Disclaimer: I don't own the TBs or the Tracys with the exception of Sam and Alex.
A/N: Thanks to those that continue to review and read my story.
Chapter 35
"Samantha, Lucy is hungry again," said Alex quietly as he held their daughter. Sam groaned as she opened her eyes and rolled over to take Lucy from him. She unbuttoned her nightshirt and lowered her nursing bra, smiling softly as her daughter latched on and began nursing. Alex picked John up out of the bassinet that the month old twins were still sharing. He sat down on the bed next to his wife and offered his son a bottle of breast milk that he'd placed in the warmer on their bedside table. After a few moments of playing with the nipple on the bottle, John began drinking while looking up at his dad.
"You get Mommy next time, little man," Alex promised softly. He glanced over at Sam and smiled. Sam had started to doze off only to shake herself awake. Even with Alex's help she was exhausted. Sam shifted position and sat up, leaning against the headboard. Lucy kept her hold and watched her mother.
"I won't complain when these two start sleeping through the night," she yawned as she leaned her head on Alex's shoulder. He turned and kissed her on the top of her head.
"It will get better, Honey," said Alex. "I'm sorry that I haven't been as much of a help but things are chaotic at work right now."
"I know it will," she replied. Lucy released her hold and Sam leaned forward to burp her. She carefully slid out of bed and walked to the nursery and changed Lucy's diaper. "You keep giving me all of the dirty diapers. Are you telling me something?" She picked her daughter up and kissed her little cheek.
"Sis, do you ever get any sleep?" asked her brother from the doorway. Sam looked up and shook her head.
"Not enough but soon they should start sleeping through the night," she answered. "I shouldn't complain because they're at least on the same schedule so I can go back to sleep after I feed and change them. Alex has been a great help but I hate waking him up when I know that he has to work the next day." Alex walked up behind John with little John in his arms.
"Excuse me, John, but this one has a really bad smell about him," Alex said. John moved when he caught a whiff. Alex quickly changed the foul-smelling diaper and tossed it in the diaper disposer. He picked his son up and took him back to their bedroom and put him in the bassinet. John had other ideas and began crying as soon as he was in the bassinet. Alex picked him up again and saw Sam shake her head.
"Take him downstairs," she sighed as she walked downstairs with Lucy in her arms. John followed his sister and brother-in-law to the living room. Sam handed Lucy to John and picked up the blanket that was on the couch. She spread it out on the floor and laid a pillow on it. She took Lucy back from John and gently laid her on the blanket. She took her son from Alex and laid him next to his sister.
"Go back to bed, both of you," she ordered as she lay down on the floor next to her son and daughter. She ran her hands over their little bodies and smiled at how much they had come to mean to her. She rubbed their little cheeks and sighed. They stared at her as she soothed them to sleep. Alex and John went back upstairs while Sam lay on the floor with the babies. The twins stayed awake for another hour before they closed their eyes and fell asleep. Sam covered them with a little afghan that Grandma had made for them. She went to the kitchen and fixed herself a mug of hot tea and then sat on the couch and gazed down at her children. She had been on an emotional roller coaster for the past ten months. She had the hormones from the pregnancy and the aftermath. Her brother had been attacked and hurt. Then when she went into labor, no one knew that she was pregnant with twins. Lucy had hidden behind John just like Sam had hidden behind her brother. Her family had come to visit a few days after the twins and Sam came home from the hospital. They stayed for a week. Grandma stayed with Sam, Alex, and John in their condo while Jeff, Scott, Virgil, Gordon, and Alan stayed in the condo next door. Grandma had helped Sam adjust to the babies and took some of the stress off of her. At the end of the week, Sam was in tears as her family flew back to their lives. Alex was at a loss as to what he could do to make her feel better. In the end, Sam had swallowed her tears and her Tracy pride kicked in and she did what was needed. She had never backed down from a challenge and she wasn't about to start now.
She took her empty mug back to the kitchen and refilled it. She leaned against the counter and mentally began listing things that she had to do later in the morning. She was surprised to see that it was five in the morning when she looked at the clock. The twins would be ready to eat again in just a half hour or so. Her husband and John would be getting up and ready for work about the same time. She looked in the fridge and began planning a special breakfast for the men in her house. She heard a whimper from the living room and went to pick her son up before he woke Lucy.
