Meredith was dozing peacefully in her new shed at Arlesburgh. Emerson had managed to convince Sir Topham Hatt to build a new enclosed shed for him and Meredith to sleep in. If there was one thing the new engine had going for him, it was his charisma. He was a very charming engine, but not in an arrogant sort of way. He was genuinely polite. A breath of fresh air compared to his counterparts.

The big engine's fireman was in the process of warming up his firebox for the day and Emerson began to stir. He opened his eyes and saw Meredith still fast asleep, though her driver and fireman were already beginning to warm her as well.

Eventually, Meredith awoke. She let out a wide yawn. "I hate how quickly sleep ends."

"You're telling me." Emerson chuckled. He gave his boiler a quick shake to help wake himself up more before puffing out of the shed and into the sticky summer air. Meredith soon followed.

"Do you know what you're doing today?" Meredith inquired to Emerson as they both steamed towards Knapford.

"I'm actually pulling the express today." Emerson said, though he didn't sound excited.

Meredith glanced over at her new friend as they drove on. "Do you not want to pull the express?"

"No, I do." Emerson started, then he sighed. "I just know Gordon already doesn't like me and I'm sure this will solidify his position against me."

"It'll be okay." Meredith reassured. "I'm going to try and talk to him today… assuming I can even get near him. He's been dodging me."

Emerson bit his lip. He wanted to ask what was going on between Gordon and Meredith, but he didn't want to seem rude or nosy. However, he wondered if it might shed some light onto why Gordon was so hateful towards him. "Meredith…"

"Yes?"

"What- what happened with you and Gordon? I get the feeling he hates me because of you." Emerson winced when he saw Meredith tense up. He clearly struck a nerve.

The little white tank engine sighed. "It's a long story, but Gordon and I were… Well, we were a couple at one point. But he broke things off after I made a series of very poor and selfish decisions."

"Then why would he be mad at me?"

"He probably thinks I'm sleeping with you or whatever." Meredith huffed.

Emerson was even more confused. "But you are sleeping with me?"

This caught Meredith off-guard. She gave Emerson a weird look. "No, that's not what I mean. I mean he probably thinks you and I are… getting physical." Meredith dropped her voice as Brian passed with his coaches. All the engines exchanged friendly whistles then continued on their way. Emerson, of course, was still lost. "Umm… you have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"

"Not a clue, sorry." Emerson gave an awkward half-smile and his cheeks ran red. He felt so silly, but he hadn't been around other engines long, he wasn't aware of all that went on behind closed doors.

"Oh, uhh, hmm." Meredith tried to find a way to explain what she meant without completely scarring Emerson. "Well, when two engines feel an… attraction to each other sometimes they'll go to a private space and… couple?" Meredith quickly realized she was not the best engine to have explained it, but she continued on as the two came to a stop at a signal. "And not with a coupling chain and hook. Like uhh- well… hmm…" Meredith wondered how she could best use her words, but she had an idea. She glanced around to make sure no engine was coming and stretched up and gently rubbed her boiler against Emerson's. The big engine's face immediately ran redder than his paintwork and his pistons puffed thick clouds of steam as his whole body tingled all the way to his axles. Meredith couldn't help but laugh at how silly Emerson looked as they both started towards Knapford again.

"What was that?" Emerson breathed. He tried his best to regain his composure but he had an intense feeling in his undercarriage that he had a difficult time shaking and the tingling on his boiler wouldn't stop radiating from where Meredith had touched him.

"Physical attraction." Meredith giggled as they both pulled into Knapford yard. Thomas had already shunted the express coaches to platform 1 and was pulling Meredith's coaches out for her. "I can't exactly explain physical intimacy but… it's kind of like I just did. Bridging the gap between you and an engine you adore. Understand?"

"I think so?" Emerson was starting to catch on. "So Gordon thinks you're attracted to me?"

Meredith nodded as she pulled up to a nearby coal hopper. "You look a lot like him as well as his brother and there's some… bad blood there, to put it lightly."

"You mean Flying Scotsman?"

"Yes."

"So he thinks you like me because I look like them?" The puzzle pieces were beginning to fall into place.

Meredith nodded again. "To put it simply, yes."

"Should I talk to Gordon myself? I'd hate to be the reason he won't talk to you."

Meredith was about to tell the new engine no, but then she realized that was probably the best idea. If she tried to explain things it might've made Gordon more irate than he already was and possibly even looked like poor damage control. "Okay, but only if you really want to."

"I do." Emerson said with a smile. "I'll take care of it, no bother."

