Disclaimer: I do not own the Thunderbirds or any of the Tracy family with the exception of Sam.

A/N: I would like to thank those that have continued to review and offer some helpful advice. For those that had mixed feelings with chapter 15, I hope that chapter 16 made things better.

Chapter 17

The Tracy family got to NYC in the early evening and promptly went to the hotel. It had become almost a habit for them to stay at the Tribeca Grand Hotel. The only thing that had changed is that Scott and Virgil now shared one room. John and Sam had agreed to continue to share a room since they would have their own beds and not a roll away bed. Their room was connected to a room that Gordon and Alan shared. Jeff finally had a room to himself.

"John, do you think that Dad would be angry if we locked the door to the brats' room?"

"I guess if he didn't know it we'd be safe but we couldn't count on those two not to do something stupid." Sam shook her head in defeat. She suddenly smiled up at him as she fell across her bed.

"Can you believe that we're finally in high school? Scott's lucky he only has this year and next year and he'll be done," she said. Her expression changed from one of happiness to one of sadness at the thought of Scott leaving them. She had never known a time that he wasn't with them and it would be hard to adjust. John had been watching her and noticed the change. He lay down on the bed next to her and looked out the window.

"It will be weird but we knew the day would come that all of us would grow up and begin to live our own lives," he began quietly. "Just remember the bond that we all have is too strong to be broken." He reached over and pulled her against him. She let him hug and reassure her that things would work out.

"Promise me John that you won't leave me," she whispered into his chest. "Have you been giving any more thought about what college you want to attend? I've been thinking along the lines of Harvard." She grabbed her hairbrush out of her bag and leaned over the side of her bed facedown. She brushed her hair in a slow and even stroke making sure to get any tangles out of it. John watched her with an amused expression as she bounced from one topic to another.

"Will you quit doing that?" he teased. "You keep changing topics on me before I can respond. I was going to say that I was also thinking of attending Harvard but I haven't fully decided since we still have four more years of high school to get through."

Sam dropped her brush and rolled over to look at him.

"I didn't know that you'd been thinking of Harvard." Her smile lit up her face when she thought that she might have four extra years of having her brother with her. He could read her thoughts and grinned at her.

"Of course, if I go to Harvard I'll have to get an apartment and since I'm used to having other people around I'll have to have a roommate," he said thoughtfully. "What kind of person do you think I could have as a roommate?" With a squeal she grabbed his face in looked in his eyes.

"If you go to Harvard, I will be your roommate. Do you understand me?" she giggled.

"I wouldn't want anyone else to share an apartment with," he responded honestly. "Harvard is actually my first choice. They have an excellent laser communications course that I could take. Though, eventually, I would like to be an astronaut for NASA." Sam became pensive when he said that. She didn't like the idea of him being in outer space but she refused to be anything but supportive of her twin.

"If that's what you want to do, John, then go for it. You'll have your own cheering squad right here." He looked at her and knew that she would be with him every step of the way to make his dreams come true. All of his siblings were supportive of the others and often cheered each other at sporting events and recitals. A knock on their door interrupted their conversation. With a groan, Sam got up and walked to the door. Peering through the peephole, she could see Scott. She opened the door and backed up to let Scott and Virgil in.

"What's up guys?" she asked as she closed the door again and followed them back into the room. Virgil and Scott sat down on John's bed and looked over at the twins as they sat on Sam's bed.

"We just figured we would come and bother you two for awhile," Virgil responded. "Have the brats been over here yet?" Sam and John shook their heads no.

"In fact, it's been really quiet over there," said Sam with a hint of suspicion in her voice. She walked over to the connecting door and cracked it open just a bit. She immediately saw Alan and Gordon sitting on one of the beds. She turned back to her brothers and put her finger to her lips to warn them to be quiet. They all got up and walked to her side quietly.

"Did you put that "extra" book in Scott's bag?" asked Gordon. He was oblivious of the audience from the next room. "I'd hate to be in his shoes if Dad finds that book." He began to smile at the vision of Scott getting into trouble.

"What book is he talking about?" he asked in a whisper. He looked around at his brothers and sister. They all shrugged their shoulders in response. They were as confused as he was. Turning their attention back to the brats, they listened for more information.

