CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Meet The Family

Jeff looked up from his paperwork at a gentle knock on his study door.

"Come in," he called, looking back down. The door opened, and his ginger-haired son smiled slightly as he entered.

"Uh, hey, dad, watcha doing?"

"Paperwork. It seems to be never ending."

"Got a minute?"

"Sure, Gordon. Sit down." Jeff peered over his reading glasses as Gordon sat down, then took them off. "What do you need to talk to me about?" Gordon seemed nervous, he was tapping his thumbs together in agitation, and looking jumpy in his seat. Jeff frowned slightly. What could be so important that Gordon, usually the most easy-going of them all, would get upset about?

"Well. Hm. I'm not sure where to begin."

"Anywhere you like, son." Gordon frowned and bit his lip.

"Anywhere? Uh, okaaaay, then, I went to Lyttleton to see a girl." Jeff nodded, He'd suspected as much after what Scott said, but didn't show it. He was too good at the father business to show it. He'd also completely put that incident out of his mind.

"A girl?" Jeff queried.

"Well, not A girl, as such, I mean, THE girl. The girl I've kinda been seeing for a while."

"A while."

"Since my vacation, to be exact."

"Ah." Jeff tapped his thumbs together, mimicking Gordon's action unconsciously. So that's what Gordon was agitated about.

Gordon studied his father's face carefully. Jeff kept all his emotions cleverly hidden, however. He sighed inwardly. Would his father say nothing?

"What's her name?" Jeff said at last.

"Adelaide Rogers."

"Isn't she a girl you went to school with?"

"Yessir."

"And she was in WASP also?"

"Yes."

"So you know her very well."

"Yes." Gordon felt a little nervous at the questioning- hell, he felt extremely nervous about the whole thing.

"I think I remember her. Dark red hair, blue eyes, a little taller than Tin-tin?"

"Yes, that's her."

"Yes. You and she put whoopee cushions in my study chair once."

"It was just a joke, dad. And it was very funny."

"Hmph," said Jeff. "Maybe for you."

"Definitely for us! You should have seen your face!" Gordon chuckled at the memory, long recessed in his mind and now brought out into the light again. Jeff frowned a little. Gordon stopped laughing, unaware that Jeff was frowning to hide smiles.

"So, when do we get to meet her?" Gordon broke into a wide grin.

"She has a weekend off in a month, I could invite her then!"

"No, don't invite her. We'll meet her in a city somewhere for dinner."

"We?" Gordon's smile dimmed.

"Me, Scott, Penelope, and you."

"Scott?? Awwww, maaaaan! Talk about cramping my style!" Gordon slumped in his seat. Jeff smiled.

(IR)/

Gordon seemed to be the only one to be nervous as the five waited at their table. Jeff was talking quietly to Penny, and Scott was eyeing up the waitresses (who certainly didn't mind). John had stayed behind to monitor the control station with Virgil. Gordon folded and re-folded his napkin, looking around for Addie to show.

"So, where's the lovely lady?" teased Scott. Gordon gave him a glare and stood up, looking around.

"Hey Gordon." Gordon turned and smiled as he beheld his lady, resplendent in a pretty shimmery indigo halter top and a long black skirt, her hair blow-waved and a big smile on her painted lips. He kissed her cheek before holding out a chair for her and sitting down too. Addie smiled to the others at the table.

"Hi, so nice to meet you in person at last," she said. Penelope smiled elegantly.

"Darling, you look positively wonderful. So nice to finally meet you. Gordon's been keeping you under wraps for so long. We wanted to meet you too."

"Thank you." Gordon nodded.

"May I introduce Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward, a close family friend; my brother, Scott; and my father, Jeff Tracy."

"How do you do," said Addie, smiling to everyone.

"Everyone, this is Adelaide Rogers, my, ah, girlfriend." He felt odd calling her that, it didn't seem to fit quite. "And I'm Gordon Tracy. How are you tonight?" he said to Adelaide.

"Oh, just fine."

"Gordon said you were married?" asked Scott quietly. Gordon kicked him under the table. Addie looked surprised.

"No. Why'd he say that?" She looked at him inquisitively. He flushed.

"To keep my ever-so-charming brother off your back," he said, half-apologetically, "and mine."

