Back on Tracy Island, Alan remembered his 10, 000 word paper. He walked into the kitchen with Fermat and found everyone else sitting there.
"Hey, Dad, have you seen Marlie? I need her help with an essay." Alan said.
"She's gone down to the lower pool for some alone time with John." Jeff replied.
"Oh, alright I'll wait." Alan said and he went to sit down when a girl's scream and a man's shout – both of delight – came from down where Marlie and John had been hanging out. Everyone stood to see John whirling Marlie around. Marlie hooked her legs around his waist, bent her head and knotted her fingers in John's hair and kissed him.

"Hey, guys, we have excellent news!" John said as they came up the steps and into the kitchen, holding Marlie's hand. Once they were standing still, he loosely hung his left arm around her shoulders. "I just asked Marlie to be my wife and, thank goodness, she said yes!"
The whole family erupted into cheers and engulfed the newly engaged couple.
"Marlie, can we see the ring?" Tintin asked. Marlie held out her left hand and everyone gasped. It was a thin silver band with a flower of nine little diamonds with one larger diamond in the middle.
"It's beautiful." Penelope confirmed. "A beautiful ring for a beautiful couple."

That night, the Tracys had a pool party and the boys watched John as he watched Marlie pull her t-shirt and skirt off and kicked her ballet flats to the side before diving into the pool and appearing an inch from the other side.
"Remarkable! How did she do that? Gordon can't even do that!" Virgil said.
"She is pretty, isn't she?" Scott said.
"Don't be silly." John replied, watching her swim. "She's beautiful."
"You love her a lot, don't you?" Virgil asked.
John turned to his brothers, "More than you will ever understand." Suddenly Gordon felt someone tug his trunks down.
"Alan! That wasn't funny!" Gordon shouted.
"I didn't do anything!" A dry and clothed Alan shouted back from by the grill. The boys all looked at each other in confusion.
"So if it wasn't him and it wasn't one of you guys, then who was it?" Gordon asked.
"You know, you Tracy brothers have really got to get over the idea that only boys can play pranks." A voice said from behind them. They all turned to find Marlie treading water behind them. "Just because I'm marrying your brother, doesn't mean I can't pull pranks on you." She said as she swam through them and put an arm around John's neck. "Nice trunks by the way Gordon." She winked and Scott and Virgil laughed.
"I'm actually quite offended that you didn't play the prank on me, love." John said in a mock hurt voice. The other brothers looked at each other and then back to the couple.
"That's because I know that I have many years ahead to pull your trunks down. I'm marrying you remember. And actually, looking at the way your Dad's drinking that beer, it might be that I'm pulling them down for you later darling." Marlie said matter-of-factly and the brothers looked at each other.
"Oh really?" John said incredulously.
"Oh yeah." Marlie mumbled before John pulled her in for an emotional kiss.

THE END