It was a chilly morning at Knapford station. Gordon was waiting on his platform for his passengers to board for the morning express. He was still blinking the sleep from his eyes when he saw Meredith slip from the yard into the station at platform 3. "Morning, Gordon."

"Good morning, Mer." Gordon said with a wide smile. Meredith had been at the Steamworks the past few days after a loose rail caused her to come off the tracks at Harwick. The big engine was happy to see her up and running again.

"Did I miss anything while I was gone?"

Gordon took pause but before he could answer, another big engine pulled into platform 2 beside him. "Hello there!" This new engine beamed. She was brilliant yellow with red and navy accents and her face was young and sweet. "I don't believe we've met yet. I'm Rebecca!"

Meredith regarded the engine before her with slight apprehension. "Uhh, hi, I'm Meredith."

"Oh, that's such a lovely name and you're such a lovely engine it's certainly fitting." Rebecca cooed. Meredith wasn't sure what to make of this new engine. She seemed friendly enough, but the little white tank engine couldn't help but feel a little twinge in her boiler.

"Oh, uhh, thank you." Meredith said finally. She glanced at Gordon who gave her a reassuring smile.

Rebecca noticed their exchange and spoke up. "I'm safe to assume you two are good friends?"

"Well actually Gordon is my boy-"

"We're friends, yes," Gordon cut Meredith off quickly with a nervous grin. "We're very good friends. Just friends…"

Meredith's expression remained flat as she stared at her stammering partner. She was thinking about how she could somehow hop the tracks and knock Gordon off his axles. The big engine noticed Meredith's glowering and he furrowed his brow then gave her a stern shake of his boiler.

"How lovely." Rebecca said, oblivious to the lover's quarrel going on before her. "Well, I suppose I better get a move on." She whistled twice before departing with a heavy goods train. "See ya later, Gordon! It was nice to meet you, Meredith."

Meredith waited until Rebecca was out of sight before shooting her gaze back to Gordon. "Just friends?!"

"What was I supposed to say?" Gordon growled. The two engines made sure to be as quiet as possible. Sir Topham Hatt was in his office. "Was I supposed to say 'Rebecca, I'd like you to meet the engine I nearly scrapped my own brother over'?!"

"You could have at least acknowledged that I'm your girlfriend." Somehow, the two engines were yelling at each other whilst keeping their voices at a low whisper. After their talk with Sir Topham Hatt, word got out amongst the other engines of the two's relationship. Most were supportive of the rapport between them, but Gordon preferred to be as low-key as possible, so he never made a big show of it.

"We're not even supposed to be together." Gordon hissed. "And I may have only known Rebecca a few days, but I do know she's an excitable engine. She'd have blown our secret instantly."

"Oh do tell me how excitable this engine is."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know exactly what."

"Ugh, you're ridiculous, Meredith." Gordon was growing ever more frustrated with the young engine. "Have some sense, will you, for once?"

"You're such a jerk." Meredith grumbled. "She's gonna find out about us eventually. We're the talk of the island you know."

Gordon rolled his eyes and started up to leave the station. "I love you."

"I love you too." Meredith pouted as she watched Gordon steam away, the twinge in her boiler worse than before.

Down at Brendam Docks James and Edward were talking quietly amongst each other. They both were waiting for Cranky to finish loading their flatbeds when Brian chuffed up with cars of goods to be loaded onto a ship. "Lovely mornin', isn't is boys?"

"Yes it is." Edward said with a kind smile. "How are you liking Sodor so far?"

"I love it." Brian grinned as he lined up in front of Edward. The black tank engine was also bigger than Edward, though most engines were. "Y'all are all so welcoming. For the most part at least." He thought back to his introduction to Gordon which left a bad taste in his mouth.

James puffed in annoyance and earned himself a stern bump in the footboard from Edward. "What?" The red engine whined. He wished Edward wasn't so nice sometimes. Brian was handsome and it ground James' gears.

Brian picked up on James' miffed attitude and his smile disappeared. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing." James pouted, then averted his gaze from the tank engine.

Edward rolled his eyes. "Don't mind him. He doesn't take well to engines he thinks are better looking than him." It was James' turn to bump Edward after that comment.

Brian couldn't help but laugh. "Oh ho, I'm nothin' special. If I'm being honest, you're the first red engine I've seen, James. The color is very becoming on you. Much better than my dreary black paintwork." He passed a sly wink to Edward who chuckled.

