The five times he didn't….
Thomas pulled into Knapford with a cheerful blow of his whistle. A quick glance at the station clock only made his smile grow, as it showed he was almost fifteen minutes early. He sighed in content, steam escaping his pistons as passengers began to step off his train.
"Thomas, you were going much too fast!"
"Honestly, you MUST stop racing that bus, it's getting out of hand!"
"Out of hand?" He called back to his coaches with a laugh. "He and I have only just met, let us have some fun and get to know each other."
"Racing is not the proper way to get to know someone!" Clarabel chided.
"Really? I have his entire route memorized, and no doubt he has mine, so surely we've learned quite a few things about one another."
Thomas had only been on Sodor for a few weeks now, with his new branchline having just come under his care. He had met Bertie, of course, the bus who's route ran alongside Thomas' branchline. So far, the two had exchanged a few good conversations and found a mutual joy in racing. They hadn't talked much yet, but they seemed to get along just fine.
"Sir Topham Hatt gave you the branchline because you were responsible," Annie said. "Don't throw that away by being reckless."
Again, Thomas laughed.
"I AM being responsible. Nothing bad has happened yet, right? I can have a little fun."
"What's this about racing?"
Another whistle sounded through the station, and Edward pulled up next to him with a passenger train as well, looking intrigued.
"Thomas has been racing the new bus, Edward!" Clarabel cried. "We keep telling him to slow down, but he won't listen."
"I'm just having fun," the tank engine mumbled.
Edward rolled his eyes fondly. In the few weeks Thomas had been here, he had grown so attached to the little engine. His cheekiness brightened up the yards and his cheerfulness made dealing with Gordon much easier. Being able to sleep in Tidmouth with a non-boastful engine had been very refreshing, not to mention Thomas loved to hear the oldest engine's stories. Every night when Edward would come home, Thomas would be wide awake and excitedly requesting stories from Sodor's golden days. Edward was more than happy to enlighten him, glad to have someone to pass on his wisdom to. With the other three tender engines having created their own little huddle, Edward relished in having someone friendly to talk to. Henry was alright, but he usually focused his attention on Gordon and James. So, when Thomas came along, someone who appreciated his company and advice, Edward was overjoyed.
"So, you've met Bertie," he said. "He's new here, too. Your branch has grown so much in popularity that Sir Topham Hatt's bought a bus to help. That's remarkable, isn't it?"
"My branchline is popular?" Thomas' eyes lit up. "Is that why that bus is here? That's brilliant!"
"It's getting there," Edward smiled. "Keep in mind, there's only us four here at the moment. The island still needs time to expand, but, as it does, I have no doubt that your branch will be one of the best."
Thomas' cheeks burned, and he smiled sheepishly, looking up at the clock again.
"It'll never be as good as your line, Edward."
"Nonsense. Someday it'll be even better."
"Well…." Thomas glanced over at him, cheeks still tinged pink. "If it ever is, it's because I had a wonderful teacher. Thank you, Edward. For everything."
Thomas grinned at him, letting off some steam, while Edward only stared at him in surprise.
"So, can I keep racing Bertie? Can I?"
Finding his voice again, despite his shock over being thanked by someone who wasn't the Fat Controller, Edward shook it off and gave his mentee an amused look.
"You don't need my permission."
"What?!" Came the outraged cries of the coaches. "Edward, don't encourage him!"
"He goes much too fast!"
"He's going to cause an accident eventually!"
"And what will the Fat Controller say?"
"Your ladyships, as long as none of the passengers complain, I don't see why Sir Topham Hatt would have a problem with it,"the K2 said kindly. "As for going too fast," Edward turned to the other, who cheekily averted his eyes. "When you're not racing, perhaps you should work on your momentum. If your coaches say you're going too fast, then it's best to slow down. They work on the branch with you, so it's important to be considerate to them as well."
"Alright," Thomas sighed. "I'm sorry, ladies. I promise I'll get better at listening to you two."
"Hmph, about time."
"We only want what's best for you. Be kind, Annie. He's still new."
"As for the racing," Edward continued on. "It's your branchline, Thomas. Have some fun with it. You never know when you may not be able to run on any line again."
"Huh?" Thomas frowned. "What do you mean?"
Edward shook his head, regretting his wording.
"Nothing, Thomas. Just never take your time on the branchline for granted. It's a very special job. That's all."
"It is?"
"It is. Sir Topham Hatt wouldn't have given it to you if it wasn't."
He smiled warmly at the now number one engine.
"Only the most special engines get the special jobs, after all."
Thomas spluttered, his entire face now as hot as his firebox. His driver stuck his head out the cab window.
"Thomas, do you feel alright, lad? Your steam pressure just rose dramatically, and you're not even moving!"
Edward laughed, and the flustered tank engine had never been so happy to hear the guard's whistle.
"Have a good run," Edward said, as Thomas blew his own whistle. "Have fun racing Bertie. Be safe."
"I will!" Thomas began to inch forward. "Bye, Daaaaaaa….Edward!"
Thomas clamped his mouth shut in utter shock, wondering where on Earth that had come from.
"What was that, Thomas?"
"Oh! N-Nothing, Edward!"
Had he really almost called Edward his….
Did I really almost call Edward my….
Shook, Thomas remained silent the rest of the journey, much to the confusement of Annie and Clarabel.
"Silly me," Thomas chuckled to himself. "Won't make that mistake again, will we?"
Oh, but he DID make that mistake again. Many times, as a matter of fact. As the years wore on, new engines were added to the team and many new friends were made. Soon, Sodor was a bustling island and passengers flooded the stations in a flurry, rushing to get to opposite sides of the island in a matter of minutes. Edward had been right in his prediction, as Thomas' branchline had grown to be one of the most popular. Year round, he was rushed off his wheels when the time came to run his passenger trains, and the past few days had been especially tough. A sudden rush of tourists had him running ragged on his branchline, and, along with his other work, he was finding it difficult to take time to stock up on his coal and water. Saying he was exhausted would have been an understatement, but he pushed through it. An engine who took breaks was not a useful one, especially when they had plenty of coal and water to last the next few hours.
