It had taken just over half the day, but finally... FINALLY, the Daylight Express, as weakened, injured, and late as it was, made its way to the New York Station near the harbor.
We had made it.
Three thousand or more miles, five days, and many adventures, and I had finally made it across the United States of America.
Once Audrey brought the train to a stop, all of the passengers got off, and quite a few of them went back to thank Audrey, or admire her design. The utter look of joy on her face made my heart melt. She was finally getting the attention she so strongly desired.
I hopped out, and looked around. A mile or two away, I could see the ocean, and several freight barges sitting in the dock. I turned to Audrey.
"I'm going to find Frieda. If you can, maybe you could push Erika over in about half an hour or so. I know you'd both like to meet her." I said. Audrey smiled as a child climbed onto her front buffer beam.
"Okay Anon. I hope she's waiting there for you." she said. I nodded, and then walked off towards the docks, hoping that my adventure wasn't all for nothing. I ran to the docks on foot, my legs powered by seemingly unlimited energy. I weaved my way around buildings, parked vehicles, other people, and freight containers.
Once I had finally made it to the docks, I stopped at the entrance, out of breath. Several sets of tracks were strewn about, and several large American diesels were going about their jobs. I carefully made my way around, looking for my loved one. I didn't want to reach out to her with my mind. I wanted to surprise her in person.
After a good while, I remembered something.
Frieda liked to look at the ocean. When she first arrived on Sodor, and was homesick, she looked out at the ocean towards her home.
I quickly made my way towards the edge of the dock, and when I got there, I looked around. My eyes widened as I saw a large blue tender poking out from the other side of a shipping container. Without a second of hesitation, I quickly ran over to it.
A smile of joy appeared on my face as I recognized the large number "409" on the tender. The engine the whole adventure had been about... was here.
I quietly walked along side her, her blue paint and gleaming red wheels shining bright in the evening sunlight. I stopped next to her as I heard her speak.
"Please come und find me, Anon. I so badly vant to tell you how much I love you. I cannot vait much longer." she said quietly, gazing out onto the water. I walked up to her, and smiled.
"Who said you had to wait any longer?" I asked, looking up at her. Frieda's eyes turned towards me, and immediately widened to the size of dinner plates.
"A-A... Y-You... w-when..." she gave up talking, and settled for bursting into tears instead. I climbed onto her bumper, and embraced her as tears poured down her face. I nuzzled her cheek, and rubbed her side.
"I've missed you, my love." I whispered. Frieda's sobs slowly began to quiet as I comforted her, kissing her cheek, embracing her, and whispering sweet nothings to her. She whimpered quietly, the strong engine I once knew now fragile, defeated, and agonizingly lonely. She looked at me with tear filled eyes for minutes, before I leaned forward, and kissed her directly, a near week of separation coming to an end with the contact of my lips meeting hers.
As we kissed, I could feel her trembling, and I wished I could hold her. I finally broke the kiss, and wrapped my arms around her front as much as I could as she started to cry again.
"I... I... I haf missed you so much!" she quietly sobbed. I sat on her bumper, and leaned back against her.
"I've missed you more than I thought it possible to miss someone. You should have seen me, freaking out at the docks when the ship started leaving." I said. Frieda didn't laugh.
"I nefer thought I vould see you again. I thought... I thought I vould be alone again. Alone, vithout you, and novhere to go. I vas scared, und... und... I'm sorry fohr vat I said! You are not a useless man, und I vas vrong to say zat you vere! Please forgive me!" Frieda said, choking out another sob. I gently patted her side.
"I do, Frieda. I know you didn't mean it. Our nerves were just a little fried that day. It's not your fault. I will never leave your side again for as long as I live. This week has been the worst week of my life. I was so worried about you. Worried I'd never see you again. Worried that I would be without my engine, without the one who makes me feel at peace." I said. Frieda took a deep breath as she tried to pull herself together.
