Author's Note - Thanks to all who reviewed the previous Chapter. We only have three Chapters to go in this one. Hope they meet your expectations!!! mcj.

CHAPTER 5 - SOME FATHERLY ADVICE

"What the... Gordon you dumb ass get the hell off me!"

Alan was awoken from a very deep sleep and most enjoyable dream about he and Tin-Tin by his red-haired brother who took a flying leap on to his bed and landed on top of him. Gordon ruffled his brother's already tousled hair and proceeded to give him a huge kiss on the mouth.

"What are you doing you idiot!."

"Well by the look on your face before I woke you, I figured someone should be kissing you."

"Jackass! I said get off me! You must have put on weight or something."

Gordon who was still sitting on top of Alan pushed him down harder into the mattress.

"Make me baby boy."

"You asked for it Gordo."

Alan pushed up against him despite still being half asleep and they grappled good-naturedly together across Alan's huge bed, ending up on the floor with the bedclothes strewn everywhere on top of them.

"Hey you're makin' that bed up again." Alan warned him.

"Yeah? I got news for you boy."

"Yeah?"

"And it's all bad!"

It started again, this time on the floor and despite a good fight, Gordon ended up the victor, pinning Alan to the floor on his back. Alan looked up at Gordon's imposing figure, his broad shoulders and strong upper body. He had the body of an aquanaut.

"I give up Gordo. You win...again"

"You astronauts are such pretty boys. Can't fight to save yourselves. Give me Scott and Virg any day."

"Yeah well you caught me off guard." Alan complained. "I was asleep!"

Deep down Alan knew he didn't give the fight everything he had. He had to be careful with his brother. Gordon was still recovering from a terrible hydrofoil accident. Even though it had happened many months ago it had nearly killed him, leaving him in a coma for months and he had required extensive therapy to recover. The accident had scared their whole family half to death and they were all still getting over it in one way or another. However, no one had been more scared than Alan. He was particularly close to his brother Gordon.

They were only thirteen months apart and shared the common bond of being raised from babyhood without their Mother. Gordon could not remember Lucy no matter how hard he tried. The earliest thing he could remember was plucking up the courage to ask Scott who was around thirteen at the time why everyone else he knew had a mother and he didn't. Scott had sat him down and tried to explain and then warned him in no uncertain terms that he wasn't to talk to his Father about it and no he wasn't going to tell him why.

Gordon and Alan had grown up together and were the best of friends, however two more different brothers would never be found in looks or nature. Gordon had an easy going, affectionate personality which had never changed from birth whilst Alan was completely the opposite. Their Grandmother had always said Lucy had made Gordon the way he was in the one year that she had him and Alan's manner came from the fact that she had never had the opportunity to try. Josie wished sometimes she could have. Alan certainly needed it.

The two of them sat on the floor together.

"Happy birthday Al." Gordon said after a while and hugged him, giving him an affectionate pat on the back.

"Thanks Gordo. I appreciate it."

"You're still a kid though."

"That so"? asked the blonde.

"Care to try me on again then?" challenged the red-head.

The light-hearted wrestling started again, this time Alan ending up the victor. Despite Gordon's health he couldn't let him think he was weak.

"Who's the pretty boy now "? he asked with a grin.

"You are. All astronauts are the same." Gordon fired.

"I'd watch what I said about astronauts if I were you." came a warning from the door.

The heads of the two youngest Tracy sons spun towards the doorway. It was their Father.

Alan stood up, followed by Gordon.

"Get out of that you worm." Alan laughed under his breath. "You kind of forgot that Dad's an Astronaut."

"Dad. You're too old to be a pretty boy." Gordon said in his usual joking manner but deep down he remembered what today was and what happened last year. He didn't want to be the one to get his Father off on the wrong foot.

"Is that right?" Jeff said good-naturedly looking at Gordon's face changing colour. "Well as good an aquanaut as you are son, just remember there are three astronauts under this roof today."

"Aww Dad. You just caught me giving it to the kid. You know I didn't mean you and Johnny!"

