Author's Note -The name of the final chapter has so far spoken for iteself.. It's a very special day on Tracy Island. . mcj.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN - THE FINAL COMMITMENT - A VERY SPECIAL DAY - PART 2

As usual she wasn't making this easy for him and he was certain she was doing it to him on purpose. She knew he could never change a diaper properly no matter how brilliant he was at everything else and however many sons they had. It was quite simply beyond him.

"Jeff, you're absolutely hopeless." she used to laugh as one of his usual dreadful attempts fell off. "I keep telling you sweetie, you have to stop playing with the baby and keep him still."

Well he wasn't playing with her. He was sure she was simply testing him out to see if he remembered what she'd told him as she wriggled about trying to roll over on to her stomach as he was changing her.

"I swear you're only doing this to spite me Lucy." he said in a frustrated voice as he turned her back to face him. "How about giving Grandpa a break huh?"

The baby girl fixed her eyes on her Grandfather and gave him a cheeky almost knowing smile. She flailed her arms at him and her brown eyes sparkled as they met his. Her smile simply melted his heart.

"You're just teasing me now aren't you my little princess." he grinned as he tickled her tiny feet. "Yes you are Miss Lucy … yes you are."

She giggled and kicked her legs energetically making his task even harder.

He began to laugh happily as it became more and more obvious she wasn't going to let him improve his amateur standing in the diaper stakes.

Jeff leaned forward and swept her up into his arms and hugged her close to him. His lips gently brushed the distinctive strawberry mark behind her ear. As he expected, the diaper fell to the floor.

"Happy now?" he admonished her as he bent down to pick it up. "You're a naughty girl Lucy Josephine just like both your namesakes."

He pondered for a moment as to who was the most trouble of the two namesakes, his wife or his mother.

No, he decided. His Mother definitely won the stakes hands down in that department. Lucille might have been stubborn and difficult sometimes but his mother was an expert when it came to the trouble stakes. He only had to think about what she was up to at the moment.

She'd stood up earlier today as he and three of his sons were trying to enjoy their lunch by the pool, cleared her throat and started acting like she was in charge of some sort of massive theatrical production. She announced all of them were required to be dressed in a good suit by six o'clock so that they could be photographed down on the beach with Tin-Tin in her wedding dress. She had even bailed Brains up as he tried to catch up on some much needed sleep under the beach umbrella. She warned him he was no exception.

Everyone around the pool, including himself had immediately forgotten about eating and burst into furious protest.

"Now that's taking things way too far Mom." he had frowned. "This just started out as something nice Alan wanted to do for Tin-Tin on their wedding anniversary. Virgil simply offered to help with the photographs. It was in no way meant to be a family affair. Alan only asked for one photograph of Tin-Tin in the dress and one of her Father with her. That's all you're planning to do isn't it Kyrano?"

Kyrano nodded his head politely.

"Indeed that is all Mr. Tracy." he agreed.

"Yeah Grandma." Gordon groaned. "You know how much I hate to wear a suit."

"And I'll have to do John's tie." Scott moaned. "He won't like that or the suit idea." he added as he made reference to his sleeping brother.

"Grandma I have to agree with Dad and the guys." Virgil said carefully. "It's a bit overboard. I only offered to do this for Alan because he was holed up in the space station."

Josephine Tracy placed her hands on her hips and glared around the pool.

"So it's overboard for that sweet little baby girl asleep upstairs to see her two Grandfathers and her Uncles looking half decent in years to come is it? Lord knows I want her to see me with her Mother in her wedding dress. I'm not getting any younger you know and the way the rest of you ignore the subject Tin-Tin might be the only Tracy wife I get to be photographed with before they carry me out."

She saw Scott looking uncomfortable and honed in on him immediately.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked tersely. "You know as well as I do that I'm speaking the truth. You're almost thirty-one now young man."

"But Grandma…" he began.

"Don't interrupt." Josie snapped. "And as for you …" she added spinning around to fix her disapproving eyes on Virgil. "You'll be twenty seven in a few months time too and don't you forget it."

"But Grandma…" Virgil protested.

"Don't you interrupt either. "she flashed. "Don't you boys think for one minute I'm ignorant as to why all of you go flying off spending days on the mainland. It's not to find yourselves a wife that's for sure. And what comes out of that sort of thing? Nothing that's what."

Both Scott and Virgil reddened and looked to their Father for assistance.

"Mom OK!" he interjected. "If it makes you happy we'll put on the suits all right?"

Gordon, Scott and Virgil had all riveted their eyes on him.

"Dad!" they chorused in disgruntled unison. He gave them a look which warned them it was in their best interests to comply.

"Oh man." Gordon complained flopping back into the sun lounge. "I can't believe I have to put on a penguin suit."

Josephine Tracy gave him an icy stare.

"You heard your Father." she warned. "And don't let me see you in any of those loud ties of yours either young man. A simple black tie will be more than sufficient for all of you."

"Black tie? Grandma we'll look like we're all at a funeral." Scott protested.

"If Alan were here he'd probably tell you being married is the same thing." Gordon joked.

"Don't you start with your bachelor nonsense." Josie threatened. "You're another one who spends far too much time on the mainland for your own good young man."

Gordon lowered his head suitably reprimanded.

"Yes ma'am." he said meekly.

Jeff Tracy grinned as he recalled the looks on his son's faces. Despite everything, none of them were prepared to take on their Grandmother.

He again focussed his attention on the baby girl in his arms who was busying herself exploring his face with her fingers.

"This is all for you young lady." he teased playfully and kissed her hand until she began to giggle again. "All this fuss…Grandpa putting on a suit when you know very well he hates wearing one … all your Uncles dressing up … Grand-dad Kyrano too. My goodness you've turned this house upside down since you've arrived here. Yes you have Lucy Josephine … yes you have …oh no …. Ohhhhhhh… gees Lucy…come on now…you did that on purpose."

At the sound of his dismayed tone, Tin-Tin hurriedly scurried in from the bathroom clad only in a bathrobe with her wet hair puled loosely on top of her head. She was greeted with her Father-in-law standing helplessly in the middle of the room holding his Grand-daughter at arms length and screwing up his nose at his dripping wet shirt.

"Oh Lucy what happened to your diaper?" she gasped in embarrassment as she took the baby from him and looked around for a towel to mop up the damage.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Tracy." she apologised "That's one of your best shirts isn't it?"

"It's OK honey." he smiled tightly. "No harm done. Don't worry about the towel. I'll just go and change it. It's my own fault for not fitting that diaper properly in the first place."

"Oh …" she nodded trying not to laugh as the truth came out. Even she had noticed Jeff Tracy was sadly lacking in that department. Best to try and make him feel better she supposed. "She's a bit of a handful when it comes to the diapering isn't she?" she commented.

"She's a handful full stop." he remarked as he went to leave the room. He saw Lucy turn her head to follow him.

"Yes I mean you." he nodded and then frowned. "And I'll be back in a few minutes to give you your bottle Miss Lucy so you needn't think for one moment you've gotten rid of me with your antics."

She threw him another smile and then fixed her attention on Tin-Tin. Tin-Tin kissed her and lay her down and reached for the discarded diaper.

"Lucy you shouldn't have done that to Grandpa." she said sternly as she pinned the diaper firmly in place.

Lucy smiled and gurgled at her mother, thoroughly enjoying the attention. She loved it when Tin-Tin spoke to her and always made an effort to respond.

"And I know you meant it too." Tin-Tin scolded. "You're as mischievous as your Daddy is. And speaking of Daddy I think you and I will be going on a treasure hunt in a few minutes little girl."

Tin-Tin picked her up and smoothed her curls with her free hand.

"You see Lucy knowing Daddy as I do I'm certain the rest of the boxes he left me aren't going to be where he said they are."

