260

Desirée POV

I watched with mild curiosity as Ratchet got his medical supplies ready. In the steady two weeks that seemed to saunter on by, my condition had improved greatly. Ratchet did a final scan and informed Optimus and I that the infection was pretty much gone, and that the remainder of my pregnancy could go by quickly. That was a big relief for Optimus and I - we were anxious at the thought of the infection not going away entirely. But when Ratchet said that, it was like a weight had been lifted off our shoulders.

"What're you doing?" I asked blandly.

Ratchet's vivid blue eyes looked at me for a second before he focused on his medical supplies.

"I'm making sure I have everything prepared for your C-section."

I rolled my eyes. It was an unspoken agreement that I'd have to endure another C-section. The one thing that worried me about the delivery was the idea of doing it in Cade's home. I didn't think it would be appropriate to deliver the baby in his home, on one of his guest beds.

"Are you sure it's safe to do it here?" I asked. "I'm not questioning your medical expertise, but this house is pretty far from a hospital."

"Can a hospital safely deliver an alien hybrid baby, Desirée?" Ratchet asked dryly.

"It just doesn't feel appropriate to deliver a baby in Cade's home. It doesn't feel sanitary."

Optimus's Holoform sat beside me on the bed, a hand resting on my shoulder.

"I'll have a discussion with Cade on the matter," Optimus rumbled.

Ratchet sighed. "You had no problems delivering Saoirse or Eden back at NEST."

"Because there was a medbay," I pointed out. "This is someone's house."

"You don't have many options on where to deliver the Sparkling," Optimus rumbled softly. "Human hospitals wouldn't take too kindly to finding out you bore an alien's child, Desirée."

I chewed on my bottom lip anxiously, brushing some of my ashy blonde hair out of my face. "I know," I murmured. "I'm just a little worried."

Optimus leaned over and kissed my forehead. "I'll talk to Cade."

I rubbed my swollen belly, looking around the room exhaustedly. Ratchet had gone over the procedure with me, making sure I understood every little detail he told. I felt the baby shift a little, making me wince for a moment before I relaxed. Unlike Saoirse and Eden, baby-number-three seemed to like moving around more since the infection had passed. The baby kicked and kept adjusting itself and it hurt.

But I knew that the baby was OK, so I felt reassured every time I felt it move.

Ratchet had said he'd perform the C-section by the end of the week - that would be my eight month mark. The baby would be premature by a month, but if Ratchet thought it was a good idea, then who was I to argue?

I wonder what the baby's gender is? I thought solemnly. Ratchet's scans would probably tell Optimus and I the baby's gender, but with everything that happened, the last thing on my mind was thinking about the baby being a boy or a girl. It was brought up very rarely between Optimus and I, the talk of the baby's gender. Optimus said he'd be happy with a boy or a girl, I thought it would be appropriate to give him a son since he already had two daughters.

The one thing Optimus and I both agreed on was that we were not having anymore babies after baby-number-three was born.

A soft knock on the door jumped me out of my thoughts.

"Come in," I called, a sigh underlying my tone.

Optimus's Holoform poked its head in carefully before he walked in, Saoirse and Eden right behind him.

"Did you talk to Cade?" I asked, giving a small, tired smile.

"I did." Optimus nodded. "He said he has no problems with the baby being delivered here; he said he wishes us the best of luck."

I winced a little at that. Cade had been so welcoming and open with us, but allowing us to use his home to deliver a baby? It seemed a little over the top.

"You're not happy?" Optimus said, arching a brow at my face.

"I am, it's just...Cade's done so much for us; it feels like we're just taking him for granted now."

I watched as Saoirse and Eden struggled to climb on the bed - they made sure not to make the bed move too much. Once they were on, they crawled over next to me, looking at my swollen stomach in wonder.

"We aren't taking them for granted," Optimus assured me. "He's being generous. He understands what we've been through."

"I know, but he has his own life - his own family."

Optimus walked over and knelt down by the bed, gently brushing some hair out of my face.

"I just feel guilty," I sighed. "I shouldn't be feeling this way."

"It's understandable to feel this way." Optimus gave a small smile.

"I'm going to have to thank Cade and the others big time for everything they've done," I murmured.

Optimus nodded, kissing me on the cheek.

"Mama, when's the baby gonna be born?" Eden asked.

I looked at her with a small, tired smile.

"By the end of the week," I said gently. "That's what Ratchet said."

"Are we having a brother or a sister?" Saoirse asked.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?" Saoirse exclaimed, looking at me with wide eyes.

"It's a surprise."

"I hope it's a girl," Eden said matter-of-factly.

"You do?" I looked at her with a bigger smile. I could see Optimus's eyes gittering with excitement and happiness.

Eden nodded. "Boys are gross."

"What about your cousin Alec?" I asked. Eden crossed her arms stubbornly over her chest. "Or Uncle Cade?"

That caused Eden's eyes to widen a fraction. "Uncle Cade's not gross," she quickly corrected.

"What about your father?" I asked jokingly.

Eden immediately shook her head, her eyes wide. "Not all boys are gross, OK?" she exclaimed.

