That following morning, Meredith found herself in the Vicarstown goods yard shunting cars while Rosie was out at the Steamworks having her piston rods replaced. Meredith had just finished shunting a long goods train for Henry when she took a moment to stop and refuel. Hayden hopped out for a moment to check a strange rattling in her axles when the little tank engine heard a whistle she had not heard in a long time. "Scotsman?" She glanced up from her driver as he slid under her front pilot wheels and saw the large mainland express engine as he sleepily pulled up to a water tower opposite of her. He hadn't noticed her yet. He was preoccupied by Emily who had just picked up a train for Knapford. Meredith let out a disgusted huff. "As slimy as ever." She mumbled.

"What was that?" Hayden peeked out from under Meredith's wheels. He would need to change his uniform after fiddling under the engine as he was then covered in soot and grease.

"Nothing." Meredith said. Hayden didn't believe his engine for a second and Meredith noticed his prying gaze. "Ugh," the tank engine relented and gestured towards the LNER locomotive across the way without another word.

Hayden craned his neck to look and when he saw Flying Scotsman -still leering at Emily- he understood. "Oh, do I need to ask the yard manager to request he move?"

Meredith shook her boiler. "No, no, it's fine. I think he's too distracted." But as soon as Meredith finished her confident statement, a set of eyes had locked onto her and she wanted to recoil into herself when she saw that sexy smirk. "Shit." She hadn't spoken to or even seen Flying Scotsman in years. She nearly forgotten just how irritatingly handsome the engine was. He shared Gordon's eyes and overall structure, but his lips were fuller and his eyebrows were a bit much, but they worked for the engine surprisingly. That and his nose pointed up, which was fitting given his superior demeanor. "Hayden," Meredith whispered to her driver as he continued to work on her axles. "Hayden, we need to leave."

"Mer, you've got a branch lodged up in your rods. You've gotta let me get it or you could snap your axles." Her driver said. His voice was muffled by his flashlight that he had clenched between his teeth.

"If you don't get back up in my cab you're gonna end up like Griffith." Meredith growled. She glanced back to where Flying Scotsman was parked, but he was gone. "Hayden, please!"

Meredith's driver rolled out from under her with a frustrated sigh. "Fine, fine, I'll get it later." He quickly hopped back into Meredith's cab, startling Alex from his cat-nap. "Getting some beauty sleep are we, princess?"

"Piss off." Alex grumbled. Meredith's fireman was a hotheaded German heir who was forced to work by his family who had more money than God. The spoiled brat needed a little humbling and what better to do that than manual labor. Alex pushed himself to his feet and angrily grabbed a shovel-full of coal.

Meredith bounced anxiously on her wheels. She didn't know where Scotsman had run off too, but she knew deep in her boiler he was lurking around the yard somewhere. Alex worked to get her firebox back up to temp but it wasn't heating as quickly as it should and Meredith was growing ever anxious. "C'mon! Hurry up."

"Cool your pistons, Mer." Hayden called from the cab. "Princess here can't shovel for shit."

"I'll shovel you right into this firebox if you don't shut your mouth." Alex kept pace in spite of Hayden's jeering. His sandy hair was plastered to his forehead by sweat and dirt and finally, after a few more shovels, Meredith had built up enough pressure and started forward when she bumped right into a set of buffers that belonged to Flying Scotsman.

"Fuck." Meredith grumbled as he dropped her gaze to the tracks.

"Is that a statement or a request?" Scotsman purred. His whole undercarriage tingled with arousal. All the memories of her came flooding back and he couldn't stop himself from licking his lips as he imagined her quivering body against his.

Meredith clenched her teeth. She breathed him in and noted the usual scent of hot steam and fire, but Scotsman carried a delicious, earthy musk. Like he'd been bathed in the finest cologne money could buy. "Do you have a death wish?" She said, forcing herself to look back up at the big engine.

"How do you mean, little Meredith." Scotsman drew ever closer to her. He hadn't seen her in so long and he wanted nothing but to make her his even if it ran the risk of becoming one of his older brother's latest victims.

