Gordon had grumbled all the way to the doctor's office. Kayo had just raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. The injury, a relatively minor one, was examined, poked and photographed. A copy of the examination would be sent to International Rescue, who would pass it to their lawyers to handle. They would be the ones to decide whether to pursue a case or not. There was yet another groan from Gordon when he realised he would be going the whole way home in the pod.

"You know with your erratic flying style I could have made it appear worse."

"Considering the cameras that caught the incident were still rolling, it would have just gotten your case thrown out."

"Can you at least fly a little steadier? It doesn't look good to have an aquanaut throw up due to motion sickness."

Kayo smirked at the idea, though she had noticed the pod was swinging a fair amount during the ride over.

"I'll try repositioning the clamps. The waves made it hard to get them evenly spread."

"Thanks Kayo."

Kayo watched the green pod swallow up her brother before jogging over to her craft and agilely jumping into the pilot's seat. The pleasure of an individualised cockpit couldn't be understated. Her hands naturally and comfortably landed on the controls, everything was at the right eye level for her and her body moulded into the seat allowing her to become one with the stealth ship. Shadow rose from the ground smoothly and the gentle vibrations from the ultra quiet engines radiated through her body. Once above the pod, she released the worst two magnets. She carefully manoeuvred the Thunderbird to tug on the cords and reposition them. With the magnets as even as she would be able to get them, Kayo guided her craft towards the sky. The engines complained at the extra weight, but she knew her Thunderbird could handle it. Sending more power to the engines, the pod slowly rose from the ground. Once at a safe altitude she turned the controls so the craft was pointing toward the designated path home. It wasn't long until she deposited the pod onto the runway before docking her own ship. She didn't rush, knowing Brains' and Grandma would have the pod moved and Gordon bustled up to the house. Post-flight checks complete, she took the elevator to her room and changed. Having heard Grandma Sally call out that she was going to put the pizzas on, Kayo headed straight to the kitchen to check on them. A smile grew across her face as she caught sight of the spicy vegetarian pizza Grandma put in for her. Kayo turned down the temperature and switched the setting from one to three hoping it wasn't too late to save the food. The edges were already burning but the middle somehow appeared still frozen.

"How are they doing?"

"Hopefully another five minutes and we can eat."

"Fantastic, and how about yourself?"

"Me? I'm fine."

The woman put her hands on her hips and Kayo knew that meant trouble. She'd given the wrong answer.

"Really now, Kayo. I wasn't born yesterday."

Kayo had had enough teenage standoffs with the woman to know when she was going to win or lose the battle. This was definitely a losing situation. Checking the pizzas again, she spoke to the oven.

"Dad hasn't reached out yet."

The loving sympathy that softened Sally's face made Kayo feel like a teenager again. It was like that week all over again. Sally had supported her throughout, very much like what Kayo thought a mother would do. Kayo found herself being held, a faint familiar scent of lavender wafted from the jumpsuit as she rested her cheek against a warm shoulder. Her own arms reached around lightly to reciprocate.

"I'm sorry, Kayo. The Kyrano I knew would have by now. He'd have wanted to mend bridges."

Kayo squeezed the woman harder, her heart hurting just as it did over eight years ago when he'd first left her here. Her father knew exactly where she was, she hadn't left. Part of her knew she was still waiting for him to return. She desired to have a blood relative who wasn't trying to destroy her family, but he hadn't shown his face since. Like the boys, her father was the only parent she had left, but unlike Jeff who couldn't return, her father deliberately didn't.
The warmth of Sally's hug was soothing and Kayo was glad to have shared her thoughts, but she had to break away. She turned off the oven. Grabbing large plates, she slipped the pizzas onto them and deposited them onto the island counter. The edges were a little on the crispy side but the centers were now bubbling. A few snips with a large set of scissors had them in triangles. With a jug of water in one hand, she carried one up to the living room where Gordon and Jeff occupied a sofa.

