a/n Just a warning – the language in this chapter is a reversion – I wrote it back in 2006, and as such it hasn't undergone the evolution I (as well as my writing) have undergone stylistically.

I'm also going to apologize now for the overuse of the ellipsis. I... was going through a... phase, shall we say...?

You have been warned.

Chapter 36 - 2,000 Light Years Away

"So... You going to come?"

The girl on the other line laughed, her blonde curls bouncing with the movement.

"And miss out on your birthday? Come on Alan! Of course I'm coming," she paused, chewing her bottom lip, "If..."

Alan sighed.

"If what...?"

"If I can bring my boyfriend...?" Alan felt a pang in his chest and nodded slowly.

"You sure Tara...?" She grinned, nodding.

"Yeah. I think it's been long enough now. And I'd rather he met just you guys before Mum and Uncle Jeff,"

"If you're sure, then,"

"Thanks Al! I just know you're gonna love Charlie,"

"ALAN! GET OFF THE PHONE!" Scott bellowed from downstairs and the youngest Tracy flinched.

"I'd better get going..."

"I'll see you tomorrow night... OK?"

"See you Tara"

"Bye!"

Alan sighed, raking his fingers through his hair and hanging up the phone.

Gordon leaned against the doorframe and smiled lightly.

"Is Tara coming?" Alan turned, running his fingers through his hair.

"Yeah. And she's bringing her boyfriend, Charlie," Gordon's smile faded.

"You alright Al?" Alan nodded half-heartedly.

"Oh!" he looked up, "Kara's coming..." Gordon rolled his eyes, grimacing.

"Oh fan-fucking-tastic,"

- - - - - -

The next morning, Alan awoke sluggishly, finding his brothers circling around his bed.

"Uhh..." Alan rubbed his eyes and sat up, Gordon grinning maniacally.

"Morning Birthday Boy!" Alan just blinked, stifling a yawn.

"... What did you give him?" he eyed Virgil suspiciously who shrugged.

"We're having the first party on the island - without Dad - since Scott hid the coke on his 18th and sent him out to get more..."

"Oh. Okay," Alan swung his legs over the side of his bed and stood up, scratching the back of his neck and walking downstairs - his elder brothers in tow.

- - - - - -

At about 5 p.m., Alan's party guests began arriving, starting with...

"Tara!" The girl grinned, running into a hug with Alan. When she pulled back, Alan got a good look at the daughter of the most prominent Lady in England.

Tara was adorned in a tartan mini-skirt, with a white button up blouse, the first 3 buttons undone, showing a tactful amount of cleavage. Her black boots came up to the knee and her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders elegantly. She wore a light amount of makeup, a large silver pair of hoops and a pink and blue cubic zirconia belly bar.

"I figured you guys would need some help setting up," she paused, considering this statement, "...Or Tin-tin would - knowing you 5 you've left all the work to her," Gordon gaped in mock offence.

"Excuse me missy but..."

"Uhh..." At the door, a young man with messy blonde hair cleared his throat and Tara looked over.

"Come on in Char... It's OK..." the boy walked over to Tara and she smiled, turning back to the Tracy boys.

"This is Charlie, guys. Charlie... This is Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon and my personal favourite, the birthday boy and one of my best friends, Alan Tracy..." Alan felt his cheeks burn at Tara's introduction and quietly shook hands with the boy.

"Nice to meet you..."

"Tara!" Tin-tin peeked around the corner of the kitchen and grinned.

"Hey Tin-tin!" her heels clicking on the wooden floor, Tara slipped into the room and began to help Tin-tin prepare snacks.

- - - - - -

"Hey Alan!" A buxom blonde came bouncing up to the birthday boy, throwing her arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his lips.

"Hey Kara..."

"Happy Birthday gorgeous!" Alan smiled lightly, his gaze wandering from his girlfriend's face to the other beautiful blonde girl in the room.

She was talking cheerfully with a group of people and had an arm around her waist...

ThatCharlie guy's arm...

Feeling his face grow flushed, Alan broke his gaze and looked back down at the girl infront of him.

"Want to go up to your room?" Kara winked slyly and took Alan's hand, leading him over to the stairs. With once last glance in Tara's direction, Alan followed sighing.

