A/N: I don't use a beta reader, so note...all mistakes and errors are my own.

Comments appreciated, but don't forget - be kind and no flames!

Much Love!

Sad-Blue-Eyed0-Angel 2010

The next week passed by quickly. Alan and Fermat both pushed themselves harder, going the extra mile and striving for that elusive next step that previously seemed so out of reach. Fermat beamed as he huddled under the afghan that grandma Ruth knitted for him and he even took to draping over his shoulders and treating it like it was his cape. He smiled more to himself before he stood from the side of his hospital bed and walked across the room to pick up his housecoat from where it was draped across the back of the recliner in the corner of the room.

Alan was in the bathroom, a nurse with him declaring that he needed to take a shower before going home. Fermat slid his arms into the sleeves of his housecoat and folded his handcrafted afghan into a neat square before he laid it in the center of his bed. He walked over to one of the tuf-n-ready containers and looked into it's depths to see one of the many gifts he'd gotten from his family and friends during his stay in the hospital. Reaching in, Fermat paused for a moment as he looked at his hand and gazed closely at it, seeing some of the lingering scarring that healed over. He hadn't needed as many surgeries as Alan had needed, the surgeries he had needed could be hidden under most of his clothing. Unless he decided to wear shorts, which living where they lived was the most common type of clothing.

Without preamble, Fermat pinched a section of his pant leg and raised the hemline of the leg of his pajama bottoms. He looked down at his leg and memorized the way his leg looked. He had a jagged line running down the length of his leg from his knee to just above his ankle. Bending at the waist, Fermat ran his free hand down his leg and felt the difference in the way the muscle felt. He knew he'd probably always be self-conscious of his leg, not that he wasn't already self-conscious enough about the way he looked or the way his baby fat still made him look chubby. Shaking his head, Fermat forced his thoughts away from his leg and how that would forever impact the rest of his life and he released his pantleg.

There was no use living in the past. If there had been a way to prevent the fire or prevent him and Alan getting injured as badly as they had, they probably already would have taken the steps necessary. But there hadn't been anything they could do at the time. Fermat looked back up from where his gaze had previously been directed at his leg. He smiled at one of the many nurses in the facility that walked past the open door, before heaving a sigh of happiness. With the sigh, Fermat ventured out of his and Alan's room and wandered through the halls to absorb the memories and to say his good-byes to the other patients that he and Alan had steadily gotten to know at the new facility since they moved to Blythedale.

A few of the nurses greeted Fermat and one or two came around the front desk to give him a hug goodbye before they returned back to work. It took Fermat a total of twenty minutes to finish his walk around the facilities and saying his farewells. When he returned to his and Alan's room, Fermat found Alan sitting on the side of his bed. His hair was sticking up in wet spikes and he wasn't wearing his usual hospital issued clothes, but instead he was wearing lounge pants and a pair of slippers and a long sleeve t-shirt.

"H-Hey Alan." Fermat said in greeting as he entered the room and sat across from Alan on his own bed. "You r-ready to g-get out of h-here?"

"I am…I'm so ready you don't even know." Alan replied as he looked around the room taking it all. Gone were the various bits and bobs that decorated Alan and Fermat's room and after some silence Fermat gave a reply back to Alan's earlier comment.

"I t-think I do k-know." Fermat said before his dad and two of Alan's brothers rounded the corner. Scott was pushing a wheelchair for Alan while Brains was pushing a wheelchair for Fermat to sit in. Once they'd entered the room, Scott traded places with Virgil and he walked over to pick up the box full of Alan and Fermat's belongings. He was surprised that there was so little in the box and he did a cursory glance though he knew most of the boys' belongings that hadn't been destroyed in the fire had already been boxed up a few days prior to their discharge in preparation of the imminent release.

"Are you two ready to go?" Virgil inquired as he locked the brakes on the wheelchair meant for Alan. Brains did the same for Fermat's wheelchair, before going silent as both boys moved to their designated wheelchairs. Once they were both settled, the group moved through the doorway. It was quiet as the group traveled down the hall, all of them distracted with their thoughts of how far Alan and Fermat have come in their recovery since the fire. It'd been 167 days since the fire occurred and tore their life as they knew it apart. Scott thought back to the welcome home sign that he, his brothers and Tin-Tin decorated and found his thoughts circling around the number John calculated. 305 days since Alan and Fermat left for school, 10 months and 1 day since they'd been home for longer than the weekend or a couple days. It seemed like forever and a day to Scott.