"What about the lingerie that we ordered for Sam? Dad will definitely blow a fuse over those," Alan laughed. "The only problem is how do we get Dad to see them? It's not as if Sam is going to wave them around. She won't even let us into a lingerie store with her and she even makes Dad wait outside until her purchases are bagged before he can come in and pay."

"The little monsters are trying to get us into some serious trouble with Dad," fumed Sam. She was embarrassed at the thought of her brothers seeing her underclothes. She had seen them in their boxers on accident but they were all decently covered.

Fuming she walked back to her bed and began to plan all sorts of unpleasant things to do to them if their plan worked. Sighing in irritation, she stood up and went to the window and looked up at the sky. She couldn't see the stars because of the overcast sky. She leaned her head against the coolness of the window and just continued to gaze at nothing in particular. So absorbed in her thoughts, she didn't hear her brothers close the connecting door and walk over to her. Virgil reached out and tentatively touched her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" he asked. She jumped and gave a small yelp of surprise.

"Geez, Virg, you scared me," she said. "I'm fine. I just wonder what they are really planning cus that seemed to be too obvious. But if by some chance they flaunt a pair of underwear that is supposed to be "mine" I will have to kill them. Sorry, Virg, but you will become the baby brother."

"What about the "extra" book?" asked Scott.

"Make sure you put your stuff away after Dad leaves," suggested John. He was relieved that Gordon and Alan had pretty much left him alone this summer. He had a feeling that they were under threats of serious injury from Sam if they messed with him while he recovered from his surgery. Though he was fine now the Terrible Two hadn't targeted him as of yet. He knew from past experience he wouldn't be safe for too long. The temptation to target all of their brothers and sister would be too much for them to handle.

Virgil and Sam quickly agreed with John's suggestion.

"Where are your books now?" asked Sam.

"In my book bag in our room," he responded. "I brought it in when we got here this evening. I had it with me on the plane cus I had some studying that I wanted to do. I kept it under the seat. It never left my sight during the flight here." He was getting a little worried about this "extra" book. Knowing that Alan was good with computers and he and Gordon had very active imaginations, he had a lot to be worried about.

The phone between the beds began to ring. Sam answered it quickly and listened to what was being said.

"Goodnight Dad," she replied. "I'll tell everyone for you."

"Dad is going out tonight for dinner with a client. He said that we could have room service sent to this room but that we had to make sure that the Terrible Two don't pig out on sugary foods." She suddenly grinned at her brothers.

"Let's order right now for them," her grin got even bigger. "We can have sugary snacks sent to them in their room for which Dad will see the bill and it will be listed as coming from their room. Their actual dinner can come here and one of us can sneak the treats to Scott and Virgil's room. Later after they go to bed we can have some dessert."

John, Virgil, and Scott looked at her with matching expressions of shock. Scott recovered first.

"Sam, you are without a doubt a force to be reckoned with," he complimented her. She shrugged her shoulders in response.

"What would you guys want for a late night snack?"

"How about banana splits with extra whipped cream and nuts?" asked John as his eyes lit up.

"Apple pie and vanilla ice cream," said Scott.

"Chocolate cake," piped up Virgil and Sam at the same time. Both of them loved chocolate cake with chocolate icing. Scott went to the phone and quickly placed the order to be delivered at 10:00P.M.

"Gordon, you two need to get over here and write down what you want for dinner," Sam called through the connecting door. The sound of running feet could be heard as they raced to come into Sam's room.

"Cheeseburgers and steak fries," they both yelled at the same time.

"Why can't you eat something healthier?" asked Sam. She was ordering her favorite of grilled chicken breast, baked potato, and tossed salad. Virgil was ordering the same thing as she had. Scott and John were both ordering steak, baked potato, and tossed salad.

"We want cheeseburgers and fries," Alan whined. Sam looked at Scott as he called down the order. Thirty minutes later they were all sitting on the two beds and enjoying their dinners. Gordon and Alan were watching a cartoon channel on TV while the older children talked about the shopping that they had to do the next day.

"Why don't you guys do your shopping while I do mine that way we can get done quicker," suggested Sam. She knew that her brothers hated waiting on her while she tried on clothes but she had to try on jeans because they were all sized differently.

