196

I looked at the phone in my hand nervously. It had been fifteen minutes since I picked up that phone, and I still hadn't dialed their number. Sam kept the girls occupied while I tried to call my foster parents. I frowned deeply.

Just do it; just do it; you can do it! Just call them! my mind screamed. Swallowing thickly, I looked at the number Sam had written down for me, feeling slightly intimidated at the piece of paper. I felt small. Calling Ron and Judy wouldn't be that bad, would it? Of course not! They'd feel relieved, knowing their daughter was alive and safe and healthy...and their granddaughters, too.

Taking a few calming breaths, I dialed the number into the phone and waited anxiously for them to pick up.

It took a few rings, but I felt my heart stop when Ron picked up.

"Hello?" he asked. He sounded older, tired almost. I felt a lump in my throat.

"H-Hi, Dad," I said shakily.

There was a long, heavy pause. If I hadn't known any better, I would've guessed he hung up. I bit on my thumbnail, a habit I thought I had forgotten over the years.

"Desirée?" His voice had sounded hesitant.

"Yeah?" I said quietly. "It's me, Dad..."

I heard him yell something on his end, probably calling over to Judy. I felt my eyes tear up. Ron sounded emotional, and it made me emotional. Ron Witwicky wasn't the kind of man who showed people what he was feeling, it was only rare he let any kind of emotion show.

"Desirée, how...what happened to you?!" Ron exclaimed.

Quickly wiping the tears from my eyes, I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"I'm so sorry for making you guys worry so much," I said quickly. I felt a pang of panic and fear rush through me. "I was in a very bad situation and I didn't know what to do..."

"Sweetie?" Judy called. "Are you OK? Please tell me you are!"

"I'm fine," I said shakily. "I'm so sorry for making you guys worry so much."

"You had us worried sick!" Judy exclaimed. "You vanished for five years, Desirée Witwicky! Five years! I thought you were dead! And we didn't know what happened the girls! You just took them and disappeared!"

I felt tears run down my face. "I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I-I didn't mean to make you worry so much. I was in a very bad situation...I couldn't tell you or anyone else. I thought it was for the best of you."

The other end was silent for a moment, before a sob came from the other end. I tried to control my own tears. They had assumed the worst, that the girls and I were probably dead. I tried wiping the tears from my eyes, but they kept flooding my eyes.

"Are you staying with Sam?" Ron asked, forcing his voice to sound calm.

I murmured a 'yes', closing my eyes tightly.

"We're coming to visit and you're giving a full explanation!" Judy exclaimed, the thickness of her voice giving a clear indication she was in tears. The sound of her sobs were also an indication, as well. "You better be there when we arrive, Desirée Witwicky! We have a lot to discuss!"

I nodded silently. "I'm sorry for making you worry," I repeated. "Please don't be upset. I'm alive, the girls are alive and Sam's been taking care of us!"

"We're still coming to visit," Ron said firmly. "We need to know for ourselves that you three are OK. Do you understand?"

I gave an airy chuckle at the fatherliness that Ron gave. He was trying so hard to calm himself down. I sniffled, rubbing my eyes with my free hand.

"I get it," I said, exhaustion filling me. "This wasn't quite the reaction I was expecting."

"What were you expecting?" Judy exclaimed.

"A lot of yelling and crying." I pursed my lips.

"We're saving that for when we visit." I had to give a little chuckle at Judy's answer.

"Please don't. Carly's pregnant, I'm certain the last thing she needs is you yelling at me." I knew Carly didn't need that kind of drama, she was already worrying about whether she'd be fine and whether her baby would be fine. If Ron and Judy came in yelling and crying, she'd be even more stressed out. I heard the two of them murmur amongst themselves for a moment.

"Your mother and I will try and not yell," Ron said, "for Carly's sake."

I thanked them, telling them profusely how much I love them. Once they told me, multiple times, how much they loved me and how excited they were to finally see the girls and myself alive and healthy, I hung up. I hadn't felt such emotional distress before.

Ron and Judy were going to make a scene for sure. It would be overwhelming, seeing them so emotional.

"How did it go?"

Sam had fixed the girls some food while we were in the kitchen. Carly had already been given some food and had some quality time with all of us (and privately with Sam).

"I don't know," I said. "Fine, I guess." I looked at the girls, who were chattering away with each other, their eyes gleaming and wide smiles on their faces. "They're going to be dropping by really soon."

Sam shrugged nonchalantly. "I figured they would. It's the first time they heard from you in a long time. They need to do this."

"I'd suggest trying to keep Carly occupied," I said. I already knew that option didn't need to be said. "I tried convincing them not to go screaming and yelling, Carly wouldn't want that kind of stuff, would she?"

Sam gave a lopsided smile. "I wouldn't want that," he said honestly. "But you know how emotional Ma gets - she's going to yell. Dad's gonna have to calm her down somehow. I'll explain the whole thing to Carly, just let them get some shouts out."

I nodded wordlessly.

Fiddling with my fingers, I wondered how soon Ron and Judy would be dropping by, and just how dramatic the reunion would be.

QUICKY A/N:

Here's the latest update, guys! I'm sorry it's so late, it's nearly ten-thirty at night where I'm at. I am sooo tired! But, you probably don't want to hear that...Anywho! I'm sorry if Ron and Judy didn't have the kind of reaction you were hoping for in this update, I'll try and give them that proper reaction next update.

I tried making this somewhat emotional, if it didn't seem like it, tell me and I'll try making adjustments to it.

And, the review I got from C. Auditore, thank you for the review. I greatly appreciate it. Thank you for also reminding me about the perks of Desirée's and Optimus's Sparkbond, I was so busy trying to make my updates and whatnot, I completely forgot about that! A magnitude of thanks for reminding me.

A magnitude of thanks for every wonderful person who's reviewed this story! I wish I could give you all a hug for being such fantastic people. Whenever I read the reviews you all leave, I am happy and honored to know there're people who think this story is worth reading! I hope I can still hear from all of you, if not most of you, in any future stories I write (whether I decide to write another 'Transformers' fanfic or I write a fanfic based off another movie, etc.).

Stay snappy!

THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL!

READ, REVIEW, ENJOY!

YOURS TRULY,

~SMITHY