Author's Note: For the background of exactly who Virgil's wife Isla is, why she is identical to Virgil's late fiancée, and how the two of them met, please read my story `Into the Light'.
Kayo glanced up as her husband Scott gave her a gentle nudge. She followed his gaze. Tintin was standing on the balcony looking down at the poolside area. From her position, Kayo could see her sister's profile, and she looked…not sad exactly but wistful.
Scott gave her a nod and as he left the room, Kayo strolled across to join her sibling on the balcony.
"Tin."
Tintin acknowledged her presence with a sigh. Kayo followed her gaze and instinctively wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Has he not asked you out yet?"
Tintin shook her head.
"I know he is still grieving for Sonia, and I am trying to give him time, but it hurts, 'Nusha. I think he likes me. I catch him sometimes watching me, and he looks so sad then. He seems happiest when he is playing with the kids."
Kayo smiled down at sight of Alan and Gordon down by the pool. Gordon in fact was in the pool along with his son and three young nephews, giving them swimming lessons. Alan on the other hand was playing on the lawn with his two-year-old son Neil and his two nieces, Seren and Lucy. It was a very uneven game of catch, with nine-year-old Seren and four-year-old Lucy, the latter giggling and taking delight in running all over the place chasing the ball when her tiny cousin Neil failed to catch it.
"He's good with the kids, isn't he? Both Alan and Gordon are good with them. George thinks the world of Uncle Gordon and Uncle Alan."
Tintin nodded.
"They both make lovely dads. Mister Tracy should be proud of them. All his boys."
"Oh, he is Tin, even if he never says so. He is so proud of all of them. All of us."
The two women watched as Scott emerged from the kitchen. They laughed at the combined cries of "Uncle SCOTT!" coming from the girls, and "Cotty!" from little Neil. He clapped Alan on the shoulder, saying something to him the two watching women could not catch. But Alan nodded and crouched down on to his heels to speak to the girls. They hugged him and then ran off shouting and laughing to Uncle Gordon. They watched Scott and Alan stroll down the path toward the beach.
Tintin turned to Kayo, one eyebrow raised.
"Tanusha, what have you said to Scott? He's not gone to…I won't have anyone interfering with us you know that. That would only push Alan further away!"
Kayo shook her head.
"I promise you sis. I've not said anything to him. Not about you anyway. None of my business. You've already made that abundantly clear. And what Scott wants to talk to his baby brother about is none of our affair either is it? Come on, Penny and Isla are heading off to New York in an hour to meet Moffie. Why don't you join them? You've been working your socks off recently and you could do with a night away with the girls. I'll stay here with Amy and help her take care of the kids."
John's wife Amelia Tracy was heavily pregnant with their second child and was therefore grounded; although she insisted that she was only pregnant, not invalid, and therefore still capable of performing her normal duties at home. Tintin responded with a sudden grin.
"Meeting Moffie in New York? Kayo, what is it you know that I don't?"
Kayo laughed delightedly.
"Brains finally did it, Tin. He proposed to Moffie, who said yes, and jumped into his arms. They are planning to get married in a month, and Moffie wants to shop for a dress. I wish I could go too, but we can't all leave the island. Especially now with Ames so close to her time."
"Are you sure you won't need me here if Amy goes into labour? From what I heard she didn't have it easy with Luce."
Kayo turned her towards the stairs and gave her a small sisterly shove.
"I'm sure. Virgil is here, so is Brains and grandma. If worst comes to the worst, we can get Scott to bundle her into Thunderbird One and whisk her off to any hospital in the world within half an hour."
Tintin gave her sister a quick hug, and walked away, leaving Kayo leaning on the balcony rail, idly wondering.
"Is everything okay, Scott?" Alan asked his brother, as the villa disappeared behind a veil of trees. Scott nodded.
"Fine. Just needed to get away from the desk for a bit and fancied some company."
"Okay. You didn't want to bring your wife with you on your walk then? I'm honoured."
Scott grinned.
"Well, it was close you know…my wife or my baby brother…"
"Very funny. I suppose I'll never lose that title, will I? Baby brother?"
"Of course not. Even when you're a grey-haired old man, you'll still be my baby brother."
Alan smiled.
