Okay, so, for the past month and a half I was throwing around ideas for what direction to take next. I originally ended it at the last chapter. Then I thought about a sequel. Or continuing the story. Still throwing ideas around, but I got hyper focused tonight and wrote a whole chapter in one shortish sitting. So, this is a bit of a transition chapter for what ever direction I end up taking.

Reminder: Takes place after Which Father Knows Best but before You Posted What?!

Disclaimer: I do not own Lab Rats.

Almost a month and a half had past, and things were finally turning to a new normal in the Davenport Household. The three bionic children moved back home, this time each claiming their own rooms. They even brought Douglas along with them. He and Donald spent hours each day working together in the lab. Although much time was spent bickering, the two had to admit they worked better together. After a few burns, a visit from the fire department, and one too many cases of food poisoning, Tasha finally handed the keys to the kitchen over to Douglas. On the bright side, Tasha thought, she now got to spend more time with the kids.

The family fell easily into it's new routine. Yes there were petty arguments, bickering, and the occasional bionic brother toss, but everyone was on the same page. On this particular Tuesday, life was running perfectly on schedule. Bree was due home any minute from drama club, Chase and Leo were working on their little robotics project, Donald was at a meeting and Tasha on assignment. Dinner was in the oven, with Douglas and Adam sitting at the dining room table.

"So, the pilgrims took a boat from across the Mediterranean Ocean to get to the New World, right?" Adam asked, flipping through his history notes.

"No Adam, they crossed the Atlantic Ocean," Douglas corrected, in his own futile attempt to help Adam with his schoolwork. "Adam, did you take these notes? They jump all over the continent, and across time frames!"

"Ugh, can't I just say that they crossed an ocean? You know geometry is not my best subject," Adam whined.

Douglas rubbed his forehead. "Geography Adam. You mean Geography," he took a deep breath, trying to keep himself together for Adam's sake. "At least you got the right prefix, let's try this again. The pilgrims came here on the Mayflower to escape from..."

"Perspiration!" Adam cried, reading the answer from his notes.

"You mean persecution Adam," Douglas corrected. "Close,"

"Yeah! I mean, in England they were not allowed to wear buckles on their hats or eat turkey, so they cam here," Adam announced proudly.

Douglas bit his lip. "Okay, first Adam, don't base your answers off our cartoons. Second, we need to work on our vocabulary. And spelling,"

"Fine, but if I flail this test, it will be because of wasting time of vocabulary. Or because I draw another dinosaur on it. Either way," Adam shrugged.

Douglas laid his head on the table. "No wonder,"

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"Okay, describe yourself in three words," Douglas muttered, reading the screen carefully. "Well, easy. Awesome. Awesomer. Awesomest. Oh, I am more creative than that, but there are just so many amazing qualities of mine to list," Douglas sighed in defeat.

"Come on, you don't want to come off having that big of an ego," Chase huffed, trying to help him fill out the application.

"What are you two doing?" Bree asked, popping her head inside Douglas' room.

"Oh, it's nothing," Douglas shrugged.

Bree raised an eyebrow, concerned. "If it is nothing than you would just tell me,"

Douglas sighed. "Fine. Chase is helping fill out a profile for a dating website,"

"Why?" Bree asked.

"Well, we all know that I am incredibly attractive, brilliant, and a ladies man, but several talks with concerned family members, friends, and two therapist suggested this might work better," Douglas replied.

"Are you sure you want to be dating right now?" Bree asked.

"Why wouldn't he?" Chase asked, oblivious to her concern.

Douglas however, had the instinct to pick this up. "Hey Chase, why don't you go talk to Don about your newest project. I need to talk to Bree about something,"

"Fine," Chase muttered before leaving.

Bree turned to her father, arms crossed. "Are you sure about this,"

Douglas sighed. "Bree. Why does this make you so uncomfortable?"

"It-t just does," Bree murmured.

"It is okay Bree, just say it. It is only us too," Douglas said.

Bree bit her lip. "Don't you feel like it is wrong to just move on when she is gone?"

Douglas took a heavy, deep breath. "It has been 15, almost 16 years. I had time to mourn. I miss her. I always will. But I just want to try to be happy. I am not saying that I want to get married or replace Hope. I just thought it would be nice to have a little fun. Plus, it would put some of the other's at ease,"

Douglas put a hand on her shoulder. "Bree, she may not be here anymore, but she isn't gone,"

"I-I know that," Bree replied, her lip quivering even as she struggled to stay strong.