Meanwhile, up at Ulfstead, Brian was sitting at the platform waiting for his passengers to disembark his train to board Stephen's carriages. The black tank engine glanced warily at the old wooden engine. He had never met Stephen before and he was quite blown away by the antique engine.

"It's not polite to stare, you know." Stephen teased which made Brian jump. "Ope, didn't mean to scare ya." He chuckled. "I don't think we've met before. I'm Stephen!"

"I'm Brian." The tank engine replied with an awkward smile. "I'm sorry for staring. I'd just never seen a steam engine with a wooden boiler before."

"I'm not surprised." Stephen said with a smile. "Most of us were scrapped long before you were even a sketch in a notebook. I only survived because my previous owner pretty much forgot about me and his intentions to have me scrapped."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Brian dropped his gaze.

"It doesn't matter now." Stephen smiled. "I'm here and I'm still in one piece. That's all I care about. How long have you been on Sodor? I've never seen you before."

"Nearly two years, I'd say." Brian said but before he could say anything further, Connor pulled up with a whoosh of hot steam.

"Good morning, Stephen. Hello, Brian."

Stephen and Brian returned their hellos and Brian glanced to Connor. "Anything fun happenin' for you on the mainland?"

"Eh, not really." Connor said with a shake of his boiler. "Caitlin is ill so I'm working double-time pulling her passengers as well as mine."

"I'm sure that's no problem for an engine like you." Stephen laughed as he began to puff away. "You could probably do a full circle of the island between trains and still be manage to be early."

Both Brian and Connor laughed at the old engine as he rolled away. Connor then looked back to Brian who was getting ready to depart himself. "I heard there was another new engine on the island."

"Oh yeah," Brian's pistons started up and he began to roll forward. "Emerson. He's an engine like Gordon and Flying Scotsman but… he's not? It's hard to explain." Brian laughed as he picked up speed towards the hill. "He's a really nice engine though. And from what I've heard he's rather fast!" Then Brian disappeared down the hill.

Connor lingered at the platform for a moment mulling over what Brian had said. Then he roared his whistle and started up with a huff. "Not as fast as me, I'm sure."

Gordon was passing through Wellsworth with a heavy goods train when he came across Emerson stopped with the express. Gordon cursed quietly under his breath as he passed the new engine.

"Oh, Gordon!" Emerson called which earned a groan from Gordon. "Gordon, I need to talk to you. If you have a moment." Gordon huffed but didn't say anything as the new engine caught up to him with irritating ease. "It's about Meredith."

Gordon raised his brow and looked at Emerson. "What about her?"

"Well…" Emerson started. He didn't want to say the wrong thing. "I just didn't want you thinking there was anything… going on between us is all."

"And what possessed you to tell me this?" Gordon's tone was harsh. He didn't like discussing Meredith with other engines.

Emerson paused a moment. He could detect the older engine's hostility towards him. "You've been very unkind to me and I realized it was because you think I have ill-intentions with Meredith. I can assure you I don't. She's a wonderful engine, but we're friends. Nothing more."

"Okay." Gordon said flatly. He kept his expression deadpan, but inwardly, Gordon was relieved. He believed Emerson and appreciated that the new engine had the initiative to address it with him.

"Could we perhaps… start over?" Emerson asked carefully.

Gordon considered this and sighed. "I don't see why not." Emerson smiled and Gordon rolled his eyes. "Don't get all sappy on me now."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Emerson laughed.

The two large engines continued along the line together talking casually when they came upon Spencer waiting at Maron station. The silver engine immediately took note of the strange engine next to Gordon and he frowned. "And who are you?"

The two A3s stopped and Emerson smiled kindly. "I'm Emerson. You must be Spencer."

"I am." Spencer arched his brow. "I'm not surprised that you've heard of me."

Emerson cast a glance to Gordon then snickered. "Meredith has told me quite a bit about you."

Spencer suddenly looked uneasy. "Did she now? What uhh… what did she tell you- exactly?"

"I believe she once referred to you as the, and I quote, 'Silver Shithead'? Something along those lines." Emerson felt bad for being so crude, but he didn't like the full-of-himself vibe that Spencer put out.

Gordon couldn't stop his laughter. "That's my girl." He said with a smug grin towards Spencer who was red from anger and humiliation.

Spencer caught the quick comment from Gordon and sneered. "So you two have made amends?"

Gordon shrugged. "Maybe we did, maybe we didn't. What concern is it of yours?"

"It's not." Spencer groaned with a quick eye roll. The silver engine glanced to the platform and noticed the Duke had returned to his coaches. "I best be off. I would say it was a pleasure meeting you, Emerson, but… that would be a lie." Spencer laid on his whistle and took off in a tiff.

