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We ended up staying with Rosalyn and Emilia for many months. About six, if I am correct. They eventually became comfortable around the Holoforms when they visited; especially Emilia, who no longer seemed wary of them. I was surprised, ecstatic even, to see Ratchet amongst the Holoforms. I caught up with Ratchet immediately, telling him everything. He examined the scar on my arm; the pink, marred skin sparking Ratchet's interest.

He said the skin didn't heal that well; from his examinations, the nerves from where I used the All Spark's energy were severely damaged. After his intense examination of that, he got caught up by Optimus and I.

Anytime Ratchet came to visit, though, I would see a light sparkle in Rosalyn's eyes.

It seemed that Ratchet was oblivious to Rosalyn's maybe-feelings for him.

Rosalína and the girls became good friends. It was nice seeing them interact; seeing Saoirse and Eden have friends, have social skills.

During the six months we stayed at Rosalyn's, Optimus and I were able to get some trust and work things out in our relationship.

We had been successful so far, and keeping it that way was my main goal.

"Have you and Optimus considered having more children?" Emilia asked. We had spent the afternoon together, Rosalyn took her kids, Abby, Blossom, and their kids to the market. And, true to her word, Rosalyn spoke to her friend, Alexandre, and landed me a job at his market.

"No," I chuckled. "Saoirse and Eden were high-risk pregnancies, I don't want to go through another."

"Ah," she said. We were in the kitchen, just relaxing. Alexandre, the generous man that I respected, gave me the day off.

"What about you?" I asked.

"What about me?" Emilia looked at me curiously.

"Do you want kids?"

Emilia's eyes looked downward. She shrugged. "Rosalyn was always good with kids," she murmured.

"I'm sorry," I said, feeling worry in me. I looked over at Saoirse and Eden, who were sitting in the living room, playing with some of Violet's and Rosalína's toys.

"Don't apologize," Emilia said, frowning slightly. "It's just difficult for me to have kids."

"You could try a surrogate, or adopt." I bit my bottom lip, chewing on it nervously.

"Too expensive." She shook her head. "I put a lot of money into this house for Rosalyn. I don't have much left."

"Why not get a job?" I asked.

"I watch the kids while Rosalyn goes to work," she said. "It's easier with your friends, but they have kids of their own."

I nodded. Emilia seemed like she would be a delightful mother; strict but fun. Having difficulties getting pregnant was an unfortunate circumstance.

"Besides," Emilia said, "I don't think I'd want to have any children here."

"Why not? This is a beautiful house."

"I never really liked Mexico," Emilia said, shrugging. "I wanted to live somewhere else ever since I was a little girl! It just seemed more exciting."

I nodded wordlessly. Emilia seemed like a down-to-earth kind of person, but her dreams seemed big enough (from what I could tell).

"I'm sure you'll find the right place," I said, smiling.

Rosalyn POV

As the young woman looked through the market, her friends and their children at tow, she kept thinking about one thing: Ratchet.

The man ("man") she'd witnessed come into her home multiple times with Optimus and the others caught her attention. Though he looked like he could be in his forties, the brown hair peppered with grey, the more developed facial hair also peppered in grey, Rosalyn couldn't help but feel something for him. He was fascinating and she was too shy to approach him.

Desirée mentioned he was a military doctor before coming to Mexico. If there was one thing that the young woman noticed about Desirée's choice of friends, they were in the military at one point, but somehow got in trouble and had to leave America.

She never asked why they got in trouble and what for; it wasn't her business. Despite having lived in the same house as her for a little over six months, Rosalyn noticed that Desirée and the others seemed to be hiding something. Their significant others were hiding something as well.

You can't expect them to tell you everything, she thought nonchalantly. They'll tell you what they're comfortable telling.

"Abby?" Desirée's half-sister turned and looked at Rosalyn, smiling gently. "Why does Desirée always cover her arms?" That was also on Rosalyn's mind. Why Desirée always kept her arms covered; she wore jackets, long-sleeved shirts, sweaters - anything to cover her arms.

"I...don't know." Abby looked at Rosalyn carefully. "Why?"

"She's always covered up," she said. "It's pretty warm out, and Desirée is wearing sweaters and jackets."

"I don't know how to answer that," Abby said.

Abigale knew what Desirée was hiding under those long sleeves; many scars. She even saw the massive scar on her arm. Desirée said she'd been shot and had to seal the wound somehow. The scar was pink and wrinkled the skin in an odd way. It looked almost raw, in a way. Not to mention other, smaller scars. Ones from Turan and Antonia, others from years of fighting with the Autobots.

Rosalyn nodded.

She'll tell me one day, Rosalyn thought. Maybe.

Desirée POV

The day passed quickly. Rosalyn and the others returned from the market with fresh produce and other edible items.

Optimus and the other Holoforms came over and spent some time with us. I could see the pinkish tint on Rosalyn's face when she saw Ratchet. It was crystal clear the woman was infatuated.

"How long do you think it'll take him to notice?" I whispered to Optimus.

"What do you mean?" he rumbled, brushing his lips against mine.

"Ratchet," I giggled, playfully slapping that firm chest. "How long do you think it will take him to notice?"

"Notice what?"

I snorted. "To notice Rosalyn likes him," I scoffed. "She's crushing on him so much."

Optimus looked at Rosalyn and the Holoform of Ratchet. He noticed the blush on Rosalyn's cheeks and her timid glances at the medical officer. The corners of his mouth twitched.

"You see it?" I murmured.

He nodded, his chest vibrating with a low chuckle.

"Ratchet may be observant in the medical field," Optimus rumbled, "but romance was never his strong point."

"I can tell." Ratchet's gaze seemed unaware of the woman who sat nearest to him. We were all in the kitchen; some chairs brought in for the extra company. Ratchet would occasionally look at Rosalyn, his gaze unchanged. She would look down timidly. "I'll bet you they'll get together," I said, smirking.

Optimus looked at me playfully. "Do you, now?" He smiled.

"Yeah," I said. "I don't know who'll make the first move. I'm going on Ratchet."

The Prime chuckled, shaking his head amusedly. Everyone was distracted by their own conversations. They didn't know what Optimus and I were talking about, nor did it look like they cared.

"Let's wait and see," Optimus rumbled.

I smirked. It would be interesting, to say the least, watching Rosalyn's feelings grow for the medical officer.

QUICKY A/N:

SORRY I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN A WHILE. I WAS VERY BUSY. YESTERDAY WAS MY BAND'S WINTER CONCERT AND IT WENT WONDERFULLY! TODAY, A CLUB I'M APART OF THREW A YULE-TIDE PARTY. NOT AS FUN AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE...

ANYWHO, TODAY WAS MY LAST FULL DAY OF SCHOOL AND NOW I'M STARTING WINTER BREAK! I'M TIRED, I WASN'T PLANNING ON UPDATING TODAY BUT I NEEDED SOMETHING TO DO, AND I GOT ACCEPTED INTO A COLLEGE! GRANTED, IT'S A COMMUNITY COLLEGE, BUT STILL! I'M PRETTY EXCITED!

I DON'T OWN ANYTHING IN THE TRANSFORMERS MOVIEVERSE, NOR DO I OWN THE THREE OC'S. I OWN MY CHARACTERS AND MY FILLERS.

I HOPE EVERYONE HAS WONDERFUL HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL.

READ, REVIEW, ENJOY!

YOURS TRULY,

~SMITHY