His driver leaned out of his cab.
"Thomas, your water pressure is getting low, we should stop to fill you up-"
"I don't need a drink! I can keep going!" Thomas said, trying to sound cheerful.
"You need more coal, too, you're almost out-"
"I told you, I'm fine! We're going to be late if we stop!"
"It wouldn't be very useful if you ran out of water when you neglected to fill up, would it?" The fireman inquired, and Thomas grit his teeth, instantly picking up the condescending tone.
"Who said I'm going to run out of water?"
"Your water gauge shows that your tank is half empty!"
"Don't you mean half-full? I'm the one holding all the water! If I say I have enough, I have enough!"
Shaking his head at his engine's stubbornness, the Driver gave up and eased him to a stop at the station.
"Why are we stopping?" Thomas demanded.
"We're letting the passengers off, Thomas. Relax."
"I am relaxed!"
"Clearly."
Gritting his teeth, Thomas grumbled to himself as he glared at the clock, daring the smaller hand to tick another inch. Once passengers had gotten off and others boarded, Thomas sped off, Annie and Clarabel jolting behind him. He quickly found that it was getting harder and harder to make steam, and he was soon running out of breath. He, of course, knew what was up, and though the approaching water tower looked dangerously tempting, he planned to brush right past it.
"If you run out of water, we're not taking the blame," his fireman said.
"I wasn't expecting you to."
A familiar whistle sounded, and Edward chuffed up alongside him with a goods train due for the docks.
"No!" Thomas whispered to himself. "What's he doing here?!"
Edward sounded his whistle again.
"Hello, Thomas. Having a good day?"
"Oh, yes," Thomas heaved, desperately trying to sound pleased. "Very good, busy busy busy. Lots to do today. How about you?"
"My day has been wonderful. I'm glad we ran into each other. I've been meaning to check up on you. Percy said you've been acting odd lately."
"He said what?" Thomas huffed. Percy was going to get it later. "He must be imagining things. I'm perfectly fine. Never been better."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"You don't sound positive."
Edward then caught on to how out of breath the little engine was, and his cheeks looked as if they were sunburnt. In fact, his entire face had a fuschia hue. The old engine was awash with alarm, as it wasn't hard for him to tell that something was wrong with his kid-er, the other engine.
"My word, Thomas, you're bright red-"
"What can I say? I'm a busy engine."
"We're all busy engines, but you're hardly breathing! Do you have enough water? Maybe your boiler has a leak-"
"My boiler is fine! I'm fine!" Thomas snapped. "Why won't anybody listen to me?"
"Because, you're not fine. It's obvious, really."
Thomas glared at him, his frustration only growing. Why did his eyes feel hot?
"Lad," Edward coaxed gently. "What is it? What's the matter?"
The elder's voice was so kind and reassuring, that Thomas instantly felt at ease. He figured if anybody could help, it was Edward. It all came spilling out of him, like a rushing waterfall cascading over a cliff.
"There's been an increase of tourists, and I've been so rushed this past week. I've wanted to keep the crowd going, so I haven't been taking a lot of breaks, and..."
"...And?"
"So...I may or may not have been saving time by skipping some water and coal breaks."
Just as he finished his explanation, Thomas came to a slow stop, much to his horror.
"Oh, no!"
"We told you!" His driver yelled irritably.
He was out of water.
"You're out of water, aren't you?" Edward asked, though the look on his face made it clear that he already knew what the answer was.
"...Maybe?" Thomas said sheepishly.
Smiling softly, Edward reversed onto a siding and coupled up behind Clarabel.
"Edward, you're pulling a full train, don't overwork yourself," Thomas said miserably. "You go on ahead. I can wait for a breakdown train."
"You forget the many times that I've pushed Gordon AND his express up his hill," Edward said teasingly as he began to shunt Thomas forward. "You're a bunch of grapes compared to him."
"Are you calling him fat?" Thomas smirked.
"You won't tell him?"
"My lips are sealed."
The two shared a good laugh. Thomas tried to gather some steam, but Edward gave him a gentle nudge.
"You're exhausted, lad. Let me help you. You just relax and I'll get you to the next water tower. But, until we do…"
"Oh, great," Thomas sighed. "I know that voice. Alright, start the lecture."
"I'm not going to lecture you," Edward said reassuringly. "I just want to know why you didn't want to stop for water."
"I told you. I didn't want to be late."
"And THIS isn't going to make you late? Running out of water mid journey?"
Thomas' again flushed with embarrassment, thankful that Edward couldn't see.
"I thought if I was careful, I wouldn't waste any time by making so many other stops."
"Stopping for coal and water is not a waste of time, Thomas," Edward gently scolded. "You need those things. You stop as much as you need to for those. Nobody will ridicule you for that, and if they do, I'll speak to them myself. I understand you've had a very busy few days, and the increase in passengers hasn't been easy on you, but did not stopping for water make it any easier?"
"...No," Thomas mumbled.
"I'm assuming it made it harder, right?"
"...Right."
"So, we know not to make this mistake again, yes?"
"Yes."
"Good. Promise me that the next time you need water, you'll stop and take a break. Even if you're in a rush."
"I promise."
"Good."
Edward shunted him under the water tower and uncoupled himself. With a blow of his whistle, he pulled up next to the E2.
"Now, I've got to take these goods to the docks, but you take care. Stock up on your coal and water, and for goodness sake, don't work so hard that you burst a valve!"
Thomas rolled his eyes as his driver climbed on him to fill his boiler up.
"I won't."
"Stop for breaks when you need to."
"I will."
"And try to relax. Don't rush yourself."
"I won't! Cinders and ashes, Da-EDWARD!"
Edward raised an eyebrow at him, confused.
"What did you just call me?"
