A Redeemed Bond Ch. 4
A.N. I know… I'm pretty much barely scraping at the reunion between Edward and Thomas… but hopefully, I can do it in the next chapter!
…
Thomas sighed sadly as he looked down onto the tracks he was on.
"Hello, baby brother."
Thomas gasped and looked up, and saw Edward right in front of him. "Oh… hello Edward…"
Edward frowned; he knew something was wrong. "What's wrong, little brother?" He asked softly, as he moved closer to him.
Thomas bit his lip. "I… don't know. I think it's just one of my 'off' days, really…"
Edward hummed in understanding. But soon, a cheeky smirk befell his face. "Once a small engine, proud and true, raced across the rails, in hopes to get home before noon." He sang cheerily.
Thomas gasped. "Edward… is that..?" He asked quietly, while trying to hide his smile.
Edward smiled as well. "Yes. Yes it is." He confirmed. "And do you know why I made that song for you?"
"No." Thomas mumbled truthfully after a moment.
Edward hummed. "I made it for you, Thomas, so you'd know just how special you truly are. And even though they're hard to stop, no amount of your 'off days' will change that. You are so special. And I will spend my life proving that to you, each and every day."
Thomas stared at his big brother, his mouth open and eyes wide. But soon, he smiled, tears pricking at his eyes. He closed them as tears went down his face. "Thank you Edward… that helped so much…"
Edward smiled softly at the tender sight. Slowly, he moved forwards, and buffered up to Thomas. "You're welcome little brother… you deserve only the best…"
…
Thomas' eyes snapped open as he blinked away the dream/memory. Breathing deeply, he looked around, and he saw he was in Tidmouth. Looking to his right, he saw James. Smiling a little, he blushed, and closed his eyes for another moment. Taking a deep breath, he looked to his left, and saw… Edward.
Frowning, he looked away. He really did love Edward… and they were finally civil to each other, but…
"I can't…" He breathed. "I have to go…" Almost immediately, the doors to his shed opened and Jason and Derek came into view.
Thomas' eyes widened. "Have you…"
Jason held up his hand. "Don't worry about that. Is it William?" He asked softly.
Thomas sighed. "Yes."
"Then let's go." Jason whispered. Then he and Derek got into Thomas' cab, and they left.
But as he left, Edward groaned in his sleep.
…
"Come on out, little Thomas!" Edward laughed, moving down the tracks of the Wellsworth yard, looking around.
It was a warm spring day. Flowers of every colour of the rainbow were blooming all across the island, and the scent of fruits from nearby fruit trees could be smelled each time a breeze wisped through the air.
A bit a ways away, Thomas sat behind a line of coaches, doing his best to be quiet. Though small giggles would escape his mouth, and puffs of smoke would come out of his funnel.
Jason and Derek – determined not to get their engine caught – quickly climbed on top of Thomas and used their jackets to fan away the smoke, while silently laughing.
However, Dean and Kurtis – who just as involved in the game as the others were – saw a few wisps of smoke behind some coaches before they disappeared.
"Edward…" Dean whispered mischievously. "Behind those coaches." He directed, pointing to a line of brown coaches.
Looking over to where Dean had pointed, Edward smirked. "Oh ho, ho… clever little brother." He chuckled softly.
Being as quiet as he could manage, Edward reversed, and went behind the coaches where Thomas was.
Thomas was facing away from his brother, so he couldn't see Edward behind him. The older engine found that to his advantage. As he came closer, Edward could hear Thomas giggling, and Jason and Derek talking quietly.
Finally, he went forward and quickly coupled up to Thomas.
Thomas gasped in surprise and shrieked in delight. "Edward!" He laughed, while trying to get away, moving forwards. But the older engine held him back, while laughing himself. "Let me go!"
"I will not!" Edward laughed. "I won this game!"
…
Edward's eyes flew open as the memory faded from his mind. Taking silent, deep breaths, he looked around and saw the spot where Thomas slept at- it was empty.
Sighing as he looked down.
"Thomas..." Edward whispered as he looked up at the sky, staring at the stars that twinkled like diamonds. "Please… please forgive me…" He begged quietly.
"I never should've yelled at you… I broke all the promises I made to you… and I hate myself for it…" He whispered as he closed his eyes, trying to stop his tears from falling. "I long for the day when you and I can play hide-and-seek again. But I know you need time. And I said I would wait for you; I promised. And this time, I mean it…"
Unknown to him however, both James and Henry were awake, and gazing over at the older engine. Their eyes were filled with sadness, but also hope. Because maybe… they were there, almost there to repairing Edward and Thomas' broken bond.
…
Thomas sighed as he made his way over to Knapford and Knapford Sheds. When he arrive there, he expected it to be deserted, but his eyes widened upon seeing a man with red hair by the sheds. As he came closer, he smiled a little. "Hello Father…"
William smiled. "Hello, young one. I figured you'd come here."
"You did?"
William nodded once. "Yes. Now come into the sheds. I bet you're cold, hm? What with it being almost fall. It's warm inside, and we can talk there." He promised.
Smiling so softly, Thomas reversed, and then came back, backing into the sheds. He stopped when he was a few inches from the buffers behind him, and felt Jason and Derek leave his cab.
William walked over to them, and handed Jason and Derek each a cup of coffee to help them warm up a bit. Smiling as they thanked him, William walked over to Thomas to look up at him.
"I take it you wanted to come here and talk about Edward?" William asked softly, smiling a bit at his son.
"Yes Father." Thomas confirmed quietly.
William nodded. "Go on, then."