- - - - - -

About 10 minutes after Alan's disappearance, Tara looked over to where he had been and frowned.

"Char, did you see where Alan went?" Charlie took a sip of his drink and nodded.

"He went upstairs... Why?" Tara slipped from his grip and smiled.

"I just want to talk to him... that's all..."

She pushed through the crowds and headed upstairs, knocking lightly on Alan's bedroom door.

"Al? You in there?"

She pushed the door ajar and her eyes widened, closing the door quickly and running back downstairs as swiftly as she could manage.

Charlie raised an eyebrow at Tara's shock.

"Everything alright?"

She gulped heavily and nodded.

"Don't go upstairs for about 20 minutes..."

"Why?"

"I'm emotionally and mentally scarred. Now go find me alcohol. I need to destroy my memories,"

Charlie laughed, hugging Tara and kissing her cheek.

"If you insist, M'lady," she shot the boy a dark look.

- - - - - -

The party continued into well through the night and into the next morning - finally winding down at about 5 a.m.

The party goers tiredly left, Charlie included, giving Tara a lingering kiss before boarding the water taxi.

Tara had decided on staying back to help the boys destroy all evidence of that night's activities - just in case Jeff called from Thunderbird 5.

About 2 hours later, they'd gotten the house presentable - they being Tin-tin and Tara - the Tracy boys having retired to bed long ago, Kara with Alan.

"That was too bloody hard..." Tara moaned, gratefully taking the cup of coffee Tin-tin offered her, sipping it and wrapping her hands around the mug, taking in the warmth.

"At least Mr. Tracy won't kill them..." Tin-tin sighed, "Less work for us then," she smirked, "Blood is so hard to get out of the carpet..."

Tara couldn't help but snigger.

"Good Morning!" Gordon kissed the ebony haired girl on the cheek and headed into the cupboards, Tara and Tin-tin exchanging glances.

Soon after, the other boys retreated downstairs, all except the youngest and raided the kitchen for breakfast.

"You two did a good job tidying up..." Virgil said, through a mouthful of cornflakes. Scott looked at him, perturbed.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, Virg," Virgil rolled his eyes tiredly and continued shovelling down his cereal.

"I'd better get going home soon. I need slee--" Tara yawned, just as there was a thud of feet on the staircase.

"Hey everyone..." Alan stretched, the muscles on his chest tightening.

"Good morning all!" behind the youngest Tracy, a chirpy blonde grinned, bounding down the stairs in one of Alan's T-shirts.

The boys and Tin-tin gaped, Tara just looking highly amused.

"You're washing your own sheets, Alan Shepherd Tracy!" Tin-Tin sniped and Alan rolled his eyes, not responding.

"Someone must have had fun last night..." the youngest Tracy son looked up and spied Tara leaning back in her chair, hands still wrapped around the coffee mug.

"You're still here Tari?" The girl stuck out her bottom lip.

"Were it not your birthday yesterday, I think I'd slap you for that," The other blonde squealed and raced over throwing her arms around Alan's neck.

"No-one's gonna hurt my Alan!" there was a unison snort through the room.

Alan gave the girl's arms a pat and she let go, turning to face the 6 seated at the table.

"I don't think I've met you before! Are you Alan's sister, or something?" Tara laughed, mid-sip of her coffee, which quickly became a hacking cough.

"No," she managed to get out once she'd settled, "I'm a close friend of the family..."

"Oh!" The girl brightened up.

"I'm Kara Ward! Who're you?"

"I'm Tara Creighton-Ward," Kara gaped.

"Oh my god! That is, like, so weird! I'm like Kara and you're like, Tara! We, like, totally rhyme!" Tara's face was totally vacant.

"And, like, my last name is Ward and yours is, like, Creighton-Ward! We have so much in common!" Tara just blinked.

"Are you Alan's ex or something?" Tara had to hide her smirk with her hand, pretending she had to (rather daintily) wipe her mouth with a napkin.

The elder Tracy boys had amusement dancing over their features. Alan just gave Kara a confused look.

"What would make you think that, Kara?" The girl turned and grinned.

