Author's Note - Thank you Lynne for your suggestions, some of which I have incorporated into this Chapter. mcj
CHAPTER 14 - THE FINAL COMMITMENT - A VERY SPECIAL DAY - PART 1
He watched her from the shadows of their bedroom as she slept ; a tiny thin figure in their huge king-sized bed. The early morning light fell on her beautiful face, accentuating its perfection. She looked so calm and ethereal with her long eyelashes resting on her cheeks and her hair, whilst dishevelled from sleep spread out like a cloak of black silk on the pillows.
She was stunning even in slumber…simply breathtaking … and whilst she was in these four walls she was only his. He never grew tired of looking at her.
He was distracted from thoughts of her beauty momentarily by the soft gurgling of another human being he held in his arms as he fed his five-month old baby daughter an early morning bottle.
Her little face was beautiful too and her unusually long eyelashes fluttered at him as she suckled. In the increasing morning light he could see the tiny curls on top of her head. Alan continued to marvel as each week yet another tuft of her pretty chestnut hair seemed to form into a curl. His Grandmother said she was becoming more like his mother to look at with each day that passed. His Father agreed and said she had a temperament like his mother too. Jeff Tracy absolutely adored her and spoiled her dreadfully. He called her his "little princess" which Alan's grandmother confided in him had been his pet name for his mother.
Alan lowered his face to kiss the top of her little head. She reached one of her hands unsteadily towards his face as he held her. Their eyes locked. He gave her his brilliant Tracy smile. She gave him hers, inherited from him.
"Lucy Josephine...you stop that and be drinking this now." he berated her affectionately. "I need you to be going back to sleep before your mommy wakes up."
Her smile continued and milk escaped from the sides of her tiny pink mouth and oozed down both sides of her Evans shaped chin as he smiled in return.
"I mean it baby girl." he added firmly. "Today is a special day for Daddy and I need mommy all to myself for a bit. I've got something special I have to ask her and I can't have you taking away my thunder by interrupting me you got that?"
Almost as if she understood Lucy returned to taking her bottle. Alan nodded and spoke to her with tenderness.
"That's better young lady." he said. "I'm glad you and I understand each other like we do."
She shifted in his arms and snuggled closer to his strong young body as she fed. Alan held her securely and continued to speak to her.
"You see Lucy, Mommy and I have been married for a whole year now and that's kind of a big deal for us grown-ups; especially Grandpa. Grandpa didn't think we'd get this far…but we have and that's a reason for Daddy to be extra happy. You already know what Grandpa's like with his worrying don't you. He still thinks I'm going to stop loving your Mommy any minute. Dumb huh? "
He stroked her head as she began to fall asleep.
"Plus Lucy I've been trying not to upset you by saying so but Daddy has to go away today. It's time for your Uncle Johnny to come home to see you again. Daddy has to leave in a few hours so when Mommy wakes up promise me you'll be a good girl and let me have her all to myself just this once. I really need to do some grown up stuff with her that I can't have you watching."
He sighed.
"I'm going to miss her Lucy… and you."
Alan felt tears welling in his eyes. Today was his first wedding anniversary and of all days it fell on his required rotation date to Thunderbird Five. He had tossed up whether to ask John if he minded delaying his return to earth one more day so he could spend it with Tin-Tin. However he had thought better of it. He knew John had done more than enough for him already without asking him yet another favour.
John had selflessly volunteered to remain on continuous duty in Thunderbird Five for the first three months of Lucy's life to enable Alan to care for her and be by Tin-Tin's side as she commenced her rehabilitation. Alan knew from experience how difficult those months would have been for his brother. He was all too familiar himself with how it felt to endure the long, lonely days and nights week after week in Thunderbird Five devoid of any physical human contact.
John had not complained and Alan knew he owed his older brother big time. They often spoke in the middle of the night whilst Alan walked the floor with a sleepless Lucy. They discussed Tin-Tin's progress in therapy and Alan assured John through his own tired eyes that he intended to make up for his missed rotations as soon as he could. John wouldn't hear of it. He had simply smiled and said.
"If it's for that gorgeous little girl in your arms we're square Alan. Just no more black eyes huh?"
With extensive therapy and through her own iron determination Tin-Tin had recovered surprisingly well to be able to do most things for Lucy herself within the first three months. She still relied heavily on Alan for some things and needed Grandma's help or that of their two Fathers when he wasn't around. However she was improving daily. Her speech was close to normal again and she walked with only a slight limp. Her long-term memory still troubled her but it too was recovering. The therapist assured her she would be as close as possible to her former self in no time at all and commended her progress.
After a long discussion with his Father, the two of them decided Tin-Tin would remain on extended leave from her role as Assistant Engineer until she was fully recovered and wanted to work again. When she did return to work it had to be at her own pace. Alan agreed to resume duty in the satellite.
The rotations in Thunderbird Five recommenced on the condition Tin-Tin was able to cope with the baby and continued with her physical therapy sessions without missing an appointment. There was no room for negotiation with her appointments Alan reiterated. They had to be met and he would not accept any reason whatsoever for them being cancelled. In addition he insisted that if Tin-Tin or Lucy showed any signs of distress, he was to be immediately called and relieved.
Jeff Tracy acceded to his son's request without argument and placed himself in charge of accompanying Tin-Tin for the appointments Alan could not attend himself.
Lucy was asleep now and Alan quietly rose from where he sat near the window and carried her through to her nursery. He kissed her cheek and placed her in her cot in the corner of the room. He covered her gently and tucked in the blankets.
"I love you my little angel." he whispered. "Now remember you promised me you'd be good."
He turned and carefully closed the door. He yawned and returned to the huge bed, pulling off his t-shirt off as he climbed in beside her. He looked at the clock. It said 5.40am. He looked at his wrist communicator and recalled blast off for Thunderbird Three was to be at 10.00am.
There was work to be done on the craft before blast off. He knew he really should get up and go down there with Brains. Brains would have been awake for hours.
But there was something more important he had to attend to first. He turned off the wrist communicator and lay on his side propped up on his elbow gazing at her.
"You are simply perfect." he whispered as he reached out to stroke her forehead. "I can't believe I nearly lost you."
She stirred in her sleep and rolled towards him. Her eyes fluttered open and startled as they unexpectedly met the brilliance of his. He felt his breath catch as she smiled. She simply melted him from within each and every time she looked at him.
"Alan. What are you doing?" she asked sleepily.
"Looking at you." he replied truthfully slipping his arms around her. "And telling myself just how lucky I am to have a beautiful woman like you waking up next to me."
She nestled closer to his body as he held her. The May morning was cool. He pulled the covers over them and the two of them lay together peacefully and in silence. He closed his eyes contentedly letting her musk scent totally envelope him as it rose to his senses.
"Have you checked on Lucy this morning?" she asked after few moments. "She's usually awake by now."
She began to disentangle herself from his arms to check on the baby but he held her firmly.
"Relax Tin-Tin. Lucy and I have been awake since three o'clock this morning." he said. "I gave her a bottle a while back and she promised to be good for me and go back to sleep."
Tin-Tin looked up at the youngest Tracy son lovingly.
"Oh Alan…you're so good with her. I never even heard her wake."
Alan shrugged playfully and kissed her.
"Yeah well at least I know you'll miss me for one reason when I'm gone I guess." he teased.
He watched as her pretty face fell. He instantly admonished himself for bringing up the issue they had avoided discussing for the past few days; his impending rotation to Thunderbird Five.
"Alan… do you really have to go today?" she sighed with misery in her eyes. "Especially today of all days."
"Why Mrs Tracy what's so special about today then huh?" he joked tweaking her nose, his blue eyes sparkling mischievously.
She slapped him in annoyance.
"You know what today is all right."
"Do I?" he grinned innocently.
"Alan!"
He began to laugh at her frustration. He pulled her closer to him and rolled her over so she lay trapped in his embrace right on top of him. Her long dark hair fell forward onto his face. He pressed his lips gently to hers and inhaled that scent he loved again.
"Happy anniversary baby." he breathed when the kiss ended. "As if I wouldn't remember the day you took this very eligible bachelor off the market."
"Alan!"
"What? I'm not complaining. I went willingly enough." he laughed.
Their eyes met and they gazed at each other in silence.
"I love you." he whispered nuzzling her throat.
"I love you too." she replied.
They looked at each other in silence.
Her face slowly opened into a suspicious smile. She saw the look in his eyes and was aware his body had already responded to their closeness.
"You wanting something from me Mr Tracy?" she teased as she caressed his blonde hair.
"I want you Mrs Tracy." he admitted softly. "All of you."
Neither of them spoke.
"It's been a long time since we made love Alan." she finally said in an apologetic voice.
"Seven months and five days actually but who's counting." he joked as he kissed her again.
"It hasn't been that long Alan!" she exclaimed. "Has it?"
He nodded his head and made a face.
"Believe me Tin-Tin. It has!"
His smile lit up as he toyed with her hair.
"But I'll forgive you totally if you let me do it now."
"I would like that very much Mr. Tracy." she replied running her hands across his naked muscular chest.
"The feeling is very mutual Mrs Tracy." he replied as he rolled her on to her back.
"Are you sure you're up to this?" he asked.
"I'm sure."
He hovered over her and expertly slid her tiny satin chemise from her shoulders in one movement.
"You are so beautiful baby." he breathed and his eyes took all of her in.
"Alan..." she shuddered under his touch as his teasing stopped and he buried his face in her breasts.
And then it came.
"Oh no." Alan frowned lifting his head. "I don't believe it. Not now."
Tin-Tin burst into laughter and sat up adjusting herself.
"Looks like she didn't listen to you Daddy."
"Gee Tin-Tin... I can't wait for this too much longer," he complained burying his head in his pillow. "I'm aching here."
She gave him an amused smile as she got out of bed and pulled on her robe.
"I'm afraid Lucy's telling you you'll have to." she laughed and disappeared into the nursery.
She reappeared five minutes later with a very wide-awake baby in her arms.
"She needed dry pants Alan. You forgot to attend to that part didn't you?" she scolded him good-naturedly and then added. "Again."
"She was asleep." he said defensively as he sat up. "I didn't want to wake her."
"I wouldn't sleep in wet pants and neither would you." she informed him. "I don't blame her for complaining and ruining your romantic plans. It's all your fault. Don't blame Lucy if you're "aching" like you say."
"You promised Daddy Luce." Alan said sullenly as Tin-Tin set her between them in the bed. "You promised I could have mommy all to myself. It wouldn't have taken me that long you know. Now I have to wait another whole month to be with her. That's going to be eight months and six days. You're getting your Daddy into a mighty frustrated state little girl."
Tin-Tin stroked his face and kissed him.
"First night back Alan. I promise."
"Yeah well I'll hold you to that. "he sulked. "Plus you're going to have to talk me through a whole month by myself Tin-Tin. And remind me very graphically about what I'm missing."
"Not on Thunderbird Five's frequency I won't" she said pretending to be shocked.
"Miss Kyrano you'll have to or I won't make it through the month." he grinned, his disappointment fading.
"Miss Kyrano?" she frowned. "You haven't called me that in over a year Alan."
"Yeah well I'm calling you that now because I have something I want to ask you."
He looked at Lucy as she lay sucking her fist happily between the two of them.
"Assuming you're not going to ruin this for me too," he said with a mock resentment that made Tin-Tin laugh.
Lucy gurgled at him with adoration and then looked in the direction of her Mother's laughter and smiled broadly.
"I mean it Lucy Josephine, "he grumbled. "Not one word out of you until I'm done with mommy."
He looked away from Lucy and into the beautiful deep brown eyes of Tin-Tin Kyrano. His heart swelled with the love he felt for her. She looked at him inquisitively as he bit both his lips together nervously.
"Umm… Tin-Tin … Tinarda …"
"Tinarda?" she frowned disapprovingly. "No-one calls me that. What are calling me Tinarda for?"
"Don't interrupt me Tin-Tin, Let me say what I need to say to you. Umm…well, you and I have been best friends for thirteen years now and I'm..."
"You're what?" she frowned. "Oh come on Alan… hurry up will you. What have you done now that you're trying to confess to? Out with it."
"I haven't done anything. Please keep quiet Tin-Tin will you until I get this out. I've been practising for ages."
Tin-Tin took Lucy's tiny hand.
"Looks like Daddy's mad at both of us now. We'd better listen up huh?" she grinned as Lucy smiled back.
"Tin-Tin won't you please just look at me and pay attention for a while?" he said exasperated as he reached for her hand.
"I'm sorry Alan." she apologised realising he was being serious. "Please go on."
He cleared his throat.
"Tin-Tin, what I'm trying to say I guess is that I love you baby. I've loved you since the first day I met you. I also want you to know I'll never stop loving you no matter what."
He paused momentarily.
