First of all... HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOTT! Perfect day to post my final chapter on the birthday of my favourite character :D
My last chapter is dedicated to someone very close to me, she would like to be known as "Sherlock" on here for fandom references and nickname values xD
She's supported me throughout all of this and had beta read these last two chapters because I wanted them to be perfect. (she's a John lover, hehe) I love you Sherlock! thank you so much xxxxxxxxxx
I can't even believe this... the last one.
It hit home. It hit hard. It hurt a lot.
They'd all tried speaking to their father after Alan had run out of his office shouting. All of the brothers, all of the voices and all of the opinions. But there was no use, because deep down inside everyone (even Alan) knew that it was for the best.
Jeff Tracy set up the organisations but never expected his sons to be a part of it. He'd love them to be and he encouraged them to do so, but he also wanted them to follow their dreams. How could Alan be anything else or have and other paths in life if all he had was a wasted education and a life on an island? Scott had his air force skills, John had his NASA training and his books, Virgil had his art and his musical ability and Gordon had an Olympic medal under his belt. Jeff wanted his sons to have options, if ever International Rescue was to fail or permanently close down for any reason, so that they could go out into the world and make their mark. Alan was still only 15, a proper education was the least a father could give to his son, even if his dream was to become a Thunderbird.
So there he was, Alan Tracy, a week later all packed up and sat on the beach as he had been the week before. But this time he was staring at the approaching Thunderbird 3 that held his best friend who would be accompanying him for their last year at school. All Alan could wish for was for it to slow down so he could spend longer on paradise. When it landed it would mean Fermat was here, and then all his friend had to do was pack and they were off, back to school.
It was only a year. Their last year to learn and to be social, to widen their prospects and complete their education. Alan couldn't fault his father, he knew he was doing it for his son's benefit and Alan still loved him a lot. He still trusted him and his brothers; he just didn't want to leave.
"What if I fail at school again?" he asked aloud.
"Success or failure is irrelevant. Do what makes you happy!"
Alan jumped to see John stood behind him, he spun back around to see the craft even close than before. "I don't want to let everyone down; I don't want to do badly! But I want to show everyone what I'm capable of without their constant guidance!"
"Then go out there and show the world who Alan Tracy really is. Not an ex-billionaires son, not the brother of an Olympian or anything like that. Just do your best bro, because worse comes to the worse, we all still love you and you're stuck with us on this island for the rest of your life. It's just a year, and you'll be home again."
"Did Scott send you to cheer me up or to get back to the house?"
"He did nothing of the sort, I came out her to talk to my little brother who I won't be seeing for a very long time."
"It's only a year Johnny," Alan said standing up and facing his brother, "and I'll have Fermat with me all the way. It'll be just like old times!" sarcasm dripped from his voice.
John ignored it and pulled his brother into an unsuspecting hug. "You just show the world whose boss Alan. Success or failure is irrelevant because you're my little brother and no matter what you do, what grades you get you'll always have us."
John broke apart and began to swiftly walk back to the villa, "C'mon the 'bird's landing!". The elder blonde broke into a run, expecting his brother to follow. But he didn't.
"Yeah just give me a moment…" Alan sat back down as he watched John disappear and the large craft land on the island.
"Don't sit back down!" Another loud voice came from behind him and the youngest jumped up again. Scott appeared out of the jungle behind him, out of breath from an obviously strenuous run and laughing after shocking his brother.
"Ugh! I swear the next person that jumps up on me-"
"What Allie? Did I scare you?." Scott seemed somewhat worried behind his smile as he reached down and pulled his brother up off the sand.
"I guess there's no chance of me sitting back down again is there…"
"No chance. You've got to go soon."
Alan sighed, "What's with the long run anyway, Scott?"
"Help's me think and relax, you know. Same as you."
"And you were thinking about…" Alan left his sentence hanging for his brother to finish.
"About you. Do you really think I or anyone else wants you to go? We've all spoken to Dad about it but it seems even he's upset about it. I hope that you can see where he's coming from though, it may turn out that it's for the best and you still can be a Thunderbird, just with some qualifications to go with that too!"
"Yes I can, I just don't want to leave."
They walked along the beach, they crossed the rocks where Virgil had fallen and Alan felt a smile creep onto his face. They passed the entrance to the jungle by the now fixed infirmary window and Scott absentmindedly brushed his hand over where the bruise had been under his eye. The elder pulled his brother close as they walked and continued to speak.
"I don't know what everyone else has said to you and I don't really care if I repeat what's already been stated. No matter what happens we all love you. Nothing that's happened was your fault and the nightmares are NOT what caused dad to make this decision. No matter what anyone else has said though, I will miss you the most."
"Aha I dare you to have this argument with the others!"
"I'm serious. I've been with you through the majority of this and I don't know how I'll cope not knowing how you are all the time and if you're okay."
"Well a lot of running will help with your coping, and then there's always Gordon's mental state to be anxious about…" they both laughed at the last comment as they reached the villa.
As they stepped onto the patio, everyone was standing by the pool. Fermat stood there with his dad and gave Alan a huge wave and a smile. He'd been filled in with everything that had happened, and the youngest Tracy felt happy knowing that he'd have someone who understood to talk to through the course of the next year. Fermat stood with his bags over his shoulders and Gordon stood with Alan's items as well. Over the back of the island, Alan heard the start of a plane's engine, meaning that Parker was probably there too, preparing Tracy 1 to take the boys to school.
He hugged each of his brothers, each of them saying "Remember what I told you" into his ear, referring to the quotes and mottos said to him over the past week. The ones about hoping for the future, seizing the day, failing doesn't matter and family will always be there for you. And he knew he'd remember each and every one of them.
Gordon first hugged him so tight that his feet lifted off the floor, and he did laugh despite the situation and struggling of breath. Virgil whispered something across to Gordon, something about Einstein that made Alan and the medic laugh and the aquanaut to blush. The artist then ruffled Alan's hair after their hug, much to the teen's annoyance but accepted the gesture all the same. John held his brother in a long, awkward embrace that made everyone laugh and Scott cough as if to say "hurry up, it's my turn!".
When it did come to Scott, he held his brother very close, one hand on his back and the other on the back of his head and when it came to the whisper in the ear, he added "the world deserves to see all the potential my little brother has."
Scott was right, of course. Alan would show the school that he wouldn't slack off, that he was a Tracy and Tracys work hard. He'd pick up his grades and be a different person when he returned, still love for his family would remain but he wouldn't have to depend on them as much. The world would see his potential.
So boarding the plane with his friend before him, Alan Tracy looked back on his home. His island held the things most precious to him, it held his family. It held the worrying father, over-protective brother, the dreamer, the artist and the joker. Tracy Island held love and emotion, the little spot on the beach that was his own, the burned down hollow in the depths of the jungle. But most importantly, regardless of any nightmares or worries and something that would never change, Tracy Island was his reality.
So that's it. Reality is over.
Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing you don't know how much it means to me! Without your support I would've stopped writing ages ago, your reviews kept me going :'). Seriously I never expected something that I made up in my weird imagination would get this much popularity, reads or over 200 reviews! It means sooooo much and it's the reason that there will be a sequel.
What do you think will happen to Alan when he returns from school?
I know that a lot of you didn't want him to leave the island because you love the family life and relationships, but I can confirm that this does lead onto my sequel and that my sequel WILL STILL BE SET ON TRACY ISLAND! :D (When Alan returns from school)
Between now and the sequel, I hope to add more chapters to my Gordon oneshot from other perspectives if you're interested :) Give it a read! :D
I love you all soo much, this fandom is the greatest! XD Reviews are sooo loved xx :') bye xx