"Did you have a bad dream?" she whispered. She took him with her into the kitchen and sat down at the table. She could watch Lucy from where she was sitting. Little John blinked in the bright lights as he tried to focus on her. She held him close and smelled his fresh baby scent. His red hair was soft and shiny and she loved to gently run her hand over the silky locks. She kissed him and sang a lullaby to him. His eyes never left her face as she looked down at him. He turned his head to nuzzle against her breast. She undid her nursing bra and helped him latch on while continuing to sing to him.
"Hi, Sweetie," said Alex as he walked into the kitchen. Sam looked up at him as he leaned down to kiss her and rub his finger along their son's face. He draped a receiving blanket over her shoulder.
"John will be down in a moment and you know how he is about seeing you," he said with a hint of laughter in his voice. Little John stopped nursing and began to cry when he heard Alex's voice. Sam handed him over and grinned.
"He wants you," she said. She stood up and began fixing breakfast for the three of them. By the time John came downstairs, Sam had breakfast sitting on the table complete with his favorite hot cocoa.
"Thanks, Sis," he said as he began to eat. Sam offered to take little John from Alex but he shook his head.
"I can eat one handed," he said. "Besides, I think that another one needs you." On cue, Lucy began to cry. Sam went to the living room and picked up her daughter and brought her back to the table. Sam draped the receiving blanket over her shoulder and smiled apologetically at her brother. She positioned Lucy to nurse and ate her breakfast one handed.
"What's on your agenda today?" asked Alex.
"John and Lucy have an appointment with their pediatrician," Sam reminded him. She didn't look thrilled at taking both babies out by herself. Alex smiled at her and John shook his head. "What?"
"We took the day off to help you," John said. Sam looked from one to the other and burst out in tears. John jumped up and went to her side. He rubbed her shoulders in an attempt to calm her down.
"John and I will take the twins to the doctors and you are going to get some much needed sleep," stated Alex firmly. "John, can you take this one for me?" John took his nephew and sat back down to finish his breakfast. Alex had Sam stand up and guided her to the living room. Lucy had stopped nursing and Alex laid her gently on the blanket on the floor. He turned back to Sam and made her lie down on the couch.
"I want you to sleep," he ordered. "No arguing allowed. John and I can handle things today. You need to sleep and then you can handle things again. I think that maybe we should see about hiring a nanny part-time." He wiped her tears and kissed her softly as her eyes began to close. Within minutes, Sam was sound asleep. John watched his sister in amazement. She had always been the last to back down from anything yet Alex was able to get her to relax and let things go. It was evident that he put her and the babies before all else. John admired him for that because that is what he felt his sister needed for her strong personality, someone to put her first.
"I'm going to get the portable crib and set it up down here," said Alex. He ran upstairs and got the portable crib and sheet for it out of the nursery. He also grabbed Sam's favorite throw blanket. He took everything downstairs. He set the crib up and put the sheet on the mattress. John laid his nephew in the crib and then picked Lucy up and quickly burped her. He laid her next to her brother in the crib. Alex had gently covered his wife with her blanket. Sam muttered in her sleep and quieted down again. Alex watched her for a moment and then went to the kitchen. He cleaned up their breakfast dishes and made a pot of coffee. John went to the little office and checked his emails. He had one from Gordon that let him know that he was in Florida on a training mission for WASP. He had gone on to say that he'd try to swing by for a visit if allowed. John emailed him back to let him know that they'd all be home except for the time of the babies' doctor's appointment but Sam would be home regardless.
Alex and John took the twins to their appointment in the early afternoon. Sam was watching television when a news update came up. She stared in open-mouthed horror at the scene on the television. A WASP hydrofoil had crashed and the rescuers were pulling the victims out of the water. A sudden premonition hit her and she knew that her brother Gordon was on that craft. She picked up the phone and called the WASP offices and identified herself. She sank to the floor when she was told that her brother had been on the hydrofoil and that he was enroute to the hospital. Tears poured down her face as she stared at the wreckage that kept showing on the news. That was how Alex and John found her a few minutes later when they came home.
"John…Alex…he's hurt…accident…hydrofoil," she stammered as she pointed to the television. John sank down to the floor next to his sister and held her. Alex set the car seat carriers with the sleeping twins in them on the floor. He went to the office and called Jeff on the vidphone.
"Dad, we saw the news and Sam found out that Gordon was on the hydrofoil that crashed," he said sadly. "I'm going to drive John and Sam to the hospital. They can give the doctors Gordon's medical history. Everyone is welcome to stay here. See you soon." He hung up and went back to the living room.