"That would be a lot better than waiting around wasting time," agreed Scott. Looking at the clock he nodded at Gordon and Alan.

"Bedtime for you two," he said. He stood up and shut the TV off.

"Just a few more minutes and then we'll go to bed," Gordon begged.

"Nope, Dad said that you were to be in bed by 9:30P.M.," said Sam. Muttering about how unfair it was that they had to go to bed early, they made their way to their room. Sam and John followed them to help them get ready for bed. They each turned down the blankets. Sam laid Alan's favorite blanket on his bed. She silently prayed that he would not lose the blanket at school this year. A sudden shriek from the bathroom interrupted her thoughts. John had already reached the bathroom and opened the door. Gordon was sitting on the floor with his pajama bottoms around his ankles. He was glowering at Alan who was doubled over in laughter. John reached down to help Gordon stand up.

"The idiot tied my pajamas in a knot and I can't pull them up until I get the knot undone," he grumbled. By that time, Sam had come into the bathroom and saw her second youngest brother sitting on the floor in his boxers. Looking up to see his sister staring down at him in his boxers was the final straw for him.

"GET OUT OF HERE NOW!" he yelled at her. "YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN TO COME INTO THE BATHROOM WITHOUT KNOCKING!" Sam quickly backed up and closed the door. Not wanting to cause any more problems she went back to her room and took her shower and changed into her pajamas and braided her hair in two braids. By the time she came out of the bathroom, Scott and Virgil had brought the treats into the room. They were surprised that she was in the room and not helping tuck in Gordon and Alan. She had tucked those two in every night that she was able since they were born.

"What's wrong, Sam?" Virgil asked.

"Ask John when he gets back here. I'm going to bed." Without another word she climbed into her bed and covered her head with the blankets. Scott and Virgil looked at each other wondering what had happened in such a short span of time. They went to the next room to help tuck in their brothers.

"Where's Sammie?" asked Alan. He wasn't used to going to bed without a hug and kiss from his sister. Gordon was lying on his bed with John sitting next to him talking quietly.

"She went to bed, Alan," answered Virgil. "She told me to tell you goodnight."

"No she didn't," he shot back. "She wouldn't tell you to tell me. She'd tell me herself. She always tucks me in no matter what." He was beginning to work himself into a major tantrum.

"It's my fault," said Gordon from his bed. "I yelled at her cus I was embarrassed that she'd seen me in my boxers after I'd fallen in the bathroom. Which I wouldn't have done if someone didn't tie my pajama bottoms in a knot." Feeling guilty he climbed out of his bed and began to walk to the door to go apologize to Sam.

"I'll go get her Gordon," Scott said quickly when he saw where he was heading. Gordon stopped and without arguing climbed back into bed. Scott went to the next room and closed the door.

"Sam, Alan wants you to come and tuck him in," said Scott as he sat down next to her on the bed. Sam shrugged her shoulders and stayed under the blankets.

"Come on, Sammie, you have always tucked them in at night," he said. "Gordon feels bad about what happened. You know he speaks first then he thinks about what he says later." He tugged the blankets off of her and rolled her over to face him. She glowered at him and spoke through clenched teeth.

"Scott, you're pushing my buttons right now," she warned. "That little brat had no right to yell at me like he did. It's not like I saw him undressed or anything like that. His boxers cover him more than his swimwear does. That little suit he wears leaves nothing to the imagination but it doesn't bother him to walk around in public like that." She had worked herself into a fit of anger and Scott was a bit surprised that the evening had been ruined that easily.

"Easy, Sam," he said. "I was just letting you know that Alan wants you to come and tuck him in. He was working himself into a tantrum. Sighing, Sam relented. Alan hadn't been the one to yell at her and shouldn't be punished for it. She got out of bed and walked to the next room. She made a point of not looking at Gordon as she walked in. She went directly to Alan's bed and pulled his blankets up and gave him a hug and kiss.

