8

Eden POV

Later that night, Eden left her bedroom. As far as she could tell, everyone else was either in the barn or somewhere in the house. She sighed. What was she supposed to do once her father left? She felt tears fill her eyes again. He was leaving again, and even though he promised he'd be back, Eden wasn't sure how long he'd be gone. Quickly wiping her eyes, Eden tried to calm herself down. She couldn't keep crying over something that couldn't be avoided—Optimus is leaving, and no amount of crying would change that.

"Eden?" She turned and saw Mama standing in the entrance of the living room. She was in her pajamas, looking exhausted. "Why're you still up?"

"I wasn't sleeping," Eden muttered.

Mama sighed and knelt in front of Eden. "I know you're upset about your father leaving," she said, "but this is important for us, OK?"

Eden nodded.

"He'll be back before you know it." Mama smiled.

"I'm kinda hungry," Eden said.

"Well, lucky for you, I was coming in her for a quick late night snack." Mama put a hand on Eden's back, leading her to the kitchen.

Saoirse POV

After calming herself down, Saoirse was sitting in the back porch of the house. She had eaten with Cade and Tessie, but couldn't make herself go to sleep. She was restless—how was she supposed to deal with everything that was happening?

"You're up pretty late." Tessie sat down next to Saoirse, giving a small smile. "It's almost midnight."

"It's the weekend."

Tessie wrapped an arm around Saoirse's shoulders. "It may be the weekend, but you're pretty good at getting to bed early."

Saoirse shrugged.

"Is what happened earlier still bothering you?"

"I don't want Daddy to leave," Saoirse exclaimed.

"Saoirse, Optimus will come back," Tessie said. "It's fine that you're upset, he'll come back."

Saoirse's eyes filled with tears. "I don't like it when he's gone," she sniffled. "What if he doesn't come back?

Tessie frowned. "Your father will come back and he'll be just fine, OK?" Saoirse quickly wiped her years. "How many times has something seemed really bad and Optimus came out just fine?"

"A bunch of times, I guess," Saoirse sniffled.

"Then he'll come back just fine." Tessie pulled Saoirse into a hug. "He'd always come back for you guys, that's what he does."

Eden POV

"OK, squirt, I think it's time for you to go to bed," Mama sighed.

Eden sighed.

"Hey, listen." Mama went and put a hand on Eden's shoulder. "It's really late, sweetie. I think it'd be best if you went to bed."

"When's Daddy leaving?" Eden asked softly. She didn't want to look at Mama, not with the fear of bursting into tears again.

Mama went over and gave Eden a hug, squeezing her in an attempt to make her feel better. "He'll be leaving early tomorrow morning," Mama said softly. "This...business trip is really important to him—to us."

Eden sniffled. "I don't think it's important," she exclaimed. "I don't want Daddy to leave again—whenever he leaves, it feels like he's never coming back."

"He'll always come back," Mama sighed. "Please, please, don't be upset, sweetie. I know it's hard for you and your sister—it's hard for me, too. Please don't cry, Eden."

Quickly wrapping her arms around her mother's neck, tears running down her neck.

"Sweetheart, I promise you everything will be just fine." Eden continued crying into her mother's neck. "Why don't I take you to bed, OK? I'll check on Orion and I'll see if Saoirse's OK. Do you understand?" Eden nodded. "C'mon, then," she murmured.

Saoirse POV

Tessie took Saoirse to her bedroom after talking out on the porch. It had been a long day for everyone—and it was apparent that no matter how many times they cried, nothing would change what occurred that day.

"You'll be OK?" Tessie asked.

Saoirse nodded.

"Well, go on to bed. I'll see you in the morning, OK?"

"G'night, Tessie," Saoirse murmured.

"Good night, Saoirse."

Desirée POV

The next morning, I was awoken by someone gently shaking my shoulder. Blinking my eyes a couple times, I turned and saw Optimus's Holoform kneeling over me, a small smile on his face; but his eyes were saddened, almost apologetic.

"Hey," I said softly.

Optimus gently brushed some of my hair out of my face before he leaned in for a kiss.

I gently cupped his face, stopping his advancement.

"Morning breath," I murmured.

His smile became more apologetic, but I could see a tiny bit of humor dancing in those vibrant blue eyes. "That doesn't matter to me," he whispered. He gave me a deep kiss, which made me scrunch my nose a little. I loved Optimus's kisses, but I was just feeling awful. He was going to be leaving very soon and there was nothing I could do. When the kiss ended, Optimus rested his forehead on mine. "I'm going to be leaving in ten minutes," he murmured.

I nodded.

"Eden is heartbroken you're leaving," I murmured. "I have no doubt Saoirse's heartbroken, too."

Optimus buried his face in my hair, taking a shaky breath. "You know I don't want to go," he murmured.

"But I know you have to." I tried to control my emotions. "Don't waste your energy using the Holoform, OK? You'll need it for later."

The Prime's Holoform pulled back and looked at me with a look in his eyes that was so sorrowful it would've made me cry right there. I placed a hand on his stubbled cheek and gave him a small smile.

"Release the Holofrom, Optimus," I said softly.

Optimus lowered his eyes, his hand covering mine. "Orion's getting big," he whispered, his voice trembling.

I nodded wordlessly. "Prime." He looked at me. "We'll still be here when you get back—you won't miss a lot. So release the Holoform, OK?"

