An accomplishment musician, a piano prodigy, an exception to hear. Only some praises Virgil had been used to hearing as he grew up, his mother had been all three too and was over the moon on the day he sat at his first piano and played Mozart flawlessly in front of the whole family, but that was over ten years ago and his life had taken a very different path from music, everyone's path was different after Lucille had died. Now he was the pilot of Thunderbird 2, the transporter craft of the organisation International Rescue which had been set up by his father not long after the tragedy, but now even that life was different after Jeff Tracy had gone missing two years after the business had begun. Five years later, and he was still absent from the outfit, and so the boys had moved on putting Scott in charge and leaving their Grandma to take on a parent persona. Virgil landed his bird after a rescue and walked into the lounge where his brothers Scott and Alan were sitting opposite one another in deep conversation, he walked past them with a smile and sat down at his piano instantly losing himself in the melodies he could play in his sleep, Scott looked over his shoulder at him with a grin then continued to talk to Alan, Grandma walked in after hearing the piano music holding a letter and she approached the second eldest.

"Virgil, a letter came for you today."

Virgil looked at the front of the envelope without pausing the music, the font caught his attention immediately and the melody jarred as he took the letter from her hands, "wow."

Alan ran up the steps, "what is it? Come on Virgil, tell us?"

Virgil sighed, "I don't know what the news is. Calm down," he unsealed it gently and left the piano stool as he slid the letter out, the golden scripture of the named location glowed in his already golden brown eyes, and he read it to himself.

"Dear Mr Tracy,

Thank you ever so much for the audition tape you sent us. We are pleased to announce you have been accepted into The Royal College of Music and we look forward to hearing your confirmation.

Many congratulations.

Yours Sincerely,

Martin Manuel, chief board."

Scott tapped his foot impatiently at the silence, "well Virgil?"

Virgil turned around, "I got in."

"Sorry?"

"I got into music college."

Grandma cheered, "yee-hah! Oh, Virgil, I am so proud of you!"

Alan smirked, "way to go, big guy."

Scott leant against the piano, "when did you audition?"

"I sent a demo in a couple of months ago."

"But Virgil, you can't leave the organisation, we need you."

Virgil frowned angrily, "it's one thing to just start complaining on the spot, it's another to not even say well done," he stormed out of the room and took a run up to the roundhouse where his studio was.

"Scott, show some compassion. His music means everything to him," Grandma said gently, "this is big."

"Yes it is, but it's also a problem. Virgil can't be in two places at once."

"Isn't that why you installed autopilot on all your crafts?"

"He can't pilot Thunderbird 2 out to him whenever there's a rescue. That would be impossible."

Alan cleared his throat, "I didn't know mum well, but if she was here today, what do you think she would say to this?"

Scott's breath caught in his throat, "she would cry with pride," he sighed, "I'll go and talk to him."

Virgil sat at the old grand piano sobbing as the letter stared at him from the music stand, he wiped away his tears in frustration and began to play loudly, this was all he ever wanted and now he was being stopped by his own family, a family who had always loved his spontaneous musical performances and calm reasoning using music, he felt empty and trapped now with only one direction to go in.

"Virgil?" Scott opened the door with a knock.

"Get out."

"Virgil, please let me talk to you about this?"

"There's nothing to talk about Scott, you've made your point quite clear. I get it ok? I'm stuck in this business, there's no alternative."

Scott came and sat down next to his brother on the stool, he read the letter and smiled, "I am really proud of you, believe me. I'm just concerned."

Virgil looked at him, "about what?"

"You're one of the best pilots here Virgil, and you're the only one who knows Thunderbird 2 backwards. Maybe we can make a deal?"

"A deal. What the hell?"

"Well, go for a semester then see how it goes."

"Scott, I don't mean to boast, but I am a great pianist. I can't just go for one term and give up if I go at all," he sighed, "let Gordon take Thunderbird 2 or Alan, and put Kayo on Thunderbird 4."

"Are you mad?"

Virgil hit the piano keys and stood up angrily, "I can't believe you're holding me back. You always told me to go with my music even when I was being bullied at school. I've finally got into somewhere where I'll have the same interest as everyone else."

"Virgil, don't yell at me ok? You kept the whole thing secret."

"That's because you would have stopped me, so I would've kept it to myself."

"Dad would've stopped you too if he were here, stop making me the bad guy."

Virgil collapsed into a beanbag by the wall, "I can't believe what I'm hearing."

