Chapter Seven

It had been over a week since they had learned of the death of their youngest sister and daughter and it had been like a never ending nightmare for the whole family.

They all were feeling the effect of her loss, even Mycroft and Sherlock and none of them were ready to say goodbye to her but they knew they had no choice.

"Brothers, it's time." Sherrinford said sticking his head into the study where the other three were sitting in silence dressed in dark suits. Ruby's empty casket was to be buried where all Holmes' have been buried and there wasn't need for a viewing so it was time to officially say goodbye to their sister.

The brothers walked out of the house and met up to where their parents were waiting for them as the four would not let anyone else be a pallbearer. The four easily lifted the casket from where it rested from the hearse and began to follow their parents to where the casket was to be placed.

Behind them were previous comrades of Ruby and other close friends and family of the Holmes' whom came to pay their respects.

They were far enough away from the house that none heard the growls of three cars coming up the driveway nor did they hear the door closing on only one of them.

Ruby was dressed in her army uniform. "Stay here." She told the Autobots and sparklings before she began to sprint to where she knew her funeral would be taking place.

She finally began to see them and saw her parents leaning on each other, her brothers standing behind them, and other friends and family gathered around. She knew that none had noticed her yet.

"Sherlock!" She yelled. "Mom! Dad!"

Instantly everyone looked up and all of them stared at her in disbelief. Her mother was the first that shook the shock off. "Oh, my baby!" She wailed as she pushed people out of her way to wrap her arms around Ruby. "Oh thank the lord for answering my prayers." She whispered as she pulled back and stroked Ruby's face, examining the bruises and cuts all over it.

Her father finally made it to their side and pulled her into his arms. "Oh, Ruby." He sighed. All of the grief and stress that had been on his shoulders was now gone as he held his baby girl to him.

Ruby pulled back and turned a smile onto the friends and family that had gathered for her funeral and her eyes met her brothers whom were watching her impassively but she knew better. They were going to wait until all of them were alone before they greeted her.

"Thank you all for coming to my funeral, but as you can see, my death was greatly exaggerated." She said with a smirk. She then greeted the friends and family whom immediately left, knowing that the Holmes' needed to be alone.

The family of seven were gathered in the family room, her parents refusing to let her out from between them as the three sat on a couch while her brothers either sat in a chair or, in Mycroft's case, leaned against the doorframe.

"So, what happened?" Their mother, Eudora, asked. Ruby hesitated slightly but it was enough for her brothers to catch it, to let them know that she wasn't going to be telling the full story.

"What the news said about it being a terrorist attack, wasn't entirely untrue. Just wasn't the regular terrorists… Only Will's unit and myself made it off the base alive. And by the time we were able to get in contact with Pentagon, a couple days had already gone by. Then we weren't able to contact anyone for a bit either. But as soon as I was able, I headed here… and you'll be happy to note that I'm taking a break from the military life for awhile." She said with a cheeky grin causing her mother to let out a sigh of relief and hug her again.

"Well, this is enough excitement for me today. I'm glad your back, baby girl. Eudora?" Their father, Sigar, asked as he got up stiffly. Neither of them wanted to let Ruby out of their sight but knew that their children needed to have some time to themselves as well.

"I'll join you, my love. Good night, boys, my darling." Eudora said placing a kiss on Ruby's head before taking Sigar's hand and letting him lead her out of the room and to their bedroom, leaving their five children alone. Sherrinford and Sherlock moved their chairs so that they were looking at their baby sister head on while Mycroft and Ramses took their parents' spots.

"So, what truly happened?" Mycroft asked, his hand sneaking over and clasping her own in his. She shot him a small smile before looking down at her lap, not able to meet her brothers' eyes.

"I can't really discuss that, nor tell you…" She trailed off and snapped her head up, her eyes meeting her oldest brother's. "And it would be in your best interest, Mycroft, to not go digging into what truly happened… in fact, all of your best interests. In this case, ignorance is bliss."

"Ruby-" Sherrinford started before Ruby cut him off.

"No, Ford. I'm dead serious. Not only would you be putting yourselves in danger but also everyone else in the family. So please, just for once, listen to me and not dig. And just be happy that your baby sister is back from the dead and leave it at that, okay?"

"Ruby, you know us. Ford and Mycroft won't be able to resist." Ramses reminded. Ruby glared at all of her brothers, they all could see the fear and determination to keep her brothers out of what truly happened.

The four brothers exchanged glances. Their sister was as stubborn as they were and as protective of them as they were of her… she also did just come back from the dead, after all.

"Very well," Mycroft said. "None of us will look into it. But do let us know if you require anything from us."

"Thank you," She said and leaned over and hugged her brother before pulling away and hugging Ramses as well. "This means a lot to me… now, if you'll excuse me, I have some luggage to get from the car."

She stood and after placing kisses on the other two brothers' cheeks, walked out and over to Jazz, Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker.

"How'd it go?" Jazz asked as he opened his back door in order for the two smallest sparklings to scramble over to Ruby and hide on her body.

"Emotional. My brothers alone are intense but when its all four? Its a whole other ball game. Are the three of you going to be okay out here?" She asked as she adjusted to the weight of the two sparklings on her body and the two that were in two of her suitcases. She also grabbed her last bag and adjusted once more. Jazz shut his door once she was clear.

"We'll be fine. Keep the little ones in your room, one of us will be at alert to make sure nothing happens."

"Thanks Jazz, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker. I appreciate it."

She walked back inside, hurrying as fast as she can up to her room. As soon as she shut her door, the sparklings were out of the bags and off of her and exploring the whole room. Ruby leaned back on the door and watched them.

She was finally home.

Captain Ruby Holmes was home, and here to stay.

The End