"Going down…. Next stop, the very- Agh!" Owen nearly jumped off his supports in fright as he heard a loud whistle blow next to him; but he quickly relaxed when he saw it was only his dear little friend sitting by his side with a huge, buck toothed smile on his face.

"Hello, Owen!" Luke exclaimed delightedly, his huge, childlike eyes sparkling with joy at being with his dear, faithful friend, Owen.

"Oh, hello, Luke!" Owen greeted warmly, blushing sheepishly at being frightened by his friend; but was nonetheless pleased to see his little friend Luke working with him today. He always enjoyed the young Irish engine's company…

"What a surprise seeing you up here today! I was expecting Rusty…"

"Oh, Rusty let me switch especially for today!" Luke answered excitedly, steam whooshing from his valves with glee. "How are you, Owen?" he asked politely.

"I'm fine, Luke, thank you. And what about you? You look particularly chuffed this morning… pun not intended. Is it about what's happening today, by any chance?" He asked.

Luke chuckled. "Yep. You'll never guess what today is!" He said gleefully, his facial expression somehow even brighter than before.

Owen was very surprised to hear this, for he couldn't recall any special occasions in March. "Oh, um… It's a day in March…" he offered uncertainly, causing Luke to laugh.

"Oh, you're funny, Owen!" Luke said sincerely, his voice filled with affection for his old friend. "But it's a very special day!" He emphasized, hoping Owen would get the hint.

At last, understanding dawned on Owen's face. "Ah, I see!" He exclaimed. "Pen blwydd hapus, hen gyfaill!" He boomed affectionately.

"Pardon, Owen?" Luke asked, confused. He thought it sounded Welsh, as he heard Skarloey speak Welsh sometimes, but he didn't understand it.

"I said 'Happy Birthday, old friend' in Welsh," Owen translated. "Sorry, Luke, I forgot you're more fluent in Irish than in Welsh."

"I appreciate the sentiment, regardless of how it's said," Luke answered kindly, appreciative of Owen's well-wishing. "Thank you, Owen. That was lovely."

"Oh, you're welcome, boyo," Replied Owen warmly. "I'm glad you told me it was birthday today. You're one of my oldest and closest friends, and I'd hate to not have said something to you about it." He glanced towards the opposite direction of the quarry, where a certain someone was still in the realm of Morpheus…

"Excuse me a moment, Luke." He quickly turned his attention to Merrick, who was still slumbering. "Oi, Merrick! He yelled across the quarry at his friend, who was snoring quite loudly. "Wake up, Merrick, you sleepy hook, you!"

Merrick's eyes shot open with a start. Down below, Skarloey thanked Proteus for that; he had tried to get Merrick awake for twenty minutes; but the silly crane couldn't hear him!

"Huh…. What? Where's the meteorite hitting?" Asked Merrick, in a sleepy confusion that made Luke and Owen laugh. Even Skarloey, unbeknownst to the unlikely duo, was chuckling, despite his irritation at running late.

"There's no meteorite, silly!" Chuckled Owen, glancing fondly at Luke before looking back to Merrick. "Just a little star today! It's Luke's birthday!" He called back to Merrick, who looked very startled to hear the news.

"Oh, is it?" Merrick yawned in surprise. "Well, happy birthday Luke. Many happy returns." He said.

"Thank you, Merrick!" Luke whistled, touched at Merrick's heartfelt greeting; he didn't even mind too much that his friend had unintentionally yawned in the middle of it.

Merrick was about to nod off again when Skarloey quickly intervened. "Don't even think about it! Merrick!" He called out, and the young crane's eyes shot open again. "I've been trying to wake you up for nearly twenty minutes, boyo! I hate to rush you, but these trucks need loading!" Old Faithful called up, remaining as polite as possible.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Skarloey!" Gasped Merrick, who quickly roused himself awake, ready to start work. "I must have stayed up later than usual! I'll get going right away!"

"It's alright, Merrick, but go easy on the stargazing, alright?" Asked the old engine with a paternal sternness. "We need you to be alert, Merrick. Especially with health and safety."

"Noted, Skarloey!" Merrick answered with a gulp, relieved that Skarloey wasn't cross with him.

….

Owen had been witnessing the exchange when he suddenly gasped in shock as he realized something. "Luke bach, why didn't you say something to any of us before?" He asked. "You been on the Island for over sixteen years, yet now we find out when your birthday is?"

"Mr. Heron and Mr. Wilson were the only two who knew- and that was because they knew me before I came here to Sodor." Luke admitted in response. "But neither myself nor my crew mentioned my birthday in previous years because I didn't feel right celebrating my birthday, when I thought I was responsible for unintentionally ending Victor's life." The little Irish explained.

Owen gulped, realizing too late that he should have been more careful about approaching the topic. "Sorry, Luke. I didn't mean to bring up the past… I just…"

"It's alright, Owen, please don't apologize," Luke replied kindly, "You didn't mean any harm, and besides, I never explained my reasons for this until now, so you weren't to know."

"Still, I"-

"Please, can we just enjoy today, without mention of the past?" Luke pleaded earnestly. "I know you didn't mean harm, Owen, and I forgive you, but I don't want to talk about it anymore. Please."

"Ok." Owen dropped the subject, relieved that he hadn't spoiled Luke's birthday. He resolved to do everything in his power to ensure his little Wren had a great day.

So, he told Luke about the time when he and Merrick first met Gator the Columbian Engine, and of how Merrick thought he was an alien.

"… and Gator just said, '"A little green engine from Mars? It's hardly a… flattering comparison, but certainly a unique one, Merrick!"' He's been our friend ever since." Owen chuckled at the memory, and Luke laughed at the image in his mind, of Merrick seeing an alien.