"E-EDWARD!" Thomas shrieked shrilly, surprising the other. "That's your name, isn't it?!"
"No, but you were about to say something else-"
"I didn't say anything!" Thomas cried hurriedly. "I-I'm just tired, that's all! I'm rambling! I do it all the time! You told me that, remember?"
"I did? I thought that was James. Oh, I'm sorry. Are you sure you're feeling alright?"
"Fit as the day I was built!" Thomas said forcefully. "I have to go, now!"
His driver got back in his cab, and Thomas could not recall the last time he had set off so fast.
"We're you about to call him 'Dad?'" His fireman asked bemusedly.
"Rubbish," Thomas snorted. "I said no such thing."
"You were about to call him your Dad, weren't you?" The driver howled with laughter. "Oh, Thomas, how endearing!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do."
"I don't."
The driver weaseled his arm out the window and gave the side of his cab a gentle pat.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about, you know. I think it's very sweet that you think of Edward as so."
"I'm not embarrassed about it," Thomas muttered, gazing down at his buffers. "It just doesn't make any sense. Engines can't have...can't have…"
"Parents?" The driver offered helpfully.
"Yes, that!" Thomas said, sounding annoyed. "Sure, we can have siblings, I had several myself, but parents? That's unheard of. Everyone on this island would give me looks if I called Edward that to his face."
"Does it really matter what everyone else thinks?"
"Of course it matters! I DO care about what my friends think, you know!"
"I didn't mean it like that," the driver said gently, rubbing his cab again. "I meant that as long as you and Edward are happy about it, does anyone else's opinion truly matter?"
Thomas pursed his lips, falling silent.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of, lad. What you and Edward have is very special. I'm so glad that you have someone to look up to."
"Just because I look up to him, that doesn't mean I should call him…that."
"And why shouldn't you?"
"Because, he's not my-!"
…Dad, murmured a voice in his head.
The driver sighed and shook his head.
"You're overreacting, Thomas. Really, you're making this a much bigger deal than it really is."
With that, the driver refocused his attention back on the stretch of tracks ahead of them, leaving Thomas with a jumble of thoughts. He couldn't believe he had almost let it slip again. Still, he couldn't help but wonder if his driver was right.
Maybe he was overreacting.
Thomas sighed wistfully as he watched Ashima shunt in the yards. After the Great Railway Show, the two had maintained a close friendship and sent letters across the sea to each other every week. With work on the railway in India having decreased as of late, Ashima was given permission to come work on the Sodor railway for the next few months, or even permanently if all went well. Thomas showed her what to do in the yards and then left her to it, but watched her shunt the stock from afar. The way the sunlight danced off her illustrious, resplendent paintwork and basked her in a golden glow gave off the illusion that an angel was present in the shunting yards.
Something in his boiler fluttered.
Something had been fluttering in his boiler for awhile now, and he had no idea what it was or what it meant.
"Thomas? Those trucks over there need to be shunted."
"Hmmm?" Thomas' eyes shot over to his right, where Stanley appeared as if by magic.
"Those trucks," Stanley directed their attention over to a few cars of ballast. "They need to be shunted. Didn't you hear me the first time?"
"Oh!" Thomas quickly moved to begin putting the train together, smiling apologetically at the other tank engine. "Sorry, Stanley, I guess I just got distracted."
"It's okay," Stanley laughed. "At least you're doing it now. When you're done, those coaches over there need to be put in that siding for James. He'll be here for them soon."
"Got it."
"Oh, and those railroad ties as well, please."
"Will do!"
Thomas quickly shunted some of the ballast cars and went to collect another one, which was, very conveniently, on the line next to Ashima's. He took a deep breath and put on his best smile.
"You're doing very well!" He said enthusiastically. "This yard looks the best it has in years! You're such a great shunter!"
"Oh, Thomas, you're so sweet!" Ashima giggled, and that fluttering feeling in his boiler instantly returned. "Not as great as you. Oh, don't give me that look, I saw you in the shunting competition. But, I'm trying my best. This yard is a lot smaller than the ones we have back home. It's hard to work in such a small space."
"I'd imagine so! Your railway is triple the size of ours," Thomas smiled. "I'd love to visit it someday. The way you talk about it in your letters makes it sound like the most beautiful place in the world."
"India is lovely," Ashima affirmed, as she gently pushed some coaches into a set of buffers. "But, England is gorgeous, too. I wish I could stay."
"You should!" Thomas said a little too quickly, and he tried to backtrack. "I-I mean! That is, if you WANT to, India IS your home, after all, but we'd love to have you stay."
Ashima sighed, and she pulled away from the coaches to stop next to him.
"I love Sodor, and I've made so many wonderful friends. I love this island, and I love home, but...I suppose I'm torn between where to stay. This island is lovely, but India is my home."
"Oh," Thomas' hopes deflated, and his eyes became downcast.
"Can you help me, Thomas?" Ashima asked hopefully. "I don't know where to go. Your Controller said if I perform well this summer, he'll give me the option to become a member of this railway, but-"
"You're doing brilliantly," Thomas cut in, the praise tumbling out before he could stop it.
"Thank you," Ashima smiled at him again. "It's nice to hear someone tell me that."
She sighed again, her smile disappearing in seconds.
"But...if I do well, he said I could stay, so at that point I'll have to choose where I want to be, and I know that's going to be a hard choice to make."
"And I'll be there to help you make that choice!" Thomas said cheerfully, trying to lighten her mood. "You're here all summer, Ashima, so that choice is MONTHS away. You shouldn't worry about something that isn't going to happen for awhile. In the meantime, enjoy your time here! You still have so many things to see and so many engines to meet! Don't let all this worry ruin your summer, okay?"
Thomas suddenly remembered Edward's advice from many years prior, when he had first arrived on Sodor.
"It's..." Thomas pieced his words together slowly, trying to put it exactly as Edward had said. "It's important to never take your time for granted. You never know when you may not be able to run on a line again, so just have so fun while you're here!"
