Scott was looking forward to his days off on the weekends, he always found ways to occupy himself. Games like Rimworld or Stardew Valley always helped him unwind from the hectic schedule he had to keep to. However, this weekend, specifically this Saturday, was already shaping up to be far from the relaxing time he was used to. "What do you mean you need me?" Scott asked.

Foster rubbed his brow, "St Gloriana's Sensha-dō team is having an exhibition match today and, with the Number Three now operational, I need another crew." he replied, "Today is 'all hands on deck' as it were since we need to transport the tanks and the team and the supplies to the transfer yard then we need to transport all the people wanting to watch the match."

Scott sighed as he put on his coat and hat, "Shame we don't get overtime." he muttered.

Taking his position on the Number Two, Scott was then told to take the passenger carriages he was already coupled to and take the team from their garage to the transfer yard after they had loaded the freight cars with their tanks and supplies.

When he arrived at the platform, he noticed Rosehip on the platform, in her school uniform rather than the Sensha-dō uniform. All of the wagons were loaded and ready to go and soon the Number One and the Number Three arrived and coupled up to their trains. Rosehip soon joined him in the cab as the guard gave the right of way to his train. "Hope you don't mind, but Lady Darjeeling wants me with one of the engine crew to keep me out of trouble and you're the only real option."

Scott shrugged as he opened the regulator, "Fair enough." he replied, "Want to learn how to run a steam locomotive?"

Rosehip took to it like a train to rails and they made good time. Once the team had finished getting out of the carriages, Scott set out to gather people to bring them to the disembarkation station. At that moment, the radio crackled to life. "All crews: Head Office here. We'll be broadcasting the St Gloriana/Ōarai Sensha-dō Exhibition Match across the Radio."

With that, the Match Announcer was put on, and they listened intently. As the announcer began talking about the team lineups, Scott noticed how Rosehip perked up when the crew of the Churchill VII was being introduced, though he was guilty of the same when Orange Pekoe's name was mentioned. "Someone special?" he asked.

Rosehip's face turned nearly as red as her hair. "Y-you could say that," she stammered.

Scott chuckled. "My suggestion: talk to them," he said as he pulled on the whistle-cord and waved to some children playing in their yard next to the line behind a fence. "Nothing comes from pining from afar."

"Hello Pot, I am Kettle," Rosehip said under her breath.

"Excuse me?" Scott cocked his head at Rosehip.

She looked at him and sighed. "You and Pekoe are hopeless, you know that? You two are gonna have to be locked in a room until you both confess or something."

Scott raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Rosehip stared at him, then rubbed her face and looked away. "God, boys are clueless," she muttered. She looked Scott in the eye. "Look, I know I'm attracted to Assam. Pekoe, I think, knows she's attracted to you but is worried about rejection and the competition…"

Scott gaped at her. "C-competition?"

Rosehip rolled her eyes and glanced forwards, out the window, then leaned back and fixed Scott with a piercing gaze. "You're the exotic new thing here, and you come from a country that most of us only hear about in the evening news. St. Gloriana has never had an American as a student," she explained. "As such, most the girls who have seen you are trying to woo you. Have you not noticed the way they've thrown themselves at you?"

Scott could think of a few times when some of the St. Gloriana girls had gotten overly friendly with him, but he shrugged and looked at his controls. "I'm nothing special," he replied, gently applying the brakes. "Just your average, run-of-the-mill teenage male."

Rosehip sighed again and shook her head. "Your heroics on your first full day here would suggest otherwise to a lot of the ladies at this school," she said. "Do you feel attracted to Pekoe? Are you just afraid to make a move or what? You seem to be really bad at reading social cues. Like, really bad."

Ah, Scott thought, the heart of the matter. She's concerned for her friend. He sighed audibly, and Rosehip fixed him with a look of interest and frustration. "Yes and yes," he replied, as the guard's whistle rang. Scott opened the regulator. "I have a…condition which puts me at a major disadvantage in social situations. How the hell I managed as captain of the Texas eludes both me and my family."

Rosehip turned away, surprised at the frank admission from him. Neither of them said another word to each other for the rest of the day.

There had been cheers abound as the team returned to the carrier and the engines had been adorned with bunting and such. Scott had had to start them back late and make up for time since they had been delayed getting into the carriages but, at long last, Scott returned to his room and collapsed onto his bed, still in his coveralls.

The next morning, Scott was awoken by knocking at the door to his quarters. "Alright! I'm coming!" he shouted.

Reaching his door and opening it, he was shocked, "Lady Pekoe? Forgive my dress, I was blooming tired last night." he said.

Orange Pekoe smiled, "It's quite alright Scott." she replied. "I wanted to check on you since you had to work on your day off yesterday because of the team."

Scott waved her in, "Ah, was nothing." he remarked, "Rather I come in then some newbie take the reins without proper supervision. That would have been an utter disaster."

Pekoe shuttered, his first day on the carrier flashing through her mind. Scott's voice brought her back to the present though, "Can I get you anything?"

Pekoe turned to him, "Only if you're going to eat."

Scott chuckled, the time gave him an idea. "I'll make some Mac and Cheese* since it is nearly noon."

Pekoe was intrigued by his cooking methods and so followed him into the small kitchen. Sitting on the counter, out of the way, she watched the magic unfold and was mesmerized. Even though there wasn't much complexity to the meal, she was still entranced watching him combine the ingredients.

A few minutes later, Scott was plating up two plates and they were digging in. Pekoe could not help the moan that escaped her lips or her eyes rolling into the back of her head. Scott, for his part, smiled and continued eating.

After a while, they had finished eating and Scott had showered and dressed. Wanting to get out of the house so to speak, they walked to the nearby park and slowly walked around. Neither said much, simply enjoying the company of the other. At some point, Pekoe hooked her arm through Scott's and leaned her head onto his shoulder.

Evening fell eventually, and they made their way back to his dorm, where Scott made himself busy in the kitchen. Soon, he graced her with Carbonara** and again, she could not contain the moan that escaped her lips. Dinner itself was a quiet affair, but Scott soon picked up a guitar that he had bought and strummed a few chords. A few notes escaped his throat before culminating in his voice joining his fingers in music. "The leaves were long, the grass was green…"

Pekoe was entranced as Scott wove the tale of the immortal Elven maiden who gave up her immortality for her love of the mortal Beren. Her mind could not help but be moved by his song. Indeed, she danced, not to a pipe unseen, but to Scott's voice and somewhere, in the back of her mind, she fantasized about dancing in his arms in a white dress or with a child in her arms. A child that had her ginger hair and his sea shade eyes.

It was several minutes later before her mind caught up to what was going on and by that time, Scott was strumming the last few chords of the song with a look of wonder on his face. "Not exactly a "pipe unseen" now is it?" he whispered.

Pekoe blushed a very bright red, but before she could stammer out a response, Scott laid his guitar to the side and rose to his feet, "Would milady consent to a partner?"

Her voice failing her, Pekoe simply nodded. Her stomach was doing flips when he took her hand and together, they slowly swayed around the room. By the time they parted for the evening, Pekoe was certain that she had been close to kissing him, the thought alone sent her heart a-flutter. How little did they know that that would be a sign of things to come…

*Mac and Cheese recipe from "Mac and Cheese|Basics with Babish"

**Carbonara recipe from "Carbonara|Basics with Babish"