Grandma gathered all the tickets into her hands and approached the walkway with her boys, Kayo and Lady Penelope accompanied by Parker, she turned around with a smile then handed the tickets over before leading the party up to the ship.

Scott laughed, "I still can't believe you're taking us on a cruise Grandma, what if we have a situation?"

"To be honest Scott, I'm more surprised that Grandma managed to drag John down here," Virgil jerked his head in John's direction where the tall ginger was staring up at the sky, "forget it, John, you're getting onto this boat."

John sighed, "I don't think this is a good idea."

Grandma frowned at him, "there was no way I was going to leave you up there alone for a month."

"No, I know."

Gordon bowed his head slightly as Penelope passed him, "after you, your ladyship."

"Am I going to be stuck with you being like this for the next month?" Penelope smirked slightly at the fair-haired boy.

"Only if you want me to."

Parker rolled his eyes, "I'll keep h'an eye on 'im m'lady."

Penelope smiled, "thank you, Parker, I'm glad you said you'd come along."

Gordon pouted, "I'm not that bad."

Alan followed Kayo onto the boat's deck, "so Kayo, are you going to find the game room with me later?"

"Umm, I wasn't planning to Alan. I'd really like to take a break here, and well, hang out with Scott."

Alan's heart broke slightly, "yeah, ok. That's fine."

"Sorry little brother," Kayo smiled sadly, she knew Alan had a thing for her, but she and Scott had become close over the last few months, "if I'm up for it later, I'll game you on something."

Alan grinned, "you're on."

Grandma smiled at their corridor, "well all of this, is us."

"Who's sharing where?" Virgil raised an eyebrow in amusement as he glanced towards Gordon.

Grandma tutted before continuing, "work it out for yourselves, the names are on the doors," she smiled then found her room, "see you at dinner."

Scott paused outside the door with his name on, "well, this is interesting."

Kayo joined him, "I guess it's now or never to decide whether we do like each other," she smiled as he opened the door for her and from a distance, Alan sighed.

Virgil opened the door to his suite which had a large double bed inside and a small balcony, "wow, now this is luxury."

Brains approached his door and smiled, "so much space, perhaps I can work on some new ideas in peace here."

Gordon sighed as Penny went into her room, "I guess I'm not sharing there then?"

Parker walked past him with a chuckle, "tough luck master Tracy."

"Thanks, Parker."

Alan walked into his room and shut the door, "this is certainly bigger than my room at home."

Kayo threw herself onto the bed, "it was nice of them to bring our luggage up. Scott, loosen up, we're on vacation."

Scott looked up from his unpacking, "yeah I know, it just feels weird. What if someone needs us?"

"I'm sure you can take a break of some sorts?"

"I'll try," he smiled as Kayo pulled him down onto the bed, "this cruise will be great."

Virgil walked onto his balcony as the ship cast off, "off we go."

The family met in the large dining room for the three-course meal, and began discussing their rooms, Parker had gone to join the party of service staff deciding Penelope would be safe with the Tracys, as the starters came out drinks were poured.

"So Grandma, where does this tour take us?" Gordon asked as he helped himself to a couple of bread rolls for the soup.

"We're going around the Atlantic, near the Caribbean and the Bahamas. So, far from our home, but near enough in climate."

Kayo smiled, "sounds amazing. I can't wait to visit the ports."

John stirred his soup continuously, "I wonder who's calling us."

"John, you need to relax or we'll get you hammered," Gordon rolled his eyes, "you're on vacation, now live a little."

"I'm never letting you get me drunk ever again," John growled slightly, "I'll be back in a second."

Virgil watched him leave, "I'll get him hooked up with someone if I have to."

"Oh boys let him be," Penelope smiled, "he'll relax soon, trust me."

John returned after desert and sat down happily with the family again, he apologised for leaving and helped himself to some fruit, "I was just checking on EOS. But she says the GDF are looking after things and the regular rescue services have been taking care of situations."

