Thunderbird Three requesting permission to commence docking sequence. An automated voice rang through John's dreams. With a groan of complaint John reached out to the table by his bed in his cabin of Thunderbird Five. His hand searched blindly for his watch, eventually grasping it as it vibrated. Squinting against the brightness of the hologram, he glared at his brothers 'Bird. He had just been in the middle of a dream about a cafe in Paris someone had told him about, he couldn't remember who, but he could remember the vivid colours of the images he had found online. Apparently it was a hot spot for young coup…

"John, wakey wakey!" His brothers voice called gently from the watch, easing him from his sleepy stupor.

With a groan John sat up and pulled on a t-shirt as his watch vibrated again, "Alright, alright, I'm coming," He grumbled as he headed to the main control room, "You'd better have a good excuse,"

He hadn't realised that his Comms link was still on as he got a reply he didn't expect, from a brother he didn't expect. It hadn't clicked in his head just before that it was his older brother that was paying a visit.

Scott laughed as his first younger brother's face suddenly came to life, he knew that it had suddenly clicked in John's head that it was him visiting. The younger man didn't seem to appreciate being woken at this time of day though, he was grumbling something about Scott having a good excuse.

In Scott's opinion, he had a very good excuse, his brother hadn't been down to earth for a year and that simply was not healthy. Sure, he wouldn't feel any adverse effects, the 'Bird had a small gym with full gravity enabled, and Brains had developed tablets that kept everything else in balance. But hiding from humanity for a year wasn't healthy, no matter how fit he was otherwise.

"Just give me chance to explain," He insisted as he grabbed the duffle bag he had brought with him, while the suits were good for working in, he wouldn't want to wear them all the time he was up in Thunderbird five.

John met his brother at the entrance, raising an unapproving eyebrow at the bag, "I don't like the look of that,"

He knew what the bag meant, Scott was following through on his promise to make John return to the Island even if he didn't want to go. They'd been discussing it for months now, John kept putting it off, either distracted by an incoming mission, or changing the topic before Scott could get around to that particular conversation. John shook his head, turning to head back to his gravity enabled den, "I don't want to go back Scott, I told you that,"

Both boys knew that John didn't mean that, though he would never admit it, he couldn't go back. Not when he needed to stay up here and keep a constant watch on the whole world, keeping the constant hope that something would show up, telling him what had happened to his father. He didn't understand how a jet could so simply disappear off of the map, one minute it had been there and the next time John had turned back, it was gone.

John sighed as turned on the coffee machine, trying to put off the conversation.

Scott took a seat on the sofa that looked out to the stars, John couldn't stay up here for the rest of his life. His family wanted to see him at home, it was alright for his brothers, they could all come up and visit, but what about their Grandmother, she could never make this particular journey.

"All I'm asking is that you take a week," He insisted, needing his brother to see reason, for him to realise that he was missed, "Everyone is worried about you, up here on your own,"

He didn't miss the look of guilt cross John's face as he passed him a mug of black coffee, but the astronaut quickly turned away to look out to the darkness, hiding his emotions from his brother.

"A year is a long time John," Scott pointed out as he looked out of the window, thinking of the stories his mother had told him under the stars, "Even for you."

"I want to go back Scott," John sighed, staring out into the stars, never getting bored of their patterns in the emptiness. It wouldn't do any good denying it, Scott was here now and John knew that his only older brother wouldn't leave before he did, "But, I just can't,"

Scott shook his head, John caught his reflection in the glass as their eyes met, "What would Mum and Dad say if they were here?"

John rolled his eyes, looking back to the depths of the stars, "They're not here, that's kind of the point,"

Scott smiled and got up, stepping over to stand by his brother, "But if they were, if Dad were here, he'd be telling you to get your ass home before you miss out on Gordon's waffles,"

John laughed and nodded, one of the few things he missed living up in solitude, the food. Nothing beat his younger brothers waffles for breakfast and Grandma's apple pie for dessert. If only he could get pizza delivery up here, then it would be perfect.