Virgil led the small group to the elevator that would take them to the main floor, delivering them just a little bit closer to the front desk where Jeff was hard at work signing discharge papers for Alan and Fermat. When they arrived at the front desk, Brains halted their descent to take over for Jeff in signing the rest of the papers for Fermat's release. The sooner they finished, the sooner they could leave. Almost five more minutes passed before the last papers were signed and with it familiar faces rounded the corner and took everyone by surprise.

"Dr. Andreesen!" Alan said with surprise before holding his hand up to shake the doctor's hand in greeting. Behind Dr. Andreesen was Karen and three other nurses that had been the sole providers for Alan and Fermat when they were at their worst and had the patience of saints. Karen was carrying a small parting gift for Alan while one of the other nurses had another for Fermat. They placed the pull string bags chock full of candies, snack packs, books, road trip games and a variety of other goodies and gifts in the boys' laps. "You all didn't need to say goodbye, we'd have come to you."

"We know, but we figured it'd be a good excuse to get out of the hospital to come visit." Karen said, speaking for them all as she stepped around Dr. Andreesen to hug Fermat and Alan. "I for one couldn't wait to say goodbye to two of my favorite patients. I know I'll miss seeing your smiling faces everyday but I'm happy to see you both going home. I know how much you both have longed to go home."

"We'll m-miss you t-too." Fermat said his eyes growing misty as he started saying his goodbyes to the small group that came from the other hospital to say their farewells. It wasn't that he didn't want to go home, but the hospital had effectively been his home away from home for the last several months and he'd grown close with the staff at the hospital. Alan for that matter had too. They both had grown to respect the staff that tended to their every need, whether it was checking on them in the middle of the night or sitting with them when they were sick or unable to get to sleep. The staff at Mass Gen had been there for their families as well. Dr. Andreesen, Karen, Dr. McNulty had all been watching and keeping an eye on the brothers that were donating skin, time, energy and sleep to be by Alan and Fermat's sides while they recovered. Let alone their fathers that had taken time off work to be with their youngest boys.

"Now is no time for tears, this is a happy occasion." Karen said as she leaned down and hugged Fermat and Alan once more. She moved behind Fermat's wheelchair and grasped the handlebars after his dad relinquished his hold, she went ahead and followed Alan and his brother out to the vehicle and locked the brakes before she helped to get both boys loaded up in the back seat. "Have a great trip you all and I'll miss you."

"Bye!"

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

The trip from the hospital to the airfield was fast and slow at the same time. It was fast for the family who had been in and out of the area sporadically over the past few months, but it seemed to take forever for Alan and Fermat who had longed to go home for months now. When they did make it to the airfield, Lady Penelope and Parker were both there to greet them. Lady Penelope hugged Alan and Fermat when they both climbed from inside the rented SUV. Parker then stepped forward with another basket, this one just as pink as the last one only there were predominantly boy themed items.

"A parting gift to keep ye entertained on the flight back home young masters." Parker replied as he handed the basket to Scott who had stopped with one of the boxes filled with effects from Alan and Fermat's hospital room.

"Thank you. Really." Alan replied as he glanced at the basket, glad that at least the items in the basket weren't pink like they were normally. This time the colors were at least less emasculating and more masculine.

"We hope your flight treats you all well." Lady Penelope said as she gave each of the members of Tracy Island hugs. She hugged Jeff especially long before placing a chaste kiss on his cheek. "I'm so glad you both get to go home."

"Us too." Alan replied, looking back at his dad and Lady Penelope. Glancing back at Fermat, Alan nodded his head slightly before they both took to the stairs. John and Gordon followed both boys, in attempt of making sure they both made it into the jet safely.

Once in the jet, Gordon led his immediate younger brother to the couch that the brothers usually fought for when they were all flying in the family jet. The couch was big enough that both Alan and Fermat could stretch out with ease. They could both have a piece of the couch and still be comfortable. John came over once Gordon got Alan settled with his arms piled high with pillows and light blankets in case the boys fell asleep. Fermat soon joined Alan on the couch, sitting on the other side and sighing softly as he reclined back against the couch arms. He raised his back slightly when John came over with a pillow, and tucked it behind Fermat before the younger reclined back with a smile.

"T-Thank you John." Fermat said before Scott came over with a bottle of soda and some glass cups from the cupboard.

"How about something to drink for the flight home?" Scott asked after he placed one of the glass cups in the cup holder by Fermat's head. When he turned to talk to Alan, he took immediate notice of his brother's snoozing. "Al?"

Jeff looked at his youngest child with an endearing grin. He walked forward, pulling the light blanket up to Alan's shoulders before he raked his fingers through Alan's hair. "Glad to have you back kiddo."

"I guess Alan was just happy to at least be back in the jet." Virgil said before he went to take a seat not far from Alan and Fermat.

