Chapter 5: The Announcement
Following the events of "The Vanishing".
With everyone safe at home, Tasha reveals the news to the family.
"Are the kids okay?" Tasha asked as she heard her husband on the other end of the line, telling her they were on their way to Mission Creek to fix the bionic chips of the original three bionics. "I think so, they are probably relieved that it's all over now. Once Douglas and I fix their chips they will be good as new. Even better than new with the new technology Douglas, um, found." "Have you told them about, you know, the secret?" "Which secret? Cause we've keeping a lot of them for the past four months." Tasha giggled, "That team you're making in Centium City." "I haven't really discussed that with them yet, I kinda want to do it when they are a bit rested." "Can't wait to see you all! I'll even get to meet Daniel! Our little family just seems to keep growing." Her happiness resonated through the phone, and it made Donald smile, knowing how happy she would be to see them again.
When they got to their home in Mission Creek, Donald and Douglas let the four and a half bionic kids rush on ahead of them, Daniel's excitement of seeing where his new-found siblings grew up making him bounce up and down, while the others just looked around in nostalgia, taking in the surroundings that they had been away from for some time. Even though Leo had been there back when he quit the team, he had never gone down to the lab, so it would be a first time in a long time for all of them to see the lab. Douglas chuckled next to Donald as he ended the call with Tasha alerting her of their arrival whilst staring blissfully at the kids in front of them. "You've got that look on your face again." Douglas teased while his older brother frowned in confusion. "What look?" "Never mind. You'll figure it out soon." "Speaking of figuring things out," Donald said as he remembered their earlier conversation, "what did you mean back at Giselle's warehouse about me being a good father someday?" "Oh you really thought I didn't know? Donnie I'm your brother, I know when you're hiding a secret." Taken aback by the response, he replied curiously, "When did you find out?" Douglas thought back on the occasion and recounted his discovery: "Well while you guys were out having a space vacation WITHOUT ME, I hung around the academy to start on the update we discussed. As it turned out you had left your phone behind which was ringing off the hook. And boy, your 'I'm Donald Davenport and I'm Awesome' ringtone got so annoying answered it without looking at the caller ID. It was your obstetrician calling to make sure you two were aware of your 12 week appointment. Now I know I didn't last that long in med school but I knew that meant Tasha was pregnant!" "So you found out by snooping around my stuff?" "Hey it's not as bad as it sounds!" His younger brother's defensive answer amused Donald and the anger he had melted just as quickly as it came, "You know what Dougie, I'm too happy to finally have my family together in one piece, that I'll let that slide." "I must say Donnie," Douglas spoke, his tone more elated than teasing, "I can't believe you're going to be a father again." "I just hope I do things right this time." Donald sighed, that feeling of incompetence slowly creeping up on him. Douglas noticed this and smiled to cheer his brother up, "You will, both of us will." In an act that would have surprised Donald a few years ago, Douglas stopped and hugged his brother tight, and he felt almost all of his worries drain, because he knew he would never be alone in this. They went through the garage entrance of the house which led to an elevator going down to the Lab. As they went to the familiar basement they discussed the possibility of restoring the bionic chips as well as the secret team from Philadelphia.
When Tasha knew that her entire family was currently in the Lab, she made her way to the not-so-secret elevator to go down to the basement. It had been such a long time since all of them were here at once, and she was finally going to meet the long-lost brother of Adam, Bree and Chase. But what excited her the most is that she was finally going to tell the family the great news they had been keeping for the last four and a half months. She almost teared up thinking about how her family used to be just her, Leo and his father, then just the two of them, and now this ever-growing family filled with adventures. A lot had changed since she married Donald, and she couldn't be any happier.
"Hey guys" she grinned, making her presence known, they all turned around in a chorus of 'heys', as she walked over to stand next to her husband. "I'm really glad that you're all here because, there's something we've been wanting to tell you." She paused for dramatic effect which Donald had told her to do when the time was right, and she looked at him as he beamed with joy over what he knew she would say next. "I'm pregnant!" Donald and Tasha watched as their kids with smiles from ear to ear at the awesome news, with Leo walking over to hug his Mom and Adam celebrating excited about the prospect of a bionic baby. Tasha had already told Donald about how she was not letting their little girl have bionics and shut down his ideas. Bree's excitement of having a little sister quickly dwindled when she was reminded of the work that goes into looking after a baby, and Leo vowed to protect his unborn sister no matter what. After Leo being teased about his protective abilities, Chase spoke about how much their life has changed in the past few years, with Bree and Adam in agreement, even though Adam ended up baiting himself to be chased by Chase (lol). After Perry's arrival to the Mission Creek Home, they went upstairs to start on dinner, making it a joint project with everyone helping out with preparation and cooking. When Douglas and Leo arrived a few minutes later, they continued to talk about all that had happened back at Giselle's which now they finally felt at peace enough to joke about. They sat down to eat dinner and laughed and talked just as a happy family would, even Perry was happy to just be around a family full of love.
After dinner, Perry, Douglas and Daniel said their goodbyes and made their way back to the academy, with Adam making a joke that the three of them could make a not so cute family. Tasha and Donald sat with their kids on the couch as they talked about that first day when Leo found them in the basement and how their family was never the same after that. They had been through so much together, and they felt so good to be home once more. Since Donald was going to replace their chips in the morning, he told them that Adam, Bree and Chase would be sleeping upstairs in the extra bedrooms, while Leo slept in his old room. The bionic trio had a hard time falling asleep horizontally, but after the exhausting day they had of almost being killed again, they were soon soundly asleep. Donald and Tasha were the last to go to bed, mostly because they were still high off the excitement of telling the kids about their baby girl, dubbed Princess Davenport by Adam since they were still at a loss for names.
"I'm happy that I got to have them all here, even if it was only for one night. They don't even know that they will be split up soon. And you'll be gone with them too." Tasha said sadly, as she thought about the project Donald had told her about a few weeks ago. "I know, I wish I could bring you along but…" "I know I know, it's too dangerous for me and the baby." "I promise I'll try to visit home as much as possible." "As long as you're here near the due date it'll be fine. This isn't the first time I've been pregnant." "Well it's my first time having a pregnant wife so I don't want to miss a thing." "I love you Donald." "I love you too Tasha, I don't think I say this enough, but you truly have changed my life for the better." She smiled and he kissed her on the forehead as she fell asleep, his hand resting on her tummy as he spoke softly to his unborn daughter, "and I love you too Princess, and I'll make sure to make this world safe for you and your Mommy."