Chapter Seven: Gordon's Secret

Thomas woke up as an engine. He was used to this now. This was his third time. Nothing happened during the first two times. It was a normal day. Today, Thomas worked hard in the yard and pulled Annie and Clarabel along his branch line. He was about to go into his berth of Tidmouth Sheds, but he heard a voice, a voice that he knew well.

"Gordon, stop it! It was an accident!"

"Oh really Emily, you "accidentally" gave me the tools for the Steamworks and not the books for the library? You know I hate pulling goods trains Emily. Don't lie to me. You mock me all the time."

"Gordon! That's just friendly teasing!"

"Yeah? Well too bad. I know it isn't. Don't. You. Dare. Do. It. Again."

Each phrase was enforced with a harsh bump that made Emily crash into a set of buffers. Gordon, who was merciless as always, left her, with her buffers all dented. Thomas chased after Gordon, vowing revenge, but soon, he went slower and slower. His driver and fireman couldn't find out what's wrong. Thomas was frustrated.

"NOOOOOOOO!"

Thomas fell out of bed with a CRASH.

"Ow…"

He got up and changed. A nice plain blue t-shirt and a pair of jeans. He got out, and went to find Gordon. He bumped into Molly on the way.

"Hey, Thomas! How are you today?"

"Terrible. Where's Gordon?"

"Oh… Gordon just went outside. He finished breakfast early and went…"

Thomas took off.

"… for a walk…"

Thomas ran down the hill. He could see Gordon jogging. Gordon was unaware of Thomas sprinting behind him. Thomas jumped on Gordon. They both fell, with Thomas on top.

"Get off Thomas!"

"What did you do to Emily!"

Gordon froze. "What?"

"I said, what did you do to Emily!"

Gordon started. "I tucked her in bed last night after you guys fell asleep in the study."

"Don't lie!"

"I swear that I did. Ask Edward. Now let me up!"

Thomas let him up, and pretty much dragged him back to the dorm. Everyone was watching from the lawn. Except for Emily. Emily was still tossing around in bed, having a nightmare. She was turning, occasionally letting out a groan. She was talking in her sleep.

"No… Don't… Stop…"

Gordon dropped onto the couch. Thomas stood in front of him.

"Edward, did Gordon really tuck Emily into bed and go to sleep?"

"Calm down Thomas. He did. Why?"

"Nothing. Gordon, what did you do to her?"

"I swear I did nothing."

"Thomas, after you fell asleep, she looked at you, read some more, and stroked your hair. Then, she fell asleep too. I was watching from the other side of the room. I couldn't sleep after Gordon tucked me in. I saw you guys then I went to sleep. Later I heard Gordon run out. I swear too. He did nothing."

Thomas looked around. He knew he could trust his other roommates. Then, they heard a scream that made all of their blood run cold. Emily. Thomas rushed to her room and slammed the door close. The rest followed, but Edward wisely blocked their way.

"Let them be."

The four waited for Thomas and Emily.

Inside, Emily was crying her heart out. She leaned helplessly on Thomas's shoulder, and was bawling so hard. Thomas had a shocked expression on his face, and stared at Emily.

"Really? You actually had that dream. That dream?"

"Y-y-yye-e-s-ss Thomas. I did."

"But…"

"Why?"

"I knew it. I knew it. That idiot blasted brother of mine."

Thomas burst open the door and shoved his brother back onto the couch. Thomas may be small, but he is strong. Gordon was scared. He never saw Thomas so mad at anyone yet.

"GORDON, YOU LYING BLASTED BROTHER OF MINE, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID TO EMILY! Do you know what my dream was? Exactly what you did to Emily in 7th Grade in engine form!"

Gordon and Emily gasped. The rest of them stared at the three of them. They had no idea what the three of them knew.

"Tommy, he already apologized and I accepted. We don't have to start this again."

