It was the beginning of summer on the island of Sodor. Meredith was running holiday-makers to Harwick Beach when she came across Flying Scotsman with the coastal express stopped at Harwick station. She whistled hello. "Good Morning, Scotsman."

"Morning, Meredith." The big green engine replied. He had finally stopped calling her 'little Meredith' after an exhaustion-fueled meltdown resulted in Meredith cursing him up-and-down about how degrading and rude the pet name was.

"Are you keeping busy?" Meredith asked as she stopped at the station to allow her passengers to disembark.

Scotsman sneered. "Of course I am. That's what it means to be an express."

Meredith furrowed her brow. She didn't like this sudden attitude change. Scotsman was usually very jeering and playful. "Is something wrong?"

Flying Scotsman heaved a long, defeated sigh. "Sir Topham Hatt said I had to bring a heavy goods train up to Ulfstead. I don't pull goods trains. It's undignified."

Meredith laughed. "You really are Gordon's brother. I've never been to Ulfstead. Maybe I could tag along and help with the delivery. I could be your back engine. I've always wanted to visit the castle."

"No offense, Mer, but I really don't need a back engine." Scotsman said, a smile finally breaking his scowl.

"I know." Meredith said as she began to reverse from the platform. "But consider it an unnecessary favor that I may or may not require you to return later."

Scotsman rolled his eyes and chuckled. "Alright, alright. The shipment will be waiting at Brendam Docks at 2 pm. Don't be late." And he and Meredith both steamed away.

Meredith rolled into Knapford yard to have her coaches uncoupled and shunted away. She had some time to spare before she helped Scotsman with his delivery to Ulfstead so she decided to find an empty siding and rest. It was an unusually slow day for the tank engine, but she wasn't complaining.

Meanwhile, on the way to Knapford, Gordon was pulling the express as he approached Gordon's Hill. He whistled and began to ascend towards the top. He hadn't noticed a section of track covered in oil that leaked from a goods train earlier. Gordon puffed on, but when he came to the oil his wheels lost traction and began to spin without moving him forward. Gordon grit his teeth as his wheels struggled to grip the track. He had to stop before he rolled backwards which meant he was now stuck. He was much too heavy to start back up again and his wheels were now slathered in oil. Gordon growled in frustration. "Son of a bitch."

Meredith was fast asleep when Sir Topham Hatt approached. He gave her buffer a gentle pat and the little white tank engine slowly opened her eyes. "Yes sir?" She said while she held back a yawn.

"Gordon is stuck on the big hill of the main line." The fat controller said with a shake of his head. "Apparently some oil had leaked onto the track from one of Henry's goods trains and caused him to lose traction. I don't have any other engines available so I need you to go give him a push up the hill."

"Me? Push Gordon?" Meredith was confused. "But, sir, I don't think I'm strong enough to push him. I'm only a tank engine."

"You just need to get him to the top where his wheels can grip once more. You're perfectly capable of doing that, Meredith." Sir Topham Hatt said with a puff of chest. "Now go on, we don't need anymore confusion or delay."

Gordon was waiting impatiently at the hill. His driver had put out red danger flags on either side of him to warn oncoming engines to slow down. He looked up from glaring at the tracks when he heard an engine approaching him. He saw the steam and then he saw… Meredith. "Oh, the indignity." He groaned. He didn't want her seeing him like this.

"Hey there, Gordon." Meredith tried to give him a comforting smile, but he just looked away with a sigh. "I would ask how your day is going but… I think we both know the answer to that."

"Ugh, did you just come here to tease me." Gordon had never felt this foolish before and he refused to look at Meredith.

"I'm actually here to help you." Meredith said confidently. "You finally get to see how strong I really am."

Gordon scoffed. "You're not big enough to be a banker engine, Meredith. Usually Edward is the one to push me."

"Well Edward isn't available, Gordon." The little white tank engine said teasingly as she buffered up to Gordon's brake coach. "So you'll have to settle for me."

