Gordon slowed to a stop at Maron station with a heavy exhale of steam. He watched his express passengers as they disembarked. Sir Topham Hatt had given the engine a rather harsh talking to. Gordon was to only stay on Sodor and had to have a 24/7 guard in his cab to make sure he didn't try to slip off on his own again at night. This made the large engine extremely irate. He tried for several days to shake the guard, but the damn human was as stubborn as the engine he was tasked with watching. It put a rod through he and Meredith's physical relationship. The guard practically lived in his cab, refusing to step out -even just for a few hours. This merely added fuel to the express' raging fire.

The large engine let out an annoyed groan, startling a small child on the platform beside him. He glanced up when he heard the sound of pistons pumping towards him and Gordon groaned yet again. It was Spencer the streamlined LNER Pacific A4 from the mainland. He was pulling his bright red luxury coaches when the sleek, silver engine spotted Gordon and decided to stop. "Gordon? Is that you?"

"Who else would it be?" Gordon was annoyed enough as it was. Last thing he needed was to deal with Spencer's pompous attitude.

Spencer couldn't help but smirk. He was a stately engine that garnered much attention from humans and engines alike, but his personality wasn't as attractive. "You look like Flying Scotsman. Those blinkers really do the trick and I see you've even been repainted."

Gordon grit his teeth. He absolutely despised being compared to his younger brother, but it wasn't an incorrect observation on Spencer's part. The big engine's overhaul left Gordon looking nearly identical to his sibling, and his most recent visit to the Steamworks saw Gordon repainted a much deeper blue that was nearly black in certain light. "What are you doing here, anyway." Gordon needed the subject to change before he blew a valve.

"The Duke and Duchess are here for the summer. I'm just taking them to Knapford for tea with Sir Topham Hatt."

"So that means you're here for the summer." Gordon sighed. "Fantastic." The engine heard his guard's whistle. "Well, I best be off. I'll see you around."

Spencer let out a breath of a laugh as he watched the express pull out of the station and he too continued on with his own journey to Knapford.

Meanwhile, at the large station at Vicarstown stood Flying Scotsman, Gordon's younger brother. The LNER engine sat quietly, ignoring the admiring eyes of the people along the platforms. They were in awe of the way his iconic Green Apple livery glistened in the blistering sunlight. Years of fame had made it easy to ignore the attention from humans. He used to wear a near permanent shit-eating grin, but the recent years hardened the engine. Even more so than Gordon. He was almost always deadpan unless of course he was trying to charm a lovely engine into his berth. Then there was no ridding the engine of that notoriously seductive smirk. Like Gordon, Scotsman too was unusually cross that day. He had heard of Gordon's brawl on his railway that resulted in the death of another Pacific class engine. The events did not sit well with Scotsman and Gordon should consider himself lucky that the two don't cross paths anymore. Scotsman would have no choice but to put his older brother back in his place otherwise.

Flying Scotsman cast a sideways glance to the adjacent platform to find one of his old flames had pulled in with their coaches. A stylish black and gold tank engine brought in from the States. This particular engine happened to be Meredith's older brother. They shared a similar facial structure, though this engine was larger than Meredith herself. He also had smoke regulators commonly found on engines meant to work in cramped cities twisting from his smokebox and across his boiler. Scotsman shuddered as his boiler and undercarriage tingled in excitement. Meredith. That was an engine that could send him into a spiral. Gordon had nearly killed Scotsman twice over her, but the big engine would risk dying a third time if he ever found himself alone with her again.

"You alright there, Scotsman?" The tank engine had caught a glimpse of Flying Scotsman's far off gaze.

"Of course," Scotsman quickly composed himself. He may have eyes for Meredith, but her brother was a good substitute to help stave off his hunger. His southern American drawl was truly enticing. "Brian?"

"Hm." The black tank engine was halfway listening after he noticed his driver step onto the platform to pick up a copy of the newspaper.

"How's Meredith?" Scotsman had not seen Meredith in many years. He knew she was avoiding him, but he had not expected her to be so committed to the feat.

