I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds. I do not own the Thunderbirds.

Coming of Age - Epilogue

Gordon had certainly called his family's action in one fell swoop. Alan and Fermat had convinced their fathers that with everything resolved and Coach Michaels – as acting headmaster (a job the man did NOT want) – determined to let the boys have their graduation ceremony, despite the events of the Senior Luncheon, the Tracy party had stayed overnight. But recognizing that no restaurant would be able to give them the privacy the family not only desired but truly needed at the moment, Jeff arranged for extra tables and chairs to be brought to the hotel suite. They would have dinner in their rooms, something the concierge confided to Jeff that several other Wharton families were doing as well.

Jeff had been so busy repeatedly checking on Alan, he had barely nodded when Gordon had said he wanted to join Haj – Captain James – for a light supper in order to thank her for what she had done for them that day. Haj had been praised repeatedly on the vid for her actions, with people saying her coordination had surely diverted a tragedy on a grand scale.

John had been smirking as he walked his second youngest brother to the door. "Have fun Gordy, and thank the good Captain for us again." Lowering his voice he muttered, "And try to get in before Dad wakes up in the morning."

Gordon's grin was one of the proverbial cat with the canary. "Or at least get to the graduation ceremony before the Sprout gets his diploma?" Before John could respond, Gordy had slipped out the door.

Emily put her arm around her husband's waist. "You are actually OK with your little brother going off to do God knows what with a woman he met this afternoon?"

"Well, for one thing, we know what he is gonna do, Em. He is almost twenty-four and there has been no one in his life for two years. Gordy can be a prankster – trust me – but when it comes to intimacy, he is also responsible. I don't think either of them is looking for love."

"No," his wife muttered, "just lust. Lots and lots of lust."

John nuzzled his wife's neck. "You know, Alan and Tin-Tin are busy with Little Bit, Dad is busy watching over Alan, Brains is busy…"

"Watching over Fermat, Onaha is busy watching over Tin-Tin and Kyrano is watching over everyone. And your point is Mr. Tracy?"

Kissing a particularly sensitive spot behind Emily's ear as he brushed back her long blonde hair, John grinned. "Think anyone would notice if we disappeared for a few minutes?"

"John Glenn Tracy, if a few minutes is the best you can give me, then I'm just going to go get a good book."

Pulling her quietly into their room, John kissed her again, whispering, "Actually, with the others giving our daughter her bottle just now, I figure we have at least an hour before they even miss us."

Emily returned John's grin. "Now you're talking Starman…"

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan bounced his niece on his knee before settling her on his shoulder to burp the baby. Grinning at the click of a door, he whispered to Fermat and Tin-Tin, "OK, Gordon is getting lucky tonight, John is probably getting lucky as we speak, do you think we need to cover for anything else?"

The two friends both lightly punched Alan in the arms before joining him in playing with Baby Elizabeth. Their light laughter carried over to the gathered parents watching them indulgently from the balcony. Kyrano smiled at his employer. "They really have all grown up, haven't they Mr. Tracy?"

Jeff gave Brains a smile before turning to his son's future in-laws. "Yes, Kyrano they have. And they are ready for all this, aren't they?"

Brains smile was slightly bittersweet. "Y-yes, b-but are we?"

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

Alan and Fermat were just finishing breakfast when the door to the hotel suite eased open. Alan tried not to laugh as his next closest brother slipped into the sitting area. "Hiya Gordy!" Fermat finally did laugh as Gordon froze at the sound of his brother's voice. "Just in time. Showered already? Good. Everyone else has a wake-up call for seven, but we have to be to campus by eight, so I assured Dad I would let you know when you came back last night to drive us over to Wharton's this morning since you were suppose to be sleeping with Fermat and me last night and would wake up with us anyhow. So grab a piece of toast and a sausage, eat quick before…" The phone in Jeff Tracy's room could be heard and they knew the man would be coming out shortly. Gordy grabbed the toast and sausage and nearly choked in his haste to have it the impromptu breakfast sandwich downed before their father emerged.

Sure enough, the Tracy patriarch stumbled from his room momentarily, followed by most of the other adults, in search of the coffee Alan had made sure to order with his and Fermat's breakfast. After assuring Tin-Tin's parents that she had merely gone down to the pool for a quick swim, the youngest Tracy gathered up his best friend and brother to head over to Wharton's.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBT

Sitting in the audience later that morning, Jeff Tracy smiled as Alan crossed the stage to receive his diploma. Tin-Tin beamed at her future father-in-law as Alan received thunderous applause from his classmates. A few shouts of "Yo, Tracy" and "Way to go, Teflon!" filled the air. Jeff was glad that Kyrano had offered to film the ceremony. He was afraid everyone else was too busy with the happy tears that filled their eyes. The baby of the Tracys had graduated high school. His family was filled with memories of him as a tiny baby, a happy toddler, a spirited little boy and a strong willed youth. But now – in the eyes of many he was an adult. But to his father, he was his baby.

"Oh, Lucy, our little boy is all grown up. I'm so sorry you missed it."

On the gentle spring breeze that wafted over the audience at that moment, Jeff could have sworn he heard his love's voice. "What makes you think I missed it Rocket Man?"

The Tracys smiled as Alan approached them. Whether standing there with him, watching a live link from either Tracy Island or Thunderbird Five or a spirit filled with love, each of them were stirred by the memories of the young man who they all loved so much.

Memories
Pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories
Sweetened thru the ages just like wine
Quiet thoughts come floating down
And settle softly to the ground
Like golden autumn leaves around my feet
I touched them and they burst apart with
Sweet memories
Sweet memories
Of holding hands and red bouquets
And twilight trimmed in purple haze
And laughing eyes and simple ways
And quiet nights and gentle days with you
Memories
Pressed between the pages of my mind
Memories
Sweetened thru the ages just like wine
Memories
Memories
Sweet memories

Smiling at his family, Alan hugged everyone in turn before he reached out his mind to the presence he had felt so strongly with his ever since he nearly died back in November from MRSA. "Thanks, Mom. I couldn't have done this without all of my family. I love you all so much."

Alan felt a soft breeze brush the side of his face. "We know, baby, we know. And you are loved by us. Be happy, my surprise. Be happy."

Grinning once more, Alan led the group to the exit. It was time to head into his future.

Thunderbirds are go.

A/N – OK, an end to this story. Some one shots, then I need to get to work on Gordon's story. Oh, and did anyone get the joke of the disclaimers? each chapter had one more, like lines on a chalkboard... snicker. felt appropriate for a school based story. oh, and the song is by Mac Davis - Memories. very sweet. felt right, although the last time I heard that song it was at a memorial service. oh, well.