Merry Christmas. I have come back to do some editing and this story takes place after Signals but between Upside Down and The Long Reach.

From my story, An Island Christmas, that was posted in 2019.

"How are we going to get the star on top?" Alan pondered, looking up at the tall Christmas tree standing in the lounge.

Gordon stood up. "I'm on it."

"Gordon, no." Scott grabbed his brother's shirt preventing him from running.

"Well, what's your solution then?"

Scott smirked as he took the star out of Gordon's hands. "Keep decorating, I'll be back."

Virgil rolled his eyes as he lit the fire pit in the lounge. "Were you really going to jump?"

"I was thinking about it."

"Come on, we have a tree to decorate. Properly," Virgil opened the vent and left the glass door open smiling as the warmth hit his skin.

The island was unusually cold, lifting everyone's spirits for the festive period, and an open fire had seemed like a better option than turning the electric fans on. Virgil walked past Alan and swiftly removed a bow off his back tossing it back into the box before taking out a string of lights.

"Okay, the star is go!" Scott hovered into the lounge wearing his jetpack making Alan laugh.

"Don't crash," Virgil looked up as Scott paused at the top of the tree then reached down and stuck the star on top before floating down to the ground. "Show off."

"I think it was a great plan, and it worked," Scott shrugged as he took the pack off. "Tinsel?"

"Help yourself," Gordon gestured to the box as he took out a box of baubles and placed them onto the piano lid. "Are you decorating your piano, Virgil?"

"We'll see, but let me do it, you'll just make a mess."

"No faith," Gordon shrugged as he looped tinsel around the lowest branches and Virgil wound off the lights with a smile. "No knots?"

"I repacked this box last year, which meant I made sure there were no knots for this exact reason," Virgil replied as he picked the box of baubles up off the piano and put them on the floor. "Where's Kayo?"

"Present wrapping," Scott joined Gordon in hanging baubles on the tree.

Virgil nodded as he took out a short line of golden lights and opened the lid of the piano to its full height. "Do you think Grandma will make us dress up for Christmas dinner?" He asked as he tucked the battery pack into the piano and began to wind lights around the frame using suction clips to hold them in place.

"Very likely," Scott looked at his watch. "John should be joining us soon."

Alan stood back to admire the tree. "That looks awesome."

Grandma gasped happily as she walked into the lounge. "Well done boys, it looks lovely. How did you get the star on top?"

Scott nodded his head in the direction of the chair beside the bookcase. "My jet pack."

Kayo walked in with John, who she had bumped into coming up from the hangars. "Is it finished?"

"Almost," Gordon smiled.

"Hurry up guys. I have a pile of presents to put underneath it."

Virgil chuckled as he hung a snowflake from a hook at the top of the piano lid. "We still have presents to wrap ourselves. How are you already done?"

"I like to relax at Christmas, so I get things done quickly," Kayo put the presents down on Jeff's desk. "It leaves more time for, well, other things," she looked up at the sprig of mistletoe hanging above the rocket portrait.

Virgil sat down on the piano stool and began to play his own rendition of 'Christmas Tree', smiling as the snowflake swung slightly. "Who's coming here for Christmas? I'm assuming Penelope is."

Grandma nodded as she held the end of the tinsel John was hanging up. "That she is, so I hope you've got her presents?"

Gordon leant against the piano. "My gift to her, is me."

There was a clash of incorrect notes as Virgil burst out laughing, so hard he had to stop playing. "That's the first time you've ever made me laugh legitimately."

Scott smirked at his brother who was pouting. "She might want something more than just you."

Virgil laughed again. "That's worse, Scott!"

"Alright, now that's enough. We still have a room to decorate," Grandma shook her head as Gordon threw a strand of tinsel at Virgil.

"Hey watch it!" Virgil complained, shaking the tinsel off his head as he resumed playing his jazzy rendition.

Kayo hung up the final baubles on the tree. "And with that, the tree is done."

Scott checked the time. "Penelope should be arriving soon. Gordon? Come and help me put out snacks."

"FAB."

Virgil watched them leave and pushed the stool out. "I'll be back soon, with presents."

"Ooh, just reminded me," Alan scampered after his brother and John sat behind the piano with a smile.

Kayo watched him and moved to lean on the ledge. "I'm glad you came down. It wouldn't be the same without you."

John blushed with embarrassment as he played. "Sure it would."

"Grandma wouldn't let you spend Christmas alone in Thunderbird 5."

