Chapter 25 – XO

'Nobody sees what we see.

They're just hopelessly gazing…'

It was the month of December and around this time; people would be getting ready for Christmas as the holiday season went into full swing. Lights would be strung every which way, children accompanied their parents to stores as malls to meet Santa and laughing happily as they helped picked out the perfect tree for their home. It was the time for family and love… and presents. Except here, no on the Island of Kollsvik had nothing like that. The only things that even hinted at the changes in season were the bitter cold and the heavy snow. There weren't any Christmas lights, caroling, festive trees, and there certainly wasn't a Santa Claus or happy children laughing. However, there was love and even a rough version of what one would consider a family with the big, American GS-4 at the center of it all. Slowly but surely Adolf began to open up to her and allowed himself to express his emotions freely. Everyday there was a bit of progress. A small smile there, maybe even a light chuckle. Like a rose he blossomed into an almost completely different engine entirely and Erika couldn't be happier for him. Though, he still remained the same, grumpy engine to others, but when they were alone it was a different story. So she didn't mind it when he glared at her when she whistled him a hello once she arrived to assist with the evening train, because behind it was a loving smile. The grunts, huffs, and eye rolls were things she had come to overlook and the bright light that emitted from his silver irises had become more of a welcome mat more than anything else. And that was reason enough to be happy, she didn't need anything else.

Erika glanced up at the calendar Todd had so kindly hung up for her to help her keep track of the days. The 18th had been circled in bold, red ink. She smiled brightly at it for today was that day, and it was a special day indeed. A rush of cold air forced her attentions elsewhere as the door to her berth was opened. There her crew walked in carrying some small boxes with her fireman struggling more than anything as he dumped his box next to others, grumbling and muttering angrily to himself as he did. Her driver followed suit long after, sighing heavily and removing his hate briefly to wipe his forehead. Despite her crew's obvious distress, the smile remained spread across their engine's lips.

"I can't thank you guys enough for this." She said.

Anthony huffed angrily and Todd gave her a small smile, "Of course, anything for Mrs. Adolf." He responded half jokingly.

Erika chuckled a little, rolling her blue eyes. "I don't see why this place doesn't have engine makeup."

"If it's not needed, the old hag's not paying for it. It's as simple as that. I can't believe I spent so much money on makeup that I'm not even gonna use…" He muttered the last part under his breath as he began to open a box of lipsticks. Looking them over, he took notice of the variety of reds and pinks. There were even some browns. He frowned at the makeup, he had no idea where to start or what would even look good on her.

"A luscious red for my lips and a smoky grey shadow for my eyes please, guys." Erika informed them. "I need to look perfect for my baby's special day. He deserves it."

The two men looked at each other before they began to shift through their boxes for the shades their engine requested. Once they found what they thought were the proper shades, they began to work on dolling up their engine with Anthony on lips and Todd on eyeshadow. It soon became clear who the better of the two were as the heavyset man became frustrated with his work. He wasn't getting paid to be a makeup artist. He quickly and roughly dropped his tube of lipstick, and huffed childishly, leaving Erika's upper lip half red.

"This is stupid and a waste of time." He said, "We're not even getting paid for this!"

Todd rolled his eyes as he was taken out of whatever groove he had been in. He was just starting to get the gradient effect on the shadow right too… "Just shut up and do it, Fatty." He retorted. "Painting's rather relaxing actually. I found it very comforting after I got back from the war."

"We're not getting paid to paint! That old hag finds out and it'll be our asses, Todd. To add to that, we're not getting paid to take this fat bitch to that Nazi boyfriend of hers." He jabbed a finger dangerously close to his engine's face as he went on, "They're machines built to work, not go to each other's sheds and smash their faceplates together and fall in lo - -"

He didn't get to finish and it was probably best he didn't say more as Erika took a rather large chomp out of her fireman's forearm. The man yelped in surprise and fear as he struggled to free himself from her monstrous grip. Like crocodile gripping an unsuspecting gazelle, she held on without much effort and increased the bite as she opened her blue eyes a little. Her brow ceasing into a frown and her glare just as venomous as her love's, she kept her voice just above a whisper as she spoke. Not bothering to release the man as she did. It seemed some of the BR59's characteristics had rubbed off on her.