She walked to the closet that ran down one side of the nursery wall. He said the boxes were in there. She opened one door and peered inside.

She shook her head and looked at Lucy.

"See I told you. I knew Daddy would do this. He used to do this to me all the time when we were younger you know. He'd always say something was somewhere it wasn't just to tease me. He liked watching me look everywhere and get cross at him. So … the way I figure it if the two of us look under the spare bed right at the back …yep … just I thought…here they are."

Under the ornate bed that Lucy would eventually occupy as she grew was a long box containing an elaborate veil. A little to the left was a box containing white Italian shoes in the size she took. He had thought of everything.

And more than everything by the look of things.

There was another box there too. No doubt it was the surprise he didn't want his Grandma to see.

She paused for a moment debating whether or not to open it with Alan's Father about to return. She shrugged. It couldn't be that bad. She carried Lucy through to their bedroom and propped her up amongst the pillows on the king sized bed. She opened the box with impatient fingers and looked about for a card before opening the blue tissue paper stuffed inside the box.

Sure enough a card appeared with a simple and clear message.

"June 1 - 8 months and 6 days of waiting."

She blushed as she opened the tissue paper and saw what was inside. She fingered the sheer red material. She could imagine what would go on in these four walls on June 1 if she wore this.

She looked further into the box. What lay underneath was ten times worse.

"Oh Alan." she laughed and shook her head. "You're dreadful sometimes. I'll wear the negligee for you but I'm not wearing those."

She looked at Lucy again; the cause of the foiled love-making attempt that morning. His frustrated words came back to her.

"I can't wait much longer for this Tin-Tin. I'm aching here."

Somehow she figured it wouldn't matter if she wore them or not. He wouldn't take the time to notice.

"I'd better ask Grand-dad Kyrano to take you that night by the looks of things." she said as she pushed the contents back in the box and closed it tightly. "Somehow I don't think Daddy will take too kindly to you interrupting him again Lucy Josephine no matter how much he loves you. If I'm wearing that you'd better be a long way out of earshot."

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"Father, are you expecting someone Sir?" Virgil asked as he walked into the lounge room loading film into the camera.

Jeff Tracy frowned and strode to the balcony as he heard the rumble of an approaching aircraft.

"No son." he said uneasily. "No I'm not."

"Dad are we expecting anybody?" Scott enquired anxiously as he too walked onto the balcony.

"Dad said he's not." Virgil replied in a worried voice as he turned to look at his brother. "Heyyy… nice threads Scott."

Scott shot him a glance which clearly indicated he was not impressed with his sarcasm.

"I can't believe I wear to wear this just to please Grandma." he complained. "You really sold us out at lunch time dad."

His Father rolled his eyes.

"Do you think I'm happy wearing this either?" he asked indicating the expensive black tuxedo he wore. "I haven't had to wear this thing for nearly eighteen months."

"At least yours fits Dad." Virgil said uncomfortably. "I think I must have put on weight since the last time I wore mine."

He moved his arms forward and felt the coat tighten across his back. Both Jeff and Scott looked at each other and grinned.

"Too much of Grandma's home made apple pie Virg that's your trouble." Scott teased. "You should know what happens if you have too many second helpings of that."

Virgil mumbled something about dry cleaners shrinking things before all three of them turned their attention back to the approaching aircraft.

"Looks like they're coming in to land whoever they are." Jeff frowned as he walked towards his desk in the lounge room. "That worries me."

"Hey Father are we…" came John's deep voice as he strode down the stairs.

"No." chorused Scott and Virgil in a bored tone.

John frowned at his two older brothers.

"OK OK. You could have let me finish what I had to say at least before you cut me down in flames." he grumbled.

"Boy I wonder if anyone can tell which Tracy brother is in need of a decent sleep around here." Virgil commented.

John gave him an irritated look.

"Me that's who." he snapped. "I know I'm still tired and I'd be asleep right now if I didn't have to dress up like this for Grandma."

He frowned and looked towards his Father.

"Dad … do we really have to do this?" he protested.

"I'm telling you John I wouldn't be arguing with your Grandmother just now." Jeff Tracy warned. "She's out of control with Tin-Tin wearing that wedding dress."

John sighed.

"If you ask me this whole island is out of control at the moment. Honestly Dad, Tin-Tin in a wedding dress a year after the fact? What's next? Funerals in advance?"

Jeff Tracy laughed.

"It'll be your funeral son if Grandma hears you complaining like that."

Scott looked at his blonde haired brother and how loosely the dark suit hung on his tall, lithe frame.

"Looks like you've lost a bit of weight since you wore that last Johnny." he observed.

John went to pull his belt one notch tighter and shrugged.

"Yeah sure looks that way."

"Unlike old Virg here." Scott laughed and elbowed Virgil in the ribs.

Virgil frowned and said indignantly. "Is that so? Well I notice you're not wearing your usual old favourite. For all I know your suit mightn't fit you either."

"Oh it fits all right." Scott assured him. "Unlike you I stay away from the second helpings."

"So why the new one then? I can't believe you were actually brave enough to go shopping all by yourself." Virgil taunted.

"Yeah well I did and if I'm going to have my photograph taken I may as well look half decent."

"It's certainly classy if nothing else." John acknowledged. "I think your taste is actually improving big brother." he acknowledged.

"What's that supposed to mean wise guy?" Scott frowned.

"It means you can finally select some decent clothing for yourself without asking Tin-Tin to help you." John replied dryly.



Scott did not divulge that Margo Marin had selected the suit for him. Instead he said in an amused voice.

"Speaking of needing someone to help, I suppose you want me to do that for you hey Johnny?"

John looked down at the black tie he held in his left hand. His blonde eyebrows knitted together.

"No I don't thank you." he sniffed. "I didn't come down here to ask you to do my tie if that's what you're thinking."

"Well that's a welcome change then." Scott grinned.

"Is that so?" John replied. "For your information I only came down here to check if we were expecting visitors."

"Yeah well we are by the look of it." Virgil interrupted. "So we'd better help Dad do something about it."

The three brothers walked from the balcony to where their Father sat at his desk. He was talking to someone.

"OK then Hank. You're clear to land." they heard him say tightly. "I'll see you in a few minutes."

"Dad?" Scott enquired in a concerned voice.



"Urgent Company business that absolutely can't wait he says." Jeff Tracy said tensely. "Damn it boys. We'd better move fast. Operation Cover-up on the double."

He flicked a switch on his desk to replace the portraits of his sons dressed in their distinctive International Rescue uniforms with portraits of them in ordinary clothing. He quickly scanned and secured the entrances to the massive International Rescue operations lying silently beneath them.

"Dad how long is Mr. Davies intending to stay?" John enquired as he cross-checked.

"Hank didn't say John." Jeff replied as he too checked and double checked the security of the Thunderbird craft. "It's five thirty now so most likely he'll stay overnight . I'll ask Kyrano to get the guestroom ready."

"But Dad what happens if there's a rescue call?" Virgil asked.

"We'll just have to sit tight this time I'm afraid boys. You all know communications are down until seven o'clock now anyhow." their Father answered. "We'll worry about things if and when we need to after that."

"Father …" Scott began in an agitated tone. "Did Hank say what he wanted to discuss with you Sir?"

Jeff looked at his eldest son and couldn't help but notice how edgy Scott had suddenly become. Of all of his sons, Scott was the easiest for him to read. He was sure it was because they were so alike.

"No son he didn't." he replied. "Why do you ask?"

Scott shrugged but Jeff Tracy was extremely astute. He knew immediately that Scott was worried about something.

"Errr… no reason Sir. I just wondered if I'd forgotten to do attend to something important in New York last week that's all."

