Tidmouth Sheds was now under serious repair duty after James became careless with weak brakes and crashed through the berth. Only earlier that day he challenged Rosie to a race after she was newly repainted red. She tried to save him but he was too fast even for her.

Rosie was now on her way to finish her own work for the day. She felt very sorry for James' accident, but even worse as she couldn't do anything to save him. It hurt her to see him so dirty and scruffy and she wished she could have done something to help. All day she kept thinking about everything that happened on her first day being red. A new form of livery, some excitement and comments from engines and civilians across the island, and a race with James.

Later that evening, Rosie finished her work and returned to her shed to meet Stanley. She was quite tired after racing with James and rushing after him with such efforts.

"Hello, Rosie," said Stanley.

"Ohh…hello, Stanley," yawned Rosie.

"So, my rose…what's it like having a new colour?" asked Stanley.

"I think it's very nice, Stanley," smiled Rosie. "I'm surprised how much happened today. I'm a new colour now…but then James tried to race me…with weak brakes, and that did not go well for him…"

"Really? What happened?" asked Stanley.

"Oh, Stanley, it was frightful. I was just huffing through the yards when James suddenly shot right past me at top speed…then smashed right through Tidmouth Sheds!"

Stanley gasped. "Goodness me! That is frightening!"

"I just feel bad that I couldn't help James. He looked so poorly after his accident…but he really was the fastest red engine on Sodor for a while today…"

"Hmm, I see," said Stanley.

"So, my first day being red…was quite exciting," said Rosie. "I think I'm gonna like my new colour…"

"Has your repaint in any way, healed you at all since last night?" Stanley asked carefully. Rosie looked at Stanley and suddenly remembered what he meant.

"Well…" she sighed quietly. "It was certainly a happy change for me…but…oh, I'm very sorry, Stanley. I know what you're thinking…and I really do like you, but I still don't know about us in a relationship…I'm still frightened something might happen…"

Stanley sighed too. "Rosie…don't feel bad about that. I understand your worries…but I just want you to know now: I would NEVER dream of upsetting you in any way…I really do love you, Rosie…and all I wish is that if there was anything I could do to sooth your heart and its fears…my red rose."

Rosie looked at Stanley with a blush. "Th-thank you, Stanley…" she whispered. "I know you'd do anything for me, and to me, that's more than I could ask for from you…" Then she and Stanley fell asleep right there in their shed.

Then one day, Stanley was shunting trucks in the yards at Knapford Station, still thinking about Rosie's change and what they talked about that night, when suddenly, his fireman was taken ill. He suddenly felt light-headed and nearly collapsed. He managed to grab a handle to steady himself while the driver caught him.

"What's wrong, mate?" asked Stanley's driver.

"I don't know…I'll need help…" said the fireman. The driver helped the fireman out of Stanley's cab to support him to the station. Stanley waited patiently for his crew to return…but then there was trouble. Two naughty boys came wandering into the yards and saw Stanley up ahead.

"Hmm…" said one boy. "Look at that silver steam engine…"

"Why don't we have some fun?" said the other boy with a wink. Then both boys snickered and snuck over behind Stanley. Then they quietly stepped into the cab. They looked at the control panel in front of them…then began fiddling with the controls, seeing if anything would happen. They turned a few switches and levers, but nothing happened. This made the boys grumpy.

"Pah! Nothing!" they said. "This is no fun at all!" They then decided to leave. But just as they were about to step down off Stanley's footplate, they suddenly heard a shout.

"Hey! School-boys! Get out of there!" shouted a workman, pointing in their direction. Suddenly, Stanley started moving backwards.

"What-what's going on?" he exclaimed. The boys suddenly jumped off in shock and started running as fast as they could, but only a few seconds after they started, the workman cut them off and seized them both.

"You fools!" he growled. "I'm gonna have to teach you a lesson!"

"HELP!" wailed Stanley. "I can't stop!" And he went faster and faster, backwards and out of the yards! Stanley's driver heard the shouts and alerted the stationmaster, who called several stations ahead.

"Clear the lines! It's a runaway train!" he warned. Signals were changed and points were switched. Stanley continued to fly down the line with no driver or fireman to help stop him. Even worse, Stanley couldn't see where he was going, and felt even more frightened.

"Out of my way! Clear the line! Anyone behind me, look out!" he cried.