"Let me tell you, you two are going to get it all right if your Grandmother sees that bed looking like that," he said, observing at the mess all over the floor. "The two of you never change when you're together. Now Gordon if you don't mind."

Jeff indicated that he wanted Gordon to leave him alone with Alan. He swallowed a bit as he left the room. Alan swallowed too and started picking up the strewn blankets and sheets. Jeff said his name and came close to him drawing him into a hug that lasted a long time. He wanted this hug to be not just from him but from Lucy, thoughts of her still uppermost in his mind.

"Happy birthday Alan." he said softly.

Alan looked at his Father.

"Thanks Dad."

Silence. Alan didn't quite know what to say and was quite frankly worried to say anything.

"Ah hem. Later on this morning when we fly out to Boston, I'd like you and John to accompany me in Tracy 1."

Uh oh, Alan thought. Here comes the lecture about not radioing in from Thunderbird 3 last night!

"Dad", he said uneasily. "I usually fly over with Scott."

"I know but I'd like things to be different this year. We three astronauts had better stick together by the sound of it." he said shaking his head with a grin at the very thought of being called a "pretty boy" by his second youngest son.

Alan's urge told him to just ask for the blast about the radio straight away but a voice inside his head told him to keep quiet. Maybe it was Scott's voice, maybe it was John's, but something stopped him.

"OK Dad. If that's what you want." he replied agreeably.

"Yes Alan it is. Now I'm going down to breakfast. Don't you dare leave here with your bed like that. I can hear Grandma down the hall."

"Yes Dad."

Jeff paused for a moment preparing to speak to Alan further and then thought better of it. The time would be right later in the day. Today was the day he chose to be with Lucy and at least he had started it the right way by hugging their last child, as she would have and thinking of her. He left the room as Josie went to walk in. Her eyes met Jeff's. Jeff kissed her.

"Good morning Mother. I'll see you downstairs."

"Are you all right Jeff?" she asked

He nodded. "Yeah I'm fine Mother."

She watched him go and then turned her attention to her youngest grandson, the apple of her eye.

"Sakes alive look at this mess! Alan Shepherd Tracy I've a mind to put you over my knee!" she exclaimed, sounding genuinely cross.

Alan picked her slight frame off the ground and hugged her. Six foot one of muscle; he'd like to see her try. He kissed her cheek.

"You don't mean that Grandma. Anyway Gordon did it. Not me!"

"No it's never you is it Alan? You're always the innocent one. Now put me down before you injure me!"

Laughing, he did as she asked pausing then to wrap his arms around her. He loved this woman so completely. The woman who had helped his Father raise him. The one who always saw life like it was and the one he knew he couldn't fool even though he liked to think he could.

"Happy birthday my darling." she said. "Now I want a quick word with you if you don't mind."

He held up his hand. Not another warning. He'd gotten the message for goodness sake.

"You don't have to worry Grandma. I have no intention of going off into the wild blue yonder this year in a huff. I'll behave for Dad's sake I promise."

She looked at him a little ruffled but with relief all over her face. One of those brothers of his must have talked some sense into him since dinner last night. Nodding to herself she knew it had probably been Scott. Poor Scott. He was always settling this boy down.

"Well that's good then." she said. "I've been up half the night worrying about it."

"Well you don't have to Grandma."

She looked at the young man in front of her and thought affectionately of the sweet dark haired little girl who was downstairs making him breakfast. When oh when would he come to his senses and tell her that he loved her. It was so obvious to Josie that they both felt the same about each other and were too stubborn to admit it.

"You'd better run along. You've got a pretty little girl waiting downstairs who loves you." she said giving him a light hearted push towards the door.

He colored scarlet.

"Grandma don't say that! Tin-Tin and I are just friends. She doesn't love me."

Josie knew she was right by his reaction! She'd touched the nerve. She had become expert at saying just the right thing since she had been helping Jeff with his boys.

Well maybe today he might walk with her and tell her he loved her. It would be about time.

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"This is Jeff Tracy to Tracy 2. Come in Scott?"

