Author's Note :- Well this is the finale. I hope those who read this story from the beginning feel this is the ending this story deserves. Thanks to Lady Viva for her input. mcj
EPILOGUE -COMMITMENT - THE LAST REPARATION


She looked down lovingly at the sleeping baby in her arms. She never grew tired of marvelling at the perfect features on the child she and Alan Tracy had made together.

Long fingers... a sweet little face ... long eyelashes ... a rosebud mouth ...Tin-Tin traced her finger gently over each signature feature ... a simply perfect little human being.

The baby stirred and she found herself smiling. She carefully shifted her weight in the bed and found herself grimacing a little.

"We've been through a lot these past twenty-four hours haven't we little one." she whispered lowering her face to kiss the baby's head. "And so has your Daddy."

She looked at the clock on the wall. It ticked loudly in the quiet room and indicated it was almost eight o'clock.

"Daddy said last night before he left he hoped he could be back around eight." she said. "I hope he's OK after what he went throughyesterday."

For a few minutes Tin-Tin dwelled on how unwilling Alan had been to leave the two of them alone last night. He didn't want to go until he was convinced they were both all right. But his Father had pointed out he had another responsibility and was needed elsewhere. He insisted that he left immediately. Their eyes had met in the semi -darkened room as he prepared to leave.

"Dad said things are serious." he had apologised. "I really have to go."

"OK." she had whispered in a tired voice. "But hurry back won't you?"

"I'll be back just as soon as I can." he promised as he leaned forward to kiss her. "Please take care baby."

She still remembered the final look she gave him. She always gave him that look when he left her. It was one that took in every facet of his features in case something went wrong and he never returned. She knew she was being silly this time. This wasn't dangerous. He did this all the time.

She continued to caress the small round cheeks and watched intently as the little brown eyes opened. Those eyes were velvet brown and deep; the eyes of Lucy Evans.

"Hey there." she said gently. "It's about time you woke up for me."

A knock on the door drew her attention away from her child.

It was Josephine Tracy with a cup of tea in her hand.

She entered the room and her features broke into their customary smile at the sight of her precious great grandchild.

"Good morning sweetie. How are you feeling today?" she asked drawing closer to the bed.

"Much better than yesterday thank you Grandma." Tin-Tin smiled as Josie placed the tea by her bedside.

She peered in the direction of the door hoping to see Alan walk in behind his Grandmother.

"Is Alan back?" she asked.

Josie leaned forward to take the baby.

"Drink your tea dear." she said. "No he's not back yet. Things are taking a lot longer to get under control over there than first expected."

Tin-Tin's face dropped. She hadn't thought the situation was that bad.

"Alan said to tell you he'd be here in around an hour." she added, "But he also said you aren't to get out of that bed unless you're up to it and I'm here to see you do as he says."

Tin-Tin shook her head. "I didn't intend to get up yet but I'm fine Grandma. Honestly."

Josie Tracy frowned.

"You are NOT fine young lady. That was one rough time you had in there yesterday from what I know of it. My Grandson looked bad enough when he came out so Lord only knows how you must be feeling."

She looked down at the bundle she held as she lovingly rocked it to and fro. Josie smiled as the little brown eyes started to close again.

"You seem happy enough though don't you? Your Daddy will be pleased to see that."

She looked over at Tin-Tin and noticed how tired she appeared despite vehemently denying things to the contrary.

"Why don't you lie down and close your eyes for a bit sweetie." she said. "You need your rest. I'll watch the baby for you until Alan comes in."

Josie didn't have to ask her twice.

In the few minutes it took Alan's Grandmother to close the door, adjust the curtains and seat herself comfortably with the baby, Tin-Tin had rolled onto her side and fallen into a deep and badly needed sleep.

The past twenty four hours had been exhausting.

"Hey there sleepyhead. I need you. Come on ... wake up!" came a familiar voice.

She slowly rolled onto her back and opened her eyes. She looked at him sleepily.

"Alan?" she queried as her eyes came into focus.

"How are you feeling today baby girl?" he asked as he bent down awkwardly.

Their lips met in a warm and loving kiss.

"Tired." she replied as they broke apart. "How about you?"

"As you can guess I've been up all night dealing with the inevitable." he said. "I'm tired too but I'm OK."

"You've sure got your hands full there." she laughed looking up at him struggling in front of her. "So what happened to Grandma?"

"That's what I'd like to know. Can you believe she left me here like this?" he complained. "She handed me the baby as soon as I walked through the door and said it was about time I began to appreciate how hard it was for Dad to cope when I was born. Then off she went and I haven't seen her since."

