Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

An hour ago, he was alive. An hour ago, he was talking to his family. An hour ago, he was hugging his daughter goodbye. Then he wasn't. Then he was dead. Ridley hadn't a clue what to do or say. The comms link blacked out. John was smiling and laughing. Estrella and Ridley were in the comms room. John hadn't mentioned a thing to the girls. He hadn't planned to. Halley and Constella  were in the room, so freaking out their mother's would freak out them. They were both grown women. He kept an eye on the meteor's protectory, while kept a calm face and mind. Smiling at his family. His loved ones.

He and Ridley had been married for three decades. He had EOS for just over ten years. All his best friends were in the room that he had called into. He was happy. He had nothing to lose. He had everything he wanted with him.

His sister had been married for thirty-five years. To his best friend. They were happy. He was glad that something good finally had happened for her. All was good. He was loved. He loved.

There was nothing for John to lose. There was nothing telling  him to not alert them about the situation. To tell them he was sorry. To tell them that he loved them. To tell them goodbye. He just let the impact take him. He let the meteor smash him into pieces and destroy his ship. The channel ended abruptly. Estrella and Ridley looked at each other, both diving for Thunderbird three, leaving a confused Conrad. He sat there as the launch happened, until he realised. His best friend was probably dead.

Thunderbird three didn't take long, but the two women sat there in silence, aiming for the atmosphere and then Thunderbird five. Estrella normally hid her emotions, but she couldn't exactly hide this. Normally she could feel her twin brother's emotions and everyday livelihood. Then she couldn't.

Once they reached Thunderbird five, they couldn't see the station intact. Maybe a little of debris, but nothing that could be repaired. Grabbing their helmets, they both took an astro board each and searching for something. For a sign that John was alive. A body that could be saved. Eventually, Tracy Island appeared on comms. Jeff, "What's going on. girls?"

Ridley looked at Estrella and gestured her sister to respond. She did, "Something hit Thunderbird five and...and we can't find John." Tears had appeared under a tremble. Ridley couldn't speak.

Jeff nodded, "Thunderbird five's status?"

"Thunderbird five has been rendered inoperative." Came from Estrella.

He then ordered, "Keep searching for him. He's got to be there. Give us updates."

"F A B, Dad." Jeff's holographic form disappeared from the comms.

Estrella looked at Ridley, "Come on, we'll find him."

"Dead or alive." She manoeuvred her body toward her sister in-law, "Will he be dead or alive?"

Estrella pulled her in for a hug, "Alive. I hope."

They found him. His body was still and lifeless, floating in the vast darkness that space occupied. Ridley was the one to grab hold of him as they dragged him to the safety of Thunderbird three. Ridley held onto his hand, tightly. She laid his body on the ground as Estrella began chest compressions. Pushing her hands, deeply into his rib cage, she grunted as nothing was produced. Neither of the two women's eyes looked away from John.

After a few minutes, Ridley stopped Estrella, "It's useless. We're getting nothing from him."

"Why are you giving up?" She asked her best friend, sitting down next to her dead brother's corpse.

"I can't watch you try and save him. I just can't watch this." She shook her head, crying from pain. Estrella nodded. A tear hit her cheek as she got up and walked over to the the console. Ridley joined her. They were taking him home.

He was pronounced dead that same night.

Halley lost her father. Ridley was now a widow. Estrella had lost her other half.

When they landed Thunderbird three, Conrad was stood waiting. He hugged them both, even crying a bit himself. He had known John for years.  Halley had run into her mother’s arms. Both girls crying. Ridley hushed her daughter as she kissed Halley’s hair.

“I was meant to go up there. We were meant to join, Dad and EOS tomorrow.”

“Hall, EOS is still here. He backed her code to Tracy Island before-“

She looked at her best friend, “He knew. He knew he would die. Why would he let it happen?”

Conrad still had his arms around Estrella. She wiped a tear back. She spoke, “I don’t know.”

Ridley embraced her daughter again. This time, she hugged Halley tighter. Conrad put his hand on Ridley’s back, “Come on, let’s go find out.”

Estrella gripped onto his hand. Ridley’s arms were around her daughter’s neck. Halley’s head rested onto her mother’s shoulder. Ridley leaned over and kissed her daughter as they walked away.

Estrella walked toward her father’s desk, analysing the footage of Thunderbird five’s last few minutes. She speed backward to before the call.

“John, I’ve detected an asteroid projected to hit Thunderbird five in six minutes. Would you like me to prepare the space elevator?”

“No, EOS. It’ll take to long. Is there anyway to get out of its trajectory?” He stood there thinking.

“Not in time. If it doesn’t hit Thunderbird five, it’ll hit Tracy Island. Would you like Thunderbird three to launch?” She asked John.

“Won’t get here in time.” He transferred EOS’ systems to Earth. He then opened up a channel to Tracy Island. It was Conrad.

“Hey John, what’s up?”

“Ridley and Estrella are in the comms room. Join them, I’m gonna call them.” He kept his panic hidden.

“Is everything okay?”

He shook his head, “No. I don’t have much time. Just do it.”

She looked up at both her husband and best friend, “He knew he was going to die. He didn’t try and fight it. Why?”

Conrad walked closer, hugging her from behind. She fell back into his arms, crying. Ridley walked toward the desk and projected the footage onto the holoprojector.

