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The days slowly rolled into weeks; and the weeks slowly rolled into months. I ended up enrolling Saoirse into the elementary school (I'd wait a little longer to put Eden in) Tessa and Cade suggested. Saoirse was able to catch up with the other kids quickly. It made me feel relieved - she seemed to enjoy school so far. Saoirse made a few friends and the her teacher seem to adore her.

Rosalyn talked about getting her children into the school, but it would be difficult for her. She wanted to get the proper paperwork and whatnot to be able to stay in Texas, but she was nervous. I told her if she just asked Ratchet, maybe he could help her with getting everything sorted out.

Saoirse's sixth birthday had come and passed. We all threw her a big party. Cade went and bought her the biggest cake he could and everyone bought her tons of presents. I had a hunch that she was a bit hurt that Optimus wasn't there to celebrate it with us, but she didn't show any sign of it. Eden's birthday was coming in quick, and everyone seemed excited about that as well.

"I don't want Eden's birthday to come," I muttered. I was at the shopping center with Tessa, Darcy, and the others. Cade and Shane stayed to watch over the girls while we went shopping. "They're growing up too fast."

"That's what kids do," Darcy said. "Babies one minute, college the next."

I felt my heart break at that. I didn't even know if the girls really wanted to go to college. While Saoirse seemed to enjoy elementary school, and Eden wanted to go because Saoirse was, I wasn't sure if college would really be something they wanted. I didn't doubt they'd be intelligent in school, but...

I pouted. "They're my babies," I whined. "They can't be growing up so fast! It's unfair."

Cade POV

As Cade watched over Saoirse and Eden, with some help from Shane, he came to realize why people seemed to adore the two of them so easily. They were a bundle of energy, sweet and understanding, but have an understanding far beyond their years.

Cade kind of wished he could have given Tessa a younger brother or sister to have played with, but when her mother died, Cade refused to date another woman. The older man saw how much Desirée cared for her daughters. She struggled a little, even with the support of those around her. In a way, Desirée desperately needed Optimus. She wouldn't admit it - oh no! Desirée was too stubborn, too proud. She believed she could handle any situation herself before having to rely on anyone else.

Desirée said, only once to Cade, that she wished Optimus hadn't left. She was worried about him. But after that, she closed herself up and tried to be the best she could for her daughters.

Since the time Cade had been introduced to Desirée and her family, her daughters had adopted him as their 'uncle'. The same went for Shane. Anytime they spoke to the two males, it was 'uncle Cade' or 'uncle Shane'! Tessa, on the other hand, was like their big sister. She helped them with little things when the time came.

The Autobots had since accepted that they probably were never going to leave earth. They still held some wariness - the tiniest bit of resentment - toward the planet, but Optimus had asked them to protect the Yeagers and his family. The Autobots also needed some kind of leader until Optimus came back, and they looked to Desirée for leadership.

Cade never understood why being in a relationship with Optimus was so important, or why the girls seemed to important to them either. While the children of the other Autobots held some importance, it seemed if they were related or involved with Optimus in any way, not a single scratch or bruise or feeling of being unsafe would befall them.

That's how Cade saw it, anyway.

"Uncle Cade!" Saoirse exclaimed. "Can we play outside?"

Cade smiled down at Saoirse and Eden.

"Sure thing," he said. "Put some shoes on and I'll let you guys go, OK?"

"You guys be careful, though," Shane warned, his Irish accent lacing his words. In the time he spent around the children of his friends, he had grown an almost fatherly instinct. He became worried whenever one of them got hurt, he tried to make them laugh if they were having a bad day. Cade noticed a significant change in the Irishman as well. He wasn't the same guy he met on his old property when they first met. Cade saw some maturity in the twenty year old. Cade still kept a close eye on him, though. "Don't want your mom getting upset that you got hurt."

"OK, Uncle Shane!" Saoirse said, beaming up at the Irishman.

"I'll go help them," Shane said, following after the girls as they ran into their bedroom.

Watching Shane, Cade sighed. He saw how well Desirée and the others raised their children. The Autobot fathers helped their significant other raise their children, too. Desiree didn't have that at the moment. Everyone pitched in to help her, but that wouldn't fill in the role of Optimus. The girls asked about him once or twice, and Desirée would try and give them the best answer she could. She wasn't sure if Optimus would ever come back, it had been two months already with no sign of him.

He hadn't contacted the Autobots at all.

After Optimus left, there was a sparkle in Desirée's eyes, and Cade saw that as hope that Optimus would return and everything would go back to the way it was. But after a month with no contact, the sparkle in her eyes dimmed, after two months, the sparkle disappeared altogether. She understood Optimus was trying to protect them, she understood he was trying to find out who the people hunting him were. But, Cade saw how defeated Desirée looked at the end of the day.

