AN – Well this one is definitely a one-shot and just because I fancied it, no other reason…still aboard the good ship Scayo as I am sure can be gathered by now, I make no apologies.

I am now six months into the discovery of the joy of writing fanfiction, so an indulgent half year celebration seemed appropriate. The best thing friends met along the way, those back in Feb when I first posted which seems a lifetime ago but ladies you know who you are but for anyone reading this CreativeGirl29 and QuestRunners (deliberate mistake) you rock! And more recent friends, as a PM junkie you have made many a day for me, so to Teobi, Louise H, PurpleBlackCat, MusicalTB2, whether it be a tete a tete, putting the world to rights or indulging in general TB chat it has been a joy.

I do not own the boys, and glorious boys like these cannot be owned and should most definitely be shared by all, otherwise I wouldn't get my fix of fics from you all.

Essential Promise

Virgil had a sixth sense when it came to all his brothers and the one he was most concerned with now was his youngest. What passed to the others as the wilful, obstinate, ignorance of a young and irrational sibling he took for a young man that had been trying his best to be happy for an older brother and was now failing miserably. The blond had been tormented by a relationship playing out in front of his eyes and although at first the blue eyes had tried to fain happiness the latest development had wielded a blow so severe that the oldest and youngest were on a direct collision course if Alan couldn't get his act together fast. Scott would put up with so much but if Alan so much as made one more snide comment in Kayo's presence he was sure that the full wrath of the gods would come down on him and a whole can of whoop ass would open up and rip them all apart. Scott had slammed the door to the office so hard he felt sure the reverberations could have been heard as far away as their home state.

"Hey Al" The opening gambit soft and gentle and made with the surety of I'm coming in your room whether you like it or not.

"sniff."

Shit worse than he had thought, already there were real tears and this visit would no longer be a quick pep talk with the it will be all ok kinda chat embellished with a big dose of I understand and you're not being silly Al this sort of thing happens to us all. Virgil took a seat next to the duvet cave of Alan's making and waited for the mass of hair to appear which if he knew him at all would happen in 5, 4,3,2, ..

Alan on cue broke free of the cocoon his eyes mapped with red lines and in full self pity mode "Virgil I'm not in the mood."

Virgil suppressed the all knowing smile that had been about to adorn his features and adopted a more stoic expression "I'd say you are doing a great impression of a mood there Allie, did you really think Scott wanted that sort of advice from you?"

"Paris Virgil, he's taking her to Paris."

"And you're upset because he's never taken you there?"

Alan raised the duvet over his head and mumbled his response which muffled by the covers was the softest sounding fuck off he had ever heard.

"Al this isn't going to go away unless you let it and you are going to have to let it, you know that don't you."

It seemed the conversation was going to be played out with the barrier of a star wars bedding set between them.

"I know she'll be making a big mistake.

Virgil appraised the talking Yoda and smirked at the oxymoron, one of the wisest creatures in the universe delivering such an immature outburst.

"You think she's making a mistake accepting an invitation to one of the most beautiful cities in the world?" While the eyes of his youngest brother were still ensconced within the force field of the force Virgil felt the release as the smile broke free on his face.

"Quit laughing at me." Came the muffled response

Geez the force is strong in this one. "Not laughing Al, you gonna make a break for oxygen anytime soon."

You gonna leave me the hell alone anytime soon."

"Odds aren't in your favour squirt, so if you want the room to yourself I think you better suck it up and tell me what's really bothering you."

From the face that appeared it seemed self pity mode was only just starting and Virgil braced himself for the amateur dramatics of his youngest sibling.

"Deep breath Al, then tell me why the hell you think Kayo is making a big mistake." Virgil took a deep breath, this may need spelling out as the eyes of his brother seemed predetermined to adopt the façade of spurned lover "Al they have been seeing each other for nearly a year and you are choosing to have a hissy fit over a vacation to Europe. They went to Bali two months ago what's the difference?"

"You know what happens in Paris."

"Yep ….What happens in Paris stays in Paris and that's where I am most comfortable leaving it."

Virgil hadn't intended to push his button's and in most instances he liked to pride himself on the fact that a chat with him usually sorted out 99.9% of most of the anxiety bugs of his brothers making, he chuckled to himself as he considered he may decide to have a nick name yet and Dettol was fast becoming the main contender.

"You are laughing and I don't fucking want to know what's going to happen in Paris."

"Sorry Al, mind wondered …. I'm not laughing at you and as I said it stays in Paris not that it makes the headlines in the first edition."

"Will if she comes back with a diamond the size of Gordon's brain."

"Ooo that small then maybe she'll tell him to stick it where the sun don't shine." Virgil laughed then realised his mistake "Al what makes you think there's a diamond involved?"

The blond stopped and gave him an incredulous look, the eighteen year old obviously felt he was the font of all knowledge when it came to Paris and Virgil was now under the impression that Alan felt he was delivering a master class. "He is taking her up the Eiffel Tower, I saw the booking, private viewing at midnight and that can only mean one thing."

"Yeh he's gonna get lucky about an hour later." Virgil ducked as the pillow came flying towards him in his anger Alan was losing his touch.

"He's gonna ask her!"

Virgil sighed "And if he does?"

Alan looked surprised, he'd just been asked the million dollar question, he knew the answer then baulked at committing it to the scrutiny of the quiz master.

"Then she's broken her promise."

"Go on then get it out there and then maybe Alan just maybe when you say it out loud you will realise that this thing needs putting to bed once and for all."

"She said she would only marry me."

The whine was envisaged but the statement took all of Virgil's strength to adopt the serious I am listening not judging face.

"Allie you were seven!"

"Still, essentially she promised not to marry anyone else."

"Again Alan there is only you talking marriage and for god's sake you're eighteen, count yourself lucky she didn't insist you didn't welch on it when you were sixteen, your life would have been over before it started."

"You think I'm being stupid?"

Virgil sighed as he acknowledged the school boy error of leaving Alan's door open, the grin at the threshold was unmistakable and the open door an invite to something Gordon felt he had a divine right to gatecrash

"Whose being stupid?"

One stern look from the brown eyes of his brother made him beat a hasty retreat.

"Now Allie it's for you to decide. Is a promise made to a seven year old going to stand up in the Tracy court of justice and would you be prepared to give it as evidence?"

Alan submitted to his brother edging his way towards him, allowed the bear hug that followed now feeling every bit the teenager he was.

"Better dust the suit off."

Virgil looked at him wondering if a twenty something Alan would jump to the same conclusion about the city of love or see it as a dead cert for a guaranteed and uninterrupted festival of carnal desire.

….

Kayo had to admit the view from the top was breathtaking, Paris stretched out as far as the eye could see, a black canvas, each suburb a galaxy within a vast universe of darkness, individual pinpricks of light coming together to map out a vision that would be at home in one of John's books . She sank back into the arms of Scott taking a sip of champagne and enjoying the peace that a private tour of the tower could ensure. Scott turned her to look at him and clinked his champagne glass against hers.

"One hell of a view."

"It's beautiful."

Scott winked at her "Well drink it in, this is a view of Paris and next on the itinerary is two days of room service and the best penthouse suite in the city."

Kayo kissed him briefly and clinked her glass against his "And I for one will drink to that."