Grandma smiled, "I told you nothing would go wrong. Now relax."

"That does sound good Grandma," John leant back in his chair.

Virgil stood up, "I'm going to go for an explore around this ship, may as well get to know the secret passages."

"You're such an engineer. Just don't go breaking the ship bro," Gordon grinned then dodged as Virgil aimed his napkin at him.

"Boys, don't feel you have to be rooted down, this is a holiday and that means letting go."

Scott sighed, "you're right Grandma, Kayo, want to go for a walk?"

Kayo stood up, "I'd love to."

Virgil ventured out to the lower decks and found some band rooms used by the hired musicians for the cruise liner, he came across an empty room filled only with a grand piano. With a smile, he closed the door separating him from the deck and sat down before the keys. As he played, a young girl who was walking along the deck paused at the sound of the piano, she approached the door and stood on tiptoe to spy on the person playing.

Scott changed into a tuxedo and waited for Kayo to change into a dress, he smiled as she came out from behind the screen, "you look amazing Kayo."

Kayo looked down at herself in her long blue dress, "I think this is a bit much."

"So, gambling or dancing?"

Kayo tied her hair up loosely leaving a couple of strands to curl around her face, "why not both?"

"Let's dance first then," Scott offered his arm to her and grinned as she looped her arm around his.

Kayo followed him out, "I hope you know how to dance."

Meanwhile, on the dance floor, Gordon was twirling Penelope around and the two were laughing with enjoyment.

"You know Gordon, I was a little bit apprehensive of coming on this cruise with you, but you're showing yourself off to being a lovely presence to be with tonight."

Gordon smiled, "this is what I'm really like, my brothers tease me too much for me to act sensibly around love."

Penelope gasped, "love? Gordon, do you love me?"

Gordon blushed as red as Thunderbird 3, "did I say love? Ummm, well, I like you very much."

"You are the sweetest," Penelope wrapped her arms around the back of Gordon's neck, "oh look, it's Scott and Kayo."

Gordon groaned, "urgh, they're going to ruin everything."

"It doesn't look like they will, they seem to just be dancing," Penelope looked over at the eldest Tracy who was waltzing with Kayo.

"Leave them to it," Gordon wrapped his arm around Penelope's waist.

John sat out on the main deck of the boat staring up at the black sky, naming constellations in his head, as he daydreamed he got a call from Ridley O'Bannon, "well well, this is a pleasant surprise."

"John, how are you?"

"Very well. Thank you."

"You sound drunk, are you?"

"No. I'm fine."

"Well whether you are or not is none of my business. How's the cruise?"

"We are on our way to The Atlantic, so past the Caribbean islands and near the Bahamas."

"Sounds lovely, I wish I was taking the journey with you but I can't leave my station. I bet you miss yours?"

"5? I do yes, but having some time off with my family is better. It's a chance for a break."

Ridley nodded, "have fun. But don't be away for too long, you still owe me a game of handball."

"Noted. It's a date."

"A date? Yeah, you're definitely drunk," Ridley laughed, "I'll call in a couple of days, have fun, John."

"See you later, Ridley."

The youngest Tracy by this point had found the game room and had made friends with a couple of boys his age, who were equally as competitive at winning video games, Alan sat back and stretched after his latest win.

"That's 50 to me."

"You're cheating, you must be," one of the boys laughed in slight annoyance.

"Cheating? What do you take me for Theo?"

"How are you winning so easily?"

"Practice," Alan smiled to himself knowing that some of the skill came from quick reflexes in Thunderbird 3.

"You really do remind me of someone Alan," the second boy, Chris, frowned, "I know I've seen you somewhere before."

"Chris I've never met you before in my life," Alan rolled his eyes.

"No I know, but. Oh never mind, want to go GoKart racing?"

Theo grinned, "I am so up for that."

Alan nodded, "count me in."