The first time she celebrated New Year's Eve was her first one on the Island. At 10 years old it was exciting to stay up all night with the boys and watch the party in Times Square. Tanusha had never seen anything like it. And as the clock struck midnight all four boys - not John, of course - swooped on her and suddenly she was the middle of a Tracy sandwich and receiving four kisses all at the same time. There had been a lot of giggling.

The following year Tin anticipated it would be different. It was the first holiday back after being sent to school on the mainland but Christmas, if anything, had been noisier and more raucous. All the boys but Alan were now schooled on the mainland, so there were loud reunions all round. Eleven years old now, and still she was subjected to the sandwich - although this time Scott and Virgil kissed her hair while the youngest two kissed her cheeks.

Twelve years old and everything was the same. Except one thing. Scott had gone straight to join the USAF, and although he'd had time at home for Christmas, he wasn't there for New Year's. So she only got a three-way sandwich that year.

Thirteen and it was John's turn to also be missing. NASA training didn't stop for some celebrations. And at 19, Scott was now posted overseas and rarely made it home for set celebrations - his leave came as and when.

From thirteen to sixteen, Tanusha turned from Tin-Tin to Tan to Kayo after accidentally knocking out Gordon while sparring. And she turned from a shy little girl to a confident strong woman. In those four years she hadn't seen Scott at all, and only John once.

Her sixteenth year was a seminal one. She went from school to university. Here she grew up even more. Studying Computer Forensics, Cybercrime and Computer Science, she found an ally in John when he was around.

With Jeff half-way through setting up iR with Virgil's help, the rest of the family (minus Scott and John as usual) had decided to descend on Grandma's ranch in Kansas for New Year's Eve. There was a huge town party and everyone was going, dressed up in their best.

Too young to drink alcohol but giddy on the atmosphere and sheer happiness around them, Kayo was thoroughly enjoying herself. Until her seventeen-year-old brother sidled up to her, giving her a speculative eye. He was up to something.

'What do you want, Squidface?' Her guard was up. Gordon shrugged. 'Nothing. Can't a brother just say hi to his favourite sis?' She rolled her eyes. 'I'm your only sister. And I'm not fooled for an instant.' Gordon downed the rest of his soda before answering.

'Me and the guys,' and here he pointed to three boys of equal age and maturity, 'we was chatting.' 'And?' 'Nah, it's stupid. Don't worry about it,' and he turned to walk away.

He was playing her and she knew it. But Kayo couldn't let that slide. 'Just tell me!' Gordon gave her his most innocent - and thus the most worrisome - smile. 'They said you didn't have the guts to go up to the men over there and kiss one on the lips and leave without saying anything.'

Kayo eyes narrowed. No Tracy backed down from a dare. She walked over with Gordon to his mates. 'How much?' The four stood and gaped at her. 'If I'm going to do this I want a good enough reason.' Gordon and his three friends put their heads together. '50 bucks says you don't.' Kayo nodded. '100 each and I'll kiss him twice.' Before anyone else could say anything Gordon said 'done,' holding out his hand.

She was so going to show them.

Gordon watched Kayo as she headed to the large group of service men and women at the makeshift bar. He'd spent most of the last three months acclimatising to life in WASP while she'd started uni. He was amazed at the confidence she now had, and he watched admiringly as Kayo approached the crowd.

She saw her target. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, the man looked up from where he was slouching. Kayo took the bottle out of his hand and put it on the bar, then, placing both hands around the man's face, she pulled him into a kiss. And it wasn't a peck on the cheek either.

Gordon's eyes could have fallen out of his head and his mouth hit the floor. His three friends looked identical.

Without even looking over, her hands still on his face, she kissed him again. And for longer. She then handed him back his beer, he returned to slouching, and she headed back to Gordon and his friends.

'Pay up.' They did. Gordon still wasn't sure what had happened. Where had his little sister gone? The smirk on her face was priceless, and suddenly there was a flash. Blinking, Gordon was even more shocked to see John, old-fashioned camera in hand, grinning like the cat that got the cream. Which, in a sense, he had. Not many could best Gordon at a prank or a dare.

Kayo counted out the money and divided it in half. $200 for a couple of kisses? Easy money off her brother and his friends.

They watched in even more amazement as she walked back to the serviceman, grabbed him by the arm and begun tugging him over. Gordon frowned. This wasn't part of the deal. As they came closer the countdown started. Stopping just in front of them, Kayo threw her arms around the man's neck and the hugged and kissed - again.

But it wasn't until the man turned around fully that Gordon saw who it was. He turned beetroot red as Scott received $200 off of Kayo, and the pair collapsed laughing at him as he tried to process what the hell was going on. John soon joined in as Scott simply roared with laughter.

'Happy New Year' was about all the trio could splutter out.