"Oh, really?" Addie smiled, placing her hand on Gordon's thigh under the table. She sent him a quick flirty look. Gordon smiled and winked back, casting off his apologies and sitting up straight. This did not go unnoticed by Penny or Jeff.

"So, who's ordering?"

(IR)/

Scott sat back with a satisfied smile, laying his knife and fork on his plate neatly.

"Most delicious," he said. Gordon nodded in agreement. He felt the dinner had gone well. Everyone liked Adelaide, and she was polite and responsive to everything, and still had time to hold his hand under the table.

"So when do you head back to work?" asked Penelope, after dabbing at her mouth delicately with a napkin. Addie sighed.

"Tomorrow evening I'm back. I'm going to meet some WASP buddies later this evening, from the base." Penelope nodded. Gordon swallowed his last mouthful of food and turned big, pleading eyes on his father. Jeff pretended not to notice. Scott smirked.

"Well, it's been simply fantastic meeting you, Adelaide. We simply must meet again."

"Yes, that would be lovely," replied Addie, smiling. She liked Penelope, and Penelope evidently liked her too. Gordon looked around at everyone at the table, but his father and brothers' faces were unreadable. He sighed quietly. Penelope took out her mobile phone and dialled a number quickly.

"Parker, will you please join us?"

"H'at once, milady," came the prompt reply. Penelope smiled as Parker walked over to their table. "You called, milady?"

"Yes, Parker. I'd like you to run Gordon and Adelaide to wherever they wish to go tonight. I believe they are meeting friends." Gordon quickly looked at her, his cheeks flushing, then looked at his father, who at last permitted himself a small smile and a nod. Gordon grinned and put down his napkin.

"Certainly, milady. Follow me please, Master Gordon," Parker nodded his head and Gordon and Addie rose to their feet.

"Thank you, Mister Tracy, it's been a pleasure meeting you all at last."

"Great meal dad. Thanks! See you all later."

"When shall we expect you back at the hotel, Gordon?" asked Jeff.

"Um," said Gordon.

"Well, we'll expect you to join us for dinner tomorrow. We leave tomorrow evening, don't forget." Scott grinned. Perhaps they could go out tonight too. Gordon grinned with delight.

"Thanks Dad, I'll make it up to you, I swear. Oh, you so won't regret it!" He grinned and the two followed Parker out to the Rolls Royce parked outside.

"I sure hope not," commented Jeff. Scott looked at his father.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Did you like her?"

"I've always liked her, Scott. I still do."

"You know what I mean."

"Do you?" Scott paused, then nodded.

"Yes, I do. I think she and Gordon suit each other. She seems trustworthy." Jeff nodded, accepting his words, then turned to Penelope, who smiled and folded her napkin carefully.

"I'll need to talk to her a bit more before I will know her to be trustworthy, as Scott says, but she comes across as being a very well-mannered and cheerful young woman." Jeff nodded at that too, then sat back in his chair, folding his hands together on his lap. The two gazed at him, waiting for his verdict. At last Jeff seemed to notice their impatience.

"Well, I like her," he said.

"But what about Gordon?" cried Scott. Jeff chuckled.

"I see you want your brother to be happy in his relationship."

"Of course I do!" Scott exclaimed. "Now what about their future?"

"Weeell..." Jeff sighed. "I guess he could continue to see her." Scott grinned, and Penelope visibly relaxed. "But she won't know about us until I am ready."

"Of course. And quite rightly too."

"Oh that's great news, Dad! Gordon will be so pleased!" Just then Penelope's cell phone rang, and she answered it.

"Penelope Creighton-Ward. Yes... yes... thank you, Parker. Please return here now. Good bye." She put down her phone. "Parker seems to approve of the match. He's returning here to pick us up now." Scott sighed.

"I hope Gordon appreciates this!"

(IR)/

Some time later, Gordon sat at the bar of a pub, his old WASP crew mates around him and Addie sitting beside him, her hand curled around a bottle of passionfruit Vodka Cruiser. He felt in high spirits- aha, a pun- and a little tiddly. He couldn't hold his drink as well as Scott could, although definitely a bit better than John, Virgil and John. He remembered, somewhat belatedly, that his friends had always got the better of him when it came to drink in the old days when he'd drunk out on a Saturday night while still in the force. But he was grinning around at all his old friends, feeling relaxed and at home.

"So what are ya up to these days?" asked Bill, who sat on his other side, a pint of lager in his strong fist. Gordon shrugged.

