Alright, big tying together scene from the previous chapter, now to see how brothers catch up over time. Enjoy!

James sat in awe as his family, his past sat in the flesh or metal as it were, in front of his very eyes. Then, remembering his mate and the "surprise" he turned to Henry. "How did you manage this?"

"A big yellow birdy gave me a clue and I took it and ran of course." The big engine smirked triumphantly while looking over at Murdock who was none to amused with being compared to a bird.

"On that note, Edward and I will be taking them over to the steam works." Murdock glanced back at Decker, Leonidas and Xerxes. The latter giving nervous looks to being separated again. "Don't worry about it guys we will be there soon." James gave a reassuring glance before they set off leaving him, Henry, Eagle and Wolf at the station.

"They will be alright won't they?" Wolf gave a glance around to the two North Western Engines. "Of course, if little man here says they will be than they will." Eagle said with a proud smile, casting a glance at his younger brother.

"After all these years you still call me little man, does that make you the old man then?" James said with a smirk. "Alright I'm getting tired of all these weird references!" Burl called from his cab. "Ah forgot to introduce the imps, my driver Jim, and fireman Burl." Jim just gave a polite wave while Burl made a gun sign with his hand and pretended to shoot himself in the head earning a laugh from the two Ashton engines.

"Burl what the hell did you do back there?" James huffed at the man. "first I didn't do anything, second why is it always me? Why couldn't it have been Jim?" "Oh no you don't leave me out of this…." "Traitor…" The two men argued in his cab.

Eagle then glanced over at the larger green engine with James. "Whose this then James?" he wondered, although he knew answer. Henry glanced over to James, a bit nervous as to the reaction they might receive. "This is Henry, my mate." James said nervously, after a short pause.

Wolf looked to his leader, truthfully what other did with their personal lives was none of his business, when he had first heard words of this nature all of those years ago he had been supportive but overshadowed by Daemons then unknown motives. Now, that he was free of it he gave his brother a smile and a nod to which James responded with a simple acknowledging smile of his own.

"You know, you always had a thing for black fives, of in this case a green five." Eagle laughed after a few seconds of tense silence. To this Henry raised a curious eyebrow, and James, a furious blush to his cheeks, and a roar of laughter from his cab.

"You just had to bring that up didn't you?" James sat fuming. "Of course, you were always little man for a reason." "Alright old man, can you still turn a wheel? Or have your wings been clipped? James sneered as his firebox roared. "Alright, let's fly."

Soon the two engines were lined up and speeding down the line to the steam works, Henry and Wolf following behind. To Henry, the sight was beautiful, his love was racing, laughing, joking, like he had never seen him before. The green engine was feeling rather proud of himself for getting this together.

To James it was as if they had went back in time to that first race along the old line when he was newly made. Wheels churning, firebox roaring, himself laughing… Wait…laughing? He had to admit that he was at peace with himself in the small period of bliss. He had to do something for Henry although he didn't know exactly what.

Approaching the steam works they spotted the others inside with a familiar black top hat in the midst. "Welcome to the North Western" he boomed proudly at the new engines who looked at him with a mixture of confusion and happiness. "While you are here you will be restored to your original working order and repainted so be thinking about what color you would like. After that you will be assigned jobs and crew. I hope you will find the NWR to be a pleasant place to live and work, good evening to you all." With that the fat controller left.

James who had stopped just short of the works had a thought come to mind, and slid, much like he did on his first day decades ago into the midst of the engines. "Well I see the years haven't knocked any sense into you." Decker hissed after James came to a screeching stop. "Haha, good show old boy!" Burl yelled from his cab. "I see you've rubbed off on your crew." Leonidas said eyeballing the men.

"Hey now, it's the other way round here." Jim butted in as the other engines laughed at their antics. "Yes you've got a pair of good ones, unfortunately we were not as lucky after you left." Xerxes said with a downcast face. James looked at his family with a heavy heart, what had they suffered that he was spared from? "What happened to you guys?" he asked after summoning up a bit of courage.

