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It had been a long night. Scott had been on his way home from a rough rescue in Western Africa. Nothing bad, it was routine but didn't mean it wasn't tiring. He was just starting to hit max speed in his TB1 when he got the comm chirp of an incoming call. He looked over and saw it was Lady Penelope.
It wasn't out of the norm for her to call, but it was late for him and her. His local time said 10 p.m., meaning it was 9 p.m. for her. To call at that time was odd.
He answered. “Hello, Lady Penelope.” He watched her; she looked off, fidgety if not a little shaky.
“Hello, Scott,” she replied. Her voice was unusually quiet and flat.
“Is everything okay?” Scott asked. He had dropped his voice to match hers. Was she in danger? No, this was Penny, he thought.
“Yes. For the most part. Scott, I need you to come by my residence. Immediately.” That didn’t sound good. If anything, it made everything more concerning for Scott. What was happening with his friend?
With all that going on in his head, he answered her, “FAB. I’ll be there in ten.”
“Thank you,” she said and ended the call. She didn't even say goodbye, which for someone of her class was unusual. (He had sat through enough of her class to know that.)
Scott frowned. This was all confusing and a little scary for Scott.
He tapped his comm again, this time to comm John. “Thunderbird One to Thunderbird Five.”
“I read you,” John replied in a matter of seconds. “What’s up?”
“I just got a really weird call from Lady P. She wants to see me about something, but she didn't tell me what, so I’m taking a detour.”
“FAB. Do you think everything is okay?” John said.
“Yeah, I think so, but I don't know. I just wanted to let you know where I was going,” Scott answered back.
“Well, thanks for letting me know. I will let the Island know.”
“No problem,” Scott replied, ending the transmission, then banking Thunderbird One toward the British countryside.
The flight wasn't too long, but his mind wouldn’t shut up. What did Lady P want? Was she okay? What could she want at this hour? So many questions, not enough information.
When he made it to the mansion, he landed in the large gravel driveway, the red of the hot metal contrasted against the dark night sky as engines cooled. He made his way up the stone steps of Creighton-Ward Manor. Before he could even knock, the door opened.
“Parker,” Scott said, scanning his face, looking for any information it may give. “Is everything okay?”
“It’ll be better if you see for yourself,” Parker replied, voice just as monotone and flat as Penny's was. He stepped aside to let Scott into the foyer.
Parker led Scott through the halls. Parker stopped at a door and knocked once.
“Milady, he’s here.”
The door cracked open. Penny peeked out. She looked disheveled and tired, this was not normal for the woman who is always put together. She looked back behind her then back at him. “Promise me you’ll keep an open mind,” she rushed out, looking straight into his eyes.
Scott nodded once.
“No, I need you to say it, Scott,” she ordered.
“I promise, Penny. Now tell me what's going on,” he replied.
Penny didn't respond, but she let out a slow breath, then pulled him fully into the room and placed a letter in his hands.
“Read this,” she said quietly before quickly slipping away through another door in the room.
Scott looked down. The letter was on paper, not very common anymore, very few people used paper. He looked at the name on the envelope; it was addressed to Penny.
---
Penny,
This is Aiden. His father is Scott. That night…well, you can put two and two together.
Scott should raise him. Not me. I can’t. I just can’t. I’m not a bad mom. Don’t let anyone think I don’t love him, because I do. I love him so much it scares me. Please tell Scott…wait, don’t, or maybe do. I don’t know. Tell him I’m sorry. I should have told him earlier that I was pregnant.
None of this is his fault. He’ll be angry. No, he won’t. He’s too kind for that. He’ll take care of Aiden in a way I never could. I wish I was better. I wish I could be strong, but I can’t. Please… make sure Scott knows he has a son, and that I love them both, just in my own broken way.
I’m sorry.
Kim
---
Kim.
She had stopped talking to him a little over a year ago. They had had a fun, wild night, just the one before they agreed not to pursue a relationship because they both worked better as friends. Then she just vanished. No calls. No explanation.
Scott had tried many times to get in contact, but nothing came from it. Now what was this about a pregnancy? That’s what spooked him from this letter, what baby?
