Until Death Do Us Part

by AaronCottrell97

Following the Admiral's visit in light of Sailor John's death, Thomas has been overwhelmed by how Sailor John impacted his and Emily's lives, to the point that he begins thinking about what could've happened had they not defeated him for good. With a nightmare of Emily's death at John's hands, Thomas and Emily reaffirm how much they view each other as husband and wife figures.

Percy and Gina's time together was going along quite nicely. After three days had gone by since they worked an entire day together, Gina had wound up in a little accident with a tree, bruising her forehead and having to wear a bandage and eyepatch all through the next day. After feeling embarrassed and wrongly teased by some of the engines, Gina was given the great honour of collecting the Navy Admiral from Brendam Docks and taking him to the Arlesburgh Maritime Museum, where Cap'n Calles' artifacts were on significant display for David to show to the Admiral, all in light of the recent learning of Sailor John's death. And it was all quite an uplift for Gina in the end to have her eyepatch and bandage removed, to Percy's personal delight seeing her entire face in its true beauty again.

But in the midst of Gina's visit and helping Percy's spirits get rekindled, what Thomas was going through ever since the Admiral's visit was a whole other matter. With the Admiral visiting Sodor, with David showing him around and talking in considerable detail about Sailor John and his antics from the Navy to Sodor, Thomas' mind was now fresh on everything concerning Sailor John and all that he had done to influence the blue engine's life, then Emily's life as well. It also got Thomas thinking to himself about how things would have been different...and devastating too, if things didn't turn out the way they did, especially given what Emily had gone through during that pirate's vendetta. For Thomas, dwelling endlessly on the fact that Sailor John was dead would come to a brief, but very steep price for him to experience through a certain dream...about Emily.

It was now the following morning after the Admiral's visit and Gina was a pirate queen as it were, thanks to her bandage and eyepatch from her accident. Emily was the first to wake up to the sunrise. She thought back to the day before and smiled fondly as she remembered seeing the Admiral just the day before with David at Arlesburgh and the Maritime Museum. She thought back to how proud she felt to hear the Admiral express the entire Navy's respect for her, Thomas and all the other engines who banded together to stop Sailor John for the last time.

Then she turned her eyes to Percy's berth and saw he wasn't there. She remembered that he and Gina were most likely in Knapford Sheds together, holding each other close after Gina had been bestowed with such an honour. But what caught her eye even more was when she looked beyond the empty berth and saw Thomas. He was awake and looking down to his buffers again, whispering very lowly. Too low for Emily to hear what he could be uttering to himself.

Emily immediately remembered how he seemed a little shifty and isolated when he left Arlesburgh, then how he approached her in slightly shifty, stuttering and anxious mood the night before. Now that she was awake again, she began to wonder again if there was something else on Thomas' mind, and if it could mean anything about the Admiral's visit...and Sailor John's death. She too found it most stirring to hear such news and she began to think if Thomas could be having reminisces about him again. Perhaps she'd have to inquire to what this could be about.

"Hey...Thomas?" she said, trying not to be too awkward, watching as he looked up. "Good morning?"

Thomas' thoughts were interrupted, and when he looked up to Emily, he suddenly seemed very nervous and conflicted. His eyes darted left, right, up and down to her form and her questioning expression, and he felt completely unprepared in what to say to her. Then just as the turntable turned to him so he could start his day, he let it out.

"Oh...E-Emily...g-good morning," he uttered strangely and unevenly. "I-I'm going...out."

"Uhh...yes, so you are," said Emily. "But...is there any-"

"Yes, but I'll see you again soon...tonight, or...on the Main Line or...or soon...I hope!"

Then Thomas rushed to the turntable, turned to the Main Line and dashed off quite abruptly. Emily looked up with a confused look, then huffed right over the turntable to follow his trail. When she arrived at Knapford Station, she heard Thomas panting and making little grunts and sighs of slight agitation, then he hastily switched tracks to Annie and Clarabel, and buffered up to them rather unevenly.

"Gracious! Do be careful, Thomas!" ordered Annie.

"Whatever is the matter, Thomas?" Clarabel asked.

"S-sorry, your ladyships, but I can't possibly talk now. I am very, very busy!" Thomas replied abruptly.

"Doing what? Other than bumping us about?" Annie replied.

"I'm thinking about something that I seem to have...not thought of before. Something I had set aside...and I now seem to have...realized it only now!"

"Realize what, Thomas?" Clarabel asked.

Then Thomas looked up and saw Emily, watching him with a most perplexed expression. As his inner thoughts festered more and more, Thomas felt sheer indecision and lack of clarity over what to do, so he whistled several times over and rushed off down the line to his Branch Line, with Annie and Clarabel chattering to him to go more smoothly as they disappeared.

Emily had seen everything, and she didn't like what she saw. She was now very sure beyond any doubt that Thomas was feeling very troubled about something. As she had first seen it with the Admiral's visit, she too began to think a little to herself. She knew herself that the whole occasion was held in light of Sailor John's death, and as she collected her train and set off down the line, she couldn't help but reflect a little on all that he had done on Sodor. Most particularly what he had done to leave an impression on her life. Having Seymour Murphy kill David's father and her first-ever driver Lawrence, having 'Arry and Bert capture her and take her to the Dieselworks, where she was tortured and damaged by Diesel 10, then trapped at Vicarstown Viaduct, where she and Thomas nearly met their deaths.

It had been just over three weeks now since Sailor John's death as it shared the same day that Ffarquhar family was killed by Percy's accident, and even now, after knowing of such news ever since first hearing it, Emily still felt little stirrings in her heart to realize that he was truly gone, and it made her start to wonder if Thomas was thinking too deeply about that pirate...and about her. Perhaps he was having jumpy feelings about her again, rather like he did just after they saw the film projection of Sailor John's final imprisonment.

Emily's thoughts were interrupted when she looked up and saw Thomas up ahead on the line beside her, still going a little unevenly with Annie and Clarabel. Emily whistled and came up beside him, only to see his most strained expression as he kept whispering to himself and looking down to his buffers.

"Thomas, are you okay?" Emily asked. "Please tell me."

Thomas gasped and looked up. "Emily! Please be careful out there! We don't want any accidents or derailments!"

"Thomas...what on earth...?" Emily puzzled.

"Just be careful, alright?" Thomas checked abruptly as he whistled and raced further down the line, leaving Emily even more puzzled and concerned.

Thomas continued to race and shake along the line, muttering to himself again, and this time, Annie and Clarabel could hear him.

"Pull yourself together, Thomas," he whispered loudly. "He's gone. He's gone! Sailor John is GONE!"

"Thomas? What's all this about Sailor John?" Annie asked, her voice sounding more empathetic.

"Is it about Emily too?" Clarabel asked.

Thomas could feel his inner senses of fear, speculation and fresh thoughts of Sailor John and what could have been, all bouncing around in the dark cavern that was his conflicted smokebox. He had a lot to express, but he didn't feel like the time was right.

"Yes, your ladyships...it IS about Sailor John, and Emily too. Ever since the Admiral's visit yesterday, I've been thinking about how he is now dead...and everything he had done to Emily and I...and what else could have happened if things didn't turn out as they did. But I can't POSSIBLY talk about it now! I've too much to do with you, and the rest of today!"

"Oh! I see...well, Thomas, you must tell Emily!" said Annie.

"She's always helped you before when something bothered you. You can't hide all your feelings from her," said Clarabel.

"Well...well...I can't talk about it all right now!" Thomas huffed and whistled loudly again. "Not now, at least!"

All morning, on into the afternoon, as clouds covered the sun and brought a bleak look everywhere, Thomas kept feeling his mind bounce back and forth, this way and that. Even after he finished his Branch Line run with Annie and Clarabel and left them back in the yards, preparing for his goods run, he felt his sensations and inner thoughts pulling harder and harder at his heart as all he could think about was Emily and Sailor John's death. He knew he should have been feeling very thankful over knowing he was gone, and that the past was the past and it can't be changed. But Thomas also realized he had not given a moment's thought to how things could have been if they were different. He didn't know why he didn't think of it sooner, but all he did know was that it was causing him a sheer level of stress, and he didn't know how to defuse it to Emily. And he wouldn't know how to...until night came.

Emily, meanwhile had been thinking to herself throughout that day. She was still thinking back to when Thomas acted shifty around her, following Sailor John's final imprisonment and how scared and horrified they both were while they faced him down at Vicarstown. But as afternoon came along and she was kept busy with her own goods run, she began to wonder back to how Thomas worried about her being scrapped and how he acted shifty with her then...then had that nightmare of her befalling such a fate. Emily shut her eyes for a moment as she remembered how he expressed that fear, then she assured him of what the Fat Controller told her to pass onto him. Her suspicions were growing more and more until she looked up and saw Thomas again.

After several hours of thinking and wondering, Emily decided to try and ask Thomas again what was wrong. She whistled and came up alongside him, seeing his expression look strained and overly anxious again.

"H-h-ello, E-Emily!" he shook.

"Thomas, please don't do this," Emily begged lightly. "Something is clearly bothering you. It's been going on since last night, it's gotten more and more hold over you, and don't think I didn't notice. You said it's nothing, but it clearly is. If it's anything about the Admiral's visit or Sailor John..."

"No! No, Emily!" Thomas suddenly blurted with noticeably hysteria. "Sailor John is gone! GONE! Just stay safe! For me!"

Emily almost answered back, wanting an explanation, but then her line turned away from Thomas and she heard him whistle loud and long down the line. Now Emily began to feel a little frightened herself. Thomas had not acted this way since Sailor John's final imprisonment, or when he was fearing over Emily being scrapped. But this time, it seemed like a whole lot more with regard to Sailor John's death, and Emily knew that she had to do something to help Thomas get over it. But how would she find out? And would he be brave enough to tell her? As Emily carried on with her goods train, she began to feel like something big would happen...or rather, be dreamt of, either by her, or Thomas. And what would follow afterwards, only she and Thomas could find out, whatever it would be.

That evening, just before sunset, Emily returned to the yards. There were no other engines about. The clouds began to part, revealing the last few rays of the sun, but it still seemed noticeably darker than usual as Emily took a deep breath and sighed very heavily as she felt the time drawing near. Her driver noticed this and stepped down to see her. She was looking down to her buffers and humming lowly to herself.

"Emily...is something wrong?" he asked.

Emily looked up to her driver, her eyes shimmering and almost twitching from what had happened between her and Thomas. Now that her share of work was done, she decided to bring it forward to her driver first.

"I'm worried about Thomas," she said. "You saw it yourself. He's been acting shifty and uneven all day, with Annie and Clarabel, on the Main Line, and with me. Both times I asked what was wrong...and I've never seen him this anxious...and it's apparently about Sailor John or the Admiral's visit."

"Hmm...I recall seeing a little bit of that behaviour when David was with Skiff and the Admiral," said her driver. "And the whole occasion was held on account of Sailor John's passing...and I did notice Thomas seeming very preoccupied and troubled that evening. Emily...do you think it's possible that perhaps Thomas is having reminisces over Sailor John's past, and everything he had inflicted upon all of us?"

Emily looked at her driver and felt her heart jump.

"I...I was wondering about that myself. I've been thinking about him too...and all the horrors I had to face. Losing Lawrence, being captured and tortured...then nearly killed with Thomas before Gordon, James, Henry and Hiro all saved us. And I even began to have little flickers...over what would have happened if things turned out...differently...and for the worst."

"Have you now?" said her driver. "Well, if that's true, then perhaps we have to get Thomas' words out of his boiler and find out for sure."

"Yes, that's right," said Emily. "But Thomas wouldn't confess anything today. I now have a strong feeling that something will happen tonight...or rather be dreamt of. And if I know Thomas, he's bound to have a nightmare about whatever could be bothering him. Perhaps then I can find out what this is all about."

Emily's driver agreed, but then he remembered what Thomas did on that special and beautiful night after he acted nervous around Emily following Sailor John's imprisonment. What he was thinking about right now had not been brought up ever since that very night, and now, perhaps it was time to go a little deeper.

"Hmm," he said at last. "This does remind me of the last time Thomas acted shifty around you, Emily. It was just the day after Phelps and Gallagher showed us the film projection of Sailor John's final imprisonment...and I think I have an idea. You wait here."

