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scribbles97 · 4 years

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Left Behind -- Chapter 12

Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8 / Chapter 9 / Chapter 10 / Chapter 11 / Chapter 12 / Chapter 13

Read On Ao3

More tissues may also be needed for this chapter... but there may also be some laughing too!

@gumnut-logic I really really do owe you in a big way for all your help with this novel of a fic, I see virgil fic in my future as a thank you :D

Lucy pulled the duvet further over her head as the door to the bedroom creaked open. Her head ached and eyes begged for sleep, her mouth was dry and feet ached. It had been a long, alcohol fueled night but it had been worth it.

“Shove over,” Val uttered as the duvet was pulled back, “Pick a side.”

She groaned in protest, blindly rolling over to her side of the bed as Val wriggled under the covers next to her.

“Never again,” She whispered, throat rasping, “I swear it.”

Val snorted, sounding far too bright for whatever time it was.

“You said that every time we’ve gone out since college, and yet here we are.”

Sighing, Lucy pushed the duvet back, reaching to the bedside table for her water as she ran a hand through her hair that had long since fallen out of its delicate updo. The light was still dim around the edge of the curtains.

“I have a question,” Val started, leaning back against the headboard with a steaming mug of what looked like tea in her hands, “Since when were you and Hugh a thing?”

Lucy turned to face her fully, frowning at the suggestion. Sure, she had spent some time with the man that night but it wasn’t anything to make anything of… unless she was forgetting something.

“We’re not-- what makes you say that?”

Val sipped her tea, eyes not leaving Lucy as she shook her head. Fear clenched at her heart, yes, she got on with Hugh, yes, they had sat and had a laugh and joke the previous night. She was grieving though, missing her husbands company in a way that she couldn’t quite coherently explain. Surely, even drunk, she would remember if something had happened between them.

“I’m just saying the pair of you looked awfully cosy when I came and dragged you away to dance. You’d certainly got Scott and Virgil’s attention.”

“Shit,” She winced, rubbing her face with her hands as she fell back to her pillow, “No, Val, I didn’t… we weren’t… I swear, he’s a friend is all. I’m not looking for anything like that right now.”

Val shrugged, “All I’m saying is you looked pretty close last night.”

Guilt twisted in her chest. That hadn’t been the intention at all. It was just, Hugh had been there, lost his wife to her work and left him grieving with a daughter to care for. He had offered a shoulder and she had taken it without thinking anything more of it. He had made her smile when the world seemed to have forgotten to stop raining. He had been one of the best friends she could have asked for in the last few weeks and that was all she had thought it was.

A sob broke out of her throat without permission.

“Aww Luce,” Val sighed, shifting next to her before there was a clink of her mug on the bedside table, “It’s okay, I believe you were just being friends. I just wasn’t sure how the boys were going to see it.”

She nodded, clutching onto the arm that wrapped around her as she sniffed, “I want Jeff back, Val. I don’t want anyone else. I want him and his company and his conversation but it’s not… I’m n-- he’s gone.”

Val rocked her gently, murmuring nothings into her hair softly, “I know Luce, it hurts. It’ll get better though. Not every day will be a good day, but not every day will be bad either. You’ve just got to remember that Jeff would want you happy. He only ever wanted to see you happy.”

Reaching up to wipe her eyes, Lucy shook her head, “What do I tell the boys though? They’ll be upset and--”

Val kissed the side of her hair, “You tell them the truth, that you were drunk and Hugh was being a friend. There’s nothing wrong with that at the end of the day.”

“Mommy?”

She was quick to wipe her eyes at the voice of her youngest, forcing a smile as he clambered up onto the bed and into her lap. Val moved back, giving her space to hug him close and kiss the top of his soft downy hair.

“What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, “Just tired after last night kid.”

Pulling back from him she ran her fingers through his hair, smiling at his wide blue eyes. So like his father in his intelligence and aspirations. So full of love for those around him and a typical stubbornness that, yes, he would manage to keep up with them despite his younger age.

“Did you have fun?” Val asked, tilting her head with a smile.

Alan was quick to nod, “I can’t wait until it’s my turn to pass out. Do I have to wait until I’m Scott’s age though Mom? He’s old.”