"This is Tracy 2. FAB Dad."

"What is your position?"

"205km south east of Boston. Yours?"

"Five minutes in front of you son. Tracy 1 out."

"FAB"

Scott put down the radio and looked at Virgil and Gordon. His two brothers looked as apprehensive as he did. At least their Father still sounded all right on the radio. It seemed comfortable to assume that Alan hadn't said anything stupid to him yet but all three of them were waiting for it.

Scott was still reeling from the light headed and sick feeling he got when his Father told him over breakfast that he would be taking John and Alan with him to their old home town of Boston, the place where their mother was buried. In the past Scott had deliberately taken Alan with him each year so that when they arrived and left the cemetery, and his Father was upset, he could keep an eye on him. He always took John too as John usually ended up as upset as his Father did and Scott was able to offer him at least some words of comfort. He had tried to think quickly this morning and made up one excuse after another why both John and Alan would be better off in Tracy 2 with him but his Father had dismissed each and every excuse he offered. Scott realized he should have known better than to try to change his Father's mind. It never worked when he was set on something.

He wondered what his Father was trying to achieve by having those two with him. He could only imagine what was happening in Tracy 1!

"We should be there in just under thirty minutes boys." Jeff Tracy said scanning the controls. It had been a while since he'd taken Tracy 1 for a spin and he loved flying with a passion. He always had. It was in his blood.

He turned to look at John. John was twisting his hands together as if he was about to have a nervous breakdown. He'd been like that since they'd left the island and Jeff felt so sorry for him. Lord he had to sort this boy out today for his own sake. Alan sat next to John looking almost as terrified as he was but unknown to him Alan was waiting to be confronted about the night before. What a pair these two blondes were. No wonder a man was starting to feel old!

Well since the two of them weren't going to say anything to him, he decided that it was best that he at least talk to them.

"I've been thinking." he began and on listening to himself, suddenly felt tears well in his eyes. That terrible line that Lucy always picked him up on and teased him with. He swallowed hard. How could that stupid line upset him so much after twenty years? Steadying himself he realized both sets of blue eyes were on him.

"Yes Dad?" asked John.

"Umm. "

"Dad. Are you OK?"

"Yes. I was going to suggest that when you return to Thunderbird 5 John that I come with you into space. I am only realizing today just how much I miss being in the air."

Alan and John looked at each other surprised. That was a turn up for the books. Since when did Dad leave his desk? The last time he had done that was when he was testing Thunderbird 3 before their operations had begun.

"Yeah there is nothing like being in space. The speed is where it gets me in. It's nothing but an absolute blast." Alan said forgetting he was on his way to Boston.

"It's the beauty of seeing the earth." John breathed. "I never get tired of looking at it. Night after night I look at it and it is always beautiful."

"It's better from the moon. One day when our operations extend there I hope you are privileged enough to see it like I was. It is a most humbling experience." Jeff said sincerely, remembering his time in NASA.

The three astronauts shared their common love of outer space in those few minutes without even realizing they were doing it.

"Besides," Jeff said, his voice changing to his stern fatherly tone. "The two of you need some instruction on proper disembarking procedure after last night."

Alan's heart started pounding. Not now. Just when he was enjoying being with his Father. "Keep calm Alan" he said over and over in his head. "Just take it on the chin today. You promised Grandma."

John felt like he was going to throw up. He'd finally stopped worrying about Alan and thinking about his Mother for a few minutes to share his love of space with this father. Yet here it was. The lecture. Oh well. He'd taken the blame for Alan's mistakes for years. What was one more time?

Alan didn't know that John had admitted to being responsible last night and John didn't know Alan didn't know.

"Now I'm not going to make a big deal out of this but it is important to the safety of International Rescue that you follow the appropriate procedures. It was irres...."

"Tracy 2 to Tracy 1. Dad come in! Over."

It was Scott sounding more than just a bit agitated. Jeff recognized the panic in his voice.

"Tracy 1. This is Jeff Tracy. Go ahead son."

Scott swallowed. He didn't know what his Father was going to say to this one!