"You listen here, you fat bastard." She growled angrily, "You do not insult him. I don't care what you're paid to do and not to do, but you will not speak of him in that way again or I will take your arm off. Are we clear?!"

The man gulped. It was more than a little frightening to be stared down by something several times your size. Even more so when that something had your arm in its mouth. He gave a meek noise of agreement and quietly went back to his lip painting once his arm was free. Todd laughed quietly to himself. He was beginning to enjoy being Erika's driver more and more.

The GS-4 smiled softly as she admired herself in the small mirror her driver held for her. They weren't Sam and Andrew, and it had taken them a little longer than it should have, but they had done well regardless and she couldn't complain. However she did complain when had started to rain as she made her way towards Adolf's shed. It wasn't a heavy downpour thankfully, but she was certain her makeup would run and she'd show up looking like crap. She picked up a bit of speed, she couldn't let that happen! It was his special day and everything needed to be perfect. Suddenly, her thoughts went elsewhere when she spotted something with a light ahead of her.

Adolf?

Not likely. Adolf was big, very, very big and if he were out, he'd be heading in the same direction she was going at this hour. It was far too late for any other engine besides him to be out either. Plus that object was going in a direction that had no track. When she realized who it was, a broad grin came across her face.

Jimmy.

Oh that scumbag of a car! Erika hated him with a deep seated passion. He had recently taken a liking to her and took great pleasure in playing the insult game with her. Erika had a temper and a low tolerance which made her the ideal target. She watched with an even broader grin as Charlotte's car became stuck on the tracks. She had gotten even with Anthony and now it was Jimmy's turn; could this night get any better? Seeing red, she quickly began to pick up speed. Her whistle wailed and her bell echoed throughout the area as she made her presence known. Jimmy looked over at the swiftly approaching engine. He could see the psychotic grin on her features as she was quickly closing the gap between them. He screamed in horror. His wheels turning hard against the gravely pavement but he wound up empty handed, his life flashed before his eyes.

The sound of the car's high pitched wail of fear forced a laugh out of her. The sound was even more psychotic than the look on her face. Her crew tried to slow her, but she wasn't having any of it. She was going to take out thorn in her side and she was going to do it without any real effort on her part. She could see the fear in his eyes as she grew closer. This was it! This was the big moment in which locomotive would win over automobile!

Wait - - No!

Merely feet from him, his wheels finally gripped and he rocketed off the tracks in a spray of mist and a squeal of tires against pavement, shooting off into the night. Erika could hear him shouting as he sped away.

"Crazy bitch!"

Damn, she thought as she flew pass the crossing and pouting a little but she soon shrugged it off. Even though she missed, she was sure Jimmy wouldn't be bothering her for a good long while and that was good enough for now.

She soon saw the right side of the shed followed by the five other empty berths. It was quiet and, other than the light illuminating from her headlamp, dark. Although she didn't need the lamp to find him, Adolf was always in the same spot at the furthest berth to the left. Since he was the only engine who used the sheds, the turntable was always facing his track allowing her to access him easier. After her lamp was shut off she approached his berth. She peered into the darkness, she didn't see him but she knew he was in there somewhere.

She called to him softly, "Need some company, Addie?"

A sigh came out of the dark berth. A hiss steam seeped out of the darkness. Erika watched in pleasure and wonder as her king revealed himself. Even though she had seen him more times than she could count, his entrances were always very regal. His annoyed expression melted away once he realized who dared to bother him at this hour and pressed his forehead against hers, nuzzling her lightly, enjoying her warmth. "Nein, I never do... But I cannot refuse it from you."

Smiling, the black Daylight returned the gesture, "If you did I would just bother you until you said yes. I'm not use to this cold weather; I'm a California girl... Where it's always sunny and warm... mostly."

He only responded with a quiet "Mmm…" In all honesty she was right; there was no point in arguing with her because in the end she'd win anyway. A lesson he learned quickly. It wasn't like he didn't want her company. It wasn't until he backed off a bit that he noticed that she looked different. He flickered his eye lights on and studied her, frowning in concerned puzzlement. Had she gotten into a fight or ran into something before she'd arrived? "Vhat ist zhat on your face?"

