IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE! Guys, the sequel is here! You know what that means? Well, I actually don't know what that means so I'll leave it up to you to decide what that means.

When you read this story, try to find as many character changes as possible and let me know what you find. A big hint is the fact that certain someones are comfortable calling a certain someone the three-letter D-word. No, it's not a swear word. I don't think there's even a three-letter d-word. If there is, I don't want to know.

!WARNING! IF YOU HAVE NOT READ FIGHT FOREVER, I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU DO. Or else you'll be kinda lost. Okay, a lot lost.

Oh, and can't forget this little guy: the disclaimer! I do not own Lab Rats or it's characters, nor do I own the songs that I use as chapter soundtracks.

I don't have much to say other than that, so, on with the show.

The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that matters. -Audrey Hepburn

A well-spent day brings happy sleep. -Leonardo da Vinci

"I'd like to thank you all for coming here today."

It was bright and warm and a large crowd buzzed with excitement as the speaker's voice rose over the murmurs...

..."Today is a momentous day not just for me, but for you, as well."

The crowd was silent, but expectant faces were turned in the direction of the speaker. Little kids squirmed in their seats and giggled, receiving a few shhs and sharp glares from their parents...

..."It's such a huge blessing to be standing up here today. But it's more of a blessing to bring you what I have to offer."

Everyone was formally dressed. Suits and ties for men. Dresses and skirts for women. Little girls with their hair curled. Little boys with their hair combed...

..."This... This is only a prototype, but it's been scientifically proven to be sound. Imagine the difference, the hope we will bring when hospitals everywhere receive one just like it."

The speaker's hands were gripping the podium, but not in a nervous, stressful way. In fact, everything about him radiated confidence. His voice, his posture...

..."I developed this device out of the motivation from a personal experience. I couldn't help then, but I can help now."

His family sat in the front row, smiling and nodding in encouragement when his eyes meet theirs. His daughter and wife were elegantly dressed and sat with their hands folded in their laps and their legs crossed at the ankles. His two sons sat up straight, their suits without a wrinkle in them, while they listen carefully out of respect for their father...

..."I can't wait to see the looks of pure joy on your children's faces when they're able to hear again, and I'm sure you parents out there can't, either. And it's not just for children! It's for everybody. It's all possible now."

The speaker stood behind the podium, his dark eyes roaming the sea of faces. His hair was gelled and combed over in a professional way. He's serious now, but a youthful excitement was brewing under the businessman visage...

..."So with my unending gratitude..."

Everyone held their breath.

..."I present to you..."

Even the children stilled, picking up on the anticipation in the air.

..."The machine that will change futures."

The crowd erupted into applause as a sheet was pulled off of an object resting on a table. Cameras that were recording the event zoomed in on the object, the feed appearing on several large screens so all could see.

..."Ladies and gentlemen..."

People quieted down just for a moment, long enough so the speaker could finish.

..."The Otoneuron Surgical Replicator! Or, the OSR. It repairs damage done to the middle ear and the inner ear. It can be programmed to repair any kind of damage, great or small. A giant advancement in the medical field."

The speaker paused as the crowd broke into applause again, this time accompanied with a standing ovation. The man at the podium smiled, softly verbalizing and nodding his thanks.

Another man stepped onto the stage, an older man with graying hair and wrinkled skin. The speaker stepped aside, handing over his position at the podium to the new arrival, who spoke into the microphone.

"Ladies and gentlemen, everyone! Donald Davenport!"

The crowd clapped harder, in addition to whooping and whistling.

Donald's family was on their feet, making the loudest noise.

Donald Davenport's smile grew larger and he nodded his thanks again. He shook hands with the other man, exchanging words that were lost among the sound of appreciation. They parted and the older man once again spoke into the microphone, holding out his hands and patting the air to calm the crowd.

