It's the penultimate chapter! With any luck I'll find time tomorrow to write the ending.

Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed so far.

Thank you again to Silverstar for your many reviews for the whole story!

Thank you to Tikatu for your review on my last chapter. I agree with you that the story does need more polishing and ideally I would like to read over what I write for a couple of days editing and tweaking things here and there but I'm worried I won't finish it in time for Christmas.

I hope you like this chapter and please let me know what you think.

Merry Christmas.

It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas on Tracy Island. The decorations were up and the tree sparkled with fairy lights and tinsel. The smell of Christmas spices wafted through the house as Kyrano and Grandma cooked up a storm in preparation for the big day.

It was all very magical, but Tintin couldn't ignore the uneasy feeling in her heart that the mystery of the mistletoe had given her.

It had been three days since it had arrived on the island and she hadn't slept a wink of sleep since. The worrying was sapping any trace of festive spirit she had within her. It also wasn't helping that Scott was still being overly helpful, John was still calling her, Virgil was still insisting on teaching her the piano and Gordon was still trying to involve her in his pranks.

She wasn't sure what she should do next but did know someone who might.

"Mr Tracy may I ask you something?"

Jeff Tracy looked up from his desk to the girl standing in front of it.

"Of course Tintin, what would you like to ask?"

"I know it's only a week before Christmas but I was wondering if I could have a few days off to go and visit Lady Penelope in England."

"You are looking very tired Tintin is everything ok?"

"I'm ok Mr Tracy. I think I've just overtired myself and I think a few days rest will help."

"Yes I think you're right. Of course you may have a few days off to go and seen Penny. Have you thought of how you would get there?"

"I thought I'd try and see what time the next flight to London was from the nearest airport to the island."

"Would you like me to ask Scott if he could take you in Thunderbird 1? You would be there in a matter of hours and he can come and pick you up a few days later."

"Are you sure Mr Tracy? Thunderbird 1 may be seen by Penelope's neighbours and her cover may be in jeopardy."

"Creighton-Ward manor is very secluded and I doubt Penny's neighbours will notice anything amiss."

"Then as long as you're sure, going in Thunderbird 1 sounds great. Thank you Mr Tracy."

"Don't worry about it Tintin. Now when is she expecting you?"

"I emailed her this morning and she said anytime until the 23rd when she goes to her relatives for Christmas."

"Ok, in that case would you like to go this afternoon and then Scott can come and collect you on the morning of the 23rd?"

"That would be wonderful. Thank you so much."

"That's ok Tintin, now you better go and pack. You may as well inform everyone you're going so they can give you their presents for Penny and Parker."

"I will do Mr Tracy. I'll go and double check that Brains is ok with me going and then I'll go and pack."

"I'll let Penny know when to expect you and inform Scott that he is taking you."

"Thank you again Mr Tracy," Tintin replied as she moved towards the door.

A few hours later Tintin was sat in the passenger seat of Thunderbird 1 surrounded by her luggage and bags of presents. The last three sleepless nights caught up with Tintin and not long after Scott had switched to horizontal flight and she fell asleep. She only woke up when they were landing in the grounds of Creighton-Ward manor.

Lady Penelope greeted Tintin with a hug and a look of concern. Scott helped Parker unload Tintin's bags.

After waving Scott off in Thunderbird 1, Tintin shivered and clutched her coat closer to her body.

"I've been living on a tropical island for too long and forgotten how cold it gets here in winter," she laughed.

"Don't worry Tintin, we'll get you inside next to the fire with a nice hot cup of tea," Penelope replied, "Parker if you place Tintin's bags into her room and the presents under the tree, then you may serve the tea."

"Very good m'lady."

Soon Tintin was sat next to a large fire with a steaming cup of tea next to her.

"Now Tintin," began Penelope after she had taken a sip of tea, "tell me what is wrong."

"Am I that bad?" Tintin asked.

"Yes, you are not your usual happy self. So tell me what's praying on your mind."

So Tintin told her. She poured out everything about the mistletoe, the changing behaviour, everything. She found that once she had started she couldn't stop telling Penelope everything.

"And now it's in the house and I've no idea who has it and I don't know what to do," she finished.

Penelope took in everything Tintin had to say and remained silent for half a minute thinking.

Just as Tintin was beginning to wonder if Penelope had heard anything she had said she asked her a question.

"Who do you want it to be Tintin?"

"What do you mean?" Tintin was confused.

"There are several men on that island, you said it yourself. Out of all of them, if you had your wish, would you want to be under the mistletoe with?"

"Alan," Tintin's mouth snapped shut in shock. Where had that come from?

"Interesting," Penelope replied, "why Alan?"

"I-I," then realisation hit Tintin, "because I love him."

"And all this worry about the mistletoe is because?"

"Because I want it to be him but I'm worried it's not. This is escalated by the fact that all the others are acting differently towards me. I'm worried it's one of them."

"I don't think you have to worry so much about that."

"But they are behaving differently towards me."

"Yes, but Tintin they all are."

"All except Alan, yes."

"And there has only been one piece of mistletoe ordered. If they all felt differently for you, you would be inundated with it!"

"But what if it was ordered by one of the others?"

"Then when the time comes that they try to use it, you politely and kindly turn them down. They are kind-hearted wonderful men; they will understand that you don't feel the same way. But I honestly don't think it will come to that."

"How can you be that sure?"

"Call it a secret agents intuition! Now are you feeling better?"

"Yes, very much. I can't believe it has taken me this long to see that I love Alan! And you're right about the others, I know they won't make thing awkward if I turn any of them down. I don't know why I thought they would. Thank you Penelope."

"I'm very glad to have helped you with this Tintin. Sometimes I worry about you on that island. Jeff and the boys are very good people and I know Mrs Tracy looks after you but sometimes it's good to have a female friend of a similar age to talk things over with."

"I knew coming to you was the right thing to do."

"It certainly was. Now I think over the next few day we need to make sure we have fun, get you properly rested and recovered and send you back to Tracy Island looking so stunningly beautiful that Alan won't know what's hit him!"

And that's exactly what they did.

A few days later Tintin's visit was over and they were waiting for Thunderbird 1 to come and collect her.

"Thank you again Penelope, from the bottom of my heart."

"It has been wonderful to see you and help you Tintin. I wish I was coming for Christmas this year but there is always next Christmas and I am hoping to visit in the New Year."

As they had been chatting Thunderbird 1 had arrived and landed. Tintin's heart fluttered when she saw Alan climbing out and walking towards them.

"Alan does Scott know you're here with Thunderbird 1?" Tintin asked him as he came closer to them.

"Yes he does," he laughed, "dad let me come and pick you up as it would be good practice for me piloting her."

"Well very well done with the landing, it was textbook!"

"Thank you! Are you ready to come home?"

"Yes I am, very much indeed," now Penelope had eased her worries about the mistletoe Tintin was ready to properly begin celebrating Christmas.

She would decide what to do about her feelings for Alan once Christmas was over.