He frowned. "She could have waited until I got over yesterday properly before she enjoyed watching me sweat."

Tin-Tin laughed and then looked at the pretty little girl he held in his arms.

"Hey there Lucy Josephine." she smiled as she slowly sat up in the bed and held out her arms. "Come and give Daddy a break for a while huh?"

Lucy's face did not break into its customary Tracy smile and she made no attempt to leave the security of Alan's arms. Instead she looked suspiciously at Alan and then even more closely at the tiny little bundle he held in his other arm.

The fourteen-month old baby's eyes were accusing.

"I don't think she's too happy about sharing me with her new brother Tin-Tin." Alan commented as Lucy's face dropped.

"Uh oh." he said recognising the impending storm. "You'd better take him off me before she starts up Tin-Tin."

"She'll get used to him Alan." she said as Alan set himself clumsily on the bed and allowed her to take their newborn son from him.

"Look Lucy..." Tin-Tin encouraged patting the space beside her. "Come say hi to your little brother with me."

Lucy looked her mother and then at Alan. After a few minutes she placed her thumb in her mouth, buried her head in Alan's neck and refused to look at either of them.

Tin-Tin sighed.

"Alan I can't believe a baby can be so stubborn."

Alan shook his head and sighed too. "Tell me something I don't know." he moaned. "I know now why Dad insisted I leave the hospital immediately last night and return to the hotel. Dad and Grandma were beside themselves by the time I got there. She wouldn't stop crying no matter what they tried. Grandma said she was almost as bad as I used to be."

He frowned. He was sure nothing could be worse than the pandemonium he'd walked in on last night.

"It couldn't have been that bad Alan." she replied indicating he might be exaggerating a little.

"Bad? You don't know the half of it. Once I finally got her to stop crying I had to sit up with her the rest of the night. All because I had the gall to leave her with Dad and Grandma while you were giving birth. "

Tin-Tin looked him with mirth. He saw her badly hidden smirk and continued in a complaining voice.

"She's just like Scott I swear. She can force herself to stay away no matter how tired she is. Geez ..." he swore loudly. "I don't know if I'm going to be able to cope with her carrying on and now him too Tin-Tin."

"Your Father coped OK." Tin-Tin pointed out.

"So everybody, including you, keeps reminding me." he commented. "But don't you forget Dad had Grandma to help him."

"That's nice that is!" she scolded. "You've still got me in case you've forgotten."

He pinched her cheek and admonished her.

"After what you called me and worse still what you DID to me yesterday Tinarda Jane Tracy, I'm not so sure I even want you."

"Don't call me Tinarda." she said emphatically. "You know I hate it Alan."

"You, TINARDA deserve every little bit of aggravation I can give you. ' he teased with a huge emphasis on the hated name. "As a matter of fact after what happened in that birth suite last night I'll take Grandma and her antics over you and yours any day of the week."

Tin-Tin reddened and looked down.

"I'm really sorry Alan." she apologised. "It ... it was hurting so much that's all."

"What ... and what you did to me didn't hurt?" he exclaimed trying to sound cross. "I couldn't stand up for nearly ten minutes afterwards. If you didn't want me to have any more kids Tin-Tin you could have just said so nicely instead of taking the law into your own hands."

"Alan I didn't mean to hit you there." she swallowed in an embarrassed tone. "Or call you those names."

"Sure you didn't" he replied light-heartedly. "Now what was it exactly you called me in there?"

"Don't." she pleaded as he went to recall that sobering moment when, at the height of a long and extremely painful contraction she had screamed nothing but absolute abuse at him, called him for everything and swore she was moving back in with her Father the moment she got herself out of the birth suite.

Alan cringed as he recalled her gripping more than just his hand with animal strength as they counted down the contraction together. He also recalled her anger as she blamed him single-handedly for the pain of her labor and had lashed out, winding him completely.

"Let me see." he mused. "According to you yesterday I'm a thoughtless, uncaring son of a ..."

He stopped and burst out laughing at the look on her face. He was thoroughly enjoying her embarrassment.

"That's enough!" she interjected, pouting as she suffered the taunting of the youngest Tracy son. "I get the idea OK?"

Alan shook his head. He'd teased her since she was nine years old and this was the best one ever. There was no way he was going to stop now.

"Oh no you don't Let's not forget the best bit Tin-Tin." he began trying to sound serious.

"What best bit?" she retorted in the same tone she used to use with him as a little girl.

"Your crazy statement that this was all my idea." he replied. "The whole thing you said ... the conception ... the pregnancy ...making you have a natural birth when you could have had another C-Section ... the pain ... the forceps... the stitches ...all completely my fault. "

She lifted her eyes to his with hot words brewing on her tongue.

