Disclaimer: I do not own Thomas & Friends. All the characters who appear in this story belong to HiT. They are used for entertainment purposes only.

The OC Nathaniel belongs to me.

CHAPTER I

SILLY MISTAKES

"Please…don't tell anyone what we were talking about." -Caitlin

It had been born a new day in a warm summer on the Island of Sodor. While the sun peeked above the horizon, a purplish red female engine crossed the Vicarstown Rolling Bridge from the mainland at full speed. She looked very happy as she puffed like lightning towards Henry's Tunnel. It could not be otherwise since she was a big streamlined engine, B&O P-7a class. She was designed for speed, and what she liked most about her job was precisely that; the speed.

The engine was Caitlin. Friendly, cheerful, pretty Caitlin.

As usual, she was taking passengers from the mainland to Ulfstead Castle, enjoying a nice journey. Caitlin loved the Island of Sodor since she first arrived at it. She liked its green fields, beaches, sunsets, its friendly engines, in short; the entire island. Each journey through Sir Topham Hatt's railway was a pleasure to her.

And, just like the last journey, Caitlin puffed down the line thinking in what she liked most about Sodor: Gordon, the big Nº 4 engine.

Caitlin had known Gordon a few months ago when the majestic Ulfstead Castle was being restored. She, and her good friend Connor, had casually met with Gordon and his cousin Spencer in a junction and, from that moment on, the image of the Nº 4 engine had been rolling around in her mind. She became enchanted by Gordon's cute little eyes, his magnificent manly voice, his charming smile that "changes his whole face" and that blue paintwork which camouflages him between the sky and the sea. But despite being 'enchanted', Caitlin was not exactly in love with him. Love is held by dialogue and mutual trust, not by a simple fascination by physical attributes. And dialogue and trust did not exist between her and Gordon, because the circumstances were not favourable for it. Caitlin wanted to have the opportunity to chat with him to strengthen their friendship, but since she lived on the mainland, she had to be content with the few words that they exchanged at the junctions each time she came to Sodor.

Caitlin continued enjoying the journey and she was a few kilometres to arrive at Maron Station. Then there was trouble. She felt weak and began to slow down. She was getting slower and slower, until she stopped completely. "Oh no!" she exclaimed. "What happened? I was going so well!" Her driver got out of the cab. He stood in front of her and crossed his arms angrily.

"What's wrong?" asked Caitlin.

"It has happened what I said that would happen," responded the driver. "Do you know what I mean?"

"Oh dear," whispered Caitlin sadly. "I'm sorry… I was so excited about coming to Sodor that couldn't wait."

"I know you love Sodor, girl, but that's no reason to make silly mistakes. I told you we should… oh…" The driver was interrupted by what Caitlin called 'the world's most lovely sound'; Gordon's whistle. "Luck is on our side," continued the driver, "Gordon could help us. I will try to stop him." He returned to the cab and took the red flag.

Caitlin got frozen. She did not want the engine who she liked to see her in such a situation. "Why did he say luck is on our side?" she thought. "The fact that Gordon sees me in this situation is not a lucky thing; it's embarrassing! Now he will think I'm a silly engine... And I wonder; what is he doing here? It's supposed he should be at Knapford Station now."

Gordon was coming by the next-door track. He was going at full steam towards Knapford Station since it was almost time for the Express. Suddenly, he saw Caitlin standing up with her train and her driver waving a red flag. "On no," said Gordon, "this will delay me." He stopped beside her and greeted her.

"Morning, Caitlin."

"H-hello, Gordon."

"It seems you have a serious problem..."

"N-no… n-not really. It's just a... s-silly thing." Caitlin blushed and looked down.

Gordon had already realised what her trouble was, so he knew why she was embarrassed. The trouble was so ridiculous that if it would have been Bill, Ben or any other who Gordon usually calls 'silly engine' he would have burst into laughter. But this time it was different; this time it was Caitlin. And Caitlin belonged to the very little group of engines who Gordon respected. So, not wanting her to feel uncomfortable, Gordon gave her a sympathetic look. "Easy," he said quietly. "It has something to do with your empty coal bunker, isn't it?"

