Meredith awoke one morning to a freshly fallen snow. Thankfully, Sir Topham Hatt had the shed at Arlesburgh expanded to fit her along with Ryan and Daisy so she no longer had to sleep on an exposed siding. Meredith puffed forward then she noticed the brand new snow plow attached to her front buffers. She let out an excited gasp before taking off into the white abyss. She was so excited she didn't even say good morning to Ryan or Daisy. This made Daisy cross, but Ryan snickered as he watched Meredith steam gleefully away. "Nothing quite like your first snow, huh Daisy?"

Daisy huffed. "I don't care much for the snow. It's ba-

"Bad for your swerves, right, right." Ryan sneered, earning him another snooty huff from Daisy as she reluctantly hummed out of the shed.

Thomas was working in the yard at Knapford with Philip, he had just brought Gordon the express coaches when he saw Meredith pulling into the yard with her own coaches. She had stopped in to fill up with water. "Morning, Meredith! How's your first snow?"

"It's so beautiful," She beamed. "I don't even mind how chilly it is. Though, I don't know how people can stand being out in weather like this. They've got no boilers."

Philip scuttled up beside Thomas with a long line of empty cars behind him. "That's why people wear coats and scarves and things. Their bodies just can't seem to produce heat like a boiler or an engine block can. Sometimes they even huddle up together if their outerwear isn't enough."

Meredith glanced over to the station and noticed a small family all bundled in winter coats, top hats, and even their hands were covered with thick fabrics. They looked rather cozy. "Humans are so odd." She said.

"You can say that again." Thomas chortled. "Just wait until you see your first baby. They're so squishy looking."

"Baby?" Meredith's driver had finished filling her water tanks and she scooted towards Thomas. "What's a… baby?"

Thomas giggled again. "They're tiny humans. People aren't built like engines, they're… hmm… homegrown." Thomas winked before heading off to gather Annie and Clarabel, leaving Meredith stopped on her track feeling puzzled.

"Homegrown? Does he mean like they grow in the ground?" Meredith glanced over to Philip who looked a little nervous.

"Sure, sure." Philip said quickly. "Something along those lines." He sped off with a puff of exhaust.

Meredith paused a moment longer, then shrugged before continuing down the track towards her platform in the station.

By late afternoon, Meredith was exhausted. Doing her jobs was made extra difficult by the heavy snow that continued to fall all day long. She had to work even harder to go down the track at speed due to having to push through the thick flurry. which drained her steam much more quickly. She had reached Gordon's hill with her goods cars and almost didn't make it to the top. Her wheels kept slipping, her face was red from straining to keep traction on the icy tracks. She didn't know about her sandbox to help her grip the metal rails so she continued to slip and slide until she crested the hill.

At the top she took a moment to catch her breath before gliding back down the hill. She had this delivery to make to Harwick, then she was to head to Arlesburgh West to pick up ballast stone for Henry to take to the mainland. The little tank engine had much to do, and not a whole lot of energy to do it, but she chuffed forward. Determined to get her jobs done because the sooner she finished, the sooner she would be able to return to her shed and rest.

"Hello, Mike." Meredith said with a sigh as she pulled her empty cars to be loaded with ballast.

The red mini engine noticed how tired Meredith looked as he rolled up the ramp with the ballast. "Are you doin' alright there, Mer?"

"I'm fine," Meredith said with a yawn. "I'm enjoying the snow, but having to push through it all day has me spent."

"I can understand that one," Rex chimed in as he pulled up with a train of passengers. "It's lovely and all, but it just gets in the way."

"Hopefully this junk melts soon so we can go back to functioning like normal." Mike growled as he backed down the ramp. "It's just too damn cold for anyone."

"Easy there, Mike." Burt said. He had just come back from making a wool delivery. "Don't want Mr. Duncan to catch you cursing like that."

Mike groaned. "Of course not."

Meredith whistled goodbye to the mini-engines then set off towards Vicarstown where she was to drop the cars off for Henry to retrieve in the morning.

She puffed along for a few moments before she saw Oliver approaching her in the distance. "Hello," Meredith said. Her whistle sounded more strained each time she used it.

"You look worn out," Oliver said, his tone worrisome.

"I am," Meredith admitted with a heavy breath. "I just wanna get this delivery made so I can come home and rest."

Oliver tooted his whistle. "I hope you can get the rest you need."

"Me too." Meredith exhaled and she chugged on towards the complete opposite side of the island.

Meredith had finally finished her delivery and was headed back to Arlesburgh, but she was dead tired. She was about to pass through Tidmouth when she remembered that Henry was going to be gone overnight for his delivery to the mainland. He had told her this as they passed each other after she delivered her cars at Vicarstown. So the little tank engine took the tracks towards Tidmouth sheds. She was too exhausted to try and make it all the way back to Arlesburgh and it was already very late. She was ready to sleep.

She saw the lights from the sheds up ahead, she had paused a moment when she saw the sheds to make sure there was an empty berth and was pleased to see an open shed next to Gordon who was already asleep.

"Evening everyone," Meredith whistled as she stopped at the turn table.

"Hi, Meredith." Emily said excitedly. "What're you doing here?"

"Henry is going to be gone at the mainland all night and I'm too tired to go all the way to Arlesburgh, so I figured I'd crash here with you all." Meredith said sleepily as she backed into the berth. Gordon was still fast asleep.

"Well we're happy to have you." Edward chimed in from his berth beside Thomas. "You do look very tired."

"Oh I am." Meredith said with a yawn. "Having to push through all this snow today was a lot of work. My axles are aching."

