Have a Merry Christmas everyone xx

This was a one-shot written in 2015, very soon after TAG had first graced our screens.

A plain Christmas tree stood behind the piano and between the pool table, and Scott and Virgil were standing side by side looking up at it. Gordon leant against the piano and cleared his throat.

"So, who's putting what on the tree?" Scott asked.

Gordon looked at his brothers. "I'll do the lights."

"You always do the lights, Gordon. It's my turn."

Virgil smirked. "Fine. Go ahead, Scott."

Scott took the lights from his brother and began to delicately wrap them around the tree, he twisted them through the branches and finished at the top before picking up the next multicoloured set. Then he stood back figuring out a unique pattern to merge with the plain lights on the branches.

Virgil smiled from the piano. "Need any help there, Scooter?"

Scott growled slightly at the nickname and didn't turn to look at Virgil. "I'm fine Virg, just thinking about how to wrap this one."

Virgil shrugged and began to play a festive carol for those in the lounge, Gordon sat down on the stool next to Virgil and watched Scott.

Scott wound the colourful lights around the stump and the main trunk of the pine tree creating a rainbow of lights in the centre. "There, done."

Gordon nodded. "Yeah, I like it. Virg?"

Virgil stopped playing and stood up to join Scott by the tree. "Yeah, it looks great. Nice one. That leaves me to do the star then?"

"Hang on. I think it's only fair I get to do that. You boys do everything," Kayo smirked as she walked towards them.

"She has a point," Gordon nodded.

Kayo smiled and took the star from Virgil before approaching the tree. "Okay, a boost please?"

Scott gently lifted her in reach of the top of the tree. "That okay?"

"Yes. Thanks, Scott," Kayo smiled and stuck the star onto the tree, and Scott put her down again.

"You're welcome."

Virgil smirked at Gordon before speaking. "Onto the baubles then."

At this point, Alan bounded into the room and over to the tree, then shortly after him, John entered the lounge smiling at the lights.

"Naw! Don't tell me you've finished decorating it already?" Alan looked around the room for decorations.

Scott laughed and held Alan's shoulder down to stop him from bouncing. "We haven't put the hangers on yet, like the baubles and toys."

"Not forgetting the snowflakes that mum made one Christmas of course," Virgil added.

"What about those Thunderbird tags that dad made for us? Should those go on?" Scott asked and John sighed, he looked around at him, "John, what's the matter?"

John shook his head slightly. "This will be the first Christmas without him here."

The boys fell silent suddenly and Kayo rubbed John's shoulder comfortingly, Scott smiled at them and then nudged Alan.

"Come on Al, let's get the baubles huh?"

Alan perked up immediately and whooped before following Scott to the supply cupboard outside the lounge. Virgil found some tinsel and began to run it around the tree creating new patterns with the lights whilst Gordon hung some snowflakes from the portraits and John hung up a twig of mistletoe.

"We've got the baubles!" Alan smiled broadly as he walked into the room with Scott, and put the box down on top of the piano causing Virgil to frown slightly.

Gordon opened it. "These are the good ones right?"

"As opposed to?"

"You know? The ones we had two years ago."

Alan smiled. "These are way better than those ones. Look at this one," he held a crimson one up covered with dusted glitter representing snow.

Gordon nodded. "Yeah, these are pretty nice. How about some music, Virg?"

Virgil pouted. "But I want to decorate the tree."

John smiled, "Allow me, Virgil."

Virgil smiled back at him as he made his way over. "Thanks, John."

John sat down on the stool and began to play 'Oh Come all Ye Faithful,' whilst Kayo watched him and the others decorate the tree with candy canes and brightly coloured baubles.

"Come and behold him, born the King of angels..." Scott sang quietly as he reached the top of the tree and Gordon smirked up at him.

"Heard that Scott."

"Oh come...What?"

"Your singing," Gordon grinned, and Alan laughed.

Scott shrugged at the teasing. "At least I can sing, Gordon."

Virgil laughed and a slip of a note from the piano told him John had just laughed too. "Scott's right, Gordo. It's the honest truth."

Gordon pouted and threw some fake snow at Scott who dodged it. "I actually liked your singing," he muttered and walked off to find the glitter spray.

Virgil smiled at John. "Hey John, you couldn't play something a little more jolly could you?"

"I can try. Umm," he launched into 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.'

"That's more like it," Virgil smiled and hung some green baubles from a couple of lights in the lounge.

Gordon came back with the spray and opened the can, he coughed loudly to get Virgil's attention and held his finger over the can's button to release the glitter at the piano and Virgil glared at him horrified.

"Gordon, don't you dare!"

Gordon narrowed his eyes slightly and aimed the can. "And if I do?"

Scott stopped decorating and watched Gordon closely ready to stop Virgil from leaping at him if it got that far. Gordon pressed the button with a smile, and Virgil slid under the piano to grab him. At the same time, a bauble broke after Alan dropped it, and two screams filled the air.