"I can live with that. What's on your mind, Scott?"
"I was watching you and Gordon playing with the kids. You know, I used to wonder what kind of job you'd both make at being fathers. You're totally awesome."
"Thanks. What's brought this on?"
Scott shook his head and shrugged slightly.
"Just thinking how much time is passing by. Just yesterday dad came home, and now, suddenly, its nine years later. We're all getting older, the kids are getting bigger…how long will it be before we're passing on the reins of IR to our kids…assuming they're interested in taking it on, that is?"
Alan's mouth turned down.
"That's a bit heavy, isn't it? Mind you…it does seem as if time is speeding up somehow. Neil was born just a few months ago it seems, and now he's two years old. Virgil's triplets will be ten in just a few months. Ten!"
He peered at his elder brother's hair and picked out a silver strand from among the black.
"You're starting to show your age too. You should've gone for red hair like Johnny. They never turn grey!"
Scott laughed and ruffled Alan's hair in response.
"Don't be cheeky!"
Alan squawked and darted back out of reach, reaching up to tidy his hair again. Scott grinned.
"Some things never change."
They walked on in amiable silence for a while, until they heard the unmistakeable sound of FAB 1 taking off from Thunderbird 2's runway. The brothers looked at each other and grinned.
"Moffie won't know what's hit her, inviting Penny and Isla to help her look for a wedding outfit. I remember Sonia telling me…"
Alan's voice petered out suddenly, and he turned, staring out to sea, breathing deeply, as the sudden unexpected wave of grief washed over him.
Scott stood beside him, saying nothing, shoulders touching, waiting for Alan to centre himself once more.
Alan was annoyed with himself, but he simply couldn't help it. The two years since his wife Sonia's death seemed to have passed by in a flash. He was beginning to learn how to be without her, but he kept finding himself reminded of his loss at odd moments, the powerful emotion stealing all the breath from his lungs and the strength from his knees. He could feel Scott beside him, the wafts of sympathy emanating from him. With an effort he turned to his brother and managed a smile.
"I totally understand now why dad was the way he was after mom…you know."
"He still is sometimes."
Alan nodded, looking at his feet.
"I remember I used to think that dad would find things easier if he could find someone else to love. Someone who could help and comfort him at times when we can't. Now I understand better how difficult that would be."
"Oh, Alan!"
Scott slipped an arm around his little brother's shoulder and squeezed before steering him to the rocks on the shoreline and perching on one large flat rock. Alan sat amiably enough beside him.
"I'm okay Scott, really. It's just sometimes…" He broke off and shook his head. "I know it is possible to love again. Look at Virgil."
Alan turned to face him.
"Scott, does Virg ever…has he ever mentioned…?"
"Connie?"
Alan nodded. Scott shook his head.
"Not really. Not to me. He mentions her on occasion. You know, something she used to say or do, but Virgil prefers not to dwell on the past. When they were first married, Isla once told me that Virgil sometimes had dreams about Connie's murder and would wake up shaking and tearful. She never took it personally when he talked about her, or dreamt of her, because she knew exactly how devoted Virgil and Connie were to each other. She was patient with him and comforted him when he cried. As any loving wife would do. Those bad dreams lasted on and off for a few months, but I can tell you Alan, that Virgil is happier now than he has ever been despite…despite everything that happened in the past."
There was silence for a while. Finally, Scott shifted closer to his little brother and nudged him with his shoulder.
"What are you thinking about?"
Alan sniffed and raised his eyes.
"Tinara."
A light flickered in Scott's eyes.
"Tintin?"
"I…I really like her, Scott. I like her a lot…and I think…I don't know, but I think she likes me, only…"
"Only…what?"
"I'm scared."
Scott was sure he understood what Alan was saying, but he knew that his little brother needed to get it off his chest himself if he was ever to move forward with his life.
"Scared, kiddo?"
Alan nodded, ignoring a tear that slipped unbidden down his cheek.
"Scared that its too soon…that Sonia's family will hate me for betraying her…that she would hate me for forgetting her and…Connie's parents told Virgil to move on and find someone else, didn't they? Do…do you think Sonia would approve…or not be hurt if I ask Tintin out? Dad never managed to move on after losing mom. I don't want to be like that. I want to be like Virgil…learn to love someone else and be happy instead of…Scott, I miss Sonia so much!"