"Dad. Tin-Tin has just radioed me from the base. She and Kyrano have been watching the newscast and it seems there is a woman trapped on a very dangerous ledge in a National Park near Ontario. Apparently, according to the report a call was put in to us but we haven't responded. Obviously the auto-pilot in Thunderbird 5 doesn't seem to have picked it up".



Scott heard John swear in the background. "Stupid bloody autopilot! I knew it would fail Alan!"

"Why didn't Tin-Tin radio me?" Jeff blurted his tone full of aggravation. "I'm on the damned frequency."

"Dad. … maybe she assumed your mind was on other things."

"I don't care what the hell the date is Scott. I am still the head of this damned organization."

Scott cringed at his Father's tone and worried Alan would pick up on it too. Of course, right on cue, he did.

"Dad - you can't blame Tin-Tin." he began defensively.

"What did you say to me Alan?" Jeff Tracy scowled.

Sweet Mother of God. All of them, Scott, John, Virgil and Gordon held their breath. Of course the stupid kid would stand up for Tin-Tin. They all knew how much he was in love with her, despite everything he said.

"She'd just be trying to watch out for you Dad," he stammered, realising the mood his Father was in.

"Well she needn't. I am still able to make decisions even if I do wear my heart on my sleeve on this day." Jeff retorted dangerously.

"Yes Sir. I'm sorry." Alan gulped.

His brothers breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well Dad - what are we going to do?" Scott asked. "Should I turn back Sir?"

Jeff Tracy frowned. This was the one-day that he allowed himself to be with Lucy not just in his mind and heart, but also in person. Visiting her grave in Boston was important to him. He wanted to be there today, where he had left her, and he wanted his sons to be there too. He just couldn't not go there for the first time in twenty years. He couldn't let her down like that after what she had gone through on this day for him and for Alan.

He then thought about the woman on the ledge. Maybe she had a son too. Maybe she had five sons who might not have a mother if he did not respond to her call for help. Maybe she had a husband who loved her liked he had loved Lucy who might be left to cope like he had been. That was the catalyst for Jeff. No one should ever have to cope with what had happened to him.

He squared his jaw and spoke with authority.

"Scott. I want you to return to base. Launch Thunderbirds 1 & 2. Check with Brains as to which pod is needed after he views tape of the newscast. Get Virgil to take Gordon and if Gordon isn't up to the physical rescue out of ship, get Virgil to do it while Gordon pilots. Get Tin-Tin to monitor the situation until I get back from Boston. Scott, I need you to take charge of this one from the air."

"FAB . You can rely on me Dad. Altering course for Base."

With a magnificent sweep, demonstrating the depth and brilliance of his piloting skills he turned Tracy 2 almost 180 degrees back towards the South Pacific base.

"And Scott…" Jeff continued over the frequency and with difficulty. "I hope you can understand."

Tears pricked Scott's deep blue eyes.

"Yeah Dad." he said softly. "I do. Say hi to Mom for me."

Jeff's eyes misted again at the sensitivity and understanding of his eldest son. If only the youngest one had some of it. There he was, large as life, at it again!

"Dad. You can't let Gordon go. He's not up to it yet after the accident and he's sure as hell no pilot." Alan protested. "I think you should turn back too. I'll go instead of Gordon."

Jeff sighed.

"International Rescue can do without its Astronauts this time Alan. Besides I need you and John with me today."

"But Dad…"

"No buts son. " he replied. "International Rescue can get the job done without you. Your brothers will be fine... even Gordon."

"Dad - the autopilot..."John interjected, visibly upset at its failure. "I don't know how it could have failed. We both checked over and over. Didn't we Alan?"

"Yeah we did Dad." Alan nodded supporting John. "How could it have gone wrong?"

"Well I think we have to learn from our mistakes. This just shows that we have to have a physical presence in Thunderbird 5 in the future,", he said and meant it. This could not happen again.

He turned his attention to the radio.

"This is Jeff Tracy to Boston Airport. Seeking your permission to land."

