Chapter 14:

A/N: Hi everyone! A few weeks ago I managed to write down the rest of this story… on paper. Only last week I managed to get it on the computer and sent off to my fantastic beta-reader, white rose01. So, here is chapter 14. I know for a fact now that this story goes up to chapter 15, as it's also written. Yes, you read it correctly. Chapter 15 is the very last chapter of this story. It has taken me only, oh, about a year and a half or so? ;) Thanks to everyone who's reading.

Fried Eeyore – I hope you're doing OK now. Thanks for the compliment! Hope you'll enjoy this chapter, hopefully without tears. Good luck with everything.

Gismo – Heya, how're you doing? Thanks for the review! I'm very glad I have Tin-Tin's chapter finished. But then, I'm very glad I finally finished this story. I enjoyed writing it, but it was annoying sometimes to not have time, and when I did have time, I had a writer's block… when it came to this story that is. :p Anyway, thanks again. Hope you'll enjoy, and good luck with whatever you're doing.

White rose01 – Thanks! Yes, I was SO glad I had /that/ chapter finished. Oh well… By now you know the end is very close. Thanks again for everything!

Nicole entered the room where Jeff was working furiously, trying to work himself into oblivion.

"Father. Dinner's ready." She looked at him hesitantly.

"I'll be right there." Jeff said, not looking up.

"Ehm, Father?"

This time Jeff caught the uncertain tone in his daughter-in-law's voice and looked up. "Yes?"

Nicole noticed his red rimmed eyes. Probably everyone in the family had them.

"I ehm…" She fell silent, not knowing how to tell him. Jeff stood up and walked around the desk, put his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes.

"What is wrong? Oh, stupid question. I'm sorry." Jeff looked away.

"No, no, that's not it. Well, it is, but not…this. I'm sorry, I'm not making any sense."

Jeff felt his father-instincts rise. "What is it, Dear?"

Nicole took a deep breath, fighting back the tears that had threatened to spill from her eyes as she once again thought about John.

"Father, you know John and I were here six weeks ago?"

The Tracy patriarch looked at her surprised, but nodded nonetheless.

"Well, ehm… I…" Nicole took a deep breath. "You're going to be grandfather."

Jeff blinked and continued to stare at the dark-haired woman before him, who looked decidedly nervous.

"I beg your pardon?"

Nicole looked aside. "I'm pregnant."

"You… you're pregnant?" Jeff asked, stunned. Nicole nodded and bit her lip.

"But… but…that's wonderful!" The greying man hugged the surprised woman tightly. "Are you OK with it though?" Jeff suddenly asked, realising what it all meant. Nicole let out a sigh of relief.

"Yes. I am!" The look in her eyes reinforced her answer, relieving Jeff of his immediate worries.

"Good. Did you tell anyone else? How long did you know? Is the baby alright? Did you see a doctor? …Doe-did John know?" Jeff had to pause to take a breath, which Nicole immediately took advantage of.

"I only found out myself today. And I haven't told anyone else. Grandma's the one who suggested I took a pregnancy test, but she doesn't know the result yet. …John didn't know." Again the tears appeared, and Nicole wiped them away angrily.

"Oh, honey. I'm so very sorry." He hugged her tightly. They stood like that for a few minutes, before Nicole pulled back slightly.

"I suppose we should go and have dinner before it gets cold."

"No, we'll first get Brains to examine you. I'll tell Mother, you go on ahead to the infirmary." Nicole nodded, recognising his tone, knowing arguing was futile.

"Mother." Jeff said, as soon as he entered the unusually quiet dining room. Anything else he might have felt compelled to say was cut short.

"Jefferson Tracy. I raised you better than to be late for dinner. Now, 'fess up. What's your excuse?"

"I just sent Nicole up to the infirmary. Brains," he said, redirecting his gaze, "could you please go there too?"

Brains immediately stood up from his chair. "C-c-certainly Mr. Tracy."

The rest of the occupants of the room exchanged worried glances.

"Father? Is something wrong with Nicole?" All four brothers shifted slightly uncomfortably in their chairs, feeling guilty for not checking up on Nicole.

"We don't know yet." Jeff answered. "You boys just wait here." He said as he left the room once again. Josie sat back in her chair at the table head, the wooden spoon still in her hand.

"Yes, you young men stay here and have dinner while it's still warm. We'll heat it up for them later."

The boys grumbled, not pleased they had to stay here while something might be wrong with their 'sister' who had just turned widow. But Grandma was nothing if not strict, so they complied, albeit reluctant. Kyrano and Tin Tin had remained quiet. Not that Kyrano usually talked a lot, as he was still not completely used to sitting at the same table at the same time as his 'master'.

