November 28, 2045

"No, put that down, young man!"

"But, Grandma!"

"No 'buts', John. Scott's taking apart the holo-projector right now."

"But-"

Grandma Tracy held up a finger, "No, what did I just say?"

Seven-year-old John sighed, "No 'buts'."

"There's a good boy!"

Halfway across the room, six-year old Virgil was tussling with Gordon. Their laughter echoed as they began to chase each other around the room.

"We're so proud of you, son," Grandpa Tracy clapped Jeff on the back as he entered the room. "First NASA, then, the Moon base and Mars! Not to mention all that space exploration, and now you've got such a healthy, happy family."

"Thanks, dad," Jeff said as his father swept up his youngest. Gordon giggled as his grandfather tickled him. When the amber-eyed child was set down again, they resumed their conversation. "But Shadow Alpha One isn't complete yet. I just go up every now and then, while Lee's up there full time. He's always loved the moon, and he doesn't have a family to take care of."

"But that doesn't stop you from dreaming, does it?" Grandma Tracy asked knowingly. "I've heard that fancy new plane has a top speed of mach thirteen..."

Jeff looked down. "Yeah..."

"When are you going to get started on being the fastest? I know you could do it, son, you are smart and determined enough!"

Jeff sighed. "I don't know when I'm going to go after that, but it can't be right now."

"Why not?"

But their conversation was interrupted.

"Mama!"

They looked and saw John run over to Lucille. He hugged her.

"Hi, baby," she spoke as she returned the hug.

Scott got up and went to hug her as well, but was stopped in his tracks.

"Scott Carpenter Tracy, I know you didn't just leave those pieces of the holo-projector on the floor," Lucille told her oldest.

Scott turned and scooped up the parts. He dumped them on a table before returning. Virgil and Gordon looked up, and joined the crowd of boys hugging their mother.

Jeff looked on proudly.

"Now," Lucille pat each of her sons on the back, "go sit down, I have an announcement."

Her sons all obeyed, going and finding laps to sit on. Soon, everyone was sitting and looking up at Lucille, who stood in the middle of the room.

"Right," she started, a little nervous, "I'm expecting-"

Grandpa Tracy muttered to Grandma, "go figure."

Lucille continued, "-twin boys."

Jeff was smiling widely. Gordon, the almost five-year-old, looked slightly confused, Virgil looked from Gordon to his mother, John smiled, and Scott gasped. Grandpa and Grandma's jaw dropped.

"Lucille, that's incredible!" Grandma Tracy was the first to speak. She got up and hugged her daughter in-law.

Lucille laughed. "Gordon, Virgil, you look confused."

"Uh... What?" Virgil asked, "does that mean I'm getting another little brother like Gordon?"

"You're going to get two little brothers," Lucille went over to them. "You're going to be a big brother, Gordon."

"Like Virgil?"

Lucille nodded. Gordon's face lit up. "Yay!" the brothers began to hug their mother again, and the rest of the family joined in.

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"Mama?"

"Yes, John?"

"Can we go stargazing?"

It was almost six thirty, and the Tracy household was hectic. A turmoil of noise was escaping from the next room over, containing screams, cries, yelling, and laughter. It was too much for John; it made his head hurt. Stargazing with his mother was his remedy. For headaches, stress, and even stomach sickness.

"Yes, baby. Just let me finish this up." She swiped some pages across the screen of her tablet, before shutting it off. She stood up and opened the door, leading herself and John out into the backyard.

They climbed into a hammock that hung, and they stared into the sky, John laying on top of his mother.

"John, which one is that?" Lucille pointed to a star.

"Polaris. Mama, that's easy!"

Lucille chuckled, "Just making sure you remember."

"Fine. Mama, do you know which star that is?" John pointed to the sky.

Lucille squinted, "Oh, I don't know... Maybe... Vega?" she said slightly jokingly, but John didn't catch it.

"No, silly. That was a trick question. It's Venus! It's not even a star!"

"Oh, you got me! That was a difficult question."

"Not really, mama. Venus is easy to spot at this time."

"You're right," Lucille said, "and why is that?"

"It's the Morning and Evening Star, even though it's not a star, because it's brightest in the morning and evening."

"Yes, good job."

John smiled, snuggling closer to his mother. He loved this, even though it was cold outside. This was their special thing. None of his brothers ever came out to star-gaze with them, even though Scott liked looking at the night-sky. His brothers would star-gaze, but they would never join John and their mother.

John and Lucille spent the next hour outside.  The young, tired boy soon fell silent, and Lucille eventually began to card her fingers through her son's red hair.  A quiet tune began to flow from her lips, humming "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from the movie she loved as a child, Cinderella.  With the familiar presence of the tune and his mother, John very quickly fell asleep.