"Is that a Hawaiian pizza I smell?"

Gordon's eyes glistened as Kayo put the plate on the round table. A deep red bruise was forming around the socket of what was going to become a black eye. His hands had a slice in them before she could answer. Grandma placed the other two down, before heading downstairs for glasses. Kayo grabbed a slice of her favourite as Jeff took a piece of the pepperoni one. They all munched away in contented silence, only interrupted by John giving them an update, a jealous eye on the food. Pizza didn't do well in space.

"There's plenty in the freezer if you want one."

John was about to respond when his name was called from behind him. It appeared Scott was in need of some assistance and John gave a curt FAB before vanishing. Kayo collected up the empty plates and put them in the dishwasher, taking a detour to the freezer before heading back up. Dumping the tub of vanilla ice cream, bowls, spoons and array of toppings on the table they all started to help themselves to dessert.

"It's a shame Penelope had to nip to New Zealand this evening, it would have been lovely to have her join us."

"Penelope's a little fussy when it comes to pizza, Dad. Only the best Italian style will do, anyway she'll be back tomorrow."

"I'm sure she'll adore your black eye."

Kayo received a glare from her brother, who then turned back to his sprinkle coated ice cream.

"As long as it's gone for the gala we're attending, I'll be okay. Bruises are not a gentleman's friend. Last time she covered it up with makeup, so I looked great, but I'd rather not have to go through the hassle again."

"I don't see any medical reason why it'll still be there for the gala, Gordon."

Gordon beamed at Sally, his eyes sparkling as they often did. He was the most expressive of her brothers, his demeanour often a reflection of his mood. There were still subtle cues that let you know there was something else happening beneath it all, which Kayo knew by heart. She didn't always act on them. Gordon would normally talk when he was ready, and like everyone else on the island, he had different people he went to depending on the problem.

"So ladies and gentleman, what's the plan for tonight?"

Jeff clapped his hands together in anticipation. It was the man's first weekend home and he was so eager to be part of everything. Kayo couldn't blame him, this was his family and home which he'd longed to see again. She was certain there must have been times when the man's hope had wavered. Even if his determination would have come back stronger, there must have been times out there on the edge of their solar system when doubt crept up on him. Yet those blue eyes still sparkled.

"How about a good old board game? I know I've got a few programmed into the holoprojector."

Gordon groaned from his sofa, but one glance at his father made him go through the holosettings.

"As long as it's not Monopoly."

"I have a new deck for Trivial Pursuit!"

"I wouldn't stand a chance, Mum. I've missed eight years of the latest gossip."

"Cluedo?" Kayo suggested.

"You're way too good at that one." Gordon retorted.

"The Game of Life it is then!"

After everyone surveyed the circle waiting for someone to dispute the choice. Though no one was particularly enthusiastic there was no shooting it down. By John's next update, the four of them were battling it out to see who could have the best life. Almost two hours later, Jeff was a divorced millionaire with one daughter and a fish while Gordon had four children, a burnt down house and was basically broke. Kayo had managed to forgo marriage and filled her house with two dogs and a cat, though Sally came second with a comfortable retirement fund, thanks to the untimely death of her insured husband, and two daughters who she was adamant visited every week.

It was getting late so they decided it was time to relax in front of a movie. After some muttering and debate on action over thriller, the four of them settled down to watch Macy's Crime, a thriller released four years ago that Jeff had put in his 'to watch' list. Cold cola was served, the sweet stash raided and the living room transcended into quiet, with only the odd cracking wrapper distracting from the film. Kayo and Sally had seen it before, it was an interesting premise with an intriguing and not entirely obvious twist at the end. She knew it wouldn't be Gordon's type of film and half an hour in he started to fidget. Thankfully he wasn't too loud and Jeff had fallen asleep just before they were halfway through. Gordon paused the film. Every eye was on the old astronaut. He didn't stir.

