191

I asked Sam if he could meet me in Texas, that I'd tell him everything when we arrived. He agreed, sounding reluctant over the phone. I heard the worry in his voice; the raw emotion.

Hearing my brother's voice after five years made me more emotional than I wanted to be. Cade and the others were curious on who I was talking to, but I told them that they'd find out once we got back to the States. We all just needed a moment to relax, to have everything we endured sink in. But standing around in China wasn't the place we pictured that happening.

We made sure to pick up Abby and the others from their spot where the spaceship crashed before any other phone calls could be made. I wanted to know for myself that they were all alive and well. And seeing them alive, only scratched and a little bruised, made me relieved but also sad. They were still injured. Rosalyn had said that they stayed because the Autobots wanted them safe, which I thought was smart thinking. I gave them all a hug, trying to make myself look as pleasant as I could at the moment.

Once we were all safe and sound, Joyce got us a plane back to the States, thanks to his influence. Even though KSI was pretty much useless now, that didn't mean Joyce lost any of his influence on others. He was able to get us a plane, though it took hours for it to arrive, and we all got on and tried enjoying our flight back to America. Joshua was even nice enough to get a plane big enough for the Autobots to get in.

The entirety of the plane ride was in silence. No one was really willing to start a conversation, we were just trying to comprehend what just happened. The Autobots didn't activate their Holoforms, no one moved from their seats.

Saoirse and Eden were upset that Optimus left, as I expected them to be, and I tried explaining that he had some important business he needed to take care of, but he'd come back the moment he was able. That didn't seem to ease their anger and sadness; but it was the best explanation I could give them. After a while, they fell asleep next to me. I couldn't quite let my exhaustion take over, my mind was still buzzing, still whirring with my unbearable thoughts. Would Optimus survive in space? What would happed if those Creators found him? Was he ever going to come home? My mind wouldn't focus on one thing.

Closing my eyes, I tried telling myself that Sam would be waiting for me; I'd finally see my brother after so long. Maybe I'd see Carly! I desperately wanted to see them. I wanted to see how much they've changed in those years; and, admittedly, I wanted to have some normalcy, just an ounce, for my family's sake.

Saoirse and Eden needed to have a stable living environment, but I wanted to make sure Cade and Tessa had one, as well. I wanted to know that they were living safely, that they had a place to call their own.

They'll be just fine, I thought solemnly. They don't need you doing this for them...But you promised, right? Their barn was blown up; they don't have anywhere to go. Neither do you.

I looked at the others, Tessa had fallen asleep beside her father. Cade looked deep in thought, absentmindedly rubbing his daughter's shoulder as she slept. Shane was looking out the small window, a blank look on his face. Joshua was trying to get himself comfortable, sitting next to Darcy and an Asian woman named Su Yueming. Su looked slightly familiar, but my brain couldn't make the connection. Leaning my head back against the seat, I frowned.

Giving Saoirse and Eden one last look, I fell asleep.

I was awoken by someone nudging my shoulder. Jolting out of my sleep, I saw Cade standing nearby, looking exhausted himself.

"We've landed," he murmured.

Nodding, I slowly stood up. Saoirse and Eden were awoken from their sleep and we all got off the plane. Seemed the kind of planes Joshua could get were faster than we thought. Probably a KSI-enhanced plane (or something along those lines). I asked Joyce if I could borrow his phone again so I could give Sam a call. When he gave me his phone, I dialed Sam and felt relief when he answered.

"I'm at the airport," he said. "My plane just landed..."

"I'll come pick you up," I said flatly.

"No, you could send one of the Autobots to get me." I rubbed the bridge of my nose. I wanted to come and get Sam myself; I wanted to spend a few quality moments with him. "Desirée?"

"I'm still here," I murmured. "I'll send Bumblebee to get you, if you want. Is that OK?"

"Um, sure, thanks," Sam said uncertainly. "I'm excited to see you, Desirée. There's a lot we need to catch up on."

"Yeah, there is." I frowned, closing my eyes. "I'll see you when you get here, Sam."