Brian sighed and looked back to Flying Scotsman. "She's fine. Her and Gordon are practically inseparable ever since Sir Topham Hatt lifted his rule regarding intimacy."

Scotsman clenched his jaw. Of course they were. "Keeping herself out of trouble I assume?"

Brian shrugged his boiler. "As much as she can for a young engine." He paused. "So what happened with that engine Gordon… scrapped?"

"Well, what was left was sent to the smelter." Scotsman scoffed. A streamlined engine, Connor, could be heard giving his departing whistle on the other side of the station as the two were talking. "Gordon sure made a mess of him."

"Do you have any idea why he did it?" Brian knew he was about to have to leave as well, but he was overcome with curiosity.

Flying Scotsman sighed and looked down the tracks towards the Vicarstown rolling bridge in the distance. "I can't say for sure." Scotsman stated gravely. "I believe Gordon is trying to solidify a reputation for himself, possibly to keep other engines in line who may otherwise try to cross him."

"What, is he supposed to be some sort of alpha?"

"Every railway has one, Brian." Scotsman stated plainly. He heard Brian's guard blow the departing whistle and watched as the tank engine began to steam forward with a heavy groan. "The problem comes from when that 'alpha' refuses to keep to their line."

Meredith drove steadily through Knapford station with her goods cars. She pulled into the bustling yard and waited patiently to be uncoupled. She spotted Gordon at a water tower. A yard man was busy filling his tender and she could tell by the steady rise and fall of Gordon's boiler that the express engine was asleep. Meredith peered at the sun in the sky. It was beginning its descent towards the horizon, but she had time to mingle for a moment before she had to head back up to Harwick for her final passenger run of the day.

She started forward then stopped abruptly when another dusty blue tank engine cut across the line in front of her. "Ugh, Thomas, watch it."

"Sorry, Meredith." The little tank engine called back as he was coupled to a line of empty cars. "We're a bit swamped right now. I'm all over the place." The little tank engine had six small wheels, a short stumpy boiler, short stumpy dome, and short stumpy funnel. His face was round and sweet, but anyone who knew this engine knew just the kind of mischief he could cause. Meredith didn't hate the engine, but she was cautious around him. She knew of his tendency towards trickery.

"It's fine, just be careful." Meredith said as she crossed the yard towards Gordon. She hadn't noticed James roll in not too long after her, he looked irritated.

"Philip!" James snapped. He had his round nose bunched up in annoyance as he waited for the little diesel boxcab engine to scuttle across the yard to him. "Philip, hurry up!"

"Yes, James!" Philip panted as he skid to a stop just before James' buffers. "Is something wrong?"

"Is there something wrong?" James repeated incredulously. "You brought me the wrong coaches again, Philip. That's what's wrong."

Philip recoiled under James' cold stare. "I'm sorry, James. Your usual coaches are being reupholstered at the Steamworks. I just had to use whatever coaches I could find."

Meredith had pulled up beside Gordon at that point and gently nudged his boiler. "Love, wake up." She whispered. Gordon pried his eyes open with a yawn. He started to speak then noticed the confrontation at the other end of the yard and kept silent instead.

"I'm not interested in your excuses." James growled and he shoved Philip back. "I expect you to do your job."

"Hey, James," Thomas puffed to the track beside the irate red engine. "There's no reason to push. They're just coaches. It's not that serious."

"Did I ask you?" James hissed before jabbing his fender into Thomas' water tank, knocking two of Thomas' wheels off the track. "Butt out!"

Gordon reversed quickly to cross the yard. He put himself in front of James, his fiery gaze seared through the cocky engine who dropped his own glare to stare down at the track and ballast. "That's enough." Gordon whispered darkly. "They're not worth your energy."

Edward had arrived back at the yard and found all the engines standing around idly. "What is going on here?"

"Your moody boyfriend pushed Philip and knocked me off the track!" Thomas scowled as Percy, a small green tank engine, managed to pull him back onto the rails. "Just because Philip shunted him different coaches."

The blue tender engine looked over to a pouty James as Gordon had begun to back away from him. Edward stormed over to James and bumped their buffers together. "Are you going to apologize?"

