Rosie the lavender tank engine and Stanley the silver engine have been strong friends for a long time now. Ever since Thomas rejected Rosie for romance but still promised sibling love for her, Rosie was Stanley's shed mate and working with him almost all the time. They seemed to have a special bond together, but they never confessed any romantic attractions to each other. But secretly, they did have such feelings for each other even though they didn't have the courage to admit it for quite a while.

One evening, Stanley returned to his shed to see Rosie after she had worked very hard like she always liked to do. Unbeknownst to her, Stanley had been thinking about something he was feeling very nervous to confess to Rosie. Rosie had been wondering what was with him since he barely spoke all day and just seemed distracted with himself. After having a strong friendship with her for such a long time, he wanted to get a certain weight off his wheels.

"Hello, Stanley. I had a big day with all my hard work. Did you do well?" asked Rosie.

"Uh…y-yeah, I did, Rosie. Very good indeed," Stanley said a little shakily and not really looking at her.

"You've been very quiet today, Stanley," said Rosie. "What are you thinking about?"

"Well, you see…" Stanley began. "I was well…uh…"

"Yes, Stanley?" Rosie asked pleasantly.

Stanley tried to speak up, but kept stumbling on his words. After a few moments, he finally cut to the chase. "Rosie…I've been thinking to myself today…we've been working together for a few years now. I thought you were an excellent addition to my schedule and every day life…and for quite a while before this…I've been starting to feel that you are more than just a friend…I really, really like you much more than a friend…do…do you want to have a relationship with me?"

Rosie listened to every word and began to feel jumpy inside. She had longed for Stanley to say something like this ever since Thomas rejected her…but she also carried a few fears of her own.

"R-really?" she asked. "Did you want a relationship with me?"

"Yes…" Stanley replied nervously. "I feel as if I've been in love with you ever since we came together. You've given me a new purpose in my life. I was already working quite well when I first came here…but with you, it opens a path to new chances. What do you say, Rosie? Do you want someone to love, just like Thomas and Emily do?"

Rosie really felt deep emptions flowing through her…but she had to confess her own fears. "Oh, Stanley…." She shuddered. "I don't know what to say…I do really like you…I must say, you'd be a lovely choice for a relationship…but I've been afraid of falling in love with you. Don't get me wrong…I…I do have special feelings for you too…"

"But?" asked Stanley.

"Well…" said Rosie, starting to sound sad. "It's just that…ever since Thomas broke my heart when he revealed he couldn't love me the way he loved Emily…I was afraid to find love again. You remember don't you? After the Christmas party, I met you and you invited me to stay with you…"

"Yes, I do remember, Rosie," said Stanley.

"But I never told you just how badly my heart was wounded when Thomas told me he couldn't give me his love. Ever since I arrived here, I loved him and even competed with Emily for him, but against her, I knew I had no chance. When Thomas told me the bad news, it's almost like a little part of me died inside…I couldn't hold back any longer…so I kissed his lips in desperation, but only for a few seconds before running away in shame."

"My goodness, Rosie," murmured Stanley. "I never knew…"

"Thomas eventually did help me feel better by assuring me he would still love me as his little sister. He appreciated how much we did do together, and that was uplifting…but ever since I met you…I felt as if I'd be bringing more sadness upon myself if I had romantic feelings all over again."

"Now, Rosie," said Stanley. "I know what you're feeling. You're afraid you'd be living through guilt…but I would never let you down. I'd do anything for you just to make you happy. I would protect you, comfort you and provide as much devotion as I possibly could just for you."

"Ohh…you're very sweet, Stanley, but I just don't know. Thomas was my first target for a boyfriend, and I lost him…what if another female engine stole you from me?"

Stanley didn't answer. There weren't any other female engines aside from the ones he already knew, and he was sure he'd always love Rosie.

"Oh, Stanley…" Rosie sighed sadly. "I would be very happy to be your love…but after that Christmas, I…" Then she began to cry as she remembered that moment between her and Thomas. "Oh…oh, I…I fear that if we started a relationship, something could happen and my heart would be broken once again!"

Rosie said no more and kept crying and sniffling to herself. Stanley felt awful seeing his rose withering in such despair.

"Rosie…I didn't mean to sadden you so…" he whispered.

"I know, Stanley," whimpered Rosie. "You want to make me happy, and I'm so grateful for that…but I'm so afraid of my old wounds being reopened! I feel it would hurt me even deeper!"

As she continued to cry, Stanley buffered to her and gently touched his cheeks to hers.

"I'm sorry, Rosie," said Stanley. "I will never do anything to make you sad again."

"I'm sorry too, Stanley," she sniffled. "I didn't want to disappoint you…please understand that I really do like you though…"

"I know," said Stanley. And he stayed right there with Rosie until she managed to stop crying.

"Let's not dwell on it too much, Rosie," said Stanley. "If a strong friendship is all we need, I'm still happy for you and I."

"Maybe so, Stanley," smiled Rosie. Then she and Stanley fell asleep together. But little did Rosie know that the very next day, things would really begin to change for herself and Stanley. Her lavender livery days would be over very soon.

At last, is what all of you are saying right now. Yes, it's finally time for Rosie and Stanley's love story, this has been a really long time coming, but they're finally gonna become a couple, but that's not the only major "milestone", in massive quotation marks there, covered in this story. In case it wasn't obvious enough by the last line, this will also cover my supposed explanation for Rosie's repaint, since it was never explained, even though we were supposed to get at least one more Rosie episode in Season 21 before it was scrapped due to BWBA.

I'm not gonna go too deep into that, cause I doubt that they would have explained it in that episode anyway. Look, if they can just slap a face onto Henrietta without any explanation and pretend that she's always had one, and the same applies to Big Mickey even if they made fun of it in his case, then I doubt they'll give much of a reason for Rosie's new paintjob. I could be wrong, but unless that scrapped episode is gonna be part of Season 22, which again, I doubt it at this point because at that stage it'll be too late, we'll never know.

So yes, next chapter will be an extended version of "The Fastest Red Engine on Sodor", which is by-far one of Season 21's best episodes, in my opinion at least, so I'm looking forward to that very much. Until then, leave your thoughts on this first chapter in your reviews, and I'll catch you all later with the next chapter. Toodles!