"Virgil! Get off me! The cap is locked, look!" Gordon pushed Virgil off him and showed him the can.

Virgil sat back against the piano leg and snatched the can out of Gordon's hands not realising that the piano music had stopped. "You idiot! That wasn't funny."

Gordon rubbed his hands together. "I'm sorry, it was only a joke."

Virgil stood up with the can and handed it back to Gordon, then heard the sounds of muffled sobs behind him, he turned and his glare softened as his eyes fell on his youngest brother. "Alan?"

Scott held Alan in his lap from where he was knelt down, and John was wincing as he examined the small slithers of glass in Alan's foot.

"Oh, Alan!" Gordon went round the back of the piano stool and Scott cried out to him.

"Gordon, stop! You're barefoot too, there's glass down here."

Gordon skidded to a stop and sat down on the piano stool to keep out of the way. "His foot, John, all that blood."

"He'll live Gordy. Now, could you do me a favour and bring me a bowl for the pieces please?" John looked up at Virgil. "I need your skills, big brother."

Gordon nodded and got to his feet again taking a short jog over to the other side of the lounge and Virgil stepped closer to John and Scott.

"I'll take over, John. You okay there Ali? What happened?"

Alan looked up tearfully. "It fell out of my hand, smashed, and I stepped onto the shards when I was trying to move."

A couple of tears fell down his cheeks as Virgil removed a small piece of glass from his foot and he winced.

John stroked the tears off Alan's face and Scott smiled at him. "Just don't look at the blood, okay Alan?"

Alan nodded then hid his face as Gordon came back. "Don't look at me Gordy, you'll tease me."

Gordon simply shook his head and gave the bowl to John before sitting back down on the piano stool. "How's the glass coming, Virgil?"

Virgil bit his lip in concentration as he dropped the pieces of glass into the bowl John was now holding. "I have most of the pieces out, but there are lots of tiny shards that are difficult to get to."

"Perhaps we should move him to the infirmary?" Scott suggested.

Virgil shook his head. "No, this is fine. As long as I can keep his foot elevated," he hummed thoughtfully. "Actually, Scott, can you help me get him to that chair by the wall please?"

Scott nodded. "Alright, don't let him touch the ground."

John helped Scott to pick Alan up securely into his arms and they took him over the chair. Alan was put down gently, and Scott placed a footstool under his foot to raise it.

"This okay, Virgil?"

"Thanks. Okay, Alan, this is going to hurt, a lot. There's one bit near to the vein," Virgil smiled at him sympathetically and Scott looked down at his youngest brother with pity, there was a scream of agony from Alan and Grandma hurried into the room.

"What's happened?"

Scott looked up at her. "Alan trod on a broken bauble."

Grandma frowned. "And you didn't come and tell me?"

The boys hung their heads guiltily, all except Alan who had his head buried into Scott's side not wanting to see the blood. Grandma smiled slightly and whistled for Max.

The robot came in beeping happily and was ordered to grab the dustpan and brush to clear up the glass. John joined Gordon at the piano to stay clear of Max, and Virgil remained at Alan's feet looking for any remaining glass.

"What a way to start Christmas, huh?" Gordon scoffed and tapped his fingers on the piano keys.

"Be thankful it was only a bauble," John added, earning a glare from Grandma as she stroked Alan's head.

Virgil smiled finally. "It's all out Alan, but I suggest you don't run around in bare feet. I'm going to have to wrap this in a bandage."

"Thanks, Virg," Alan smiled and leaned forwards to hug him. Virgil smiled back and wrapped an arm around his brother.

"I didn't go through medical training for nothing," he moved back and began wrapping his brother's foot in a tight bandage. Once done, he stood up and stretched his back. "Is the tree finished?"

Scott shrugged. "More or less. There's not much else we can put on it."

Gordon left the piano stool and grabbed the glitter spray opening it properly. "Let me give the branches some magic," he began to spray the ends of the twigs and sang happily. "Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches..."

Virgil joined in and Alan put his head in his hands.

"Someone get me out of here!"

Scott laughed and helped him to his feet to take him to the sofa. John put the cushions back to how they were and took the bowl to the kitchen to clear the glass away, then he had an idea to make mulled wine for everyone.

Later that afternoon, the family gathered outside by the pool to admire their Christmas lights around the front of the house. Lights sparkled around the exterior and paper chains swayed gently from the breeze blowing through the kitchen. Carols sounded from the radio in the kitchen, and the decorated Christmas tree sparkled in the dim light of the island as the sun went down.

"Well done boys. Your father would be proud," Grandma smiled.

Scott's shoulders sank slightly and he looked out to the ocean, Virgil noticed and moved slightly closer to him. "Thanks, Grandma, it's not the same though."

Grandma nodded. "I know son. Of course, it's not, but we have to try."

Scott looked at her and smiled, but there was something in it that broke her heart, Virgil noticed it too; a tiny tear held itself in the corner of Scott's eye and he blinked it away.

