Overlooked Love

A.N. This is a requested story from GreenWiggle2018. He asked for a story about Edward losing his temper at Thomas because he did something bad. More details in the actual story. Please enjoy.

...

It was a bright, clear day on the island of Sodor, and Thomas was working in the yard, putting a goods train together for James.

It consisted of Troublesome Trucks, and they were starting to annoy Thomas. However, he knew better than to be rude.

"Oh shush, you troublesome trucks." Thomas whispered to them as he gently put them into place. "You mustn't cause trouble today."

Immediately, they went silent, and Thomas felt proud. He was getting much better at handling them.

"Good morning, Thomas…"

Thomas looked to see who called his name and smiled when he saw James. "Good morning, James!"

James only huffed. "I can't believe I have to pull a goods train today…" He mumbled as he backed up to be coupled up to his train.

Thomas smiled. "Oh James," He laughed. "Everyone has to pull a goods train at some point. If you do it now, it'll be over before you know it."

James sighed before he smiled a bit. "Thanks, I suppose. You really can put a smile on my face."

The blue engine laughed a bit. "I'm glad. Now, I warn you. Be careful, those are Troublesome Trucks."

"Alright, Thomas. I'll be careful." James promised as he started pulling away. "Love you!" He called out before he started down the line.

"I love you, too!" Thomas smiled.

Thomas watched as James disappeared before going back to work.

"Hello, Thomas."

Thomas looked at who called his name this time and smiled when he saw Edward, his 'older brother' right in front of him. "Hi Edward! Do you need something?"

Edward smiled again. "Yes, actually, I do. It's sort of a personal matter."

"Oh?" Thomas asked, confused.

"Yes. You see, my driver Dean has a gift for his wife." Edward explained. "A glass swan."

"Ooh~" Thomas gasped. "Sounds pretty."

Edward chuckled. "It looks pretty too. Anyway, I am just drowning in work on my branchline, and I don't have time to deliver it to where it needs to go. So, I was wondering if perhaps you could take it."

Thomas' eyes lit up. "Me?! Really?!"

"Yes, Thomas. You." Edward smiled. "It's right over there, in that car." He said, looking over a few tracks next to him.

Thomas smiled. "Of course I'll deliver it for you! But I know to be careful – you did say it was made of glass!"

"Precisely." Edward smiled. "But before you head out." Then he moved forwards, and pressed his buffers against Thomas', resembling a hug. "I love you, little brother."

Thomas smiled, his cheeks heating up. "I love you too, big brother."

Then Edward pulled away. "Alright. You best be off. But be careful."

Thomas closed his eyes then opened them again quickly, symbolling a nod. "I will, Edward!" He then moved away from his brother and went down a couple tracks to be coupled up to the special car. "Be careful, be careful, be careful." Thomas chanted to himself as he pulled out of the yard.

…

Thomas hummed as he moved down the line, careful not to go too fast down hills or bends. "I will not let Edward down." He said determinedly.

"Now remember, Thomas." Reminded his driver, Jason. "We are to deliver this to Wellsworth. Trevor is waiting for us."

Thomas smiled. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten!"

"Such a good little engine." His fireman, Derek, praised. Thomas giggled.

As he moved down the line, Thomas expected to reach Wellsworth in about five minutes. But that changed when he heard a whistle he knew all too well followed by screams.

Thomas' eyes widened. "James!" He cried out in shock, watching James speed down the hill in front of him.

"Help!" The red tender engine cried out in panic. "They're pushing me! They're pushing me!"

Laughs were heard behind him. "On! On! On!"

Realising that James was coming his way, Thomas started backing up. "Your brakes! Use your brakes!"

James was trying but it was doing no help. "Move Thomas! Move!"

Thomas gasped and started going back faster, fearing that James was going to hit him or derail. But, luckily enough, James' back couplings snapped and he was freed from the train. Quickly, he went into a siding, narrowly avoiding a derailment.

But the Troublesome Trucks were still moving.

Before Thomas could think to do anything, they rammed into him causing him to bolt backwards. The pain he felt was nothing, compared to the sound of glass breaking behind him.

Backing away from the trucks, Thomas' eyes were wide and his face was pale.

"How- how bad is it?" He asked shakily.

Jason and Derek immediately knew what their engine was talking about. Quickly, they ran to the car to see what damage had been done to the swan.

It was horrible. Half the swan was in shards, and what was still together was severely cracked.

Thomas started hyperventilating. "We can't let Edward see!"

"See what?" Asked James, who had finally come out of the siding, though out of breath.

Thomas paled and started backing away. Jason and Derek quickly got into their engine's cab before he started moving too fast. "N-nothing, James. I'm glad you're ok, but I have to go." Then he started to swiftly move down the track, away from James.

"We can't let Edward know!" Thomas cried, moving down the track towards Ffarquhar. "We- we have to hide it!"

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Thomas?" Derek asked.

"I- I don't know!" Thomas wailed quietly as they reached the station. "Just please- hide it!"

Reluctant, but still wanting to appease their engine, Jason and Derek ran into the station, and came out with a box, a small broom, a dustpan, and tape.

Not wasting a moment, they placed the still partially intact swan in the box, and swept the broken pieces onto the dustpan before dumping them into the box as well and taping it shut. All the while, Thomas was shaking in fear and worry.