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The three of them stood there, two blonde sons on either side of him and Jeff Tracy, the man who had loved her. All three of them looked down at the grave of Lucille Tracy, mother of five sons, wife of the renowned astronaut who had loved her before he had ever gone into space and after he had returned. Who had met her when he was a young man in the air force and handpicked to go forward into space for his country. Who was unaffected by who he was and what he was destined for in space exploration history in the United States. Who never changed who she was for any one. Who loved him as a man. Who had borne his children without concern for herself. Who had supported him in his business dreams despite the risks he took. Who understood he was a man with a dream and a plan and a destiny. Who gave her life giving birth to his last son. Who he would never stop loving no matter what.

John read the inscription on his Mother's headstone over and over as if trying to memorize it somehow.

"Lucille Evans Tracy.

Beloved wife and best friend of Jeff.

Much loved mother of Scott, Virgil, John, Gordon and Alan.

The shining star in our universe that will shine on forever in our hearts. "

John's bottom lip trembled. He had loved his mom so much. He searched the stars himself to find meaning for it all. Despite him achieving a career with the stars, he still had not found what he had been searching for all this time. A meaning and an answer for why she had died.

Alan stood there reading the inscription as he did every year not feeling anything other than guilt. He really wished he had known Lucy Tracy. She must have been one hell of a lady if his Father had been so affected by the person that she was and was still in love with her after twenty long years. Only those with substance, intelligence and sincerity ever impacted on his Father. Alan knew that from experience. His Mother must have had all that and more for his Father to care this deeply. He wondered how it would feel having a Mother to ask what he should do about Tin-Tin, tell how he felt about her, and ask what he should do. He wondered what she would have said to him.

"If love is what you feel in your heart take it with both your hands before it passes you by. That is what life is about."



Those words speared up into his head from nowhere. Were they her words? The words made sense to him and standing here in this lonely place he could only believe that they were.

"Mom." he said silently allowing himself to use her name in his heart for the first time in his life, "I will."

John however started to fall apart beside him. Stressed from the loneliness of Thunderbird 5, the failure of the autopilot, this awful place where his mother was and the guilt he felt at blaming Alan for it, was all too much for him. What started as a sniff ended up as a full-blown breakdown.

He burst into tears despite trying hard not to lose control, as he knew it would upset his Father. Alan looked over and quickly wrapped his arm around John.

"Johnny please don't cry. "

"I can't hold it in anymore. I just can't."

Jeff Tracy came to stand beside John Glenn Tracy. That was enough now. It was time this was sorted out.

"Alan" Jeff said deliberately, "You can see there is a reason for me to be alone with your brother right now."

Alan nodded rigidly.

"Yes Sir. I'll be in the car monitoring the rescue if you need me."

Jeff looked put a comforting arm around John's heaving shoulders. John lowered his head and sobbed harder. Alan heard him as he walked away and started to feel even worse about being born that day. Look what he had done to John.

"I'm so sorry for all this Dad. " John gulped trying to pull himself together.

"John sit down here with me. I need to talk to you."

"Can't we go somewhere else Dad? I just can't look at her grave any more."

"John you have to face this just as much as I do. Sit down son."

John's lips trembled as he obeyed his Father. Jeff joined him on the grass. He looked towards the river as he tried to think of something to say to this middle boy of his. The one who had loved his Mother the most of all if there was such a thing. The one who could express his feelings the least.

The view was beautiful here. He had selected this spot for her back then in the midst of his devastation because he knew she would have liked it here. He hoped she did. John was silent now as he plucked the grass with his trembling fingers but tears still ran unchecked down his face.

"Son. You can't go on like this. You have to learn to cope with what happened to your mother. I know how much you loved her. From the day you were born you were in her arms. Every moment of every day."

John swallowed a fresh bout of tears before answering.

"I can't help feeling like this Dad. It's like a part of me is dead inside. "

"Well I've thought about that over the years because I've had a feeling that how you feel was my doing."

John fixed his blue eyes on his Father, his whole soul bared for him to see.

"What do you mean Dad?"