There was a creak of a door closing, and Scott looked up and saw Penny standing there… holding a baby. The boy was young, how young Scott wouldn't be able to say.
The tiny boy had a head of dark brown hair, and his eyes were sky blue, almost crystal. They were his eyes, the same ones he shared with his own father. Scott knew, with the eyes, that this was indeed his son before Penny stated her next sentence.
“Scott,” Penny said quietly and carefully, “this is Aiden. It’s not that I didn’t trust Kim, but… I had his DNA tested.”
He didn’t move. He was transfixed on the baby in her arms. He had Scott's hair and eyes, but he also had his chin, the start of the dimple that Alan had. But he looked closer, and he saw Kimberly's nose and her eye shape, her ears, the mix of both of their complexions. That is when Scott knew he was done for.
“He’s mine,” Scott whispered. He felt like he was going to start crying.
“Yes,” Penny said gently, bouncing the boy, trying to coax a smile out of him.
Scott stepped closer. The baby giggled and reached out. His tiny fingers wrapped around Scott’s.
“How old?” Scott asked, voice raw.
“About six months. Here-” Penny handed the boy to Scott. He almost dropped him in surprise but recovered quickly, then held him close and just looked at him.
Penny dug into a folder she had with her and looked at some paperwork. “About five and a half, give or take a few days. Kim has all the information here.” Raising the folder, she continued to say something.
Scott didn’t hear the rest. His world had gone quiet. All he could see was the little boy blinking up at him, innocent and beautiful. His.
Scott started to think. He shot his head up. “I don’t… I don’t have anything for him,” he said in a panic. He was about to continue when Penny stopped him.
“I brought formula, a crib, diapers, and a few clothes,” Penny said, resting a hand on his arm. “But the rest… you’ll have to get.”
Scott nodded, a small weight taken from him. One less thing he had to worry about with all this craziness.
“Parker,” Penny called, “do you mind being a dear and helping to load Thunderbird One?”
Parker, of course, agreed to help. Penny took Aiden from Scott so the two men could load the ship.
When they were done, Scott came back in. “How am I going to get him home?” Scott asked Penny as he rubbed Aiden's cheek. “I can't put him in the cargo hold,” Scott joked.
Penny handed Aiden to Scott. “I will be back. I have an idea,” she told him, running off up the stairs.
A few minutes later, she came back down with a long piece of fabric. She lifted it to show him. “This is a wrap; mothers use them to hold their babies to them.” She took Aiden from Scott and gave him to Parker, then helped him put it on.
“Why do you have one, Penny?” Scott asked, curious as to why she had one.
“Well, I put Sherbet in it. he likes to be held, but I have things I need to do,” she smiled, and Sherbet, the dog, barked from his bed.
“And done.” Parker handed the baby to Penny as she put him into the wrap. The boy just snuggled right into Scott's chest.
“You better get going. You have been here a while; your brothers are sure to be worried,” she said with a sigh.
Scott swallowed. “If you hear from Kim… let me know. Please.”
“I will,” Penny promised. “But she’s been gone for weeks. A CPS contact brought Aiden to me. They said they couldn’t find you.”
“No surprise there. We don't like people knowing about where we live. What about Kim's family?” he asked hopefully.
Penny just shook her head. “No. She has been off the radar for the last month.”
That made something cold twist in Scott’s chest. “How long has CPS been looking for me?”
Penny shrugged. “I wasn't told, but guessing by everything, maybe a month. I have only had him for 48 hours.”
“Thank you, Penny.” She nodded to him.
He nodded back, then went and climbed into Thunderbird One and secured himself.
He glanced down. “Let’s see how you like flying,” he whispered.
Aiden giggled.
---
When they were up in the air, about ten minutes in, they were settled and calm. Then he comm John.
“Thunderbird One to Thunderbird Five.”
“Scott? Is everything okay? I can't see you, your feed is off,” John said.
“Yeah,” Scott murmured, looking at the sleeping bundle against his chest. “Hey, I need you to come down and get everyone into the lounge. There are things we need to talk about.”
“FAB,” John said, his voice more alert now.
---
Thunderbird One landed.
Scott stepped out slowly, grabbing the folder of info and putting it under one arm, his son secure against his chest. His son. He never thought he would get this, but at what cost, he thought.