"Love you Ally. I'll see you in the morning," she said quietly as she brushed his hair back in an attempt to relax him after he'd started his tantrum. He smiled up at her and closed his eyes. It was passed his bedtime and he was ready to go to sleep. He just wasn't willing to sleep until Sam came in to give him a hug and kiss goodnight. Once she saw that he was falling asleep, she went to the main door and made sure that it was locked securely. She went into the bathroom and picked up the towels that were piled on the floor and draped them over the tub and cleaned up the dirty clothes that had been left on the floor and put them in a plastic bag for dirty clothes. After she straightened up the bathroom she walked back to the connecting door. She never looked at or acknowledged Gordon during the time she was in the room.

Gordon looked at Sam as she walked past his bed. He leaned against Virgil and John in defeat when she refused to look at him. He felt bad about yelling at her but didn't want to make her angrier by approaching her. Sighing deeply, he lowered himself on his bed and pulled his blankets up to his chin. He looked at his brothers and sighed again.

"She's really mad at me, isn't she?" he asked. "John, can you tell her that I'm sorry for yelling at her. I was embarrassed and took it out on her. I didn't mean it. I know how careful she is about making sure that we're always dressed before entering our rooms." He looked up at John with overly bright eyes. It had hurt him when he watched her tuck Alan in and give him a hug and kiss. Alan was now sound asleep. Secure in the love of his big sister and the lack of interruption of a nightly habit that both boys had enjoyed from their earliest memories.

Virgil got up and quickly went to the next room. He was determined to end this battle of the wills before it got too far. He was surprised to find Sam standing next to the window with her face pressed against Scott's chest. Her shoulders shook with the intensity of her emotions. Scott had his arms wrapped around her and was whispering something to her. She shook her head but refused to let go of him. Scott looked at Virgil and mouthed Gordon's name. Virgil got the hint and quickly went back to the other room.

"Gordon, come with me," he said as soon as he was in the room. Gordon and John looked up in surprise. Gordon got up and did as he was told. He followed Virgil back to the other room as he looked at the window he was stunned to see Sam crying into Scott's chest. He couldn't believe that he'd made his sister cry. He knew that she could be emotional but he had never been the reason she'd cried before. John had come in behind him and saw how upset Sam was. His first instinct was to go to her but he sensed that Gordon was the one she needed this time. Scott had even caught his eye and shook his head warning him to stay back.

Tentatively, Gordon walked towards Sam and Scott. Sam was still unaware that Gordon was approaching her. He slowly reached out and hugged her around her waist. She jumped when she felt his arms go around her. Turning quickly, she looked down at him. He held her tighter and pressed his head against her.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you Sammie," he whispered. "I was embarrassed about you seeing me in my boxers. Please forgive me, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Sam kept her arms straight at her sides even though she wanted nothing more than to hold her baby brother tight and comfort him. She looked over his head at John. John shook his head letting her know that what she was doing wasn't right. Sighing, she slowly wrapped her arms around Gordon and rested her chin on the top of his head.

"I forgive you, Gordy. I know that you were embarrassed but if you ever yell at me like that again I will wash your mouth out with soap or worse yet I'll tie your boxers in a knot with you in them. Now let's get you to bed before Dad gets in and finds you still up." She held his hand and the two of them went back to Gordon's room. He climbed back into bed and she pulled his blankets up and gave him a hug and kiss.

"Love you, Gordy," she whispered. He reached up and held her close to him.

"Love you, too, Sammie," he whispered back as he began to doze off. She gave him one more kiss and got up to go back to her room.

"Sammie, let me know how good that chocolate cake is," he said with an impish grin on his face. He rolled over and was soon asleep. She went back to her room and closed the door. She went over to her bed and climbed up on it and leaned against the headboard. Her brothers were all eating their desserts. Hers was sitting on the nightstand next to her bed. She picked it up and took a bite. Shaking her head she put it back down.

"Something wrong with it, Sam?" asked Virgil. His slice of cake was more than half gone.

"Nothings wrong with it. I just don't want it anymore," she sighed. She had really been looking forward to indulging in the chocolaty treat. Scott had no reservations or intentions of letting good food go to waste. He reached over and grabbed the plate. He was soon enjoying the moist and delicious cake.

"That was pretty good," he said as he set the plate back down on the nightstand.