Lucy had to snort, shaking her head at him, “We will see. You’ve got to finish school before you can even start thinking about it young man.”

The youngster sighed as he leant into her, face falling slightly in what she imagined was disappointment.

“That’s ages away though.”

A small part of her hoped that it stayed ages away for a long time, her little boys were all growing up. Where had the time gone? When had Alan gone from a space mad toddler to a tween ready to join the rest of the family as a rescue operative?

“It’ll come faster than you think, kid,” Val told him, “Promise you that.”

“A bit like bedtime,” Alan sighed, his mouth twisting.

Lucy couldn’t help a chuckle as she squeezed him tight, “Exactly like bedtime kid.”

He grinned up at her, “Then I'll be able to fly Thunderbird Three and spend all the time I like in space.”

The thought jolted Lucy slightly, all but one of her sons having clear set plans to fly the Thunderbirds. Too young for a few years or not, Alan would get there eventually, Lucy wasn’t sure how long it would take for her nerves to be shot and her hair to turn a full and permanent grey.

“You’ll be the best astronaut the world has ever known Allie, and that space has ever known too!” Val filled in for Lucy’s silence.

Alan giggled, “Just like Daddy was, right Mommy?”

Swallowing hard, Lucy nodded, all any of her boys would ever want would be to make their father proud. It was what made their drive and determination so strong.

“Right kid.” She smiled, “Perhaps even better.”

His face fell as he leant back into her, his arms wrapping as far around her shoulders as he could reach as he buried his face against her neck. It was those moments she cherished, the hugs where they clung on, reminding her very much that she was still their mother and they still needed her no matter what.

“I miss him Mommy. I miss him lots.”

Rubbing his back, she rested her head against his, “We all do Allie, and I know it’s hard right now, but it’ll be okay.”

He sniffed, shaking his head as much as he could whilst it was pressed against her, “What if I forget him Mommy? I don’t wanna forget Daddy.”

Val reached out, stroking his hair as Lucy looked up to the ceiling to blink away her own tears.

“You won’t forget him Allie,” Val murmured softly, “Nobody is ever going to forget your Dad. He made International Rescue and the Thunderbirds. Maybe he isn’t here now, but that doesn’t mean we’ll forget him.”

“Exactly,” Lucy cleared her throat with a breath, “We’ve still got all those photos at home, and all his things. But you know what’s best of all?”

Alan pulled back, eyes red rimmed as he looked up to her, “What?”

She brushed the tears from his cheeks, watching the familiar blue of his eyes as she forced a smile for him, “We’ve got our memories kid, like his aftershave, and his flamingo shirt, and all those barbecues he did.”

Alan grinned, reaching up to wipe his nose on his sleeve, “Dad’s barbecues were the best.”

“He’s still with us.” She nodded, “Never forget that, okay? He’s always with us all, kid.”

Alan frowned, and something told Lucy that he didn’t quite understand the sentiment behind her words. Still he nodded though, wiping at his eyes as he smiled.

“Love you Mommy.”

She hugged him again, smiling slightly more naturally as she murmured back, “Love you too baby.”

Out of Alan’s line of sight, Val reached out and squeezed her shoulder, a tired, sympathetic smile saying so much to Lucy despite no words being exchanged.

***

The boys didn’t say much to her over brunch, but she caught more than one knowing glance pass between Scott and Virgil as they picked at the fry-up Lee had been working on all morning. She had decided to give them a little bit longer, wondering if perhaps they would come to her and say something of their own accord, as the afternoon wore into evening though, she knew that was becoming less and less likely.

“Gordon, why don’t you take Alan to the pool for a bit?” She suggested, setting her tablet down as the teenager closed his school work book. He hadn’t done any work for the most of the day, and the sunglasses he’d been wearing despite the overcast sky suggested he was as perhaps as hungover as the rest of them.

Scott and Virgil both looked up at their board game at the suggestion, each frowning in her direction as Gordon stood.

“Only over sixteens are allowed in the pool though,” Gordon frowned, “Alan--”

She nodded, glad that despite his tendency to ignore the rules he did at least listen to them.

“Stay out of the diving pool, and if anyone says anything tell them to call me. Only an hour though, I want you both back and washed before dinner.”