"Alan." she replied huskily. "I know that."
He shrugged.
"I know but I nearly lost you a while back and I promised myself that if you made it for me, I would make absolutely sure I made right all the things I did wrong last year. All the things your Father said I did to ruin your happiness."
"Alan," she began gently. "You have righted things sweetie. I'm very happy."
Alan Tracy's mind replayed her tear-stained face as she stood before him in that dreadful gown at the clinic in San Diego. He shook his head as the guilt tore him apart.
"No Tin-Tin." he interjected vehemently. "No I haven't righted things. I've still got a long way to go. This goes all the way back to when you were sixteen and I started seeing you differently. You were always my friend but all of a sudden I realised you were a woman too. And you know how I used to treat women. After that night in front of the fire all I could think about when I was around you was how much I wanted to experience you just like all the others. I'm not proud of saying that to you Tin-Tin but it's true. Then when I finally did that's all I cared about. I didn't understand you wanted our relationship to be more than that one day. I never planned to get married. Not for a long while anyway. It was your Father who told me you had special dreams about us and how important the things in those dreams were to you. "
She shook her head in confusion. "What things Alan? I have everything I want. What are you talking about?"
"Baby I know you wanted special things from me. Things money can buy and things money can't. Like a romantic proposal over one of those candle-lit Dinners we used to have in Paris. I know how much you love Paris Tin-Tin and you were always dragging me there for those shows and hoping I'd let my guard down and do it. But what did you end up getting from me huh? Me saying to you in Dad's car I had no choice but to marry you because of the baby that's what."
"Alan I know but …"
"You also wanted a beautiful wedding dress designed in Milan with one of those long veils you were always crazy about. I should have gotten you that but I didn't. I never even gave you the chance to show me which one you wanted, let alone allow you buy it for yourself. Not only that you wanted a proper wedding ceremony and I dragged you off to a celebrant who didn't care who we were as long as I paid for him to marry us. We had a stupid cup of coffee in a Diner afterwards. That's wasn't a wedding Tin-Tin. That was an insult."
She pressed her fingers against his lips.
"No more Alan." she said quietly. "It doesn't matter."
"Tin-Tin it matters to me and I want you to hear me out so you understand why I'm telling you all this. The part that really sticks in my craw is the fact that you wanted our wedding night to be special. I realise now every girl dreams of that. But all you'll remember is a stupid night picnic on the beach which wasn't even my idea. It was Grandma's. Being with you like that under the stars and how it made me feel inside was the most wonderful moment of my life Tin-Tin but I know it wasn't how you dreamt it would be. And then finally … the worst thing of all … you dreamed I'd be thrilled the day you told me you were expecting our baby. And instead … well … I'm so sorry I did what I did to you when you told me about Lucy. You didn't deserve any of it and even if I live to be a hundred years old I'll never be able to tell you enough times how sorry I am for that."
He looked at Lucy tenderly and then returned his gaze to her.
"She is the most special little girl on this earth Tin-Tin and I love our baby with all my heart. But as for you and me Tin-Tin; I don't just love you. How I feel is more than that and I don't know how to describe it other than to say you are everything to me."
Tears glistened in Tin-Tin's eyes as he continued. It couldn't be easy for him to admit all this.
"Baby I know I can't change things in the past other than to say I'm sorry and I know we're not in Paris right now but I want to ask you this properly anyway."
He dropped his head and took a deep breath to muster his courage and then lifted his face to hers. His blue eyes looked directly into the brown eyes of the beautiful young woman he had loved for more than half his life.
His best friend.
"Miss Kyrano I love you with all my heart and I would like to ask you ma'am, if you are so inclined, if you will do me the great honour of becoming my wife."
Tin-Tin sat on the bed totally stunned by his words and actions. This was the last thing in the world she had expected Alan Tracy to do when he'd started.
She stared in shock at the tall blonde Tracy son who had captured her heart totally. Her eyes brimmed as she surveyed him with total surprise. She couldn't believe this was happening.
Her best friend was finally asking her to marry him.
She had dreamed of this special moment since she was sixteen years old and came to the realisation she had more than simply feelings of friendship for the youngest son of Jefferson Tracy. She had always hoped he would one day feel the same and surprise her with a declaration of his own love and present her with his ring. Sadly it never happened as he had so rightly pointed out. She had given up that dream a year ago when Alan took her to that place to hurriedly marry him. Despite her disappointment and the fact she had cried for hours afterwards, she had told herself it really didn't matter because at least she still had him.
Now of all times in her life when he was trying to fulfil her dream she didn't know what to say to him.
She continued to stare at him in silence and didn't say anything.
"Gee don't think about it too long Tin-Tin." he pleaded uncomfortably in the silence. "You're making me nervous."
"Yes Alan …" she finally whispered without taking her eyes off him. "There would be no greater honour for me than to be your wife."
She leaned forward to kiss him. His own eyes welled.
"Thank you Tin-Tin." he swallowed. "I promise I won't let you down."
Tears fell from both of their eyes. As their lips met above their baby daughter, Tin-Tin knew there was no place more special than this to receive the proposal of the youngest Tracy son and experience their most wonderful romantic moment together.
As he had said this was not over a candle-lit dinnner in Paris. He would not have said those words of honesty and love to her in Paris. To her, Paris now paled into insignificance compared to where their life was together right now with their baby girl between them and the centre of their lives.
"Stop crying." she said wiping his eyes. "It doesn't suit a Tracy son."
"I'm not crying. You are." he choked wiping hers. "And it doesn't suit you either."
"I love you." she breathed and kissed him again.
"Yeah well that might be Tin-Tin but I might say you could have said yes a bit faster than you did." he sulked, wiping his eyes and returning the kiss.
"Why? Were you scared I'd say no?" she teased.
"No. I always knew you'd say yes." he teased back.
"No you didn't."
"Yes I did. I wouldn't have asked you otherwise. No-one rejects me."
"Now what do you think you're doing?" she asked as he diverted his attention to the bed.
"Looking for the ring. It's here somewhere…" he muttered awkwardly fishing about under the pillows. "I brought it in Paris a few months back ."
"Well what's it doing under there?"
"I was going to give it to you … after I'd … well …"
"Had your way with me earlier I've no doubt." she scoffed.
"Yeah well that didn't happen did it?" he replied and looked at Lucy. "Thanks to you I might say."
He found the ring and took her left hand in his.
"This has been a long time coming Mrs Tracy." he said as he slid the huge diamond ring onto her finger. "It's the one you wanted."
She looked at the elegant gold band set with a massive diamond of perfect clarity and cut. It was the one she had admired for over three years each and every time she went to Paris.
"Oh Alan." she breathed tearfully. "It's so lovely isn't it? It's the one I've always wanted."
"I know it is. You dragged me past that window every single time we went to Paris for those Fashion shows remember?" he said rolling his eyes. "It just took me a long time to get the message and get around to giving it to you that's all."
He kissed her lips and then the ring on her finger.
"It suits you Mrs. Tracy." he said. "You have impeccable taste as always."
She held out her hand and allowed the early morning sun to reflect off the diamond as she admired it.
"Now I can at last say I really am your wife." she said happily.
"You mean you weren't before and I could have gotten out of this?" he asked jovially raising his eyebrows. "I wish you would have said so earlier."
"Of course I'm your wife." she frowned. "This just makes things … I don't know…. real for me."
"Real?" he joked picking up Lucy and screwing up his nose. "Now this is real. No wonder she was so quiet through all this."
"I changed her last time" she protested. "It's your turn."
"Is that so?" he grinned continuing to hold her out towards Tin-Tin.
"Yes that's so but as usual you're trying to find a way to get of out it." she retorted getting out of bed and taking the baby from him. "Don't worry Lucy Josephine, I'll do it."
Alan watched the two of them re-enter the nursery feeling well pleased with himself. He changed his clothes and straightened the bed feeling satisfied he had put real happiness on her face for the first time since their marriage. It made all of this worthwhile.
As he combed his hair she sailed past him with her nose in the air.
"Come on Lucy ignore Daddy. I'll take you downstairs to make some breakfast before he can go changing his mind and forgetting he asked me to marry him. Your Daddy has one heck of a bad memory when it suits him.
Alan laughed but then paused for a few moments to ponder if he had now finally rectified things. His eyes wandered in the direction of the nursery and what he had stored there. He still had something else to surprise her with before he felt he had made it up to her properly.
"I won't be changing my mind about you Tin-Tin." he murmured." I can guarantee you that."
It had been a perfect start to a very special day.
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Virgil Tracy rolled his eyes as he sipped his coffee and watched his red-haired brother circling a toy plane in the air. He swore Gordon was going through a second childhood since they'd had the baby in the house.
"Hey Lujo check this out." he enthused. "This is your Uncle V out on rescue. Rough ride huh! Now you know how Uncle Gordon feels! Uh oh…he forgot to fuel up again…"
With a huge sweep he circled the plane over the baby's head and pretended to crash land it into her chest. Lucy's brown eyes widened and she grinned widely before laughing out loud.
"Hey!" exclaimed Virgil. "Don't go saying things like that about my piloting skills. She's impressionable at that age."
"Virgil did you hear her just now?" Gordon asked excitedly. "She laughed for me. She hasn't done that before."
"She laughed AT you don't you mean." Virgil sniffed. "And you watch out if Grandma hears you calling her Lujo again. You know how much she hates to hear her called that. Her name is Lucy Josephine."
Gordon picked her up and held her above his head. She put her plump little fingers in her mouth and giggled happily at the attention.
"But you don't hate me calling you that do you? It doesn't matter what Grandma thinks. What's that? You love it when Uncle Gordie plays with you? Of course you do. You want me to do it again? OK here we go! Hey look at you Lujo! You fly better than Uncle V."
Virgil frowned as Gordon held her up in the air again and she squealed with excitement.
"Settle down Gordon. You'll over excite her soon and then she'll be screaming the place down like she did the last time you played with her."
Gordon shrugged and kissed Lucy firmly on the cheek before swinging her on to his hip.
"That's when I give you to Uncle Scott hey precious girl!" he said tousling her chestnut curls.
Scott looked up from his newspaper absently, his mind thousands of miles away.
"Huh?"
Gordon shook his head. Scott had been extremely quiet and distant again since returning from his monthly visit to New York. It was more than obvious to all of them that he had something on his mind. He had been acting like that for nearly five months now.
Gordon shook his head at his brother.
"Nothin' Scott. Go back to dream world where you've been hibernating since you got home last week."
Scott gave him a disgruntled look.
"Don't you go giving her to me if she's about to start up." he warned. "I mean it."
Gordon held Lucy at an arms' length.
"You hear that? Uncle Scott doesn't love my little baby. You know his trouble? He's too tense!"
Scott frowned.
"Don't say that. I do love her and I am not tense. I just don't want you to give her to me in the same state you did last time."
"Why? You're supposed to be able to handle an emergency." Gordon grinned.
"That was not an emergency Gordon." Scott re-iterated returning to his paper. "It was an all-out disaster. I'd rather save a hundred people single handed than have to calm that little girl down again after playing with you. Last time I had to get Grandma to take her off me before she screamed the place down she was in such a state."
"Trust Grandma to have to save your ass." Gordon winked. "Fancy being unable to cope with a baby!"
"ME???????" Scott snapped refusing to discuss the matter further. "What about YOU?"
"Come on Lujo." Gordon grinned kissing her cheek. "Uncle Scott's a no-go at the moment. Let's go and see if Mommy and Daddy are finished saying goodbye yet. What's that you're saying now? You don't want to watch that mush? Yeah, I don't blame you baby girl. Sickening hey? "
Virgil laughed and watched his eldest brother with interest as Gordon carried Lucy through into the kitchen. Scott had something on his mind all right. He was looking idly at the pages of the newspaper but he certainly wasn't reading anything.
"Hey Scott." he said lightly. "Aren't you finding it kind of hard to read that newspaper?"
"No why? Don't you start on me too Virgil." Scott warned. "I'm just fine thank you."
Virgil shrugged.
"Well I dunno. I was never good at reading things upside down that's all."
Scott reddened as Virgil began to laugh. He threw the paper to the floor in frustration and folded his arms.
"I've got things on my mind Virg." he said defensively.
"Such as?" Virgil enquired with interest.
"Never you mind what." Scott replied cautiously. "I learnt a long time ago not to trust my little brothers with anything."
Virgil leaned forward eagerly prepared to listen.
"I'm not your little brother. I'm your best friend Scott. Come on. It sounds intriguing. You know you can trust me."
Scott looked at him and rolled his eyes.
"Yeah sure I can trust you best friend. Who told Grandma about the missing piece of pie yesterday?"
"She was going to ask me who took it anyway." Virgil said defensively. "I had to tell her the truth."
