November was proceeding fairly across Sodor. Just some time ago, a storm had swept across the island, leaving Percy too frightened to sleep and he ended up seeking Emily's help. Upon taking Percy to Knapford Sheds, Emily had found David and Beatrice inside the shed, hiding from the rain, and so David and Beatrice shared a little story about David facing a hurricane to help curb Percy's fears until the storm passed.
Three more weeks had passed with a gradually colder nip in the air, and things were mostly unchanged. As for Gordon and Rebecca, they were still working hard together with the express, as usual, feeling most content and chipper with each other's company. But what was more important for these two engines went beyond pulling the express together. Ever since their little giggle fit had passed, they had declared to each other that they were in love, and as such, Rebecca had given her first kiss to Gordon. As happy as they both were, however, they had decided to take things slowly and let the next few steps come on their own, rather than rush anything themselves.
The two express engines had been in love with each other for several months, even if they didn't relish in it very much quite yet. Now, it was a week before December. November was almost over, and for Gordon and Rebecca, this final week was to bring a few more little surprises...and one certain event that would change their lives further, and indefinitely.
That evening at Tidmouth Sheds, the other engines spent some time exchanging stories until the sun went down and everyone fell asleep. Everyone that is, except Gordon. He found himself not quite in the need to sleep yet. He began to think a little to himself again, about how he and Rebecca had been working so well together since the start...and how their relationship had not jumped out in any big way for quite a while since their confession. In the stillness of his berth, he began to have little flickers of thought to when and how their next step would come along. He had not had much time to think about it of late, but now was a good time for him to resume such thoughts.
But his trail of thought was interrupted when he heard a sweet, calming hum from Rebecca. He looked and saw she was still awake too, gazing at the starlit scenery in the sky, with her adorable smile right there on her face. Gordon could see she was in a content, sound state with nothing to fear and took a moment to gaze at her. He remained silent so as not to disturb any thoughts she might have been having. Then he thought a little more to himself...when suddenly, his smokebox jolted with a sliver of knowledge. He remembered that in just one more week it would be December. The month of Christmas...and it would be his first Christmas with Rebecca being the love of his life.
Gordon suddenly felt rather jittery. He had seen too many Christmases to count over so many years, but to spend a Christmas with Rebecca as his love was such a fantasizing idea, and within seconds, he felt a sudden need to tell her something. But he wanted to be sure they could talk without disturbing the others. He took a quick glance to the other engines and saw they were all sound asleep. While Thomas, Percy and Emily were sleeping in silent comfort, James and Nia were snoring and mumbling lightly in their dreams. Gordon smelled an opportunity, and thought it best to break the silence, and see if he could reopen his relationship a little...and see what Rebecca would think.
"Hmm...Rebecca?" he asked quietly, turning his eyes to her berth and feeling his heart begin to race.
"Oh!" Rebecca's gaze fluttered away from the sky and turned to her big blue friend. "Gordon?"
"Oh. Excuse me, Rebecca. I hope I didn't interrupt any thoughts you might have had," he said.
"Not at all, Gordon," said Rebecca. "I see you're still awake, though. What gives?"
"I was just thinking...how have you been, Rebecca?" asked Gordon.
Rebecca smiled gently. "Oh...quite chipper, and feeling really useful, as we have been over the past few weeks...especially when I spend such time with you. What makes you ask?"
"Well..." Gordon began as he glimpsed to the other engines again. Then he backed into his berth, making Rebecca wonder what he was up to.
"Are you coming?" she heard Gordon ask inside. This made her wonder if it was about just the two of them. She then reversed right inside with him.
"What is it, Gordon?" she whispered.
Gordon gathered his words and started. "I have something I'd like to bring up. It just came to me tonight. You see...you...you and I have been..."
Gordon mouthed the next two words, "In love," in complete silence, then resumed his low voice again. "...for a few months now."
Rebecca felt her cheeks get a little warm as she tried not to blush. It made her remember when she kissed him for the first time, but since they had barely done anything romantic since then, she began to feel a little jittery herself. Months had gone by, and now their relationship was back in conversation.
"Oh. I see. Yes...yes, we have been, Gordon," she whispered. "So lovely, it is. And yet, neither of us have had much time to treasure it that much."
"Well," said Gordon. "After all, we are the express engines, and we must always look after our passengers. But just now, I've noticed...November is over in just one more week. You know what that means."
Rebecca thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "Oh, yes...December. Our first winter...being together."
