CONTENT WARNING: CONTAINS ADULT THEMES :

Meredith chuffed quietly along Duck's branch line. Some time had passed since her little tryst with Flying Scotsman and the leaves were beginning to change color across the island. Her and Gordon had been meeting in secret nearly every night since, though not much came of it. Every time their moments got too heated Gordon would recoil and stop. Meredith appreciated that he wanted to properly court her before getting too physical, but after her experience with his younger brother she couldn't help but feel slightly frustrated. It didn't help that Scotsman was constantly making advances on her. There were a few times she nearly allowed herself to fall into him, but she remained loyal to Gordon. Though it wasn't known to the other engines, she and Gordon were together, and Meredith was committed to him.

The little white tank engine continued on with her delivery to Tidmouth when she came upon Duck and his slip coaches. He gave her a friendly whistle and stopped for a moment to talk. "Afternoon, Mer. You look especially perky today."

"Just loving this fall weather is all." Meredith lied. She was thinking about seeing Gordon and his seductive grin. "Anything new with you?"

"Not particularly," Duck said. "Just doing my best to be really useful."

Meredith smiled. "You don't have to try hard for that, Duck."

"Awh," Duck's cheeks grew hot. "That's kind of you to say. Well, I wish I could stay and chat longer, but I have passengers to deliver and you need to get those cars to Tidmouth."

"Bye!" Meredith whistled farewell to her mentor as he puffed back towards Harwick. She then picked up speed to make up for the few moments lost to talk to Duck.

James slipped eagerly into Knapford yard, his eyes darting between the endless lines of cars, trucks, coaches, and flatbeds. He was looking for any signs of life, but saw nothing. The red engine stopped to puff in frustration, his bottom lip jutted out. "Ohhh, where is he?" James whined to himself.

"Where's who?" Philip popped up out of nowhere, nearly startling James right out of his paint.

"Oh, uh," James's face felt hot and he looked around nervously. "I was looking for Edward. I thought maybe he was working in the yard today."

"He is!" Philip said excitedly. "He just had to run a quick delivery to Wellsworth."

"Oh! Thank you!" James quickly puffed away. He had completely forgotten about the fish cars he was supposed to take to Vicarstown that morning and left them behind in the yard.

James drove all the way to Wellsworth just to find out he had barely missed Edward after talking to the stationmaster. He cursed to himself as he turned around and headed back to Knapford to pick up his fish cars.

He pulled back onto the Mainline and noticed a small blue tender engine a few paces in front of him and his funnel fumed. It was Edward and the red engine pumped his pistons as hard as he could to catch up to him. "Edward!" James called as he switched tracks to drive next to his friend. "Edward, hi."

"Hi, James, what're you doing?" Edward was surprised at how excited James appeared. He couldn't help but feel flutters in his boiler.

"Oh, I was just cruising along, enjoying the lovely weather." James said with a sly smirk.

Edward arched an eyebrow. "Oh really? That's all, huh?"

"Well, I wanted to see my favorite engine as well, but I just can't seem to find him." James teased.

Edward chuckled and played along. "And what does this engine look like? Maybe I can help you find him."

"Hmm," James twisted his face in exaggerated thought. "He's small, blue, not that fast, though he's a tender engine like me, but regardless of size he's a hard worker."

"He sounds nice." Edward said, his smile growing.

"He's wonderful." James continued, his smirk evolving to a distant, dreamy gaze as he stared at the line ahead.

Edward couldn't help but blush at James's train of compliments. The red engine was arrogant and boastful, but there was no denying his kind and loving nature. Edward's eyes locked onto a set of points that merged to James's track. He glanced to the man in the signal box and quickly shouted, "Points!" The signalman knew to change the switch and Edward crossed over the points. He stopped just shy of James's track which forced the red engine to screech to a sudden halt before hitting Edward.

"What're you doing? I almost hit you." James was concerned, but Edward just laughed; he cast a sideways glance to James.

"Pull forward." Is all Edward had to say and James was right next to the little blue engine. Edward wasn't able to kiss James, but he leaned to the side and snuggled his cheek to James's. It was the closest thing to a kiss he could give at the moment.

James's bearings nearly buckled as he cuddled up to Edward, gently pushing his weight against the small engine. The two sat on the tracks nuzzled against each other for a moment longer before they had to take off again. James could not stop smiling, his cheeks were rosy and his funnel fumed as he inched distractedly towards Knapford with Edward.

Back at Knapford, Meredith was waiting on Platform 4 for her passengers to board when she heard Gordon laughing hysterically in the yard beside the station. She couldn't see anything but then she heard a loud metal crash followed by more chuckling from Gordon. "What the hell?"

Meredith wished she could move forward to see what was going on but all she could hear was Thomas and Gordon arguing… again. Then she heard Sir Topham Hatt's voice, but she still couldn't see anything.