Once the girls were in bed, she'd stay up and go sit out on the porch, or sit on the couch. Not really talking to anyone, just thinking.

She's strong, he thought. No one would be able to handle what she has. But she keeps herself bottled up. She has plenty of people to talk to, but she doesn't want to talk.

That made Cade frown.

Desirée was a trusted friend. She protected his daughter, and saved their lives. Her behavior worried him. When he heard Saoirse and Eden calling him, he shook off his worried expression and followed the girls, Shane trailing behind, outside to play.

Desirée POV

As we returned back to the Yeager residence, I noticed it was a bit quiet. Anxiously, I called Saoirse's and Eden's names. When they didn't answer, I began to panic.

"Don't worry," Abby said, almost dismissively. "Cade and Shane have them outside."

Rushing to the nearest window, I peaked into the backyard and saw the girls playing outside, Cade and Shane standing by and watching over them.

I gave a sigh of relief.

Tessa went out back to spend some time with her father and boyfriend, the rest of us putting away the groceries. It was silent, for the most part. The twins, Rosalyn's children, and Musa were the background noises.

When everyone came back inside, everything was pretty much put away (including Eden's birthday presents).

"Thank you for watching the girls," I said, giving Cade a smile.

"No problem." Cade returned the smile. "You don't even need to ask, Desirée. I love spending time with them, they're great kids."

I nodded my thanks. I was grateful to have such wonderful friends.

Once the girls were in bed, I sat on the edge of my bed, my mind spinning with thoughts. It had been difficult to sleep lately. Occasionally I'd feel some of Optimus's emotions, just dull gut feelings, and it would keep me up at night.

Checking on the girls, I silently walked out of the bedroom and went out to the backyard, sitting on the back porch steps. The air was crisp and chilly, the nighttime sky was clear. Sometimes being outside gave me a chance to feel relaxed. Every time I looked up at the stars, I would pretend it's Optimus. I frowned.

He was gone. He went to put the Seed somewhere safe, to find out who and what his Creators are, and why they want him dead.

I had become so frightened that I'd never see him again, I was becoming some weak little frightened human. I had been fought against Decepticons around the globe, I had helped the Autobots protect humanity more times than I could remember. I was strong.

But humans made man-made Transformers. Galvatron had tricked humanity into giving him a new body and he took complete control over the prototypes. The prototypes had been killed, Galvatron wasn't dead.

If Galvatron figures out a way to build a new army, and without Optimus's help to bring them down, we'd be in trouble. Those dinosaur Transformers Optimus had found back in China, they disappeared without a trace. It was only the Autobots parked in Cade's driveway. Which wouldn't be enough to defeat any new threats that arise.

"You know it's one in the morning, right?"

I jumped at the voice behind me. Cade stood there, looking exhausted.

"I thought you were in bed," I stammered.

"I thought you were, too," he responded.

Looking down, I shrugged.

Cade sat down next to me, sighing. "If you're having trouble sleeping, you should talk to Ratchet about that."

"I was gonna go to bed in a few minutes," I said.

"You look worn down." I felt Cade gently nudge my shoulder. His voice was gentle. "Take it easy, Desirée. You've been working yourself to the bone these two months, you'll get yourself sick."

"I just need something to do," I said, shrugging nonchalantly. "Saoirse's in school now, and Eden's going to start next year. I want her prepared."

"It's not just that." Concern laced Cade's voice. "I'm getting worried about you, Desirée..."

"There's nothing to worry about," I interrupted.

"You don't let others in," he continued, as if I hadn't said anything, "you stay up really late. This isn't natural."

"I don't need to be lectured on what's 'natural'," I said curtly.

"Staying up all night isn't natural; not letting others in isn't natural." Cade put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You have friends and family who are willing to listen to anything you have to say. Stop feeling like you have to bottle it in."

"I can handle my problems on my own," I said.

"How's that going?"

I flinched.

"Desirée, you can't expect people to help you if you don't ask for it," Cade said softly. "Everyone here worries about you. Stop trying to carry the burdens."

Giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze, he stood up and went back inside. I sat there for a little longer, before going back inside, as well.

QUICKY A/N:

THIS IS THE LATEST UPDATE. I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT, BY THE NEXT UPDATE, IT WILL POSSIBLY BE TIME FOR SAM AND CARLY'S SON TO BE BORN AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, THE FAMILY REUNION AFTER THAT!

YOU GUYS ARE SPECTACULAR PEOPLE! I ENJOY YOUR REVIEWS AND I'M HAPPY YOU GUYS ARE STILL READING THIS FANFIC.

AS PROMISED TO A KIND REVIEWER, THE ELITA-1 ARC WILL START SOON. WHICH MEANS THAT OPTIMUS MIGHT BE RETURNING SOON.

STAY SNAPPY.

THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL.

READ, REVIEW, ENJOY!

YOURS TRULY,

~SMITHY