Disclaimer: I do not own The Thunderbirds!

A/N: NO FLAMES! Not accepted. Thank-you.

2nd A/N: AU because John has a wife a little girl.

Chapter Two – Grandpa Tracy

Annabelle loved spending time at her father's home and especially when he was in space because she got to spend time on the Island with her Uncles and Grandfather. Grandpa Tracy was definitely her favourite. Because he gave her good cuddles. When Annabelle woke one morning to hear one of her Grandpa's planes returning; she knew it was one of two things. They had taken food up to Uncle Alan or they had taken her Dad up there and brought Uncle Alan home. She didn't have to wait long.

"Annie? Are you awake?" Her grandfather opened her bedroom door, or rather her father's bedroom door. She always slept in John's room. The pillows smelt like him and helped her sleep.

"Yes Grandpa. Is Uncle Alan home?" She asked rubbing her eyes.

"Where's my Sugar-Bee?" A familiar voice said ducking under his father's arm; Alan was able to pick up Annabelle as she ran toward him. He place a kiss on her cheek.

"Still as sweet as ever." He commented putting her down again.

"She never loses that sweetness Al, you know that." Scott's voice said. Obviously her uncles wanted to make sure she'd slept ok.

"Guess what your Daddy asked me to do." Alan said. Annabelle shrugged, "he wanted me to give you a bath. Is that ok?" She nodded. Since she'd first been adopted Annabelle's uncles had bathed her while John was in space, so they weren't uncomfortable at all with it.

"You're gonna have to tell me what Daddy does." Alan, of course, knew how to give Annabelle a bath, but he liked to talk to her, and this was the best way to do it.

"He puts lots and lots of bubbles in!" She said, Alan smiled and put a fair bit of bubble bath in. The boys didn't use it obviously but they kept it there for Annie, and occasionally when Virgil wanted to soak after a rescue. Annabelle clapped her hands in delight at seeing the bubbles. Alan closed his eyes at her request as she undressed. She giggled as he placed his hands over his eyes to further make sure his eyes were covered. She climbed in the bathtub before she said he could open his eyes. She asked him about space and he was happy to answer all her questions. As she started to become wrinkly he pulled down the pale pink towel that was kid sized.

"Come on out bub. Grandpa Tracy wants to show you something special." Annabelle climbed out as Alan pulled the plug out and he wrapped the towel around her, before chasing her into her room, where he grabbed her and had her giggling as he dried her and then helped her get dressed. Alan then led her up to her Grandpa's office. Alan scooped her up from behind before entering and put her on his shoulders.

"Special delivery for Mr Jeff Tracy." Alan said, "five-year-old female child." Jeff looked up and smiled softly.

"I believe I ordered my Granddaughter. Not just any 5-year-old female child." Jeff said, Annabelle giggled.

"She's not just anyone Father. Her name is Annabelle Grace Tracy." Alan replied.

"Well then it must be mine." He said; Annabelle was lifted down from her Uncle's shoulders and ran around to crawl up on her Grandfather's knee. Alan left with a wink then disappeared down the hall.

"Uncle Alan said you wanted to show me something special Grandpa." Annabelle said; Jeff smiled down at her.

"Did he now? Well then this," he held up a small pink watch, "is yours Annie. It's like Daddy's. You know what Daddy's does don't you?"

"He can talk to you or Uncle Scott, or Uncle Virgil. Or anybody with a watch like that!" Annabelle said, Jeff nodded.

"That's right Annie. So now you have one. It also lets us know where you are if you get lost." Jeff said.

"And it tells me the time too!" She cried, Jeff laughed.

"Yes I believe it does that too." He said.

"Mommy didn't have one did she Grandpa?" Annabelle asked.

"Your Mommy didn't want one Annie. She didn't even want you to have one." Jeff told her, there was no avoiding it now.

"Why not?" She asked a little adorable frown crossing her face.

"I'm not sure. Your Daddy's knows. But Brains spends a lot of time on these and he was a little upset that your mother didn't want one. He'll be pleased that you like yours." Jeff said

"It's in pink. I love pink. And I love you Grandpa." Annabelle said kissing his cheek.

"Oh I love you too Sweetheart. Now how about we see if we can call Daddy?" Annabelle agreed. Jeff pressed a few button on his desk and soon enough John's face appeared on the screen in front of them.

"Good Morning Father. Hey Baby girl. Did Uncle Alan bath you?" Annabelle nodded.

"He puts lots and lots and lots of bubbles in it!" She said, John laughed. Yes she loved her bubbles.

"What's that on your wrist baby?" He asked.

"It's my new Interna…Internation…Thunderbird watch!" Annabelle gave up after a while trying to say International Rescue. She couldn't quite get her tongue around all the sounds yet. John smiled.

"It's in your favourite colour too." John noted, "Very nice. Did Brains make that for you?" Annabelle nodded again. He knew he had, or course, but he's talking to a 5-year-old.

"Hey Annie, go on down to see if you can find your Uncle Scotty. I think he's still asleep. Go on, go and see if you can wake him up." Annabelle happily jumped off her Grandfather's lap and started to leave when, her grandfather asked her daddy a question about her mommy.

"I'm sorry about Kathy, John. Did you consider letting Annabelle stay with Cassandra?" Jeff asked, he must have thought Annabelle had already left to room.

"Of course I did," was John's reply, "Cassandra has five kids of her own all under the age of 10. She doesn't need to look after one that isn't her own."

"Did you ask Annabelle about this? How do you know she isn't still wondering where her mother is?" Jeff asked.

"I didn't have to. I know how much she loves spending time here all of us. I wasn't going to come home and leave her without parents, period. She's lost me now that I'm up here. As for her mother. Kathy loved Annabelle and Annie loved her mother. She's got five fathers here. She's got me, Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Alan. They treat her like their own," John said, a sniffle loud enough for the Astronaut to hear made him frown, "are you sure she's left Dad?" Jeff turned to see Annabelle still standing in the doorway.

"Grandpa Tracy, Daddy says Mommy's up with the stars…is that where Grandma Lucy is too?" Calling her Grandma Lucy was something Annabelle had always done. It was easier. Mama Tracy was the name she gave her great-grandmother.

"Yes Annie. Grandma Lucy is up in the stars too. Your Daddy always believed that." He said. This little girl, although no blood relation was remarkably like her father and almost nothing like her mother. Although John said she was always on the move, unlike John who sometimes preferred to sit still. Maybe there was something of everyone in all little children or maybe it was the environment they grew up in. It would be interesting as she grew up. John smiled at his father as Annabelle left calling out to her Uncle Scotty all the way. His father was one of the smartest men he knew, it was just a push in the right direction and maybe his granddaughter would give him that push.