"I wouldn't be alone, I have EOS."

"She's not the same, John," Kayo sighed as she leant on her chin. "She's a computer."

John looked up. "So is your wrist communicator, and yet you can't be without it."

"Touche."

"I'll be here for Christmas Day, then I'll go back up."

"John, come on! You're up there most of the year."

"Fine, I'll stay, but you know I don't get on with gravity."

"Good," she pushed herself away from the piano as Scott and Gordon returned carrying bowls of food and snacks.

"Hi International Rescue, we let ourselves in," Lady Penelope walked into the lounge smugly.

"Penny! I'm glad you could make it," Kayo smiled as she took a plate from Scott and put it down on the desk.

"I wouldn't miss a Tracy Christmas for the world," she sat down on the sofa under the portraits. "Hello, Gordon."

Gordon blushed the colour of Thunderbird 3. "Hi, Penelope."

Penelope smiled. "The room looks lovely, very Christmassy."

"Group effort," Scott smirked as he walked down the steps.

"Where are Virgil and Alan?"

"Present wrapping I believe," Kayo smiled. "Although, some of us got that done well in advance."

Virgil walked in balancing presents in both arms. "Well mine are done, and no one disturb Alan. I think he's having some trouble with the sellotape," he put them down delicately under the tree. "I see the food is out. Oh, hi Penelope."

"Hi, Virgil."

Scott nodded. "Don't hang around, dig in."

"Haven't you started decorating a little late? It's the 23rd," Penelope asked, before sipping a coffee Max had brought in for her.

"We've been so busy this month. I don't know what is it about winter, but it's when we get the most calls. John has put us on hiatus for tomorrow and Christmas Day just so we can have a break," Scott leant by the wall holding a mince pie.

"Good."

Virgil sat on the piano stool with a slice of cheesecake. "When does the carol singing start?"

"Whenever you want Virgil, but everyone including yourself is eating at the moment," Kayo smirked as she wrapped an arm around Scott's waist.

Virgil shrugged as he balanced the plate in his lap. "I can do both," he began to play Silent Night. "Easy as."

"We're not singing yet," Alan smiled. "There's too much food."

Grandma stood up. "Oh, I almost forgot. Penelope and Parker, you need somewhere to sleep whilst you're here. And boys, I want you looking a little more festive."

Scott sighed. "If you insist."

"I certainly do," Grandma smirked. "Get to it."

Virgil released the pedal reluctantly. "Let's go before Grandma chases us out of here."

Penelope watched the scene with a laugh as the boys left the lounge. "You have them well trained."

Grandma chuckled. "Years of practice."

Penelope followed Grandma down to the guest quarters and Parker followed. "It's been too long."

"Eight years almost to this day. However, we do have a lead now, and he will come home."

Penelope nodded. "Are you worried about the rescue mission?"

"Absolutely, it's deep space, heck it's almost in another system," she shook her head. "I still can't believe he got that far."

"I know, and I can feel the break in the family."

Grandma smiled. "It'll be okay, soon," she changed the subject. "Well, here is where you'll be staying, and Parker will be next door."

"Thank you, Mrs Tracy," Parker bowed his head.

Penelope gazed at the view as she walked inside the room. "Oh wow, the sea."

"All the rooms face the ocean as best they can. Apart from Virgil's, he prefers seeing the forest."

"I bet. Thank you, Sally, I'll make myself more festive and come back to join everyone in the lounge."

Alan knocked on Scott's door. "Scotty, I can't get this hairstyle right!" He whined outside.

"Come in!"

Alan pushed the door open glad for once that Kayo wasn't with his brother. "The gel isn't holding."

Scott chuckled at his youngest brother in a reindeer jumper. "Cute, Alan."

"Grandma said to be festive, and dad bought me this for Christmas before he went missing."

Scott's face fell almost immediately. "Eight years ago almost to this day," he sat Alan down on the bed and grabbed a comb. "We're going to bring him home Alan, I promise," he began to brush the golden locks back.

"How long have you had your jumper?"

Scott smiled as he gelled Alan's hair up. "I've had a lot of growth spurts, and I bought this one a couple of years ago," he looked down at the snowflakes across his chest and hem. "But we both know Gordon will outdo us both with his Santa Clause one."

Alan sighed. "Why is the Zero XL taking so long to build? Dad is waiting for us."