Rosie had been taking a goods train on her own and stopped at Crosby Station. Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice.

"Stanley?" she called. His voice came closer and closer from behind her…then he suddenly shot past her!

"Rosie! I have no crew! Help me, PLEASE!" he yelled as he disappeared around the bend. Rosie could not believe what she had seen, and something suddenly came over her. She took off so suddenly, her truck's coupling broke as she shot out of the station.

"Rosie! STOP!" called the stationmaster. "You left your train behind!"

"I don't care!" Rosie shouted back. "I failed to save James! I'm NOT gonna fail Stanley!" And she took off after her special friend she lived with for a considerably long time now.

"I can't stop! Help! HELP!" she heard Stanley yell in the distance.

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" called Rosie. She raced with all her might across the line, trying to catch Stanley. She shot through Wellsworth Station where Henry was letting off passengers.

"My goodness!" gasped Henry as he saw Rosie shoot past.

"Stanley?! Are you out there?!" yelled Rosie.

"HELP!" she heard Stanley yell in the distance. Rosie went even faster across the line, bravely and frightfully, trying not to hit any other engines. She sped through Maron Station and everyone on the platform watched her rush through, then they all turned fast to the other way as they saw Rosie disappear down the track again. She kept calling out to Stanley, and each time he shouted back, he sounded closer. She rushed further and further past more stations. Cronk and Wellsworth. Finally, as she was approaching Kellsthorpe, she finally caught sight of Stanley.

"STANLEY!" she whistled.

"Rosie! Please help me!" called Stanley. Rosie went as fast as she could, until she was just a few inches away from Stanley.

"Steady, Rosie," said her driver. Then Rosie saw a set of points up ahead. She reached her full speed and called to the signalman. He quickly turned the points and Rosie slipped onto the line beside Stanley and rushed ahead of him. Luckily, she saw another set of points in the distance. The signalman switched her back to Stanley's line.

"Hold tight, Stanley!" called Rosie as she began to slow down a little. Stanley came closer and closer to Rosie. Then he bumped right into her.

"There! I'll slow you down, Stanley!" she whistled. They suddenly rushed past Kellsthorpe Road Station and Rosie applied her brakes. But with Stanley constantly moving fast, it wasn't easy. Suddenly, Rosie saw Paxton with a load of goods, heading right for her.

"Oh dear!" Look out, Rosie!" he called.

Rosie braked harder and harder, trying to slow Stanley down. Eventually, she began to notice they were going slower, but Stanley still couldn't stop. Rosie strained hard to slow down, and just as Paxton was switched to a different line, Rosie and Stanley flew past him.

Then at last, as they approached Crovan's Gate Station, Stanley's boiler ran out of water, and he finally managed to stop. Rosie, in turn managed to stop, just as they approached the platform. By now, she was red in the face again, and very relieved. She huffed slowly ahead to another switch and came back beside Stanley to face him.

"Whoa…Rosie!" Stanley gasped. "Th-thank you!"

"No problem, Stanley…" Rosie panted. She was tired from all her rushing about. "Are you alright?"

"Yes…thanks to you," breathed Stanley. "I was so scared, then I saw you rushing after me!"

"And I saved you!" smiled Rosie. "I'm so happy you're alright…"

"But why…why did you risk yourself all this way just to save me?" asked Stanley. "I thought you were trying to avoid a relationship."

Rosie looked deeply at him. "Well…it's because...I may not be ready for a relationship, but…I must admit to myself…I love you, Stanley…and I don't want anything terrible to happen to you."

Stanley smiled deeply at his rose. "Rosie…my darling Rosie…" he murmured with joy. "Thank you so much."

"You're most welcome, Stanley," Rosie smiled back.

OK, so the wait wasn't as bad as I feared it would be, but I'm still dreading how bad it'll be much later down the line. Not as long as the previous chapter, but, yes, this chapter will give a reason as to why Rosie is seen working at Vicarstown in Journey Beyond Sodor, which pretty much is her new job, working as the station pilot of said station. And unless we get those lost Season 21 episodes that supposedly explain Rosie's new position, then this is what I'm sticking with. Obviously we will see Rosie get her new job in the next chapter, the final chapter, and of course we will see what will become of Rosie and Stanley's relationship. Don't worry, it will be a happy ending. So leave your reviews and I'll see with the final chapter...whenever that time will come...