"Well… you see, yesterday afternoon, Edward wanted to talk to me but I… didn't want to listen to him. I started screaming at him… calling him a liar. And I yelled about how he wasn't sorry and that I hated him. I also told him how I wish he wasn't my older brother." Thomas whispered as tears started to stream down his face.
Smiling sadly, William climbed onto Thomas' buffers and used a cloth to dry away his tears. Taking a deep breath, Thomas looked down at the ground as he continued to explain. "I ran away and hid on a siding. Gordon found me after a while. He started explaining that he, along with the others didn't want to see the bond me and Edward have broken…"
"What happened then, Thomas?" William asked.
Thomas sighed once more, and explained what he and Gordon talked about, before Edward showed up.
"I was scared. But, I told Edward how I didn't mean what I said but at the same time, that I wanted to mean it. I told him how I wasn't ready to forgive him; and he said he understood. He told me to take all the time I needed but… he also said that he never wanted to hurt me."
Thomas' voice cracked as he spoke. "I still love him Father but what he said, it still hurts me… oh so much…" Thomas finished as more tears slid down his face, falling onto the ground and his buffers.
"Oh Thomas…" William sighed softly as he continued to wipe his tears away. "It sounds like Edward is hurting just as much as you are."
"We're both hurting so much Father. I want to forgive him, but my mind and heart… it just hurts all too much to forgive him." Thomas spoke softly.
"It's only natural to feel that way Thomas. A lot of people – engines included – have this problem. A bond, like the one you and Edward have, was strong. Still is strong. You felt safe whenever you were with him, and he felt the need to protect you. But everyone does lose their temper sometimes. And when they do, whether they mean to or not, they end up taking it out on those who are close to them." William explained.
"It's then, that the bonds can be broken, hurting those all around them. But it takes a heart to forgive. A shattered heart can hurt for some time but it takes the will and mind to help restore it. Only then, are bonds restored. Do you understand Thomas?" William asked softly, smiling slightly.
"I… I think so Father, but still…" Thomas spoke quietly.
"It's understandable son. These things take time, just remember what I said." William said, smiling warmly.
"I will Father. Thank you." Thomas said, smiling a bit.
"Good. Now, try to get some sleep son. It's late." William prompted the small tank engine.
"I will. Goodnight Father." Thomas yawned, his eyes feeling heavy with sleep.
"Goodnight son." William whispered as he, Jason and Derek walked out of the shed.
…
Early the next morning, it was quiet all around Sodor. Everyone seemed to be feeling rather down. Edward especially.
He sat at the edge of the docks, looking out to sea; he didn't try anything however. Dean and Kurtis were watching him with firm, yet sympathetic eyes.
The old engine sighed, and smiled a bit. "I will wait for you…" He whispered. "Until the day I can forget you or until you realise you cannot forget me… I will wait, even if the world is crumbling down around my wheels… I will wait."
"You really loved him, didn't you?" Dean asked quietly, walking up to his engine.
"Love." Edward corrected. "I love him."
"So what are you going to do?" Kurtis asked.
Edward sighed. "I don't know…"
…
Thomas moved down the line, pulling a line of coaches behind him, lost deep in thought.
The will and mind to help restore it…
What does that even mean..? Thomas thought curiously.
He sighed and he let his mind wander a little more as he stopped at a junction.
From the games they played, to working with and comforting each other, and how he rarely had a 'falling out' with Edward before.
Thomas whimpered slightly as he stopped at the last station to drop of his passengers.
The thank you's went unheard by the little blue tank engine as he finally reached a conclusion.
Oh Edward… He thought to himself miserably. I see now… I see how much you're hurting. I can see the hurt, pain, sadness, and longing in your eyes as you look at me. I can tell how you're fighting yourself to the point where you really aren't looking well…
Thomas bit his lip and shut his eyes. I… I know what I have to do…
…
Edward sat at Knapford station, resting with the other engines as they waited until the times when their next jobs would start.
He was looking down at the ground, trying his hardest not to cry.
Henry saw, and quietly steamed up to him. "Edward?"
When his name was spoke, Edward couldn't hold in his feelings any longer and he let one single sob escape his lips. "Oh… I'm s-sorry, Henry." He sniffed quietly. "I just…"
"You've been having a hard time dealing with the problem between you and Thomas?" Henry guessed.
"Yes…" Edward confirmed. "We're finally at an understanding, and I'm grateful for that, but I… just wish things were normal. But I know it isn't that simple…"
Henry smiled slightly. "Everything, will work out, Edward." He reassured him. "Even if not the way you want it, it will."
After a moment, Edward smiled, with a small blush on his cheeks. "Yes, Henry… you're right. I just want Thomas and I to at least be friends again."
Henry smiled. "It will happen in time, Edward." He reassured him.
But suddenly-
"Edward!"
Said engine looked up at the call of his name, and saw-
"Thomas?" Edward asked quietly.
The little blue tank engine sniffed as he stared at Edward. With a scared squeak in his puff, Thomas inched ever closer to his… brother.
Edward stayed where he was, allowing the smaller engine to do what felt comfortable to him.
Thomas kept moving until he was centimeters away from Edward. "Edward…"
Edward let a small smile come to his face. "Thomas…"
The younger engine shut his eyes tightly and pressed himself closer to Edward, making it so that their buffers were touching. He let one single sob leave his mouth as he felt the familiar, warm steam of the older engine swirl around his wheels.
Edward smiled and pressed closer to him as well. "Thomas… what do you need?" He asked softly.
"Come with me… to Tidmouth…" Thomas whispered. "I want to talk to you…"
Edward took a deep breath, before he smiled once more. "As you wish…"