“Impact in 5 4 3 2 1.”

CRASH

Estrella felt herself trying to catch her own breathe. She was suffocating. The walls were shrinking. She crouched down next to a wall, locking herself in. She silently cried. She felt a hand reach down, "Hey, come here." He wrapped her in his arms.

Her tears pouring down her face. She could barely breath. Conrad kissed her hair. He had been crying too.

"Mum!" John ran over, hugging his mother who looked to be about the same age as himself.

She smiled as she kissed his hair, "Hey baby."

Alan ran over, "John! I missed you!" He hugged his brother.

"I missed you too, Allie."

"I've been watching you guys. Haven't we Mum? We've been watching you have kids. When did Scott and Kayo get together? And Virg and BRAINS? They're all happy. Well not at the moment. You just died. Why did you let yourself die?"

Lucille frowned, "You could have prevented your own death, John. Why could you be so stupid?"

"They wouldn't have made it. Letting my sister and wife die as well. I'd rather myself than them too."

She brought him into another embrace, "Don't you ever do that again. Come on, Alan will show you around."

Chapter Text

"Goodbye Titanic!" the Tenth doctor turned to the TARDIS controls. He then swung his body around to see an older woman standing in the middle of the TARDIS. She wore a black dress. She looked similar to Donna. In fact, her entrance was similar to Donna. 'How did you-? How did you get here?"

"Who are you and why do you look and sound like Tycho Reeves?" She pointed at him, demanding an answer. She then looked around her, "Where am I?"

"Tycho who?"

"Tycho Reeves. He built the hypercars. He's BRAINS idol."

"The what? And who names themselves BRAINS?" He walked closer to her, observing her. He looked her up and down. She looked at him up and down.

She ignored him, "I'm Dr Estrella Glen Tracy. Who are you?"

He smirked, "I'm the Doctor."

"Doctor Who?" She was confused.

"No, just the Doctor."

"Okay, Doctor. Where are we?" She took a look around, "Where are your windows? Do you not have windows?"

The Doctor looked around the TARDIS in utter confusion before looking at his visitor, "That's a new one. How about we look at the outside?" He guided her to the door.

She turned around, "We're in space. Why is there gravity? It doesn't feel artificial."

"Artificial gravity? This is the TARDIS. It doesn't need anything artificial." He opened up the door. Estrella closed her mouth. She gripped onto the sides of the TARDIS, while the Doctor smiled walking outward.

"This is witchcraft? What are you?"

"I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the Constellation of Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old, you got a problem with that?"

She smiled for the first time since her brother's death, "No not at all. Show me something. Take me somewhere." She crossed her arms, her ring glimmer.

He then asked her, "How did you get here? Where did you come from?"

"Tracy Island on Earth. I was at a funeral. My brother's funeral. Last thing I remember, Conrad was holding me. Then I appeared here."

"I'm sorry for your loss. Brother? It must be hard."

"You don't know the half of it. This brother in particular was my twin. I got so used to feeling his emotions and his thoughts that it feels like I'm missing part of myself." Her smile had faded over her speech.

The Doctor softened, "It's hard to loss your loved ones. Boy do I know that."

"This is a time machine, right?"

"Yeah." He nodded, not catching on her thoughts.

"And a spaceship?"

"Yeah."

"Let's go back in time and save Thunderbird five."

"No."

Chapter Text

"Why not? It's harmless."

"That meteor that hits your precious Thunderbird five is a fixed point." He explained, emphasising the fact that it was a fixed point.

"What about my brother's death?" She wandered around the TARDIS. He followed her, exactly three paces behind her.

"Well he could have been saved. Well."

"Well what?" She stopped, gripping onto the TARDIS.

He pulled her off of the TARDIS, 'Hey, your hurting her."

"Well what?"

"Well, he was always meant to die, but you would have also...died. That's the thing about fixed points. He was always meant to die. You would have been collateral."

Estrella took a look at the TARDIS and pulled some levers and pressed some buttons. The TARDIS began to whirl and they landed in a far away world. Earth, but in an alternate reality.

"You shouldn't have pressed that or done that." He pulled her away as she ran for the door.

She looked back at him and smiled, "Yeah, but I'm curious." They walked out of the TARDIS, "Where are we?"

"Earth. 2063. No no no no, you silly girl. You've taken us to another universe."

Estrella's smiled beamed with excitement, "The multiverse exists."

"We seem to be on a ship." He walked around, trying to place all the pieces of the mystery.

"The Hood's Ship. I've been here before." They walked passed the cells. She looked into one, "Mum?" She grabbed onto the cell.

The Doctor walked next to her, "Don't touch anything. You could change the course of her reality. Her life in this world. Your life in this world." They kept walking, hearing noises from behind. The Doctor pulled her, "Run."

“Mum?” She turned to see a younger version of her brother, looking onto the same room. The lights had gone out. They were running in the darkness.

"What happened?" She looked around, seeing Thunderbird 2. Her brothers in the cockpit. She looked up and into the window, "Thunderbird 2 always has looked magnificent."

"You back to the TARDIS." He ran them back in to the Hood's Ship.

"Is this what you do?"

He gave her a smirk, "Better than this."

The TARDIS whirled again as it spun and spun and spun. They appeared to have travelled in time. They appeared to be at a hotel. She stepped out. A man walked out of the hotel with his family. Her eyes lit up, "Conrad."