"Samantha, get up and let's get you dressed. We're all going to the hospital," he said. Sam got up and followed Alex upstairs. She got dressed while he called his parents. They had retired to Florida so that they could be near their only son and his family.
"Mom, can you come over and stay with the twins?" he asked. "Sam's brother was in an accident and she is needed at the hospital. We have plenty of formula and Sam has a few bottles of breast milk in the fridge."
"I'll be there in a few minutes," she said.
"Mom's going to watch the twins while we're at the hospital," he told her as they walked back downstairs. Sam nodded numbly and sniffled as she tried to keep her tears in check. John answered the door when Alex's mom knocked. She hugged the blonde man and whispered her best wishes for his brother. John hugged her back and thanked her. Alex quickly told his mom where everything was and that the twins had had shots that day and maybe cranky. He set their Tylenol on the counter in case she needed to give it to them. He kissed his children on their forehead and led Sam and John to the SUV and drove them to the hospital. They were led to a private waiting room and waited for the doctors to talk to them. After several hours, a man entered the waiting room. He looked around and asked for the family of Lt. Tracy. John and Sam looked up at him and stood up.
"We're Gordon's brother and sister," said John. Alex stood behind Sam to support her if needed. He led them to another room and shut the door.
"I'm sorry to have to give you this bad news but at least he's alive," he began. Lieutenant Tracy has suffered numerous broken bones in every extremity and head. Luckily, his spine is intact but badly bruised and swollen. He has internal bleeding and we have had to remove his spleen and appendix. I'm sorry but he only has a fifty-fifty chance of survival. If he makes it through the next forty-eight hours his chances begin to increase."
"Can we see him?" asked Alex.
"He's still in surgery," the doctor answered. "I'll come and get you personally when he goes to recovery. You are welcome to wait in here until then. Worst case scenario dictates that you should call your family in." He left the room and gently closed the door behind him. John sat down in a chair and cradled his head as he began to cry. Sam looked up at Alex and started to say something but before she could speak her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed to the floor. Alex knelt down beside her and checked to make sure that she was okay. John ran out and got a nurse. A small medical team picked Sam up and took her to a private room and a doctor checked her over.
"She has a bump on the back of her head but until she wakes up I can't determine anything else," he said. "I take it she is related to Lt. Tracy?"
"Yes, Sir, they're siblings," answered Alex.
"I'll let the staff know that you are in here and let them know to have your family join you in this room," the doctor offered. Alex thanked him and sat down in a chair near the phone. He called his mom to check on the twins. She assured him that they were fine and to take care of Samantha. John paced the room and kept glancing at his watch. The door burst open and Virgil and Alan came skidding into the room. They pulled up short when they saw Sam lying in a bed.
"She passed out and they gave us this room to wait in," explained Alex.
"Have you seen Gordon yet?" Virgil asked. John looked at him with red-rimmed eyes.
"Not since the first update," replied Alex. The door opened again and the doctor walked in.
"Lt. Tracy is in his room," he said. "He's in a coma right now but he will hear everything you say to him. I'm encouraging you to talk to him but try to keep your emotions in check." Sam had woken up and sat up in her bed. She made a move to get out of bed on her own and received a sharp order from Alex to stay still. She froze and looked up at him.
"The bed is raised and I don't want you to fall," he said as he pushed the button to lower the bed. He helped her stand up and they followed the doctor to Gordon's room. Sam covered her mouth with her hands when she saw one of her baby brothers lying so still. Alex tightened his grip on her shoulder in reassurance. They all approached Gordon's bed. His face was swollen and bruised. His arms and legs were in casts. The sheet that covered him could barely hide the bruises on his torso and the dressings that covered the incisions from his surgery. He was hooked up to all sorts of monitors and IVs. Sam reached out and brushed his red hair back to reassure herself that he was still with them.
"Gordy, it's Sammie," she said quietly as she leaned down next to him. "We came as soon as we heard. Virgil, Alan, John, Alex, and I are all waiting for you to wake up. Dad, Scott, and Grandma will be here in a little bit. Gordon, as your big sister, I am ordering you to fight this. You are not to give up under any circumstances, do you understand me? If you give up, I will not let you rest. We need you here with us. Your niece and nephew deserve to have their uncle teach them the fine art of pranks." She kissed him softly on his forehead and then backed up for their brothers to have a moment.
