Disclaimer: I don't own the Thunderbirds or the Tracy family with the exception of Sam.

Author's Note: Thanks to those who have taken the time to review. Sorry that this chapter is shorter than normal and that it took longer to get posted. With finals and getting sick on top of that sleep was more important- sorry.

Chapter 13

By late afternoon, the Tracy children caught a glimpse of Tracy Island as their father brought the plane in for its final approach. Finally, the plane taxied to a stop and Jeff shut down the small plane and opened the door and lowered the steps. There was a mad dash for the door as the children fought to be the first one off of the plane.

"Get out of the way!"

"No, you move. I was here first!" A strong hand reached into the mob of children and pulled them all back.

"I will go first then Scott, John, Sam, Virgil, Gordon, and finally Alan," ordered Jeff as he began to step off the plane. Scott looked at his younger siblings and smirked as he walked down the steps.

"He's going into the pool," said Gordon to the rest of his brothers and sister. Everyone agreed as the remaining children got off the plane. Once outside, they walked back to help unload their luggage and shopping bags. Together they got everything back to the house and up to their rooms. They left the unpacking for later in their haste to find their grandma. They all ran back down to kitchen.

"Grandma, we're home!" exclaimed all six kids at once as they swarmed around her. They each gave her a hug and a kiss.

"What's for dinner? We're starving," said Scott and Alan together.

"Dinner will be done in about thirty minutes. I fixed fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, and for dessert apple pie and a pumpkin pie," said their grandma. Just hearing what was for dinner caused all six children's mouths to water.

Sam decided to go back to her room and unpack her stuff and hide the presents that she had bought for her family. Reorganizing her room and laying her school books on her desk, she relaxed and thought that she was glad that the semester was over. They had all done well academically. No one got lower than a "B" average in any of their courses. Sam and Scott were on the cross-country team. Sam, Scott, Gordon, John, and Virgil all made the soccer team for their division. Jeff had located a swim instructor in the town nearest the school that Gordon went to every morning for two hours before breakfast and one hour every afternoon during his free period. Virgil was also involved in the music programs at the school during special functions. Before the holidays had started the school had a holiday concert in which Virgil had a solo on the piano. He had received a standing ovation. Scott video taped it so their dad and grandma could watch it during break. All in all it was a good semester.

Looking at her watch she realized it was dinner time. She rushed downstairs and joined her family at the kitchen table. She quickly sat down between John and Virgil just as Tin-Tin sat down next to Alan. Jeff began the meal by passing the food around to everyone. The conversations all began at once just like it had been before the siblings went away to school. Jeff looked at his mother with a smile on his face. It was easy to read his expression. He was glad to have his children back at home and to hear the antics that they had pulled while at school. He was pleased to note that Sam's severe headaches had abated and that she managed the occasional mild headache with nothing. She chose to just let it go away on its own. After dinner, Sam and TinTin helped Grandma clear the table and do the dishes. The boys headed down to the beach for a race.

"Come on TinTin. Let's go see what the boys are up to," said Sam as they finished the dishes. "Wait one minute though. I want to get my telescope and a blanket. I haven't had a chance to do any stargazing since the summer." She quickly ran to her room and grabbed her telescope case off of its shelf. They stopped in the kitchen and quickly grabbed enough bottled waters for all of them and tossed them into a small cooler. Five minutes later they were on the beach watching the boys playing in the surf.

"Hey guys, we brought you something to drink," called TinTin shyly. She was slowly readjusting to the playful siblings. Alan ran up to her first. Looking down at the sand he mumbled a thank you.

"Ahh, does little Alan have a crush on someone?" teased Gordon as he watched Alan's face turn bright red. Suddenly, Gordon was lying on his back with Alan on top of him.

"Stop it Gordy. I just said thank you," snarled Alan. He was definitely working himself into a major fit. Scott quickly grabbed Alan while Sam and John dragged Gordon off a little ways from the group.

"Knock it off Gordy. Leave Alan and TinTin alone. All that you're doing is making them uncomfortable," snapped Sam. She didn't want their first night home to be ruined with bad feelings.

"John, I brought my telescope down so we could get some stargazing in," she said as Gordon ran off. TinTin and Virgil had spread out the blanket and sat down to watch the sunset. Sam and John walked over to the blanket and sat down next to them. Sam leaned against Virgil.

"Getting any inspirations for your next work of art?" Sam said softly. Virgil looked over at her and grinned. He realized that she was watching him look around with his artistic eye.

"I've got a few things in mind," he admitted. Before long everyone was sprawled out on the oversized blanket watching the sun sink over the horizon and the stars slowly twinkle in the evening sky. Basking in the moment, they all realized how happy they were to be with each other. Tin-Tin felt even closer to the group and was glad that they would be home for a couple of weeks.

