MariaShades suggests: Day 22: Canon Rewrite: Lucy Lives!

Scott was 21 when his youngest sibling was born.

Stationed in Bereznik as part of the Global Peace Force and running aid into the war-torn country, he'd just finished the last sortie of his current mission and was about to pack up for a month of accrued leave when his Dad's jubilant face over the comms told him everything. The picture may have been grainy but there was no mistaking the happiness radiating from the man.

'Dad! Are they here?'

'Scott, when you get home tomorrow you'll be able to meet Kathryn Sullivan Tracy in the flesh.'

'Another girl! Way to go, Dad! Mom ok?'

'Your Mom is doing fine, Scott, although she tells me this is definitely the last time.'

'Didn't she say that after Alan? And Donald? And Sally, and Judith and Marty?'

'Yes, Scott she did. But your Mom and I aren't getting any younger…'

'Suuure, Dad. Well, I can't wait to meet her. Tell Mom I'll be home around dinnertime tomorrow.'

'Don't worry, Son. She's got a feast planned already. John and Gordon will be joining us the day after you, and Virgil and Alan are already home. They can't wait to see you, and Marty already has his latest model plane ready to build with you.'

'I can't wait! And the other project?'

'It looks like we have finally had a breakthrough. I can't wait to see you and talk over everything with you.'

'Me too, Dad.'

Scott fairly bounced as he finished packing, all tiredness forgotten in the excitement of another sibling. The flight home was long – almost a whole day – and he had plenty of reading material for the flight. John had published his first book and had sent Scott the manuscript of his second for him to peruse the Math. He might not have the same understanding of astronomy as his next youngest brother, but they shared a love of Math and Scott had proof-read John's first book.

He tried not to look at the snow-capped mountains they flew over. It was 10 years this year that he, Alan and their Mom and Grandpa had been buried in an avalanche, and this year it seemed to be hitting him harder than usual. They had barely survived, his Dad having been told to prepare for the worst for them all, but particularly Lucy, who had born the brunt of the collapsed building to protect Alan.

Lucy had other ideas though, fighting back from the brink to not only live a full and normal life, but to produce another five children and keep her career going from strength to strength. At first she'd stayed with NASA engineering when Jeff left to run his business full time, but with the accident an idea had taken root in both his parents' hearts and she'd never returned there afterwards. Instead she and Jeff had begun to plan a very different venture…One that now looked like to was going to be viable, if what his Dad had intimated was true.

The flight home was uneventful, he didn't find anything wrong with John's Math and Scott even managed to get a nap in. He was met at the airport by his Grandpa and he wasn't alone – he'd brought Judith and Marty with him.

'Scotty!'

The twins jointly squealed when they saw him and Scott dropped his bag and swept them up, one in each arm, for tight hugs and wet kisses. They talked his ear off while he carried them through the airport, nodding in all the right places, and Grandpa brought his one piece of luggage and led them to the ancient battered green pickup that had seen better days when Scott had been the same age as the twins.

Eschewing the front seat to sit between the four-year-olds, Scott listened attentively, occasionally catching Grandpa's eye in the mirror. The man smiled softly at the sight. The whole family missed Scott when he left, and now he was back the boy – no, the man – wouldn't have a second to himself. And Grant knew that Scott wouldn't have it any other way.

It was a competition to see who would get to Scott first once the door was opened to the large farmhouse the Tracys still called home. With the twins trailing behind him – still talking – two larger bodies collided with Scott. It was a close thing but Scott declared Sally the winner and hoisted her onto his shoulders. At six years old she was already promising to follow John in lankiness, and she wrapped her arms around Scott's head and kissed the top.

Donald was a good loser, and although he was now eight he still eagerly allowed his biggest brother to pick him up and carry them into the living room. What had once been a living room with a corner dedicated to a play area when Scott had been home had been extended as the family grew. The dining room and kitchen were twice as large now, and there was a new living room and the old one was now a complete playroom.

Scott laughed as Virgil carefully took Sally down and Alan plucked Don from his arms and finally Scott was free of 'the sproutlings' and could greet Virgil and Alan properly. Virgil showed off his new-found strength, crushing the air out of him, and Scott congratulated him on another season as the college football team's centre. Alan wriggled under one arm and just grinned the entire time, even when Scott gently ruffled his hair.

His dad came in then with the newest addition to the family. Everyone stood back and even Alan moved so that Scott could hold Kathryn for the very first time. Jeff handed his youngest over to his eldest and stepped back, watching his family with pride. Lucy came and stood beside him and he hugged her gently.

Scott accepted his baby sister. She was barely awake, making little snuffling noises as she settled in Scott's arms, and he offered her his little finger, grinning with delight as her tiny fist closed partway around it. His eyes softened and he crooned softly to her.

'Hi, Kathryn. I'm your biggest brother Scott. I'm always gonna be here for you, baby. Always.'

It was the words he'd spoken to every sibling, even John, and the room was filled with everyone else going: 'Aww!' If they thought that would embarrass him they were sorely mistaken, and he continued to talk to Kathryn softly.

'Annnnd we've lost him.'

'Only until Mom serves the food, Virgil.'

'True, Dad. Very true. Hey guys, who wants to help me set the table?'

There was a chorus of 'ME!' and Virgil disappeared with everyone under 11.

Grant and Ruth, sat at the other couch, fondly watched the scene before them. When Grant had been buried in that same avalanche the rescuers had taken longer to find him than they had the rest of the family. But he was a Tracy and had pulled through. His injuries meant that he'd needed to hire help around the farm for a time, and that help had stayed, allowing him more time to spend with his growing horde of grandchildren. Ten grandchildren! Ten!

He cherished every moment with them, and as he had done with the eldest three, he still took them around the farm and taught them their roots even as Scott taught them about service, John taught them about physics and Virgil taught them engineering while Jeff taught them space and flying and Lucy taught them music and art.

Even the twins were smart, as they proved later that night as the whole family sat out on the viewing platform on the barn. First built as a safe place after a ten-year-old Scott fell off the roof trying to stop an eight-year-old John from doing the same. Extended with every new child, they had moved the platform from the house to the barn when Alan was born and now it could comfortably fit everyone.

Quilts were handed out and everyone huddled together as the sproutlings showed off their knowledge by taking it in turns to point out the stars. The youngest were chivvied to bed by their grandparents while their Mom saw to Kathryn, leaving just Scott and Virgil and their Dad.

'Less than two days old and already initiated in the great Tracy tradition of starwatching.'

'Of course, Scott. Would you expect anything less?'

'Nah, Dad. I'm not surprised. It's a tradition I've always enjoyed.'

'Even if your wings didn't extend to space?'

'Even so, Dad. Even so.'

There was a clink of bottles and Jeff passed a bottle of beer to his eldest, and with the smallest of pauses and a grin he passed one to Virgil too.

They sat and drank in companiable silence for a bit. Eventually, though, Scott stirred. It had been a long trip home and he was tired. He got up, helped Virgil up and shook his Dad's hand.

'Tomorrow?'

'Tomorrow. When the whole family is here.'

'And then you'll tell me about this International Rescue idea you and Mom have?'

'I'll do more than tell you, I'll show you and your oldest three brothers what we have in mind should you wish to join us.'

'Tomorrow then. Night Dad.'

'Night, Scott. Sleep well.'

'You coming in, Dad?'

'Not just yet. Tell your Mom I'll be in soon.'

'Will do. Night Dad.'

'Night, Virgil.'

Jeff watched the two walk back to the house.

Tomorrow promised to be a very interesting day indeed.