"O-oh…," Caitlin looked at him again, "…y-yes… I-I see you've already discovered the silly thing… I-I left the mainland without stocking up on coal. Can you believe it?"

Gordon smiled. "Don't be ashamed," he soothed. "Use my coal. Take what you need to arrive at Ulfstead Castle."

Caitlin got surprised. It would have been much quicker to push her up to the next coal hopper, but that way everyone would realise her mistake and it was clear that Gordon did not want her to feel embarrassed. This was the first time that Caitlin could see the kindness hidden in Gordon's heart. "Thank you, Gordon," she said with relief. "Thanks for your help and understanding."

"You're welcome," responded Gordon. Then, he decided to tell her something to make her feel better. "We all make mistakes," he said. "In fact, I'm right now coming from the Steamworks. I had to be repaired for having been a perfect silly."

"Really? What have you done?"

While Caitlin's crew was taking the coal from Gordon's tender, Gordon told her what had happened to him the previous day.

"I was coming from Vicarstown Station pulling the Express," he began by saying. "Everything was going well until I met with Paxton at Killdane junction. He was hurrying down from the Blue Mountain Quarry with a load of stone and when he saw the red signal, he stopped so abruptly that a big stone flew from one of his trucks and bashed me in the boiler. I stopped immediately to see if there was some damage, but I felt fine, so I didn't follow the advice from Paxton to go to the Steamworks for a check-up. I thought it was impossible to damage a big, strong engine like me so easily."

"Oh my..." Caitlin looked at him in surprise. "And what happened afterwards?"

"I didn't go too far when I felt my boiler began to run dry, so I had to stop at a water tower to fill my tank up. But before reaching the next station I felt again that my boiler needed water. My passengers were very angry because I was getting slower every time. I tried to keep myself going, but despite my efforts I've ran out of steam and I stopped completely."

"It was… quite shameful."

"Yeah it was, but the worst was yet to come. A few minutes later Thomas stopped at my side and he told me he saw a trail of water on my track. Then came Paxton, and at that moment I remembered the incident with the stone. That stone had made a hole in my boiler... so I didn't stop losing water. Thomas took care of my passengers and Paxton pushed me to the Steamworks."

"Oh my friend... I'm really sorry for you, even though I see you're already repaired. I can't imagine the shame you must have felt. It's usually uncomfortable to be shunted along the mainline where everybody can see us and realise our mistake, unless the trouble had not been our guilt."

"Totally agree."

"But you're admirable, Gordon. I couldn't bear to spend a whole day at the Steamworks. Staying still for a long time is almost a torment to my wheels."

Gordon smiled cheekily. "It must be almost a torment to Connor to spend a whole night beside you..."

Caitlin raised her eyebrows. "Why do you say that?"

"Because I bet you don't even stay still to sleep."

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Nonsense! When I sleep, I stay still."

"And are you sleepy sometime?"

"Of course! Ha! Ha! You're funny, Gordon!"

They continued chatting animatedly for another few minutes, talking about the silly mistakes they remembered having made. For some reason, they were not ashamed to talk about those mistakes, but now caused them laugh. The reason was that confidence was born between them as a result of dialogue...

It was such a pleasant conversation that Gordon forgot the Express, until he felt his driver gave him some pats on his side and he landed again in the real-life. "It hurts me to say this, Caitlin," he said, "but I must go now. It's almost time for the Express."

"It was a pleasure chatting with you," said Caitlin. "I hope we can have more opportunities to talk."

"Perhaps we get back to make silly mistakes and we meet again."

They both laughed heartily. Then, Gordon blew his whistle to leave, but was interrupted by Caitlin. "Please, Gordon," she said, "don't tell anyone what we were talking about, okay?"

"Don't worry," soothed Gordon, "our secrets are our secrets." And, as his wheels began to turn, he gave Caitlin a pretty charming wink.