"You know exactly what I mean." Meredith started reversing away. She could feel herself becoming tempted once more. She denounced the slutty engine so long ago and remained devoted to Gordon. But Gordon's recent behavior made the little engine fearful. She could see the downward spiral in Gordon's eyes and felt it in the way he nearly thrust her through the buffer stops in his berth the day prior.

Scotsman continued to follow Meredith slowly, though he allowed her to put some space between them. He wasn't trying to scare away his chance at a ride with her. "Oh, you mean my overstepping, homicidal brother. Are you two still fucking?"

This made Meredith stop. "It's more than just sex, Scotsman. I know that's all you think about but he does actually love me."

"Sure, sure," Scotsman knew this to be true, but he liked seeing the little engine all riled up. "So you're exclusive?"

"Obviously."

Meredith then cleared her throat as Henry chuffed by with the train she had shunted. The meek engine passed a smile towards her and she returned it promptly with added enthusiasm. Scotsman simply gave the engine a respectful nod before he returned his attention to Meredith. He permitted himself a moment to admire Meredith's paintwork as it glittered in the new morning sunlight. She aged gracefully. Scotsman couldn't ignore the clear maturity the years had brought. Though she was still very young for an engine, the experience favored her. She no longer came off as childish. It made the famous locomotive's lust for her even more intense.

"So I've not a chance to lure you into that long goods shed outside the yard?" Flying Scotsman pushed out the excessive steam that had built up while he sat.

"Nope." Meredith said though not with much conviction.

Scotsman inched closer, his eyes full of desire. "Funny how I don't believe you."

Meredith stood her ground, but her undercarriage radiated heat. She felt herself crumbling under Scotsman's hooded stare. Maybe just one more time. Gordon and Flying Scotsman didn't even cross paths at that time so how would Gordon know? "You're a bastard." She hissed breathlessly.

By then Scotsman was right on Meredith. Their lips brushed making Meredith shiver. Scotsman took a deep breath before whispering; "Get in the shed."

Gordon was stopped at Maron with the express. He watched Kenneth who was doing some odd stretches on the platform beside him. "What on earth are you doing?" The big engine simply couldn't hold back his curiosity.

"I slept wrong last night and I'm trying to work out this kink in my back." Kenneth reached an arm over his head. The driver's jacket was at his feet along with his cap. He wasn't about to work himself out in the heat with that heavy garb. The driver placed his hands on the small of his back and arched his spine forward. Nothing was working. He needed to pop it over something. Kenneth glanced around the station for a bench that wasn't occupied, but there were none. He crossed his arms in frustration and turned back to Gordon. The engine eyed his driver's thoughtful stance, his eyes were glued to the engine's footboard and Gordon became uneasy. "Gordon?" And there it was.

"Yes." The express engine said slowly.

Kenneth paused. He knew how much Gordon hated being touched by humans, but his back was killing him. He had to pop it. "Could I possibly stretch my back over your boiler?"

Gordon frowned. "Absolutely not."

"Oh, please, Gordon." Kenneth pleaded. "I have to stand all day and my back is in shambles. Please, I'll be fast, I promise."

Gordon snorted and gave his body a shake, much like how a horse does when covered in irritating flies. "Very well. If you must."

Kenneth brushed his hair out of his face and smiled before he carefully climbed the engine's side plates. He made sure to keep a steady grip on Gordon's handrails as he arched his back over Gordon's boiler. It felt hot through his clothes, but it was at a tolerable level. He had to give it a few stretches before his spine released an otherworldly crack and Kenneth melted down in a pool of relief on Gordon's footboards. "Oh, yes, Jesus."

Gordon gave his boiler another shake at the sound of his driver's moaning. "Okay, you got it. Now get off."

Kenneth dropped back down onto the platform and gave his engine a thankful grin. "Glad to see there's still a bit of decency in there."

Gordon rolled his eyes as the guard blew his whistle. "Just get back to your work."

Meredith gasped and writhed as Scotsman laid into her. He grabbed her lips with his, letting out his own chorus of groans as he worked the little engine over. He felt overcome with ecstasy and he lost himself in her kiss, she tasted as sweet as he remembered, and felt even better. Meredith bit Scotsman's bottom lip while he took a moment to slow up. He wasn't ready to finish and he knew slowing down would prolong the release.

