Scott stood alone in the office, reports for the day and financial analyses left on the desk while he looked out over the patio and swimming pool. He fondly watched the two ladies sitting side-by-side sunning themselves, their rotund bellies shielded by silken wraps. Pink and dark emerald green. No explanations needed.
He watched as Gordon came outside carrying a tray with four drinks on it and make himself comfortable next to his wife. He passed one to Penny who then passed one on Kayo. A small, contented sigh escaped Scott at the sight.
Virgil and Gordon had proved closer than anyone could have thought. Married within a week of each other, babies due within a week of each other, it seemed the FishTank, as some of their fans were calling them, really were a duo.
Changes were a never-ending source of both pleasure and worry, and once Dad had returned with them, almost two years ago now, some changes had been inevitable. Gordon and Penny, huh. That had been no surprise to anyone, except for possibly Alan and Dad.
No, the surprise had been Virgil and Kayo. A late-night drinking session after a mandated weekend off – it was good to have Dad back, and one of the first things he'd done is taken one look at the sheer number of callouts and mandated x-number of callouts in y-period then 48 hours off – one late night drinking session was all it took.
Virgil was somehow labouring under the misconception that Scott had a thing for Kayo. And that it was reciprocated. There was a lot of howling laughter and tears from the big brother before Virgil realised he'd read the situation totally wrong. Scott smiled at the memory, the total look of shock on his brother's face as he cracked up laughing. Virgil never looked back, and Scott had never seen either of them so happy.
He was happy. Despite Gordon's half-ass attempts to set him up with some of Penny's friends, despite some of the snide remarks people outside the family made about eldest son status meaning he should be producing an heir to his father's business. All he ever wanted was for his brothers to be happy. And safe, of course, but that was never going to be a solid he could rely on, not in their line of work.
A hand on his shoulder, and Scott broke out into a grin. 'Happy being a watcher, Scott?' He sighed and nodded. 'Absolutely, John. Just like I know you are.' John snorted. He'd never made any bones about his orientation, but Scott? He remembered so clearly lying to their dad while Scott was out past curfew with one girl or other.
Still, his brother had not really been one for one-night stands or whatever else people were calling it these days. It had always been a relationship, not some passing fancy. Hell, whilst he was in the Air Force, he'd had just the one girlfriend, and John had thought that they might even marry.
But then came The Incident. Then came International Rescue. Then went their Dad, and Scott had no time for such considerations. The others still thought that Scott would find someone and settle down, have lots of kids and do the whole family thing, but John wasn't so sure.
'I am, and I always have been, that's true. Are you, though?' Scott's grin, if anything, just got wider. He missed his chats with John. Growing up, it had been him and John and Virgil against the world, and while he was closest to Virgil in many things, there was a unique understanding the two eldest possessed.
'You know, if someone had said to me that I would not miss having a significant other, or sex, when we were teens, I probably would have laughed in their face. But it's true. I don't need someone else to make my life complete – I have all of you. I don't have the spare space, either physically, mentally or emotionally, to add another person, and I am quite alright about that.' If any of them were going to understand that it was John.
John nodded. Scott's whole world for so much of his life had revolved around them, he was not surprised that there was no further need. Scott was nearly 30, and for over a third of his life he had been a parental figure to them, either literally in Alan's and to some extent Gordon's case, or by proxy in his and Virgil's case. He snorted unintentionally, and Scott turned to look at him, a quizzical look on his face.
'I just suddenly pictured Kit Cavanaugh doing one of her "reports just in" slots. "Reports just in have confirmed that two of the world's most eligible bachelors are officially off the market. It has finally been confirmed that Scott and John Tracy, eldest two sons of multi-billionaire Jeff Tracy, have no intentions of marriage or children. Millions of people around the world are in mourning."'
By the time John had finished his skit both he and Scott were laughing. Getting themselves under control, they turned to watch their younger brothers relaxing with their wives.
Their family was changing again, and definitely for the better, and Scott and John would enjoy the ride while it lasted.