Caitlin gasped. Those words of Gordon and the meaningful wink entered into her heart as Cupid's arrow. She trembled from the skirt to the tender's buffers as she stared at Gordon until she was lost sight of him on the horizon. "Oh no…," she thought, "this can't be happening…This can't be happening!" She closed her eyes. "I did only want to be a good friend to Gordon, but...," she sighed deeply, "oh dear... I think I fell in love with him… Yes… I'm in love with him! And I had sworn myself that I would never fall in love with anyone…"

What Caitlin did not want to happen, it had already happened. Those minutes they were talking were enough for her to realise that Gordon was not just the pompous and grumpy faster engine on Sodor, but also a friend to rely on. The two towers that hold the love; dialogue and confidence, had begun to rise between them, and Caitlin was now 'officially' in love. "Will he feel the same about me?" she wondered. "Will he fall in love with me someday?" And, as if it was a sign from heaven, she felt her boiler began to boil and she recalled that... her fire was burning with Gordon's coal! "Wow!" Caitlin smiled. "I hope that's the answer!"

Finally, Caitlin was ready to resume the journey. Despite the delay her passengers were happy because they had got to take a lot of beautiful photos of the morning landscape. And obviously, Caitlin was happy with the delay since it allowed her to spend some nice time with Gordon and also having a "souvenir" from the meeting in her firebox and her heart. "Luck was on our side indeed," she thought as she puffed away.

When she passed through the Duke and Duchess of Boxford's summer house she heard a familiar whistle. It was Connor. "Why are you so late, Caitlin?" asked Connor as he reached her. "You left the mainland an hour before me."

"I will tell if you win this race!" responded Caitlin. "Oh well!" exclaimed Connor and they threw themselves into the race, laughing out loud. "How many times I must tell you I'm faster than you?!" shouted Connor.

"How many times I must tell you that that's not true?!" replied Caitlin. "I will win as always!"

"As always?! And when was the last time you beat me?!"

"Ha! Ha! Ha! WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

They only had fun, since neither of them had the intention of winning. They arrived huffing to Ulfstead Castle and stopped at the station. Caitlin had a smile from buffer to buffer. "You look happier than ever, Caitlin," said Connor. "I'm very curious to know what happened."

"I had a very lucky mishap!" Caitlin began by saying. "I left the mainland without stocking up on coal and my fire went out before I reaching Maron Station. Then Gordon appeared and told me to take the coal from his tender. So we were chatting for a while until he had to go. And now my fire burns with his coal!"

Connor was confused. "And is that what you call a very lucky mishap?" he asked.

"Yes! I tell you my fire burns with Gordon's coal. It's so exciting!"

"Um... Is Gordon's coal so exciting like that?"

Caitlin realised that Connor still did not understand why she was so happy, so she decided to tell him the truth. "Connor," she said softly, "we don't keep secrets from each other, so I'm going to reveal something to you." Connor listened intently. "I'm in love with Gordon." Caitlin bit her lower lip as she waited for her friend's reaction.

Connor raised his eyebrows. "Ohhh myyy…," he whispered. Then he laughed. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Now I get it! Well, congratulations for the very lucky mishap!"

"Ha! Ha! Thank you!" exclaimed Caitlin happily.

But Connor's smile immediately faded. He remembered a certain unpleasant experience lived by Caitlin in the past; one experience that she wanted to forget; the event that made her swear she would never fall in love with anyone. "I suppose I don't need to teach him how to treat a lady," he said frowning.

Caitlin knew what Connor meant. "Of course not!" she affirmed. "He's very kind to me and funny as well. I feel fine with him. Thomas had told me that he has a golden heart hidden in his boiler and today I could see it for myself. He behaved as a gentleman with me. There's no reason for you to be worried."

Connor stared at her for a while. "Well," he sighed, "if you say so, then I stay calm. All I want is you to be happy, and if being in love with Gordon makes you happy I wish him to feel the same about you. I really mean that."

Caitlin looked at him with affection. "Thank you for being my Guardian Angel, Connor."

"You have nothing to thank me for, Caitlin," responded Connor smiling again. "I'm the one who owes you a great debt of gratitude for you having been my boiler to cry on when my last brother was… scrapped."

Caitlin swallowed hard. "Oh Connor… You don't need to thank me for that. You're a piece of my heart, my dear brother."