Scott sighed as he looked down at the piano keys in front of him, "what did you play for the audition?"

Virgil cocked his head to the stool which Scott was sitting on, "look for yourself."

Scott stood up and opened the stool from under him, he found a folder titled 'audition', he put it up on the stand and flicked through, "these are tricky."

"Don't patronise me."

"I'm not," Scott paused on a page and read the title, the composer was his mother, "you played one of mum's pieces?"

Virgil nodded, "I think that's what got me in."

"Or just talent?" Scott smiled.

"Who knows. I just wish I could go to this college, it's always been a dream of mine," he looked up at his brother as the eldest began to play the sonata, "and now I can't."

Scott sighed, "you can go if you really want, I can't stop you I guess."

"I don't want to leave IR, I just need a chance. I might not even like it."

Scott chuckled as he played, "don't lie, you'll have a great time there I bet."

"So, you're allowing me to go?"

"Yes. I wasn't going to stop you, you just needed to hear the options you have, if I were in your place I wouldn't turn it down," Scott merged into Chopin with ease.

"It would only be a year, a postgrad course," Virgil grinned.

"Then do it, Virgil. Alan is right, mum would be really proud of you if she knew you achieved a place at a conservatoire, so would dad," he sighed, "I just take after him too much by over worrying."

"I'll do it for our parents' sake, does that seem fair?"

Scott nodded as he brought the piece to an end, "deal."

"FAB. I guess I better go and tell the others, and sort out who will take my place for the year."

Scott released the pedal gently and sat back on the stool, "why not get in touch with the college first and confirm your acceptance?"

"Uh, yeah, good idea. I'll do that first," Virgil smiled as Scott held the letter out to him, "thanks, brother."

"Anytime. I'm getting a snack, you're welcome to join me."

"I think this calls for celebratory drinks don't you think?"

"Not yet Mr party, that can come later," Scott wrapped an arm around Virgil's shoulders as he left the studio with him, "you have an email to send."

Virgil sat at his father's desk with his family around him as he wrote an email back to the college announcing his confirmation, Scott smiled from the piano behind him as Gordon and Alan clapped the second eldest on the back, and looking across at them all, John hovered in his hologram, the second eldest leant back in the chair and sighed, "there, all done."

Grandma looked over his shoulder and read it through, "send it son, don't delay what you want to do."

"Go on Virgil," Gordon grinned, "you can escape this place," he winced as Kayo stepped on his foot, "ouch!"

"You deserved that," Scott laughed as he began to play one of Virgil's compositions.

"Ok, I'm sending it," Virgil pressed send then smiled, "I still can't believe I got in."

Alan hugged him, "of course you would get in, you're a great musician Virgie."

"Ugh, how many times have I told you not to call me that? Sounds like some sort of sweet."

"Wait for a girl to call you that, then you'll love it, Virgie," Gordon sided with the youngest.

"Alright guys, enough, it's time for celebrating. Beach party! John, get down here," Scott pushed the stool back with his foot and stood up.

"Do not drink more than one beer you lot, if you get called out, I can't go for you," Grandma laughed.

Alan chuckled, "we won't."

"You're not drinking Alan, you're only sixteen," Grandma frowned.

"That's old enough, please?" Alan begged.

Scott wrapped an arm around his shoulders, "you can have one, but we'll be watching you."

Virgil laughed as Kayo jumped onto his back, "aren't we a little old for this?"

"Are you too weak then?"

"Touche."

The group gathered on the patio outside the kitchen and Scott lit the bbq as beers were passed around, John walked up from the hangers and grinned as he watched Alan push Gordon into the pool, Virgil was playing his guitar and Kayo waved.

"Glad you came down John, are you hungry?"

"Always for a bbq Kayo," he smiled, "hey guys and congratulations big brother."

Virgil put the guitar down to hug his brother, "thanks John, I can't wait to get started there."

"I bet, where are the beers then?"

Scott slid one along the table, "catch."

Virgil grabbed it as it slid past the astronaut, "here you go, nice throw Scooter."

"Sorry, I'm only serving you guys amazing food right now."

Kayo wrapped her arms around his waist, "uh huh, better hurry these burgers up, everyone is starving."

Scott tilted his head to kiss her then licked his lips with a smile, "you're having wine."

"Yep, it's more sophisticated."

"Oi, lovebirds!? When are these burgers coming out?" Gordon called.