"I wouldn't call it settling." Gordon whispered to himself. Meredith heard him, but she kept quiet. She didn't want to humiliate him further.

Meredith let out two warning whistles which Gordon returned promptly to say he was ready. "I'm gonna need you to help me as best you can, okay?" She called. Gordon hmphed in response. Meredith regulated as much steam as she could to her pistons and she leaned on. Her buffers were flat against the coach's. Her wheels spun a couple times, her face flush as she worked the hardest she ever had. Gordon tried to turn his wheels but they slipped and sputtered in the oil. Finally Meredith's wheels made traction after throwing several bouts of sparks. Her axles ached, but she felt Gordon and the express had begun to move. She didn't slow. Her face and boiler were now dripping with condensation as she shunted Gordon up the hill. She couldn't see his face, but Gordon's eyes were wide, his mouth agape. He was impressed at the tank engine's strength.

Finally Gordon was able to grip the tracks once more and he quickly said thank you before flying off down the hill. Leaving Meredith at the top to catch her breath as she watched him thunder away.

It was exactly 2 pm by the time Meredith made it to Brendam Docks. She was still covered in condensation and her face was blistering red. She saw Flying Scotsman waiting at the head of the long goods train. He caught notice of her and was shocked to see her in such a state. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Meredith huffed breathlessly as she was coupled to the back of the train. "I had… Gordon."

Scotsman raised his eyebrows. "You what?"

"I helped Gordon." Meredith took another steadying breath. "I helped Gordon up his hill."

"Ohhh, I see. I thought you meant- nevermind." Scotsman shook his boiler. He almost sounded relieved. "You ready to go?"

"Ready when you are." Meredith said, the life returning to her voice. Scotsman blew his whistle, as did Meredith and the two started down the line towards Ulfstead.

The journey to Ulfstead was comfortable. The two engines chatted about nothing in particular. Meredith told Scotsman about having to push Gordon up the hill all by herself.

"Leave it to my brother to get stuck on a hill named after him." Scotsman laughed as they continued up the twisting track towards the castle.

"I'm pretty sure that's why it's named after him." Meredith laughed. "Cuz he kept getting stuck on it."

Scotsman rolled his eyes with a laugh. They arrived at the main gate to the estate and began to slow. Meredith's eyes grew and she dropped her jaw as the grand castle came into view. "Oh, wow!"

The two pulled up beside a small platform and saw a smartly dressed, bearded gentleman there waiting for them. It was the Earl of Sodor, Sir Robert. He turned to the goods train and let out a howling laugh. "OH! How exciting! My shipment has arrived!" He scurried over to Flying Scotsman and he grinned from ear-to-ear. "And you must be the famous Flying Scotsman! It is an honor to meet you. Welcome to Ulfstead Castle. I'm Sir Robert Norramby"

"Pleased to meet you, sir." Scotsman said with a charming grin.

Sir Robert noticed Meredith at the back and trotted over to her. "And who is this lovely specimen?"

"I'm Meredith, sir." She said with a shy smile. "I haven't been to the castle before so I thought I'd help bring your shipment."

"That's fantastic! The more the merrier I say. If you'd like to be uncoupled I can have Stephen show you two around the castle grounds if you'd like."

"Stephen?" Meredith cocked her boiler. "Who's Stephen?"

Just then an old engine with a wooden yellow boiler and tender puffed up to the platform across from Scotsman and Meredith. "That would be me!"

Both Meredith and Scotsman stood in awe of the engine. His front wheels were taller than his boiler and his pistons pointed up towards the sky. He had a tall white funnel with a gold crown-shaped appliqué at the top. His tender was small with coal and a sideways barrel of water. He had a nameplate on his boiler with 'ROCKET' stamped out in copper to match his dome and whistle. A smart looking engine.

Stephen waited for the two engines to speak but they remained quiet. "Do you two talk?"