Once the people settled down and were sitting in their seats, the man began. "The OSR will contribute to many, many people. It will change lives. The first few OSRs will be placed at specific universities so that future doctors can learn to operate this fine piece of equipment. In less than five years, OSRs will be shipped to every hospital. For the doctors who didn't learn to operate it in college, there will be courses available, led by graduates who did."

The man paused, swallowing as his eyes shown with tears. "I can imagine how parents will feel when their child is able to hear again. My beautiful daughter has been deaf for fifteen years, since she was four years old. All I've ever wanted was for her to hear again. And that's all possible now, thanks to Mr. Davenport."

There's applause again. Davenport, who was standing behind and to the right of the older man, raised his hand in acknowledgement, saying his thanks even if he couldn't be heard.

"Well," the speaker said, smiling. "I'll hand the spotlight back to Donald. This is his day, after all." Donald and the old man shook hands again, the latter walking off the stage once they broke away.

Donald stood behind the podium and leaned down towards the microphone, tilting his head until he could watch the older man as he descended the steps of the stage. "Give it up for Dean of Faculty, Henry Peterson, ladies and gentlemen!" More applause. Mr. Peterson smiled appreciatively and gave a small wave.

However, when Donald turned back to face the audience, his face was solemn. The crowd grew silent, and for a minute, the only things to be heard were birds chirping, trees rustling, and the faint sounds of traffic.

Then Davenport spoke. "I - by no means - am not contradicting the Dean's statement, but it's not just my day, but also yours." He pointed at the crowd, his eyes taking in all the people. He dropped his hand and gripped the sides of the podium, bowing his head slightly, gathering his thoughts.

Raising his head, he continued. "I mentioned that I was motivated to design this machine by a personal experience." He paused. With a sharp inhale of air, he plowed on. "My middle son had a tragic accident three years ago that left him deaf. I feared that it was permanent. Thankfully, it wasn't, but I remember the hopeless feeling I had, knowing I couldn't help him. It's something I never want to feel again. So I set out to build the Otoneuron Surgical Replicator. And after three years of trial and error, here I am, presenting it to you. It's like a dream come true." He was forced to stop, his throat tight and his vision blurry from tears threatening to fall. He glanced down at his family and could see the two women had tear tracks on their faces that they were carefully wiping at. His sons weren't crying, but they're expressions were sad.

"I just want to thank everyone for coming today. It's a beautiful day today, and I hear the food is great. Good day, everyone. And thank you, again." The audience cheered, clapping and whistling. Davenport smiled as he stepped off the stage, waving.

A young man took Davenport's place at the podium, smiling. "As Mr. Davenport said, the food is great so why don't we go enjoy it. Feel free to..."

Davenport drowned out the man's voice as he approached his family, who had stood to greet him.

People were rising from their seats and mingling about, the air filled with laughter and quiet talking.

"You did great, honey!" Tasha said, embracing him. "I'm so proud of you!"

Adam clapped his hand on Donald's shoulder once the two adults broke apart. "I always knew you could do it, Dad."

Bree came up and wrapped her arms around the inventor, grinning. "Everyone loved you. Chase would be proud of what you did."

Davenport hugged his daughter back and nodded.

Davenport had worked on the OSR for three years, starting almost immediately after they got back from Damiana's, Chase's twin sister, funeral. Chase left to go his own way a year after that, and he only got to see the ideas and rough designs Davenport had in mind. Donald wished his son could see the finished product. And for his son to come home. Or at least make contact. Or something. In the two years since Chase'd been gone, no one had heard anything from the teen. No one knew if he was okay.

Donald pushed the thoughts of his missing son from his mind, knowing that they always make him sad. And today was not a day to be sad.

Davenport let go of his daughter but kept an arm wrapped around her shoulders. "Let's go get some food," he suggested.

"That's the best thing you've said today," Leo joked. The youngest out of the Davenport children, Leo had gotten taller, his voice deeper, and he'd filled out enough that he didn't look like a twig. Now he looked like a regular teen.