"Virg, I know what a hopeless liar you are and that's why it's best I don't tell you. If anyone asked you about this I don't want you to be in a position where you knew the truth to tell. I can't afford for you to tell anyone around here anything."
All frivolity had now left Virgil Tracy's voice and he looked at his brother seriously. This was obviously important to him.
"I won't say anything Scott if you want to confide in me." he said. "Honest."
Scott looked at his younger brother carefully. He knew he was more than trustworthy. But this was important to him. He'd have to think about it a little longer before confiding in anyone.
He rose from his seat on the couch and strode towards the door.
"It's almost time for me to leave with Alan and Brains for the Space Station." he said " I'd better push off. Dad will be looking for me."
"Scott!" Virgil exclaimed disappointed. "I said I wouldn't say anything. Why won't you trust me?"
Scott looked over his shoulder and viewed his brother silently.
Virgil frowned. It was obvious he wasn't going to say anything.
"You know your problem Scott?" he asked as the silence between them continued.
"I didn't know I had a problem." Scott replied dryly. "But since you say I do what is it?"
"You're too much like Dad sometimes for your own good you know." Virgil said candidly.
"That could be construed as a compliment you know." Scott shrugged.
"It wasn't meant to be a compliment." Virgil shot back. "Hiding your feelings from people who care about you is not healthy big brother."
"I'll keep your wisdom in mind little brother." Scott retorted as he saw his Father beckoning him into the lounge for his final instructions. "I assure you I'm fine. See you in a few hours."
Virgil shook his head as the eldest Tracy brother turned on his heel and left the room.
Who was he kidding?
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Josie Tracy frowned suspiciously at the white box handed to her by her Grandson only half an hour before. It was a large white box tied with a gold ribbon and he had left her on her honour not to open it before she gave it to Tin-Tin.
"I mean it Grandma." Alan had warned. "Not even a peek. Swear to me on your honour ma'am."
"On my honour indeed." she said under her breath. "What sort of person does that Grandson of mine think I am?"
She picked up the box and shook it.
"Hmmm." she thought. "I wonder what it is. It's more than likely that French Collection she's been hankering after for the past two weeks. Then again she's been hinting about a black leather coat she saw in that designer catalogue too. He's probably gone out and gotten her both knowing him. What I would like to know is why all the secrecy and sneaking about?"
"Why couldn't Alan give this to her himself?" she asked loudly
"Mother, he probably knows the girl would appreciate a surprise." Jeff Tracy replied without looking up from his desk where he awaited Thunderbird Three's impending blast off. "It is their wedding anniversary in case you've forgotten."
Josie continued to shake the box.
"He already gave her that huge diamond ring she was displaying over breakfast Jeff." she replied.
"I think it's fair to say she deserves to be spoiled a little after the year she's had." he said. "It's nice to think Alan would do that for her."
"Well he should have given her this at the same time as the ring instead of having me doing it for him."
Jeff Tracy shook his head at his mother. She was simply incorrigible.
"Well I'll deliver it for you if you like." he offered. "I want to spend some time with the little one today so I'm more than happy to do it if you don't want to."
"I didn't say I didn't want to do it Jeff. I just want to know why all the secrecy?" she persisted.
"Oh Mom for goodness sake. Alan more than likely realises she'll be feeling a bit low with him having to leave on their anniversary and wants to cheer her up with something nice. What's wrong with that?"
Josie gave him a sniff of disapproval.
"Nothing is wrong with that but as usual who's responsible for her feeling low then? Jeff, surely you could have delayed Alan's rotation by one day so they could be together today of all days."
"Mother …" he sighed. "I'm not starting up with you about this and I mean it. The rotation is due and John needs to be relieved. Alan knows that and so do you."
"Humph … and you're wondering why a little girl needs cheering up with material things. It would be pretty obvious to anyone with half a heart that those two would want to doing some good old fashioned loving on the night of their anniversary."
"I thought you of all people would have noticed they were both late for breakfast this morning "he said, raising his eyebrows. "From that I can safely gather the loving has been well and truly taken care of already. Not that it's any of our business anyway."
"No it's not our business … but nevertheless …"
Jeff Tracy laughed but immediately diverted his attention as the sound of the huge engines of Thunderbird Three blasting off returned him to his work.
"Mom … keep quiet a moment will you. Just deliver the box for Alan. And remember you're on your honour."
Josie glared at her son and reddened.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means your Grandson knows what you're like." he replied. "Base to Thunderbird Three. Alan you are clear for lift off."
"Oh? What am I like then?" she retorted forgetting he was in the middle of operations.
"FAB Dad." replied Alan's businesslike voice. "And by the way if Grandma's next to you remind her she's on her honour with that box will you."
Jeff tried not to laugh at the impeccable timing of his youngest son.
He looked at his mother's astounded face.
"Do I have to say anything further?" he asked.
Josie glared at him, grabbed the box and left the lounge room in a huff.
"No thank you. I think you've said quite enough Jeff Tracy." she snapped. "I'll be with Tin-Tin if you're wanting me."
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She stood forlornly on the balcony of their apartment holding Lucy in her arms. She had already heard the roar of the engines.
Any minute now she expected to feel the power of Thunderbird Three as it lifted off on its way to Thunderbird Five. She'd seen it leave many times before but she didn't want to see it today. She didn't want him to leave her. Finally the inevitable happened and her gaze shifted upwards as the massive rocket ship launched from its silo deep within the earth on its way into space.
She looked at Lucy whose gaze was also transfixed on the rocket ship as it hurtled into the sky.
"There goes Daddy Lucy." she whispered clasping her baby daughter close to her body and biting her lip. "We're going to miss him."
She felt her eyes filling with tears.
"Bye Alan." she mouthed silently.
They continued to watch until the massive red craft disappeared from view and a tranquil silence again fell over Tracy Island. The silence became deafening as she continued to stand there, driving home the fact he was gone again and she had been left alone for another month.
And alone on her wedding anniversary.
"It's for the good of the world." she tried to tell herself as she started to cry. "But sometimes I wish the world would look after itself and let me be with Alan."
Lucy, almost by instinct seemed to pick up her mother's negative thoughts. She rubbed her eyes and laid her head on Tin-Tin's shoulder. After a few minutes she put her thumb in her mouth and began to grizzle.
"I know baby." she soothed stroking her curls as the tears ran down her face. "You're tired of Daddy leaving you too. Daddy missed seeing you roll yourself over last time he went away didn't he? And this month you look like you'll sit up and he's going to miss that too."
Her unhappiness escalated as she compared his future rotations with Lucy's expected milestones.
"And he won't see you crawl or walk for the first time either if you do those things on schedule. That'll just break Daddy's heart."
Lucy's tired grizzle had now turned into loud and unhappy crying and Tin-Tin knew she had to stop feeling sorry for herself and attend to her.
With a huge sigh of misery she left the balcony and went inside the apartment to find her bottle. She opened the small refrigerator to see Alan had made four new bottles of formula for Lucy before he left. A note was secured to one.
"Only thirty days. Miss you already. Alan."
"Only thirty days." she said quietly as the bottle heated. "That's not so long. It will go fast around here with the rescues."
However as she set herself on the bed to feed her daughter, her emotions literally overcame her and she dissolved completely.
"Who am I kidding?" she choked as she began to sob. "Thirty days without Alan to help me with Lucy will feel like forever."
A brisk knock on the door forced her to pull herself together. She bit her lips tightly and tried to calm down.
"Ummm ... please give me a minute," she blubbered. "I'm in the middle of feeding Lucy."
The door opened regardless. Josie Tracy had heard her crying and had no intention of waiting to be invited inside.
"What in the blazes are you doing up here carrying on like there's no tomorrow young lady?" she demanded. "Anyone would think the world was coming to an end the way I heard you crying just now."
Tin-Tin looked at her apologetically.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for anyone to hear me Mrs. Tracy." she sniffled still trying to calm herself down.
"It's Grandma." she corrected her.
"I'm sorry ... Grandma." she whispered starting to cry again. "I don't mean to cry. I know he has to go. It's ..."
Josie put down the white box she carried and came to sit next to Tin-Tin on the bed. She put a concerned arm around her shoulders.
"It's what sweetie?" she asked gently "You tell Grandma how you feel. It won't seem so bad then."
Tin-Tin looked at the caring face of the elderly woman.
"It's nothing." she said finally, lowering her head. "I'm acting like a child."
"Sweetie there's nothing childish about wanting the man in your life to be with you on your wedding anniversary." Josie said candidly. "I'd have cried too if Grant left me alone on the most important day of the year. Not that he ever did that of course."
"Mrs. Tracy ..."
"It's Grandma." she corrected her again.
"Grandma." she repeated. "I know John has to be relieved and he's done so much for us already. Alan and I both accepted he had to go today but you see we had planned to spend the day together before he left. Then Mr. Tracy said yesterday he had to go early to take Brains up to check a fault in the com-link. We were so disappointed our plans were ruined. I know it can't be helped but it's made my wedding anniversary feel just like my wedding. That felt like it never really happened."
Josie patted her arm reassuringly.
"Don't you worry sweetie. It happened all right. You only have to look at the beautiful ring on that finger of yours to know it did."
Tin-Tin nodded and dropped her eyes. "I know. I'm sorry to sound like I'm complaining."
"I think that little miss is just about done there now." Josie observed as Lucy slept peacefully in Tin-Tin's arms with the bottle still in her mouth.
Tin-Tin nodded. Josie held out her arms to take her.
"Here," she said. "I'll put her down. I've been told by my Grandson to give that box over there to you after he took off. You'd best open it as believe it or not I'm on my honour to only let you do it."
"For me?" she asked with surprise. "He already gave me the ring."
"Just you watch out it isn't ticking then if you aren't expecting anything." Josie cautioned. "I've long since been wary of packages from my two youngest Grandsons. You know how those two love to play practical jokes."
"He wouldn't play a joke on me today would he?" she frowned.
"He knows you need cheering up." Josie warned. "Remember he might have grown up a lot but he's still Alan Tracy."
Tin-Tin knew she was right. Alan still tended to revert back to playing jokes on her when he thought she needed to smile. During her first course of speech therapy he had purchased a book of lame jokes for her to practice reading aloud. He hid all of her other books so she was left with no other option but to use the joke book. The jokes were dreadful but they made the two of them laugh and forget her struggle to regain her health for a while.
"Maybe I'd better not open it then." she said hesitantly.
Josie became agitated.
"No of course you must open it dear!" she exclaimed in a dismayed tone " I need ... err you need to see what is inside don't you?"
She smiled and slid off the bed and picked up the package.
"Yes I do." she said. "I'll wait for you to put Lucy down Mrs. Tracy and you can help me open it."
Josephine Tracy berated her before turning and entering the nursery with the baby.
"You call me Mrs. Tracy one more time and I'll be more than helping you open that box young lady. For the last time you remember you are a member of this family and I want you to call me Grandma. You got that?"
"Yes ma'am." Tin-Tin replied sheepishly. She knew right then and there she had better get it right from now on. Josephine Tracy always meant every word she said.
She looked at the box. It certainly looked interesting. She wondered what it contained.
"If it isn't a joke ... and I'm sure it's not because Alan knows I'd be upset, it could be that French collection I really wanted. No ... he paid thousands for the ring. I can't expect he'd buy that too."
"Well ... I don't think you'll be hearing from that young lady for a few hours." Josie said briskly as she left the nursery. "She's out like a light in there. Didn't she have her sleep this morning?"
"No she didn't." Tin-Tin giggled remembering Alan's foiled love-making attempt. "She absolutely refused to settle for us."
"Mmmm. That I have no doubt" Josie acknowledged wondering why Tin-Tin would be giggling. "That little girl is just as headstrong and stubborn as her Grandmother used to be."
Tin-Tin smiled at the observation. Lucy was just as stubborn as her Father was too. It obviously ran in the family!
"You really do believe Lucy is like Alan's mother don't you Grandma?" she asked intently.
Josie's eyes lit up.
"Oh my yes. She's like her all right. ...like two peas in a pod. "she began."My Jeff always summed Lucille up very well when he raved on about her to his Father and me and I think the same applies to my great grand-daughter. Pretty curly hair and beautiful brown eyes. Long fingers and a smile made in heaven. Intelligent and funny. And spirited. "I like spirit in a woman." Jeff used to say. "And Lucy Evans has got it."
Tin-Tin she tried to picture a young Jeff Tracy head over heels in love. Somehow it was a very hard vision for her to see. But his description of Lucille certainly matched Lucy Josephine.
"Mr. Tracy would have grown up with spirit wouldn't he Grandma?" she asked with interest. "He had you."
"Me?" Josie asked raising her eyebrows. "Not in those days young lady. I was Grant Tracy's wife. Grant was one hell of a wonderful man but his woman didn't have spirit when she was around him ... well not too much anyway. If I stepped out of line the Tracy temper would well and truly flare up. I knew my place but I must admit when it was needed I still said my piece nevertheless. I always have."
