From a tumblr prompt by LadyRazorsharp and Godsliltippy

'Darling, have you seen my tie?'

'The blue one?'

'No, the grey one, my uniform tie?'

'Sorry, no. I don't know where that is.'

'Oh, It's ok, I found it.'

'Do you need your dress shoes, the Oxford ones?'

'Um, I think I need the black ones, not the brown ones.'

'The black ones are your Oxfords, the brown ones are Cambridge brogues.'

'Right. Then yes, please.'

Scott and John sat on the large couch, listening to their parents yelling weird stuff at each other. John, at almost two, was fascinated by the noise, and sat there listening, mouth slightly open and eyes wide.

Scott, at three, understood a little more about what was going on. He was not happy and had played his parents up quite badly last night. Hence why Jeff and Lucy were running around this morning to finish Jeff's packing that should have been done last night.

Daddy was going away and he wasn't taking them with him.

The thought caused Scott to frown. Both Jeff and Lucy had sat him down at various points over the last few days, trying to help him understand what was going on, but all Scott seemed to latch onto was that his dad was going away for a long time and he was not going with him. Mentions of work, of the moon, of being able to see Daddy over the TV didn't really mean much.

Eventually Jeff had finished packing and come downstairs to find Lucy getting John ready for lunch. He would have just enough time to eat this last meal with his family before leaving for the airport, and he intended to make the most of it. Scott had been so unhappy, so upset – distraught even – that he was going away and he really wanted to help his eldest understand.

But Scott wasn't at the kitchen table. And when Lucy called him there was no answer. A quick run through every room and no Scott materialised. Lucy sighed. When her eldest was in a mood there was often nothing they could do but wait it out. He had a temper on him, but fortunately such occurrences rarely lasted long.

Lunch was thus a little more subdued than Jeff had hoped his last meal with his family for the next eight months would go, but John kept peppering him with questions while Virgil was finding delight in throwing his food around rather than eating it, and the time flew by.

God, he was going to miss this.

Jeff made his way up to collect his suitcase. Huh. He was sure he had zipped it up. No matter. He zipped it up and lugged it off the bed. It was heavier than he anticipated but he knew he had no weight limit so he pushed the thought from his mind and made his way downstairs and to the car. Placing the case on the back seat where Scott usually sat pained him, but he strapped the case in and shut the door.

Time now for last goodbyes.

'Scott? Scott! Scott!' No reply

'Scott Carpenter Tracy you better present yourself down here right this minute or you'll be in trouble, mister!' Still no reply.

Lucy and Jeff exchanged sad glances. Jeff needed to go now if he was to have a leisurely journey to the airport. 'Don't worry, love, I'll talk to him when I find him, and he'll be so sorry he didn't get a chance to say goodbye.' Jeff nodded, ruffled John's hair which elicited a grin, kissed Virgil on the nose and hugged and kissed his wife.

And he was off.

He hadn't gone far when a small noise caught his attention. Jeff frowned, wondering what it was, but it had stopped. Giving himself a shake he carried on.

There it was again. Huh.

And again.

Something was…giggling?

He glanced in his mirror at the back of the car. Nothing but his suitcase. As the thought crossed his mind his suitcase moved.

And giggled.

Jeff turned the car and did a circuit of the block. It was a large circuit, what with the farm on one end and the road continuing into town before he had chance to loop back.

And all the while the suitcase let out intermittent giggles.

When he got to the crossroads he pulled up and grabbed his phone, texting Lucy to come outside and meet him. And then carried on his way until once again he was in front of the farmhouse and Lucy was waiting with John and Virgil.

Pulling up, he loudly announced that he had arrived, turned off the engine and came around and grabbed the suitcase off the seat. There was more giggles as he thumped it down on the ground.

Unzipping it revealed exactly what he thought it would.

Curled up on his dress jacket was his three-year-old son, eyes bright, giggling his head off. Jeff couldn't help but smile back.

'Come on Scotty, out you get.' And he pulled his boy out into a hug before setting him on his feet.

'Did you enjoy your trip?' There was a solemn nod. Jeff crouched down and put both hands on Scott's shoulders.

'I need you to look after your Mom and your brothers for me while I'm gone, Ok? You're going to be the man of the house and I'm relying on you, son.'

Blue eyes regarded him for a moment. Then arms reached out.

'Ok, Daddy. I will.'

The hug was tight and Jeff definitely had a tear in his eye as he drove away. Looking in the rear view mirror he could see his beautiful wife, baby Virgil on her hip and, John on her left and Scott running after the car, arms waving.

This was not going to get easier, leaving them as the boys grew up. Maybe it was time to think about an Earth-bound job.