I chuckled at that.

"Mama, when do you think we can see Uncle Sam again?" Saoirse asked.

"Maybe a little bit after the baby's born," I said.

"What about Mikaela?" Eden asked. "And Mr. Simmons?"

"And Leo!" Saoirse exclaimed. "And Mr. Lennox and Mr. Epps..."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." I held a hand up. "You guys remember them?"

"Sort of," Saoirse said. "You and Daddy were friends with them, right?"

I looked at Optimus. He lowered his gaze for a moment before he gently got his daughters' attention.

"You have to remember that they all have lives of their own," Optimus said carefully. "We can't interrupt their lives so they can be involved in ours."

"Even Grandma and Grandpa?" Eden asked.

"They'd all love to see you when they get the chance," I said. "But remember, they're all busy doing grown-up things. They have families to take care of and jobs to go to."

Saoirse and Eden shared a look.

"Do you think they'd come to visit after the baby's born?" Eden asked.

Optimus and I shared a look.

"Uhm, maybe Uncle Sam and your grandparents," I sighed.

Saoirse's face seemed to lighten up at that. A smile came on Eden's face as well. I was a little surprised they remembered Lennox and the others - even just a little. I gave a small smile.

"How're you feeling?" Abby asked.

She, the twins, and Bee came to visit for the first time in what felt like forever. Alec and Athena had gotten so much bigger than I remembered; Abby seemed way more mature.

I gave a slightly strained smile.

"Fine, I guess," I said truthfully.

Abby nodded.

"The twins have gotten so big," I said, looking at them. They were playing with Saoirse and Eden.

"I know," Abby sighed, looking a little sad. "They're my babies - I don't want them to grow up too quickly."

I nodded.

"It must be hard, Saoirse being in school and all." Abby looked at me with a small smile.

"It is." I let out a sigh. "Soon Eden will be in school."

Abby nodded, letting out a sigh of her own.

"How's the baby?" she asked.

"Just fine. Kicking up a storm, that's for sure." I snorted. "Ratchet said I'll be getting a C-section by the end of the week."

Abb nodded with a slight hum. "You don't sound too happy."

"I am."

Abby wrapped an arm around my shoulders, shaking her head with a smile.

"At least try and act excited," she chuckled.

I rolled my eyes.

"I'm excited, Abby." I gave a small smile. "I'm just a little scared about how the baby'll be delivered."

"A C-section, right?"

I nodded.

"You've had two before, what's so scary about that?"

"I don't know why I'm feeling so scared right now," I sighed. "I just don't like the idea of having the baby here, I guess."

Abby nodded.

"I guess that makes sense," she hummed.

I chewed on my bottom lip. I felt the baby shifting and kicking, it hurt but I tried my best to ignore it.

I put a hand on my stomach, shifting a little on the bed to get more comfortable.

"One thing's for sure, I'll be happy once I'm off bed rest," I said with a humorless chuckle.

Abby laughed.

"You think I'm kidding? I am so tired of being on this bed! If I could, I would never go near a bed for the rest of my life."

"I understand what you're feeling. I felt the same way after the twins were born."

"I'm finished with having babies after this one," I chuckled. "Two was pushing it, three's crossing the line."

Abby smiled and shook her head.

"Either way, though," I sighed, "after everything that's happened, I'm happy about how things turned out."

"It could've been worse, right?" Abby asked.

Shrugging, I leaned back on my pillows.

"Five years on the run was pretty bad," I said.

"Anything other than that."

"Maybe."

We just sat there after that, watching our kids interact. It was nice, knowing we were in a little bubble of peace. We had no idea what was in store for us in the future; we had no idea about anything, actually. We were going to enjoy what we had while we had it.

And no one was going to tell us otherwise.

QUICKY A/N:

THIS THE SECOND TO LAST UPDATE FOR THIS STORY. SORRY IF IT WASN'T TO YOUR LIKING! JUST A HEAD'S UP, ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU GUYS HAD (OC'S FOR ONE OF THE SINGLE AUTOBOTS, POSSIBLE SIDE PLOTS, ETC.) I AM TRULY SORRY I DIDN'T PUT THEM INTO THIS STORY, BUT THOSE SUGGESTIONS WILL BE MOVED OVER INTO THE NEXT STORY.

THE BABY WILL BE BORN IN THE NEXT UPDATE AND THIS STORY WILL BE CONCLUDED!

I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED THIS STORY.

THE FOUR OC'S ARE NOT MINE. THEY BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. THE TRANSFORMERS FRANCHISE IS NOT MINE; THEY, TOO, BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. THE ONLY THING I WILL EVER OWN ARE MY CHARACTERS.

I TRIED MAKING THIS UPDATE LONG ENOUGH FOR YOU GUYS, I HOPE IT WAS!

THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING SUCH AMAZING REVIEWERS. I HAVE ENJOYED EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO MAKE THIS STORY THE WAY IT IS.

STAY SNAPPY.

THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL.

READ, REVIEW, ENJOY!

YOURS TRULY,

~SMITHY