A/N This was inspired by someone making a comment about wishing there could be an E2 on the Bluebell Railway. Irl, it would happen only if a replica was built, but in my Thomasverse, he can visit the Bluebell Railway. The Bluebell Railway's actually had A Day Out With Thomas events already, so this is set during one. I'm not British, he is, so I'm doing the best I can.
Thomas was going to the Mainland. There was a reason, A Day Out With Thomas event on the Bluebell Railway. Before heading to the Mainland, he took coal and water in Vicarstown. He smiled, black eyes twinkling and whistled as he came to the Bluebell Railway, happy about the event.
Once Thomas was at the Bluebell Railway, he realized something. This is LBSC trackage, he thought. He began to cry, remembering his siblings. Big tears filled his eyes and wet his face as he truly sobbed.
"Driver, can you dry my tears?", the tank engine sniffled. "Just remembering my siblings."
Thomas's driver climbed onto his running board to comfort his engine. "There, there", he said, holding a cloth to his engine's weeping eyes. "It's okay to cry and feel sad about them." He gently rubbed Thomas's cheeks and gave him a sympathetic smile.
"I shall always feel sad when I remember them", Thomas said in a quivering, sob-filled voice and sniffled again as he cried more. "At least, until I join them on The Big Railway In The Sky."
His driver said as he continued to wipe the tears away, "Cry as much as you feel you need to. I'll comfort you until you feel better.".
After a while, Thomas finished his cry. His driver wiped his cheeks and eyes one more time to dry his last tears away, as Thomas managed to smile, saying, "I feel better now. I just needed to cry my eyes out because of knowing my siblings worked on this railway. It's old LBSC trackage and I'm an E2.".
His crew said, "Thomas, we've got to get you ready for the event now." and they did what they needed to do, like give him a drink.
The event began and Thomas was so happy. He smiled, black eyes twinkling and whistled at all those who were there. I get to pull them, he thought, knowing train rides were part of the event.
A three-year-old child squeaked, "I wuv you, Thomas", and waved at the tank engine, who whistled at the words and gave the child a soft smile because his heart was touched. Then, the child's family boarded the train, along with all the others with tickets for the ride.
The event went along and Thomas was still happy, enjoying everyone's love and attention. But the weekend was all the time there was for it, so he had to go back to Sodor. He was glad to come back home to all his friends and tell them about the event that had brought a moment of sadness and then so much joy.
A/N I grew up with models, so my Thomasverse is rooted in the classics, when they had drivers there to offer comfort and advice. Also, I'm Thomas sensitive and need to have him comforted when he gets sad. I got a FanFiction buddy who likes Hurt/Comfort. She says Thomas missing his siblings fits his personality. So, reviews welcome, but not flames. Respect my Thomasverse.