"Now what?" Jason asked.

Thomas looked around hastily, until he spotted a line of trucks filled with scrap metal. "In there! Put in in there!"

Still hesitant, Thomas' crew ran and placed the box into one of the trucks. They ran back to their engine just as Edward arrived.

Oblivious to what had just transpired, Edward smiled upon seeing his little brother. "Hello Thomas! I trust the delivery went well?"

Thomas inhaled sharply as he watched Edward back up to the same trucks that they just placed the box into. "O-oh yes! It went f-fine!"

Edward let an expression of concern cross his face as he heard Thomas' tone. "Thomas, is everything alright?"

Thomas smiled a bit. "Fine!" He said quickly. "Now I must get going! Goodbye Edward!" Then he sped away.

Edward watched the younger engine steam away in confusion. "Well that was strange."

…

Edward hummed cheerily as he went towards Crock's Scrapyard. "I hope your wife enjoys your gift, Dean." He said.

Dean smiled. "I hope the same, old boy."

When they reached the scrapyard, Edward was uncoupled from his train, but waited as the inspection of his cars went underway.

"Well, all looks good." A worker said as he walked up to Edward's crew. "Except this." He said, holding a box.

"A box?" Edward's fireman, Kurtis asked. "Why would a box be in cars full of metal? What's in it?"

Curious, Dean got out a pocket knife, and flicked it open before cutting the top open.

Immediately, he felt all the breath leave his body.

"Dean?" Came Edward's voice. "What's the matter?"

"It's the swan…"

"Um… pardon?"

"It's the swan!" Dean yelled in a mix of anger and sadness as he finally revealed the contents of the box. "And it's ruined!"

…

Thomas was resting at Knapford with the other engines. He had had a long day, doing other jobs, such as pulling coaches, goods trains, and other things. But even with his busy day, he still felt horrible for lying to his brother.

"I feel terrible…" Thomas whispered.

"As do we." Jason whispered back. Both he and Derek were seated atop Thomas' buffer beam.

"What are we to do?" Thomas whimpered. "I never have lied about something this big before…"

"You must tell the truth, little Thomas." Derek said. "I know it will be scary and difficult, but you must. To set things right."

Derek was right on both things. It would be scary and difficult, but it would set things right.

Thomas sighed. "You're… you're right… I have to tell the truth. Can we go now?"

Jason and Derek smiled. "Of course." They got down and ran to Thomas' cab.

"Where are you going, love?" James asked, who was next to him.

Thomas looked at him with serious eyes. "I have to go fix-"

"THOMAS!"

The blue tank engine immediately looked up and saw Edward steaming towards him, looking very cross.

"H-hello Edward…" Thomas shakily greeted.

Edward stopped when he was just centimeters away from the younger engine. Thomas gulped in nervousness, feeling very small all of a sudden. "Mind explaining this?" Edward asked as Dean got out of his cab. He looked upset as well.

Then he walked over to Thomas and opened the box, revealing the broken glass swan.

Thomas took a deep breath. "O-Oh yes… that."

"You said the deliver went well!" Edward fumed. "What. Happened?" He demanded, his voice laced with anger.

"W-well, you see." Thomas whimpered. "I was on the way to Wellsworth like you asked, b-but James was being pushed down the line by some Troublesome Trucks. And we almost-"

With each word the younger engine spoke, Edward became more and more infuriated. "That's enough! Enough! Enough with your excuses, Thomas!" He screamed, effectively quieting the other. "I should've known better than to trust you with anything! How in the world can anyone teach someone like you?! I shouldn't have wasted my time on you! How could I have ever loved you?! Let alone like you!"

Thomas felt himself break at his brother's harsh words as tears streamed down his face. "Ed-Edward, please! I didn't mean it!"

"I don't care!" The older engine screamed. "I trusted you with one thing! One thing, and you blew it!"

"I…" Thomas gasped as he stared up at Edward with watery, fragmented eyes. "I… I'm sorry!" He finally screamed, his eyes shut tightly. Then he reversed, and went forwards onto another track and steamed away from the station as fast as his wheels could carry him.

All the other engines stared in complete shock, their eyes wide and jaws dropped, at what they all just witnessed.

All of them, James, Gordon, Henry, Toby, Emily, and Percy were shocked and scared. They had never seen Edward like this.

"Edward…" James gasped. "What- what have you done?!"

The station was filled with small cries of anger, sadness, and disbelief. As for Edward, he had realised what he had done and his own eyes widened in disbelief. Immediately, he went around the station so he was facing the same direction as the other engines. Then he started down the same track Thomas was on, trying to catch up with him.

He wasn't able to catch up to him, but he was able to see him.

Thomas was racing down the track, crying and wailing loudly. All other engines that were in his path had to swerve into sidings to avoid being hit by the small engine.

"Thomas!" Edward called out. "Thomas, come back!" But he was too far away for the younger to hear him.

Nearly out of steam, Edward had to stop. He felt sick. His vision was blocked with black dots. He couldn't believe what happened. He had never been this angry. Well, now he was angrier than before.

Not at Thomas. At himself.

Edward couldn't believe what he had done.

He had broken Thomas.

"I'm so sorry…"