"Glad you enjoyed it. How about next time you ask before you take something that isn't yours," she snapped. "Sorry, you didn't deserve that. It's not like I really wanted it anymore." She lay down on her bed and faced away from her brothers and tried to go to sleep. She tried everything she could think of to go to sleep and nothing seemed to work. Sitting up in her bed, she looked at John who was sitting next to her and talking to Virgil and Scott.

"John, would you mind if Alan slept with you?" she asked. John looked at her as if she'd lost her mind.

"Why would he need to sleep with me? He's already asleep in his bed," he replied.

"Alan may be asleep but Gordon isn't and I was going to let him sleep in my bed," she said. "Alan will be upset if we leave him over there by himself."

"How do you know Gordon isn't asleep?" asked Scott with a bemused expression on his handsome features. He was waiting for her to say that she could feel when something wasn't right with one of them.

"I know he's still awake cus he's standing in the doorway watching you indulge in my chocolate cake," she shot back smugly. Scott and Virgil looked to the doorway and saw Gordon leaning against the door half asleep. Sam motioned for him to come over to her bed. She scooted to the middle of the bed and he climbed up next to her and covered himself up. Moments later he was in a deep sleep.

John had scooted down and was lying next to Sam and Gordon. Scott went to the other room and carefully picked Alan up and brought him back to the twins' room and laid him down on the bed. Seeing as how John, Sam, and Gordon were already asleep in one bed, Scott figured that he and Virgil could sleep in the other with Alan between them. It was like they were back on the island.

"You want to stay in here or go back to our room?" he asked Virgil. Virgil looked over at the other bed and back at Scott.

"Might as well call it a night and sleep here," he replied. Scott went to make sure that the door was locked and shut off the lights. He lay down on one side of Alan while Virgil lay down on the other side. When Jeff got back to the hotel, he went to check on his children. He went to Sam and John's room first. He turned on a little night light in the bathroom and walked out to where the beds were. On the bed closest to the window were Gordon, Sam, and John. All of them were lying on their left side snuggled against the one in front of them. Scott, Alan, and Virgil were on the other bed. Alan was lying on his back in the middle and Scott and Virgil were lying on their sides facing away from Alan.

"If I had known that I would find them like this I would have only reserved two rooms," he thought as he looked at his precious children.

The next morning they ate breakfast with their dad and left the hotel to do their school shopping. Sam convinced her dad to her brothers go do their shopping with Scott in charge while he went with her to do her clothes shopping. Realizing it would be faster to do it that way he quickly agreed. Within an hour she had picked out what she wanted. This year she had bought a semi formal gown to wear to some of the dances that the high school students were allowed to attend. The family met at a prearranged meeting area and took their packages to the limo. Due to the growth spurts that they had all gone through in the past year, they needed a new winter coat and boots and athletic shoes. Since they were already at a sporting goods store, they also got some other needed items. Scott and Sam each got several pairs of running shorts and t-shirts as well as some running shoes for their cross-country practices and races. Gordon had to have some more swimwear for both practices and meets. All of them got some athletic clothes to wear when practicing for their soccer games.

Virgil picked up some much needed art supplies to last the semester. Scott had heard about a new book that caught his interest and had asked to stop in a bookstore. Once in the store, they all scattered to pick out some new reading materials. Sam picked out a couple of books on astronomy and a couple of popular fiction books. John chose a couple of books on NASA. Gordon couldn't resist some new joke books and an autobiography of an Olympic swimmer. Alan picked out a couple of autobiographies written by race car drivers.

They all picked out some DVDs and cds from that audio and visual area of the bookstore. When they were done they took their packages to the limo. They made one more trip and that was to buy the everyday supplies that they would need. With six kids in school they went through paper and pens in short order. Finally they got back to the hotel. Jeff had made dinner reservations at an upscale restaurant and had gotten tickets to another Broadway show.

"I want all of you to go to your rooms and lay down for a couple of hours," their dad said in the limo as they went back to the hotel. "I thought that I'd treat you to dinner and a show tonight. Tomorrow I'll take you to school. That way you have one whole day to organize your rooms for the new school year as well as catch up with your friends."

Once they were back at the hotel, they took their new stuff to their rooms and lay down like they'd been told. Sam woke up first and took a hot bubble bath. She dressed in one of her favorite dresses and fixed her hair and applied her makeup. She went out to the room and woke John up.