"Now Mrs Tracy ..." he said sternly. "I have an issue with every part of that statement . You and I both know Lucy Josephine was my fault because I was careless but you and you alone are responsible for that little guy you're holding in your arms right now ."

He looked at her insistently. "Come on." he said. "Admit it Tin-Tin."

Tin-Tin looked down at the tiny baby boy who looked about ready to fuss for his feed. Her mind flashed back to that night on the beach.

Yes ... she supposed ... she had kind of planned it that way.

After that night when they shared such a deep and intimate expression of their love together, life simply became a waiting game as far as she was concerned. He returned to Thunderbird Five for his month of duty; she resumed her role of single-handedly raising Lucy in his absence.

The days dragged by but before long he was home again and despite a busy month and a barrage of rescues which took him from her side to places halfway across the world at all hours of the day and night, they enjoyed their spare time together. They loved each other passionately and the opportunities she wanted presented themselves freely.

Their month together passed all too quickly bringing with it the milestone of Lucy Josephine crawling, one month earlier than expected. Alan was simply delighted to be at home to witness it and he embraced Tin-Tin with excitement as their little daughter became mobile. The excitement quickly faded. Suddenly the open spaces of the Tracy home were forced to be barricaded off. Lucy was inquisitive like her mother and mischievous like her Father. She was into everything.

Lucy continued to grow, basking in the love of her parents, the careful supervision of her great grandmother, the close protection of her two doting grandfathers and the devotion of her four dedicated Uncles.

She was now seven months old, a contented happy little baby who liked nothing more than to sit on her Grandpa's lap while he co-ordinated the movements of International Rescue. She would sit happily for hours provided he positioned himself so that she could see the special photograph on the wall she had recently developed a fascination with; the wedding photograph of Jefferson and Lucille Tracy that now held pride of place in the lounge room of the Tracy home.

"You were a pretty good sort back then weren't you?" Jeff Tracy would grin as the baby's eyes transfixed on the photograph. She would smile at him as if she understood, proudly displaying two tiny white teeth in her bottom gum. He in turn would kiss her head and twist her tiny chestnut curls in his fingers. She would place her thumb in her mouth and lean against his chest, happily enjoying the sensation.

He would encircle her small body with his arms and remember back to a time when another Lucy leaned happily against his chest, nestled in his embrace, she too enjoying the sensation of him twisting her long lavender scented curls in his fingers.

But things with her were not always so peaceful. Despite being agreeable most of the time, she also seemed to sense when Alan's tour of duty was imminent. The she became "not so agreeable."

"Lucy Josephine stop that!" Alan snapped as he tried to pack his clothes into his holdall whilst trying to balance the tired and fussing baby on his hip. She clung to him miserably, trying to snuggle into him at a time when he was on a definite deadline for blast off. She'd been grizzling all morning and despite Grandma saying it was because she was cutting another tooth, Alan was sure it was because she knew he was leaving her again.

"Where the heck is your Mommy when I need her!" he muttered in annoyance as her crying escalated. "She's knows Dad's got me on a deadline this morning."

Lucy tried to lay her head on his shoulder but Alan shrugged her off and continued to pack his things.

"Oh for goodness sake Luce." he said crossly. "Stop it huh? You carry on like this every single time I go."

Her crying could no longer be ignored. Big fat tears trickled down her face as she looked at him. She really was upset now."

Alan softened at the sight of the tears and stopped what he was doing immediately. He quietly dropped his toothbrush into his bag and sat down with her on the bed and held her close to this chest.

"Awww Lucy ... don't cry. Daddy didn't mean it. It's all right... I'll hold you. I'm gonna miss you heaps."

He stroked her head and continued to rock her against him. Her crying slowly subsided until it became a small sniffle of discontent.

He suddenly became aware that Tin-Tin had arrived.

"I'm sorry I'm late." she said as she hurried into their bedroom with her arms outstretched. "I've been feeling a little tired and unwell this morning. Here ... I'll take her off you now."

Lucy refused to leave the warmth and security of her Father's arms and nuzzled her face against his chest.

"She's manipulating you again." Tin-Tin warned as she sat down on the bed next to them. "She's knows she only has to cry and you'll drop everything you're doing to pacify her."

Alan tweaked her chin and grinned before pulling her to him with his free arm and planting a huge kiss on her lips.

"Manipulating me? My little girl? Never!" he laughed as Tin-Tin looked at Lucy and shook her head in frustration.

"Anyway." he asked. "What's wrong with you that you're so tired and unwell? Did I keep you up too late last night saying my goodbyes Mrs Tracy?" he ended mischievously.

