hobo. Trying to tuck the shirt into the pants and wrap the belt tight enough to hold the pants up did not do much to alleviate the fact that walking in them was quite uncomfortable.

"I look like some-"

"Heh. Only you could truly rock men's clothing and still make it look girly."

"Is that an insult?"

"If I say yes, will you hit me?"

"I'll do worse than that! Out of all the families I could have been adopted into, you had to be in the one I ended up with."

Will gave a laugh and gently pulled Magnolia towards the door, where they exited and began walking the halls. It was mostly quiet at first as he watched her look at the walls and ceilings. He would notice the way her eyes would shut close for a few seconds then reopen with a sort of focus.

"Mag in all seriousness, are you alright?"

She looked up at him, "No, Will. No, I am not. Why is this happening to me?"

"I don't know but we are about to find out."

In the main hangar, Optimus continued his options as to how to continue next. With Cybertron dead what use could Megatron have for such a minuscule fragment? It obviously was not enough to bring back the dead part of Cybertron and certainly not enough to bring Cybertronians back from the Well of Allsparks.

Still, the fact that the Decepticons were after such a fragment worried him. The human female who owned the item would be in danger. Especially now since they connected her to the fragment.

"Agent Fowler, I do firmly believe that the human female Magnolia is in danger."

"No, you think? We could keep her under house arrest or in witness protection. Maybe a team that surveys her home."

There were alternatives to those as well that Fowler would not say. His superiors would most likely want to have her memory wiped. The consequences could be severe if the operation were done. Complete memory loss, brain damage and paralysis were just a few of the 'side effects' that could appear.

"Perhaps, that is not the wisest option. The Decepticons have proven to be difficult to handle as of late. The attempted abduction of Magnolia has shown that."

Fowler scoffed, "Then what do you suggest Optimus? That one of you become a guardian to her? Don't be-"

"Yes."

"Excuse me?"

Optimus looked down at the Agent with his normally emotionless facial expression. To the unprepared it would have been intimidating but it was just how the leader of the Autobots showed his concern. Though, to have an Autobot escorting a human around like some chauffeur? Sounded insane.

Still, Fowler didn't want the poor girl to get her memory wiped. However, having an alien robot protecting her was even worse. What if someone found out? Or she decided to tell her friends? She seemed the popular and social type.

"Out of the question! Does the word political shitstorm mean anything to you?"

"No one need know Agent Fowler."

Just as the operative was about to retort, the sound of clicking heels drew his dark brown eyes down to the main floor. His eyebrow arched at Magnolia and her cousin. A beautiful woman to be sure, it almost seemed cruel for her to be caught in all of this. Ironic that it just HAD to be Will's family member.

"Ah miss Lennox, how are you feeling?"

Magnolia timidly stepped behind her cousin in an attempt to shield herself from the giant metallic monstrosities before her. How could these two fools not be freaked out? Look at them. Just one step and they would all become blood splatters.

That said, he asked how was she feeling?

"Wh-when can I go home?"

"Well, we are concerned about the attempt on your life and we are not sure that you returning home will be possible as of now."

Lennox looked back at his cousin and saw her face began to morph from fear to hostility so to keep her from snapping, he quickly spun around and gently grabbed her shoulders.

"Mag, I have to agree with him. It is not safe. For god's sake you were thrown out of a skyscraper! You can't go back there. I won't allow it."

"You won't allow it? Who do you think you are?"

His grip tightened on her, "I AM YOUR COUSIN. FAMILY!"

His raised tone caused the woman to slightly shrink making him feel instantly guilty. He knew Magnolia was strong and independent but she had no idea what trouble she could be in.

"Look, Mag I love you and if something were to happen to you. I'd lose my shit."

The woman remained silent for some time, staring into her cousin's eyes before looking at the ground. Her eyes closed and her posture relaxed.

"Very well. How do we proceed then?"

"Atta girl! So, uh Fowler...what are we going to do?"

"Are you kidding me-"

These morons didn't even have a plan in motion? Kind of military bums were they?

"You will stay here."

"What?"

She must still have ear damage because it just sounded like he said-

"This is the safest location for you to be."

"Absolutely not. Why not with my cousin?"

Lennox smiled, "Ah yeah! We got plenty of space at my house. Ah girl we are going to have-"

"Never mind."

"Bitch."

Magnolia stuck her tongue out at the fool before turning back to Agent Fowler or whatever he called himself. If she was going to have to stay surrounded by mechanical monsters, then she would rather have her things brought here in an area far from them.

"Alright, fine. I will TEMPORARILY remain here but on a few demands."

"Whatever it is, I agree. Lennox, you can take over from here. I need to get back to Washington."

All watched the man walk to the elevator, leaving Lennox, Magnolia and the still quiet robots behind them. Their presence would be something she could never get over. Just knowing they were there made her want to throw up in fear.

"What now?"

"Now? Now ya meet Team Prime!"

"God, I hate you."