Ashima smiled gratefully, and she looked down at her buffers shyly.
"You're right. And…" She looked back up at him, making sure to meet his eyes. "I can't wait to spend an entire summer with you, Thomas. And...maybe even forever after that. I've missed you very much."
The flattery he suddenly felt left Thomas at a loss for words, and as his cheeks bloomed with a burning red, a very shy smile grew on his face.
"I...I-I've missed you, too. I'm so glad you're here."
"THOMAS! GO SHUNT THAT BALLAST!"
Both tank engines flinched at Stanley's voice, and Thomas rolled his eyes with a blow of his whistle. Cheeks still tinged a dark pink, he began to reverse.
"I'll be back to check on you later," he called to Ashima.
"Alright," she replied happily.
"And…" he gulped, trying to gather his courage to make a bold move. "Perhaps after we're both done with work...I can take you on a sightseeing tour around the island, if you'd like."
Ashima smiled sweetly at him.
"I would love that."
"...Oh! Great!" Thomas was cheering inwardly, ecstatic at her acceptance to his proposal. He sent her a happy blow of his whistle, and a smile she couldn't see. "I'll be back soon."
Thomas made a rush to gather the rest of the ballast, and arranged James' coaches. As he pulled a train of railroad ties toward the main track, Edward pulled into the yard.
"Are those my railroad ties?" He called to his mentee.
"These?" Thomas bumped the train. "These are for you? Let me bring them to you."
Thomas shunted the line of cars behind Edward, where a workmen uncoupled him and coupled Edward up to it instead.
"I see you're working in the yards today," Edward said as Thomas pulled up next to him. "You haven't gone shunting in awhile."
"It's only been a few weeks," Thomas noted. "The Fat Controller usually has me doing other things as of late. Besides, I'm just here to show her what to do."
"Her?" Edward's eyes fell on the Indian engine. "Oh, my! Is she that engine from India? My, her paintwork is lovely!"
"Yes, that's her. She's here for the summer, and maybe permanently if the Fat Controller thinks she does a good job."
Thomas sighed in content, eyes trailing over Ashima as she moved about the yard. He could imagine little hearts forming in his pupils.
"She's gorgeous, isn't she?"
"She certainly is a sight," Edward said, a knowing feeling growing in his boiler.
He gazed down at the little engine, who had the goofiest, most lovestruck smile on his face.
"Is she the one you've been sending all those letters to?"
"She sure is."
The pride in his voice was impossible to miss, and Edward grinned. He knew what was going on here.
Edward began to laugh, and it rang through the yard. It wasn't one of those insulting, teasing laughs, like a laugh you would hear if someone said a really good roast, but a laugh that sounded pleasantly surprised, and somewhat proud. Thomas looked at him in confusion.
"What? What is it?"
"Oh, Thomas," Edward breathed, a fond smile blooming on his face. "You're one infatuated little engine."
"Infatuated?" Thomas was even more confused. "What do you mean?"
"You're smokebox over bunker for her, lad," Edward laughed lightly. "In all my days, I never thought I'd live to see you fall in love."
"In love?" Thomas spluttered. "Oh, Edward, you've got the wrong idea-"
"Do I?" Edward teased.
"Yes! You do!" Thomas snapped, cheeks darkening, much to his frustration. "We're just...close friends!"
"You're blushing, Thomas."
"No, I'm not!"
"Yes, you are."
"She's my friend," Thomas said through grit teeth. "A male engine and a female engine are allowed to be friends, you know!"
"I'm not saying that isn't the case," Edward said, the teasing tone even more evident. "I'm merely implying that two engines of the opposite gender wouldn't go so far to keep in touch if there wasn't some form of attraction."
Grumbling, Thomas shut his mouth.
"There's nothing wrong with it, Thomas," Edward said gently. "If you feel something for her, that's brilliant. You can tell me. I only want to help."
After a few seconds of silence, Thomas finally sighed, his anger having faded as quick as it had come.
"...I've...never felt this way about anyone."
"Go on."
"She's...so kind, so sweet, such a good listener, she's one of the prettiest engines I've ever met and we both love shunting. She never ridiculed me for wanting to be in the Great Railway Show, and she looked out for me and supported me no matter what. She's so...perfect."
Thomas gave Edward a pleading look.
"Edward, what do I do? I'm lost."
"Well," Edward said wisely, smiling reassuringly at his charge. "I would advise telling her everything you just told me, and see what she thinks."
"What?! What if she thinks I'm too...forward? Or pushy?!"
"You'll never know until you talk to her. When talking to someone you care deeply for, it's always best to be open and honest. Tell her how you feel. It's the only way you'll ever know how she truly feels, too."
"But...what if she doesn't feel the same way I do?" Thomas asked quietly, dread filling him.
"Well, then there isn't anything you can do about that," Edward sighed. "You two can always remain friends. Things may be awkward for a bit afterwards, but you'll soon move past that. Whether you two end up an item or not, you should try to maintain your friendship, so then you'll have something to fall back on. Just be honest with her, lad. Tell her everything. You might find that it was worth the risk after all."
Thomas bit his lip, eyeing Ashima again.
"...I'm taking her sightseeing after work. Should I talk to her then?"
"Will it just be you two?"
"Yes."
"Then, I would advise so. It's always best to do this kind of thing privately."
"Okay," Thomas said shakily. "Okay, okay…okay."
"Okay," Edward laughed. "Relax, Thomas. You're going to be just fine."
"You don't know that!"
"Yes, I do."
Nervously gazing at the Indian engine, Thomas backed up an inch, trying to get as close to the number two engine as he could.
"Edward, how do you know so much about this kind of thing?"
Edward smiled thoughtfully.
"I've been in love myself."
"You have?" Thomas' eyes sparkled. "Really? What was she like?"
