Disclaimer: I do not own Thunderbirds. All things recognisable belongs to Gerry Anderson.

A/N: NO FLAMES! Not accepted.

2nd A/N: This is based on an idea that I got from reading 'Never Stop Looking' and I loved it so much it gave me an idea. This story is not the same. It is different. The base is the same but different.

AGES: Scott –20; John – 17; Virgil and Ava – 15; Gordon – 12; Alan – 9

Chapter Seven – I'm All He Had

It's always been the two of them. Ava and Alan. But now there was Scott, John, Virgil, Ava, Gordon and Alan. Alan didn't need Ava as much anymore. She had been moved to her new room, between Virgil and Gordon, and Ava had spent the day showing Alan that the rooms were ordered oldest to youngest.

"See, this is your room, Gordy is next to you, then my room, then Virgie's room, then Johnny's, and finally Scotty's. Daddy's is down the hall a bit further. So you don't always have to come to me when you have bad dream ok? You can go to Gordy, or Virgie, maybe Johnny or Scotty." Ava said.

"But if I want to go to you?" Alan asked, his big blue eyes becoming wide and frightened, maybe he'd never be able to find her.

"Look out for her name, Sprout." Virgil said appearing at Ava's elbow, "Come take a look." Jeff had allowed Virgil to make plaques. Each with their names on it. There sitting next to Ava's door was a plaque painted turquoise with pink letters on it spelling out 'AVIE', the colours clashed horribly but it stood out. Virgil held one out to Alan and it was painted dark Blue with red letters 'ALAN' stood out on it. As they walked down to put it on the wall, they spotted one at Gordon's door that was a deep sea green with fish around it – Virgil had put in extra work Gordon's name was spelt on the Fish.

What Ava had said about Alan not going to her came to fruition that night. Alan woke in a cold sweat, the terrors from the car crash had woken him almost every night, but tonight had been different. Tonight his dream had made him feel like he was alone;
He had seen the fire at the house and he had seen Ava die.
He had seen Gordon drown (although he knew it was highly unlikely).
Virgil had been booed at a piano recital and hadn't taken the hate so well.
John had been sucked into the vacuum that is space and last the 90 seconds they say it takes
And Scott.
Scotty had been shot out of the sky.
Alan had seen his siblings die. For a 9-year-old it wasn't the easiest thing to see. He got out of bed clutching him stuffed bear and as he stood in the hall he tried to decide which sibling to go to. Deciding quickly he walked up the hall and pushed open the door. Soft snore met his ears. He didn't know how well his brother slept but he knew that if he woke him up, he might be angry. So instead Alan walked around to the empty side and climbed in. He snuggled close to the warm body. The occupant of the bed though not waking up, turning to better accommodate and offer the small shivering body comfort.

In the morning Ava found Alan's room empty and as she found out, none of her brothers had seen him – except one. Virgil. She pushed open Virgil's door and smiled at the sight. Virgil may be a heavy sleeper but he had turned onto his side that he hardly ever slept on and was cuddling a small bundle who was also sleeping peacefully. She pulled the door shut softly and smiled at the others.

"I think we have found out that Alan is comfortable going to you guys as much as me." Ava said.

Alan and Virgil emerged at about 11:30am, not too much outside the time that Virgil usually emerged, Alan was clinging to Virgil's back. Both had shower damp hair and Virgil grinned at Ava as Alan slid from his back.

"You showered with Virg did you Al?" Ava asked, he nodded.

"He let me shower with him." Alan said.

"Alan showered first and once I had him dressed he waited until I was done." Virgil corrected. Ava smiled, putting her hands on her hips she turned her gaze back to her baby brother.

"Well, Buttercup – how do pancakes for breakfast sound?" Ava had only cooked them breakfast a few times, but they were yet to taste her pancakes.

"YEAH! Blueberry and Chocolate!" Alan cheered.

"One or the other Alan Shepard Tracy. Not both." Ava warned. Alan turned to his brothers. His eyes begging them to help him choose.

"I don't know which one to choose." He whined. Virgil smirked and winked at Alan.

"Well, Ava," He began, "we all know that John is addicted to chocolate."

"But Gordon can't eat anything that has dairy in it, he's lactose intolerant." Scott added.

"And Virg is allergic to blueberries." Gordon said.

"And Scott – well he eats anything!" John smiled. Ava sighed.

"You just can't make anything easy for me can you?" She shook her head and tuned back to her mixing bowl that already had the mixture in it for the pancakes.

"Looks like you get your wish Buttercup. Blueberry and Chocolate it is." She said.

Jeff called Ava to his office later that day to talk to her about something. He hadn't said what it was but she followed his instructions. Alan was outside learning to swim with Scott and Gordon – Gordon of course knew how to swim but Scott was teaching him some finer points.

"Ava," Jeff said sitting on his office chair, Ava pushed the door behind her closed.

"Dad." He looked up and smiled. He hadn't her call him that in a long time.

"You are so grown up."

"It tends to happen. Even if I wasn't looked after as well as I could have been – I have grown, I can read and write and cook some mean pancakes to boot." She said, Jeff chuckled.

"So I heard. Blueberry and chocolate chip?" Jeff asked, Ava shrugged.

"Well, Allie couldn't decide, Gordy's lactose intolerant, Virg is allergic to blueberries, and Johnny loves chocolate. I had to satisfy all tastes." She smiled.

"What about Scott?" Jeff asked.

"Scotty eats anything. He'll miss them when he goes off to Norwich." She said.

Jeff Frowned, "Norwich?"

"Yeah, the military college. Before he goes to Laughlin or Holloman." Ava said.

"How do you know this?" The frown deepened.

"He told me." Ava said, "Don't yell at me."

"No, I'm not going to yell at you. Why would I?" He looked confused as she shied away from him.

"Cause I've made you angry." She whimpered.

"No. No I'm not going to yell at you, Avie." Jeff got up and came round his desk and pulled Avalon into his arms. She was terrified he was going to yell at her. What had happened to make her so scared of someone yelling at her?

Excerpt From Chapter 8 – Virgil's Smile

"She is your sister! Your twin sister! Why don't you trust her?" Scott snapped.

"I do trust her." Virgil said.

"Prove it!" His brother snarled.

"Why should I? Why don't you take my word for it! I'm 16! You shouldn't interrogate me like this Scott!" Virgil growled, he was getting irritated. Ava was his sister, he believed that, but he hadn't said he did, nor had he shown any type of proof in his actions. Only when he painted her name plaque for her room, which of course read 'AVIE' showed that he believed.

"Have you tasted her waffles?" Scott asked.

"No." Virgil shook his head. He hadn't been ready in time that morning.

"They're like Mom used to make." Scott said.

"Like Mom did? Avie was the only one who ever learnt how to make them."

"Exactly." Scott said, "Before I leave for Norwich, I want to hear you call her Avie and I want to see you hugging her. Because she needs it, and she's terrified when someone is angry. It terrifies her that someone might yell at her." Virgil frowned, Avie had never been scared like that when she was younger. Never. So why now?