"Well the two of us will know soon enough…" he indicated as the sleek black jet touched down on the runway. "… he's got Kevin Baillie with him."

He watched as all the colour drained out of Scott's face.

"Son?" he asked. "Are you feeling all right?"

"Yes Sir. Of course." Scott stammered as thoughts of his agreement with Adelaide Washington reared up in his mind.

Jeff Tracy glanced furtively at his eldest son.

When Scott had to make an effort to retain his usual iron control over his emotions something was up.

Jeff Tracy frowned.

What the heck was going on?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

THE BRIDE SHE HAD DREAMED TO BE

She would have stood in her Father's apartments and twirled around happily in front of him in her long white dress. The dress was magnificent with its' exquisite beading and long train. It would have been the gown she had requested to be modified after seeing it at the Milan Fashion Show. He had allowed her to engage that Designer in Milan.

His Father had money and money was no option.

He joy would have been complete as she finished her make-up and her Father slipped the special diamond necklace about her throat. It would have been her Mother's necklace. The only thing her mother had left her when she had gone. Her Father had lovingly kept it for her wedding day.

Her face would have been the happiest it had ever been in her life. She would have felt so special.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

THE BRIDE SHE HAD BEEN ONE YEAR AGO

She wore a dress that had been worn quite a few times before. Her hair was dressed loosely. The only make-up she wore was her signature red lipstick against her deathly pale face.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

LIFE AS IT NOW WAS

His eyes filled with tears as he sat on his bed and watched her.

He had never seen her look quite as beautiful as she looked right now.

Or as happy.

She smiled and ran her hands over the expensive fabric of the exquisite designer gown as she turned this way and that in front of the large mirror in the bedroom of his apartment.

His mind cast back to a time which hardly seemed that long ago when his five year old daughter had danced about in her pink fairy dress looking at herself in the mirror and admiring how pretty she looked.

"Look Father." she used to say in her sweet little voice. "I'm a beautiful princess."

His welled up eyes threatened to overflow. Even though she was now Alan Tracy's wife, she would always be his beautiful princess.

"Father." she said without looking at him. "Isn't this the loveliest dress you've ever seen?"

She twirled around to face him and was met with his stone faced countenance.

Her face fell.

"Father?" she asked. "Does this displease you?"

He swallowed and shook his head as a stream of tears began to flow down his cheeks.

Tin-Tin looked dismayed and came to sit next to him on the bed. Her delicate musk scent rose to his nostrils as she took his hand and gazed worriedly into his face.

"Are you feeling unwell Father?" she asked. "Is that it?"

He patted her hand with his free one.

"My sweet child, I am not unwell and I am certainly not displeased."

"Then what's wrong Father?" she asked. "Please tell me."

He paused for a moment.

"Tin-Tin nothing is wrong. I was simply wishing your Mother was here to see you on this day."

Her own eyes filled with tears. She hadn't thought to want her Mother. She was self sufficient now after years of growing up without her.

"My Mother hardly knew me Father." she said softly. "I have no wish for her to see me. Only you Father."

Kyrano shook his head.

"You must not say that my dear child. Your Mother made a very sad and unfortunate choice in leaving you as she did. She has missed so many special things that the two of us have shared. I feel sorrow for her as I look at you now. You see what I see with my eyes at this moment she will only ever imagine."

Their eyes locked as they silently acknowledged the close and special bond they shared.

"Please stand over near the door for me daughter." he directed quietly. "I would like to take all of you in for my memory."

Tin-Tin walked to the other side of the room and stood near the entrance to the balcony. She was utterly breathtaking.

"You are so beautiful my precious Tinarda Jane. Beautiful on the inside. Beautiful on the outside." Kyrano swallowed. "Even more beautiful right now than your mother."

She lowered her head and blushed.

"Thank you for saying that about me Father. I know how beautiful my mother was from her photograph. "

She was silent for a few moments as she blinked back her own tears.

She raised her eyes to look at Kyrano.

"Even though I know I should be grateful for anything I wish Alan could see me himself Father. It won't be the same on the monitor."

Kyrano went to speak but was distracted by the sound of a plane coming in to land.

They both frowned and looked towards the open balcony.

"Mr. Tracy never said he was expecting someone did he Father?" she asked.

Kyrano looked worried. Normally Jeff Tracy gave him ample notification if he was expecting a guest.

"No my daughter. He did not say anything and that is most unusual."

Tin-Tin walked out onto the balcony which overlooked the tarmac. The sleek black plane was a Tracy corporate jet. Kyrano joined her as the plane came to a stop.

"It appears to be Mr. Davies Father." she observed. "It looks like we will be hosting a guest for the evening."

Her mind became uneasy. That meant "operation cover-up" and all the secrecy that went with it. Secrecy included contact with Thunderbird Five. She dismissed the negative thought from her mind.

"No Mr. Tracy promised me I could talk to Alan." she assured herself. "He won't let me down."

"Mr. Davies must have urgent business to fly all the way from New York unannounced." Kyrano observed. "I will make up the guest room."

He then saw Kevin Baillie's tall distinctive frame leave the aircraft.

"Two rooms as it seems." he corrected himself.

"It must be important business Father." Tin-Tin commented. "That's Mr. Tracy's Senior Attorney isn't it?"

"Yes it is. It is obviously a critical legal matter if Mr. Baillie is involved. He deals with only the most important issues in Tracy Enterprises."

Kyrano lifted his wrist communicator to his lips. Jeff Tracy's voice sounded clearly in response.

"Go ahead Kyrano."

"Mr. Tracy I could not help but observe you have visitors." he began. "Are you in need of me sir?"

Jeff Tracy's voice was tense.

"Umm… not yet Kyrano. The boys and myself have things pretty much covered at the moment. However I'd appreciate it if you could serve some drinks out on the balcony in around fifteen minutes."

"Of course Mr. Tracy." he replied. "I will come down presently."

He shut off the communicator and returned his attention to his daughter. Her face had fallen and she fingered the beautiful dress awkwardly.

"Father … forget the photographs." she said with real sadness in her voice. "This will appear silly to Mr. Tracy's colleagues and he may not want them to know about Alan and me not having a proper wedding. I will go back up to my apartment and change to help you with the drinks."

Kyrano shook his head and spoke firmly.

"Tin-Tin, Mr. Alan has asked for photographs of you in your gown. He has also asked for photographs of you and of me. I intend to honour his request daughter and considering what this has cost him and the trouble he has gone to, you have need to honour it too."

"But Father …"

"Daughter…" he interjected once again. "I will handle the guests. You are simply to enjoy the happiness the wearing of this dress gives you. That is what I want and also what Mr. Alan wants."

She gave him a half-smile.

"Thank you Father. Actually I would rather not take it off just yet. It's so lovely."

He watched his only child in silence as she looked at herself again in the mirror. There was something he had wanted to give her for many years and looking at her as she was now he knew it was time. She looked over to find him staring at her once more.

"Father … "she asked uncomfortably. "Why are you staring at me in this way?"

It was his turn to give her a half-smile.

"Tin-Tin." he said motioning her inside. "I would like you to come and be seated child. I have something I wish to give you."

She looked at him with surprise.

"Me Father?"

"Yes my child." he replied.

Silently she complied with his request, seating herself in front of him. Her beautiful dress spread out like a white mantle around her.

He sat in the chair opposite and said nothing.

"Father?" she queried nervously.

He leaned forward and took both of her hands in his. He didn't quite know how to say this to her and the words he had memorised simply would not come out.

"This moment is one for which I have waited for many years my daughter. "he said squeezing her hands lovingly. "Despite this I find what I wish to say to you extremely difficult."

"Father … you know you can say anything to me." she replied.

He closed his eyes. He knew he could but this was not just anything. This was about her Mother.