Silence fell then Wolf cleared his throat to begin. "It was pretty hard after you left, then one day I was bought by the LNER as a shunting engine, I was picked on a lot for being what they called a "backwoods" engine. One day I was asked to take a train that was much too heavy, I initially refused but with the threat of the scrapper's torch I decided to try. About halfway through the strain was too much and I burst my safety valve. When the owner finally came with another engine I was called every name in the book, stupid hick engine, useless scrap iron, etc and was left in one of the back sheds. Later we were all gathered together for restoration but the company ran out of funds."

When he was finished Decker started with his own tale. "I was the only one left on the old Ashton and for some reason he thought I could take the work of what was seven engines, I toiled up and down those hills and valleys, a new part getting worn and eventually broken each year. His excuse was he just didn't have the money for upkeep. Finally he came to me one day and asked me if I wanted to see Daemon, and that he was for closing the railway and I was headed for scrap. The next day was the day he was murdered, got his just rewards I suppose, I sat in our old shed for years after counting the wormholes in the board. "

Leonidas and Xerxes began their story after." We were sold to the London city port as shunting engines, It was alright for a while until the diesels started to show up. The salt water and air didn't seem to get to them as it did us and we began to rust, by that time most steam engine shops were closed and there were no replacement parts so we were put up for sale and left to rust in a shed near the sea."

Finally Eagle rolled forward and with downcast eyes began his tale. "I was sold with Daemon to the Barry scrapyard. We were parked together for the longest time, he told me what he had done for you and that he had no regrets but for you to know the truth." He said looking up to James. "I do, and I am forever grateful to him." Eagle closed his eyes as his mind brought back the awful memory. "Then that faithful day arrived. He knew his time was up, and he was hauled into the scrapper's bay. I..I… I couldn't do anything, I felt so helpless." Eagle closed his eyes, tears welling on each side. James and the other engines mirrored the expression. Henry, who had been sitting next to James had lost his battle with his emotions and was bawling like a baby. Ted just patted his side in response, Derek, Burl and Jim sat transfixed with the stories.

"There was nothing you could do." James said softly trying to console his brother. "I couldn't help him and I couldn't help you, I watched the turmoil well up inside of him after what he had done to you, then for years after I was too blinded to see that what you are has nothing to do with the engine you are and have become, I'm so sorry, for him and for you."

"Everywhere I turn, I hurt someone
But there's nothing I can say to change the things I've done
Of all the things I hid from you, I cannot hide the shame
And I pray someone, something will come to take away the pain

There's no way out of this dark place
No hope, no future
I know I can't be free and I can't see another way
I can't face another day

Tell me where, did I go wrong
Everyone I loved, they're all gone
I'd do everything so differently but I can't turn back the time
There's no shelter from the storm inside of me

There's no way out of this dark place
No hope, no future
I know I can't be free and I can't see another way
I can't face another day

"I forgive you Eagle, and I'm sure Daemon does too." James spoke as Eagle looked around at the engines gathered around him, all wore supportive smiles, even those he had just recently met.

I can't believe the words I hear
It's like an answer to a prayer
When I look around I see
This place, this time, this friend of mine

I know it's hard but you found somehow
To look into your heart and to forgive me now
You've given me the strength to see just where my journey ends
You've given me the strength to carry on

I see the path from this dark place, I see my future
Your forgiveness has set me free
Oh and I can see another way
I can face another day!"

I see the path, I can see the path
I see the future
I see the path from this dark place
I see the future

I see the path from this dark place
I see the future
I can see the
I can see the"

By this time other engines had been attracted to the Steam Works to meet the new arrivals. Gordon, who was having a nice chat between Leonidas and Xerxes, Thomas and Percy who looked up to Decker with wonder, the older tank engine taking great pride in telling his exaggerated tales. In the corner Wolf was flirting with Emily, and the two brothers Eagle and James were sharing stories with Edward.

