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 Avalon – 16; Gordon – 12; Alan – 9


Chapter Nine – Twinning

One week later found the twins sitting side-by-side in Virgil's bedroom looking over old yearbooks, Virgil told her what had happened to a few of their old friends, though he'd fallen out of contact with some after she left because they only hung around him because they had that small 'schoolboy crush' on Ava. Ava paused getting to a photo of the two of them. They stood side-by-side and she had her head turned to him. Virgil had a ridiculous grin on his face both looked relaxed.

"Do you remember?" Ava asked, turning the photo so Virgil could see it. He smiled and nodded.

"Yeah. You pulled me away from my piano to get some fresh air and John followed with the camera. You pulled me aside and told me to smile. It's one of my favourite photos of us." Virgil said.

"What else do you remember?" She asked.

"3rd Grade. We were 8 years old. I'd just learnt to play the piano. It was the year before you were taken. I was marked as the next Johann Bach and you were the next Ginger Rogers. We didn't know who that was so we asked Grandma. She told us Ginger was a dancer. And she showed us a movie that had Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in it. Do you remember?" Virgil said.

Ava smiled, "Yeah."

"It was in our 3rd grade yearbook." He said, pulling it down from the shelf to show her.

"The Tracy Twins couldn't be more different. Virgil the next Johann Bach and Avalon the next Ginger Rogers." Ava read from the photo of the two of them, they stood back to back looking over their shoulder at each other, scowling slightly. Virgil and Ava had their fair share of fights but never too serious – after all with twins cut one the other bleeds. Just how it was. Life was never supposed to be perfect, but for these two it was pretty close.


"Tanning again?" Ava opened one eye and grinned up at John who had to be bathed in sun cream before even setting foot outside.

"You're not gonna burn are you?" She teased from her position on her sun lounge. Stretched out and in her pale pink bikini – despite the scar on her tummy that no one asked about – she was slowly turning brown.

"No. I'm covered in enough sun cream to keep me creamy white for the rest of my natural life." John laughed as she indicated to the sun longue on her right for him to sit on.

"And you're unnatural life?" She asked.

"Don't be smart." He said.

"Can't help it. I'm related to Dad remember?" She said, closing her eyes again. John chuckled and sat down next to her.

"You haven't joined the boys in the poll yet, you've been here a while. If you don't mind me asking, why?" John said.

"Well…Uh…I never got swimming lessons. Even when we were in Kansas there was no water nearby so why did I need the lessons?" Ava replied not opening her eyes.

"Well Scott could teach you." He pointed out. Neither noticed Scott, Gordon and Alan clinging to their side of the pool and now Virgil joining them on the deck.

"No. 16th Foster family, pool in the backyard. Nearly drowned." She said.

"WHAT?" Scott spluttered shocking Ava into opening her eyes, she sat up and eyed each of her brothers.

"Yeah. Oldest boy – 16 at the time – pushed me in. Couldn't swim nearly drowned. Oldest girl was 17, she pulled me out. I was 10. Never set foot near a pool again. And Alan wonders why I never take him to the beach." She said, "It took me nearly 5 years before I got near a pool again and that was when we arrived here." Virgil sank down onto the longue to her left and stared at her.

"Is that how you got the…" He couldn't bring himself to say 'scar' so he left it open.

"No. That was in our…oh what number was it...19th or 20th I think. I was protecting Alan again. The 'father' was a drunk and he took drugs – I'm not even sure how they got in the foster system. But it might have been before he started on them. But anyway high and drunk he went into some kind of rage that had nothing to do with Alan or me. I put myself between Alan and him." Ava said.

"Richard." Alan cut in.

"What?" Ava asked.

"His name was Richard." Alan repeated.

"Right, anyway I was between them it was then that I noticed Richard had a knife. A switch blade from his back pocket. I told Alan to run and get my cell and dialled 911. He didn't know why until the sounds of our fight stopped. He came down and found me." Ava said.

"Cut open! Blood everywhere!" Alan pulled himself out of the pool and curled up against Virgil's side. Virgil held Alan close to his side. This was horrible what they went through.

"He asked for an ambulance and the police. He told the cops it was his foster father who did it. I was in hospital for a week. Three blood transfusions and 30 stitches later and I have this wonderful scar." Ava said running her fingers across it.


Virgil and Avalon were hardly apart after that story. Where ever Ava was Virgil was sure to be right behind her. He wasn't hovering he loved her more than anything and would spend as much time as he could with her. When Jeff said they'd be at the same school this year Virgil couldn't be happier. But he asked if they had some of the same classes together. They looked over their schedules when they received them. They had four out of 6 classes together.

"English, Math, Information Technology and Biology. I've got Music when you have Metal work and you have Drama when I have Art." Virgil said.

"Yeah, oh well four out of six isn't all bad. We just don't like all the same stuff." Ava said. Virgil was happy with that at least they had homeroom together as well. This was going to be an awesome school year.


Excerpt from Chapter 10 – Finally Home

"It's almost like they never left now. They've settled in well. Virgil is smiling and laughing again, and Gordon is pranking more than ever. I'm just worried what it's going to be like when Dad makes these machines he'd talking about." Scott said, as he sunk down next to John on the couch. Scott left in two days for College and he wanted to spend it with his brothers- especially his Star-loving one.
"I'm not too worried. A space station all to myself? And he's talking a sub for Gordon. Maybe one like those cargo ships for Virg? And the speedy one for you? I'm pretty sure we'll be happy." John said.
"What about Al?" Scott cocked an eyebrow.
"Well why not another space one? One that can take supplies up to me and help with any extra orbital missions?" John suggested.
"Guess you're right. That would seem best. Since Alan loves the stars too and I heard him tell Ava he likes feeling weightless in the pool. He's the baby but somehow he'll always act like an adult…unless he wants to be treated like a kid!" Scott said, both laughed.
"True. But I heard Dad discussing names for it earlier. He says the whole thing will be International Rescue. But he's not calling the machines Rescue 1, 2, and 3, He wants a really cool name for them. One people will remember. I've been doing some reading, how does Thunderbird One grab you?" Scott's face lit up.
"I like it. I really like it. Well done John I think you've found the name for Dad's ships." Scott said approvingly.