The pan sizzled releasing the most beautiful aroma into the air. Wafts of star anise, cardamom and clove seeped into Kayo's nose as she let her shoulders relax. It was an old family recipe that she knew would fill her up and keep her going through the long night ahead. She wouldn't normally eat this early, but she needed to be halfway around the world in two hours' time and the last thing she wanted to be while following a target was hungry. Adding water to the pan, she left the meat to simmer and turned her attention to the rice cooker as footsteps entered the room behind her.

"Kayo!"

Closing the lid, Kayo smiled down at her nephew, who had quickly appeared at her side. A dimpled grin greeted her as he cuddled her legs.

"It can't be your dinner time already, can it?"

Kayo feigned surprise knowing exactly how to raise a giggle from the young Tracy boy.

"Yes."

The heart-warming chuckles that followed filled the room. After turning on the rice cooker, Kayo knelt down and picked up the toddler.

"What's Daddy going to cook you then?"

They turned to Scott, who ruffled his son's hair as he passed by on the way to the cupboard. She knew Scott all too well. The man could only prepare the simplest of meals, though becoming a father had forced him to branch out a little, his repertoire was still limited. Like all the Tracy boys, he found it easier to grab something from the freezer and throw it in the oven.

"Tomato pasta."

Kayo rolled her eyes at the lack inventiveness. The poor kid was going to have the blandest diet on the island. Dancing with her squirming nephew, she watched as Scott filled a pan with boiling water and dropped a large portion of pasta into it. The boy's hand pushed against her shoulder, digging in uncomfortably.

"Put him down, Kayo. Get the mat out and give him a toy."

Her nephew settled at the sight of the mat, which Kayo threw only to floor by the window. The wind was creating gentle waves that rippled along the surface of the water, reflecting the setting sun as Kayo let the boy climb down from her. He obviously thought she was distracted and had tried to wander towards his father, but Kayo caught his arm. It was not safe to have him in the kitchen when cooking.

"No. You stay on the mat."

The young face screwed up into a frown, his little brow furrowed and lips pouting in the same way Alan used to. Kayo wondered if Scott had done the same as a child. Trying not to laugh at his expression, she stared the boy down.

"No leaving the mat."

The child plonked himself down, crossing his arms in a huff. Grabbing the bag from the cupboard, she opened it and placed it by the unhappy child. Leaving him be, Kayo headed to the fridge to retrieve the half can of coconut milk, while also grabbing the pot of leftover boiled vegetables from the previous day. Scott had just tipped a jar of sauce into a pan for warming. Kayo placed the pot beside him.

"Pop these in the sauce so he can at least have some vegetables today."

"Brilliant idea, Kayo."

"I'm just looking out for him."

She nodded towards her nephew, who had decided the best course of action was to empty out the entire bag of toys and scatter them around. Stepping up to her pot, she stirred the coconut milk into her curry, giving it a taste before adding a little more salt. As Scott drained his pasta, Kayo retrieved three plates, one plastic for her nephew, and placed them on the side. Stepping back, she watched Scott mix in the sauce and plate up. He slipped cutlery into his hand and grabbed the steaming plates, before heading to the table. Her nephew left the mat to follow his father. Scott helped his son onto a chair, before sitting beside him. Seeing the two of them together like this, always made her smile. Scott was such an attentive father, wanting to spend time with his son. Her nephew was a lucky boy, his father would do everything in his power to give him the best life. Everyone on the island wanted that. He was loved dearly by the whole family. They would never abandon him.

The rice cooker beeped, bringing Kayo out of her thoughts. Dishing up her own dinner, she joined the pair at the table. Her nephew had a fork in one hand, stabbing the pasta occasionally. By the red stain around his mouth, it was obvious he was enjoying his food. His fingers reached in and fished out a carrot, which he munched on happily. Kayo scooped up a forkful of her own food, the rich spices dancing across her taste buds from the first bite. The aroma filled her nose ad the heat of the chillies warmed her insides. Out the corner of her eye, she saw curious eyes staring at her plate. A mucky hand pointed at it.

"Dinner."

"No, that's Kayo's dinner. This is your dinner."

Her nephew continued to reach out, the pasta on his plate forgotten. His lips puckered, a sure sign a tantrum was on the way.

"He can have a bite if he wants. It'll be good for him to try something new."

Before Scott could say anything, Kayo scooped up some chicken and rice and deposited it on the boy's plate. His eyes were on it immediately, though his fingers picked up the chicken tentatively. Scott gave Kayo a glare.

"If he gets an upset stomach, I'll…"

"He'll be fine, Scott. The chillies won't hurt him."

Scott continued to glare, and Kayo rolled her eyes. Sometimes he could be way too protective. Continuing her dinner, she kept an eye on her nephew. The boy had studied the chicken before taking a small bite. He chewed it, making a face at first, before taking another small bite. There was a look of uncertainty in the boy's face as he continued to eat, becoming increasingly uncomfortable. Halfway through, the first tear slipped from his eye and Scott shot to the kitchen. He returned with a cup of milk, which he made his son drink. Scott tried to take the last of the chicken away from the boy, but he fussed and refused to let go. The chicken went straight back to his mouth, the child stubbornly trying to eat it despite the heat. The look Scott shot her was one of murder, but she just shrugged. He was the one who had a stubborn Tracy for a son. Scott coaxed his son to take regular sips of milk and the tears slowed as the rice was eaten. There was a visible relaxation in Scott when his son had finished Kayo's offering, though her nephew looked disappointed when he realised Kayo's plate was now clear.

"He actually seemed to like the curry."

"Why so surprised, it's delicious."

"Does it freeze well?"

"You want me to make some batches for you to freeze, so you can be lazy and just pull them out and heat them up?"

It amused Kayo to see the sheepish look that crossed Scott's face, but she was teasing him. Anyone could see how hard it was for Scott to juggle parenting and International Rescue. Anyway, she would never deprive her nephew of a good homecooked meal, not when it was very little work on her part.

"I'll make a batch with less chillies in and freeze it when I get the chance."

"Thank you, Kayo."

She gave Scott a quick smile as she got down from the table, empty plate in hand. Placing it in the dishwasher, she rinsed all the pans and stacked them inside too. Popping a detergent tab in the drawer, she closed it without turning it on. It was time to go get ready for the night ahead.

"Dishwasher is all set up and ready to go."

Kayo threw the comment over her shoulder as she climbed the stairs. Scott had long finished his dinner but was still encouraging his son to eat. The boy would still be here tomorrow when she would hopefully be back. It would be something to look forward to after an intense night of shadowing and interrogating suspicious GDF personnel.