And her driver ran off through the yards and through the station entrance. Emily waited and waited, wondering what he would do next. Then about half an hour later, as nightfall descended over the yards, she saw her driver return. He came through the station, then through the yards, with his hands behind his back. Emily knew he was hiding something to reveal to her. Then as he came up to her bufferbeam, he looked her right in the eye. Emily felt as though this was going to be rather significant.

"Here, Emily. I have it," said her driver. "Something truly special...and which I hope can serve any purpose for Thomas tonight."

"Have what?" Emily asked. "Is it something I was once given?"

Her driver smiled and revealed what he was hiding. Emily recognized it at once as her eyes cast upon the white, decorative box that contained the bridal veil Thomas presented her when he tried to propose marriage. As her mind flashed back to that very question Thomas asked, Emily felt her boiler bubble with much fervor as her driver opened the box and showed it to her.

"Oh...goodness me!" she gasped heavily. "That's...that's my bridal veil! The one Thomas gave me!"

"Yes, Emily. I've held onto it ever since Thomas' driver gave it to you," said her driver. "I have a very strong sense of what Thomas might be thinking about, and if I'm correct, this veil may prove very useful. It all depends on what Thomas thinks...or dreams of next."

Emily hummed to herself, then gave a nod before she yawned. "I agree. But for now...ohh...I think we should turn in."

"And we'll keep our ears open," her driver added with a nod as he placed the box in her cab, then they set off.

When Emily returned to Tidmouth Sheds, all the engines were asleep. She came to the turntable and glimpsed all the engines until her eyes turned to Thomas. He was asleep too, but his eyes were shut tightly, and his lips were tight too, as if he were trying not to wake up to anything at all. Emily kept this in the back of her smokebox, and her driver decided to stay at the sheds, just in case anything happened.

She then lined up with her berth and backed inside. She took a deep sigh as she looked to the sky for a few moments, then closed her eyes and fell asleep, feeling her heart beat in her boiler with every pump of steam it coursed through her boiler. She had little flickers telling her that something significant would happen tonight surround Thomas and herself. She just didn't know how significant it would be yet.

Unawares to Emily, Thomas opened his eyes briefly and looked around...until he looked to his left and saw Emily sleeping right there beside Percy. As he gazed at her, Thomas' heart began to pound over everything again. He rested disconsolately in his shed berth, nervously biting his lip, breathing unsteadily whenever he shot a glimpse to Emily, and feeling his heart constantly pounding in his boiler like a hammer against a block of wood. He desperately tried to shove everything having to do with Sailor John out of his mind as he shut his eyes and fell silent again for a few hours...but it was all for naught, as Emily would find out soon enough.

Then, as the town clock struck 12:00 a.m. in the distance, announcing midnight, Emily felt her eyes begin to feel lighter, and she felt her ears picking up little sounds in her sleep. She didn't know exactly why or what it could be, but after several moments of her ears picking up for and more of the sounds, she woke up with a jolt in her heart, and looked to her right.

Thomas was stirring and shaking most troublingly in his sleep, and by the looks of tension, fear, horror and urgency by the expressions he bore through his closed eyes, Emily had a strong feeling he was dreaming about her. She saw her driver come out and nod to her. She nodded back, then just a minute later, Emily very quietly left her berth. She turned around on the turntable until she faced Thomas' berth. She very quietly came toward him until her buffers were a foot away from his. And indeed, Emily was right in her assumption. Thomas suddenly began releasing grunts, whimpers and quiet exclaims in his sleep...then he let the name out.

"Uh...uhh! Emily...no!" he muttered.

Emily's heart jumped as she didn't say a word, waiting for Thomas to wake up whenever he would. She knew that he was surely having a terrible nightmare, but if she were to find out everything, she decided she'd have to let the nightmare ensue, until Thomas woke up. The little blue tank engine dreamt on through the minutes that past, dreaming through what was surely the most scathing nightmare he had ever dreamt since he killed the Mainland truck and refused to leave the sheds for several days. And this is what he dreamt...

Chaos and ruin had been spewing all over Sodor. Sailor John and his men had inflicted morphine attacks to large portions of the island. Ryan had been sent tumbling into the Harwick Cavern, all three cranes had been incapacitated by the munition explosion at Brendam Docks, the Fat Controller was under the capture and command of the Dieselworks...and Thomas was on the run to Vicarstown on the search for Emily and the hunt for Diesel 10 and Sailor John.

Thomas huffed hastily along the line, having heard of her kidnapping and with the Fat Controller under capture with Lady Hatt. Under the grim circumstances, the blue tank engine had decided to take the railway under his command for the better good. He huffed as fast as he could along the line until he reached Vicarstown Goods Yard. He looked all around for any signs of his angel, and of his enemies. He then decided that the station was his best chance and huffed onwards.

After hunting everywhere for Emily, at last, Thomas could see the station in the distance and picked up speed…when he heard the voice.

"Thomas!"

He looked ahead and there was Emily, looking frightened and miserable. Thomas almost gained speed when he suddenly came to a stop. He saw that the viaduct had been blown up. He had no chance of saving her now…and she had no crew.

"Emily! Cinders and Ashes! Are you alright?" called Thomas.

"I don't think so!" cried Emily. That's when Thomas saw the very person he had met at Harwick…for the first time ever since his defeat. His boiler shuddered with fear and memory as he saw the pirate reappear before him, looking ever-so intently into his eyes. Engine and man were facing each other once again.

"Sailor John," Thomas breathed.

"Hello…Thomas the Tank Engine. Thomas…my old pal," Sailor John grinned deviously. "Ooh, I've been waiting for this!"

"We were NEVER friends, you fiend!" shouted Thomas. "You only used me to find the treasure and nothing more!"

"You've been breaking my heart, Thomas…now I shall break yours. I can see you've already got a taste of payback with that lovely scar on your eyes…but that's beside the point. You will soon pay for what you did to me."

As Thomas had truly gone through when this event transpired, Diesel 10's crew ran to Thomas and wrestled his crew unconscious, with Sailor John suggesting it was in Thomas' favour for him to see Emily and what Diesel 10 had done to her. He could see her crushed cab with no roof, her scraped paintwork on her boiler and her running board crunched and punctured. He accused Diesel 10 of what he did, and Diesel 10 remarked how he wouldn't have had to do so if she confessed everything earlier, and that he needed to get even after being locked away for so long.

Thomas then turned to his greatest enemy, desperate for answers after everything that had happened.

"Sailor John…WHY did you go to all these horrendous, traumatic and savage ends just to get back at me?! If you really wanted to kill me, why didn't you simply come for me and get your wish MUCH sooner?! And why didn't you kill me with the munitions explosion last night?!"

Sailor John said nothing for almost a minute, staring at Thomas with hatred and revenge. Then he spoke again.

"Well, Thomas…getting what you want has a delicate balance. It must be done carefully, or you never feel fulfilled. If I killed you just after escaping, I still would not feel my revenge fulfilled. No thanks to you, Thomas…my freedom was taken from me. Ever since I was arrested, I spent every minute in that god-forsaken prison yearning for my chance to get you for this. I cared not how long it would take me, or how many people I needed…my hatred for you kept fueling me to this point. The best way I'd be satisfied would be by targeting those who were important to you. Some of your friends seemed like a juicy chance for me. But even then, I knew that would not be enough to make you come to me…I had to find a weak spot to exploit in order to find you and remove every sense of joy from you…by using your most precious treasure of your heart…the one engine who could control your demon…and the one you could never live without. Emily."

"So you wanted to be sure I'd have no joy or hope left in order to destroy me?!" wheeshed Thomas.

"Although, I must admit…I did not mean for you to be at Brendam with that explosion. I wanted to call off the attack before enacting my final plan. But my incompetent…and now dead assistants pushed forward with that event. I am glad you survived with nothing more than a scar and burn. Had you been killed then, I would never have felt fulfilled…and perhaps you and Emily would not have been here…because I would have killed myself out of grief!"

Thomas' eyebrow twitched with pent-up rage at everything he had just heard.

"But now finally, my patience has paid off," Sailor John continued. "Everything is exactly as I wanted. At long last, I will kill you, Thomas…but not before I see you suffer the same pain you laid upon me way back when…"

"What more can you do to me after everything you've done?!" huffed Thomas.

Sailor John walked over to his captive. "To see that you pay for destroying my freedom …I will kill Emily, right here, right now for you to see. No one can save her now!"

"E-EMILY!" wailed Thomas.

"THOMAS!" Emily wailed back. They both turned red in the face and started gasping in horror.

"Oh, don't fret, Thomas," chuckled Sailor John. "You won't have to mourn for long. Her smouldering remains will be the last you ever see in this life before you join her. You'll be together again…but not in a warm embrace. Instead, in death's icy grip."

He suddenly looked at both his captives. He could see how pitiful, scared and shaky they both looked as they contemplated what would happen next.

"Ohh, my poor engines," he said sweetly, but sadistically. "Are you truly so scared? What a shame…Perhaps I can show some mercy. I never do it anyway."

"What mercy?!" wailed Emily.

Sailor John drew a roll of dynamite. "I shall give you both one more half hour to see each other…and wait for the end."

With that, he began to tortuously wave the dynamite roll around, but didn't light it…while Thomas and Emily both watched him and looked at each other every few seconds, both their hearts almost in their throats. But in the midst of this nightmare that felt so eerily real, twenty minutes passed by like only twenty seconds as Thomas and Emily cried out in terror as the pirate spoke again.

"I hope you two are enjoying each other's last chance of company," chuckled Sailor John. "But time grows short. We have but ten minutes to go."

"You murderer…" was all Thomas and Emily could whisper to him. Escaping with no crew and no viaduct was impossible. Thomas and Emily suddenly cried for help even though they knew it was useless. No one would hear them...and no one did.

Then, only ten seconds later, in the midst of this nightmare, the red sky at night was well and truly bringing on the Sailor's Delight.

"Time is running out," Sailor John announced grimly. "We have but eighteen seconds...fifteen seconds...thirteen seconds."

Then, in the moment of fate, the Vicarstown clock bell began to toll loudly and ominously. With every toll that sounded through the air, Thomas and Emily felt their hearts pound high and higher into their throats until the tolling stopped. Then...it was over.

"Time's up, my pretty's. It's all over...the Emerald first," Sailor John slithered. And with that, he struck the match...and lit the fuse.

"EMILY! EMILY!" Thomas shrieked. "NO! NO! NOOO!"

"Please! No! NO!" screamed Emily. "AAH!"

"Oh, yes…he-he-he-he," chuckled Sailor John. "DO say hello to Mr. Rider. But before that...any last words? From either of you?"

Emily could feel her senses beginning to shut down already as she saw no one could save her or Thomas. So she chose her words.

"Thomas! Thomas!" Emily wailed. "This is the end! I just want to tell you...you have been my husband figure ever since the beginning! I've always loved you as my husband figure, right from the very start!"

"Emily! Please don't!" Thomas wailed despairingly. "DON'T have it be the end!"

"And I have been your wife through everything thick and thin!" Emily wailed. "And in the sacred vow of marriage...we've been together, until now! Until death of us part!"

Thomas wailed in terror, nearly crying as he knew it was over, and that he had lost. Sailor John then tossed the dynamite roll into the air, letting it spiral around until it came down and landed right on Emily's running plate, with the fuse burning smaller and smaller. Every instant became heavier and heavier and more and more painful to Thomas.

"Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, NOOOO!" Emily shrieked as she shut her eyes for the final time. "AAHH!"

"NOOOO! EM-IL-YYY!" Thomas shrieked, but as he did so...it happened.

There was an ear-splitting BANG and a blinding flash. Thomas shut his eyes from the blast, and heard one more, ear-piercing shriek of death from the emerald angel he had met all those years ago. Thomas' eyes burst open again, and all he saw was a smouldering mushroom cloud of flame and smoke. The rumble echoed agonizingly through the air, then as the flame and smoke cleared away...there, before his very eyes...he saw it. Emily's smouldered remains were scattered everywhere. Her entire front and boiler had been blown away completely, leaving only her tender, while her burning wheels and melted bufferbeam lay limply right there for him to behold. There was no sign of her face as it had been completely obliterated out of being. Then Thomas felt something out of the upper corner of his eye.