"We should probably be heading out if we want to get home at a reasonable time." Jeff said before letting Scott have first choice to pick pilot or co-pilot seats. Once everyone was settled in the jet and belted in, Jeff and Scott proceeded to start the engines so that they could prepare for their ascent.

"All systems are green dad, and we're clear for takeoff." Scott said when he and his dad began communicating with air traffic control.

"Thank you, Scott." Jeff said in reply before engaging the engine and making the jet climb.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Kyrano glanced at the clock on the wall on the patio, before he took off his gloves and left them on the lip of the work bench where he'd been working on repotting some of the house plants littering the manor. He walked over to the slop sink and rinsed his hands of the residual dirt that came through the glove fibers and sullied his hands. A chiming from just inside the manor and an excited call had Kyrano making his way into the house.

"I'll take it from here dearest." Kyrano said right as Tin-Tin answered the videocall.

"Here's dad!" Tin-Tin said with a wide grin spreading across her face as she saw the relaxed smile from Jeff. The young lady passed the handheld off to her father who greeted his employer with an easygoing thoughtful smile.

"Hello Mr. Tracy. The flight is treating you well I hope?" Kyrano inquired before tutting after Tin-Tin to go help her mother with the final finishing touches of the foods and various snacks for the welcome home party. Kyrano was expecting a bit more of a turnout. He'd asked his employer who if anyone he wanted to send an invite to for Alan and Fermat's welcome home party and he'd gotten an RSVP from a longtime family friend, Lady Penelope and Parker, Jeff's secretary and her husband who've known the entire family for many years longer than he as well as a few of the brother's friends who were aware of the 'family secret 'and likewise were aware of the fire and had been in contact with the brothers to check on Alan and Fermat.

"Yes it is. Alan and Fermat both fell asleep not long ago." Jeff replied as he nodded at Scott when he came back up front with a bottle of water for them both. "We should be back to the island in about two and a half hours."

"Good to hear it sir, we'll finish with all the preparations here and be eagerly awaiting your arrival." Kyrano said as he prepared to disconnect the call.

"Thank you Kyrano, you, Onaha and Tin-Tin have been instrumental in keeping everything up and running." Jeff said which was immediately rebutted by Kyrano.

"Sir, we've done nothing of real importance." Kyrano began to say, but was stopped by Jeff who continued speaking.

"No, Kyrano. You…all three of you have done more than you think. You made sure the house was kept up and when I or my sons or Hiram returned for occasional breaks that they were received with a warm meal and smiling faces. You three have done so much and I speak for everyone when I say thank you. I consider us blessed to be able to consider us all to be family. And family doesn't end at blood." Jeff said.

"Well thank you sir." Kyrano said before he grinned at the island patriarch.

"No need to thank me Kyrano. Just keep in mind that we'll be home in another two hours or so." Jeff replied before Kyrano gave his farewells and disconnected the call.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan woke up midflight, about an hour and a half after they took to the skies. He sat up and looked around, Virgil, Gordon and John were dozing as was Fermat and Alan came to the conclusion that he woke up much to soon. He scooted over, and reaching out to snag the book that John had on his lap. Once he had the book in hand, Alan craned his neck to look out the window. He could see the horizon and would swear that he could just about see the island. Standing, Alan let the blanket pool on the floor at his feet before he walked up to the partition to hear his dad and Scott talking. He was going to knock but thought the discussion was enthralling.

Scott and his dad were discussing Alan's schooling. Jeff was hesitant to send Alan back to private school, Scott was of the mind to let Alan decide what he wanted and they were both in agreement that if Alan chose to return to the mainland for an education, they'd have Alan move in with grandma and make that his semi-permanent home. Alan felt a little bit hurt that they were deciding his fate but he felt resigned to the fact that he wouldn't have much choice in anything. Knocking on the partition, Alan heard the conversation stop before the partition opened. Scott met Alan at the partition and instantly began to guide Alan back to the couch he'd previously been settled on.

"What are you doing up?" Scott inquired, concern etched into Scott's features as he walked Alan back over to his previously vacated seat before helping Alan back onto his seat and making sure he was settled before kneeling in front of his brother. "Are you okay Al? Why did you get up?"

"I just woke up, nothing was wrong." Alan whispered in reply to Scott when he realized everyone in the cabin was still asleep.

"Well let me at least put a movie on for you, we've still got a couple more hours of flight left." Scott said before he stood to go to the cabin screen, Alan managed to not wake anyone who was snoozing and he shook his head that he didn't want the movie before gesturing that he had John's book. Scott tilted his head in question but Alan managed to get his brother to relax before he returned to the cockpit. Alan settled into the book, reading it and getting lost within the pages. He lost track of time until he felt the change in the jet. It felt to him like they were slowing down and when he looked out the window, he really could see the island on the horizon.