Erika chuckled lightly; his naïveté was just too much sometimes. She gave him a loving peck on his lips as if answering his question, giggling as the kiss had left some red lipstick on his lips. His eyes narrowed slightly, but she opted to not tell him. Not now any way. "Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Addie." She kissed him once more.

Adolf's frown deepened. Was it his birthday already? To be honest, he hasn't paid much attention to it since he'd left his first home. Being reminded of such things stagnated his joy somewhat, but he didn't show it. "How did you…"

"A little fairy told me… two actually. One's really fat and has a mouth on him though." She grinned a little as she heard Todd chuckling inside her cab. She then took on a coyer disposition. "Do you… do you like your gift?"

He was quiet for a few long seconds before he planted a soft kiss on her lips. "Does zhat answer your question?"

Erika stared at Adolf, not sure what to say or do. He was being playful; that was new and it made her happier than she probably should have been. She was so happy she felt as if her boiler was about to burst. "Oh Adolf…" she tried to finish her sentence in German but she was too happy to remember the words so she went with English. "I love you!"

"Ich liebe dich auch, Erika." He pressed his lips to hers once more, "I do like my gift." His low voice soft and gentle as he spoke, it was an unnatural tone for him. But to Erika, it was as if the gates to heaven had opened up before while angels sung.

"… Really?"

"Ja."

Erika studied Adolf for a moment, and suddenly became doubtful. "Really?" she asked flatly.

He stared back at her, now confused. Wasn't that what he was supposed to say? "Vhat?"

"Are you pulling my pistons?"

Adolf's confused expression turned into an even more confused frown. "Vhat?"

Erika rolled her eyes, remembering his knowledge of slang was about as good as her German. "Are you fucking with me?"

"And vhen, exactly, have you ever seen me, as you so eloquently say it, "fuck around?" He gave her an unamused look, annoyed that her unnecessary doubt had killed the moment.

"Well… you do find some humor in knocking little engines off the tracks."

"If zhey vere in my vay, zhey vere out vhen zhey shouldn't have been, and deserved it."

A slight grin formed on the GS-4's face as she looked up at him through her eyelashes, ignoring the mildly dark statement he had just made. "I'm out when I shouldn't be."

"You're not a little engine," Adolf brought his voice down once more, smirking slightly. "And you ought to know better."

His grin only widened Erika's and she pressed her forehead against his. She wasn't sure what had gotten into him all of a sudden but she wasn't going to protest. Maybe this was the real Adolf or maybe her flirtatious nature had finally rubbed off on him; either way she liked it. "Are you going to bump me off the tracks?" She was still testing the waters, wondering how far she could take this. Who knows, maybe she'd end up with a busted safety valve by night's end.

He chuckled in response; it was a deep, rumbling noise that anyone would find intimidating who didn't know him that well.

"You know I'm a bad girl, Addie. My sneaking out at night shouldn't even faze you... Feel kinda bad for leaving Russell alone at night though."

The mood went south once more and Adolf's tone became flat. "He doesn't deserve your attention."

"Oh?" Erika raised her eyebrows in amusement. "Do I hear a hint of jealously there?"

"Nor does he need you company… You're a bad influence."

It was her turn to give him a look of unamusement. "You're no better, mister."

"Do I break zhe rules?"

There was a moment of silence between the two engines. Erika chewed on her lower lip as she contemplated her next move. There was only one way to win this and possibly put the German engine back in his place. Quickly, she bit his lip sharply causing the Wurttemberg K to reel back slightly, letting out a loud hiss as he sucked on his lower lip tentatively.

"So anyway," she continued as she nuzzled him, ignoring what she had just done and sighed contently. "My big, sexy engine…" Her words caused a hint of pink to form on Adolf's cheeks; Erika noticed and grinned at him. "You're blushing, Addie. Are you thinking dirty thoughts?"

"Absolutely not," he answered quickly. "I'm just not accustomed to zhe flattery."