He looked up...and down came Emily's funnel with her golden angel's ring. It spun round and round as it came down, then clattered ominously across the ground, leaned upward a little, then clattered once more against the ground. As the given moment struck Thomas' heart like a poisoned knife, it all came crackling down on him. He was now all alone with no love of his life anymore. It was over. And in these final moments of his life, so much of his sensations gave way and he burst into a fit of completely mindless shrieks.

"SAILOR JOHN! MUDERER! DEATH! RUIN! MY EMILY! MY ANGEL IS SLAIN!" Thomas shrieked so loud, the tracks vibrated beneath him.

Sailor John merely scowled and stood very still as Thomas' heart crippled and completely broke beyond any sense of being healed ever again. Five minutes later, when the defeated tank engine spoke again, his voice was quieter, but rather distorted and low, compared to how he usually sounded.

"I...I see how you feel now...Sailor John," he uttered deeply. "As I broke your heart...you have indeed broken mine. You have succeeded in that very goal. But...you can NEVER break any spirit of any person or engine. In my own desperation, I declare you have still failed. You're right. When you kill me, Emily and I WILL be together again...even if it is an icy grip of death, you never separated us at all. Emily and I stood together...now we die together...and we die strong. YOU'RE the weak one...you will never know love or friendship...and I feel sorry for you."

A minute of silence passed as Thomas' heart kept breaking more and more with every passing second. When he looked again, Sailor John stayed very still for a moment...then reached into his coat and slowly drew another dynamite roll. Thomas felt his heart flip once more as he waited in anguish for the pirate to light that stick, and throw it toward him...but something different happened. Sailor John picked out a few sticks from the roll, then lit one of them.

"So be it...Thomas," the pirate hissed. "As I had promised to you...now that your angel is dead, it is now upon you at last. You will be destroyed."

Then he threw that small stick in Thomas' direction. It exploded right before Thomas' melted bufferbeam, which made rock and debris hit it and damage it even further, making him shout and groan painfully. Sailor John then lit two more sticks as he walked closer.

"Young fool...only now...at the end, do you understand."

He threw another dynamite stick to Thomas' line, sending more of the Viaduct collapsing as it exploded, and making Thomas squeeze his eyes shut again. Then another one came flying...blowing up Thomas' already melted bufferbeam and widening his scar even further as Sailor John took a flying leap over the gap and stepped closer and closer to his blue adversary.

"Your feeble skills are no match for the power of a Pirate's Vendetta!" the pirate growled.

He lit another stick and threw it up into the air, making it explode right above Thomas, and clouding him in black smoke, making him choke.

"You have payed the price for your lack of vision!" Sailor John barked as he threw several more small sticks into the air, one at a time.

With each explosion, Thomas could hear the loud bangs and feel the ground shaking so very terribly around him. His ears were booming harder than ever before and every gear, sprocket and mechanism holding him together felt as though it were shaking looser and looser as he looked up through the smoke and shrieked out for any salvation left in these tarrying moments.

"EMMA, PLEASE! AGHH!" Thomas shrieked with all his might to the sky above. "EMILY! HELP ME! AAAGH! ARGH! AAAAAHH! AAAHH!"

Suddenly, the explosions and flourishing of flames stopped. Thomas' heart nearly popped out through his funnel as he saw Sailor John right there, with just a few more dynamite sticks...and the large roll, all right there for the final blow.

"Now, Thomas the Tank Engine...you will die," Sailor John murmured as he smiled with pure villainy.

Thomas' eyes shut as he could almost feel all his senses shutting down already. His vision felt distorted, his hearing incoherent and his head was becoming more and more lightheaded...until Sailor John bared his teeth and threw the last remaining lit sticks around Thomas the Tank Engine.

"AAAAGHHH! UUUHH! AARGH! AAAHH! AAGH! NOOO! AAGH!"

It was all down to one more blow. The one roll of dynamite as Sailor John lit it and flailed it around for the last seconds to be, until at last, he threw it high into the air. It sailed up and up...then came down again, down toward Thomas, the No. 1 Blue Tank Engine of Sodor.

"Red sky at night...Sailor's Delight," said Sailor John. "So passeth a worthy opponent."

"Arr-men," Diesel 10 sneered.

"Responsible..." Thomas whispered definitively. "Reliable...Really...Useful...my beautiful...emerald...angel."

The spinning red shape came down and down...the fuse burnt out altogether...then...BA-!

In Tidmouth Sheds, Thomas' eyes popped open so suddenly, they nearly flew out of his sockets. In the last few instants of his nightmare buzzing right in his smokebox, he darted his eyes around, noticing Emily's now empty berth. Then he whistled with great alarm and sheer, overwhelming fright, his face turning very red.

"FLAMES! RUIN! EMILY! DO NOT WORRY! I'M COMING FOR YOU!" Thomas shrieked as he dashed out of his berth with such a tremendous speed.

But not two seconds later, he ran into something very hard and bounced back by almost three feet as he heard a gasp and an exclaim of impact, which made Thomas look up, then freeze right where he was, gaping and popping his eyes endlessly.

There she was. Emily, his beautiful emerald angel, right there at his buffers, perfectly safe, alive and well. Her crimson-red bufferbeam, her silver buffers, her hair-shaped smokebox, her gleaming gold-ringed funnel, and her beautiful emerald paintwork all right there for him to see...but above all, his eyes were locked upon her face, looking shocked, staggered and very, very worried.

"Thomas..." she gasped. "By...by my funnel! By my buffers...what on SODOR has happened to you?!"

Thomas finally snapped out of his daze and looked around. His shriek had awoken all the other engines, who were all gaping and popping their eyes too. Not at Emily, but him. As Thomas began to regather himself and realize it was all just a nightmare, he found his voice, albeit very shakily.

"E...E-Emily...my beautiful emerald angel?" Thomas shuddered. "You're...you're alive?"

"Of course I am, Thomas," she answered.

"You're not trapped at Vicarstown Station with no escape?" Thomas shook.

"No," said Emily.

"You're not scratched, crushed and cab-less thanks to Diesel 10?" Thomas shook.

"No," said Emily, sounding more alert.

"You're not being blown up by Sailor John, and I'm not being blown up either?!" Thomas almost squawked.

"N-no, Thomas! Never!" Emily exclaimed almost frightfully. "What...why are you asking such questions? What has happened?!"

Before Thomas could even try to speak, all the other engines spoke up, one after the other.

"What in the name of Sir Topham Hatt was that?" Gordon gasped.

"What happened, Emily?" Rebecca gasped.

"I'm just about recovered thanks to Gina...but now this?" Percy gasped.

"Sailor John? Vicarstown Station? That pirate is dead!" James insisted.

"Clearly a horrific nightmare!" Nia gaped.

Thomas struggled and began to utter a few words, trying his very best to get it all out, but it was no use. What he had just dreamt was the worst nightmare to ever creep into his smokebox in all the years he had ever lived. Within seconds, he fell right into a series of racking tears that issued from his eyes at a most alarming rate. Emily began to put the pieces together as it slowly became more and more clear over what Thomas had dreamt of just a few moments ago. As she thought back to Sailor John's death and the Admiral's visit once more, she knew this was a very serious state for Thomas to be in, and he would need to let everything out tonight.

Thomas knew himself that he needed to let everything out to Emily and he was desperate to learn just what her words would be...but it wouldn't just be her who would reassure him. As he remembered the Admiral's visit and how David showed him around, and given that this was about naval terms to some degree, Thomas knew he would probably need a little more than just Emily's words.

"Oh! Oh, Emily...Emily, my love..." Thomas sobbed. "Nia is right! I...I've had the most terrible, devastating nightmare about you! You and I NEED to talk! Very badly, Emily! Right now!"

That was all Emily needed to hear. Her suspicions were just about confirmed, and all she needed to hear was if it really was about Sailor John.

"I was very sure this would happen. Oh, Thomas, you can't hide this any longer. You've clearly dreamt something horrible about me, and I'm not leaving this matter alone until you tell me everything! I'm helping you one way or another."

"Emily...Emily!" he gasped. "It's true. I can't hide it anymore. Please...take me to Arlesburgh! I have SO much to tell you, and David and Beatrice too!"

Then Thomas suddenly buffered up as tightly as he ever could, pressing his face deep into hers while he struggled even harder not to sob. It was then that Emily got an idea. She thought about the decorative box in her cab, then she looked up to the other engines, who were still most surprised, but still groggy and tired too.

"Go back to sleep, all of you," said Emily. "Everything is going to be alright, but this is strictly Thomas and my business. There is something we need to do. And YOU, Thomas...come with me, immediately."

Without another word, Emily's driver coupled her to Thomas, and he was whisked away into the night, with Emily rushing along the line and Thomas being her eyes, knowing just what he needed to do now. He continued to cry and sob with sheer fright over what he had just dreamt, while Emily hushed him softly. Thomas knew in his disturbed heart that he needed the assurance and healing that only Emily could ever give him, whatever it would be.

---

Eventually, as the moon shone full and the stars wheeled overhead, Thomas and Emily made their way to Arlesburgh. Normally, Thomas would have wanted to go to Black Loch, but as he looked up and saw David's house in the distance, he knew just what he needed to say, and he began to wonder that there would be something else to all of this. Emily had something else in mind besides just assuring Thomas of everything, and it would be most stirring indeed.

They stopped right by David's house as Thomas began to pant and sob again. Emily saw his tears well up and issue out of his eyes and knew she'd have to wake up the Riders. She looked up to the top floor of the house and whistled a few times, hoping to alert David and Beatrice, and also hoping not to rouse too much more of Arlesburgh. After a few brief whistles, she saw a light turn on inside. Then a minute or two later, the door opened, and there were David and Beatrice, both in house robes and holding a flashlight.

"Thomas? Emily?" David drowsed. "It's 1:00 in the morning. What are you doing here at this time of night?"

"David and Beatrice, we would not have come if we didn't have the vital reason we have right now for doing so," said Emily.

"Well, what's happened then?" David asked.

Emily took a deep breath as she looked to Thomas, then back to David.

"David...I have a strong belief that your visit with the Admiral may have played a bigger role than we may have thought. You see, Thomas has had a..."

Beatrice took one look at Thomas and suddenly felt that something was very wrong. She knew about David's honourable time with the Admiral just the day before and everything Thomas had been faced with through Sailor John's life. After her experience with Percy, she felt all-too ready to hear everything Thomas needed to say, regardless of how late it was. She didn't need to look twice to know what had happened.

"Thomas...you've had a most gut-wrenching dream...haven't you?" she whispered worriedly. "About Emily."

Thomas whimpered and nodded before he sobbed again, starting to shake all over. David held his mother's shoulder and gave a serious nod. He began to feel the pieces coming together just as Emily did.

"I might have known something like this would have happened," he murmured. "Is there anything we can do, Emily?"

"David...Beatrice...I think you need to come outside for a while," Emily whispered. "Thomas has a lot to tell us all. I know that beyond any shadow."

"Hmm. I think she's right, Mum," said David, looking at Thomas' tear-trails. "We'd better get ready. We'll be right out, Emily."

David and Beatrice ran back inside, and about five minutes later, they came outside again. David was fully dressed with his purple shirt, black sailing coat, silver charm and naval cutlass. Beatrice was dressed in her simple, but perfect blue dress. They got inside Emily and they all made their way quietly and solemnly through the village, right until they came to the pier. Cap'n Calles' ship was on one side. The Sea Emperor on the other side, both casting a glow of the moonlight against their sails.

Given that they were buffered together, Emily was facing out to sea, while Thomas was facing toward the village, but that didn't matter to either of them. She pushed Thomas right to the buffers and looked out beyond him to the moon glistening over the sea. David and Beatrice then came down from her cab and walked right up to both engines' faces. Now everything would be divulged.

"Thank you so much, Emily," Thomas heaved through his tears. "I can finally gather myself together now. This is perfect."

"That's very good, Thomas," said Emily. "Now, we can begin."

"Yes...we...we can," said Thomas. "By my boiler, I have so, so much to tell you...and I've never been so traumatized in my life, be it awake or in a dream! Emily, my beautiful emerald angel, what I dreamt of surrounding you...I was relieved before that it never came to be, but now...oh, EMILY! Tonight's dream was the absolute worst I've ever had of you...and it's reawakened so many sensations I've had about you before...when I feared over you being scrapped, and when I proposed marriage to you...just after Sailor John's final imprisonment."