"Eh, not much. I'm taking it easy these days, Billy. Enough of the high life for me!" he said, his mirth at his own lie hidden. Billy laughed.

"Don't ya miss us, Flash?"

"Course I do! But I've got other commitments now."

"Not a wife and kids?"

"Don't be daft!" Both men laughed. Addie looked around.

"What's so funny?" she demanded. Gordon popped some peanuts in his mouth and grinned.

"You are, angelface."

"Don't you angelface me!" she cried, punching his shoulder. Bill laughed.

"Lovers tiff!" he exclaimed. "You two are unbelievable, ya know that?"

"Jealous?" demanded Addie, a sly grin on her face.

"Yeah, of you!" Billy retorted cheekily. Gordon sniggered and took a long swallow of beer.

"Really Bill? You go for blokes these days? I remember the days we used to pull chicks together on Saturday nights. Remember that incredible threesome we had that time?" He laughed and Billy joined in. Addie screwed up her face.

"Way too much information," she said, but Gordon clapped her on the back.

"Just kidding love. My family weren't too uptight for you, were they?" He cocked his head. She shook hers.

"Nah, they're great. They show me where you get your formality from."

"You should see them at home," Gordon commented, leaning over to kiss her. Addie grinned and met his kiss. Billy poked out his tongue and made gagging noises.

"Get a room!"

(IR)/

When Gordon woke up, his head pounded. It reminded him briefly of the last time he'd got pissed, while in Sydney- he hoped the fallout from this particular night wouldn't be so bad. But- no. His father had given him permission. He remembered now. He rolled his head around sleepily and was about to kiss the face on the pillow next to him when it grunted most unladylikely, and belched. He eyes widened.

"Billy?"

"Flash?"

"AAAAGGHHH!!!"

"SHIT!" Gordon fell off the bed on his side, and Billy fell off his. Somehow they were smooshed onto a single bed. Gordon quickly checked himself and found that the only clothes he was missing were his shoes. He sighed and looked around, standing up.

"I'm gonna find Addie," he said, his head whirling. Billy clambered back onto the bed, already snoring again. Gordon shook his head and wandered off. Where the heck was he?

"Gordon." A soft call attracted his attention. He looked around. Addie stood in a doorway, dressed only in her nightdress. She smiled and beckoned to him.

"Where am I?" Gordon mumbled as he walked to joined her.

"You've found your way somehow to the WASP barracks," she replied, tugging him into her room. "How you ended up next door I don't know. I told you you were drinking too much."

"Yeah, well," Gordon grumbled, but his grumbles ceased as the door shut behind him and Addie's arms wrapped around him, pulling him to her bed. He was not in the right mind or mood to refuse her.

(IR)/

John looked up from his paper as the Tracy family, Penelope and Parker returned to the Island base. Gordon was looking particularly smug. Virgil raised an eyebrow.

"Good news then?" he asked. Gordon nodded and grinned.

"I'm going for a swim. Wanna come?" Virgil shrugged, and Gordon skipped off to his room, singing and happy. Jeff grinned too.

"I feel like this is going to go right," he said.

"And I pray and hope that you are not wrong, although I'm sure you won't be," Penelope commented. Scott and Virgil went off down to the pool, John in tow, leaving the 'adults' to talk. Gordon was already doing laps of the pool as the three arrived.

"So who scored last night?" John commented as Gordon paused to greet them. Gordon's blush was enough of an answer for them.

"I did," said Scott, smirking. Virgil shook his head.

"Only cos you told her that you were the son of 'Mister Tracy'."

"So? It was a one-nighter, what was I supposed to do?"

"Relationships over one-nighters for me any day, brother," Virgil replied. John shrugged.

"Both have their merits," he said. All three looked at him, eyebrows raised. John shrugged again innocently. "I had quite a reputation in college."

"How come we didn't know about it then?" exclaimed Scott, hands on hips. "Call that a reputation?"

"I chose not to let you guys in on it. Anyway, it's all over so it doesn't matter anyhow." He sat down on a deck chair, putting on sunglasses and unfolding his paper again.

"Oh really." Scott and Gordon nodded to each other, and before John could so much as yell, he was dumped off his deck chair into the pool. Gordon laughed. Things could only get better!

(IR)/

A/N: Famous last words, perhaps? Find out next time!