"No Em. I need to settle this with my brother. Gordon, did you actually shove Emily for accidentally giving you tools instead of books? Did you really?"

Everyone was surprised. It always seemed that Gordon was a brother to Emily and vice versa. They never heard Gordon holding a grudge on Emily.

"And furthermore, you made her go to the hospital!"

Everyone stared at Gordon. Gordon seemed to shrink. He was no longer the biggest or the strongest among the roommates.

"Thomas. Stop it. I already punished myself. Heck, I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for Emily!"

Now, everyone's gaze turned from Gordon to Emily. She blushed.

"It's true. I'll tell you all what happened.

-7th Grade-

Today was the day the materials were delivered from the docks. It was Emily's duty to distribute materials for everyone to bring to different parts of the school. She was giving out the material. She gave writing materials to Thomas, library books to Edward, tools to Gordon, and new computer parts to Henry, James, Percy, and Toby. Little did she know, she had given Gordon's load to Edward, and Edward's load to Gordon. She happily walked off to the cafeteria to buy a bottle of water to drink on the walk home. She was about to walk out when she heard Gordon calling her. She turned around and saw Gordon with not the happiest expression. She walked over to him.

"Hey, Gordon! What's up?"

"Oh. You gave me the tools. On purpose right? I was meant to take the library books! You know I don't want to run around here all the time!"

"Gordon, I didn't even realize! Sorry."

"NO. YOU. MOCK. ME. ENOUGH. YOU. WILL. PAY!"

Gordon shoved her into a nearby wall with every word. Emily, who was eventually bruised at the end, slid down the wall and started crying. Gordon, unusually mercilessly, walked away, huffing.

"Oh, Gordon. I thought you didn't mind the teasing… it was an accident..."

Soon, she saw two people who she loved, even though they weren't connected by blood.

"Donald! Douglas! Over here!"

The twins used to be next door neighbors before they both moved to the island of Sodor. Emily's family eventually had to move back to Scotland because of family matters. Donald and Douglas's parents gladly accepted her into the family. The two of them were very close. She loved Donald and Douglas just like a family member.

"Dear Em! What happened!"

"I will kill that blasted person!"

"Douglas! It is nothing. I got hurt. That's all."

"Come on. Let's go home. We'll fix you up."

Emily smiled and gratefully got up, wincing with pain. Donald and Douglas supported both of her shoulders, and the three went home. The twin's parents were away for business, so Donald got out the medicine kit, and Douglas took Emily's coat and hung it. Emily flopped on the couch. She took off her top and turned around. Donald and Douglas made sure that they didn't look at her half-naked. When Emily turned around, Douglas took out the medicine and applied it onto her back. Donald then put on the bandages on her wounds. When they were finished, Douglas put away the medicine kit and Donald took her hand in hand to the shower. Then, when Emily was finished, Donald and Douglas took their own shower. They all regrouped at Emily's room.

"Now Em, since I know you won't tell us, we won't make you."

"Thank you Donald. Good night you two."

"Good night Emily!"

"Sleep tight."

The two of them both kissed her on her forehead and went to sleep.

Meanwhile, Gordon lay in bed, thinking about what he had done. He knew that it was a mistake, and he always laughed along with Emily's teasing. Today was different, with all the stress, he reacted rashly. He knew what he did was wrong, and he knew that Emily would never forgive him. He sighed and sent her a text.

Emily. I am sorry about what I did. I am truly sorry. I am going to leave the island, in the only way possible to end my suffering and yours. I will see you in either Heaven or Hel-

When Emily read this, she shoved her phone in her pocket and grabbed her keys. She hastily put on her coat and ran to Gordon's house. She saw Gordon ready to jump over onto the rails, where the night fish train, also called the Flying Kipper was coming up the lane. He was ready to jump. Emily gasped.

"NOOO GORDON DON'T!"

Emily jumped and dragged him back to safety. Gordon looked at her.

"Why Emily? I know you won't forgive me. Stop it. Let me go. I will jump."