"John. " Jeff began gently, "You were very difficult as a little boy. Your Mother really had a lot to deal with back then. I was away a lot, more than I should have been I suppose and it was very hard for her with you as you were. She didn't complain John don't get me wrong but the day I had to put her into the hospital to rest because you expected her to carry you when she was carrying Gordon already and pregnant with Alan too, I saw red with you. You were only three I knew but I just couldn't stand watching your mother dealing with three babies. I had to make you grow up even though it was by force. I was overly harsh on you John. I've regretted it ever since even though it made life better for her then. In thinking about it, taking your Mother away from you before the good Lord did was wrong. I still see you next to her on the couch the day she came home for Gordon's birthday party, too frightened to sit on her knee in case you got another caning from me. How you held her. How she held you…"

Tears welled in Jeff's eyes as he remembered.

"Dad. All this is not just about Mom." John said with shame.

Jeff wiped his eyes and waited for John to continue expectantly.

"It's this guilt I feel that I need to tell someone about. I can't tell anyone else but you as you seem to feel the way I do."

Jeff still said nothing. What other burden was this poor son of his carrying around in his heart? No wonder he looked like he did last night when he came in from the space station. No wonder he had cringed in his embrace.

"After last year, you know with Alan. What you said and what he said. Well I've always blamed Alan too Dad and it's killing me inside to think that two of us are doing that to him."

Jeff shook his head. Poor confused emotional boy.

"John. I've never blamed Alan for what happened to your Mother. I tried to blame the Doctors for a while but they did everything they could. I watched them with my own eyes and I was fooling myself to think it was their fault."

He paused as John started crying again as much from relief as anything.

"Son I would never have thought that there would be enough room in your heart for you to blame your brother for this. He was a defenseless little baby who nearly didn't pull through. The reason we seem to argue every year is the pure fact that he sees us in pain like this and from the time he understood the significance of his birthday to our sorrow, he has blamed himself for it. He's over in that car right now probably blaming himself that you're all cut up and building himself up to another row with me. I'm not going to let it happen again, God willing your mother will help keep me silent today. "

Silence again.

"Dad, about the radio and the failure of the autopilot. I'm sorry for failing you Sir."

"Johnny'" Jeff said softly. "You've never failed anyone and I'm going to tell you something. I know it was Alan's fault with the radioing in and while I'm at it the time the neighbor's cat was shaved and every other time you've protected and stood up for your younger brothers, I knew it wasn't you. Those two are men now. You don't have to worry about them like you do. Lord knows Scott does enough worrying about them for all of us."

"Thank you Dad." he whispered.

"You're welcome John. Let's go home now."

"Dad, I love you."

"I'm happy to hear that John."

………………………………………………………………………………………………

The rescue had been a success and Scott was congratulating himself as he turned the Thunderbirds towards home. Gordon had managed the difficult cliff-face rescue extremely capably and was looking forward to thumbing his nose at his baby brother on reaching home. Scott told him in no uncertain terms that he certainly was not.

Scott had just spoken to his Father who was now back at the base and was anxiously enquiring of the details. Jeff seemed pleased with how he had conducted the mission and sounded agreeable enough. Scott breathed a sigh of relief. Two thirds of the 12th March was nearly over. So far so good.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Jeff Tracy and his son John sat in deck chairs by the swimming pool awaiting the return of the Thunderbirds. Jeff screwed up his nose at the non-alcoholic Bloody Mary that Kyrano had just given him.

"Geez Kyrano this is a bit hard to swallow" he said and he was telling the truth.

Kyrano apologized profusely but explained that Josie had taken it on herself to confiscate each and every bottle of alcohol within a hundred mile radius of the island in her own effort to keep everyone's head together this year.

"Well" Jeff said ruefully taking another sip, "I guess that's all I can have then."

He patted John's arm affectionately. He looked and seemed much brighter now. Jeff was relieved as he really thought he was going to lose the boy to his misery. On the way home the two of them had spoken amiably about space and the book John was writing on astronomy. It was the most Jeff had spoken to his son in twenty-four years. Alan on the other hand, sat in a frozen silence when he wasn't complaining about the fact that he wasn't on the rescue. Jeff felt a crisis looming

with another son. Not this year.

