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Optimus POV

The Prime had found a secure location for the Seed, but, unfortunately, he hadn't gathered any information on the Creators. There were no traces of other life-forms he could question. He was beginning to wonder if Lockdown had just referenced the Creators as a way of bringing fear.

Since the Seed had found its secure location, there wasn't much Optimus could do in space. He thought, vaguely, that on his way back to earth he could find just the tiniest bit of information on the Creators - their whereabouts, who they are, what their reasons are for hiring Lockdown were. Optimus kept his hopes at an all time low; he didn't expect to find anything useful.

In his time in space, he didn't find anything that had been Cyberformed, he couldn't find any kind of trace that other Cybertronian life-forms had inhabited any asteroid, meteor, or distant planet. His processors kept bringing up the possibilities of - maybe - a surviving Transformer arriving on earth. If he couldn't find any kind of useful information in space, maybe any new Transformer refugees would have some sort of information during their encounters in space.

Drift had informed him that, as far as he knew, there hadn't been any signs of new Transformers arriving on earth. If there were, they'd have made contact with the Autobots.

A deep frown set on the Prime's face. He tried to clear his processors from overthinking all the worries and problems he was burdening. He tried to keep his processors on the one thing he found to be very important - being reunited with Desirée and his Sparklings.

Desirée POV

I had been more than enthusiastic when Drift told me Optimus was returning. I was hoping he'd be coming back soon, it had been four months since he'd departed. Had he gotten any information on those Creators? Drift didn't tell me any more information, only that Optimus was coming back. When I thanked him, he gave me a firm nod and dismissed his Holoform.

I told the girls of what Drift told me, and they seemed genuinely thrilled of their father's return. Saoirse's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree; Eden looked as if she were about to explode from excitement.

Cade and Tessa had heard and congratulated us, saying his returning couldn't have happened at a better time, with the family reunion Sam and I were planning happening soon.

I had to agree with that.

In the days that followed, Sam and I continued our calls, trying to find out which time would be the best time to have the reunion. Sam said that he was pretty busy with taking care of Daniel and Carly.

It was starting to look like there wasn't going to be a reunion; but I tried keeping my faith a little elevated. Sam was a new father, he wanted to make sure everything was well with his new family before he had any kind of company at his house. I kept my patience in check and made sure to try and understand where Sam was coming from.

I hadn't heard back from the others in those following days - except from Mikaela, who had called pretty much twice a day. It was nice hearing from her again. I wasn't sure what had occurred in her life since I saw her last, but from what I heard, she seemed to be happy. She didn't go into detail about her personal life, only wanting to know what had happened to the girls and myself. I told her what I had told everyone else.

Optimus POV

Optimus tried returning to earth as quickly as he could. He hadn't the slightest idea how long he'd been away from earth, but he had a feeling it was for a long time. The Prime didn't want Drift informing him of how long he'd been gone, and requested the length of his space travel be left untold. He wasn't ready to hear the length of his travel just yet.

What he wanted to know the most was the progression of his family while he was absent. Drift had said they were developing well. Saoirse had been going to a human "school", a word Optimus was familiar with. His firstborn Sparkling's birthday had come and passed, Eden's coming very soon.

Hearing that made Optimus's Spark ache. He had missed Saoirse's birthday, and he wasn't sure if he'd make it to Eden's.

Certainly seeing you come back would be good, right? he thought nervously. Though missing the celebration of their birth is one thing that will never be made up.

Optimus's frown deepened. He was trying so hard to be the best father he could be, trying to be the best leader he could be. Juggling two positions at once was difficult for certain.

Marli POV

Marli had been released from her custody only days ago. Since she had discovered that her captors had been taken down - none other than by Desirée and the Autobots (along with some new human companions) - Marli had felt a small percentage of gratitude for the Witwicky girl. Though Desirée hadn't been informed of her imprisonment and experimentation.