Alex led her back to a chair and he sat down and then pulled her down on his lap. She leaned her head on his shoulder and let the tears fall from her eyes. Alex held her close and let her cry. She didn't make a sound as the emotions ran through her. She dozed off on Alex's lap. Virgil and Alan sat in chairs near Gordon's bed. John paced around the room. A few hours later, Scott came into the room. Sam was standing next to Gordon's bed again and quietly talking to him. Scott could see in the way that she was standing that she was tired and he wondered where the twins were.
"Sammie?" he asked. "Where are your babies?" She looked up at him and shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. Unable to stop, Sam buried her face in her oldest brother's chest and quietly cried. Scott backed up without releasing his hold on her. He had been warned about showing emotions around Gordon.
"Shh, it's going to be alright," he said. "Gordy's a fighter. He will pull through and you know it. How long have you been here?"
"The twins are at home with Alex's mom," she said. "We've been here since just after he got here. I think maybe about nine or ten hours."
"Alex, I want you to take everyone home to get some sleep," said Scott. "Sam, Lucy and little John need you and if you would look down you'd notice that you have leaked through your shirt." Alex took Sam's hand in his and led her and her brothers to the SUV. Scott had promised to call them if there was any change. They drove home in silence. Alex let them in the house and his mom offered to stay with them incase they were called out again. Sam picked Lucy up and kissed her as her tears started flowing again. Alex got the key for the condo next door and laid it out in case Virgil and Alan wanted to stay over there. They opted for sleeping on the couch and living room floor. Alex pulled out some extra bedding for them to use. John had already retreated to his room. Alex picked up little John and he and Sam went upstairs to their bedroom. Sam laid Lucy on the bed and took off her shirt and bra. She grimaced at the fullness of her breasts. She hadn't nursed or pumped for over ten hours and it didn't feel good. Thankfully, both babies were ready to nurse. She leaned back in her bed and Alex propped pillows on either side of her and helped her position their son and daughter. Sam sighed in relief when they latched on and relieved the fullness. They both nursed for a half an hour and fell asleep. Alex burped Lucy and Sam burped John and then they changed their diapers before laying them in the bassinet. Sam went to the bathroom and took a quick shower. She pulled on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt and crawled into bed. She was still awake when Alex joined her after his shower. She snuggled close to him and let his presence lull her to sleep. In the early morning hours the phone rang and Alex answered it. He shook Sam awake and told her to get her shoes and socks on. He quickly got dressed and ran to John's room to wake him up.
"Get dressed, we're needed at the hospital," he said as he ran downstairs to the living room. Virgil and Alan had both stripped down to their boxers to sleep in.
"Get dressed, I'm taking you to the hospital," he said. He ran back upstairs and knocked on the door of the spare room. "Mom, we have to leave again. The twins are in our bedroom." He led Sam downstairs to where her brothers were waiting. He drove to the hospital and they ran to Gordon's room. Grandma, Jeff, and Scott blocked their view of Gordon.
"Oh, God, what happened?" cried Sam. Scott moved away from the bed and Sam saw that one of Gordon's eyes was squinted.
"I was ordered to fight," he whispered as he looked up at her. "I sometimes listen to my older brothers and sister." Sam laughed through her tears as she leaned down to kiss her brother.
"Oh, Gordy, you scared me," she whispered as she gently rubbed her hand along his jaw line.
"I'm sorry, Sis," he whispered again. His body suddenly began to spasm and he gasped as a bolt of pain shot through his upper body. When the pain subsided, he looked at their dad. "I can't feel my legs." Jeff sighed and wiped his face.
"There is some swelling along your spine and one of the affects is paralysis," he told Gordon.
"NONONONO!" he cried. "I can't be paralyzed." He shut his eyes and blocked everyone in the room out. Sam gently turned his head to face her.
"GORDON COOPER TRACY, you open your eyes and look at me right now," she ordered. "I know what you are feeling because I have been there. You can overcome this and we're here to help you. You are welcome to stay with us and we will get you through rehab and you will walk again." Gordon looked up at her and tried to speak.
"You'll help me, Sam?" he asked.
"All of us will but I promise to be with you every step of the way," she answered. "As long as you don't freak out when I have to nurse the twins like another of our brothers does." She winked at John to let him know that she was teasing. He began to blush as Alex laughed at him. Gordon's eyes began to close and fell asleep.
"Go back home," said Jeff as he looked at the sleepy group around him. "Mother and I will stay here. I want you all to go back to home or to the spare condo and get a few more hours of sleep. Sam and Alex, take care of my grandchildren."
