At Kings Cross in London, Mallard sat in a frustrated cloud of steam. His coupling rod had snapped just as he was about to depart for his first express run. Naturally the blue A4 was cross –likely more so than his passengers as they stepped back onto the platform; he stared flatly at the track ahead of him. The summer heat caused the air to ripple and distort, but he could make out the familiar shape of Flying Scotsman powering down the line on his way in from the little island known as Sodor. As he drew nearer, Mallard noticed he had an almost giddy grin. Suddenly he wasn't concerned with his breakdown. He wanted to know what had his stoic cousin so excited. "I say, you look exceptionally gay this morning." Mallard jeered, forcing a teasing smirk. "Was Gordon not at Vicarstown this morning?"

"No, he was," Scotsman slowed to a stop at the platform adjacent to Mallard. "As was another engine. A new engine."

Mallard raised his brow. He was really interested now; he hardly winced when his driver accidentally pinched a bearing. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Dirk suddenly sliding in pulling a flatbed of parts needed to repair his coupling rod. "Here's your parts-" the little shunter stopped when he noticed the two big engines glaring at him. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I interrupt something?"

"Actually, you're just the engine I wanted to see." Scotsman's scowl quickly faded and his smarmy grin reappeared in its place. "I'd like a full detailing this evening and a polish."

"Right, of course." Dirk was disappointed, but only briefly.

"And don't forget my-"

"Yes-yes, your corner bay, I know." The little German engine froze when he realized his slip-up. His tone humbled immediately under Scotman's disapproving glare. "Of course, my apologies." The little engine was then uncoupled from his flat bed and skittered away. It wasn't often the small shunter was seen that far from the steamworks, but Mallard refused to be carried by flatbed and demanded he be repaired at the platform.

"A detail and a polish? This must have been some new engine." Mallard chuckled. "Are you going to share any details or am I to just leave that to my imagination?"

"Right, well, she is a titter-"

"Ah, little pests, but right fun in the correct context."

"Yes- anyway; she's not exactly the most graceful of engines but to my understanding she's a new build. She still hasn't even figured out how to regulate her steam, the poor dear. She has a beautifully innocent face, but her paintwork- wow- I've never seen anything like it. Stark white; it glitters like dewdrops in the sunlight."

Mallard's undercarriage buzzed. Just the description of this new little engine was enough to get him riled up. "She sounds like a dream. A new build, you say? So she's intact?"

"Very much so, I could hardly contain myself when I smelled her newness." Scotsman gave his body a shake. His valves barely kept up with his steam output. He'd not been that aroused in a minute. "Neither could my brother." He chuckled.

"That old stick in the mud? Impossible." Mallard had never actually met Gordon. What he knew came from Flying Scotsman and from what he knew, Gordon was not the type of engine to care much about physical pleasures.

Scotsman nodded, he didn't even flinch when a passerby snapped a quick photo of him before continuing on with his family. "The stench of his arousal made me want to knock him right off the tracks."

"You know, I've never had an intact female before." Mallard said with a vile grin.

"Me either, but- oh what's that human cliche?... There's always a first time for everything?" He and his streamlined cousin shared a mischievous chortle. "I have every intention of breaking in that little engine."

"But what of Gordon? If he's pining for her there's certain to be trouble."

Scotsman made an indignant gesture. "Ah, I can handle that old bastard. I love my brother, but that little engine already has me all bent out of shape. I have to have her."

"You willing to share?"

"I don't think so."

"Well… did you catch her name?"

"Meredith."

Fall had finally arrived. The weather was ugly, cloudy, and wet a vast majority of the time. Meredith spent her workdays well. She was kept extremely busy to the point she had no energy to engage with Flying Scotsman in the evenings, much to the big engine's chagrin, though he was still more than happy to simply cuddle with her while they slept. She also spent a lot of time with Quicksilver. He, like Dirk, had proven himself a decent sort and was genuine in his desire for friendship with her. She certainly enjoyed being around a handsome engine who wasn't trying to prop her up on their buffers. Spencer had also returned to the mainland and lurked about watching Meredith as he promised he would to Gordon. Of course, Spencer being a rolling tube of hot, idiotic air, he wasn't the best at being stealthy. There were many times the private engine would be outright staring the little engine down while she worked which made her extremely uncomfortable along with any other locomotive who happened to cross through his unyielding gaze. She didn't bother to confront the strange behavior, she wasn't a fool and knew Gordon had likely asked his dummy cousin to keep tabs on her.

It was another cool, wet day. Meredith was taking a moment to rest up under the cover of Kings Cross when she spotted Quicksilver waiting for his afternoon coaches. She hobbled over to her friend with a wide grin. "Q!" She chirped. The big engine sighed then smiled. He hated the nickname, but Meredith was insistent on addressing him that way so he didn't dare quash her enthusiasm. "Hey! Where are you going this afternoon?"

"I'm actually to take this express to Sodor. Mallard was assigned it after it was relinquished by Flying Scotsman, but he's feeling under the weather- so he says at least." Quicksilver scoffed, but Meredith wasn't aware it was all an act on the streamlined engine's part. He knew exactly where Mallard was; at the Steamworks being pieced back together after Spencer's dominant twin nearly ripped him to bits the night before. On Flying Scotsman's orders.