Tin-Tin nodded in agreement
"You most certainly have Grandma."
Josie patted her hand.
"I always knew you and I would have an affinity with each other when my Grandson fell in love with you. Your Alan is exactly the same as my Grant. Both of them nothing but trouble, terrible tempers and extremely hard to handle. Despite it mighty fine Tracy men and wonderful Fathers to their babies. "
The two of them looked fondly at each other.
"That just about describes Alan all right." Tin-Tin agreed. "Especially the part about the temper."
"Well the temper certainly describes Grant too. Lord that man was a volcano." Josie shuddered and looked on with approval as Tin-Tin began to brighten. "Now don't you feel better after talking for a bit instead of crying about things you know you can't change?"
"Yes ma'am. I do." she admitted. "Thank you."
"Now for goodness sake open that box before I die guessing." Josie insisted.
Tin-Tin undid the ribbon and struggled a little with the lid of the box. The box was tightly packed and refused to surrender its contents easily.
"I really hope this isn't a joke." Tin-Tin sighed. "I'm not in the mood for it Alan."
However her eyes widened as the lid came off and she surveyed the contents in deathly silence. The designer label was uppermost.
Her face paled.
French collection?
No.
Designer coat?
No.
"Oh Grandma." she breathed hardly able to speak. "Do you know what this is?"
Josie tried to look like she knew but in the end she had to shake her head stupidly.
"Something mighty darned expensive by the look of it." was all she could think to say.
"It's ... oh Alan...why..."
She began to cry. Josie looked with confusion towards the box as she gathered the distraught young woman into her arms.
"Oh dear; come on now. Don't start crying again sweetie. What's inside that's upset you so? Surely Alan didn't mean for you to get yourself in a state over a silly gift, joke or not."
"Grandma ... it's ... it's not a gift ma'am. It's... a wedding dress... made by my favourite Designer." she gulped.
A wedding dress? Josie Tracy frowned. What was her Grandson doing buying Tin-Tin a wedding dress a year after the fact? Had that boy completely lost his grip on things? Buying a wedding dress for a girl who never got to wear one certainly wasn't funny.
"Why would he buy you such a thing." she demanded preparing to be cross. "If he thinks this is a joke he's certainly got some fast explaining to do to me."
Tin-Tin took out the dress.
"It's the one." she breathed as she carefully examined the beading and held it up against herself. "It's exactly the one. It's the right size and everything."
"There's a card in there." Josie pointed out in a disgruntled tone . "You'd best be reading it to find out what that young man has to say for himself before I get my hands on him. He's lucky those communications are down in Thunderbird Five right now."
Tin-Tin opened the envelope. In it was another hand-written letter.
"Hi baby-girl.
Surprise!
I bet you think I'm crazy buying this for you don't you? Well I am but I really want you to have it. This beautiful dress is so you and I'm sorry you didn't get to wear it on our wedding day. You would have looked like a princess in it and you know you've always been my princess.
Tin-Tin I've been thinking about things and it worries me Lucy wont' get to see what a beautiful bride her mommy was when she asks to see what you looked like on your wedding day. She'll ask me why and I don't want my little girl to know we didn't have a decent wedding because she was on the way. I don't want her to think her Daddy wasn't perfect. She'll find that out soon enough.
"I've been talking to your Father and he thought you might like to have some fun today and spend some time doing your hair and makeup like you wanted it to be on our wedding day. Like me, he wants you to put the dress on. Virgil's agreed to take some photographs for me. If you look in Lucy's room behind the boxes in the closet you'll find the veil and shoes too and some other things I'd rather you didn't show to Grandma.
By the way Grandma I know you're there right now with Tin-Tin. I know you can't help yourself. Please don't ask Tin-Tin to show you what I left in the closet for her. It's kind of private.
Anyway since I can't be with you tonight when I want to be, Dad's agreed for us to use the frequency in Thunderbird Five for as long as we like. Please wear the dress when you call me tonight. I'd really like to look at my beautiful bride even though it's a year too late and we are so far apart right now. I really want to see what you would have looked like baby if I'd given you the chance.
Thunderbird Five communications should be back up around seven tonight. Call me on frequency five as soon as you can after that.
I love you.
Alan."
"Well?" Josie Tracy enquired craning her neck. "What's that young rascal got to say for himself?"
Tin-Tin handed her the letter, forgetting he had made reference to his Grandmother in it. She started crying again. Josie's eyes scanned the letter carefully and her mouth pursed with disapproval.
"I knew Jeff knew something about all this." she said in a disgruntled tone. "Humph... and Virgil ... and Kyrano. How is it then I was left out of the loop?"
Her face softened. She was glad they were all doing something nice for this delightful girl.
"Alan's a good boy sweetie." she said gently as she folded the letter and handed it back. "He's trying very hard to make you happy. You make the most of it now."
"Yes ma'am." she sniffed.
Josie began to pace the room, suddenly placing herself in charge of matters and planning a flurry of activity.
"Well then ... you'll need a baby sitter while you get yourself ready for the photographs. I'll send one of her Uncles up. And I think Kyrano should dress up as well. If he does, it's only fitting Jeff does the same ... and the rest of us. Goodness I'll have to press Jeff's black suit. What about a wedding cake for one of the shots. I'd better organise something simple. Tin-Tin there's so much I have to do. You must excuse me dear. I have to be off to sort myself out."
With that she turned and moved towards the door of the apartment.
"But before I do I'm going to chew a few conspiring ears around here," she added with fake disapproval as she left. "All I can say is there'd better not be anything else going on I don't know about."
Tin-Tin fingered the dress as she now sat alone. She guessed she could do what Alan wanted. It might even be fun. If they all dressed up and had photographs taken it stood to reason Lucy would never know the start she had in life.
But despite Alan's good intentions someone would be missing from the photographs. Someone Lucy would miss and notice immediately.
Her Daddy.
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He put down his holdall in the Lounge room and wearily embraced his Grandmother. She knew this one needed her the most and she always took the time to be there when he returned.
"You're looking thin John." Josie observed with concern looking up into his exhausted blue eyes. "Have you been eating right up there?"
John gave his grandmother a tired smile and held her close to his chest. It was so good to touch another human being again and feel warmth and love. He held her in silence for a long time and Josie felt the urgency in his body for emotional release. She allowed him to hold her tightly as she had done many times before. Then she demanded,
"Well have you son?"
"Yes ma'am. I've just been too worn out to prepare anything these past few days that's all. The last week before rotation is always hard."
"Mmmm… we'll see about that Johnny. Has your brother settled in all right up there?"
John nodded.
"Yes ma'am. Brains and the two of us did a few hours on the com-link. We left to Alan to finish it off. I feel bad it's his wedding anniversary and he had to relieve me Grandma. I could have waited another day if he'd asked me."
Josie shook her head.
"Don't you be feeling bad about that John. You've done more than enough for your brother. Now come into the kitchen with me and I'll make you something before you fade away before my very eyes."
John nodded. It was so good to be home amongst his family again. He followed his Grandmother into the kitchen and perched himself in front of the bench. He watched her make him a sandwich and coffee marvelling at the simple pleasures in life which surrounded him; a new cake she had baked; a vase of flowers nearby.
"Here" she said as she handed him the plate. "Eat this. You're not getting up from here until you do."
"Thank you ma'am." John grinned taking a bite. "So where's Dad?"
"Don't talk with your mouth full." she admonished him. "You're in civilised company. Your Father? Closeted up in the round house with two of your brothers doing goodness knows what. They're not to be disturbed anyway whatever it is. No doubt a meeting about something new he's planning."
John shrugged. That must have been where Scott and Brains were headed. Scott had mumbled something to Brains about his Father needing his expertise today.
"So Grandma what else has been happening around here?" he asked with interest.
Josie narrowed her eyes as she assessed her middle grandson carefully. John watched her for a few minutes and allowed an amused look to steal over his features.
"What Grandma?" he asked hardly able to contain himself. "Why are you looking at me like that for?"
"You answer me this truthfully as God is your witness John Glenn Tracy. Do you know anything?"
"About what?" he asked.
"About the photographs Virgil's been asked to take.."
"What photographs?" he asked in a bored voice. "Boy this sandwich sure is good Grandma."
"I told you not to talk with your mouth full."
"Sorry Grandma."
Josie relaxed. No, he seemed innocent enough. She guessed he should be too after a month of seclusion in space.
"Is your good suit pressed John?"
"Why? What's that got to do with anything?"
"Tin-Tin's having wedding photographs taken later today."
John allowed his face to show his complete bewilderment. Things were never ordinary around here but this time Grandma had really lost the plot.
"Wedding photographs?" he exclaimed. "It's a bit late for that don't you think Grandma? Besides Alan isn't even here remember? Hang about…oh no ... Grandma you're not expecting me to do some faceless shots and pretend to be Alan are you?"
Josie Tracy paused for a moment. Now there was a good idea. Why hadn't she thought of that?
At John's wide-eyed look of disbelief she shook her head.
"No child of course not. Don't be ridiculous."
"Well why the suit then?"
"I told you already. Weren't you paying attention? You have to wear your suit for the photographs."
"Why doesn't it surprise me that I haven't got a clue what you're talking about ma'am?"
John swallowed his coffee and rinsed his plate before kissing his Grandmother on the cheek.
"Grandma, thanks for the snack but I'm in need of a darned good sleep. I'm sure this conversation will make sense to me after I wake up because it sure as heck doesn't at the moment. See you in a few hours."
As he headed in the direction of his room Josie called after him to check his suit before he went to bed.
"And your good white shirt." she added as John Tracy laughed to himself and continued upstairs.
He loved his Grandmother with a passion but sometimes he felt that woman was absolutely crazy.
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Alan Tracy swore loudly as he jammed his finger in the communications equipment. He stood up and shook his finger vigorously in a vain attempt to stop it throbbing.
He uttered the words again. It still hurt but he sure felt better for saying it.
"That's the only good part of being alone here." he said out loud. "I can say what I like up here and not get "the look" to warn me I have to mind myself."
Not only did he get the look, he mused. He also got more than he bargained for if Grandma was involved.
Alan allowed his mind to wander back when he and Gordon were children and their Grandmother caught the two of them behind the wall in the far corner of their old home in Boston trying to outdo each other in the profanity stakes. He'd lost count of the number of times the two of them had been herded inside the house to have their mouths soaped for their behaviour. It was always preceded by "the look" from Grandma and ended with a strict lecture on being gentlemen.
These days Tin-Tin gave it to him when he let fly.
"Alan please don't say words like that in front of Lucy Josephine." she would reproach him. "She's a little girl and she shouldn't be hearing that from her Father." she would say.
When he tried to justify himself she would give him "Grandma's look". He was sure his Grandmother had taught it to her and brazenly said so. Tin-Tin stood her ground and said he had better watch himself as Grandma had taught her a great many things and most of them were about how to handle him.
"You end up like my Grandma, Tinarda Jane Tracy and I swear I'm outta here." he had threatened trying to keep a straight face as he glared at her. As usual he couldn't even pretend to be angry with her for more than ten seconds and both of them fell into hysterics at the thought of her ever being like Josie Tracy.
"The world isn't ready for two Grandmas." Alan had laughed. "I don't even think it's ready for the one it's got."
"Me either." she had giggled. "Imagine Mr. Tracy if he had two of her."
His smile faded even though he contemplated how happy he was as a married man and how madly in love he still was with Tin-Tin.
He worried if she was all right and how she was coping with the baby. Lucy could be difficult sometimes despite her sweet nature and beautiful smile.
He wondered if she had liked the wedding dress and the intimate "surprise" he had left her in Lucy's room.
He hoped she hadn't opened the surprise with Grandma around. He knew he'd be getting more than his mouth soaped if she did.
He wished he could turn on the frequency to talk to her however his Father's directions were clear. The link was to stay down until he had finished work in Thunderbird Five and Brains had returned to Tracy Island and finished the required work at the other end.
"The new transmission is to be trialled at seven o'clock." he had said emphatically. "If it works you'll be able to talk to Tin-Tin in private as long as you want without interrupting the rest of the frequencies."
He looked at the clock showing Tracy Island time. She would be calling him at seven o'clock and it was now a little after three.
Work would kill the time he supposed. He resigned himself again to his loneliness with thoughts of Tin-Tin uppermost in his mind. His thoughts were periodically interrupted by the throbbing of his finger.
However one thing alone stood out in his mind.
He hoped she would be wearing the dress when he called.
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Author's Note - Well one chapter and the epilogue to go. A wonderful ending to this very long story!