"Yes, Sir," replied all six of them. Alex wrapped his arm around Sam and they led the group back to the SUV. Alex drove them back to the condos. He handed Scott the key to the condo next door. Sam, Alex, and John went into their condo. Alex locked the doors and activated the alarm. Sam got upstairs just as the twins woke up. She sighed and sat down on the side of the bed. She leaned over and picked John up.
"Hey, little man, do you two have your mommy radar on?" she asked. John waved his little hand around and gurgled at her. She kissed his little face and positioned him to nurse. He nuzzled around for a moment before latching on. Alex sat behind her and nuzzled her neck.
"I can't wait until you're cleared by the doctor," he said. She giggled at his remark. "I want to make love to you over and over again."
"I'll pencil you in between nursing and diaper changes," she responded as he kissed her on her neck. "Alex, please stop. You're doing things to me and I know that we can't follow through yet." He sighed as he leaned back on the bed. "Just two more weeks, Alex."
"Feels like a life time," he shot back. He missed making love to his wife and the past month had felt like an eternity. Sam finished nursing John and burped him. She handed him to Alex and picked up Lucy.
"Hey, baby girl, are you hungry too?" she asked. Lucy smacked her lips and eagerly began to nurse. A short time later, Lucy was fed and burped. Sam changed both of their diapers and she and Alex put them in their bassinet. Sam got up to shut and locked their bedroom door. She turned the stereo on and chose the cd Virgil had made them from their wedding day. She pushed Alex back on the bed and began kissing him.
"What are you doing, Sam?" he asked. She didn't respond instead she pulled down his boxers and showed him how much she loved him.
"I love you, Sam and thanks," he said as they drifted off to sleep. He had a huge smile of contentment on his face. Sam murmured in her sleep.
Later that morning, Sam got dressed and dressed the twins. She packed their diaper bag and some extra bottles of formula. She had decided to take them to see Gordon. Alex carried Lucy and Sam carried little John. They fastened them in their car seats and then drove to the hospital. John and their brothers had already left in the SUV. The hospital staff tried to tell Sam that the babies weren't allowed in the room to see Gordon. Sam stood ramrod straight and glared at the staff.
"I don't give a damn about that rule," she snapped. "My brother is in that room and his whole family is here and that includes his niece and nephew. Now excuse me, you're blocking my way." Jeff had come out to the hallway when he heard Sam's irate voice. Her brothers were right behind him, grinning at their sister's determination to get her way. She marched past the dumbfounded employees with little John in her arms and Alex behind her with Lucy. He had a smile on his face as his wife's fiery personality flared up. He agreed with her that the family, no matter their age, was with Gordon when he needed their support.
"Gordy, we brought you a couple of more visitors," she said softly when she reached his bed. He opened his eyes and looked up at her. He began to smile when he saw Lucy and John.
"Hey, kiddos," he said. "Is your mommy breaking the rules again?" They gurgled at him in response. "I'll take that as a yes. Sis, can you settle them down next to me?" Sam sat John next to Gordon. Gordon's eyes lit up when he smelled the clean baby scent of his nephew's hair. Sam let him sit there for a minute and then Alex sat Lucy down in John's spot. After a few minutes, Lucy began to squirm. Alex quickly picked her up.
"So, how long are they keeping you here?" asked Sam. "As soon as they release you, I want you to come and stay with us. We can hire a nurse to help with your day-to-day stuff but you'll be in a home setting with your family."
"Geez, Sam, I've only been here for two days," Gordon said. "I'm probably looking at a couple of months." Sam's face fell when she thought of her baby brother lying here day after day. She turned so that he couldn't see the tears form in her eyes. She walked out to the hall before she broke down and cried. Jeff came out a moment later. Sam looked down at John and sighed.
"Daddy, it hurts to see him lying there like that," she said quietly. "I want him at home with us so that he's around family." Jeff held his arms out and Sam slipped into his embrace and began sobbing.
"Honey, I know you want him with his family but he's right," he said. "He has to stay here for at least two months and then we can see about him staying with you." Sam kept her face buried in her dad's embrace until little John began to cry. Jeff took him out of Sam's arms and held him up.
"Are you putting your two cents in?" he asked. John stared down at his grandpa and gurgled at him and then spit up on his shirt. Sam grabbed a spit rag out of the diaper bag that she still carried and wiped off her dad's shirt.