"Different universe remember. He might not know you. Do not interfere."

She smiled at the Doctor. Conrad had walked past, but she still went into the hotel. A man walked over to her, "Estrella? What are you doing out here? I left you in our hotel room." Bob walked over to her.

"What?" She turned around, confused.

"Sorry. The back of your head looks just like my bride."

"Bride?" She asked.

He chuckled, "We're getting married this week. She hasn't left the hotel room in a while though."

"And your laughing about it?" She responded.

When she looked up, a version of John was up there. She ran toward the stairwell, being stopped by Ridley who was already up there. She watched the two kiss, before an argument stirred. Her own smile changed when she noticed. She had watched her version of John and Ridley never argue, but it seemed that these were. Ridley then stormed into the hotel room that John had left. He watched Ridley walk into the room. John, continued walking. He tapped on a door. A version of herself was there. She looked to have been crying. She let John in and the door closed. The Doctor was standing next to her. She turned to face him, "Something's strange here. Why was my mother in a cell and was I marrying that dude? He's laughing at my pain. Something's obviously wrong and it looks like he hasn't noticed. I know that because John walked into the room and I looked to be crying."

"You need to get out of here. Come on. Back to the TARDIS." He directed her direction of movement toward the TARDIS.

"What does TARDIS even stand for?"

"Time and Relative Dimension in Space." He kept a blank face.

They kept walking.

"So, where to now?" She asked, breathing silently. She began to use the controls.

"No no no, you need to go home. We need to get you home."

She stopped him, "I'm not ready to go back."

"No."

"Yes." She moved a lever.

vworp vworp

Chapter Text

A young twelve year old Estrella and John headed up the mountain. They reached halfway to then turn back around and start skiing down. They got half way down before a rumble was heard above them. Estrella started to dig a hole in the ground for John to get in.

"Come on, John. Get in down in the hole." She ordered him to get down there. Estrella protected him from the avalanche impact.

The Tracy Family sat down at the round couch in the comms room. Kayo stood in front of her adoptive family, "You've always treated me like family, and I hope what I'm about to tell you doesn't change that," She took a deep breath in and out, "Something may come to light about my family, and I need you to hear it from me first. The Hood..." She was interrupted by the emergency alarm.

John stood up, "It's like the perfect storm of emergencies. We all need to mobilise."

Ridley asked for Kayo's permission to wait, "Kayo? Please?"

She sighed, "It can wait." They all head to their designated launches. Kayo walked over to Sally and Lucille.

Sally goes, "Next time, kid."

Both John and Ridley sat down in the space elevator. A holographic globe appeared in front of them. John began instructing his brothers to various places.

"Thunderbird 1, high winds have trapped a climber on Mt Haushan. He's taken shelter in a crevasse but can't get down.
Thunderbird 2, you've got a cave collapse nearby Berlin. They need excavation and heavy lifting gear.
Thunderbird 3, I'm sending co-ordinates now. A transport shuttle with a crew of two has malfunctioned. You need to kill the engines and tow them back into orbit.
Thunderbird 4, a deep sea submersible has sunk in a trench off Saipan. Passenger status unknown.
Thunderbird Shadow, someone thought they could cross the Great Victoria Desert on a motorbike. The distress signal is weak but I think we can pinpoint their location." John then turned to Ridley, "this satellite commands the Global Flood Control network and it's gone offline. Can you take a pod from Thunderbird 5 to have a look, but I'll get BRAINS to walk you through the repairs?" She smiled at her husband. By that stage they all were about to launch.

5
4
3
2
1

The TARDIS had landed on Thunderbird 5. Estrella gripped onto the TARDIS wall. The Doctor pushed her out of the TARDIS, "Alright, what's wrong?"

"Thunderbird five. It's meant to be gone."

She walked around the gravity ring. John was there.

As the space elevator reached Thunderbird 5. The two went there separate ways. John went into the global comms command module as Ridley got one of the pods to launch. The others all launched and headed to their missions. After a while, John heard a shuttle dock with Thunderbird 5. He went straight to the gravity ring, "Hello? Who's out there?" No response. He continued to walk around the gravity ring.

He stopped in his tracks. The girl looked at him, "Hello John."

"Estrella?" He brought her into a hug, "I thought you were dead."

She tightened her hug, "Wait what? Explain."

"You died in an avalanche, at least I thought you did. You died saving me."

"I'm not your Estrella. She's probably dead. I'm from another universe. One where I'm alive."

He smiled as a tear fell from his cheek, "So, your dead."

"Not exactly, Johnny." Estrella appeared from behind.

"What is happening?"

A voice came over John's comms. Kayo, "John, I'm heading back to the island. Something's going on."

He held his hand over his comms, "F A B, Kayo."

"Kayo about to tell you all something?" Estrella asked as the twins had reunited. Estrella and John were stood in an embrace. She smiled, remembering her own brother and their relationship.

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"I've been through this already. On my universe. Just wait it out. You'll work though all of this."

Ridley opened her comms, "John, I can't dock. Open up."

"What? You should be able to."

She answered, "Have you not been on comms at all?"

"What happened?"

Ridley then explained everything. What Kayo had done. The Hood being on the island. That the missions were fake. John then tried to let her in, "Why weren't you on comms?"