James didn't notice the exchange and smirked. "Well, thank you, Brian. You're clearly an engine with exquisite taste." Brian cut his eyes. He'd also never met such a vain engine before.

"Will you silly steamies quit chattering, you're taking up the lines." Diesel sneered behind Brian.

James and Edward sighed as they passed each other an annoyed glance and began to back down their lines. Brian began to reverse and found himself under the sharp gaze of Diesel. "Who are you?"

"Brian." The black tank engine said with a raise of his brow. "Who are you?"

"I'm Diesel," the shunter huffed snootily. "And you're in my way."

Brian's eyes darted between their tracks. "I'm not even on the same line as you."

Diesel stammered and blew a large cloud of exhaust at Brian. "Doesn't matter. You steamies do nothing but take up space. I'm just waiting for the day Sir Topham Hatt comes to his senses and replaces all of you with diesels like me."

Brian scowled. "I see… " the tank engine wanted to tear into the crude engine, but he decided against it. Engines like him could not be reasoned with. Instead he blew his whistle and departed from the docks, ignoring Diesel's chortling.

Meredith was standing at the platform at Vicarstown when Flying Scotsman pulled in beside her. She did her best to ignore him, but she could feel his eyes burning through her boiler. "I'm not supposed to be talking to you."

"On what grounds?"

"On the grounds that you're a horrible brother." Meredith retorted, she continued to not look at the big engine.

Scotsman groaned. "We can at least be friends."

"No, we can't." Meredith hissed, she did her best to keep her voice down.

"And why is that?"

"Because…" Meredith started to fumble her words. "Because I can't say no to you, and Gordon knows that."

This made Scotsman's smirk grow and Meredith knew he was smiling without even looking at him. "Am I just that irresistible?"

Meredith grumbled, her face grew hot. "Stop talking to me."

Scotsman took a moment to remain quiet. He had never seen Meredith so angry. He looked around the station. Connor and Caitlin were at the furthest platforms from them and the crowds of people were too involved in their own conversations to notice the two engines' private talk. There was a cold breeze that made the Pacific shudder on his axles. He peered back at Meredith. She kept still. "So you're just going to pretend like I don't exist?"

"Until I can look at you and feel nothing." Meredith said flatly, her cheeks still on fire.

"Good luck with that, little Meredith." Scotsman's voice was a seductive whisper. "Just be sure not to think about all the ways I make you feel everything." He blew on his whistle and began to depart. Meredith's boiler felt as if it would burst. She finally looked up as Flying Scotsman pulled from the station. "How can you keep doing this to Gordon?" She called.

"How can you?"

Meredith's breath caught in her throat. Her mind raced as she watched Flying Scotsman disappear towards the Vicarstown bridge in a cloud of thick smoke.

Gordon was resting peacefully at Knapford. Thomas was out on his branch line so he didn't have to worry about anyone disturbing him. That is, until Meredith shunted into him with a bang and jolted the big engine awake. "Ugh, Meredith!" He scolded. "I'm trying to rest."

"Not anymore." Meredith said.

"Oh?" Gordon frowned then he saw the little engine's sultry gaze and grinned. "Oh."

The two engines slipped off to an abandoned shed just outside Knapford. They hadn't even kissed since Gordon was repaired so there was no hesitation to close the space between each other. Gordon had Meredith pinned to the old buffers in a deep, hungry kiss when he stopped. Something felt off. Meredith took the moment to catch her breath then she saw Gordon's puzzled expression. "What's the matter?"

"I don't know." Gordon said quietly. "I can't…"

"You can't what?" Meredith was suddenly worried. Was he not attracted to her anymore perhaps?

"I can't-" he stopped. He understood and his steam billowed. "Victor…" Gordon clenched his teeth. He refused to look Meredith in the eye. He was embarrassed.

Meredith cocked her boiler to the side in confusion. "What about Victor?"

"He had me paneled." Gordon's voice was dark. He was furious. "That son of a bitch."

"Paneled?"

Gordon sighed. "He made it where I can no longer… I can't be intimate."

"What?! He can't do that." Meredith furrowed her brow. The condensation on her face had started to evaporate.

Gordon sighed and began to back out of the shed. "He already has."