The two of them turned their attention to the pool where Alan and Tin-Tin were swimming. Jeff watched how Alan responded to Tin-Tin and she to him. As the afternoon progressed Jeff noticed small things about them that were only recognizable by someone who had done it all before. The touch of a shoulder every now and then, the lighthearted prodding, the eye contact. He was becoming more than just a little worried. These two reminded him of he and Lucy that night in the farmhouse when they'd first…

Jeff Tracy stood up in a panic. He had to talk to Kyrano.

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"Fatherly Advice"

"Father."

"Tin-Tin."

"Father, I need your advice."

"You have it."

"It's about..."

"Mr. Alan"?

"Yes Father! How did you know"?

"I am your Father."

"Father. I have been Alan's friend for..."

"For more years than you can remember"?

"Yes but it is not enough any more."

"You have other feelings for Mr. Alan?"

"Yes."

"Tell me of them daughter so that I may help."

"I think Father they are feelings of love."

"You love him"?

"I think I do."

"Those in love can usually tell."

"Could you tell Father."?

"Yes Tin-Tin I loved your Mother. It was that love that brought you to us. It was love that died within her before she left you with me."

"I love Alan. I think he feels the same."

"Have you told him that."?

"No."

"Has he told you that."?

"No."

"You two have a lot to say to each other. Hence you need my advice little one."

"Should I tell him Father"?

"Those who care in this way do not keep secrets from one another."

"What if he does not feel the same"?

"He will still know the truth of how you feel."

"I'm afraid he won't Father."

"This is the risk you take in matters of your heart."

"I guess."

Kyrano placed his arm around his young daughter. She was a beautiful, gentle girl and he was sorry she had grown up without a Mother to speak to about matters such as this. It was hardly appropriate he direct her to Josie being the grandmother of the young man concerned. However he had been feeling troubled ever since he had spoken with Alan's Father just over two hours ago.

The matter they had discussed was delicate and private and Kyrano was unsure of how to broach it with his daughter.

"Tin-Tin. May I ask this question of you?" he began.

"Father? You know I keep nothing from you."

"You are a now a grown woman and a beautiful one. That is plain for me to see and it is plain for Mr. Alan to see. I have no right to ask this of you but for the sake of my relationship with Mr. Tracy I must know."

She looked directly at him.

"You're going to ask me if Alan and I have been intimate aren't you Father."?

He lowered his head and reddened.

"I am not here to judge either you or Mr. Alan my daughter. It is simply that I know."

"No Father. We haven't...yet"

"Do you intend this to be"?

"Yes Father. If he asks me."

"You would commit yourself to Mr. Alan in this way"?

"Yes I would."

"Without question?"

"Yes."

"Well my precious little Tin-Tin, I think your answer is there for you. You are in love with him in one way. Whether your love is enduring or only that of the body can only be revealed with time."

"I am in love with him Father not just his body."

"Mr. Alan will see it is the same for him."

"He will Father"?

"His Grandmother knows as I know. You and Mr. Alan - you are made to be one."

"Father what I should I do?"

"Mr. Tracy came here earlier and told me a story of he and Mr. Alan's mother. About being intimate and not careful. It caused me great pain to hear it as much as it gave him pain to tell it to me. He has never spoken of Mrs.Tracy to me before. I think he may have the same fear for you and Mr. Alan and that is why he told me."

"Mr. Tracy knows I love Alan too"?

"He does not know from Mr. Alan lips. Only from what he sees my daughter."

"Thank you Father."

"I have watched you grow without your Mother from a child to a woman Tin-Tin. I have been of little help in many things in your physical being but in matters of your heart I thank you for confiding in me."

"I love you Father."

"As do I my dear child. Be careful I beg you."

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I hope this Chapter gave you the insight as to why the first chapters were written as they were.

Next Chapter - Man to Man