"I don't want to explain this over comms. I'll let you in and then you'll see." Then WASP was activated. The Hood no longer had control and Ridley could enter.

The other Estrella asked the older one, "Are they married on your universe?"

She nodded, "For years. They were happy."

"Were?"

"What the? Estrella?" She said as she saw both Estrella's, "Which one's her?" She went over and hugged one of her best friends. Her Estrella didn't let go.

"Hi Ridley."

Ridley then turned to John, "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I'm just as confused. This is so strange. Two Estrellas. On Thunderbird 5."

"One from a parallel time, the other is yours. She's strong. She survived, wait how'd you survive?" Estrella looked at her counterpart. She should have died in the avalanche.

"I was kidnapped by the Hood. I managed to escape and found myself coming here." She explained.

Lucille then called Thunderbird 5, "John, Ridley stay on comms please. Kayo needs to finish." The two of them then turned to listen in on Kayo.

Kayo continues, "You have to know that I would never knowingly help... my uncle. Every time he got away it only made me hate him more."

John butted in, "Wait what? The Hood is your Uncle?"

"Have you no been on comms?" Kayo asked John.

"We've had a situation up here as well." Estrella and The Doctor stayed out of view.

Kayo reverted back to what she was saying, "Keeping it secret was both your parents idea. As well as mine. My father didn't want to be remotely related to him."

Virgil then spoke, "Well then, if dad wanted this a secret, that's good enough for me." They all agreed.

Lucille turned to John and Ridley aboard Thunderbird 5, "What happened up there?"

Estrella stepped into view, "Hey Mum." She waved. Everyone's faces, but Alan's, were all surprised. Alan didn't know who Estrella was. He was still a baby when the avalanche hit. He doesn't remember her at all.

"Estrella? Is that really you?"

She nodded, "Yes, it's really me, Mum."

Lucille turned to John, "Bring her down in the elevator. I want to make sure she's safely here. We wouldn't want any of the Hood's henchmen to find out..."

"Too late," A deep voice came from off the holograms. Estrella was being held at gun point. The holograms disappeared. John turned to face the man holding his sister at gun point, "Move and all of you are dead."

"John, Ridley, I missed you guys so much. Just let them take me." Tears were streaming down her face. The man dug the gun further into Estrella's neck.

"Move!" He almost screamed, before pushing Estrella out of the airlock. Then she was gone. His sister was gone. Who knows for how long? Ridley brought him in for a hug.

"You okay?" He smiled and nodded at her, though he wasn't.

Estrella looked at the Doctor, "We need to go after her."

"We can't change anything. Let her go."

John and Ridley remained in the embrace as Ridley turned to Estrella, "Don't worry. You need to get back to your world. I've got this. I'll find my best friend."

"This is why your my best friend. You take care. Both of you."

On Tracy Island, Lucille tried to contact Thunderbird 5. Eventually, Ridley answered, apologising for not answering earlier, "Sorry, Estrella was just kidnapped again."

"Why didn't you try to stop it?" She asked.

"All three of us were held at gun point. What could we have done? I know you wanted her home. We can still try to find her."

Lucille nodded, "If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to call. Okay?"

"Thank you. We will find her."

"Where to now?" She asked as they walked into the TARDIS.

The Doctor sighed, "Home. I'm taking you home." He moved the levers and pushed some buttons, "Our presence here is dangerous."

Chapter Text

Jeff sat down grumpily on the soft sand. Anakin sat next to him as the rest threw their towels onto the ground. Estrella took off her borrowed robes, revealing a bathing suit that took the hourglass shape. She pulled her hair into the ponytail without the use of a brush or any supports. Virgil threw off his flannel and took off his pants. The two went straight into the water, Estrella diving head first off of a ledge in the water. Virgil stopped as he waited patiently for his sister to appear above the surface. Conrad followed behind the two with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka behind them. Conrad watched his wife appear right next to him. She pushed him into the water, making a big splash.

Lucille smiled from the edge, she walked towards the water, catching up to Virgil. Standing next to her second oldest son, she turned to him, "You're not going in further?"

"I don't know what type of marine life there is? Is it safe?"

Lucille smiled, "It's fine, Virgil. It's your decision. However, it's either with us or your dad?"

Virgil took one look at the sand and back at Estrella and Conrad. He answered his mother, "I'll stay here."

The two of them sat in the water, Lucille laughing at her son's decision. Estrella turned to face them, "The water's nice here."

Virgil asked his sister, "What's better, the water here or the coral reefs on Tracy Island?"

She smirked at his question, "That's very weighted. Are you seriously comparing coral reefs to the beach?"

He only nodded, attempting to make conversation.

"Coral reefs then. You happy?"

"Very, sis. Very." Virgil smiled, sarcastically.

"Would you two stop with the sarcasm? This is meant to be relaxing. A break, but you two just keep arguing." Came from Lucille.

The two automatically apologised in unison, "Sorry Mum."

She smiled, "You two never change do you?"

A rather pregnant Padme entered the water to just float for a minute.

'OOH Lets race' Virgil screamed.

Padme quirked an eyebrow, swimming race.

'Alright then, lets do it.'

The group in the water got in even spots on a sand bank. Obi-Wan force lifted a large stick vertically in the water.

'Alright. first to get to the stick and back wins. Ready, Go!'