"That's right," Gordon murmured. "But even more importantly...it means Christmas is coming along in due course."
Rebecca gasped quietly. "Oh...gracious, Gordon! You're right...it will be our first Christmas together too! What could that bring, I wonder?"
"Well, Christmas still a long way off for now," said Gordon. "And it does make me wonder how you and I will feel by then...but you and I have been so busy, and such immense events have come and gone, that we have not had much of a chance to relish in our new bond."
"What events, Gordon?" asked Rebecca. "Do you mean when the whole Steam Team had to come to the rescue? And Emily's adventure with David...oh, the way everyone knows about it now...it's past extraordinary!"
"Yes. Those are exactly what I'm talking about, Rebecca," said Gordon. "I don't know why I didn't tell you earlier, but personally, I think you were most remarkable to work so hard with so little sleep during that time. How you helped Thomas and Emily rescue Carly...that was most remarkable...and yes, Emily and David's adventure sounds almost legendary."
"Thank you, Gordon," Rebecca replied. "I must say you were a strong sort to go through so little sleep too. And David and Emily's adventure...yes, it does indeed sound legendary. As for the two of us, however...exactly what are you thinking about?"
Gordon began to ponder. Although he and Rebecca didn't want to rush anything, at the same time he felt as though they should be closer than they were so far. There would have to be a balance between work and play, just like Thomas and Emily adhered to.
"Well...hmm...the express is of utmost importance," he said to himself. "We're supposed to look after all of our passengers. If there's anything I am thinking about, Rebecca...Perhaps you and I could take our relationship a little further sometime soon?"
"Take it further?" asked Rebecca, feeling the sense of duty creating impasse. "You know as well as I do, Gordon, that we agreed to let the next steps come on their own, so as not to rush anything at the wrong times."
"And I stand by that agreement," said Gordon. "But with a few months having gone by with very little banter between us...perhaps coming a little closer could be something we can both work towards? I won't press you, Rebecca, but please tell me what you think."
Rebecca looked up to the ceiling lights in her berth, feeling her smokebox wrestle with thought. She knew just how important, and even urgent passengers could be. The express wasn't simply the job that Gordon loved most of all. It was just as important as any other train can be. Both engines knew they couldn't change the way they ran the express together, otherwise the passengers would all say what a bad railway it was. But they had confessed to being in love ever since the day Rebecca kissed Gordon, and indeed, not much else had befallen them since then. Perhaps they could try and move forward. But it would all depend on how the next steps came upon them and when.
Rebecca finally sighed and looked at Gordon with a sense of duty, but also a sense of longing. She slowly huffed out again to her shed doors, and Gordon followed. There, the silence was broken once again.
"Our passengers always need us, Gordon," Rebecca finally answered. "We must never let them down...but in the time that may come, I would love for us to come closer in any way we can. In the midst of all the work we do, taking more steps would make me very happy."
This made Gordon smile surely. He now knew how Rebecca felt about the matter, and so he felt like he knew what to do over the next day or two.
"Thank you, Rebecca," he answered. "I know that would certainly make me happy. You're a very fine engine, and I am most fond of you. And after all, what better way to adhere to 'work before play,' than two express engines pulling the express together?"
"Hm-hm!" Rebecca giggled softly. "Indeed, indeed, Gordon. It's always lovely to pull the express train with you. Goodnight, my dear."
Gordon suddenly felt his cheeks almost blush as he held back a bashful smile. "Goodnight, R-Rebecca."
And so, Gordon and Rebecca fell asleep together, feeling a sense of surety for each other.
But a few moments after Gordon and Rebecca fell asleep, two other engines stirred ever-so slightly in their berths. Thomas opened one eye just a tiny bit and peeked to Gordon. In his sleep, Thomas had heard little flickers of what had been spoken between the two express engines. He was too tired to think much about it, but he did remember talking to Rebecca about how she felt about Gordon some months ago. He wasn't sure, but he had tiny thoughts that something was going to happen as his eye dropped shut again.
After Thomas fell back asleep, Emily opened her eye just a little bit too, and she peeked at Rebecca. She too had heard little flickers of what was being said. She remembered that time some months back, when Gordon approached her about his feelings for Rebecca and how she speculated he was in love with her. Before she fell asleep again, Emily thought for a moment. None of the engines knew yet of the new couple in the Steam Team, but after hearing Gordon's inner feelings for Rebecca that day, Emily began to wonder again.