NEXT CHAPTER - THE FINAL COMMITMENT - PART TWO - A VERY SPECIAL DAY - PART 2
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CHAPTER 14 - THE FINAL COMMITMENT - A VERY SPECIAL DAY - PART 1
He watched her from the shadows of their bedroom as she slept ; a tiny thin figure in their huge king-sized bed. The early morning light fell on her beautiful face, accentuating its perfection. She looked so calm and ethereal with her long eyelashes resting on her cheeks and her hair, whilst dishevelled from sleep spread out like a cloak of black silk on the pillows.
She was stunning even in slumber…simply breathtaking … and whilst she was in these four walls she was only his. He never grew tired of looking at her.
He was distracted from thoughts of her beauty momentarily by the soft gurgling of another human being he held in his arms as he fed his five-month old baby daughter an early morning bottle.
Her little face was beautiful too and her unusually long eyelashes fluttered at him as she suckled. In the increasing morning light he could see the tiny curls on top of her head. Alan continued to marvel as each week yet another tuft of her pretty chestnut hair seemed to form into a curl. His Grandmother said she was becoming more like his mother to look at with each day that passed. His Father agreed and said she had a temperament like his mother too. Jeff Tracy absolutely adored her and spoiled her dreadfully. He called her his "little princess" which Alan's grandmother confided in him had been his pet name for his mother.
Alan lowered his face to kiss the top of her little head. She reached one of her hands unsteadily towards his face as he held her. Their eyes locked. He gave her his brilliant Tracy smile. She gave him hers, inherited from him.
"Lucy Josephine...you stop that and be drinking this now." he berated her affectionately. "I need you to be going back to sleep before your mommy wakes up."
Her smile continued and milk escaped from the sides of her tiny pink mouth and oozed down both sides of her Evans shaped chin as he smiled in return.
"I mean it baby girl." he added firmly. "Today is a special day for Daddy and I need mommy all to myself for a bit. I've got something special I have to ask her and I can't have you taking away my thunder by interrupting me you got that?"
Almost as if she understood Lucy returned to taking her bottle. Alan nodded and spoke to her with tenderness.
"That's better young lady." he said. "I'm glad you and I understand each other like we do."
She shifted in his arms and snuggled closer to his strong young body as she fed. Alan held her securely and continued to speak to her.
"You see Lucy, Mommy and I have been married for a whole year now and that's kind of a big deal for us grown-ups; especially Grandpa. Grandpa didn't think we'd get this far…but we have and that's a reason for Daddy to be extra happy. You already know what Grandpa's like with his worrying don't you. He still thinks I'm going to stop loving your Mommy any minute. Dumb huh? "
He stroked her head as she began to fall asleep.
"Plus Lucy I've been trying not to upset you by saying so but Daddy has to go away today. It's time for your Uncle Johnny to come home to see you again. Daddy has to leave in a few hours so when Mommy wakes up promise me you'll be a good girl and let me have her all to myself just this once. I really need to do some grown up stuff with her that I can't have you watching."
He sighed.
"I'm going to miss her Lucy… and you."
Alan felt tears welling in his eyes. Today was his first wedding anniversary and of all days it fell on his required rotation date to Thunderbird Five. He had tossed up whether to ask John if he minded delaying his return to earth one more day so he could spend it with Tin-Tin. However he had thought better of it. He knew John had done more than enough for him already without asking him yet another favour.
John had selflessly volunteered to remain on continuous duty in Thunderbird Five for the first three months of Lucy's life to enable Alan to care for her and be by Tin-Tin's side as she commenced her rehabilitation. Alan knew from experience how difficult those months would have been for his brother. He was all too familiar himself with how it felt to endure the long, lonely days and nights week after week in Thunderbird Five devoid of any physical human contact.
John had not complained and Alan knew he owed his older brother big time. They often spoke in the middle of the night whilst Alan walked the floor with a sleepless Lucy. They discussed Tin-Tin's progress in therapy and Alan assured John through his own tired eyes that he intended to make up for his missed rotations as soon as he could. John wouldn't hear of it. He had simply smiled and said.
"If it's for that gorgeous little girl in your arms we're square Alan. Just no more black eyes huh?"
With extensive therapy and through her own iron determination Tin-Tin had recovered surprisingly well to be able to do most things for Lucy herself within the first three months. She still relied heavily on Alan for some things and needed Grandma's help or that of their two Fathers when he wasn't around. However she was improving daily. Her speech was close to normal again and she walked with only a slight limp. Her long-term memory still troubled her but it too was recovering. The therapist assured her she would be as close as possible to her former self in no time at all and commended her progress.
After a long discussion with his Father, the two of them decided Tin-Tin would remain on extended leave from her role as Assistant Engineer until she was fully recovered and wanted to work again. When she did return to work it had to be at her own pace. Alan agreed to resume duty in the satellite.
The rotations in Thunderbird Five recommenced on the condition Tin-Tin was able to cope with the baby and continued with her physical therapy sessions without missing an appointment. There was no room for negotiation with her appointments Alan reiterated. They had to be met and he would not accept any reason whatsoever for them being cancelled. In addition he insisted that if Tin-Tin or Lucy showed any signs of distress, he was to be immediately called and relieved.
Jeff Tracy acceded to his son's request without argument and placed himself in charge of accompanying Tin-Tin for the appointments Alan could not attend himself.
Lucy was asleep now and Alan quietly rose from where he sat near the window and carried her through to her nursery. He kissed her cheek and placed her in her cot in the corner of the room. He covered her gently and tucked in the blankets.
"I love you my little angel." he whispered. "Now remember you promised me you'd be good."
He turned and carefully closed the door. He yawned and returned to the huge bed, pulling off his t-shirt off as he climbed in beside her. He looked at the clock. It said 5.40am. He looked at his wrist communicator and recalled blast off for Thunderbird Three was to be at 10.00am.
There was work to be done on the craft before blast off. He knew he really should get up and go down there with Brains. Brains would have been awake for hours.
But there was something more important he had to attend to first. He turned off the wrist communicator and lay on his side propped up on his elbow gazing at her.
"You are simply perfect." he whispered as he reached out to stroke her forehead. "I can't believe I nearly lost you."
She stirred in her sleep and rolled towards him. Her eyes fluttered open and startled as they unexpectedly met the brilliance of his. He felt his breath catch as she smiled. She simply melted him from within each and every time she looked at him.
"Alan. What are you doing?" she asked sleepily.
"Looking at you." he replied truthfully slipping his arms around her. "And telling myself just how lucky I am to have a beautiful woman like you waking up next to me."
She nestled closer to his body as he held her. The May morning was cool. He pulled the covers over them and the two of them lay together peacefully and in silence. He closed his eyes contentedly letting her musk scent totally envelope him as it rose to his senses.
"Have you checked on Lucy this morning?" she asked after few moments. "She's usually awake by now."
She began to disentangle herself from his arms to check on the baby but he held her firmly.
"Relax Tin-Tin. Lucy and I have been awake since three o'clock this morning." he said. "I gave her a bottle a while back and she promised to be good for me and go back to sleep."
Tin-Tin looked up at the youngest Tracy son lovingly.
"Oh Alan…you're so good with her. I never even heard her wake."
Alan shrugged playfully and kissed her.
"Yeah well at least I know you'll miss me for one reason when I'm gone I guess." he teased.
He watched as her pretty face fell. He instantly admonished himself for bringing up the issue they had avoided discussing for the past few days; his impending rotation to Thunderbird Five.
"Alan… do you really have to go today?" she sighed with misery in her eyes. "Especially today of all days."
"Why Mrs Tracy what's so special about today then huh?" he joked tweaking her nose, his blue eyes sparkling mischievously.
She slapped him in annoyance.
"You know what today is all right."
"Do I?" he grinned innocently.
"Alan!"
He began to laugh at her frustration. He pulled her closer to him and rolled her over so she lay trapped in his embrace right on top of him. Her long dark hair fell forward onto his face. He pressed his lips gently to hers and inhaled that scent he loved again.
"Happy anniversary baby." he breathed when the kiss ended. "As if I wouldn't remember the day you took this very eligible bachelor off the market."
"Alan!"
"What? I'm not complaining. I went willingly enough." he laughed.
Their eyes met and they gazed at each other in silence.
"I love you." he whispered nuzzling her throat.
"I love you too." she replied.
They looked at each other in silence.
Her face slowly opened into a suspicious smile. She saw the look in his eyes and was aware his body had already responded to their closeness.
"You wanting something from me Mr Tracy?" she teased as she caressed his blonde hair.
"I want you Mrs Tracy." he admitted softly. "All of you."
Neither of them spoke.
"It's been a long time since we made love Alan." she finally said in an apologetic voice.
"Seven months and five days actually but who's counting." he joked as he kissed her again.
"It hasn't been that long Alan!" she exclaimed. "Has it?"
He nodded his head and made a face.
"Believe me Tin-Tin. It has!"
His smile lit up as he toyed with her hair.
"But I'll forgive you totally if you let me do it now."
"I would like that very much Mr. Tracy." she replied running her hands across his naked muscular chest.
"The feeling is very mutual Mrs Tracy." he replied as he rolled her on to her back.
"Are you sure you're up to this?" he asked.
"I'm sure."
He hovered over her and expertly slid her tiny satin chemise from her shoulders in one movement.
"You are so beautiful baby." he breathed and his eyes took all of her in.
"Alan..." she shuddered under his touch as his teasing stopped and he buried his face in her breasts.
And then it came.
"Oh no." Alan frowned lifting his head. "I don't believe it. Not now."
Tin-Tin burst into laughter and sat up adjusting herself.
"Looks like she didn't listen to you Daddy."
"Gee Tin-Tin... I can't wait for this too much longer," he complained burying his head in his pillow. "I'm aching here."
She gave him an amused smile as she got out of bed and pulled on her robe.
"I'm afraid Lucy's telling you you'll have to." she laughed and disappeared into the nursery.
She reappeared five minutes later with a very wide-awake baby in her arms.
"She needed dry pants Alan. You forgot to attend to that part didn't you?" she scolded him good-naturedly and then added. "Again."
"She was asleep." he said defensively as he sat up. "I didn't want to wake her."
"I wouldn't sleep in wet pants and neither would you." she informed him. "I don't blame her for complaining and ruining your romantic plans. It's all your fault. Don't blame Lucy if you're "aching" like you say."
"You promised Daddy Luce." Alan said sullenly as Tin-Tin set her between them in the bed. "You promised I could have mommy all to myself. It wouldn't have taken me that long you know. Now I have to wait another whole month to be with her. That's going to be eight months and six days. You're getting your Daddy into a mighty frustrated state little girl."
Tin-Tin stroked his face and kissed him.
"First night back Alan. I promise."
"Yeah well I'll hold you to that. "he sulked. "Plus you're going to have to talk me through a whole month by myself Tin-Tin. And remind me very graphically about what I'm missing."
"Not on Thunderbird Five's frequency I won't" she said pretending to be shocked.
"Miss Kyrano you'll have to or I won't make it through the month." he grinned, his disappointment fading.
"Miss Kyrano?" she frowned. "You haven't called me that in over a year Alan."
"Yeah well I'm calling you that now because I have something I want to ask you."
He looked at Lucy as she lay sucking her fist happily between the two of them.
"Assuming you're not going to ruin this for me too," he said with a mock resentment that made Tin-Tin laugh.
Lucy gurgled at him with adoration and then looked in the direction of her Mother's laughter and smiled broadly.
"I mean it Lucy Josephine, "he grumbled. "Not one word out of you until I'm done with mommy."
He looked away from Lucy and into the beautiful deep brown eyes of Tin-Tin Kyrano. His heart swelled with the love he felt for her. She looked at him inquisitively as he bit both his lips together nervously.
"Umm… Tin-Tin … Tinarda …"
"Tinarda?" she frowned disapprovingly. "No-one calls me that. What are calling me Tinarda for?"
"Don't interrupt me Tin-Tin, Let me say what I need to say to you. Umm…well, you and I have been best friends for thirteen years now and I'm..."
"You're what?" she frowned. "Oh come on Alan… hurry up will you. What have you done now that you're trying to confess to? Out with it."
"I haven't done anything. Please keep quiet Tin-Tin will you until I get this out. I've been practising for ages."
Tin-Tin took Lucy's tiny hand.
"Looks like Daddy's mad at both of us now. We'd better listen up huh?" she grinned as Lucy smiled back.
"Tin-Tin won't you please just look at me and pay attention for a while?" he said exasperated as he reached for her hand.
"I'm sorry Alan." she apologised realising he was being serious. "Please go on."
He cleared his throat.
"Tin-Tin, what I'm trying to say I guess is that I love you baby. I've loved you since the first day I met you. I also want you to know I'll never stop loving you no matter what."
He paused momentarily.
"Alan." she replied huskily. "I know that."
