169

Violet's birthday was nice. It was obvious she had a great time. The cake that Saoirse wanted to bake turned out nicely! The kids had a fun time, as well. It made me smile, seeing them all have fun like that. After years of fear and tension, they needed some fun with kids their age.

"I'm gonna go talk to Optimus for a little bit," I told Rosalyn. She nodded, giving me a small smile.

I took a look at Saoirse and Eden, they were having so much fun. When Saoirse saw me, she gave the biggest smile I had ever seen. Eden looked like she was having the time of her life. Smiling back, I watched as those two daughters of mine went back to playing and having fun.

Once I made it to the spot, I froze. Ironhide had transformed. He looked weak, but the fact that he managed to transform made me feel relief.

"Been a while, Sparky." His usual gruff voice sounded a bit pained, but hearing it was what brought a few tears to my eyes. His optics were watching me carefully. "Are you crying, Sparky?"

Scoffing at his sarcasm, I quickly wiped my eyes. "Course not, old man," I retaliated. "Why would I cry over you?"

I saw his facial plates lift into a small smile. He tried to move, but winced.

"I told you not to move, you slagging idiot," Ratchet snapped. I hadn't noticed Ratchet's form behind Ironhide.

The weapon specialist made a motion similar to an eye roll.

Calming myself down, I saw Mya approach me.

"Are you two always like that?" she asked.

I nodded. "He's a close friend of mine. Known him since he came here."

"Ratchet said you're one of their closest friends," she said, looking at me.

I felt stunned. Ratchet said that? I tried not to look so surprised, but I couldn't help it. Ratchet rarely said anything nice to anyone unless they truly deserved it.

"He did?" I asked softly.

"He did," she said. "You must be really important to them."

I swallowed thickly. Mya didn't know the Autobots that well; she had acquainted herself with Ironhide, sort of getting to know the others, but she didn't experience the same things I did with them. If she decided to stick around, maybe whatever happened next would be it.

"I'm not that important," I murmured. "I'm just another human."

Mya's green eyes watched me for a minute before going back to Ironhide. Her black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, she seemed to focus more when her hair wasn't in her face. I could tell she was a few years older than me; maybe two or three at least.

There was something about her that seemed familiar. I tried not to focus on that.

"Hey, old man," I called, "glad to see you're up and better."

"I've been better, Sparky." He winced at something Ratchet did. "I'll be happy once I'm all fixed."

"You're healing at a slower rate," Ratchet said. "It would be a lot easier if I had more to work with."

Ironhide grumbled under his breath.

"Ironhide, don't go giving him a hard time," Mya said, her hands on her hips. "He's trying to help you."

The weapon specialist's optics looked at Mya before he slowly nodded. I sensed quite an attraction between the two of them. I wasn't sure how far they had gone in it, if they acknowledged it at all. Certainly Ironhide would try and ignore it. He tries putting on the "tough guy" image and ignore what doesn't come across as "tough" to him. Mya, however, is the kind of woman who goes straight to the point.

Keeping my mouth shut, I stayed for a few more minutes, talking to Bee and Sideswipe for a little bit. I talked to Optimus as well. He said he'd might drop by later in the evening to spend some time with us, which I had no problem with.

"Hey, Ratch, you should drop by the house," I said.

Ratchet's optics looked over at me before focusing on Ironhide's injuries. "I can't," he said. "Not tonight, at least. I need to repair as much of Ironhide's injuries as I can. Since he's online, it's only a tad easier to work with."

I nodded. "OK, get better, old man." I gently patted Ironhide's leg before saying goodbye to everyone else. I felt a lot better knowing everyone was doing OK.

No One's POV

The informant still had no word on where the Autobots were located, but that didn't matter. Wherever the Witwicky girl was, they surely followed. Cemetery Wind was prepared for their departure into the Mexican capital, both governments had agreed to allow the group to find the fugitives. Mexican officials sent out broadcasts, warning of the American and alien fugitives hiding out in their land.

Attinger was hellbent on finding them and bringing them to justice. He was winning back his planet from the ones who tried to destroy it. He felt it was his responsibility; no one else tried what he was doing. True, he lied about hunting only Decepticons, but Autobots proved to be just as dangerous. No one was asking questions, everyone seemed content with what was happening.

It was only a matter of time before every Cybertronian scum had been killed. It had been years since scientists has discovered what they were made of. Transformium, that's the name of it.

Melting down dead Cybertronians for Transformium, because that's what Joshua Joyce wants, gives humanity the opportunity to have better Transformers. Ones without a conscience, who obey every command without a say in it.

A man made, mindless Transformer is the best kind of Transformer.

Desirée POV

When I made it back to Rosalyn's house, it was quiet. I assumed the kids were napping and the adults were relaxing. But when I entered the home, the kids were still awake, just not moving or saying a word. Rosalyn and Emilia looked at me as I came in. Their skin was pale, their eyes wide. The radio was on, a news reporter was talking in Spanish, I couldn't understand what she was saying.

"You're harboring alien fugitives?" Rosalyn said in a shaky voice. "This whole time, you've been harboring aliens?"

"Rosalyn, I can explain," I tried. "Just hear me out, OK?"

I swallowed thickly. Saoirse and Eden hurried over to me. Blossom and Abby walked over and stood by me as well, holding their kids.

Where the hell would I begin?

QUICKY A/N:

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE! MERRY/HAPPY WHATEVER ELSE YOU CELEBRATE! I HOPE YOU LIKE THIS CH.!

I OWN NOTHING IN THE TRANSFORMERS MOVIEVERSE NOR DO I OWN THE FOUR OC'S. I ONLY OWN MY CHARACTERS AND MY FILLERS. HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON AND A FABULOUS NEW YEAR!

YOU'RE ALL THE GREATEST! I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS FANFIC HAPPEN IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL.

READ, REVIEW, ENJOY!

YOURS TRULY,

~SMITHY