"Goodness. It's been some months now...but perhaps my instincts were right," she thought to herself. "If so, it must be only a matter of time...before they find out for themselves."
And with that little line of thought, Emily fell asleep again too. But this was only the beginning of a new spell to fall upon the two express engines...
The next morning, Gordon and Rebecca were the first to wake up. Gordon could see the rays of sun peeking through the sky, announcing the coming day. Then he turned to Rebecca just as she began to yawn. She turned to Gordon as saw him looking at her.
"Ahh. Good morning, Gordon," she chimed happily.
"...Good morning," Gordon said lowly.
Secretly, Thomas and Emily glimpsed at the two express engines before they made their way to the turntable and went on their way. As Rebecca looked at Gordon, she could see he was in a quiet solemn state and sensed as if he wished to wait until the other engines had left. After all the other engines went on their way to start work, Gordon and Rebecca decided they'd leave last.
"Well...we should get going for our passengers about now," said Rebecca.
"Yes," said Gordon. He began to leave his berth, but suddenly stopped.
"Oh! Ladies first," he said.
Rebecca looked at Gordon and blushed lightly. "Oh...I...Thank you, Gordon," she grinned.
Gordon watched admirably as Rebecca made her way onto the turntable and turned to the main line before he followed some way behind.
Thomas and Emily were at Knapford Station already, gathering trucks from separate sidings. Once their trains were gathered up, Thomas remembered what he thought he heard the night before, and came up beside Emily.
"Emily?" he asked carefully.
As soon as he spoke, Emily turned to Thomas and spoke up. "Did you hear any of what I heard last night, Thomas?"
"I...I was about to ask you that very question, Emily," said Thomas. "I think I did hear a few things...it sounded like Gordon and Rebecca's voices. I was too tired to hear everything, but I thought I heard them talking about taking new steps, but I don't know what they meant by that."
"I heard them too," said Emily. "I even heard Gordon say he was most fond of Rebecca. I don't know exactly what was being spoken, but it sounded like they were discussing something that reminds me of something Gordon told me some months ago."
"What are you talking about, Emily?" asked Thomas. "I don't recall hearing anything like this from Gordon or Rebecca for some months...not since Gordon burst his safety valve again and Rebecca came and spoke with me about him."
Emily was about to ask Thomas about this, when Gordon and Rebecca's whistles came in behind the station.
"Here they come, Thomas. Let's see what happens," Emily whispered.
Thomas winked and they both watched as Gordon and Rebecca approached Platforms 1 and 2. Rebecca could see the express coaches in their siding and proceeded to fetch them. Gordon stayed put at first, feeling as though Thomas or Percy should be fetching the coaches for him.
"Rebecca, you deserve to have an engine fetch those coaches for you," he said.
"Come along, Gordon," said Rebecca. "Tender engines do shunt after all."
Gordon almost urged to the contrary, but then seemed to change his mind, and agree to Rebecca's words.
"...Of course, Rebecca," he said with a sense of decorum for his fellow lady, and proceeded to fetch his coaches too.
Thomas and Emily looked to each other. What could be going on between these two big engines? Gordon almost never seemed to fetch his own coaches, and to agree with Rebecca's encouragement definitely meant something between them. Soon enough, the passengers began arriving, and once the guard's green flag waved, Rebecca set off. But Gordon held his spot for a moment, watching how she pulled out of the station. Even when his guard's whistle blew, he didn't start off quite yet.
"Come on now, Gordon. Express coming through!" Rebecca called. "Come on!"
Gordon suddenly whistled and made his way out too. Thomas and Emily continued to watch them until they were both out of sight. Thomas began to wonder even more about what Rebecca had told him that day, and was curious to hear what Emily had mentioned.
"So...what did you mean by what Gordon told you some months ago, Emily?" asked Thomas.
"We'll have to talk later, Thomas," said Emily. "We should be getting on with these goods trains ourselves."
"Oh. Of course," said Thomas. "Well...I'll see you later, Emily."
Emily smiled and blew Thomas a kiss as they went on their ways down the line, wondering just what would happen next.
Meanwhile, Rebecca continued to glide along the line with her express. Gordon was some distance behind, trying to get alongside her and still thinking about their relationship. As much as he wanted things to go perfectly, he still wondered how they could come even closer. As he slowly came closer to being beside her, he began to wonder how this day would turn out between them.
