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 9 – Turning 6
December 16th 5:30am
"Uncle Virgil! Wake up!" Annabelle gave her Uncle the best shove in the shoulder she could manage.
"Annie? What is it?" Virgil groaned sleepily as he rolled over to look down at his 5-year-old niece.
"I'm 6!" Annabelle said brightly.
"What time is it?" Virgil glanced at his alarm clock and groaned. 5:32 glowed back at him.
"Annie, it's not even sunny yet. Can you wait a few more hours?" Virgil groaned. Annabelle stamped her little foot on the carpeted floor, if he hadn't been so tired, Virgil might just have laughed.
"She's got the rest of us up Virg. Now it's your turn." Scott's voice said and Virgil knew he was most likely armed with a spray bottle full of cold water. It helped when getting Gordon and Alan out of bed. It wasn't the most pleasant way to be woken. Virgil had suffered it through his teen years. Sighing Virgil rolled out of bed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Come on, Annie. Let's leave Uncle Virgil to have his shower." Scott said, "then you can open your presents." Annie didn't give any kind of response but a few giggles when Scott picked her up and swung her over his shoulder. Leaving Virgil with a frown. Usually 6-year-olds loved the idea of presents and cake uplifted any down-trodden feelings they harboured in the days previous. Virgil frowned heavier. Something was up with Annie and he was determined to find out.
John looked up from placing plates on the table to the delighted giggles of Annabelle. It appeared that Scott was attacking her with tickles. Annabelle was very ticklish all you had to do was poke her ribs and she'd shriek in laughter. He smiled and watched as Scott sat Annie down at the table and then left to see if Alan and Gordon were getting up. John was happy that Brains had agreed to a turn up on 5 to give both Alan and John time on the Island for Annabelle's birthday.
"Good Morning Annabelle." John said as he placed the last of the colourful party-hats, Tintin had presented him with before he started to set the table, down at Scott's place setting. There were even name plaques for where you were to sit.
"Good morning Daddy." Annabelle replied. She sat a little too quietly at the table. When every else joined her and John she accepted the Birthday wishes, but when it came time for her presents she paused and turned back to her father.
"Daddy?" John looked up, he'd been bringing over a bin for the wrapping paper, "I don't want any presents this year, I want mommy to come home," John dropped the bin he held.
"Annie…you know the Mommy isn't coming home. She's a star you know that." John said moving to pick up his daughter, Annabelle took a step back from her Daddy. She wanted her mommy and Daddy could get her to come home. It wasn't fair.
"I want Mommy!" She screamed and then dashed off back upstairs. John closed his eyes agasint the hot, sting behind his eyes that meant he had tears forming. He wasn't going to let Annabelle's mood get to him. She'd have more of them.
"I'll go and talk to her, John," Tintin said.
"No, Tintin, I should. Thank-you anyway." John said stopping her, he needed to talk to his daughter, he couldn't keep relying on his brothers to do what he had to do. This was going to be difficult, he could tell.
"Annabelle?" John knocked on the closed door. It had a plaque on it that read 'Annabelle's Room' – it had recently been finished and she'd slept for the first time in it last night. He gently opened the door and found it empty. He tried his room then. There curled up in a ball on his bed, fast asleep clutching his pillow to her chest was his daughter.
She had tear tracks on her cheeks and her eyes were a little red from all her crying. John felt bad, Annabelle knew he couldn't bring her Mommy back. She knew that. He may be a hero but he couldn't turn back time and stop Kathy from going to work that day and ask her to take the day off to spend it with him and Annabelle. Then none of this would've happened.
But then Destiny was funny thing. If it was Kathy's destiny to be hit by the drunk driver than it would've happened a different day or it might have happened in the morning. John sighed and quietly closed his door. He wouldn't disturb her. Annabelle could sleep. He'd let her have these few hours to herself, she could stay there and then she'd come out hopefully feeling better and a little more accepting.
"Daddy?" John looked up from the book he was reading on the pool deck. Annie stood next to him, she had dressed herself in a pair of 6-year-old Jeans, John recognized them from part of the outfit that Gordon had gotten her and a t-shirt that read I'm no Princess, but if the shoe fits…. Also from Gordon. She'd opened her presents.
"Yes Annabelle?" He asked sitting up.
"I'm sorry. I know Mommy's not coming home. You're a hero but…you can't bring her home." Annabelle knew what she meant and it came out how she meant it to. John smiled and nodded slowly.
"It's all right Annie. I knew you knew. You just had to accept it. It's fine. I understand." John said, he enveloped Annie in a hug. They just had to work this out themselves.
It was the end of the day the very last surprised came for everyone, not just Annie. Alan had stolen Tintin away up to the top most peak of the Island. And he'd proposed to her. Her answer had been, of course, yes. So now as Annabelle proclaimed, Tintin was really her 'Aunt' not just pretend! She was very happy. Tintin told her that when they got married she could be a flower-girl. John knew that Annabelle would do her best to be part of that bridal party. It was going to be a very interesting few months until the wedding. And everyone could tell that Annabelle couldn't wait.
This was a little shorter than the preivious chapter I know. Forgive me, but this fills in her 6th birthday at least and how she really feels about her mother's death. She'd beginning to want things that just are not possible in her world of Heroes.
R&R please! StormySkies89