The jet started to go lower until it seemed to be right above the water. Alan let the book fall closed, careless of the progress he made in the pages and he just stared out the window. He saw the waves cresting in the distance, and Alan wanted nothing more than to grab his surfboard and get back out in the water. He'd never been fond of surfing before, that being Gordon's fascination but he did find that he could barely contain his excitement to finally be able to see his home.

Alan set the book in his hands off to the side and watched with anticipation as the island came closer with every passing second. When they passed the island to circle overhead, Alan would swear that he saw Tin-Tin fly like she had wings instead of feet. The jet circled slowly before they came even lower and Alan watched as the tarmac grew the closer they came to the ground. Feeling the tires touch down, Alan held on until the jet came to a stop. Only when his dad and older brother came out of the cockpit did Alan allow himself the chance to stand up.

John stretched with a loud yawn and Virgil sat up with a groan. His hand found the back of his neck and rubbed while one eye struggled to stay open. Gordon opened his eyes and immediately grumbled about wanting to go back to sleep. Jeff spoke up.

"Hey boys, we're home! Come on!" Jeff said as he leaned over and roughed up Gordon's hair much like he used to when Gordon was but a child. Looking to Alan, Jeff offered his arm so Alan could hold on to him in case he stumbled going down the steps. Alan took his dad's offered arm and he watched as Brains did the same with Fermat. Both dad's led their sons to the doorway before making their descent down the stairs. Onaha, Kyrano and Tin-Tin stood together with Lady Penelope and Parker holding 'welcome home Alan and Fermat' signs. Tin-Tin was practically vibrating she was so excited, and she just barely managed to stay in one spot while the whole family disembarked the jet. Once they were all on the tarmac, Tin-Tin was the first to surge forward to hug Alan and Fermat together. Alan and Fermat returned the hug but soon the teens were albeit it gently pulled from Tin-Tin's arms into Kyrano and Onaha's arms. Onaha crouched down to hug Alan and Fermat, her eyes welling with tears as she kissed their cheeks.

"My boys, oh welcome home! The house hasn't been the same without you two." Onaha said before she hugged each boy individually. "I'm going to have my work cut out for me. Those hospitals didn't feed you both nearly enough to keep meat on your bones."

Jeff and Brains watched their youngest family members interactions with Onaha and they both couldn't help but to feel like the Malaysian housekeeper was more mom than housekeeper to both boys. When Onaha had her fill for the time being, she ushered the boys over to her husband who much like Onaha hugged both boys tightly before whispering a prayer in his native tongue over Alan and Fermat.

Jeff would have been lying if he hadn't felt even a little bit emotional at the reunion. He stayed back for but a moment before striding forward to hug his son before he was smothered by his brothers.

"Come on, I'm sure they're be time enough for reunion and commemoration later. You two have had a trying day even if you've only just ridden in a jet. Let's go on in the house and have some dinner before we relax the rest of the day."

"Okay dad." Alan replied feeling like he could go for some food as predicted by his dad. Alan walked beside his dad much like Fermat was walking beside his dad as they made their way to the house. Each of the brothers carried either a box or a suitcase to the house and when they made it to the front door, they each relieved themselves of their burden in their arms. Alan sucked in a breath as he looked around his house, feeling like he'd forgotten what it looked like during his time away. He broke away from his dad and wandered into the living room just across from the front door. There he descended down onto the couch's surface and sunk down into it's overly stuffed cushions. He sighed as he absorbed it all.

He and Fermat were home. Finally. After almost a year away from home, several months spent in the hospital. Recovering initially. Then just learning how to walk again with help, then again without help. It was a long and arduous process, but Alan wouldn't have changed it for anything. It reminded him that he was human and human's just aren't fast at recovering like the people in movies or Alan's video games. It takes time and that Alan is now okay with.

"Are you glad to be home kiddo?" Jeff asked as he smirked at his son lounging on the couch, unaware of the surprise outside that awaited them.

"This is so nice, I'm never leaving this couch." Alan replied as he let his head loll back against the headrest. It'd been so long since he could just relax and not have nurses or doctor's constantly stopping by to check on him or Fermat.

"Well, you're going to have to come outside because there's a surprise waiting for both of you boys outside." Kyrano said as he watched Alan open his eyes with a tired groan before he held out a hand to his dad to help pull him up from the couch.