He shrugged.
"I know but I nearly lost you a while back and I promised myself that if you made it for me, I would make absolutely sure I made right all the things I did wrong last year. All the things your Father said I did to ruin your happiness."
"Alan," she began gently. "You have righted things sweetie. I'm very happy."
Alan Tracy's mind replayed her tear-stained face as she stood before him in that dreadful gown at the clinic in San Diego. He shook his head as the guilt tore him apart.
"No Tin-Tin." he interjected vehemently. "No I haven't righted things. I've still got a long way to go. This goes all the way back to when you were sixteen and I started seeing you differently. You were always my friend but all of a sudden I realised you were a woman too. And you know how I used to treat women. After that night in front of the fire all I could think about when I was around you was how much I wanted to experience you just like all the others. I'm not proud of saying that to you Tin-Tin but it's true. Then when I finally did that's all I cared about. I didn't understand you wanted our relationship to be more than that one day. I never planned to get married. Not for a long while anyway. It was your Father who told me you had special dreams about us and how important the things in those dreams were to you. "
She shook her head in confusion. "What things Alan? I have everything I want. What are you talking about?"
"Baby I know you wanted special things from me. Things money can buy and things money can't. Like a romantic proposal over one of those candle-lit Dinners we used to have in Paris. I know how much you love Paris Tin-Tin and you were always dragging me there for those shows and hoping I'd let my guard down and do it. But what did you end up getting from me huh? Me saying to you in Dad's car I had no choice but to marry you because of the baby that's what."
"Alan I know but …"
"You also wanted a beautiful wedding dress designed in Milan with one of those long veils you were always crazy about. I should have gotten you that but I didn't. I never even gave you the chance to show me which one you wanted, let alone allow you buy it for yourself. Not only that you wanted a proper wedding ceremony and I dragged you off to a celebrant who didn't care who we were as long as I paid for him to marry us. We had a stupid cup of coffee in a Diner afterwards. That's wasn't a wedding Tin-Tin. That was an insult."
She pressed her fingers against his lips.
"No more Alan." she said quietly. "It doesn't matter."
"Tin-Tin it matters to me and I want you to hear me out so you understand why I'm telling you all this. The part that really sticks in my craw is the fact that you wanted our wedding night to be special. I realise now every girl dreams of that. But all you'll remember is a stupid night picnic on the beach which wasn't even my idea. It was Grandma's. Being with you like that under the stars and how it made me feel inside was the most wonderful moment of my life Tin-Tin but I know it wasn't how you dreamt it would be. And then finally … the worst thing of all … you dreamed I'd be thrilled the day you told me you were expecting our baby. And instead … well … I'm so sorry I did what I did to you when you told me about Lucy. You didn't deserve any of it and even if I live to be a hundred years old I'll never be able to tell you enough times how sorry I am for that."
He looked at Lucy tenderly and then returned his gaze to her.
"She is the most special little girl on this earth Tin-Tin and I love our baby with all my heart. But as for you and me Tin-Tin; I don't just love you. How I feel is more than that and I don't know how to describe it other than to say you are everything to me."
Tears glistened in Tin-Tin's eyes as he continued. It couldn't be easy for him to admit all this.
"Baby I know I can't change things in the past other than to say I'm sorry and I know we're not in Paris right now but I want to ask you this properly anyway."
He dropped his head and took a deep breath to muster his courage and then lifted his face to hers. His blue eyes looked directly into the brown eyes of the beautiful young woman he had loved for more than half his life.
His best friend.
"Miss Kyrano I love you with all my heart and I would like to ask you ma'am, if you are so inclined, if you will do me the great honour of becoming my wife."
Tin-Tin sat on the bed totally stunned by his words and actions. This was the last thing in the world she had expected Alan Tracy to do when he'd started.
She stared in shock at the tall blonde Tracy son who had captured her heart totally. Her eyes brimmed as she surveyed him with total surprise. She couldn't believe this was happening.
Her best friend was finally asking her to marry him.
She had dreamed of this special moment since she was sixteen years old and came to the realisation she had more than simply feelings of friendship for the youngest son of Jefferson Tracy. She had always hoped he would one day feel the same and surprise her with a declaration of his own love and present her with his ring. Sadly it never happened as he had so rightly pointed out. She had given up that dream a year ago when Alan took her to that place to hurriedly marry him. Despite her disappointment and the fact she had cried for hours afterwards, she had told herself it really didn't matter because at least she still had him.
Now of all times in her life when he was trying to fulfil her dream she didn't know what to say to him.
She continued to stare at him in silence and didn't say anything.
"Gee don't think about it too long Tin-Tin." he pleaded uncomfortably in the silence. "You're making me nervous."
"Yes Alan …" she finally whispered without taking her eyes off him. "There would be no greater honour for me than to be your wife."
She leaned forward to kiss him. His own eyes welled.
"Thank you Tin-Tin." he swallowed. "I promise I won't let you down."
Tears fell from both of their eyes. As their lips met above their baby daughter, Tin-Tin knew there was no place more special than this to receive the proposal of the youngest Tracy son and experience their most wonderful romantic moment together.
As he had said this was not over a candle-lit dinnner in Paris. He would not have said those words of honesty and love to her in Paris. To her, Paris now paled into insignificance compared to where their life was together right now with their baby girl between them and the centre of their lives.
"Stop crying." she said wiping his eyes. "It doesn't suit a Tracy son."
"I'm not crying. You are." he choked wiping hers. "And it doesn't suit you either."
"I love you." she breathed and kissed him again.
"Yeah well that might be Tin-Tin but I might say you could have said yes a bit faster than you did." he sulked, wiping his eyes and returning the kiss.
"Why? Were you scared I'd say no?" she teased.
"No. I always knew you'd say yes." he teased back.
"No you didn't."
"Yes I did. I wouldn't have asked you otherwise. No-one rejects me."
"Now what do you think you're doing?" she asked as he diverted his attention to the bed.
"Looking for the ring. It's here somewhere…" he muttered awkwardly fishing about under the pillows. "I brought it in Paris a few months back ."
"Well what's it doing under there?"
"I was going to give it to you … after I'd … well …"
"Had your way with me earlier I've no doubt." she scoffed.
"Yeah well that didn't happen did it?" he replied and looked at Lucy. "Thanks to you I might say."
He found the ring and took her left hand in his.
"This has been a long time coming Mrs Tracy." he said as he slid the huge diamond ring onto her finger. "It's the one you wanted."
She looked at the elegant gold band set with a massive diamond of perfect clarity and cut. It was the one she had admired for over three years each and every time she went to Paris.
"Oh Alan." she breathed tearfully. "It's so lovely isn't it? It's the one I've always wanted."
"I know it is. You dragged me past that window every single time we went to Paris for those Fashion shows remember?" he said rolling his eyes. "It just took me a long time to get the message and get around to giving it to you that's all."
He kissed her lips and then the ring on her finger.
"It suits you Mrs. Tracy." he said. "You have impeccable taste as always."
She held out her hand and allowed the early morning sun to reflect off the diamond as she admired it.
"Now I can at last say I really am your wife." she said happily.
"You mean you weren't before and I could have gotten out of this?" he asked jovially raising his eyebrows. "I wish you would have said so earlier."
"Of course I'm your wife." she frowned. "This just makes things … I don't know…. real for me."
"Real?" he joked picking up Lucy and screwing up his nose. "Now this is real. No wonder she was so quiet through all this."
"I changed her last time" she protested. "It's your turn."
"Is that so?" he grinned continuing to hold her out towards Tin-Tin.
"Yes that's so but as usual you're trying to find a way to get of out it." she retorted getting out of bed and taking the baby from him. "Don't worry Lucy Josephine, I'll do it."
Alan watched the two of them re-enter the nursery feeling well pleased with himself. He changed his clothes and straightened the bed feeling satisfied he had put real happiness on her face for the first time since their marriage. It made all of this worthwhile.
As he combed his hair she sailed past him with her nose in the air.
"Come on Lucy ignore Daddy. I'll take you downstairs to make some breakfast before he can go changing his mind and forgetting he asked me to marry him. Your Daddy has one heck of a bad memory when it suits him.
Alan laughed but then paused for a few moments to ponder if he had now finally rectified things. His eyes wandered in the direction of the nursery and what he had stored there. He still had something else to surprise her with before he felt he had made it up to her properly.
"I won't be changing my mind about you Tin-Tin." he murmured." I can guarantee you that."
It had been a perfect start to a very special day.
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Virgil Tracy rolled his eyes as he sipped his coffee and watched his red-haired brother circling a toy plane in the air. He swore Gordon was going through a second childhood since they'd had the baby in the house.
"Hey Lujo check this out." he enthused. "This is your Uncle V out on rescue. Rough ride huh! Now you know how Uncle Gordon feels! Uh oh…he forgot to fuel up again…"
With a huge sweep he circled the plane over the baby's head and pretended to crash land it into her chest. Lucy's brown eyes widened and she grinned widely before laughing out loud.
"Hey!" exclaimed Virgil. "Don't go saying things like that about my piloting skills. She's impressionable at that age."
"Virgil did you hear her just now?" Gordon asked excitedly. "She laughed for me. She hasn't done that before."
"She laughed AT you don't you mean." Virgil sniffed. "And you watch out if Grandma hears you calling her Lujo again. You know how much she hates to hear her called that. Her name is Lucy Josephine."
Gordon picked her up and held her above his head. She put her plump little fingers in her mouth and giggled happily at the attention.
"But you don't hate me calling you that do you? It doesn't matter what Grandma thinks. What's that? You love it when Uncle Gordie plays with you? Of course you do. You want me to do it again? OK here we go! Hey look at you Lujo! You fly better than Uncle V."
Virgil frowned as Gordon held her up in the air again and she squealed with excitement.
"Settle down Gordon. You'll over excite her soon and then she'll be screaming the place down like she did the last time you played with her."
Gordon shrugged and kissed Lucy firmly on the cheek before swinging her on to his hip.
"That's when I give you to Uncle Scott hey precious girl!" he said tousling her chestnut curls.
Scott looked up from his newspaper absently, his mind thousands of miles away.
"Huh?"
Gordon shook his head. Scott had been extremely quiet and distant again since returning from his monthly visit to New York. It was more than obvious to all of them that he had something on his mind. He had been acting like that for nearly five months now.
Gordon shook his head at his brother.
"Nothin' Scott. Go back to dream world where you've been hibernating since you got home last week."
Scott gave him a disgruntled look.
"Don't you go giving her to me if she's about to start up." he warned. "I mean it."
Gordon held Lucy at an arms' length.
"You hear that? Uncle Scott doesn't love my little baby. You know his trouble? He's too tense!"
Scott frowned.
"Don't say that. I do love her and I am not tense. I just don't want you to give her to me in the same state you did last time."
"Why? You're supposed to be able to handle an emergency." Gordon grinned.
"That was not an emergency Gordon." Scott re-iterated returning to his paper. "It was an all-out disaster. I'd rather save a hundred people single handed than have to calm that little girl down again after playing with you. Last time I had to get Grandma to take her off me before she screamed the place down she was in such a state."
"Trust Grandma to have to save your ass." Gordon winked. "Fancy being unable to cope with a baby!"
"ME???????" Scott snapped refusing to discuss the matter further. "What about YOU?"
"Come on Lujo." Gordon grinned kissing her cheek. "Uncle Scott's a no-go at the moment. Let's go and see if Mommy and Daddy are finished saying goodbye yet. What's that you're saying now? You don't want to watch that mush? Yeah, I don't blame you baby girl. Sickening hey? "
Virgil laughed and watched his eldest brother with interest as Gordon carried Lucy through into the kitchen. Scott had something on his mind all right. He was looking idly at the pages of the newspaper but he certainly wasn't reading anything.
"Hey Scott." he said lightly. "Aren't you finding it kind of hard to read that newspaper?"
"No why? Don't you start on me too Virgil." Scott warned. "I'm just fine thank you."
Virgil shrugged.
"Well I dunno. I was never good at reading things upside down that's all."
Scott reddened as Virgil began to laugh. He threw the paper to the floor in frustration and folded his arms.
"I've got things on my mind Virg." he said defensively.
"Such as?" Virgil enquired with interest.
"Never you mind what." Scott replied cautiously. "I learnt a long time ago not to trust my little brothers with anything."
Virgil leaned forward eagerly prepared to listen.
"I'm not your little brother. I'm your best friend Scott. Come on. It sounds intriguing. You know you can trust me."
Scott looked at him and rolled his eyes.
"Yeah sure I can trust you best friend. Who told Grandma about the missing piece of pie yesterday?"
"She was going to ask me who took it anyway." Virgil said defensively. "I had to tell her the truth."
