"Gordon… Gordon…"

Kenneth watched his engine as he continued to snore. He noted the puffiness of Gordon's eyes. His cheeks glistened from the pale morning light that creeped in through the shed doors. Another late night the big A3 spent sobbing quietly. The driver sighed. He wasn't fully abreast of the history between Gordon and Meredith, but even if he was, he still would feel cross towards the little engine for hurting Gordon this way.

All the other engines at Tidmouth were warming up and heading off for their work, but Gordon continued to sleep. Kenneth had told Sean to hold off on warming Gordon's firebox and the two sat at their small two-person table and watched the engine's deep breathing. "What do we do?" Sean whispered as he sipped his morning tea.

"I'm not sure." Kenneth studied his inspection sheet and checked off everything that was obviously in working order. "I hate to say it, but he needs to see Meredith. It's been two weeks and he's not getting any better."

"I just don't understand why he's so torn up over her." Sean leaned against the wooden column behind him and tapped his boots with a pencil. "He knows she's not being faithful so he should just forget about her." Kenneth shrugged. He rested his chin in one hand and aimlessly drew circles on his paper.

"I saved her."

The men nearly jumped out of their skin at the sound of Gordon's drowsy voice. Kenneth sat up as did Sean. They could see the engine had perked up, but the angle made it impossible to see the engine's face.

Gordon heaved a frustrated sigh. He could feel his crew's gaze burning through his boiler. He wished they didn't act so stupid. "Years before either of you came to my service Meredith was involved in an accident that killed her previous fireman and nearly took her driver. She spent months at the Steamworks, every time the workers thought she was fixed something happened and she broke down. Sir Topham Hatt grew frustrated at the growing expenses and after a long night of drinking ordered her to be scrapped." Gordon paused for a moment, his throat felt tight. "She made it all the way down to the scrapyard and was there for a couple weeks. I fought with Sir Topham every day to bring her back, but he refused. So I decided to bring her home myself." Kenneth and Sean glanced at each other. They were aghast to hear that Sir Topham was willing to scrap an engine. The fat controller was known specifically for his paternal attachment to his engines. To hear he sent one to the smelter seemed extremely out of character for him.

Gordon continued. "It took some work, but I brought her back. She was never the same after. She won't tell me of her time in the scrap yard, but it's clearly messed with her. Sir Topham sobered up enough to see the error in his ways and brought in engineers from America to completely rebuild her. Since then I've hardly left her side outside of work. But now she's on the mainland… with my brother." Gordon snarled. "Fucking my brother…"

Kenneth stood up slowly. "What do you say to bringing her home again?"

Gordon shook his boiler. "I say; I hope my brother has had his fun. I've no intention of letting him live."

"You're so dead!" Meredith yelped as Flying Scotsman gave her rear buffers a firm bump, knocking her into a line of tankers delivered from Newcastle, splashing her smokebox with chilly water.

Scotsman chuckled and switched tracks to sit beside her. "Mmm. You look quite appetizing when you're drenched."

"I hate you." Meredith growled, but her undercarriage tingled excitedly. The weather the last couple weeks had been horribly gloomy, but that day teased a bit of sunlight as it struggled to peek through the cloud cover. The diffused light gave the young engine a soft appearance and Flying Scotsman couldn't take his eyes off her.

"No you don't, now why don't you take that lovely wet boiler of yours back to my shed. I'm on break for the next couple hours and I intend to spend that time filling you up."

Meredith had turned herself around and pulled up in front of Scotsman with a sweet bat of her eyes. "Filling me up with what?"

Scotsman licked his lips, his boiler grumbled in arousal as he hovered his mouth over Meredith's. "Filling you up with my hot, hard co-"

"Ugh, can you take that somewhere else please?" Mallard had just slithered onto the platform adjacent to the two horny engines with his express. "You're making me nauseous."

"You're just jealous, you sorry sod." Scotsman retorted. Meredith had put on a good pouty lip which drove the big green A3 mad. If it wasn't for the fact the station was completely packed with people, Scotsman would've had his way with the little engine regardless of if Mallard was there or not. The idea of another engine watching the two bang it out didn't exactly arouse Scotsman, but he wasn't totally opposed to the idea either.

Mallard scoffed. He completely ignored the passengers admiring him from the platform. The pompous engine lacked any sort of tact and was completely aloof to any admiration thrown his way by his human fans. "I'm in no way jealous. I could easily seduce your little pet if I wanted to."

"I am not a pet!" Meredith protested with an even more aggressive pout. Scotsman gave her a gentle nuzzle to her cheek before he returned his attention to his snarky cousin.

"If you want to hold onto that little garden hose you call a cock I'd suggest you keep it away from what's mine."

Mallard clenched his teeth but said nothing as his guard had signaled time for departure and he really wasn't in the mood to argue with Scotsman. He never truly was but it did add a little variety to his otherwise mundane and repetitive existence, so he humored his cousin when he had the time.

Flying Scotsman quickly turned his attention back to Meredith. She fluttered her eyes at her handsome suitor. "Ohh, fuck." Scotsman groaned with a wide and mischievous grin. The two engines then quietly slipped off to his shed for another hot, heavy, and messy escapade.

Gordon thundered across the Vicarstown bridge. His expression was stern, full of murderous intent as his pistons pumped harder than they had before. He was determined to get his Meredith back, but he couldn't fight the nervousness that made his boiler wobble. He hadn't seen Flying Scotsman in years and he knew his brother had built his own reputation for violence. But Gordon held confident in the fact he had beaten his brother twice before. The third time was destined to be final. He was sick of Flying Scotsman continuing to undermine him and he wasn't going to tolerate his brother's manipulation of Meredith any longer.

