Hey everyone! Sorry for the long time, but no internet access and an escaped plot bunny by the name of Winston has halted my work on this story for a little while. But, I'm up and running, for now. Hope you all enjoy and please let me know what you think.

Miss Elizabeth Blakeney

Chapter 34: I'll Be Home for Christmas

Rolling over, Lona snuggled deeper into her covers. Breathing slowed, and she let out a soft sigh as her mouth fell slightly open. A slight noise intruded on her silence, but she quickly dismissed it and sunk deeper into slumber's arms. Her breathing slowed further, and soon she was in the deepest stage of sleep. A giggle drifted through her senses, and she tensed before letting out another sigh and slipping back. Another giggle, louder this time, invaded her slumber. She climbed back to conscious thought, careful not to breathe any deeper and let on her state of consciousness. Now that she was fully awake, she could hear stage whispers all around her.

"If you don't stop giggling, Alan, so help me…"

"Shut up both of you, do you want to wake her up?"

"So, Gordo. How do you plan to wake her up, Christmas morning style?"

"Better yet, how do you plan to carry it out and get away safely?"

"See this?" There was a moment's silence, then Lona could hear Scott's voice clearly.

"That's cruel." Lona thought it would have sounded much more accusatory if he had not laughed as he said it. John wasn't much better.

"Oh, she will kill you."

"Jump through the window after you do it; that will give you a fast getaway." Alan, Lona thought, I'm going to have to hurt you. You are getting sneaky, like Gordon.

"You guys ready?" Under the covers, Lona tensed slightly, ready for anything. The bed dipped slightly and she felt a drop of water hit her neck.

"Gordo," Virgil sounded worried, "if you want this to work, I would hold that bucket still." A bucket! Before anything more could happen, Lona shot out of the bed, hit the bottom of the bucket with her palm and somersaulted over to the other side of the bed, as the water gushed all over the second youngest Tracy. Everyone dissolved into fits of laughter as Gordon attempted to push away the wet hair that was plastered to his head. Gordon was not quite as pleased.

"Come on, guys. It wasn't that funny." John grin widened.

"You're right. It wasn't funny, it was hysterical!"

"I hope you're not angry, Gordo." Gordon grinned at the older girl grinning across the bed at him.

"Not really; actually, it was pretty darn funny." Lona smirked.

"Let that be a lesson to you, young man. Never interrupt an older woman's beauty sleep." Scott caught her eye.

"Like you need beauty sleep." Ducking her head, she let a brief smile touch her lips before fixing each of them with a glare.

"Now out, all of you! If you want to open presents at a decent hour, then let me get ready." The boys glanced at each other, incomprehension written on each face.

"It's Christmas morning, Lona. PJ's are required. Come on."

"What, what are you doing? Put me down, I'm not decent!"

"You're clothed."

"My hair is a wreak! I've slept on it all night, and it's not long enough to put in a sloppy ponytail! I look horrendous!" Scott, who was carrying her through the open doorway, looked down and smiled at her.

"You have never looked horrendous. Not even in the Hood's clutches." This last was said softy, so only the two of them could hear it. Looking up into his blue eyes, Lona read only truth, and nodded.

Jeff looked up from his discussion with Lady Penelope on the possibility of having a network of International Rescue agents when the noise level of the room skyrocketed up 500. He had to smile as his son's raced into the room, with Lona struggling fruitlessly in Scott's arms. He had heard about the surprise Christmas wake up Gordon had planed for the old family friend, and had made sure to stay as far away from the danger zone as possible. From the looks of things, Gordon had gotten the surprise rather then the intended victim. Jeff watched as Lona was deposited on the couch, with Scott on one side, with Virgil seated on the arm of the couch, while John sat to Lona' right. Seeing the four of them together brought back so many memories of the scraps the quartet had cooked up.

"Well, whose ready for some presents?" Before anyone could answer, the leader of International Rescue continued. "Nah, I think those can wait for awhile. Why don't we start with that great breakfast I've been smelling for an hour. Onaha, you want to serve?" Pleas and exclamations of no appetite sounded from the children, including some of the older ones. Penny laughed.

"Jeff, how cruel! They've been tormented for weeks now. Allow the destruction of the wrapping to begin." Jeff gave an elaborate and slightly teasing bow.

"Your wish is my command, M'lady." Once the laughter had died down, the patriarch of the Tracy family began the distribution of the presents.