When it came to swimming, the blond didn’t need to be told twice. With a quick nod he turned to the steps up to the back door, calling for the youngest brother as he went.

“Something tells me that wasn’t you just trying to wear them out before bed?” Scott asked softly.

Lucy picked her tablet back up, only half returning her attention to stock prices and shares as she sighed,

“I just thought it might give you two the space you need to say whatever’s been bothering you all day.”

Both gaped, each trying to find words that she knew they wouldn’t have an issue with firing at each other. She was their mother though, not someone they could so easily lecture without getting into trouble themselves.

“Mommy?” Alan asked as he crashed through the screen door with Gordon, “Can I really go to the pool with Gordy?”

Turning back to face them in her seat, she smiled and nodded, “Sure, just don’t go too deep okay? And when Gordon says it's home time you’ve got to come straight back.”

The youngest’s face lit up as he turned to Gordon, shouting that they had to leave immediately and dragging his big brother with him.

They all heard the front door of the house slam and the excited chatter of the two youngest as they headed towards the indoor pool. Lucy gave the older boys a moment more to speak before she locked her tablet and sighed.

“Your Aunt Val said that you saw me with Hugh last night.” She started, watching the pair as they looked to each other and then back to her.

“Well,” Virgil started, stumbling slightly as he rubbed the back of his head, “I mean, you spent time with a lot of people last night Mom.”

“And perhaps a bit more time with Hugh than others,” She admitted with a shrug, “I just wanted to make it clear that that didn’t mean anything.”

Scott’s eyes had narrowed as he frowned, the groove between his eyebrows deep as he watched her, “So you’re just friends?”

She rolled her eyes and sat forward, “Boys, I’ve been with your father for near enough thirty years now. How many men have you seen me talk to and laugh with in that time?”

“We didn’t--” Virgil started, looking to Scott for backup as he sighed, “Mom, we just… we weren’t sure what to make of it. I think everyone was drunk last night and…”

“And he was looking awfully friendly.” Scott finished, a sting in his voice to match the look in his eyes.

“Scott.” Virgil warned softly, frowning at his older brother, “We weren’t going to fall out over this you said.”

The younger of the two looked to her, apology in his eyes, “We just didn’t want you to get hurt or wake up this morning and regret something or… y’know. We were worried about you Mom and if Aunt Val hadn’t have...”

“Hugh is a friend that has been in the position I’m in. He lost his wife in the same mission that he lost his eye. He is a close friend that was offering me some comfort on a day that was hard for us all. Neither of us would have let anything happen.”

She shook her head with a shrug, “I’m not in a position where I want anything like that right now. Nobody is going to replace your father, thirty years doesn’t just vanish because he has.”

Scott’s shoulders fell, his anger and questions dropping from his face as he nodded slightly in admission, “Sorry.”

Tilting her head he watched him with a small smile, “I appreciate you’re both worried about where things could have gone, but I promise you, that’s not going to happen any time soon.”

Scott smirked as he looked up to her, “You know those rules you and Dad always had when I was dating in high school?”

She knew what he was getting at, the rule that he could date whoever he wanted as long as he was home before eleven and his parents knew who he was with.

“Yes,” she answered slowly, eyes narrowing on him, “what about it?”

“Can we reinstate those rules?” He grinned cheekily, “Apart from the home before eleven bit, that might be a stretch living on an island and taking leave on the mainland.”

She had to laugh at the suggestion, shaking her head at the simple thought of it. Not that she planned on being the one going on any dates in the future.

“Well, seeing as you’re more likely going to be the one going out on dates, I have absolutely no problem if you want to keep me updated.”

Scott leant back on his elbows with a grin, “Done deal.”

Virgil shook his head as he looked between them, “I’m glad we cleared that up.”

Picking her tablet back up, Lucy smiled and nodded in agreement, “Me too boys, me too.”

#thunderbirds are go #Thunderbirds 2015 #thunderbirds fanfiction #Thunderbirds Au #Lucy AU #scribbles writes #Lucille Tracy #Aunt Val #Alan Tracy #Gordon Tracy #Scott Tracy #Virgil Tracy #Left Behind

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