Emily remained silent for a moment as she looked at David and Beatrice, who both looked to her with a sense of realization to what this could be about. Then she spoke again, very clearly.

"Your behaviour today and yesterday...I knew it. It's about Sailor John, isn't it?"

Thomas looked up with a gasp and a lump in his throat. "H...how did you know?"

Emily buffered right up to Thomas and looked him in the eyes.

"It's all too obvious, Thomas. I first began to see creases of this behaviour when the Admiral visited yesterday. Skiff asked you if something were wrong, and you told him it was nothing...but it's clearly something. Don't you remember when I tried to ask you what was wrong earlier? I saw you again on your goods run and I tried to ask if it was anything about the Admiral's visit or Sailor John that was bothering you. Then you told me not to say anything about it, and just to stay safe, as you told me throughout today. I didn't know exactly why at first, but just this evening, I thought a little more, and I think I'm figuring out what this might be all about...you're having reminiscing memories over Sailor John, and everything he made befall you and I through the times his path crossed with yours and mine...and you were thinking about what could have been if things didn't turn out the way they did...am I right?"

Just like the face Emily bore when Thomas figured everything out about Gordon and James all those years ago, Thomas' look tonight said everything to Emily. He had been found out and there was nothing he could do to hide it anymore.

"Yes..." he mumbled as a few more tears escaped his eyes. "It's true..."

Emily looked grimly at David and Beatrice, then to Thomas again.

"Thomas...as you asked me all those years ago...why didn't you tell me? And what did you dream of?"

Thomas' heart began to pound very hard as he thought back to that nightmare again.

"I'm very, very sorry, Emily...I didn't tell you initially because I was so busy, and I couldn't figure out what to say and how to make it clear. It's just so much for me to out together. And my nightmare, it's the worst I ever dreamt of, Emily. Worse than my dream of you saying you would be scrapped, and worse than my dream of you crashing with the Mainland trucks and catching fire! I...I can barely even bring it up!"

Emily's eyes began to shimmer with great concern as she leaned in and touched her face to Thomas'.

"Well, then, Thomas...if that's true, then it's very clear to me that your nightmare had to be about Sailor John in some way or other. As you told me all those years ago at Black Loch, so I shall tell you. You don't deserve any of this. Please tell me how this all started."

Thomas looked to David and Beatrice, who were both looking right into his eyes, ready to hear everything themselves. Just as Emily did so all those years ago, Thomas looked into her eyes, seeing the care and worry she had for him. Her eyes and voice carried the exact same concern and sincerity as his voice carried for her. He felt himself feeling safer and safer as her tender hold won him over for the better.

"Alright, Emily. I'll tell you how it started. No more hiding. You'll hear everything. It...it's all about Sailor John!" Thomas whispered.

"Alright. It's about Sailor John...but why would it be?" asked Emily. "He's dead, Thomas. Never to return to this life again."

Thomas took a deep breath and looked up to the sky. There was more to all of this than Emily, David and Beatrice knew in the moment, and the only way to make it all clear was for Thomas to be brave and retell everything he had been thinking and feeling.

"Alright, everyone. I've been holding it all inside me since yesterday. Although you could probably say I've held it in ever since I heard of Sailor John's death. You see, Emily...I still can't quite believe that he's well and truly gone. Ever since you and David told me about it when Gina and I came back, I've held onto that sliver of knowledge with a very heavy heart. To know that he is no longer part of this life has brought great and definitive assurance to the Island of Sodor that we're all perfectly safe...but it has also left me with a steep price."

"What's that, Thomas?" Emily asked.

"Well, knowing he's dead is one thing. But having the Admiral visit Sodor again made think even more about Sailor John, since you talked in considerable detail about him with the Admiral, David. Then he expressed his respect and gratitude to you and I, Emily, for all that we did to stop that pirate."

"Yes, Thomas. He did," said Emily.

David's eyebrow raised as he too began to figure a few things out as Emily did.

"Hmm...so that's why you were a little isolated with Skiff," he pondered.

"That's right, David," said Thomas. "I've been brooding in memory over that pirate and everything that had ever happened by his doing. I still can't shake away the fact that he is truly dead and gone from this world. As such...I found myself rethinking everything about him. Now that his life is over, it's woken me up again to everything that happened whenever he crossed paths with us. From when I first met him while I was feeling so terrible over not being the Fat Controller's No. 1 Engine, to when we found the treasure together, then he demanded that I get the treasure back. And when I refused, he took it for himself, leading me into a chase which nearly took my life...then Skiff stopped him at the last moment, and Sailor John was sentenced to prison...and for two years, we thought that would be the last we'd ever hear or see of him."

"But it wasn't..." Emily put in.

"Yes, Emily...then he escaped from that prison and rallied all those men to his cause," Thomas continued. "He performed the Kathryn Heist through stealing all those weapons, then inflicted countless morphine attacks across Sodor, the worst of all of them being when Seymour Murphy killed your father, David."

David gripped his naval cutlass, and Beatrice shut her eyes tight over the thought as Thomas went on.

"Then he made his final move to strike. He had Diesel 10 chase Ryan down the cavern, I was almost blown up when the munitions and fuel were blown away, while Carly, Cranky and Big Mickey were all disjointed out of place. But everything he did to you, Emily...that's what brings me to my nightmare."

Emily swallowed hard. "Well...what was it about, Thomas?"

"I'll get to it, Emily. I promise," said Thomas. "He had 'Arry and Bert capture you and have you be tortured by Diesel 10's claw and threatened to burn Skiff alive if you didn't talk...then he took you to Vicarstown and blew up the viaduct...then I found you with no chance of saving you. Sailor John was finally ready to kill me...but not before he made me suffer just as he did...by killing you. He gave us only half an hour more before he'd make the move...but then in that moment of doom and demise...that's when the tide turned for all of us. Gordon, James, Henry and Hiro all came to our rescue, fought off Diesel 10 and Sailor John and rescued you, Emily. Then Phelps, Gallagher, General Malcolm and the Sudrian Military all closed the final deal on Sailor John, and we emerged truly victorious."

"Yes, Thomas. We did," said Emily. "And for three and a half years more, Sailor John was behind bars for a seventy-five year sentence. Until it was cut massively short, by his own doing. Driven mad with hopeless longing, he killed himself so as to truly escape everything."

"Yes. He's dead, Emily. Gone at last. And THAT is why I was brooding in his memory," said Thomas.

"Thomas...why didn't you tell me sooner?" Emily asked. "You didn't need to let it escalate to something as traumatic and devastating as whatever you dreamed of. You could have told me about your feelings and I would have assured you."

"Oh, dear. I honestly don't know why I didn't think about it earlier, Emily," said Thomas. "Maybe I didn't feel this way before because I was just so happy and relieved that we came out the other side. But I suppose my memories of Sailor John are now much more prevalent on my mind, since he is now dead. It's awoken me to everything he had done once more...and I couldn't help but imagine what could have happened if things didn't happen how they did."

"What do you mean, Thomas?" Emily asked.

"If a much worse thing happened," said Thomas. "A really frightful and devastating thing it would have been...if Gordon, James, Henry and Hiro had NOT come to the rescue that day. I had little flickers about that since yesterday...until...until I dreamt of it all."

"Oh..." Emily whispered deeply. "What might have happened, indeed...oh, Thomas. Tonight, as I slept in Tidmouth Sheds, I suddenly heard you tossing and grunting in your sleep. I was right there in front of you and I could tell through it all that it was a nightmare about me. I just didn't know how scathing and devastating it really was. If we're to help you in the way which only we can do...I need to know just what your nightmare was, Thomas."

Thomas looked very grimly at Emily. As he gazed at every feature she carried, he felt the image that haunted his mind above all festering in his head again. He began to shake a little with fear which Emily immediately sensed, but he knew he couldn't shy away this time. After what he had dreamt and witnessed this night, he'd have to muster all the bravery he could and come out with everything.

"Okay, Emily. I'll be brave...but I should warn you that you might get very scared...just as I was when I woke up."

"Okay, Thomas. I'm listening...and I'm right here," Emily said strongly.

Thomas took the deepest breath he could, ready as he would ever be. Then it all came out.

"After an entire day of thinking and brooding over Sailor John, tonight is when I dreamt everything. I dreamt I was looking for you, Emily, as I truly did after I heard of your kidnapping. I found you at Vicarstown, badly scratched, crushed and tortured by what Diesel 10 had done to you...everything Sailor John, you and I said came to be in that nightmare, just as we had truly spoken on that very day...until Sailor John announced he'd kill me at long last...but before he'd do that, he would make me suffer just as he did by killing you, then me."

Emily nodded silently, feeling her heart begin to pound as Thomas' voice began to tremble with recollection.

"He gave us the half hour of what he called 'mercy,' and so that time passed. But what was supposed to be twenty minutes was only twenty seconds in my dream. Ten more seconds went by, and Sailor John counted down to the seconds...until time was up."

"Then what?" Emily asked with a trembling voice herself.

"Th...then...he...he lit the dynamite, asked for last words...then threw it to you, Emily. The dynamite went up, then came down again toward you. You cried out once more...I shrieked your name...the explosion came...and you died!"

As Thomas began to shudder and whimper, David gripped his naval cutlass so hard with one hand, he felt grooves from the handle drawing into his palm, and with his other hand, he gripped his silver charm so hard, it nearly pricked into his palm, and Beatrice curled her fingers together very tightly to what Thomas had just said.

But what Emily felt was even heavier than anyone else. She felt her heart flip in a way she couldn't recall ever feeling before. Her boiler flared with a rush of heat that carried a great sense of shock and inner horror over such a thought. She remembered all too well facing what would have surely been her death if the big engines didn't come to Thomas and her rescue, and she could scarcely imagine what would have happened if such a scathing scar befell Thomas before he could have been killed.

"You were...you were killed, Emily!" Thomas heaved heavily as his voice began to crack. "You...you died!"

"T-Thomas...Thomas!" Emily gasped, shuddering herself. But Thomas had a lot more to say as his voice began to break.

"I...I only ever saw your smouldering remains, Emily...just as Sailor John truly told me I would see! They were scattered everywhere! Your entire front and boiler was completely blown away, your wheels were burning, your bufferbeam lay limply on the ground...and your face was gone! Then I saw your funnel come falling from the sky. It clattered over the ground, then stopped right before me...it was all over! I flew into a series of shrieks of ever-piercing and poisoning anguish before going quiet and stating how Sailor John still failed. I knew in that dream I'd be with you again, even if it were in death. I told Sailor John he was the weak one and he would never know love and friendship...and I somehow felt sorry for him. To that, he finally made his long sought-after pledge, and destroyed me...slowly. He threw stick after stick of dynamite at me, destroying my bufferbeam. Then he leaped across the gap and told me my 'feeble skills,' are no match for the power of a pirate's vendetta!"

"Oh...oh, God, Thomas!" Emily wheezed. "THEN what happened?!"

"I...I screamed to the sky for any salvation at all, screaming for Emma...and you to help me! But the explosions kept banging around me until silence befell us. Sailor John was right there, and he told me that at last...I would die. A few more explosions ensued, and I felt like my senses were already shutting down. My vision was blurry, my hearing distorted, and my head becoming very light...until at long last, he threw the last dynamite roll into the air...then with that, I DIED! Right on the explosion, I woke up and saw you right here with me...my beautiful emerald angel! The love of my life! My forever wife figure, Emily! Don't EVER leave me! NEVER be scrapped! NEVER be blown up! I CANNOT survive without you! I need you just as you need me! If you were ever scrapped or blown up, I'd BEG to be scrapped or blown up too! I WILL NOT let death part us! Your last words to me in that dream were that we were husband and wife figures, until death do us part! But NO, Emily! NOT until death do us part! We will NEVER be parted! I will stake EVERYTHING to see to it that NOTHING will EVER take us away from each other FOREVER!"

Emily, David and Beatrice all stared with eyes as big as dinner plates and sugarplums alike, their hearts all right up in their throats with everything Thomas had said. This had indeed been a most devastating experience for Thomas to go through, even though Sailor John was truly dead and even though it was just a nightmare never to come true. Nothing this intense and traumatic had ever befallen Thomas through a dream before, and for a few moments, neither Emily, nor David, nor Beatrice knew what to do...until the silence broke again.