Virgil laughed, "want me to take over Scott?"

"No, I've got this, I got distracted that's all."

"Yeah, we can see that," Alan smirked as he sat down on the bench with Virgil.

"The next person who asks me how much longer these will be doesn't get first up."

"That should be Virgil who gets first up anyway," John indicated, "the rest of us can wait."

"I've got five on here at the moment anyway, give us another song Virgil and they'll be ready."

Virgil nodded, "I'll hold you to that," he began to strum, "well I came home, like a stone, and I fell heavily into your arms, but I'll kneel down and wait for now, I know my ground. I will wait I will wait for you," he sang and the others joined in as they sat at the table with him, Scott leant against the wall singing along as he tended to the grill.

"Guys, as lovely as the singing is, food is ready."

Virgil grinned, "FAB," he put the guitar down against the wall, "thanks, Scott."

"Pleasure, dig in," Scott served up then made himself one, "congrats on getting into music college Virgil, good luck."

"Thanks, everyone," Virgil smiled round at the raised glasses, "I guess this is the good time to say someone will have to take Thunderbird 2 from me, and I have chosen Gordon."

Gordon laughed, "by default, the sweetest way to win."

"One scratch Gordon, and I'll remotely fly her to the music college carpark."

"Yeah, I'd like to see that."

Kayo smiled, "that's quite a responsibility."

"Yes, but Kayo, someone has to take Thunderbird 4."

Gordon almost choked on his burger, "she's going to take Thunderbird 4?!"

Kayo looked across at him smugly, "deal with it squid."

"You still happy with me going now, Gordon?" Virgil asked as he helped himself to more pickles.

"I don't exactly have a choice now do I?"

Scott walked over leaving the chicken wings to cook, "bon voyage."

Alan laughed, "walked into that didn't you Gordon?"

"Yeah, I certainly did," he sighed, "I guess it'll be alright, I can do what I want with that ship, music playlists will never be the same again."

Virgil growled, "change anything and I'm pranking you for a whole year."

"Good luck with that, I'll see right through them, suss them out."

Scott shook his head as he turned to Kayo, "you'll be fine with Thunderbird 4 sweetheart, I can help out if need be."

"Thanks, Scott," she kissed him quickly then laughed as Virgil ruffled Gordon's hair up, "when does term start Virgil?"

"End of September, I'll have to leave midway through the month to get to my accommodation."

"How many roommates will you have?"

"Well they'll be better than you lot that's for sure," Virgil grinned, "you know I'm joking. I don't know, in the first year you get quite a big group, maybe seven."

"Think you'll find anyone?" Scott asked.

"That would be nice but I'm there to study."

John sighed, "live a little Virgil, there'll be loads of girls there, go for it."

Gordon nodded, "John is right, don't hold back."

Scott got up, "guys, the wings are done, who wants some?"

"Just bring them over," Alan called, "we'll help ourselves."

"Then bring over a big plate little brother," Scott smiled sweetly, "then you can have one."

Virgil pushed away his plate, "this has been really great guys, thank you."

"You earned it, knowing what you played at that audition, it's no wonder you got in," Scott smiled as he walked back with the wings.

"What did you play?" Gordon asked.

"I played some favourites from the old classics to modern, then I added that piece mum composed before we were all born."

"I remember that piece, it was my favourite," John smiled, "she recorded it for me so I could listen to it at night."

"Which piece?"

Virgil checked the time, "I'll go and play it, listen out," he ran upstairs leaving the group huddled outside and began to play the lullaby.

"Ohh that one," Gordon smiled, "absolute show stopper."

Kayo listened to him play as she sipped her wine, "this sounds so sad, is it meant to be sad?"

Scott shrugged, "I don't believe so, but she did tend to write a lot of sad sounding melodies for passion, she went for emotion. I'm so glad Virgil put this one in, it's special, mum would be so proud of him."

Alan sighed, "I just wish I had known mum longer, at least you guys have memories."

"We have her musical memories, thanks to Virgil," John smiled, "were you really not going to let him go Scott?"

"Of course I was, I was just worried, again."

Virgil returned to the group, "you always worry when there's change involved."

"I know, I can't help it," he laughed self consciously, "sorry."

"It's fine Scott, I would've accepted the letter even if you had said no."

"You son of a bitch," Scott chuckled, "sometimes I hate you."

"Yeah but most of the time it's love isn't it?"

Kayo sighed, "here we go again."