Lucille didn't dare move. Her son was sleeping soundly, and if she moved he might be awakened.

After a few minutes of Lucille lying there, enjoying the feeling of her son's heart beating against hers, and knowing that two more were beating inside her, she heard the back door open.

Light flooded into the yard from the kitchen as Jeff stepped out. He shut the door behind him with a squeak, and walked up to the hammock.

"Mom and Dad are putting the boys to bed, but I couldn't help but notice we were missing one," he gestured to the sleeping John.

Lucille smiled, "It's fine," she ran her fingers through her son's hair.

"It's cold, are you comfortable out here?"

Lucille sighed, "Yes, but all good things must come to an end. Could you pick him up?" she requested reluctantly. She wished she could stay next to him forever.

Jeff nodded and scooped his son off of his wife. John woke slightly to reposition himself, before falling back asleep.

Lucille stood up and yawned.

"I think it's time for you to go to bed as well," Jeff whispered.

Lucille yawned again.

"Don't worry about the boys, Luce; I'll take care of them."

Lucille nodded, following her husband into the house. She walked up the stairs before collapsing onto their bed, falling asleep immediately.

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June 5, 2046

Jeff knew something would go wrong when his wife went into labor two months early. Now, as the doctor's had just asked him to leave the delivery room, he knew something had gone wrong.

As he stepped into the hallway, his cell buzzed. He pulled it out and answered the call. A scratchy hologram of his parents flickered to life.

"Jeff? Any updates?" his mother asked.

Jeff took a shaky breath, "Mom, you might have to bring the kids here."

"Is it over?" his father asked.

Jeff gulped, "I don't know. They - they've just asked me to leave..."

"Oh, honey," his mother breathed, "we're on our way."

Jeff nodded as the hologram died. He took a seat, numbly, in the hallway. Time seemed to loose its meaning as it went by. Forty minutes later, he was surrounded by his sons and his parents, yet it felt like he was sitting alone.

From somewhere to his right, he heard his name be called. He walked numbly towards it.

"Mr. Tracy? I'm Dr. Duline. I'm afraid I don't bring good news," the doctor paused, "Your wife is out of labor, but both babies are in critical condition. They've been moved to artificial wombs for surgery. The chances of them both surviving the surgery are very slim, so we've put it off for half an hour to give you time to see them both."

Jeff was trying to numb his heart. His face had been forbidden of emotion. "And Lucille?"

The Doctor inhaled. "We've done everything. We've been able to extend it, but there's no way to stop it," the doctor took another breath, "She's on the clock. Ten minutes."

Jeff's world came crashing. He turned. "Boys, follow me."

Scott and John looked at each other. Virgil and Gordon stood up. The four of them, and Jeff's parents, followed Jeff into a room.

Lucille lay there, on a bed, her eye's closed. She was dressed in white, but the holographic counter next to her bed ruined the look.

9:28

9:27

9:26

9:25

Jeff watched it. Like a bomb, about to blow.

"Gordon?" a weak voice called from the bed.

"Mom!" Gordon ran over and hugged her. Lucille smiled.

"Gordon, you're a big brother."

"Really? Thank you!"

"I love you, my minnow. Win Olympic Gold for me."

Jeff felt his heart crack.

Lucille spoke again, and Gordon ran back to his father. "Virgil?"

"Yeah, mom?" He walked towards her.

"You're going to make me proud, I know it. Think of me each time you make music."

"Mom?" Virgil asked, worry present in his voice.

Lucille hugged him. "I love you."

Scott was staring at the hologram, disbelief etched in his face. He walked over to his mother, as Virgil walked back to his father, dazed.

Jeff's heart cracked again.

"Mom, are you going to-"

"No, Scott," she said strongly, "never. I'll always be here. Whenever you want, you can talk to me. You'll always be my precious number one, and I'll always love you."

Scott hugged her, his eyes getting wet. When the hug broke, he walked back to his father, and hugged his grandfather's leg.

"John."

John walked over, tears running down his face.

"Mama..."

"Oh, baby, don't cry," she lifted a hand and wiped away a tear.

"Are you going to leave?"

"I would never leave you. As long as there are stars in the sky, I'll be with you. Look for me each time you gaze at them, and I'll be there."

"Mama..." John hugged her, "I will," he breathed.

Jeff looked at his parents, his heart crumbling. They nodded back.

"We love you, son," his father told him.

"C'mon, boys," Jeff's mother beckoned the four, and they left the room.

Jeff stared at his wife as she lay on her death bed. The clock still counted down, as much as he prayed for it to slow.

"Luci," he walked over to her.