Emerson frowned. "I thought Meredith was exaggerating about Spencer being so unpleasant."

Gordon shook his boiler and the two engines continued onward. "Don't worry… he gets worse."

Emerson shuddered. "There's no way."

"Meredith! Meredith!" Spencer thundered towards the little white tank engine who was stopped at a water tower outside Wellsworth with empty cars to pick up stone. He put on his brakes and skidded to a stop right against her buffers, giving her a bump.

"Hey!" Hayden lost his grip on the water hose and sprayed water all over himself and Meredith. "Spencer?! What the hell?"

"Sorry, Hayden." Spencer smiled awkwardly at the drenched driver then turned his gaze to Meredith who was also dripping wet and glowering at the private engine. "You've been talking about me to that new engine?"

"I've only mentioned you once or twice." Meredith spit out water and sighed. "But if you're concerned he knows of what happened between you and I, don't flatter yourself. It's not even worth a mention in passing. Besides, Emerson doesn't even know how all that works. He wouldn't have understood what I was talking about anyway."

"Oh." Spencer blushed and started to back away. "Okay. Good."

"Don't worry. Your ego can rest easy knowing I've not completely tarnished your image." Meredith grinned mischievously. "Even though I very easily could."

"Please don't." Spencer pouted.

"I won't so long as you keep your own mouth shut. Especially around Gordon." Meredith said quickly. "It may have happened a while ago, but I'm not risking him knowing all the same."

Spencer flattened his brow. "What's so special about Gordon anyway?"

"Do you really want to go there?" Meredith grinned.

"Actually, I think I'm good not knowing."

"That's what I thought." Then Meredith mumbled under her breath. "Even Duck was better."

Spencer winced. "That's not right."

"Go away."

Okay, so this one was a little "filler" I'd say. There's slight advancement, but nothing too serious. Mostly just Em getting a feel for the island and trying to avoid ugly confrontations with a certain grumpy- and jealous- Pacific. Lol. I forgot to mention that Emerson's voice would be similar to Scotsman's, but more like Hugh Jackman from Les Miserables to be specific, and much less smarmy. Lmao. I put too much thought into how my characters sound but it helps me envision them better so sometimes I'll watch clips of their vocal inspo just to help me solidify their way of speaking. Idk, I'm a methodical individual, what can I say?

Pretty Katydid; Yes, I had a bit of a mix-up when referring to Silver Link. The name had escaped me and so I made a quick Google run and the first thing that popped up referred to Silver Jubilee so I said "Ah, yes, that's it". Lol. There was a bit when I first saw Spencer I thought maybe he was a repainted version of Mallard but the more I pondered it the more I realized that it would make no sense to completely change the identity of a very famous engine. That idea was quickly *ahem* scrapped. Hah hah.

Also, your silly idea about Meredith and Spencer struck a chord with me and, as you can see, I went with it. It was too hilarious to not run with. It better feeds into their love/hate relationship I have set out for them. I have major love for Spencer. I kinda hated him at first because he is a bastard but the sod quickly grew on me. It's how I felt about Gordon as well. Ah, yes, the typical children's tv trope of the grumpy old man. That mindset didn't last long. Gordon is easily my favorite, but I do tend to favor the larger engines. They're just more interesting to me. It seems that the littler engines - mostly- are just annoying children whose only purpose is to pester the larger engines. *I'm looking at you, Thomas.*

I'm glad you don't mind the crass language from certain engines. I think its fitting that the twins have a pretty heavy potty-mouth. Of course they reel it in around Sir Topham Hatt. Gordon really only swears when he's mad, same as Meredith. James is pretty casual with his obscenities and I see Flying Scotsman being the most tame, saving his adult language for *cough* private. (If you know what I mean.) My really indulgent side sees Scotsman as rather -vocal-.

AAaand I'm so happy you all like Emerson. He's literally my baby. Before Meredith, there was Em. He didn't have a name or anything. Just a Gresley Pacific A3 with a personality the exact opposite of Gordon and Flying Scotsman. I hadn't even figured out his livery but I knew I wanted him to exist. I needed him to exist. Meredith's conception was one of irony. Gordon frequently expresses his slight dislike for little engines. I figured, oh! let's have him fall for a little engine. Makes sense? Make him a rolling contradiction. That's always fun.

Anywhore; I'm having such fun writing for you guys and I really love the love. I'll be back with another update ASAP. This one was kind quick cuz I started writing it right after the last chapter. I was in a very productive mood last night. Lol.

Much love;

Bumble