"Tin-Tin…" he began. "Twenty-two years ago your birth gave me much joy. It was the happiest day of my life."

He swallowed and a painful few minutes of silence followed. Finally he found the courage to continue.

"The depth of my happiness was great and my love for your Mother was very strong. She had given me such a precious and wonderful gift with her body and I was beside myself with joy. "

He paused again and brushed a tear from his eye.

"I gave your Mother a special gift on the day of your birth my child. he continued. "It was something I had hoped she would keep forever to remind her of my love for her."

He paused and shook his head as his normally well-controlled emotions reared up.

"It was a necklace Tin-Tin. A one of a kind piece that cost me all of the saved money I had. I fastened it around your mother's throat as she held your tiny body in her arms."

He faltered again. The pain he felt in his heart was almost too great to continue. However, looking at his precious child, now a Mother herself, his resolve strengthened.

"I thought your mother was happy that day too Tin-Tin." he said. "She promised me she would never allow that necklace to leave her keeping as it would always remind her of the love she had for my humble self."

He toyed with the magnificent diamond ring she now wore on her left hand.

"I was but a simple man in those days daughter; simple and hardworking. I could never afford gifts for your mother such as this token of love Mr. Alan has given you today. All I could offer her was myself and a home to raise my child."

He paused and added agonizingly

"But I made such an effort for her with the necklace."

He fell silent again and felt her hands gently squeeze his in support.

"Tinarda …today …when you look so much like your Mother … I would like to give you a token of my love for you too."

He dropped her hands and reached over to the sideboard where a black velvet box lay.

He opened it and showed her an exquisite gold, jade and diamond necklace.

"Oh Father." she swallowed as tears shone in her eyes. "It's lovely but you should not have spent your money on things for me. I have been burden enough to you over the years."

Kyrano felt his own eyes clouding again.

"Daughter … I did not buy this for you." he said struggling to retain his composure. "This was your Mother's."

Tin-Tin's eyes flew to his.

"It was the only thing she left me that I now have to give you my daughter." he said sadly.

He held out the box for her to take.

"Father…" she gulped as emotion overtook her. "I cannot take this from you."

"Tin-Tin…." he said. "Please … I have kept this for many years waiting for your wedding day. When you married Mr. Alan as you did it distressed me greatly that he did not present you with the opportunity to wear your Mother's necklace. I feel that today you should at least be given that opportunity."

She bit her lip and looked at the gentle features of her Father. His eyes pleaded with her to accept the gift. Without speaking she reached out her hand and took the box from him.

"Father is it your wish that I wear this for the photographs?" she asked.

"Yes Tinarda." he nodded. "It is my wish."

She removed the necklace from the box and as she handled it her thoughts centred on how devastated her Father must have been when her Mother returned it.

"Would you mind fastening it for me Father?" she asked as she placed it around her neck.

"That would give me more pleasure than you know my child." he replied as his eyes brimmed with happy emotion.

As he secured the small gold clasp he looked at the features of the beautiful young woman in front of him; his only daughter and the one he had so nearly lost giving birth to the precious Tracy grandchild. She was everything to him just as Narda had been.

"It looks even more spectacular on you than it did on your Mother," he acknowledged. "Mr. Alan is a very lucky young man."

She bit back tears as she stood up to embrace him.

"Thank you Father," she breathed. "I will treasure this always."

As he squeezed her to his chest, he smelt her beautiful musk fragrance and closed his eyes with happiness. He had raised her from a baby and this was the most joyous day in his life since her birth.

"You are welcome my child." he replied. "Always remember Mr. Alan may love you deeply but he will never love you as much as I do."

He squeezed her tenderly one last time before they broke apart.

"Continue with your preparations for the photographs my child," he said as he released her. "I will attend to the guests and return soon."

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"Scott…" boomed the deep voice of Jefferson Tracy.

Scott startled nervously at the sound of his Father's voice. He had observed Hank Davies and Kevin Baillie leave the tarmac and knew they were now on their way up to the villa in the passenger lift. He wished he knew what Kevin Bailie wanted. Thoughts of Adelaide Washington re-surfaced.

"Yes Sir?" he snapped anxiously.

"Son?" Jeff Tracy frowned.

"Sir?" Scott Tracy replied.

"You seem on edge about something son," he observed.

"No Sir not at all." he replied hastily. "I…I just get worried when we have unexpected visitors. You know how it is with the security and all."

Jeff nodded. Of course, that must be why the boy was agitated. Scott was bigger on security than he was when it came to outsiders.

I know what you mean." he replied and then said briskly. "Scott I need you to keep Hank and Kevin entertained for a few minutes when they come in please. I need to have a quick word with your Grandmother."

"Dad?" Scott enquired.

"I don't have time to explain things son. Just get Grandma to come down to the study will you. This won't take me long," he stated as he turned on his heel towards the other end of the villa.

He spun back around. "Oh … and Scott… please see to it that Kyrano organises those drinks will you."

"There is no need Mr. Scott." Kyrano replied as he entered by another door. "I am here to do that now."

Scott nodded as he went to find his Grandmother. "Err… thanks Kyrano. I'll leave you to manage that side of things then."

Josie Tracy came down the Hall a few minutes later wearing her best dress and trying to fasten her pearl necklace.

"What in the blazes does he want me to do for him this time?" she muttered as she scurried towards the study.

She tapped on the closed door and walked inside. Her only son stood looking out the window.

"Jeff what the heck's going on around here?" she demanded. "One minute we're all getting photographs taken with Tin-Tin, the next minute we're faced with the arrival of your corporate jet and racing around the house worrying about security and now you've got me bailed up in here. What are you up to?"

"Shut the door please Mother." he said turning to lean against his desk with his arms folded. "I need you to do something for me and it's not very pleasant I'm afraid."

Josie frowned and folded her own arms.

"And what's that then?" she asked imperiously.

"I need you to give Tin-Tin some bad news," he said with real regret in his voice. "Yesterday I promised Alan that he could use Frequency Five as long as he wanted this evening to talk to Tin-Tin. "

"I know you did," she agreed. "And I'm glad you did too. Tin-Tin was rather upset this morning when he left her alone on her wedding anniversary. When Alan let that snippet of information slip in his note with the wedding dress, her whole face lit up. It was wonderful to see."

"Well don't get too carried away Mother because I can't allow it now." he said apologetically. "I'd like to but I simply can't with both Kevin and Hank here. It's too risky."

It suddenly occurred to Josie that he wanted her to break the news to Tin-Tin.

"You've got to be joking Jeff." she exclaimed. "There is no way in hell I'll be a party to disappointing that little girl now."

"Mother I'm sorry but I'm not joking and I know she'll be disappointed but there is absolutely no scope for contact with Thunderbird Five this evening. I've shut the frequency down totally in case Hank picks up on it. He's an expert in the communications field and I simply can't take the risk."

Josie shook her head at him.

"Jeff… you simply can't ask me to tell Tin-Tin something like that. She's spent all afternoon getting herself ready up there and all she wants is for Alan to see her in her wedding dress. You can't deny her a little bit of happiness today son. She simply won't understand."

He was feeling stressed enough about the unexpected arrival of his Senior Attorney and Hank Davies without getting into an argument with his mother too.

"I'm asking you to help her understand," he snapped without warning. "It's bad enough operations are completely shut down Mother without Tin-Tin having a crisis over something that doesn't really count."

Josie eyeballed him.

"I can't believe you just said that," she said abruptly.

Jeff shook his head. When he became anxious everything he tried to say seemed to come out wrong.

"Mother I'm sorry. You're right. I didn't mean it to sound like that. I know it counts and honestly, if I could do it for her somehow I would. "

He paused as she gave him a disbelieving glare.