But when they were approaching the Suspension Bridge, as Gordon came a little closer behind Rebecca, he suddenly heard something he was not expecting in the least. Rebecca began to sing to herself, about how lovely it was to pull the express, going through tunnels, over bridges and along her country ride. Gordon listened to the absolute chime in her voice and felt his heart race. Never did he hear such a merry tune from Rebecca, and he thought she sounded absolutely adorable. He immediately came up right beside her and joined in her song.
"Rebecca and Gordon, side by side!" he declared in a melodious tone.
Rebecca smiled right at him and they continued to sing together as they passed the Suspension Bridge. A minute later, they passed by Percy, not taking notice as they kept on with their little song. But Percy could hear them both and stopped where he was.
"Gordon? Rebecca?" he peeped as they huffed on down the line.
Percy stood there, puzzling to himself, then sighed and kept on his way.
As they went along side by side, Gordon and Rebecca ended their little song and kept going. By this time, Gordon suddenly found himself in a position to see if they could start a little banter. They rarely ever did so before, and never did either of them sing together, but perhaps this meant they could start bringing the next step a little closer. Gordon gazed at Rebecca and her bright yellow paintwork and her square shape beaming brightly in the sunlight. She was indeed a lovely sight for him to behold, so he thought it best to remark about it.
"Well, aren't you looking lovely, Rebecca," he declared.
Rebecca looked to Gordon with surprise and flattery. "Oh, Gordon! Thank you. Such a gentleman you are."
"Oh, yes. Well..." Gordon chortled. "Indeed, I am. And Rebecca...I've never heard you sing before," he said.
"Oh...well, what did you think, Gordon?" she bubbled cheerfully.
"Well...I wasn't expecting us to burst into song like that...but you are a sheer delight to listen to," Gordon declared.
This made Rebecca blush and giggle gleefully, which made Gordon smile more. It seemed like they were starting to get little flickers of coming closer...
At Kellsthorpe Road Station, James was picking up more trucks for a goods train of his own, and wasn't anywhere near as cheerful as Gordon and Rebecca were. And in that moment, both express engines arrived and stopped at their own platforms. James didn't take much notice...until the talking started.
"Hm-hm! Well, Gordon, I must say," said Rebecca. "I enjoy every day as much as I can...but being around you makes my day even more brilliant...as it always has been since I first came here."
Gordon looked at Rebeca and could see a look of surety in her eyes, and her smile was true and honest. Hearing such words being spoken to him made his heart stir a little.
"Do you truly feel as such, Rebecca?" he asked.
"Of course, Gordon," said Rebecca.
"Well...the express has always been my favourite job...but doing the job with you to help me has made it more brilliant for me too."
Rebecca smiled and hummed happily to Gordon's words. "Thank you, Gordon...you're very sweet."
Neither express engine saw James' eyes widen and start staring at them. Then as Gordon and Rebecca set off again, James held his wide gaze on both engines until they were out of sight. Now it was James' turn to start pondering. He remembered being rather competitive with Gordon every now and then about pulling coaches, but what he heard just now seemed too unusual to be true. He thought for sure that it couldn't be anything more than a strong friendship.
"I say. Gordon has never spoken to anyone else like this...but then again, there's no way they'd truly be together. Gordon's too boastful for Rebecca to really enjoy him that much. It's perfectly imperfect!"
But James had no idea just how true his last two words really were for the two express engines...
Gordon and Rebecca eventually arrived at Vicarstown Station where their express was to conclude. From here, Flying Scotsman would manage the passengers. As they arrived at the platform, Gordon suddenly looked nervous as he scanned the station, hoping that his "big brother," wasn't there yet. He saw the red express coaches, but to his relief, the two-tendered engine wasn't there yet. But as they stopped at their platforms, Rebecca could see Gordon's worry and wondered. They had both been having a lovely day so far.
"Gordon, whatever is the matter?" she asked.
Gordon turned to his beloved engine. "Oh, Rebecca. We'd best let off our passengers and get going quickly afterwards."
"Why?" she asked.
"I should have thought about it ever since you and I came together. I...I don't want Flying Scotsman to catch us here. Think about what he'd say to me if he found out...our relationship. We'd both become his new laughing stock!"
Rebecca looked right into Gordon's eyes, ready to assure him. "My dear Gordon, you know I would render him speechless if he even tried. Just like I did when I first came here. He may be too much of a tease every now and then, but there's no need to hide from him."