"Shall we leave him be?"

Sally nodded, waving her hand to shoo the pair away so she could tend to her son. Kayo and Gordon scarpered to the 'games room'. It was really a second living room but had been lovingly named by the occupants based on how often Alan had been found there with a VR headset over his eyes and shouting at someone else in a game. Gordon immediately turned on the projector and flicked over to the discovery channel where a documentary on sea life was being broadcast. Soon the presenter's soothing tones filled the room.

"I know you like thrillers, but that really wasn't my thing."

"I know."

"Dad wanted to watch it so badly though. I'll never understand why. Haven't we been through enough weird stuff already?"

"Let him like what he likes. He's probably seen all the fluffy ones at the facility."

"I just don't understand thrillers."

"I don't understand Buddy and Ellie, but I still let you watch the show in my presence."

"You have no taste."

"Says the man who munches Celery Crunch bars."

As if to make a point, Gordon reached beneath the seat and retrieved a bar. He bit down on it harder than necessary, only to wince slightly.

"Please don't tell me you've broken a tooth."

"No, just jarred my jaw."

The room fell silent for a few minutes, both of them focusing on the silvery fish that filled the projection. Kayo had always been happy to indulge in a documentary with Gordon, particularly because his obsession with water meant they never displayed a butterfly on-screen. Had he been into land based ecology, she wouldn't be so accommodating.

"Do you think Dad has changed?"

Gordon's face beside her was serious, a hesitancy could be seen in his eyes. There was a little tension in his arm muscles as he gripped a red cushion to his chest. Kayo was surprised he'd opened up to her and not Virgil.

"Yes," Kayo knew that wasn't what Gordon had wanted to hear, "but who wouldn't? He's been alone for years, not knowing when someone was going to come for him, trying to survive on the little resources he had available."

"What do you see that's different?"

"He's not as confident as he used to be. Despite this being his home, he's sometimes hesitant. He listens more and often he struggles to follow along, however I've seen him improve over the past month.."

"He seems friendlier, less uptight and demanding."

"I agree."

"There were times when I was scared to admit things to Dad. Like when I wanted to swim seriously, but now it feels like I could marry a whale and he'd be happy with it."
"I doubt he'd be that okay with it, but his priorities have changed."

"You've been talking with Grandma haven't you?"

"I have," Kayo gritted her teeth at the statement, "but she's known Jeff the longest. She knows how he's always been and can see how he's changed. She has the most free time on her hands, and thus has spent the most time with him."

Gordon didn't respond, his face turned to the documentary that she was sure he'd seen before.

"He's still your Dad. Yes, he's not quite the same, but neither are you. Last time he saw you, you were a teenager, still wildly testing his boundaries and discovering yourself. Now you're a young adult with a stable job, a girlfriend and more experience of the medical system than one person should have. You've matured and grown without him seeing the steps that got you there. You were a seedling he'd nurtured when he left and now you're a tree with fruit. It's hard for him to put the two together sometimes."

The raised eyebrow and quirked mouth told Kayo he found her explanation amusing.

"A seedling to a tree, ay?"

"Don't push it."

Hands were thrown up in surrender.

"I know when not to poke a bear."

"I'm a WHAT?"

"It's just a turn of phrase, like let sleeping lions lie."

Her brother was ready to flee, ready for the 'bear' to chase him away. It wouldn't be the first time Kayo chased him around the villa, screaming profanities at the aquanaut's back, but today she didn't fancy it. She'd let this one slide, as long as he toed the line for the rest of the night.

"Look, just be glad he's back. You're luckier than most."

Kayo knew Gordon would hear the meaning in her words, he had an annoying habit of picking up her undertones. She also knew he wouldn't push her on the topic, knowing she would have spoken it aloud if she wanted it acknowledged. The pair settled down to watch the next documentary from the start, occasionally exchanging words about what was happening. The rest of the evening was a calm one.