"She was astounding," Edward said dreamily. "I was just a bit younger than you are now when I first saw her. She was an American tender engine, a 2-6-0 class, with scarlett paint. She was a bit shy, but very patient. She was very, very sweet. And, my word, she could sing. She had some cheek to her, too. Just like you."
"Like me?"
"Yes. Just like you."
Edward sighed happily.
"She was the most beautiful engine I had ever seen. I fell for her fast, and we exchanged letters just like you two. She made me a very happy engine, and I can only hope I made her happy, too."
"Tell me more about her," Thomas pressed, delighted by the new information he had just gained. "Please? You've never mentioned her before."
"I'll tell you what," Edward grinned. "If you talk to Ashima tonight, and you come home and tell me about it, I'll tell you all the stories you could ever want to hear."
"Really?"
"Really. And," Edward added cheekily. "If you don't, no stories for you. So, if you REALLY want to hear all about my past affections, you best talk to your friend."
"But, Da-" Thomas faked a cough to stop himself. "Edward-"
"No buts, Thomas."
Thomas knew another slip up had been bound to happen eventually, but he was glad he had been quick enough to cover it up so that it wasn't noticeable.
"...Fine," Thomas mumbled. "I promise I will."
"Then, I promise to tell you a story later. Or two if you wish. We'll see how tired you are."
"Psh," Thomas scoffed. "I won't be tired."
"Thomas, if you aren't tired at the end of the day, then you didn't work hard enough," Edward grinned at him. "Slacking off, are we? I raised you better!"
Thomas laughed gleefully, causing his entire body to shake. When he had finally calmed and opened his eyes again, he found Edward giving him a fond look that he was all too familiar with.
"What?" The tank engine asked.
Edward's smile only grew.
"...You've just...You've grown up so fast, lad. You've become quite the young engine, and I'm so proud of you."
Thomas blinked.
"...Edward, I'm a hundred and six."
"That's still fairly young, little one. It's just been such a pleasure to see you grow. I'm so proud of you."
Realizing they'd been talking for quite a bit, Edward blew his whistle.
"Oh, goodness. I have to go, or I'll be late. Good luck talking to your love, Thomas."
"Stop teasing me! I'm already nervous enough!"
Laughing, Edward called his goodbyes and was on his merry way.
One night in the sheds, all the engines were having a good laugh. Tonight's tea from the railway was especially funny, as they learned Gordon had confused a pair of red trousers for a flag, and had stopped, therefore getting stuck on his hill with the express and resulting in Edward having to come and give him a push. The express engine stood in annoyance as the six other engines laughed at him.
"He got stuck on his own hill! And-" Thomas stopped to take a deep breath, since he was laughing so hard. "Because he-he thought a pair of red trousers was an EMERGENCY FLAG!"
The tank engine fell into hysterics, the others joining in.
"And I had to come give him a push! On his own hill!" Edward chuckled.
"THAT'S THE BEST PART!"
Gordon rolled his eyes as tears began to appear in the corners of Thomas' eyes.
"You really enjoy watching engines make fools of themselves, don't you, Little Thomas?"
Finally catching his breath, Thomas grinned cheekily at him.
"No. Just you."
"You know, Edward," Gordon turned his attention to the mixed traffic engine. "I didn't need your help. You just happened to come along."
"Well, it's a good thing I did, isn't it?" Edward said. "You would've been stuck there all day."
"Well, you sure took your time getting there."
"I'm not fast like you. You know that."
"Hmph. Clearly not as reliable, either."
Tidmouth suddenly became eerily quiet, and any side laughter or chatter was lost in the crisp night air.
"What do you mean?" Edward asked quietly.
"You're so old, Edward," Gordon sneered. "Breaking down constantly, taking thirty minutes to get to my hill, for goodness sake, you've been on this island since this railway was built-"
"So have you."
"My point is," Gordon said harshly. "Your age is clearly starting to show. In the time it took for you to get to my hill, two other engines had already made their way through it. A reliable engine would have gotten there in half the time, and it isn't fair that I'm being expected to wait around on an engine who can barely move around on his own anymore. I've seen you in the works three times in the past month."
"So what?" Edward said defensively. "Engines break down, Gordon. It happens to all of us."
"True, but none so much as you. I would have been spared so much embarrassment today if you had been faster, but I suppose since you were his first engine, Sir Topham Hatt feels the obligation to have you in service. Honestly, with how old and unreliable you are, I don't know why he keeps you on."
A collective gasp filled the sheds, and a deep pit of hurt and shame filled the eldest engine. He sighed heavily, looking in the complete opposite direction of the bigger engine.
"I'm sorry, Gordon, I was only trying to-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Edward."
Edward looked at the next berth over in a startled surprise. He had never heard Thomas use that tone of voice before, and he had never seen him look so upset. Thomas was so livid he was shaking, teeth grit and eyes ablaze with fury.
Gordon glared at him.
"Mind your business, Thomas. This is between Edward and I."
"How DARE YOU talk to him like that!" Thomas snarled. "He pushes you up your own hill that you get stuck on, and this is how you treat him?! You should be thanking him!"
"If he had gotten there sooner, perhaps I would have," Gordon sniffed.
"You're so ungrateful," Thomas seethed. "What would have happened if he hadn't shown up at all? You would've been stuck there for hours, you never would have completed the express run, the railway would have gotten hundreds of complaints and you would have gotten in trouble with the Fat Controller! Is that really what you would have wanted? If Edward hadn't helped you, it would have turned into an even bigger mess!"
"The whole thing was already a mess!"
"And whose fault was that?! You have the audacity to call Edward unreliable, yet you're the one getting stuck on your own hill! How could you not tell what an emergency flag looks like? You have eyes, Gordon! Use them!"
"Thomas-" Edward tried to cut in, before things turned ugly.
"No!" Thomas' infuriated eyes snapped over to him. "I'm so sick of him belittling you like this! You've shown him nothing but kindness, and he treats you like a pile of scrap!"