"You have a picture of her and you on your bedside table! I figured it mighta been an ex girlfriend pic..." Tara raised an eyebrow, looking at the youngest blonde Tracy.

"You have a picture of me on your bedside table?"

"It's from your graduation," he explained and Tara nodded slowly, although still highly suspicious.

"And he mentioned you in, like, his, like, Diary..." Gordon snorted.

"You have a diary Alan?" Alan's face flushed several shades of scarlet.

"He did, did he?" Tara stood and smirked.

"Mmmhmm... Like Totally..."

"Really?" She turned on heel and started up the stairs, realisation dawning on Alan.

"NO TARA!" he pushed past Kara and bolted up after her, finding Tara standing in the doorway of his room, her eyes wide and mouth twisted in horror.

"On second thoughts... I don't think I WANT to go in here..." She grimaced, looking at the clothes, bed sheets and other random items strewn around the floor.

"Good," He wrapped his arms around her waist and picked the girl up easily, pulling her away from his room, with minimal resistance - Tara was too tired to even try.

Alan took her downstairs and dropped Tara into her chair in the kitchen, Tara pouting.

"That wasn't fair..." Kara crossed her arms over her chest and stuck out her bottom lip.

"Alan... how come you pick her up like that and all I get is a shag?" Tara looked absolutely horrified and had to leave almost immediately after, gagging.

Tin-tin shot Kara a dark look and ran out after her. Gordon and Virgil followed shortly after.

"Tara?"

Tara was seated on a rock by the beach, trying hard not to laugh and just watched the waves lapping against the shore.

"Everything OK?" Tin-tin sat next to her on the beach and Tara nodded looking up.

"Yeah. Just had to get out of there before she gave a blow-by-blow description," the others gave Tara a funny look so she explained, "I walked in on them yesterday. I'm emotionally scarred for the rest of my life," Gordon snorted.

"I hate that girl anyway..." Virgil nodded in agreement.

"She says "like" too much,"

"Like, Totally," Tara looked out over the water and Gordon smiled.

"I think she is just a glorified shag machine. I mean think about it - Alan normally dates intelligent and gorgeous girls, like Tin-tin!" Tin-tin laughed, pulling herself up onto Tara's rock.

"Thanks for the ego boost, Gordon,"

"It's what I'm here for!"

- - - - - -

"She seems nice..." Kara sat down on Alan's lap and Alan stopped eating in a huff.

"I'm glad you like her..."

"So why exactly do you have, like, a picture of her on your, like, bedside table?"

Alan sighed and Kara batted her eyelashes.

"Tara's..." he took a deep breath, "Tara's like my best friend... I mean... I've known her since the day she was born and she's known me all her life... we've looked out for each other..."

"And you're, like, still friends? Even though you've, like, broken up?" Alan blinked, his face vacant.

"Broken up?"

"Well... I just get that vibe... like... you know... like you two were, like, going out at one time..."

Alan shook his head, almost in regret.

"We've always been friends... The picture on my bedside's one she sent me when she started at college... It's the two of us at her high-school graduation..."

Kara nodded, wrapping her arms around Alan's neck.

"Ack! Other people at the breakfast table!" John protested, covering his eyes. Alan shot his elder brother a dark look and Scott rolled his eyes.

"Oh grow up you two," John bolted up the stairs soon after and Scott followed.

Kara, it seemed, ignored them anyway.

"Alan... do you love me?" Alan's attention snapped back to the girl on his lap.

"Why Kar?"

"Because..." The group who'd left appeared back in the doorway, Tara at the lead.

"We're not interrupting, are we...?"

Alan shook his head and Tara grinned, walking over to the lounge and picking up her bag.

"I'd better be getting home... I've gotta get some sleep and then start my essay on the discovery of penicillin..." She grimaced and straightened up, flicking a few stray strands of blonde hair from infront of her eyes.

"How're you getting home?"

"Water Taxi..." Tara blinked, "How else?"

Alan shrugged.

"I thought Parker or Lady P might be picking you up in the yacht..." Tara snorted.