"Jeff, we've made such a wonderful family. They're all here. All six of them. Your heroes will live again in them. Make them heroes for me."

"Luci, I can't do it without you."

"Well, you're going to have to," a streak of strength shone through, "Look at that counter. It's going to run out, and when it does you'll have to make them heroes without me."

"Lucille, I can't live without you!"

"Well, then live with them. Scott, John, Virgil, Gordon, Walter, and Alan depend on you now. Live with them, live for them. Make them heroes."

Jeff nodded. "I'm sorry, Lucille."

"For what? I wanted this too. Raise them up well, chase their dreams, and yours too. I know you still have some," she looked at him knowingly.

Jeff nodded, tears forming in his eyes. "I know you don't believe in goodbyes-"

"Because they're never true. We'll see each other again."

Jeff's heart split. "Well, goodbye for now, my dear Lucille. It's been one heck of an adventure."

Lucille laughed. "My husband was the first to walk on Mars. My husband was a go-getter. My husband was perfect, and he brought me six perfect boys. The adventure isn't over yet, but good-bye for now, Jeff. Remember to thank Lee."

Jeff blinked back tears with a chuckle. "I will. I love you, Lucille."

0:05

0:04

0:03

"I love you too, Jeff."

0:01

Her eyes flickered shut.

0:00

She exhaled.

Jeff's heart broke.

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"They look funny."

Gordon and his family were in the room where two babies were barely living in artificial wombs. He hung over one, staring at it with confused expressions.

Scott was still hugging his grandfather's leg. Virgil was looking from the two two-month early babies, to the pair of nurses who were standing in the room, waiting to take the infants to the surgical room early if need be.

It would be best if the babies were immediately taken to surgery immediately after birth, but with such a low chance of survival, it was right to let the family spend a little time with them. However, if something went wrong in the time given, they would have to be taken to surgery early.

Jeff was having a difficult time processing things. He had just had to say good-bye for now to his wife, and now, with no time to rest and grieve, he was expected to meet his sons who might die as well in an hour.

"Gordon, they haven't finished growing yet. They'll look less funny in a couple of months," Jeff's mother told him.

"So, these are my little brothers?"

She nodded.

"Yay! I'm a big brother!"

Jeff's dad spoke, "Scott, do you want to meet them?"

Scott nervously stepped towards the wombs, and gazed at his brothers.

Slowly, his mouth formed a smile. "Wow," he whispered. He laughed lightly, "more little brothers."

"John?" Grandma Tracy turned to the young red-head.

John stood at the back of the pack. His arms laid limply at his sides, his face coated in sorrow, and his eyes glazed with fear. His Grandmother knew he had a bond with his mother unlike the rest of his brothers. Lucille had been his lifeline, and he was lost without her.

"John?" Jeff's mother tried to get his attention again, but he was immune. He was lost in his own little world.

"Sir?" a nurse walked up to Jeff. "You have three minutes."

Jeff nodded, before walking to his newest sons. He kneeled down and looked at them, as more doctors came into the room, preparing to take them to surgery.

He smiled, tears in his eyes. "Walter Schirra Tracy, Alan Shepherd Tracy, my beautiful sons. I love you, even though I barely know you. Good luck. Your mom will be with you, so don't be scared." The doctors began to wheel the artificial wombs out of the room. "I'll see you in a bit," Jeff stopped at the door and watched as they wheeled his sons away.

No one noticed, but as the wombs were wheeled past John, he peeked in. These two infants were the reason he would never again go star-gazing with his mother. His eyes narrowed, and his glare followed them down the hall and into the surgical room.

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June 6, 2046

Jeff sat in the artificial womb ward, staring at his newest son, Alan Shepherd Tracy. The rest of his family were at home. His parents had told him they'd take care of the funeral paperwork that would have to be filled out that day. Two copies would have to be filled out, one for Lucille, and the other for Walter.

Walter had not survived the surgery. It was expected that at least one would die, but it still pained Jeff. To loose a wife and a son in the span of twenty-four hours was horrifying and sorrowful.

Still, looking upon the weak, but stable, Alan, he was already beginning to see the beauty in birth and death. He missed Walter dearly, the pain of not knowing what your son would become was devastating, and he missed his wife as well. There was a big hole in his heart from where they had been, and now he was just thankful he had come out of this ordeal with the one who lay before him.

The road of healing would be a long one, and the fact that Alan still only had about a 50% chance of living didn't help, but Jeff had to pick himself up. His five sons would need him, and he would need to be there for them.

He stood up, determined to be a good father to his sons in this horrible chapter in their life.

"I won't leave you, Alan, I'll be back," Jeff whispered to the being in the womb. Then, he turned, and left the hospital.