Gordon breathed unsurely. "You're a most valiant friend to speak for me, Rebecca, but what if he began teasing you about that? Rather like...how James and I mocked Emily for letting others fight for her. I may have gone down a bad path with James, but to think of my own brother doing such misdeed upon you!"
Rebecca suddenly felt a chill in her boiler. She remembered how Flying Scotsman tried to impress her with his caliber just before she spoke for Gordon. She never imagined he'd do such unsavory things to her.
"Gordon...I really don't believe your brother would do such a thing," she said solidly. "He may tease you, but he isn't Diesel by any means."
Gordon managed to smile at her, but then he heard that very whistle in the distance. He looked ahead and could see a line of smoke...and a sliver of green paintwork. Gordon looked to the platform and saw all his passengers had gotten off and were ready for Flying Scotsman's train.
"Quick! To the turntable, Rebecca!" Gordon urged.
He uncoupled from his coaches, switched to the other line and reversed quickly away. Rebecca sighed then followed suit. Gordon reached the Vicarstown turntable first and turned right around to face the way they came. Then he rushed back to his empty coaches and coupled back up to bring them back to Knapford. By this time, Flying Scotsman had arrived at the station and was gathering his red express coaches. He was sure he could hear an engine from behind him.
"Who is that behind me?" he inquired. "Little brother?"
Gordon didn't dare to respond or whistle, and scurried away. But what Flying Scotsman heard next made him look back.
"Wait for me, Gordon!" Rebecca's voice called as she hurried away too.
Flying Scotsman recognized that voice and suddenly remembered how she stood up for Gordon back when she first came to Sodor. He sighed to himself and almost felt sorry for teasing Gordon in the way he did, compared to how polite and honest, yet effective Rebecca's words were.
"She's a very fine lady," he said to himself. "And never afraid to speak for her friends. If she's happy with my little brother...perhaps I can be happy for both of them. Perhaps it wouldn't be such an indignity...to see them together."
And with that, Flying Scotsman simply kept on with his passengers and set off again. But there was even more for him to learn in due course...
By this time, evening was setting in. Thomas and Emily returned to the yards with their empty trains. They exchanged a smile to each other, then worked together, shunting about the yards until their trucks were all arranged. Then Thomas looked at Emily again and remembered. Now that their share of work was done, perhaps they could talk more about Gordon and Rebecca.
Thomas came up to Emily and buffered up. "Hello, Emily. Have you enjoyed your day?"
"I have, Thomas," Emily replied.
"So have I...but I have been thinking throughout today. Now that we're back here," said Thomas. "Do...do you think we can talk about Gordon and Rebecca now?"
Emily perked up and looked at Thomas, remembering what they had brought up that morning just before Gordon and Rebecca came along. Perhaps now was the time for them to learn a little more about what was going on between the two express engines.
"Oh...that's right. Yes, Thomas. It was a few months ago...I spoke with Gordon and you spoke with Rebecca?"
"Yes, Emily. I did," said Thomas. "So...what did Gordon tell you, and when?"
"Hmm. Well, you may remember it was some time after you returned from Brazil, Thomas. Before Spencer came by, Gordon spoke to me about Rebecca."
Thomas looked right at Emily and buffered up to her. "He did? Well, what did he say, Emily?"
Neither engine saw Bertie arrive at Knapford Station. David came by, hoping to pay Emily a visit, but when he looked ahead and saw her buffered to Thomas, he could hear her voice and suddenly began to listen, with increasing interest.
"Well, I began noticing little signs for a few days beforehand," said Emily. "Gordon had been acting a little differently whenever Rebecca came around. Then one day he met me right here...and he confided in me how he felt about Rebecca. He said that Rebecca wasn't just a friend to him. You may remember the time she heard about my tale and how Gordon shed some light on her?"
"Oh, yes," said Thomas. "Well, what did he tell you about that?"
"There is one thing he didn't tell anyone else," said Emily. "He said his feelings toward her began to change. That same night, he took a chance to admire her looks. He mentioned all her features and her most cheerful personality, and that he'd eye her every few nights, feeling in ways he couldn't recall feeling before. He said that being around her makes him feel better...and that he thought she's beautiful."
Thomas' heart flipped. He never imagined that Gordon would have such thoughts about Rebecca. As happy and chipper as they were together, Thomas didn't expect Gordon to say such things about any engine.
From the platform, David felt his heart shake in his chest. What was all of this about Gordon and Rebecca? Could it be what he began to suspect in that moment? He looked up again and continued to listen.