"Yes sir." Meredith said. She had switched tracks and pulled up beside Scotsman. "I'm sorry. I've never seen an engine quite like you."

"First off, don't call me 'sir', it makes me feel old." Stephen chortled. "I mean, I am old, but I don't need to be reminded every time someone speaks to me." He looked to Flying Scotsman. "I have to say, I didn't think I'd ever meet you, Scotsman."

"You've heard of me?" Scotsman was shocked. He was a famous engine, yes, but it still caught him off guard.

"Of course I've heard of you." Stephen puffed closer. "The first locomotive ever to reach 160 kilometers per hour. That's very impressive indeed. I used to be known for my speed, hence my nameplate, but you modern engines make me seem like I'm standing still on the track."

For once Scotsman remained humble despite Stephen's compliments. He wanted to be respectful, though he couldn't help but feel proud being known by an engine such as Stephen. He wondered how Gordon would feel about it. Probably indifferent as usual. Scotsman's proud expression waived for a moment and he forced his smirk back, but Meredith noticed.

Meredith rushed back to Knapford. The time had gotten away from her at Ulfstead and she was very late for her evening passenger run. She zoomed into the yard where Percy had already shunted them from their siding and she buffered up to them with a bump so the yard worker could couple her up. Meredith was given the all-clear and she hurried to her platform where a crowd of grumpy passengers stood waiting. "I'm so sorry everyone." She said as all the passengers boarded. The guard then blew his whistle and Meredith set off.

By the time Meredith reached Harwick, the moon was high and she was exhausted. Her axles were still sore from helping Gordon and keeping up with Flying Scotsman and his goods train. She was ready to go to her shed, but then, a familiar whistle sounded off behind her. "Oh no."

"Meredith," Duck rolled up beside her looking very cross. "What's this I heard about you spending the day at Ulfstead instead of running your passengers?"

"I just wanted to see the castle, Duck." Meredith whimpered. She felt silly and she didn't want another lecture, but she knew it was coming.

"Oh, Mer." Duck sighed. The two engines continued down the line together. "I know you've been restless lately, but you need to focus on your work. You've been spending far too much time with those big engines. If you don't straighten up and focus I'll have to tell Sir Topham Hatt, understand?"

"Yes, Duck." Meredith didn't argue. She didn't want to get into more trouble and she didn't want to have to keep away from Gordon or Scotsman.

That night Meredith was settling into her shed besides Ryan and Daisy. Daisy was already asleep, unsurprisingly, but Ryan was awake and he looked happy to see her. "Good evening, Meredith. How are you?"

"I'm fine." Meredith replied. She came to a stop in a large huff of steam. "It's been a long day."

"You do look quite tired." Ryan said. "I hope you didn't push yourself too hard like you did over the winter."

Meredith let out a sleepy laugh. "Let's hope not." A loud yawn escaped from Meredith and she blushed. "I'm sorry, Ryan, but I'm very tired. I'd be happy to talk tomorrow."

"Of course, goodnight, Mer." The purple tank engine said cheerfully.

"Goodnight."

I'm back! I wanna try and include more background engines as much as I can. I just think they're all so interesting and deserve just as much attention as the "Steam Team". But I do have a soft spot for Gordon and Flying Scotsman. I wish their dynamic was delved into more in the CGI series, but I guess I'll just be doing that myself. Anyway, thanks for reading! Don't forget to favorite and leave a review!

Much Love!

Bumble

To racefangurl:

Meredith would fall under a Columbian class for her 2-4-2 wheel pattern that was imported in from North America. She was designed by Baldwin Locomotive Works specifically for the Northwestern Railway per Sir Topham Hatt's request, but she was assembled on Sodor so he could supervise her build. That's just my little idea for her. I've not given much thought to it other than that. Also, don't worry about your reviews seeming weird, I love reading them and greatly appreciate your interest. (: