Slowly, Thomas and Blake managed to make their way to Knapford. Thomas looked around and saw his friends waiting with their trains and arriving with their trains. Blake cowered anxiously, her scar was finally exposed, and now everyone would see.

But Thomas stayed close, offering comfort for Blake when she looked up. Soon, all the engines could see Blake's face clearly for the first time.

They gasped at the sight – but none of them were from disgust or fear. More of surprise and wonder.

Blake looked all around anxiously, keeping an eye on every engine that saw her face. Thomas made sure he was as close to her as he could, to comfort her as she entered the station.

Henry was waiting with his coaches and he saw the two tank engines roll into the station. He saw the scar on Blake's face and gasped in surprise, "Oh my! You poor thing...whatever happened to your face?"

Blake looked away shyly, she wasn't sure how to answer, "I-I-It's a long story..." She managed to stutter.

"Oh my, you poor engine..." Henry sighed sadly, "Thomas, be sure you look after her, okay!"

Thomas blushed a bit, as Blake managed to giggle a bit, "Yes Henry, I'll make sure I will..."

Henry whistled cheerfully as he pulled away with his coaches. Thomas and Blake just smiled as they watched him pull away.

Just then, Edward and James pulled in, pulling a goods train. They looked at Blake and gasped in shock.

"Oh, my!" Edward exclaimed.

"Y-Your face..." James whimpered sadly, "Whatever happened?!

"Um..." Blake stuttered shyly.

"You poor engine...that scar looks awful..." James sighed sympathetically – which Thomas had to admit, was strange coming from James.

"So that's what the soot was covering...you poor little engine." Edward sympathised, "Don't worry – working on Thomas' branch line is the perfect place for you. You'll be well looked after." He chuckled.

Blake blushed a bit but smiled regardless.

"See Blake, no one judges anyone here." Thomas said, as he and Blake continued gazed into each other's eyes – as Edward and James laughed a bit teasingly at the sight – causing Thomas and Blake to blush even more.

Soon, the Fat Controller came out to see Thomas – and looked at Blake's revealed face and gasped, "Good heavens! Blake, whatever happened to your face?"

Blake started to stutter anxiously, she wasn't sure how to word it.

"It's...what the soot was covering up sir." Thomas said, to Blake's relief, "It's why she was so scared to have it washed off sir."

The Fat Controller listened deeply, as Thomas retold Blake's story. Blake shuddered at the horrible retell, the memories still very thick in her smoke box.

After Thomas told the Fat Controller everything, there was just silence, as the Fat Controller stared at Blake. Blake thought she was done for, looking down at the rails sadly.

"Blake, why didn't you just tell me?" The Fat Controller asked, "We could've arranged something to help you."

"I was afraid sir...I-I didn't want to be judged because of my appearance sir...I am so sorry sir..." Blake whimpered.

"You don't have to be sorry." The Fat Controller chuckled, "Thomas, take Blake to your branch line, and help her get ready for her first train. Start off slowly – and we'll soon have Blake become really useful once again!"

Thomas and Blake both beamed brightly, and Blake managed to laugh a bit from her happiness, and Thomas whistled loudly and cheerfully!

-

Meanwhile, Gordon was searching all around for Anastasia. He searched all along the Main Line, and he couldn't find any trace of the fragile, Russian engine.

"Oh Anastasia...I am so sorry..." Gordon sighed sadly, "Where are you..."

Soon, Gordon pulled up to the Vicarstown station. He had searched all around Sodor, and was now at the last station. And there was still no sign of the engine he was searching for...Gordon was beginning to lose hope...

Just then, Gordon heard a familiar whistle! His eyes flashed open in shock and looked around, recognising the very whistle belonging to the engine he was searching for! He looked to his right, and saw a large navy engine with eight large wheels pull into the station with the Express.

Gordon could hardly contain his excitement, "Anastasia!"

The engine gasped and looked to her left and also shrieked happily, "Gordon!"

"Oh Ana! I thought you ran off...because of me..."

"Oh Gordon...I couldn't find any trace of you..." Anastasia sighed sadly, "I'm...I'm sorry for yelling at you like I did..."

"No Ana..." Gordon sighed sadly, looking at the beautiful, Russian engine, "I should be the one apologising...I was being so cruel when I shouldn't have been, and I insulted you, I'm very sorry...I hope you can forgive me..."

Anastasia smiled sweetly at Gordon's heartfelt apology, "Konechno Gordon, I forgive you."

Gordon smiled at the sight of Anastasia's smile. He remembered Matthias telling him to confess his emotions to Anastasia, but he wasn't so sure still, something was stopping him.

"Say...Gordon?" Anastasia asked, "Would you like to share the evening Express with me?"

"W-What!?" Gordon gasped, confused, but taken aback by Anastasia's question.

Anastasia just smiled, "I pulled the whole Express by myself all the way here. It's not fair if I hog it to myself. And besides...we can spend a bit of time together, right?"

Gordon blushed embarrassingly, but smiled genuinely, "I'd love to."

-

Soon, Thomas and Blake were working hard on Thomas' branch line. Blake was shunting trucks perfectly. Thomas was very impressed. He went to the coaches shed and gently hauled Annie and Clarabel out.

"Okay, Annie and Clarabel, I need your help." Thomas asked.

"Of course Thomas." Annie chirped.

"What do you need?" Clarabel wondered.

"Could you be used by Blake to help her practice shunting coaches?" Thomas asked, "And maybe tomorrow...could she pull you instead of me?"

"Of course Thomas!" Annie chimed.

"Blake is more than welcome, any time!" Clarabel giggled.

Blake gulped slightly as she slowly reversed into the coaches. Her boiler shuddered, and her wheels wobbled, but she was going to try.

"S-Slowly...s-slowly...g-g-gently...gently..." Blake muttered to herself, as she reversed into Annie. She felt her back buffers make contact with Annie, and gasped in surprise, "D-Did I do it?"

"Yes Blake!" Thomas cheered, "You did!"

"So soft and delicate!" Annie complimented.

"Indeed Annie! Very soft indeed!" Clarabel agreed.

"Almost better than Thomas." Annie and Clarabel agreed in unison before chuckling – also causing Thomas to giggle cheekily.

"Hooray for Blake!" Thomas whistled excitedly, "Hooray!"

Blake blushed bashfully and giggled at Thomas' excitement.

"So then Thomas?" Annie started to ask, cheekily.

"When is the date?" Clarabel finished, the two coaches laughing cheekily.

Thomas and Blake blushed even more – redder than James' paintwork. Although they both denied such emotions, Annie and Clarabel could both see that there was something much more and precious between them.

Now, it would just take time to see whether or not those feelings get revealed.