"Well, looks like John is breaking you in," said Scott as he joined them in the hallway. He was holding Lucy and she was cooing at him. Sam looked over at her big brother and daughter. She wiped her tears away with the palm of her hand. Scott smiled down at her.
"Gordy is asking for you to come back inside," he said. Sam took a deep breath and steadied herself. She offered to take one of her babies but neither Scott nor her dad seemed to want to give them up.
"I will take that spit cloth from you just in case," her dad said. Sam handed it to him and went back to her brother's bedside.
"I'm here, Gordy," she said quietly when she saw his eyes closed. He opened them and a lone tear fell from the corner of his eye.
"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Sam," he whispered. He had been awake for awhile and he was beginning to hurt and feel sleepy. He turned his head to look at her.
"Oh, Gordy, you didn't hurt my feelings," she said. "I just want you to come home and be with your family and not in some cold room alone."
"Not alone, Sis," he whispered as he began to fall asleep. "Have…all…of…you…"
"Always, Gordy, always," she said as she tenderly kissed his forehead. He smiled softly in his sleep at her touch. "I'll be back later. I need to take the babies home. They'll be back to see you in a few days." She turned away from her brother and found herself surrounded by her brothers and husband. They hugged her and comforted her just as Gordon had asked them to. They didn't see him peek at them as a small smile played on his lips. Grandma saw him and knew that he was trying to look after his big sister just as much as she was trying to look after her baby brother.
A couple of months later, Gordon's arm casts came off and he was released to Sam and Alex's care, just in time for Christmas. Jeff hired a team of private nurses for round the clock care to help Gordon. They converted the office into a room for Gordon to use. He asked for a hospital bed so that he could rise up and lie down at the push of a button. Jeff had one delivered to the condo a few days before Gordon was released. Alex set up a television on a shelf at the end of Gordon's bed as well as a stereo. The remotes were kept within his reach. The nurses helped him with his daily exercises and emptying his drainage bags. Sam's days were dedicated to taking care of Gordon and her three-month-old twins. Gordon loved spending time with John and Lucy and they took to him. They would both smile when they saw him in the mornings.
Sam and Alex celebrated their anniversary with a night out on the town. John and Gordon volunteered to watch their Lucy and little John. Alex had everything planned and Sam was surprised with the amount of thought he had put into for their evening out. When she thought the evening was over, he drove them to an upscale hotel and led her to the romantic suite that he'd reserved for them. He got down on one knee in front of her and held her hands in his.
"Samantha Michelle Tracy Murphy, when we said our vows five years ago, I promised to love, honor, and protect you in sickness and in health from that day forward. I now know that was the best promise I have ever made. My love for you knows no bounds and I cherish each and every day I have with you and our precious son and daughter. Thank you for being my life's partner and soul mate." He pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and opened it. He took out an anniversary band and slid it on her finger. She smiled at him through her tears as she tried to say something. Finally, she pulled a small sheet of paper from her purse and handed it to him.
My dearest Alex,
If you're reading this then I must be crying because something you surprised me with or said. Five years, wow, have passed and yet I'm still so much in love with you. I'm so happy and content in our marriage. Looking back, I'm glad that you admitted that you didn't want to wait to get married when we were in our first year at Harvard.
I love waking up in the morning with you at my side. The best part of my days is spent with you and our children... Sam finally found her voice and knelt down in front of him so that she could look in his eyes.
"I love you, Alex, and will for the rest of my life. You, Lucy, and little John, and any other children we may have are my everything." Alex leaned towards her to kiss her tears away. Her eyes radiated all the love she had for him. Alex felt his heart beating rapidly in his chest as the realization that she felt as strongly for him as he did her. With a passion that hadn't dimmed in the years they'd been together, they made love to each other through the night. In the early morning hours, Sam woke up. She gently slid out of Alex's arms and silently moved to the balcony. She closed the door behind her and then turned to stare at the sky. She sought her mom's star and began to talk to her.
"Thanks, Mom, for being an inspiration for my marriage. The love you and Dad showed each other is the same as I have for Alex. I don't know what I'd do without him. I can now understand how Dad was lost when you died. I hope that I never have to experience that. I know that you're watching over us and I have to wonder what you think of little John and Lucy with their red hair and green eyes just like Gordon's. Those two have really developed a close bond with their Uncle Gordon and Uncle John. Their little faces light up when they see them and then they start cooing and laughing at them. I think that they played an important role in Gordon's desire to overcome his accident. Mom, I was so afraid of losing him. I still miss you and so does Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon, and Alan but you'd be amazed at what we've all done with our lives."
