Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Stella had watched her parents drift apart ever since they lost a child. It had been a stillborn when she was six. Eventually, leading to her own mother to move back to the other side of the island. She had watched her aunt, comfort her father late at night. She had heard his cries, thinking it was just a nightmare. He still was there for her. When she didn't move to boarding school. He'd be up in Thunderbird 5 during her school semesters. Whenever the holidays began, he'd be the one to flight out and pick her up. No matter what. He was always there.

"Why don't you just move out permanently? You spend all your time on the main land, going out on dates. Have you even seen your daughter?" Estrella stood her ground. She hadn't picked sides. She never was going to. The two girls were in the kitchen. Estrella gripped onto the back of the chair.

"What's left for me here? I can't even fly anymore. One of you have to take me. I'd rather just stay there."

Estrella grunted, face palming, "Your daughter. For a start. She still needs her mother."

"Why bother? You've seen how she clings to her father. He's a better parent than I am."

"Have you even tried? She still needs you."

"She'll be alright. She's got all of you." Kayo looked Estrella up and down, before walking off. She sat down on the chair, looking outward toward the horizon.

She heard laughter from behind. Stella came running in. The ten year old had a pack of UNO in her hands, shuffling the deck as she sat down at the table, "Hey Auntie Estrella! You wanna play UNO with Dad and I? He's gonna be here in a bit."

She smiled, faintly, "Sure thing, kiddo. You having a good summer break?"

"Yeah! Em said that we can race in the pool later. Wally might join us. He'll definitely win though." She giggled, continuing to shuffle the cards.

John walked in, grabbing a cup and filling it with water, "Stella, do you want a drink?"

"Yes, please, Daddy!"

He then asked his sister, "You?"

"No, I'm alright, John."

"You joining us?"

Stella answered for her aunt, "I already asked her."

John smiled at his daughter. She was his everything and it was obvious.

"You good?" Estrella asked her brother as he sat down at the table.

He nodded, "Yeah. Why?"

"You seen Kayo, recently?" She asked him, worried.

John shook his head, "No. Why?"

"I haven't seen Mum in a few months." Stella pointed out, counting and dealing the cards.

John looked at his sister. His face told her everything. Kayo had been avoiding her ex-husband and her own daughter. Any conversation between John and Kayo through comms on missions always included another individual. Especially, after they argued over almost everything.

"She didn't even wish me a happy birthday."

John walked over to the kitchen fridge, getting a bar of chocolate. He gave his daughter the entire block, kissing her hair quietly. John mouthed to his sister, 'Kayo wants nothing to do with us.'

Estrella tensed, pushing a smile for Stella, "You're a good kid, Stella. Just like your dad."

Stella nodded, "Daddy told me that we're going to go stargazing tonight. Then tomorrow, a camping trip along the mountain."

"Sounds like you're having a good break."

"I gotta go back in a ten days."

John then looked at his sister, "Speaking of which. Stella wanted to go shopping with you for Christmas and Birthday presents. Is that alright?"

Estrella nodded, "Of course! Pick a day, Stella and we'll go. Just you and I or did you want Lucy or Emery to join us?"

"Just you and I. I want to get them presents as well!"

"That's alright. Can't wait!"

"Stella! Wanna join us in the pool now?" Wally entered the kitchen with a towel around his neck. He walked toward the fridge, pulling out a plastic water bottle.

"Give me five minutes!" Stella got up and ran toward her room to get her swimming gear.

Estrella turned to her oldest, "Keep an eye out for her and get sunscreen. For all of you."

"I know, Mum."

"Thanks, Wally. Take some snacks down with you." She smiled at him.

Wally nodded, taking a few bags with him and walking down to the pool.

Leaving the cards where they were, Estrella embraced her brother, "What did she say to you?"

"She wants to leave. Permanently. She doesn't want anything to do with Stella."

"You've got us to help you, John. Con and I will do what ever you need. She's got a family." Estrella reminded him. He had been part of their family for years.

"I appreciate that. I know EOS adores Stella. The other day, EOS helped Stella with school work. She has access to EOS while she's at school. Gives her someone to talk to when everyone else is busy."

Estrella smiled, "You're a good father to her. It doesn't matter that Kayo's become absent. You have done your best."

John nodded, "Kayo's given me full custody. She doesn't want a single thing to do with Stella. It just seems wrong. We were meant to a family. I miss that. I miss all of that."

Estrella embraced him, "If you need anyone to talk to, I'm here and so is Con."

"Did you want to start with drinks for ourselves?" Estrella asked her niece, as they walked through the shops. Stella was holding her aunts hand, looking around at the shops within the centre.

She noticed a drink place. Boost juice. Stella nodded, happily jumping, "We gotta start with drinks!"

Eventually, Estrella and Stella went for lunch with bags of presents, ready to be wrapped. They bought fish and chips to share, with more drinks.

"Auntie Estrella?"

"Yes?"

"What were they like before they had me?" Stella asked.

Estrella smiled, "They're honeymoon stage lasted forever. Even after you. You were a miracle and a risk. The stillborn was the same. You survived. The other didn't. Your mother lost her ability to fly. She could no longer pilot Thunderbird Shadow. To her, apparently, Shadow meant more than her own family. Her leaving, is not your fault. She made her choice. You, still have us as a family. Remember, you can always ask me anything. I am here for you. All you need to do is ask. Anything and everything is on the table."

"Is she permanently moving out?" Stella asked, "Did she want me to join her?"

"Yes, she is moving out. No, she doesn't want you to join her. She thinks it's better that you stay with your dad. On Tracy Island."

"Will she call? Will she say goodbye?" Stella asked, already feeling sad.