Emily looked right into Thomas' eyes and could see everything coming together in the most emotionally crippling way possible. Thomas stared with cloudy eyes, trying with every last shroud of every last ounce of strength in his boiler not to cry, but even with every last speck of strength he bestowed, it would never be enough. It happened all over again. Thomas' face went very, very red. Not of anger or demonic drive, but rather of overwhelming trauma and racking distraught over the mere image that had drifted into his head this very night. His axles began twitching wildly and his lips had never quivered so hard before. He began to pant and hyperventilate to himself as he squeezed his eyes very tight, then descended into a heart-breaking series of sobs, coughs, groans and heaves. Big, big tears seeped out through his eyelids and flowed right down his cheeks every which way, filling his running plate right up into a pool of tears. Thomas sunk down, leaning almost two feet lower than he ever did, practically kneeling his body downward and sobbing profusely. All the trauma and recollection had finally got to him.

David and Beatrice just stared, too frozen and gobsmacked to make any response in the least. They knew that Sailor John's death would leave a certain impression on Thomas, but they both had to admit that neither of them expected it to be such an impression as this. At least not to the extremes it rose to.

David was deeply affected by what Thomas said too. He had grown to love Emily very much in his own way as part of the family bloodline from his father to himself when it came to holding a personal sense of ownership with Emily, and even as a Navy Soldier, he had been hit hard by everything Thomas said. He looked grave to his mother, nearly about to cry himself, then bowed his head and rested it right on his mother's shoulder.

Beatrice felt her motherly side stir specially within her as she looked around for a moment. Then when she heard David begin to gasp and sob a little himself, she slowly cradled her arms right around him, caressing him softly and comfortably as she looked to Emily with shimmering eyes.

Emily blinked to Beatrice, then could only stare at the love of her life, feeling her heart pound and flip to everything Thomas had described. There had been plenty of dramatic episodes surrounding Thomas back when his inner demon was still active, while Emily was still under suffering and when big things like the Mainland Truck's death and the showdown at Vicarstown had occurred, but of all the times Emily saw Thomas break down in tears, this seemed to be the most destroyed he could ever be when it came to his unchanging feelings for the engine he loved beyond all else. But even in this midst of distraught, post-traumatic stress and feeling of desolation, there was a remedy to be cured with, in the best ways there could ever be, even for something as scathing as Thomas' nightmare.

After what felt like fifteen minutes of crackling emotion Thomas kept spewing out while Emily let him, she blinked again and puffed carefully toward her crippled star and began caressing his buffers with hers and brushing his face with her lips while he sobbed even harder. Thomas sobbed in agony as he leaned desperately into his angel's caress.

"I...I CAN'T lose you, Emily! I LOVE you, Emily!" Thomas heaved in anguish. "PLEASE don't go...EVER!"

"Shh...shhh...Never, Tommy. I'll never go..." Emily whispered as she slowly, but surely calmed her star's badly disturbed soul.

It took almost twenty minutes of gentle caresses, cuddles and little brushes from her lips to his cheeks, but eventually, Thomas' sobs, pants and hyperventilation eased away and he finally opened his eyes again. He saw Emily smiling gently and her eyes gleaming like sapphires in the stars and moon high above. Thomas had to admit her eyes never looked so beautiful as they did right now, and her voice never sounded so angelic and pure when she spoke next.

"Thomas, my handsome cobalt star. My love...my husband," she stated angelically. "Everything is going to be alright. I promise you that beyond any shroud of doubt. As you told me about my days of pain and anguish, the same fate has befallen everything about Sailor John and Diesel 10. Those days are gone forever. Such horrors will NEVER befall either of us again. The Fat Controller has assured us all that we shall be as safe as ever can be, now that the evil truck is gone and any further trucks we may have on the island won't ever try such stunts again. Diesel 10 is defeated for the last time, and Sailor John is dead, no more, ceased to be, bereft of life. Gone forever, never to return to this life again for the rest of time. There will be ups and downs like there always have been...but you and I, Thomas, are going to be perfectly alright. I love you, and we will never be broken away from each other."

Thomas had heard everything Emily just said, and he began to feel tears welling up in his eyes again. But rather than tears of anguish and desolation, they were now tears of the four known Advents of God. Hope, peace, joy and above all, love. Hope for everything that had turned out perfectly in the end, as that hope would go on for the rest of time between him and Emily. Peace for all the times Emily calmed his inner demon and all the times they would spend together ever since they began all those years go. Joy for all the happiness and harmony that Emily brought into Thomas' life and would continue to do. And love. Love that was stronger than any pain, burden, trauma or any other obstacle that would ever befall them. For the first time in quite a long time, everything was perfect for Thomas again as he sobbed with such joy.

"Thank you!" he sobbed greatly. "Thank you, Emily! My beautiful emerald angel! My love...my wife!"

And with that he pressed his face right into her face, all while he continued to cry with such overwhelming happiness while Emily smiled from buffer to buffer and stayed right there, cuddling and caressing him for as long as they pleased. David and Beatrice were nearly set to cry themselves as they held each other close too and let the wholesomeness of everything sink in for quite a fair while into the night.

And so after twenty minutes had gone by, Thomas' tears stopped and he regained himself as he smiled right to Emily, and she smiled right to him. She could tell his fears were finally subsiding and that he had nothing to fear now.

"Well, Thomas...are you cured of your past fears, now that Sailor John is no more? Do you trust in everything I said?" she asked quietly.

"Oh, Emily...my beautiful Emily," Thomas whispered. "I trust you with all my soul. I love you so much. And thank you forever, for everything you have given me and will always give me through our lives. I promise you that I am never leaving either. You're right about everything you said just now, and I could never feel more happy and grateful to hear such words from you."

Emily smiled even more. Then suddenly widened her eyes a little bit as she remembered one certain thing Thomas mentioned when he described the nightmare to her and the Riders. She remembered what she and her driver had put together earlier that evening, and perhaps she could work it in, depending on what words would be exchanged through the night.

"Hey, Thomas..." she said very clearly. "I...I just remembered something I recall you saying about your nightmare..."

"Yes? What's that, Emily?" Thomas asked.

Emily leaned right in and kissed Thomas on his lips, nibbling into his lips for a moment before she smooched quietly and let go.

"What you said what my final words to you were, Thomas...that I said we were husband and wife figures...until death to us part."

Thomas breathed with a deep shudder and sighed before he kissed her lips in turn. David looked and saw Beatrice close her eyes, almost crying again as she thought about the passing of her beloved Lawrence. Even though he still appeared spiritually every now and then, the memory was still too strong to look past even for David's mother.

"Oh, Thomas..." Beatrice whimpered quietly. "That's one of the sacred vows of all marriages. A vow as old as time, and what must be followed for all couples who pledge themselves to each other into undying love."

"Yes, Beatrice...and yes, Emily," Thomas whispered. "Your mention of me being your husband and what you said after that. It's that aspect that makes me stir above all else. You stated how we had held together in love right to the very end, that we were husband and wife figures for each other...until death do us part."

Something very, very deep within Emily stirred her soul to these words. She fell silent and stared as deeply as she could into Thomas' eyes, the windows to his soul. In the silence that ensued, Emily felt herself putting brand new pieces together and forming a realization that no one else that had been married had ever taken into account in Sudrian life.

"Yes...so I did," Emily whispered. "Oh, Thomas...that is one of the most sacred vows to make in any marriage."

"I know," Thomas breathed.

"But you know, Thomas..." Emily spoke purely. "I think I have a different way of viewing our love, compared to how people do. In spite of that vow being a hallmark for true marriage, and a vow beyond any count of doubt for people...in my heart, I don't believe that even death would part us."

"What ever in the world do you mean, Emily?" Thomas asked.

Emily buffered even closer, pressing her face right to his. Thomas saw her eyes glimmering in the moon and stars. She puckered her lips and very softly kissed his upper lip, dotting her tongue on his skin while she did so, then kissed his bottom lip before she let go and continued very softly.

"Remember when you were frightened that I would be scrapped, shortly after you returned from the construction of the Harwick Branch Line?"

"Yes, Emily...I do, indeed," Thomas whispered.

"Well...I've never forgotten what you told me just before I reassured you," said Emily. "You said that if I were ever scrapped, you'd gladly be scrapped too. Now of course, that day will never come to be for either of us, just as the Fat Controller told me to assure you of...but when I heard you say those words, I knew right then and there that death can't part us. If one of us ever went down...the other would go too. And we would be together always. Just you and I, and no one else. As Emma has shown you and I, and as Lawrence showed me and David...death isn't the end of it all. Those around us who have departed this life live on with us...but there is no reason to think like that and get in too deep, Tommy. We're all here together...and you and I will always be together...forever."

"Oh...E-Emily..." Thomas whimpered, his eyes shimmering with tears again. "I...I have no words..."

"No need for words, Tommy," Emily whispered. "Just you and I are all that matter to each other beyond all else..."

And they leaned in and gently kissed again, whispering "I love you," over and over for a few more minutes before they let go again.

"It's truly amazing, Emily," Thomas whispered. "And your words couldn't give me more strength. We will be together always. Just you and I."

Beatrice's heart was swelling to everything she had been hearing. She smiled right to Emily and blew her a kiss.

"You have such beautiful words to say to all of us, Emily," Beatrice whispered purely. "You're a truly spectacular engine in every way there can be. My husband was such a wonderful man to be your driver, then see you move on to Sodor...and ultimately bring my son and I full circle here too."

Emily smiled then looked to David. He felt his heart stirring strongly too. Everything that had been spoken tonight made him think about something he read about in due course over his life. He walked up to Emily and touched her bufferbeam, then smiled at Thomas.

"Emily couldn't be more right about everything she said, Thomas. And...given the topics that have arisen tonight, it all reminds me. It so happens that I have my own view of what happens at the end of life, and the end of time as we know it."

Thomas and Emily both looked David in the eye.

"What do you mean, David?" Emily whispered.

David's eyes glimmered in the stars and moon and he spoke very quietly, but very clearly and wholesomely.

"Some people imagine death to be eternal blackness and stillness. Some say it's a pathway to the Golden Gates of God's Heavenly Realm. But literature can say most otherwise. In the words of Gandalf the Wizard in the story of 'The Lord of the Rings,' the grey rain curtain of this world rolls back, then all turns to silver glass...and then you see it."

"What...David? See what?" Thomas asked.

David slowly looked out to the sea, his eyes glistening with stirring sensations and his heart beating strongly too.

"White shores..." he whispered. "And beyond...a far green country...under a swift sunrise."

Thomas and Emily didn't know what to make of this. They never thought of anything like this, but it made both their hearts ripple so steadily, they felt as though they would faint. It sounded so very sacred and perfect, there was surely no way it could be topped.

"Well...that's not the end of all," Thomas whispered. "That tells me there's never an end of all."

"No, Thomas. It's not the end. Not in the very least," Emily whispered purely.

David shook his head then patted Emily's smokebox.

"No...no, it isn't. Remember what Sir Topham Hatt told Emily to tell you, Thomas? After you returned from the Harwick Construction Site and you worried over Emily being scrapped? 'I assure you, completely, absolutely and beyond any possible doubt, I will NEVER scrap any engine on the Island of Sodor. You, Emily are Sodor's angel and you will ALWAYS live on Sodor forever.' And so that shall remain for the two of you."

"Oh, yes, David..." Thomas breathed. "After everything that has befallen us over these years, Sodor is indeed a safe haven beyond any shadow of doubt, for me, Emily, you, David, and your mother...all of us right here on Sodor."

"And if you consider these to be Sudrian prophecies," David proclaimed. "They have all come true. You two have been joined together by the bonds of sacred love, never to be broken away. Sailor John is gone, and Diesel 10 defeated forever, never to return to service again. Most of the diesels work in peace with the steam engines as they all thrive, multiply and build upon Sodor's civilizations."

"Prophecies. Hmph!" Thomas huffed suddenly. "Emily and I had a hand, or rather, buffer in all of that, given everything we've gone through together."