"Come on Mom you know I can't." he said defensively. "Now I need to deal with Hank and Kevin and I'd appreciate it very much if you could explain the situation to Tin-Tin for me. She'll understand if it comes from you. She's always been a sensible girl and she more than anyone knows how important security is to all of us."

Josie was furious. For a man who had idolised his wife as completely as he had, he'd certainly lost touch over the years with what was important to a young woman.

"No Jeff. "she thundered walking towards the door. "Contrary to what you think the child won't understand. I don't know how you could even begin to believe she would."

"Mother …I'm sorry but I don't have any choice," he said emphatically.

"Fine then; you don't have any choice and I agree she has to be told. "she snapped. "But if you're happy to disappoint her and break her heart on her wedding anniversary, YOU be the one to stand there and do it!"

With that she slammed the door so hard that the plans on the top shelf of his study moved and fell to the ground.

Jeff Tracy sighed. He now had no option but to tell her himself. He heard Scott conversing with Hank and Kevin in the lounge room as he exited his study. He also heard his Mother's curt reply to their polite enquiries after her health as she stormed past them on her way into the kitchen.

"Well I'm obviously not pushing up daisies if that's what you're asking." she flashed as she barged past them totally disillusioned with her son.

Resignedly he looked in the direction of the passenger lift. He knew he had to do it. He knew she would be sorely disappointed but security had to come first if International Rescue was to remain a secret organisation. He sighed and entered the elevator. He would need to pick his words carefully.

He didn't want to make her cry.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

She stood beside the ornate cot and reached forward to quietly adjust the blankets. It was almost as if she knew, Tin-Tin mused. She never slept this long in the afternoons. She smiled devotedly at her baby daughter as she lay sleeping on her side with her thumb in her mouth.

"You're such a good little girl," she thought silently. "You know how important it is to me to look nice for your Daddy tonight and you've let me have all afternoon to do it."

She glanced over at the clock. It was a quarter to six. She guessed she should wake Lucy and feed her so that she settled again by seven o'clock when Alan called but she looked so peaceful that Tin-Tin was loathe to disturb her.

No, she decided as she turned from the cot. Lucy could sleep until she woke. Alan would probably ask to see her anyway.

As she left the nursery and entered her bedroom she heard a discreet knock on the door of the apartment.

"It's most likely my Father," she thought absently as she looked at herself one last time in the mirror.

"Come in." she called.

She heard the door open and close as she adjusted the necklace around her throat. She turned expectantly towards the doorway.

"Did you see to …" she began and then stopped mid-sentence as she saw Jeff Tracy walk into the room. "Oh…I'm sorry Mr. Tracy." she said quickly. "I thought you were my Father."

Jeff Tracy immediately stood still, totally taken back at the sight of her. She looked absolutely stunning. As he stared hypnotically at Tin-Tin, his mind wandered. Only one other young woman had ever looked so utterly magnificent in his memory.

Lucy Evans, the day he took her as his wife.

For a few moments he was speechless as Tin-Tin's beautiful face reminded him of how radiant Lucy had been as her Father gave her hand to him in Paris to have and to hold until death did they part.

"You mind you always love my daughter as I do young fellow." John Evans had warned him. "I'm entrusting her to your care."

And he had loved her for ten wonderful, passionate years with that love bringing five strong young sons into the world.



He still loved her twenty-two years after death had they parted.

He would always love her until in death they would meet again.

Blinking back his tears he shook his head in awe and whispered breathlessly.

"Oh my, young lady; you are certainly something special in that dress."

She coloured immediately and her hand instinctively moved to her throat to touch the necklace.

"Thank you Mr. Tracy," she replied. "I only said to my Father a short time ago how beautiful it was."

Jeff Tracy continued to stare at the stunning young woman.

"I wasn't talking about the dress honey ... I meant you."

She looked about awkwardly. He had never said anything like that to her before and she didn't quite know what to say in return.

Jeff Tracy sensed her discomfort. Despite her cool confidence in her work she was still a very quiet, shy young girl when it came down it. However he reminded himself that despite her gentle nature she had certainly turned his youngest son around for the better over the past twelve months.



"My son has much to be grateful for in you Tin-Tin," he said moving forward to embrace her. "And I'm glad he's seen fit to do these special things for you today."

Tin-Tin let out a small sigh of happiness at his words. It had been such a special day today; the romantic proposal before breakfast, the magnificent ring, the gift of the dress, and the final thrill; receiving her mother's necklace. Now all she needed to make the day complete was for Alan to see her, as she would have looked on her wedding day. She wanted to hear him tell her she was really as beautiful as she felt.

Her Father had said it.

His Father had said it.

But she knew her best friend Alan Tracy wouldn't say it unless it was really true.

Jeff released her from his grasp and strode to the window.

She began to worry. This was Jeff Tracy's way. If he had to deliver bad news he always faced the ocean first. He'd done exactly the same thing only yesterday when he called the two of them into his study to inform Alan he wanted him to leave for Thunderbird Five early.

He had begun with a few pleasantries and delivered the blow when he turned from the ocean to face them.

"I know you have plans." he had said. "I also know they are important to you but the upgrade of the communications link is important to International Rescue and it can only happen tomorrow when Brains is available. I'm sorry to do this to the two of you son but you're going to have to change your plans including err... the special ones ... and shove off early. . "

She and Alan had looked at each other in a disappointed silence as he turned back to the ocean.

"I'll make it up to you both I promise." he had said. "Maybe a few days shore leave in a nice hotel when you return huh?"

Alan had placed his arm around her. "It's all right Sir. We don't need the shore leave. I think I've told you the last three times this happened, Lucy doesn't like flying and we're not going to the mainland without her."

His Father acknowledged he had forgotten but in doing so offered no other compensation.

"I gather you heard the plane come in earlier Tin-Tin." Jeff Tracy now began as he looked out across the ocean hoping to find the right words to say what he needed to say.

Tin-Tin swallowed at the thought as she replied.

"Yes I did see the plane arrive Mr. Tracy."

He said nothing and continued to look out the window.

"Mr. Tracy..." she enquired nervously. "It's still all right for the photographs to be taken this evening isn't it?"

"Of course it is honey." he replied turning to face her. "Alan wouldn't appreciate it if we called everything off because of Hank's arrival and with you going to so much trouble now would he?"

She breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment she thought he was going to tell her to change.

"Besides Grandma has been very busy baking a cake and organising all of us into black suits to be photographed too." he smiled.

Tin-Tin's eyes grew wide.

"Even Gordon?" she asked in amazement.

Jeff nodded. "Yes even Gordon... err…not without a struggle of course." he added with a smile.

She laughed. "Of course."

He looked down at her pretty features and struggled within himself. She was such a delightful girl and she had made his son very happy. He didn't want to disappoint her like this.

But he had to.

He turned again to the window.

"Tin-Tin I'm sorry I had to ask Alan to commence his rotation early." he began. "But you know how things can be around here. The communications link really needed a thorough upgrade and with Brains so busy all the time I'm afraid that this morning was the only time he had available to do it. "

"I understand Mr. Tracy. "she acknowledged. "Brains has been almost working non-stop since I … um …haven't been." she finished uncomfortably.

He heard the guarded tone in her voice and momentarily closed his eyes. He heard his Mother's words.



"… if you're happy to disappoint her and break her heart on her wedding anniversary, YOU be the one to stand there and do it."

He sighed. Contrary to what his mother had said and believed he certainly wasn't happy about why he was here. This was going to break her heart and he didn't know how he was going to bring himself to tell her. He began to build up to what he needed to say as he turned to face her for the second time.

"You know Tin-Tin I've often given a thought to how much you and Alan's mother would have had in common."

"Pardon me Mr. Tracy?" she asked in a confused voice.