Scott twisted the cap closed on the gel and sat down on the bed beside him again. "I know little brother, but he knows that we haven't ever stopped looking for him. And now we know where he is," he brushed a tear off Alan's cheek. "Brains will get it finished, this will be his biggest achievement ever." He wrapped his arms around the young boy tucking him close. "And you'll be the first to see dad."

Alan looked up at him. "Really?"

"Of course. Come on, let's celebrate Christmas huh?"

"Yeah, okay," Alan stood up. "Thanks for the help."

"Anytime," Scott opened his door just as Gordon walked past. "Geez Gordon, you're an eyesore."

Gordon grinned at them in his bright flashing red Christmas jumper. "Nah, you're just jealous that your jumpers aren't this awesome."

"You're only doing this for Penny," Alan teased as they walked down the corridor back to the lounge.

"And if she loves it, then I've succeeded. Tease me all you want, it rolls off my back."

The party wasn't until Christmas Eve, and with it only being the 23rd, Grandma had decided to postpone the singalong and just make the evening about catching up on missions by an open fire.

"Parker and I couldn't believe how cold it was when we arrived," Penelope looked out at the moon.

Virgil nodded. "This is definitely one of the coldest winters we've had on this island. We don't really think about seasons because we have our own climate for most of the year."

"It certainly is unusual, but it is uh nice to have a cold Christmas. It's what I'm used to," Brains smiled patting Max's head.

"And me. I used to live in England too, Brains," Kayo smirked. "It gets too hot here for me sometimes."

"That's only because Scott is here though, right Kayo?" Gordon joked, and Kayo threw a cushion at him.

Scott blushed. "Don't start, Gordon."

"Too late," Virgil rolled his eyes. "What do you think of his jumper, Penelope?"

Penelope smirked. "It's a little bit too much. Everyone else's are a little more subtle. I love your one, Virgil," she saw Gordon gawp out of the corner of her eye.

Virgil decided to play along. "Thanks, Pen. You know how much I love green." He smiled at the Thunderbird 2 print he had designed flying above a pine forest.

Gordon pouted again. "Well, mine is more festive."

"H'if you don't mind me saying, Master Gordon? Master Virgil's is more traditional," Parker mused as he graciously accepted a cup of tea from Max.

"Thank you, Parker," Virgil grinned, thoroughly enjoying the endless teasing aimed at his co-pilot.

"At least mine says Merry Christmas on it," Gordon muttered.

Grandma chuckled. "Okay, okay. It's Christmas Eve tomorrow and I have a long list of jobs for you all to help me with, excluding our guest."

Virgil looked at the time. "It's late, where did the time go?"

The lounge very slowly emptied as everyone made their way to their rooms. John's heart tugged like it always did whenever he saw Kayo go into Scott's room, and he closed his door with a sigh. Scott took his jumper off and Kayo got changed into her pyjamas which were covered in snowflakes and holly sprigs.

"You were saving those weren't you?"

"Just for you, they're too festive for anyone else. Where are yours?"

Scott smirked as he opened a drawer. "Are these suitable enough?" He held up a pair of joggers made up to look like the lower half of Santa.

"Hello, Mr Claus?" She lowered her voice.

"Yes, Mrs Claus?" Scott replied with a grin before changing.

"What do you have in the sack?"

Scott burst out laughing as he crawled onto the bed. "Kayo! You're on the naughty list this year," he wrapped his arms around her pressing his lips softly to her own as she sighed contentedly.

"Your pulse is normal but your pressure has risen John, are you okay?" EOS asked from her monitor in the astronaut's room.

"I'm fine, EOS," John sighed as he leaned on his balcony.

"There are many human qualities and emotions I still don't understand, but I think I understand jealousy."

"Jealous of who?"

"John, I can't read minds."

John walked back into the room and the door slid shut behind him. "Kayo."

EOS flashed red. "I could hack into her straighteners or something if you'd like?"

"EOS, no," he chuckled as he sank into his chair at his desk and pulled his dressing gown around his bare chest. "Don't do that. I just wish that she hadn't chosen Scott, then again I don't think I've ever crossed her mind like that. If it hadn't been Scott, it would've been Virgil."

"I thought you liked Captain O'Bannon?"

John shrugged. "She hasn't really shown much interest in being more than just friends if I'm honest," he looked straight into EOS' monitor. "You're the closest I have to love."

EOS flashed pink then green. "Thank you, John," she was silent for a moment. "There's something else bothering you?"

"I heard Alan crying earlier as I passed Scott's room."