Douglas wrapped her in a hug. "It's okay to be upset Bree. You know that,"

Bree nodded slightly, resting her head on his chest and sobbing quietly.

"We may be in pain now, but we are strong. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but trust me Bree, you will feel better," Douglas whispered rubbing her back. "You have an entire family here for you. Don't forget that Bree-Bear,"

Bree looked up, the slightest of smiles on her face. "Bree-Bear?"

"Oh, um, sorry. That was what your mother used to call you, when you were young," Douglas murmured. "Sorry,"

"It's nice. I like it," Bree replied, giving him another hug. "It is just too bad she can't use it now,"

"I know,"

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Bree sat at her desk, trying to come up with the perfect words to convey her message. Sure, she may not be a star student, but she did her work, and this specific essay was special to her. She typed and clicked away, crafting her written words. But this only got her so far.

Bree sighed, leaning back in her chair. What she needed was inspiration. What she needed was hope. Hope.

She opened the middle drawer of her desk and pulled out it's only containment. A single CD wrapped in old, worn down packing envelope, a careful cursive B written on top with black marker. Bree carefully opened it, sliding the CD into her laptop. Once it registered onto the computer, Bree opened the folder, scrolling down through video after video. By know she had seen almost every single one- except for those marked for certain special occasions. Like her wedding. Bree was impatient, but she wanted to respect her mother's wishes.

To her surprise, Bree found a video file tucked away that she hadn't seen before. It was labelled Don't Be Mad. Without hesitation Bree plugged in her head phones (just in case) and pushed play.

Just like every other video, Bree saw her mother sitting at the same desk, in the same room, with the same bittersweet smile.

Hope swallowed. "Bree, you know I love you. I have tried to make that undoubtably cleared in each message I give to you. But I just want you to know, that everything I have done I have done for you and your brothers," she said, wiping away an escaped tear. "But please don't be mad at me, or your father, for all of things we have had to do. Family is something that, if you can do anything to keep it together, you do everything you physically can. I would go to the end of the earth and back for you three, you are my world. But even I am not invincible. I won't last forever. And I am not a saint. Neither is your father, or your uncle. We have done so many things, horrible, immoral things, but we can't take them back. Because if we did, we wouldn't have you three,"

Bree bit her lip. Part of her wanted to stop watching, it was painful. But she needed to hear this.

"And after I am gone, my mistakes and sins will stay. Please forgive me for everything, or at least forgive me for what you can. But more importantly, please forgive your father. He has fought like hell to be there for you and I know he always will. He has done so many things, but he is not a bad man because of it. Please, Bree, forgive him for what he has done and what he might do in the future. The same goes for your brothers. They are Davenport Men after all. They are going to grow up and make mistakes of their own. Just do your best to put up with it and forgive them later,"

Bree looked down to see that she was hugging herself. In this video, her mother seemed so much weaker. strained. tired. He hair lost it's lusted, her skin pale, and her eyes waxy.

"And most of all, please forgive Donald for what he did. I can't stand being away from you guys, but he is just doing what he thinks is best. Bree. I know now that I am not going to be there for you again. I am so sorry for that. But in all reality, it is no ones fault. So, even though it is hard, don't blame anyone, even Donald, for this. Just remember that life goes on, and you need to as well,"

Hope's speech was interrupted as she broke into a coughing fit. "Anyway, I love you Bree. More than you can ever imagine,"

As the screen went to black, Bree grabbed onto her necklace. "I love you too," she whispered. After taking a moment for herself, Bree wiped away her tears and put the CD away, pulling up her essay again. "Life goes on," she muttered, typing away agin.

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Hope sat at her secluded cubicle, trying to decode the recent video feed.

"What are you working on?" A cold voice asked from behind her.

"Just trying to hack into the security feeds of Ion Industries. Their latest work indicates they may be coming close to finding the beginnings of bionics. We need to see if they have anything significant,"

"Good job Agent Collins," he said.

Hope nodded. "Just doing my job, sir,"

"Yes, you are," Special Agent Graham smiled coldly.

*suspenseful music* Please review and tell me what you think about the chapter, and where this story should go next. Thanks! ~AzulaTano