Gordon had heard Meredith's voice beside him and opened his eyes only slightly to look at her. He noticed how heavy her eyes were and her pistons were putting out too much excess steam. She really had worked very hard. He couldn't help but feel slightly impressed by the little engine.

Meredith could feel eyes on her and glanced to Gordon and saw that he was awake and watching her. He gave her a small smile, but said nothing. Meredith looked quickly away, her boiler fluttered. She felt nervous about these strange feelings she got around certain engines. She didn't know what it meant, but she was also too embarrassed to ask.

All the engines at Tidmouth had begun to doze off, Meredith was still steaming in her thoughts until her eyes gave way to exhaustion and she too, fell asleep.

That next morning, Meredith woke with a start as Gordon gave a warning whistle that he was about to cross the turntable. Her body felt stiff as she steamed out of the berth with a jolt and into the bright morning sun. "Good morning." Meredith said with a yawn.

"Morning, Meredith!" Thomas called as he waited for Gordon to cross the turntable. "You must've really been tired. I could hear your snoring all the way over here."

"I don't snore." Meredith furrowed her brow.

"Oh yes you do," Gordon said with a sneer as the turntable lined up to his track. "I didn't think such a noise could be made by such a little engine."

Meredith's face grew hot and she looked down at the tracks. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Edward said with a snicker. "Gordon likes to pretend that he doesn't snore either."

"I heard that!" Gordon scoffed in the distance as he steamed towards Knapford.

Meredith had just finished sorting out cars at Knapford yard when she heard a familiar whistle in the distance. She paused for a moment. She knew who the whistle belonged to, but why would he be here? She puffed towards the station and saw Gordon waiting at his platform. "Gordon," Meredith stopped beside the large engine who appeared more annoyed than usual. "Did I just hear-"

"Yes, you did." Gordon sighed. "Sir Topham Hatt requested he help as the holiday season comes in full swing."

Meredith wasn't able to respond as she was interrupted by the same whistle, only much, much closer. Her eyes darted in front of her and she saw the Flying Scotsman coming right towards her. "Oh crap." The little tank engine started up as quickly as possible, throwing her pistons in reverse as Scotsman came barreling towards her. His whistle blaring for her to get out of the way.

"Meredith!" Scotsman called as he slammed on his brakes, his eyes shut, teeth clenched as he focused all his strength into stopping, but the icy tracks made it difficult.

Meredith let out a fearful yelp as she drove backwards as fast as she could. She came to a sudden halt, her brakes had locked up and her coupling rod snapped. She couldn't move. Meredith shut her eyes as Scotsman screeched closer until his buffers gently bumped her just before he stopped.

The station was completely still as engines and people alike stood in shock at the close call. Sir Topham Hatt pushed through the crowd that had accumulated, his expression a mix of anger and concern. "Meredith!" He scolded with a wave of his finger. "You should have known that platform wasn't available for you to sit and chat."

Meredith lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry, sir."

"It's okay, Meredith." The fat controller sighed. The new engine still had so much to learn so he tried his best to keep patient with her. "Just pay attention, the timetable tells you when each platform is reserved and when it's available."

"Yes, sir." Meredith had finally looked up at the fat controller. An apologetic smile creeping its way across her face.

"Well, now that that's settled. Welcome, Flying Scotsman!" Sir Topham Hatt gestured excitedly to Gordon's younger brother, earning an irritated groan from Gordon himself. "I'm more than appreciative of your willingness to help us during the busy holidays."

"It's my pleasure, sir." Scotsman grinned. Passengers waiting to board Gordon's express had stopped to admire the large green engine. "I'm more than happy to be of service."

"Fantastic!" Sir Topham Hatt beamed. "Why don't you get yourself turned around and Philip will bring you your coaches for your first run."

"Right away, sir." Scotsman said and he started to steam forward, but Meredith was still there. She couldn't move out of the way. "If you could please clear my track, little Meredith."

Meredith strained, but her wheels wouldn't turn. "I can't…"

"What's happened?" Gordon asked. He couldn't see the commotion behind him, but he appeared to be concerned.

"My coupling rod…" Meredith said sadly. "It's snapped."

Scotsman's expression went from confident to worried. Meredith was refusing to look at anyone. She was incredibly embarrassed.

Meredith was brought to the Steamworks by Edward. She didn't speak the entire trip, despite Edward's many attempts to make conversation. He wasn't offended though, he knew she was upset. It's difficult any time an engine breaks down, especially for a new build like her.

"Here we are." Edward tooted happily. He watched as Meredith was set up on the gantry before she was lifted off the flatbed. She looked around nervously. She recognized the Steamworks from when she was built, but she had never really looked around. There were workers pounding out iron bits and plates. A welder was busy preparing a new set of pistons to be installed on another engine. A few workman were gathered around a drink station as they all chatted quietly with a supervisor.

Victor rolled up on his narrow tracks. "Hello there, my friends. What's the problem?"

"Meredith locked up her brakes and her coupling rod has snapped on her right side." Edward responded. He cast a quick glance to the tank engine who was still refusing eye contact. "There was a little incident at Knapford."

"Well, there's nothing to worry about, Meredith." Victor reassured with a kind smile. "We will have you repaired and back on the tracks in no time."

Meredith finally looked at Victor. "Promise?"

Victor chuckled. "I promise."

Hello all! Sorry this update is a bit late. I had a busy weekend. It's a little all over the place but we have a little more progression with the arrival of Flying Scotsman to Sodor! WHEEW. Anyway. Thanks for reading and for reviewing! I appreciate the love. Until the next update!

Much Love!

- Bumble