"I don't treat Edward like a pile of scrap!" Gordon thundered. "I'm just making a statement of fact! You can't deny that he's old, and the older an engine gets, the less reliable they become! It's the natural cycle of an engine's life, Little Thomas, and you'll understand that someday."
"Just because Edward is old, that doesn't mean he's unreliable!" Thomas growled. "He's every bit as reliable as the rest of us! We all break down, we all get tired, we all have to get repairs every now and then! If you're going to preach about the cycle of an engine's life, did you ever consider that as we age, we may not be as fast as we used to be? Also, did you ever consider the possibility of a speed limit on the line?"
"The speed limit on my hill for non-express travel is twenty-five. Trust me, he was going much slower than that."
"That's awfully bold," Thomas said lowly. "Considering you weren't moving at all."
Gordon froze, and Thomas smirked.
"I miss the days when it was just us three," Gordon said furiously, looking over at Henry and James. "No drama, no annoying tank engines. Just peace and quiet!"
"I miss the days when you were friendly," Thomas shot back.
"I am!"
"Really? Someone who was "friendly" wouldn't say what you just said to Edward."
"You're treading on dangerous track, Thomas."
"Any track with you on it is dangerous, Gordon."
Gordon was so angry by this point, he thought his boiler would explode.
"I'll never understand why the Fat Controller brought you to Sodor that day."
"Likewise," Thomas said bitterly. "Because I'll never understand why he would even consider bringing home an engine who feels the need to insult others just to make him feel better about himself."
"I DON'T!"
"Really?!" Thomas' anger quickly escalated. He was almost screaming by this point. "Did you ever stop to think that there's a reason the Fat Controller still keeps Edward in service? It's because he's a good engine! The best! He's kind, he works so hard, he's spent his life helping this railway grow and succeed, and yet all you can point out are his flaws! He may be up there in age, but age doesn't define reliability! Who cares how old he is?! He's the most reliable engine I know! He works day and night despite how old he is, and if that isn't being reliable, then I don't know what is! He deserves nothing but respect, and all you do is push him down! Shame on you! You're half the engine Edward is, if even that! He's done so much for everyone in the shed, including YOU! So, do me a favor and LEAVE MY DA-"
"Thomas," Edward desperately tried to cut in again, his voice soft. He was so touched, yet utterly baffled by the little engine's behavior. "Thomas, that's enough."
Stunned, Thomas turned to him, angry tears burning in his eyes.
"B-But, Edward, he-"
"That's enough, little one," Edward said gently. "You've made your point."
Despite protesting, Thomas fell silent, the tears now cascading down his cheeks. He'd never felt so angry in his life. Without a word, Gordon took off out of the shed and down the line, quickly disappearing from sight.
"Good riddance," Thomas muttered to himself.
"That was a bit far, don't you think?" James demanded across the way.
"If you agree with anything he said, you may as well leave, too," Thomas snapped. "I have no problem yelling at you, either."
James immediately shut up.
Thomas shut his eyes, reversing to the very back of his shed.
"Goodnight, everyone."
There were murmurs of replies, but a still aghast Edward reversed to the very back of his berth, too.
"You didn't have to do that, you know."
Without opening his eyes, Thomas huffed.
"Then who would have? I'm not going to let him talk to you like that. He's wrong, you know. And someday I'll make him believe it."
"….Thank you so much, Thomas," Edward whispered.
Thomas opened his eyes and sent him a loving smile.
"…Anytime."
"I found him! He's home!" James cheered as they both pulled up to Tidmouth.
Thomas sighed in relief upon seeing all his friends, his family, again after being held captive in the Steelworks for God knows how long. He had honestly thought for awhile that he'd never see any of them again.
"Where have you been?" Emily cried. "The whole island was looking for you!"
"We were so scared!" Percy squeaked. "Er…at least, I was, but…I missed you so much, Thomas!"
"I missed you, too," Thomas smiled, so glad to see his best friend again. "I'll tell you everything that happened later, I promise, but for now-"
"All of you. Leave us."
All voices in Tidmouth dissipated at the sound of Edward's firm, almost angry tone, much to their astonish.
"Leave?" Henry said, baffled. "But, we need to-"
"I SAID LEAVE!"
Frightened, the other engines raced for the turntable, and when they had all finally left, Thomas stood, confused and all alone on the turntable. Edward was directly in front of him, not looking happy at all. In fact…he looked enraged. Thomas gulped, taking a deep breath.
"Edward, I-"
"Be quiet."
Thomas did so without hesitation, eyes wide. Edward chuffed forward so he was closer to the turntable. He inhaled deeply, trying with all his might to stay calm.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was?" He said in a deadly whisper.
"Um-"
"No, scratch that. Do you have any idea how TERRIFIED I was?"
"Very?" Thomas said meekly, cowering under the gaze of the engine he had never seen angry before.
"That doesn't even begin to describe it!" Edward shouted, and Thomas visibly flinched. "How could you be so irresponsible?! Stealing James' trucks, running away without telling anybody-"
"I didn't steal them!" Thomas rejuvenated. "He did nothing but make fun of me the whole day before! I was only giving him what he deserved!"
"Whether James was making fun of you or not, what you did was no way to handle it!" Edward snapped. "You should have talked to me or the Fat Controller and let US handle it! What you did was so selfish! And so incredibly stupid! Did you not stop to think how your little adventure would affect the rest of us?! Everybody was going mad looking for you! If James hadn't gone out searching for you, I don't know what we would have done!"
"I wasn't expecting to be held hostage by two mad engines in a Steelworks!" Thomas said harshly. "They locked me up and wouldn't let me leave!"
"None of which would have happened if you hadn't taken James' train in the first place!"
"So, it's my fault, then?!"
"Yes, it is!"
Edward suddenly steamed forward and biffed him sharply, causing a horrified Thomas to fly back a few inches.
"E-Edward!"