"Sam, where's the telescope?" asked John as he stood up.

"Next to the cooler," she said just as she pushed Virgil down and used him for a pillow.

"Glad to know that I can fill in for John once in awhile," he quipped.

"Sam, I have the telescope set up," called John from a bit further down the beach. Sighing, Sam got up and went to her twin. They took turns looking into the night sky and making comments about what they were seeing. Neither of them heard a certain redhead sneaking up behind them with a cold bottle of water with its cap off. Just as the bottle was raised over the heads of two unsuspecting stargazers another shadow came darting forward pushing the redhead down in the sand.

"GET OFF OF ME!" shouted a startled Gordon. He didn't know what had hit him. Looking up into the smiling face of Scott he realized that he wasn't as stealthy as he had thought. John and Sam had turned to see Scott on top of Gordon and the open bottle of water just beyond Gordon's hand. Looking at each other they knew that Scott had saved them from the cold water shower.

"Well John, what should we do with the brat this time?" asked Sam as she motioned for Scott to stand up so she could sit on Gordon.

"Sis, I think that you have the devious mind. What do you think?" he countered as he sat on Gordon's legs. The only part of his body that he could move now was his arms and head.

"Guys, um you're squashing me down here," moaned Gordon as the twins continued to go back and forth in their discussion on what to do to him. Feeling as if the older kids had outnumbered them too many times, Alan and Tin-Tin had crept up behind the twins and knocked them off of Gordon. Seizing the opportunity to escape, Gordon jumped up and ran down the beach with Tin-Tin and Alan.

"Let's give them a head start," said Sam as she looked to her brothers. With a nod of her head, Sam, Scott, John, and Virgil all raced after the Terrible Two and Tin-Tin. In next to no time they had caught the three and had pinned them to the ground and began to tickle them.

"KIDS, WHERE ARE YOU?" yelled a voice from back where they had been sitting. They all jumped up and began running back up the beach.

"It's time to come in and get ready for lights out," said Jeff as one by one the kids reached him. John and Sam packed up her telescope while Scott and Virgil shook out the blanket and refolded it. Gordon grabbed the cooler and Alan and Tin-Tin picked up the used water bottles and carried them back to the house to be disposed of. The Tracy children told Tin-Tin goodnight and headed to their rooms.

Once in her room, Sam put her telescope back on its shelf. Deciding that she wanted a shower she went into her ensuite and quickly took a shower and changed into her pajamas. After brushing her teeth she tidied up her bathroom and shut the lights off. She walked over to her windows and looked out at the stars and said a quiet goodnight to her mother. Climbing up in her bed she folded her comforter down towards the foot of her bed and opted to just cover herself with a sheet and light weight blanket. Moments after shutting off her bedside lamp she was asleep. When her dad came around for lights out, he straightened up her blankets. After brushing a few stray tendrils of hair out of her face he quietly left.

A soft but insistent rapping on the door woke Scott up the next morning. Groaning he looked at his clock and saw that it was only 6:00A.M. The knocking continued and he stumbled to his balcony door and opened it. Sam was standing there dressed in her running shorts and a tank top. Her running shoes were her slung over her shoulders.

"Scott, I'm going down to the beach for a run before it gets too hot," said Sam. "Do you want to join me?"

"Give me ten minutes and I'll be ready," he replied as he closed the door. Sam headed downstairs to the kitchen to grab some bottled waters to take with them. While she was waiting she ate a granola bar and drank some orange juice that Kyrano offered her.

"Thanks Kyrano," she said appreciatively. She was still getting used to having him around. After she was finished she took her glass to the sink and rinsed it out. She then headed out to the pool deck and sat in one of the lounge chairs and quickly put on her shoes. Ten minutes later she and Scott were on the beach doing their warm-ups and stretches.

"How far do you want to run?" asked Scott.

"I think that a lap around the island would be about what we would normally run," replied Sam. "Do you think that you're up for it?" Not even giving her the benefit of a response he began to jog down the beach. She easily caught up to him and matched his pace. About half way around the island they stopped and drank their water before starting out again. They completed their lap back at the house where they both kicked off their shoes and socks and dove into the pool to cool off. After swimming a couple of laps they sat on the pool steps and relaxed.

"Same time tomorrow?" asked Sam. Scott looked at her and nodded. Standing up she held out her hand to help him stand up. Together they walked to the lounge chairs where Kyrano had discreetly left them a couple of towels to dry off with. Grabbing their shoes and socks they made their way up to their balconies so they could go in and shower and change into clean clothes.