It was only five minutes later that I really got out of bed after Optimus dismissed the Holoform. I gently scooped Orion out of bed and held him at my hip—he seemed a little upset at the disruption in his sleep but fell asleep on my shoulder.

Checking in on Saoirse and Eden, I could tell they were sleeping. I debated whether I wanted to wake them up—it was still early in the morning.

"Girls," I murmured. "Girls, c'mon, get up."

Saoirse and Eden stirred in their bed before getting up. I motioned them to follow me.

"Your father's leaving in a couple minutes," I said softly. "I thought you'd like to be there when he does."

Saoirse and Eden murmured something under their breath, something I couldn't quite hear. We reached the area where Optimus and the others were just in time to see him activate his rockets. The other Autobots had gathered around in their true forms, murmuring something to Optimus; Cade and Tessa were standing by the barn, looking utterly exhausted.

"What're you guys doing up?" I asked.

"Just to see him off," Cade yawned.

"And for the support," Tessa put in, giving her father a dry look.

"OK, for the support too."

I nodded.

"Autobots, I trust you to protect these humans," Optimus sighed, "to protect my family."

"We know, Prime," Ratchet interrupted. "We'll look after them."

"Do what you need to do," Ironhide scoffed.

Optimus looked down at us for a moment, his optics softening with a sorrowful expression. I gave a small smile. I glanced down at Saoirse and Eden and saw the sorrowful expressions on their faces; Orion hadn't woken up since we left the house.

"I'll return, I promise," Optimus said. After another minute of looking at his friends and family, Optimus activated his rockets and took off.

It took a lot of effort, but we all went back to our rooms and tried to go back to sleep. I stayed with Saoirse and Eden, trying to convince them to fall asleep. They were taking it the hardest, and it broke my heart to see them so upset. Orion wasn't really aware of what was going on. After Saoirse and Eden fell asleep, I went into my room and went back to sleep. But it only felt like minutes later, there was a knock on my bedroom door and a voice calling out to me.

"What?" I groaned.

"Mya just called," Tessa called. "She's starting to feel a little under the weather."

Lifting my head a little, I frowned. Mya's feeling sick?

"She's sick?" I exclaimed, trying not to be too loud, for Orion's case.

"She said she knows a guy who can help out with the whole project."

Climbing out of bed, I opened my bedroom door and frowned at Tessa. "Knows a guy?"

Tessa shrugged. "He knows about the Autobots," she muttered, "that's what she told me."

I rubbed my face irritably. I had asked Mya to help out with the project when she had the time, and she had made it clear she'd be willing to help. But it didn't really seem like her to get sick so quickly.

"Did she give his name?" I asked.

"I think she said it was Daniel?" Tessa said, sounding a little unsure. "I guess they work at the same job or something. He's coming in later today."

"Remind me to talk to Mya about this later," I muttered.

It was in the early afternoon when there was a knock on the front door of the house. Saoirse and Eden were watching over Orion; Cade and Ratchet had spent their time in the barn, going over the blueprints again.

When I went and opened the door, I saw a man who was standing angled so I could only see him partially.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

When he turned and looked at me, I felt a little stunned. He was a very clean cut Asian man, and the way he stood made it a little hard to see him full on.

"Desirée Witwicky?" he asked.

I nodded hesitantly.

"I'm Daniel Park," he said sternly.

"Are you the one Mya had...?" I started hesitantly.

Daniel nodded curtly.

"OK, well, hi." I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. "It's nice to meet you, Daniel."

"You as well, Ms. Witwicky."

"Mya says you know about the Autobots."

"I do," Daniel said.

"How...?"

"I was in the military during the Mission City invasion." Daniel's eyes looked down for a moment before he looked at me. "I was on Lennox's team."

If I hadn't already been in shock over the fact that he knew the Autobots, I was in shock over the fact that he said he'd been on Lennox's team during the Mission invasion. I wasn't quite sure how well I believed him, but the fact that he knew that much on his own took me by surprise.

"You're not still in the military?" I asked, my voice trembling a little.

Daniel turned and looked at me head on, a look sweeping across his features. "No." Looking him over, I felt my stomach twist when I noticed his...condition. There was a stump where his right arm should've been.

QUICKY A/N:

I'M SO, SO, SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING IN SO LONG! LIFE GOT AWAY FROM ME! I HAD FINALS ALL THIS WEEK AND THERE WAS WORK AND JUST - UGH! THE STORY SLIPPED MY MIND FOR A LITTLE BIT, I HOPE YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND. ALSO, I'M SO SORRY I DIDN'T HAVE THIS UPDATE POSTED IMMEDIATELY - MY INTERNET'S BEEN ACTING UP CAUSE THE WEATHER'S BEEN ALL OVER THE PLACE. HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS LIKE THIS CH.! LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK, PLEASE!

NOTHING IN THE TRANSFORMERS MOVIEVERSE IS MINE. ALL I OWN ARE MY CHARACTERS AND MY FILLERS.

THE NEW OC, DANIEL, BELONGS TO stormrunner74. THANK YOU IMMENSELY FOR LETTING ME USE YOUR OC. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S LET ME USE THEIR OC UP UNTIL THIS POINT! I'LL BE SURE TO ADD THEM INTO LATER UPDATES.

YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME! I HOPE YOU LIKE THE STORY SO FAR.

STAY SNAPPY!

THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL!

READ, REVIEW, ENJOY!

YOURS TRULY,

~SMITHY