Tears ran unhindered down Alan's face, but after a moment, he took a deep breath, stood up and walked a few paces forward. Scott watched as Alan seemed to be talking softly, wiping his face with the back of his hand. Just a minute or so later, he turned around to face Scott.
He was smiling. Scott stepped forward and enfolded his littlest brother into a hug.
"I don't really know Sonia's family very well, but I knew your wife, Alan. Sonia would be very, very proud of you, and of the way you have been bringing up Neil. And I also know that Tintin will not be upset when you remember Sonia from time to time. She knows that Sonia is Neil's mother, and so will always have a very important place in your heart. Moving on doesn't mean leaving Sonia behind, Alan. It means carrying her with you in your heart, but not being afraid to let others in as well. Your heart is plenty large enough to love Tintin without forgetting about Sonia."
Tintin had a great time on the mainland with Isla and Penny helping Moffie to shop for her impending wedding. Naturally, it had brought up thoughts of Alan and Sonia to her mind, and seeing her expression, the girls had sat her down with a coffee and a doughnut and quizzed her. Not really to her surprise, Isla understood the most. Isla had squeezed her elbow gently.
"These Tracy men are nothing if not loyal." She reminded her. "When Virgil and I first met in the Hood's dungeon, every time he looked at me, he saw his dead fiancée. It took time for him to learn to see me instead of her, but now he only sees me. He remembers her, and even occasionally gets moments like father does, when something brings back a memory and he freezes. I give him space, I tell him I love him, and I make sure I am there for him when he wants me. As soon as Alan realizes that he is allowed to love again, he will come pounding on your door. But you will need to keep being patient with him."
Tintin nodded gratefully. She knew Alan liked her. Instinctively she knew it. She would wait. As long as it took, she would wait.
Five months later . . .
Tintin looked at herself in the full-length mirror. Alan had surprised her by suggesting they give their wedding a Malay theme. Dressed now in a long slender gown of heavily embroidered deep red brocade, with long slender sleeves and skirt that flared wide at the hips, and a sweetheart neckline. Alan also was wearing a Malay wedding suit lovingly crafted from the same material as her dress, handsomely embroidered around the sleeves and edges of his jacket.
The wedding was taking place in England at Creighton-Ward Manor, in part, so that Sonia's family as well as Virgil's parents-in-law would be able to attend.
Alan's father and brothers and their families all embraced the Malay theme with joy, so the spectacle was gorgeous and breath-taking as the happy couple joined their guests in the great hall for the ceremony.
Sonia's brother and his wife and children were also there, tears of mixed happiness and sadness in their eyes, as they watched the happy couple make their vows to one another.
Kayo sat beside her husband, Scott's hand entwined in her own, as they watched their siblings declare their everlasting love for one another, her baby sister, Scott's baby brother. Alan and Tintin. They both deserved this happiness. Neil already adored his new step-mother, and could be seen struggling to escape from Grandma's secure arms, to run to join his daddy and new momma.
"I do!" Alan felt like he wanted to shout those two words from the rooftops; but kept his voice and his eyes down toward his stunningly beautiful bride. Tintin kept her eyes steadily on him as she repeated her vows, their love for one another clear to be seen by everyone in the room. Alan remembered almost two and a half years ago, in this very room, repeating very similar words to another bride.
Sonia.
Sonia was gone, but she would never be forgotten. He had already, unbeknownst to her, seen Tintin with little Neil on her knees, showing him photos of his mother Sonia, and telling him all about her. Sharing with him her own memories of his mother.
Neil was too young yet to really understand, but Alan knew that the little boy would grow up knowing and loving his natural mother and loving his stepmother Tintin all the more for making sure she was always with him.
He waited as patiently as he could as his big brother John, presiding, told him proudly:
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride!"
Alan kissed Tintin long and full, then ignoring the room full of people, he wrapped his arms around her.
"I love you so much, wife."
She gave him her stunning smile.
"I love you, husband."
Hand in hand, they turned to face their guests.
Mr and Mrs. Alan Shepherd Tracy.