"You're also a piece of my heart, my dear sister."

They looked at each other fondly.

There was a strong affectional bond between Connor and Caitlin. They had met when they were both going through a very difficult time. They comforted mutually and adopted one another as siblings.

While the two streamlined engines were chatting at the Ulfstead Castle, Gordon had come to Knapford Station and stopped on his platform with a smile on his face. He was feeling the happiness that comes from having done a good deed, the same happiness that invaded him the times he helped a friend in need. But, besides that, he was feeling something new in his heart; something that, unlike Caitlin, he would take his time to admit: he was falling in love.

The day he met Caitlin on the way to Ulfstead Castle, he was speechless by her speed and beauty. Caitlin was the first female streamlined engine he saw in his life. When he could get to know her better thanks to the brief meetings they had the following months, he realized that she was kindly and cheerful, in addition to having a beautiful and contagious smile. In fact, every time he saw her smile he felt his heart beat faster than his pistons. Gordon was impressed by Caitlin, and he felt a great affection and respect for her. That's why when he saw her in trouble in the morning he behaved like a gentleman. But this meeting was different from others, because in this he realized that Caitlin was not only the world's most beautiful streamlined engine but also a good friend with whom you can converse with confidence. This meeting, shot the "Cupid's arrow" that Gordon felt now in his heart.

As he waited for his coaches, he was so concentrated by thinking of Caitlin that he did not realise that James and Thomas were there watching at him eager to tease him. His friends still thought it was funny that he had left his boiler run dry. As Percy arrived with his coaches, they started teasing.

"Don't forget to fill your tank up, Gordon," said Thomas.

"Steam engines need to have water," added Percy.

"And… watch out for flying stones," warned James.

And the three engines laughed.

Gordon frowned. He was not amused to hear his friends laughing at him, but he did not answer anything this time. If it had been another moment he would have recited them all the silly mistakes they made in the past, but this time he was so happy that he simply blew his whistle and began his journey. As he puffed out the station, the smile returned to his face.

Gordon had a good day. He arrived just in time to all his destinations and whistled enthusiastically to the engines that crossed with him. He thought about Caitlin during all day. And as he was returning home at teatime, some questions began to roll around in his mind. "Why does my heart beat faster than my pistons every time I see her smile? He thought. "Is this what Edward, James and Thomas feel for their partners? Why do I like so much thinking of her? Is this… being in love?"

The same questions kept rolling around in his mind, until his pride rose like a beast ready to devour any attempt to 'show weakness'.

"NO!" He strongly answered himself. "I'm a big, strong engine. Falling in love like a silly little machine would be a whole indignity. I'm glad to have helped Caitlin, nothing else. She's just a friend." He tried to concentrate on another thing, but Caitlin's smile came back to appear in his mind, making him to sigh deeply. "Although... I must admit I like to be with her more than with the other female engines… And I must also admit it was nice to talk with her... we agree on many things… And she's cheerful and kind... and so beautiful... with those lips… those sensual little lips that make me want to ki-" Gordon raised his eyebrows. "Bust my buffers! What am I saying? I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH HER!"

Gordon's mind was a whirlwind of opposite thoughts, because the door of his heart is locked by a heavy chain called pride. And this was one of those moments in which his heart and his pride were clashing in a fierce war; a war that could last for many hours.

For her part, Caitlin also had a good day and it was already time to return to the mainland. She was waiting for her last passengers at the Ulfstead Castle Station, and when she heard the guard's whistle, she pumped her pistons and proceeded to puff. Then there was trouble. Her wheels had not got to give a complete turn when she stopped with a loud squeal. "OHHH!" she cried. "What is it?"

Her crew got out of the cab to take a look. "One of your tender's brakes was locked on," responded her fireman when they found the trouble. "We must fix it up."

"My goodness…" sighed Caitlin.

In addition to being upset for having to wait, she felt sad because she used to cross with Gordon at Cronk Station during this journey, but now it would not be possible. "I was eager to see Gordon again…," she lamented.

Caitlin did not like waiting, but she had to wait and wait until her tender's brake was fixed.

But by then, it was already dark.