Disclaimer - oh, bother.

Epilogue

Gordon Tracy sat in one of the loungers by the pool, holding his son and looking up at the stars. "Hey, Parker, are you ready to go back to bed yet?"

Parker Shepard Tracy looked up at his father with sparkling green eyes, a small mischievous smile upon his elfin face. He adored the moments when his daddy would cuddle him either by the pool or down on the beach. The water and his daddy made his world perfect. Terrence Alaine, Parker's twin, was identical in every feature, but Terrence was, at a little more than six months, a Mama's boy.

Looking closely at his son, Gordon smiled. His sons both had his eyes and hair, but only Parker had the smile. Snuggling the baby closer to his chest, both of them under a light blanket, he was about to say something else when another voice quietly addressed him.

"Hey, Gordo, is Parker teething again?" Alan Tracy walked up to his brother and sat down on a neighboring chair. Bouncing his two-week-old daughter in his arms, he smiled down at the fussy baby. If Samantha was Alan feminized, Joanna Emily was her mother in miniature.

The redhead nodded glumly. "How can two babies, identical in age and appearance, react so different to the same things? Terry is teething – and he is just a little off his diet and sleeping more. Parker raises the roof. With Julie getting back late from New York, I wanted her to get some sleep, so I thought I'd bring Mr. Grumpy-pants out here."

Alan nodded in understanding. "Tin-Tin is still tired easily. We wanted more than one kid; we just were not planning on them this close. Not that I could regret either of my angels. I just wish Jo was as easy as Sammie was."

"Jo has colic again?" The two youngest Tracy brothers looked up as Virgil walked out rocking his two-month-old son, Thomas.

Grinning, the blond joked, "Hey, Virg, can I switch and head up to Five next week when John comes down?"

The middle Tracy son sat on the end of Gordon's lounger, patting his son's back from the 2 a.m. feeding. "Nope. Love the family but will also enjoy two weeks from diaper duty. How Mom and Dad did it with four is beyond me. The big gap with you, Sprout, may have been awkward at times, but I don't think they could have survived so many so quickly. I love Michael and Thomas, but," he interrupted with a yawn, "I will love them even more after two weeks away."

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

The three youngest Tracy sons laughed, not realizing they were being observed. Scott Tracy stood in the doorway to his home, watching his youngest brothers. Kate came up and put her arms around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder. "Still playing Mama-Bear? They're all grown up, Scott, with babies of their own. They are fine, and my bed is cold."

Turning slightly so Kate was in his arms, the oldest Tracy son smiled at his wife. "Yeah, we raised them pretty good. And as for letting babies go: remind me of that the next time your parents visit – Daddy's girl." Nuzzling her neck, Scott whispered, "A cold bed, hmmm? Sure you don't want to try for that girl?"

Smacking his arm lightly, Kate grinned. "Nope, you have the wrong hair color to give me a daughter, and I am not as brave as your mother was. Sarah and I agreed – two Tracy sons are enough. Julie seems content as well." Kate looked a bit sad she added, "Emily would have loved another. But, I guess that's the way it goes."

"Tin-Tin and Alan may just surprise us." Scott joked.

Kate kissed Scott lightly. "Tracy boys are good at that." Pulling back, cocking one ebony eyebrow she lightly motioned towards Scott in a come-hither gesture.

Looking briefly at his brothers, softly talking and soothing their babies, Scott smiled once more before hearing Kate's voice softly trail out. "I'm waiting…"

Yeah. His brothers were fine.

TBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTBTB

On the other side of the compound, Jeff Tracy sat at his desk in his office. John, on the monitor, had been warning his father about a potential weather front in the Atlantic. At his second son's yawn, Jeff smiled. Looking out the window, the father smiled. "You look as tired as your brothers."

John looked surprised. "I know I am tired from a lot of monitoring, but none of them have turned into a rescue since I have been back up here. Why are they so tired?"

Chuckling, Jeff shook his head. "Just because Keith was such an easy-going baby, do you think they are all like that?" Looking back out the window, Jeff nodded. "OK, Virgil is heading back in. Now Gordon is… and where is Alan?"

"Behind you, Dad." Jeff whipped around to see Alan rocking a still cranky Joanna on his shoulder. "Go get some sleep, Dad. Johnny, get some rest, set the monitors so you can sleep. The alarms will go off and wake you for anything critical. You know, we named Jo here for you and Em –why can't she have been nice and quiet like her name sakes?"

Chuckling, John turned off the monitor and went to get some sleep, thousands of miles above his wife, children and the balance of his family. Jeff stood, heading for bed himself before turning at the doorway. "Sure about this Alan? I could…"

Smiling lightly, the blonde began stroking his daughter's back as she lay on his chest – he found the motion soothed the colicky baby. "No, Dad. You raised your babies. But if you are free in the morning, I wouldn't object to you taking Sammie for a few hours while I turn Jo here over to her Mama. I'll need the sleep if I am going to go over the final draft of my latest book with my editor tomorrow afternoon." Wearily looking at the small desk clock on his father's desk – he remembered the Christmas he had given that to the head of the family – Alan gestured to his parent. "Get some sleep, Dad. Off with you."

Nodding, Jeff turned one last time to watch his youngest holding and gently talking to his youngest. Seeing his babies with babies of their own never failed to fill him with satisfaction. Scott and Kate's sons were already so responsible, watching out for those younger than them. John and Emily's daughter was a blend of the gentle and strength, while Keith's eyes were forever on the heavens. He had nearly cried at the sight of Michael on Virgil's laps, being guided at the piano, while Thomas sat on his mother's lap, his baby song as melodious as any tune. Gordon's twins were a joy to watch with their humor and mischief. And Alan – his wild child, his baby – now had two little girls of his own. Little Joanna – Alan and Tin-Tin's own "surprise" was as solemn as her mother, while Samantha? Oh, their little Sammie was going to be his beloved Lucy all over again.

International Rescue was a bigger success than ever, as was Tracy Enterprises. The Tracy family was not perfect, but they were together and there for each other – and they were happy. His children had built lives for themselves both within and outside of International Rescue, with strong, amazing women and healthy children by their sides. Climbing into his own bed, Jeff looked at the pictures on his bedside stand. Smiling at his favorite picture of his wife, one with a baby Alan in her arms, surrounded by the other boys, he gently touched Lucy's face before shutting off the light. "Oh, Lucy, I hope you think I did alright by our boys. I wish you were here to see it."

As his eyes closed, Jeff could have sworn he heard, "I promise you, I have never left you, Rocket Man. And I am with you and our babies and their babies. Forever."

Thunderbirds are go.

a/n - wow, this took a lot to write. it is my longest story ever. I am taking a couple of days off, then writing a one shot. then between holdiay stuff, my daughter's b-day, and finally catching up on all the housework I have neglected to write these stories. I tried to get a two month break until after the holidays but Sam1 wouldn't let me. so I should have something started by Thanksgiving. major applause for Sam1, my beta, my cheerleader and occasionally my bully. thanks for reading... you will never know how much it means to me. - CC