Everyone let Alan and Fermat walk forward before they opened the French doors where both boys exited ahead of their family. They were as unsuspecting as anyone and they smiled in surprise when they saw tables laid out with what some may think was an overabundance of food. Naturally they were also taken by surprise when party hats were put on their heads and a joined call of surprise rang out from the gathered family.

Fermat was the first to turn around when he heard the additional call of 'happy birthday'. It was a testament to how long they'd been away from their home when Fermat forgot when his birthday was, realizing belatedly that they'd go home on the day of his 13th birthday. He looked around at everyone to see that they'd all donned a party hat, Penny and Parker doing so as well.

He didn't mean to forget to breathe, but he was taken by surprise when Alan nudged him and reminded him to breathe quietly so it didn't alarm his dad. "W-Why?"

"Why what kiddo? Why are we celebrating your birthday?" Scott inquired as he was taken by surprise that Fermat was asking.

"Yes, w-why are you c-choosing now t-to celebrate?" Fermat asked as he was still unsure.

"B-Because, today is your b-birthday son. Why w-wouldn't we celebrate?" Brains replied.

"Well, b-because we never c-celebrate my b-birthday." Fermat said as he recalled how vividly his dad was involved in his work or absorbed in one project or another, too distracted to acknowledge Fermat's birthday, because his mom died on his birthday after she began experiencing complications with an ectopic pregnancy. He, his mom and dad had all been out at the zoo because Fermat's mom Audrey kept insisting that Fermat loved the animals, his gaze always studying the animals in their enclosures always quiet and curious.

"It's never too late to start." Gordon remarked as he walked up behind Alan and Fermat before pushing them both towards the table where there was a giant sheet cake decorated to express: 'Happy Birthday & Welcome Home Fermat and Alan.'

"Happy birthday runt." Scott said as he walked behind Fermat to look at the cake that the Belegants had worked so hard on before their arrival.

"Are we just going to look at this cake or are we going to dig in?" Alan asked, his sweet tooth speaking volumes. He loved Onaha's cakes, she made the best in his opinion. The stuff in the boxes just didn't compare.

"Dinner first Alan, you know the rules." Jeff advised knowing how much his teenaged son loved sweets.

Alan soon sat down at his usual place at their deck table, grabbing a plate and looking at his brothers as if issuing a dare to stop him. He was hungry and the smell of the food was making him ravenous. With no further prodding, Alan's brothers followed by the rest of their family sat and began dishing up their plates with the main course.

Conversation however wasn't immediate, but everyone soon slipped back into their usual patterns. Scott and Gordon talked about which was better, WASP or Air Force. Virgil and John's conversation was overlapping about how being in space was a masterpiece and soothing much like how Virgil felt when he was behind a paintbrush or was sitting at his piano. A while passed, conversation began to lapse and Tin-Tin felt it was time to bring everyone's attention back to Alan and Fermat since this was their welcome home party.

"Okay everyone, so since Alan and Fermat are now home, I think it's about time to tell them about their surprise." Tin-Tin said before she stepped back into the house before she brought out new backpacks.

"It was Tin-Tin's idea to buy you two new backpacks to replace the one destroyed by the fire." Scott said as he saw the looks of feigned happiness on Alan and Fermat's faces.

"Wow, thanks." Alan said, trying to remain upbeat over having a new backpack. This wasn't the type of surprise he was thinking of when he hears the word 'surprise'.

"Look inside." Scott said, prompting Alan and Fermat to get into their backpacks. When they opened the bags, the boys pulled out supplies that were synonymous of a home education. When Alan dug into the backpack further, he pulled out a pair of slippers and clothes that solidified for Alan that he wouldn't need to wear a uniform again.

"Seriously dad?" Alan inquired, more than a little surprised especially knowing that his dad had never wanted him to partake in a home education after his grades fell remarkably after International Rescue launched off. His dad never hid his concern that Alan would never aspire to accomplish all that he could if he was dreaming with his head in the clouds instead of having his head on his shoulders and his nose deep in a book.

"That's only if you want to. I know I've said in the past that I would never allow you to have a home education, but that fire was enough of a wake-up call and I don't want to take the chance that I might lose you. If you choose the home education, I promise not to stand in your way, however if you'd prefer an education on the mainland, whether that be private or public is up to you. I'll let you choose." Jeff said before Brains said something similar to Fermat.

"Son, y-you're all I have l-left of Audrey. I c-can't lose y-you too, so if y-you'd prefer to a-attend another p-private school or public…I'll l-let you choose. Or i-if you'd prefer, we c-can get y-you set up for a h-home education through a g-good satellite p-program." Brains said as he regarded Fermat with an endearing smile.