"Oh...Cinders and Ashes," he uttered. "That doesn't sound at all like the Gordon I see every day...but for him to tell you something like that...that is most moving. And it sounds very much like what Rebecca spoke to me about."
"Oh, yes. You just mentioned that. What did she tell you, Thomas?" asked Emily.
"It was a week since Gordon's accident and he was still being repaired. As we all knew, Rebecca was managing the express on her own. But then she came to me and told me how she felt lonely without Gordon. I found it a little strange that she would be missing him. I thought he was too busy to think much on being a friend...but then she told me he's always kind to her. Ever since she helped him over Flying Scotsman's teasing, they've been pulling the express together, they've been doing very nicely...but then, she revealed a few secrets to me."
"She...she did? What did she say, Thomas?" asked Emily.
"Rather like Gordon expressed to you, Rebecca expressed likewise to me. She doesn't view Gordon as just a friend. She feels like he's something more. She said she admires his big shape, his blue paint, his silver side rods and strong appearance. She said she always feels the best when she's with him, but she doesn't know how or why she was feeling the way she felt about him. As I put the pieces together, I remembered that very feeling you and I felt all those years ago until I brought you back to joy and freedom. I told her that she may have been in love with him, but she just didn't know it yet."
Emily stared at Thomas, not saying a word for almost a minute. David silent stepped away from the platform and leaned against the station wall, obviously thinking even deeper now. Through all his years of reading the storybooks of Thomas, he never suspected that Gordon would befall such a circumstance as this. He looked out again when he heard Emily's voice again.
"Goodness gracious, Thomas," she murmured. "Are...are you thinking what I may be thinking?"
Thomas felt his heart thump. "Emily...you don't mean to say that Gordon and Rebecca are...in...in l-love?"
Emily stared into Thomas' eyes, then buffered up to him, pressing her cheeks to his and kissing his upper lip.
"Mmm...I can't speak for Gordon or Rebecca, Thomas," she said in an almost dreamlike state. "But if it's true, perhaps they're meant for each other. If so, I think it would be something truly amazing for Sodor to know."
"You know, Emily?" said Thomas. "After I told Rebecca that she may be in love with him...she said that she hoped I'm right."
Emily's eyes glimmered and she kissed Thomas' chin. "Well, Tommy, it sounds a little strange, given how our two express engines are...but I hope you're right too."
And she rubbed her little nose on Thomas', and they both left the station to return to Tidmouth Sheds. David watched from behind the station as they huffed out of sight. He then thought to himself even more. If he saw Rebecca or Gordon next, perhaps he would find out more. It sounded as if Gordon and Rebecca thought very specially about each other, and even David did not expect Gordon to feel as he did for Rebecca.
Meanwhile, Gordon had been rushing along the line, still worried about Flying Scotsman, while Rebecca hurried after him, feeling the need to talk to him again once they were settled in. Eventually, they returned to Knapford Station. David saw them coming and decided to stay a little longer and see what this was all about.
Gordon hastily shunted his coaches to their siding, while Rebecca proceeded more calmly with her coaches. After that, Gordon stayed still on his line, obviously losing himself in thought again. Rebecca saw his worry and thought back to Vicarstown. It seemed like Gordon was in a big hurry to leave before Flying Scotsman arrived. She understood how much he disapproved of his brother's teasing banter, but she wondered if there was more to it than just being afraid for himself. She remembered what he had said to her about her possibly being teased as well. Rebecca decided to see if they could talk a few things over.
"Gordon?" she asked carefully.
Gordon looked up and saw her. "Yes, Rebecca?"
"I think there are some things we must talk about," said Rebecca. "Why did you leave so hastily from Vicarstown? I had to hurry all the way back to keep up with you. I really don't think you need to be that afraid of your own brother."
"I'm sorry, Rebecca," said Gordon. "I just couldn't stand the thought of my own brother teasing me again...and since you and I are now together, I really don't want him to find out."
"Why not?" asked Rebecca. "Perhaps he wouldn't tease us. If anything, I like to think he'd be most proud of you. And as I told you, I don't believe he would be so bad as to trouble me."
Gordon sighed. "Oh, dear. I don't know why I was thinking such things, Rebecca. You're such a lovely engine, and I really do feel most fortunate to have you as...as my..."
"I know, Gordon," Rebecca whispered.