"Would you like me to check on him?"

"No, thank you. I think he's upset about the Zero XL situation, he was only seven when dad left us. I don't think he's ever gotten over it. None of us has."

"But now you know where he is?"

"Yes, but it's impossible to get there. We've never navigated that far into space before. It's going to be so dangerous, and I don't think Scott has realised this yet. I only hope he knows what he's doing," John bit his lip, and then yawned.

"I will let you sleep John, you need rest."

John smiled. "Thanks, EOS. Wake me up early tomorrow please?"

"Of course, is eight suitable?"

"Eight is fine," John stood up and hung his gown over the end of the bed.

"Goodnight John," EOS shut herself down.

"Goodnight EOS," John replied quietly as he got into bed, his ungelled ginger fringe fell across his forehead onto the pillow as he closed his eyes, but down the hall, he could hear the quiet giggles of his crush with his brother.

Virgil sat in bed flicking through photos from his childhood and previous Christmases. The holo images glowed and reflected in their shine, Virgil's eyes glistened with unshed tears as images of his mother appeared in front of him. He looked down on an image of his dad with all of them taken the year he went missing. Grey hairs replaced the chestnut colour it used to be, but his aged blue eyes were warm with love for his sons around him. Virgil smiled at the photo and a knock on his door made the tears fall as he jolted from the noise. He put the album down and walked across his room to the door wiping his eyes on his sleeve on the way.

"Gordon?" Virgil blinked wearily at the figure in his doorway.

"Can I come in?"

"It's late, Gords. What's up?"

Gordon waited for the door to close then sniffed. "I miss dad."

Virgil nodded and led him over to the bed. "I've been looking at the family photos. Every year this has got harder, but this time, we know he's alive."

"But lost, Virgil," Gordon sniffed.

Virgil wrapped his arm around him as they sat on the bed together, he put the holo-pad down on his lap and scrolled through the photos. "We'll get him back."

"But it will be after Christmas. That's nine years without him," Gordon sniffed again.

Virgil scrolled back to the family photo in an attempt to cheer up his brother. "Don't we look cute here, unlike the terrors we became?"

Gordon smiled as his eyes darted across the faces of his family. Alan was sitting on Jeff's shoulders and Scott had his arms around Virgil, and John and himself were at the front of the photo. "Yeah, this was our last photo with him."

"He didn't know he'd end up sacrificing himself along with the Zero X. Had he had time, he would've tried to get out. It was safer he took the engine up rather than explode with it. We saw the footage."

Gordon nodded. "I wish he hadn't gone. I blame the GDF."

Virgil looked around at him in shock. "Gordon, no. It's not their fault that dad is lost in space. They've done some rather foolish and damn stupid things in the past, but Casey didn't want to lose dad, he was their best ally and one of her best friends."

"He knew the risks. Why did he have to go?"

Virgil sighed as he switched the hologram emitter to auto. "Because he volunteered. He flew Thunderbird 1 up and sent her home on autopilot. We all knew what had happened when she returned, apart from Alan."

Gordon wiped a tear off his cheek with the hem of his t-shirt. "I can't wait any longer Virgil, why aren't we already in space searching? Brains built the Thunderbirds in no time at all."

"This is an immense task Gordon, I don't even think Thunderbird 3 will be fast enough. We're talking about light speed, remember Star Trek?"

Gordon nodded. "Yeah?"

"We'll have to be able to go to warp speed to match the Zero X. It's not going to be easy and that's why Brains is struggling," his voice softened slightly. "Don't upset yourself over this, we have closure on where dad is now."

Gordon rested his head against Virgil's arm as he focused on the photos again, currently on one of Virgil's recitals. "I wish we could get him home for Christmas."

Virgil kissed the top of Gordon's head. "Me too little brother. I'm going to get some sleep, do you want to sleep here tonight?"

"Really?"

"As long as you don't kick me? One kick and I'm pushing you out of the bed."

Gordon cracked a watery grin. "Deal. Goodnight Virgil, thanks."

"Anytime fish-boy."

"You're one to make names, Forte."

Virgil smiled as he rolled onto his side and pressed his cheek into the pillow. "See you in the morning."

Darkness fell on Tracy Island and Brains crept down to the hangars with Max, he thanked science that noise from the caves couldn't be heard in the house and checked his progress on the surprise he was going to spring upon the family on Christmas Day, he only had a day and a half so there was no time to waste.

"Max, hand me my tools."