Hey Guys I'm back...

I'm so sorry for the delay with this, but now that my exam revision is over and I have no studies to do until October, I can get back to my writing.

I've forgot how much I enjoy doing this. I hope this latest update is ok, I'm feeling a little rusty.

Thanks so much for your patience and I promise the delay for the next update will not be as long.

Jo xx

Chapter 36

It was late morning when Virgil took a seat at the breakfast table. He had used the excuse that it had been quiet on the rescue front – for him to enjoy a bit of a lie in. Jeff had given his son a gentle pat on the shoulder and a warm smile as he got up from the table – having already finished eating. The Tracy patriarch hadn't said anything, but Virgil suspected that his father knew the truth.

In truth, the real reason why Virgil was up so late was because he had had trouble sleeping. Virgil, in fact was certain he saw exhaustion hidden behind his father's smile, but Jeff had had many years experience in hiding it. First was his experience of being a father with five boys; secondly as the head of International Rescue. Virgil had lost count of how many times their father had been sat at his desk, waiting for his sons to return home from a rescue; even the tough ones that would go on throughout the night.

A sudden movement out of the corner of his eye caught Virgil's attention, distracting the artist from his thoughts.

"Avery, wait," he called out as he noticed her trying to sneak back out of sight.

Avery had decided to go down for a late breakfast in the hopes of avoiding everyone. The previous nights revelations had been hard on everyone, and although they had been laughing and joking with each other when she left the room, Avery needed some time to prepare herself before she faced them all again. The last person she had wanted to see was the one person who was seated at the table before her. He looked lost in thought, and Avery had hope she could get out of there before he had noticed her presence.

She was wrong.

"Sorry Virgil, I didn't want to disturb you," she mumbled quietly.

Virgil gave her a warm smile and indicated to the chair opposite. "Join me for breakfast?" he asked. Although he didn't sound angry, he didn't sound like his usual self either. To Avery, he appeared tired. Giving him a quick nod, Avery reluctantly sat down in the chair he had pointed to. As they ate, neither of them spoke – both unsure what to say to each other. Every so often Avery would notice that Virgil would glance over at her, but just as quickly he would avert his gaze if she looked back at him.

Eventually Virgil finished eating, although he didn't eat as much as usually did as he didn't have much of an appetite. Despite this he had still taken his time eating, mainly so he could stay in the room with Avery. With every bite, he kept hoping he could find the words, or the courage to speak, but both eluded him. Last night he had lain in bed – questions flooding his mind and stopping him from sleeping. Yet now he was in the position to ask her some of them, his mind was blank.

Just finishing her last bite of toast, Avery got to her feet, ready to leave. "I'll see you later," she said to Virgil, not sure what else to say, yet she did not want to just walk out without saying anything. She made her way towards the door.

"Avery, please wait," Virgil asked, sounding almost desperate. She turned back to look at him expectantly. "We need to talk."

"You've had plenty of time to talk to me," she stated, referring to his silence while they ate.

"I know...I just...Can we go for a walk?"

She nodded, and Virgil slowly got to his feet and escorted her outside. They walked in silence for a while, again neither of them knowing what to say to each other. Eventually following Virgil's lead, they ended up coming to a stop in a clearing which overlooked the ocean on the other side of the island.

"It's beautiful up here," Avery said, after a few moments of just standing and taking in the view.

"It's one of my favourite places on the island. It's where I come when I need time alone to think...or for some inspiration."

"It's definitely inspiring," she told him, her gaze still fixed out on the horizon.

"Oh yeah, although some visits are more inspirational than others," he replied, his gaze fixed firmly on her as she continued to stare out into the distance. Avery turned to look at him, as if she could feel his eyes on her. She noticed there was a blush colouring his cheeks, as he quickly turned his attention away from her and out on to the view before them. At first she didn't say anything, but she was certain she had understood the meaning behind his words...he was talking about her. She knew she needed to stop this before things went too far. Finally, she was the one to break the silence.

"You know I have to go back...right?"

Virgil shrugged. He understood her reasons for wanting to go back. She had made it clear the previous evening, but that didn't mean that he wouldn't at least try and encourage her to change her mind.

"Despite what I told you all," she continued "they're still my family. I can't abandon them just because of this..." she said motioning to the view before them, "...or because of you," she added quietly.

Virgil nodded, unsure if he could trust his voice to speak in that moment. The thought of her leaving had always been there in the back of his mind, but now it felt so much more real. Just acknowledging it brought a lump to his throat. Yet before he was able to respond, Avery continued.

"I need to go back and face up to the fact that my husband is gone, I need to grieve; I haven't been able to do that here..."

"Because of me," Virgil stated.

"Yes," she nodded in agreement. "Don't get me wrong, being here with you and your family has been wonderful. To see how your family should be...being here has been like the greatest dream. But now, I need to wake up and face reality."

