Alan pov

It was a typical morning on Tracy island.

Ophelia was in the kitchen cooking bacon and eggs.

Esme was in her high chair eating her bananas and well more like smushing them all together.

Lucas was sitting at the dining table playing with his action figures, despite knowing he's not allowed his toys at the table.

Aspen was sitting opposite him reading his comic book, his breakfasts left half-eaten next to him, clearly the Comic took precedence.

Skyler was sitting at the breakfast bar doing some homework that her online tutor had set for her.

I think it was to do with place value.

The two dogs Barley and Carla were sitting under her begging to scraps.

Barley for a 4-year-old golden lab, we rescued him from a high kill shelter 2 years ago, he was set to be put down on the afternoon that we arrived. We hadn't even intended to get a dog, I was only there because Tracy enterprises were holding a fundraiser and as CEO I thought I'd bring the family, you know no better way to bond than spend the afternoon convincing people to adopt and making dog shelters, it was Skyler that spotted Barley first, everyone was passing him by. I mean he wasn't the most attractive dog but that was because he has rescued from a dog right arena in Brazil where if a dog loses a fight as punishment they have their ears cut off and laid in front of them. (BTW this is a real thing that does happen, and it makes me sick just thinking about it. I'm lot lying when I tell you I shed a tear when I first read about it and the way this poor dog, with its dismembered ears laid in front of it, gosh I'm getting emotional thinking about it now)

Because of this perspective adoptive of foster parents were walking past him, Skyler pointed him out to Ophelia, the mangier told us of his story, it was at that moment I knew Barley would be coming home with us, I know my wife too well, and there is no way Ophelia would be able to leave that dog behind, so low and behold that evening we brought barley back to Tracy Island.

A few months later we went back to the same kill shelter this time we rescued Carla she was a 6-year-old German Shepard who had flunked out of the police dog academy and the owners she had been placed with abandoned her at the shelter.

So much to the joy of my children, we welcomed both into the Tracy household.

Speaking of my kids

After many hours of discussion, we agreed to keep the children homeschool until they were at an age where they would be sent to boarding school.

Never thought I of all people would be willing to send my child to boarding school, knowing how much I hated being away from my family when I was younger.

but now as a father myself, I understand why my dad did it.

I want my children to have a semi-normal childhood, to hang out with kids their age, go shopping or the skate park, make friends find out what they want to do with their life other than becoming a thunderbird, of course, if they still want to become a thunderbird when there older they are welcome to join the team, but I want them to have passions other than international rescue.

I'm sitting next to Skyler just drinking my morning coffee, already thinking about my day.

I have a conference call with our chief of marketing at 10 to see if our whole problem had been taking care of, then I had another conference call with the board of directors, not to mention the paperwork that has to be signed.

The 6 of us were the only ones in the main house right now.

Fermat and brains were down with the thunderbirds doing their monthly Maintenance.

Honestly, Brian's is in his 60s and he's still working like he's in his 40s.

That man will probably keep going until he's dead.

I try not to think about brains or anyone else I care about dieing.

3 months ago Parker had finally met his end at the ripe age of 89, he was found dead in his bed one morning, he had died peacefully in his sleep.

Lady Penelope was also not as young as she once was, though she was still as spirited, however, these days instead of going on undercover missions, she spends her day's sitting in her garden, drinking tea and eating sweet treats.

Kyrano and Onaha had move black to Malaysia to spend their retirement years surrounded by their family.

With them being gone, Fermat and Tin-Tin had made their old house their full-time residence with Izzy.

they had their own home with a kitchen and dining room so they didn't spend much time in the house, much preferring to keep to their own home.

Alan would have to guess Tin-Tin about now would be serving breakfast to her and Izzy and leaving something for Fermat.

I pulled out of my thoughts by a plate of eggs and bacon being placed In front of me.

"Thanks, honey." Ophelia smiles at me.

Esme makes her frustration known by slamming her bowl down on the high chair.

Ophelia rolls her eyes good naturally.

"Okay missy, I hear you."

Ophelia takes Esme out of her chair and balances her on her hip.

"Let's get you cleaned up."