Padme's arms worked hard, Virgil was behind her but she was still in the lead.

"YES PADME. KRIFFING DO IT" Anakin yelled from his spot on the towels on the sand.

'You know Anakin, its just a race. you don't have to get so excited about it."

"She is my wife and I will support her in every little endeavour. Just because you hate your family, doesn't mean I hate mine"

Jeff rolled his eyes. getting up and kicking sand at Anakin.

Anakin scowled, shaking his robes off.

He had decided to wear his full jedi garb to the beach.

As the race begun, Lucille swam behind them. Conrad pulled his wife closer to him. Under the water he grabbed her thigh and wrapped her legs around him. She smiled seductively as she caressed his cheeks, leaning toward his face. He whispered underneath his breath, "You know what we've never done, done it in the water."

She raised her eyebrow, "What a better time than now, love." She leaned in closer, pushing him underneath the water. They were there for about a minute before they heard shouting from the shoreline.

Jeff. He was yelling, "Oi! Get off of my daughter."

Estrella sat up first. She glared at her father, "You can't say anything." Conrad was behind her.

He caressed her cheek, kissing it, "It's okay, babe. Don't worry about it. He's just trying to get under your skin."

She looked back at him, annoyed, "He ruined it. I didn't think anyone was looking."

He ran his fingers through her hair, "Don't let him. I love you and want you. That's all that matters."

She flung her fingers onto his back and ran them up his spine. She then leaned into his neck, kissing him back down into the water. Eventually Conrad's trunks were floating in the water. Their head's were above the water as their foreheads touched. She had looped his trunks around her feet.

He then put his hand on her hair, "Hey, love. We should stop."

"Here." She guided his trunks toward him, shielding him, so he could slide them on again.

He smiled, "I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Shall we join the others."

The TARDIS appeared a distance away from the group. Estrella left the TARDIS and saw her mother. She smiled, "Mum!"

The Doctor was right behind her. She spoke, "That's part of my family. Where are we?" She looked at him.

"Naboo, 19 BBY. In a galaxy far far away."

She watched her counterpart smiling with her husband. There were no tears. Conrad had his arms around her, wrapping a towel as they smiled. Estrella smiled, "I look happy, but why am I here?"

"We overshot our target universe. It seems to be a close one to yours." The Doctor ran his fingers through his hair. He walked back into the TARDIS, "This universe has everything. Star Wars, Cloudbase from Thunderbirds and even Time Lords and superheroes."

"Can we stay here? Please?" She begged.

Lucille had walked over. She looked between her own daughter and the figure in front of her, "Who are you?"

"Don't tell her who you are." The Doctor's head poked out of the TARDIS.

"You remind me of my daughter, but she's over there." She looked back at her daughter and son in-law. Conrad was watching his wife prepare the lunch. They both were laughing and smiling. Her own husband was rolling his eyes.

"I am her, but from a different universe."

"Is it better than this? Are you happy? Am I happy? Are your brothers happy?" She asked her daughter.

She nodded, "You died. You got stabbed. Allie had died and everything was going downhill, especially for you. You were happy. We all were. We all have been. You'd be proud. Wait, out of all the questions you could have asked, you asked about happiness? What's happened?"

"I am not happy with your father. He hurt you and your brothers. At least somewhere out there, my family is happy."

"I miss you." She felt a tear fall down her cheek.

"You will always be my baby. No matter what universe or time. You are everything to me my sweet daughter."

The Doctor interrupted, "Oi, we need to get you home. Say goodbye and get in."

She embraced her mother, before getting back into the TARDIS. The Doctor spoke to Lucille, "You're gonna love this."

vworp vworp

The TARDIS disappeared.

Chapter Text

"We've overshot our universe, Doctor. The Space Hub shouldn't be here. Well he shouldn't be here." They stepped out and into the control room of the Space Hub. Conrad looked over from his seat.

The Doctor spoke, "Your right. Not again."

"Hey, what are you doing here? Aren't you meant to be on Earth?" He smiled, walking over to her. His hands on her waist. She smiled back.

"I am. Your version of me is. I am not your Estrella."

He smiled at her, "I don't understand, your Estrella. You are my wife."

"I travelled the multiverse. I'm trying to get to my universe." She explained.

Alarms began to blare, "Emergency. This is Transport Alpha Nine Nine"

Conrad ran over to the controls, " I read you Nine-Nine. What's the problem?"

Estrella leaned over to the Doctor, "The Meltdown."

They heard over the comms, "Our engine controls are failing. Request immediate clearance to dock."

"Copy that." He looked at the holographic map of the space hub, "Bay 2-1 is nearest. I’ll clear you a path." Estrella watched her husband work. He was a natural. He alerted other cargo ships, "Attention all space traffic: All ships divert from bay 2-1 and await further instructions." He leaned back in his chair, "Hm good." Estrella walked closer as they saw another ship get into danger. Conrad sat up, pressing the comms, "Bravo 2-4, I gave you an order to divert." She saw the concern grow in his face. The same concern he always had for her safety.

"Sorry, Control, missed that. We’re getting a lot of interference."

"You have to change course. Divert to bay 2-2. 2-4 do you copy?" He was concentrated on the current situation.

"Copy that. But it’s gonna be tight." The whole station rocked, "Control, we made it, but we hit something. How bad is it?"