"Yes," said Gordon. "But you really mean so much to me, and I couldn't bear the thought of you in discomfort or in danger of being teased like I can be around my brother. He saw us together when you first came here, but that was different. If he knew about our relationship now, I just feel like he'd tease us the same way Diesel, Bill and Ben teased Thomas and Rosie."
"Oh, Gordon," Rebecca said with a blush and a sigh.
"But unlike Thomas' anxious rudeness toward Rosie, I would never do such things to you, even by accident. You see, I didn't just leave hastily for myself...but for you as well."
"Me?" asked Rebecca.
"Yes, Rebecca. I wanted to get you away from him in case he saw us and began to suspect our relationship, but I also wanted to protect you."
"Really?" Rebecca inquired.
"Of course. Even in the midst of pulling the express, I would never stand by, Rebecca. I'd put myself between you and anything that would discomfort you."
"Oh, Gordon," Rebecca sighed. "You're really sweet to want to protect me, and I am very happy to hear that you would do so for me, but neither of us need protection from your brother."
Gordon sighed again. "I really don't want to see him again soon...but I trust your words, Rebecca. In fact, I think I know what we both need to do."
"What's that?" asked Rebecca.
"Perhaps you and I simply need to get used to our relationship and truly embrace more of it...like we did today," Gordon said with a wink.
Rebecca suddenly smiled. "Hmm. Perhaps you were right yesterday, Gordon. Today was most delightful as we pulled the express together. I'd love to have another day like we had today. And with any luck...maybe we could make our way to the next step. As long as it works beautifully for both of us, I think it would do very nicely."
Gordon felt better. "Your words never fail to flatter me, Rebecca...and they never will."
"Oh, Gordon," Rebecca blushed sweetly.
From the platform, David had heard everything and felt it was most unexpected. He had not thought much about how Gordon and Rebecca interacted, being so dedicated to Emily, but now...oh, how Gordon had changed. David, as did many others, mostly knew Gordon as an overly proud engine who would look down on the smaller engines from time to time. But after everything he had heard, he was secretly impressed, but his thoughts were interrupted when he heard Rebecca yawn.
"Ohh...Well...I'm ready to return to Tidmouth Sheds," she said. "Are you coming, Gordon?"
Gordon thought for a moment, then looked to the platform and saw just who was there. He held his gaze for a moment...then he spoke.
"You go ahead, Rebecca. I'll meet you there later."
"Very well, Gordon. But don't be too long...because, ooh...I look forward to a cozy sleep...beside my favourite engine, Big G! Hm-hm!"
And Rebecca giggled as she went on her way. Gordon felt a jiggle in his heart. She had not behaved like that before, but it seemed most enthusiastic and almost...alluring. And he was most certainly not expecting her to say "Big G." He thought only he came up with that name. Gordon was now left by himself at Knapford Station...except for who he saw at the platform. As he took in Rebecca's remark, and hearing his own nickname, he immediately wondered how long David was here...and what he might have heard. He came to the platform and saw David standing there with a curious expression.
"Well, hello, Gordon," said David.
"Hello. How long were you standing there, David?" Gordon asked, a little urgently.
"I actually came here quite a while ago," said David. "I was wondering to pay Emily a visit, but I stopped when I saw her and Thomas talking right here...about you and Rebecca."
Gordon looked surprised. "They were? Well...what did they say?"
"I heard Emily say that you talked with her a few months ago about how you felt for Rebecca. Is it true, Gordon? The things you said about her and what you think?"
Gordon remembered that day all too well and thought it best to put his trust in Emily's mentor.
"Yes, David. It's very true. Rebecca really is special to me. She's such a delight to the entire railway, and I think she's beautiful in every way too."
"I see," said David. "Well, that is quite interesting to hear about you, Gordon. I also heard Thomas say that he talked to Rebecca, a week after your safety valve burst and were under repair. He said that Rebecca expressed similar thoughts about you...and that Thomas believed you and her are in love...and that she hoped Thomas was right."
Gordon knew this all too well, as did Rebecca. They had been in love since that most unforgettable day, but with so little romantic banter between them, they still weren't quite used to it yet, and he didn't feel quite ready to express it to David.
"Yes. That's all very true, David," Gordon said, without giving anything else away, although David's inner thoughts were mostly confirmed.
"And just now, I heard everything you and Rebecca said," David continued. "So it seems that you have a deep care for her and that your relationship is in need of protection...although Rebecca doesn't seem to think that's a major need...and you worry about what your brother would think."