"Yup. Sure Mum would love that. Oh hello Tara darling – oh look! You're dressed like a prostitute! Good for you! Let's go play a nice game of Polo with my friend the duchess of York and her charming little girls! Like I wouldn't get my bloody ass kicked for that, Alan," Tin-tin couldn't help but smile, collecting the plates from the table.

"Where'd Scott and John go?"

"John ran off. Scott followed," Virgil nodded, turning and heading up the staircase to his room.

Gordon just glanced at Kara and ran off.

Tara helped Tin-tin clear the last of the plates and then quickly dialled a water taxi, leaning against the kitchen bench, chatting with Tin-tin.

Still seated at the dining table, the cogs in Kara's brain began to turn and she suddenly leapt of Alan's lap and raced into the kitchen.

"Wait... Creighton-Ward?" Tara looked over and blinked.

"Yeah..."

"Is your mother, like, Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward?" Tara's expression was vacant.

'It's taken her that long--'

"Yeah... she is..."

"Like! Oh my gosh! Your mom is, like... So cool!" The blonde teenager resisted the temptation to slam her head against the nearest wall.

"Why didn't you tell me Alan?!" Kara grinned, tossing her hair over her shoulder as Alan walked into the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe.

The youngest just shrugged.

"Didn't think you needed to know..." Tara smiled and shook her head, looking up at the clock on the wall.

"I'd better head down to the jetty..." Alan straightened up and let Tara slip past.

"See you soon Tara!" Tin-tin followed her into the lounge room and gave the girl a quick hug, Tara smiling.

"I'm sure you will..." Tin-tin chuckled and waved, heading back into the kitchen.

"I'll come out and wait with you..." Tara gave Alan a puzzled glance, but said nothing, heading over to the door.

"Bye boys!" There was an almighty thudding of feet and the four elder boys appeared at the staircase.

"See you Tara!" The enveloped her in a group hug and Tara smiled.

"Bye Ra-ra!" The smile faded and Tara pouted.

"Don't call me that... ever..."

Gordon rolled his eyes and threw his arm over Tara's shoulders, ruffling her hair.

"Cool off Ra-ra..." The girl just glared.

"I'm going down to the marina now..." She turned on heel and stalked off, Alan giving his brothers a reproachful glare and following her out.

- - - - - -

Tara took a seat on a fallen log by the waters edge, turning quickly when she heard a few twigs snap behind her.

"Tari?" She let out a breath of relief.

"Alan... it's only you..." The youngest Tracy slipped through the overhanging plants and took a seat next to her on the log.

"Have a good birthday?" Alan nodded slightly, facing the girl.

"It was alright..." The two fell into a silence, until Tara finally spoke.

"Kara seems nice..." Alan heaved a sigh.

"Bit empty upstairs though..." Tara giggled.

"Mmm..." The roar of a boat motor made the two look up and Tara stood.

"Looks like my ride's here..." Alan nodded, standing and giving Tara an awkward hug.

"Thanks for coming and helping out, Tari..." She grinned.

"No problem, Alan..." She turned to leave, but then stopped herself short.

"Happy Birthday, Al..." She stood tall and gave Alan a kiss on the cheek, before boarding the boat.

Alan stood in shock and Tara waved, the boat pulling from the shore.

She kissed me...

Again...

He shook the expression from his face and turned, once Tara's boat was out of sight and headed back to the house, confusion and contradicting thoughts running through his mind. His head was somewhere in the clouds, it felt so light on his shoulders.

She's toying with me... That has to be it...

She's playing with my mind...

Part of Alan firmly believed this, but then there was that lingering voice...

Oh shut up and enjoy it.

You know you liked it.

And so, with a goofy smile on his face, Alan returned to the kitchen and the Tracy home.

... And I do mean a goofy smile on his face...

a/n Once again, sorry for the ellipsis use. But I did warn you.

I know I could have also gone over it and re-written it, but if I had, it would've taken longer to update.

Not to mention, I'm... how do you put it?

Ah, that's right:

Lazy

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it – I know I'm starting to get a little excited – the action's just about to start heating things up :o)

Next chapter: Something important to the finale of Kryptonite is mentioned/introduced. And, guess what? It'll be out this time next week! No kidding!

Don't miss out!

Much love,

The Flame Faerie