Alan wasn't always homeschooled but he hated being trapped in a building he didn't want to be in all day, the island was open and his family were there, no teachers told him what to do and he could work anywhere as opposed to stuck in a hall, so, the day he was done with the school buildings was one he kept as a treasured memory, one his father wasn't pleased with but Alan loved. To his knowledge, it had started with his eldest brother moaning at his dad about how much he hated being at college and his dad firmly saying no to him dropping out early, or that's what Scott had told him afterwards. It was approaching the end of his first year and Alan had already achieved more credits than anyone else, papers had been emailed to him about signing up for the next programs and advising him which subjects to take, but those still sat in his unread folder, he looked over at his bed where sat was a large suitcase alongside his guitar and precious belongings waiting to be put into the family jet in a week when he could finally leave college for the holidays, he sighed leaning back in his chair after reading a "hurry and choose" email when suddenly there was a screech of wheels from outside and a red car drove up parking beside his window, his eldest two brothers grinned at him.

"Scott, Virgil, how did you?"

"Thunderbird 1, I'll probably be grounded for this but who cares," Scott smiled, "get your stuff and hop in."

"You can't park here," Alan scolded as Virgil opened the passenger door and walked round to the window to take his stuff from him.

"The less time we're here the better, we're pulling you out of college."

"But, dad?"

"But dad nothing, we'll help you get through the next three years, and we need you, now hurry up," Virgil took the last of his bags and slammed the trunk door down.

"What about the forms?" Alan tucked his laptop under his arm as he leant on the window ledge.

"Do them at home, we'll meet you around the front," Virgil shut his door and turned to the eldest, "step on it Scott."

Alan watched the car turn around the corner and he looked around his emptier room with a grin, no college? He had won, his brothers were definitely the coolest even if he hated to admit it to them in person, he closed the window and checked the room again before closing the door and running out of the halls, "so long!" He called cheerfully as he skipped down the steps and Scott held the car door open for him.

"Let's go," Virgil looked back over his shoulder as a security guard appeared.

"Okay okay, I'm on it," Scott stomped down on the accelerator and the tyres skidded as they left the grass and found the gravel path out of the boarding school, "we'll be fine now. Alan, you better have everything?"

"I do yes, I triple checked."

"And slow down Scott, there's no need to be reckless," Virgil glared at him, "you're not in Thunderbird 1 yet, this is a rental too."

"You're such a backseat driver, Virgil, but fine."

Alan smiled when the airfield came into view and his brother's rocket plane stood shining in the sunshine, her nose cone red as cherry and wings glistening, "it's good to see her again."

Scott grinned as he drove up to the barrier, "uh-huh."

They got on board after Scott signed the car off and belongings were strapped in and Alan got comfortable in one of the seats behind the pilot chair, "what did dad say about this?"

"He's pretty annoyed at me, but you weren't happy there Alan, we could tell you never wanted to go in the first place," Scott smiled back over his shoulder, "I'll take whatever is coming."

"Thanks, guys."

"What are brothers for?" Scott fired Thunderbird up, "ETA home, 1 hour."

"That's insane!" Alan grinned broadly.

"Brains has been doing some upgrades," Virgil smiled as he crossed his arms, "I just wish he added more windows in here."

"Quit moaning," Scott smirked, "what was getting you down the most there Alan?"

"I missed you guys and our rescue business, I'm made for space not land. I know dad wanted me to go to college like you guys did, but I've been out of the education system for so long, I felt weird, not to mention I'm only sixteen, everyone there is older than me and they don't like it."

Virgil smiled sympathetically, "explain that to dad and he'll understand."

"Do you really think so?"

"He should do."

Jeff paced the lounge looking at the portraits of his sons, Grandma Tracy watched him and tutted, "son, let them be."

"Scott took Thunderbird 1 without permission, and now he won't answer my calls."

"He'll be back soon."

"If we get a callout, we don't have any ships."

"Gordon can fly Thunderbird 2 son."

"I know mother, but I like to have everyone here when we get a call."

"You're just anxious, whilst you were gone I watched these boys, they work off each other, almost mirror. Gordon can fly Thunderbird 2 in his sleep, best that he doesn't do that literally of course."

Jeff looked out to the pool area as the underground mechanisms began pulling it open, "good, Thunderbird 1 is back."

"Good, I'll put the dinner on."

Jeff chuckled softly as his mother walked down to the kitchen, "FAB," moments later his three sons walked into the lounge and he noticed Scott brush his hand against Alan's, "Alan?"

"Dad."

"You actually pulled him out of college?! How on earth?"

Scott shrugged, "car rescue, hired one for a couple of hours and picked him up. What's wrong?"

"I never agreed for Alan to be taken out of college!"

Alan shrank against Virgil's side, "dad, he's our best space pilot, we need him," the second eldest frowned sadly.

Jeff sighed and turned to Alan, "do you really not want to be there son?"

Alan shook his head, "no sir, I miss home too much and everyone there is older than me, I feel out of place."

Jeff smiled, "come here," he wrapped his little boy in his arms and sighed as he looked up at Scott and Virgil, "I just thought you'd want to follow your brothers in the living away from home life?"

"I did once but now we have a family business, I don't want to miss out," he pressed his cheek to his father's waist, "sorry."

Jeff tutted, "I'm not angry at you, but I am angry that you launched Thunderbird 1 without asking, Scott."

"It was an emergency dad, Alan wasn't happy," Scott shrugged as he followed Virgil down into the ring.

"Come here you two," Jeff beckoned to them and they trudged over, he pulled them into the hug and Scott curled his body around Alan's as Virgil smiled, "maybe I was rushing, I've only just got back and I'm breaking you up, I'm sorry."

Scott smiled, "it's fine dad, but that's not going to happen again."

Virgil nodded, "not if we have any say in it," he closed his eyes happily as his father's hand ran down his hair.

"Alright, you can continue being homeschooled Alan, if you want your degree that is?"

"Can I have a year off to just focus on the rescue business, please?"

Jeff smiled as he freed them from the hug, "we'll see. But Scott?"

"Yes?"

"You're grounded from pleasure trips for a month."

Scott pouted, "I suppose that's fair."

"Welcome home, son," Jeff hugged his youngest boy again as Virgil grinned at Scott who was still pouting.