After hanging up the phone, I gave it back to Joyce. I told Bumblebee where Sam was and asked if he could pick my brother up. Bee's engine revved a bit before he drove off in the direction I had given him.

"Is Sam a friend of yours?" Tessa asked quietly.

I nodded silently. "He's my foster brother," I murmured. "He's one of the closest people I have to a family."

The silence that overwhelmed us caused an awkwardness to develop between us. I looked at the Autobots, still in their vehicle form, parked a distance away from us. I frowned.

"Ironhide? Guys?" I called softly. A few of them responded, giving a little rev of the engine or murmuring their response over the radio. "Could you activate your Holoforms?"

Hound, Drift, and Crosshairs didn't have Holoforms installed in their systems yet; so they just stayed in their vehicle forms.

Once their Holoforms were activated, much to the surprise of the other humans (who didn't know the Autobots like the rest of us did), but stood beside their respective vehicles, just looking at us solemnly. I looked at all of them carefully. The Autobots I had encountered all those years ago, when they were in search of the All Spark, were gone. The friends we lost in the five years of trying to evade Cemetery Wind were also gone - Jazz, Arcee, the Twins, Jetfire...They were never coming back. KSI had melted down their bodies to make those prototypes.

The Holoforms looked almost lost, defeated. Despite the Seed being out of earth's atmosphere, Lockdown dead, Attinger and Savoy dead, they still looked wary of humans.

"I'm so sorry for everything," I said softly. "I know my apologies won't erase all the crap you guys were forced to go through, but I want you to know that I'm truly and honestly sorry. You probably want nothing more to do with humans, and I understand that. If you want to leave, you can leave."

"Prime told us to defend you guys," Sideswipe said, standing next to Blossom and Musa. "That's what we're going to do."

"He may not be here at the moment," Ironhide added, "but Prime's still our leader, and what he says goes."

"And since Prime's currently unavailable, you're in charge until he gets back," Ratchet added gruffly.

I shook my head. "I don't want to be in any position," I murmured. "I'm human. I can't be trusted."

Ironhide approached me, those vibrant blue eyes observing me very closely. I avoided the stout Holoform's gaze, hoping the earth would eat me up then and there.

"Can you look at me?" he grumbled. Hesitantly, I looked up at Ironhide. A deep frown was set on his face, his eyes holding too many emotions that I cared to count. "You're still Optimus's Sparkmate, and since he's occupied, we're trusting you to lead us until he gets back."

I eyed him warily. "Trusting me?" I said doubtfully.

He gave a sharp nod. "You've fought for us more times than we care to count," Ironhide said in his oddly accented voice. Placing a hand on my shoulder, reassuring and gentle, Ironhide's expression softened a fraction. "We will always trust you."

It took a while for Bee to return with Sam. The Holoforms had deactivated, after spending a moment talking with their significant others and spending time with their children. The girls and I kind of stood out of their way, after watching their interactions silently, just waiting for Sam and Bee to come back.

The yellow-and-black Camaro drove in, slowly coming to a stop so Sam could get out. He'd really aged well since the last time we saw him. When he saw us, still pretty bruised and scratched up, I saw the emotions he was trying to fight back.

I tried for my best smile, holding the girls close to me. They looked up at Sam silently, not really knowing how to react.

"Desirée?" he said in a cracked voice, tears filling his eyes.

"Hey, Sam," I said softly. "It's been a while."

He rushed over and gave me a fierce hug. And five years of emotions came out in the sobs that wracked my body.

QUICKY A/N:

I'm sorry if this update is really sloppy. I am really tired, and I tried making this update as interesting as I possibly could! Just give me a review, whether it's telling me what I can do to change this update, or telling me what you think of this overall update.

I'd like to thank everyone for all the wonderful reviews I've gotten for the past updates. I greatly appreciate everyone being so wonderful.

So, everyone's been reunited. In the future updates, the character Marli will be brought back. I'm not sure when, but I'll bring her character back. It's been too long without her!

Please give some reviews, everyone! I love the support you guys have given!

THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL!

READ, REVIEW, ENJOY!

YOURS TRULY,

~SMITHY