Sam jumped a bit when she felt Alex put his arms around her.
"I missed you and then I realized that you'd be out here looking at the stars," he said quietly as he held her close to him.
"I was talking to my mom," she admitted. "I know it seems weird but both John and I have a star that we talk to. We chose it just after she died because of a story that she told us." Alex tightened his embrace of his wife. She had gone through so much in her life yet she was still a caring person. Not hardened like some people would become. He led her back to bed so that they could sleep a few more hours before heading home to their children.
A couple of weeks later, Sam received an email from her best friend from high school, Catie.
"Sam, I'm going to be in Florida in a few days and wondered if you'd be free to go out for lunch? If so, call me at this number, 555-4321." Catie. Sam called her and invited her to stay at their home. Catie accepted and gave her arrival date and time. Alex and Sam went to the airport and picked her up. John and Gordon were watching the twins.
"I've missed seeing you," Catie said as she settled into the backseat of the car. "I'm so relieved that we maintained our friendship over the years." She was the same as she'd been in high school, bubbly and friendly.
"John will be glad to see you," said Sam. "He really hated letting you go but he didn't want to hold you back." Catie looked up at her friend.
"Is he still single?" she asked. She had never forgotten her love for him and his quiet ways.
"Yeah, he dates but nothing serious," Sam replied. "With his duties as an astronaut it's kind of hard to date anyone. Do you have any work lined up at the moment?"
"No, I'm looking though," Catie answered. "Why do you know someone needing help?" Sam looked at Alex, who shrugged his shoulders.
"Would you be interested in part-time employment?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, that would be fine for now," she answered. "Doing what?"
"A nanny for little John and Lucy," said Sam. "There are days that I do paperwork for my dad and I need to concentrate on it and I need help with our babies."
"I'd love to," Catie replied. "Just let me know when I need to start."
"Immediately and you can have the spare room," Alex said. He knew Catie and trusted her with his family. He had a feeling that once Catie was around again John would be happier. She moved what belongings she'd brought with her into the spare bedroom. John was a bit surprised to see her but soon was staring after her like a man in love.
Life settled into a routine for Sam and her family with only some minor disruptions here and there. Alan kept them up-to-date with his race car driving. He had started that hobby after he had started college. It had soon turned into a passion for him and he excelled at it. He had found his niche in life and was enjoying his successes. He and Tin-Tin began to date each other. They had tried to sneak around but with Grandma that was impossible.
Scott completed his four-year stint in the Air Force and resigned with the rank of Captain. He moved back to Tracy Island. Virgil followed not to long after Scott. They began to train harder for IR. Jeff had told Gordon and Alan about the organization and both wanted to be part of it. Gordon had to wait until his body healed and Alan decided that he'd continue to race until Gordon went back to Tracy Island.
John was selected for his third mission and would be gone for another month. He left two months later. During the time he was gone, Catie moped around the house. When he got home, the twins were six-months-old and beginning to scoot around on their bellies or in Lucy's case roll around. Gordon regained the feeling in his lower body and by the time John came home, he was walking on his own.
"Alex, what would you think of us all moving back to Tracy Island?" asked Sam one day. "Not right now but when Gordon is cleared by the doctors with a clean bill of health. Dad, will be bringing IR online and I still want to be part of it."
"I was wondering when you'd feel the need to go home," he said. "Sam, how are you going to resume your astronaut skills when you have two babies that need you?" Sam looked down and sighed.
"I spoke with Catie and she said that she was willing to move to the island. She agreed and Dad has said that he would offer her a position in IR as well. But her primary responsibility would be to help you two weeks every six weeks while I was on 5. You would take the other two weeks and John would have four. Once Alan is trained, he will have a month up also," she said quietly.
"Sounds like you have this thought out," he replied. "We'll try it but if it becomes too much for our children, Sam, I will put a stop to it. You are a mommy first and for most. IR is good but our family has to come first, agreed?"
"Agreed," she said as she kissed him. Little did they know but John and Catie had resumed their relationship and John was planning on asking her to marry him. He took her out for dinner one night.
"Catie, I never stopped loving you in the time we've been apart," he said shyly. "I know that you've only been here a few months but I…um…will you marry me?" He had knelt down on one knee and held an engagement ring in his hand. Catie looked down at the man she had loved for a long time.