"Oh- well, have you ever been to Sodor? It's beautiful and quaint." Meredith thought something felt off about Quicksilver's statement, but she figured if there was it was something she didn't need to know.

"I've not, but as you said, I've heard it's a charming little island with a very eclectic collection of engines working its railways."

"Eclectic is very accurate." Meredith giggled. She wondered if maybe Gordon would be at Vicarstown. "Um, say, could I ask you a favor?"

"Of course."

"If you see a blue express engine called Gordon there… would you tell him I said hello? Please." Meredith made her request quietly. She didn't want Scotsman to hear her in case he showed up, but little did she know Quicksilver was the green A3's new set of eyes and ears for the railway. After Mallard betrayed Flying Scotsman's trust he needed a new right hand and he figured it would be good to use an engine Meredith trusted. Though Scotsman kept an eye on Quicksilver purely out of personal jealousy over how well the two got along.

Quicksilver mulled over the request. He was familiar with Flying Scotsman's older brother, though he had never met him. He also knew of the rift between the two and that the cause of said rift sat merely a platform away. But he didn't want to disappoint her so he nodded. "Very well. If I see him I'll pass that along."

Meredith beamed then laid on a quick goodbye peep on her whistle before rolling back to the yard. She didn't want to go back out in the rain, but she also knew if she sat for too long socializing she would for sure be reprimanded.

When she arrived back at the yard she noticed Ellis was there with the twins refueling. How convenient. Meredith thought as she chuffed to pick up a few stray cars. She hoped the group would ignore her, but she also knew better and knew they likely got off on making her feel puny. She secured her cars in line and began to reverse when she was stopped by a set of buffers. Her nose was flooded by the sickening perfume of dewy roses. "Shit…" Meredith grumbled to herself.

"Why hello there little tramp engine. You know, I heard you got around, but when I heard you let Mallard have you I was shocked. Though, I shouldn't be, you teeny titters aren't the brightest." Ellis' voice was like a knife stabbing Meredith's boiler and her words only served to sharpen it. "It's a shame they wasted such pretty paint on a slut such as yourself."

"Stop calling me that!" Meredith hissed. She tried to shove Ellis away from her, but the much larger engine held fast. "Get out of my way! I'm working!"

"Was that Quicksilver I saw you talking to at the platform? You're just working your way through the streamlined brothers, huh." Allan and Arik had joined Ellis on either side of her. They both carried with them an air of ill-intent as did Ellis. "So what? Are you too good for mixed-traffic engines? You were quick to deny these two and even tattled to Scot. That's not very friendly."

"You're not exactly giving me the warm and fuzzies." Meredith hated that the three were behind her. She couldn't see what they were doing. It rattled her nerves. "Can you please leave me alone. I've not done anything to you."

Ellis laughed, as did the twins. "You really think that? You came here and laid claim to Flying Scotsman like you were entitled to him. Even going as far as having him shut the rest of us out."

Meredith could hear the envy that laced Ellis' words. She knew exactly how to rile her up. "You're acting like I twisted his couplings to get him into a berth with me which just goes to show how stupid you are. Tell me, Ellis, how often did you and Scot couple? Hm? A few times a week? Maybe a little more? A little less? Well I get him every night, every morning, every break, and all I have to do is look at him. Did he jump at you like that? Clearly not, otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"You little bitch!" Ellis cried and without warning she slammed Meredith through the cars she had just shunted. "How dare you speak to me like that! I should have let you stay with us that night! Then I could've killed you while you slept!"

Meredith coughed. "Oh and you think that would've made Scotsman want to fuck you aga-" she cut off after another forceful slam from the livid K1 locomotive. That time Meredith yelped in agony when a splintered plank stabbed into her cheek and she began to bleed heavily onto the mangled wood. She threw on her reverser but her wheels slipped and threw sparks on the wet tracks. "Hayden! Alex-" Her voice was strained as Ellis continued to push her. She was completely pinned and helpless. "Find… someone- please!" Her driver and fireman didn't hesitate to leap from her cab before she was slammed into again, that time crinkled her coal bunker and threw black dust clouds everywhere.

Hayden stumbled, but Alex caught him and as they collected themselves Ellis' crew jumped out after them. "Shit!" Hayden grabbed Alex's wrist and they both sprinted across the yard, dodging shunters, cars, and trucks while the rain battered their faces and soaked through their clothes. Ellis' crew had begun to gain on them and Alex removed his arm from Hayden's grasp before whipping around, punching Ellis' driver square in the jaw. The hefty man dropped onto the tracks but the fireman managed to tackle Hayden down into the mud. Alex shook his throbbing hand and ripped off his jacket to relieve himself of its wet weight. He grabbed the unconscious driver's collar and pulled him away from the tracks as a diesel hummed by, completely indifferent to the inter-species tussle before him.

