Author's Notes: My first multi-chapter 'fic is here! The idea for this came to me in a way I have never had with any of my other works; I wrote the ending of the story down and I worked backwards!
As always, any feedback/reviews are greatly appreciated!

As Dinah heard the lock of the door hit home, she let out a sigh of relief. It was a dark, cold November evening and she was finally locking up the diner for the day. It had been hectic, with a steady stream of trains keen to escape the icy bite of the winter air with some comforting warm broth or a mug of steaming hot coffee. As much as she enjoyed her job and the company it brought however, she couldn't deny she was exhausted and desperate to get back to her depot to relax. She slipped her keys into her coat pocket and turned to leave, when an unfamiliar sound caught her attention. On first hearing, she simply dismissed it as a cat or bird hiding in the bushes but after listening for a moment longer she wasn't so convinced. She turned around, finding herself being drawn towards the source. Her eyes caught movement between the back of her diner and the shrubbery, and as she got closer, she realised the sound was a cry. There, swaddled in a pink blanket, was a baby.

"Oh my Starlight…" she breathed.

Dinah knelt down and tentatively picked up the bundle. She glanced around, checking to see if there was anyone else around, but all was still and quiet. She sat on the step of her diner and gently cradled the child, marveling at her tiny features. Being so small and light in her arms, she couldn't have been more than a week old, with dark wisps of hair crowning her head and plump rosy cheeks. At being held, the infant's cries gradually subsided and were replaced by small hiccups that made Dinah smile. Having calmed, the girl opened her eyes – a brief flash of azure blue – as if to check her surroundings.

"It's alright," Dinah said softly. "You're safe now."

Seemingly content, the girl's eyes closed once more. Keeping the child cradled close to her chest, the coach felt a strange feeling wash over her. She had never experienced it before but could only assume the infant had awoken some maternal instinct that was buried deep within her, for she suddenly felt a strong need to protect this small, fragile child. It was almost like she was meant to find her.

"There you are!" Dinah's head snapped up as Pearl approached, slightly out of breath. "I thought you'd-"

The other coach cut off and stopped in her tracks as her eyes fell on the pink bundle in Dinah's arms. She stared in awe.

"Is that…?"

Dinah simply nodded in response.

"I found her at the back of the diner," Dinah explained, gazing back at the infant, who was now drifting off to sleep, before she turned to look back at her friend. "Who would do such a thing? On such a cold night like this?"

Pearl joined Dinah on the step, finding she too could not take her eyes off of the little girl.

"She's beautiful."

For a moment, they both sat in silence simply admiring the baby as she peacefully slept. Neither knew how to put into words how precious she was. Nor did they know how to express how much of a impact this little arrival would have at the train yard. Dinah, however, was certain of one thing; she had to protect and care for this young human. Because if not her, who would?

"Greaseball will be wonderin' where I am…" Dinah bit her lip.

The coach suddenly felt her stomach twist with nerves. She had no idea how Greaseball would react to her bringing a baby home, but she didn't have any other choice. Leaving the defenceless infant to perish in these freezing conditions was cruel and heartless and to think a human had been able to just dump the baby and leave angered her. Which also meant there was no way she was returning the child to the nearby village, assuming that's where she was born.

Pearl tilted her head at her friend. "What are you gonna do?"

Dinah shook her head. "I don't know…but I can't leave her here."

At that, she gingerly stood up, taking care not to wake the child. Pearl decided to take initiative, eager to help.

"I'll run to Belle's and grab some blankets and send Rusty to get some formula from the town for when she gets hungry. I'll meet you back at your depot."

"Thanks, Pearl," Dinah smiled.

She watched as the pink coach sped off in the direction of Belle's depot before turning to make her way home.

"Let's get you into the warmth little one," she whispered to the sleeping infant as she took a deep breath. This was not going to be easy.

By the time Pearl slipped into Dinah's depot, she could hear an argument brewing in the kitchen.

"Dinah, you have to take her back."

"Back?"

"To the town. It's where she belongs."

Although Greaseball hadn't yet raised his voice, there was no hiding his exasperation.

Pearl quietly edged towards the doorway.

"They dumped her! They don't deserve her!" Dinah cried.

Just then, Greaseball realised they were no longer alone and glanced over at Pearl with a sigh.

"Oh, and I suppose you had something to do with this?" he said, crossing his arms.

On the defence, Dinah crossed the room and stood between the two of them.

"Leave Pearl out of this! This was my decision and mine alone."

The baby stirred in Dinah's arms and began to wail. It only added to Greaseball's frustration and he turned his back to the two coaches. Pearl took the child from her friend and held her close to her chest to soothe her.

"If I had left her she would have been dead by morning, Greaseball." Dinah continued, her voice firm and assertive. "What kind of train would that have made me?"

Greaseball hesitated before turning back to face Dinah. He knew she was only doing the right thing – as Dinah always strived to do – but sometimes he despaired at the kind-hearted nature of the coach. She was too soft and sweet and those kind of qualities landed them in situations like this one. But looking at Dinah and seeing how defensive and stubborn she was, how could he say no? It was late and he was tired from a day of training. He didn't have the energy to protest further; it was easier to just accept and let her get on with it. At that, he admitted defeat and sighed.

"Fine, you can keep her. But I can promise you now Electra won't be happy."

Dinah immediately relaxed and threw her arms around him in a hug. At this moment in time, she didn't care what Electra thought.

"Right, now that's sorted, if it's alright with you two I'm going to hit the sack. I have another busy day tomorrow."

With that, Greaseball lumbered off to bed, without giving either of them a second glance. He would no doubt regret his decision in the morning, but his head was too fogged up to think straight.

At that, the two coaches set to work on getting the baby settled for the night. Pearl helped Dinah create a makeshift cot from a sturdy box with the blankets and heated up the formula milk for the baby's feed. By the time the infant had finished the milk, the pair were both exhausted. They laid the baby down in the cot, fast asleep, and breathed a sigh of relief. The evening had been a whirlwind but the child was safe and warm and that was all that mattered.

"She's lucky to have you." Pearl whispered, squeezing her friend's arm reassuringly before she left for the night.

Dinah smiled, taking comfort from the words. She was grateful for Pearl's support and she knew only too well she'd need all she could get to face tomorrow. The very thought filled her with dread. She had no idea how the train yard would react and the uncertainty unnerved her.

She gazed out of the window to the full moon and prayed to the Starlight.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Please feel free to review or send me a PM with your thoughts/comments.