Conrad left the seat, he walked over to the wall comm, he gripped it tight, "Core is breached! Coolant system is offline. We’re going into meltdown."

The Doctor spoke, "We need to go."

"I'm not leaving him alone."

Conrad walked over to his wife's counterpart, "You need to leave. I'm not letting you get killed. Your version of me wouldn't let that happen."

"Conrad-"

"This is International Rescue. I've been monitoring your transmissions. Do you need assistance?" John appeared holographically, during the evacuation.

He walked over to the controls, "This is Controller Conrad. Our core is ruptured, the coolant unit is leaking and we're going into meltdown. Apart from that, everything's fine."

"You have an evac in progress?"

Conrad nodded, "Yea, I’m riding the power controls to buy time till everyone’s out, but I’m only delaying the meltdown. I cant stop." He looked between John and Estrella, glaring at his wife's counterpart.

The Doctor reminded her, "Let this universe's Estrella save him. We need to go."

She turned to Conrad, "I love you in every universe." They left in the TARDIS.

"Conrad, time to go."

"Sweetie it's okay. We're going to get you out."

"If I don't-"

She stopped him, "Hey, don't think about that. We're going to get you out. I've hooked up Thunderbird three's life support to the hub. I'm not going anywhere until I can hug you. I promise."

He smiled, even though she couldn't see him, "I know, but I can't help to think about what if I don't make it."

"I get it but think about the good stuff. You have a lot of thinking time, and I'm not taking my hand off of the comms unit so if you want to talk then you can."
He thanked her, "Thanks baby. I love you."
"I love you too."

"Conrad! WAKE UP!" She had screamed at the top of her lungs, after Virgil replaced the coolant unit. He was passed out in the tube. She ran in there to put on his helmet, carrying him out and into one of the Thunderbirds. Who cared if the space hub would be empty as they left the scene. Conrad needed her.

Estrella screamed as they watched the universe's Estrella carry Conrad into Thunderbird 2. The Doctor flew them home.

vworp vworp

Chapter Text

John smiled as he rolled over. Ridley was still sound asleep four hours later. It was early in the morning. He stretched his muscles out as he sat up in the bed. He turned toward the door to see his twin sister standing, watching him. She smirked, “Morning sleepy head.”

“I’ve only been asleep for four hours. Besides, you’ve been asleep for longer.” He stood up, stretching out again. Why was he so sore? Probably the gravity.

“Told you, you were addicted to no gravity. Guess who doesn’t listen.” She watched him exhaustedly walk over to her to hug her.

“I do listen, I just don’t follow said opinions.” He embraced her in a hug, whispering, “Happy Birthday.”

“And Happy Birthday to you. How was the descent?”

“Exhaustingly late, but no problems. There was in fact two loud kids up past midnight. I promised them dessert before breakfast if they went to sleep.” He informed her, hoping he wouldn’t have to fulfill that said promise.

He watched her intriguingly check their bedroom as they walked through the halls, “They’re fast asleep now, but” She opened her wrist comm, rewinding the time span to three hours earlier, “They were awake after you left. Oops, looks like they broke your promise.”

He exhaled a sigh of relief, “Good.” He then asked her as they walked down the stairs, “Is Con still asleep?”

She shook her head, “Showering. Everyone else are on early morning missions.”

“Pity, shouldn’t you also be in the shower?” He asked.

Grandma Tracy coughed as the two twins entered the kitchen. They both looked at her from where they were. She smiled, “Happy Birthday. John, I’m glad you could finally make it home.” She walked over, squeezing them into a hug.

“Morning, Grandma.” Came from John.

“What are you doing up so early, Grandma?” Estrella asked, as John walked toward the food that sat on the stove and in the oven. Estrella turned their grandmother away from where John was.

“I knew you two would be up early, so I wanted to catch you before you went outside.” She told her granddaughter as they sat down at the table. John was already cooking their breakfast.

“Go back to sleep before everyone else gets back. Alan and Scott are in three and Virg and Gordon are in two.” She clarified.

“Don’t stay out for too long.” She got up and left the room. Estrella smiled, getting up from her seat. She joined her brother cooking their own separate breakfast from the rest. He kneaded the dough and made fresh bagels, while Estrella grabbed the juice out of the fridge, and took two cups from the cupboards. They repeated this every year. Every year they packed a bag each of breakfast and hiked the island to reach one particular spot for the early morning sky. They would sit there in peace for a few hours, eating breakfast and talking. It was the only time John was excited to head down to Earth.

Once they reached the destination, they would sit down near a cliff edge and eat bagels with juice. She began, “When did you and Ridley get in?”

“After midnight.” He took a bite of his bagel, “Are you okay with Ridley? After what happened-”

“It’s fine. I want you to be happy. It doesn’t matter who does.”

He smiled, “Have I mentioned your my favourite?”

“Everyday.” They both laughed.

“How’s the twins?” He asked her.

She put down the bagel onto her lap, “Lucy wants to be like you, in Thunderbird five and Wally just wants to be in the pool all day. Why did I make mini versions of my little brothers?”

“Technically, that makes Lucy like you.” He pointed out.

“Wally’s starting to look like him.”

John put his hand on his sister’s shoulder, “Doesn’t mean he’ll become him. He doesn’t even know his biological father and he’s raised on the island with Conrad as his father. He won’t be like him. Trust me.”

