Family Matters
By GrumpyMagrat & Magratconvert
Disclaimer: We do not own the Thunderbirds neither are we making any money off this endeavor. This is strictly for our own enjoyment, and hopefully, the enjoyment of our readers. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 14 – Back on the Island
Tin-Tin and Sharon spent an hour in the lounge getting caught up on the rescue.
"It sounds like they're doing good," Sharon said. "It actually seems like it's pretty straightforward."
Jeff nodded. "Most of them are. I know the media tends to play it up as something spectacular, but it really isn't."
"But you have all the fantastic machines."
"That only makes it easy on us. They don't make us any more special."
"I guess I never thought of it that way."
"Most people don't. So, are there any other questions?"
"Do they have an estimated departure time yet?" Tin-Tin asked.
"If everything goes as planned, another twenty-four to thirty-six hours, Scott figures," Jeff answered. Tin-Tin nodded in response. Jeff continued. "I know your move date is next week. Do you need help with your packing? Anything you need to do?"
Tin-Tin shook her head. "There's not really much to do. We're renting a fully furnished apartment, so the only things we have to pack is our clothes and Christina's favorite toys. That stuff can't be done until right before we leave. I'm just really missing Alan right now. Chalk it up to hormones."
Jeff laughed. "I still remember those. Poor Lucy, they made her so weepy. Her pregnancy with Gordon was the worst. At Christmas time, it got to where she couldn't watch TV or even listen to the radio. The 'sappy' movies and the 'tender' carols sent her over the edge all the time. There was even a coffee commercial that made her cry every time she saw it."
"Coffee?" Sharon joined in the laughter. "What could be so upsetting about coffee?"
"I don't remember all of it. I just remember it making her cry."
"I'm glad I wasn't that bad during my pregnancies."
"You probably were and are in denial. Lucy swore that I over exaggerated the situation."
"Maybe you did," Tin-Tin teased. "We all know how famous men are with their stories. A caught fish 'grows' with each telling of the story."
"That maybe true, but I'm not exaggerating about this, and I think deep down, Lucy knew that she was over emotional. She was just embarrassed by it. Don't get me wrong. She had her emotions, and she was demonstrative of them, but she wasn't normally a 'weepy' person. That's what she had the most problem with."
"If you say so," Linda said. "Well, I'd better go check in on the kids. Unfortunately, I know how mine can be when they're tired."
"But they're not tired," Tin-Tin quipped. "Nicky was very adamant about that."
"And if you really believe that, you're not ready to be the mother of three."
Tin-Tin rubbed her protruding stomach. "I think it's a little late to change it."
"Maybe you both should get some rest," Jeff suggested. "You were up and down all night, Sharon, and Tin-Tin, it's never a bad idea for a woman in your condition to get extra rest."
"I think I'll join the kids," Sharon replied. "I'm sure that I can find some floor space. It'll be like the slumber parties I had as a teenager. I wonder what movie Grandma convinced them to watch."
"Sounds like fun," Tin-Tin added. "It's not like I had a lot of slumber parties growing up."
"Are you sure that's wise?" Jeff asked. "Will you be able to get up off the floor?"
Tin-Tin gave him an impish grin. "If I can't, call International Rescue."
Jeff rolled his eyes. "I know when I'm beat. Get outta here you two. I'll let you know if anything changes on the rescue front."
The two women laughed as they left. When they reached the theater room, they were happy to see that most of the kids were asleep. Only Neil was still awake watching the old Disney classic, Finding Nemo. What surprised them the most, was the two cots set up with pillows and blankets, just waiting for the occupants.
"What in the world is this?" Tin-Tin asked.
"I just thought you two may also like to get some rest along with the children," Grandma replied.
"Gee, where did we hear that before?" Sharon smirked. "Are you and your son in cahoots?"
Grandma shook her head. "We must think alike. I figured that with what's been going on, neither of you has had much rest."
"But these weren't here earlier," Sharon argued. "How'd they get here?"
"Okay, I confess," Grandma sighed. "I wasn't quite ready when you got back. Kyrano brought them in for me. The children helped me make them up."
"You're such a dear." Tin-Tin gave her another hug. "We are so spoiled."
"That's my job. Now, you two go ahead and lay down. If we don't quit all this chatting, the kids will be up."
"What about you?" Sharon asked. "Are you going to nap with up?"