As the family got in line for the buffet under a large pavilion near the university Donald had spoke at, the inventor took time to study his other two children.

Adam was now twenty-years-old, and more mature than he'd ever been. He was taking online college courses, and Davenport felt pride at the thought of Adam in college. For the longest time, ever since he let the kids out of the basement and enrolled them in school, he was afraid that Adam would be one of those kids to slug through high school and never go to college. But Adam shattered those fears when he said he wanted to go to college so he could become something more, and that made Davenport proud.

Bree was a beautiful nineteen-year-old young lady, her hair falling in long waves down her back. Her fire and passion only grew stronger with age, and she wasn't afraid to stand up for herself and choose her own path, more than ever now that the choices she will make have the power to shape her future. She was going to college for psychology and was at the top in all her classes, making Davenport swell with pride. She was no Chase, but she was pretty smart when she wasn't compared to her younger brother.

The line shuffled forward, and after ten minutes of waiting, the Davenports got their food and found seats at a picnic table, where they talked, laughed, and ate.

Davenport had been right when he said it was a beautiful day. The sunshine was warm, but not too hot. A cool breeze blew every now and then, and the scents of flowers and food filled the air. In fact, the weather was so good that Donald's presentation had been held outside on the lawn of Outreach University with metal folding chairs set up in neat rows before the stage, a wooden, rectangular platform with steps on both short ends. Next to where the ceremony had been held was the pavilion, dozens of picnic tables placed underneath for people to eat on.

"So, I was thinking," Davenport started when no one else had anything more to talk about. "How about we go do something? As a family?" His children smiled in excitement.

It was rare to do things together anymore because of Tasha's job, Leo's school schedule, and Bree's and Adam's college classes. Davenport usually had plenty of time, since he spent his time inventing stuff, which had a pretty flexible schedule.

"Yeah!" the kids exclaimed, and for a moment, Davenport saw his innocent children, not the young adults they were.

"Alright, then," Davenport said, smiling as he took Tasha's hand in his own, meeting her bright gaze. "Let's go have some fun."

For the rest of the afternoon, the Davenports spent their time at an amusement park, riding roller coasters, eating popcorn, playing games... Laughing.

Adam challenged Bree to a game where you threw balls at stacked milk bottles to try to knock them all over. Adam kept trying to win by using some of his super strength, but he would only knock over two or three at a time. Let's just say, Bree laughed at the pout on Adam's face when she handed him the large purple teddy bear she won, which he reluctantly accepted.

Tasha and Davenport chose a game where they had to raise a bar to the very top of a pole by shooting water out of water guns at a small, nearly-impossible-to-hit target within a certain time limit.

"You're never gonna win this," Davenport boasted, picking up the water gun and getting into position.

"Oh, you think so?" Tasha questioned, one eyebrow raised. "Well, I know one way to win."

Donald turned to her, a smirk on his lips. "Really? How-" The bell rang, signaling for the players to start, and Davenport got a jet of water in his face.

He stood there in shock for several seconds, while Tasha laughed and squirted at her target in a steady stream of water, the liquid hitting its mark perfectly, the bar raising slowly.

There was movement in Tasha's peripheral vision, but when she turned her head slightly to look... she got blasted in the face with cold water. Gasping, she stopped squirting and closed her eyes while water dripped from her chin. When she opened them again, her eyes were full of vengeance, and she squirted at Davenport, quick as lightning, and hit him square in the forehead.

Davenport stood there, his lips pulled tight. He glanced down at his shoes while nodding in a So that's the way it is manner, water falling from his nose. When he looked up, he was smirking. "Let's do this."

And from there, it broke into an all-out water fight, where the two adults squirted water at each other, Tasha occasionally squealing and Davenport Aha!-ing until the bell rang again and the water pressure was cut off from the water guns.

The two adults walked away, smiling and laughing and completely wet, but that was okay for them.

