It was a crisp autumn morn. Brian was steaming hastily down the mainline towards Vicarstown. He was tasked with pulling the local train with Thomas due to a high passenger volume. As the black tank engine powered down the line stray leaves that had fallen swished up into the air. Brian would've normally gone slower, but he was running late that morning and had to make up for lost time.

He finally arrived at the large station and screeched to a stop at his platform. His coaches bumped him forward a bit and the engine winced. "Sorry everyone." He said awkwardly as his rattled passengers disembarked.

"Your poor passengers." Flying Scotsman teased from the adjacent platform. "What's got you all steamed up this morning?" Lucky for Scotsman, the damage Gordon dealt to him at the Great Railway Show was mostly cosmetic. He was repaired and back at work within a couple weeks. Though his timetables had to be adjusted as the LNER controller didn't want Scotsman's trains overlapping with Gordon's.

Brian sighed. "There was a delay with my goods train early this morning. It put me hours behind and I've been playin' catch-up ever since." Scotsman smiled and Brian frowned. "What?"

"Your accent." The big engine said with a chuckle. "It's so… endearing."

Brian's cheeks ran hot. "Well could you please stop staring at least. You're makin' me self-conscious. I don't know what's goin' on in that sick head of yours."

Scotsman leaned closer to Brian and dropped his voice to a playful whisper. "I can show you if you want."

"Oh-ho-kay… " Brian quickly jerked away from Scotsman and began to depart before his newest passengers had finished boarding. "I think it's time I get goin'. I'll see ya later or not- who knows." And with that the black engine hurried away in a panicked puff.

Scotsman chuckled to himself and noticed another engine had stopped at the platform. It was Meredith. She was picking up a goods train. Flying Scotsman watched her quietly as she was coupled up. Her flashy paintwork had been removed and she was back to her typical pearly white and black livery. She looked frazzled until she noticed the big engine's gawking, then her gaze hardened. Scotsman winked and blew a kiss at her which made the little white tank engine seethe, but she kept to herself and huffed on after being given the go ahead by her guard.

At Knapford Gordon sat silently by himself. He watched engines come and go with coaches and goods trains. He watched freshly fallen leaves dance around in the cool breeze. Ever since the Great Railway Show, the express engine has become reticent. He hardly spoke to anyone other than the occasional hello or goodbye. He had managed to hold firm in not speaking to Meredith, but it seemed the longer he spent avoiding conversation with her, the more he craved her attention. He found himself listening intently anytime she spoke with another engine just so he wouldn't forget the sound of her voice. Recently she had become a bit of a wild engine. Gordon heard the rumors and he hoped with his whole being they weren't true. He couldn't hold it against her if they were true, but he hated the thought of her being taken advantage of even more than before with his brother.

"Gordon?" Meredith's cautious voice hit the big engine like a warm puff of steam and he relented.

"Yes?" He said quietly.

"Are you busy? I have a big order of stone to pick up from the quarry and there's no brake vans and all the engines are doing other things." Meredith managed to look at Gordon, but it made her boiler ache to do so. "I was wondering if maybe you'd- well, if maybe you'd help me. If you could… please."

Gordon finally looked at Meredith and merely nodded. He had some time before his next Express run and he wasn't going to let Meredith endanger herself by taking a heavy train alone.

"Oh! Thank you!" Meredith beamed and for a moment she felt as if everything was like it once was, but her smile quickly disappeared under Gordon's stern stare. She cleared her throat. "Let me go get turned around."

On the mainline, Gordon and Meredith drove in complete silence. They agreed Gordon would be the back engine because his brakes were much stronger, but that was the only speaking the two partook in, until they came to the turn-off for the quarry.

"Gordon…"

"Hmm."

"I- I miss you…"

Gordon stopped and since Meredith was behind him, she had to brake suddenly. He kept silent and Meredith swallowed nervously. "I know you'll probably never be able to forgive me and I'm sure you've heard all about my… well- you know, but I miss you. I miss your smile. I miss your voice. I even miss your snoring."

"I don't snore." Gordon said flatly. He was thankful Meredith couldn't see his face because his eyes were welling up with tears. "And I… miss you too."

"I still love you." Meredith was getting choked up as well. "And even if we can only ever be friends from here on out I don't care. I just can't handle thinking you hate me."

Gordon sighed. "I could never hate you. Though you certainly don't deserve my love either, I'd be lying if I said I don't still love you."

"Could we ever… " Meredith blinked and the tears began to fall. "Could we ever be together again?"

The big engine hesitated. A quiet breath of air rushed over his boiler and stole away the steam from his pistons. He glanced up at the pale blue sky. Not a cloud in sight. Then he let out a shaky exhale. "I hope so."

"What do I have to do?" Meredith pushed. She needed to know how she could get Gordon back. She would do anything. "What do you need me to do?"

Gordon furrowed his brow. "I need you to grow up. I need you to stop being so damn feckless and learn to respect yourself. You're worth far more than you realize. It pains me to see you letting yourself out the way you are now." Gordon started when he saw Meredith pull up on the track beside him. "Your behavior is self-destructive. Do you want to end up like my brother? Unable to let anyone love you?"

"I let you love me."

"Is sleeping with my brother really how you let me love you?" Gordon hissed, his cold gaze locked onto Meredith. She remained silent and Gordon sighed. "We need to get going before I'm late for the express." The big engine started up quickly and steamed down the line with Meredith dragging slowly behind him.