"Don't slow down." Meredith breathed quietly. Flying Scotsman was suddenly overcome with a second wind and he slammed her up against the already strained buffer stops.

"As you say, my dear." Scotsman locked lips with Meredith and went even harder than before. His cylinder valves threw out so much steam the two engines were quickly soaked in hot condensation. He had many, many engines, but none of them compared to the perfection beneath him. Not even close. He wanted to keep her in that shed until all essence of his brother had been eradicated. Scotsman had to make her entirely his and he would continue to fuck her senseless until he did just that. Years of having not spoken to the little tank engine and it only took just a few minutes of delicious banter to get her attention once more. Flying Scotsman couldn't help but smirk as he glided his tongue against Meredith's. He knew what her easy seduction meant. It meant something had put a wedge between her and Gordon. Scotsman didn't really care what -at least not at that moment-, all he cared about was making that little engine squirm.

Meredith and Flying Scotsman's drivers and firemen all huddled around a cafe table inside Vicarstown station. They wanted to be as far away from their engines as they could manage. The group of men couldn't stop from feeling envious of the fact their engines were getting more frequent and better sex than they were. It was a bit embarrassing, though they refused to discuss the subject.

Alex was leaned back comfortably in his chair with a cup of tea. He had decided to use the free time to clean himself up a bit and wash the soot and grime from his face. He was a handsome man indeed. A round jaw, hooked nose, and cutting green eyes. He was about Hayden's age at nearly thirty years old and he regarded the group before him with indignation. Being the only individual with wealth, he felt superior- naturally.

Alex's cavalier staring did not go unnoticed by Hayden, but he simply huffed before turning his attention towards the new driver and fireman. "So, it's been a minute since I've driven Flying Scotsman. How is he?"

The driver, Ian, a sturdy and true Scotsman with a sharp gaze leaned up in his seat. "You got out at a good time, kiddo."

"Is he that bad?" At this point Alex sat up straight. The conversation piqued his interests. He watched Hayden intently.

Scotsman's driver shrugged. "He's a right pillock, that's what he is. I can't tell you how many times we've been ditched on a siding or left stranded at a station in the middle of absolute nowhere."

"I missed the birth of my child because of him." Scotsman's fireman, Gavin, grumbled from under his cap.

Hayden and Alex exchanged a quick glance then Alex spoke up keeping his voice low. "Has he… killed anyone?" Hayden's eyes grew wide and he slowly looked towards his partner. Alex ignored him.

This question startled both Gavin and Ian. Gavin furrowed his brow. "No… Why do you ask?"

Alex shrugged nonchalantly. "No reason."

"No, no," Ian waved his hand. "You don't get to just drop a question like that and expect us to leave it alone."

Hayden glowered at Alex and the fireman sighed. "Well, you know his brother who works on our railway. He offed one of yours not too long ago, yes? I'm just wondering if Scotsman had done anything like that." Alex raised his brow at Hayden as if to ask if he was satisfied with the recovery of his near slip-up. Hayden merely looked away.

"Oh," the two partners relaxed but only slightly. Gavin snorted. "Scotsman has roughed up a few engines, sure, but he's never killed any. He's able to practice restraint." The fireman noticed Scotsman and Meredith roll into the station beside their table. The little engine's bumpers were battered, her paint scuffed, and she was leaking fluid from her undercarriage. Both of them were dripping wet.

Alex let out a hearty chuckle while Hayden sighed. "Mer… seriously?"

The little white tank engine smiled awkwardly while completely ignoring Scotsman's satisfied smirk. Gavin lit a cigarette and propped his feet up on the table. "Well… most of the time."

Okay, so I think I've finally decided where this fic is gonna go. I've come to realize that writing 100% serious just isn't my forte, but regardless I do have a darker storyline I wish to keep up with. But the humor will remain as well. And, once again, Scotsman strikes. Lol. I hope ya'll don't mind all the human bits. They're fun to write. Anyhow, I wish I had more to say, but I've had a pretty crazy Sunday so I'm keeping this short. If you celebrated the recent holidays I hope you had a great time and if there are more to come I hope you enjoy!

Much love:

Bumble