"Yes you did." she replied. "As a matter of fact, I'll be glad to get rid of you for a month so I can get some sleep."

"Sure you are!" he teased kissing her again. "That's not the message you gave me last night."

"Alan stop exaggerating!" she exclaimed in mock horror whilst happily returning the kiss. "You were the one who started it last night. I was trying to go to sleep ..."

Alan held her at an arms length and winked.

"Oh? So it's my fault then that you're tired and unwell is it?" he joked.

"Yes it is if you really want to know." she replied, knowing there was more truth in her words than what she cared to reveal at that moment.

"Well pardon me for keeping you up past your bedtime Cinderella." he scoffed at her as he stood up and handed Lucy to her. He returned to his packing as they continued to speak.

"Alan ..." she began.

He stopped packing again and looked at her expectantly. He saw her bite her lip.

"What's that worried look for?" he asked.

She shook her head. No ... she would wait one more month to be sure.

"No ... it's nothing important. " she said casually. "I'll take Lucy downstairs and leave you to your packing."

He shrugged as she left. It couldn't have been too important.

Thunderbird Three blasted back into space and John Tracy returned. She often walked with John on the beach in the evenings talking and laughing... and in the last three weeks ...holding down the contents of her stomach as a familiar nausea came over her.

The month really dragged this time and each day the diagnosis became more and more certain. The queasy stomach escalated. She was tired most of the time. The clincher finally came. She missed the second month.

It was still two weeks before he came home. Two weeks before she would break the news to him face to face.

She decided to dabble in her engineering work again to make the time pass faster. She began to spend two to three hours twice each day in the laboratory with Brains when Lucy slept. Brains was ecstatic as their strong engineering team began to function once more. Tin-Tin had to admit she was enjoying the challenge and had really missed the work.

She began working on mathematical formulas in the evenings when Lucy went to bed but the tiredness limited her efforts. Unlike in the past she conceded to the demands of her body and retired to her bed.

Nevertheless Jeff Tracy noted her interest in her work again with extreme pleasure. He really missed her expertise. However after eight months absence from duty he wisely decided he would check that his youngest son approved of her working again before encouraging her to resume her role in International Rescue.

Alan came back from space and was immediately closeted with his Father, Scott and Brains and informed. After what seemed hours he strode out of his Father's study with a face of stone.

"What's with you anyway?" Tin-Tin asked as they lay silently next to each other in their bed. He lay flat on his back with his arms behind his head looking up at the ceiling. Normally by now he would have taken her in his arms and made love to her after a month away but tonight he had not shown the slightest bit of interest in her at all.

"What do you mean what's wrong with me?" he asked in a surly tone.

She traced her fingers lightly down his naked chest. She noted the normally bare skin was now sprouting small chest hairs, evidence of his advancing maturity.

"I know you Alan." she said. "Something's wrong."

"Nothing's wrong with me Tin-Tin. " he said in a curt voice. "Just leave off will you."

Tin-Tin didn't care for his tone but she had come to expect it after he returned from the long, gruelling four weeks he endured. After a decent sleep he was usually himself again but tonight he didn't seem irritable because he was tired.

It was something else.

Not only that, she couldn't interest him at all.

"It's been a month since we've been together Alan." she said and kissed the side of his cheek.

Alan Tracy was maturing now and refused to be fooled by the offer of a few minutes pleasure. He was extremely displeased with what his Father and Brains had told him earlier and he had been waiting all evening for the right moment to raise the issue with her. Now was as good a time as any he supposed. He didn't want an argument but if she thought she was going to be doing what his Father and Brains said she was doing without telling him, she was about to get the argument of her life.

"Don't you think for one second I don't know about your little secret Tin-Tin." he snapped abruptly as she toyed with his blonde curls.

Her eyes widened. He couldn't possibly know. Nobody knew except her.

"I'm not happy about it either. " he snarled. "And I'm not even going to pretend to be."

He got out of bed and snatched his t-shirt up off the floor. He pulled it on as he strode out onto the balcony. He started to pace about unhappily.

She lay in bed miserably, tears building in her eyes. It looked like this was going to be a carbon copy of the last time. His angry reaction in the hangar of Thunderbird Three when she told him about Lucy reared up in her memory. Her stomach turned. He had been totally unreasonable that night.

Well, she thought, she may as well get it over with. He sounded like he knew anyway and looking at him pacing and shaking his head outside on the balcony, he was getting ready to say his piece.

She got out of bed and pulled a robe over the wispy nightdress she wore. She walked towards the balcony and stood in the doorway with her arms folded.