"But-" Meredith followed the big engine out. Her eyes burned for a moment as they readjusted to the sunlight. "Why would he do that?"

Gordon shook his boiler. He felt foolish. "I'm not sure. Probably to avoid me damaging you again. I'd assume anyway."

"Why not just demand he reverse it?"

The two started slowly back towards the station. Gordon was angry, but he also felt violated. He didn't know what to say to Meredith. He felt ill when another realization hit his funnel abruptly. Was Flying Scotsman also paneled? Gordon wanted to throw up at the thought of his brother now having physical intimacy over him.

Meredith watched Gordon's face. He was completely deadpan. She wanted to cry for him. She didn't even care about the physical aspect. She just wanted to reassure him that it didn't matter, that she loved him regardless, but part of her knew that Gordon wouldn't believe her despite it being true. Her track record of affairs with his brother rightfully made him wary. Meredith decided the best support she could show was silent. She could only imagine the uncertainty that undoubtedly filled his mind.

Late that evening Flying Scotsman was sitting idle at Vicarstown, until Gordon pulled in with his own late express. "Evening, little brother."

Gordon remained silent while his passengers disembarked. Scotsman could tell something was wrong. "What did I do now?"

"You know not everything is about you." Gordon snapped.

Scotsman huffed. "Then what's with the attitude?"

"I owe you nothing but attitude." Gordon said curtly. "But really, it's not you, as shocking as that is."

"Are you going to tell me?" Scotsman inquired with a raised brow. "I am still your brother."

Gordon finally looked at Scotsman with a heavy breath out. "I just don't think I'm quite ready to confide in you, okay? So please just leave it."

"Okay," Scotsman said quietly. He could tell it was big whatever was bothering Gordon. The blue express was droopy on his bearings and he kept staring down. Scotsman paused for a moment then thought a change in subject would maybe help. "So… how's Meredith?"

This caused Gordon to perk up, but not in the way Scotsman expected. "Don't you dare ask me about her."

"I'm just trying to be considerate."

"Then keep her name out of your damn mouth." Gordon spat.

Scotsman rolled his eyes and said nothing more as a devilish smirk creeped across his face.

So there's a lot to unpack here and I do apologize. Scotsman does not give up easily, that's for sure. There is purpose for his whorish behavior and I'm doing my best not to beat a dead horse with this rivalry. Lmao.

Pretty Katydid; I'll admit. I had to go back and read what you were referring to when you said "planking" and I now I know you meant his "paneling". Lol. I was worried my phone had autocorrected the word as I do 99% of my writing on my phone using Google Docs since I really don't have the time to remain tied down to my computer. Coincidentally, I had planned to elaborate on that this chapter, but essentially Gordon was, well, neutered. lol. I don't think I need to explain further on that one.

As far as Gordon not liking being touched, that's just a personal idea of mine. I get a vibe from him that he's a bit reserved and likes his personal space. There's an episode where he speaks of not liking being at the Steamworks because it reminds him of breaking down and I figure he also doesn't enjoy the hands-on repair process as well. I don't imagine every engine feeling the same way. Meredith would actually be the exact opposite and loves being messed with. (Not in a weird way, obviously) I don't wanna spoil too much of any future chapters, but I've hinted at her having a more personal relationship with her driver previously and I do plan on expanding on that thought as well.

Also, I'm glad you're liking Brian. He's been cooking at the back of my mind for a bit, but I wanted an engine who could kinda act as Meredith's conscience in a way. He's basically the opposite of her in that he's not impulsive and rather calculated. He's also extremely observant as you can tell. But he's similar to Mer in that he's very kind and can get along with pretty much anyone (mostly).

Another thing, idk how any of y'all are when it comes to voices when reading, but I like to try and imagine the character's voices when I read. I was thinking about Meredith and Brian's voices and came to the conclusion the best reps of both. Meredith's voice I imagine as Jennifer Lawrence. Something about J-Law's overall demeanor and her deeper, raspy voice just seems to suit Meredith well. As far as Brian goes it would have to be George Clooney from O Brother Where Art Thou specifically. He's got that southern drawl but it's a bit more understated.

Anyway, that's enough out of me! Feel free to ask questions and thank you for all the love. It means the world to me.

Much love;

Bumble

PS. I keep y'all's reviews open on my iPad so I can try and answer what I can. If I don't respond or miss something I'll try to address it in another PS.