This is the first Young Tracy story I've written and also my first multi-chapter fic, feedback would be much appreciated :) This chapter just lays the foundation for the story, there will be plenty of angst to come.

Disclaimer: I do not own the thunderbirds

It was Friday night in the Tracy household and Scott looked around surveying his younger brothers as they prepared for dinner.

John was in the kitchen preparing a tomato pasta, he did most of the cooking these days. Scott feels bad that responsibility has fallen to his immediate younger brother, he would do it himself but he'd more than likely burn down the entire kitchen if he even went near the oven. Despite only being fourteen, John was naturally good at cooking, taking after their mother in that department, and he never kicked up a fuss about having to do it so Scott was happy to have the help. The rest of the family would probably agree considering the fact that had it been up to Scott they all would have perished from starvation a long time ago.

He heard a light sound of music coming from the lounge and made his way over to the door frame. Virgil was sat at their grand piano, completely lost in his music, Scott knew the 12 year old was extremely talented for such a young age. Like John and his cooking, Virgil had gotten his passion for music from their mother. He'd taken all her creative arts actually as he also excelled in his artwork, there was a running joke that Virgil had sucked up all the creative abilities to go around in the family as none of the other boys even knew how to hold a paint brush let alone read music.

Scott assumed Virgil was practising for the recital he had tomorrow morning, it was all he'd talked about all week. It was a recital for talented young musicians which his piano teacher had signed him up for, Scott knew how excited Virgil was for his family to hear him play in a proper concert. He stood enjoying the fluid sounds of Virgil's playing.

Before long he had to turn to a commotion he assumed involved his youngest two brothers. He had guessed correctly as he walked back to the dining room and watched Gordon holding Alan's sippy cup out of reach while the younger boy screamed his head off, hands outstretched. Alan had already been secured into his high chair - Scott was aware that at 3 years old Alan really didn't need the chair anymore but it kept him in place and any help Scott could get controlling his younger brothers was welcomed with open arms.

Gordon had uncharacteristically offered to set the table earlier and of course being Gordon had found new entertainment in tormenting his only younger brother.

Scott was quick to intervene "Gordon! Stop annoying Alan and finish setting the table."

Gordon looked up in an innocent way any eight year old could pull off and someone who didn't know him would probably fall for it but Scott knew better, Gordon had a knack for trouble-making. He had lost all his innocence at an early age and Scott knew the about the devious little mastermind that hid behind those big brown eyes.

He rose his eye brows "Apologise Gordon"

Gordon's saving grace was that he knew when to stop, he flashed a cheeky smile and quickly blurted to the now sniffling Alan "Sorry Al" before placing the cup on the table and hurrying back to the kitchen.

Scott made his way over to the table "You okay Allie?" he asked as he wiped the tears from the infants pouting face and handed the sippy cup over.

Alan merely nodded now contently sucking out of the cup. Alan had always been easy enough to handle, of course he was a complete nightmare some of the time, as all 3 year olds could be, but he seemed to look up to Scott and - normally - listened to him. In Alan's eyes he was an adult, and it wasn't just him, Scott knew all his brothers looked up to him.

He surveyed his surrounding once more, John was exiting the kitchen holding a large tray of pasta with oven mitts, clearly intending to place it in the middle of the dining room table. Gordon was following close behind arms piled high with plates. Alan still sat happily with his sippy cup and Scott leaned back in order to peer through the lounge door to see Virgil still lost in his music.

Everything seemed perfect.

Unfortunately, Scott knew their was something missing from this picture.

Their father.

...

The five brothers sat around the table as they wolfed down the pasta John had made. Scott couldn't help but notice the painfully obvious empty chair and apparently he wasn't the only one.

"Where's dad?"

Scott looked up from his dinner to see Virgil looking expecting at him, face plastered with a scowl.

Scott quickly tried to change the subject "He's working." then looking to his immediate younger brother "The pastas great, John, thanks"

John barely had time to nod in response before Virgil said "But how's he going to get dinner? He needs to eat."

"I've put some aside for him" John mumbled. He too hated this topic of conversation.

"Why doesn't he spend any time with us anymore?"

Apparently Virgil was determined to continue this conversation. Scott thought about their father, he didn't even know the last time they'd sat down and had a proper conversation with him. Since their mother had died last year, Jeff shut himself off from his family, completely immersing himself in his work. He'd given up his career as an astronaut and instead started a business, Tracy industries. Scott knew it was all to do with the grief of losing his wife, but he couldn't help but feel he'd been abandoned.

In his absence, all parenting roles had fallen onto Scott, not that Scott minded anymore. It had been tough at the start, John had completely shut down in his grief and hadn't helped at all. Virgil became a temperamental pre-teen intent on starting an argument as often as he could. Gordon, although young, was well aware of what had happened and started his mischievous vendetta. Alan was too young to really understand but he knew his mother wasn't coming back and that had the same effect.

It took a lot of long months for things to become semi-normal again. Once his brothers had started to trust him as the surrogate-parent in the house things became easier. His word became law.

It wasn't 100% perfect, Scott had to sacrifice a lot to make this work. His life now revolved around his brothers. Since the accident, his grades had dropped, he'd quit all extracurriculars and became distant from his friends.

He had to give up a lot for his family but Scott knew there was no going back now, he would always put his family first.