Grandma decided to get rid of the others. "Well, you may have the decorations up but have you put presents under the tree?"

There was a sudden rush of feet on the deck and the boys ran inside, Kayo led the way whilst Gordon helped Alan inside followed quickly by John. Grandma smiled at Virgil and walked off.

"Are you okay Scott? You definitely don't look it," Virgil asked.

Scott sighed and sat down on the bench outside the kitchen, cupping his chin in his hands, he said nothing but his body language told Virgil to join him. He sat down opposite him at the table and waited for Scott to answer.

"This doesn't feel right, does it? The house."

"It's a house, Scott. What's the real problem?"

Scott didn't look at his brother. "It doesn't feel complete. We're missing the most important person in the house."

"I know Scott, but we have people looking for him. We just have to deal with the current situation," Virgil smiled and reached across to Scott's hand. "Scott, look at me?"

Scott looked up and the tears were back. "Virgil, I can't keep you guys safe. I feel like I can't be there for you."

Virgil raised his eyebrows. "Now you know that's not true. We're all still here. Scott, you've got us all here for Christmas. You're not referring to Alan getting hurt just now, are you?"

Scott shook his head. "No, I'm talking about overall."

Virgil got a little impatient. "What is going on with you at the moment, Scott? I've never seen you this bad before."

"I don't feel like myself without him. I've had enough of being the leader, I can't do it," he buried his head in his hands and suppressed cries disappeared into the table.

Virgil sat in stunned silence watching him, then he heard a voice inside his head. 'Be there for him Virgil. He needs you.'

Virgil got up and moved around the other side of the table to sit next to Scott, his brother shook violently from the sobs and Virgil wrapped his arms around him tightly trying his best to comfort him. Scott looked up at him and blushed slightly with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, Virgil," he sniffed and Virgil hugged him tighter.

"Forget about it, just let it out. You've been under a lot of stress this year, we understand."

Scott wiped away more forming tears from his eyes and heard someone playing the piano from upstairs. "Who is that?"

Virgil looked up towards the lounge and shrugged. "I don't know. John, perhaps?"

Scott nodded and looked back at the table, now dotted with water droplets from his tears, he rubbed his hand over them. "Don't let me break down like that again."

Virgil frowned and let go of him. "Everyone needs to sometimes, Scott, even you."

Scott smiled slightly. "But I have to be strong for you, and the others."

"And you do, you look after us. Don't think that you don't, we couldn't continue without you."

Scott hugged Virgil back with more strength and felt a kiss placed on the top of his head. "Thanks, Virgil, for...Well, everything really."

Virgil stood up and offered a hand to his brother. "Come on, let's celebrate Christmas, with the family."

Scott smiled and followed Virgil up to the lounge where Gordon was playing the piano and John was chatting to Kayo whilst Alan was playing a game of pool with Brains. Gordon looked up and grinned at the newcomers in the room.

"There you are. Thought you could get away with missing the carols, did you?"

Virgil went over to the piano. "Yeah we did, but I'm not letting you torture them so, get up."

Gordon shook his head. "I like it here."

Virgil tapped his foot impatiently. "Come on, Gordon."

John chuckled at them. "I can't believe Gordon is arguing about who gets the piano."

Kayo smiled. "You mean this has never happened before?"

"Nope."

Scott crept up behind the piano stool and budged Gordon off it and into Virgil. "I'll do it."

"Scott! You're so mean," Gordon moaned getting his balance back.

Scott smirked and turned to the group in the room. "Which carol then?"

Alan shouted. "Jingle Bell Rock!"

Scott frowned. "That's a song, not a carol."

"How about, Oh Holy Night?" Kayo suggested as she made her way up to the piano.

Scott smiled at Kayo. "Good choice," and he began to play the introduction whilst the others gathered around him. "Who's singing the solo?"

Kayo cleared her throat and began to sing the first verse, and Scott beamed as he played. The others watched her with loving smiles, and Brains leaned against Max just listening to the sound of singing around the lounge.

Scott eased his foot off the pedal and Kayo hugged him. "Great voice, sweetheart."

"Thank you," Kayo smiled and sat down on the stool next to him.

Virgil gave him some music. "Time for a fun song, Scott."

Scott read it. "Last Christmas? Challenge accepted."

Virgil picked up his guitar from the corner of the room and Alan grinned. "Thought we could add more?"

Alan nodded. "Wicked."

Virgil sat down in his father's desk chair and wheeled it nearer to the piano and tuned up as Scott practised a few sections before the real thing. Gordon sat down on the desk to watch the group.

"Best Christmas, ever," Alan smiled.

"So far," John nodded with him and sat forward on the edge of his chair.

Scott and Virgil began to play and Kayo grinned at Scott as she watched his hands on the keys, the ground bounced slightly underneath her from Scott tapping his foot and Virgil keeping the beat on the floor from his chair, and she smiled as everyone sang along. This was definitely one of the best Christmases the family had put on.