While his father was being tended to in the island's infirmary, Aidan was being treated to a tour of the house by Gordon who the boy had taken a real shine to, they had already done the roundhouse and were now in the kitchen.

"It doesn't look used, do you guys eat?"

Gordon laughed, "you bet. But we have robots which clean up after every meal and our grandma keeps us on our toes doing chores like a normal family." He grinned, "despite being in an elite rescue organisation, we still have to maintain the house. It's not just a base."

Aidan smiled as Gordon poured a glass of juice for him, "thanks. Do you have gatherings and stuff? My mum is always throwing them."

"With close friends yeah."

Scott jogged down the steps whistling into the kitchen and grinned, "who's this?"

"I'm Aidan, my dad got hurt, he's in your medical room."

Scott clapped Gordon on the shoulder, "nice to meet you. Aww, you're making drinks Gordon? Thanks, brother."

"Make your own, I was serving our guest. Apparently, he loves Thunderbird 4."

Aidan nodded, "she's amazing, there was hardly any space down there yet she zipped through those caverns without any trouble."

Gordon shrugged, "I wouldn't have got anywhere without your help, Aidan."

"Thank science camp, not me. We were taught what to do in emergencies with basic equipment."

Scott raised his eyebrows impressed at the young boy, "you remind me very much of our brother Alan, he's on a mission in Thunderbird 3 at the moment."

Aidan's eyes turned to saucers, "will I get to meet him?"

"It depends what the mission is, he could be slow or take no time at all, he only went up an hour ago."

"Is my dad going to be okay?" Aidan asked quietly and Gordon smiled.

"He's going to be fine, he only needs a splint which Brains and Virgil are working on."

Scott nodded, "with those two he'll be better than okay."

"Thanks. You guys are awesome."

"Have you been upstairs yet?" Scott asked as he got a coke out of the fridge.

"We were just heading up, Scott."

"You fly Thunderbird 1 don't you?" Aidan grinned at the eldest who immediately straightened up slightly.

"That's right. Have you not been down to the hangars yet?"

"Yeah, but not up close to the Thunderbirds."

"I'll take you down myself, come on," Scott grinned as Aidan hopped down from the stool and followed him to the main lift. "Here we go," he pressed the down button and it shot down making Aidan gasp. "Sorry, we don't do things slowly here, I should've given you a heads up."

Gordon rolled his eyes, "I'll say, I think Aidan's heart is in his throat."

They walked out and into the main hangar where Thunderbird 1, S and 4 were housed. Aidan smiled as he took them all in and Scott pointed to Thunderbird 1 towering above them.

"There she is."

"Wow, I've only heard about her, I never thought I'd see her up close!"

"What do you think?" Scott leant against the base resting his hand on her tail.

"I think she's incredible, but..."

Gordon jumped in, "no don't say but, you'll get him on a rant!"

"If the kid has an opinion Gordon, I want to hear it."

"But I still prefer Thunderbird 4," Aidan laughed as Gordon punched the air. "I really like your ship Scott, it's just, yellow is my favourite colour."

"And that's that," Gordon grinned as he led Aidan over to the tank. "And here she is."

Aidan placed his hand against the glass, "I love it, and helping it find us by using my own radio beam was even cooler."

Virgil walked into the hangar with Robert who was on crutches, "all fixed Aidan."

"Dad!" Aidan ran over and wrapped his arms around his dad's waist making the boys smile.

"Ready to go home, son? Mum will be worried sick."

"Naw, I haven't seen Thunderbird 2 up close yet."

"Yes you did Aidan," Robert laughed as he ruffled his son's hair.

Virgil smiled, "I'll get the ship ready. Scott, could you take them to the passenger elevator?"

"FAB, follow me guys."

Virgil ran ahead as Gordon posed for a photo with Aidan with Thunderbird 4 behind them.

"Now, do you promise you won't share that on the web?"

"I promise Gordon, oh and say hi to Alan for me."

Gordon laughed, "will do."

"Thanks."

Scott smiled as Aidan left Gordon behind and helped his dad into the lift, "ready guys?"

"Thank you, Mr Tracy," Robert smiled as he rubbed his son's shoulder. "You've made his day, and thank Brains again for fixing up my leg."