"Yes, John, I'll marry you," she answered. He slid the ring on her finger and stood up and embraced her. He took her to a hotel and they had a night to themselves. The next morning, they told Sam and the rest of the family their news. Sam smiled at her brother and hugged him tightly.
"I hope that you find the happiness with Catie that I've found with Alex," she whispered. "Even though, I think that you already have." Sam began planning a special dinner for her growing family. Alex helped her in the kitchen while Catie, John, and Gordon kept the babies entertained.
When Gordon was released from all medical care, John resigned from NASA. He would be returning with his fiancé, brother, sister, and her family to Tracy Island. Sam asked her dad not to sell the condos because she and Alex wanted to have a place to get away once in awhile and the condo was a big part of their lives. They all packed up important personal belongings and loaded them into the car and SUV. They closed up the condo and stored their car and SUV in the private hangar where they had a private jet stored. Gordon, John, and Alex loaded everything into the holds while Sam fastened the safety seats for little John and Lucy onto the plane seats. She made sure they were securely fastened and gave each of them a bottle of juice. They stared around the plane and back at Sam. They were now ten months old and full of mischief.
"Momma," babbled little John. Lucy looked over at him and smiled.
"Dada," she answered back. Sam looked down at both of them and laughed.
"They remind me of us," said a voice from behind her. Sam glanced over her shoulder and smiled. "They'll be bestest brother and sister forever. Just like we are, don't you think?"
"Without a doubt, John," she answered. Catie sat down in a seat near the twins. John and Alex went to the cockpit and soon they were airborne. The twins fell asleep after awhile and Sam went to check on her husband and brother. Gordon and Catie were chatting about life in general. Three days later, they landed on Tracy Island. Scott, Virgil, and Alan helped them carry everything to the house. Sam and Alex began to go up to their apartment with little John and Lucy when Jeff stopped them.
"Your old apartment is now for Catie and John to have," said Jeff. "We've done some rearranging to accommodate my grandchildren and their safety." He led them to another part of the house that had been added on. They followed an enclosed walkway to another apartment. This one was bigger than the last one and had four bedrooms and three bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchenette. Sam looked around and smiled at her dad.
"Thanks, Dad, the twins will appreciate this later when they're older," she said. Scott and Virgil had already moved Sam and Alex's furniture from the other apartment to the new one and everything was set up including the baby furniture in one of the bedrooms. They had also moved John's furniture to his new apartment.
"We thought that little John and Lucy were like you and John so they'd prefer to share a room for awhile longer," said Scott.
"You thought right," said Sam. "Those two are constantly near each other." Without noticing it, Sam and John had moved close together while looking around the new apartment. Their brothers noticed and burst out laughing. Sam and John looked at each other and shrugged. Lucy and little John were pulling themselves up to a standing position on Sam and Alex's legs.
"MOMMA! DADA!" they both cried. The adults in the room looked down and laughed at them.
"John and I were quiet," quipped Sam. "Oh, no!" She suddenly remembered which of her brothers her children reminded her of and The Terrible Two grinned at each other.
"The next generation of the Terrible Two!" Gordon and Alan said with identical smirks on their faces. Everyone else groaned until they heard the twins.
"Gor, gor," jabbered the babies. Gordon scooped both of them up and smiled.
"Uncle Gordon is right," he said. Little John and Lucy grabbed his hair and laughed at him. He handed them to Sam and Alex so that they could settle in their new apartment.
"Dinner at six," Jeff reminded them. He showed Catie and John what had been done for them and everyone scattered. Alex and Sam quickly unpacked their belongings and their home was set.
Over the next two months, the babies celebrated their first birthday. Sam, John, Catie, and Alan took TB3 to TB5 and made sure everything was online. John would have the first rotation and Sam hugged him before she and Alan left.
"Keep in touch," she said as she kissed him on his cheek. "I'll see you in four weeks and then you'll have to help with little John and Lucy."
"Take care, Sis," he said as he tried to contain his excitement at being in his own satellite. Sam and Alan went back to TB3 and headed back to the island. They had just joined the family in lounge when John called in. Virgil had painted each of the sibling's portraits and they were hung on the wall in front of Jeff's desk. John's portrait changed into a live feed.
"All systems are going up here, Dad," he reported. Catie was standing right beside him. Everyone released the breath that they'd been holding. Jeff looked at each of his children and close friends.
"Thunderbirds are go…"
A/N: Thanks to everyone that read this story. I've had so much fun in writing it and actually feel kind of sad to see something that I've worked on for the last three months completed.