"You're right, Thomas," said Emily. "I wouldn't go so far as to call those events prophecies, David. I don't think we could ever foretell as deeply as a prophet for those events to come forth, but in the end, they did come forth through all that Thomas and I have gone through together, and that is admirable indeed."

David nodded solidly and spoke again.

"Well, my very dear friends. In the words of Gandalf's closing message to Bilbo Baggins in the story of 'The Hobbit'...surely you don't disbelieve the prophecies because you helped bring them about? You don't really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck? Just for your sole benefit? You are both very fine engines, Thomas and Emily. And I am very fond of you. But we're only quite little beings in a wide world after all."

"...Thank goodness," Thomas and Emily spoke together.

Then Emily suddenly remembered something else. She thought back to the aspect of marriage vows, then felt a great tingle course through her boiler as she shuddered and swooned very dreamily, making Thomas look up. He felt like something truly special and beautiful would befall them both.

"Emily...what is it?" he asked. "You seem very...driven, all of a sudden."

"Oh...oh, Thomas," Emily whispered, blushing pink. "I remembered something else I was hoping to do tonight...and now with the aspect of marriage vows that we mentioned tonight, I think I know the very thing to do tonight...especially given that this was about Sailor John."

"And what is that, Emily?" Thomas asked.

"You see, Thomas...the fact that your shifty nature occurred because of Sailor John...it reminds me of how you acted nervous and shifty around me just after we were shown the film projection of Sailor John's final sentencing and imprisonment. There's something my driver would like us to remind you of...he told me so just this evening. Something very special...and sacred that you gave me that night."

"Oh...is it...could it be...?" Thomas asked.

Emily's driver then came down from her cab, hiding his hands behind his back. Thomas began to think back to that time three and a half years ago, and just as he thought he knew what it was going to be, Emily's driver revealed that very white decorative box. Thomas immediately felt everything flow back to him. Then he watched as her driver opened that box up and showed Thomas just what was inside.

"Oh...E...Emily!" Thomas gasped. "That...that's your...your bridal veil! The one I gave you!"

"Yes, my love," Emily whispered wistfully and kissed his nose. "As I told you before, Thomas. Marriage is not required for our bond of love. Love is all we need...but given your dire situation, I see no fault in bringing the topic up again. As I told you before, if we were people, I would have certainly married you on the night we kissed at Knapford Sheds for the first time. Now, in light of my assuring you in the best way that can be tonight...just as I did for you on the very night you gave this to me...would you like me to be your bride tonight?"

Thomas' eyes swelled to nearly three times their size, and his lips curled upward into the biggest smile he'd ever worn as his heart nearly burst.

"Oh...yes, Emily! I would LOVE to have that happen once again!" he whispered heavily.

So Emily's driver climbed onto her running plate and gently placed the bridal veil around her funnel. Now Thomas could see his emerald angel as his emerald bride, and he loved what he saw beyond anything. The bridal veil gently blew in the ocean breeze, and Emily's smile couldn't be more enticing and truly beautiful.

"Ohh, Emily..." Thomas swooned as he leaned in and kissed her nose. "You're so...so beautiful, my emerald bride."

"Yes, Thomas. Yes..." Emily whispered. "And you're my handsome cobalt groom...my perfect Tommy..."

"Well, my goodness. Isn't it astounding, Mum?" David whispered. "Truly unbelievable."

"It is, David...but here it is, in front of our eyes," Beatrice whispered back. "A perfect couple on rails. No one else like them."

Then as the two engines nuzzled closely together, Thomas suddenly felt another thought tweak his mind. He suddenly felt something else come to mind, which he wondered if David could answer, being a Navy Captain, and what being such a captain could carry beyond the authority of a ship...and something else he had not yet done with Emily in regard to their personal viewing to each other as husband and wife figures.

"Love is all we need as engines...and yet if we were people, we would have married. David?" Thomas pondered.

"Yes, Thomas?" said David.

"This just came to mind...I know Emily and I agreed that marriage is not required for engines. Love is all we need, but as you're here with us, I just can't help but wonder. If we were people and we were due to be married...would you have married us? Rumour has it that Navy Captains can marry people...but is that true?"

"Oh...by my buffers...is that true, David?" Emily whispered.

David raised an eyebrow to this and felt some complications arise in Thomas' question. He knew this question and debate all-too well like other Navy Captains did. But his answer was otherwise from what Thomas' expected.

"Hmm. That is a most interesting thing to ponder," he said in a factual manner. "Had I been a Vicar myself, and had you two been people, the answer would easily be yes. And there are certainly rumours around that nautical aspect, but it's a tricky area, Thomas. Marriages have indeed been performed at sea by Navy Captains...but there are specific standards and proceedings to how it can and can't be done. In so far as I know, certain Navy Captains CAN marry men and women who are seafarers themselves, and part of the Navy caliber. But they CAN'T marry anyone else besides, unless the captain has been a judge, a cleric or minister, or an officially reckoned-with officiant of some sort. In short, it could be done, but only if such requirements as I mentioned are obtained. Out of inquiry, why do you ask?"

"Hmm. I see," said Thomas. "Well...I was just wondering how it works...but then again, since Emily and I are engines, such rules for a Captain performing a marriage or courtship only apply to people and real weddings. Is that not correct?"

"Yes..." David pondered questionably. "What are you coming at, Thomas?"

"Well...Captain Rider," Thomas said solidly. "I only ask this question due to the dire nightmare I dreamt tonight. Emily and I do not require marriage, and I am not asking you to do so in the least. For the umpteenth time, love is all we need, and we have made our own sacred vows to each other, which will NEVER be broken...but in light of such glamorous reassuring I've been given after the most devastating nightmare to ever cross my smokebox...do you think Emily and I could recite the vows of marriage to each other? Just to hear what they sound like, and to see what it would have been like, if we were people? What do you think, Emily?"

Emily slowly gasped and formed a smile of riveting, shimmering love. She felt a similar sensation to what she felt when Thomas first gave her the bridal veil. She felt herself becoming very happy as her eyes glimmered and twinkled vigorously to the moon and stars.

"Oh...oh, Thomas...Thomas...I...I never thought you'd bring this forward. Love is all we need forever and ever...but I think it would be truly beautiful for us, just to feel what it may have been like. At least to hear the words and feel the sensation."

David fell silent and thought deeply to himself. Even he had never heard of the prospect of engines who were in love considering marriage. He knew just as well as Emily that it wouldn't seem right to do, but he also knew just how happy Emily was when Thomas gave her that bridal veil and that they personally considered themselves as husband and wife. At last, he made an answer.

"Despite the fact that engines don't marry...and while you two are your own husband and wife figures in your own way...I suppose it would be a special thing to see and hear what it would be like for you two, had you been people. As such...you may speak the vows...but ONLY to hear and feel what it's like, for I know all-too well that you made your own most sacred and pure vows, long, long ago on that most blessed night."

Emily looked up and felt her heart stir as Thomas buffered perfectly straight to his angel, their buffers lining up perfectly down to the millimetre. Thomas looked right up to Emily's bridal veil, then right into her lovely eyes as he spoke the words of the vow.

"Ever since that night in Knapford Sheds, on the night of most fortunate circumstances, I, Thomas the Tank Engine, have taken thee, Emily the Stirling Single, to be my beloved wife figure, to have and to hold, ever since our first true kiss at Knapford Sheds, and so it shall go on. I take thee for better for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish...until the end of time do us part, unto God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth...my beautiful emerald angel and wife."

Emily's heart shuddered so very strongly and she took such a deep breath and hummed so very clearly as she spoke the vow in turn.

"Ever since that night in Knapford Sheds, on the night of most fortunate circumstances, I, Emily the Stirling Single, have taken thee, Thomas the Tank Engine, to be my beloved husband figure, to have and to hold, ever since our first true kiss at Knapford Sheds, and so it shall go on. I take thee for better for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish...until the end of time do us part, unto God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth...my handsome cobalt star and husband."

David nodded surely and cupped his hands together with a little wink.

"Yes...those are the words of the vow," he said sacredly. "Now...had I been the Vicar, these would be my specially chosen words myself. Upon these vows, do you pledge to hold together until the end of time?"

"We do," Thomas and Emily spoke together.

"Just as we did all those years ago...in Knapford Sheds," said Thomas.

"And so it shall remain forever," said Emily.

David nodded and spoke again.

"Now...had you two been people, and had I been the Vicar, I would have been the one to pronounce you husband and wife. But in your own special emerald and cobalt ways, you two are already your own husband and wife figures, which can never be changed. However, I believe I can still do something to express such sacred nature. Here is how I would do it, if engines could marry. Are you ready?"

Thomas and Emily nodded together. David nodded again, then formed a very sacred, definitive expression, and drew his naval cutlass, bringing it upwards, then gently touching the end of the blade to Thomas and Emily's bufferbeams, as if he were dubbing a medieval gentleman into a Knight.

"Thomas the Tank Engine. Emily the Stirling Single. By the right of my family's bloodline, by the will of the Island of Sodor, dub thee I do, the one and only true emerald angel and cobalt star of Sodor. You may kiss."

And so with that, Thomas and Emily buffered together, closed their eyes and brought their lips together for this very kiss. Through this ritual, they felt such powerful stirrings that their lips tingled immensely to their kiss as they deepened it bit by bit, humming and cooing most dreamily into each other's mouths for about five minutes, until they let go with a happy gasp and a look of definitive devotion to each other. This had been a most astounding night so far...and even now, it wasn't over yet.

"Well...that's that," Thomas whispered. "I am now cured in the very best ways I could ever imagine, Emily."

"Oh, Thomas," Emily whispered in turn. "I am very proud to be yours, and yours only."

But then Thomas suddenly realized something else. One other factor that might have contributed to why everything happened the way they did over these two days. He suddenly formed a deep and longing look in his eyes.

"But you know, Emily," he said. "The night isn't over yet. I believe it's time we move on to the very best thing we can ever do tonight."

"And what would that be, Thomas?" Emily asked.

Thomas smiled and kissed the very center of her cheek, making her gasp and coo happily.

"Since you've made me so very happy tonight, Emily...I want us to truly flourish tonight...together...in each other's gifts. At Black Loch."

Emily gasped and felt her heart tingle again. It had been quite a long while since she and Thomas were there. The last time she could recall being there was when she and Thomas had their steamy reunion after she and David returned with Beatrice, and just the night after she and Percy had a steamy reunion of their own. It had also been a big window of time since she and Thomas had had much of a chance to truly flourish together in a night of passion at all. Ever since he had returned from Italy with Gina, and even before Percy's accident, he and Emily didn't get that chance beforehand, which meant it had been at least three weeks since they had done anything heavily significant together.

"Yes, Tommy...I would truly love that," Emily whispered. "We've not had much of a chance to do so together since Percy's accident. Perhaps we're a little too overdue of our gifts for each other, given everything that happened surrounding Percy...and Gina coming back, of course."

"Yes, Emily...and perhaps that's why I felt the way I did about Sailor John," Thomas admitted. "The more I think about it, perhaps we haven't been romantically productive enough. But a night with you at Black Loch would truly make everything perfect for me again. Thank you for joining us tonight, David and Beatrice. You have both made this night truly amazing in your way."

David performed a navy salute to the two engines, and Beatrice nodded to them both.

"Now, Tommy," Emily said sweetly. "Shall we be on our way?"

Thomas smiled sweetly too. "A definite yes, my emerald angel and bride."

David and Beatrice got back inside Emily and she and Thomas slowly huffed away from the pier with her bridal veil blowing beautifully in the breeze until they came back to David's house, where they stepped down from Emily and bade goodnight to the two engines.

"I'm so happy to see you and Emily in such perfect spirits again, Thomas. Have a wonderful night," Beatrice smiled.

"Yes, indeed. Have a most special night, both of you," said David as he and Beatrice went back inside and went back to bed.

"Come on, Tommy," Emily whispered. "Let us puff off together...to our one and only true kingdom on Sodor...where you and I are ever King and Queen."

"As you wish, my perfect Emily," Thomas whispered. "Tonight is going to be another night of magic between us."

So he and Emily made their way swiftly through the night, out of Arlesburgh and back along the Main Line. As they passed back through Knapford, the stars were becoming more and more numerous as it was now 2:20 a.m. in the night. It was indeed very, very late, but this didn't matter to Thomas or Emily. Tonight was for them and only them, and they would not waste any of it after the stirrings and events that had been exchanged between them and the Riders. They were both in for another most spell-bound night together.