A few moments later Gordon backed onto his platform. He looked over to Meredith who gave him a strange face. The big engine chuckled. "I'll tell you later, love." Is all he said. Then Gordon was shunted his express. Meredith was daydreaming up until she saw him begin to leave and she noticed a few extra cars coupled to his coaches after Thomas pulled into the station with Annie and Clarabel.

"Uhh…" Meredith couldn't get herself to call after Gordon when she realized he had fish cars attached to his coaches as he sped away and all she could do was stare while Thomas laughed along with his coaches.

"Fish express coming through!"

A short while after Meredith, Thomas, and Gordon had left, James and Edward came back into the yard. James was once again searching up and down the lines, but this time he was looking for his cars. "Philip!" He called impatiently. The little box cab peeked out from behind a heavy goods train. "Philip, where are my fish cars?"

"I dunno." The little diesel said with a shrug. "Thomas shunted them away but I'm not sure what he did with them, and he's already left for his branch line."

"Ugh," James groaned. He wasn't exactly upset about not having to pull smelly fish cars, but he hoped the incident wouldn't get him in trouble with Sir Topham Hatt. "Can I just have my coaches then, please?"

"Right away, James!" Philip tooted before scurrying away.

James rolled his eyes with a huff. "Little engines."

"I know right?" Edward teased as he pulled up next to James.

"You don't count." James said plainly.

Edward laughed then began his work in the yard while James waited as patiently as he could for his coaches.

Later that evening, Meredith was standing at her platform at Vicarstown when Flying Scotsman pulled in beside her coming in from the Mainland. "Evening, beautiful."

"Stop it." Meredith scolded, though she couldn't help but smile. The guilt of that fact ate at her firebox. "You're horrible, you know that?"

"And why is that, little Meredith?" There's that stupid pet name again.

Meredith groaned. "You know exactly why. I like Gordon. I want to be with him. No offense to you, of course."

"None taken." Scotsman said with a grin. "I prefer to not tie myself down. No offense to you either."

"Also, you're kind of a shit brother." Meredith teased. "Continuing to chase my tail when you know Gordon has feelings for me."

That comment took Flying Scotsman aback. He quite liked Meredith, but he did love his brother too and wasn't too keen to hurt him. "That's true I suppose." He then looked back up to Meredith. "Have you and him… you know?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but… no." Meredith said. She felt a little embarrassed. It's been over a month at this point and still nothing.

This made Scotsman snicker. "If I were him you wouldn't have a moment's rest."

"Too bad you aren't, huh?" Meredith giggled. Scotsman raised a brow then began to back up down his line. This made the little tank engine uneasy. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Oh, I just want a better view is all." He switched over to Meredith's track and his smolder grew.

"Ah, ah, ah," Meredith was stern. She knew she should get out of the way but she just couldn't get her wheels to move. "Don't even think about it."

"Think about what?" Scotsman's voice was a low purr and made Meredith's boiler tingle.

"You know what." Meredith said through clenched teeth and the big engine drew closer. "It's not right. What about Gordon? Don't you care?"

"Of course I care. I love my brother." Flying Scotsman stopped just short of Meredith's buffers. "Unfortunately you've got my moral compass all askew."

"That's not my fault."

"I never said it was."

"So why don't you leave me alone?"

"I wish I could."

Meredith paused, Scotsman's gaze was seductive, but there was something else there that the little white tank engine couldn't place. "I love Gordon."

"So we're at love now?" Scotsman teased though he felt a bit of a strange sadness at her statement.

"Yes." Meredith's boiler bubbled. She finally knew what that meant. She wanted to shout it from the mountaintops.

Scotsman inched closer, his buffers now flush with Meredith's before he lowered himself to be closer. "Humor me once more and I'll leave you alone."

"Promise?" Meredith glanced around. The station was now empty as all the passengers had left. The sky above was dark and gloomy as a storm rolled in from the coast. A gentle breeze blew through the station, whisking the two engines' steam away.

Scotsman's lips were centimeters away from Meredith's. "Promise."

"I can't stand you." Meredith sighed.

"I can tell." Scotsman whispered before closing the gap between them.

James was restless in his berth. He missed Edward. The little blue engine had moved to Wellsworth with Philip a few weeks ago and James was not thrilled about it and after his cuddle with Edward on the Mainline, he was more antsy than ever. He started to back further into his berth when he heard Meredith's whistle and saw her rocketing towards a sleeping Gordon. She puffed over the turntable right into his buffers. Gordon woke immediately with a start. James closed his eyes until he heard them both start up, then he raised one lid to peek at them as they both charged off away from the sheds. "What are you two up to?" James whispered to himself as thunder rumbled softly in the distance. He had an idea, but there was only one way to find out. He clicked on his lamp and started down the track where they left.

The storm had finally arrived to the island as James sped down the Mainline after Gordon and Meredith. He made sure to keep his distance but the heavy rain concealed the sound of his pistons as he puffed at full speed. James saw them turn off down a siding, but just before he saw the turn-off towards Wellsworth. He slowed down, stopping right before the branch line. He wanted to keep following them, but he also wanted to visit Edward. James bit his lip as his eyes darted between the siding and the branch line. "Fuck it." He whispered before he started towards Wellsworth.