It wasn't until Marli was released that she discovered that Celia had been taken prisoner as well. She wasn't sure if Celia had undergone the same kind of torture as her, but she could see the hardened look on the woman's eyes, suggesting she had something similar occur to her.

The two women bonded over their similarities - they had been prisoners of KSI, of Cemetery Wind, for far too long. And finding out that both had been taken down by Desirée, the Autobots, and her newfound companions, it brought anger and relief to both of them. Desirée didn't know that they had been locked away and used as guinea pigs for the scientists.

As for the time being, Marli and Celia were working on adjusting to normal society. It was proving difficult.

Neither of them were accustomed to being outside of their prisons. Though it had been just years since their capture, it felt longer!

Marli pursed her lips. She looked at everyone with disdain. She didn't hide her obvious disgust for people, having been experimented on for years by humans. Marli didn't know if she'd ever trust another human being ever again.

Humans had taken her freedom, her trust, and the only being she had ever loved.

Desirée POV

"I'd say two weeks from tomorrow," Sam said over the phone. "That's probably the best time to do this."

"Did you tell the others?" I asked.

"I have already." Sam said something on the other end, probably telling Carly something. "I have to go. Carly needs help with Daniel."

"OK. I'll see you in two weeks." Hanging up the phone, I sighed. Would Optimus be back in two weeks? I pinched the bridge of my nose. Sam and I tried scheduling the reunion on a day where Saoirse didn't have school. It would take a long time to travel from Texas to Washington DC, and I needed to be sure that I didn't have it scheduled during the weekend. Having it during a weekend that was longer than two days would work out the best.

"You look really stressed." Turning, I saw Ironhide strolling into the living area, a solemn expression on his face. The Holoform of the weapon specialist hadn't been used in so long, I had forgotten what it had looked like.

"I am," I said defeatedly.

Sitting across from me, the stout Holoform of Ironhide looked at me with a deep-set frown. I glanced at his eye, the scar that ran down his eye.

"How's the progression of the reunion with Sam going?"

I shrugged. "I don't know," I answered. "Sam's a new father, he's trying to find time in his schedule to make this happen..." I rubbed my face, feeling overwhelmed. "How have you been lately?" I gave Ironhide my best smile.

The weapon specialist's eyes studied me carefully before a nonchalant shrug became my answer. "I've been OK," he answered. "I've visited Mya, but I haven't seen much of you or the Sparklings lately."

I nodded. "That's nice of you," I murmured. "How's Mya doing?"

The way his eyes lit up at the mention of Mya's name let me know that he quite enjoyed the company of the green eyed woman.

"She's well," he said gruffly, trying to cloud his emotions.

"That's good." I smirked at him. "So, old man, how badly did you miss my company, exactly?"

Immediately, Ironhide's eyes lit up mischievously. His lips turned up in a playful sneer. "I've missed the Sparklings more than I missed you," he shot back.

Placing my hand over my heart, feigning hurt, I gasped. "I thought we were friends, old man!" I exclaimed.

Ironhide scoffed, his eyes lighting up with playfulness. "We are," he replied gruffly, "but I haven't seen the Squishies in a long time, human! They're missing their favorite uncle."

"Favorite?" I chuckled.

Ironhide and I continued our playful, friendly banter for a few minutes. It was nice to have a moment like that. Seeing Saoirse and Eden interacting with Cade and Tessa in the background, after spending over an hour discussing their financial situation, I felt like, for the first time in a long time, there wasn't any kind of worries holding me back.

QUICKY A/N:

I HOPE THIS UPDATE WAS DECENTLY WRITTEN. AS USUAL, JUST TELL ME IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES YOU'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN.

AS USUAL, TRANSFORMERS IS NOT MINE. I ONLY OWN MY CHARACTERS, MY FILLERS, AND WHATNOT. THE FOUR OC'S ARE NOT MINE, EITHER. THE FOUR OC'S BELONG TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS.

STAY SNAPPY.

THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL.

READ, REVIEW, ENJOY!

YOURS TRULY,

~SMITHY