The Malaysian did however note the knowing expression on Josie's wrinkled face, feeling reassured that whatever might be wrong with the young woman, was not of great urgency. Quietly he waited for everyone else to have filled their plates before taking some food himself. Dinner continued in silence.

Brains had entered the infirmary, unsure what to expect.

"Hi Brainies, how are you doing?" Nicole asked wearily, using the nickname she had picked for Brains.

"Ehm, I-I-I'm fine. B-but how are y-you?"

"I'm OK." She said, avoiding his eyes, instead focusing on a lose thread of her sweater. Brains frowned.

"Th-then why are you eh here?"

Now Nicole lifted her eyes to meet his, surprising him as he saw a whirlwind of mixed emotions in the brown orbs.

"I… I wanted to know whether there could be any… lasting effects from space travel…" Her eyes strayed back to the lose thread. Brains pushed his glasses back up from the point where they had slipped to the tip of his nose.

"Wh-why would there be a-any effects? You've never h-had any problems, have you?"

"No, but… I'm pregnant."

Brains blinked. And he blinked again. Then he whispered: "You… you're pregnant?"

Nicole nodded, looking at Brains directly, tears shimmering close to the surface. It took Brains two seconds to shed his stupor and cross the remaining gap between them. Carefully he put a hand on her shoulder. For the briefest moment her body went rigid, then she slumped, leaning against the bed.

"Brains, I need to know. Will my baby be ok?"

"There shouldn't be any side effects, but how about we check to be sure. You… we're all going through an emotional rollercoaster right now." Brains said softly.

Nicole sat down on the bed, allowing Brains to examine her. After approximately twenty minutes, Brains was sitting behind one of the computer consoles, and Nicole was sitting on the bed, her head leaning back against the wall, and her eyes closed.

Only when she heard a chair move, did she open her eyes. She found Brains hovering over her with a grin lighting his face. "Your baby is just fine. I checked the scans, I checked your blood work, I've covered everything I can think of right now. There is nothing out of place."

Nicole closed her eyes as she let out a sigh of relief that she hadn't known she was holding. "Thank goodness. I wouldn't know what I would have done if…"

The tears finally won the battle. Brains held her hand, drawing small circles on her hand, hoping it would comfort her somewhat. But his mind was racing.

It was all a lot to take in. One of his best friends had died that day because of a leak in an oxygen flask, and now the wife of said friend found out she was pregnant. The last twenty minutes he had tried to put things into perspective, but it was hard. One moment Brains felt worn down, thinking about John, the next moment he was happy for the new life, and yet… this child had to grow up without a father, and John would never get to hold his kid or watch him or her grow up. Right now Brains' heart went out to the woman whose hand he was holding now. If he was confused, he couldn't imagine what Nicole was going through. But he did know one thing: he would be there for her, and her child.

Jeff opened the door to the infirmary quietly. He had given Brains and Nicole enough time to go over the examination, but now he wanted, no, needed to know for himself.

"Well?" Jeff asked, as the two other people looked up.

"The baby is f-f-fine, as far as I can see, Mr. Tracy. N-no problems at this st-st-stage." Brains stuttered. Jeff allowed a grin to spread over his face as he put a hand on Nicole's shoulder.

"Congratulations."

Nicole nodded in acceptance. "Now, the rest of the family is anxious to find out why I asked Brains to examine you. I didn't know whether you wanted me to tell them, or tell them yourself."

"I'll tell them myself. And I guess we should go join them before they eat everything out of worry."

Both men chuckled, knowing the truth that statement harboured.

Once the three entered the kitchen, five heads immediately snapped up. Kyrano and Grandma raised their heads at a more controlled manner. There was no need to aggravate any old muscles or bones any more than they had to.

"Are you OK?" Scott asked Nicole concerned, pulling out the empty chair next to him.

"Yes, thank you." Nicole said softly.

"Why were you in the sickbay?" Gordon asked, slightly less worried now that his sister-in-law was joining them at the dinner table. Nicole took a deep breath and looked around the table, holding Grandma's eyes for a moment, before finding a spot on the wall opposite.

"Well… I'm going to have a baby."

Tin Tin shrieked. "Oh, congratulations! My goodness, that's wonderful! When are you due?"

Scott looked at Nicole shell-shocked.

"You… you're pregnant? With J- John's baby?" he swallowed.

"Yes." The answer was merely a whisper, and yet it carried the load of mixed feelings. Scott nodded. Suddenly he cheered.

"Wow. Nicole, that is just amazing."