"You're lying. You are sexy... if you don't think so; I can shunt you back into your shed and show you how sexy I think you are..." she nipped his lip gently, hoping to get her point across.

The gesture made him blush more. "Not necessary."

"Mmm, I think it is." She nipped him again in an attempt to get the proper response out of him. He growled softly, not seeming to mind the biting anymore. "Oh so you do like being bitten, naughty boy… Also, your growling is only going to encourage me. I like the sounds you make."

"Ja, I figured zhat vone out." He began to reverse back into his berth, inviting her in. She stared at him quietly, finding herself at a loss for once. There were so many things happening at once she was beginning to wonder if this was just a dream. "You know better zhan to test my patience." His low voice rumbled from within the darkness of his berth, "Or… is it zhat you have been playing zhis game vith no intention of vinning?" His eyes lit up slightly, his tone teasing as he dared her to come and claim her prize.

Erika didn't know what to do but obey as she took him up on his offer. If this was a dream then she hoped she'd never wake up and if it wasn't, she hoped the sun would never rise. Then she could be with him forever…

She approached him slowly, "So sehe ich Dich gerne."

Adolf chuckled as he watched her, dimming the lights a bit as she came to a stop in front of him, her pilot sliding under his buffer easily allowing for closer contact.

"Say something in German."

"Du siehst wunderschön aus heute abend."

Erika did her best to decipher his words but nothing came, her mind drew a complete blank. "I don't know what you said but I liked the way you said it." She smiled softly at him.

He returned the gesture with a faint smile of his own, "It vas a compliment, I assure you."

"And you're smiling? Oh Addie this must be my lucky day."

"Halt den Mund und küss mich," his tone a bit more commanding this time.

She didn't know what he said entirely but she did catch the last two words: küss mich, "kiss me." Erika looked up at him; there was still a dim light in his eyes however she could see the silver irises behind it. She didn't see anger or hostility or any of the things the others saw that made them run in fear. The only thing she saw was love; love for her and that's all she ever wanted. Someone to care for her as much as she did them and, after 25 years of searching she finally found it. In the most unlikely of places from one of the most unlikely of engines, but that didn't matter. Grinning slightly, she did as she was told as she pressed her lips against his. He returned the kiss with a content sigh as the light went out completely as he closed his eyes.

"I love you," Erika said quietly against his lips.

"Ich liebe dich auch…" Adolf whispered to her before kissing her again, eager for that closeness again.

Oh if their controller found out what they were doing, the two of them would be so screwed and the risk of that happening made it so much better. For the first time since he arrived on Kollsvik, Adolf didn't care what Charlotte would think or do. At the moment, his attention was solely on the pesky steam engine from the US whom he'd come to love. An engine who had spent the past couple of months driving him crazy, giving him attention he didn't deserve and, at the time didn't want, all in the hopes of bringing him back into the light, to feel again. She didn't have to do that and he was going to be damned if he wasn't going to show his appreciation. With a sudden burst of courage he pushed against her, wanting to be as close to her as he could.

Erika let out a muffled sound of surprise at his bravery but wasn't going to stop him and pushed back, deepening the kiss further and running the risk of getting herself stuck under him. Adolf sighed softly once more. His tongue ran across her upper lip tentatively, a comparatively polite way of asking to step it up a bit.

The former streamliner responded by nipping his tongue, holding it between her teeth gently. "Now darling… what happened to taking it slow?"

A low growl escaped from the German engine as he opened his eyes halfway, flooding his berth with light again.

"Oh I know that sound. A bit flustered, are we? Well, if I'm not doing it right why don't you show me?" She gave him a rather seductive look as her tongue glided across his before releasing him.

He huffed quietly, his blush returning. "I am not comfortable vith zhat."

"Oh come on, Big Boy. You know you want to lead me. Show me what you want!"

"How am I supposed to do zhat vhen I lack zhe experience?" his tone was so flat it was almost comical.

Erika let out a girlish giggle, "Baby… you are just the cutest thing! What makes you think I have any experience, hmmm?" she nipped at his lip softly, encouraging him to take over.

"You seem to know vhat you're doing better zhan I."

"You haven't shown me what you can do... you seem to like licking, however."