"Go take your shower and get dressed for tonight," she said. "I'm going to go get Alan into the shower." John picked up his garment bag and boxers and went into the bathroom to take his shower. Sam went into the connecting room to help Alan get ready. Looking at Alan's bed she realized it was empty but Gordon was still asleep on his. Walking to the bathroom she could hear the shower running. She smiled to herself when she thought of how much her baby brothers were growing up. She went to Gordon's side and woke him up.

"When Alan gets out of the bathroom, go take your shower and get ready for tonight," she said softly. He nodded in response and sat up in his bed. Sam walked back to her room when suddenly she heard a whistle. Turning around, she looked back at Gordon.

"Sam, you look beautiful," he said in admiration. Sam blushed at his compliment.

"Thanks Gordon," she smiled a soft little smile back at him. Her eyes sparkled with the love she had for him. In that moment Gordon was reminded of their mother. Never before had Sam reminded him of their mother like she did then. She continued to walk back to her room.

John had just opened the bathroom door when she came back to the room. He stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes got big and before he could stop himself he whistled at her.

"What is it with you and Gordon?" she asked. "He whistled at me, too.

"Samantha, you look absolutely beautiful," he said softly. He, too, was reminded of how much she looked like their mother but he thought that she was beautiful in her own way. Her dress showed off her height and athletic build. There was not one ounce of fat on her anywhere. The blue color of her dress enhanced the blue of her eyes. The makeup was lightly applied and highlighted her bone structure in her face. Her hair had been curled and pulled back in a clip with some tendrils left loose to frame her face.

"Sam, can you help me with my tie?" Alan said as he came into the room. He stopped suddenly and stared open mouthed at Sam. Sam sighed and walked over to tie his tie. She put her hand under his chin and pushed up in an effort to close his mouth.

"Sammie, you're beautiful," he said as he continued to stare at her.

"You guys see me everyday. Are you telling me that I'm normally ugly?" she teased. She couldn't understand what their problem was. She walked over to John and tied his tie. She went out in the hall and walked to Virgil and Scott's room. She quickly knocked on the door. Virgil answered it. He was already dressed but his tie was waiting to be tied. She walked in to the room and reached out to tie it for him. He stood there staring at her without saying a word.

"What's wrong with you, Virgil?" she asked. She was getting a bit annoyed with the reactions of her brothers.

"Y-You l-l-look amazingly be-beautiful," he stammered. Scott heard him and walked over to where they were standing. He pursed his lips as if he were preparing to whistle.

"Don't do it, Scott. I have already been whistled at twice," she warned him.

"Sorry, Sis, but you look absolutely breathtaking," he said. She walked up to him and tied his tie for him. Scott and Virgil grabbed their jackets for their tuxes and walked out of the room with her. Sam stopped by her room to grab her purse and the matching sweater for her dress. Alan, John, and Gordon walked out to the hall with her. She paused long enough to tie Gordon's tie. She looked over all of her brothers to make sure that their ties were even. They all looked fabulous in their new tuxedos. The six of them went to their father's room and knocked on his door. The attention that the Tracy children were getting in the hallway was a bit unnerving. Sam was getting quite a bit of the attention from the males that saw her.

Their dad opened the door promptly. He froze when he saw Sam.

"Not you, too, Dad," she groaned. Jeff looked at her and thought of how much Sam looked like Lucy. Similar but not exact, Sam had the same independent streak that her brothers had. She also had some of Jeff's features mixed in. All in all, Samantha Tracy had acquired the best of both of her parents as had her brothers. As they walked through the lobby, all of her brothers wanted to escort her to the limo. Finally, she opted to walk ahead of them and had the doorman help her into the limo. At the restaurant, she allowed John to escort her to the table. Scott escorted her back to the limo afterwards. At the theater, Jeff walked in with her. Gordon and Alan escorted her back to the limo afterwards. Virgil escorted her back to her room at the end of the evening.

She was glad to change out of the dress and into some comfy pajamas and to wash the makeup off her face. She hung her dress back up. John changed into his pajamas and hung his tux in his garment bag. She went next door to Gordon and Alan's room to tuck them in and give them a hug and kiss.

Once she had met her routine, she climbed into bed and fell asleep.