"I love you! I love you! I love you! I said eet! I cannot live vithout you, und I can't be happy eef you're not by my side. You are ze only thing zat matters to me, und eef I lose you... I might as vell be scrapped. You are ze one who cares about me, und loves me efen vith all of my quirks. You mean eet ven you say I'm beautiful, und you do not mind ven I get grumpy. Zis veek, all I haf been is grumpy und upset. I... I could not stop vondering eef you vould come fohr me... or eef you vould find another to love. I... I'm not vorth your love. How could I be eef I couldn't efen show how much you mean to me?!" she sobbed.
Her words stung like needles in my heart.
She didn't think she was worth my time, or love.
I instantly proved her wrong. I kissed her again, holding her into the kiss, and didn't let her go until she stopped crying.
I finally released her, and looked at her with a serious expression.
"Frieda, I don't care if you couldn't tell me how much you loved me. I know you love me, and that's all that matters to me. You don't have to express how much, and I'm sorry for asking you to. Some just don't show their emotions as well as others. But I know deep down inside, you love me, and I love you, with all my heart." I said, hugging her again. Frieda smiled at my embrace, and just focused on my touch.
"Vell, still. I haf vanted to tell you fohr so long how much you really mean to me... but I vas alvays nervous. I haf never been loved before... und it vas hard for me to describe how I feel. But I can speak it now." she said. I stood back, waiting for her to continue. She took a deep breath, before looking down at me with a kind, loving smile.
"Anon, ven I see you, zer eez nothing zat can ruin my day. Ven you are vith me, I am ze happiest engine een ze vorld, und ven you talk to me... I hear nothing else. Your voice puts me at ease, und could calm me efen eef I vas... vas... back in Germany! I could be back een Germany, vith Dennis, as my life vas, but as long as you vere vith me, I vould be happy. Ven you kiss me, all of my problems disappear, und ven you hug me... I feel varm. Varm like my firebox vill explode." she paused, then looked at me with a loving gaze.
"Und ven you say "I love you"... I am on cloud nine. Nothing else matters. Ven you say ze three vords... I am at peace, und eet feels as eef nothing can harm me. Und I can finally say eet back..." she said, taking a breath.
"I love you too. More zen anything." she finished.
My jaw hung open.
I knew Frieda loved me, but... what she had just said... was difficult to comprehend!
I really meant that much to her?
"F-Frieda... I... I don't know what to say..." I said quietly, leaning my cheek against hers.
"Just say eet. Von more time..." she whispered. I looked at her, leaning my forehead to hers.
"I love you, my beautiful blue German." I whispered. Frieda closed her eyes, and smiled. A rosy blush appeared on her face, and she looked more content than I'd ever seen her be. She was truly at peace at this moment.
"I love you Anon. Forever und ever." she whispered back.
The two of us shared each others presence in silence for at least ten minutes, before somebody started bawling. And it wasn't me, or Frieda.
"Awww! That's so... so... romantic and sweet!" a familiar voice said. Frieda and I looked over to find Erika and Audrey sitting a fair distance away. I blushed.
"Ah. You two. H-How long have the two of you been there?" I asked. Audrey was trying not to laugh.
"Oh, I don't know... about ten minutes?" she said, smiling grandly. I scratched the back of my neck.
"I see. Well. Introductions are in order I suppose." I said, getting back onto the ground. Frieda was eyeing Erika and Audrey with a stern expression, though it was mostly going to Erika.
"Frieda, this is Audrey, and Erika. Erika is the one who got me here, and Audrey was a massive help. Audrey is also the one who is going to get us Sodor back." I said. Frieda looked at the two new female engines.
"I see. Und... Erika. Vat kind of engine are you?" she asked tensely. Erika seemed to sense Frieda's lenience against her.
"Umm... I'm nothing special... j-just a Daylight." she said quietly, growing nervous at Frieda's gaze. I put a hand to Frieda.
"I know you're wondering... no, I'm not involved with either of them. I told you Frieda, I'm yours, and only yours. They're just my friends, and they want to be yours." I said. Frieda's gaze softened towards the two new engines.