The Sodor express engine blinked and he could see Meredith's angry face caked in dirt and oil. Her eyes were black and sunken. Her furious gaze held his then the vision disappeared as quick as it came. Gordon swallowed. He knew he was crazy for being so patient with her, but he couldn't see any other way. He needed Meredith and it broke him that he did. He wished he could let her go. He wished he didn't love her. Gordon glanced up at the gray sky above. Yet another storm was brewing. It made the engine uneasy, but he persisted. Everything in him was telling him to turn around, to go home and let her stay, but Gordon couldn't be without Meredith for another second. Despite everything she had done, Gordon was steadfast in bringing his love home.

Meredith's body shuddered as she slowly pulled back from an impassioned kiss with Flying Scotsman. The two engines were entranced in each other's gaze as wisps of hot steam webbed around them. Scotsman took a few calming breaths. "Meredith…"

"Yeah." Meredith sighed. She had begun to back away towards the door. She needed to return to the yard before the fat man in charge popped his zipper.

"I love you."

Meredith froze. She stared at the big engine before her. He didn't flinch, his gaze never wavered. He was serious. Meredith's boiler felt like it would twist into a knot. Why did he have to say that? Why did he have to take it there? She was perfectly content with assuming she was just a good lay for him, but no, she was more. The idiot let himself fall for her. But why? Flying Scotsman was shallow, selfish, and had serious control issues. He was not the type Meredith would peg to catch feelings. Especially for her.

"Mer? You- uhh… you okay?" Flying Scotsman felt unnerved by her extended silence. He didn't know what to expect. He did know she was still in love with Gordon, but he hoped that love was crumbling considering how she had no issues acting like she was already his.

Meredith steadied herself. "Yeah… I- I wasn't expecting that." She said slowly. She bit her lip. Unsure of what to say. She didn't want to admit she had major feelings for Flying Scotsman, but her heart belonged to Gordon. Or so she kept telling herself. Gordon was an engine she could see growing old with, while Scotsman was an engine for guaranteed perfect sex every time. She just couldn't imagine a proper relationship with him. She knew how he got around. Though… Meredith had built her own reputation over the years that was glaringly similar to Scotsman's. "I- I love you too."

"But?" Flying Scotsman arched a brow. He noticed Ian and Gavin had climbed back into his cab while Hayden and Alex lingered beside Meredith. They could tell their engine was distressed.

"But- but… I don't know." Meredith's throat tightened. She wanted to love them both, but she couldn't. It wasn't fair to either of them. "I love you… I love you so much… " Tears started to stream down her face and the little engine burst through the shed doors as she tried to hold back her sobs. "I have to go." And Meredith sped off leaving behind a worried and confused Flying Scotsman.

Gordon had just pulled into King's Cross. It was empty aside from a goods train that was placed for pickup. The big engine scanned the stormy horizon. He heard pistons pumping quickly towards him along with the sound of restrained sobs. Gordon stretched up to try and find the engine that was making all the noise and was surprised to see Meredith barreling right for him. Her eyes were shut and flooded with tears. She didn't even notice Gordon until she bumped right into him. Luckily she had slowed down enough there was no derailment or damage, just a very startled pair of engines. Gordon quickly shook himself off. "Meredith? Mer, my love. What happened?"

Meredith blinked several times. The impact made her dizzy, but when her vision cleared her tears doubled when she saw Gordon watching her with great worry. "Oh, Gordon!" She cried. "I messed up. I messed up so bad. I'm so fucking sorry. I- I-" The little engine could hardly hold back her blubbering and Gordon pushed his nose against her cheek.

"Shhhhh, it's okay." Gordon felt his own throat tighten, but he held it together. He knew Meredith didn't need to see him break down with her. "I'm taking you home."

"Okay." Meredith sniffed. She breathed her lover in. His scent was warm and comforting. She had been distracted by all of Scotsman's moves that she nearly forgot the fire Gordon ignited inside her. She loved Flying Scotsman, but she could never love him the way she loved Gordon. Still, she felt possessive of Gordon's younger brother and the idea of him being with any other engine burned her firebox.

"Gordon? Is that you?"

Meredith glanced up from her cuddle with Gordon and was able to see Flying Scotsman. She heard a deep rumble that vibrated her whole body and turned to find Gordon glaring straight, cold daggers at his brother. Her partner's steam flared up higher with every breath out. A bolt of lightning cracked directly above the station, illuminating the engines in a flash of eerie light. Thunder boomed in the distance. Flying Scotsman saw how his brother was looking at him. Gordon knew that he had been lying with Meredith, but instead of running, Scotsman held his ground under his brother's lethal gaze and offered up a dangerous smirk. "Glad to see you… little brother."

FUCK. I'm excited. Lol. I allowed myself a little break writing but not too long. The two brothers have met after so-so long! How enthralling. Heh heh. Poor Mer, love 'triangles' suck, but she must suffer for art and for plot and for entertainment.

I'm certainly not done with LNER and the other dickheaded engines, but I have bigger plans for that later on. Gotta trust in my insane brain to provide y'all with the goods. I'm also trying to keep a balance of story with sexy, but sexy is so fun for me to write I just wanna do all sexy all the time. Lol.

Anyhow, I can't necessarily think of anything else to say so once again, thank you for the love and support! Y'all tha best!

Much love;

Bumble

You know what to do when I'm heartless; You take the blame, keeping me sane; So I won't give up; When my walls just wanna keep you out; No, I won't give up; When the world just wants to bring me down; Save me now