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Optimus POV

It had taken far too long for Optimus and the other Autobots to return to the Yeager farm. The trip from Memphis to Texas was painful and shouldn't have taken as long as it did, but they moved as quickly as they were able.

"The Sparkling is barely hanging on," Ratchet had told Optimus. "Desirée is going to have to be very careful until it's born. Watch over her, make sure nothing serious happens - make sure she's safe."

For the most part, Ratchet had gone back and forth between checking on Desirée and fixing the Autobots. The Autobots had gathered in Cade's backyard and waited as patiently as they could for the medical officer to come back and check on them. Ratchet focused on as many of the Autobots as he could, since a lot of them wanted to go back to their families and let them know they were OK. Despite what Ratchet said about Optimus keeping a watch out for Desirée and making sure she'd be OK, Ratchet wouldn't let the Prime into the house yet - Optimus's injuries had to be tended to first.

So Optimus waited as patiently as possible in Cade's backyard. The other Autobots were starting to get a little anxious, and the anxiousness was starting to pour into Optimus.

Desirée POV

Ratchet had finished doing another exam on me. He'd taken my blood pressure, he did another exam, he checked my heart and my lungs, he gave me some medication - I felt like Ratchet was doing everything in his power to make sure that I stayed healthy, but he was working so hard. I felt almost guilty for making him do this.

I didn't voice my thoughts, I didn't want Ratchet to think I was pitying him or having something else thrown at him. Ratchet needed to concentrate, he didn't need to worry about how guilty I was feeling.

When Ratchet finished his exams and tests, he scribbled it down and quickly left the bedroom. During the past couple days, Ratchet seemed like he wasn't resting as frequently as he should've. His vibrant blue eyes looked dull and lifeless. I could see the slight frustration in his eyes and it made me wonder what could be going on.

Ratchet hadn't really been talking to me, only to tell me about any changes in my condition or how the baby was doing. As far as I was concerned, the baby was doing a little better and the infection was starting to be controlled.

I could only hope he'd tell me what was bothering him soon, because whenever I was going to ask what was going on, he'd dart out of the room the moment I was about to open my mouth.

Optimus POV

The Prime waited in the backyard anxiously. He couldn't wait any longer, he wanted to go back in the house and see how Desirée was doing. Ratchet would fill him in on Desiree's condition whenever he could, but that wasn't enough. Optimus wanted to see his Sparkmate for himself.

"You'll see her soon enough, Prime," Ratchet sighed. "Just try and wait a little longer. Can you do that?"

Optimus felt the engine rumble in frustration. Ratchet had managed to fix the Autobots to the best of his ability, with whatever materials he had with him.

"How much longer is that going to be?" Optimus asked through the grill.

Ratchet's Holoform stood beside Optimus, still in truck form, and the medical officer gently patted the Prime absently. In all honesty, Ratchet had no idea how much longer the repairs were going to take. Ratchet would try and focus on getting Optimus fixed as soon as possible.

"I'll get you fixed as soon as I can," Ratchet sighed.

"Please."

Desirée POV

After about two days, I got a knock on my bedroom door. I had been resting and holding my stomach carefully.

"Who is it?" I called.

"There's someone here who wants to see you," Ratchet's voice called from the other side of the door.

My brows furrowed at that. The only ones who'd ever been in my room, for the most part, since I got my infection was Drift and Ratchet. I felt a bit defensive, cautious, that someone else wanted to come into the room.

The door opened and I felt my eyes widen. My fingers dug into my stomach a little, and that caused me to flinch slightly.

Optimus's Holoform stood at the entrance of the bedroom. The Holoform looked a little beat up, and I felt tears sting the backs of my eyes. Giving a small smile, Optimus glanced back at Ratchet before closing the bedroom door.

"You're back?" I croaked. My voice suddenly didn't want to work; my emotions went haywire.

"I've been on the farm for the past few days," Optimus said, sitting himself down at the foot of the bed. "Ratchet's been doing repairs when he wasn't working with you."

My eyes widened. Were the others back? Were they alive? My brain was filling up with too many questions, too many that I couldn't ask quick enough.

"The others are fine." Optimus reached over and gently pried my hands from my stomach, holding them gently in his. "Galvatron pushed us back; it was harder than we anticipated."