"I see. Vell zen, hallo to you both." she said.
"I've got a plan to get us Sodor back, Frieda. I'm going to set up a little wager between Dennis and I. A competition of strength, between Audrey here, and his strongest diesel. Whoever wins stays on Sodor, the loser leaves, and never goes back." I said. Frieda's eyes widened.
"Vat?! Are you crazy?! If we lose, ve vill nefer be able to see our home again!" she said. I smiled, and walked over to Audrey.
"Don't worry, we won't lose. Audrey can out-pull any single engine on the planet. She's coming back with us, and if we win, Sodor will be her new home. She's isn't owned by anyone here. If we get Sodor back, I'm going to regain my position as Controller, and along with Audrey, there's an engine is Missouri that I'll also be buying and restoring. Erika's sister, Ella. And if her controller lets me, I'll buy Erika too. We need two Express engines to go from the far side of Sodor to the mainland." I said.
Frieda huffed.
"Vhy did you haf to pick ze most beautiful engines you could?" she grumbled. I smiled, and gave her a knowing look.
"Relax, will you? They're my friends. You know I love you Frieda. Appearances don't matter to me, what matters to me is who you are. I've fallen in love with you Frieda, not your body. Although, having a nice body like yours doesn't hurt. Nice flowing blue wheel arches... bright red wheels... sharp speed panels..." I trailed off as Frieda began to blush.
"Alright, alright. I get eet. Ven vill be going back to Sodor zen?" she asked. I checked my watch.
"Whenever there's a ship bound for the mainland. Shouldn't be to long. While we wait, I have the number of the San Francisco station. I'm going to call it, and see if I can buy Erika. Cross your wheels, everyone." I said, walking into the nearest public building.
. . .
After a lengthy phone call, I walked back to the three waiting engines with a smile on my face. The three girls became quiet as I approached. Erika looked hopeful, and Audrey and Frieda smiled gently, waiting for the news.
"Well, Erika... there's a problem..." I started. Erika's smile instantly vanished, replaced with a sad frown.
"I can't buy you currently because... you've been given to me! He said I can purchase you when I gain the Controller position, but you can come with me now!" I finished. Once Erika had figured out what I said, she squealed in delight.
"I'm going to see my sister again! After more than sixty years!" she said, bouncing up and down. Frieda and Audrey just smiled at her.
"Well, that's that then. All three of us are going back to Sodor." Audrey said. I smiled.
"Yeah... gosh it feels like forever since I've been there, even though it hasn't even been two weeks. It will be by the time we get back though. Frieda, do you still have the sleeper coach you brought with on the ship?" I asked. Frieda nodded.
"Ja, eet eez in ze shed I haf been staying een. Are ve taking eet vith?" she asked. I nodded.
"Of course. I need a change of clothes, for sure. Besides, we're going to need all of your passenger coaches when you start running your Express line again." I said. Frieda smiled at the thought of getting her job back.
The dock manager came over.
"We've got two ships bound for the British mainland leaving in a few hours. Between the two ships, we'll have enough room for all three engines. Frieda and the coach can go on one, and these two..." he said, motioning to Erika and Audrey. "Will go on the other ship. They're big engines, but I think there's enough track on the freighter for them." he said.
We were all overjoyed. Soon, everyone would be heading back to Sodor!
The three engines all chuffed over to the port where the two ships were waiting.
The American crane slowly and carefully loaded the three engines as I boarded the smaller of the two ships. By the time I had gotten to the freight deck, Frieda had already been loaded, and was waiting for me.
"So... won't be long now, huh? Three or four days, and we'll give Dennis the what for!" I said. Frieda looked worried.
"Vat eef ve lose Anon?" she asked quietly. I sighed.
"I already told you..."
"I know vat you said! But... vat eef you are vrong?" Frieda asked, looking at me with concern. I smiled, and patted Frieda's bumper.