"Virg, I know what a hopeless liar you are and that's why it's best I don't tell you. If anyone asked you about this I don't want you to be in a position where you knew the truth to tell. I can't afford for you to tell anyone around here anything."
All frivolity had now left Virgil Tracy's voice and he looked at his brother seriously. This was obviously important to him.
"I won't say anything Scott if you want to confide in me." he said. "Honest."
Scott looked at his younger brother carefully. He knew he was more than trustworthy. But this was important to him. He'd have to think about it a little longer before confiding in anyone.
He rose from his seat on the couch and strode towards the door.
"It's almost time for me to leave with Alan and Brains for the Space Station." he said " I'd better push off. Dad will be looking for me."
"Scott!" Virgil exclaimed disappointed. "I said I wouldn't say anything. Why won't you trust me?"
Scott looked over his shoulder and viewed his brother silently.
Virgil frowned. It was obvious he wasn't going to say anything.
"You know your problem Scott?" he asked as the silence between them continued.
"I didn't know I had a problem." Scott replied dryly. "But since you say I do what is it?"
"You're too much like Dad sometimes for your own good you know." Virgil said candidly.
"That could be construed as a compliment you know." Scott shrugged.
"It wasn't meant to be a compliment." Virgil shot back. "Hiding your feelings from people who care about you is not healthy big brother."
"I'll keep your wisdom in mind little brother." Scott retorted as he saw his Father beckoning him into the lounge for his final instructions. "I assure you I'm fine. See you in a few hours."
Virgil shook his head as the eldest Tracy brother turned on his heel and left the room.
Who was he kidding?
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Josie Tracy frowned suspiciously at the white box handed to her by her Grandson only half an hour before. It was a large white box tied with a gold ribbon and he had left her on her honour not to open it before she gave it to Tin-Tin.
"I mean it Grandma." Alan had warned. "Not even a peek. Swear to me on your honour ma'am."
"On my honour indeed." she said under her breath. "What sort of person does that Grandson of mine think I am?"
She picked up the box and shook it.
"Hmmm." she thought. "I wonder what it is. It's more than likely that French Collection she's been hankering after for the past two weeks. Then again she's been hinting about a black leather coat she saw in that designer catalogue too. He's probably gone out and gotten her both knowing him. What I would like to know is why all the secrecy and sneaking about?"
"Why couldn't Alan give this to her himself?" she asked loudly
"Mother, he probably knows the girl would appreciate a surprise." Jeff Tracy replied without looking up from his desk where he awaited Thunderbird Three's impending blast off. "It is their wedding anniversary in case you've forgotten."
Josie continued to shake the box.
"He already gave her that huge diamond ring she was displaying over breakfast Jeff." she replied.
"I think it's fair to say she deserves to be spoiled a little after the year she's had." he said. "It's nice to think Alan would do that for her."
"Well he should have given her this at the same time as the ring instead of having me doing it for him."
Jeff Tracy shook his head at his mother. She was simply incorrigible.
"Well I'll deliver it for you if you like." he offered. "I want to spend some time with the little one today so I'm more than happy to do it if you don't want to."
"I didn't say I didn't want to do it Jeff. I just want to know why all the secrecy?" she persisted.
"Oh Mom for goodness sake. Alan more than likely realises she'll be feeling a bit low with him having to leave on their anniversary and wants to cheer her up with something nice. What's wrong with that?"
Josie gave him a sniff of disapproval.
"Nothing is wrong with that but as usual who's responsible for her feeling low then? Jeff, surely you could have delayed Alan's rotation by one day so they could be together today of all days."
"Mother …" he sighed. "I'm not starting up with you about this and I mean it. The rotation is due and John needs to be relieved. Alan knows that and so do you."
"Humph … and you're wondering why a little girl needs cheering up with material things. It would be pretty obvious to anyone with half a heart that those two would want to doing some good old fashioned loving on the night of their anniversary."
"I thought you of all people would have noticed they were both late for breakfast this morning "he said, raising his eyebrows. "From that I can safely gather the loving has been well and truly taken care of already. Not that it's any of our business anyway."
"No it's not our business … but nevertheless …"
Jeff Tracy laughed but immediately diverted his attention as the sound of the huge engines of Thunderbird Three blasting off returned him to his work.
"Mom … keep quiet a moment will you. Just deliver the box for Alan. And remember you're on your honour."
Josie glared at her son and reddened.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means your Grandson knows what you're like." he replied. "Base to Thunderbird Three. Alan you are clear for lift off."
"Oh? What am I like then?" she retorted forgetting he was in the middle of operations.
"FAB Dad." replied Alan's businesslike voice. "And by the way if Grandma's next to you remind her she's on her honour with that box will you."
Jeff tried not to laugh at the impeccable timing of his youngest son.
He looked at his mother's astounded face.
"Do I have to say anything further?" he asked.
Josie glared at him, grabbed the box and left the lounge room in a huff.
"No thank you. I think you've said quite enough Jeff Tracy." she snapped. "I'll be with Tin-Tin if you're wanting me."
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She stood forlornly on the balcony of their apartment holding Lucy in her arms. She had already heard the roar of the engines.
Any minute now she expected to feel the power of Thunderbird Three as it lifted off on its way to Thunderbird Five. She'd seen it leave many times before but she didn't want to see it today. She didn't want him to leave her. Finally the inevitable happened and her gaze shifted upwards as the massive rocket ship launched from its silo deep within the earth on its way into space.
She looked at Lucy whose gaze was also transfixed on the rocket ship as it hurtled into the sky.
"There goes Daddy Lucy." she whispered clasping her baby daughter close to her body and biting her lip. "We're going to miss him."
She felt her eyes filling with tears.
"Bye Alan." she mouthed silently.
They continued to watch until the massive red craft disappeared from view and a tranquil silence again fell over Tracy Island. The silence became deafening as she continued to stand there, driving home the fact he was gone again and she had been left alone for another month.
And alone on her wedding anniversary.
"It's for the good of the world." she tried to tell herself as she started to cry. "But sometimes I wish the world would look after itself and let me be with Alan."
Lucy, almost by instinct seemed to pick up her mother's negative thoughts. She rubbed her eyes and laid her head on Tin-Tin's shoulder. After a few minutes she put her thumb in her mouth and began to grizzle.
"I know baby." she soothed stroking her curls as the tears ran down her face. "You're tired of Daddy leaving you too. Daddy missed seeing you roll yourself over last time he went away didn't he? And this month you look like you'll sit up and he's going to miss that too."
Her unhappiness escalated as she compared his future rotations with Lucy's expected milestones.
"And he won't see you crawl or walk for the first time either if you do those things on schedule. That'll just break Daddy's heart."
Lucy's tired grizzle had now turned into loud and unhappy crying and Tin-Tin knew she had to stop feeling sorry for herself and attend to her.
With a huge sigh of misery she left the balcony and went inside the apartment to find her bottle. She opened the small refrigerator to see Alan had made four new bottles of formula for Lucy before he left. A note was secured to one.
"Only thirty days. Miss you already. Alan."
"Only thirty days." she said quietly as the bottle heated. "That's not so long. It will go fast around here with the rescues."
However as she set herself on the bed to feed her daughter, her emotions literally overcame her and she dissolved completely.
"Who am I kidding?" she choked as she began to sob. "Thirty days without Alan to help me with Lucy will feel like forever."
A brisk knock on the door forced her to pull herself together. She bit her lips tightly and tried to calm down.
"Ummm ... please give me a minute," she blubbered. "I'm in the middle of feeding Lucy."
The door opened regardless. Josie Tracy had heard her crying and had no intention of waiting to be invited inside.
"What in the blazes are you doing up here carrying on like there's no tomorrow young lady?" she demanded. "Anyone would think the world was coming to an end the way I heard you crying just now."
Tin-Tin looked at her apologetically.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for anyone to hear me Mrs. Tracy." she sniffled still trying to calm herself down.
"It's Grandma." she corrected her.
"I'm sorry ... Grandma." she whispered starting to cry again. "I don't mean to cry. I know he has to go. It's ..."
Josie put down the white box she carried and came to sit next to Tin-Tin on the bed. She put a concerned arm around her shoulders.
"It's what sweetie?" she asked gently "You tell Grandma how you feel. It won't seem so bad then."
Tin-Tin looked at the caring face of the elderly woman.
"It's nothing." she said finally, lowering her head. "I'm acting like a child."
"Sweetie there's nothing childish about wanting the man in your life to be with you on your wedding anniversary." Josie said candidly. "I'd have cried too if Grant left me alone on the most important day of the year. Not that he ever did that of course."
"Mrs. Tracy ..."
"It's Grandma." she corrected her again.
"Grandma." she repeated. "I know John has to be relieved and he's done so much for us already. Alan and I both accepted he had to go today but you see we had planned to spend the day together before he left. Then Mr. Tracy said yesterday he had to go early to take Brains up to check a fault in the com-link. We were so disappointed our plans were ruined. I know it can't be helped but it's made my wedding anniversary feel just like my wedding. That felt like it never really happened."
Josie patted her arm reassuringly.
"Don't you worry sweetie. It happened all right. You only have to look at the beautiful ring on that finger of yours to know it did."
Tin-Tin nodded and dropped her eyes. "I know. I'm sorry to sound like I'm complaining."
"I think that little miss is just about done there now." Josie observed as Lucy slept peacefully in Tin-Tin's arms with the bottle still in her mouth.
Tin-Tin nodded. Josie held out her arms to take her.
"Here," she said. "I'll put her down. I've been told by my Grandson to give that box over there to you after he took off. You'd best open it as believe it or not I'm on my honour to only let you do it."
"For me?" she asked with surprise. "He already gave me the ring."
"Just you watch out it isn't ticking then if you aren't expecting anything." Josie cautioned. "I've long since been wary of packages from my two youngest Grandsons. You know how those two love to play practical jokes."
"He wouldn't play a joke on me today would he?" she frowned.
"He knows you need cheering up." Josie warned. "Remember he might have grown up a lot but he's still Alan Tracy."
Tin-Tin knew she was right. Alan still tended to revert back to playing jokes on her when he thought she needed to smile. During her first course of speech therapy he had purchased a book of lame jokes for her to practice reading aloud. He hid all of her other books so she was left with no other option but to use the joke book. The jokes were dreadful but they made the two of them laugh and forget her struggle to regain her health for a while.
"Maybe I'd better not open it then." she said hesitantly.
Josie became agitated.
"No of course you must open it dear!" she exclaimed in a dismayed tone " I need ... err you need to see what is inside don't you?"
She smiled and slid off the bed and picked up the package.
"Yes I do." she said. "I'll wait for you to put Lucy down Mrs. Tracy and you can help me open it."
Josephine Tracy berated her before turning and entering the nursery with the baby.
"You call me Mrs. Tracy one more time and I'll be more than helping you open that box young lady. For the last time you remember you are a member of this family and I want you to call me Grandma. You got that?"
"Yes ma'am." Tin-Tin replied sheepishly. She knew right then and there she had better get it right from now on. Josephine Tracy always meant every word she said.
She looked at the box. It certainly looked interesting. She wondered what it contained.
"If it isn't a joke ... and I'm sure it's not because Alan knows I'd be upset, it could be that French collection I really wanted. No ... he paid thousands for the ring. I can't expect he'd buy that too."
"Well ... I don't think you'll be hearing from that young lady for a few hours." Josie said briskly as she left the nursery. "She's out like a light in there. Didn't she have her sleep this morning?"
"No she didn't." Tin-Tin giggled remembering Alan's foiled love-making attempt. "She absolutely refused to settle for us."
"Mmmm. That I have no doubt" Josie acknowledged wondering why Tin-Tin would be giggling. "That little girl is just as headstrong and stubborn as her Grandmother used to be."
Tin-Tin smiled at the observation. Lucy was just as stubborn as her Father was too. It obviously ran in the family!
"You really do believe Lucy is like Alan's mother don't you Grandma?" she asked intently.
Josie's eyes lit up.
"Oh my yes. She's like her all right. ...like two peas in a pod. "she began."My Jeff always summed Lucille up very well when he raved on about her to his Father and me and I think the same applies to my great grand-daughter. Pretty curly hair and beautiful brown eyes. Long fingers and a smile made in heaven. Intelligent and funny. And spirited. "I like spirit in a woman." Jeff used to say. "And Lucy Evans has got it."
Tin-Tin she tried to picture a young Jeff Tracy head over heels in love. Somehow it was a very hard vision for her to see. But his description of Lucille certainly matched Lucy Josephine.
"Mr. Tracy would have grown up with spirit wouldn't he Grandma?" she asked with interest. "He had you."
"Me?" Josie asked raising her eyebrows. "Not in those days young lady. I was Grant Tracy's wife. Grant was one hell of a wonderful man but his woman didn't have spirit when she was around him ... well not too much anyway. If I stepped out of line the Tracy temper would well and truly flare up. I knew my place but I must admit when it was needed I still said my piece nevertheless. I always have."