"Dealing with being an Astronaut's wife I mean. Like Alan I was always being called away at the most inopportune moments, much to Lucy's disappointment."

"I wasn't aware of that Sir." she replied politely.

He rubbed the back of his neck as the tension built up in his body.

"Oh believe me that was one of the reasons she offered no resistance when I said I was leaving NASA to go into business." he said. "I remember having to leave her to get herself home from the other side of Houston on the night of our second wedding anniversary. It was the first time we'd been able to go out together since Scott was born and I foolishly promised her a night to remember. I'd arranged a babysitter for the night, made reservations for dinner and a show. I even went so far as to book us into a hotel afterwards much to Lucy's amusement."

He paused and looked at Tin-Tin who listened attentively. "Enough of the pleasantries,"he thought, "There's no easy way to say this."

"Lucy looked forward to it for weeks you know." he continued. "I guessed she would being stuck at home with a baby all day. She went to so much trouble to look fantastic for me that night Tin-Tin. I still remember what she wore. It was a little black number she always looked fabulous in and she had her hair up just how I liked it. Then five minutes after we sat down to dinner I got a call on my cell phone ordering me into the base immediately. When I said it was my wedding anniversary and I was out with my wife I was reminded very quickly by my Commanding Officer that I was an Astronaut no matter what time of the day or night it was and I had a commitment to my country and my job."



He again peered at Tin-Tin's face. He could tell by her expression she knew what he was about to do.

His mother's words tumbled in his head giving him a silent warning not to do it.

"Contrary to what you think the child won't understand. I don't know how you could even begin to believe she would."

He shuddered and persisted with the story.

"You can imagine I suppose how Lucy felt when I told her I had no choice but to let her down." he said quietly.

Tin-Tin lifted her chin. Yes she did know how she would have felt. It was exactly how she felt yesterday when Alan had been forced to cancel their planned picnic to the other side of the island because of the need for him to commence rotation early.

"Did Mrs Tracy cry when you told her Sir?" she asked

Jeff shook his head.

"Lucy? No Tin-Tin. It took a lot more than that to make Lucy cry. She knew what she was getting herself into when she married me. When I told her she just looked at me from across the table and asked how she would be getting home. I guess she had grown accustomed to what an Astronaut's responsibil….

"Mr Tracy…" Tin-Tin interrupted tearfully. "You're trying to tell me I can't speak with Alan tonight aren't you?"

He watched as her eyes brimmed.

He was silent.

"Oh no …" she whispered when he didn't respond.

"Tin-Tin …" he began.

"Please Sir…" she pleaded as she tried to not to cry. "I know there is a security issue but this is really important to me Mr. Tracy."

"Honey security is more than important… it's vital to this Organisation." he emphasised.

"I know it is Sir. But I really want Alan to see me in my dress."

"Honey I know how important this is to you but I'm sorry. I'm going to have to say no this time." he apologised. "I can't risk it."

Tin-Tin felt her eyes overflowing.

"What about Brains Mr Tracy? Can't he arrange something so no one hears? I won't leave this room I promise."

"Brains is tied up with more pressing things I'm afraid." he replied and then cursed himself at how callous those words sounded. He quickly added. "Believe me honey if I would have known about this earlier he could have."

"Please Mr. Tracy …" she said as she started to cry. "Alan and me … we don't ask you for much consideration in our private life. Please don't do this to us Sir. Not today."

He stood silently. He felt terrible but the decision had been made and there was nothing more to say.

"I'm really sorry Tin-Tin," he mumbled in an apologetic voice as he watched the stream of tears intensify. "I'll make it up to …

He stopped himself. Even he now recognised how often he was using that phrase. Guilt and regret reared up within him.

"The girl is in her wedding dress for goodness sake," his conscience pointed out. "Take the risk. You should be able to cover it."

The consequences of discovery overtook his conscience. Being Head of International Rescue demanded he took responsibility for making hard calls when it was necessary and now was one of those times. Despite how bad he felt, his resolve remained firm. He stood near the window not knowing what else he could say.

She recognised the way he was holding his chin. She knew from experience what that meant. Jeff Tracy Head of International Rescue was not going to change his mind.

The two of them heard Lucy Josephine stir in the nursery and begin to whimper.

She looked at his face one last time and then looked away with a defeated resignation.

Without a word, she moved towards the door of the nursery and began to remove her mother's necklace.

Jeff Tracy's eyes rounded as he realised what she was doing.

"No honey …please …" he said hastily. "I told you before I don't have a problem with the photographs. "

Tin-Tin shook her head and wiped her eyes.

"No thank you Sir. I no longer have wish for any of it." she said in a quiet unemotional voice.

"Honey … "he began again. "Please understand…"

She lifted her brown eyes to his and said in a tone he had never heard before.

"Mr. Tracy, as you pointed out to me through your story about Mrs Tracy, I knew what I was getting myself into when I married an International Rescue Astronaut. I also understand that at this moment Alan is an astronaut first and foremostly in your eyes."

She paused and swallowed as her lips trembled.



"But you must understand he isn't an Astronaut to me today Sir. He is my husband."

She cleared her throat.

"Excuse me Mr. Tracy." she said miserably. "I need to change out of this silly dress and see to my daughter. I would appreciate it if you would leave me to be alone."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Scott Tracy grimaced as he heard yet another saucepan bang. She'd been clanging and banging in the kitchen for over fifteen minutes. Boy was she ever riled up about something

He looked at Kevin Baillie and Hank Davies who stood with him on the balcony overlooking the ocean sipping their scotch.

"My Grandma certainly likes expressing herself in the kitchen" he said giving them both a tight smile.

Hank Davies nodded his head in agreement as yet another utensil was hammered into the bench.

"Yes she does rather doesn't she?" he responded. He turned to Kyrano and happily accepted his offer of more savouries.

"Will you be with us long Mr. Davies?" Kyrano asked courteously as he turned to offer the platter of assorted crackers and cheeses to Kevin Baillie.

Hank shook his head.

"No Kyrano. We'll most likely only stay overnight once we've finished our business here. That won't be too much trouble will it?"

Kyrano acknowledged him politely

"It is never too much trouble to attend to the needs of Mr Tracy's guests Sir."

Scott leaned back on the railing.

"So what's the issue that's brought you all the way out here anyway Hank?" he began trying to sound as if he wasn't overly concerned. "It's not the Tokyo operation again I hope."

"No Scott." Hank began. "But while I'm here I may as well ask you …"

Scott swallowed and glanced at Kevin Baillie. Hank knew everything that went on in the Company and he and Kevin Baillie worked very closely together. Had he told Hank about the agreement?

However much to his relief Kevin Baillie merely looked on with interest as Hank Davies raised another issue.

"Any plans to mass produce Excelsior yet?" he gingerly asked.

Scott's voice immediately took on his Father's business tone

"Come on Hank. You should know me better than that by now."

Hank laughed. "Oh well. No harm trying. You'll say yes to me one day son."

"You know Hank I don't think that I will." Scott warned jovially.

"What the heck's your Grandmother up to in there?" came a deep voice from behind them as yet another crash sounded from the kitchen.

All three of them turned from the balcony to face Jeff Tracy.

"We thought you'd be able to tell us that Dad." Scott replied. "Grandma wasn't too happy after you spoke to her and she's been at it in there ever since."

"Well that's Grandma for you." was his guarded reply. "It doesn't take much to get her started as you know."

Hank strode forward with his hand extended.

"Jeff." he said brightly. "Long time no see."

"Likewise Hank." Jeff smiled returning the gesture.

"But I can see why we don't see you." Hank exclaimed looking out over the ocean. "I wouldn't want to be stuck in an office in New York either when I could be lapping up a view like this."

"Uh … yeah." Jeff acknowledged. "It's err... not hard to take."

He turned to Kevin Baillie.