"It vas impulse."

"Then go with that then? Come on Addie, explore me with your mouth." she nipped him again.

He didn't know why, but something about that last part made Adolf's boiler tingle. His firebox roared with the sudden desire to take this freaky engine up on her offer and without hesitation, he did. He kissed her gently, taking it slow for the time being. He really had no clue what he was doing so it was best to stick with what he had some sort of grasp on.

She returned the gesture, encouraging him to push it further. A low growl escaped from him as he pushed against her, kissing her harder, his teeth grazing her bottom lip, their lips coming into contact faster and faster. He nipped her again, growling possessively and licking her again softly. The dimmed light nearly went out, casting a gentle light on the both of them that just barely illuminated their outlines. Erika groaned quietly, letting Adolf know he was doing well. She did her best to restrain herself and let him explore her but his growling and licking was making it hard to keep her from just ramming him into the wooden buffer behind him and having her dirty, little way with the Württemberg K. However, it was becoming quite clear that she was quickly running out of patience.

"Adolf…" she groaned again. She couldn't take it anymore and she was done being patient, she was no bottom. Taking control of the situation, she overtook the black engine, throwing him off entirely as her tongue invaded his mouth and caressed his own. Adolf quickly caught on and responded accordingly as his tongued danced with hers. A muffled groan escaped him as he was rather roughly shoved into the wooden buffer behind him, his tender knocking it over. She could have cared less as vibrations from his moaning forced her to shudder with delight. After a few moments, Erika pulled away from him with a satisfied and slightly surprised look on her face. Her cheeks a little flushed and her breathing heavy. "I'm going to pop you and afterwards, you'll never be the same, my big, naughty engine."

He smirked at her, "Ja, ich werde sie deiner wort nehmen fur sie."

"I don't know what you said, but it had better been super dirty."

"It's a shame you don't understand." He chuckled, nipping her lower lip teasingly.

"What's even worse is that you won't teach me. I can only imagine the things you say about me…" the thought saddened her and she looked down.

"I might have had some derogatory remarks at first... But now vhen I think of you, vords like wunderschön, and schimmernd, come to mind... Beautiful. Shimmering. Radiance." He smiled softly at her and looked adorable doing it.

His words made her perk up instantly, nearly melting on to her running board. "Oh Addie… I love you so much." She kissed him, "Mein großer, starker Adolf."

He nuzzled her and kissed her back, "Ich liebe dich auch, Erika."

"English please."

"I love you, Erika."

"You don't know how long I've waited to hear those words... Far, far too long…" She sighed contently, enjoying the feeling of their foreheads together. "I've been alone for so long…"

His voice went quiet as he was reminded of his own loneliness. "Ja… So have I…"

Erika watched him quietly; she wanted to ask him about his past and why it made him the way he was but she decided not to push it. Not now, she knew he'd tell her when he was ready. Plus she didn't want to ruin the mood. "Well, not anymore. I'll never leave you alone. Not even if you begged me."

"I don't know vhether or not to be excited or afraid." He looked at her, his smile returning.

"You have no idea how cute you look when you do that."

Adolf chuckled and was about to say something when he heard the sound of a car and began to tense up. If it was Charlotte saw them together she'd beyond furious and the last thing he wanted was for Erika to get and trouble and be separated from her because of it. Luckily, the sound faded into the distance and he started to relax.

Erika huffed haughty, the sound reminding her of Jimmy. "I hate Jimmy. I almost smashed him earlier though!" she looked up to see her love lost in thought, a worried frown on his face. She kissed him softly, bringing him back to reality. "Don't worry dear, it's late. The controller wouldn't be up at this hour. She's... old."

"You should not discount a surprise visit from Miss Charlotte so easily. Better to be cautious zhan regretful."

"I suppose…" She kissed him again, trying to get him back in the mood. "No more talking about the controller from now on… or anything else really. The only sounds I want to hear from you are the sounds of you moaning and your safety valve blowing."

He blushed slightly at her shamelessness but wasn't going to disagree with her. Pushing the consequences of their actions to the back of his mind, Adolf returned her affection, eager to finish what they had started.