James could hardly see down the track in the heavy rain. He was being pelted from all directions and his eyes stung from the water getting into them. He stopped suddenly when he noticed another engine's lamp coming straight for him. James laid on his whistle. "Stop!" He called. "Stop, please!"

The other engine slammed on their brakes, but their wheels slipped on the wet track and they slid right into James. When James opened his eyes he grinned from buffer to buffer. "Edward?"

"Oh! Hello." Edward blushed. "What're you doing out in this storm?"

"I came to see you." James said. He had to shout over the thundering deluge.

"Huh?" Edward could hardly hear him as thunder and lightning boomed overhead.

"I came to- oh nevermind." James decided talking was useless. He maneuvered his buffers under Edward's and their lips met in a rain-soaked kiss.

Edward hesitated a moment before he closed his eyes and let himself fade into James completely.

The storm continued to whip across the island. Heavy branches were tossed around as if they were weightless, leaves stuck to the sides of houses and buildings. Engines found shelter where they could. Except for Meredith and Gordon. They were too caught up in each other. Their intense intimacy caused the rain that fell on their boilers to fizzle into steam the second it touched their scorching metal. Meredith finally got her moment with Gordon. She felt guilty that she let Flying Scotsman seduce her prior to her going to Gordon, but the adrenaline made her ravenous and she didn't give the big engine a chance to back off and once Gordon opened up, he couldn't stop. And neither Gordon or Meredith knew that only a half mile away James and Edward were as lost in either other as they were.

The next morning Sodor was a mess of flooded lines, damaged buildings, and soaked goods cars. Gordon had pulled into Knapford with a lengthy yawn. The panels of his boiler were still piping hot, his face red. He looked exhausted. Though his dreamy smirk betrayed his tired eyes. He gave a small shudder as more steam released from his valves.

"Good morning, little brother." Flying Scotsman mocked as he pulled into the platform beside Gordon.

Gordon gave a small grunt of acknowledgment and continued to let his mind drift off. This did not go unnoticed by his younger brother who gave him a bump with his footboards. "What's up with you?"

"Hm?"

Scotsman laughed at his brother's far off stare. "You look rattled. The storm keep you up last night?"

"Storm?" Gordon finally came to. He hated to admit he didn't even notice the nightmarish weather.

Flying Scotsman narrowed his eyes. "You're acting rather funny this morning."

"According to you. But I'm perfectly fine." Gordon insisted. The life had finally returned to his voice and he was wide awake.

"Right, right." Scotsman said. He had his suspicions, but there was only one way to know for sure. He had to see Meredith and he knew she would be coming in for her coaches any moment.

Just then James chuffed into the station. He too was exhausted but he had not a word of complaint. He simply settled into his platform and began to let his mind drift off without a word to the other engines.

Finally Meredith chugged into Knapford and Scotsman's suspicions were confirmed. She had a pep in her step that he was readily familiar with. And when Gordon caught sight of her his steam output increased substantially. He gave his brother a knowing smirk and Gordon's smile disappeared. "Don't you say a word."

"I wasn't going to." Scotsman said with a chuckle. He glanced back to Meredith and noticed her front and rear buffers were bent and damaged. "Goodness, Gordon. I didn't think you had that in you. I'm impressed."

"Shut up."

Whew. That one was a doozy, y'all. Idk what kind of mood I've been in but that was just too much fun to write. I promise it's not gonna be like this the whole time, I'm just kinda doing my thing. Lol. I'll admit, I despise "love triangles" but I feel this sort of works. At least I hope it will with what I have planned. Regardless I hope you all enjoyed and yes, this was also a setup to introduce Rebecca and Nia eventually. Though I don't care much for the Big World Big Adventures series I do enjoy the characters. Don't forget to read and review!

Much love;

Mixxie (Formerly Bumble)

Pretty Katydid;

I'm glad you got some *ahem* enjoyment from last chapter and I do hope this one scratched that itch for ya as well. I originally had the same theory about engines and intimacy as you, but I think it's possible they're low-key touch hungry. Being confined to their own tracks and watching people's PDA I think would at least make them curious. Of course I'm not trying to argue your take because it is valid. I find it difficult to imagine physicality between the engines myself which is why I avoid describing it in too much detail. But I do think it's possible for kissing at the very least given a bit of creative contorting of their buffers and footboards. But even then it wouldn't work for many engines.

On another note: Gordon is definitely a keeper. One of those "low-key lovers" who comes off as reserved until given the right person then he's a real... freak. *wink wink* Heh. As Meredith and her poor little buffers discovered. (I plan on building off that little detail, don't you worry. ;) )

Also James and Edward is such a random ship that I came up with but they're literally so cute I couldn't help it. It makes so much sense for some odd reason. I love it. Lol.

I look forward to your next review should you decide to post one! Thank you so much for your enthusiasm and support.

Yours

Mixxie 3