"How are you Kevin old friend?" he enquired extending his hand and patting fondly him on the back.

"Fine Jeff." he replied. "Sorry to disturb you like this."

Jeff nodded. "No problem Kevin. It's obviously important. Did you want to get down to business straight away or as Hank puts it "lap up the view" some more and finish your drinks?"

"I don't know about you Kevin but I'm all for the second option. "Hank commented. "The only problem is I feel somewhat underdressed Jeff with all of you in suits and ties."

Jeff eyed Hank Davies smart attire and the impeccable clothing of Kevin Baillie.

"Oh I think you'll do." he laughed. "We don't usually dress like this here as you can appreciate."

Jeff looked at Kyrano. He didn't know how to tell him that Tin-Tin had reacted badly to his decision regarding the communications link.

"We were about to have a few family shots taken down on the beach when you arrived. However I'm sorry to say from what my daughter-in-law told me a few moments ago, the photographs aren't happening now."

Kyrano's face fell as he immediately picked up on the situation. Jeff Tracy's eyes were asking him to do something. Another bang, this time of the cupboard door presented him with an ideal opportunity to excuse himself.

"Pardon me for one moment would you Gentlemen." he said hastily putting down the platter of savouries. "I believe it would be timely for me to relieve Mrs Tracy of her duties in the kitchen."

"Yes Kyrano." Jeff indicated. "That would be a very good move before she breaks anything else in there. "

Scott grimaced as the cupboard was slammed close.

"I think you'd better hurry." he added. "…or there'll be nothing left to break by the sounds of things."

Kyrano turned to leave and as he did Jeff Tracy looked him directly in the eyes.

"Kyrano, I'm afraid I'm responsible for what's broken. Please try to pick up what pieces you can old friend."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Mrs Tracy I beg you to calm yourself down." Kyrano pleaded as Josephine Tracy slammed down the crockery on the servery for the third time in a row.

"I AM calm Kyrano." she snapped. "I'm just mighty damned displeased about something at the moment in case you haven't noticed."

Kyrano's staid countenance did not alter despite the fact he always became edgy when the matriarch of the Tracy family decided to display her displeasure at something. This time he had no time for nerves. He needed to talk to her.

"Mrs Tracy." he began. "I believe some unfortunate misunderstanding may have occurred between Mr. Tracy and Tin-Tin."

Josie looked at his worried face and quietly put down the frying pan she wielded in her left hand.

"Why Kyrano? What's happened to make you think that?"

"I am not sure exactly. Mr. Tracy did not say so directly but he indicated to me a short moment ago that Tin-Tin no longer wishes to have her photograph taken." he said anxiously. "How can that be? She was so happy when I left her."

Josie shook her head furiously.

"Oh I know how it can be all right. That son of mine and his blasted security issues that's how."

Kyrano gave her a perplexed look.

"I do not understand Mrs. Tracy," he said in a confused voice. "The taking of photographs of my daughter in a bridal gown surely cannot affect the security of International Rescue."

"Well of course it doesn't Kyrano." she snapped. "That's not the problem."

She frowned and folded her arms as she muttered.

"I knew this would happen when he told her."

"Mr. Tracy also mentioned he was responsible for the breakage." Kyrano said looking discreetly on the floor and on the benches. "I hope it is nothing of value."

"Yes he is responsible for the breakage and what's broken is not in here so you can stop your peering and looking about." she replied. "What's broken is up those stairs and of very great value to my Grandson."

Kyrano still looked bewildered.

"I'm talking about your little girl's heart," she pointed out. "Oh Kyrano for goodness sake don't look at me like I'm half crazy. Jeff's just told your daughter no doubt in his usual round about and clumsy way that she cannot make contact with Alan this evening. And the reason she can't is because those two characters out there drinking scotch and expecting dinner have seen fit to burst in here unannounced and threaten the security arrangements around here."

Kyrano began to worry as she continued to storm.

"I know your little girl Kyrano and I know how much she's wanted to wear a wedding dress over the years. I also know my Grandson went to great lengths to make sure she had one even if it was a year after the fact. And the thing I know most of all is that today is a special day for those two and my son has made a very stupid and upsetting decision in telling your daughter she can't talk to my Grandson for fear some high-horsed New York businessman is going to find out about his blessed secret organisation."

Kyrano's look cautioned her to lower her voice and at least take a breath before she expired.

"It is as you say Mrs. Tracy. Tin-Tin was very much looking forward to Mr. Alan seeing her in the dress. She will be most upset if Mr. Tracy cannot permit this."

"Cannot permit it? What a lot of hogwash Kyrano. With Jeff's engineering background and experience and all the expertise of that brilliant young man working morning noon and night in his laboratory downstairs you think the two of them couldn't arrange something if they set their minds to it? It's just too much trouble that's the problem. It's easier to turn around and not allow it at all because there's nothing to be gained. Well as I see things, there's everything to be gained. The security of his precious Thunderbird craft is nothing compared to the happiness of my Grandson and your daughter."

She bit both lips together angrily.

"Mrs. Tracy." Kyrano said gently. "If Mr. Tracy says nothing can be done I believe him. Do not worry. I will speak to Tin-Tin. I am sure she will understand his position and change her mind about the photographs."

Josie ignored his words and continued to fume.

"I swear he's going to find a way to let those two youngsters see each other on that monitor this evening or he's not going to do anything else again after I finish with him."

She set her jaw determinedly and began to make plans to rectify the situation.

The seconds passed by as she tapped her fingers on the servery as her mind worked.

"Come on Kyrano first things first." she directed indicating to Kyrano to follow her. "We both need to go up and talk your little girl into having those photographs taken. I've a feeling somehow it's going to take two of us to undo the damage this time."

As they passed through the lounge room Josephine Tracy's brows knitted together as she saw her son and his business associates.

She would deal with them later.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

He combed his hair and adjusted his shirt for the umpteenth time in the last ten minutes. He apprehensively pulled up his shirt sleeve and looked at his watch. His eyes scanned the four walls and took in the quiet loneliness that surrounded him.

He sighed.

Time passed so slowly around here and that wasn't helping how he felt at the moment.



He had never been so nervous in his entire life.

"Of course you have Tracy." he told himself as he tried to settle his churning stomach. "Remember standing on that bridge in San Miguel with Grandma when you thought we weren't gonna make it and the Sun Probe waiting for those damned retros to fire. Don't even try to kid yourself you weren't nervous then. "

No, he decided. That was a different type of nervous. The nervous he felt now was how he had felt that morning when he had proposed to Tin-Tin. It was a fear of saying the wrong thing to the person who mattered to him the most. Someone he was determined to make things up to before this day was over.

In forty minutes the communications in Thunderbird Five were supposed to be back up. His Father had told him he would be the one to make contact when it was time.

He began to think about what he was going to say when he saw her in the dress.

He knew she would be stunning and he knew he had to say exactly the right words so that the very special day he had planned for her would be complete.

Well, he frowned, almost complete. His mind flashed back to the two of them in bed together. He pictured her well-moulded body and how she had yielded to his touch. Trust Lucy Josephine to ruin things.

After a few moments of contemplating what could have been that morning he allowed himself a rueful smile.

Lucy was in for one heck of a shock if she thought she was going to interrupt him again. That thought caused him to think more deeply about his baby daughter and her magical smile.

Tears welled in his eyes as he realised how much he missed her.

He missed both of them and it had only been nine hours.

He shrugged off his emotion and looked at his watch again. He hoped there wouldn't be any hitches with this. He had looked forward to this moment all day.

He began to practice his words aloud.



These words would be the most important words he would ever say to her.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A large stray tear quivered on the rim of her eye before trickling slowly down her cheek.