"In a manner of speaking, I'm going to sit back here with my knitting, but I'll probably fall asleep after a few rows. I usually do. That's why it takes me so long to finish a project."
The ladies laughed. "Okay, nap time. One hour of uninterrupted sleep, here I come," Sharon sighed.
"Aw, man, now you did it," Tin-Tin groaned. "We'll never get to sleep now."
"You two are worse than the children," Grandma pretended to scold them. "No more talking. Into your cots. Close your eyes. Go to sleep."
Sharon and Tin-Tin snickered and dutifully replied in unison "Yes, ma'am". They each stretched out and in a few minutes were asleep. True to her word, Grandma took up her knitting, and shortly her eyes were closed, head nodding, and snoring softly.
Contrary to Tin-Tin's prediction, they did get a little over an hour of sleep before the kids woke up. They got an afternoon snack of fresh fruit, and then went outside to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. Neil and Nicky swam for a bit and then played some board games while Christina and Linda played with their dolls together.
TBTBTBTBTB
Shortly before dinner, Christina and Tin-Tin took a call from Alan. Christina happily chatted about her day, the picnic at the beach, the new sea shells she found, the sand castle building contest, (which she proudly claimed victory for) even down to taking a nap on the theater room floor. Alan had to admit that he did feel better after talking to his daughter.
Once Christina had relived her day, Tin-Tin sent her back to play with the other children. She could tell something bothering him. She sat down in front of the comm. unit. "Has it been that bad?"
"It's had its ups and downs."
"Alan," she said, giving him the look that said she knew there was more to it.
Alan sighed and brushed a stray lock of hair away from his face. "We just cleared a damaged hospital. I had the unfortunate luck to get the children's ward."
Tin-Tin now understood the cause of his distress. "Were there any survivors?"
Alan shook his head. "No, but enough depressing talk. So, Christina won the sand castle building contest?"
Laughing, Tin-Tin shook her head. "It was actually a tie. We didn't want to favor one group over the other, but she took it as a win."
"Then, you don't think that we have the next Frank Lloyd Wright on our hands?"
"I wouldn't bet the farm on it."
"How about you? How are you feeling? Are the boys behaving themselves?"
"Oh sure, when they're not wrestling around, kicking my ribs, or sitting on my bladder, they're as good as gold."
"Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?"
"Ooh, you're quick there."
"And just think, you've only got…"
Tin-Tin held a hand up. "Don't…don't say it. I don't want to even think about how much farther I have to go. I'm very aware of the time frame. All I can think about is how fat I am, and how much more weight I'm going to gain. I don't need to be reminded. Thank you very much."
"Let me remind you of something else, just in case you've forgotten."
"What?" Her voice held a trace of exasperation.
"I love you. To me, you are the most intelligent, loving, beautiful, wonderful woman in the world."
"Oh, Alan," Tin-Tin shook her head. "I don't know what to say. That is so sweet."
"Hey, you're acting like I'm never sweet."
"I guess I wasn't expecting it. You're pretty busy, and after the hospital…"
"I can't help it. After seeing all that death, I feel the need to voice my feelings."
"I understand. I love you too. I hate to say this, but we've been talking a while. Since this is your rest period, I'd better let you get some."
"Hopefully, this won't last much longer, and we'll be home. Take care. I'll see you soon."
"And, you be careful too. I want you to make it home."
Alan gave her a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am, I love you. Goodbye." He disconnected the call and stared at the blank screen for a few seconds. He forced himself to grab a quick bite to eat and then stretched out and fell asleep.
Tin-Tin reached a hand out a placed it on the blank screen. Tears unwittingly filled her eyes. Damn hormones. "Stay safe, my love," she murmured. She took a deep breath and forced her crazy emotions back down. She ran her hand over her protruding stomach where the twins had been tumbling around for the past half hour. "And you two…behave, or I'm telling your daddy on you." She stood and made her way out of their suite, joining the rest of the family for the evening.
Author's Note – The story of "Lucy" crying so much at Christmas due to pregnancy hormones was based on Convert's second pregnancy. And yes, she cried at a coffee commercial. She still remembers it even though it was almost 18 years ago. It was the one where a young man sneaks into his parent's home and makes coffee to wake them up. This past Christmas, she noticed that it was remade but still sappy.
We realize this was a short chapter, but it just worked out that way. Hope you enjoyed it anyways.