"My James you certainly have a group of friends, I don't believe I've ever seen a gathering of this many different types?" Eagle laughed at the unusual gathering. "Hey guys, this reminds me of a song from back on the old Ashton branch." Decker roared across the works. "The family song?" Xerxes questioned, a smile rising on his face. "That's the one, say James do you remember it?"

"Yes, oh great one, lead it off." Burl sniggered as a James blushed, he'd never sang in front of this many engines and people before. "Come on little man, let's do it, loud enough to where Daemon can hear! Filled with courage and a dash of vanity he began.

James: Everyone's invited this is how we live
X and Leo: We're all here for each other, James: happy to give
All: All we have we share and all of us we care
Decker: So Come On

Ashton Group: Welcome to our family time
Welcome to our brotherly time
We're happy givin' and takin'
To the friends we're makin'
There's nothin' we won't do
Welcome to are family time
Welcome to our happy to be time
This is our festival you know
And best of all we're here to share it all

Eagle: There's a bond between us nobody can explain
X and Leo: It's a celebration of life and seein' friends again
James: I'd be there for you
Together: I know you'd be there for me too
So Come On

Welcome to are family time
Welcome to our brotherly time
This is our festival you know
And best of all we're here to share it all

Eagle: Remembering love ones departed
Together: Someone near to your heart
Finding love, planning a future
Together: Telling stories and laughing with friends
Precious moments you'll never forget

Eagle: This has to be the most beautiful
The most peaceful place I've ever been to
It's nothing like I've seen before
When I think how far I've come I can't believe it
Yet I see it
Together: And then I see family
I see the way we used to be
Come On

All Join in Sodor and Ashton Engines:

Welcome to are family time
Welcome to our brotherly time
We're happy givin' and takin'
To the friends we're makin'
There's nothin' we won't do

Welcome to are family time
Welcome to our happy to be time
This is our festival you know
And best of all we're here to share it
We're here to share it all

A chorus of cheers and laughter arose from the group as the finished. "I'll be damned, now I know where James gets the voice from." Jim laughed. Meanwhile Edward and Murdock were sulking to what was to be the death of peace and quiet on the railway as they knew it.

"Yes sir, he learned from the best, it's one of the best ways to get the ladies…er I mean…" Eagle spluttered as he looked at James. "Well I must say, it certainly got me but I am no lady!" Henry spat jokingly to the other engine. Soon after Victor ran most of the other engines out of the works for the night. Decker was looking forward to working with the younger tank engines, fancying himself a role model. The twin tank engines agreed to work as station pilots until more permanent arrangements could be made. Wolf and Eagle had eagerly accepted the invitation to help run a new line opening with James. Eagle however was about to receive an even bigger surprise.

"Hey, imps, where did John and Sean go?" James called to his crew. "Dunno, the fat controller came to grab them before the impromptu Disney musical started up." Burl teased, suddenly the trio in question came into the sheds. "Ah Eagle I have your new crew assignment." The engine in question jaw dropped as James burst out in a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

"Is this why you forgave me earlier? You had payback planned?" "Nope had no clue." "Alright you two, just no make out sessions in my cab." "Us? Never….."

After the introductions the engines were left to sleep. James, stopping in front of Henry like always. "I hope you know I love you more now than ever, this has been the best present I have ever received." He gave the large engine a passionate kiss, before pulling a part and James nuzzling his head against Henry's for the night. For James tonight there were no nightmares, instead he met Daemon on an open plane. "They are your responsibility now, watch over them. I'll see you on the other side." He asked of James. "Always my brother, see you on the other side." Sleep resumed peacefully that night.

Eagle, watched the exchange from a far, with a low sigh he smiled, his family was together truly together, and he would not let anything get in the way this time. With that he smiled and started to fall asleep when he heard a whistle, one he recognized, he looked around to see if anyone else had heard it. To his dismay none had. The whistle, in the wind sounded again, and suddenly a huge gust of wind blew in the works. The words "Well done my brother." Floated in the air making Eagle shiver a bit then recognizing the voice he responded softly." Thank you my brother." Feeling at ease he drifted into sleep.

Lot's of feels, fluff and back story, hope you enjoyed!