He surveyed her with his blue eyes not saying a word. She could see nothing but disapproval written all over his face. She swallowed hard. He was so like his Father when he was upset about something even down to the defiant way he held his upper lip and lifted his chin

Tin-Tin you should know I wouldn't want this." he said irritably. "You didn't even ask me how I felt about it."

His eyes were angry and accusing.

"I'm sorry Alan." she replied lowering her head. "I know I should have asked you before I went ahead but I knew you'd say no."

Alan Tracy's temper, normally kept in check these days thanks to her, bubbled dangerously as he flashed.

"You're damned right you should have asked me and yes I definitely would have said no." he snapped, the level of his voice starting to rise. "There's Lucy to think about and the fact that you're not fully recovered from the stroke yet."

"Alan I know all that." she interjected.

His temper hit boiling point. He had been adamant she wasn't to work and the Doctor had said she wouldn't be fully recovered for at least eighteen months. She knew that and he knew she knew.

"Well if you KNOW what the hell are you thinking about?"

He glared at her furiously and waited for her to respond. When she didn't it angered him further.

" Well I'll tell you if it's escaping you." he yelled. " You're thinking about nothing Tin-Tin that's what. For God's sake lady, I'm gone one month out of every two. You won't cope and I'm NOT going to stand by and watch you try. It's out of the question Tin-Tin and that's IT as far as I'm concerned."

Her eyes started to well. It was too late to be out of the question now. She was eight weeks gone already.

"I mean it. You get this in your pretty little head right here and right now ... you are NOT continuing with this and I don't care what you think or what you say that's the end of the matter."

Tears overflowed from her eyes and began to run unchecked down her cheeks.

"Alan ... you can't mean what you're saying." she quaked as her bottom lip trembled dangerously.

His eyes bored through her before he turned away, folding his arms and looking angrily out to sea.

"I do mean what I'm saying." he muttered refusing to look at her. "I wouldn't say it to you if I didn't mean it."

She wrapped her arms around her waist as if trying to shield herself. She couldn't hold it in any longer. She lowered her head and burst into tears.

As her sobs echoed in his ears he pursed his lips together defiantly and said in an angry and hardened voice.

"Tin-Tin for God's sake stop your crying. It's not going to change the way I feel about this."

But she did not stop crying. She fled from the doorway, threw herself on their bed, turned her back on him and began sobbing tragically into her pillow.

After five minutes he shook his head and looked about awkwardly. He absolutely hated it when she cried. It was bad enough when they had the odd spat or two and she wouldn't speak to him but when she cried ... he couldn't cope with that.

He sighed and came inside from the balcony. He sat down on the bed next to her and tried to turn her face to his. She refused, obstinately clutching the pillow with her back to him.

"And I get the blame for Lucy Josephine being stubborn." he thought to himself in frustration. "They don't come any more stubborn than you lady."

"Look Tin-Tin." he said a little more gently as he lay his hand on her heaving shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you like that and I don't make a habit of putting my foot down where you are concerned but I'm only doing it for your own good this time. Surely you can see where I'm coming from."

"I can't see anything." she blubbered as she clutched the pillow tighter. "I don't know how you can say that to me. I knew you'd be uneasy about the whole thing but I thought you'd at least be pleased."

"Tin-Tin ..." he said as he tried to roll her over for a second time. "I guess I should be pleased ... but if you want the honest truth ... baby I'm not. I only care about what's best for you."

She refused to move and continued to cry.

He shook his head at the mess he had made of things. He hadn't seen her for a month. He'd missed her like crazy and all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and love her. Now less than four hours after landing Thunderbird Three they'd had a massive argument and she was crying her heart out. His voice altered completely as he tried to make her understand.

"Honey maybe next year huh? When Lucy's a bit older and you can cope properly I'll be more than happy to agree." he said trying to sound reasonable. "Come on huh ... please don't cry like this. Everyone downstairs will hear you soon."

"I don't care if they do." she sobbed. "I don't know what you expect me to do now Alan. It's too late to say wait until next year."

"Tin-Tin you're being ridiculous. It's not too late. It's only been a few weeks."

"It's been eight weeks. " she blubbered between sobs. "Nearly nine if you want the honest truth of it."

He shook his head. Something wasn't right here. Nine weeks? Both his Father and Brains had said she'd only been working for two.

"Tin-Tin." he said quietly. "Please calm down and look at me."

He sat silently waiting for her to comply.

After a few minutes she turned from the wall and lifted her swollen eyes towards him.

He reached out his hand and wiped away her tears.

" I'm sorry if I made you cry." he apologised. "I didn't mean to upset you so badly with what I said. I just wanted to tell you how I honestly feel."