"And all this nonsense about being the favorite!" Edward shouted. "Sir Topham Hatt isn't playing favorites when picking who pulls certain trains, Thomas! I don't understand what it is with you and needing to have all the attention, but just because you have a number one painted on your boiler, it doesn't mean you'll get to pull every single special train! At the end of the day, who's the one with a branchline? Not James! YOU! Why can't you just be happy with that?"
"I am!" Thomas cried.
"Clearly not! None of us are the favorites! We're all unique in our own ways, and just because someone gets asked to pull a special, that doesn't make them better than the rest of us! Just because Gordon pulls the express, or that Connor and Caitlin are streamlined engines, or that Hiro was once Master of The Railway, or that Spencer works for the Duke and Duchess, or that James is the only red engine on the island, doesn't make any of them more special than the rest of us! We're assigned to pull certain trains based on what Sir Topham Hatt thinks would be best, not because he's playing favorites! Stop taking everything so personally and DO YOUR JOB! Grow up, Thomas! You're over a hundred years old! Act like it!"
Bottom lip quivering, Thomas tried to right things.
"Edward, please, let me-"
"Silence!" Edward screeched. "You have no idea what you did! You had everybody panicked, work was forgotten and now we're all days behind because of you! I expect so much better from you!"
"Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" Thomas finally found his voice. "Isn't that all that matters?"
"Of course it matters! I just want you to understand what you did!"
"I know what I did!"
"Really?" Edward's voice cracked. "Then, you must know what you did to me."
Tears welled up in his eyes, and any anger that Thomas had shattered along with his heart. Then, guilt began to consume him.
"You scared me to death," Edward whispered. "You left early one morning without a word to anyone where you were going, or when you'd be back. You were gone for days, Thomas. Days. I stayed out day and night looking for you. I was scared. Terrified. I didn't sleep at night. All I could think about was you, not knowing where you were and if you were okay. I…I THOUGHT I'D LOST YOU!"
His tears were flowing freely now, plopping onto his bufferbeam and some sliding down onto the tracks below.
"I thought I'd lost you."
Shaking, Thomas steamed gently forward.
"But, you didn't," he whispered. "Look, Edward. I'm right here. See me?"
"I do, little one," Edward whispered, and Thomas felt himself relax at the nickname. "And I thought I never would again."
"Of course you would," Thomas said weakly, as he felt his own tears begin to pool in his eyes. The world around him became blurry. "You can't get rid of me that easily, you know."
"As much as I want to right now, you're right," Edward tried his best to stop hyperventilating. "Don't cry, lad. Come here."
Thomas chuffed forward and buffered up to him so they were only inches apart and leaned into him, the usual engine form of a hug. Thomas squeezed his eyes shut, though tears still leaked out.
"I shouldn't have gotten so angry," Edward whispered. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Thomas sniffled. "I deserved it. I didn't mean to make you scared, or worried. You're right, what I did was irresponsible, a-and inconsiderate, and…I-I'll never do it again, I promise. Please don't hate me."
"I know you won't. Shh, calm down. I could never hate you. That's impossible."
"I'm sorry," Thomas sobbed, the tears coming full force now. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry Da…Edward, I'm sorry…"
"I know, I know," Edward said soothingly, pushing closer. "I shouldn't have yelled at you. You've just been through something traumatic, and I could have handled it better. I'm sorry, too. Stop crying, it's okay. You're home and you're safe, and I'm so grateful for that. All I wanted was for you to come home, and you did."
"They wouldn't let me go," Thomas whispered.
Edward nuzzled him.
"Neither am I."
…And the one time he did.
As the world around him began to swirl back into place, all Thomas could see was the darkness that surrounded him, and the voices that echoed through it. All voices he recognized, but couldn't place who they belonged to. He could feel a horrific amount of pain flowing through him, but he couldn't move. He couldn't even will his eyes to open yet.
"I'm surprised he came out of that with just these injuries. That was quite a nasty crash," someone said.
"Do we know what caused it yet?" Another asked.
"A combination of things, the workmen are still investigating him. We've narrowed it down to brake failure so far, but we think there were other contributing factors as well."
"Such as?"
"We think his boiler may have been overheating due to a sudden increase of steam pressure. He was very hot when they brought him in. He's lucky it wasn't worse."
"But, you can fix him, right?" A third voice asked, sounding much more freaked out than the other two.
"Of course I can, but it will take quite a bit of time. This is the worst accident I've seen in years. He's going to need time to recover. You should go home and get some rest, Edward."
"I'm not leaving until he wakes up."
"That could take awhile."
"I don't care. I need to see for myself that he's alright. I'll stay here for the rest of my life if I have to."
There was a soft tapping noise, like a hand patting something.
"Calm down, Edward. Your boy is going to be just fine. You just need to be patient."
"He's been asleep for two days, sir-"
"He's strong, lad. Just like another engine I know. All we can do now is wait. The rest is up to his maker."
Is that Edward? A voice squeaked in the little engine's subconscious. He sounds scared…
The world was lightening up, and Thomas could begin to see tiny patches of color. They looked so far away, miles away, even. Like the distance between the stations on his branchline. Again, Thomas tried to open his eyes, but found that he simply didn't have the strength.
"We've tried to do what repairs we can, but we're still waiting on parts."
"That's alright, Victor. He doesn't feel any pain while he's asleep, I'm assuming."
"That's what we're thinking, right."
Wrong. Everything burns.
"We're keeping a close eye on him, so don't worry. I don't think he's moved once since he arrived."
"Is that bad?"
Someone chuckled.
"No, it isn't. It means he's taking his time to regain his strength. You worry too much, Edward."
"What do you expect? I'm all the way down at Brendam, only to get word that Thomas has been in an horrible accident, so I race all the way to Gordon's Hill to see…this."
A sigh.
"I always worry about him. And now I'm just going to do it more."
Edward's worried, came that voice in his head again. We should wake up.
"I just don't understand how his brakes could have failed, they're practically brand new! Are you sure you put them in right?"