Nothing could make this pain go away; not even sitting here watching the afternoon sun reflecting off the water in this Pacific island paradise and holding her beautiful baby daughter in her arms.

She'd been given a real marriage proposal today. But a real marriage proposal meant nothing when she'd married International Rescue and not him.

She'd been given a magnificent diamond engagement ring to wear on her finger today. But a diamond ring sparkling in the sunlight meant nothing when she no longer had a sparkle in her eyes.

She'd been given a designer wedding dress today. But a designer wedding dress, now matter how spectacular meant nothing when the person who counted the most wasn't allowed to see her wearing it.

She'd been given a very special necklace today. But there was no use wearing it if there was no special occasion. It would now lay untouched in its velvet box for another twenty years until Lucy Josephine was old enough to wear it on her wedding day.

And Lucy wouldn't be marrying an Astronaut. She'd definitely be seeing to that.

Tin-Tin looked away from the ocean and focussed on her daughter. Lucy drank her bottle and every now and then smiled playfully. The little girl expected her Mother to do what she always did. But Tin-Tin couldn't smile back. Not this time.

Her lips trembled in the silence.

"I'm sorry Lucy." she said in a barely audible whisper. "Mommy doesn't feel like playing with you right now baby."

Lucy continued to smile and vocalise at her but Tin-Tin sat forlornly, huddled deep within herself saying nothing.

The stray tear finally ran its course and dribbled off her chin falling on the front of the bathrobe she now wore instead of the beautiful wedding dress.

The dress lay discarded on the bed.

The magnificent veil and the pretty Italian shoes she had worn for less than thirty minutes lay next to it.

She would pack them up later and try to forget she had ever seen them.

Then she would go to bed and try to pretend she didn't have that empty space beside her.

Another tear made its way to the surface and glistened momentarily on her pretty, long eyelashes. Like the many hundreds shed before it, it could be restrained no longer and it commenced its silent descent down her cheek.

She reached up and wiped the tear away.

"It doesn't matter any more." she sniffled as she twisted one of Lucy's curls around her finger.

The curl reminded her of Alan. It had been the very first thing she had noticed about him when they met. A wild little boy, polite under sufferance, with blonde, curly hair and the most dazzling blue eyes. In a lot of ways he was still a little boy. He'd hidden the veil on her and made her find it; he'd brought her that dreadful erotic underwear and hidden it in the bottom of the lingerie box to embarrass her. She could imagine him up there in Thunderbird Five right now laughing to himself and picturing her reactions. He would never change and despite it being annoying sometimes she knew she didn't want him to.

She wondered if Alan's Father had broken the news to him yet and how he had reacted.

"He'll be like me." she thought desolately. "He'll simply have to accept it because how we feel doesn't matter to anyone except us. Security is everything to International Rescue and I guess I can't blame Mr. Tracy for that."

She gently unravelled her finger from the tiny chestnut curl and looked at Lucy who had fixed her brown eyes intently on Tin-Tin's.

"Daddy went to so much trouble for me Lucy. All those lovely things. And I'm not even allowed to talk to him to say thank you. Not even for a moment."

A voice beside her caused her to startle.

"Yes well we'll certainly be seeing about that Tin-Tin don't you worry."

Only one voice threw down a gauntlet quite like that one. She lifted her face miserably in the direction of the voice. Josie's face clouded at the sight of her red and tear stained face.

"Oh no sweetie. Look at you." she breathed in dismay. "You poor little girl."

Josie looked immediately in the direction of Kyrano. Kyrano anxiously hurried forward. He had never seen her so upset about anything.

"Tin-Tin …my dear child...please do not tell me these tears have been caused by the news Mr. Tracy has given you" he implored.

She shook her head and lowered her face.

"It doesn't matter any more Father." she whispered. "I'm all cried out now Sir."

Josephine Tracy felt her ire building. This simply wasn't right. The child should not be crying her eyes out miserably on her wedding anniversary. She strode forward and reached out her arms to take Lucy.

"You give that baby to me right this minute. "she demanded. "And you go inside that apartment and put that wedding dress back on so your husband can see you in it."

Tin-Tin shook her head.

"No Grandma …Mr. Tracy said …"

"I don't CARE what Mr. Tracy said young lady." Josie thundered. "You leave Mr. Tracy to me. Fifty-six years I've been pointing that man in the right direction and he still doesn't know the right way to head when he hits a fork in the road. Well he'll know after today let me tell you and he won't forget it in a hurry either."

"I don't know ma'am…" she faltered looking to her Father for guidance.

Josephine Tracy was not in a mood to be argued with.

"You have twenty-five minutes before that satellite will be back up and able to be contacted. Now do you want to sit here and cry all night feeling sorry for yourself little girl or do you want to show my Grandson what a beautiful young lady he married?"

Kyrano nodded at her silently and motioned his head towards the apartment. As she obediently rose from the chair Josie added.

"Now for goodness sake wash that pretty little face of yours and start your makeup again. You're an absolute mess Tin-Tin and you've only got until seven o'clock to fix yourself up. Now hurry along and see to yourself."

Kyrano swallowed.

"Mrs Tracy…" he began. "I do not wish to appear ungrateful but I must urge you to be extremely careful in your handling of this matter. I am sure Mr. Tracy has put a good deal of thought into his decision before allowing my daughter to be disappointed."

Josie eyeballed him.

"Is that what you think is it? Well of course you would Kyrano. That's what you're obliged to think since you work for him. But you weren't around in the early days when my son had love in his life and fire in his belly. He didn't put a good deal of thought into many things back then let me tell you, especially if it had anything to do with a certain Miss Lucy Evans or flying upside down in the air like a man possessed. He followed his heart and not his head in everything to do with her and do you know what? Nine times out of ten he got himself into hot water doing it. Now that the love has been removed and the fire's gone out, he's well and truly making up for things by going completely back the other way. I'm not going to stand for it any longer. Things are going to have to change around here if my Grandsons are ever going to find proper happiness while they're fulfilling this dream of his and this issue is only the beginning of it. "

"Mrs. Tracy. It's not that simple I am afraid."

Josie looked her great grand-daughter and then at Kyrano.

"Of course it's simple Kyrano. It's always simple when the value of family is made important and that's what I'm making important right here and right now. I know security is important around here. I'm old but I'm not stupid. But let me tell you Kyrano, my family means more to me than anything and that's security included. Hell, I'll take those two freeloaders snorkelling myself if it means Alan can see your daughter in that dress."

Kyrano allowed his lip to move in a small sign of amusement. She was a wonderful woman and he had nothing but complete admiration for her.

"Now Kyrano." she said briskly. "It's up to you to have your daughter downstairs by seven o'clock. The photographs are nearly an hour late as it is and it'll be dark before long down on that beach. Once they're taken she can call the satellite."

"Here ..." she added passing Lucy to him. "You look after your Grand-daughter and see to it she's dressed half decent for her Daddy to see her. He likes her in that pink dress on the left in her closet... and put her bracelet on. You got all that?"

Kyrano nodded his head. "Tinarda and Lucy will be ready Mrs. Tracy."

She nodded her head too but abruptly and with purpose in her eyes.

"Good then. Now I'm going down to discuss this matter with my son. Don't you let me down Mr. Kyrano."

As she moved quickly towards the door she glanced to where Tin-Tin sat reapplying her make-up.

"Make sure your hair is up." she directed. "You know how much my Grandson likes that."

As she placed her hand on the door and opened it Kyrano said earnestly.

"Mrs. Tracy...please … exercise extreme discretion with Mr Davies and Mr. Baillie close by... I beg you."

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Thanks to Lady Viva for the lend of Margo Marin once again and to my literary friends for their encouragement as this story reaches its climax. But there's now Part 3 and then the epilogue to end Commitment... and a few nice surprises to come. mcj

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