198

Optimus POV

The Prime had wandered in the vastness of space for Primus knows how long. He hadn't bothered keeping up with how long he'd been gone from earth. In a way, he was enjoying his time away from the small planet, but on the other hand, he deeply missed his soldiers and family. His processors were thinking up all these scenarios on what could possibly have happened since his departure.

How was Desirée doing? Their Sparklings...were they OK?

Optimus was a father and a leader, two positions he balances the best he could. Not having found a secure location to hide the Seed, or any leads on who or what his Creators are, Optimus Prime found himself getting frustrated. How was he expected to find any information on his Creators if he didn't know if anymore of his kind still lived! Lockdown was his only information source, but he needed to be killed to ensure safety for himself and the ones dear to him. His Spark rattled angrily. Prime wasn't going to give up.

His processors brought up the almost-promise he had with Desirée before he left. He'd try and come back to earth. For how long, that was uncertain. But if he were to return to earth for any reason, the Seed would have to be securely hidden (in a location only he knew of) and hopefully gathered some information on the Creators.

For however long the Prime was gone, his Spark was filled with Desirée's mixed emotions. He was getting overwhelmed. He'd feel her sadness, regret, frustration and discomfort. She was always anxious and uncomfortable, and he could only imagine why. She was suddenly having to adjust to normal human living, he concluded. Optimus wondered how the Autobots were holding up, protecting the Yeager family and his family. Was Joshua Joyce proving to be a trustworthy human? Prime would hope so.

Optimus shook the thoughts from his head. He glanced behind him. Despite having rockets built in with his newer form, he still near earth's solar system. He wanted to carefully inspect the areas of space before he went too far. It seemed...right, to do something like that. Frowning, Optimus continued his journey. He was determined to find out what the Creators wanted with him, and to make sure the Seed was nowhere near earth.

Marli POV

Marli had been kept basically as a prisoner since her capture by Cemetery Wind. She didn't know if anyone else she knew had been imprisoned, or if they had to endure the kind of torture she did. The scientists that occupied where she was kept did daily "check ups" on her (which were basically them experimenting on her, testing out all kinds of things on her).

Since she had been taken, she had become emotionally detached. No one had come to save her. Dino had been killed before her eyes, she became a guinea pig for the same people who took the one being she loved away.

Did the others even care that she was missing? Did they even notice? Obviously not. If they noticed, they'd have come to rescue her. If they cared, they would have rescued her! No. They didn't care.

While they were out in the world, free, she was trapped. Imprisoned.

Better off dead.

Sam POV

The young man had been quietly chatting with his fiancée for a while. Occasionally they'd hear Judy yell something, they even heard Desirée yell. That surprised them both.

Sam only assumed they were blowing off steam.

He wondered what would have happened if Desirée hadn't contacted him. What if he found out she had been killed? Her and the girls? How would Carly take that? How would his parents take that?

They raised Desirée from the broken eight year old girl, abused and neglected by her toxic parents, to the woman who could talk and fought with alien refugees and had two beautiful daughters! Desirée was just as much a sister to him, as she was a daughter to his parents. Ron and Judy wanted more children after Sam, but going through another pregnancy wasn't what they wanted.

Sam's parents had raised him exceptionally. He became the kind of man they were proud to see (with some help from the Autobots, as well). Sam found himself a beautiful woman he was going to marry; the two of them were going to have a baby boy. Desirée's return, halfway through Carly's pregnancy, her difficult pregnancy, helped the young couple see a light at the end of their tunnel. Desirée and her daughters made it out of five years of torture - Sam and Carly needed to remind themselves that Desirée's life hadn't been all that easy most of the time, that whatever they went through, they'd be strong and do their best to make it out victorious.

Glancing at his closed bedroom door, Sam wondered what his parents and sister were talking about. He wondered if his parents were going to be staying with him for the time being or if they got a hotel room.

Giving a silent sigh, Sam tried distracting himself. He and Carly tried starting up a conversation, but it only seemed to work for a little bit, then Sam's mind would wander back to what could possibly be going on downstairs.

Desirée POV

Ron and Judy were leaving for the evening. They had a hotel room they got for the time they were staying. I told them I only had a few more days left in DC before I had to go. They were disappointed, but happy they got to spend time with the girls and myself.

I told them I was living with some friends in Texas, and if they ever needed to contact me, they could fly down and pay a visit. Judy was quick to say she would the moment they were able to (Ron said once they had enough money saved up, since taking a trip down to DC cost more than they cared to admit). Giving them a hug goodbye, and making sure Saoirse and Eden gave them a hug goodbye, I quietly shut the door behind me once they left.

An emotional wreckage was all that was left from their visit. It was harder to deal with them emotionally!

Saoirse and Eden were all tuckered out from spending the day with Ron and Judy, so I put them to bed and went into the kitchen. Since Ron and Judy spent most of the day catching up, I didn't get a chance to eat anything.

"They left already?" I jumped at the sound of Sam's voice. Turning around, a beer in one hand and some food in another, I nodded sheepishly.

"I hope you don't mind if I get some food," I said, avoiding eye contact. "I didn't have anything to eat today..."

Sam chuckled. "If you're hungry, you can get yourself some food," he replied. "Just don't touch any of the chocolate syrup or celery. Carly's still having some weird cravings."

Crinkling my nose, I shut the fridge. "Chocolate and celery?" I shook my head. "When's her next appointment?"

"Two and a half weeks." Sam pursed his lips. "She's really trying to do better for herself and the baby."

"I'm happy for her," I responded, sipping my beer. "She looks like she's been through quite the battle."

Sam nodded. "This pregnancy's been bad for her," he said. "She's had some bleeding and the doctors said if she isn't careful, she'll miscarry."

I winced. "That's unfortunate," I mumbled. "I take it you guys aren't having any other kids after this?"

"No more." Sam shook his head. "This one is the last one."

I gave Sam a look. "I thought Saoirse would be my last pregnancy. I ended up having Eden."

Arching an eyebrow, Sam looked at me with an amused expression.

"Don't get me wrong, I love Eden to death, but two surprises in two years wasn't what I had in mind." I shrugged, sipping more of the beer. I nibbled on some of the food I took from the fridge and gave Sam a look. "If, by some miracle, you and Carly are expecting another little one, it might not be as bad as this one."

"How would you know?" Sam said.

"I had babies with an alien robot," I said. "I'm not saying what Carly is going through doesn't sound awful, but try getting pregnant with an alien baby and see if it's a piece of cake."

Sam gave an airy chuckle, shaking his head. "Whatever you say, Desirée."