After several minutes, it was time for Lona's gifts. The first gift picked up by the gift giver told who would get their presents first; when they received all their presents, the next one decided who would be second. Even Jeff had received his, he had been the fourth. Lona's presents to everyone had been particularly well received. Everyone could tell the thought that had gone into them. Alan had favored Lona with a look that spoke volumes of his gratitude. Jeff had loved his hand carved business card holder; and had loved it more for the tiny mended heart inside which symbolized so much. John had laughed out loud at his programmable projector that shown the night sky upon his bedroom ceiling.

"It's for here, so you don't miss THUNDERBIRD 5."

"To make it truly realistic, you should have provided a radio, or a talking parrot." That had gotten a laugh out of everyone. Virgil had gotten set of CDs with George Gershwin playing Gershwin. Gordon had received 1001 Jokes to Pain your Friends With as well as various and a sundry practical joke equipment. And Scott, he received a CD. Turning it over and over in his hands, he finally could not take the suspense any longer.

"Ok. Thanks. What is it?" Lona and Virgil exchanged glances.

"Put it in the CD player." When Scott did, he heard his favorite song in a rendition done by Virgil; then he heard a beautiful voice singing the lyrics.

"Oh, Virgil. How beautiful; the piano is marvelous. But who's singing? Their voice is gorgeous." Lady Penelope could not believe how professional it sounded.

"It was nothing, Penny. Just Lona and I fooling around. We know all of Scott's favs, so it was easy." Penelope favored the young woman with an expression akin to exasperation.

"You sing, do martial arts; tell me, is there anything you cannot do?" Lona smiled.

"Look good in pink." Jeff had never seen Lady Penelope laugh so hard. All her aristocratic dignity was lost as her face dissolved in laughter. He was even more surprised with her retort; she was defiantly becoming familiar with the family.

"Yes, it does take special qualifications."

"Well, I think the gifts have been around to all but Lona. Let's see what we've got for you." Lona's gifts from everyone were wonderful. Lady Penelope gave her three outfits, none of them pink, including a sundress and a training suit. Alan and Gordon gave her a projector, just like she had given John. This projector however, was programmed to show different weather and underwater views as well as space. John gave her a lovely tooled leather journal and an old fashioned portable writing desk and set. On the first page, he had written, For all the times you need to talk and someone isn't around. Virgil's gift was a CD with his renditions of her favorite songs. Looking through the songs, she found one she said they had to listen to immediately. Soon everyone was rolling over the five Tracy boys singing "We are the Champions". Then Jeff handed her Scott's present. Carefully unwrapping the colorful paper, she found a small, velvet jeweler's case. Opening it, she found a locket. Engraved on the top was a heart, broken but completely mended standing in front of an open cage. Tears brushed her eyes as she held it in a tight grip. Looking over at Scott, she smiled gratefully at him.

"Thank you." His eyes answered her. He, more than any other person in the room, knew what she had gone through and what she felt.

There was only one more present under the tree, and it had her name on it. Jeff brought it over to her and sat down on a chair close by. The bow was undone and the paper neatly pulled apart. Lifting the lid of the box, she sat it aside and turned her attention to the contents. Peeling away a layer of tissue paper, her hands shook then stilled as her brain registered what her eyes were seeing. There in front of her was a completed set of adoption papers. Her name and information was entered, as well as the Tracy's information. Hesitantly, she picked it up and flipped through the pages. There was only one blank left; her signature.

Silence reigned over the room as she sat, head bent over the paper packet. Everyone knew what it was; everyone wanted to know what the young woman would do. Bright blue eyes raised up to meet Jeff Tracy's gaze.

"Lona, we love you. You have always been a daughter to me and a sister to the boys. And I realize that you might want to leave us and make your own way. You don't have to accept this; we'll understand if you don't. But we would love to welcome you officially into the Tracy family."

"Tracy Zoo's more like it," Gordon chimed in. With the laughter this comment brought, the tension in the room was lessened. Trust Gordo to find the humor in every situation and ease it, Lona thought. Lowering her gaze back to the packet, her blurry vision winked in and out. Choices, changes…and yet, how much of a change would it be? But what of her plans to live her own life? She'd never had a chance…

Jeff watched as Lona made her decision. He was not about to rush her, this was a life changing moment and he did not want in anyway to influence this choice. Scott, however, was not quite as patient; or, more likely, could not take the tension.

"If you need to go somewhere private and think things through, we'd completely understand." Blue eyes once again moved up to focus on the oldest Tracy man. Standing, she made her way over to him and knelt down beside his chair.

"I don't need any extra time, and I know exactly what I have to do." All of a sudden, she threw her arms around Jeff. "Love you dad."

I'm not quite sure of this chapter's ending...tad cheesy-but after all the angst, fluff and cheesyness are necessary, I think. Hope you all enjoyed. More to follow.