At the end of the day, the family found themselves at a large food court, where, in the middle, there was a dance floor. Music was blaring and people were dancing and others were looking on with smiles. Light bulbs hung from wires that were strung over the peoples' heads at varying heights, crisscrossing the court, and the food stands were decorated with strings of lights.

The sun was setting, dusk settling in.

The Davenports sat at a table, having just finished their desserts of ice cream.

"Today was awesome, Dad," Bree said, her eyes bright.

Davenport grinned. "I'm glad. It was meant to be."

There was a small pause where the family just sat comfortably in silence. The current song ended, and a new one began. Bree instantly perked up, a giant smile splitting her face.

"This is my favorite song! Come on, Adam! Dance with me!" She jumped up, grabbing her older brother's arm and pulling him up with her. Adam let himself get dragged onto the dance floor by his sister, and together, they danced to the music.

Oo oooo, oo oooo, oo

I had a dream so big and loud

I jumped so high I touched the clouds

Whoa, whoa, whoaaa

Donald and Tasha and Leo laughed as they watched Adam and Bree, Adam leading her in a fast and fun dance.

I stretched my hands out to the sky

We danced with monsters through the night

Whoa, whoa, whoaaa

People on the dance floor were smiling and laughing, dancing in their own way as they enjoyed life.

I'm never gonna look back, whoa

I'm never gonna give it up, no

Please don't wake me now...

People paused in anticipation as the song faded out of the pre-chorus... and slammed into the chorus.

Whoa, whoa, whoaa

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-ife

Adam spun his sister around, letting her go after several twirls as she danced solo, her moves graceful and fluid, her brother clapping to the beat as he watched, laughing in amusement, his dark eyes bright with happiness.

Whoa, whoa, whoaa

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-ife

Adam and Bree stepped back together, dancing as if they were pros. Bree threw her head back and laughed, feeding off of the energy in the air, and her hair whipped around her as they danced.

I hear it calling, outside my window

I feel it in my soul (soul...)

Bree and Adam slowed their movements to match the tempo, almost waltzing.

The stars were burning so bright

The sun was out 'til midnight

I say we lose control (control...)

The siblings picked up their pace again as the beat became light and bouncy, their bodies moving with the flow.

Whoa, whoa, whoaa

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-ife

Whoa, whoa, whoaa

This is gonna be the best day of my life

My li-i-i-ife...

Brother and sister danced, danced until the song ended. When they returned to the table, they were breathless from the excitement, their muscles aching in a pleasurable way from the workout.

Leo was grinning from ear to ear. "You two were awesome! Did you see the way people parted around you? You guys were the best ones out there!"

Bree and Adam shared wide-eyed looks. It was true, but they had been too caught up in the moment that they never noticed.

Bree smiled sweetly. "Thanks, Leo."

Davenport watched his children, an emotion he couldn't name swelling up in his chest. But it was a good feeling.

"I hate to say it guys," the adult said, standing up. "But it's time to get going." Tasha joined him, and they linked arms as they moved around the table.

Bree joined her father on the other side of him while the boys trailed behind, and she clung to his arm as if she were a little girl again, which, in Davenport's eyes, she was - not the beautiful woman she was becoming. "Thanks for today, Dad," she said, looking up at him. "It was special."

Davenport leaned over and placed a kiss on top of her head. "That's what I'm here for, sweetheart. To make your lives special."

With that, the Davenports found their car and filed in. The car ride home was spent in silence, everyone pleasantly tired from the day's excitement.

No one went to bed that night without a smile on their face.

Chapter soundtrack: The Best Day of My Life by American Authors

Well? How was the first chapter of Unearthed? I know it probably seems OOC, but we're talking major character changes since the events of Fight Forever. Three years, people.

So, I don't have the entire story written. I don't even have chapter two written at this point. So updates might (probably will) be sporadic.

Review, please :) I love hearing your thoughts.