A/n: So here we are back with another Tracy Tale. How time flies when you're having fun. So before we begin, a quick note about how time will fly during the course of this story. It is not completed. However I am churning out chapters like I never have before, so I feel comfortable posting ahead of completion. However to give myself a little wiggle room, I'll be posting once a week until the story is done. This'll give me plenty of time to get the next chapter finished and Betaed. Once all the chapters are done I'll start posting more than once a week. This shouldn't be too hard to do as the chapters are all relatively short. It was originally supposed to be a one-shot but ended up being too long. Special thanks to the wonderful spinkle22 for being my Beta.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Thunderbirds. I do however claim Alysha for my own. Unfortunately.


Sitter Suggestion #1: Get to know your kids! It makes them feel appreciated.

Alysha Weller considered herself one of Kansas' best babysitters. She had always loved children, she took her first babysitting course when she was nine, she knew how to take care of infants and children, and knew all the first aid for both. She had been hired by almost twenty different families, and got paid $14 an hour. She loved the kids that were angels, and sorted out the kids that were horrors. In general she couldn't get enough of what she did. And right now? She was seriously considering quitting.

OoO

"But Daaaaad," Scott whined in the way that only an annoyed twelve year old child could, "I'm too old for a babysitter. And they're annoying."

"I've told you before, and we are not having this conversation again! The babysitter is for your brothers, who are young enough for a babysitter. I trust you, Scott, but you can't handle all four of your brothers, by yourself, for four hours. Now she should be here in about five minutes, and I need to get my bag downstairs." Jeff gently moved his scowling son out of the way, and navigated his way around the bed to grab his small suitcase. He would only be gone for one night, so he hardly needed to pack heavy.

He emerged from his bedroom, to find Scott still standing in the hallway, his arms crossed, and still scowling. Jeff gave a sigh of exasperation as he moved down the hallway. Scott followed. Attempting to give the illusion of a compromise, Jeff said, "Look. If it annoys you that much, just stay out of her way for the evening. That way you won't get on her nerves and she won't get on yours. Now can you grab Alan? I want everyone downstairs when she gets here so I can lay down some rules."

He glanced at his watch and realized he was cutting it close. The babysitter was going to be here in under five minutes and his car in under ten. He'd have to make the rules quick.

He trotted down the stairs, and deposited his suitcase beside the door. Poking his head into the living room and finding his other three sons, he called them into the hall. There was mumbling and shuffling, but Jeff didn't stay long enough to watch them get to their feet. He was back out in the hallway and rifling through the chest of drawers trying to find a piece of paper and a pen to write out his mother's number. Finally finding a piece that wasn't covered in some sort of doodle, he scribbled the number out, examined it briefly to make sure it was legible, and then turned to his sons. They stood in line (well four of them stood, the fifth one was in Jeff's eldest's arms) and gazed at him expectantly.

"All right. Now your grandmother should be here by nine. The babysitter will be here until then and I expect everyone of you to behave, no exceptions." As Jeff said this he made a point to lock eyes with Scott. "No sugar, no tormenting, no trouble. And the house had better be standing when I get back."

"Yes Sir," four reluctant voices answered. He smiled, relaxing just slightly. While it was nice to finally have Tracy Industries on its feet and off to the races, it also meant a lot more last minute meetings. Usuallyhis mother stayed with them now, so the boys weren't too much of a problem; that woman could lay down rules like no one else could. However she had gone back out west for the week, to sort out paperwork and all sorts of legal baggage, and therefore she hadn't been able to make it up until nine o'clock this evening. Meaning a babysitter had to be hired.

He checked his watch again just as the doorbell rang. Right on time. Well that was a good sign at least. Jeff opened the door to be greeted by an incredibly short, incredibly blonde, smiling teenager.

"Mr. Tracy?" She asked, managing to sound bright and cheerful even when asking a question. Slightly disconcerted by her overall air of enthusiasm, Jeff stalled a moment before he answered.

"Yes. Alysha Weller, I presume?"

"That would be me!" She positively beamed at him. He briefly considered warning her not to smile so much, as it would probably tick Scott off, given the mood he was in. Then he decided better of it. Scott could just deal with a happy babysitter. At least she wasn't psychopathic.

"Fantastic. This is Scott," he introduced, gesturing towards the surly almost-teenager. "John," he said as he moved forward and extracted the book from his son's hands, in an effort to get the child to actually look at the girl. "Virgil," relatively normal, "Gordon," and wow, he really was not sure that look should ever have graced any six-year-old's face, "and the smallest one is Alan."

"Oh isn't he an absolute angel!" the excitable babysitter cooed.