---

At last, as the moon shone right over their heads, right in the middle of the sky, the Cobalt Tank Engine and Emerald Stirling Single came upon the Misty Valley Branch Line, where they took the line of shady trees, then rolling cliffs in the distance...and then, right there before their very eyes, they saw it. They were at Black Loch again at last, right by the glass-smooth lake with the stars and moon reflecting right off the surface, and the cliffs and hillside all illuminated in a most serene glow in the moonlight. After a rather long time since they were here last, Thomas and Emily once again felt that Black Loch was more beautiful than ever. There was no more perfect place to be than where they were now.

"Here we are...you and me...oh, my dear, sweet wife figure, Emily..." Thomas whispered purely.

"Yes...we're here again...oh, Tommy...my dear, perfect husband figure..." Emily whispered just as purely.

Thomas then buffered up to Emily and took a deep breath as he stared into her beautiful glittering eyes.

"I've said it many times before, and I will keep saying it whenever I can," said Thomas. "I love you so much, Emily. And I'll always take whatever time I can to be with you. As I have said before, you are a truly amazing, brave, gentle, kind, funny, sweet and truly beautiful steam engine. Your gorgeous curves and body can never be matched by any other engine, from your golden handrails over your head and along your sides, to the lovely gold lining on your emerald livery, to your crimson red bufferbeam and silver buffers, your smokebox that bears the shape of a beautiful woman's hair, your angel-ringed, smooth funnel, your perfectly rounded cheeks and chin, your adorable little nose, your soft, warm and creamy lips...and your wonderful smile! Oh, Emily! You're nearly too perfect for words, my beautiful emerald angel."

Emily felt her boiler bubble and tingle with such delight as she pecked Thomas' cheeks with a few little kisses of bubbling joy.

"Ohh...ooh, thank you, Thomas," Emily cooed happily. "And just as I've said before and will continue to say whenever I can...I love you so much too, Thomas. I'll always spend every moment I can with you. You're a brave, kind, determined, thoughtful, cute and truly handsome steam engine. Your six small wheels, your short stumpy funnel, your short stumpy boiler and short stumpy dome all fit together perfectly, your blue paint and red stripes both fit together just right, and your chipper, dedicated heart can never be matched by any others on Sodor. You're the one who made me realize we're meant to be together through all there is to be, for always and always and always. And for all of that, I will never stop loving you, Thomas...my handsome cobalt star."

Thomas shuddered all over and leaned in and kissed Emily's cheeks a few times to thank her for her sweet words.

"And...now that we're here again, Thomas," she added quietly. "I think it's time we give each other the gifts only you and I ever give. And I think we should have a very soft, gentle and quiet night together...please? It's only been a few days since I came back, especially given Percy's accident. We haven't had a chance to be intimate, be it gentle or fiery for three whole weeks...and I know it's the perfect way for me to sooth one of your greatest post traumatic experiences..."

Thomas nodded in full agreement as he prepared himself for the gentle, but steady night of love ahead.

"So...my love," Emily whispered excitedly. "Would you like to...have some fun tonight? Just lovely, quiet fun?"

"Oh...Emily, my love," Thomas whispered. "As long as it makes you happy...I'll never refuse."

And so the ritual of love began. Thomas and Emily touched their lips together and began leaning left and right, rubbing their lips on each other's surfaces and sending a sheer jolt of almost electric passion through their faces. Then as they touched each other's faces, their warm skin made them feel so very comfortable, almost as if they were in a real bed of velvet and silk. Then their lips puckered and they softly locked together, pulling each other into a deepening, intoxicating kiss. Thomas pressed his tongue against Emily's mouth, softly asking for passage, to which she immediately pleased. Both engines began to blush and coo in their kiss with their tongues wrestling around in their mouths warmly and slippery. Thomas could already feel his nightmare dissolving out of any form of existence or memory as all he felt was the fervor and magic of Emily's lips.

About ten minutes later, they had to let go and gasp for all the air they spent. The red in their faces ebbed away as they smiled very steadily to each other, both feeling more and more enthralled by what they were experiencing and feeling together.

"Oh...oh, Emily," Thomas whispered. "You have such perfect lips...so soft and creamy...and such sparkling eyes...and your bridal veil! It's all infinitely perfect. My beautiful emerald bride. My perfect and forever wife figure."

"Oh...oh, my forever husband figure, Thomas," Emily hummed. "I love cuddling with you and kissing you. This is such a beautiful start."

"Every start is beautiful, Emily," Thomas smiled. "Now...may I?"

Emily opened her mouth and reached her pretty, pink tongue out. Then she licked Thomas right on his cheek, making him exclaim excitedly.

"I'm yours, and yours only, Thomas," she whispered wistfully. "I'm ready for you."

"Perfect. Take a nice, deep breath, Emily," Thomas whispered. "Make yourself very comfortable."

Emily smiled and took a deep breath in, leaning upward a little as she did. Then she sighed nice and slowly, holding her smile as she closed her eyes. As Thomas heard her beautiful sigh, he felt her warm, soothing breath pass right over his cheeks, making him shudder all over. Then Thomas buffered closely and gently to her, staring into her eyes glistening in the moonlight. He came as close as he could and whispered very softly.

"Are you happy, Emily? Are you ready to feel again how much I love you?" Thomas asked.

"Ohh, Tommy," she cooed sweetly. "Please give me all your love…"

Thomas smiled, then began his move. He very softly kissed her cute, petite little nose, keeping his lips there and feeling how rubbery and soft it was. Emily uttered a sweet, titillating giggle as her nose tickled and twitched to Thomas' lips before he let go again. He then began to kiss her beautiful, soft, sensitive and creamy cheeks over and over, while she blushed a lovely pink and moaned quietly. Thomas' kisses were so gentle and soft on her cheeks, and she felt her face becoming warmer and warmer with every fluttering kiss he gave her. Thomas was falling right under her spell of euphoria even with them being so gentle and intimate, But suddenly, he went a little lower and began kissing her round chin and licking it lovingly. Emily gasped sharply then moaned.

"Ohh...! Oh...ooh, Tommy...T-T-Tommy..." she moaned dreamily and blissfully. "Oh, Tommy...oh..."

Then Thomas leaned back up and opened his mouth, reaching his tongue out to the tip of her cheek, then began to lick in little circles. To this, Emily moaned strongly. As Thomas kept licking and teasing her cheek, tasting the perfect sense of peaches and strawberries he always knew since the start, he suddenly felt as though Emily's cheeks carried another flavour, given the circumstances that had transpired this night. Thomas now felt a new tingle shimmer through his heart as he imagined what it felt like.

"E-E...Emily!" Thomas wheezed. "Your cheeks...they're so soft and warm...and...oh! They're so, so sweet!"

Emily felt every instant of Thomas' lips and tongue gently preening and worshipping the tips of her cheeks, shuddering and giggling to every tickly sensation she felt rush through her, and making her blush much deeper.

"Oh...Thomas...Thomas!" she squealed. "You're...you're making me go crazy!"

"Oh, you look so happy, Emily," Thomas cooed. "I'll make you even happier."

"Oh...please make me very happy, Tommy! Pretty-pretty-ple-e-ease?" Emily begged sweetly.

Thomas let go of her cheek for a moment, then began to nibble and suck every little spot on her cheeks that he could. Emily was purely elated at the feeling she now felt on her very sensitive cheeks. She felt as though her entire boiler would start tickling all over any moment.

"Ooh...that feels so...so good..." she moaned before giggling again as Thomas began to lick her cheeks again.

Thomas absolutely loved the taste of Emily's beautiful skin. It was so sweet and soft with the taste of peaches and strawberries bringing such a succulent sense to Thomas' tongue, but he still felt as though there was more to Emily's lovely cheek tonight. As he licked her lovingly across her cheek, listening to her squeal and giggle every moment, he thought a little about it, then it came to him. It felt as though he were licking a marshmallow gently lathered with pink icing, and he could feel his happiness melting his heart as he leaned in and licked Emily right over her lips, with her giggling and laughing continuing with every second.

At last, after fifteen more minutes, Thomas slowed down and let Emily rest and catch her breath. After a few moments, Thomas pressed his nose to hers and smiled from buffer to buffer to how she smiled at him, her cheeks blushing with such delight and tingling passion.

"Was that fun, my sweet, happy angel?" Thomas whispered.

"Oh...oh, Thomas..." Emily panted. "You...you are amazing...Thank you!"

"Don't thank me, Emily...thank your cheeks," Thomas smiled. "Your cheeks are so big and beautiful, Emily...and they're so, so sweet. Especially tonight."

Emily blushed. "Aww, you're very sweet yourself. What do my cheeks taste like, Tommy? Peaches and strawberries? Hm-hm-hm-hm!"

"The very peaches and strawberries I knew since the start," Thomas blushed. "But I think tonight is blessed upon us, Emily. Your cheeks taste like marshmallows with pink icing, which makes you...my emerald cupcake. You taste sweet everywhere I kiss you…and…oh, Emily…I love you so much."

They both remained silent for a few moments before Thomas made another move. He puckered his lips and kissed the little curves in Emily's smile, right at the corners of her mouth, making her squeal with delight. After that, Thomas slowly went lower as he kept kissing her. He gently held her hips and began kissing her soft chin again, then back up to her cheeks again. Emily felt her skin tickling immensely to Thomas' fluttering kisses, and she kept jumping and shaking a little as she felt Thomas' lips smooch steadily everywhere he kissed.

"I love your cheeks, Emily," Thomas whispered. "I love sleeping right on them as my pillow."

"Aww, Thomas," Emily blushed.

Emily found it intensely hard not to giggle and chortle to everything Thomas was worshipping her with, and when Thomas began nibbling right between her nose and her upper lip.

"Tickle-tickle, Emily," he whispered playfully. Then he began to nibble the tips of her cheeks as softly as he could.

"Oh! He-e-ey! T-Thomas! Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho! That tickles!" Emily squealed, shuddering strongly and her excitement rising drastically.

Thomas didn't have any thought whatsoever of stopping now. He kept nibbling, kissing and dotting his tongue wherever he touched his lips to his emerald angel, queen and wife. But Emily's sweet, giggly and titillating voice was the most magical music to his ears as all her coos, chirps, whimpers, giggles and squeals all made Thomas feel like he was going crazy. As soft and gentle as he was being tonight, Emily could feel her steam creeping and trickling to her pipes again, right into her cylinders and steam ports, tickling her very softly inside as Thomas kept nibbling and sucking her cheeks, until she let out a series of whispers.

"T-Tommy...I...I...I'm gonna...I'm gonna b...I'm gonna burst!" she whispered frantically, but happily.

Then with a squeal and a "toot-toot," of her whistle, she let off a lovely hiss of steam, letting it swirl through the air and along Thomas' face, making him sigh and whistle himself with such joy and pride while he heard Emily shudder and sigh very happily. After about two minutes, Emily's steam drifted away and she buffered right up to Thomas and began raining soft little kisses on his face to reward him.

"Oh, my sweet, adorable Tommy!" she cooed. "That was so much fun! I love you, Thomas! I love you!"

Thomas blushed and chortled with such a shudder as he stared up to her bridal veil. "Thank you, E-Em...I love you too."

Then Emily let go of Thomas and took a dreamy gaze at him, seeing the little lip-marks she left on his face. He had done such a lovely job tonight, but now it was Emily's turn. She began to blush again as she buffered right up and gave him a seductive, inviting look.

"What do you say I give you all your presents now...for making me feel so...so dreamy?" she asked sweetly.

Thomas began to giggle and stammer nervously, to which Emily hushed him softly and kissed his round little nose.

"Shh...I love you," she whispered. "Let me kiss you, my love...let me kiss you all over..."

Then with a giggle of joy, she began her true share of the night. She puckered her beautiful lips and began to very softly kiss his cheeks, smiling and blushing happily all the way, to which Thomas immediately gasped sharply, then began blushing himself.

"Oh, Emily...Emily...oh..." he whispered, hypnotized by her sheer, overpowering banter.