"Of course I am," the other voice huffed indignantly. "And even if I didn't, it's a bit hard to tell, now. Like I said, there may have been other factors involved. I'm uneasy about the brakes myself."
"Oh…cinders and ashes, I'm sorry, Victor-"
"No need to apologize, my friend. This has been a shock for all of us."
Wake up! Cried the voice. Wake up!
"I just want him to wake up. I need to hear his voice."
"And you will, my friend. Give him time."
You've had enough time! Wake up! The splashes of color in his vision were becoming clearer now, and soon everything became white instead of black.
"In the meantime, I'll keep an eye on him and you go get some rest. I promise as soon as I have an update, I'll send word. He'll wake up soon enough."
Another sigh, but it must have obeyed, because an engine was suddenly slowly chuffing further away.
He's leaving…oh, no, he's leaving! WAKE UP!
Even though it hurt, inch by inch, bit by bit, Thomas forced his eyes to open. The dots dancing before his eyes became six, then ten, then twenty, and soon morphed into shapes, the white disappearing and molding into blobs of color. He saw something red, something black and something that looked blue, but it was getting too far away to tell. He groaned, his eyes sliding shut again.
"…Or maybe sooner than we thought," the red blob said in disbelief. "He moved! He moved! Edward, come back! He's waking up!"
"WHAT?!"
The blue thing returned in seconds, screeching to a halt just inches away from him.
"He made a noise. I know he did," the red one said quickly.
"I heard it, too!" Exclaimed a tiny form next to the red one.
"Thomas?" A hushed voice asked. "Can you hear me? Are you awake?"
Too tired to open his eyes again, Thomas could only make little noises.
"Mmmm…."
"I need you to open your eyes for me, lad," the voice said urgently. "Do you think you can do that for me?"
It took several seconds, but Thomas finally found the strength to will his eyes open again, but very little.
"Come on, lad," the voice cooed encouragingly. "You can do it. Come on, now. You've been asleep for two days, how can you still be tired?"
A smile quirked at the corner of the tank engine's mouth, but it was lost as he still fought to regain control of his eyesight again.
"You know, I remember the day I saw you for the first time," the voice said thickly. "You were so young, so adventurous. You always told me how much you wanted to see the world. Now, I want to see my world. Please, Thomas, little one…I need you to look at me."
Thomas fought with his eyes for several more seconds, but he finally got them open halfway. The world around him was blurry, but everything was recognizable. The red blob became Victor, the tiny one next to him became the Fat Controller, the giant white one became the Steamworks and the blue one in front of him became Edward. Things were wavering in and out of existence, but his exhausted eyes fell on Edward, and only Edward.
"…Dad?…"
He saw Victor's jaw drop, as well as the Fat Controller's but Edward only smiled gently, tears in his eyes.
"Yes, little one. I'm here, son."
"Wha…Wha hap…"
"You had an accident, lad. A bad one. Something went wrong when you were going down Gordon's Hill. We think your brakes failed, but the engineers are still looking into it. How do you feel?"
"Mm tired…hurts…"
"What does?"
"…Everything…"
Edward worriedly turned to Victor.
"Is that normal?"
"Most likely," Victor said, still looking shocked. "He has injuries almost everywhere, Edward. He's going to be in pain."
"Can't you do something to make it stop? I don't want him hurting."
"Until his new parts come in, sleep is the only medicine he can have."
"I don't like this, Victor."
"I know, Edward. None of us do."
The tender engine turned back to the crumpled body of his charge.
"You're going to be okay, Thomas. I promise."
"Course I am," Thomas said weakly, a tiny smile forming. "Have you."
Edward smiled warmly, leaning in to nuzzle him. Thomas could feel his eyes becoming heavier already, but he wanted to stay with his father, so he forced them open again.
"...Okay?" He asked tiredly.
"Okay?" Edward pulled away, confused. "Are you okay?"
"Mmmm...you."
"Me?" Edward was flabbergasted. "Am I okay?"
"...Uh-Huh..." The battered engine murmured.
"I'm fine, lad, I'm fine. A bit tired, but don't worry about me," Edward said anxiously. "I'm more worried about you. You scared me out of my wits, Thomas. I'm just so glad you're finally awake."
"...Long?" Thomas sighed.
"You've been asleep for two days," Edward chuckled sadly. "Felt like decades to me."
The tender engine nuzzled him again.
"Is there anything you need?"
"…Percy?" Thomas murmured.
"Percy? Do you want to see him?"
"…Mhmm…"
"Once you've had some more rest, I'll make sure to bring him in. For now, you're stuck with me, alright?"
"…Mmkay."
"I'll let the others know you're awake. We've all been worried sick."
"…James?"
"Yes, lad. Even James. Is there anything else you need?"
Thomas' vision was getting blurry again.
"…Story?"
"A story?" Edward mused. "Of course, bairn. What kind?"
"Mmm…Sodor…old days…"
"Ah, so the usual," Edward looked thoughtfully up at the ceiling. "Let's see…ah, yes…"
As Edward began his tale about his very first day on Sodor, Thomas tried his best to listen, but found himself falling in and out of consciousness, the spots beginning to sprinkle his vision again. Edward's voice was so soothing, so comforting, like being wrapped in a fluffy blanket that just came out of the dryer.
"It looks like someone is getting tired," Edward chuckled, snapping Thomas back to it for a millisecond. "We'll finish the story another time. I think it's time for a little engine to take a nap."
Somehow, Thomas found enough strength to show some cheek and rolled his eyes the best he could.
"Mmm…not little…"
"You're not little?"
"Nuh-Uh…"
His eyes slid closed against his will.
Edward laughed softly.
"Go to sleep, lad…I'll be right here when you wake up."
"…Stay?"
"Always. Rest, now…my son."
And Thomas' world faded to an endless abyss of darkness again, but, this time, he didn't enter it alone.
His father was there, too.