"Will do, here's hoping for a speedy recovery," Scott nodded as the doors closed and the lift rose up into Thunderbird 2 where Virgil had got changed and completed the flight checks.

"You guys ready?" He asked as Aidan sat down beside him in the co-pilot chair.

"FAB."

Virgil grinned, "and I already enjoy you being my co-pilot more than Gordon. Stand by for launch."

The engines purred and Thunderbird 2 rumbled out of the hangar, Aidan watched mesmerised as the row of palm trees fell back against the ground and they reached the end of the gravel path onto a ramp, he couldn't help but let out a small wahoo as the ship lifted off and climbed into the sky.

"ETA to England, 50 minutes."

"This is incredible," Robert smiled. "How's the view, Aidan?"

"I love it! Can I help fly her Virgil?"

Virgil smirked as he looked ahead, "you see that lever?"

Aidan looked down at the levers Virgil was pointing to beside his leg, "uh-huh?"

"Push that one forward."

Aidan gripped the lever and pushed it hesitantly, "like this?"

"Go for it."

Aidan pushed it and the ship lurched to top speed, "whoa!"

Virgil grinned, "nice one. Thunderbird 4 doesn't have this power."

Robert laughed, "sorry Mr Tracy, but even flying a new ship won't shake his love for the submarine."

Aidan smiled apologetically, "I still love your ship Virgil, but I would have done anything to drive 4. The only trouble is there's only space for Gordon and I'm not qualified."

Virgil smiled warmly back at him, "no insult whatsoever. Thunderbird 4 is extremely important to the fleet, Scott's ship hmm not so much, but don't tell him that."

Aidan giggled, "I won't."

They landed just outside Aidan's village and Virgil helped Robert down to the ground where Aidan's mum was waiting with the car.

"Diane? How did you?"

"Someone named Sally from International Rescue called ahead."

Virgil smirked, "all part of the service."

Diane hugged her son close then turned to Virgil, "thank you for rescuing my family."

"My pleasure, get well soon Mr Roberts."

"Thank you. Come on Aidan, we can't make Virgil wait here too long."

Virgil smiled then went back up to the cockpit as the car drove away, "International Rescue from Thunderbird 2?"

"Go ahead Virgil?" Scott replied and music accompanied him.

"Hey, are you playing my piano?"

"Yep."

"I'm on my way home. If you see Grandma, tell her that I owe her a tea or something for calling Aidan's mum ahead of our landing."

Scott frowned at him, "okay, but will she get what you mean?"

"Yes, definitely."

"Alright, see you in an hour."

"FAB. And Scott?"

"Yeah?"

"Stay out of my new music."

"Too late."

Virgil cursed as Scott laughed, "see you."

It was always good when a mission went well and this one had gone exceptionally well; a family reunited, criminals arrested and both he and Gordon had returned home safely which always made Grandma's day. So he never minded flying solo on the way home because his thoughts were happy as he listened to the comforting drone of his ship's engines taking him back to the island. When he walked into the lounge Scott was still playing but more people had joined him in the lounge, Alan and Gordon were at the pool table arguing and the eldest was just trying to drown them out with his melodies. Virgil walked up to the piano and snatched the music book off the stand much to Scott's annoyance.

"It is mine you know?" Virgil smirked.

"But I can't play by ear."

"Yes you can," he looked down at the music. "This is tricky stuff, Scott."

Scott shrugged as he stretched his fingers, "it's not that difficult."

"I did this for my grade 8."

"Grandma says you're welcome."

"Thanks."

"And how is Robert Williams?"

"He's absolutely fine, and I let his son have a go at flying Thunderbird 2."

"Did he crash her?"

Virgil laughed, "hmm let's see? I'm home so that's a yes."

"Very funny."

"No, he only pushed her thrusters, I wasn't going to let him take complete control."

Scott sat back on the piano stool, "want it?"

Virgil nodded, "if you wouldn't mind?"

"All yours," Scott stood up and joined his brothers at the table grabbing a cue as Virgil sat down on the stool resting his foot against the pedal before choosing a piece to play.

"Perfect," he began to play Fly by Einaudi and the others stopped gaming to listen.