"Quite. Now I've left the boys' grandmother's number on the table, and there's a pizza in the freezer for dinner. If there's an emergency my secretary's number is on the fridge and she'll get through to me as soon as she's able." Oh, shoot, there was the car. Hurrying now, he rushed through the next few instructions. "The two youngest should be in bed by seven, although if they're tired they can go earlier," he pointedly ignored the snort of derision. "Virgil is eight, John eight-thirty, and Scott can stay up long enough to see his grandmother in." Jeff had picked up his suitcase and was now moving down the path to the driveway where the car had pulled up. "No sugar or they'll never sleep, especially Gordon, and they should help clean up after dinner."

"No problem Mr. Tracy. They are all in good hands. Have a nice flight!" she said, shooing him down the path. Jeff opened the door to the car and shoved his suitcase to the opposite side across the seats. One leg in the car he sent a last look back towards the house. Everyone was crowded around the door, Alan now in the babysitter's arms. The older boys gave a few pleasant waves, and Jeff couldn't help but notice the death glare the poor girl was getting from his eldest son. As he finally sat in the car and closed the door, he couldn't help the feeling that maybe he should have just postponed the meeting twenty-four hours. Looking through the window as the car pulled out of the driveway, the feeling only intensified as the door to the house shut with all the ominous finality of a malevolent police officer slamming the door to a perpetual prison.

OoO

Alysha closed the door, making sure she sent a cheerful wave to Mr. Tracy as he departed. Alan, the adorable little angel, was playing with her hair. She turned to the other four boys, prepared for the night that would surely rocket her into babysitter history. Her smile fell a little at the glare she was receiving from Scott. However no unhappy child would remain unhappy on her watch, so she gestured towards the reception room. The best way to get a good relationship started between babysitter and child was to make them feel valued. It was time to ask some questions.

"How about we go into the reception room and make ourselves comfortable? I want to get to know you all better!" She beamed at them all, then skillfully leaned down and picked her duffel bag up off the floor, while keeping the darling sweet blonde in her arms safe. She led the way into the room and sat on one of the couches, depositing her bag at her feet, and settling the precious sweetheart on her lap. The boys followed her in, and sat one by one either on the other couch that was perpendicular to her own, or the floor.

"Alright, now why don't we go around in a circle and we'll each say something about ourselves. I'll start to give you some ideas. I'm Alysha Weller and I've been babysitting for two years. My favorite subject in school is English, and I play the flute. Now John, what about you?"

The blonde looked startled at being asked first. "Oh...um. Can we go the other way?" Alysha smiled endearingly at him. He was obviously incredibly shy. "I don't see why. You don't have to say much, just give me something to go on!" she gently prodded.

"Ah..."

"Here. I saw you were reading when I arrived. I'm guessing that means you like to read?"

"Yeah," he agreed quietly. Seeing he wasn't going to be any more forthcoming, Alysha continued to prod.

"So what was it you were reading?"

"Far From the Madding Crowd," he supplied. Alysha just stared.

"Oh. Wow. I mean that's ...impressive," she finally managed to stutter out. Quickly moving on, especially because she didn't want to embarrass the poor kid who was rapidly turning crimson, she questioned Virgil, the one on the floor.

"And what about you, Virgil?"

"I'm eight, I like art, and I play the piano." The brown haired child rattled off quickly, pointedly looking at his younger brother.

"Great! Gordon?"

"I'm six and I like to swim," the short child stated smugly.

"Oh, really?" Alysha said, doing her best 'That's Amazing!' voice. "What else do you like?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing at all?"

"Nope."

"You have to like something else besides swimming."

Gordon's face quickly began turning a shade to match his hair and Alysha frantically backpedaled. "Or not! Swimming is a wonderful sport. I love swimming. Scott! What about you?" she asked desperately.

The eldest boy was perched on the arm of the couch, and was glaring at her coolly, making Alysha wonder what she had already managed to do wrong. "I am in love with a lava lamp, I believe in fairies, and I hunt down squirrels to make into mid morning meals in my spare time," he supplied dryly.

"Scott! There's no need to be so cynical. And while I really don't care as to whether you believe in fairies or not, I know the other two not to be true," she chided. In response, Scott just raised his eyebrows.

"Well you'll be happy to know I don't believe in fairies either then."

"Can you please give me something to work with?"

Scott paused, as if thinking hard about his answer. Alysha held her breath, wondering if she dared hope that what he said would be genuine.

"I hate babysitters."

Oh. Oh dear.


So there you go! R&R please. I'll see you a week on Sunday!