Tin-Tin nodded in agreement
"You most certainly have Grandma."
Josie patted her hand.
"I always knew you and I would have an affinity with each other when my Grandson fell in love with you. Your Alan is exactly the same as my Grant. Both of them nothing but trouble, terrible tempers and extremely hard to handle. Despite it mighty fine Tracy men and wonderful Fathers to their babies. "
The two of them looked fondly at each other.
"That just about describes Alan all right." Tin-Tin agreed. "Especially the part about the temper."
"Well the temper certainly describes Grant too. Lord that man was a volcano." Josie shuddered and looked on with approval as Tin-Tin began to brighten. "Now don't you feel better after talking for a bit instead of crying about things you know you can't change?"
"Yes ma'am. I do." she admitted. "Thank you."
"Now for goodness sake open that box before I die guessing." Josie insisted.
Tin-Tin undid the ribbon and struggled a little with the lid of the box. The box was tightly packed and refused to surrender its contents easily.
"I really hope this isn't a joke." Tin-Tin sighed. "I'm not in the mood for it Alan."
However her eyes widened as the lid came off and she surveyed the contents in deathly silence. The designer label was uppermost.
Her face paled.
French collection?
No.
Designer coat?
No.
"Oh Grandma." she breathed hardly able to speak. "Do you know what this is?"
Josie tried to look like she knew but in the end she had to shake her head stupidly.
"Something mighty darned expensive by the look of it." was all she could think to say.
"It's ... oh Alan...why..."
She began to cry. Josie looked with confusion towards the box as she gathered the distraught young woman into her arms.
"Oh dear; come on now. Don't start crying again sweetie. What's inside that's upset you so? Surely Alan didn't mean for you to get yourself in a state over a silly gift, joke or not."
"Grandma ... it's ... it's not a gift ma'am. It's... a wedding dress... made by my favourite Designer." she gulped.
A wedding dress? Josie Tracy frowned. What was her Grandson doing buying Tin-Tin a wedding dress a year after the fact? Had that boy completely lost his grip on things? Buying a wedding dress for a girl who never got to wear one certainly wasn't funny.
"Why would he buy you such a thing." she demanded preparing to be cross. "If he thinks this is a joke he's certainly got some fast explaining to do to me."
Tin-Tin took out the dress.
"It's the one." she breathed as she carefully examined the beading and held it up against herself. "It's exactly the one. It's the right size and everything."
"There's a card in there." Josie pointed out in a disgruntled tone . "You'd best be reading it to find out what that young man has to say for himself before I get my hands on him. He's lucky those communications are down in Thunderbird Five right now."
Tin-Tin opened the envelope. In it was another hand-written letter.
"Hi baby-girl.
Surprise!
I bet you think I'm crazy buying this for you don't you? Well I am but I really want you to have it. This beautiful dress is so you and I'm sorry you didn't get to wear it on our wedding day. You would have looked like a princess in it and you know you've always been my princess.
Tin-Tin I've been thinking about things and it worries me Lucy wont' get to see what a beautiful bride her mommy was when she asks to see what you looked like on your wedding day. She'll ask me why and I don't want my little girl to know we didn't have a decent wedding because she was on the way. I don't want her to think her Daddy wasn't perfect. She'll find that out soon enough.
"I've been talking to your Father and he thought you might like to have some fun today and spend some time doing your hair and makeup like you wanted it to be on our wedding day. Like me, he wants you to put the dress on. Virgil's agreed to take some photographs for me. If you look in Lucy's room behind the boxes in the closet you'll find the veil and shoes too and some other things I'd rather you didn't show to Grandma.
By the way Grandma I know you're there right now with Tin-Tin. I know you can't help yourself. Please don't ask Tin-Tin to show you what I left in the closet for her. It's kind of private.
Anyway since I can't be with you tonight when I want to be, Dad's agreed for us to use the frequency in Thunderbird Five for as long as we like. Please wear the dress when you call me tonight. I'd really like to look at my beautiful bride even though it's a year too late and we are so far apart right now. I really want to see what you would have looked like baby if I'd given you the chance.
Thunderbird Five communications should be back up around seven tonight. Call me on frequency five as soon as you can after that.
I love you.
Alan."
"Well?" Josie Tracy enquired craning her neck. "What's that young rascal got to say for himself?"
Tin-Tin handed her the letter, forgetting he had made reference to his Grandmother in it. She started crying again. Josie's eyes scanned the letter carefully and her mouth pursed with disapproval.
"I knew Jeff knew something about all this." she said in a disgruntled tone. "Humph... and Virgil ... and Kyrano. How is it then I was left out of the loop?"
Her face softened. She was glad they were all doing something nice for this delightful girl.
"Alan's a good boy sweetie." she said gently as she folded the letter and handed it back. "He's trying very hard to make you happy. You make the most of it now."
"Yes ma'am." she sniffed.
Josie began to pace the room, suddenly placing herself in charge of matters and planning a flurry of activity.
"Well then ... you'll need a baby sitter while you get yourself ready for the photographs. I'll send one of her Uncles up. And I think Kyrano should dress up as well. If he does, it's only fitting Jeff does the same ... and the rest of us. Goodness I'll have to press Jeff's black suit. What about a wedding cake for one of the shots. I'd better organise something simple. Tin-Tin there's so much I have to do. You must excuse me dear. I have to be off to sort myself out."
With that she turned and moved towards the door of the apartment.
"But before I do I'm going to chew a few conspiring ears around here," she added with fake disapproval as she left. "All I can say is there'd better not be anything else going on I don't know about."
Tin-Tin fingered the dress as she now sat alone. She guessed she could do what Alan wanted. It might even be fun. If they all dressed up and had photographs taken it stood to reason Lucy would never know the start she had in life.
But despite Alan's good intentions someone would be missing from the photographs. Someone Lucy would miss and notice immediately.
Her Daddy.
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He put down his holdall in the Lounge room and wearily embraced his Grandmother. She knew this one needed her the most and she always took the time to be there when he returned.
"You're looking thin John." Josie observed with concern looking up into his exhausted blue eyes. "Have you been eating right up there?"
John gave his grandmother a tired smile and held her close to his chest. It was so good to touch another human being again and feel warmth and love. He held her in silence for a long time and Josie felt the urgency in his body for emotional release. She allowed him to hold her tightly as she had done many times before. Then she demanded,
"Well have you son?"
"Yes ma'am. I've just been too worn out to prepare anything these past few days that's all. The last week before rotation is always hard."
"Mmmm… we'll see about that Johnny. Has your brother settled in all right up there?"
John nodded.
"Yes ma'am. Brains and the two of us did a few hours on the com-link. We left to Alan to finish it off. I feel bad it's his wedding anniversary and he had to relieve me Grandma. I could have waited another day if he'd asked me."
Josie shook her head.
"Don't you be feeling bad about that John. You've done more than enough for your brother. Now come into the kitchen with me and I'll make you something before you fade away before my very eyes."
John nodded. It was so good to be home amongst his family again. He followed his Grandmother into the kitchen and perched himself in front of the bench. He watched her make him a sandwich and coffee marvelling at the simple pleasures in life which surrounded him; a new cake she had baked; a vase of flowers nearby.
"Here" she said as she handed him the plate. "Eat this. You're not getting up from here until you do."
"Thank you ma'am." John grinned taking a bite. "So where's Dad?"
"Don't talk with your mouth full." she admonished him. "You're in civilised company. Your Father? Closeted up in the round house with two of your brothers doing goodness knows what. They're not to be disturbed anyway whatever it is. No doubt a meeting about something new he's planning."
John shrugged. That must have been where Scott and Brains were headed. Scott had mumbled something to Brains about his Father needing his expertise today.
"So Grandma what else has been happening around here?" he asked with interest.
Josie narrowed her eyes as she assessed her middle grandson carefully. John watched her for a few minutes and allowed an amused look to steal over his features.
"What Grandma?" he asked hardly able to contain himself. "Why are you looking at me like that for?"
"You answer me this truthfully as God is your witness John Glenn Tracy. Do you know anything?"
"About what?" he asked.
"About the photographs Virgil's been asked to take.."
"What photographs?" he asked in a bored voice. "Boy this sandwich sure is good Grandma."
"I told you not to talk with your mouth full."
"Sorry Grandma."
Josie relaxed. No, he seemed innocent enough. She guessed he should be too after a month of seclusion in space.
"Is your good suit pressed John?"
"Why? What's that got to do with anything?"
"Tin-Tin's having wedding photographs taken later today."
John allowed his face to show his complete bewilderment. Things were never ordinary around here but this time Grandma had really lost the plot.
"Wedding photographs?" he exclaimed. "It's a bit late for that don't you think Grandma? Besides Alan isn't even here remember? Hang about…oh no ... Grandma you're not expecting me to do some faceless shots and pretend to be Alan are you?"
Josie Tracy paused for a moment. Now there was a good idea. Why hadn't she thought of that?
At John's wide-eyed look of disbelief she shook her head.
"No child of course not. Don't be ridiculous."
"Well why the suit then?"
"I told you already. Weren't you paying attention? You have to wear your suit for the photographs."
"Why doesn't it surprise me that I haven't got a clue what you're talking about ma'am?"
John swallowed his coffee and rinsed his plate before kissing his Grandmother on the cheek.
"Grandma, thanks for the snack but I'm in need of a darned good sleep. I'm sure this conversation will make sense to me after I wake up because it sure as heck doesn't at the moment. See you in a few hours."
As he headed in the direction of his room Josie called after him to check his suit before he went to bed.
"And your good white shirt." she added as John Tracy laughed to himself and continued upstairs.
He loved his Grandmother with a passion but sometimes he felt that woman was absolutely crazy.
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Alan Tracy swore loudly as he jammed his finger in the communications equipment. He stood up and shook his finger vigorously in a vain attempt to stop it throbbing.
He uttered the words again. It still hurt but he sure felt better for saying it.
"That's the only good part of being alone here." he said out loud. "I can say what I like up here and not get "the look" to warn me I have to mind myself."
Not only did he get the look, he mused. He also got more than he bargained for if Grandma was involved.
Alan allowed his mind to wander back when he and Gordon were children and their Grandmother caught the two of them behind the wall in the far corner of their old home in Boston trying to outdo each other in the profanity stakes. He'd lost count of the number of times the two of them had been herded inside the house to have their mouths soaped for their behaviour. It was always preceded by "the look" from Grandma and ended with a strict lecture on being gentlemen.
These days Tin-Tin gave it to him when he let fly.
"Alan please don't say words like that in front of Lucy Josephine." she would reproach him. "She's a little girl and she shouldn't be hearing that from her Father." she would say.
When he tried to justify himself she would give him "Grandma's look". He was sure his Grandmother had taught it to her and brazenly said so. Tin-Tin stood her ground and said he had better watch himself as Grandma had taught her a great many things and most of them were about how to handle him.
"You end up like my Grandma, Tinarda Jane Tracy and I swear I'm outta here." he had threatened trying to keep a straight face as he glared at her. As usual he couldn't even pretend to be angry with her for more than ten seconds and both of them fell into hysterics at the thought of her ever being like Josie Tracy.
"The world isn't ready for two Grandmas." Alan had laughed. "I don't even think it's ready for the one it's got."
"Me either." she had giggled. "Imagine Mr. Tracy if he had two of her."
His smile faded even though he contemplated how happy he was as a married man and how madly in love he still was with Tin-Tin.
He worried if she was all right and how she was coping with the baby. Lucy could be difficult sometimes despite her sweet nature and beautiful smile.
He wondered if she had liked the wedding dress and the intimate "surprise" he had left her in Lucy's room.
He hoped she hadn't opened the surprise with Grandma around. He knew he'd be getting more than his mouth soaped if she did.
He wished he could turn on the frequency to talk to her however his Father's directions were clear. The link was to stay down until he had finished work in Thunderbird Five and Brains had returned to Tracy Island and finished the required work at the other end.
"The new transmission is to be trialled at seven o'clock." he had said emphatically. "If it works you'll be able to talk to Tin-Tin in private as long as you want without interrupting the rest of the frequencies."
He looked at the clock showing Tracy Island time. She would be calling him at seven o'clock and it was now a little after three.
Work would kill the time he supposed. He resigned himself again to his loneliness with thoughts of Tin-Tin uppermost in his mind. His thoughts were periodically interrupted by the throbbing of his finger.
However one thing alone stood out in his mind.
He hoped she would be wearing the dress when he called.
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Author's Note - Well one chapter and the epilogue to go. A wonderful ending to this very long story!
NEXT CHAPTER - THE FINAL COMMITMENT - PART TWO - A VERY SPECIAL DAY - PART 2
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