Emily cooed with such vigor and passion as she cuddled and pampered Thomas everywhere with her soft, creamy and cuddly lips. She kissed his cheeks so softly, they were like a butterfly to his cheeks. With every kiss she planted on his face, she saw him blush more and more and keep remarking quietly and passionately how good she made him feel, which made her very happy. She then brushed and petted his cheek with her lips, dotting her tongue along his cheek as she did.

"Ooh...you're so handsome and cute, Tommy," she giggled. "I love you...I never want to stop kissing you..."

And she leaned in and kissed him right on his chin, then began to nibble and suck on it too.

"Ooh! That t-tickles, Emily!" Thomas shook strongly.

Emily giggled right back as she kept nibbling and sucking on his chin. His excited laughs and chortles escalated as Emily leaned upward and practically put a spell on his face, kissing, nibbling and sucking on his cheeks and whispering, "I love you," over and over, making him feel more and more immensely driven with lust. Then after fifteen minutes of Emily's chance to kiss, nibble and tickle Thomas, she took it to the next motion herself.

Emily slowed down and took a few breaths to herself as she stared into Thomas' eyes. He began to feel that there would be just one more major gift for Emily to give him, and he couldn't help but feel nervous over the constitution.

"Time to light your fire, Tommy," Emily whispered, purring softly and making Thomas' heart jolt.

Then Thomas watched as Emily slowly opened her mouth and reached her beautiful pink tongue out toward his cheek, right until it touched to his skin. Thomas visibly shuddered all over as Emily looked at his eyes rolling back into his head.

"Ooh...do you like that, Tommy?" she asked happily, knowing the answer like no tomorrow.

"Hah...ahh...E-Emily..." he moaned strongly.

"Shh...shhh...there, there, my love," Emily whispered very sweetly. "Let your beautiful angel light your fire."

Emily touched her warm, wet and slippery tongue to Thomas' cheek again, waiting just a few moments to tease him just the way she liked. Then she began very softly trailing her tounge up, down and along his cheek as if it were ice cream, humming and cooing to the raspberry-like taste his cheeks carried, and making Thomas groan very loudly and shudder very shakily as he moaned with great delight. Her tongue was so slippery and tickly as he felt her shiny, glistening saliva gently being trailed along his cheek, and with every blissful sigh Emily let out, her warm, soothing breath made Thomas almost lose his mind.

"E-Emily...Fire and Smoke...I love you...I love you...Ohh!" he managed to utter before falling into deep, blissful panting.

Emily felt very, very happy as she kept pampering and teasing Thomas with her gentle licks, kissing him steadily whenever she could every few moments. Then a few minutes later, she stopped and gave him a little look. He seemed lost in an ecstasy-like state over everything they were doing together, until she gave a little giggle, making him look up. Then Emily buffered right up to Thomas and began to slowly lean left and right, rubbing her buffers to his and doing her little dance.

"De-dee-de-de, de-de...la-la-la, la-la..." she sang very softly and sweetly, inviting him to dance with her.

Thomas giggled with such delight and began leaning right with Emily, dancing softly with her under the stars, right at their favourite place to ever be on the Island. Thomas and Emily slowly began to hum and sing to her little tune together, making their own perfect music as they danced softly to each other's buffers and exchanged little kisses to each other until they gently slowed down and Emily made her next move. Her biggest and most powerful move for the night.

"Close your eyes, Thomas," she whispered very softly. "Let your beautiful queen glorify her king's fantasy again..."

Thomas immediately shut his eyes and felt Emily buffer up to him. He could hear her giggle and sigh...then he felt her warm breath trailing over his cheeks again. Then as soon as he felt what came next, his eyes bulged wide open. Emily was gently drooling on his cheek again, her mouth opened, her lips curled upward in a smile and her eyes softly closed as he warm, slippery and gooey saliva trickled down his face.

"E-Emily!" he whispered very loudly. "Fire and Smoke! You're...you're making me go crazy!"

"Ahh...Tommy," she cooed very sweetly. "I love bathing you in all my love...do you love it too?"

Thomas had no answer. Only a loud groan and a big shudder came from him as Emily tenderly licked his cheek again, trailing her saliva off his cheek, then softly sucking and kissing every inch her lips touched on his cheek. Thomas had been holding it in as best he could, but now was the time for him to let loose too. He could feel his steam creeping through his pipes and into his steam ports, waiting to let out at any moment. Emily knew she wanted this just as much as Thomas did, so she wasted no time in teasing him in just that direction.

"Oh...you look and sound so happy, Tommy," she whispered. "Are you gonna let off steam? Are you going to hug your sweet, lovely angel?"

Thomas' ears took in every instant of Emily's soft, whispering voice and he could barely hold together any longer.

"E...Emily! I...I'm almost there...I'm...I'm gonna burst! Emily-y-y!" he wailed.

Emily gasped and began softly kissing Thomas all along his face as she softly begged him, just to push him all the way.

"Oh, my goodness! Are you going to let off steam? Please-please-please! I love you, Thomas! Let it out! Let it out, Tommy!"

Then as she kissed him right on his cheek's special spot, Thomas felt an almost explosive surge in his boiler as his steam erupted with such a hiss and a loud whistle from him as he gave a long, joyous cry into the night, which made Emily gasp, smile and wail herself as she felt so happy and proud of how she had made him feel tonight. Even as Thomas' steam kept escaping, Emily buffered up to him again and let off steam happily, letting it swirl around Thomas and hug him warmly. Thomas whistled again and let off more steam, hugging Emily right back, who giggled joyously and rubbed her nose right to his, then kissed too as he slowly, but surely gathered himself together.

Then as they held each other in their gentle, cozy, steamy hug, they closed their eyes once more and leaned in until their lips touched together and started kissing very deeply and passionately, feeling each other's perfect magic work into their souls. Their lips tugged and smooched each other stronger and stronger until Thomas felt Emily's tongue softly touching his mouth, asking for passage the same way he did. He immediately obliged and let their tongues collide together then begin dancing together, making them both shudder and hum vigorously in their embrace while their kiss carried on for nearly twenty minutes, only letting go a few times to take deep breaths together.

Then at last, their lips came apart once more and they took deep breaths and sighs to each other as their steam drifted away and out of sight. Their boilers began to cool down, their heartbeats slowed down and they both felt such a warm, wholesome feeling inside over everything they had done this night. This had been yet another truly special night for the two of them, and given everything that had led up to this very night, Thomas and Emily would not have taken it any other way.

"Oh...oh, Thomas..." Emily stuttered, feeling dizzy in her ecstasy-driven bliss. "That...that was so much fun...so amazing and beautiful. You were spectacular. This is the best night I've ever had with you since our last visit here. I'm ever-so proud of you, my love."

"You were amazing and spectacular too, Emily," Thomas gasped back, a little dizzy himself. "This is the best night I've had since our last visit to this very spot. But given everything that has happened throughout today and yesterday, I take tonight as the greatest sign I've ever had the pleasure of bestowing, Emily. Through everything we've experienced together, and will continue to experience, there is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING that will ever separate us. You and I will be together...for always, my beautiful emerald angel and wife figure."

Emily's eyes began to shimmer with tears. Then she let them trail delicately down her face as she nuzzled right to Thomas and whimpered happily.

"Oh...Thomas, my handsome cobalt star...I know it just the same. Nothing will ever separate us. It shall always be you and I, as it has been ever since the beginning, and so it will go on, my handsome cobalt star and husband figure...Thomas and Emily...forever."

At last, Thomas and Emily began to tire out as their hearts beat tenderly and purely together. They softly pressed their faces together and gently kissed kissing a little more, much more gently and softly for a few minutes until they finally stopped and only smiled endlessly to each other. It had started out in a most devastating way for Thomas to dream of such horrendous and scathing scenarios of what could have been if Sailor John wasn't stopped, but then those scathes and wounds were completely sealed again by Emily's ironclad assurance beyond any doubt whatsoever, as well as most sacred and deeply meaningful sentiments from David and Beatrice. They now knew that they ultimately had nothing to fear in each other's pure, loving hold.

Thomas looked at Emily once more. Their hearts were now beating softly and tenderly together and tonight was yet another most glamorous, sacred night for Sodor's most cherished couple there could ever be. It could not be more perfect on this very night for the angel and the star. Their night had been spent, and they were now ready to slip into a most remarkable and warm, deep slumber.

"Well...shall we go home now?" Thomas asked.

Emily didn't answer at first. Then her eyes slowly shut, and her mouth opened wide as she let out such a deep, sleepy yawn.

"Ohh...no, Thomas. Let's sleep right here...in our little kingdom. Our Black Loch. It's too beautiful to pass up tonight...and with you, my love."

Thomas looked around and knew just what Emily meant. The moon was shimmering magnificently over the horizon, almost making the lake look silver. It was the wholesome, sacred sensation which only Black Loch could ever carry ever since Thomas and Emily first came here together.

"Of course we can sleep here, Emily," Thomas yawned. "And it all makes you more and more beautiful, Emily. Between you and I, I love you more than any engine, person or creature has ever loved before us, or will ever come to love in the future."

To this, Emily's eyes shimmered with tears of joy and love, as did Thomas'. Without a single blink, sob or sniffle, they let their tears trail delicately down their cheeks, shimmering beautifully in the moon and starlight. By now, both of them were becoming very tired, ready to sleep for that night in absolute comfort, peace and pure love. Emily leaned in and gave Thomas such a soft and warm kiss right on his special spot on his cheek, to which he leaned in and kissed her wonderfully soft and warm cheek too.

"I love you, Thomas," Emily whispered. "My handsome cobalt star and husband figure."

"I love you too, Emily," Thomas whispered. "My beautiful emerald angel and wife figure."

"Ohhh...Mmm...time for bed, Thomas. I...I'm so sleepy now," Emily yawned with a smile. "So truly sleepy. And since you adore such lovely sounds I make sometimes, would you like me to snore for you tonight?"

Thomas gaped once more and exclaimed so delightfully.

"Oh, Emily...I would love that so much," he whispered. "Thank you for everything. Sweet dreams, Emily. I love you so much."

"You're forever welcome, my love. Yes...ohh..." Emily yawned. "Sweet dreams, Thomas...I love you too...so much."

And with that, Emily fell fast asleep and began to snore beautifully, which made Thomas' heart flutter with such delight and joy. He watched very dearly as her open mouth maintained her beautiful smile with her lips curled upwards, and her adorable little nose shook lightly to her soft, quiet snore. Then her lips puckered beautifully she whistled so adorably. Thomas' heart twitched and jiggled with such overpowering delight as he watched and heard Emily snore again just as beautifully, then she fluttered her lips so adorably before snoring again, which gradually lulled Thomas deeper and deeper into the blissful sleep he would bask and glow in with his forever angel and wife figure.

"Zzz...I love you, Thomas..." Emily whispered in her sleep. "Zzz...More than anything in the whole world...I love you..."

"I love you too, Emily," Thomas whispered once more. "More than anything in the whole world..."

And not one moment later, Thomas fell into a purely deep, blissful sleep right with Emily at Black Loch, snoring very softly and peacefully together with the warm and gentle breeze blowing over their boilers and across their faces.

And so there they slept all through the serene, moonlit night. Thomas and Emily's love was greater, stronger and more powerful than any living being on Sodor had ever felt or could ever hope to feel, and everything both engines conversed about that night with David was true beyond any doubt after that nightmare Thomas had to face, then overcame with Emily's ever-shining help and love for her saviour engine. As sacred and true the vow of "Until Death Do Us Part," was meant to be for all marriages, for Thomas and Emily, nothing at all could ever part them. As they had pledged to each other ever since the blossoming of their love, they would be together, for always and forever.

---

Another beefer of a story, but considering that it's celebrating 100 stories since "Love is All You Need", a sequel to it deserves to be on the lengthy side, especially since we haven't given Thomas and Emily this much focus in awhile, reinforcing how they view each other as husband and wife, even though they can't actually marry. And of course, the nightmare wouldn't be complete without another Star Wars reference, this time to "Return of the Jedi", and a reference to the 2003 "Clone Wars" show when David is acting as a vicar. But as for next time, we're going to be focusing on a character that I believe we've never featured in our stories, and that is George the Steamroller, and that can only mean trouble for the engines. Until next time, tell us what you thought of this story and as always, stay safe.