Disclaimer : I do not own Thunderbirds...

Author's note: Still looking for a beta. this chapters a little short.

on with the story...

Gordon toed the door until it was closed. Vicki stood, looking out the window as he and Alan exchanged glances.

"Are you really okay with this?" he asked after a few minutes. Vicki turned from the window and looked at him, her face unreadable.

"I was angry at him for a long time. I once asked Lord Crighton-Ward why I couldn't stay with you guys. He said it was better for me, and easier form dad and you guys too. If I lived with you, he said it would be harder to find a house for us, and I wouldn't have any girls to play with. I didn't believe him when he said there would be times I wouldn't want to be around you. That there would be times I'd want to play with other girls. After a while I began to understand better. Then I wasn't quite so angry. I hadn't been completely cut off from you after all. I still got letters and stuff. When I was 14 he came to my first big gymnastics meet. I didn't know until after, when he told me he was sorry, but he was proud of me. He told me I could move back if I wanted. He said he understood if I didn't want to. All my friends were in England, and I didn't really know you anymore." she trailed off for a minute, shrugging.

"He kept in touch this time though. He usually sent me letters once a week." she giggled.

"The guys that used to want to go out with me usually became uninterested when my friends asked about my dad. Sometimes they kept the guy in the dark for days, but their biggest pleasure, I think, was telling which ever guy it was that Lord Crighton-Ward wasn't my dad, and they never told them who my dad was. Or worse. My friends loved asking about my brothers. They'd never say names, and never how many of you there were. Someone would say my brother - who was pilot. My brother the stargazer, the pianist, the swimmer, the race car driver... They thought they had to deal with one brother... Then they found out I had five!" by the time she finished everyone was laughing.

"Suffice to say, between the possibility of one perfect brother, five overachieving ones, and not being in line to be 'Lord Crighton-Ward' nearly all the guys dumped me -- for Penny."

"And she knew they were only in it for a shot at the title?" asked John.

"Yep, and dumped them on their butts. I never hated dad. I may not have liked him, but I never hated him. or any of you." she added, at Virgil's look.

"I knew there was nothing you, or grandma, or anyone could have done to change dad's mind."

"Mom could have." said Scott quietly.

"Probably. He never would have had a reason to send me away then, though." Vicki said.

"He couldn't ignore me while I was living here though. I have pictures grandma sent to keep safe. I look far too much like her." An odd expression washed over Alan's face. It was horror, anger, sadness and that Gordon could understand. The sorrow, guilt and pain made no sense to him.

"Y-Y-You-you tried to replace her!" Alan shouted at Vicki. Virgil closed his eyes in pain. John and Scott flinched. Gordon was puzzled.

"Never Alan," Vicki said quietly, shaking her head, "I knew then, and I still know, I never can, never will. I never wanted to."

"Alan," Virgil spoke up, "If we hadn't, if Vicki hadn't, you would have gone too." Now Gordon was really confused.

"The doctors said there was no chance, for her or mom. They didn't try everything. They gave up. Children who are positive the unborn baby sister, that their father knows nothing about, will live can do nothing. To save mom or Alanna." said Scott quietly.

"But you were born, you were there in grandma's arms. You we could help. We could save you. We had to try." said Vicki.

"Dad could've done something!" Alan fairly screamed.

"He wouldn't believe she existed. He said we made her up, so we could have another little sister." said John quietly.

"The doctors thought it best, for dad, if he didn't know." said Scott.

"B-B-B-But... But..." Alan stuttered, sniffling a bit as his sorrow overpowered his anger. Vicki crossed to him and wrapped him in a hug.

"It's ok, it's ok, " she said softly, "I miss her and mom. I've missed you. I'm here for good. I promise." her eyes began to tear up too. Virgil was moving towards them without any thought, he didn't like either twin being in pain. John gravitated towards them as well. He couldn't stand to see any of his family, let alone his little sister and baby brother, in pain. Scott walked toward them too. He wouldn't admit it, but he could use a hug too. Gordon said to himself 'What the hey.' and joined the impromptu hug. They all stood there, hugging and being hugged, for several minutes. The silence was broken after a while by Vicki.

"In answer to your question, Gordon, yes, I am okay with this. I forgave dad a long time ago." The hug broke apart pretty fast then. Everyone found a seat, after all there were several things to discus. Scott, John and Gordon sat on the couch, Vicki and Virgil on the love seat, and Alan in an armchair.

"How'd you find out about the birds?" Alan asked Vicki.

"Wait a minute! would someone clear up who Alanna is first?" asked Gordon.

Author's note: there, One question down, at least two to be answered in the next chapter.