Scott sighed at his brothers outburst "You know he's working hard on the business and he's coming to your recital tomorrow so you'll see him then"

Virgil merely huffed to himself and continued eating in silence. Alan, noticing his brothers distress piped up "I like your pino Virgie!"

Alan had always struggled pronouncing Virgil's name properly and so had given him this nickname. Virgil personally hated it and constantly moaned about how that wasn't his name but this time he looked up in surprise before giving a genuine smile "My piano? Thanks Al, I can show you sometime."

Alan nodded enthusiastically bouncing slightly in his chair, Scott smiled, happy that all bad thoughts had been banished by their youngest brothers simple comment.

Alan had a tendency to say stuff like that, the kid always knew how to make other people feel better. It was one of the many reasons Scott loved him so much, most of the time he was an unfaltering bundle of joy.

The rest of the night went on without an incident, even when Jeff sauntered into the kitchen, talking loudly on the phone in his businessman voice, heated up his pasta in the microwave before heading back to his office without so much as glancing at his boys.

There had been a few moments of silence while everyone wondered if anyone was going to bring up the subject of their father but the moment had passed.

Scott thanked the heavens for that one while simultaneously cursing his father for his stupidity.

...

Scott woke with a smile on his face Saturday morning. He, like Virgil, had been waiting for this day all week, though admittedly for a slightly different reason. Although he was very much looking forward to seeing Virgil play he hoped that their dad would finally start taking a more active role in the family.

When Virgil had first asked their father to come Scott had been sure he was going to say he had somewhere more important to be and had been getting ready to deal with a very upset little brother. He had been pleasantly surprised when he had immediately agreed to going, telling Virgil how much he would love to hear him play.

This would be the first time they had all properly gone out together since the accident. Scott hoped seeing Virgil play might allow their dad to move on from his grief and remember he did still have a family instead of burying everything behind a mountain of paperwork.

Scott had a quick shower before putting the shirt he'd laid out the night before, from what he could tell it was a formal thing and they were expected to look nice. He was not looking forward to trying to get Gordon into a shirt and grimaced just at the thought.

He looked at his beside clock noting that it was just gone 7am, they didn't have to leave until 9. Having 4 younger brothers to get ready in the mornings had turned Scott into an early riser. It was worth getting up early enough to get himself sorted before even attempting to wake the others.

On that note, Scott made his way downstairs to put on a pot of coffee in an attempt to get him through the morning chaos. When he entered the kitchen he didn't expect to see his dad, already dressed, standing at the counter with his own mug reading a newspaper. It was a pleasant surprise, however, as he hoped his dad was going to help in getting everyone ready.

His dad looked up, smiling at him "Morning Scotty, What're you doing up so early?"

Scott suddenly got a bad feeling in his stomach and not wanting to jump to conclusions cautiously stated "Just hoping to get everyone up and ready for Virgil's recital this morning"

Catching look on his dads face, Scott knew his suspicions had been true. His dad had forgotten. He felt anger bubbling inside of him, how could he ever have thought their dad was changing.

His dad cleared his throat "Oh, well I'm afraid something's come up at work and I have to go into the office today. I'm going to have to miss it."

He then proceeded to look back at his paper with his eyes downcast.

Scott couldn't believe what he was hearing and raised his voice "Dad! You promised Virgil you would come. Do you have any idea how excited he's been about this?!"

Jeff looked him in the eye "There's no need to shout Scott. I wish I could come but I can't today, okay?"

Scott just scoffed, making no attempt to lower his voice "No it's not okay actually! When are you going to start acting like apart of this family again? When are you going to start being our father again?!"

Jeff rose from where he was leaning on the counter "That's enough Scott. Virgil won't mind if I'm not there. I'll go to the next one."

He started putting on his coat and Scott pleaded "Yes he will! How are we even suppose to get to the hall? You were suppose to be driving us."

Jeff sighed "Get the bus Scott"

"We'll be late if we do that!"

"Oh, come on Scott, you'll be fine. I'll see you tonight."

Jeff moved towards the door.

Scott shook his head in disgust "This is a big day for him! Why are you trying to ruin it?"

Jeff turned back halfway out the door "You know I'm not Scott, there's just something important happening at work."

"More important than your family?" Scott mumbled.

Jeff faltered slightly "Drop it, Scott" and left.

Scott could feel his eyes watering as he turned back around only to intake sharply when he saw Virgil staring back at him from the other doorway.

He was dressed up in a black suit with a tie not yet done up hanging round his neck and his hair combed back. He would have looked smart and professional if not for the tears streaming down his face. In one look Scott knew he'd heard the entire thing.

"Virg..."

"I'm going to practice" His voice cracked slightly at the end and Scott cursed their father's stupidity once again.

He just let Virgil go, not really sure what he could say to make things better. He couldn't believe what his father had done, this time he'd gone too far. How could he not see that his children needed him, that he was hurting them with his absence.

Scott couldn't help but feel they had lost not one of their parents on that dreaded day last year but both.

John broke his mind set walking into the kitchen, still clad in pyjamas which looked far too big for him and asked wearily "Everything alright down here?"

"Dads not coming" Scott grunted in response.

John pursed his lips for a moment before saying "I'll make pancakes"

Scott chuckled, trust John to try solving all the worlds problems with food.

He got to work and Scott steeled himself, wiping away any remains of tears present in his eyes. Who cares if their dad wasn't coming, he was determined to make this day special for Virgil and nothing was going to stop him.

To be continued...

The next chapter will be posted sooner depending on the response I get :)