He watched as her eyes welled up again. She bit her lip before pleading with him.

"Alan ... please tell me you want this baby. It broke my heart when you didn't want the last one."

Alan looked at her stupidly. Then his eyes dilated. What was it she had just said?

"Come again?" he breathed, his face totally startled. "Did you say something about a baby?"

She nodded.

"Isn't that what we're arguing about?" she sniffled.

"No, we're arguing about you working for my Father again. " he replied. "Aren't we?"

Silence followed.

"So ... exactly what baby are we discussing here?" he asked guardedly.

"Ummm... ours." she swallowed.

"Lucy Josephine right?" he reiterated nervously.

She bit her lip once more. "No Alan not Lucy."

The words slowly sank into his head. He opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out. After a few minutes he tried again and this time said in a shaky voice.

"Tin-Tin are you telling me what I think you're telling me?"

She nodded silently.

He sat there on the bed stunned. She couldn't be expecting another baby. He'd hardly touched her in eight months. Then the realisation dawned. The night on the beach ...just over two months ago.

"Don't tell me you haven't been taking anything Tin-Tin." he breathed in disbelief.

She shook her head.

His usual denial kicked in. Hadn't she learned her lesson with him the last time? He had no intention of protecting himself. It was her job. Not only that, it was far too soon to contemplate another child. Lucy was still a baby. She herself wasn't over the stroke. He was away one month out of every two.

It suddenly occurred to Alan Tracy that the subject of the argument had now changed but the actual argument had not.

A deathly silence filled the room.

"Alan please don't be angry with me." she said earnestly. "I've always wanted to have my babies close together. You and I have never discussed children. Lucy just happened and you've ignored the subject ever since."

He still said nothing.

"You and Gordon ... you've always been so close in everything. I thought it would be nice if our babies could be the same. The age gap is nearly the same."

The tears started to return as his face showed no emotion whatsoever. She twisted her hands together nervously as she tried to explain.

"I know it's going to be hard for us and I know I should have discussed this with you ...but I figured your Father coped by himself ... and there are two of us ... well for six months of the year anyhow ... I ...I didn't think you'd take the news this badly again."

She started to choke. It was obvious by the look on his face that he didn't want another baby in his life.

"I ... love ... you ummm Alan and ummm... I only wanted to complete our family ... not to ... ummm... tie you down more."

She began to sob again, this time with utter disappointment. She thought he would understand when she explained and be happy about it. But he wasn't. It was obvious.

She lowered her head and covered her face with her hands.

"I'm so sorry Alan." she sobbed. "I would have protected myself if I knew you felt this way."

Alan reached his hand forward without a word and tilted her chin to look at him.

"Tin-Tin." he said in a disapproving voice and he felt her shudder at the tone he used.

The blue eyes that once belonged to a sixteen year old Tracy son as he gazed in awe at the beautiful features of a seventeen year old Kyrano girl were now the eyes of a twenty-two year old Tracy man who only had one wrong left to right in his life; telling the beautiful twenty-three year old Kyrano woman who now shared his life and his name that he was happy their physical love had created another Tracy baby to grow alongside their precious Lucy Josephine.

He looked into the depth of her eyes and quietly wiped away the tracks of her tears.

"Honey why didn't you tell me before now?" he asked gently.

Sniffling, she replied.

"I really wanted to and I nearly did before you left earlier in the month but I needed to be sure. I was all set to tell you tonight but then you were so angry and started yelling at me. I thought it was because you already knew and didn't approve."

Tin-Tin's breathing calmed a little as she continued.

"We're married now Alan and even though we are and you've been so good with Lucy we haven't discussed things that real married couples need to. Like the fact I wanted my babies close together. I only want two children but you've never even asked me how many children I'd like. Then there's the issue of me being the one to always protect myself. As far as I'm concerned if you didn't want to take care of things and I want another baby, then what's happened is meant to be for us... just like Lucy was."

Alan tried not to smile at the defiance in her voice. She was right and he knew she was. He also knew she was the only one who'd ever been able to make him stop and see reason.

He reached out to her and pulled her into the security of his chest. She snuggled into him slowly calming down guided by the beat of his heart.

As he stroked her hair he whispered, "Tinarda Jane Tracy ... my best friend ... I don't know where I'd be if I didn't have you. Please forgive me for my reaction. I guess I'm a little scared about running the risk of losing you again that's all."

His grip around her tightened.

There was a long and intense silence as he held her lovingly in his arms.

"You are absolutely everything to me." he breathed. "You ... and Lucy ... and"

He smiled tenderly and looked down at her flat stomach.