"I trust in what she tells me, David," said Gordon. "But I really do not want to see my brother. At least, not for a long while. Before that, I really think Rebecca and I need to take a few more steps first...which I think we've already been doing throughout today."
"How?" asked David.
"Well, she and I had a delightful singing banter as we pulled the express today, and we shared some gentle words to each other at Kellsthorpe Road. We've not done that before...but now, I really think we need to step a little further into how we interact together. Rebecca's already doing that. You might have heard what she said to me...and how she said it. I don't recall her behaving like that. What could it mean?"
David decided to hint at the big blue engine's relationship further. "Why, don't you know, Gordon? If this carries on, you and Rebecca are bound to get twitter-pated."
Gordon heard that word and looked right at David. "Twitter-pated?"
"Yes. I can't speak for you, Gordon. Or Rebecca," David pondered. "But given what I do know about the engine couples here, I think I have an idea of what it must be like for you...and how you may feel as more steps are taken."
Then David began to describe and act a few things out as he spoke. "For example...you're puffing along, minding your own business. You're looking either to the left...or to the right. Then all of a sudden...you run smack into a pretty face...and beautiful yellow livery with red stripes."
Then David winked and clicked his tongue. Gordon found David's descriptions funny at first, but by the time David ended his sentence, Gordon began to wonder just what would happen between him and Rebecca. David went on.
"You begin to get weak in the wheels...your head's in a whirl! Then you feel light as a feather, and before you know it, you're puffing on air! And then you know what? You're knocked for a loop! And you completely lose your head!"
Gordon thought for a moment about the other engine couples on Sodor. He had yet to experience what they would do every now and then, but with what David had just said, he didn't know what to think or to make of it.
"By Sodor! It sounds most unusual!" Gordon breathed. "Almost...perfectly imperfect, like Rebecca and I seem to be."
"But that isn't all," David teased lightly. "As Sodor has seen over these years, it can happen to any engine. So you'd better be careful. It happened to Thomas and Emily, to James and Molly, to Belle and Flynn, to Luke and Millie, to Rosie and Stanley, to Percy and Gina, and...yes, it could even happen to you and Rebecca!"
Gordon looked ahead and took a deep breath in, then out. He and Rebecca had already been twitter-pated on the day she first kissed him. But perhaps there was more to be felt and experienced between them. Perhaps David's words would prove to be true in some way.
"Well...if it can happen to me and Rebecca, with any luck...maybe it shall!" Gordon declared.
With that, he set off out of the station. David looked on for a moment, then turned to leave, feeling quite impressed by everything he had learned today.
By now, it was getting dark. At Tidmouth Sheds, All the engines, except Rebecca were already asleep. She was still waiting for Gordon to return. Soon enough, she saw a headlamp shining in the distance, and there was Gordon. He approached the sheds, turned round to his berth and backed in beside Rebecca.
"Well, hello again, Gordon," she chimed.
"Yes...hello, Rebecca," said Gordon.
"What were you doing back at Knapford, Gordon?" asked Rebecca.
Gordon didn't want to reveal too much at the wrong time, but he had to tell her something.
"Well...I was simply thinking a little more about the two of us, Rebecca...and I have more plans for both of us...after work tomorrow."
Rebecca perked up and looked at Gordon. She began to get that particular feeling in her boiler again, but she managed to hide it well.
"I see," she replied. "Anyway, it looks like I'll be enjoying a cozy sleep, right beside you, as I had hoped for. Goodnight, Gordon."
And with a blissful sigh, Rebecca fell fast asleep, smiling away. Gordon held his gaze on her for a few moments, thinking about everything that had happened today. It seemed that they had taken a tiny step already, enjoying some cheerful banter together with the express, and having a notable talk together that same evening about how they felt about stepping deeper into their relationship...then Gordon thought back to what David had said. It was indeed true. Love had befallen several engines on Sodor already, and as he had concluded, it could even happen to the two express engines.
In that moment, Gordon made a decision as he looked at Rebecca's sleeping face. Now that some months had gone by, and after their banter today, the next step would have to come, either by his, or Rebecca's doing. Whichever one it would be, the next step was now very close. He looked at Rebecca and winked.
"Sweet dreams, my Rebecca," he murmured as he felt asleep too.
Rebecca was too fast asleep to hear Gordon, but nonetheless, she hummed drowsily in turn, losing herself into a long night of blissful sleep.