"I don't know, kiddo. It's up to her. I will try my best for you. You deserve everything."

"Thank you, Auntie Estrella."

Kayo's room was almost packed up. All her gear, in boxes on the floor. She had stripped it of any and every memory there was. She was sitting on the bed, staring at a photograph of her holding her daughter.

"Reminiscing?" John asked, leaning against the door frame.

She shook her head, looking up, "What do you want?" Her voice was plain, like she sick.

"Didn't know you were leaving today. You gonna say goodbye to Stella? She misses you." John asked.

She shook her head, "No, she doesn't deserve me. You'll find her a better mother."

"Where are you staying?"

"Like I'm going to tell you." She judged him.

"You staying at a boyfriend's? Does he know about your daughter?"

Kayo kept her mouth sealed tight, "She's not my daughter. She's yours. You have full custody. I'm not giving you anything else."

"Kayo-"

"No, John. I don't care. This was never meant to last. I can't help anyone. I just can't. Please, don't try to contact me. I don't ever want to hear or see you ever again."

"I still love you." He said plainly, before turning to leave. She was left there alone.

Stella never saw her mother. John raised his daughter alone. He never remarried. He never had another family. Stella eventually learnt how to pilot Thunderbird 5, joining her father and EOS. It was small, but large enough that they could live up there. She loved her family. Eventually, Kayo was forgotten. The others still hear from her, but John and Estrella never heard from her.

Kayo had become like Ridley. She left John because of his relationship with his sister. They were closer. She was jealous. Nothing ever changed.

Chapter Text

She hadn't seen her daughter in fifteen years. She had moved in with Captain Wayne Rigby and joined him at the GDF. She was still able to serve and protect. More than she could ever do on Tracy Island.

She knew Colonel Casey was in contact with the Tracy's. She had overheard Colonel Casey talking to Jeff and sending the family on missions. Then one day, she saw John walk through the halls of the offices. A young woman walked beside him. She looked like a younger version of herself. Long black hair, reaching down her spine, but the eyes were John. She was the perfect replica of both of them, "Stella." She whispered as she stopped. John didn't notice her as they walked past her.

Wayne walked up to her, "Come on. Colonel Casey needs to see both of us." His hand touched her arm. He didn't show any affection at work. It was always at home. Never at work,

She nodded, "I'm guessing it has something to do with them." She gestured to John and Stella.

Wayne shrugged as they walked in a similar pattern, but a few paces behind John and Stella, "She just called us both. Didn't you hear it?" He asked her.

When they reached Colonel Casey's office, Kayo stopped. John and Stella were already here. John was in the middle of a debrief with Colonel Casey. Wayne stepped forward, "You asked to see us, ma'am."

Colonel Casey smiled, "Yes. I believe you know John Tracy and Stella Tracy."

Stella looked over at her mother, "Hey, Mum."

Kayo didn't say anything. She just smiled. Wayne responded for her, "Yes. We do. How is International Rescue?"

"Expanded further than any of us thought." John replied.

"Continue on, John. What does this device do?" Colonel Casey ushered him to continue.

"Well, it's something my sister cooked up. It's small, but it does everything you need it to. It tracks the untraceable. It can't be replicated by other malware or stolen. It locks onto what it's told and it doesn't let go."

"What does it go on?" Kayo asked,

"Anything. People, animals, other tech, belongings. It places itself using magnets and adhesive. It doesn't hurt skin and doesn't ruin any electrical currents. It's perfect." John continued. He ignored Kayo, focusing on the presentation.

Colonel Casey then turned to Kayo and Wayne, "Your jobs now are to take this little device to trials. Stella will help teach you both how to use it, first. This little project will be a game changer for the GDF." She turned to John, "Thank you. I wish your sister was here to show her own piece of tech. You did it brilliantly."

John turned to Stella, handing her the device, "I'll leave this hear with you. You've got this kiddo. I'll see you in a few hours." He smiled. Stella hugged her father. John left, not looking at Kayo.

Stella turned to Kayo and Wayne, "So, where would be the easiest to show you?"

Wayne answered, "We have a few full proof rooms with medical supplies incase it fails horribly. Follow us Miss Tracy."

"Mrs Tracy-Montgomery." She corrected her step-father, "I'm not just Tracy."

Kayo looked at her daughter's ring finger. She was married. The ring shimmered. It was her old one. It was the one John had given her for the wedding. Her heart dropped. She was married. Kayo asked, "How long?"

"Only a few months, but we've known each other since high school." They walked through the halls. She then turned to her mother, "We did try to invite you, but we couldn't track you down."

"Sorry. I didn't want to abandon you. A lot happened and I couldn't bare it."

Stella nodded, "I know. Everyone's been making excuses for you. Ever since I was young. Even before you even left. I get it, you lost a kid, but you still had me and Dad and EOS and all your brothers and sisters there. You chose to leave us. You chose run and apparently you do it so well."

Wayne looked at his wife, smiling softly, "You tried your best."

Stella shook her head, "You spent the last few years sleeping on the other side of the island. You were running for years."

"I'm still your mother." Kayo responded.

"Since when? You didn't even send cards or messages. You didn't try to keep in contact."

"Then why are you here?" Kayo asked her, getting aggravated.

"A few weeks ago, Aunt Estrella completed a project for the GDF. Last night, Emery went into labour. It had some complications and she died a few hours later. Dad's gone to be there with them and I volunteered to help take this off of her plate."

"Emery's dead? or the baby?"

"Both. They're pretty shaken up."

Kayo nodded, "Give them my condolences. Please."

Stella nodded, staying silent. That was the last time she ever saw her biological mother. It hadn't even hit her that she had a step father.