She smiled at him, “I know, but sometimes traits like that-“

“His father is Con. You’re his mother. You guys are his family.” He reminded her.

She smiled, “Sometimes, I wish things were easier. I wish everything were what it was before the avalanche.”

“You say that every year and I agree with you.” He took a sip of the juice, “What juice did you get?”

She shrugged, “I put it on the supply list. It’s whatever Grandma and Virg got.”

“Lazy.” He muttered under his breath.

She nudged him, “You try taking care of kids.”

“We practically raised each other.” He smiled.

Estrella smiled, “True that.” They looked towards the horizon just as the sun began to rise above the ocean. The colours of orange and pink merged with the blue sky. There were no clouds.

“Mum would love it here. She’d be proud of all of us.” John looked at his sister. Tears were filling her eyes.

She nodded, looking back at her brother, “We’re all happy. That’s what really matters.”

“You headed to the Observatory recently?” He asked her. They shared ownership of Taylor Observatory. Usually, Estrella would head there on quiet days. Conrad sometimes joined her. So would John. It was something they would all do together. Though Conrad wouldn’t understand as much of the observatory, he still enjoyed spending the day with the both of them.

She shook her head, “Not recently. There’s not been much time, with rescues and all of that.”

“Something to do this month.”

“When the twins go back to boarding school.”

“Deal.” They shook on it.

They appeared on Tracy Island again, except it wasn't her Tracy Island. The TARDIS had landed in the middle of the comms room. They heard noises from the kitchen.

“Hey, how was it?” It sounded like Conrad.

The next voice sounded like John, “The sunrise was beautiful.”

They heard Conrad ask, “Great way to start your birthday?” They skipped a beat, “Please tell me there’s another juice bottle in the fridge?”

Estrella looked at the Doctor, "This isn't right."

"How do you know? You can't even hear yourself. It could be right."

“Yes. Don’t worry. At least there should be.” They heard Estrella. She smirked at the Doctor as she looked around. Tracy Island looked a little different.

“Thanks. You want any leftovers?” John offered from the kitchen.

“Sure. Bagel?” They heard Conrad.

“I’m gonna check on Ridley. You two okay with it?”

She whispered, "Okay with Ridley? Why wouldn't they be?"

“Please, don’t try and start an argument.” They heard Conrad say.

"Arguments? With Ridley? Something is wrong with this universe?" She walked toward the

“Get a room!” They finally heard Ridley's voice. It sounded annoyed.

They then heard Estrella sigh loudly as she spoke, “Hey Ridley.” It was awkward.

Estrella began to walk down. She was stopped by the Doctor, "Don't. We need to get you home."

"Something is wrong with this Tracy Island. This isn't right."

"You keep saying that. There's a difference in every universe. This might just be one of them. We need to go. We can't interfere." He pulled her away and into the TARDIS.

Chapter Text

"Where are we?" She asked as she got out of the TARDIS. He followed her. They were on Tracy Island.

"You're home. About a day after you disappeared. They'll find you back on the island."

"Estrella! You're alive!" Conrad ran over pulling her in for a hug. He held her tight.

She looked at him, "What do you mean?"

He kissed her, "You've been gone for a year. Where have you been?"

"Long story. I should be at still in your arms at the funeral."

"Yeah, that's when I saw you last. Where were you?" He held her, caressing her face. It had been a while since he saw her. For her, it was only a few hours.

"I appeared in a TARDIS."

"A what?"

"Time and Relative Dimensions in Space. It's a time machine and a space ship."

He looked at her worried, "So, John's death was very recent for you?" She nodded, a tear falling from her face. He wiped it away. He stood in silence, "I don't know how to tell you. "

"Just tell me." She insisted.

"A few weeks after the funeral, Ridley learned that she was pregnant."

"Oh no, is she alright? Where is she?"

He held onto her tighter, shaking, "She died about six months ago. So did the baby. Look, you and I are the only people who knew about complications with Halley's birth. The risks that they'd take if they were to have another. What happened to Ridley was...she was scared. It was harder after the funeral. After both their funerals. I haven't seen 'Stell alone without Halley being by her side for months."

"Hall lost both her parents in one year. It must be hard for her."

"Something Ridley never wanted to happen."

She asked him, "When did she die?"

"Exactly six months after John's death. 25th of August. Monday."

She kissed him, "I'll be back." She let herself out of his arms.

"Estrella! What are you doing? Estrella!" He called out after her. She had already gone to the Doctor.

"What do you want? I already brought you home."

"Take me into that past. My best friend, Ridley, died about six months ago. I need to be there when she died."

He shook his head, "No, no no no. I'm not letting you touch anything."

"Look, she died alone. She already lost her husband. She's had no one else to be there for her. Please. Just for a few minutes, then back here and you can leave for your own travels." She begged him.

He sighed, "Alright, date, year and place?"

Six Months Earlier

Jeff tapped on the door of Ridley's bedroom. She hadn't changed anything. All of John's belongings still remained around the room. Ridley, herself, was on bedrest. He condition had worsened. She grew weak everyday. Jeff made sure she was okay. She was still his family. The baby inside of her was still his family. She smiled, looking over at the door.

He spoke, "How you feeling?" He asked her.

"Still painful. I'm still hurting."