"Of course" Virgil acknowledged, trying his best to stop the pain and disappointment he was feeling, from coming across in his words. He turned and indicated to a stone bench that was behind them, nestled in under a small canopy of trees and shrubs. They both took a seat, side by side and Avery breathed in a deep breath; trying to rid her body of the tension she had been feeling since the night before.

"Are things really that bad with your family?" he asked her wearily. Although he couldn't think of any reason why she would have lied about it, a small part of him had hoped it wasn't as bad as he had first believed. He could not bring himself to imagine a version of his family where they did not have the same sort of relationship that he had with his own father and brothers. Yet the rational, more scientific side of him told him, that with all the number of possible variations of worlds that could be out there; it was without a doubt, a real possibility. It just hurt him to know that it was true, but worst of all, that Avery had had to experience it.

"Before being here, and meeting all of you...that was all I knew. I don't know, them being the way they are was normal for me...you know?"

It wasn't really that Virgil knew, exactly, but he certainly understood what she was talking about. "And now..."

"Now, since meeting your family and seeing how close you guys are – it just hurts me so much to see what they've missed out on...are missing out on; the thought of going back to all the anger and resentment...not to mention the pain...I just don't know if I'm strong enough to deal with it all."

"Then stay..."

Avery got to her feet and took a few steps forward, her back to Virgil. "They need me Virgil, now more than they ever did before. I need to go back to help my Jeff to reconnect with his remaining sons, before it's too late."

"Okay," he replied, coming up behind her. "But if for any reason Brains' plan doesn't work, then there will always be a place for you here...with us."

"Thank you," she managed, her voice strained. It was clear that all this talk about her family and leaving was becoming difficult. She gave a small cough to clear her throat "I just want you to know that whatever happens, I am so grateful to all of you for everything you have done for me. I literally crashed into your world and turned everything upside down for everyone...especially you. Yet you have all made me feel like I'm a part of your family...you didn't have to do that..."

"I know, but you made it impossible for us not to..." Virgil admitted. This has been something that he had spoken to John about on one of their many late night chats since Avery had arrived in their world; how easily she had fit in with the family. How she got on well with all residents of the island. To Virgil, it felt as if she truly belonged there. In fact, after his last private conversation with Scott, he didn't think he was the only Tracy to feel that way. He knew that Avery's presence had had a huge impact on his oldest brother too.

"...It really is like you're a part of our family. That's why it's going to be so difficult to say goodbye." Virgil broke off and quickly turned away, unable to look at her. His last few words had come out strained and thick with emotion.

"Virgil?" Avery said, his name coming out as barely more than a whisper. She moved towards him and gently placed her hand on his shoulder, turning him back to face her. As he turned, that was when she saw the tears that were in his eyes and the pained expression on his face. It was enough to break her own resolve and she felt her own eyes fill with tears.

"I'm sorry," he apologised.

"You have nothing to apologise for," Avery told him.

He shook his head, "I promised myself that I wouldn't do this...that I wouldn't feel like this about you, but I can't stop myself..." he whispered as he reached up with his left hand to gently stroke her cheek.

"Virg..." she replied, also in a whisper, the intense look in his eye, taking her breath away. Slowly, he lowered his head and gently kissed her lips. Avery knew that she needed to stop what was happening, but the feel of his lips against hers was too much. She felt like she had no control over her own body; instead of pulling away, like she knew she should, she felt herself take a step closer to him. He gently wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer still as he deepened the kiss.

For a brief moment, it was as if nothing else existed. For a brief moment, they forgot that she was getting ready to leave that world, and return to the one she came from, the one where...suddenly a memory flashed into Avery's mind of an intimate moment which had taken place with her Virgil and she quickly broke the kiss. In that moment she became overwhelmed with an intense feeling of guilt...for betraying her husband.

"I'm sorry," she told Virgil as she took another few steps away from him, unsure if she trusted herself. Although her emotions were the reason why she had ended the moment between them, her body was still craving the feel and the warmth of him that she had been longing for since the day she had lost her Virgil.

"I'm the one who should be apologising...I was the one who took advantage..."

"But I allowed it to happen..." she said, cutting him off.

"Avery." Virgil practically shouted, cutting her off this time. "You must know how I feel about you. But I also want you to know that I would never do anything to hurt you."

"I know..." she began; however her words were cut off by a sharp gasp.

"What's wrong?" Virgil asked, alarmed.

"It's nothing. The baby just kicked," she told him, a huge smile appearing on her face. "Here."

She grabbed Virgil's hand a placed it on her stomach, just in time for him to feel the baby's next kick.

"Wow" he murmured, "that was..."

This time Virgil's words were cut off by the vibration of his watch.

There was an emergency, he had to go. He sheepishly looked up at Avery.

"It's ok, go," she told him, with a smile

Virgil gave her a smile in return, turned, and ran back towards the villa. Left alone, Avery sat back down on the bench. A short time later the peace in the air was shattered by the sound of the engines of Thunderbird One, followed closely by Thunderbird Two, flying away from the island.

"Please be careful," she whispered, as she watched both crafts disappear into the horizon, before she too made her way back to the villa.