"No Gordon, if you're going to die, then so will I."

"No."

"Listen. I do forgive you."

"How? What I did is unforgivable."

"But I do. I do forgive you. I love you Gordon. Just like I love my brothers, Donald and Douglas. I love you as and older brother. Gordon, don't leave me. What about Thomas, Edward, and the rest of us? We all love you. You are a part of the Steam Team. Stay with us."

Gordon looked at Emily and saw the genuine love in her eyes. Then he smiled.

"Alright. I'll stay."

Emily got up and stretched her hand out to Gordon.

"Thank you for forgiving me, Emily."

"I only forgive you on two conditions."

"Anything,"

"Don't pull off another stunt like that and love me back as a sister."

"I won't. Also, I always loved you as a sister Em."

They smiled. They left for Gordon' house. Hand in hand, as brother and sister.

"You see now guys, I forgave Gordon a long time ago."

Everyone was happy once again. They were glad that everything was okay now. Even Thomas smiled.

"I'm happy to say that I forgive you too Gordon."

"Thank you, brother."

Edward cleared his throat, and everyone fell silent.

"Since we are all clear about what happened, I think this calls for a toast. Here, I have just the thing I need."

Edward ran off to his room, opened his mini fridge, and took out a bottle of Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Juice.

"I call for a toast. For friendship! Everything that is now mended."

"Hear hear!"

Everyone then drank. Caitlin pulled Gordon off to the side.

"Gordon, dear, you aren't going to do anything like that again, right? Not the shoving or the stunt right?"

"Yes dear. I won't."

Caitlin smiled and pulled him in close. Gordon smiled and gave her a kiss on her cheek.

Emily then looked at Thomas. She smiled.

"That's why Gordon is so kind to me now. He has a word to keep. And I am sure that I won't get hurt like that again."

"That's my girl."

They smiled, and Thomas kissed her on her forehead.

Edward and Molly were sitting on the side, smiling.

"Well Molly, I am certainly happy we got that smoothed out.

"I am too Edward. I must say, I was really scared."

"I was too. I'm glad that's cleared away now."

"I am proud of you, my Edward. You handled that well."

"Oh it's nothing."

"Still, I'm glad."

Molly gently nudged him and kissed him on his cheek.

The night was carried on with some more kissing when Gordon turned on his phone and turned on some music.

"Alright! Let's get this party started! Call everyone!"

Everyone was called. The whole Steam Team, Duck, Donald and Douglas, Oliver, Murdoch, Hank, Hiro, Stafford, Stanley, and Arthur were called. The dance party was on!

While they were all partying, Emily and Gordon pulled Donald and Douglas off to the side.

"Donald and Douglas, I am sorry to say to say that I was responsible for Emily's accident back then but now, you can listen to Emily."

"Now, don't punch him Douglas. I know you swore to kill him, but don't. We smoothed things out."

"We only forgive you lad, since our dear Em said it's okay."

"Alrighty. I will too. Though I might still kill you!"

"Oh, shut up Douggie!"

"But… Em…"

"No. We're good."

They all smiled and went back to dancing. Then, one by one, as the time grew later and later, the guests all left. Soon, the six of them were left alone. Thomas, Edward, Molly, and Caitlin all knew that Gordon and Emily will need to talk things out, so they all left to their respective rooms.

"Good night you two!"

"Good night you four!"

"Love you Em!"

"Love you, Tommy!"

The two brother and sister looked at each other.

"Well Em, I'm sorry about 7th grade. I really, honestly never forgave myself."

"You should you know. I forgave you, so you should forgive yourself!"

"Oh Em, you're kind as always."

"Oh Gordon, brother…"

Gordon kissed her on her forehead and lead her to her bedroom.

"Good night sis."

"Good night bro."

They all slept. Quite soundly.

Gordon's Secret. I cried a few times writing this. :) Hope you enjoy!