"I-I'm just h-happy you're alive," I stammered shakily. If I hadn't been such an emotional rollercoaster, I would've grimaced at the stutter. I laced my fingers between Optimus's, giving the Holoform's hands a tight squeeze. "Did you see the girls?" I asked, sniffling.

He nodded, giving a small smile. "They were ecstatic that I returned," he said with a rumbling chuckle.

I gave a tearful smile. "I'd imagine so."

"They miss you." Optimus gently kissed my knuckles. "They asked about you."

"I wish they could come in here." I pursed my lips, shaking my head. "Ratchet said that it could worsen the infection."

"Ratchet's trying to be as careful as possible. He doesn't want anything to happen." Optimus placed one of the Holoform's hands onto my swelling stomach. "You and the Sparkling will be taken care of."

"I just want this to be over."

"It will be. Soon."

I studied the Holoform carefully. Since the Holoforms represented what the Autobots would look like as humans, I could only imagine what kind of condition the real Optimus looked like. I could see cuts on the Holoform's skin; bruises; a stiffness in the way Optimus walked. I could just barely feel the pain coming from the Sparkbond. Whatever happened between the Autobots and Galvatron was obviously more intense than they expected.

I had to wonder what kind of condition Galvatron was left in.

"Ratchet said the baby is still alive," I said softly.

Optimus nodded, his thumb gently stroking my stomach.

"He told me."

"I thought I had miscarried." I felt the tears fill my eyes to the brim. "I honestly thought I had miscarried because I couldn't feel the baby."

The Holoform's vivid blue eyes intensified in color. It amazed me on how the Holoform's eyes changed with whatever mood they were feeling.

"I was scared," I said shakily. "Ratchet said if I ever miscarried, I would die."

"You're not going to die," Optimus growled.

"I'm still human, Optimus, I'm still capable of dying." I saw the fierceness in Optimus's eyes. "The Sparkbond hasn't taken that away from me."

Optimus squeezed the hand he was holding and I saw his eyes glow a blue I'd never seen before.

It was almost blinding.

"I'll protect you with everything I have in me," Optimus growled.

Shaking my head, I gave Optimus a strained smile.

"If it comes down to choosing the baby's life over my own, which would you choose?" I asked.

Optimus's eyes widened.

"If it came to a point where you had to decide which life was more important, I want you to choose the baby's."

"Don't say that," Optimus said in that rumbling baritone.

"I want to know that if it came to that decision, the baby would have a chance at life," I said softly.

Optimus leaned over and pressed his lips to mine. The act was ferocious, hard, and caught me completely by surprise. Optimus's lips were practically thrown on mine and it was painful. I let out a pained gasp and tensed at the action.

"You will not die," Optimus growled, removing himself from the kiss. "I will not allow my Sparkmate to die. You and the Sparkling will make it out of this safely."

Watching Optimus carefully, I saw that fierce protectiveness in the Holoform's glowing blue eyes. Optimus was always true to his word. He'd protect those who mattered to him until he couldn't fight any longer.

Giving him a small smile, I nodded.

QUICKY A/N:

SORRY IF IT FELT LIKE OPTIMUS AND THE OTHER AUTOBOTS RETURNING WAS A BIT RUSHED. SORRY IF THIS WHOLE UPDATE FELT A BIT RUSHED. I'LL TRY AND MAKE IT UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE UPDATES. OTHER THAN THAT, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED IN THE LAST COUPLE CH.'S I PUT UP. YOU'RE ALL WONDERFUL PEOPLE!

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS STORY IS COMING TO AN END SOON. AND ONCE THIS FANFIC ENDS, I'LL START UP A SEQUEL TO THIS (AFTER TAKING A BREAK FROM WRITING FANFICS FOR A WHILE). THEN ONCE I FINISH THE SEQUEL, I'LL START ALL THE SUGGESTED FANFICS YOU GUYS WANT ME TO DO.

ANYWHO, I DON'T OWN ANYTHING IN THE TRANSFORMERS MOVIEVERSE, NOR DO I OWN THE FOUR OC'S. THEY ALL BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

STAY SNAPPY.

THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL.

READ, REVIEW, ENJOY!

YOURS TRULY,

~SMITHY