"...my son."

She looked up at him.

"Alan ... you can make girls you know." she said with a small glimpse of a smile.

His own lips curled into his magic Tracy smile.

"Another girl? Lord no ... Dad will want a Grandson this time."

Then his smile faded.

"But I don't care if the baby is half as beautiful as Lucy is."

She assessed him carefully. He sounded like he meant it. He could never hide anything from her. She knew him too well.

"So you are pleased then Alan?" she asked. "Tell me the truth."

HOW SHE HAD DREAMED TO TELL THE FAMILY THE NEWS

She would have waited until she was sure. She would have hoped and prayed that she was late for only one reason. That their love had created another human being to join them in their happiness together, a loved and wanted little baby that would fill the hearts of their family with joy. Alan would have been thrilled. He would have picked her up and swirled her around in the air and kissed her over and over again.

HOW THE FAMILY HAD BEEN TOLD THE NEWS

She didn't know how he would take the news. She'd hoped things would right themselves when he was gone but instead she had missed another during his absence.

"How in the hell did you get yourself pregnant? You're supposed to protect yourself." he'd yelled.

LIFE AS IT WAS NOW

His face took on a sudden mischievous smile as he held her.

"Uh oh ... what are you thinking about?" she asked as a broad smile now stole over her features.

In one sweep and catching her totally by surprise he swept her feather light body up into his arms.

"How's this for pleased Mrs Tracy!" he exclaimed as he swung her around and around in his arms happily.

"Don't Alan!" she begged. "I'm sick enough without you making me dizzy too."

"Really?" he laughed as he kissed her.

"Yes really ... now put me down right this minute. " she insisted clamouring for another kiss.

"OK then but you'll be sorry you asked me to do that!"

"No I won't."

"Oh yes you will. You'll end up flat on your back in my bed if I put you down and then I'll have you right where I want you."

"Alan ... no ..." she squealed as he held her over the massive bed.

"Say you love me or down you go." he threatened as he tried to stop laughing.

"I love you!" she giggled.

"Say it again Mrs Tracy ... I didn't hear you." he said as pretended to prepare himself to throw her down onto the bed.

"I love you ! I do! Put me down Alan."

"OK you asked for it!"

Laughing the two of them fell together into the musk scented sheets where he proceeded to tickle her incessantly until she begged him to stop.

After a few minutes their laughter subsided and they stared at each other in silence.

They were such good friends. They always had been friends and nothing was ever going to change their deep and special bond. Not even falling in love with each other had changed it.

She nuzzled into him as the moonlight streamed in from the open balcony.

His arms encircled her body.

She felt so safe in his arms. He felt so secure in hers.

"We'll be OK Alan." she reassured him. "Our babies can grow up with us."

"I know baby girl." he whispered into her hair as he held her close. "I know."

"And SO young man how does it feel?" came an authoritative voice from the door as Alan watched Lucy Josephine toddle unsteadily around the room. He also tried to keep a watchful eye on Tin-Tin as she fed the baby .

Alan turned to look at his Grandmother, his Father and his brothers standing in the doorway.

"What do you mean Grandma?" he asked.

"Having to tend to the one who's wailing like there's no tomorrow and worried sick about what the other one's up to in the meantime."

Alan grinned. "I don't know what you mean Grandma." he replied. "I'm watching out for Lucy and Tin-Tin's got the baby."

Josie looked in the direction of Tin-Tin. "Did he wake you to help him out?" she asked.

Tin-Tin smiled as she adjusted herself. "Yes ma'am but he had to... I'm feeding the baby myself this time."

Josie came forward and took the baby from her arms and placed him firmly in Alan's.

"Here." she said. "Take him and give your wife a break."

Lucy saw Alan with the baby in his arms and immediately went down on all fours and crawled over to her Father complaining loudly. She sat in front of him and held out her arms unhappily.

"Alan." Josie said. "I believe your other child needs you now too."

Alan bent down and picked up Lucy. She grizzled miserably. The baby stirred too.

Before long the room was filled with the sound of two complaining Tracy babies, one needing to be given a good winding after his feed, the other simply unhappy about not having her Father's full attention.

Josie Tracy looked back towards her son who watched Alan's growing discomfort with great interest.

"Kind of brings it all back Jeff doesn't it?" she laughed.

Jeff Tracy laughed before striding forward and taking his Grandson in his arms.

"Well mother as I remember it ... I always got the one who complained the most ... and it was always the youngest one."

Alan frowned at his Father.

"That's not true Sir." he said indignantly as he tried to comfort Lucy Josephine.

"Oh yes it is." Virgil exclaimed. "I was only five and I still remember."