"Alex!" Hayden called from under the fireman. The man was built like a sturdy tree and had Hayden pinned by the throat, Meredith's driver could hardly catch his breath. "Alex- help!" The strong German was already on top of Hayden's assailant and with little effort pried him from the gasping driver and with a heavy breath out, heaved the man onto the next track where a shunter that Alex didn't see crushed him. "Oh fuck," Hayden wheezed as the fireman's blood splattered all over him and Alex. "Oh fuck…" Alex kept quiey while he reached his hand out to Hayden who grabbed it shakily. His throat was already beginning to bruise from the near strangling.

Behind them Meredith's own assault continued, the B17 twins remained back, but when they saw her crew had nearly reached the edge of the yard they powered towards the two wobbly humans until they were suddenly knocked clear off their tracks by an unexpected ambush. It was Spencer. Somehow he managed to keep himself unknown long enough to sneak up on the brightly painted engines. He nearly derailed himself, but with a few swift movements, he was able to lock his pilot wheels back on the rails. The private engine's front buffers were jammed all the way back from the force of his hit, but other than that he remained completely unscathed. He grinded to a halt before the toppled twins, his gaze burned hotter than his firebox. "You two better pray you'll live to be repaired."

The entire universe seemed to slow. No sound could be heard through a torrent of mental white noise. Flying Scotsman was blinded by rage. It was one of the few times he was thankful for being restricted to railway track. He had not a clue where he was going, just that he was moving forward and away from the Steamworks after dropping off a barely conscious Meredith. Her driver and fireman had stumbled into the London station sopping wet, caked in dirt and blood. They were looking for him. Luckily the long-distance express had not yet departed, but after a few frazzled words from the crewmen, Scotsman was uncoupled and stormed towards the goods yard. What happened next was a blur to him. Spencer had already ripped Ellis from Meredith before carefully pulling her from the pile of cracked wood and twisted metal. Scotsman quickly blinked away the image as he powered down the line and back into reality. That was when he noticed Spencer beside him with a stupid worried expression. "What?" Scotsman barked.

"Just heading back to London, same as you." Spencer said with an arrogant huff. "What's your damage?"

"You're giving me a pathetic look," Scotsman retorted as the two came to a stop at a signal. "You know how much I hate false pity."

"Who says it's false?" Spencer scoffed. "I can have sympathy."

"You feel sympathy? Don't make me laugh."

"Funny, Gordon had the same sentiments when I spoke with him." Spencer pouted. He wondered if he should try to make it a habit to be nicer to help avoid being dogged any time he tried to show a little heart.

"So why, pray tell, have you suddenly decided to be so magnanimous?" Scotsman sighed. The signal clicked to green and the two were off yet again.

Spencer shrugged. "More or less I'm just trying to stay out of the crosshairs. If I'm being completely honest that is." That was mostly true, but many wouldn't believe he did actually care.

Flying Scotsman couldn't stop the small laugh that escaped. "You're an idiot, you know that?"

"So I've been told… by many." Spencer said with a forced smile. He tried not to sound hurt, but he did hate that so many engines viewed him in such a negative light. Sure he was pompous and rather full of himself, but he still had feelings. More or less. "Is she gonna be okay?"

"Yes, she'll be fine."

"Good."

"Don't even think about it."

"Right…"

But he already had.

Alright, so this chapter I've been sitting on for the past several days. I've re-written it at least five times, easily. I've been hinting at the catty conflict between Meredith and Ellis for long enough, it was time for the verbal abuse to turn physical. Of course the twins are her little henchmen because they're both low-key thirsting after her. This is just a little bit of the layering for a much deeper conflict. I just hope it's working, lol. I'm having to re-read everything I've written because I'll be honest, sometimes I forget where my story was before I take it further down the line. Also I'm following the trend of 'if it's raining expect shit to happen', lmao. A little trope I picked up from 'Grey's Anatomy' that I love. But it also makes sense because I know a vast majority of that area, especially London, has mostly ugly weather. Also I know I kinda left shit hanging with what happened to Ellis and the twins but htat will be expanded on as well as what went on with Quicksilver and his battering of Mallard. Trust.

Pretty Katydid; first of all, I hate to hear that your beautiful Emerson story was hit by the mods, but unfortunately, this site isn't "smut friendly" so writing stories containing such is a real gamble. I've opened an account on Archive Of Our Own and I'll likely start publishing these fics there just in case the ban-hammer comes down on me.

As far as Spencer is concerned and his sudden friendly nature, there is a purpose and I've kinda given it away in the exchange above. He doesn't exactly regret what he did with Meredith, he more or less is trying to take the heat off himself. He cares, yes, but he's also selfish. Such is his nature. There will always be an underlying motive with him in my opinion.

Concerning Quicksilver, he is purely for friendlies. There's plenty of man-whore to go around concerning his brothers, no need to add a fourth in there. I'm glad you like him! I enjoy writing him quite a bit. He gives me more experienced Emerson vibes.

Well, that's about it for me. I've basically recovered from my illness. I'm just fighting a runny nose. I appreciate all the kind words and I'll see you all next chapter!

Much love;

Bumble