Both her and Esme walk up the stairs and out of sight.

"Papa"

I turn to face Aspen.

"Yh Buddy."

"Why were you and mommy making so much noise last night."

I almost choke on coffee.

"what do you mean." Surely he couldn't mean...

"I had a nightmare last night I was coming to find you, then I heard noises coming from your bedroom, there were moans, then banging and then mommy yelled out the bad word."

Oh, fu...

"Mommy and I were just playing a fun grown-up game okay, similar to when you and your siblings have pillow fights.

"So like a grown-up pillow fight, I didn't know grownups had pillow fights."

"Oh yes, of course, grown-ups can have pillow fights."

Aspen just nods accepting my answer

I let at an inwards sigh of relief.

I hope I don't have to deal with that conversation for a long time yet.

After I Finnish my eggs and bacon, Ophelia walks back Into the room with a fully dressed Esme.

Ophelia herself has changed.

She now sported some shorts and a loose tank.

"Well daddy should be getting ready for the day shouldn't he Esme."

Ophelia takes in my sweat pants and my Cotten top.

Esme laughs and claps.

Honestly, I think affectionately

I've been ganged upon.

By my wife and daughter none the less.

I do take their advice though.

I walk into our bedroom, well it used to be my dads, but now it's mine.

I grab the first thing I can find a simple grey button-down, I pair it with some jeans shorts and checkered Lofas.

It's a short walk to the office/Homebase for international rescue.

I sit down on the chair and open my mac.

The rest of the day is spent in conference calls, returning calls, answering email, filling out paperwork just your typical CEO duty's.

I have even gifted a beef sandwich for lunch courtesy of Ophelia.

So I don't even have to leave my desk, in fact, I only emerge from my office after the sun has set.

That's funny.

Weirdly, Ophelia didn't call me for dinner, she usually has dinner done for six.

I look at my watch.

Six has long gone.

In fact, where is everyone?

I find my answer waiting for me in the living room.

Ophelia, Brains, Fermat, and Tin-Tin are all sat on the couch, eyes glued to the tv screen, I don't get what the big deal is, it's only the evening news.

I make my presence known by clearing my throat.

They all quickly turn to me, each wearing identical looks of shock, worry, unease and a variety of other emotions I can't fathom.

After some time passed Ophelia finds her voice.

"Alan they found it."

What?

What the hell are they talking about?

"Found what?"

"The plane."

What?

What plane?

Wait they don't mean...

My heart is in my throat.

Ophelia clears her throat.

"Alan they found the plane your father and brothers were on."

Tears prick my eyes.

I try to hold them back.

I think In the back of my mind.

I always knew the wreckage would turn up one day, at least now we can finally put them to rest, but will there be anything left to put to rest, after all the years that have passed I'm sure they have decomposed my now, maybe their skeletons are still there or had they been lost to the sea.

All the pain I haven't felt since I was a young boy came rushing back.

The room starts to spin and distort.

My legs give out and I fall on the couch.

"So how much of the wreckage did they find from the ocean..." Alan." I mean is there anything left of them..."Alan." do they need me to come and collect the bodies or skeletons." Alan!"I mean I don't want to have to waste a trip if there's nothing there and anyway where do we go..." Alan!"I mean do they have a drop off point, no that would be silly." Alan!" Then again it might not be, I mean it been 18 years, of course, there would be nothing left."Alan!"

I am becoming hysterical.

Ophelia grabs my face in her hand and makes me look into her eyes.

"Alan, calm down, breath with me, in, out, in, out, that's it."

She strokes my face.

I feel my heart rate slow down once again.

I address the people on the couch.

"Guys there no point in going, it's been too long they'll be no body's, it's been too long and most likely the current would have dragged them away from the plane."

At least now I get my closure.

Tin-Tin opens her mouth to speak.

Almost like she can't believe what she's saying.

"Alan, they didn't fish the plane out the sea, it landed in Germany 3 days ago with ALL its occupants onboard."

What?

I look to the faces of everyone waiting for someone to say this is all just a sick joke.

But all I see is the truth.

Wait so does that mean...

Are my father and brothers still alive?