He did want to go back, he just didn't dare face Tracey Island without the man that should have always been there. The boy wasn't sure how he'd cope without his Dad on the Island. It was something that he simply didn't know.

Scott smiled and nudged his brother, attempting to cheer him up a bit with the intel he had gained from, checking over his brothers online accounts. It wasn't hacking, John always said so, it was just borrowing information.

So when Scott had found an email notification from an online dating site, he had simply borrowed the information on the red haired, green eyed girl from New York City to use against his younger brother.

"Besides," He smiled as John gave him a worried glance, "We're not going to be young forever, some of us need to start looking at our futures,"

John laughed, quickly catching onto the fact that his brother had been checking up on him. Again. Despite their agreement that their personal lives were just that, personal.

"I thought we agreed?"

Scott shrugged and John groaned, worried about how much he had seen, surely he wouldn't delve too deep into his private conversations? No, Scott had some respect for his brothers privacy, John was sure that his messages were still very much private.

He knew when Scott's grin widened that the details on the woman he had been messaging were not quite so private.

"The redhead seemed nice, shall I check her out?"

John shook his head, "You will do no such thing!"

He hadn't even met the woman yet, she believed that he lived in southern Australia. It had reassured him that a long distance relationship wouldn't phase her. They were both happy to give things a go and see if they went further.

What John hadn't counted on though, was being forced back down to earth, where his privacy would have to compete with his younger brothers' noseyness.

Scott turned to the sink and dumped his mug, "Besides, you'll have to go down this week, unless you plan on missing Allie's twenty-first?"

He didn't miss John shifting in surprise as he looked around to him, "That's not this weekend, is it?"

Scott turned and leant against the sink, folding his arms. This was proof enough for him that John had to take a break, whether he wanted to or not. Losing track of days was the first sign that his father had always warned him to look out for, and here it was.

"Yes," He told him with a stern glare, "So you are going to spend until at least then, relaxing."

John pulled a face, though he would never admit it, had warmed to the idea of going home now that he had talked about it. He refused to miss his youngest brother's passage into adulthood, and it would give him chance to take a few days to meet the girl from the dating website. He'd also get to see his family together again, and eat some decent food.

"Well," He smirked at Scott, "I suppose it would be nice to have some actual human company, rather than just holograms,"

Scott laughed, his face lighting up as he caught onto the fact that John had accepted the fact he was going back to earth. The laugh turned wicked though, making John worry a little before Scott said, "Yeah, who knows, maybe, what's-her-name will want to come up here with you."

John shook his head in embarrassment as Scott continued to laugh, "I've not even met her yet!"

Scott smiled and folded his arms again, too confident as he nodded, "Yeah, but you will, soon,"

John shook his head, not wanting to hear any more of his brothers thoughts, worried about where they might lead. He turned towards the door, "Let me grab a bag and then I'll go,"

Scott smiled, glad that his plan had worked, not that he had had any doubt that it wouldn't work. He'd known John since the day he was born, of course he knew how to get him to do something, "Good, if you hurry up, you'll be back in time for Waffles,"

John laughed and shook his head, "Why do you think I'm going?"

Scott got up, knowing that he needed to run some programmes before Thunderbird Three could undock, "Don't let the others run riot," He pointed out, the only part of his plan he didn't like was handing over his big brother responsibilities. Up in space he would be powerless to look after his younger siblings, he had to put all his faith in John to take up that role.

John laughed and nodded, "As long as you look after my 'Bird,"

"It's Alan that always leaves the mess!" Scott exclaimed, with a smile, knowing full well that it was actually him that had left a sink full of dirty dishes last time he had been up here, "Don't worry, and keep in touch,"

John nodded, a bit more relaxed about going home than he had been, "Bye Scott, I'll see you at the weekend,"

Scott nodded, happy that things were starting to rectify themselves, slowly but surely.