"Sorry," James mumbled. He couldn't look Edward in the eye. He felt so silly letting his temper get the better of him like that.

"Loud enough for them to hear, James." Edward was stern, which was a rare sight. He was typically an easy-going little engine.

"I'm sorry, Philip and Thomas." James said curtly.

Thomas and Philip merely huffed in response as they both rolled away. Thankfully there was no real damage. Thomas' water tank did have a dent but it could be mended after his work had been done for the day.

Gordon watched James carefully as he was led away by Edward who continued to speak to the red engine in a hushed, scolding tone. Meredith shifted awkwardly on her wheels as Gordon came back towards her. "What was that about?"

"Just a young engine getting too big for his pistons." Gordon scoffed. "You give them an inch they feel they can take a mile."

"Hormones maybe?"

Gordon laughed. "I don't think so. We're engines and not nearly as finicky as humans."

Meredith shrugged. "Hormones regulate emotions, Gordon. How else do you think we can feel happy, sad…" She paused to press her buffers against Gordon's. "Aroused."

Gordon's boiler rumbled excitedly as he breathed in Meredith's sweet scent. If only he could shake that stupid guard. It had been over a week since he last had her and he could hardly take it. "Meet me outside Tidmouth at midnight." Gordon whispered.

Meredith smiled. "What about your new pet, hm?"

Gordon gave Meredith's lips a quick kiss. "Leave that to me."

It was past midnight. The full moon illuminated the island in an eerie glow. The humidity of the day had developed into a dense fog across the island. Meredith was waiting at an overgrown line just outside Tidmouth when she saw the lamp of another engine approach her. "You're late." She teased.

Gordon huffed. "I got held up behind Stephen on the mainline again."

"Awh, that sweet old engine." Meredith cooed.

"I have much respect for him, but he has no business holding up the express line like that." Gordon hissed as he and Meredith traveled further down the abandoned line. They moved silently until Gordon stopped suddenly. "Dammit!" He shouted. "My brakes- they've locked up!"

Meredith moved to a section of the track beside Gordon and looked him over. His brakes were applied and they appeared stuck from what she could tell. "Well?" Gordon spat. "Aren't one of you going to check them?"

Gordon's driver and fireman exchanged worried glances before they turned towards the guard who appeared indifferent. He threw out his cigarette with a huff. "Alright, alright." He grumbled as he hopped down and crouched beside Gordon's driving wheels. He clicked on his flashlight and wedged himself between the wheels to get a better look at the mechanism underneath. "I don't see anything wrong, Gordon." He wiggled one of the brakes and the arm moved easily. "They're perfectly oiled and I don't see anything jamming them."

At that moment a deadly grin developed across Gordon's face. He gave his body a quick twitch and his brakes unlocked. The big engine creeped forward. Meredith watched in horror as the guard was crushed in half by Gordon's wheels with a gut-wrenching crunch. Gordon's driver and fireman's faces ran white as they saw half the guard's body slump to the ground in a bloody heap. Gordon stopped after he was sure none of the gore had gummed up his wheels and he couldn't hold back a dark chuckle. "Should have learned to stay out of my way."

I should have warned that this fic is extremely AU. I plan to keep the characters as 'in character' as possible, but given that this is a mature adaptation there will be some OOC moments because I'm expanding beyond the cutesy-kiddie nature of the Thomasverse. I believe that's the beauty of FanFiction. It gives fans the opportunity to create worlds that expand on the stories and characters they love. I hope you will forgive me meddling with some canon character's appearances, it's to match the picture I have in my head of this plot and these characters and I feel altered looks are a necessary evil.

Further, Cherry Lau; this is a 'sequel' in a sense that is continues certain storylines, but it holds a completely different plot. I hope that makes sense. 'Engines' was more of a developmental warm-up for all the romantic nonsense to help make room for the bigger mess to come in this fic and any others to possibly follow.

Anyway; thank you all for reading and I hope to hear more from y'all! Don't forget to favorite and review!

Much love;

Bumble