The rest of the week played out the same way. Scott and Sam began their mornings with a lap around the island. All of them worked out in the gym for strength and endurance training. Afternoons were reserved for the pool and beach. Evenings were spent on the beach stargazing and some nights they had a bonfire for roasting marshmallows and hotdogs as well as just being together. Tin-Tin was always included and often joined in the fun. She learned different things about astronomy from John and Sam. She quickly realized that Sam was the more outgoing of the twins even though she was still quiet compared to Scott, Gordon, and Alan. Virgil was quiet like John and Sam.

The two days before Christmas were chaotic. Grandma and Kyrano were busy preparing all sorts of food for Christmas dinner as well as doing all of the baking. Jeff and Brains disappeared for hours at a time not that the kids missed them as they were busy wrapping the presents that they'd bought for each other. Finally, Christmas Eve arrived and everyone discreetly placed the gifts that they'd bought under the Christmas tree. Presents were scattered all around the tree. The evening was spent singing carols and reminiscing about Christmas' past.

"Alright, bed time kids. Santa can't come if you're not in bed," said Jeff. Alan still believed in Santa even if the older kids did not. Alan ran to his dad and gave him a quick hug goodnight. He gave his grandma a hug and a kiss before he ran out of the lounge and to his room. The rest of the children followed suit. Before long all of the Tracy siblings were sound asleep. Jeff and Grandma hurriedly put out the "Santa" gifts that had been hidden in a spare room that the kids knew nothing about. After everything was set up and placed just right, Jeff and his mother gave each other a hug and went to their rooms.

"DAD! Come on. Santa was here come on," demanded a very eager Alan. Even through the closed door his voice was loud and clear.

"I'm coming, hold on," grumbled a still half asleep Jeff. Grabbing his robe he stumbled to the door and was instantly grabbed by the hand.

"Let's go. Come on," ordered Alan as he tugged his dad down the stairs and to the lounge. Sitting on the couch looking equally tired were the rest of the family. Virgil and Sam were leaning against each other half asleep. Scott was next to Virgil and was leaning on the arm of the couch. John had his head in Sam's lap and had his legs hanging off the edge of the couch. Gordon was sitting on the floor eyeing the presents and sneaking towards them fully aware that his older brothers and sister weren't paying attention to him. Grandma, Kyrano, Tin-Tin, and Brains were seated around the lounge. Grandma and Kyrano had brought in coffee and hot chocolate for everyone to enjoy. Jeff gratefully accepted a steaming hot cup of coffee and sat down in a vacant chair.

Grandma began to hand out the presents. Tin-Tin was surprised when she received gifts everyone. Virgil had painted a picture of her, Gordon, and Alan playing on the beach. Sam and John had given her a couple of astronomy books. Gordon gave her a bag of tricks to play on people. Alan gave her a charm bracelet that he'd thought was pretty. Scott had bought a few charms to put on it. Jeff gave her a gift certificate to go shopping when she next went to the mainland. She was pleased to be accepted into this wonderful family.

Alan and Gordon had torn through the paper on their gifts. They barely read the tag to see who got the gift for them. Sam, John, Virgil, and Scott had chipped in and bought a wetsuit and mask and fin set for Gordon. Alan received some race cars that could be taken apart and rebuilt. "Santa" had brought a small motorcycle for Alan to ride on some of the tracks that were being made around the island and its interior. He was also given the proper riding gear complete with a helmet and gloves. The older Tracy kids got cds, DVDs, and books to fit their tastes.

John and Sam had bought a simple gold chain for each other. They had pooled their money and bought an easel for Virgil. For Scott they had given their dad the money to help pay for flying lessons. Scott and Virgil had chipped in and bought a locket to go on Sam's necklace. The inside had a small picture of their mom and dad on one side and a picture of her and her brothers on the other side. After enjoying their gifts they cleaned up the lounge and took their treasures to their rooms. Somehow the children, including Tin-Tin, ended up in Sam's room. All were droopy-eyed from getting up so early. Sam climbed up in her bed and laid down listening to a new cd that she'd gotten. Next to her were Virgil and John. Before long Gordon, Alan, and Tin-Tin were scrunched up next to John and Virgil. Scott pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down and stretched his long legs onto the bed. That was how Jeff found them a few hours later all together and all peacefully sleeping. Not wanting to let the opportunity slip he got his camera and took a picture of it. Once it had been developed each of the seven children got a framed copy and the original was hung in the lounge where it could be seen by the family and close friends.

The rest of the winter vacation sped by and soon it was time for the Tracy children to fly back to New York so that they could begin their second term of school.