He paused at the stairs to the lounge. He took a breath, then called up to his family, “I need you all to promise to stay calm.”
A few confused voices answered back, “Okay.”
Scott lightly shook his body the best he could without waking the baby on his chest, then nodded to himself, then braving the stairs and went up.
His family looked at him with concern and confusion. The moment he moved the cloth wrap, Aiden’s face was visible someone gasped.
“Is that?” Gordon began.
Scott took a breath. “This is my son. Aiden.”
“How?” John started. Virgil whispered, “When?”
Scott handed Virgil the file and the letter to John. Grandma, Brains, and Kayo, Alan gathered close, quiet and stunned.
Scott started to feel shaky, like so much hit at once he was close to crying. He started to mumble out “I’m sorry, Grandma. I didn't know. I promise I didn't know.”
Grandma just cupped his face and held it, moving her thumb back and forth on his cheek. “It's okay, honey,” she laughed a little and then cupped the back of Aiden's head. “He's a surprise, that's for sure.”
Scott gave a wobbly smile back.
“Where will he sleep?” Brains asked practically. “Babies require—”
“Lady Penelope gave me some stuff. It's in One,” Scott said quickly.
“Brains, come help me move it to Scott’s room,” Kayo said simply. Then the two walked out.
Virgil was scanning the file. “There’s barely any medical history,” he muttered.
“Kim… she wasn’t in a good place,” Scott muttered back.
Aiden stirred, blinking. Scott immediately held him closer.
“Hey, buddy…”
Gordon stepped forward, his voice quiet like he was unsure if he was allowed to talk. He asked, “Can I… hold him? Please?”
Scott blinked, surprised that Gordon was the first to ask the question. Then smiled and nodded. “Yeah. Just support his butt.”
Gordon carefully took the baby, cradling him close like something precious. “Hi there, Guppy,” he whispered. You could tell Gordon had fallen for the boy. He petted the boy’s hair and cheek.
Scott let himself relax, but only a little. What did he need to do now? The stuff was getting moved, and Aiden was with Gordon, he thought, then he looked down at himself.
“I’m gonna go change,” he said quietly. Gordon just nodded, rocking the baby.
Scott rushed down the stairs and through the hall. Virgil followed him down. He leaned in the doorway while Scott changed.
“How are you taking all of this?” Virgil asked quietly, giving his brother a look of concern. He probably had a very long and emotional day.
Scott sank onto the edge of his bed. “I don’t know, V… it’s a lot, and I don't know if I can do it.” Scott choked out, tears finally falling down his cheeks.
Virgil sat beside him. “I’ll be there, we all will be. You won’t be doing this alone.”
Scott let his head rest against his brother’s shoulder. “I just… wish I had time to prepare. Hell, I would have liked to know about him earlier.” Scott pushed his face into Virgil’s shoulder. “She left him a month ago. CPS has been looking for me for a month. Why-” he sobbed “did she not give him to me or call me? Why let him go into the system? Did she not think I was fit for it or maybe I was too busy?” he muttered, “What did I do wrong Virgil?”
Virgil just hugged his big brother as the man sobbed. “I read the note after John. She didn't sound like she was in the best head space, and CPS not being able to find you isn't on you. That's just what we do to keep us safe. This is you, we're talking about Scott. You’ll be okay,” Virgil said, taking his hand and squeezing it. “You raised Alan. You already know how to do this, you didn't do anything wrong.”
There was a soft knock on the door, and Kayo's head popped in. “Hey, we have the stuff.” She took a glance at Scott, who was wiping away his tears. “I can put up the crib for you.” Scott nodded, not trusting his voice.
Virgil and Scott walked back to the lounge. Scott refused to let go of Virgil’s hand. When they arrived, they saw Gordon in the corner; he was showing Aiden the fish tank.
Gordon turned to them with a bright smile. “Hey, Scott, I think this little Guppy is a sea baby. I can tell,” Gordon laughed as Aiden slapped his hand against the glass in approval.
Scott smiled a real, honest-to-heart smile and took his son back into his arms.
I’ll be okay. I can do this, he thought, pressing his cheek against Aiden’s soft hair as he held him close. We’ll be okay.