Brian was resting peacefully in a shed at Vicarstown. He had finished his run of the local and managed to catch up with his other jobs to the point he actually had a moment's peace. The sun was still high in the sky, but it had begun to descend towards the horizon. Henry puffed by the shed Brian was napping in which startled the black tank engine awake. "Ugh." He groaned with a yawn. He started back out into the yard where he saw Rosie shunting empty cars. "Hey, Rosie, do you know the time?"

The red tank engine paused. "Umm, I believe it's a quarter till three. At least it was last I checked."

"Thank you, darlin'." Brian smiled which made Rosie blush as she continued organizing the yard. He decided to settle just outside the shed and bask in the sunlight for a moment. He hadn't been there very long when he heard a familiar whistle. Brian's eyes shot to the other side of the yard and he saw Flying Scotsman had pulled up to a water tower to top off his tanks. The big engine hadn't yet noticed Brian, he was too focused on his driver who had crawled under the Pacific engine to check a wobbly wheel. Brian bit his lip and quickly slipped back into the shed. Scotsman looked up from his driver and over to the shed Brian was hiding in. He noticed wisps of steam as they curled up from between the gaps in the wood. He didn't think too much of it until he noticed Brian's coaches parked just outside that very shed.

Brian sat quietly in the shed. He had begun to doze off when the doors swung open, jolting the tank engine awake. "Hey! You European engines ever heard of knocking?"

"Hmm, no," Flying Scotsman smirked. "What're you doing hiding in here?"

"I'm not hiding." Brian sneered. "I'm trying to sleep."

"You don't look tired to me." Scotsman said smugly as he let himself into the shed.

"Well I wasn't expecting guests." Brian said. He wasn't sure whether his present company was wanted or not. His smoke box ached from the contradictory feelings he felt.

Scotsman drew closer and Brian tried to back away, but he hit the shed's buffers. "Do you want me to leave?" The big engine stopped a comfortable distance from Brian. Scotsman could sense the little tank engine's apprehension.

"No..." Brian admitted. His face was hot. He felt incredibly embarrassed. He shouldn't like this engine. He ruined his sister's relationship. Well, she ruined her relationship, but Flying Scotsman certainly didn't help.

Scotsman looked the engine up and down and moved closer until he was completely in the shed. "It's okay to be nervous."

"Nervous for what?" Brian was beginning to sweat. "I'm not nervous."

"Yes you are." Scotsman chuckled. "You and Meredith have that in common. Always nervous at first."

"Is that all?" Brian said. "All we have in common, I mean."

"There's only one other thing I can think of right at this moment." Scotsman said quietly.

Brian's breathing quickened as the big engine came ever closer. "Oh, and what's that?"

Scotsman lightly glided his lips against Brian's and smiled. "Me."

Meredith and Gordon had made the stone delivery to Brendam Docks and the two engines went their separate ways. Meredith sat idly at Wellsworth with her coaches when a certain silver streamlined engine puffed in with two luxury coaches. "Spencer?"

"Hello, Meredith." Spencer smiled. "Funny how this is the first time I've seen you here considering you've been on Sodor for a bit now."

"Well luck can't be on my side forever." Meredith groaned with a roll of her eyes.

Spencer puffed in annoyance. "I can see why Gordon likes you. You're about as pleasant as he is, which isn't very."

Meredith let out a frustrated sigh. "What're you doing here? I thought you worked on the mainland."

"Typically I do, but the Duke and Duchess of Boxford have some affairs with the Earl they must tend to so I'll be here for the time being." Spencer puffed proudly. "In case you've not figured it out yet, I'm a private engine."

"You don't say?" Meredith sneered.

Spencer's confident grin faded. He didn't know what to make of this little engine. She was lovely indeed especially with the way the evening sun made her paint glisten, but her attitude left much to be desired. "I hope I've merely caught you on a bad day. It'd be such a shame if your behavior was always like this."

"My behavior is none of your concern, Spencer." Meredith spat. Her guard blew the whistle and she started up angrily. "And for your information, I'm a very pleasant engine to those who deserve it."

Spencer grunted and continued towards Ulfstead and away from Meredith. "Pfft, little engines." He grumbled. Spencer then noticed Gordon coming towards him with the evening express. "You really need to teach your girl some manners, Gordon." Spencer scolded at the express engine as they came up to each other. "I don't think I've met an engine quite as rude as her."

Gordon rolled his eyes as he passed the snooty silver engine. "Sure, I'll get right on that, Spencer." Gordon continued down the line towards Wellsworth and he couldn't stop the smile that edged its way across his face.

So these chapters are getting angsty and I'm so sorry! Lmao. As for the whole Flying Scotsman/Brian situation I imagine Scotsman would swing both ways, but show more of a preference to "female" engines. Though, I don't think I need to explain exactly why he's showing interest in Brian. To me, the reason is rather glaring, but for dramatics' sake I won't spoil it. Anywho, I hope ya'll are continuing to enjoy! I'm in so much pain keeping Gordon and Meredith apart. Like it physically hurts me to do it, but my plans require me to suffer. What is art without suffering anyway, am I right? *sweats*

I do apologize about kind of rushing through the railway show. I was trying to avoid too much unnecessary filler and I felt if I dwelled too much on the actual events everything would have felt muddled. I'm sorry, ya'll. I'm very deliberate with my writing, everything should serve some sort of purpose- for the most part- when I write so I don't tend to add too much fluff if I can avoid it.

Well, that's enough rambling from me! I'll see ya'll next chapter and thank you so much for all the reviews and love.

Much love;

Bumble