"Then we'll face it together. I already told you, I'll go where you go, no matter where that is. I won't leave you again. If we're banished from Sodor, as it were, then we can start anew somewhere else together. Maybe even come back here, to America. There's a lot of open lines for fast engines like you." I said.
"Maybe so, but I vould still prefer Sodor." Frieda said. I nodded.
"Me too. Me too." I said, watching as Erika and Audrey were loaded onto the other ship.
After another couple of hours, all the engines had been tied down and secured, as well as the sleeper coach. It was quite dark, about ten at night by now. The dock lights illuminated the ship, and Frieda had fallen asleep some time ago. Now that she had me by her side again, she could sleep peacefully.
But I was to worried to sleep.
Frieda had a point. What if I was wrong? What if Audrey couldn't pull as much as she once could? She's an old engine, after all.
"Bah!" I said, shaking my head. I couldn't let myself start thinking negatively. Audrey was one of the strongest engines ever built, and I knew it. All I had to do now was have faith in her.
As the ships foghorn blew, and the two ships slowly left the docks, one after the other, I looked up at the stars. They were a reminder to me that no matter what happened, or where you went, Frieda and I would still be together, in the same world.
. . .
After a while, I had decided to sit next to Frieda, and lean against her. After the separation, just being next to her made me feel at ease.
I listened to her gentle breathing, and her occasional snore. I looked up at her, her expression fairly blank. I took note of her facial features.
A nice, strong jawline, beautiful eyelashes, a nice tender set of lips, and a perfect nose. She was a beautiful engine, that was certain. I let my eyes wander over her bodywork, taking in the speed designed curves and corners. Smooth, flowing wheel flares, a smooth pointed front, with an aero plate on either side of her face to move air around her boiler. Her six massive drivers, and her large tender.
Her whole design screamed speed and stamina. Many engines had been designed like this, with similar bodywork and wheels, but in my opinion, few pulled it off as well as Frieda did. She was a one of a kind engine. A prototype. The only DB Class 10 on Earth. It was why I noticed her at the Great Railway Show. Her bright colors, and beautiful styling had caught my eye out of all the engines there. Although, the first time I saw her face, I felt a little afraid.
To the untrained eye, Frieda could look a little intimidating. Her fierce, fiery gaze, and determined jaw line made her look quite strong and forward. But as I watched her, I picked up on the small things. It wasn't until after she had gotten fourth out of the five engines in the strength competition that I saw a subtle hint of her true self.
She had passed by me as I was walking along the track yard, and I saw her same expression, tough, and unbeatable. But it looked strained, as if she was trying to look as if nothing was wrong. But I knew better than that. Nobody can bottle up their emotions forever. That's why I took a liking to her. Beauty aside, I knew just from her expression that she wasn't what she seemed. A mystery in the form of an engine.
When she first arrived on Sodor, I thought maybe some of the problem was that she was so intimidating that most avoided her. So when I went to greet her first, her surprise that anyone was paying her any mind was genuine.
Because I had the gall to approach her when I didn't have to.
As I continued to gaze upon her, I smiled. She had changed so much since meeting me. She would speak her mind, at least to me. She was friendly towards others, even to the point that children approached her with curiosity in their eyes. She never said it, but I knew she loved being admired by the children. I had seen her eyes light up when they looked at her, or her smile when they talked to her. She was just like any other engine. She just needed someone to love her, and someone to love. And for her, that was me.
She had improved my life so much as well. Now, instead of my life just being work, and then going home to an empty house, I had someone to share my day with, and someone to work with. I didn't realize how lonely I had been until I found myself without Frieda back in San Francisco. The thought of not seeing her ever again wasn't just depressing... it was terrifying. No one wants to lose the one they love.
I leaned back against her, and sighed. All was right now, for the most part. I had found her again, and we both were happy. Now all that needed to be done was get Sodor back to the way it was, and everything would be perfect.
I noticed a light in the sky, and looked up to see a shooting star blazing across the night sky. I closed my eyes, and made a wish.
"I wish... everything will go back to the way it should be, and everyone will be happy again."