"How long have you known?" Virgil asked gently.

"Just for a few hours now."

"She told me as she came to call me for dinner." Jeff supplied.

"Is that why you came to get Brains? Are you, both, healthy?" Virgil asked again. Nicole nodded as she looked around.

Scott seemed slightly shocked, but overall happy at the news. Virgil too had taken it well. Tin Tin was ecstatic. Grandma and Kyrano were sending her approving and encouraging smiles, and she already knew Jeff and Brains' feelings on the matter. That left the youngest two. She glanced over at them.

Gordon seemed far away, contemplating, but once he noticed her eyes on him he nodded and sent her a smile. He needed time to think, but he'd support and help her in any way he could.

An angry remark interrupted her thoughts.

"How dare you!"

"Alan!" Jeff warned, caught off guard.

"How dare you! Isn't it enough that he died prematurely! Isn't he missing out on enough already! Do you really want to add more to that? Do you really want your child, John's child, to grow up without his father?"

"Alan. Enough!" Jeff bellowed. Allan clamped his mouth shut, glared at Nicole one last time and stomped out of the room. Scott put a hand on Nicole's arm.

"I'm sorry. I'll go talk to him." He stood up, but Nicole stopped him.

"No, I think I should talk to him."

"You sure?" Scott asked, not entirely convinced.

"Yes."

"But first: dinner." Grandma said sternly, not taking no for an answer.

There was a soft knock on Alan's door. When met with silence, Nicole carefully opened the door. The blond man sat with his back to the door, the curtains closed as the sun was setting. The lights in the room were dimmed.

"Go away." Alan grumbled. Nicole hesitated.

"I will, if you really want me to, but we need to talk. And we will, one time or another. Your choice."

Silence was her answer, but Nicole waited patiently.

"Fine." Alan mumbled. Nicole nodded unconsciously, stepping fully into the room and closing the door behind her. She approached the bed where Alan was sitting on. Again she hesitated. Should she sit or remain standing?

"You can sit you know." Alan said gruffly.

"Thank you." She sat down next to him, enough distance between them as to not invade each other's private space, but close enough. After a while, Nicole broke the silence.

"I'm sorry you lost your brother." In her mind she suddenly remembered she still had to tell Ben, her younger brother. Alan sighed.

"Yeah… I'm sorry you lost your husband."

"Alan… what you said during dinner, -"

"Forget it. I shouldn't have said it."

"Oh, but I think you have the right to ask those questions. I asked them myself too."

Surprised, Alan looked up. "Wh, what?"

"Yes. I have just lost my husband. He died because he exchanged his oxygen flask for my faulty one, and then I find out I'm pregnant with his child. Believe me, I wasn't sure at first whether I wanted the child. I'd be alone, no husband, which itself scares me to the core. I'd have to raise our child all by myself. The thing that scares me most, is if I'll be able to raise John's child by myself."

Nicole looked up from her hands. "And then I realised. John would want to have this child. He'd want me to have this child. We've talked about children before, so I know how he feel-felt about it. But as long as we remember him, he'll be alive. In our hearts." She fell silent, tears brimming in her eyes as she looked at Alan directly.

"Alan. John and I have always wanted children. Now that John's… gone, this child is the greatest gift I can wish for."

She felt the bed dip slightly, and an arm circled her shoulders.

"I'm sorry Nicole. Please forgive me. I know this is what John and you have wanted for some time. It's just… well, John and I haven't spend that much time together, because most of the time one of us was in Thunderbird 5. I feel like I missed out on so much… I'm also sorry for treating you the way I did. In a way, I… blamed you for John's d-death. But I know he wouldn't have it any other way, if this was how he could save you, or any of us for that matter. And he would kick my ass for treating you like this. He'd probably chase me all over the world for even thinking of accusing you."

This elicited a small chuckle from Nicole, though the tears were still rolling over her cheeks. She noticed Alan's eyes looked slightly red too.

"As for your child… I'm sure you'll be a great mum. And, remember, you'll never be alone. You still have us. We'll never forget John…never."

Nicole sniffed. "Apologies accepted. And…thank you." Alan wiped a hand over his eyes. Nicole nodded at him with a small smile. "So, we're OK?"

"We're OK."

"Good. Then I'll be going for a bit." Nicole stood up.

"OK. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

A while after Nicole had left his room, Alan stood up quietly, and opened the curtains. In another part of the house, Nicole sat down on the couch in front of the window, curtains wide open.

Both looked at the sky John had loved so much, and as more and more twinkling orbs appeared, they grieved for him, and remembered their times together.

A/N: almost at the end now… keep your eyes open for the last chapter.