"We ALL remember." Josie laughed.

Alan sulked.

"Well if that's how you all feel, I'm going to get some coffee."

He handed Lucy to Tin-Tin in a huff and strode off towards the cafeteria.

"And things haven't changed." Josie added as they watched him go.

From his position in the doorway Scott Tracy stood watching his Father hold his new Grandson. He could see the love and pride in his Father's eyes. Scott knew Alan's son would be considered the first of many Grandsons he hoped would one day come...Grandsons who would carry on International Rescue for many years to come. Scott knew the tiny baby he held would be taught to fly before he was fifteen, given a background of engineering and instructed on how to take command of a dangerous situation. The eldest grandson ... the next generation of International Rescue.

Suddenly emotion he had never felt before welled up inside him. Adelaide Washington's son... his son.. would be fourteen months old now wherever he was. He would be walking like little Lucy and babbling "Da...Da ..." as Lucy did whenever she saw Alan. He would have six little teeth now like her and a sweet little nature.

But he wouldn't learn how to fly, marvel at engineering feats or take command. He was Mark Washington's son and Mark was an ordinary man... not like the eldest son of Jefferson Tracy.

"Scott." Jeff said calling him to his side. Scott swallowed unhappily before striding forward.

"Yes Sir." he said.

"Hold this little fellow will you." he said. "I'm going to join Alan for some coffee."

Reluctantly Scott took the baby. His eyes met Virgil's. Virgil's gave him a clear message.

"You've got to tell Dad ..."

He looked away and then down at the baby.

He was like Lucy but much bigger.

"I wonder how big my son was when he was born." he mused.

His hair looked like it would curl like Alan's.

"I wonder if my son has curls like mine." he pondered.

His lifted his eyes to Virgil again. Virgil's eyes had not changed.

"You've got to tell Dad..."

His face was like his Mothers.

"I wonder if my son looks like Momma." he swallowed.

He didn't look at Virgil again.

Instead, he walked over deliberately and handed the baby to him.

"Here ..." he said with a fleeting smile at Tin-Tin. "We pilots have got to put our mark on him. I don't want him following in Alan's footsteps and being an Astronaut."

"Hey!" Gordon protested. "My nephew is going to be an aquanaut."

"Yeah well ... the eldest son is always the pilot." Scott replied without humour.

With that he looked at Virgil and strode from the room.


"Alan?"

"Yes Sir?

"Mind if I join you?"

"No Sir."

"We were only joking son."

"I know I was a pain of a baby Sir."

"Yes you were."

"I'm still tired at the moment Dad. I guess I don't take a joke too good when I'm like that. I'm sorry but I'm not annoyed or anything."

"Good. He's a beautiful little boy Alan."

"Yes he is Sir."

"Very much like your mother again."

"Not as much as Lucy is."

"No. That's quite uncanny that resemblance isn't it? Actually he looks a bit like you did when you were first born."

"I don't know how I looked Dad. There aren't any pictures of me until I was three months old."

Jeff Tracy moved about uneasily. Three months after Lucy had died he had suffered a nervous breakdown. His mother had held his family together as he was hospitalised. She had taken a new photograph of each of the children to keep by his bedside ... Alan too. It had been his first photograph. His hand moved to the top pocket of the expensive jacket he wore. He took from it a white envelope.

"What have you got there Dad?"

"Err... something I've wanted to give you for a while now Alan ..."

"What is it Sir?"

"Just open it son."

Silence.

Baby blue eyes stared into dark blue eyes.

"Is this me Sir?"

"Yes son. It is."

Silence.

"Momma was very pretty Sir."

"Yes she was."

"How long ..."

"An hour Alan."

"You were very brave to smile Sir."

"I know I was. She was braver than me though."

"Dad ...why now?"

"You are the Father of a son Alan. You need to see this now."

"He's like me a bit isn't he?"

"Yes ..."

"But he's like her too."

"Yes he is son."

"I will treasure this Dad."

"I know you will son."

"Father?"

Jeff Tracy blinked back the tears in his eyes and turned in the direction of the other voice.

"Yes Scott?" he enquired.

The eldest son of Jefferson Tracy shuffled his feet and looked about nervously.

"Scott?" he frowned.

Silence.

"Father ... Sir ... when you are finished with Alan ... the two of us need to talk ..."

THE END


Author's Final Note:- Now is that a story for the future? Not for me just yet. I am now off to finish my Tales Story and toy with the idea of commencing a new story you may find interesting in TB fiction. Final thanks of course to Gerry Anderson for these wonderful characters that so many writers are able to bring to life in their own unique and wonderful way.

mcj