He gave her a smile, "It'll always sting. You'll learn to live with the pain of loss. Remember to keep on loving."

"Where is Halley?" She asked her father in-law.

"Keeping herself busy. She's scared of losing you."

"She won't lose me." She assured him.

"Don't think I don't know about her complication. We almost lost you and her. You need to prepare Halley for the worse. As much as it scares me, Halley will have lost both her parents within a year. If this goes wrong."

She nodded, "And it will."

"Then why continue with the pregnancy, even if you know you'll die?" He asked her.

"For the off chance that it survives. For John." She put her hand over her stomach where the baby was. She was full term, just waiting for the day. The day that she will die.

Halley was leaning on Ridley, who was caressing her daughter, softly. Ridley looked at her daughter, "You know I love you no matter what happens to me and this child. You will always be loved."

"Mum, nothing will happen to you. We'll be fine."

She shook her head, "No, sweetheart. No. I'm worried that I'll die and I don't want you to be alone."

"I won't be alone. Don't worry about me." She assured her own mother.

Ridley smiled, "But I do. You're my daughter. My little miracle baby. I worry about you."

"What room? Can we land in her room?"

"No, we can't. We'll have to find it." The Doctor worked the TARDIS for six months in the past. They opened the TARDIS door and walked out, "Or we can land outside her room."

Estrella's head poked out behind him, "Perfect. Thanks Doctor." She walked into the room. Ridley looked weak. She had never seen her best friend look pale. She was dying.

"Estrella?" She heard her say.

She walked to her bedside, putting her hand over her best friend's hand, "Hey, I'm here. I'm here. I'm not letting you go alone."

"You're not going to kill yourself. Can you do me a favour?" She asked her best friend. Ridley was getting weaker.

Estrella nodded, a tear running down her cheek, "Anything."

"Take care of Halley. She needs you."

"I will. Don't worry about her."

She smiled, "Thank you. Where did you go? Where have you been?" Estrella looked down. Ridley regained her attention, "No secrets, remember?"

Estrella laughed, "I appeared on a time and space machine. I've been trying to get home."

"Conrad's been worried. So have I."

They both cried through Ridley's last few minutes.

Then she was gone. Not a sound. Not even a breath. She had watched her best friend die and join her own brother. The love of her best friend's life. She leaned over to kiss Ridley's forehead, speaking softly, "You were always my best friend."

Chapter Text

"You were there, weren't you?" He asked her as she walked towards him not a few minutes later. She had been in tears. She looked to have been crying for longer than she had been gone for. He embraced her as she walked into his arms.

"Yeah." Her voice was breaking.

He kissed her forehead, "Hey, everything'll be okay." He assured her.

"No it won't. I've known them both for as long as I can remember, now they're both gone." He kissed her again.

"Halley doesn't want to live on Tracy Island anymore." He told her, "And so neither does Constella."

"Let's move then."

"What?" He was surprised she would. She's never not lived with her brothers before. Even when they had a house, she still lived on the island and alternated. She still had tears in her eyes.

He wiped them away, holding onto her face, "I promised Ridley that I'd look after Halley. If she wants to leave, I don't blame her, but I'm not letting her go alone. She still needs her family."

He smiled, "Are you sure about this?"

"I've never been so sure in my life."

"What? Are you sure? You'd do that for me?" Halley and Constella were seated on Halley's bed.

Conrad and Estrella had shared a look, "Yes. Halley, you're family. I can't allow you to do this alone."

"Thank you." She hugged her Uncle and Aunt in one hug.

Constella was smiling from behind. She mouthed, 'Thank you'

Estrella smiled, "You're not going. She joked, watching her daughter frown. Estrella laughed. "Kidding. Of course you can come."

"And EOS?" Halley asked from her Aunt's embrace.

Estrella smiled, "She can come too."

"Where are we going to go?" Halley asked them.

Conrad explained, "When we first got married, we bought a house. Perfect distance from Taylor Observatory and where I used to work."

Conrad's holopad beeped as he looked over. His wife was holding onto him. Her arms on his stomach as his other arm was around her. He read the notification. John's death was two years ago. Shit. Today's not going to go well. She'll remember and feel a large hole within herself. A whole lot of nothing. And then Halley. She'll feel alone. They need to be there for both of them. This is harder on them then Constella and himself. So, he left the bed slowly and silently. Thus, his wife not waking up and sleeping in. He walked into the kitchen. They had been off of the island for almost a year. He had noticed that Halley and Constella were able to handle life. Estrella had continued her research at Taylor Observatory, even if it took longer for her to handle it. Halley helped out and took her father's role. She had grown up with Taylor Observatory being part of her future. She was always going to work there.

Constella was up early, "Morning Dad." She smiled from the holoprojector. She was watching something. He couldn't make out what it was.

"Morning, 'Stell."

"Before you say anything, I know what day it is. Halley came in to my room late last night. She had night mares."

He walked over to her, bringing her in a hug, "I know, we're gonna pay our respects. This is important 'Stell. You need to know that."

"I know."

They had gone to the cemetery that same day. Both Ridley and John's gravestones sat next to Alan's, Lucille's, Sally's and Grant's. Estrella stood, clinging onto her husband's hands. Halley stood next to her Aunt holding, onto her hands. Constella stood next to her best friend as they looked down at the gravestones. Estrella and Halley, silently crying.